I Became the Childhood Friend of a D*ug Dealer

Right after entering the Academy, it’s time for the entrance test.

Basically, it’s a time to learn about the abilities of classmates.

It’s also when the rough hierarchy is established.

This is the time for Han Si-Hoo to shine.

“Just like last time, you can’t attack anyone at random.”

“Got it.”

Here, it’s just Lee Yoo-Ram and me.

The Training Grounds is spacious, but it’s a closed-off space.

Beyond the glass window is the audience seating.

Originally, the kids from our class would gather there to watch.

But if we’re talking about classmates, I’m the only one here.

I thought they would throw in a couple more from the special class.

I had no idea there would be no one.

“You know what you’re doing, right?”

“Yes.”

Even here, I’m restraining myself from acting out of character.

I’ve taken off the blindfold and I’m speaking normally.

Doing this is actually quite tiring.

Still, it helps keep people away.

“Okay.”

–Puff.

[13 hours 25 minutes]

The effects of the medicine started to kick in.

Pleasure flowing through the nervous system.

For a moment, I hesitated in ecstasy, then the surroundings become sharply tuned in.

What should I attack?

“I need to distinguish who the enemy is. If I attack an ally like last time, it’ll be a real mess.”

–Sizzle.

Lee Yoo-Ram brought an old MP3 player.

I have no idea how that’s related to the medicine.

“It’s a bit outdated, but it should be fine.”

He presses the button with a tap.

A crackling noise comes along with a voice.

–Please listen after administration.

–Repeating it is effective.

–Subject does not need psychological stability.

–Only lasts while the effects are active.

Strange words spill out.

What on earth is this voice for?

–You cannot attack an unassigned target by your superior.

Lee Yoo-Ram looks at me with a strange expression.

As if unsure whether this will even work.

–You must attack the target designated by your superior.

“Uh?”

That voice sounds familiar.

How many voices could Yoo Seo-Ah be familiar with?

A doctor?

I hazily remember a similar situation.

What did they say after administering the drug?

Something about only telling the truth, right?

It must have been right after my visit to Han Si-Hoo.

–You are assigned to…

Click.

“That’s enough.”

Lee Yoo-Ram turns off the sound.

I was curious about what came next, but it’s a shame.

“This much is enough.”

The old MP3 player.

I don’t know whose voice is recorded on it, but it certainly has some effect.

“Now, create a dagger. That’s your ability, right?”

“Yes.”

Pop.

A black dagger is in my hand.

This time, I don’t feel any murderous intent rising.

“Do you see that scarecrow?”

“Yes.”

About ten steps away, a scarecrow appears.

Did it emerge from the ground?

The Training Grounds really has all sorts of functionalities.

“Attack.”

Attack.

Crack.

The black dagger expands explosively.

It branches out towards the scarecrow.

It looks more like a gigantic tree root than a sword.

It’s more violent than last time when I elongated the blade to attack.

[11 hours 20 minutes]

I see the black roots embedded in the scarecrow.

[10 hours 51 minutes]

“Disappear.”

I was shocked to see time melting away and dismissed the sword.

It shatters like glass, and the shards dissolve into the air.

I guess I don’t have any hatred towards the scarecrow.

Last time, the weapon didn’t disappear, so I was quite flustered.

“Was that what you intended?”

“It just went out of control.”

“I see. Good job.”

Lee Yoo-Ram writes something on the paper he brought.

He said it was a skills test.

I wonder if I could get a good score.

Other academy students must be testing in different Training Grounds.

I want to watch too.

“Can you do long-range attacks as well?”

“Long-range…?”

I hadn’t thought about that.

Let’s give it a try.

I have no idea what to aim for.

Should I just make a bow and try to shoot?

That doesn’t seem likely.

“How about trying a long-range attack this time? It might work.”

As Lee Yoo-Ram snaps his fingers, a new scarecrow appears.

This one is really far away.

There’s definitely a limit to close-range attacks.

Still, as Han Si-Hoo, I can swing my sword and hit it.

After all, once I reach a certain level, the distinction between close and long-range loses its meaning.

“Long-range attack.”

Oh medicine, a gun please.

And just like that, a pistol appears.

It’s shabby, lacking details.

Looks like it was carved out of wood.

Bang.

I pull the trigger, but nothing happens.

There’s no barrel, no bullets.

It’d be more surprising if this actually launched an attack.

“There are awakeners who shoot guns, but… it seems it won’t work.”

“Is that so?”

“Then we’ll have to register it as a close-range attack. Not using any weapons.”

Lee Yoo-Ram requested a long-range attack.

I have to fulfill that expectation.

If I throw the gun, does that count as a long-range attack?

Isn’t there something cooler?

Like an attack seen in an animation.

Waving a magic stick and shooting out a dazzling laser.

But the magic stick… that seems a bit off.

I’m interested in shooting lasers though.

Bang.

Still, nothing happened.

I had a feeling it wouldn’t work.

“Honestly, it’s normal for it not to work. It’s not a drug that allows for long-range attacks.”

“Aha.”

If I switch drugs, could I then launch long-range attacks?

Just how versatile is it?

I don’t see why people wouldn’t use it.

I’d like to see someone else use it at least once.

“Don’t you see a level or skill name in front of you? Some call it a status window.”

I glance.

[10 hours 48 minutes]

Is this a status window?

I’ve been utilizing it, but…

“I don’t see it.”

“I see. That’s troublesome.”

“Are there awakeners like me who don’t see it?”

“Yeah. If the awakening rate is low.”

I remember mine was quite low.

“You’re forcing it up with medicine, so it’s not surprising that you look abnormal.”

“Abnormal…”

What does that mean?

Does that mean I’m abnormal?

Or does it refer to this [10 hours 47 minutes] that shows up?

I don’t know.

“Do you have other abilities?”

Other abilities?

I feel like there was something.

Pop.

I create a dagger.

This ability started when I began taking the special medicine.

Surely I originally had some power.

My ability shouldn’t just be making a black blade.

Right?

[10 hours 39 minutes]

“Anything is fine.”

Anything?

I open my left palm.

It’s wrapped in bandages.

“You’re testing your limits.”

I roughly know my limits.

As long as time doesn’t hit [0], it’s fine.

That’s my limit.

Puff.

“The test area is spacious enough… oh?”

I stabbed my hand.

I insert the dagger into my open left hand.

Penetration isn’t hard.

Blood seeps out.

[10 hours 11 minutes]

“Like this.”

Even if my arm is broken, it doesn’t hurt, and being stabbed by a blade doesn’t hurt either.

I’m just scared of the medicine wearing off.

But I feel okay for now.

It’s not a fatal wound, Lee Yoo-Ram is a healing ability user, and it’s a perfect environment overflowing with medicine.

“It doesn’t hurt. This is my original ability.”

I say as I pull out the blade.

The extracted blade dissolves into the air as if shattering.

The bandage turns red.

[9 hours 56 minutes]

Pain?

Actually, it feels more like a strange pleasure.

That’s not the reason I used to cut my arm out of boredom.

Honestly, it was because I was lonely without Han Si-Hoo.

“…Don’t do that.”

“Okay.”

I only did it because you said to test the limits of my ability.

Lee Yoo-Ram holds my bleeding hand.

[9 hours 44 minutes]

“[Lesser Heal].”

The wound heals instantly.

“Wow.”

[9 hours 43 minutes]

The rapid time consumption also came to a halt.

Now I understand why having a healer around is so valuable.

They’re rare assets.

“You don’t have any other abilities, right? Say it out loud, don’t harm yourself.”

“It seems I don’t.”

“Good.”

Lee Yoo-Ram writes something else on the paperwork.

Complaining about being scared of what he’ll make me do.

I think my hands are trembling a bit.

“…There’s still the trauma test left. We skipped it last time we tested.”

I’ve heard about that test.

It’s the one Han Si-Hoo told me not to do.

It sounds dangerous.

“Let’s give it a try. We have to do it once. It assesses your resistance against mental attacks.”

If other students are doing it, then there’s no reason for me not to do it.

“I’ll do it.”

“Okay. Switching to the trauma test. If it looks tough, I’ll stop immediately. You can say ‘stop’ directly, and it’ll end.”

“Yes.”

It’s probably about invoking bad memories.

Or showing hallucinations.

I remember it being something similar.

“It’s about mental disorientation or hallucinations… It doesn’t work on people like me at all. Then you pass right away. It means you won’t crumble against ordinary mental attacks.”

“Is that so?”

“Are you ready? It’s better to start quickly and finish. Overthinking is toxic.”

Lee Yoo-Ram steps back.

He clicks a pen in his hand.

“It’s starting.”

Bang!

With a tremendous sound, everything blasts away.

For a hallucination, it feels incredibly real.

A black space unfolds before me.

It’s silent.

“…You call this a mental attack?”

It’s too dark; it feels a bit scary.

I can’t hear anything.

Not even my own heartbeat.

It’s too quiet.

I won’t crumble under this level of fear.

This is nothing at all.

“What is that.”

There’s something.

Someone is here.

“…It’s Han Si-Hoo.”

The scenery shifts abruptly.

A gloomy sky that looks like it’s about to rain.

A house that looks like it could collapse.

Right in the middle of the Slums.

An old memory is replayed.

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