I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle

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“Why does Si-Hoo have her with him? Are they close? Did he go to Si-Hoo’s place?”

It didn’t make sense.

It wasn’t like Si-Hoo would be living with another girl.

It was strange.

“Um… if you think about it, maybe he kidnapped her?”

“Huh?”

“Even if I told anyone, no one would believe me… Even if I go to Teacher Lee Yu-Ram, she outright denies the existence of her younger sister.”

What was he talking about?

“…Could it be that she isn’t his sister?”

“No, I checked it with my ability, so I’m sure. I haven’t told anyone, but it’s clear that Han Si-Hoo is involved in kidnapping, confinement… and even blackmail.”

“Why…?”

I still couldn’t understand.

Was there something wrong with Seol Ha-Jin’s head?

Or was I the one being strange for even listening?

Kidnapping, confinement, blackmail?

“It’s hard to believe, right? I’m only telling you because you seem to care about Han Si-Hoo.”

“No, but Si-Hoo lives in the dorms. From the start…”

The reason was one thing.

Fine.

Where would he kidnap and confine her, anyway?

“That guy… it seems he might have some kind of spatial movement skill. It also looks like he has a lot of hideouts and places to stay.”

“People around him would know, wouldn’t they? If he’s causing such a huge incident.”

“It doesn’t seem like people around Han Si-Hoo are completely unaware. They might even be accomplices…”

What was he saying?

Really, what was he saying?

“So, what’s wrong with the teacher’s little sister, anyway?”

“I don’t know exactly. All I know is she’s sick. It seems Han Si-Hoo is using that to blackmail Teacher Lee Yu-Ram.”

Everything he said sounded strange.

“Then what do you expect me to do? Are you close with that younger sister? Is that why you’re doing this?”

“No, I haven’t even met her in person.”

Seol Ha-Jin replied casually.

“Are you messing with me?”

“Check it out for yourself. It’s true. You promised to keep your word about helping with treatment, didn’t you?”

“Well…”

“I’m serious. Han Si-Hoo is a bad guy.”

It seemed like he hated Han Si-Hoo.

“No way.”

“That’s what people think of him, but even Yoo Seo-Ah earlier… something is off.”

“……”

“Wow, I had no one to talk to about this, so it’s been really frustrating. You have no idea how scary Han Si-Hoo is.”

Wasn’t this close to some kind of conspiracy theory?

It’d be easier to believe he was just making it up out of dislike for Han Si-Hoo.

This was crazy.

“I mean, I don’t get any of this kidnapping or confinement stuff…”

I was starting to doubt what I was even hearing.

Maybe he’s the one who needs treatment.

“I was too scared to ask Han Si-Hoo directly, but maybe you could find out. If he hasn’t kidnapped his younger sister or anything similar… the treatment is settled.”

He spoke with a serious tone.

Even though it was just nonsense.

“Really.”

He opened his mouth again.

This time, there was no trace of playfulness.

“Han Si-Hoo is not normal.”

He’d likely gotten mixed up with him more than I had.

Another person who was hostile toward Han Si-Hoo—this was new.

Saying he’s “not normal,” too.

It’s true I didn’t know Han Si-Hoo very well.

We hadn’t really gotten close yet.

“Fine. I’ll look into… the kidnapping and that kind of stuff.”

Kidnapping, confinement, and blackmailing a teacher’s little sister?

Si-Hoo?

It didn’t fit his image at all.

He seemed kind, good-hearted, and righteous.

Was he the same type as me?

There are plenty who think I’m good just because of the title of ‘Saintess.’

But Han Si-Hoo actually is kind.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter.

I’d find out what I didn’t know going forward.

But kidnapping and confinement…

There had to be some misunderstanding.

The most likely possibility was that Seol Ha-Jin in front of me had gone crazy.

***

I went home.

No matter how much I thought it over, it was strange.

Something was off.

I’d tried to use Yoo Seo-Ah to get close to Han Si-Hoo.

But somehow, a teacher’s little sister, whose name I barely knew, had come into the picture.

Kidnapping, confinement, blackmail.

The more I thought about it, the weirder it seemed.

“Why would Si-Hoo do something like that…”

No, should I be doubting him?

If that Seo-Ah kid was really a close friend, then why did he let her go around using drugs?

Could there be a darkness in Si-Hoo that I didn’t know about?

There were lots of strange people in the slum.

But I still liked Si-Hoo.

So I didn’t intend to give up on him.

“I really need to get closer to him.”

What’s the best way to become close to someone?

Maybe by doing them a favor?

How about if I rescued Seo-Ah?

That would be a new approach.

No… just giving him information about Seo-Ah should increase our closeness.

I’d make him bring it up first.

Then I’d listen to him talk about Seo-Ah, and I’d offer to check on her.

After all, it’s not like I lack information.

Ding.

A message came in.

This time it wasn’t a video but a picture.

“Wow…”

It looked messed up.

Was it taken right after some experiment?

The person herself was smiling, which made it even stranger.

It was good to have more material to give Si-Hoo, but seriously, who was this?

Who would do something like this?

And why wouldn’t they send these photos or videos directly to Han Si-Hoo?

Whoever they were, they even emphasized that Yoo Seo-Ah and Han Si-Hoo were friends…

I didn’t understand the purpose.

I really didn’t get it.

I’d been trying to ignore the fact, but who was this, really?

It was a female voice.

Probably a voice I’d never heard before.

Who the hell was it?

Ah.

My head hurts.

Why were they doing this to me?

Last time, I panicked and ended up using drugs.

Even though I could heal myself, I should hold back on taking drugs.

I might end up doing something reckless in my excitement.

“…Drugs do feel good, though.”

Maybe Yoo Seo-Ah in the picture didn’t have any complaints either.

There are plenty of people who’d do anything like dogs if you just gave them drugs.

“Si-Hoo must be pitiful, having a friend like this…”

But why were they even friends?

What could Si-Hoo have done for Seo-Ah to end up like that?

Han Si-Hoo is the kind of person who’s committed to protecting his friends.

When I first met Seo-Ah, I didn’t think he’d have a friend like that.

Did Si-Hoo abandon her?

No, that didn’t make sense, either.

“Should I just ask Si-Hoo directly, after all?”

My head was a mess.

So many stories that didn’t even seem realistic.

“Just in case…”

What was the worst possibility?

“If Si-Hoo really is trash who threw away his slum friend and kidnapped and confined the teacher’s family to blackmail them.”

Why would he do something like that?

But if, really, just if…

“Then bringing up Seo-Ah could backfire, right…?”

I’d have to know what happened between them.

It was because I didn’t know anything that this situation came up.

“I thought we were at least somewhat close, but I guess not.”

Well, even if you’re close, it’d be hard to bring up a friend like Seo-Ah.

Not to mention kidnapping and confining someone.

Everything I’d heard was secondhand.

If I wanted to check if it was true…

Ah, right.

There’s no need for me to leak any information about Seo-Ah directly.

If I relay information about Seo-Ah anonymously and see how he reacts?

This could work.

Let’s put it into action right away.

***

Rank 1 reclaimed.

Han Si-Hoo had officially taken first place, ending Cheon Yoo-Hwa’s dominance.

A ranking chart was posted on the bulletin board.

The rankings could be checked on our devices, but seeing it printed out and posted was different.

But the ranking chart wasn’t the problem.

What was posted on the bulletin board was a photo.

“…Who put this up…”

It was a photo of Si-Hoo having a meal with Seo-Ah.

There was no clear reason why it was on the bulletin board.

Apart from Han Si-Hoo, there was no one else around the bulletin board.

It was a photo deliberately posted to make him notice.

With a soft sound, a thumbtack fell.

Although it was a photo I’d never seen before, I knew when it was taken.

There was something written on the back of the photo.

“Outside the academy, the alley next to the bookstore. 6:30 p.m.”

I had no idea who did this.

After all, there were very few people who even knew Seo-Ah existed.

“Are they trying to arrange a secret meeting or something?”

Just what I wanted.

I’d find out who was doing this.

“…I was meeting someone at 7 anyway.”

I had an appointment with the Saintess.

I could stop by the alley before the meeting.

Did I really need to stick to the exact time, 6:30?

Did I really?

Naturally, Han Si-Hoo skipped class without hesitation.

By 1pm, he had already arrived at the alley.

For someone ranked first, class wasn’t that important.

Neither the teachers nor anyone else could stop him.

And so, he waited.

There was nothing special in the alley yet.

He entered the bookstore and sat on a chair.

The plan was to observe anyone who came through the alley.

If it was this alley, he could watch the passersby from inside the bookstore.

With his current capabilities, it was possible.

He could wait while reading a book or something.

Two o’clock.

No one.

Three o’clock.

Still no one.

The alley was completely empty.

Even the bookstore itself was nearly deserted.

Or rather, not anymore.

The Saintess.

The Saintess had come into the bookstore.

“Oh, Si-Hoo?”

“Hello.”

“Oh, we’re meeting a little early. What about school?”

“It’s done.”

Got rid of it, essentially.

“I see. I came here to wait for you.”

“Right.”

“Were you doing something?”

Yes.

Surveillance.

“Just something small.”

He opened the bookstore door and stepped outside.

He was checking to see if there was anything in the alley.

“Someone’s playing tricks.”

There was a vent in the middle of the alley.

A letter that hadn’t been there before was now there.

“A prank?”

The Saintess had followed him.

“They’re telling me to come here. Who could it be?”

He tore open the newly discovered letter.

The recipient’s name was written as Han Si-Hoo.

Inside was another photo.

Han Si-Hoo stared at the photo.

And he didn’t say a word for a long time.

“…What in the…”

It was a picture of Seo-Ah, smiling.

She seemed to be lying on the ground.

Beside her were several empty syringes scattered about.

Someone was pressing down on Seo-Ah’s stomach with their foot.

To keep her in place for the photo, they held her down with a foot.

The one being stepped on didn’t seem to have any complaints.

After all, she was smiling happily.

“……”

Was that really Seo-Ah?

Who, when, where, and how had they taken such a picture?

Why?

Was it a manipulated photo?

No, it didn’t matter.

All I had to do was ask the person playing tricks on me.

Fortunately, they were standing right next to me.

The Saintess.

Should I step on her?

I wondered if the angle would match the photo exactly.