I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

[7 hours 43 minutes]

There’s enough time, and just in case, I packed painkillers with the pills.

Honestly, I’d like to take a syringe with a solution, too.

If I had a proper bag, I would’ve packed it.

Anyway, I’m done getting ready to go out.

Now, all I have to do is leave.

It bothers me that my clothes are a bit worn out, and I have a bandage wrapped around my arm, but whatever.

I rummaged through the wardrobe, but there weren’t many clothes to wear.

Other than the ragged ones, there were only a few simple shirts.

Is it a crime to be poor?

There’s nothing I can do about it.

When I think of it as dressing casually, it doesn’t seem so bad.

“Alright, time to go meet the protagonist.”

We’re childhood friends, yet the protagonist never comes to see me.

At this rate, we’ll probably meet at my funeral.

I have to go find him first.

In the novel, I met the protagonist again only when Yoo Seo-Ah was half-dead.

It was because we hadn’t contacted each other for a long time.

Anyway, I feel pretty good right now.

Is it because I’m excited to meet the protagonist?

Thinking that, I placed my hand on the doorknob.

[Warning – External stimuli may shorten the time.]

A warning window appeared.

“……”

External stimuli shorten the time.

It reduces the time I can stay sane.

The effect of the drugs wears off faster.

So… it means I won’t feel good for long.

[Warning – External stimuli may shorten the time.]

Even though I packed painkillers and pills in my pocket, seeing the warning made me hesitate to go out.

“But I still have to go.”

I have to meet the protagonist.

This time, there’s no way around it.

I’m short on money and can’t buy drugs, so I need to get some cash.

The protagonist has a lot of money.

Kind-hearted as he is, he’ll gladly give me the money.

Probably.

There’s no option of contacting him by phone.

Yoo Seo-Ah is so poor that she doesn’t have luxuries like a phone.

Even if I had one, I’d probably have sold it off somewhere.

Drugs are ridiculously expensive.

I don’t have parents.

There are no adults to ask for help either.

This world in the novel is different from the one I originally lived in.

Life is incredibly tough here.

So, where’s the protagonist?

He’s at the academy.

The Awakener Academy.

Even though I have no means of contacting him, I can still find him because of this.

After all, protagonists always have some special abilities.

Here, people with such abilities are called Awakeners.

Monsters have started appearing, and Awakeners are the ones who catch them.

Gates open, dungeons form…

The protagonist hunts monsters and bad guys.

It’s the kind of cliché novel world.

By the way, Yoo Seo-Ah’s parents died in an accident related to Awakeners.

The protagonist also lost his parents to a monster when he was young.

He wasn’t without adults to take care of him, but no one really looked after him with sincerity.

That’s why the protagonist and I became childhood friends, playing together because of our shared tragedies.

But after it was revealed that he was an Awakener, the protagonist went off to the academy alone.

Or rather, he was half-dragged there.

The law is designed that way.

An Awakener?

Straight to the training center (academy).

Originally, the protagonist lived in a similar environment to Yoo Seo-Ah’s, but…

Not anymore.

The academy provides dormitories, and the protagonist lives there now.

Even so, he used to come visit Yoo Seo-Ah once a week, but he hasn’t been by in a while.

He must be busy since he’s the protagonist.

He doesn’t know that Yoo Seo-Ah’s condition is getting worse.

That’s because Yoo Seo-Ah has been hiding it from him all this time.

In the novel, Yoo Seo-Ah already died because of the protagonist’s indifference.

It’s only because I’m here that I’m still alive somehow.

This is how scary indifference can be.

Who leaves their childhood friend alone to go play at the academy?

[7 hours 23 minutes]

I can see this screen, so I can take the drugs on time, but the Yoo Seo-Ah in the novel probably couldn’t.

That’s why she died quickly.

Taking too many drugs turns them into poison.

Sure, taking more makes you happier, but still.

How about now?

I’m taking them in moderation, so it’s fine.

Judging by how naturally I’m smiling, I must be in a healthy, good state.

“Ah… I want to go to the academy too.”

I want to improve my life.

But forget the academy, I don’t even attend a regular school.

It’s a society where the concept of public education is shattered, so that’s possible.

The gap between the rich and poor is huge too.

That’s why slums appear in corners of the city.

There are plenty of vacant houses everywhere.

Well, at least I have somewhere to live because of that.

I kept walking, lost in thought.

Towards the distant academy building.

The academy is vast, so it’ll appear before me soon.

Fortunately, it’s within walking distance.

***

“Um. Unauthorized visitors aren’t allowed to enter.”

I was blocked at the entrance.

A man who seemed to be a security guard stood in my way.

“I’m here to see a friend.”

“Did you contact them personally?”

“No.”

“Well, then I can’t let you in.”

“Oh.”

There were more hurdles to cross than I expected.

It would’ve been nice if I had the protagonist’s phone number.

[3 hours 40 minutes]

It’s quite far.

It feels like I’ve been walking for three or four hours.

I didn’t have enough money to take public transportation.

Walking all the way back home now is out of the question.

Even if I tried to go back, I probably wouldn’t make it.

If I could borrow money from the protagonist, I could take a taxi back.

Seeing my discouraged expression, the security guard spoke up.

“If there’s someone you want to meet, can you tell me their name? I can try contacting them, but I can’t guarantee it’ll work.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t over yet.

The security guard was kinder than I expected.

It seems like I’ll be able to meet him, even if it takes a little time.

“Oh, thank you. His name is Si-Hoo. Han Si-Hoo. Tell him Yoo Seo-Ah is looking for him.”

I gave the protagonist’s name.

“Huh? Han Si-Hoo? Isn’t he the famous kid these days? I heard he’s in middle school but beat a high school runner-up?”

“Really?”

The story hasn’t even properly started yet, but he’s already making a name for himself.

If I were the protagonist, I could’ve done that much too.

“If a journalist or someone like that had come looking for him, I wouldn’t have put in a call like this. Consider this a special favor.”

He was a kind security guard.

His gaze shifted to my arm, probably noticing the bandage wrapped around my hand.

I casually turned my arm behind me to hide it.

Am I looking a bit pitiful, dressed in ragged clothes?

Even though I feel so happy inside.

This is why you can’t judge a person by their appearance.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, just leave your contact information here. It might take a while.”

“Uh, I don’t have any contact information… Can I just wait here?”

“……”

The security guard allowed me to sit in the waiting room.

From there, I curiously watched the academy students pass by.

Since it was near the entrance, I didn’t see too many.

The grounds were really vast.

Maybe because they were Awakeners, some kids were using strange teleportation magic, and others were carrying spears on their backs.

A woman who looked like a professor was floating a glowing orb next to her.

It’s just like the world of the novel.

I lament being powerless, but what can I do?

Is there really no one among all these people who can cure Yoo Seo-Ah’s illness?

There isn’t.

Awakeners who specialize in healing have limited abilities.

They can reattach severed arms, but they can’t even properly cure a cold.

It’s such a strange mechanism.

“If only I had powers, I’d be attending the academy too.”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s an unfair society, isn’t it?”

The security guard chimed in from nearby.

“Ha ha…”

The protagonist had been using his powers to defeat bad guys since he was young, but sadly, Yoo Seo-Ah has never had a chance to shine.

No, actually, she did get her moment near the end when she was about to die.

Though she wasn’t on the protagonist’s side back then.

Huh?

Suddenly, I feel like dying.

Why did I end up in this lousy novel as this lousy character, going through all this crap?

Honestly, it’d be better to live without taking drugs.

Once I meet the protagonist here and borrow money to buy drugs, what should I do next?

Wait until I need money again, borrow it, buy more drugs…

Do the drugs even cure my illness?

Why can’t I be the protagonist?

If you’re going to make me an extra, at least give me a better role.

Yoo Seo-Ah, seriously.

I’m losing my mind.

Something feels really off.

[2 hours 11 minutes]

I fumbled in my pocket and pulled out a pill.

I immediately put it in my mouth and swallowed it.

Without water, it was hard to swallow.

[2 hours 30 minutes]

Huh?

I feel better again.

Sometimes, even when there’s still time left, the effect of the drugs wears off like this.

I have to stay sane.

It reminds me once again how important health is.

When it gets dangerous, I have to take more of the drugs I brought with me.

Then I’ll feel good again.

It’s always been like that.

“I just got in touch with him a few minutes ago. Han Si-Hoo said he’d come here himself. For now, just wait here.”

As I waited quietly, some good news came.

“Really?”

“There’s a separate meeting area, so he’ll probably take you there. Probably.”

“Ah.”

“You seem pretty cheerful. You looked gloomy just a moment ago.”

“Yes. I’m excited to see him after so long.”

I didn’t realize it showed on my face how much I wanted to meet the protagonist.

“Here, take this temporary pass. Show it to anyone who asks.”

“Ohh.”

It was the kind of lanyard a company worker would wear.

Anyway, I just want to meet him soon and get the drug money.

[1 hour 56 minutes]

Might as well get the taxi fare, too.

Even though I brought some emergency pills with me, walking home would take too long.

It’s a distance that would make my legs hurt from walking.

Not that they hurt now…

Maybe that’s why the drugs wore off a bit sooner.

The academy provides a lot of financial support.

You can also earn money by hunting monsters.

If you complete special missions led by the state as an academy student, you get paid.

You might even find rare items during practical training.

And he’s the protagonist, after all.

I wonder how much money the protagonist has.

Yoo Seo-Ah and Han Si-Hoo have been friends since they were kids.

So, of course, he’ll lend me some money.

I need to buy drugs for my health, so he’ll definitely lend it to me.

Even though the drugs are pretty expensive.

“Ha ha…”

I laughed.

Laughing makes me feel good.

Thinking about getting the drug money from the protagonist makes me feel even better.