Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Better Medicine
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On the fourth day.
After evening had passed, the doctor entered the house.
"Truly remarkable self-control. I thought you would have used up all the medicine by now."
The doctor said with admiration.
The vial still held about half of the blue liquid.
Since I had always administered it at the exact right time, it was true that my self-control was exceptional.
"Well then, it's time to go congratulate Si-hoo on his graduation."
"Congratulate?"
"This is a precious moment, Miss Seo-ah, as you become an Awakener."
"Woooow."
[7 hours 7 minutes]
Perhaps because I had just taken another dose, I felt quite good.
It was time to go see Han Si-hoo again.
Even after several days, my anger toward Han Si-hoo had, strangely, not subsided.
It was probably because I kept eating the food the doctor brought.
The doctor rummaged through his black bag and took something out.
I always thought it, but... black clothes, a black bag... he really seemed to love matching everything in black.
"By the way, Doctor, why do you always wear black clothes?"
"They make me harder to see at night like this."
"Are you a criminal?"
No wonder he came and went from my house as if it were his own, even though no robbers ever broke in.
He was a criminal with a sense of professionalism.
"I am a doctor."
The doctor replied curtly and organized his bag.
A black vial sat on the table.
Sure enough, this was black too.
I had no idea how much he loved the color black.
"This is a medicine produced with a new technology called magical engineering. It's used to awaken the qualities of an Awakener."
The doctor said, looking at the black glass vial in his hand.
He seemed to have immense pride in his medicine.
"If I take that medicine, can anyone become like an Awakener?"
"Based on our experiments so far... no. Becoming an Awakener artificially is only possible if one has a certain degree of potential."
"Ah."
"Miss Seo-ah, you have potential. I can roughly tell."
"How?"
"I can tell because I am a doctor."
"I see."
I wondered what kind of potential I had.
The ability to see a status window in my vision?
[7 hours 5 minutes]
I could still see something now.
How many people could see things like this in their field of vision?
Thinking about it that way, it certainly seemed like I had potential.
"This is a medicine prepared for someone as full of potential as you, Miss Seo-ah. We intend to use the best medicine we currently have."
"The best medicine?"
"Yes. If you had been so addicted to the drug that you couldn't even control your own body, we wouldn't have given you the good medicine."
Did the existence of a good medicine mean there was also a bad one?
So even medicines were graded.
"Don't very sick people need good medicine?"
"For someone who cannot overcome addiction, even the best medicine becomes a poison. It is right to give it only to people like you, Miss Seo-ah."
"I see."
So only people like me needed the good medicine.
Of course, I was confident that I would never get addicted to some drug.
To get better quickly, one needs good medicine.
But thinking about it, this wasn't medicine to make my body better.
He said it was a medicine to become an Awakener, right?
Something felt off, but my head wasn't working right.
I tried to recall the contents of the novel, but it was difficult.
It had been this way ever since I started taking the blue medicine.
Well, I figured things would work out one way or another.
I just had to trust and follow the doctor.
There hadn't been any problems so far.
"I'm telling you again, but this is a very important matter."
"Yes."
"I also explained that the medicine is quite addictive. Well, I'll continue to provide it for you, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Yeees."
There was nothing to worry about.
Even if I worried, nothing would change.
"I'm about to administer the medicine now. Do you have any questions?"
The doctor said as he took a sealed syringe from his bag.
"Um, what happens when the effects wear off?"
"Pardon?"
"Without the medicine, do I go back to being a normal person?"
"No. This is a good medicine, after all. You might just feel like you want more of it."
"Wow, then it's really good, isn't it?"
"Indeed, it is."
Had taking the medicine turned my brain into a field of flowers?
Every thought was a happy one.
I could only see a rosy future.
It felt like I was becoming an Awakener, just like the students at the Academy.
"Then will I be able to attend the school like Han Si-hoo?"
"...For now, I recommend you go and have a deep conversation with Mr. Si-hoo."
"But I'm still angry. I don't know why, but..."
"That's normal."
The doctor continued with his vague answers, then filled the syringe with the medicine.
The liquid was black, like ink.
What in the world was this medicine? Not only was the vial black, but the medicine inside was black too.
"You are very kind, Miss Seo-ah."
"Me?"
"If you weren't so kind and innocent, it would have been difficult for me to do something like this."
"Huh?"
Was he saying I was sick because I was kind and innocent?
Was that why I had to take medicine?
I suppose that could be possible.
[6 hours 57 minutes]
I checked the remaining time.
How much time would this injection add?
I hoped the effects would last a long time.
I didn't like getting multiple shots.
"Please lift your neck a little."
*Plunge.*
The needle pierced my neck.
This was the first time he'd injected it into my neck.
Something strangely hot flowed through my veins.
My vision seemed to widen.
My five senses grew sharper.
The doctor pulled the needle out.
[103 hours 2 minutes]
The duration of the effect had increased dramatically.
I felt a sense of omnipotence.
It felt like I could do anything.
"Are you all right?"
"Ah...?"
The words wouldn't come out right.
"You seem fine."
"Hhngh... Hih..."
A moan escaped my lips.
It felt like someone was rummaging through my mind.
It was a feeling I had never experienced before.
All my senses were amplified, transforming into pleasure.
Sight, sound, touch, even the smell of the air and the taste of dust.
Everything was new.
"Then let's depart. Go and show Mr. Si-hoo your healthy self."
"Okaay!"
"We will use a transfer gate to get to the Academy."
"Heeeh..."
"In your current state, you may not fully comprehend what I'm saying, but I'll explain anyway. Infiltrating the Academy is no easy task. We used monsters to destroy the necessary areas in advance."
"Heehee."
"Planting many traitors in the Academy was the right call. It would be wonderful if we could eliminate Han Si-hoo, lauded as the world's hope, here today."
I wasn't particularly interested in what the doctor was saying.
The sensations I was feeling right now were just too blissful.
Could anything be more important than that?
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
Enjoying myself?
Honestly, that word couldn't even begin to describe it.
I nodded my head eagerly in response.
"It will be even more enjoyable when you fight."
"......Why?"
"Everyone else said so. You will too, Miss Seo-ah. Especially since you've taken a military-grade supplement."
I felt good enough as I was, but it could get even more enjoyable?
Then I had to go fight.
But who was I supposed to fight again?
"Remember. You are to kill Han Si-hoo."
"Yes, yes, sir."
"Good. Well done. I will open the gate."
*Fwoosh!*
The space before my eyes distorted.
A portal.
Yes, this is what they call a portal.
"It is a device that allows for instantaneous travel to the Academy. Please wait just a moment for it to fully open."
"Woooow..."
The distortion of space, felt with senses enhanced by the medicine.
It was an experience no one else could have had.
I wished this feeling would last just a little longer.
[100 hours]
Fortunately, there was a tremendous amount of time left.
If just a few minutes could make me this happy, then 100 hours?
"It should be safe to enter now."
The portal was complete.
It looked just like a portal you'd see in a video game.
If I stepped in here, I would be instantly transported to the other side.
"Transference itself is an advanced technique that monsters use to cross over to this side. There are very few people who can replicate it."
The doctor said, extending a hand to me.
Was he telling me to take it?
"Hehe."
Holding his hand, I felt like I was going on a picnic as a child.
I think I'd been a little anxious before the shot, but now I was just happy.
I followed the doctor into the portal.
It was incredibly dark.
Then, a faint light appeared again.
"We've arrived."
"Woooow..."
In the blink of an eye, we had moved somewhere else.
Beyond the trees, I could see the Academy buildings.
I looked back, but the portal we had come through was already gone.
"The Academy may be built in the heart of the city, but it's backed by a forest and a small mountain. It's designed to be advantageous for students going out for practical training."
Looking around, I saw we were in a forest.
No, it was more like a flat area with some trees planted.
So this was a training area.
How fascinating.
Breathing in the clear air among the trees made me feel...?
This wasn't clear air.
It tasted burnt.
Still, this too felt good in its own way.
"A burnt taste? Fire?"
"Yes, fire. We also sent fire-type monsters into the Academy."
"Ah..."
Looking closely, I could see smoke rising from the buildings.
Something was burning.
"Han Si-hoo is coming from over there."
"Huh?"
I turned my head in the direction the doctor was pointing.
Han Si-hoo was approaching, a sword in his hand.
With my sharpened senses, I could see him in considerable detail, even from a great distance and in the dark.
White hair.
It was true that even his hair color changed when he drew out his power.
"Mr. Si-hoo seems to think that catching me will solve all his problems. Though I did intentionally lead him this way."
The doctor muttered to himself and walked with me in front of him.
I didn't know the way, but I was overflowing with confidence.
"Miss Seo-ah. You remember, don't you? You are to kill Han Si-hoo."
"Yeees."
He was running faster now, so it seemed Han Si-hoo had noticed us.
Though they were farther away and harder to see, I could make out a few other people following in Han Si-hoo's wake.
A light flashed.
Soon, the protagonist's form was revealed.
"How dare you pull a stunt like this...?"
Han Si-hoo, who had been saying something to the doctor, stopped mid-sentence and stared at me.
He seemed flustered.
He probably never expected to see me here.
We said we shouldn't see each other again, but here we were.
"Good evening."
The doctor took the opportunity to offer a polite greeting.
Of course, the protagonist did not return the greeting.
"—You took a hostage."
Han Si-hoo's voice was low and menacing.
He sounded angry.
"A hostage? Me, a hostage? Of course not. Miss Seo-ah came here because she wanted to."
The doctor gently stroked my head as I stood quietly in front of him.
*Pat, pat.*
"Ehehe."
Oh, this felt better than I expected.
My enhanced sense of touch was adding to the pleasure.
I hoped he would do it more.
"......You, what did you do to Seo-ah?"
Han Si-hoo asked with a dazed expression.
He looked shocked.