I Became the Drug-Addicted Childhood Friend

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: SemiPickle

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“Let’s go home. Together.”

Our hands touched, but nothing happened.

So, he’s not a researcher.

I wanted to go home too.

But that right was taken from me.

“Can I even go home…?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t even know where my home is.”

How would I find it?

“Let’s go together.”

How kind of him.

I smiled.

“Si-Hoo will be disappointed.”

“He won’t be.”

“I’m not a good person, you know.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He’s only saying things I want to hear.

Thank you.

“I tried to hide the drugs, but I got caught, and…”

“That wasn’t your fault. It’s okay.”

I didn’t end up like this because I wanted to.

“Yeah, I suppose so. After all, it’s not my fault.”

No, I did want this.

If I hadn’t craved it, I wouldn’t have indulged in drugs to that extent.

Hundreds, thousands of pills.

“It’s not my fault. It’s not my fault. It’s not my fault. Not my fault, not my fault. I didn’t want this.”

Even if they hadn’t dragged me to the lab, I would have crawled there on my own and begged for the drugs.

Even if they promised me freedom, I would have lived like a worm the moment I needed the drugs again.

“I only did it because I had no choice. There was no other way. I didn’t enjoy it. Don’t blame me. It could’ve been worse if I didn’t do it. What I did was better. So what if I enjoyed it a little?”

At the end of the day, I wanted it.

If I truly hated it, I wouldn’t have done it.

Something as worthless as drugs.

“Haha, if you were in my situation, you’d do the same. I was just sick and looking for treatment.”

But I was happy.

The drugs brought me pleasure, and it didn’t hurt that much.

So, in a way, I got something out of it.

I can’t say I was just a victim who suffered losses.

Anyway, it felt good.

“That’s how it… was…”

Drowning, but it felt like drowning in chocolate.

Sweet, at least.

And it tasted good.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“……”

Even when I hear that, deep inside, I know it’s not true.

It’s my fault.

It’s just not entirely my fault.

So, I’ll repay the debt.

Then I’ll have paid for my sins.

“So let’s go. Together, to your home.”

Who are you, speaking like that?

At last, I observed him carefully.

“…Si-Hoo?”

“Yeah. Are you recognizing me?”

“Is it really you, Si-Hoo?”

“It’s me.”

My expression lightened a little.

It’s Si-Hoo.

So, what am I supposed to do?

I need to ask the most important question.

“Where is Seo-Ah?”

“…What are you talking about?”

You were close with her, so you should know.

Come to think of it, it’s strange.

When did the two of them start living apart?

“Yoo Seo-Ah? She’s probably at home. Eating an apple, maybe? That sounds tasty.”

She’s not a fighter.

She doesn’t go out to battle.

She wasn’t created to fight in the first place.

“Seo-Ah?”

Han Si-Hoo looked flustered.

I was the one dumbfounded.

Is he mistaking me for Yoo Seo-Ah?

I’m sure I introduced myself.

“Seo-Ah, everything’s going to be okay. We’ll find a cure. So…”

“Seo-Ah? I’m pickled drug tuna in a can. My expiration date is…”

[10%]

“10% spoiled. Haha. But the other 90% is still fresh. The drugs must be preservatives, probably?”

My brain feels like it’s melting.

Tuna cans.

I like them.

If I lifted my clothes, the scars would still be there.

This one, and several others.

There’s also a shopping list.

“I said I don’t like vegetables, so why am I always running errands? I don’t eat that stuff. Why do I have to buy it? And why is there never enough memo paper?”

Why?

I don’t understand.

“…Sorry. I’m… like this…”

What are you even saying?

I can’t understand you.

Speak louder.

“It’ll be okay. We can go back to the way things were.”

The way things were?

I don’t want to go back to the lab.

Even if my sacrifice advances science or whatever, I’m not going back.

“So let’s go together.”

I said I’m not going.

– Oh, the results of this experiment… honestly, there’s no need to document them. We’re just curious how long she can last.

– She still has some willpower left, even in this state.

I refuse.

– It’s not willpower, just reflexes.

– She must feel good. She’s soaked in drugs.

You feel pleasure where you’re not supposed to.

Even if it feels good, the fear doesn’t go away.

– Increase the drug dose to double the usual amount.

And then, I remember nothing.

The memories that surface are all strange.

I’m too scared to trace them back.

But they resurface regardless.

Further into the past.

– For a monster, it’s awfully human-like.

– That thing?

– Its actions scream monster, though.

“Stand back, Han Si-Hoo. It’s a monster.”

I stopped delving into the past.

A girl with blue hair came into view.

A freezing cold aura emanated toward me.

“It only resembles your friend. Don’t be fooled by its appearance.”

“Cheon Yoo-Hwa, I told you not to come. I said I’d handle this.”

Cheon Yoo-Hwa.

So it’s her.

I’ve seen her before at the Academy.

Was it during the entrance ceremony?

“This is more dangerous than the monster that attacked our car.”

She pointed at me as she spoke.

There seems to be some misunderstanding.

I’m not dangerous.

“Looking at its level of magic, it’ll likely be designated a target for elimination. It would take more manpower than just you or me to kill it.”

Kill?

Who?

Why?

For fun?

I get it.

It’s possible.

But I won’t die.

“I won’t let her die. Seo-Ah will be fine—”

Because a tuna can isn’t alive.

It only contains what was once alive.

“Han Si-Hoo. I didn’t think you’d be so weak. There’s no mistaking it; that’s a monster. Just look at its eyes—it’s not human.”

“Yup, I’m a tuna can!”

Can a can become a person?

“…What?”

Cheon Yoo-Hwa tilted her head slightly.

“This isn’t your place to intervene. Step back. This is as nice as I’ll say it.”

Han Si-Hoo warned her.

“You’re not in your right mind. That thing is your friend?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know your situation, but without a proper explanation, I can’t let it live. If we don’t exterminate it now and it causes damage—”

“It’s not a monster to begin with, so it’s fine. Seo-Ah is human. This isn’t her fault.”

Their argument continued.

“That black magic is something you’d only see from a monster deep within a dungeon. Can you really claim it’s human? …Even if it was once human, such a transformation is impossible. I’m sorry if I’m touching a nerve, but this is the truth.”

“So, are you planning to attack?”

“If you can’t convince me otherwise, that might be the only option left. To me, it looks like you’re insisting a monster is human.”

“You shouldn’t always trust what you see.”

The atmosphere grew tense.

Were they really going to fight?

Normally, I’d assume Han Si-Hoo would win.

But Han Si-Hoo looked bloodied and utterly exhausted.

“Unless I’m mistaken, you were fighting just moments ago. With this thing. Then, all of a sudden, your attitude changed. Doesn’t that seem strange? It makes me suspect mind control.”

He fought with this thing?

When?

This thing only attacked the researcher.

But when did Si-Hoo even get here?

I don’t know.

No, I should know by now.

So, think carefully.

There was definitely a researcher in front of me.

The researcher had been standing where Si-Hoo is now.

“It makes me suspect mind control.”

Mind control.

Manipulated thoughts.

Hallucinations and delusions.

I closed my eyes.

If I opened them again, the hallucination should clear.

I opened my eyes.

I saw strange teal lights, like those in a surgery room.

“Ah, oh…”

This can’t be happening.

This is bad, bad, bad.

I closed my eyes again and reopened them.

The white room was still there.

A surgery room.

“Ah…?”

This has to be a joke.

I was just with Si-Hoo moments ago.

We were outside just a moment ago.

Please.

I closed my eyes.

And opened them again.

Was this a hospital?

No, it couldn’t be. No, it’s not.

I’ve never been to a hospital.

Because I’m not sick.

“Seo-Ah?”

Someone grabbed my arm.

What are they doing?

What are they doing to me?

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

This must be a dream. It has to be a dream. Tell me it’s a dream.

This isn’t real.

Si-Hoo will wake me up.

It’s morning.

Sunlight will stream in.

I closed my eyes and opened them again.

Back to the streets.

My head was spinning, but the shiny blade in front of me was crystal clear.

“P-Put the knife away.”

Was that really a knife?

No, it’s a toy. It has to be a toy.

Plastic. It’s plastic.

Just like the ones Si-Hoo and Seo-Ah used to play with back in the day.

No way. No way that’s touching my stomach, right?

It doesn’t hurt. It can’t hurt.

This is a dream, right? It’s a dream.

“Hey, since you took the drugs, it won’t hurt…”

It can’t hurt.

Don’t use something like a knife.

You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?

I’m not a monster.

I’m not.

“No-ha-ha-heh-heh…”

I said it hundreds of times, but no one listened.

“I’m-not-a-monster-ah…”

Even if I said it, no one would believe me.

After all, there’s no one on my side.

Most people are hostile, and the best I can hope for is indifference.

“Ah…”

I’m all alone.

A piece of trash.

A pathetic fool.

“……”

And honestly, I am a monster.

If everyone sees me as a monster, that’s what I am.

And I see myself as a monster too.

I should probably just admit it.

In stories, the mid-boss is often a dragon.

When Han Si-Hoo defeated it, he leveled up significantly.

It even dropped some great items.

“I…”

Who am I?

Obviously, a tuna can can’t exist as a living thing.

Tuna cans don’t move.

“A monster…”

It’s not so bad.

I’m already beyond saving, so I might as well die and become someone’s experience points.

Will I drop good items when I die?

“I guess…”

If I’m going to die, I want to drop something cool.

A dragon-level item would be nice.

Right?

“I guess.”

Then let’s fight!

Let’s fight.

Drugs, please make me a sword.

I’ll grab a weapon.

I’m a sophisticated monster, after all.

Prepare for battle.

Prepare.

Prepare…

I gripped the sword and stared at my opponent.

Who was my opponent?

My vision blurred.

But honestly, I didn’t want to fight.

I wanted to go home.

Home.

There wasn’t a comfortable bed, but lying on the floor would be enough.

Let’s eat something tasty.

There’s no TV, but I could read a book.

Would you make me a delicious meal?

No, I’ll cook it myself.

Even though the best I can manage is fried eggs or ramen, I’ll make it for you.

I want to eat together at home.

With a friend.

A friend.

I’m not a monster after all.

I have a friend.

I still have a friend.

I’m still a person.

Monsters don’t have homes, but tuna cans do.

Am I a tuna can?

Anyway, I have a home.

I don’t like vegetables.

But I do like ramen with some vegetables in it.

I’ll cook it for you.

You’ve never seen a monster cook before, have you?

“Hey…”

Clang.

The sword fell to the ground.

I didn’t need a weapon.

“Do you want some ramen? Let’s go home.”

My vision was blurry, but I knew who was in front of me.

Han Si-Hoo.

I barely managed to remember.

My memory was a mess, but I still believed he was my friend.

“I’ll cook for you…”

I hesitated, then opened my arms.

As if to offer a hug.

Maybe I was asking for one.

Or maybe it was just a gesture of welcome.

Let’s make peace.