망각의 비약 사면 안되는 이유

13 Border Between Yesterday and Tomorrow.

Those who seek this place are usually not lost.

They either want to find something they've lost, or erase something that ought to disappear.

A small alley cloaked in darkness. A black door that reveals itself only when the thin fog lifts. Knock, and it may or may not open.

I hesitated at the door for a long while. A small golden nameplate was affixed to the black wooden door.

Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door slid open on its own.

Inside it was dark, and a peculiar fragrance hung in the air. Herbs, medicinal plants, and something I couldn't name grazed the tip of my nose. I took one step in, and the door closed by itself. I tried to look back, but my body wouldn't move.

"Welcome."

A voice — soft, yet cold.

Someone was watching me from behind the counter. Red eyes of unfathomable depth. Pale skin, nimble fingers sheathed in black gloves — he rolled a glass vial in one hand and smiled. Dr. Nox. I have no idea how I knew his name, but it surfaced the moment I saw his face.

"Have you found the potion you need?"

There was something sharp beneath his smile — as though he already knew what I had come for.

I swallowed hard and spoke.

"...I want the Oblivion Potion."

At that moment, a sigh came from the back.

I turned around. An employee sat hunched before a computer beside the register. Pale skin, exhausted expression. She wore a black hoodie with the hood pulled up, scratching her hair with one hand while staring at the screen. She took a sip from her coffee mug, then glanced up at me.

"You've got a face that says you shouldn't buy it."

"Honey, don't do that in front of a customer ^^"

Nox said with a low chuckle. The employee shot him a look that said 'Yeah, whatever' and turned back to her screen.

Nox snapped his fingers. Behind him, a black display case swung open on its own. Dozens of glass vials caught the light. One of them lifted into the air and drifted into his waiting hand.

"This is the Oblivion Potion."

Inside the vial was a clear liquid.

"It can erase any memory you wish. But there will be a price."

I steadied my breathing. I'd heard that potions from this place always came with side effects. But I had no time to hesitate.

"How much?"

Nox smirked.

"The price... hasn't been decided yet."

When his fingers brushed the vial, it grew warm. I took it without hesitation and popped the cap. A sharp, alcohol-like scent hit me.

And without a moment's hesitation, I took a gulp.

In that instant, the world shook.

My memories blurred. Why I came here, what I wanted to forget — everything drifted away.

"You bastard. Stop dragging civilians into this."

"We make money and everyone's happy, right? ^^ Don't be so harsh."

"F**k, the memory they wanted erased was coming to this insane shop, and you're charging 100 billion won to erase THAT? Does that make any sense?"

"What can I do? Those are the shop rules."