LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 112
“Long time no see, Hana.”
In the dim night, a girl trembled pitifully, curled up on the bed in the hospital room.
What I did was incredibly simple.
I merely handed her the medicine.
Hana’s shaky eyes turn toward me.
It was not hard to see that her condition was not good, not even a bit.
If I had delayed even a little longer, who knows what might have happened.
The girl seemed very unstable.
In the end, Hana did not refuse my offer.
She willingly took the medicine, something she always accepted with caution.
The effect was tremendous.
Immediately, Hana’s body trembled wildly, letting out heated moans.
“Hyaah! Ah…!”
The meaning of this was clear.
The medicine merely converts negative emotions into positive ones, which means that before taking the medicine, Hana had been engulfed in despair.
It wasn’t a pretty sight.
The scene, which looked like she was losing herself in pleasure, resembled that of someone deep into drugs.
But without this, Hana would never endure.
Moreover, considering the Vice Principal’s warning, I couldn’t just keep watching forever.
“Do you need more? There are no side effects.”
“…Go away.”
Should I be thankful for this?
She didn’t seem fully addicted yet.
She could calm her mind slowly through the medicine and reduce her usage over time.
Today would be enough for her.
“I’ll take my leave now. Please rest comfortably.”
Until the moment I left the hospital room, Hana stared blankly into space.
As if someone were standing there.
*
I visited the hospital room again early in the morning.
What unfolded there was the scene I had anticipated.
The girl sat hunched in a corner, just staring at the wall while shedding tears.
As the effects of the medicine faded, the negative emotions began to creep back, and the contrast with her previous state was stark.
There was only one way to go.
“…I’m sorry, Sophie. I’m sorry, Sophie. I’m sorry.”
She repeatedly mumbled to the wall.
Knowing the meaning behind those words only made the feeling of despair rise.
“You might mistake the medicine I gave you for drugs.”
I found myself explaining about the medicine as if making excuses to myself.
This is not a drug.
It is a medicine that brings happiness.
“It’s not a drug; it’s a potion. A potion of happiness.”
At this point, any further explanation might seem pointless to her.
Seeing is believing. Ultimately, the one who has experienced the medicine firsthand knows best.
“Yesterday and today are different. A new sun rises.”
“…”
“What will you do? The choice is yours.”
Like a sweet temptation whispering like a serpent, Hana fell for it.
The girl’s blurred eyes regained focus. The vial in her gaze sparkled in the light.
Just as she was about to reach for the vial, she pulled back her arm and said.
“But this time, there’s one condition.”
“…What is it?”
A weak question.
A voice strained and rough.
But within it lay a fierce desire.
“It’s not difficult. Be faithful.”
“…Faithful to what?”
“Be faithful to your life. To your studies, to your friendships, to your daily life, to your bonds, to your life itself. You must live faithfully.”
It might be a meaningless sympathy.
Perhaps, it was merely a selfish satisfaction.
Yet, I still wished for it.
That Hana would live a happier life, even if just for a fleeting moment, like an ordinary child her age.
Although it might seem like a futile dream now, once everything is over, I will make it a reality.
At least, until that time.
“What will you do?”
Be happy, Yu Hana.
“…Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Good choice. You won’t regret it.”
With those words, I handed her the potion.
As soon as she swallowed it, all her worries and fears disappeared, and she sank into happiness.
“May you be as happy as you’ve struggled. Please keep your promise; I’ll make sure to check in regularly.”
*
Days passed since then.
After school, at the end of class.
I waited in the empty science room, and soon Hana arrived.
This time was not bad.
Honestly, I found myself looking forward to this moment every day.
Although you might not remember anything.
The simple fact that we were together made it a rather wonderful time.
“Welcome.”
“Medicine.”
She asked for medicine as soon as she came in.
“How was the academy today?”
“I did as you said. So, give me the medicine.”
“Hmmm. Tell me a bit more detail.”
My persistent request seemed to have irritated Hana.
After all, her dependency on the medicine hadn’t completely disappeared yet.
“I’ll tell you! Just give me the medicine first. Okay?”
“Well, there’s no helping it. This is what you need, right?”
Hana’s gaze locked onto the medicine in my hand.
“But there’s a condition.”
Today’s condition was simple.
She was to read a book and write a book report.
Hana didn’t seem to understand why I imposed such a condition but ultimately accepted it quietly.
As soon as I handed her the medicine, she tossed it into her mouth.
“Let’s take a break.”
“…I’m going straight home.”
Her wariness toward me had not vanished.
I didn’t feel particularly hurt by it though; I had somewhat led her to that point.
She was about to leave the science room but suddenly turned around and boldly asked for more medicine.
“Well, that’s fine.”
As I willingly handed over the medicine, I watched her take it and promptly leave.
*
“What on earth have you been doing?”
I was startled by the sudden question.
“What do you mean, Student Council President?”
“Don’t play dumb. My younger sister came with her friend and told me everything.”
At that moment, I found myself talking alone with the Student Council President, Sehee.
A few days ago, I had heard she was about to be brainwashed by the Vice Principal, so I approached her immediately to intervene.
Getting close to her wasn’t that difficult.
Knowing she had a fondness for Hana made it easy to continue the conversation.
But I didn’t expect it to go like this.
After hearing her, memories from ten years ago came flooding back.
I had suspected the science teacher was a demon and had suggested blood tests.
So, I decided to alleviate her suspicions right then and there.
The method was very simple.
“I’ll prove it right here that I’m not a demon by shedding black blood.”
“What? Wait a minute, how…”
Without hesitation, I took a cutter knife from the desk and sliced my finger.
Immediately, red droplets of blood began to bead and trickle down.
“Is this sufficient?”
“…What if you catch tetanus?”
That’s what you’re worried about right now?
Thanks to the Holy Grail, it wasn’t an issue I had to worry about.
With my proactive explanation, she completely withdrew her suspicions.
“Fine, I understand. I’ll talk to the kids.”
“Honestly, I never imagined I’d be suspected of being a demon. But aside from that, we can’t dismiss the possibility that another demon has invaded the school. Doing a general inspection as Si-hyun suggested would be a wise choice.”
If events continue as in the past, that incident won’t be long after the health check is done.
“Please inform me after confirming that I am not a demon, once the blood is drawn.”
“Do we really have to wait until then?”
“Showing the drawn blood would be the most convincing, right? I don’t want to be suspected as a demon any longer.”
“If that’s what you insist… okay, I’ll do that. And I’m sorry for misunderstanding.”
She waved her hand and thought inside.
Thus far, everything had flowed just like it originally had.
The problem laid ahead: according to my memory, the science teacher would suddenly disappear from the academy around this time.
Even as I left the student council room, I continued to ponder.
What could possibly be the reason?
Any legitimate reason I should abruptly vanish.
Right now, I could only suspect the Vice Principal’s schemes.
Given that I was already their target, it wouldn’t be strange for them to hatch any number of plots.
Yet, it was too early to be sure.
In the end, another week passed without me being able to ascertain anything.
*
Once again, the same science room.
“You’ve arrived. Please sit down.”
Hana plopped down without responding to my invitation.
“Should I give you the medicine right away?”
“…Did you do that today, too?”
“Hmm. What do you mean by that?”
I guessed the intention behind her question.
She was probably trying to gauge whether I was a demon.
I calmly agreed.
“That’s only natural. Health management is always crucial.”
“…Yeah, I guess so.”
Hana’s expression soon turned strange.
I had no idea what she was thinking, but the fact that her expression changed in various ways was a good sign.
“Alright, so just give me the medicine already.”
“Did you properly fulfill the condition I proposed?”
“…I did. Although I’m not sure what jogging means.”
“Good. Here it is.”
After receiving the medicine, she glared at it for a moment before swallowing it whole.
Moments later, she looked at me with suspicious eyes.
“What did you do to the medicine?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Stop pretending. You’re giving me weaker and weaker effects.”
Oh no. Did I get caught?
At this point, it would be odd if she didn’t notice.
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Just a matter of feeling?”
“Well, while the meanings differ, they aren’t entirely different. It’s not the medicine that has changed after all.”
“…Could you explain that a bit more clearly?”
At that moment, I received a short text on my phone.
[Come up.]
“……”
It was a call signal.
I quickly relaxed my stiff expression and refocused on the conversation.
“By the way, what is today’s condition?”
“Oh, there’s none now.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. As of today, Hana has completed the basic requirements.”
This was the peaceful ordinary life I wanted to gift her.
The conditions I imposed were meant to help her overcome future hardships and trials, if only slightly.
“Of course, aside from that, the first condition I gave you must always be fulfilled.”
“The first? The part about being faithful?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
In the end, every condition was merely an extension of the first one.
I wished for her to continue living faithfully in her life.
“I was worried that it might be delayed, but I’m glad it’s not.”
“Yes. I don’t know what it is, but it seems to have gone well for you.”
Her sarcastic remarks only made me feel all the better.
I managed to stop the medicine in time and at the very least, she should have felt the essence of a faithful life.
“Are you planning to go already?”
“Why? Are you trying to hold me back?”
“Take care on your way back.”
“…Hmph.”
Standing up, she began to leave.
I quietly watched her retreating figure.
Once she left, I needed to head up as well.
A strong instinct, a certainty, knocked at my heart.
I realized that the text I just received was the reason for my impending disappearance.
I might not be able to meet her for a while.
The path you walk ahead will surely be filled with thorns.
It must be a difficult road, one I can hardly imagine.
“Take care.”
“Uh? Take care? Of what?”
“Since it’s the last time, I’ll give you a warning.”
Recalling the imminent incident with the Vice Principal, I said.
“Do not trust anyone.”
“……”
“Of course, I mean including me. Doubt everyone.”
“…I’ve never trusted you even once.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her resolute answer.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
With that, Hana left, and I was left alone in the science room.
Now it was time to move.
Once again.
I had to go up to the top of the academy.