LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 42
The terms he proposed were unexpected.
I couldn’t guess his intentions at all.
“Why that?”
“There’s no special reason. If I had to say, it’s an extension of the last request.”
The contemplation didn’t last long.
After all, the conditions weren’t difficult.
“Alright. I’ll do it.”
“Great. Here you go.”
I swallowed the medicine I received immediately.
Instantly, a sense of calm washed over me, and soon, a wave of happiness began to swell.
“Ah…”
I let out a languid sigh and closed my eyes.
Bathed in the sweet aftertaste of pleasure, I felt an ecstasy wash over me.
“Let’s take a short break.”
“…I’ll be going right away.”
There was nothing good about getting close to this man.
In fact, receiving this medicine now was something I should never have done.
But I figured it would be alright for now.
As long as I kept my wits about me.
I just had to stop right before it got truly dangerous.
Turning away from the science lab, I almost walked straight out but suddenly stopped.
I turned back and approached the man again.
“What’s the matter?”
“…Just give me a bit more. So I can last until the end of class tomorrow.”
“You’re certainly confident. Anyone would think you’ve got it all figured out.”
“……”
It’s truly ironic.
Even the frustration that surged towards this man transformed into happiness in an instant.
This inexplicable feeling generated a sense of discomfort.
“Well, fine.”
He obediently handed over the medicine.
It was even more suspicious, but there was no reason to raise a fuss.
Taking the medicine, I immediately left the science lab.
*
I returned to the dormitory.
It felt like I hadn’t been back in a long time.
A hollow feeling, as if something very important was missing.
Traces of Sophie were still vividly present all around the room.
“……”
Sophie, who had been beside me, naturally moved to the kitchen.
‘You’re going to have dinner, right?’
Not really.
I wasn’t in the mood.
Right now, I just wanted to sleep in this cozy happiness.
Once the effects wore off, I would realize it was all an illusion.
Before that, I wanted to lose consciousness.
Sophie sighed and shook her head.
‘You really need to eat properly. Seriously.’
Sorry.
Just let me off the hook today.
I promise I’ll eat properly starting tomorrow.
I passed through the kitchen and moved closer to the bed.
And then I stopped abruptly.
“…Haha.”
The corners of my mouth lifted.
Laughter spilled out without me realizing.
Instead of my familiar single bed, there stood a strange bunk bed.
“Haha. Hahaha.”
Now, of all times?
You ignore me and bite the bullet when it was needed.
And now that it’s unnecessary, you decide to change it?
What is this?
What the heck is this?
It’s utterly useless.
I couldn’t snap out of it from this ridiculous joke.
Just give me back my old bed.
Don’t take away the bed filled with memories of Sophie.
I laughed.
I laughed for a long time.
Because I was ridiculously happy.
Engulfed in a dizzying pleasure that shook my brain.
I felt like I was about to lose my mind.
Sophie sat on the bed and asked.
“Are you happy right now?”
Yeah. I’m happy.
Very much so.
*
Shin Woo stared at the empty seat with tired eyes.
He hadn’t slept a wink last night.
It was completely stuck in his head.
What a coincidence that the Vice Principal walked in at that moment.
He bit his tongue at the ridiculous twist of fate.
It’s nothing.
He tried to reassure himself it was merely his overreaction.
But no matter how he thought about it, this was not right.
Hana and that guy must not be left alone.
The moment he first realized the pain of his childhood friend.
The day he sneaked into the dormitory and ran to the girl.
It was since he discovered the man beside sleeping Hana that he realized.
This man is dangerous.
With a treacherous gaze akin to that of a viper.
Who knows what he might do?
He’s definitely the kind of guy who would lead Hana to ruin.
I must stop him.
I absolutely must.
Soon, the girl Shin Woo had been waiting for entered the classroom.
Just like yesterday, she wore a bright expression.
He immediately stood up and moved closer to Hana.
The girl, spotting Shin Woo, greeted him cheerfully.
“Oh, Shin Woo! Hello?”
“…Can we talk for a second?”
“Huh? About what?”
“Let’s talk outside.”
“Um… Okay! Sure.”
Fortunately, Hana readily agreed.
The two left the classroom and moved to an empty corner.
“What’s so important that we had to come to such a secluded place?”
“Just be honest with me. Where did you go after class yesterday?”
“I told you. The health teacher called me for a check-up…”
“Yu Hana. I asked you to be honest.”
“……”
A brief silence.
In the end, the girl confessed the truth.
“I went to the science lab.”
“Why did you lie?”
“Because I thought you might worry.”
“Why do you think I would worry?”
Slowly, Shin Woo’s voice began to lower.
“…Shin Woo. Can we stop this? I’m scared.”
“What did you do with that guy?”
“That guy? Who are you talking about?”
“The science teacher! What did you do alone with that man in the science lab!?”
Shin Woo’s questions had turned into a full-blown shout, yet Hana didn’t flinch at all.
In fact, she wore the same calm smile as before.
“I was just doing club activities.”
“…You expect me to believe that?”
“Shin Woo. What kind of answer are you hoping for? Are you under the impression that I’m dating our teacher?”
No.
This isn’t a light matter.
Hana’s current demeanor is… somehow off.
My instincts screamed.
This once pure girl was changing.
It warns me it’s becoming truly dangerous.
Shin Woo lowered his head and begged with a trembling voice.
“…Please. Quit that club.”
“Shin Woo.”
“We’ve been childhood friends for 18 years. We’re like family. So please, just this once, grant my request. Don’t hang around that guy.”
He threw a desperate tantrum, letting it all spill out.
“That guy has a bad reputation. He pretends to be nice, but he actually gets too familiar with the girls and even harasses them…”
“Our teacher isn’t like that.”
“……”
“I’m grateful for your concern, but please don’t speak so casually about him.”
The girl said as she passed by the boy.
“I’m going to leave first.”
After Hana left.
Shin Woo stood there for a long time, dumbfounded.
*
This is a big deal.
It seems Kim Shin Woo has caught on.
How did he find out I went to the science lab yesterday?
Right now, that’s not the important part.
Kim Shin Woo suspects my relationship with him.
That’s not a good sign.
What if he figures out I’m dependent on the medicine he gives me?
That guy won’t stay quiet about it.
He’ll try to stop me by any means possible.
While half-listening to the class, I fell into thought.
This isn’t good. I need to focus on the lesson.
But no matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t come up with a good solution.
I can’t continue avoiding Kim Shin Woo’s gaze while meeting secretly and making excuses.
Eventually, as long as I’m his childhood friend, he’ll keep worrying about me.
So what if I’m not a childhood friend?
Approaching from a completely different perspective, a hint appeared.
Why was I even concerned about Kim Shin Woo’s attention?
I could simply cut off the relationship entirely.
“Ugh…”
The mere thought of it sent a thrilling rush through my body.
Am I really going to sever the ties built over 18 years with Yu Hana?
Why am I feeling this way?
I should be sorry and sad about this.
Why does it feel so good?
Am I broken?
I began to concoct a detailed plan.
Seeing Shin Woo’s face earlier, I suspected he wouldn’t readily accept me trying to cut things off.
It might even make his obsession deepen.
Then I should lead Kim Shin Woo to cut ties first.
How?
By disappointing him, inducing him to tire of me.
So much so that being friends with Yu Hana would become embarrassing.
But it seems challenging to be faithful to the academy while doing all that.
For now, let’s take more time and think it through slowly.
Sophie, who had been sitting in the empty seat next to me, asked.
“Is that really enough?”
But I can’t help it.
At this rate, we’ll both just be unhappy.
In the end, in the original story, Kim Shin Woo abandoned Yu Hana anyway.
This is just speeding things up a little.
“Is that really enough?”
“……”
*
Lunchtime.
I walked to the library.
It’s my first time since being possessed.
I was sure that I wouldn’t come back here for the rest of my life.
The reason for visiting the library was simple.
To fulfill the condition he imposed on me.
The condition was really simple.
Read five books from any genre and write a report on them.
I still can’t grasp his intent.
While it’s an extension of living faithfully.
Does this really have much to do with living a faithful life?
Anyway, since he told me to do it, I have no choice.
Otherwise, he’d said he wouldn’t give me the medicine.
Surprisingly, there were quite a few students in the library.
But as expected, the atmosphere was quiet and calm, fitting the space.
I too walked quietly, trying to maintain silence.
What kind of book should I read?
Since he said any genre, I wanted to pick something light and easy to read.
Would comic books or fairy tales be allowed too?
While I was busy selecting books, I heard a familiar voice call me from the side.
“Didn’t expect to see you here. What a surprise.”
“Oh, hey.”
I locked eyes with Han Si-hyun.