Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Gift
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The Academy was certainly spacious.
The path to the dorms was well-maintained.
The streetlights, on in the dead of night, had a certain ambiance.
There were hardly any students in sight.
"They say anyone who can use mana is classified as an Awakener."
"Yeah."
We talked as we walked.
It's been a long time since I've done something like this.
Looking back on everything that's happened, just having a normal conversation like this felt strange.
"And you used mana too, Seo-ah."
"Mhm."
The scene of me attacking Han Si-hoo replayed in my mind.
There was no way I could have won.
The cold night air cleared my head.
I kept thinking about being stabbed.
I lightly traced the spot where the wound had been, over my clothes.
How long am I going to keep checking?
There's nothing wrong with it.
"Ms. Lee Yoo-ram said you were an Awakener, but..."
Am I really an Awakener?
The doctor said it was a drug that could make you Awaken.
He said the ability wouldn't just disappear if I stopped taking the drug.
Right?
"Do you think you can still use mana? Or a skill?"
"I don't know."
I'd asked the drug to do things for me, but I'd never tried to control mana myself.
It just sounds so abstract.
What even is mana?
And what's a skill?
In novels, mana was something anyone could wield.
Why shouldn't I be able to?
Turns out, I couldn't.
I tried to feel something in my body, but I couldn't recall the sensation from when I used the doctor's drug.
"It's not working."
Nothing's happening.
I feel like it would work if I just had the drug the doctor gave me.
That stuff that comes out like black smoke.
If only I had that drug.
Dear drug, please, anything.
Make something happen.
It's no use.
No matter if I begged the drug or what, nothing came out.
Not that I was going to pull out a knife and go wild here.
"Yeah, it's not working."
"I see."
"Yeah."
Getting into the Academy and all that... it's too much for me.
That's how it is.
There are so many people who want to become Awakeners.
When you think about it, aren't I blessed just for having used mana even once?
Han Si-hoo looked a little troubled.
Is it a problem that I'm not an Awakener?
Did he hope I'd be able to control my abilities well?
I'm not sure.
"But even so... can I still get into the Academy?"
"Probably."
That's strange.
Even though it seems I'm not an Awakener.
"It's amazing."
Right, the Academy, even though I'm not an Awakener.
If I use the doctor's drug, I can pretend to be one.
But not with the drug the Academy gave me.
"The Academy... when does it start?"
"The High School Division entrance ceremony is in a month. Until then, you'll be in the dorms over here."
"Ah."
"I think you'll be assigned a new dorm before the ceremony. Let's stay together until then."
On the way to the dorm, we couldn't shake the strange, awkward atmosphere.
We definitely weren't the type to keep our distance.
If anything, we were too close.
It's because so many strange things happened.
I don't know if 'strange' is even the right word for it all.
Lost in such thoughts, we arrived at the dormitory building.
Building A, third floor.
Room 308.
The dorm looked like a hotel.
Building A is housing for the Academy's top-ranking students.
"This is my room."
Han Si-hoo's dorm was neat and tidy, right from the entrance.
Just as I'd imagined.
I never thought I'd come here.
"...Wow."
It's so much better than my house.
The dorm definitely feels like a place for people to live.
Are the facilities on par with a hotel?
As expected of a national institution for nurturing elites.
"You can sleep here. I'll... be in the living room right next door."
There was one room with a bed.
And a television.
It really is like a hotel.
Han Si-hoo's personal belongings were barely visible.
Just a few uniforms hanging on the wall.
"If you want to wash up, you can do it here. As for clothes... they're mine, but I haven't worn them, so you can just wear anything from that cabinet."
A cabinet inside the bathroom.
A white shirt and black shorts in a plastic wrapper.
It looked like the standard issue clothing from the Academy.
They were definitely new.
The size is a bit big, but it looks okay.
"Towels are over there. Call me if you need anything."
I should probably wash up.
"Okay. Thanks."
Inside the bathroom, the shower was in a separate stall.
Not bad.
A shower.
It's been a while.
Water poured down over my head.
It was warm.
My reflection in the mirror was the same as always.
I'd seen it so many times I felt nothing.
Why are there so many scars?
The bruises look bad.
This is why I need to take my medicine properly.
I felt a little pathetic, like a drenched dog.
Well, in terms of basic necessities, my life might have been similar to a stray's.
As long as I have the drug, none of it matters.
There are too many needle marks on my arms.
I wanted to smash the mirror, but I held back.
Once I changed, I didn't look too bad.
The short-sleeved t-shirt revealed a lot of my scars.
I guess there's no need to hide them inside.
Han Si-hoo already knows everything anyway.
"Si-hoo?"
"Yeah?"
Han Si-hoo was in the living room, organizing the medicine.
"Do you have any bandages?"
My arms will probably draw attention.
I don't really want that.
"No. I'll buy some tomorrow along with some clothes. Let me know if you need anything else."
"No, it's fine. Thanks."
It was too late to go out now.
It was 3 AM.
[6 hours, 23 minutes]
The drug's effect was just enough for me to barely fall asleep.
I wish I could take it one more time.
To help the wounds heal faster, too.
"Can I use the drug?"
"You used it 30 minutes ago, so..."
"But I need it for my wounds to heal."
"Wounds?"
"Yeah. Like this."
I lifted my shirt.
I showed him the bruise on my abdomen.
Maybe because of the drug, the bruise had faded a bit since last time.
"Ah."
Han Si-hoo looked away.
Why is he so flustered?
I'm just showing him where I'm hurt.
Doesn't he want to check the wound?
......I see.
It took me a moment to realize.
Then again, I'd probably be flustered too if a girl suddenly lifted her shirt in front of me.
And since I'm not wearing a bra, it's probably even more so.
Aren't we friends?
I guess this can happen.
Out of consideration for Han Si-hoo, I pulled my shirt back down.
I hadn't thought anything of it.
"A-anyway, it's too soon now."
"Okay."
[6 hours, 22 minutes]
This much time is still okay, I guess.
I'm not in a terrible mood, either.
Late dawn.
Or is it early dawn?
I tried to forget the sticky past.
I think I can sleep now.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
"Can I watch that?"
I said, pointing to the television.
"Watch as much as you want."
Han Si-hoo brought over the remote and showed me how to use it.
It was a television I recognized.
I could also watch videos produced by the Academy itself.
Like an introductory video for the Academy.
There were movies, too.
[6 hours, 21 minutes]
Time began to melt away.
It's fun, watching it after so long.
Even the commercials are interesting.
There's even a commercial selling medicine for cheap.
Not the kind I use, though.
Sleep wouldn't come.
[2 hours, 18 minutes]
So I'm still staring at the screen.
The television.
It would have been nice to have one at home.
No, what would have been the point?
The power was so unreliable it was hard to even use my phone.
Later on, I sold everything because I was short on money.
"...It's off."
The screen was dark.
Was it a dream?
Did I fall asleep?
[2 hours, 17 minutes]
"The drug..."
I feel bad about waking Si-hoo.
He's probably sleeping in the living room.
My fever seems to have gone down while I was resting.
I didn't fall asleep lying on the bed.
I just fell asleep sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed while watching television.
But for some reason, I'm on the bed now.
Did Si-hoo move me, or did I get up here myself?
I don't know.
The clock on the wall said 7 o'clock.
It was morning.
"Si-hoo?"
The bedroom door was slightly ajar.
I went out to the living room and found Han Si-hoo sleeping against the wall.
Isn't that uncomfortable?
He must have been tired.
Yesterday was exhausting in so many ways.
I caused him too much trouble.
The vial and syringe were nowhere to be seen.
I think I know where he put them, but still.
I'll have to wake Si-hoo to use them.
"...Si-hoo?"
I whispered his name.
He didn't wake up.
He must have been really exhausted.
It's fine, I don't need the drug that urgently.
I helped him lie down on the floor and put a pillow under his head.
Covering him with a blanket finished the job.
He didn't stir.
I watched him sleep for a little while.
It was a lazy morning.
This place has an air purifier, an air conditioner, and a heater.
The environment is so good it's bewildering.
So this is an Academy dorm.
I think they said I'd become an Academy student, too.
I pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table.
There's a refrigerator, too.
I wonder if I can open it.
I wasn't hungry yet; I was still half-asleep.
*Knock, knock.*
There was a knock at the door.
Thinking I might have imagined it, I listened again.
*Knock, knock.*
It was a quiet knock.
It seemed considerate, as if not to wake the person inside.
Si-hoo didn't wake up.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
It was definitely someone.
I got up from my seat to open the door.
Maybe it was a delivery.
My clothes?
No problem.
The clothes are a bit big, but whatever.
If I put my arms behind my back, the scars won't show.
"Yes."
Coming.
I said it too quietly.
They probably couldn't hear me from out there.
I was being careful not to wake Si-hoo.
*Click.*
With the sound of the doorknob turning, sunlight streamed in.
Standing in front of the door was a girl with long, braided black hair.
Seeing her uniform, she was an Academy student.
Two sword sheaths were slung across her back.
"S-Si-hoo. This is to say thank you..."
She saw me and stopped, flustered.
She took a step back and checked the dorm number.
"...Huh?"
She had an expression like five question marks were popping up over her head.
In her hand, she held a white paper bag.
It seemed to be a gift for Si-hoo.