Chapter 11 Part 11: Admission test.

…Aunt didn’t answer.

She just kept walking forward.

So, I kept walking forward as well.

I had no intention of interrogating her.

Because that’s just how Aunt Ailey is.

She wouldn’t speak just because I pressed her.

I had no choice but to wait until she wanted to talk.

As we continued walking along the trail, Aunt pulled out a portable inhaler from her pocket.

Then, she took out her bronchial medicine and poured it into the inhaler.

Seeing that, I stopped her.

“Aunt, do you really need to use that inhaler here?”

“I forgot to bring it with me.”

“…It looks like a translucent pipe, so I’m worried it might attract unwanted attention.”

“You’re here with me. And this… is a quite popular design.”

“…I guess so.”

What could I possibly say when she puts it that way?

Aunt is quite stubborn.

If anything happened, I could just step in.

So, Aunt inhaled the vapor from the inhaler for a while.

Her bronchi had gotten much worse since then, so she had to carry that inhaler around all the time.

While Aunt was inhaling the medicine, I glanced around.

I felt like my pupils were turning vertical.

I even saw a hallucination of a small version of myself walking right next to me.

So, I looked at Aunt.

At least Aunt wasn’t a hallucination.

On the other hand, Aunt seemed to interpret my gaze differently.

After taking a few puffs of the medicine, Aunt exhaled and started a conversation.

“The classes you learn at the academy… are at a high school level.”

“Really? Nothing else?”

“There are no art classes. Everything other than the core subjects are training courses.”

“To deal with villains or monsters, that kind of thing?”

“Broadly speaking, it would be classes to become a hero or a hunter.”

“…I can’t picture it.”

“Whether it’s a hunter or a hero, I believe you’ll do well in either. You’re my daughter and…”

“…Aunt’s successful creation.”

I said that and smiled.

Aunt’s face momentarily stiffened.

Like prey in front of a predator.

She tried not to show it, but I could see her fear.

But I had no intention of harming Aunt.

She’s one of the few family members I have.

So precious that I want to see her forever.

A family that shares the past and wounds.

So, I deliberately linked arms with Aunt and said in a gentle tone.

“So, Aunt. Was that really a smart drug?”

“…I wouldn’t know. Ask Choi Taesu, that friend of mine. He always did the mixing.”

I smiled brightly.

And I grabbed Aunt’s arm with both hands.

Until that moment, the younger version of myself that had been walking beside me… slowly disappeared.

I thought of an old memory as I watched it.

I knew who Uncle Choi Taesu was.

That uncle was very good at making medicine.

He was well-versed in life science and chemistry, and they said he would have been a competent pharmacist.

But instead of becoming a pharmacist, Uncle chose to become a researcher.

It wasn’t such a bad thing for me.

Uncle, no. Choi Taesu Oppa… was really kind.

For his only audience, he would get permission from the higher-ups and perform the trick of mixing medicine on the spot.

He even showed me experiments like precipitation reactions right there.

And the medicines Oppa made were quite effective.

There was also little pain when administered, so he was my favorite Oppa.

…But he was also the most passionate about experiments, and he was crazy.

The reason he gave up being a pharmacist and walked the path of a researcher.

Even though he could have researched in the open, he stubbornly stayed in the shadows.

It was all because he wanted to experiment on the human body.

I could still hear the auditory hallucination.

Oppa saying that he liked you, Yeji, the most in the world.

The auditory hallucination of him tapping the syringe with his finger, checking if the medicine was mixed well.

I could still see the visual hallucination.

Of him appearing with a good-natured smile, stroking my terrified head.

The visual hallucination of him injecting me when I trembled and extended my arm.

But that was all in the past.

Yes, it’s in the past. It all ended years ago.

So, I didn’t have to suffer.

I’m 17 now, and I’ve become very strong.

I’m not the helpless 7-year-old me.

Nor am I the girl who desperately struggled to get them to talk.

So, I took a deep breath for a moment, trying to blow away the hallucinations.

Fortunately, the hallucinations couldn’t torment me.

They just slowly faded and disappeared.

I thought as I watched it.

I’m so glad it’s just a hallucination.

It’s not even a dream.

It would have been much worse if it were a dream.

It wouldn’t end with hallucinations or illusions, but that deep.

…The pain left deep in my body would slowly rise.

So, thinking I was really lucky, I took a deep breath.

And slowly, I looked at Aunt and said.

“…Uncle, I should go see him after a long time.”

“Really?”

“Speaking of which, I wonder if Uncle is okay. I haven’t seen his face much.”

“Back then… I think he had a few holes in his body. But he was fine.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. He probably had a daughter and a son and is living well.”

“That’s good.”

“He works at a fancy pharmaceutical company and is still making medicine for you. He’s a useful connection.”

“…”

“And he liked you a lot, so he’ll welcome you even if you suddenly visit.”

I gave a wry smile and agreed.

Aunt wasn’t wrong.

That uncle was a useful connection.

There were many medicines that only Uncle could make.

Like the opioid painkillers I took today.

Most of the medicines I’ve taken or been administered during training were made by Uncle.

And Uncle probably still likes me a lot.

To that uncle, I was his life’s greatest masterpiece.

Maybe not as much as his own children, but wouldn’t he have similar feelings?

…It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t, but I hope he does.

Everything he said back then couldn’t have been a lie.

Everything he showed me couldn’t have been a lie.

If it was, I would be too sad to bear it.

I thought that far and then forced a smile and said.

“I should go see him sometime.”

“That’s right. I should go see him sometime too.”

“Why, Aunt?”

“Because I need to provide your data and improve the medicine.”

“I see.”

“The last time I saw his face was at the last regular meeting… It’s about time to check if he’s still alive, right?”

“Speaking of which, I wonder if everyone is still alive.”

“Well, they’re probably alive. At least until the last regular meeting.”

Aunt said that and removed the portable inhaler from her mouth.

I stared blankly at Aunt folding the inhaler.

That portable inhaler, when folded neatly, looked quite nice.

Aunt put the inhaler in her pocket and said to me.

“We need to get more medicine. And make some.”

“That’s right.”

“Can you be confident that you won’t take any medicine at all while attending the academy?”

“No, I can’t. I think I’ll… strangely burn up like Invisible Man.”

“That’s a bit strange. I thought you were more rational than emotional.”

“I have times when my emotions take over.”

“Well, I guess so. Then…”

“Yes?”

“Can you be confident that you won’t be administered any medicine at all?”

I didn’t answer.

This time it was my turn to remain silent.

Aunt knows my personality, so she didn’t force an answer.

So, Aunt and I walked in silence for a while.

Then, we suddenly smiled at each other.

I also had a big smile on my face, but I wasn’t really smiling.

No, I could say I couldn’t smile.

Because Aunt still thinks I’m a test subject.

I wish she would get rid of her researcher habits.

“Aunt, I’m a snake Beastman. I was before, and I will be in the future.”

“If that’s what you mean.”

I closed my mouth.

Aunt didn’t say anything either.

I wasn’t going to listen no matter what she said anyway.

My identity was firm.

Whether I was female or male wasn’t important.

My racial identity was much more important than that.

I am a snake Beastman. A snake Beastman whose snake characteristics become strongly apparent when manifested.

I can make my tongue thin and split the tip.

I can change my pupils like a snake’s, and I can open my mouth wide to swallow something in one gulp.

I feel good when it’s warm and lethargic when it’s cold.

There were many other snake identities that I could list.

So, I am a snake Beastman.

I had no choice but to be a snake Beastman.

The silence continued for a while.

Of course, the silence didn’t last long.

Aunt and I needed each other too much for that.

Soon, I smiled at Aunt.

Aunt also smiled at me and made a suggestion.

“Would you like something to drink? We’ve been walking for a while, so you must be thirsty.”

“Are you buying, Aunt?”

“Of course, I have to buy. I can’t ask my daughter, who doesn’t even get an allowance, to buy it for me.”

“Hmm… I want an iced Americano.”

“I should have that too. But… I’ll put three swirls of syrup in it.”

I laughed inwardly at Aunt’s words.

Just a few years ago, Aunt wouldn’t even look at an iced Americano.

I think she only drank espresso.

It was the typical taste of the American elite.

I found it funny, so I asked Aunt.

“Aunt, do you still drink espresso these days?”

“Huh? I don’t need to work all night these days.”

“Then… you still don’t drink instant coffee, right?”

“…It tastes good these days. Aunt is getting old.”

“Haha…”

“Don’t tease. Aunt is already almost fifty, fifty.”

I smiled affectionately.

We weren’t related by blood, but when we talked like this, I really felt like Aunt’s daughter.

But without showing it, Aunt and I started walking to a cafe near the trail.