I Became the Childhood Friend Who Commits Sui**de

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I pondered for a long time, but no clear answer came to mind.

Was it really someone on the rooftop, or could it be that I wasn’t even sure if it was Sophie?

Did I simply see a figment of my imagination?

It didn’t seem like a problem that could be brushed aside so easily.

After all, there wasn’t much basis for hastily concluding that Sophie was dead.

Since the battle with the Black Goat, she hadn’t been found anywhere.

It was only much later that I found her at the apostles’ shrine.

That corpse couldn’t really be seen as evidence that Sophie was dead.

But if that really was Sophie…

Then why did she push Hana and let her fall?

Considering her previous actions, it was an incongruous situation.

“…”

There were still too many elements missing to draw a conclusion right now.

Keeping all possibilities open and being as suspicious as possible was the best course of action at this point.

Fortunately, Hana was safe.

Though she would need to be hospitalized for quite a while due to her significant injuries.

Unintentionally, the situation had flowed just like it originally was.

“Still, I guess it’s a relief; her recovery abilities are quite impressive. It might even be beyond normal levels.”

“Indeed. Perhaps that really is Hana’s ability.”

I was talking one-on-one with the health teacher in the nurse’s office.

She was practically the only person I had developed a close relationship with, maintaining a considerable distance from the other teachers.

The reason was obviously that she had a connection with Hana. There was no special meaning beyond that.

Regardless of that intent, she was quite a good person.

She was a caring teacher who genuinely worried about and cherished her students.

“However, the problem is… It seems like her heart is quite broken. She keeps saying she saw Sophie just before she fell from the rooftop… She can’t believe that Sophie is dead and keeps looking for her.”

“…I see.”

Right. Ten years ago, I only thought that Hana was in a precarious situation.

I mistakenly thought she was just emotionally broken enough to see Sophie’s phantom.

But at least the Sophie she saw on the rooftop wasn’t an illusion; it was real.

Unless perhaps I was also losing my mind and seeing a phantom.

After thinking for a moment, the health teacher, Rachel, brought something out to show me.

It was a familiar syringe.

“I think this is to blame. It’s a powerful painkiller that can’t be found in stores. The side effects are quite severe.”

“Is this for Hana?”

I asked nonchalantly, but I already knew the answer better than anyone.

After all, I was the one who had given Hana that painkiller.

“Yes. Hana said she got it from a pharmacy, but that’s definitely a lie. I asked the pharmacy, and they denied ever selling it.”

“Hm. I need to find out how she got it.”

It was true that the painkiller had severe side effects.

But Hana’s seizures were serious enough to warrant using it despite the risks.

The pain intensified with each passing day, and there was no way to obtain strong painkillers within the academy.

So, I had been consistently providing the medication in hopes that Hana would feel a bit better.

Of course, that had stopped since she lost her memory.

Instead, I switched to giving her strawberry-flavored vitamins.

Rachel sighed, showing a mixture of concern in her eyes.

“That means she must have been in a lot of pain and suffering. It’s my fault for not realizing that pain properly.”

“No, you did your best for that child. I’m sure Hana is grateful.”

“I hope so…”

That was a sentiment she truly held.

I had long known that she had put in effort for Hana.

It would have been nice if there were just a little more people like her around Hana.

“Still, it seems like Shin Woo is taking good care of Hana. He visits her every day and tries to be by her side.”

“…That’s a relief.”

I swallowed my bitter smile.

At this point, I thought I was slowly getting closer to Hana.

I thought she was stepping forward and overcoming the pain of losing Sophie.

Everything seemed like it would be okay.

It was all an illusion.

Her heart was still festering.

I had been happily oblivious to this fact.

If only I had paid a little more attention.

If only I had recognized Hana’s state.

But now, those were merely meaningless assumptions.

Instead of drowning in regret and despair, it would be better to take some action to create a change.

“Ah, excuse me. I have a call…”

“Please, take your time.”

I stopped my thoughts, took out my phone, and checked the caller ID.

It was the Vice Principal.

What could this person want all of a sudden?

With a hint of anxiety, I answered the call.

“Hello?”

– Let’s meet for a moment and talk.

It was a one-sided notice.

After a moment’s hesitation, I accepted willingly.

“Understood. I will head to the Vice Principal’s office now.”

After wrapping up the call, I asked Rachel for her understanding and stood up.

“I’m sorry. I need to go ahead first.”

“It seems to be the Vice Principal. Thank you for talking with me today.”

“It’s I who should be grateful.”

Just as I was about to leave the nurse’s office, I paused and asked.

“Is it alright if I stop by to visit later today?”

“Of course. I trust you as a teacher.”

She knew that I had been close to Hana before I lost my memory.

That was why she spoke to me without any hesitation or suspicion.

“Thank you.”

After expressing my gratitude, I exited the nurse’s office.

I immediately made my way to the Vice Principal’s office.

*

“What’s the matter?”

I got straight to the point as soon as I entered.

A middle-aged man leaned back casually in his chair.

Due to his eye patch and beard, his expression was rather intimidating.

With an air of ease, the Vice Principal lit a cigarette and began to speak.

“I just came back from the student council room.”

“The student council room?”

“Right. I had a deep conversation with the student council president.”

That was a statement that made me frown involuntarily.

Currently, the student council president was Sehee, Si-hyun’s older sister.

Why was the Vice Principal involved with her?

What kind of scheme was he plotting?

“I may have mentioned my abilities last time.”

“Yes. I heard you can show illusions.”

“Correct. There are some rather bothersome preconditions, but once used, no one can break free.”

He wore a villainous smile as he said that.

“I will make the student council president our ally.”

“…Is that possible?”

“Of course, under normal conditions, it would be impossible. That girl has quite a solid mental fortitude. But it’s different now. After being thoroughly crushed and injured in the fight with the Black Goat, her self-esteem has completely plummeted.”

I had no idea.

I never imagined that Sehee was in such a situation at that time.

Was this part of the original flow of events?

If so, did my involvement prevent the president from falling into the Vice Principal’s trap?

“If I shake her just a little more, she will completely turn.”

“The student council president’s abilities are comparable to S-rank heroes or apostles.”

“That’s great news. But I’m worried that you might be rushing things.”

The Vice Principal exhaled cigarette smoke leisurely.

“The plan has been thrown off course. Originally, I should have secured the savior last time. All of this fell apart thanks to that audacious girl, Sophie.”

“…”

“Thanks to that, news of the Black Goat’s emergence began to spread and the elder members of the board are starting to be on guard. If we dawdle any longer, the opportunity might disappear entirely.”

“So, you want to move quickly even if it’s reckless.”

His reply did not come immediately.

He fixed his sharp gaze on me in silence.

A heavy silence pressed down on the space.

“There’s no time. Since Sophie failed, you must succeed. Do whatever it takes to capture Yu Hana.”

“Understood.”

“Don’t expect my patience to be infinite. If you harbor any strange thoughts…”

“That won’t happen, so you don’t need to worry. I will ensure it’s done properly.”

As expected, the Vice Principal still held doubts about me.

I felt like his suspicion was worse than before.

His recent words were not mere warnings.

If I couldn’t show notable results, he would be sure to prove the unspoken words he hadn’t voiced out loud.

Walking down the hallway after leaving the Vice Principal’s office, I fell deep into thought.

I must not let things unfold according to his plans.

The student council president must remain on the academy’s side.

And if I just leave Hana be, it seemed the Vice Principal would take action first.

Given his abilities, it wouldn’t be unusual for him to move at any time.

Then I had no choice but to act immediately.

I needed to take proactive steps to maintain the original course.

Let’s prioritize.

Of course, the foremost priority must be Hana.

Even in the worst-case scenario where Sehee might be brainwashed by the Vice Principal, there would still be a way.

I already knew that I could use the Holy Grail to break his illusion.

In that case, preventing the Vice Principal from getting close to Hana was my top priority.

To do that, I had to make it clear that I was trying to capture Hana first.

It seemed I needed to move tonight.