Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#45 The Most Rational and Logical Judgement

Enoch approached Lacrina, stimulant in hand.

*Pop-* went the sound as the sample’s cap was removed.

‘Green, is it.’

He paused, noting the stimulant’s color.

A vague unease gnawed at him.

But the effect, not the appearance, was what mattered.

Pointless anxieties only delayed action.

“Here. Drink. Lacrina. Seize your destiny now.”

“T-Teacher. What’s the cost of this sample? Side effects or anything? Aren’t there any?”

“Everything…”

“Don’t interrupt, Clarena.”

Clarena cut in abruptly.

Enoch cleared his throat, then continued.

“No need to be frightened. It’s merely an accelerant.”

“Is that so…”

“Indeed. It will, in fact, aid in improving your mana efficiency.”

Enoch explained with composure.

A plain truth, devoid of falsehood.

It truly did have an effect.

As Enoch explained with such decorum, Lacrima’s expression eased, ever so slightly.

*Right. Surely, my teacher wouldn’t feed me something strange.*

That thought was certainly present.

Lacrima soon steeled her resolve.

“I-I’ll drink it. Should I drink it all at once?”

“It matters not. Do as you please.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Lacrima carefully received the sample.

Thereafter, she brought it to her lips.

Enoch slowly stepped back.

Clarena, who had been standing silently, grumbled for no apparent reason.

“That’s a bit much, isn’t it.”

“And what might that be?”

“Merely an accelerant? I put quite a bit of effort into making that, you know.”

“It’s retribution for your earlier mischief. I refuse to be the only one to suffer.”

“Tch…”

Clarena clicked her tongue.

The syringe she held became meaningless.

She’d only made a playful jest to ease the tension.

Unfortunately, it seemed the investor wasn’t having any of it.

“Ugh, ugh!”

At that moment, Lacrima gagged.

Green liquid spilled from the gap in her parted lips.

Could it be… something had gone amiss?

Enoch hurried closer.

“What is it? Is something the matter?”

“Th-the taste is a little… off…”

“Taste?”

“Yes… it’s terribly bitter and… fishy…”

Lacrimosa made a face like she was about to cry.

Thankfully, nothing truly grave.

Enoch sighed, then spoke with a sharp edge.

“…Regrettably, now is hardly the time to be fastidious about flavor. Just bear it and drink.”

“Yes… I’m sorry.”

“Or, we could use the syringe and the powder. Those two could certainly accomplish it. You’d empty a whole sample vial in a flash, wouldn’t you?”

“Speak no such nonsense, Clarena. Put the syringe aside.”

“Yes, you be quiet for a moment.”

Enoch reprimanded Clarena.

Felton cleared his throat, scolding his pupil.

Clarena, whining “Eeeeh-” retreated backwards.

@

-Gulp.

A short while later, Lacrimosa had drained the entire sample.

A sloshing sound echoed around them.

The moment the liquid passed her throat, Lacrimosa abruptly dropped her head.

“Ugh, ugh…”

“Lacrimosa!”

Enoch rushed to her side.

He grasped her by both shoulders, questioning her intently.

“Are you alright? How are you reacting?”

“Mmm…”

“Do you feel anything different?”

If there were any adverse effects, he needed to know now.

Enoch asked with that meaning in mind.

But Lacrina showed an unexpected reaction.

“…Hand.”

“Huh?”

“Your hand.”

“What are you saying?”

Lacrina murmured quietly.

Out of the blue, she mentioned a hand.

What could that mean?

Enoch, his face close, asked again.

“What’s wrong? What about my hand?”

“…Teacher.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to tell you before… that’s not how you hold a hand.”

“What?”

Enoch paused.

A rather strange answer had returned.

He belatedly checked Lacrina’s condition.

Her pupils were unfocused, her mouth slightly agape.

Her expression was faintly dazed, as if she were sleepy.

The atmosphere was a little odd as well.

A strangely relaxed and leisurely demeanor.

As if she were dreaming with her eyes open.

‘A side effect? It was my fault for trusting a druggie.’

This was a bit different than he’d calculated.

Enoch hastily removed his arm from her shoulder.

In that instant, Lacrina swiftly produced her hand and grabbed Enoch’s arm from mid-air.

-Thwack!

“…Lacrina?”

“…Teacher.”

Lakrina spoke, almost a whisper.

Her tone was distinctly unlike her usual.

“Teacher. This is how you hold a hand.”

She slowly drew Enoch’s hand towards her.

Before he knew it, his hand had descended near her chest.

Then, she clasped his hand in hers.

Stroking it gently, as if forging a communion.

“Like a caress, softly…”

“…”

“You understand?”

Lakrina grinned, a sweet, unsettling smile.

Enoch felt a shiver crawl down his spine.

From her bearing to her speech.

Everything was utterly different from moments ago.

The Lakrina before him now possessed a peculiar, almost dangerous allure in every aspect.

“Oh my, oh my.”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Meanwhile, two others observed the scene.

Felton cleared his throat, averting his gaze.

Clarena, on the other hand, exclaimed in admiration, clearly amused.

Unable to bear it any longer, Enoch frowned and finally spoke.

“Are you just going to stand there and watch?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? Can you really say that after seeing this? Lakrina is acting strangely.”

*My child is suddenly acting strange.*

Clarena shook her head firmly at Enoch’s words.

“Strange? On the contrary. She’s acting perfectly normal.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Why the sudden belated reaction? I told you. It was created as an awakening agent, but used far more often as an aphrodisiac.”

“…”

“I distinctly told you beforehand? Even several times, at that?”

“…”

Clarena offered a small smile.

A mischievous one.

‘I’d like to punch her.’

For the first time, the thought of striking a woman surfaced.

Enoch was startled by how easily this feeling of murderous intent bloomed.

@

The situation calmed after a short while.

No.

To be precise, nothing was resolved.

“Teacher…”

“Yes, I’m here.”

Enoch replied, his voice tinged with weariness.

He was already seated on the bedside rail.

Lacrimosa, with a dazed look, crawled to Enoch’s side.

She embraced her teacher as if he were a cherished doll.

-Squeeze

“My, my, what a sight we have today.”

“……”

“A forbidden love between student and teacher. A bit…sticky, don’t you think? Though, I can’t say I dislike such things.”

“Be silent.”

“It was a well-wishing.”

“I said, be silent.”

Enoch retorted sharply.

Clarena chuckled softly, then moved on to the heart of the matter.

“Alright, I’ve more or less grasped the situation. Lacrimosa is indeed being consumed by magic.”

“I’ve gleaned that much myself. The problem is, even taking that into account, her condition is…abnormal.”

Enoch sighed.

Surely, Lacrimosa should only possess the aptitude for ice magic.

The side effect of ice magic was a frigid mindset.

To put it another way, a transformation into pure rationality.

But, if that were true, what in the world was this stickiness?

If consumed by the magic, she should be cold, cynical even.

Why was she clinging even more than before?

“I understand what you’re thinking. You’re consumed by ice magic, so why are her actions…hotter? Is that it?”

“Precisely. Do you perhaps know something?”

Enoch asked, unable to restrain himself.

Clarena made a subtle expression in response.

One that looked like she was holding back laughter.

“Just stating the facts here. There’s nothing particularly…unusual about her behavior patterns.”

“…Nothing unusual? Are you being serious?”

Enoch narrowed his eyes.

He was genuinely dumbfounded.

“You can say that even after seeing this?”

He pointed towards Lacrina, who was clinging to him.

-Swooosh-

Lacrina had, in a blink, buried her face in Enoch’s side.

She even wriggled her body, adjusting her position.

Like a koala latching onto its parent.

Was she affection-starved?

Clarena pondered for a moment.

Before speaking, unconcerned.

“Yes. Well, she did take an arousal agent, right? Her emotions are heightened, and her mana sensitivity is increased. So, what that means is this…”

Clarena popped the cap off a marker.

Dragging a whiteboard over, she began to write.

Emotion, and Sensitivity.

Clarena drew a + sign between the two words and circled them emphatically.

“The effect of heightened emotions leading to honesty, plus the side effects of ice magic. And throw in increased physical sensitivity for good measure. Currently, Lacrina is experiencing the sum of all those things.”

“…Sensitivity aside, what does that have to do with her clinging to me like this?”

“Do you not understand? That is Lacrimas’ cold judgment descended upon you. She felt clinging to you was the most rational, the most sensible choice.”

“……”

Enoch closed his eyes.

A slight dizziness washed over him.

He’d never been rendered speechless by anything like this before.

‘I feel more weary now than when fighting the separatists.’

“…I roughly understand the situation. So, what is the solution?”

“Solution? Hmm. Perhaps waiting for the drug’s effects to subside?”

“…How long will that take?”

“Don’t fret too much. It will resolve itself after about six hours.”

“Six hours? Why specifically such a long-“

Enoch cut himself off mid-sentence.

It was as plain as day what sort of response he’d receive.

Undoubtedly, she’d only blather on about how there’s no point to an aphrodisiac if it only lasts ten minutes.

“Do not worry, Enoch.”

“Doctor Felton?”

In that instant, Felton reappeared in his seat.

He held a vial of some sort in his hand.

“Here, take this.”

“What is this?”

“An antidote. I hastily concocted it, thinking things were going awry. It will drastically reduce the stimulant’s effect, neutralizing it.”

Felton chuckled heartily as he offered the vial.

Enoch cautiously accepted it.

“If you ever require sponsorship, please, do not hesitate to inform me.”

“You’re moved too quickly, my boy. Hurry and administer it to your disciple.”

“Understood.”

Enoch nodded slightly.

Using that as a substitute for a thank you.

He turned around to face Lacrima.

“Lacrima.”

“Umm… Y-yes…?”

“Open your mouth now. I’ll give you something good.”

“Something good… is it a reward?”

“……”

-Crunch

Enoch gripped the glass vial tightly.

Felton hurriedly stopped him.

“Bear with it. They didn’t particularly misunderstand anything strange.”

“Are you speaking truthfully?”

“……”

Felton remained silent.

He couldn’t bring himself to lie.