Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#49 Crossed Fates

The conversation paused, hanging in the air.

Esnos had prophesied her own death.

Her tone was indifferent, yet the content grave.

Her explanation of having her existence devoured.

This meant that she, the incarnation of time itself, would have time itself stolen from her.

“Is that even possible?”

“…”

“The mastermind you speak of, does he truly possess that level of ability?”

Enoch couldn’t help but ask.

Interfering with magic was easy enough.

Analyzing the conditions and principles of its activation.

Understanding the user’s psychology allowed for manipulation, even subversion.

However, to infringe upon the domain of the mage itself was impossible.

For it was the mage who ultimately wielded the magic.

Magic itself was akin to its own personality, an entity unto itself.

And yet, to hear of someone corrupting and stealing another’s magic…

It was unheard of.

At least, it was impossible according to Enoch’s common sense.

A tale of bathing in blood to maintain youth felt more believable.

Even a monstrous tale of devouring people and stealing their appearances seemed more grounded in reality.

Enoch sighed, then spoke.

“The information is insufficient.”

“……”

“Regardless of the place written on the note, if you know anything, tell me now. Surely, we can do *something* if you do?”

Even if it was just revenge, I would take it.

Enoch didn’t bother uttering the rest of the sentence.

It wasn’t necessary; the meaning was quite clear.

“…”

A silence lingered.

For some reason, no answer came.

Instead of replying, Etnoss fixed Enoch with a steady gaze.

“…”

“…? Why are you doing that? All of a sudden.”

“Enoch.”

“Yes.”

“You. Are you angry right now?”

“…Pardon?”

Enoch was slightly taken aback.

Angry, suddenly?

It was too far out of left field.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“…”

“Etnoss?”

“……”

Enoch called to her.

Etnoss didn’t answer this time either.

There was something strange in her expression.

She wasn’t seeing the Enoch before her, but picturing something else entirely.

-Thump-thump-

Presently, Etnoss took a step.

Before he knew it, she was right in front of him.

“…”

“…? Why are you suddenly—”

“Enoch. Do you know?”

A question, sudden as a thrown stone, sailed towards him.

Enoch tilted his head, a flicker of confusion.

Esnos offered a wistful smile before speaking.

“Originally, I should have met you quite some time ago.”

“…? Yes. I’m sure that’s true.”

“I wonder when it was. Well over half a year, wouldn’t you say?”

“It must have been around then. It was about that time that I sought you out.”

Enoch spoke plainly, without pretense.

Calculating the dates, it was indeed close to that timeframe.

In that instant, Esnos launched herself forward.

Abruptly, she was nestled in Enoch’s arms, embracing him tightly.

-Thump!

“…Esnos?”

Enoch was taken aback, a touch of bewilderment in his voice.

He called her name cautiously.

Esnos, however, didn’t respond.

Her face buried in Enoch’s chest, she spoke slowly, her voice muffled.

“…Originally. It wouldn’t have been that disciple, but me, by your side.”

“…”

“In the future I glimpsed, we were always like this, joined together. When we first went to the guild, when the Pankratos opened, when we stopped the monster, when we thwarted the Golden Magician, when we met the Emperor. Wherever we went, we stuck together, inseparable.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. It was. I only caught glimpses, but I can say it with certainty. We were originally destined to be connected.”

Esnos spoke with a soft laugh.

Her tone held a playful undercurrent.

Enoch chose his words carefully.

The pronouncements of a mage who could read the future.

There was little room for his own thoughts to intrude.

“I saw many amusing sights as well. People around us nagging us to separate. Or pointing out that we’d eventually just meld together. The Guild Master, perhaps because he’s unable to marry, would gnash his teeth whenever he saw us.”

“…Amusing, certainly.”

“It wasn’t just that. There were also times when people who were fond of you were jealous and envious of me.”

“…Jealous?”

“Yes. Maybe three? Four? Especially your student, he was quite fearsome. I barely had any time alone with you because of him. Sometimes the way he glared at me, it wasn’t ordinary. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to stab me with a knife when he got the chance.”

Esnos mimed stabbing with a knife.

She plunged it, again and again, into Enoch’s stomach.

It was a terribly chilling story.

Enoch shook his head.

“…Surely he wouldn’t have done that.”

“Well, one never knows what the future holds.”

Esnos giggled.

She buried her face in his chest, nuzzling her cheek.

The black and white hair swayed with her smile.

“…By the way.”

A moment later.

Esnos’ laughter ceased.

She belatedly unwound the embrace.

Enoch had no chance to hold her.

Soon, she had put some distance between them.

The fleeting smile had vanished without a trace.

“…All of that, it’s become an impossible future now, hasn’t it.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for hugging you. Maybe it’s because I look into the future so often. For a moment, your image, it overlapped with what I saw in the future.”

“…It’s alright. This much is nothing.”

“Gasp. Does that mean you’ve held many women before?”

“That was not my meaning.”

Enoch turned serious.

It was a rare occurrence.

Esnos chuckled softly, opening her mouth to speak again.

A wistful smile played on her face.

“Enoch.”

“Yes.”

“As I said before, I am not the one who can answer your questions. I hardly know anything to begin with. All I can tell you is one thing: at the place written on that note, there awaits a presence, expecting you.”

Esnos said this, twirling a finger.

A movement that mimicked the hands of a clock.

Each time her finger tilted, like a second hand, her presence faded a little more.

She was starting to make her exit.

“I came here today for two purposes. The first was to inform you of that. The second was to meet you in person.”

“…And what are your impressions of meeting me in person? Were you satisfied?”

“Yes. Indeed, I can see why the future me would fall for you. Especially, I like that you’re handsome.”

“…I’m honored.”

“Your cock looks big too.”

“……”

Enoch fell silent.

He simply had no words.

Esnos chuckled and spun her finger again.

The second hand tilted forward.

Her form began to blur.

As the present shifted into the future, the past that had been was vanishing.

“Farewell. I doubt we’ll meet again.”

From within her fading silhouette.

Esnos offered her goodbyes.

This was, in effect, their last meeting.

The devouring of her existence was nearing its limit.

If they parted now, they likely wouldn’t see each other again.

“…Do not give up. I will find a way.”

“Hm? Time is not your domain, is it?”

“That doesn’t matter. I’m not one to be bound by such things.”

Indeed, Enoch’s demeanor was remarkably different.

He had no intention of giving up on the time mage.

It was different from when he hadn’t even seen her face.

Now that he understood the circumstances, he was determined to exert his power somehow.

“You, who has seen the future, must already know. From its very inception, my existence is an anomaly, defying common sense. Therefore, do not speak of common sense before me. Isn’t that so?”

“…”

“Worry not too much. I shall save you.”

A sincerity lay embedded within those calm words.

Esnos did not answer immediately.

She merely gazed at Enoch in silence.

Their eyes met before she knew it.

She remained lost in thought.

At length, a faint smile touched her lips.

“…The Iron Sorcerer.”

“Pardon?”

“Tender steel, is it? Indeed, a fitting epithet, I’d say. Uttering such embarrassing words with that rigid face.”

“…”

“You often hear the word ‘cringeworthy,’ don’t you?”

Esnos grinned slyly.

Enoch quietly averted his gaze.

To be consumed by one’s own persona was a wretched end, indeed.

But he did not know.

He should not have looked away.

Such a reaction was nothing more than choice prey.

In Esnos’ eyes, he became even more endearing.

Ultimately, she could not contain herself and burst into laughter.

-AHAHAHA!!

“Ah… well, thank you anyway. Childish as it is, it’s comforting.”

“…Think of it as you will.”

“Now you’re acting all huffy? I’ll etch it into my heart for now. I’ll try to hold on as long as possible, so come and save me someday. And prepare more lines just as embarrassing as these for then.”

“I think I’d be more at ease simply going to kill you.”

“That sounds nice, too. Rather romantic, in its own way.”

Esnos laughed and withdrew her hand.

Her existence shifted into the past.

The vanished past dissolved from the present.

“Farewell. Sorcerer of Iron. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

Her final utterance.

It resonated from the past, not the present.

A sentence conveyed through memory, not voice.

“…”

Enoch quietly savored her words.

And then, as if exhaling, he responded softly.

“Farewell. Sorceress of Time. And…”

Let us meet again.

Enoch trailed off mid-sentence.

There was no need to utter it aloud.

His final sentiment.

For the one who would hear it no longer existed in the present.

@

Enoch descended from the rooftop and made his way to the ward.

Lacrimas was already awake, sitting up in bed.

Her face held a dazed expression.

The effects of the medicine seemed to linger.

“Doctor…”

“What is it?”

“I had a strange dream.”

“A dream?”

“Yes. A very strange dream.”

Lacrimas mumbled vacantly.

Repeating the word “dream” over and over.

Enoch pulled a chair over and sat beside the bed.

He asked in a gentle tone,

“What sort of dream was it?”

“Well… that…”

“It’s alright. Speak your piece.”

“It was a dream where someone…kissed me.”

“……”

“A strange dream where they passed water into my mouth, like that…”

Lakrina’s voice trailed off.

Before she knew it, her fingers were twisting together.

It was unavoidable, really.

Dreams were, after all, the realm of delusion.

To speak of it so plainly felt a little too…shameless.

And yet, her mouth wouldn’t stop.

It was almost eerie to Enoch.

As if to hammer a nail into the coffin, she continued the dream’s tale.

“It was incredibly…rough. I could barely breathe.”

“…I see.”

“That’s not all. They grabbed my head, pulled me in so I couldn’t escape… honestly, it felt far too real.”

“……”

He hadn’t gone that far.

Enoch forcibly swallowed the words that threatened to spill out.