Chapter 16
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Syringe in the Pocket
I pulled the syringe from my pocket and jabbed it into my thigh.
Even after Han Ye-seo's wrist came off, Irene Rock didn't call off the spar.
A few Class A students nearby seemed to catch on to why.
'...It's an injury her ability can heal.'
She turns parts of her body into black ink.
The severed wrist turned into black ink and crawled back up her body.
Her hand regenerated in an instant.
Han Ye-seo opened her mouth.
"Even with a power like this, it still hurts like hell...?"
"Oh, really? Sorry."
"Fine, if that's how you wanna play it...!"
Dana fell deep in thought in front of the fuming Han Ye-seo.
After a moment, she tossed out a casual remark.
"Just genuinely curious, but... does your uniform regenerate too?"
"This is a uniform I made myself from my hair since I was a kid. It's part of my body."
"...So you're basically naked right now? Just covering yourself with hair?"
"Hey!"
The match started heating up.
I sank into my thoughts.
Even with an ability like that, she'd evaporated in an instant back in the previous loop.
I still couldn't wrap my head around it.
Did an ability exist that could wipe out 80% of someone's body in a single moment?
'The most logical suspicion is whatever's causing this déjà vu.'
No matter how I turned it over, this feeling wasn't coincidence.
Dana's Severance... it was way too similar to the situation when Han Ye-seo died.
Because it was an ability that set traps in thin air.
What if she layered them dozens of times in advance? What if she triggered them all at once? It'd act just like space itself evaporating.
Theoretically, it was entirely possible.
But there was no motive.
A vice-top student at the academy, socially successful, guaranteed a hero's life... and one of the main love interests in the game? A murderer?
It didn't add up.
If the game had dropped even a hint, the community would've torn it apart.
But there was nothing.
Rushing in without evidence would just backfire on me.
'Maybe just ask her straight up. Like I don't care if I die.'
Stupid idea.
I couldn't get complacent just because I could regress anyway!
I didn't want to die.
I didn't want to hurt.
Selfish, sure, but that's how it was.
I was scared, plain and simple.
Clap!
Irene Rock clapped her hands.
I jumped, snapping my gaze back to Han Ye-seo and Dana.
Han Ye-seo's palm covered Dana's face.
Anyone could see it was Han Ye-seo's win.
An ability that set traps favored first strike with prep time.
In a spar—the exact opposite—it was at a disadvantage.
The faster side claimed initiative, no time to prepare.
Even one trap in the air couldn't reliably take someone out.
And setting lethal traps in a spar defeated the purpose.
So Han Ye-seo's win wasn't really a win, and Dana's loss wasn't a true loss.
Everyone here was smart enough to get that.
The rankings—vice-top and third place—stayed the same.
It was just a matter of pride.
Dana ground her molars, breathing raggedly.
Han Ye-seo's black ink must've blocked her airways until now.
Irene Rock spoke up.
"Shake hands."
A cliché in academy stories: shake hands to let off steam after a spar.
But Dana clearly didn't want to.
She stared at Han Ye-seo's hand for a long beat, then spun on her heel and stormed out of the gym.
"...What a bitch."
Irene Rock muttered under her breath.
Han Ye-seo spoke.
"It's fine."
"Huh?"
"If I'd lost, I probably wouldn't have shaken hands either."
Irene Rock mulled that over, then nodded.
"Yeah, fair enough. We'll skip the lecture for now."
"...Huh?"
Lecture.
The word choice sent a chill down my spine.
What kind of lecture? Whipping backs? Spanking asses?
No way...
With the show over, students returned to their own training.
'Jealous. So jealous.'
My ability was just regression, while these guys hurled fire, water, and lightning through the air. Infuriatingly cool.
Why couldn't I get something badass like that?
Did it have to be this?
If you're giving regression, at least make items, drugs, or weapons easy to snag.
Spawn a hooded psycho in a back alley to slice off Han Ye-seo and my heads?
I didn't know the developer, but when I got back to the real world, I'd kill them...
'Totally screwed.'
No back alleys meant no items, except junk like steel pipes or plain swords.
I needed special effects.
Ones potent enough to hide my pathetic stats.
'Normally, item creation comes from enchanters—imbuing objects with power.'
Anyone in the academy with that...?
It rang a vague bell...
Not important? Why couldn't I remember?
Early-game character who turned into background air later, maybe.
My head throbbed.
Suddenly, someone called from behind.
"Ivy."
"Eek...!"
"You okay?"
"Huh? Yeah."
It was Ja-an.
I think I just made a weird noise.
No?
Yeah. Forget it quick.
I didn't squeak like some girl.
I smoothed my expression and spoke calmly.
"What's up?"
"You were frowning... something wrong?"
"Nah, it's nothing."
"What is it?"
"......"
"We're friends. You can talk to me."
To reiterate, Ja-an was the game's protagonist.
Zero tact, flirts with girls effortlessly without realizing, pure intentions...
Yeah. So this was just him genuinely worrying about a friend.
Damn him.
"My body's weak, right?"
"Yeah."
"Wondering if there's any gear or method to compensate."
"...Relics from the front lines?"
"Exactly."
Relics.
Items, but made by monsters, not ability users.
Existing objects warped by monster magic, or their organs refined into tools.
Wings that spewed fire, venomous fangs, scales too tough for blades—stuff like that.
'Solid option.'
But could I get one?
Ja-an hesitated, then spoke.
"Want me to get you one?"
"Huh? For real?"
"I know a guy. Can probably hook us up."
"That'd be awesome!"
"But... is it okay to use stuff like that in the academy?"
"Yeah. Already checked."
The protagonist and his party used them in spars.
Han Ye-seo's uniform counted as an item too, sort of.
'Clothes from her own hair.'
A bit creepy, but effective.
Better than going full nude every time the ink reverted.
"Thanks."
"No biggie... friends, y'know."
"Want something in return? Hate owing favors."
"Not helping for payback."
"Hmm... then I'll help you out when you need it. Deal?"
"Sounds good."
Ja-an grinned.
Handsome bastard.
Made me mad.
After scoring the relic promise, I was alone again.
A red light blinked in the corner of my vision.
Status Window.
[Warning!]
[Status Ailment: Drug]
[Respond within 24:00:00]
Side effects...
About time.
Not knowing what they'd be, I fiddled with the syringe in my pocket while glancing at Irene Rock.
Her sharp senses picked up on my stare.
She strode toward me.
Tensing, I spoke.
"...Can I head back to the dorm?"
"It's self-directed training, so sure."
"Not feeling well."
"Fine. Plenty of sessions anyway. Skipping one won't hurt."
"Thank you."
Once permitted, I bolted from the gym.
Straight to the dorm.
.
.
.
.
A drug affecting mind and memory.
What would the side effects be?
I was anxious.
I sprinted like a madman for about three minutes.
Finally back in the dorm.
Shut the door.
Slumped against it.
Legs gave out right as the door clicked.
Three minutes of running drained me dry.
"...Ah."
Something was coming.
Like thousands of ants crawling inside me, blood boiling hot in my veins...
Hands shaking uncontrollably.
Vision tinting red, then black-and-white. Flickering.
No, my vision wasn't black-and-white.
Colors were gone.
Vision didn't return.
Why did I think it came back when the world went grayscale?
Why?
Thirst.
A scorching thirst tore at my throat.
The ceiling collapsed, black hands strangling my neck.
Crawled to the fridge.
Opened it for water, but saw none. Or rather, this wasn't thirst water could quench.
I couldn't endure this.
I knew it.
I pulled the syringe from my pocket and jabbed it into my thigh.
Squeeze.
Held it down long.