Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Busted
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Busted.
She asks if Seo-ah might be alive.
If there's a chance to return to a normal life with Seo-ah.
Han Si-hoo isn't a bad student.
He understood exactly what they taught in school: that possibility always exists.
Tossing a coin ten times and getting heads every time.
It's possible.
Even if you increase it to a hundred times, it's possible.
A thousand times?
Possible.
Ten thousand times?
That's possible too.
The possibility of tossing a coin ten million or even hundreds of millions of times and getting all heads always exists.
It may be close to zero, but it isn't zero.
In a way, a miracle isn't a miracle.
It's just that the probability is astronomically low.
So, theoretically.
At least in theory, Seo-ah is still alive.
Or she could be saved.
If the chances are low, he could use his abilities to somehow increase them.
The very existence of Awakeners is already miraculous enough.
So, hope always exists.
*Bang.*
Was that a real gun the Doctor fired?
Did Seo-ah get shot?
What if it was all a hologram?
Neither the Doctor nor Seo-ah were found in the collapsed building.
So couldn't they actually be alive?
Such thoughts only occurred to him after the Purification penalty disappeared.
It's simple deduction.
The problem was, he couldn't be sure if the scenario where Seo-ah somehow survived was truly a good thing.
Because something like what was captured in this photo might have happened.
Is the photo real or fake?
If it's real, who took it and when?
And why did they decide to show this picture to Han Si-hoo himself? Questions arise.
Still, it would be better for Seo-ah to be alive than dead.
Ten million times better.
So, he wished this photo was fake, but at the same time, he wished it was real.
But even if this photo is real...
He still doesn't know if Seo-ah is alive.
"I think I have a rough idea."
Who's the one playing this game?
The Saintess.
He had no idea why she would do something like this.
"Uh...?"
The Saintess looks at me, bewildered.
An act.
But it's too clumsy.
Was she surprised because it wasn't the reaction she expected?
Han Si-hoo considers the best course of action.
He contemplates how much he should play along with the Saintess.
"Um, Si-hoo. What's that picture?"
He suppresses the urge to ask if she's really asking because she doesn't know.
What would be best?
Where should he go to dig information out of the Saintess?
"Right? What is this?"
He can't help the slight tremor in his voice.
Because he's angry.
His childhood friend is smiling while being stepped on. Honestly, he wants to interrogate the Saintess right this instant.
The Saintess still stands there as if she knows nothing.
Han Si-hoo thinks and thinks.
And reaches a conclusion.
"So, what is it?"
"...It's a bit hard to talk about it here."
The alley is too open.
And it's an awkward place to have a conversation.
Then where should they go?
The Academy is out, since the Saintess isn't a student.
The bookstore might have prying eyes.
"Oh, then?"
Let's go to the Saintess's house.
"How about we go to your place?"
"My place?"
To that place filled with information.
In truth, he plans to go in even if she refuses.
"Uh, oh? Uh... My house isn't... Ah, anyway, sure. Are we going now? It's a bit far."
"Yeah."
Where does the Saintess live again?
***
I got a house on the outskirts of the city.
It's a place where a new city development project failed in the past.
It's an area where almost no one lives.
About ten more blocks and it's no longer the city.
More importantly, I never thought I'd come home with Si-hoo.
Especially not today.
Before I knew it, we were at my front door.
"Um, can you wait a second? I'll just tidy up a bit."
The house needs cleaning.
"Okay."
Wow.
Si-hoo is at my house.
Si-hoo.
I unlock the door and go inside.
The place is clean.
It's just that there are things I'd rather not show him.
Like syringes, for instance.
*Thud.*
The door doesn't close.
I turn to see what's wrong and find Si-hoo holding the doorknob.
"Si-hoo?"
"......"
He looks like he has something to say.
"S-Si-hoo, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing much. I just have something I want to say."
"Huh?"
I feel uneasy.
Something's off.
*Slam.*
The door hits the wall.
Because Si-hoo pushed it all the way open.
"So, where did you get this picture?"
Huh?
It's the picture he found just a moment ago.
Is he asking me?
Where I got it from?
"Huh?"
What did Si-hoo just say?
My brain freezes.
"I know you're behind this."
He knows?
How?
Maybe Si-hoo was angry because of me.
Si-hoo is full of conviction.
Would he believe me if I said no?
"Why...?"
"I'm the one who wants to ask why."
"...T-That's, there's some misunderstanding."
"Right. If you're going to be like that."
Si-hoo takes another step closer.
"Ah, uh."
Busted.
Busted.
But I don't know how he found out.
Suddenly, I remember what Seol Ha-jin said.
That Han Si-hoo wasn't normal.
I think I'm starting to understand why he said that.
This isn't the Si-hoo I'm used to seeing.
He's intimidating.
*Thwack.*
Si-hoo grabs my shoulder.
"I'm begging you, just tell me everything now."
"Ah..."
"Please."
It is my fault.
Maybe I should have just told him everything from the beginning.
Tell him everything.
Why didn't I just tell him the truth sooner?
Because he might misunderstand and think I was the one who put Seo-ah in the lab.
Even if it wasn't me, she would have ended up being dragged off somewhere eventually.
"......"
How should I put it?
My mind goes blank.
"If you don't say anything, I'll find out on my own."
"W-Well... it's just..."
I just wanted to get closer to you.
You didn't seem to open up to anyone easily.
Thinking back, it was a pretty despicable method, wasn't it?
I guess so.
But it would be weird to just confess everything at this point.
"Answer me."
I can't speak.
I really don't know how I got caught.
I have to say something.
Anything.
"W-Well. She's already dead, she's already dead so..."
I blurted out that she was dead.
My head was such a mess, I just said whatever came to mind.
"......"
She's probably dead.
If she isn't, that's an even bigger problem.
"Explain the picture. Who took it, where, and why. And how you came to have it."
I don't really know either.
"It's data that came out when I raided a government facility. I thought she might be your friend, but I was too scared to just show it to you... I was curious about your relationship..."
"What are you talking about?"
"...Ah, I mean, the data said she was your friend, but there's no way your friend would be in a picture like this, right? So..."
"What..."
Si-hoo doesn't seem to understand either.
I covered a lie with another lie.
A moment of silence.
Si-hoo, who had been trying to come in, just stands there.
It would be bad if he came in.
Because I used the drugs last time and didn't clean up.
Actually, it's not just the drugs I didn't clean up...
The problem is I'm naturally a messy person.
The house is just dirty.
Ah, why did I invite him over?
No, Si-hoo must have intended to come here for this very reason.
Because he suspects me.
That makes sense.
"What do you mean, Seo-ah is dead?"
Si-hoo speaks again.
"...The data said she was already dead."
It's a plausible excuse.
"Where is this data?"
I can't read Si-hoo's expression.
"I threw it away..."
"Don't lie."
"......"
It is a lie.
I didn't mean for this to happen.
"I'm coming in."
"Ah, you can't come in."
I try my best to block him.
There's no need to go this far.
"Then tell me properly. What happened."
"I'm sorry... I..."
My head just hurts.
Why did it turn out like this?
Why.
Because I had such a useless idea.
Maybe I should use some drugs.
Si-hoo probably won't say much about the drugs anyway.
"Um... sorry, just come in. The house is a bit messy though."
If Si-hoo wants to come in, I can't stop him with my strength anyway.
I have no one to blame but myself.
I was still in a state of panic.
Doing weird things to Si-hoo.
This is why I hated people bringing up the past.
The first-aid kit with the drugs is in plain sight right by the entrance.
I was going to put it away, but I guess it can't be helped now.
I wonder if Si-hoo even believes me.
The trust is already broken.
"Sorry for acting weird. I'll tell you the truth, just give me a minute."
I should just live like I always do.
My relationship with Si-hoo is ruined.
Everything's ruined.
Well, Seo-ah and I are similar, really.
She just went down a slightly worse path.
First, I need to calm down with some drugs.
"What are you doing?"
Si-hoo grabs my arm.
"I think I'll be able to talk after taking some drugs."
"You have healing skills too. What kind of drugs are they?"
"I use them because I can heal."
"What?"
"I'm mostly fine no matter what I use. I just need to heal away the side effects."
That's right.
The epitome of convenience.
I can do anything.
"Want some? I can help you use it safely."
Si-hoo looks speechless.
He lets go of my arm.
That must mean he's letting me use the drugs.
I pick up the pen-like syringe and inject myself.
*Stab.*
The effects kick in immediately.
That's a bit better.
Since it's all ruined anyway, I might as well show him rock bottom.
"Where did you get the drugs?"
"...The lab."
The problem is, I'm getting a little drowsy.
"The lab?"
"Yeah."
"What happened?"
I've never properly told Si-hoo about my past.
No, not just Si-hoo, anyone.
"I think Seo-ah got her drugs from there too. Or maybe not."
"What are you talking about?"
"Anyway... the picture, the picture was..."
Trying to gauge his reaction with the photo was a mistake.
I did something I should be sorry for.
No, why did I do something so pointless?
When I used the drugs last time, I didn't use my self-heal skill.
So the effects kept lingering, and I think I made a strange choice.
I'm still a bit strange now.
It feels like I've gone back to the old days.
Looking at it this way.
"Ah, Seo-ah probably wasn't in that much pain. As long as she used the drugs properly, it wouldn't have hurt."
The drug is basically meant to reduce pain.
"......"
"So Seo-ah must have been happy, anyway. She's smiling in the pict-"
My vision spins.
*Thud.*
My head hurts.
I've fallen to the floor.
I can see the ceiling.
It seems Si-hoo didn't like what I said.
"As long as Seo-ah was okay, isn't everything fine? She probably never even thought she was unhappy."
I don't know what part made Si-hoo angry.
*Slam.*
"Ugh."
A foot stomped on my stomach.
He seems really angry.
Si-hoo opens his mouth.
"This looks a lot like the picture."
It does.
Is this how Seo-ah felt?
"Ughh..."
It's getting hard to breathe.
Feels like the oxygen is thinning.
Si-hoo continues.
"So what are you thinking now? Are you that happy?"
A voice laced with fury.
He wants me to be in Seo-ah's shoes.
An interesting experience.
If Si-hoo is curious.
My honest impression.
What I'm thinking.
"Yeah... it's fun. So... Seo-ah must have liked it too."
She was smiling while being stepped on, right?
Just like me.