LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 20 - Selection
Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle
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The test was conducted in the basement, on the first floor underground.
There were several rooms, but only one had the lights on.
– Awakener Ability Measurement Room (B1-4)
Does that mean it’s the 4th room in the basement?
Various devices were placed inside.
I had no idea how to use them.
“Ah, sit here.”
It was Lee Yu-Ram.
Wasn’t she the school nurse?
She’s in charge of the medical room, yet she’s here.
“Since it’s best for Seo-Ah to be comfortable, Si-Hoo, could you wait outside?”
“…Ah, yes.”
It sounded like I was uncomfortable around Han Si-Hoo.
That’s not really the case, though.
“It’ll take about 40 minutes. We’ll skip any dangerous checks like trauma testing.”
“Okay. Let me know when you’re done.”
With that, Han Si-Hoo left the room.
There was a rest area on the first floor, so maybe he went up there.
They’re skipping the dangerous tests, right?
Trauma check? I’m curious.
It does sound risky, though.
“Here, this is the measurement device.”
The test machine was just a cube.
A simple metallic cube.
Should I call it futuristic?
“Just put your hand on it, and you’re done.”
“Like this?”
It looked like a cube made of marble I.
It’s amazing that something this simple can measure abilities.
“Not too hard, right? Usually, it’s done in about a minute.”
Lee Yu-Ram spoke kindly.
She was the person who used to give me medicine.
Yes.
She’s a good person.
“Ah, it’s done. The results are out.”
Not even 10 seconds had passed.
“Is it over?”
The test was done.
That was fast.
“It’s just a simple test.”
It wasn’t anything special after all.
I got tense for nothing.
She said it would take around 40 minutes.
It seems there’s more to the test.
“What should I do next?”
“Oh, I just wanted to talk.”
Lee Yu-Ram said that as she walked towards the door.
[4 hours 29 minutes]
Time for a talk.
Was this some kind of interview test?
“I have two choices I can offer you.”
*Click.*
Lee Yu-Ram locked the door.
Was she keeping Han Si-Hoo from coming in?
Or was it to stop me from running away?
A bad feeling washed over me.
“Ch-choice?”
“One. You pretend to be dead and disappear. The cause could be drug overdose, worsening injuries, anything.”
For a moment, I wondered if I’d heard wrong.
This was an unexpected conversation.
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t understand what she meant.
“Now, when few people have seen or know you. Before the entrance ceremony, you can escape. You could run away from the Academy.”
“Run…away?”
I never planned on running away.
“The Academy doesn’t just hand out expensive drugs to anyone. If you’re going to flee, now’s your chance.”
Pretending to be dead and disappearing? What kind of choice is that?
Hearing such unexpected words made me feel strange.
I didn’t even know why I’d have to vanish.
“Two. You just live while taking the drugs the Academy provides.”
Take what the Academy gives.
That doesn’t sound so bad, right?
It sounds good.
No matter how I think about it, there’s no downside.
They’ll give me drugs I couldn’t afford on my own.
The way she phrased it made it seem like I’m being treated like an animal, but still, it sounds like a good deal.
“You should know if you’ve lived in the slums. Nothing in this world is free. Even if you’re a little out of it because of the drugs, think carefully. Don’t be fooled by appearances. The Academy is rotten to the core.”
Lee Yu-Ram had seen a lot.
If she was saying this much, there had to be a problem with the Academy.
“No one here will properly treat you.”
“Ah…”
Was she telling me not to expect some kind of rehabilitation facility?
“They’ll give you military-grade drugs. You’ll be told to fight after taking them. You’ll become a test subject for the Academy. After that, it’ll be beyond my control.”
Right, nothing is free.
I already knew that.
There’s no such thing as free drugs.
No one’s going to keep providing them without cost.
“The drugs they’ll give you from now on aren’t like what you’re taking now. It’s military-grade, but they don’t even use it on soldiers. It’s too strong. It wasn’t made to be used on people.”
Strong drugs.
As strong as the 100-hour ones the doctor gave me?
“Still, as a student, I should fulfill my duty as a teacher, right? Plus, I’m a doctor. It’s strange that I can’t properly care for my patients. So leave the Academy. Even now.”
She felt responsible.
She was sincerely telling me to run away.
I seriously considered whether I should escape.
[4 hours 22 minutes]
But there was a problem.
Leaving was one thing.
But where would I get more drugs?
“But the drugs…”
I didn’t have any.
“You have about a week’s supply of the drugs you’re using now. I’ll give them to you. Go to another region and find a doctor I know. Maybe there’s a way. I’ll talk to Si-Hoo. He’ll understand.”
Lee Yu-Ram’s words quickened.
“Maybe there’s a way,” she said.
I wasn’t sure if this situation was desperate enough to rely on such uncertainty.
It seemed better to be guaranteed the drugs.
I understood that the Academy was dangerous.
But that didn’t mean the outside world was any safer.
If the drugs ran out, I’d die regardless.
“There’s no surveillance equipment here, but if the higher-ups get curious about what we’re doing, it’ll be a problem. Hurry up and make a choice.”
Her impatience was palpable.
She was pressuring me to choose quickly.
This whole situation had been arranged just to tell me this.
But, honestly, there was no real choice.
“…What exactly are these military-grade drugs?”
She said they were strong.
“They’re dangerous. Even though they use magic to suppress the side effects, the moment magic is involved, it’s beyond normal medicine. The clinical trials…well, you’d be the one conducting them.”
[4 hours 18 minutes]
The drugs I’m using now don’t even let me sleep properly.
I’d wondered if I should inject twice to fall asleep.
The drug’s effects weren’t strong enough to let me sleep soundly.
“It seems fine to me.”
This is a place where they look at an Awakener’s abilities.
As long as the drug’s effect remains, I can act like an Awakener.
“Anyway, if I ran away just to survive, it’d only trouble you and Si-Hoo.”
She said the drugs were strong.
Military-grade.
“I’ve already been a burden, so I can’t keep causing trouble.”
Strong drugs.
Only certain people could use them?
Saying they couldn’t be used for treatment was a lie.
It’s a drug, so why wouldn’t it work?
“That’s why it’s better for me to use the drugs and be of some use.”
Strong drugs.
“Right?”
Give it to me.
***
That’s right.
I’d already crossed the line a long time ago.
I was smiling.
It wasn’t a deliberate expression; it just leaked out unknowingly, without me realizing.
Was it the anticipation of using the drugs?
“Ah, I see.”
Her voice carried both pity and a hint of contempt.
There was nothing more Lee Yu-Ram could do.
These military-grade drugs were issued by one of the Academy’s directors.
Since both the Academy and Yoo Seo-Ah wanted it, the drugs would be given.
If only we had met sooner.
When the addiction wasn’t so severe.
She might have been able to save Han Si-Hoo’s friend.
It would be fine to consider her as good as dead already.
“Si-Hoo will be sad.”
At the mention of Han Si-Hoo’s name, my expression stiffened.
Though I tried to smile awkwardly, something still seemed to bother me.
Lee Yu-Ram felt a bit sorry.
“If Si-Hoo finds out you’re using experimental drugs, he’ll be furious. It’ll be hard on you. The military drugs will be given quietly, only when needed. Keep that in mind.”
“Okay.”
Yoo Seo-Ah wasn’t the type to brag about what kind of drugs she was using.
If she were talkative, they wouldn’t have explained anything and just injected her with the military drugs.
Even without Lee Yu-Ram’s intervention.
If Han Si-Hoo openly opposed the Academy’s system, it would be troublesome in many ways.
Losing such a valuable asset to the Academy would be problematic.
Leaving Yoo Seo-Ah alone was the safest option.
The Academy’s higher-ups wouldn’t allow that, though.
“It’d be an issue if any other Academy students found out too. That’s why we created the Special Class.”
If she weren’t Han Si-Hoo’s friend, she’d have been locked in a special containment room.
“Can I use it now?”
“You want to?”
I nodded.
“There’s still some time left until the promised end. We can probably get in one more measurement.”
Lee Yu-Ram lifted a flat suitcase from beneath the desk.
Inside the case were several automatic syringes.
“This is the last time I’ll ask: Are you really staying at the Academy?”
This was the final question.
If she answered that she would stay, Lee Yu-Ram would return to being the Academy teacher Lee Yu-Ram.
The meaning of a teacher’s duty and a doctor’s oath would be lost.
Only the professionalism of an Academy instructor would remain.
This was the extent of the kindness she could offer because of her connection with Han Si-Hoo.
“…I think Si-Hoo would want this too.”
I chose compliance over escape.
Lee Yu-Ram, feeling that she had done enough, gave up on convincing me.
Carefully, she took out the syringe.
It was a dangerous drug.
What would happen if Seo-Ah lost her mind or died because of the drugs?
The answer was simple.
Yoo Seo-Ah had chosen to escape from the Academy.
But instead of pretending to be dead, she would actually die.
The cause would be either drug overdose or worsening injuries.
Well, one of the two, anyway.
***
[13 hours 21 minutes]
Measurement complete.
“Aha.”
The cube exploded.
Looking at the shattered test device felt good.
Or maybe it felt good because of the drugs.
“…Even if it’s a simple tester…”
Lee Yu-Ram seemed quite surprised.
She stared blankly at the remains of the cube.
At this rate, shouldn’t I be considered a protagonist?
Too bad there weren’t any spectators.
A protagonist lives with admiring onlookers by their side.
“How can someone have such absurd drug resistance…”
I’ll take that as a compliment too.
Now, I can play the role of a hero, admired by the people.
Just like Han Si-Hoo.
“Do you feel dizzy, feel like vomiting, or have any hot or painful areas?”
I wanted to be a protagonist like Han Si-Hoo.
A protagonist who never showed weakness.
I had wanted that for the longest time.
“Seo-Ah?”
I wished I could have become like Han Si-Hoo through my own effort.
Even if I couldn’t be like Han Si-Hoo, I wanted to be like the other Awakeners.
Like those whose lives seemed to flow smoothly, like a game.
I wanted to live like a protagonist too.
“Are you okay?”
I wished I could have had just one chance.
Maybe this is that chance.
It has to be.
“Ah, yes. Teacher, I was just lost in thought.”
I needed to act normal.
Though I was actually fine, I couldn’t risk them misunderstanding and withholding the drugs.
I had to show that I was healthy because of the drugs.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Of course, I’m fine.
Her face showed concern.
“If you’re worried about Si-Hoo…he won’t even notice what kind of drugs I’m using, so it’s fine.”
He’s never understood it properly.
“I see.”
I used to think the Academy only had bad drugs.
Now, I know that’s not the case.
“If the drugs cause a problem, they’ll…get rid of you quickly. The Academy’s good at that kind of thing. So be careful.”
“Yes.”
I understand that the Academy is dangerous.
If I go wild because of the drugs, they’ll take care of me.
I get it.
That won’t happen to me.
The drugs the doctor gave me were stronger.
You’ll need something that strong to act out.
Back then, I’d attacked Han Si-Hoo and almost caused serious trouble.
“Hehe…”
[13 hours 18 minutes]
The drug’s effects are still strong.
I’m satisfied with this.
I lost about 2 hours after breaking the cube, but I still have plenty left.
I can even sleep with no issues.
It feels stronger than the drugs I had at home.
“Ah, is the test over now?”
“Ah, yes. It’s all done. You can go. Si-Hoo is probably waiting.”
“Thank you.”
I thanked her and left the room.
Si-Hoo was probably waiting.
I should hurry and meet him.
In the end, there was no need to worry about the drugs.
There were plenty of syringes prepared.
Staying at the Academy was inevitable.
It was good that Lee Yu-Ram was someone I could talk to.
I climbed the stairs.
Han Si-Hoo wasn’t in sight on the first floor.
Maybe he was outside the building.
I could peek out the window.
Ah, I found him.
He was talking to someone outside.
Talking.
Talking to who?
“Rena.”
Her full name was longer, but I forgot again.
Her neatly trimmed silver hair stood out.
Why is she here?
The place where my injury had been tingled slightly.