Decision (2)
It was decided to start strengthening before starting the actual routine.
Among the items currently owned, the only one that can be strengthened is the patient hope.
After upgrading to level 3, I was benefiting greatly from it.
Since we currently have about 20 reinforcement stones, there was no unfortunate event of not being able to strengthen due to lack of reinforcement stones.
Hehehe.
When I decided to strengthen it, the item went into the strengthener and gave off a bright light.
Tiring!
[The reinforcement failed. The patient hopes to return to the state before reinforcement. Patient Hope (0).]
The moment the message appeared, I felt a sense of desperation.
From level 3 to level 10, the reinforcement success rate is 70%.
But unfortunately, I got caught in the remaining 30%.
‘Ah… That’s annoying.’
I had no choice but to strengthen it again to level 3 and try level 4 again. [You have succeeded in strengthening
Hope
for the Patient (+4). The vitality effect of Wishing a Patient increases to 8%.]
[You have succeeded in escaping from the Enhanced Normal Mission. We give you 20 reinforcement stones as a reward.]
The added reinforcement stones encouraged reinforcement like the devil, but Choi Ki-Seok stopped there.
Today is not the day.
Instead, I stared at the unique gem box obtained after defeating the side mirror patient. It wasn’t a gem box purchased through P.P., so opening it wasn’t too burdensome
.
Choi Ki-seok immediately opened the gem box.
Shoooooooooooo
Tiring!
[Congratulations. You have obtained a unique gem.]
NEW [Unique: Foreign language learning ability doubled.]
“Nice!”
Without realizing it, I clenched my fists.
For the first time in a while, I got a proper gem.
With this unique gem, the efficiency of studying English conversation and listening will increase. The probability of success in the long-term mission ‘Toward Meijo’ also increases.
Choi Ki-seok calmed his excitement and looked at the status window.
All figures are growing step by step.
As the existing skills leveled up, special abilities that had never been seen before were created.
However, what is lacking is political power.
Political power has remained at 2 since the first stat was opened.
But that’s the moment.
Tiring!
[The hidden mission ‘When you climb the White Tower’ has been created. When your political power reaches level 5, a special reward is given.] It
has been a long time since a mission appeared.
It is a mission to grow political power that has nothing to do with politics.
‘Are we going to try it?’
When Choi Ki-seok bent his neck, a cracking sound was heard.
I felt like a hidden mission was provoking me.
It seemed as if he was asking whether it was possible to become not only a doctor who is good at treating, but also a doctor who can survive in the tangled power relationships among doctors.
In the past I wouldn’t have been confident, but now it’s different.
Because his abilities have matured little by little, and a place has been created where he can display those abilities.
Choi Ki-seok turned off the status window and went to the intensive care unit.
While examining thoracic surgery patients in the intensive care unit, I stood in front of Lee Ji-ae for the last time.
Lee Ji-ae.
The patient is 20 years old and drank laxative yesterday and underwent esophageal reconstruction surgery. She was awake, sitting sideways, leaning against the back of the bed.
Stamina: 3/10
Main symptom: Difficulty swallowing / pain in the esophagus
Painful area: Esophagus
Diagnosis: Esophageal stricture
Current status: Non-emergency
Progress: Normal
History: None
[Caution! This patient has suicidal thoughts.]
My eyebrows furrowed at the last warning.
“Jiae. I am your doctor, Choi Ki-seok.”
Choi Ki-seok pointed to the overlock on his chest with his index finger.
Lee Ji-ae didn’t even pay attention to him. I just stare at the distant ceiling with lifeless eyes.
“How are you feeling? Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“….”
“You can’t eat food for the time being. When your condition improves, let’s start with something like porridge.”
I spoke softly, but Lee Ji-ae didn’t listen at all.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that in the future, healing the mind might be more important than healing the body.
If your esophagus improves, you will need to consult a psychiatrist.
Choi Ki-seok said goodbye and left the intensive care unit. He then said hello to Lee Ji-ae’s guardian in the waiting room.
“Jiae’s mother. Hello.”
“Oh, teacher. How is our Jiae?”
Yoo Jeong-hee jumped up from her chair and stood in front of Choi Ki-seok.
“The surgery went well and there are no problems. I am conscious now.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s all thanks to Jiae surviving the surgery well. By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask your mother.”
Choi Ki-seok cleared his throat and continued speaking.
“Ji-ae drank bleach. Can you guess why she behaved like that?”
“That’s…”
Yoo Jeong-hee hesitated for a while before continuing.
“It’s all my fault. I was polarized.”
“Polarity?”
“…yes.”
Yoo Jeong-hee lowered her head.
The explanation continued.
Lee Ji-ae’s family is commonly referred to as an elite family.
His father, Lee Cheol-hwan, was a professor at Korea University, and Yoo Jeong-hee also graduated from Korea University and worked at a large company.
Naturally, the two people had high expectations for Lee Ji-ae.
Because of this, Lee Ji-ae said that ever since she was young, she never thought about going to a university other than Korea University.
In fact, Lee Ji-ae was smart.
During my middle and high school years, I always ranked first in the school.
The seeds of unhappiness began to sprout after the CSAT was over.
Lee Ji-ae got perfect scores in almost all subjects.
However, in the English test, I got only 10 points because I had to write too many answer sheets.
I accidentally ruined my dream of attending Korea University.
Therefore, her parents recommended that she retake the college entrance exam, and Ji-ae Lee accepted the offer and started studying for the exam again.
Is it because I feel guilty about making a ridiculous mistake?
Is it because his friends who had lower grades than him were admitted to Korean universities?
It is said that Lee Ji-ae attempted suicide because she could not concentrate on her studies and could not overcome the pressure.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve been tormenting my daughter so much. I lived by telling her that if she couldn’t go to Korea University, she wasn’t even a person. How much trouble those words must have been for her….” Yoo Jeong-hee couldn’t continue speaking, with tears in her eyes
.
Choi Ki-seok was so confused that he couldn’t even think of comforting Yoo Jeong-hee.
A tragedy that always happens after the CSAT ends.
Never thought I would experience it myself.
“Once the esophageal treatment stabilizes, we plan to begin psychiatric treatment in parallel. I think it would be better for Jiae and her parents to receive treatment together.”
“…yes.”
“I’ll greet you again next time.”
Choi Ki-seok left the intensive care unit and headed to the thoracic surgery ward.
After arriving at the ward, he checked the condition of the patient he was in charge of and began his daily routine in the conference room.
After untangling the complicated surgery schedule and completing preparations for rounds, the meeting time arrived.
Drurr.
The door opened and Yoon Ji-hye came in.
“Hello Professor.”
“hi.”
Jihye Yoon smiled and sat down next to him.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I think your face is a little swollen. Is it because you had a late-night snack with me yesterday?”
“Is that so Tina?”
Jihye Yoon stood in front of the mirror on the wall and examined her face.
Choi Ki-seok couldn’t hide his laughter at that sight.
If other people could see this friendly side of Yoon Ji-hye, they would be able to become friends quickly, but it was a pity.
“I can’t help it.”
Jihye Yoon sighed and sat down again.
“professor.”
“Why again?”
“Could you please look at just one patient? This is the patient who requested cooperation from the circulatory department yesterday. I think he will need CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting).”
“good.”
Choi Ki-seok moved to where the laptop was and displayed the patient’s chart on the monitor. Then Jihye Yoon, who was nearby, lowered her head and pressed her face to the monitor.
“Good look. I guess I’ll have to have surgery.”
Yoon Ji-hye turned her head to stare at Choi Ki-seok, and Choi Ki-seok also turned his head to stare at her.
“….”
“….”
They were so close to each other that their lips almost touched.
Both of their faces turned red at the same time.
“This week’s schedule is full, so please set a date for next week.”
Jihye Yoon spoke rapidly and left the conference room.
Choi Ki-seok filled his stomach with cold water and moved to the break room. And then I called Jeong Seol-hwa.
“It’s Seolhwa. I’m talking about an angina patient who was sent to the clinic. I talked to the professor and decided to have surgery.”
[huh. I will send everyone out as soon as the rounds are over.]
Jeong Seol-hwa continued speaking in a bright voice.
[You can’t do this again next time. Should I always give priority to the patients I send?]
“You only make a mistake once. Don’t worry.”
[I love you.]
“Me too.”
Seol-Hwa Jeong hung up the phone with his lips, and Ki-Seok Choi returned to the conference room.
The morning meeting and rounds went off without a hitch.
The only issue is that Jihye Yoon ultimately decided to perform aortic valve surgery on the Vice President.
The surgery date was set two days later.
“Professor. I have something to tell you.”
After the rounds, Ki-Seok Choi visited Il-Soo Kwon and met him in an empty conference room.
An offer to join the Norwood team.
The moment has come to give the answer to that.
I thought a lot about making this decision, but I don’t regret it.
I have no intention of changing my decision.
“I guess you’ve made up your mind?”
Kwon Il-su said, clasping his hands together.
“Yes. I…”
“….”
“I decided to join the Saber team with Professor Jang.”
At Choi Ki-seok’s answer, the atmosphere in the conference room became heavier for a moment.
Kwon Il-soo stared at Choi Ki-seok’s face without saying anything.
“The reason is?”
“I don’t think I’m competent enough to assist in pediatric heart surgery yet. I happened to get a lamb heart this morning and I tried practicing on it, but the results weren’t good.”
“….”
“So I decided that it would be dangerous to join the Norwood team with such skills.”
“It’s the same as everyone. No one is good at it from the beginning.”
“But wouldn’t the professor want staff to be available as soon as the heart clinic opens?”
“That’s right.”
Kwon Il-soo nodded slightly.
“But if you prepare step by step from now on, you can handle the second part well.”
“And one more thing to tell you, Professor Jang even promised me first assistant. Of course, I can only stand after checking the patient’s condition and the importance of the surgery.”
“Ha… I have to do it to the extent possible.”
Kwon Il-soo clicked his tongue.
“Although I covet you, I have no intention of making you my first assistant. No matter how much potential there is, it is impossible to break down the hierarchy of surgery.”
“You mean…”
“I can’t help it. Let me go.”
Kwon Il-soo got up from his seat and walked to the front of the conference room door without hesitation.
“I am not a person who is behind the scenes. I am not a person who likes to take sides.”
“….”
“I hate Professor Jang, but I’m not a small person who hates everyone under him. So, if you change your mind, come to me at any time.”
Kwon Il-soo finished speaking and left the conference room.
Tiring!
[Team Norwood’s joining is extended indefinitely. He is currently not affiliated.]
[Political power increases by 1 level.]
I hear an alarm . It rang.
The unique thing is that by not joining the Norwood team, my political power has increased by one level.
So does that mean joining the Saber team is the right answer?
Jeeeeee.
I was standing there gathering my thoughts when the call phone rang.
Since the morning. It was an emergency room call.
Choi Ki-seok made the call and quickly went down to the emergency room.
There was a familiar face sitting on the emergency room bed.
Choi Mi-soon.
This was the grandmother who attempted a thoracentesis herself during her early days when she had to face an emergency due to a cult.
“Elderly!
” Choi Ki-seok approached Choi Mi-soon while his thoughts and worries were tangled together.
