NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
The test was conducted in the basement of the building.
There were several rooms, but only one was lit.
– Awakener Ability Measurement Room (B1-4)
So, it means Room 4 on the first basement floor.
Various instruments were placed around.
I couldn’t figure out how to use them, though.
“Ah, sit here.”
It was Lee Yoo-Ram.
Wasn’t he the health teacher?
The medical staff came all the way down here.
“Seo-Ah needs to be in a comfortable condition for the measurements to be accurate, so can you wait outside, Si-Hoo?”
“…Ah, okay.”
It sounded like I was making Han Si-Hoo uncomfortable.
It wasn’t like that, though.
“It will take about 40 minutes. I’ll skip the dangerous parts like trauma checks.”
“Yes. Please let me know when it’s done.”
Han Si-Hoo said that and went outside.
There was a resting area on the first floor, so maybe he went there.
He says they will skip the dangerous parts.
I wonder about the trauma check?
It definitely sounds like a risky name.
“Okay, this is the measuring device.”
The test device is just a cube.
A simple cube with a metallic feel.
Is it futuristic or something?
“Just keep your hand on it, and you’re done.”
“Like this?”
It’s just a cube that looks like it’s made of marble.
It’s amazing that something so simple can measure anything.
“Nothing difficult, right? Usually, it only takes about a minute.”
Yoo-Ram kindly says.
He was also someone who gave good medicine.
Yeah.
He’s a nice guy.
“Ah, done. The results are out.”
It didn’t even take 10 seconds.
“Is it finished?”
The examination is over.
It’s quite fast.
“It’s a preliminary test.”
It wasn’t anything that grand.
I was nervous for no reason.
He said it would take about 40 minutes earlier.
It seems there’s more testing left.
“What else do we need to do?”
“Ah, I just wanted to have a chat.”
Yoo-Ram said that and walked towards the door.
[4 hours 29 minutes]
Time for a chat.
Was this a sort of interview-type test?
“I can give you two choices.”
Clunk.
Yoo-Ram locked the door.
Is he doing this so Si-Hoo can’t come in?
Or is it so I can’t escape?
I have a bad feeling about this.
“S-So, options?”
“One. Pretend to be dead and disappear. The cause can be drug overdose, worsening injuries, or anything else.”
I paused for a moment, wondering if I misheard that.
It’s an unexpected story.
I still can’t understand what he means, even after thinking about it again.
“If there are few people who have seen or know you, and it’s before the entrance ceremony, you can get away. Escape from the Academy.”
“Escape?”
I had no thoughts of running away.
“The Academy isn’t a place that gives expensive medicine to anyone. If you want to run, now is your only chance.”
What exactly does it mean to pretend to be dead and disappear?
Listening to these unexpected words made me feel strange.
I don’t even know why I need to disappear.
“Two. Just live by taking the medication given by the Academy.”
Taking the medication given by the Academy.
Isn’t that a good thing?
It seems good.
No matter how much I think about it, there’s nothing bad about it.
They say they’ll give me medicine that I’d struggle to get on my own.
Calling it “taking” makes it sound like I’m being treated like a dog, but still, it seems good.
“If you’d lived in the slums, you would understand. There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world. Yeah. Even if you’re out of it from the meds, think carefully. Don’t be deceived by appearances. The Academy is a group rotten from the roots.”
Yoo-Ram has seen a lot.
If he’s saying this much, the Academy must have issues.
“No one here will treat you.”
“Ah…”
Is he saying not to expect to live like it’s a nursing home?
“I’ll give you military-grade drugs. They’ll tell you to use them and fight. It means you’ll become a test subject for the Academy. From there, it’s far beyond my reach.”
Right, nothing comes for free.
I actually knew that.
There’d never be such a generous story as receiving free medicine indefinitely.
“The medicine I’ll give you in the future will be different from the ones you’re getting now. Although they’re labeled military-grade, they aren’t even given to soldiers. It’s far too strong. It’s not designed for humans.”
Strong medicine.
Is it as strong as the 100-hour medicine the doctor gave me?
“Still, since you’re a student, I need to play the role of a teacher, right? Plus, I’m a doctor, so it feels strange that I can’t properly take care of my patient. So just get away from the Academy. Even now.”
He feels a sense of responsibility.
He’s seriously telling me to escape.
I’m honestly considering whether I really need to escape.
[4 hours 22 minutes]
But it’s complicated.
Let’s say I find a way to escape.
Where do I get the medicine?
“But the medicine…”
There isn’t any.
“The medicine you’re using now has a week’s worth left. I’ll give that to you, so move to another area and find a doctor I know. There might be a way there. I’ll tell Si-Hoo well. He’ll understand.”
Yoo-Ram’s words speed up.
Maybe there’s a way, he says.
I don’t know if it’s an urgent situation where I should rely on such uncertainty.
It’d be better to get that medicine for sure.
I understand that the Academy is dangerous.
But just because it’s outside doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Whether I run out of the medicine or not, dying is the same anywhere.
“There are no eavesdropping devices here, but if the higher-ups get curious about what we’re doing, that would be troublesome. Make your choice quickly.”
There’s a sense of urgency.
Pressure to make a choice quickly.
He set up this situation just to say this to me.
But honestly, it’s almost like there aren’t any choices.
“…What about the military-grade drugs?”
He said it was a strong medicine.
“It’s dangerous. They mixed magical power to suppress the side effects, but once magic is mixed in, it steps out of regular medicine. Clinical trials… If there are any, you’ll be the one to do them.”
[4 hours 18 minutes]
I can’t even sleep properly with the current medicine.
I had considered using the syringe twice to get some sleep.
Because it isn’t strong enough for a deep sleep.
“I think it’s okay.”
This is where they check the abilities of the Awakeners.
If I only have the remnants of the medication, I can pretend to be an Awakener.
“In any case, if I try to run away to live on my own, it will just be a nuisance to the teacher and Si-Hoo.”
He said it was strong medicine.
Military-grade.
“Thus far, I’ve only been a nuisance, and I can’t keep doing that.”
It’s strong medicine.
It can’t be used by just anyone?
Saying it can’t be treated is a lie.
It’s medicine after all, so why can’t it heal?
“So it’d be better for me to use the medicine, or anything, and be useful in some way.”
It’s strong medicine.
“Right?”
Let it go.
*
That’s right.
I’ve already crossed the line long ago.
I’m smiling.
Not a smile that I put up deliberately, but a smile that slips out unknowingly, leaving me with no choice.
Is it the expectation that I’ll end up using this medicine?
“Ah, yes.”
There’s a tinge of pity and slight contempt in his voice.
There’s nothing more Yoo-Ram can do now.
Military drugs distributed by one of the Academy’s executives.
If it’s something both the Academy wishes for and Yoo Seo-Ah wants, they have no choice but to give the medicine.
If only it was a little earlier.
If I had met him when the addiction was mild.
I could have saved Han Si-Hoo’s friend.
It’s probably okay to say he’s already dead.
“Si-Hoo will be sad.”
When Han Si-Hoo’s name came up, his expression hardened.
Though he offers a hollow smile, it feels like something’s stuck in there.
Yoo-Ram felt a bit guilty.
“If Si-Hoo finds out I’m using such experimental medication, he’ll be really angry. That would be troublesome for you too. The military drugs will be provided quietly and only when necessary, so keep that in mind.”
“Yes.”
I don’t think Yoo Seo-Ah would blurt out what kind of medicine she’s using to Han Si-Hoo.
If she had a loose tongue, she might’ve jabbed herself with military drugs without even knowing what it was.
Even without going through Yoo-Ram’s hands.
If Han Si-Hoo openly opposes the Academy system, it’d create complications in various ways.
It would be troublesome if precious talents of the Academy were discarded.
It’s safest to leave Yoo Seo-Ah alone.
The Academy higher-ups wouldn’t let her just be.
“Even if it’s not Si-Hoo, it’d be troublesome if other Academy students found out. That’s why we created the special class.”
If it weren’t for Han Si-Hoo’s friend, there wouldn’t have been a special class.
She would have been locked up in a special confinement room.
“Can I not use it now?”
“Do you want to?”
I nod.
“You still have some time before the promised time is up, so it should be possible to take one more measurement.”
Yoo-Ram lifts a flat suitcase from under the desk.
Inside the case were multiple automatic syringes.
“This is the last question I’m asking, but are you really going to stay in the Academy?”
It’s the final question.
If the answer is that I’ll stay, Yoo-Ram will return to being Teacher Yoo-Ram.
The duty of a teacher or the oath of a doctor loses its meaning.
Only the sense of professional duty of an Academy teacher would be revived.
He’s only doing this much for the bond with Han Si-Hoo.
“…Si-Hoo would probably wish for that too.”
I chose conformity over escape.
Feeling that he had done as much as he could, Yoo-Ram gave up on persuading me.
He cautiously took out a syringe.
It’s dangerous medicine.
What if Seo-Ah ends up broken or dies because of the medicine?
The answer is simple.
Yoo Seo-Ah chose the option to escape the Academy.
Not just pretending but truly dying.
The cause could be drug overdose or worsening of injuries.
Well, one of those would be it.
*
[13 hours 21 minutes]
Measurement completed.
“Ah ha.”
The cube burst apart.
Seeing the shattered measuring device makes me feel good.
Or maybe it’s good because of the drugs?
“…Even though it’s a preliminary tester…”
Yoo-Ram also seems quite surprised.
He stares blankly at the remnants of the cube.
At this point, shouldn’t I be reaching protagonist level?
It’s a pity there aren’t many spectators.
In a story, a protagonist lives with admiring audience members.
“Seriously, what kind of drug resistance is this…”
I’ll take that as a compliment.
With this, I can now receive applause and live my hero life.
Just like Han Si-Hoo.
I can too.
“I feel dizzy, or I feel like I’m going to throw up, or is it hot or painful somewhere. Do you have any symptoms like that?”
I wanted to be like Han Si-Hoo, a protagonist who doesn’t show weakness.
I’ve always wanted that.
“Seo-Ah?”
If only I could work hard and become like Han Si-Hoo.
Even if not Han Si-Hoo, it would be good.
Like many other Awakeners.
Like those whose lives flow smoothly like a game.
I want to live like a protagonist too.
“Are you okay?”
I wanted at least one opportunity to try.
This might be that chance.
It has to be.
“Ah, yes. Teacher. I was just thinking for a moment.”
I need to show a decent appearance.
I’m actually fine, but I shouldn’t create a misunderstanding that leads to not giving me the medicine.
I need to let them know that I got better because I took the medicine.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Of course, I’m fine.
He looks worried.
“If it’s because of Si-Hoo…”
“Even so, Si-Hoo wouldn’t be able to differentiate what medicine I’m using, so it’s fine.”
He’s never really known.
“Yeah.”
I thought all the Academy had were bad drugs.
Now I know that’s not the case.
“If you cause any issues because of the medicine, you’ll be dealt with swiftly. The Academy is good at handling that kind of thing. So be careful.”
“Yes.”
I understand that the Academy is a dangerous place.
If I go on a rampage because of the drug, I’ll get taken care of.
I get it.
That won’t happen to me, so it’s fine.
The medicine the doctor gave me was stronger.
That kind of medicine is needed to act strangely.
At that time, I actually posed a threat to Han Si-Hoo, and it was really dangerous.
“Hehe…”
[13 hours 18 minutes]
There’s still a lot of drug effect left.
I’m satisfied with this amount.
I smashed the cube, but about 2 hours went away, yet there’s still a lot left.
Sleeping shouldn’t be a problem at this level.
It almost feels stronger than the medicine I kept at home.
“Ah, is the test over now?”
“Ah, yes. It’s all done. You can go now. Si-Hoo must be waiting.”
“Thank you.”
I said my thanks and left the room.
Si-Hoo should be waiting.
I better head over quickly.
In the end, there was nothing to worry about regarding the medicine.
There were plenty of syringes prepared.
Choosing to stay at the Academy was inevitable.
I’m glad Yoo-Ram is a person I can communicate with.
I climbed the stairs.
On the first floor, I didn’t see Han Si-Hoo.
Is he outside the building?
I peeked outside through a window.
Ah, found him.
He’s outside having a conversation.
A conversation.
A conversation?
Who is he talking to?
“Lena.”
Her full name might be longer, but I forgot it again.
That neatly arranged silver hair caught my eye.
What is she doing here?
The spot where I got hurt aches a little.