I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle

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I walked again.

If I kept walking, I would eventually come to my senses. Seo-Ah was not beside me.

I should have just stayed with her.

Whether it was about the drugs or not, if it was a problem that couldn’t be solved, it would’ve been better to stay together.

Of course, I wanted to do that.

Han Si-Hoo also didn’t like the idea of entering the Academy.

This is how the incident started.

First of all, there was no money.

There was always a shortage of money.

But Seo-Ah got sick.

In a situation where even medicine costing tens or hundreds of dollars was unaffordable, it became a huge burden.

So, I had to make money.

If I could grow stronger, I’d be able to make more money.

For example, I could hunt monsters that appeared nearby.

I could sell usable parts or non-evaporating items from their bodies and earn a decent amount of money.

I later realized it was a form of smuggling.

Since I was selling unverified items.

In some cities, no one cared about such things.

But this place was different.

Hunting monsters only occurred in specific areas.

The city seemed to have taken an interest in it.

When they arrived at a location where a monster was detected or reported, all the monsters were already dead.

And this happened repeatedly for a while.

So, the conclusion was clear.

A significantly strong Awakener was secretly active.

– “It wasn’t a group, but an individual. You’re quite something at your young age.”

Two professors from the Academy and one Awakener working outside.

Three people in total found Han Si-Hoo.

There may have been more people hidden out of sight.

– “Are you living in the slums? You must have a place to stay nearby. We can’t let a talent like you rot here.”

– “Oh, we may not look it, but we’re professors. Why don’t you come to the Academy?”

An immediate offer for enrollment.

– “…Weren’t you planning to arrest me?”

– “It’s not like you’ve been confirmed as a villain. Although there have been some troubling incidents around here recently.”

– “That’s true.”

– “Anyway, student—no, you’re not a student yet—but do you have any thoughts about joining the Academy? It’s a good opportunity to grow as an Awakener under the purpose of protecting humanity.”

Han Si-Hoo felt uneasy from the moment they mentioned arrest.

It was clear this wasn’t something he could easily refuse.

– “Oh, do you have a family? If you do, we have protection facilities.”

Protection?

There’s no way I could believe that.

I’ve never seen a “protection facility” that was actually decent.

Seo-Ah is actually safer outside.

These people were suspicious.

They were Awakeners stronger than Han Si-Hoo.

I had to be even more cautious.

– “Have you been living alone? You haven’t been hunting in groups or anything like that, right?”

I had no choice but to answer that way.

– “Unregistered Awakeners who remain that way for long periods are subject to punishment, but since you’re still young, you should be fine…”

A forced tour of the Academy followed.

If I had refused, I would’ve been arrested or taken care of.

Han Si-Hoo avoided being mistaken for the villain who had been causing trouble near the city.

The price, though, was enrolling in the Academy.

It was essentially forced upon me.

– “Were you living anywhere outside? Don’t worry, the Academy provides dormitories.”

I followed my instincts.

I couldn’t let them find out about Seo-Ah.

These people were monsters.

Behind their kindness, I could sense malice.

If Han Si-Hoo had shown even the slightest hint of dislike, it would have been difficult for him to return to Seo-Ah.

The Academy tour eventually ended.

I returned home.

It took two full days.

After registering my status as an Awakener and going through the temporary enrollment process.

Only then was I able to leave the Academy.

Two days is a long time.

I couldn’t even tell Seo-Ah before I disappeared.

Still, I managed to return somehow.

“Where have you been?”

Seo-Ah was waiting in front of Si-Hoo’s house.

It was close by, but Seo-Ah’s house and Si-Hoo’s house were different.

Having one house per person, isn’t that quite well off?

It was close to playing house.

“…I had some things to take care of.”

“Where did you go?”

The issue was that I had disappeared without a word for two days.

What should I say?

That I was forcibly taken?

Han Si-Hoo couldn’t come up with a good answer.

“The Academy.”

“The Academy…?”

“Yeah. I think I’ll be attending the Academy.”

It was half-forced.

But I didn’t want to worry Seo-Ah.

I acted like it was my own choice, not someone else’s.

“Why?”

“It’ll be better this way. I can make a lot of money.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Sorry. It was a sudden decision.”

“What are you talking about…”

Seo-Ah spoke as if she couldn’t understand.

Of course, she wouldn’t understand.

But if I didn’t attend the Academy… running away would be the only option.

Even taking Seo-Ah to another area would be difficult, and the Academy had already set up measures to prevent Han Si-Hoo from escaping.

The problem started with signing the enrollment contract.

Even though it was minimal, I was already under surveillance.

If I tried to run and got caught, I’d be sent to a facility for children without guardians.

And if I was mistaken for a villain, it would get even worse.

“Don’t go.”

“You don’t have much money.”

“I-I’ll earn it.”

“I’m the one who should go. Don’t worry, I’ll come back often even after joining the Academy.”

I had no choice but to go.

I didn’t trust the Academy, but there might be ways to take advantage of it.

What I learned during the tour was that the students were paid an enormous amount of money.

It was true that I lacked funds.

“……”

At this point, Seo-Ah was already addicted to the drug.

The price of the drug was getting more expensive.

“Sorry for disappearing without telling you. The Academy sent people, and I went to meet them.”

What would Seo-Ah’s reaction be if I said I was forcibly enrolled?

I thought it would be better to solve this on my own.

I thought I could use the Academy in some way.

Looking back now, that was around the time Seo-Ah started wearing long sleeves.

She often placed her arms behind her back, probably to hide her scars.

“Wh-when do you start at the Academy?”

“Next week.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

I was preoccupied with how to handle the Academy.

Somehow. It’ll work out somehow.

That’s what I thought.

“Well, if you’re set on going, I can’t stop you. Have a safe trip.”

She spoke as if she’d resigned herself, as if it didn’t matter.

There didn’t seem to be any uneasiness.

“If the Academy is sending people to you, you must be amazing.”

She said with a smile.

“I’ll come by often. I might not stay at the Academy for long. I could quit soon.”

That’s what I thought at the time.

Until I realized how big the Academy’s rewards were.

“Got it.”

Seo-Ah didn’t seem to have any problem with it.

And since the Academy offered great rewards, there was no reason to quit.

“Sorry.”

Still, if Seo-Ah didn’t like me being at the Academy, I’d have to find a way.

That’s what I thought.

And a week after transferring to the Academy.

Han Si-Hoo received a large sum of money in his hands, something he had never held before.

It was in the name of activity funds from the Academy.

With this, there was no need to worry about living expenses or medicine.

If I saved enough money, I could even move to a better place.

One evening as the sun was setting.

I made time to visit Seo-Ah’s house.

I gave her all the money I received.

Seo-Ah didn’t seem as interested in the money as I expected.

After a moment of hesitation, Seo-Ah spoke.

“Si-Hoo, do you want to go look at the stars tonight?”

It wasn’t a question I expected.

It wasn’t about the money, or the Academy.

She just wanted to go look at the stars.

“Can’t we?”

I had a promise.

A promise with the Academy.

To avoid attracting the Academy’s attention, I had to return quickly.

“…Sorry. I have plans tonight.”

“With who?”

It was a promise with the Academy.

I had to go back.

“Uh, a friend, actually.”

It was a useless excuse.

I didn’t want to tell the truth for some reason, it felt awkward.

“Oh, you had a promise tonight. With a friend…”

She tried hard not to show her disappointment.

As if it didn’t matter.

“I was just saying it for fun. Don’t worry about it.”

At that time, I thought Seo-Ah would be fine.

I thought we still had plenty of time, and even if she seemed a bit disappointed, I could make it up later.

Besides, I’d earned a lot of money, so everything should be fine, right?

“I’m glad you seem to be doing well at the Academy.”

But that was the last chance to maintain my relationship with Seo-Ah.

I should not have returned to the Academy.

What if I had gone to look at the stars with her?

Maybe Seo-Ah wanted to talk about the drug.

She might have asked for help, saying something seemed wrong with the drug.

Even if she didn’t say anything, maybe I could have noticed something was off.

But I didn’t notice.

Maybe it was because I tried to think there were no problems.

I just told her I would come back later.

There would be another chance.

“Goodbye…”

And so, Han Si-Hoo left.

Now there was no one to talk to.

If you think about it, this was the end of the relationship.

I had crossed a river from which there was no return.

“Sorry.”

But there was no one to hear my apology.

Even if you start in the slums, you could still climb higher—I had believed that.

There were many untrustworthy people, but still, there were some heroes worthy of respect.

Too many of them were trash.

But I believed I was different from those pieces of trash.

But now I don’t know what’s different anymore.

What was I trying to do?

Kidnap Lee Yu-Ram’s sister?

Hold her hostage and threaten her?

“Sorry.”

I’m just the same as everyone else.

Lee Yu-Ram was just trying to protect her family, too.

Seo-Ah had things she wanted as well.

She may have failed as a teacher, but at least Lee Yu-Ram’s sister didn’t deserve to be punished.

What’s the difference between what the doctor did and what I’m doing?

Still, I want to kill the doctor.

At least hear the reason why.

I want to kill him in the most painful way possible.

But even so, there’s no reason to push that pain onto others.

That’s not right.

No, even if I have to bear that much, I still want to kill the doctor.

I want to finish him off.

I just hate the fact that someone like that exists in my memory.

I wish they would disappear from my life forever.

But more than that, I just…

I just want to go home.

I should have gone to look at the stars.

Han Si-Hoo stood on the street.

There was no one passing by.

No cars or people.

The streetlight stood lonely, glowing.

In fact, Han Si-Hoo didn’t have any friends.

The time I spent with the kids I met at the Academy is nothing compared to the time I spent with Seo-Ah.

That’s what I suddenly realized.

Han Si-Hoo doesn’t have any friends to talk about the old days with.

I was left alone.