Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: In the Infirmary
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Is Ha Yoon... okay?”
Kim Seon-ah asked worriedly as she listened to the faint, raspy breaths.
They had rushed over to the infirmary, carrying Ha Yoon in their arms right after she passed out at the end of afternoon training. She had received immediate treatment from Teacher Gan, but with bandages wrapped around her entire upper body, it was impossible not to worry.
“She'll be sore for a few days, but no scars will be left. She's a TS victim, after all.”
Teacher Gan said as he closed the box containing the medical tools.
He spoke lightly, but the wounds were quite severe. The skin on her back, lashed by the whip, was torn to shreds. Thanks to the bizarre regenerative powers of TS victims, even those were slowly healing, but if she had been an ordinary person, she would have died from any number of complications before even being brought here.
Objectively speaking, the injuries required professional medical care, but Teacher Gan had ended the treatment with just some antiseptic and bandages. It was only natural, given that the patient was a TS victim.
“Well, if there's major damage to the head or heart, even a TS victim couldn't endure it, but something like a whipping is no problem at all.”
“...I see.”
“More than that, it looks like Ha Yoon got into some kind of trouble again. To come in here beaten this badly.”
Teacher Gan chuckled as he spoke, and Kim Seon-ah responded with a flustered expression.
“Ah, no. She didn't do anything wrong. It's just... they said the final step of pain tolerance training is always done with a real whip...”
“Pain tolerance training? Oh, right, that exists.”
It wasn't done on a regular schedule, only occasionally when they'd all but forgotten about it, so it took him a moment to recall. Teacher Gan nodded at the explanation before approaching the bed where the two were.
“It'll be a few hours before Ha Yoon wakes up... How about you go eat dinner? You'll get called for duty anyway.”
“...I feel uneasy leaving Ha Yoon alone. Wouldn't it be better if someone was here when she wakes up?”
“Haha... Kim Seon-ah. Seems like you're misunderstanding something. This is an order.”
Order. Kim Seon-ah flinched at the word. Teacher Gan leaned in close and whispered.
“Or are you anxious? Worried that I'll touch Ha Yoon while you're gone?”
“That's not...”
“That's disappointing. I thought I'd shown you some trust... You don't trust me?”
“Ahk!”
He grabbed her hair roughly, distorting her expression in pain. Teacher Gan pressed his forehead against hers and muttered.
“I've granted your requests to go easy on the punishments, to end them a bit early... Even remembered to honor your plea not to touch Ha Yoon as much as possible. And yet you act like this? It really hurts my feelings.”
“S-Sorry. Teacher Gan, ahk...”
“Then go enjoy your dinner. I'll take care of Ha Yoon.”
Kim Seon-ah tumbled to the floor from his rough shove, gasping for breath. But she quickly straightened up, bowed her head to Teacher Gan, and said.
“...Please take care of Ha Yoon.”
“Just trust me.”
At his amused reply, Kim Seon-ah bit her lip where he couldn't see and left the infirmary.
Teacher Gan muttered as he watched the door slide shut.
“Ha Yoon, you're really lucky. To have someone like that on your side in a place like this.”
“...Shut up. How did you know I was awake?”
“Your breathing changed. Though I only noticed just now.”
To detect someone waking up just from a change in breathing—what kind of guy is he? As Ha Yoon thought that, a sudden pressure pressed firmly on her back, forcing a pained breath from her lips.
“Ugh...! What the hell are you doing all of a sudden?!”
“That's your punishment for telling a teacher to shut up and using informal speech. You know I'm not the type to let injuries slide, right?”
“Kuh...!”
Even though it was over the bandages, rubbing and pressing the wound with his palm hurt like hell.
Ha Yoon gritted her teeth and muttered.
“Sorry...!”
“Good. That's more like it.”
Satisfied with the response, Teacher Gan lifted his hand.
One day, I'll kill that bastard with my own hands. As Ha Yoon seethed inwardly, the bed creaked. Teacher Gan had sat down on the edge.
“More importantly, it's been a week, but your personality hasn't changed a bit.”
“...They say sudden personality changes can kill you.”
“Haha... You've already died once and come back—shouldn't that be enough to change by now?”
Ha Yoon nearly spat curses at his reference to the process of becoming a TS victim but barely held back. As if aware of it, Teacher Gan continued with a sly grin.
“You're starting to feel it, aren't you? That you can't just charge ahead like before.”
“I know that already...”
Ha Yoon knew she couldn't act purely on her temperament anymore. How many times had she suffered regretful pain for doing so? She was trying to suppress her personality and maintain some compliance, but it still burst out uncontrollably at times.
Just talking to Teacher Gan now was pushing her limits. Her chest felt suffocatingly tight, ready to explode at any moment, but doing so now—with her wounds—would only bring more pain.
“If you know, that's fine. More importantly, are you dating Kim Seon-ah?”
“W-What?”
“Why so surprised? I'm not oblivious to trainees dating. Seeing you two, it looked like you were, so I asked. Not quite there yet?”
“No way!... I mean, we're not dating or anything—ow!”
A fist came down on Ha Yoon's head as she yelled, face flushing. The bruise from Teacher Choi was still there, making it hurt even more.
Teacher Gan kept his fist raised and said.
“Don't be shy. It's disgusting when you act like that.”
“Kuh... Who was the one asking such a question...?”
“So, not dating, got it.”
As Ha Yoon grumbled in protest, Teacher Gan spun around in his wheeled chair and spoke.
“Then don't go back to the dorm tonight. Sleep here.”
“What does not dating Kim Seon-ah have to do with me sleeping here—”
“Would you understand if I said it's an order?”
“...Tch.”
Ha Yoon clicked her tongue and turned her head away. A trainer's order was absolute. Defying it would only bring endless disadvantages.
...Just sleep here, that's all.
Of course, Teacher Gan might do something to her, but judging from his earlier conversation with Kim Seon-ah, as long as she didn't provoke him, he had no reason to touch her.
...Though it stung a bit, thinking that right was obtained at the cost of Kim Seon-ah's voluntary sacrifice. Ha Yoon let out a breath and closed her eyes.
Thinking it was better to fall asleep quickly.
She couldn't tell how much time had passed with her eyes closed.
Though her eyes were shut, she couldn't sleep. Lying prone made breathing difficult, and the burning pain in her back threatened to draw involuntary groans.
Still, keeping her eyes closed kept Teacher Gan from talking to her, which was good. He sat at his desk, the sound of his pen scratching away continuously.
Damn, can't even rest easy. As Ha Yoon muttered inwardly, the door slid open with a rumble, followed by footsteps.
“You're back early, Kim Seon-ah.”
“...Yes, I was worried about Ha Yoon.”
From their conversation, Ha Yoon knew it was Kim Seon-ah even with her eyes closed.
As the footsteps approached, Ha Yoon cracked her eyes open and said.
“Kim Seon-ah.”
“Ha Yoon! Are you okay?”
“No... It fucking hurts...”
She had gritted her teeth in front of Teacher Gan, not wanting to seem weak, but it really hurt like dying—no exaggeration. As she groaned and exhaled, Kim Seon-ah fidgeted anxiously.
“W-What do we do...?”
“Nothing we can do. To get better, she'd need outside medical care, but TS victims have no insurance.”
In short, it would cost a fortune. No government agency existed to spend tens of millions in taxes treating TS victims, treated as consumables. That's why places like the academy had quack doctors like Teacher Gan.
And they wouldn't allow outside treatment anyway. As Ha Yoon grumbled, Kim Seon-ah gently stroked her face and asked.
“Isn't there any anti-inflammatory painkiller?”
“Dunno... He'd give it if there was. Or ask him yourself.”
Teacher Gan wouldn't give it even if he had, just because she asked. Groaning her reply, Kim Seon-ah nodded, stood, and approached him.
“Teacher Gan. Do you have any anti-inflammatory painkillers...?”
“Why wouldn't I? Common stuff from any pharmacy. Of course the infirmary stocks them.”
“Could I have just one? Ha Yoon's in so much pain...”
“With just words?”
“...Pardon?”
Kim Seon-ah responded with puzzled confusion, as if she'd misheard. Teacher Gan rummaged in a drawer and pulled out a bottle.
“This bottle has the painkillers you want. One pill would numb Ha Yoon's pain nicely.”
“Then...”
“But giving it away for free feels like a waste.”
Ha Yoon, listening from the bed, caught his intent first from his sly smile.
That bastard...!
It wasn't hard to guess what Teacher Gan was planning. Asking about her relationship with Kim Seon-ah, ordering her not to return to the dorm but sleep in the infirmary—all to hold her hostage and make demands of Kim Seon-ah.
And to provoke her too, while he was at it.
“...What do I have to do?”
Kim Seon-ah realized it too but responded calmly. If Teacher Gan had decided, resistance was futile. Better to end it quickly.
“Hmm... Asking too much for just one pill wouldn't be right... Ah, I know.”
As if struck by a great idea, Teacher Gan raised his voice.
“Give me a kiss. Like you would to a lover.”