I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle

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It was already too late.

In the eyes of others, it was inevitable that I looked like a strange person.

I must seem like someone who has done something wrong.

Because that was true.

[8 hours 5 minutes]

Time was slipping away too quickly.

It was because I had created two weapons.

I didn’t know how to get rid of them.

It was because of the military-grade drug.

A drug made for fighting enemies.

I wondered who the enemy was.

“Disappear, damn it.”

Han Si-Hoo said something.

But I couldn’t hear him.

The sound of my heartbeat was louder.

Rena, who had been frozen in place, was no longer visible.

Where did she disappear to?

I did tell her to disappear.

But that was because of the sword in my hand.

I thought again.

Who is the enemy?

It’s not the Academy students.

They’re talents trying to become heroes at the Academy.

I want to be a hero too.

All I have to do is kill villains and monsters.

That’s enough to prove myself.

That I’m on the same side as them.

I need to change the direction of the sword.

No one has ever benefited from attacking the main characters.

Let’s kill the villain.

Where is the villain?

[7 hours 33 minutes]

I recalled what happened before.

The drug the doctor gave me.

That thing that amplified emotions to a strange degree.

It was that.

This is a similar type of drug.

Although the situation is similar to before, this time, I am not attacking.

Is it because I’ve gained more self-control, or because the drug’s effect is weaker?

They said it was just a misunderstanding.

There’s no reason to be angry.

Even before the misunderstanding, I broke an arm or two.

They said it was to subdue them.

So, it wouldn’t be strange if a similar situation happened again.

But this time, I have power, so it’s different.

Now, I won’t have anything taken from me.

But it’s already been taken.

I have no friends.

No home either.

The space I belonged in was always too small.

[6 hours 58 minutes]

The drug’s effect is lacking.

I don’t see the enemy I need to kill.

Where did Rena go?

I must avoid an ambush.

I step back and press my back against the wall.

Her silver hair stands out, so she should be easy to spot.

But I can’t see her.

Did she go outside the building?

But you know,

When Han Si-Hoo and I are together, we seem to suit each other.

I took the place where Yoo Seo-Ah should have been.

Is it arrogant to say I’m a substitute?

“Aah.”

I don’t know.

Now, even thinking feels like a luxury.

Instinct gradually starts to take control of my actions.

[6 hours 22 minutes]

“I don’t know.”

The weapons I created won’t disappear.

Probably not until I win the fight.

I could sense it instinctively.

It was terrifying that my fear was gradually dulling.

[5 hours 55 minutes]

I definitely need more of the drug.

In my mind, the person stopping me from using drugs is the enemy.

Who has the drug?

Han Si-Hoo?

No, Han Si-Hoo is just a recipient of the drug.

It’s Lee Yu-Ram who has it.

Well, then.

I’ll just kill her and take it.

Should I go down to the basement first?

I didn’t like her from the start.

If the Academy truly wanted to help me, it wouldn’t be like this.

The enemy is Lee Yu-Ram.

I’ll deal with her first and get more of the drug.

And then?

Maybe I’ll raid the drug factory or something.

I believe a way will reveal itself.

“…Found you.”

I spotted Lee Yu-Ram coming up the stairs.

She was holding a syringe in one hand and a bag in the other.

With the weapon I have now, I can’t reach her.

She’ll probably run if I charge at her.

-Swoosh.

I extended the sword’s length, like a spear, even longer than that.

[4 hours 36 minutes]

Time was being consumed rapidly.

But I succeeded in extending the weapon’s length.

A long, sharp thorn stretched toward Lee Yu-Ram.

It was about to reach her neck when-

“[Purify].”

The word rang clearly in my ears.

I didn’t know why, but I could always hear words mixed with a certain power clearly.

It was one of Han Si-Hoo’s skills.

It was also a passive skill, but it was more powerful when actively triggered.

Did it activate when her body made contact?

Body contact?

At some point, my arm was grabbed.

“Han Si-Hoo?”

Purify.

What was the effect again?

It felt like something was about to be purified.

Crack.

The weapon in my hand crumbled like a cookie.

The black energy scattered into pieces.

[1 hour 21 minutes]

Time felt strange.

“Ah.”

I need to stop.

Time is dangerous.

Han Si-Hoo must think that purification was the right thing to do.

In some ways, it was the correct answer.

Because I stopped trying to attack Lee Yu-Ram.

But like this, I’ll have a problem.

“No.”

I understand.

He probably found a solution in his own way since he failed last time.

But that’s not the important part.

“Don’t, don’t do that.”

I pushed Han Si-Hoo away.

But his grip didn’t loosen.

There was no hostility in Han Si-Hoo at all.

That was the problem.

One skill cost me four hours.

If this keeps going, it will be really dangerous.

“It’s okay now. Stop.”

[1 hour 14 minutes]

Not yet.

Not yet.

“I’m in my right mind. I wasn’t really trying to fight.”

Is he thinking of saving me?

Justice.

I could see a shining justice.

Han Si-Hoo seemed to be preparing his next skill.

That’s how it looked.

“I said I’m fine…”

I said it again.

My voice had gotten too weak.

It now sounded like I didn’t even believe my own words.

“This skill… isn’t it for monsters?”

The light of justice was treating me like a monster.

But I’m still human.

I’m not a villain or a monster.

Han Si-Hoo hesitated, then let go of my hand.

I am human.

Probably.

I am human.

Or am I?

“So, hey, the drug… please.”

[56 minutes]

I don’t feel human.

I must look pathetic.

I hate living like this too.

-Thud.

Oh.

The drug.

[12 hours 32 minutes]

***

“What a mess.”

Lee Yu-Ram said as she looked around the first-floor lobby.

A chair with broken legs, a table with knife marks.

It was within the expected range.

If anyone used that drug and was still fine, that would be stranger.

Lee Yu-Ram recalled a military dog that had been injected with drugs.

Yoo Seo-Ah overlapped with that memory.

“It’s because I let Seo-Ah meet with Rena.”

Han Si-Hoo blamed himself.

It was probably an event triggered by trauma.

Han Si-Hoo still didn’t fully understand Yoo Seo-Ah’s condition.

That was intentional.

“It’s because of potential issues like this that I want to put Seo-Ah in the Special Class.”

“Huh?”

“Just like how Seo-Ah tried to attack you last time, there’s no guarantee that a similar incident won’t happen again. In a way, it’s like isolation.”

It was a plausible reason.

It was partly true.

They knew Yoo Seo-Ah would cause trouble.

‘Purification was unexpected though. Judging by the state of things, it even removed the drug’s magical effects.’

Lee Yu-Ram had planned to step in and stop the situation when it got too serious.

She had a sedative prepared in advance.

But she didn’t expect Yoo Seo-Ah to suddenly switch her target to herself.

Her neck still felt chilly where the blade had nearly touched.

If Han Si-Hoo hadn’t acted, Lee Yu-Ram would’ve had to subdue Yoo Seo-Ah herself.

But as an Academy professor, she had ways to incapacitate Yoo Seo-Ah.

“Here, this is the sedative I used earlier. There’s a syringe, and this is in pill form, so give it to her if things get weird.”

She handed over the vial as she spoke.

It was the path Yoo Seo-Ah had chosen of her own will.

They hadn’t planned to give her the military drug right away, but she had been so eager for it.

The plan to quietly start her in the Special Class was only moved forward a bit.

“Will this really heal her…?”

Han Si-Hoo asked, uncertain.

Yoo Seo-Ah’s condition.

Was it better than when she tried to attack him last time?

She said she didn’t want to attack anymore, and it seemed sincere.

But she was still holding a sword in her hand.

“Healing won’t be that easy. We have to wait and take our time. That’s why your role is important.”

The situation would only get worse.

She should have run away when I told her to.

Lee Yu-Ram thought, continuing her explanation.

“Be careful when meeting people, and if it gets really tough, ask for help. The Academy has ways to directly manage these things.”

But that wasn’t what Han Si-Hoo wanted.

He didn’t trust the Academy that much.

“I know, you don’t like that, right? It seems like the Academy is holding Seo-Ah hostage. I tried to mediate, but… you need to take good care of her.”

But as long as the Academy was the source of the drugs, Han Si-Hoo couldn’t fully rebel against them.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“And that skill earlier, Purify, seems to be a burden on Seo-Ah. It might be better not to use it.”

Lee Yu-Ram calculated whether Han Si-Hoo’s ability would interfere with military drug development.

She decided to note it as a peculiar observation.

“Yes. I thought you were in danger…”

“It would’ve been fine if you left it alone. I’m skilled enough to handle that. Unless it’s a regular student.”

A weapon that extended freely.

In a way, its attack form had evolved.

When they first met Han Si-Hoo, she had only swung a sword.

“You were with Rena, right? Then you’d better talk to her separately.”

The fewer witnesses, the better.

It wasn’t good for rumors to spread too much.

“Oh, I’m right here.”

Rena peeked out from behind a pillar.

It seemed she had been using a stealth-related skill.

“Yeah. I see. You were there. You probably understand the situation now, right? What I want to say is…”

***

I’m trash.

Something like a monster.

And as long as I have the drug, things will work out somehow.

That’s what I wanted to say.

[10 hours 33 minutes]

So, I’m back at the dormitory.

On the bed, I think.

I feel drowsy and weak.

They said it was a sedative.

It feels good in its own way, though.

But I’m not sure if this is something you should use on people.

Judging by the lingering effects, it seems to knock people out for at least a few hours.

“Ugh…”

I haven’t even entered the Academy, but I’ve already made a mess.

I don’t even know what I’ve done.

I hope Lee Yu-Ram won’t get mad and refuse to give me the drug.

It was odd how she seemed prepared with the sedative.

I thought she was a nice person.

“…Ah.”

I barely managed to sit up.

Something felt refreshing.

But strangely empty.

“Where are my clothes…”

The bandages had been replaced.

There was ointment applied where I’d had wounds.

Even on the bruises on my stomach.

“You… you’re awake?”

It wasn’t Han Si-Hoo.

It was Rena, her face covered by a hat, mask, and sunglasses.

She tried to hide her striking silver hair by tying it up, but it didn’t really work.

She probably thought I’d recognize her and try to attack.

But I’m fine now.

The military drug’s effect is faint.

The sedative is too strong.

“Oh, I was just in the middle of changing your bandages.”

Why is she here?

What did she talk about with Lee Yu-Ram?

Where did Han Si-Hoo go?

“Don’t worry, I’m a friend here to help you!”

It’s nice of her to say that to someone who tried to attack her just a few hours ago.

But I don’t understand why she’s here, doing this.

This is definitely Han Si-Hoo’s room.

“…Whatever happened to you before, I’ll help you.”

What are you talking about?

I couldn’t understand. Maybe it was because of the sedative.