I Became the Childhood Friend of a D*ug Dealer

Han Si-Hoo and Lena are having a conversation. Memories of being stabbed slowly resurface.

“There was a misunderstanding.”

He said there was no intent.

That must be true.

“Shall we wait a bit?”

After all, there’s plenty of time.

There are plenty of comfy chairs on the first floor.

It’s a space designed for resting.

[13 hours 16 minutes]

The lights are off now, but it seems a small café operates during normal hours.

It’s a pity it’s vacation.

No, it’s probably quiet because it’s vacation, and that’s okay.

The sight of Han Si-Hoo and Lena looking out the window seemed quite peaceful.

I was worried that I might have caused a problem, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

It was bothersome.

Why?

Perhaps it’s a personal issue for Yoo Seo-Ah.

If Han Si-Hoo, whom she thought was her closest friend, considers someone else his closest friend…

There’s this unique feeling of misery.

“…Hmm.”

Han Si-Hoo isn’t my closest friend.

It’s the drug.

The closest.

Hmm.

Thinking that way feels strange.

[13 hours 15 minutes]

There’s no reason for Han Si-Hoo to dislike being friendly with others.

Just because I have no friends doesn’t mean Han Si-Hoo has to drag himself down to my level.

It’s not bothersome.

Lena did attack me, so that’s what’s on my mind.

She’s the Heroine.

The Yoo Seo-Ah who should have disappeared long ago is a problem when she disrupts things.

The story gets tangled.

It’s odd that I’m still here at this point.

I don’t know why I’m here.

Did I make the wrong choice?

I should have run away from the Academy.

“Ah…”

I slouch in the comfy chair and think.

Thoughts flow freely while under the influence of the drug.

Waiting is something Yoo Seo-Ah is good at.

Getting lost in daydreams when there’s nothing to do, too.

If it were home, I’d have gone outside to look at the sky.

Lying on the floor with a friend, watching the stars in the sky.

The yard at home is not a soft grassy field.

It isn’t a yard with grass.

Concrete.

But even such a yard felt nice.

There’s no light pollution there.

The air wasn’t bad either.

The factory that was attacked by demonic beasts wasn’t spewing smoke.

Stars that look ready to burst out are visible.

I reach my hand toward the sky.

It’s just a ceiling.

But there must be a sky beyond the ceiling.

In fact, the sky doesn’t matter that much.

It’s perfect just having a friend beside me.

I recall sparkling memories.

Still, the sky happened to be clear.

So, what I wanted to do…

Stargazing.

“Hey Si-Hoo, do you want to go watch the stars together today?”

It felt strange even throwing out that question.

At the time, Yoo Seo-Ah was, to put it nicely, pure, and to put it badly, foolish.

She wasn’t particularly good with words.

“Sorry, I had to rush out… I have plans with friends from the Academy tonight.”

A rejection.

Still, the sky was clear.

Yoo Seo-Ah lies alone looking at the sky.

The sky is clear.

Stars seem to be falling.

Like rain.

It was really rain.

I don’t think the smell of rain pooled on concrete is that bad.

Yoo Seo-Ah got wet for quite some time.

Even though it was cold, it didn’t feel that chilly.

Maybe because of that, she started coughing a bit from the next day.

Nothing to say—it’s her own fault.

In fact, the sky didn’t matter that much.

Just having a friend beside her.

But there wasn’t one.

The emptiness felt hollow.

Yoo Seo-Ah knew back then too.

That she was pretty useless.

Even if she wanted to do something for Han Si-Hoo, there was no way.

It was too much to be acknowledged in this world.

Being with Han Si-Hoo was impossible too.

Her usual days would not return.

Because she had no ability to protect that daily life.

Incompetence.

That’s the problem.

In the end, she gets angry at herself.

[13 hours 8 minutes]

Now I can’t even see the sky.

I can only see the ceiling and some numbers.

Still, just like back then, I reach my hand up to the sky.

I make a wish.

Wishing even if there are no falling stars.

Wishing to not matter even if I disappear.

In fact, the latter part didn’t need to be wished for.

The first part I could do alone easily.

Should I ask to run away right now?

Thinking rationally, that seems correct.

But it’s too late since I’ve already taken the drug.

It’s definitely too late, especially since I broke the measurement device.

But I’m not completely powerless now.

I can do something.

Yeah, I’ve gained some strength.

So what can I do?

Using the drug, I could mimic an Awakener.

But then again, that comes with the condition of not getting caught using the drug.

Upon reflection, that’s completely useless.

“Seo-Ah?”

It’s Han Si-Hoo.

It seems he’s finished his conversation.

“Sorry, I’m late. When did it end?”

[13 hours 4 minutes]

“Around ten minutes ago…”

What could he have talked about with Lena?

I can’t guess.

I can’t help but be curious.

Did they talk about me, perchance?

“I see. So should we head back now? Or is there somewhere you want to go?”

“Somewhere I want to go?”

“Yeah.”

The thought I had just a moment ago.

The idea of going to watch the stars together.

Doesn’t seem bad.

“Well then, let’s…”

But Han Si-Hoo is busy.

He has a lot of friends.

He’s not the type of person who has time to play with Seo-Ah.

“Together…”

“Hmm? You can say anything.”

“…No. I’ll tell you later.”

“Whenever you want to, just say it.”

There aren’t many places I know in the Academy.

I’ve seen a rough map of the Academy, but that’s it.

“Oh, and Seo-Ah, if it’s okay, there’s someone who wants to apologize for what happened last time…”

Is it Lena?

“I see.”

“If you don’t want to, just tell me. They want to come apologize if you’re okay with it… since it might be hard for you.”

“No.”

“Is that okay? If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me. It really is fine. If you don’t want to receive an apology…”

“I’m okay.”

If apologizing would help clear things up.

She’s the Heroine, and it makes sense that she should have a good relationship with the Protagonist.

It wouldn’t be good if things soured because of me.

Had I died, it would have taken considerable time to repair the relationship.

“Ah, that’s a relief. Then stick around. I’ll call them over.”

Saying that, he steps outside the building.

Han Si-Hoo believes he’s doing the right thing.

That’s always how it is.

That’s why he’s the Protagonist.

The person who tried to kill me comes back.

But right now, I have power.

[13 hours 2 minutes]

If things take a turn, I can just kill her.

If it comes to it, I can stab myself too.

Oh, my dear drug, my dear drug.

I need a weapon.

–Thud–

A black dagger appears in my hand.

Good.

When’s the best time to stab?

Before the other person attacks.

So I need to prepare early.

“…Prepare?”

Prepare for what?

I’m holding a dagger in my hand.

To kill.

Lena?

Han Si-Hoo’s friend?

–Too strong of a drug.

–It wasn’t meant to be used on people.

The warning from Lee Yoo-Ram flashes through my mind.

–It’s military-grade medication.

A drug made for fighting.

It’s not surprising it shows strong aggressiveness.

This is problematic.

“Disappear.”

I said to the dagger.

It doesn’t disappear.

If Han Si-Hoo sees this, it’ll be a problem.

Lena will be there too.

Is this really going to become an actual attempt on my life?

It could well happen.

This isn’t what I wanted.

“Disappear, I said.”

The dagger remains right there.

This shouldn’t be happening.

“I said disappear…”

The fear began to press down on me.

It’s dangerous.

[12 hours 33 minutes]

There’s no time left.

All because I made a weapon.

Time is speeding away.

In the end, panic is coming.

“Why? Why isn’t it disappearing?”

Last time it just disappeared.

What’s different this time?

“Didn’t I tell it to disappear without using it?”

If that’s the case, I can understand.

In fact, I wanted to stab something.

Revenge for the pain it caused.

You should experience the same.

But not just the same.

Stronger, more devastating, endlessly more.

I’ll watch you fall into ruin, step by step.

“Shut up.”

This kind of malice is unfamiliar to me.

The hatred is too strong.

I didn’t expect “strong medicine” to mean this.

The dagger is still not disappearing.

–Thunk–

I stab the desk with the dagger.

At this point, it should have served its purpose.

If you draw a sword, you should at least slice something.

So I try to cut something.

It still doesn’t disappear.

“…Seo-Ah?”

I’ve been caught.

Han Si-Hoo has returned.

After all, he didn’t go too far, so it wouldn’t take long for him to come back.

Han Si-Hoo is standing right in front of me.

Lena follows behind him.

Both of them freeze when they see me.

“Ah. This is…”

The feared situation is about to unfold.

I’ve become a threatening character again.

What they call a villain.

“This is, um…”

This time, the doctor isn’t by my side.

So no one can take an arrow for me.

I don’t understand why the dagger isn’t disappearing.

“…Seo-Ah.”

Han Si-Hoo calls me.

His voice is calm as if trying to reassure me.

But doesn’t this scene feel familiar?

Wasn’t it like this last time too?

Calming me down, then trying to kill me the next day.

The dagger is still clutched in my hand.

It hasn’t disappeared.

Even while wishing it would vanish, I have a desire to hold onto it.

Lena, who stabbed me, is standing right there.

Isn’t it time to do something with this knife?

“Seo-Ah, calm down.”

Is Han Si-Hoo still trusting me?

Or what is he thinking seeing me like this, so threatening?

He must be considering that he needs to deal with me.

Yeah.

They say if you act weird after taking the drug, you’ll be dealt with.

Did I ever think things would escalate this quickly?

I’m going to die.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I already know the reason.

It’s because of the dagger.

For some reason, this familiar dagger won’t disappear.

As if it’s natural to remain in my hand.

I looked at Lena.

Lena seemed to want to say something, but then she went silent.

“Disappear…”

In a barely audible voice, I murmured.

I wished for the dagger to vanish.

But it doesn’t disappear.

“I didn’t intend to attack you.”

I say to Han Si-Hoo, who seems to be approaching.

Is he trying to subdue me?

Just like before?

“Wait, I’m serious. Just give me a moment.”

[11 hours 52 minutes]

Time is running out.

No, not good.

“I don’t plan to attack—”

But isn’t this a good opportunity?

I think it’s okay to kill Lena.

Oh, my dear drug, bring me a weapon.

A large sword appeared in my left hand.

A black greatsword.

This is better than a dagger.

I checked Lena’s position.

She seems to be moving backward.

Having snuck up behind me while I was careless.

I need to be cautious.

“…No, I’m…”

My head hurts.

Even my hand that instinctively reached for my head is still holding the dagger.

It looks odd not to have any intention to attack.

My words have already lost their persuasiveness.

I truly didn’t intend to attack.

Just moments ago, I was reminiscing joyful memories.

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