Nurse Chu Gangik had sharply pointed that out.
Not that he had noticed anything.
It was simply a remark emphasizing how flexible Taesu’s thinking was.
Taesu did not make any needless assumptions either.
Still, he could not deny Nurse Chu Gangik’s keen observation.
Rather than saying this or that, he chose silence instead.
“……”
“In any case, at least I’m going to treat you two as more than specialists, so keep that in mind.”
Nurse Chu Gangik ended with a one-sided declaration.
Unlike his forceful tone, his expression was extremely gentle.
The same was true of Yun Juseong.
“I feel the same. You two are the real specialists here.”
“We’re far too lacking.”
“That will be resolved with time.”
“We’re still inexperienced in so many ways.”
“So am I. Even as a specialist, there are more things I’m inexperienced in.”
Yun Juseong readily acknowledged himself for what he was.
Taesu found it awkward to say anything to that.
At times like this, smiling was the answer.
“Ha, haha.”
“Anyway, since we’ve gathered as people who are all lacking in one way or another, wouldn’t it be better if we filled in those gaps together?”
“We’re the ones who need to learn a lot.”
“And if things go wrong, we can shout at each other while we’re at it.”
“……Th-that did happen.”
Unable to deny it, Taesu looked embarrassed.
Perhaps that had not been the atmosphere he wanted, because Yun Juseong slowly brought the conversation to a close.
“The conclusion is that we should get along well from now on. Filling in what we lack as we go.”
Then Yun Juseong showed a smile.
Right now, the gazes of Yun Juseong and Nurse Chu Gangik were pure.
It was clear goodwill.
Then there was only one thing Taesu and Jeong Minsu could say.
“We’ll be in your care even more.”
“There is much we don’t know. Please teach us a great deal.”
They bowed.
Both lowered their heads in the same way and offered their request.
At their polite manners, Yun Juseong and Nurse Chu Gangik’s smiles grew even gentler.
It was then.
“Let us in too.”
“That’s too much. We’re here too, you know.”
Voices full of dissatisfaction were heard.
When they looked, Nurse Lee Chorong and Nurse Hwang Jisu were approaching at a quick pace.
The complaints must have been just for show, because their faces were full of smiles.
Behind them, Kim Hyeokgwon approached while supporting Jo Uncheol.
Jo Uncheol stretched out a trembling hand and said,
“M-me too……”
“Ugh. Your body isn’t even in good shape, so what are you doing?”
“I’m going to…… exercise.”
“Then exercise and say that afterward. Don’t make things troublesome first thing in the morning.”
Kim Hyeokgwon poured out a rough scolding.
Even so, he supported Jo Uncheol to the very end.
That was how he acknowledged the hardship Jo Uncheol had endured yesterday, to the point of collapsing.
Soon, all the veterans who had joined forces yesterday gathered in one place.
No, one person was missing.
“I don’t see Brad.”
Taesu was the first to bring it up.
Then Jeong Minsu asked Yun Juseong,
“Didn’t he sleep at your lodging yesterday?”
“What are you talking about? We haven’t seen him since we left the operating room.”
“Then where did he go?”
“He didn’t come to your lodging either, Dr. Jeong?”
Only then did Yun Juseong seem to sense something was strange, and his expression turned serious.
Taesu and the other medical staff were the same.
At that moment, Kim Hyeokgwon said bluntly,
“He’s not some one- or two-year-old kid. Stop making a fuss and let’s go see Shanmeheum.”
“Ah, we just went and checked on him.”
When Nurse Chu Gangik answered, Kim Hyeokgwon immediately asked,
“How is he?”
“His vitals came up quite a bit overnight.”
“Why does that sound like there’s a ‘but’ at the end?”
“That’s……”
Just as Nurse Chu Gangik was about to answer, Yun Juseong stepped in.
“I’ll explain that.”
“By all means.”
“Hm. He isn’t in a condition where he can wake up yet.”
At Yun Juseong’s words, Taesu’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Still?”
“I think his recovery may be slow because his usual nutritional state wasn’t good.”
At those words, Jo Uncheol’s face brightened.
“That’s right. That’s why I really went through hell.”
“I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily related to his nutritional state, would you?”
Yun Juseong subtly threw cold water on it.
But then Taesu offered an opposing opinion.
“No. His nutritional state did affect the hemostasis.”
“See?”
With Taesu taking his side, Jo Uncheol’s face lit up.
But there was another reversal.
Because when it came to medicine, Taesu was not the type to say something nice without basis.
“I felt this before as well, but you do have difficulty dealing with bleeding.”
“It’s hard to encounter a patient with massive bleeding like this in Japan.”
“This isn’t Japan.”
“I know. I know that.”
Jo Uncheol’s expression darkened slightly.
As the atmosphere wavered, Yun Juseong quietly brought things back in order.
“If Shanmeheum is in this state, I wonder if that boy Changgyu is all right.”
“I went and checked.”
At the sudden voice, everyone’s eyes focused.
Swish.
That person was none other than Kim Hyeokgwon.
Even under everyone’s gaze, Kim Hyeokgwon’s expression did not change in the slightest.
“What? Is there a problem?”
“No. Has he woken up?”
When Taesu asked, Kim Hyeokgwon shook his head.
“He hasn’t either.”
“Really?”
“Just now, his vitals were similar to Shanmeheum’s right after surgery.”
“Mm.”
A thin crease formed between Taesu’s brows.
The other medical staff were the same.
If his vitals were like Shanmeheum’s right after surgery, they should have been running to the emergency room.
But Lee Changgyu was apparently in that state now.
They could not even imagine what he had been like immediately after the surgery.
Taesu quietly spoke the thought drifting through his mind.
“Dr. Schmidt is an incredible man.”
“I completely agree.”
“Me too.”
One by one, everyone murmured with hardened gazes.
It must have been a surgery they could not even dare attempt at their current level.
It was truly fortunate that Dr. Schmidt had operated on him.
“……”
“……”
At some point, the conversation vanished.
The atmosphere was heavy with each person’s thoughts.
Jeong Minsu tried to break that silence in a hesitant voice.
“Um, excuse me.”
“What is it, Dr. Jeong?”
“The time……”
With everyone’s attention on him, Jeong Minsu trailed off.
Since they had clearly heard the subject, everyone checked the time.
Clinic hours were drawing near.
“It’s already this late.”
“You’re right.”
“My condition is a mess.”
It seemed their bodies were heavy because the fatigue from surgery had not yet faded.
At that moment, Taesu was the first to stand as he said,
“Fatigue built up through medicine should be relieved through medicine.”
“That’s right. Today, let’s think first about the pain of the patients who’ll come to us.”
“Uaaaah. Let’s go!”
One by one, they stood, and last of all Nurse Chu Gangik stretched noisily.
Everyone glanced at him.
Then, as they headed toward the medical tents, each of them did some light stretching.
Soon, they entered Medical Tent 3 one after another.
Perhaps their bodies had loosened up properly, because even their complexions had changed.
The other medical tents were also finishing preparations for treatment.
It was then.
Baaang.
A truck horn rang out long and loud.
At the same time, Nurse Hwang Jisu’s voice filled Medical Tent 3.
“The patients are coming.”
“Let’s do our best today too.”
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
They encouraged one another and drew out a lively atmosphere.
Taking advantage of that atmosphere, Kim Hyeokgwon quietly tried to disappear.
But Taesu caught him red-handed.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m……”
“At least interpret for us.”
“Hm.”
“You said you still hadn’t saved yourself.”
Taesu held him back by quoting what he had said yesterday.
Perhaps he could not simply brush it off, because Kim Hyeokgwon gave a bitter smile.
“You’ve got me by my weak point.”
“If possible, think of it as trauma treatment.”
“Talk about making something sound better than it is. I’ll bring the patient over. Jose.”
Whip, whip.
Kim Hyeokgwon signaled to Jose, the interpreter who had just arrived, and moved off.
Taesu smiled at the sight of Kim Hyeokgwon grumbling but ultimately complying.
“He really is an amusing man.”
That impression lasted only a moment.
“Patient arriving. Who’s first?”
Kim Hyeokgwon shouted as he brought in a patient.
Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and even Yun Juseong hurriedly raised their hands and called out.
“Here.”
“Me.”
“I’m first.”
Medical Tent 3’s treatment began energetically again today.
The medical staff from the other medical tents looked toward Medical Tent 3 and smiled.
“Are those really the people who operated like that yesterday?”
“They were held up until late, but they look good.”
“Youth really is something.”
Words of praise could be heard from here and there.
And taking after the bright atmosphere of Medical Tent 3, they too greeted the patients energetically.
Time passed, and morning consultations were just about coming to an end.
Taesu glanced at the time and said,
“It was right about this time yesterday.”
“Don’t say things that make my blood run cold.”
“As if that would happen again.”
At Jeong Minsu’s scolding, Taesu shrugged and answered blandly.
But then it happened.
Kim Hyeokgwon stared into the distance and said,
“Looks like there’s a truck coming this way over there.”
“Again?”
Taesu, more startled than anyone, quickly looked in that direction.
Vroooom.
A truck really was approaching.
But it did not feel like it was barreling forward the way it had yesterday.
More than anything, the flashy exterior looked familiar.
“Raku?”
“Is he coming back after doing morning business nearby?”
Jeong Minsu recognized it too and tried to work it out in his own way.
Meanwhile, Raku’s truck drew closer.
Screech.
It stopped near the medical tents.
Then everyone was shocked to see the person who got out of the passenger seat.
“Brad?”
“Did you really become a lost child?”
“Kang Yeonghun is getting out with him too.”
“I don’t see Kim Gwanghyeon. Did they go to the village?”
The medical staff gathered one by one and each added a remark.
Not only Medical Tent 3 but the other medical tents had grown quiet as well.
Morning consultations were over.
That was why everyone could gather in one place.
Brad Kim walked straight toward Medical Tent 3.
After first looking inside the now-quiet tent, he addressed the medical staff.
“You’re all gathered here at just the right time.”
“Brad, where did you really go?”
“Do you think I borrowed Raku’s truck just to take a walk?”
“Then you went to that village?”
Taesu and everyone else looked at him in surprise.
By then, Brad Kim had come close and sat down in a consultation chair.
Thud.
His drained movements and darkened complexion were thick with fatigue.
Words of concern could not help but pass between them.
“Did you get any sleep?”
“Did you eat anything?”
Questions poured out all at once.
But Brad Kim waved his hand roughly and answered,
“Sleep isn’t what’s important right now.”
“Then what is important?”
“I’m fine, so for now, everyone, sit down.”
Brad Kim urged them in an exhausted voice.
His nerves seemed slightly frayed as well.
Perhaps because of that, starting with Taesu, everyone took seats here and there.
In that brief interval, Brad Kim’s breathing could be heard.
“Hoo, hoo.”
He was exhaling lightly and quickly.
He also lightly rubbed his head with both hands.
It was a symptom of the body needing a great deal of oxygen due to extreme fatigue.