Chapter 8: Shin On-yu-4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: Shin On-yu-4
I’m a total idiot.
Why didn’t I realize something so simple?
That Shin On-yu was an intruder.
I knew full well she wasn’t normal, yet I let my guard down.
Why did I stop being cautious? Just because we spent some time together in the hospital? Get it together, In-ho.
Do you really want to get knifed again?
"Hey, stop playing around and open the door."
Knock, knock, knock.
The knocking grew louder.
But one question remained. Why did a girl who seemed perfectly fine until a moment ago suddenly flip a switch?
Hypothesis one: Her obsessive instincts wake up at night.
Probably not. If that were the case, I would have noticed at the hospital.
Hypothesis two: Because I sent her home, saying I wanted to be alone.
It’s a plausible reason, but it loses credibility since she initially agreed to leave so quietly.
......
Hypothesis three: She saw me with someone.
The convenience store. Narae Nuna.
"Open the door. This joke isn't funny."
On-yu’s voice was sinking lower. I couldn't stall any longer, so I opened the door.
"What are you doing right now?"
As soon as the door opened, On-yu was there, looking up at me with vacant, cloudy eyes.
"Oh, nothing... Ju-just come in."
Even as I laughed awkwardly and invited her in, she stood frozen outside the room.
"This kind of joke. It’s. Not. Funny."
She growled low, emphasizing every single syllable.
"Yeah. I’ll keep that in mind."
I sat down in my chair, glancing at her to see if she was hiding a weapon.
"So, are you still feeling anxious?"
I wasn't just anxious; I was terrified.
If she really saw me with Narae Nuna and broke into my house, her level of obsession had already surpassed the critical point.
It felt like I was cradling an unexploded bomb.
An unexploded bomb named Shin On-yu that could go off at any second.
The best I could do right now was avoid provoking the bomb.
And pray that it wouldn't detonate.
"No. I feel better now that you're here."
"...Really? Well, that’s a relief."
No, I’m cursing my past self for calling you over.
But what could I do? This was my own karma.
"What were you doing? You said you needed to clear your head."
"Oh, I was just on the computer."
"What? All that for the computer?"
"I can use the computer if I want. Why are you acting like that?"
"Who's acting like anything? I just thought it was unexpected. I’ve never seen you use a computer before."
So what?
"Were you watching porn or something?"
"No, I wasn't!"
When I snapped back, she gave a thin smile and stood behind me, grabbing the back of my chair.
She spun the chair around and pushed it toward the desk.
Sitting in the chair, I was forced to face the monitor.
"Let’s watch together."
"What?"
"You said you were doing something. Let’s watch together."
"No, I mean..."
As I trailed off, unable to find the right words, she pressed her body against mine.
I felt a soft sensation against the back of my head, and a moment later, her warm breath tickled my ear.
"Why~?"
The temperature of her words was the polar opposite of her breath.
"Are you looking at something you shouldn't show me?"
"It’s not like that."
"Then let’s watch together."
Shit, shit.
I opened the browser and clicked on a random webtoon site.
"Were you watching webtoons?"
"Yeah. I was just bored."
"I see."
Pressing herself even closer, she placed her hand over mine on the mouse.
Perhaps because of the size difference, her hand rested lightly on the back of mine, but to me, that hand felt heavier than anything in the world.
"Are you interested in this kind of thing?"
"I mean, I don't really know if I am or not. I don't have my memories, remember?"
Please, let this pass without incident.
Why did she suddenly break into my house in "deep dark" mode? I wasn't ready to keep up with her psychological state yet.
Prick.
A dull, heavy sensation spread from the nape of my neck.
"Huh?"
That was the only sound I could make.
As the numbness spread, I felt the strength drain out of my body.
"Liar."
As my posture collapsed and my mind began to fade, her whispered words reached my ears with terrifying clarity.
"If you had told the truth... I would have endured it. Why did you lie?"
I felt my consciousness sinking.
On-yu’s voice now sounded like it was coming from far away.
"It looks like In-ho needs some correction. Sleep for a while."
I felt something pulling at the back of my neck, but I didn't care anymore.
Fine. Whatever. I don't know anymore.
*
I heard noise.
The surroundings were hectic.
Someone was shaking my shoulder.
Was I slumped over?
As I forced my leaden body upright, the artificial glare of the fluorescent lights stabbed at my eyes.
"Ugh..."
I reached up to rub my eyes, but my hand caught on something.
Are these... glasses?
"Oh my, In-ho. Were you actually sleeping at the office?"
Startled by the voice, I turned around to see a woman I didn't recognize.
She was a tomboyish woman wearing a varsity jacket.
"Who..."
—Ding!
Along with a familiar notification sound, a window appeared before my eyes, and I couldn't hold back a curse.
[Previous Dimension Death Cause: Drug Misuse/Abuse]
"Fuck. This is bullshit."
I had been possessed again, without a single moment to prepare.
*
Lax Drug Management... Leads to Tragedy.
The investigation results for the 'XX City Drug Murder Case,' where a student died last month after being administered muscle relaxants and general anesthetics, have been released.
The perpetrator was identified as a classmate, Miss S, who was known to have a strong obsession with the victim, Mr. K.
(Omitted)
It was revealed that the perpetrator stole the drugs while visiting the hospital where the victim was admitted.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the hospital for its negligent management of controlled substances.
In response, the Medical Association...
(Remainder omitted)