Competition (7)
New mission: Get Smith’s recognition.
One of the necessary conditions for this is Jonathan’s praise.
‘It will end well.’
Ki-Seok Choi was optimistic about acquiring materials.
This morning, I entered the training room and saw both the first and second assistants perform the colon cancer surgery. In addition, we carefully looked at the video of the surgery.
The itchy chest is a sign that everything and everything is going to be activated.
“The manager is too kind.”
Jose stared at Jonathan, who entered the rosette first.
“Strictly speaking, Mr. Choi wasn’t late. He arrived on time, but he’s acting like he was late.”
“The taxes are on my side.”
“of course.”
Jose and Choi Ki-seok exchanged smiles.
Jiyiing.
The scrub was over and all staff were in their positions.
While the anesthesiologist was administering general anesthesia, Ki-Seok Choi connected the patient to a monitoring device and checked his vitals.
Fortunately, nothing more.
All that remains is to successfully complete the surgery.
“The anesthesia is over.”
The anesthesiologist checked the patient’s condition and nodded.
“From now on, we will begin transverse colon surgery for stage 3 colon cancer.”
At Jonathan’s nod, Choi Ki-seok disinfected the patient’s abdomen and covered it with a cloth.
“Meth.”
The sharp blade touched the patient’s skin.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.
When the fascia and peritoneum were separated in order, the internal organs were visible at a glance.
The staff examined the organs in silence for a while.
This is to check for distant metastases that do not appear in the test results.
“There doesn’t seem to be any special transference.”
Jonathan muttered and looked at Ethan, but Ethan remained silent, looking mesmerized.
“Ethan?”
“Ah yes.”
“Didn’t you hear me just now?”
“I’m sorry. I was thinking for a moment…”
Jonathan’s eyes turned cold at Ethan’s excuse.
“Are you taking it easy just because you’re used to surgery now? You’re thinking about something else during surgery… Do you think there are more important thoughts in the operating room than saving the patient’s life?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll come to my senses.”
“Clip.”
Jonathan looked away from Ethan and held the clip in his hand.
Click. Click. Click.
Jonathan and Ethan ligated the blood vessels around the transverse ligature.
This is to prevent bleeding before resection.
“Meth.”
Jonathan took a scalpel and cut away a portion of the mesentery where the cancer cells had spread.
The mesentery plays a role in fixing the position of organs, and blood vessels and lymph node nerves pass through it.
Empty! Empty! Empty!
The excised parts fell to the curved plate without mercy.
‘amazing.’
Ki-Seok Choi gave simple assistance and stared at Jonathan.
He is a capable surgeon.
To use an analogy, it is like a skilled and skillful captain. The goal and process of the surgical voyage were clearly understood, and all treatments were completed accurately and quickly.
The position of chief of colorectal surgery was not for everyone.
The only problem is that the first mate is in poor condition.
Ethan, who was debuffed, could not properly support Jonathan.
First of all, the pace was slow, one beat at a time.
When Jonathan performed elaborate procedures, he dropped his hands to increase the difficulty of the task.
‘what?’
Jonathan finished removing the lymph nodes and looked at Ethan.
Ethan is the most promising candidate among general surgery trainees. But what I saw now in the operating room was extremely disappointing. It feels like not one, but three screws are loose.
Nevertheless, the reason why the surgery proceeded normally.
It was thanks to Choi Ki-seok knowingly or unknowingly helping Jonathan with his work.
Chii Iik.
“Ah…”
Ethan’s short hair spread.
While controlling the bleeding with an electric cautery, a healthy blood vessel was touched.
While Ethan was at a loss, Choi Ki-seok tied the upper part of the blood vessel with forceps and sucked out the blood with a suction device.
Although simple, it is the fastest and most effective treatment.
Click!
Eventually, when the forceps were released, the bleeding stopped completely.
“Are you here to help me with Ethan’s surgery, or are you here to hold me back?”
“S-sorry.”
Ethan lowered his head at Jonathan’s point.
“I can’t see you messing around anymore. Mr. Choi, can you be the first assistant?”
“Yes, you can.”
“You two switch places.”
At Jonathan’s command, the two people changed places.
‘I’m sorry Ethan, but I can’t help it.’
Choi Ki-seok stood in the first assistant position and checked the surgical tools.
I fully understand that Ethan is suffering from debuffs. However, it is also true that his slow pace is holding Jonathan back.
“We will begin transverse colectomy now.”
“yes.”
Ki-Seok Choi fixed the resection area with forceps.
But it is that moment.
As my consciousness became slightly hazy, the first assistant’s treatment in the colon cancer surgery video I watched that morning flashed through my mind.
Coincidentally, the first assistant at the time was Ethan.
Ki-Seok Choi came to the assistance in a state of unity with Ethan.
Truly the perfect assistant.
The resection site was held without shaking, and bleeding was controlled at the correct timing.
When the colon was sutured, which was the highlight of the surgery, Jonathan and I were joined together as if we were one body.
With him as the first assistant, the surgery proceeded smoothly.
‘Wasn’t it new?’
Jonathan was amazed at Choi Ki-seok’s skills.
The new resident is unreliable even as a second assistant.
However, Choi Ki-seok was as experienced as a resident who had trained for more than a few years.
In particular, the aggressive assistance he showed when suturing the colon reminded me of Ethan.
“Chief. Let me check the suture area.”
“Huh? Oh yeah.”
Ki-Seok Choi drained saline solution into the colon, but there was no leak.
This means that the sutures were perfect.
“Now let’s sort it out.”
The colon cancer surgery was successful as Jonathan closed the surgical site.
Tiring!
[You have completed the hidden mission Mayjo Clinic’s first first assistant. 1000 P.P. will be paid
as compensation .]
[A significant portion of stamina is recovered through the patient care (+10) effect.]
[Soul activity stack (60/700) has increased.]
“Everyone worked hard.”
Jonathan encouraged the staff and left the rosette first.
‘You’re stricter than I thought.’
Choi Ki-seok watched his back and frowned.
Despite his performance, he failed to achieve his goal.
Material Item Jonathan’s praise was scattered into the air.
After the surgery was over, Choi Ki-seok visited the break room with Ethan.
“Take it.”
“thank you.”
Ethan opened the lid of the can of coffee Choi Ki-seok held out and took a gulp.
I wasn’t thirsty, but I felt sick.
I hated myself for doing stupid things for several days.
“Ethan seems to be in a bad mood these days.”
“It’s the worst. It’s been four years since I joined Meijo, and these days are the hardest.”
“Since the surgery with the Head Chief?”
“To be exact, since I suffered a terrible torture.”
“Now shake it off and show Ethan your true skills. If it were like before, today’s surgery wouldn’t have been a problem.”
Choi Ki-seok comforted Ethan and used encouragement.
[You failed to use the encouragement skill. Encouragement skills cannot be used on debuffed targets.]
I heard the same notification as last time.
Seeing as it continues to be ineffective, it appears that the invisible hand is a higher skill than encouragement.
‘Whew…’
Choi Ki-seok sighed inwardly.
Ethan is a teaching resident and a colleague who gave me invaluable advice.
There was no way it was comfortable to watch him suffer.
“Ethan. It’s going to be hard, but just try to get through the next five days. There’s a break in the middle, so to be exact, it’s four days.”
“Will things change as time passes? Do you think I will continue to make mistakes?”
“There is a saying that time is medicine. Ethan should trust me as much as I trust him and rely on him. Yes?”
“okay.”
Ethan reluctantly nodded.
‘This is the only way now.’
Choi Ki-seok watched Ethan and took a sip of coffee.
There are four days left until the Invisible Hand lasts. If we pass that time safely, Ethan will also return to his original form.
“What kind of person is Chief Jonathan?”
Choi Ki-seok changed the topic.
“The manager… his nickname is Robot. He rarely expresses his emotions. It’s rare to see him smile.”
“Are you stingy with compliments?”
“A compliment? I’m glad I don’t get nagged. I’ve never heard a compliment before either.”
Choi Ki-seok frowned at Ethan’s answer.
Just now, I became one with Ethan and stepped forward as the first assistant.
Although his performance was incomparable to that of his classmates, he did not receive any praise.
So how much better do you have to do to be praised?
I feel like I hit a reef.
“Let’s just get up.”
“yes.”
The two found the ward that way.
Ethan went to the medical office saying he had some business to do, and Choi Ki-seok went around the hospital room and checked on the patients.
Drurr.
I entered the last hospital room and stood next to Jace.
Jace lay motionless with his eyes closed.
“I’m not sleeping.”
“You’re awake. Do you know where you are?”
“…Mayjo Clinic.”
“What’s the date? August 3rd? 4th?”
Jace answered with a frown.
“How are you feeling?”
“My head feels heavy, as if a stone has been placed on it. I feel a little nauseous. By the way, are you my doctor?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then please solve this first. I’m going crazy from frustration.”
Jace looked at the compression straps that bound his arms.
“Before that, let me ask you one more thing. Do you remember what happened yesterday?”
“No. Not at all. The nurse said she pulled out the IV cord and made a fuss. Well, I guess that’s why she was tied up.”
“Okay, I’ll remove the compression straps.”
Ki-Seok Choi untied Jace and explained his condition.
The story is that liver cirrhosis has progressed to the late stage and liver transplantation is necessary.
Jace remained silent throughout the explanation.
There were no questions or even replies.
I just nodded with a calm expression.
“Since I don’t need a liver transplant, can’t I just be discharged from the hospital? I don’t think there will be any problem if I just die.”
Choi Ki-seok and the patients around him were startled by his words.
On the other hand, the person who spoke was calm.
“Don’t say things like that. You should think about your family.”
“If you think about your family, it’s right to be discharged. Rather than spending money saving a drunkard, it’s more profitable to give that money to the family.”
Jace said clearly.
Choi Ki-seok was at a loss for words at the cold response.
Maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed like Jace was trying to destroy himself.
From past years of excessive drinking to current extreme judgments.
What on earth is driving him to death?
“That is the patient’s own judgment. “I have a visit with my family in the afternoon, so let’s talk.”
“Well. Let’s do that. By the way, have you seen my necklace? It’s a necklace with a photo inside, but the nurses said they don’t know.”
“I took it with me just in case.”
Choi Ki-seok handed the necklace in his gown pocket to Jace. Jace then held the necklace in his hand as if he were being handed a treasure and opened the photo. I saw it.
His eyes became moist.
“Are you your daughter?”
“Yes. This is my second daughter. “He had the prettiest smile in the world. But he died.”
“….”
“He died because of me.”
Jace lowered his head.
