Chapter 152: Drug Incident at the Academy (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 152: Drug Incident at the Academy (7)
The first thing Lee Yu-na saw when she regained consciousness was a pair of breasts.
They were of a size and shape that one could subtly brag about, perhaps by casually mentioning how stiff their shoulders felt.
Occasionally, when the breasts of the same sex caught her eye, an inexplicable sense of displeasure and annoyance would take over her heart. Apparently, now was one of those times.
“Ah, are you awake?”
The voice was flat, lacking much emotional inflection.
The woman looking down at her was quite beautiful, even from another woman’s perspective, but she possessed a certain decadent beauty.
She had a cigarette in her mouth, and the dark circles under her eyes were so prominent that it felt like a waste of the face she had been born with.
“If you had been any later, I was going to test out a Special Stimulant on you. What a shame.”
Late?
Only then could Lee Yu-na tear her eyes away from the woman’s chest and look around.
The room was equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and lined with beds, strongly reminiscent of a hospital, but this was likely the Academy’s infirmary.
Since the infirmary had better equipment than most private hospitals, there was no reason to move her elsewhere.
…Then is this person the Infirmary Professor? I heard rumors that she’s a total eccentric.
“Mhm, right. You seem clear-headed. Can I perform a few formal tests first?”
“Ah, yes.”
“First, do you remember exactly why you collapsed?”
Why? Ah, right. She had used an unfinished technique as a final desperate move during the Ranking Tournament and passed out.
“Yes, I believe it was during the Ranking Tournament.”
“Good. Do you remember if you’re right-handed or left-handed?”
“I’m ambidextrous, but if I had to choose, I use my right hand more often.”
“What do you have to do to use this ballpoint pen?”
“You press the trigger at the end.”
“Hmm, that’s a relief. It doesn’t seem like there’s any short-term memory loss or brain damage from the impact. I finished the mechanical scans, but the brain is delicate, so I have to do a few simple checks.”
What? Contrary to the rumors of her being a weirdo, she seems normal—at least when she’s doing her job.
“Mhm, sorry. I’ll finish up the questions now. It’ll be over soon, so bear with me.”
“Okay.”
“When was your first time with your boyfriend?”
“…Pardon?”
“And which one of the kids waiting outside is your boyfriend?”
I take it back. She really is a weirdo.
Yu-na’s face flushed red from a mix of intense displeasure and embarrassment.
“Mmm… seeing as you aren’t answering, your crisis detection ability is functioning fine. When there’s brain damage, patients often answer vacantly.”
…Is this really a standard test?
Whether she knew what Yu-na was thinking or not, the professor opened the infirmary door and spoke to those waiting outside.
“She’s awake, so you can come in. Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any problems.”
As soon as she stepped away from the door, a group of worried-looking students rushed in.
“Hey! Yu-na, are you okay!?”
“Yu-na! Look! Look at this! How many fingers am I holding up!?”
Han-hee and Ga-eul were the first to run over, expressing their concern with great exaggeration, but honestly, Yu-na didn’t feel that bad.
It wasn’t so much that she had collapsed from taking damage; it was more that she had run out of mana trying to use an incomplete technique.
“…It seems you’re perfectly fine, fortunately.”
“Indeed. We were even preparing to move you to a larger hospital if there was a problem.”
Cheon Yu-hak and Ju Ri-ra were there too. It seemed they had held on until the very end before collapsing after their opponents did.
What happened to the match?
Finally, two boys appeared from behind the door.
Lilac, looking at her with a worried face, and Kang So-hyun, who looked somewhat guilty.
…Why does he feel guilty? I did gamble at the end, but thanks to him, I was able to fight on equal footing until the mid-game.
“Man, why’d you fight so recklessly? You should’ve at least used a defense buff.”
Ah, she didn’t know how much he had seen, but he must have watched.
“So-hyun. Don’t call a sick person reckless.”
Lilac corrected him with a bitter smile.
“…Tsk, right. I was being too harsh. Sorry.”
My, he’s apologizing more honestly than I expected.
“No need to be sorry. You gave me information, but it’s true I fought frustratingly. In the end, I couldn’t even use the info and just gambled.”
“…Don’t say that. And I couldn’t even tell you about the drug they took mid-match.”
He probably thinks that if he hadn’t given me the information, this wouldn’t have happened.
He really is more soft-hearted than he looks.
* * *
I’m sorry, Yu-na.
I think I know what you’re thinking, but that’s not why I’m apologizing…!
Just before Lee Yu-na woke up, Aisha, who had regained consciousness earlier, had approached Lilac.
— I know. I have no intention of challenging you after such an ugly defeat. But that’s no reason for me to give up on you, is it?
She wasn’t just your average crazy bitch.
So, I blocked her path, intending to repel the lunatic.
I really was trying to help out of pure goodwill.
Our conversation afterward went like this:
‘…And who are you?’
‘Hey, this guy is taken, so why don’t you get lost and stop hitting on someone who’s already spoken for?’
‘Just because there’s a goalkeeper doesn’t mean you can’t score, right? I’ll let it slide because you have a pretty face, but I’d prefer if you didn’t interfere.’
‘No, some people use that analogy, but what you’re doing isn’t being a striker in a soccer match; it’s robbery. If you see a beautiful vase that already has an owner and you just walk up and take it, isn’t that being a criminal?’
‘Is it a crime to make the vase fall for me and come to me on its own?’
Communication was impossible.
‘Ah, my. I was being so dense. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were speaking in riddles.’
She suddenly said that, making me feel incredibly uneasy.
‘You must have taken a liking to me, haven’t you? Although I need to focus on Mr. Lilac right now, I’ll deal with you once I’m finished. Your height is a bit disappointing, but you do have a handsome face!’
For a moment, memories of the past flashed back, and I almost killed her. I told Lilac, who was trying to stop me, that I’d forgive her rudeness if he agreed to go on one date with her—and this moron actually nodded like it was a good idea!
Yu-na, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen like that.
I never thought the day would come where I’d be the one trolling and Lilac would be the one trying to smooth things over, but I was just so angry I couldn’t help it.
But that bitch looked at me and laughed like, “O-ho-ho-ho!”
“I’m really sorry…!”
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault, is it?”
The change in her expression when I tell her the truth is going to be terrifying. But we agreed not to lie about things like this anymore.
Maybe Yu-na will forgive me.
Let’s just be honest.
“The truth is…”
Just as I made the greatest resolution of my life and was about to answer, a desperate-looking Lilac shook his head frantically.
You’ll handle it yourself? You’re going to reject her flat out? With your personality? Hey, you expect me to believe that?
This time, he nodded.
In this moment, we understood each other perfectly without the help of language.
My resolve wavered.
“The truth is?”
You son of a bitch. I finally made up my mind because of you, and now I’m backing out!
“…I had a hunch about that pill too, but I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
I’m sorry. I guess I’m still more used to lying. Just let me slide this once.
Sensing the opportunity, Lilac jumped in.
Right, you’re scared of Yu-na too, aren’t you? You’d better not pull any stunts. I’ll snitch on you immediately if you do.
“Regarding that, it seems many people in today’s Ranking Tournament were seen taking the drug Ga-eul showed us this morning.”
Wait, this guy is fighting with facts? If he does this now, it really makes it look like this was what I was going to say all along…!
…Actually, this isn’t bad. Good job, Lilac. Let’s keep the truth between the two of us!
“The commonality is that their talent actually becomes stronger after taking the drug, and their abilities take on a purple glow due to something other than mana.”
Lilac turned his gaze toward me.
Was he asking me to testify?
“Well, if it was just that, I’d just think ‘I guess so,’ but I heard some of the kids who took it went berserk. The guy I fought also went berserk and turned into a disgusting monster.”
Ah, I had forcibly terminated the contracts of the ones who looked particularly dangerous.
There were so many of them that it was chilling to think I would’ve had to go around terminating each contract manually if I didn’t have the Touch of the Devil.
Anyway, after I finished speaking, everyone’s expressions hardened as they realized this was no ordinary incident.
“So?”
“So-hyun and I already told the professors. It seems like countermeasures will be set up, but honestly, I think we need to uproot this incident ourselves beforehand.”
At this point, the group’s reactions began to diverge sharply.
Cheon Yu-hak looked interested but wondered if there was a need to step forward, and Ha-ni didn’t like it but didn’t seem to agree with the idea of uprooting an unknown entity.
“Right, I understand. I expected that reaction. But this time, I’m not just doing this blindly; I have a reason.”
Huh? I was planning to help him persuade them, but for some reason, Lilac hadn’t come to demand mindless empathy; he had brought an actual argument.
But why is this guy looking at me?
“I’ll be honest. I believe that what they’re after this time is So-hyun.”
…What kind of fresh nonsense is that, Lilac?
However, the motivational effect on the others was undeniable; their eyes instantly changed.
Hey, don’t go making empty promises. What do I have to do with any of this?
“The professors said that the drug itself is just a vitamin supplement, but they feel something heterogeneous in it. So when they tested it, they found a small amount of demonic energy swirling inside.”
As Lilac started, Ga-eul answered as if she had remembered something.
“…Oh? Right! I saw the instruction manual while looking for information this morning, and it said something about a contract!”
Wait, our Ga-eul saw that too?
“Earlier this morning, definitely… right! I even took a copy of it…!”
The carry-machine Ga-eul even brought a copy?
After reading the contents of the copy, everyone’s faces contorted.
“No matter how you look at it, this isn’t a simple way to take medicine. The sentence saying you must read the contract is suspicious from the start.”
“Even calling it a contract instead of an instruction manual. I’m starting to get a feeling about this.”
Everyone nodded as if they were all thinking the same thing.
Okay, so why does this have to do with me? Why are you guys talking about things only I don’t know? Why is everyone convinced?
“So, what does this have to do with me?”
Unable to hold back, I asked the question. Lilac looked conflicted about whether he should speak, but then Cheon Yu-hak stepped forward in his place.
“Consort of the Demon King. That’s what the devil called you that day.”
…Eh? What? Huh? Hey, wait a minute. That was a one-time setting…?
Why are the puzzle pieces that definitely shouldn’t fit starting to click together?
“Consort of the Demon King? What’s that?”
Since my setting is that I don’t know, I can’t just jump in. What do I do…?
“Sorry, So-hyun. I can’t tell you everything. But it’s definitely not your fault, so don’t worry.”
No, you idiot. I know! I’m the one who acted that out!
“…Aha, now that you mention it. I heard that only the guy who fought So-hyun went berserk to a grotesque degree.”
The warmth was rapidly draining from Ha-ni’s eyes.
No! Ha-ni! He only went berserk because I provoked him!
“If the goal was abduction, it wouldn’t be nonsensical to send a particularly strong unit.”
Wow, how does this fit so perfectly? Are you guys novelists? Why don’t you just write a book?
Guys, stay. That’s not it. They’re not targeting me! Well, they are, but not because of the Consort of the Demon King thing! They’re doing it because of jealousy!
“Then the story changes. How dare they try to touch someone right in front of us.”
“Of course. I agree too. Let’s show those who don’t know their place exactly what’s what this time.”
Ga-eul had a look of grim determination, and Lee Yu-na nodded with a benevolent face as if telling me not to worry.
…In reality, was I actually a poor, innocent young man caught up in a conspiracy without even knowing it?
Well, whatever. Since the kids are so fired up about crushing the villains, there’s no need to throw cold water on them by telling them information that isn’t entirely false.
You treacherous junkies.
You guys are in big trouble now. My friends are freaking strong, you know?
— I occasionally wonder which is harder: the Ruyi or your face.
…It’s not that hard, okay?
“…I happened to overhear from outside.”
Huh?
“…This is a very interesting topic. May I listen in as well?”
No, I mean…
Why is Cathy Noona showing up now, seriously?