I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Chapter 23

I can manage on my own. That’s what I think.

But looking at how things are these days, it seems I can’t survive without the help of others.

“Okay, so this is how you wear it...”

I let Lena take care of me.

I don’t really have any other options.

“Since I know who you are, it’s okay not to hide your face.”

It wouldn’t really be well hidden anyway.

“Ah, is that so?”

“I’ll call you Lena.”

“You knew that...”

“I didn’t particularly plan to attack you. I was just a bit out of my mind from the medicine.”

That’s right.

I have no desire to attack Lena at all.

At least not right now.

And seeing her taking care of me shows she’s a good person.

There aren’t any bad characters among the heroines.

“I’m really sorry about last time.”

Lena bows her head in apology.

“I don’t have anything to say, but you... um, that is... you did something wrong!”

“It’s okay. All the wounds have healed.”

“Really?”

Is she saying that with so many injuries on my body?

There are indeed a lot.

“That’s because these were old wounds. The one from the sword has healed completely.”

The bruises aren’t Lena’s fault.

Showing her my injuries changes her expression.

It’s not her fault.

It’s the academy students’ fault.

But who was it again?

I feel like I’ve heard the name before.

But I’ve forgotten it.

“I’m really sorry. If you want, you can stab me once!”

“Ah, no...”

I have no intention of doing that.

Just because I got stabbed doesn’t mean I’ll stab someone else.

I don’t go around attacking people unless it’s due to the drugs.

I’m not bloodthirsty.

“But what about Si-hu?”@@@@

I’m curious about where Han Si-hu is.

Why is Lena taking his place?

“He went out to buy some necessary items.”

“Necessary items?”

“...Since I lived in the slums, I didn’t know much about it, but there are still a lot of things we need.”

I feel confident that as long as I have some medicine and food, I can manage.

I wouldn’t say I’m particularly picky.

So I didn’t intend to ask Han Si-hu for anything.

I’m somewhat satisfied with this situation.

“Si-hu probably doesn’t know what a girl needs, so I told him. You, Seo-ah, also left it to me, a girl.”

That seems to be the case.

After all, Han Si-hu must have felt burdened looking at my wounds.

In that respect, having someone like Lena around might be more comfortable for him.

If I’m lucky, it’s a good thing.

“Right.”

For a moment, I felt like I was a doll being dressed.

By the time I was waiting, it was all done.

[10 hours 2 minutes]

“Have you been staying with Si-hu all this time?”

“Here?”

“No, since before. I was a bit curious why Si-hu hid the fact that he had a friend like you.”

That was the right choice.

Yoo Seo-ah’s existence should have remained hidden.

“I’m just a trash human.”

Ah, I used harsh words.

My body is feeling sluggish, and my thoughts are becoming sluggish too.

Words that come out without filtering are stronger than I expected.

“...Don’t say that.”

She sounds just like Han Si-hu.

It seems friends are friends after all.

They match well and it’s nice.

“It’s true. Even now, it’s hard for me to keep myself together alone.”

“It’s just because of the medicine right now that you can’t help it. It’s fine. I heard you can be treated. You’ll get better.”

I believe that too.

Well, it’s medicine, so it should work for treatment.

Even if it works, I don’t know if it’ll be useful.

“I don’t want to hold you back like this.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll disappear someday. Just bear with it for a little longer.”

That’s probably the best consideration I can offer.

That’s what I think.

I had to seek out Han Si-hu because I needed the medicine.

I should have somehow prepared the medicine on my own.

But the doctor told me to kill Han Si-hu.

My wrist doesn’t hurt.

There are some marks left, but it’s okay.

The effects of the drugs are still circulating.

I probably look like a monster to him.

I understand.

That could be possible.

Thud.

I somehow manage to pull my arm away.

The hand that was holding my wrist falls back.

That’s scary.

If I woke him, he might choke me.

[45 minutes]

A significant amount of time has been consumed.

Is he always keeping the purification skill active?

Maybe that’s why he instinctively grabbed me.

When I covered him with a blanket before, it was fine.

What’s different now?

Military-grade drug? Sedative?

I’ve taken a variety.

When it was the medicine the doctor gave me, it was fine.

Where did it go again?

[43 minutes]

The medicine.

The one the doctor gave me.

He said he brought it.

As long as Han Si-hu hasn’t put it somewhere else, it should be here.

“Is this it?”

I rummage through the bag that Han Si-hu brought.

It’s a rude action, but I can’t help it.

I’m scared of waking him up.

He must be really sleepy, so I’ll take care of it.

I have a syringe prepared for situations like this.

So I just need to find the medicine.

Even though it’s dark, I can’t turn on the living room light.

The light from the room is enough.

[40 minutes]

This is why I don’t like relying on others.

I’m scared that time will run out.

I liked the house where I could do whatever I wanted.

“I found it.”

It’s not in the bag but on a high shelf.

Standing on a chair, I can reach it.

The blue liquid inside swirls.

Somehow, it seems like there’s less than the last time I saw it.

I’ll go to the room and use it.

The living room is too dark.

[37 minutes]

I unwrap the bandage on my arm.

With trembling hands, I pick up the syringe.

I need to fill it with the medicine.

“Ah, my wrist.”

It’s not painful, but there seems to be a problem.

I don’t know how hard Han Si-hu grabbed it.

The right hand is the problem, so I’ll use my left.

I broke one syringe.

It’s okay; I have plenty of extras.

It seems a bit difficult to manage with just one hand.

[33 minutes]

The urgency rises due to time constraints.

Because the needle of the syringe bent, I can’t use it again.

“Seo-ah?”

“Uh?”

Han Si-hu is awake.

He’s looking at me with his hand propped against the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Hey, I’m going to use the medicine.”

I haven’t done anything wrong.

He said it’s okay to use it when necessary.

“How much have you used...?”

There are two syringes sprawled on the floor.

A small amount of medicine drips from them.

“I haven’t used any yet. So help me. It seems the syringe isn’t working well.”

“If you had said something, I would have given it to you.”

Why is he looking at me with a disappointed expression?

I haven’t done anything wrong.

I’m sorry for rummaging through the bag and the shelves, but it’s because of the medicine.

[29 minutes]

“There’s still time left. Can you give me the medicine from the academy? Even now.”

It’s not too late.

It’s still not too late.

Han Si-hu quietly grabs the medicine bottle.

“What about the medicine?”

“You’ve already used a lot. And I don’t even know what this is yet, so why are you taking it without saying anything...”

I was scared to wake him up.

It would have been better to say something before using it.

But more importantly, I still haven’t used it.

“Ah, I haven’t used it yet. My arm hurts. No, anyway, I haven’t used it yet, right? Are you not going to give it to me?”

[26 minutes]

There’s no time left.

I think there’s been a misunderstanding.

I must have confused something in my sleep.

“I’m sorry, but not now.”

That’s a lie, right?