NOVEL WEB Chapter 6 - A Better Drug
On the fourth day.
After the evening passed, the doctor came into the house.
“You have excellent self-control. I thought you would have used all the medicine by now.”
The doctor spoke in admiration.
Half of the blue medicine still remained in the vial.
Since I had been administering it right on time, it was true that my self-control was commendable.
“Well then, it’s time to go congratulate Si-Hoo on his graduation.”
“Congratulate?”
“This is a precious moment where Miss Seo-Ah becomes an Awakener.”
“Wow.”
[7 hours 7 minutes]
Maybe because I took an extra dose of medicine earlier, I felt really good.
It was now time to go meet Han Si-Hoo again.
Even after several days, my anger towards him hadn’t strangely subsided.
Maybe it was because I kept eating the food the doctor left behind.
The doctor rummaged through a black bag and pulled something out.
Every time I saw him, I thought about how much he liked black.
Black clothes, black bag…
“Why do you always wear black, doctor?”
“You can’t see me well at night this way.”
“Are you a criminal?”
No wonder he comes in and out of my house like it’s his own.
Turns out, he’s a professional criminal.
“I’m a doctor.”
The doctor responded carelessly and organized his bag.
A black medicine vial was placed on the table.
Of course, it was black too.
I wondered just how much he liked black.
“It’s a new drug produced through magical engineering, a cutting-edge technology. It’s used to awaken potential in Awakeners.”
The doctor said, gazing at the black glass vial in his hand.
He seemed to have great pride in the drug.
“If I take that, will it make anyone an Awakener?”
“Based on our experiments so far… no. Artificial Awakening still requires some natural potential.”
“Ah.”
“You, Miss Seo-Ah, have that potential. I can tell.”
“How?”
“I’m a doctor, so I know.”
“Right.”
Potential? What kind of potential?
Maybe it’s because I can see the Status Window?
[7 hours 5 minutes]
I can still see something now.
How many people out there can see something like this?
Thinking about it that way, maybe I do have potential.
“This medicine, which I’ve prepared for someone with as much potential as you, is the best we currently have.”
“The best medicine?”
“Yes, we wouldn’t give you the best medicine if you were in such bad shape that you couldn’t even control your own body.”
If there’s good medicine, does that mean there’s bad medicine too?
They rank medicine now?
“Wouldn’t someone who’s really sick need the best medicine?”
“Even the best medicine would be poison to someone who can’t overcome addiction. It’s only for someone like you, Miss Seo-Ah.”
“I see.”
So only someone like me needs the best medicine.
Well, I’m confident that I would never get addicted to any drug.
If I want to recover quickly, I need the best medicine.
But thinking about it, this medicine isn’t meant to heal.
It’s meant to make me an Awakener, right?
Something feels off, but my brain isn’t working properly.
Even when I try to recall the novel’s plot, I can’t remember it well.
Ever since I took that blue drug, it’s been like this.
Well, I trust it’ll work out somehow.
I just need to trust the doctor.
There hasn’t been any problem so far.
“Let me remind you again, this is a very important matter.”
“Yes.”
“I already explained that the drug is quite addictive. But as long as we keep supplying it to you, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Yes.”
No need to worry.
There’s no point in worrying; nothing changes by doing that.
“So, shall I give you the injection now? Do you have any questions?”
The doctor asked as he took a sealed syringe out of the bag.
“Uh, what happens when the drug wears off?”
“Sorry?”
“If there’s no drug, do I go back to being a regular person?”
“No. This is the best medicine. You’ll just want more of it.”
“Wow, that’s incredible.”
“Indeed.”
Have I gone completely flower-brained from all these drugs?
Everything I think about makes me happy.
I see nothing but an optimistic future.
It feels like I’m becoming an Awakener, just like the Academy students.
“Will I be able to attend school like Si-Hoo?”
“…First, I recommend you have a deep conversation with Han Si-Hoo.”
“But I’m still mad. I don’t know why, but…”
“That’s normal.”
The doctor casually responded as he loaded the syringe with the drug.
The liquid inside was black as ink.
What kind of drug is this? Not just the vial, but the drug itself is black.
“You’re such a good person, Miss Seo-Ah.”
“Me?”
“If you weren’t kind and naive, I couldn’t have gone through with this.”
“Huh?”
So, because I’m kind and naive, I ended up getting sick?
Is that why I started taking the drugs?
Could that be true?
[6 hours 57 minutes]
I checked the remaining time.
How much longer will this injection extend my time?
I hope the effects last long.
I hate getting multiple injections.
“Lift your neck a little, please.”
Poke.
The needle went into my neck.
This was the first time I had an injection there.
Something hot was coursing through my veins.
My vision seemed to expand.
All my senses became sharper.
The doctor removed the needle.
[103 hours 2 minutes]
The drug’s effect increased significantly.
I felt omnipotent.
Like I could do anything.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Ah…?”
I couldn’t speak properly.
“You look fine.”
“Hehehe…”
A strange moan slipped out.
It felt like someone was stirring up my brain.
This was a completely new sensation.
Every sense was heightened, transforming into pleasure.
Seeing, hearing, touching—even smelling the air and tasting the dust—everything felt new.
“Now, let’s go. We’ll show Han Si-Hoo how much healthier you are.”
“Okay!”
“We’ll use the transfer gate to go to the Academy.”
“Hee…”
“You probably don’t understand much of what I’m saying in your current state, but I’ll explain anyway. Infiltrating the Academy isn’t easy. We’ve already destroyed part of the facility using monsters.”
“Hihi.”
“It was the right move to plant traitors in the Academy. If we can eliminate Han Si-Hoo, who is considered the hope of the world, that would be ideal.”
I wasn’t particularly interested in what the doctor was saying.
The sensations I was feeling were too exhilarating.
What could be more important than this?
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
Enjoying myself?
Honestly, that word doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I nodded vigorously.
“You’ll enjoy it even more if you fight.”
“……Why?”
“Because everyone did. And so will you, Miss Seo-Ah, especially since you’ve taken military-grade stimulants.”
I already feel good enough, but I can feel even better?
Then I should go fight.
But who was I supposed to fight again?
“Remember, you need to kill Han Si-Hoo.”
“Yes, teacher.”
“Good. I’ll open the gate now.”
-Pwsh!
The space in front of me warped.
A portal.
Yes, they call this a portal.
“It’s a device that allows you to instantly move to the Academy. Please wait a moment until it fully opens.”
“Wow…”
With my enhanced senses, I could feel the distortion of space.
No one else could have experienced something like this.
I wished the feeling would last longer.
[100 hours]
Luckily, there was still plenty of time left.
If just a few minutes could make me this happy, 100 hours?
“You can step inside now.”
The portal was complete.
It looked like something out of a game.
So, if I step through, I’ll be transported somewhere else instantly.
“Transference is an advanced skill used by monsters to cross over to our world. Very few people can replicate it.”
The doctor reached out his hand toward me.
Am I supposed to take it?
“Hehe.”
Holding his hand felt like going on a school trip when I was a kid.
I was a bit anxious before the injection, but now I was just happy.
I followed the doctor into the portal.
It was incredibly dark.
Then a faint light appeared.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Wow…”
We had instantly traveled somewhere else.
Beyond the trees, I could see the Academy buildings.
I looked back, but the portal had already disappeared.
“Though the Academy is built in the middle of the city, it’s surrounded by a forest and small mountains for student training.”
Looking around, I saw a forest.
No, it was more like an open field with a few trees planted.
A training area, perhaps.
How interesting.
I inhaled the air between the trees, and it felt…?
Wait, this wasn’t fresh air.
It tasted burnt.
But even that felt good in its own way.
“Burnt taste? Fire?”
“Yes, fire. We released fire-type monsters into the Academy.”
“Oh…”
Now that I looked closely, smoke was rising from the buildings.
Something was burning.
“Han Si-Hoo is on his way here.”
“Huh?”
I turned my head in the direction the doctor pointed.
Han Si-Hoo was approaching, sword in hand.
With my heightened senses, I could see him in detail, even though he was far away and the surroundings were dark.
White hair.
It was true that his hair changed color when he used his power.
“He seems to think catching me will solve all the problems. I did, of course, lead him here intentionally.”
The doctor mumbled to himself as he walked ahead with me.
I didn’t know the way, but he seemed confident.
“Miss Seo-Ah, remember? You need to kill Han Si-Hoo.”
“Yes.”
Han Si-Hoo, now running faster, must have noticed us.
Even though he was still far away, I could see several others chasing after him.
Lights flashed.
Soon, the protagonist’s form came into full view.
“You really went and did this…?”
Han Si-Hoo, who had been speaking toward the doctor, stopped mid-sentence and stared at me.
He seemed shocked.
I guess he never expected to see me here.
We had agreed not to meet again, but here we are.
“Hello there.”
The doctor took advantage of the pause to offer a polite greeting.
Of course, the protagonist didn’t return the greeting.
“You took her hostage.”
Han Si-Hoo’s voice was low.
He seemed angry.
“Hostage? A hostage? How could that be? Miss Seo-Ah came here of her own will.”
The doctor gently stroked my head as I stood in front of him.
Pat, pat.
“Hehe.”
Oh, this feels surprisingly nice.
The enhanced sensation made it even more enjoyable.
I wanted him to do it more.
“…What did you do to Seo-Ah?”
Han Si-Hoo asked, his face blank.
Looking closer, it seemed he was in shock.