Yeah, get a hold of yourself. Han Si-Hoo muttered to himself. He kept muttering it. He’d already repeated it dozens of times.

He had never experienced his mind being so invaded like this before. In the end, he only hurt Seo-Ah again. It was only after Yeon-Hwa took her away that his mind started to clear.

He couldn’t even remember what he had said to Seo-Ah. His thoughts were still in a fog. He needed to find a way to stop this penalty.

Clenching the sword blade with his bare hand, he kept himself grounded. Maybe this was a method he had unconsciously picked up from Seo-Ah. The first thing he needed to do was clear.

"The doctor."

If the doctor really had infiltrated the academy, he needed to be caught now. Especially now, when most of the academy’s forces were deployed elsewhere. There was no one to help him. In the end, only Han Si-Hoo could kill the doctor.

Where did he say he was? It was nearby for sure.

"If I can just deal with the doctor..."

Then Seo-Ah would be safe. Han Si-Hoo properly gripped his sword. This time, he wouldn’t fail.

Was the doctor an Awakened too? Probably. He had already seen that the doctor could teleport or move remotely, whether it was via some form of portal or instant movement. But beyond that, his abilities were still unknown.

He had to act now.

He remembered. The doctor was said to be in the medical ward downstairs. The academy building was sturdy, but Han Si-Hoo could break through it.

Bang!

He slammed his fist into the floor, shattering it. With the help of his skills, this much was possible. He created a path to the lower floor.

Jumping down, he scanned the area. No patients in sight. Dust filled the air. The ceiling lights flickered, sending off sparks.

"Oh..."

The doctor let out an impressed sound.

"I thought Seo-Ah would be the first to arrive, but it’s you."

The doctor’s voice was relaxed. As if he had been expecting Han Si-Hoo to come.

"Doctor."

He didn’t know the doctor’s real name. Didn’t know where he came from. Didn’t know why he was here. There were too many unknowns.

Han Si-Hoo suppressed his instinct to attack, choosing instead to ask a question.

"Who are you?"

Information gathering was important. He needed to know who his enemy was. It was doubtful the doctor would answer, but he asked anyway. At the same time, he scrutinized the doctor’s appearance.

"I’m a doctor."

A meaningless answer.

"Why did you mess with Seo-Ah?"

Han Si-Hoo prepared to attack.

"I do not neglect any patient. Seo-Ah had no hospital to go to, no doctor to turn to."

The doctor answered.

"Tell me what your goal is."

It was rare for someone to give a straightforward answer in situations like this. But the doctor seemed willing to explain. Though Han Si-Hoo couldn’t see the doctor’s expression, it felt like he was smiling.

Slash.

The spot where the doctor had been standing was cleanly sliced. But there was no damage.

"An illusion...?"

Han Si-Hoo had already noticed how faint the doctor’s presence had felt. There was no real substance.

"A hologram."

He spotted the hologram projector. When he messed with the device, the doctor’s image disappeared. But the voice continued. Speakers and microphones were installed somewhere nearby.

"I’m not particularly strong, so I have to rely on measures like this."

"Where are you?"

That familiar unease. A bad feeling he couldn’t shake. He had to check on Seo-Ah’s location.

"I’m on my way to meet a patient."

"Don’t you dare touch Seo-Ah."

He had asked Yeon-Hwa to take Seo-Ah somewhere safe. They had left the medical ward not long ago. They should still be in the building.

But Seo-Ah is trash. It wouldn’t hurt to leave her behind. This is a good opportunity. I could fix everything that’s gone wrong because of her.

Shut up. Shut up, please. Han Si-Hoo muttered to himself, trying to keep his sanity. He wasn’t in his right mind.

"I had entrusted Seo-Ah to you, believing you to be her guardian. But it seems you aren’t suited for that role."

Not suited to be her guardian? Maybe not. But it wasn’t the doctor’s place to make that judgment.

"My goal is to treat the patient."

"What?"

"Since you’re also a patient, my goal is to provide comprehensive treatment for both of you."

He was treating Han Si-Hoo as a patient too. It was as if the doctor lived in a completely different reality from Han Si-Hoo’s.

"What are you talking about?"

None of this made sense.

"Yes. Normally, you wouldn’t understand. But we are in a state of emergency now, so..."

The doctor trailed off.

"-Ah, Miss Yeon-Hwa. How nice to meet you."

The greeting came through the speakers. No, this couldn’t be right. Something was definitely wrong. Yeon-Hwa was with Seo-Ah.

Seo-Ah could barely move on her own. She was like a crushed ant on the verge of death. That was where she belonged.

Where is Seo-Ah? I need to find her. Then I can crush her myself.

"Damn it. Get it together."

There had to be a way to fix this mental corruption. There had to be a way to remove the penalty.

But first, Seo-Ah. He had to find Seo-Ah. But if he saw her in this state... He would want to kill her.

It felt like his mind was being taken over. Was this how Seo-Ah felt when she was on the drugs? It seemed like he was finally getting a taste of what it was like.

-Bang.

The speakers emitted a loud, screeching sound. It helped him regain his focus.

"...Huh?"

"Have you ever wondered why Awakened don’t carry guns? Why such a powerful weapon is banned?"

The speaker’s quality had dropped significantly. Static filled the air.

"That’s because if you were to use guns, it would be too threatening. They’re banned because they aren’t effective against monsters."

"Guns...?"

Han Si-Hoo tried to focus on his task. Where had that gunshot come from? The speaker had been loud, but the real gunshot had been even louder. It had definitely come from nearby.

The doctor. Who was he shooting at?

-Bang!

Another shot rang out. He could tell where it came from now. Han Si-Hoo prepared to leap out the window. Since becoming an Awakened, such feats had become effortless. Jumping between windows was nothing.

"I found you."

Han Si-Hoo had a good grasp of the academy’s layout. He jumped out the window.

It hurts. The pain is getting worse by the minute.

If I took the drugs, I’d be fine. But I can endure this much. If I wait, it’ll get better.

But I really didn’t sell my body or anything like that. It’s frustrating. Sure, Si-Hoo’s acting weird, so he might say things like that. But that’s not true. That never happened.

My vision is turning white.

What if I can’t remember it happening? No, there’s no way it did. I would’ve known if I’d taken money for something like that. Aha. Then maybe I didn’t need to go to Si-Hoo in the first place.

Did he want to ask why I didn’t just sell my body instead of coming to him? Or did he think I earned money like that before asking him for help? Now that I think about it, I never paid back the money I borrowed.

I feel like throwing up. Honestly, I can’t even move. I can’t straighten my body.

"Ah, Miss Yeon-Hwa. Nice to see you."

I hear the doctor’s voice. He knows her name? But judging by Yeon-Hwa’s expression, she doesn’t seem to know him.

The doctor pulls out a gun.

A gun? Why?

Bang!

The gunshot was louder than I expected. I don’t know why he’s shooting, but Yeon-Hwa blocked it. She’s already holding a sword in each hand, ready to fight. In this world, it’s possible to deflect bullets with a sword.

"Have you ever wondered why Awakened don’t carry guns? Why such a powerful weapon is banned?"

"Stay back. I’ll handle this."

For Awakened, a regular gun won’t kill them. They won’t even get hit.

I don’t understand why the doctor is attacking Yeon-Hwa. None of this makes sense. Maybe it’s the pain making it harder to comprehend.

"That’s because if you were to use guns, it would be too threatening. They’re banned because they aren’t effective against monsters."

For something supposedly ineffective, that gun seems pretty dangerous. Yeon-Hwa’s blocking the bullets without a problem, though.

Bang.

Another shot is fired. Yeon-Hwa deflects it again.

"Of course, I know regular guns won’t work."

The doctor’s voice grows faint.

I glance up at the doctor’s face. He’s wearing a gas mask. That’s why his voice sounds muffled. I hadn’t noticed when he put it on.

"Ugh."

Yeon-Hwa covers her mouth. Her stance crumbles in an instant. It looks like there was a reason the doctor wore a gas mask.

"Such fragility."

Yeon-Hwa collapses, helpless. Now it’s just me. I don’t feel anything. The doctor must have released some kind of gas. I’m not wearing a gas mask, but I can breathe just fine.

"Ah, don’t worry. This is nothing to worry about. You’re immune because of the military-grade drugs."

So, it’s because I took the drugs. Of course. Drugs really are good after all.

"Still, staying here for too long isn’t a good idea. We should get going."

Bang!

Suddenly, the wall bursts open. It’s Han Si-Hoo. Blood is dripping from the hand that holds his sword. He’s clearly not in a good state.

"Ah, are we fighting here? You arrived quickly."

Is Han Si-Hoo protecting me? He looks like he’s deciding whether to kill the doctor or me first. Yeon-Hwa is passed out on the ground near me. He won’t attack this side... right?

I’m worried. After all, just a little while ago, Han Si-Hoo tried to attack me. Even if it wasn’t on purpose, it was still terrifying.

"You can’t lay a hand on Seo-Ah."

At least he isn’t trying to kill me. Han Si-Hoo fixed his grip on his sword, glaring at the doctor.

"[Purification]."

The gas didn’t seem to affect him. Could his skill even purify the air? That’s impressive.

"It’s always fascinating how the Awakened can make even their wordplay a reality."

Something rolls out from the doctor’s sleeve.

-Kiiing.

A deafening explosion of light follows. I can’t hear anything. The flash is so bright I can’t see a thing. A flashbang.

I think I hear a few more gunshots. I feel something hit me.

And then I feel myself being pulled away by someone.