I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle

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The long day had finally come to an end.

I liked just being able to go around with Si-Hoo.

There was no special gain, but I felt like I had gotten closer to him.

I felt really good, up until the moment a message came in.

Ding.

Until then, I was content.

Who’s trying to mess with me by bringing up an annoying part of my past?

It’s all in the past, a past I’d already forgotten.

It’s over now.

I hadn’t even watched the video yet.

I didn’t need to see it.

Whatever happens to her, it’s not my fault, is it?

I did my best to keep my promise.

I did everything I could to get her out of that lab, but I just failed.

It’s not my responsibility.

I know I can’t live up to the title of a saint.

But that title is just an alias, attached only because of my white hair and some successful healings.

It doesn’t mean anything.

“…Ah…”

Annoying.

This is why I hate dealing with people.

It’s bad enough that I have to be annoyed even through texts.

I don’t know why anyone is doing this.

Still, I suppose I should check it.

What kind of message is it?

This time, it wasn’t a link but a photo.

“A photo of Si-Hoo…?”

Two people wearing the Academy uniform.

Si-Hoo, and next to him, a girl with an eyepatch.

The picture showed them eating together.

“…Ah?”

I played the video.

A girl appeared, sitting in a chair.

It was the same person.

In fact, there was no need to check the video.

She looked exactly like the girl in my memory.

I just desperately wanted to deny it.

I thought if I kept denying and denying, it would all disappear.

“Why are Si-Hoo and that girl…?”

It’s been about two months since I met Si-Hoo.

Honestly, we’re not that close.

Certainly not close enough to ask about each other’s pasts.

We were just starting to get along.

Ding.

– Si-Hoo is friends with Miss Seo-Ah.

“Friends?”

I replied to the message.

– Who are you?

Who could this be?

Who would dig up such old memories and bring them to the surface?

How do they know about Si-Hoo’s past?

I don’t want to think about old times.

But sometimes, there are things you just have to face.

Running away doesn’t solve anything.

“Fine, just… watch the video then.”

I didn’t really want to see it.

The video was recorded six months ago.

The fact that she was still alive until half a year ago was a miracle.

She should have died long ago.

And of all people, she was tangled up with Si-Hoo, making it even worse.

My mind was a mess.

The thing I hate most is having the past dredged up.

The girl, Seo-Ah, was sitting in the chair.

One chair in an empty room.

It didn’t look like the lab where experiments were conducted.

“There’s no sound.”

I guess it was a surveillance camera, so that part can’t be helped.

Maybe I should be grateful the video at least has color.

After the video started, a person who looked like a researcher entered the room.

The researcher gestured for Seo-Ah to follow him.

Seo-Ah followed and disappeared from the frame.

Nothing but the chair was visible now.

I started feeling uneasy for no reason.

“What the…”

The camera angle was awkward.

I couldn’t see the entire room, which was frustrating.

Something was happening just outside the frame.

Blood splattered.

It came from the direction where the researcher had taken Seo-Ah.

And then it stayed that way.

About three minutes later, the video showed movement again.

Someone was walking back toward the camera.

A shadow appeared.

Seo-Ah stumbled back into the frame, covering one eye with her hand, looking for the chair.

“Oh…”

She groped around and finally found the chair.

It was positioned awkwardly, so she struggled.

With her head lowered, she sat down.

And nothing happened.

I had no idea what she’d gone through.

The person who sent this video must have done it on purpose.

Why?

“Sigh.”

Did she hurt her eye?

Unfortunate, but so what?

What am I supposed to do?

It’s in the past, something that should be buried.

– But were you that desperate? Wasn’t it your choice to take the drug?

I remembered a conversation I had with Seo-Ah.

– No, choice? No. Well, yes, I suppose… but no.

She said it with a laugh.

In the video, Seo-Ah was smiling too.

She was covering her eyes but still smiling.

Why?

Why would she smile?

– So, when you’re healed, what do you plan to do?

– Play with my friend.

She laughed again.

I wondered who that friend was… could it have been Si-Hoo?

Was it really Si-Hoo?

It must have been.

I couldn’t understand it.

Why would Si-Hoo be friends with a drug addict like her?

Damn it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

Ouch.

I injected myself in the arm.

I started feeling calmer.

I was beginning to relax.

Honestly, I can’t really criticize her for being a drug addict.

I use it occasionally too.

Yeah, we’re alike, I suppose.

I’m thankful that Seo-Ah is there.

If she hadn’t been, maybe I would have ended up in her place.

My mind felt lighter.

I started to feel calm again.

“Hmm. She has a peculiar hairstyle.”

It’s a bit longer than a bob.

Well, if you consider she’s in a lab and probably can’t maintain her hair properly…

“Does Si-Hoo prefer short hair?”

My hair might have been too long.

Maybe next time I should change my style.

The video was still playing, but I didn’t care.

Whether her eyes were bloodstained or she was coughing up smoke, it didn’t matter.

She must be dead by now anyway.

I’ll just do everything I can on her behalf, won’t I?

Si-Hoo would probably find me more useful than her.

No, a video like this won’t change anything.

I think I have a rough idea of who sent it.

So, Si-Hoo was close with her, huh.

Well, that’s a fact I might be able to use somehow.

– I’ll contact you later.

It was a message Si-Hoo left for me.

– Let me know if you find anything out or if something happens.

Judging from the messages, he seemed to be quite business-like.

But that’s going to change now.

It occurred to me… Seo-Ah.

It seems he couldn’t let her go.

In that case, I’ll help him find her.

That’s it.

I’ll go with him to look.

Maybe I should send the video to him as well?

We’ll go search for Seo-Ah together.

Not that we’ll find her, but we’ll stick together during the search.

If we confirm she’s dead… well, it’ll be a shame.

I could offer him comfort and grow closer to him then.

It’s a perfect plan.

Since I don’t attend the Academy, I don’t know all the details.

I don’t even know how this situation came to be.

But I want to hear about the past.

Actually, I need to hear about it.

How?

There was always a part he avoided talking about.

Maybe I could casually bring it up by pretending I sensed something as the saintess.

Yes, I was too hasty.

If he asks how I knew he was connected to Seo-Ah, I’ll have no answer.

And how would I explain how I know Seo-Ah?

Hmm.

If I think about it enough, the answer will come to me.

Will they send me more videos?

Actually, I wasn’t planning on using it this way.

I wanted to save her.

I told her to hold on for just a month.

I promised to treat her, even if she was heavily addicted.

But I couldn’t find where she was.

I searched every lab I knew.

When she didn’t show up, I assumed she’d just died.

“…Could she still be alive?”

If so, she’s unbelievably resilient.

I guess it depends on the kind of experiment she went through.

They might have kept her alive just barely.

“Hmm…”

If Seo-Ah survived and ended up meeting Si-Hoo?

That could be problematic.

It would serve as direct evidence linking me to her.

“It’s probably not going to happen.”

The video was recorded half a year ago.

Even if she survived, she wouldn’t be in her right mind.

My head is spinning.

“…Haha, this is such a nuisance.”

I can’t figure out why Si-Hoo, supposedly her friend, ended up involved with a drug addict…

I don’t understand.

Hmm.

Maybe I’ll change my hairstyle first.

A short bob.

Good.

Should I cut it just short enough to resemble Seo-Ah?

No, if it’s too obvious, he might notice.

I’ll trim it just the right length.

And once I’ve cut it, I can naturally bring up Seo-Ah.

Si-Hoo sure has a lot of girls around him.

But it didn’t seem like he felt anything special for any of them.

Could Seo-Ah be the reason?

What’s the sender’s intention in letting me know Si-Hoo and Seo-Ah were friends?

So I’d feel guilty?

Of course, she’s pitiful.

But there’s nothing I can do.

“Should I call them and ask?”

Let’s do that.

Ring, ring.

I dialed the number from the text message.

Thinking about it, I should have done this sooner.

Oh, they picked up.

“Hello?”

A woman’s voice?

“Who are you to send me something like this?”

“What’s your deal, really?”

“Huh?”

“Who are you? What makes you think I’d believe that?”

Can I trust them?

It’s like they know everything, sending these videos and photos.

Maybe this is a chance I can use.

Her voice was oddly indifferent.

Who on earth is this?

Maybe they’re using voice distortion or something.

“…Where do I need to go?”

“I mean… is she really alive?”

“Fine. I’ll try… Where did you get the video and photos? Do you have more?”

“You… You’re an insider at the facility.”

I don’t know who she is.

Maybe it’s all an attempt to trap me.

The title of saintess is too easy a target.

But if I go with Si-Hoo, maybe it’ll be okay?

That’s what I think.

Even if I get captured, Si-Hoo would save me, wouldn’t he?

“Okay. Fine. I’ll go and save her.”

It’s absurd.

It makes me laugh.

Click.

She hung up.

Did she just laugh?

Whoever she is, she’s interesting.

Anyway, this is good.

Now I have a clear reason to involve myself with Si-Hoo.

Is it a trap?

Probably.

An attempt to capture me?

Ding.

An address came in a text.

I have to go far outside the city.

It’s quite a distance.

Fine.

It’ll be nice to have a long trip with Si-Hoo.

Will I get another chance like this?

Even if it’s true Seo-Ah is still alive… well, I’ll handle that somehow.

Ah, I feel a little better now.

Has it been two weeks since I last used the drug?

It felt nice to use it again after so long.

“Hmm… What should I tell Si-Hoo?”

Let’s think.

I need a good excuse.

“Should I say I found the information while breaking into a government agency alone? Yeah, that sounds good.”

Let’s go with that.

“I found someone who looks like your friend… something like that… hmm… Yes, I like it.”

I want to stay close to Si-Hoo as long as I can.

Going directly to the address feels too hasty.

Hmm…

After mulling it over for a while, I came up with a decent plan.

“Yes. Perfect.”