Kingmaker (5)
That evening.
Choi Ki-seok entered the training room from the dormitory.
After completing three training sessions, night fell.
“Phew…”
I sighed and leaned against the back of the bed.
General surgery has many similarities to thoracic surgery, so I had less trouble learning it.
This is because both departments perform surgery on the patient’s body.
However, in the case of neurosurgery, unlike these two departments, the battlefield is the head and brain.
Although the fundamental principles of surgery were the same, there were significant differences in the method and structure of approaching the surgical site.
‘There’s still a long way to go.’
Ki-seok Choi recalled the brain aneurysm surgery he had just completed.
I raised my rank to D through training, but the road to my goal of A rank seemed difficult.
Is it possible to surpass Leon during neurosurgery training?
These days, I’ve been having that kind of doubt.
I got off the bed, drank some water, and opened the status window.
There were two things that caught his eye.
One is the newly acquired mission King Maker and the other is the Must Survive skill.
[Would you like to help Lucas become Head Chief?]
[Would you like to help Matthew become Head Chief?]
Two messages are waiting under the new mission.
Choi Ki-seok stared at the message and chose to help Lucas.
[You cannot select a target yet.]
Even if I chose to help Matthew, the same notification sounded.
It seems that it is not the right time yet.
‘Anyway, it’s surprising.’
Choi Ki-seok rubbed his chin.
It was amazing that I could use the higher system even if I chose Matthew instead of Lucas.
[What do you think of the higher system?”]
[I am the opposite. Skills cannot be measured in detail. Moreover, it is against fairness among trainees.]
When we had a conversation in the past, Matthew said that he was promoted early. He expressed a negative opinion.
As if it was aimed at him.
But when he looked at the mission rewards, it showed that Matthew could be promoted early even if he pushed him to head chief.
After thinking about it, Ki-seok Choi came to one conclusion.
Matthew is more focused on success than on patients. That’s why
he wants to reward anyone who helps him succeed.
‘Well, whatever.’
Choi Ki-seok has already made up his mind to help Lucas.
Lucas and
Matthew. Looking at these two people reminds me of Song Myeong-jin and Jo Ji-hwan in the past.
Song Myeong-jin and Jo Ji-hwan also had a fierce fight over the head of the thoracic surgery department. At the time, they were unable to do anything due to their low political power. It was different now.
If I took advantage of a few events, I could help Lucas become Head Chief. He could become a kingmaker
just like his mission.
Choi Ki-seok’s attention shifted to the skill that must be saved this time.
Looking at the skill . This reminded me of Parker, the head of the Emergency Medicine Department.
Parker had reached the max level of the must-save skill and even possessed the higher-level skill, “Save by all
means.” How to create a higher-level skill? His
curiosity grew.
Choi Ki-seok thought about this and that and went to the dormitory. I left the office and headed to the break room.
Leon was lying on the couch in the break room.
He must have been tired as he had performed two emergency surgeries during the day.
“Aaaah!”
A sharp scream burst from Leon’s mouth.
He waved his hands in the air like crazy. Choi Ki-seok was so shocked that he froze like a stone on the spot.
“Leon… Leon. Are you okay?”
“Ah… Mr. Choi. are you okay. “I had a nightmare…”
Leon struggled to get up.
His sweat-soaked bangs hung down like seaweed stalks.
“Have some at least.”
“Thank you.”
Leon gulped down the can of coffee he received from Choi Ki-seok, and Choi Ki-seok said. I watched his appearance.
Maybe it was just an illusion, but Leon looked gaunter than usual.
“Is there anything you’re worried about?”
“I’m not particularly worried.”
“Then why did you do it a little while ago?”
In response to Choi Ki-seok’s question, Leon smiled bitterly.
“ It’s because it’s my first time seeing Mr. Choi. I’m always like this when I sleep.”
“….”
“You know I have hypermemory syndrome, right?”
“Yes.”
“I always have nightmares because of that. Patients who die during treatment and patients who die in the operating room always appear in my dreams. Just thinking about the good things before going to bed was useless.”
Hypermemory syndrome.
It was a stepping stone to improve Leon’s skills, but it was also a cause of his suffering.
“Not only that, I thought of the dead patient dozens of times a day. Every time that happens, I get goosebumps all over my body. “I may say it myself, but do you know why I am better than other colleagues?” ”
…I don’t know.”
“I feel pain every time a patient dies. Because the terrible memories keep piling up. In other words, the way to save the patient is the way to save me.”
Leon looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
“So, you said before that hypermemory syndrome is a curse.”
“That’s right. I managed to remember.”
“It may sound a little uncomfortable, but why not get neuropsychiatric treatment…” ”
Of course I got it. They said there was no other way than drug treatment. But if you take the medicine, you become dazed.”
“Ah… Then we won’t be able to treat you.”
“In the end, I have no choice but to carry him. I heard that in the East, this situation is sometimes interpreted as karma? I must have done something big in my past life. Well.”
“Still, I believe.”
Choi Ki-seok paused before continuing.
“Leon can overcome the pain of hypermemory syndrome well. So, the heavens must have given Leon that ability.”
“It’s an ordeal that can be endured… That’s a new interpretation.”
A faint smile appeared on Leon’s lips.
Tiring!
[Rapto with Leon increases by 2 levels.]
[ Leon: Stage 4 – Trust]
‘Good!’
Choi Ki-seok was secretly happy and used the Categorical Imperative skill.
The condition for using the Categorical Imperative is a colleague and a patient who have accumulated rapport level 3 or higher.
[I’m just saying this now, but Leon is my role model. Like Leon, I recognize him from other staff members. I want to become a receiving surgeon. So, please continue to work hard. Don’t let the hypermemory syndrome give you over, but use it to become a better soldier.] Whiiiiing. The
white
light flowing from his body enveloped Leon.
[Star of Hope effect on the target. is given.]
[Star of Hope: Negative memory recall rate is reduced by half. Killing power using Hypermemory Syndrome is increased by twenty percent. Buff duration is three months.] “Mr. Choi
. Thank you.”
Leon lowered his head to hide his tears.
Choi Ki-seok was the first to understand the pain of hypermemory syndrome.
Everyone was jealous of him.
“What am I? “I was just telling the truth.”
“But…”
“If you really appreciate it, please buy me a meal later.”
“Okay. I’ll live a prosperous life someday, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
There was warmth in the two people’s gazes toward each other.
* * *
The next morning,
Ki-Seok Choi finished his training in the training room and slowly visited the ward.
Today is his day off.
Ward I have to do some work and start working as a rescue team.
I looked at the patients using the eyes of Hippocrates.
Fortunately, there were no patients that were particularly problematic.
“Mr. Choi. “You came out even though it was off?”
Janet, who I met in the hallway, waved her hand and said hello.
“It’s amazing, it’s amazing. If it were me, I wouldn’t even bother looking at the ward on my days off.”
“I’m so special.”
“I know. By the way, it worked out well. Manager Lucas asked to see Mr. Choi for a moment.”
“Chief? Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Janet shrugged.
Meanwhile, Nikolai came out of the doctor’s office and approached the two.
“Are you both here? Mr. Choi. Manager Matthew wants to see you for a moment, so go to the break room.”
“Chief Matthew? Mr. Choi. “It’s an explosion of popularity,”
Janet said jokingly.
But that’s the moment.
Tiring!
[The moment of choice has arrived in the new mission King Maker.]
[If you go to the office, Lucas’ King Maker will go to the break room, if you go to the break room, Matthew’s King. [You will become a maker.]
The moment of choice has finally arrived.
“Then… I’ll go to Manager Lucas first.”
Ki-Seok Choi said goodbye to the two people and headed to the office. Then the notification rang again.
[Lucas’ King Maker mission has been created. Specific completion conditions are created.]
[Lucas’ King Maker]
– Establish a level 4 rapport with Lucas (1/4)
– Lucas’ admiration (0/1)
– Matthew’s reputation decreases by 4 levels (Matthew’s current reputation: 7)
Choi Ki-seok frowned as he checked the completion conditions. It
was completely understandable that he would form a rapport with Lucas and be recognized for his skills.
The problem is that Matthew’s reputation would also have to be tarnished.
Is this meant to exploit his weaknesses or to gossip about him? I couldn’t figure out if this was the case or if there was another way.
One thing that was certain was that the difficulty of the mission was increasing.
While I was thinking about a new mission, I arrived at the office.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I knocked and a voice told me to come in. “ Hello,
Chief.”
“Are you in the ward? “I think you came as soon as I called you?”
“Yes. “I was looking at my patient.”
“That’s great care. Anyway, I’m sorry for calling you out even though it’s off. Sit there.”
“Yes.”
Ki-Seok Choi sat on the sofa and faced Lucas.
“The reason I called you was for the surgery that will be held next week.” ”
By surgery… Are you talking about blood-free surgery for Vera, who suffers from moyamoya disease? ”
“I know very well. I thought about it carefully yesterday and decided to use you as a second assistant in the bloodless surgery. how is it? Can you do well?”
“Yes. I am confident.”
“I like the answer.”
A smile appeared on Lucas’s lips.
Amid a moment of silence, Ki-Seok Choi spoke first.
“Chief. I have one question…”
“Tell me.”
“I’m curious why you decided to use me as your assistant. I know that the difficulty of the surgery is not easy. If you use me as an assistant, I think there will be a lot of opposition from those around you…” “I
don’t know what you’re thinking, but there’s no grand reason.” ”
Then why…”
“Leon recommended you. “I did it.”
“Leon?”
“Yes. They said Mr. Choi would be able to do his part. If it’s Leon’s recommendation, I should accept it.”
Choi Ki-seok was once again grateful to Leon.
Just when a new mission arose, he joined Lucas’ surgery as an assistant.
Depending on how well he performs in this surgery, he will be able to complete some of the mission conditions.
Tak!
Lucas . He put down a bundle of documents on the table.
“This is data related to surgery. Please memorize it before the surgery.”
“Yes!”
“Let’s take this opportunity to give Matthew a hit. “You shouldn’t carelessly abandon a patient.”
Choi Ki-seok talked with Lucas some more and then left the office.
‘Oh no. It’s late!’
I checked the time and walked faster.
But as I was walking down the hallway, I ran into Matthew coming out of the break room.
“Hello. Chief.”
“I guess he’s on his way after seeing Lucas.”
“Yes. Manager Lucas called me first…”
“There’s no need for an excuse. You wouldn’t have cared about me anyway. “Try to do well with Lucas!”
Matthew started walking, radiating coldness.
[Due to the King Maker mission, you have become hostile with the opposing forces. Matthew recognizes you as an enemy.] Ki-
Seok Choi checked the notification and smiled bitterly.
What to do? I can’t do it.
From now on, we have no choice but to go to war.
