Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: A Better Medicine
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Tell me what the hell you just did."
The way you say that makes it sound like something happened to me.
It's making me feel weird.
"I haven't done anything."
"Brainwashing?"
Han Si-hoo continued his wild guessing.
Good grief, brainwashing?
Of course, I can understand being suspicious if your close childhood friend suddenly starts acting strange.
But it wasn't sudden, was it?
I’d been strange for a long time, you just failed to notice.
"I merely prescribed her a suitable medicine."
"...A drug?"
"Sometimes, patients in critical condition must be administered narcotic drugs. Isn't that right, Miss Seo-ah?"
"Yes."
I am a critical patient.
Without the medicine, I would have quietly died alone.
[99 hours 45 minutes]
There was still plenty of time left on the dose.
I'm happy.
It feels like my five senses are on fire.
Everything I see looks like an entertaining movie, and even the burnt smell in the air tastes delicious.
"You son of a bitch."
Han Si-hoo bit his lip.
He seemed unable to attack recklessly, perhaps because I was there.
He must be flustered, being taken hostage after always facing his enemies head-on.
Of course, I'm no hostage.
"If your friend was so precious to you, you should have protected her better. This is how you learn your lesson, through suffering."
Right, you should have protected me better.
"..."
Han Si-hoo has this conviction that he must protect everyone.
A conviction befitting a protagonist.
And yet, he abandoned his childhood friend.
Why did he do that?
If he was going to protect everyone, why did he throw Yoo Seo-ah away?
Was it because she was a nuisance?
Or did he just get tired of her?
She was the only friend who remembered him from his childhood, so why couldn't he protect her?
"Ah, but you said you weren't friends anymore. Well, I suppose that's that."
We cut ties for five million won.
So I guess we really aren't friends.
Han Si-hoo was just upholding his convictions.
As expected of the protagonist.
"Let Seo-ah go right now. Or else-"
"Haha, by all means."
The doctor's hand, which had been on my shoulder, fell away.
He let go, so what now?
The situation didn't change much.
I just stood still in my spot.
It was ridiculous.
Does Han Si-hoo think I'm on his side?
A hostage brought by the doctor?
That couldn't be further from the truth.
"I'd love for you two to have a heart-to-heart, but unfortunately, Miss Seo-ah seems to be having a little trouble speaking because of the medicine."
The doctor said.
"Shut up."
Han Si-hoo must think the doctor did something to me.
Does he really think the doctor is the reason I can't speak?
"Heh."
A strange laugh escaped me.
For some reason, the words wouldn't come out right, and my tongue felt twisted as if I were drunk.
Still, I felt I could speak if I really tried.
"Seo-ah, come here."
Han Si-hoo called out to me.
"Hmm?"
"Yes, Miss Seo-ah. You can go to Si-hoo."
"Okay."
I replied and started walking toward Si-hoo.
With each step, a murderous intent boiled within me.
"Miss Seo-ah. You remember what I said, don't you?"
"Yesss~"
That's right.
Everything is the protagonist's fault.
He said if I kill the protagonist, I can keep getting this medicine.
I must kill Han Si-hoo.
I must kill him.
How?
By becoming an Awakener.
By taking the medicine.
If I was worried about addiction, it's already too late.
If possible, I want to live my whole life high on this medicine.
So what if I get labeled a drug addict?
There's no reason to care what others think.
This is exhilarating.
I want to kill Han Si-hoo.
I feel an inexplicable sense of omnipotence.
Of course, logically, I can't become all-powerful, but I felt a new confidence that I could do things I'd never even imagined before.
"Han Si-hoo."
I paused mid-stride and called the protagonist's name.
"...Seo-ah?"
"Is it fun, being the protagonist all by yourself? Haha."
I tried to hold back my laughter, but I couldn't.
This is fun.
So much fun.
I don't think I've ever been this keyed up since coming to this world.
My five senses are so heightened it feels like I can even read the other person's thoughts.
Even if not their thoughts, I can at least see the emotions they're feeling.
Han Si-hoo was clearly anxious.
"Seo-ah, you're not yourself because of the drug. Let's go together. You'll be fine once you get treatment."
But I was already getting treatment.
And I'm perfectly normal.
In fact, I'm more than just fine; I'm in a state of joy and bliss.
"...I'm perfectly sane."
My mind is clearer than it has ever been.
Everything I see, hear, and sense comes to me with sharp clarity.
And I want to kill the Han Si-hoo standing before me.
He's been grating on my nerves for a while now.
I feel like I could fight him, no problem.
I can kill him.
Surely I'm not stupid enough to risk my life charging at the protagonist, right?
You can call me stupid. I don't care.
My heart is pounding in anticipation of a fight, and it feels good.
Awakener, protagonist, it doesn't matter.
With this medicine, I can do anything.
Can I kill him?
Even high on this drug, I'm in my right mind.
I won't act as foolishly as the Yoo Seo-ah in the novel.
I can fight properly.
"Seo-ah. Snap out of it."
Han Si-hoo stood with his sword held steady.
I wish I had one of those.
A strong, cool weapon.
What I admired was the protagonist, who cut down his enemies with a cool weapon.
Not the battered and broken Yoo Seo-ah.
It's better to just crush everything that gets in the protagonist's way.
I was never interested in the story of a tragic childhood friend in the first place.
I want to be the protagonist.
So...
Oh, medicine,
please grant me a sword as well.
And then, a sword appeared.
*Flash!*
A black sword was in my hand.
An ominous black energy swirled around it.
"What the?"
Han Si-hoo was stunned.
He must find it strange that a sword just appeared in my hand.
Would he believe me if I said the medicine made it?
"Black mana...?"
Han Si-hoo muttered something.
"Haha, it seems Miss Seo-ah wants to fight you, Si-hoo. I'll go deal with the pests, so please, have your little chat."
The doctor said that and then disappeared somewhere.
He probably went to deal with the people from the Academy who were following Han Si-hoo.
I swung the sword the medicine had created.
The blade blended well into the dark evening landscape.
*Slice.*
I swung the blade toward where Han Si-hoo had been standing just a moment before.
All I cut was an innocent sapling.
Was it planted by an Academy staff member?
It didn't take much effort to cut it down, so the blade must be incredibly sharp.
"Yoo Seo-ah, put that down."
"Hee."
*Swoosh.*
This time, the sword split a mound of dirt.
I'm just a normal person, so I've never learned swordsmanship.
More fundamentally, the problem is my severe lack of physical ability.
But there's no need to worry.
The medicine will solve all my problems.
"Because I have the medicine."
"Huh?"
"It's fine."
A black aura enveloped my body.
This is what they call mana.
The color of the mana an individual wields varies greatly.
Perhaps because I took a black medicine, black mana now drifted around me.
The basic power that all Awakeners can handle.
The greatest difference that separates a normal person from an Awakener.
Even the sword in my hand was made entirely of mana.
What happens when mana covers the body?
According to the novel, you gain a nice ability called physical enhancement.
*Crack!*
The sword I swung grazed the base of a tree.
My form was clumsy, but I was faster.
I saw Han Si-hoo's expression darken.
"Ahahat."
The doctor was right when he said fighting would be even more fun.
This medicine must be from a military organization; its effects are incredible.
It seems to have a synergy with the medicine that makes you an Awakener, too.
My body instinctively craved a fight.
*Clang.*
Han Si-hoo's sword easily blocked mine.
Even with mana enhancement, I was overpowered.
Is it because he's the protagonist?
Or maybe it's because Yoo Seo-ah has never fought before.
"Sorry, just bear with it for a moment."
Han Si-hoo struck my arm with the hilt of his sword.
*Crack.*
"Ah?"
A breaking sound came from my arm.
Did it really break?
I dropped the sword I was holding.
The dropped sword flew through the air and embedded itself in the dirt.
*Thud.*
Then I was pushed to the ground.
A small cloud of dust rose up.
"Hah..."
Even falling felt good.
Even the pain was converted into a different kind of pleasure before it reached my brain.
It wouldn't have been strange if I had passed out when my arm broke, but I could smile as if nothing had happened.
"I'm sorry."
"Ahat."
"I should have realized when you started acting strange."
"Ahaha."
Honestly, it would have been too late even if you had noticed then.
Not that it matters now.
All I can think about is wanting to use more of the medicine.
[83 hours 12 minutes]
A lot of time had flown by, probably because I was using the medicine's power.
Han Si-hoo wrecking my right arm probably had something to do with it, too.
I'm torn.
Fighting makes the medicine's effects wear off faster.
But if I kill Han Si-hoo, I get a lifetime supply of the medicine for free.
"Hah, not yet."
My resolve to kill Han Si-hoo was rekindled.
I don't care if the current effects diminish a little.
The pleasure I got from fighting was immense.
It feels like fireworks are going off in my head.
*Fwoosh!*
Mana shot out from my left hand, which wasn't broken yet.
A sword formed, slightly smaller and sharper than before.
"Tch!"
The protagonist twisted his body to dodge the blade.
Even though I was close, he avoided the attack without any trouble.
"Are you going to break this arm too?"
I asked, looking at my barely moving right arm.
If I can't use either arm, I'll have to wrap the bandages with my mouth.
"..."
"No?"
He's not going to break it?
Good for me, then.
"Put the sword down. There's no reason for us to fight."
The protagonist said, backing away slightly.
It's true that there doesn't seem to be any reason for us to fight.
To be honest, my mind is so hazy from the medicine that I don't really know what's what anymore.
Though a murderous intent is burning inside me.
"Ahaha."
I approached Han Si-hoo, holding the sword in my left hand.
I know.
With Han Si-hoo's skills, he could cut down anything within this range.
But he can't bring himself to do it.
It's not that he can't kill people.
Han Si-hoo has killed people before.
He just can't bring himself to strike his childhood friend.
"I'm sorry... I'll save you soon."
He's saying strange things.
If you want to save me, you should let me kill you.
As long as I have the medicine, everything will be fine.
"Are you going to give me medicine?"
"Huh?"
"No, you're not."
Then there's no reason not to fight.
You should fight with your sword, like a proper protagonist.
Han Si-hoo looked at me as if he couldn't understand.
Why is he looking at me with such guilt in his eyes?
I pity everyone who hasn't experienced this sensation.
If anyone took this medicine just once, they would be able to understand me.
"-Si-hoo!"
A woman's voice.
An audience has already arrived.
How annoying.