Since he had been the one to broach the subject, Jeong Minsu immediately asked.
"What are you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you the Taesu I knew?"
When asked again, Taesu looked at him incredulously.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm serious. How could you perform that kind of surgery in such a short time?"
"How else? I worked myself to death."
Taesu only told him as much as anyone would already know.
Like everyone else, Jeong Minsu was unaware of what lay between Taesu and Caprene.
Perhaps that was why he found it all the more puzzling.
"So that's all? That you just worked yourself to death?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"It's not you that's the problem. I'm the problem, I suppose. What should I do from now on?"
Taesu asked again, since Jeong Minsu's question sounded so out of the blue.
"Ask me properly, will you?"
"If more emergency patients come in the future, will I be able to handle them then too?"
"You'll have to."
At Taesu's words, Jeong Minsu shook his head.
"Actually, when I met the guardians earlier, I truly felt it. What the work I do—what I had thought was just a job—really means."
"Hmm."
"Right now, I don't think I can protect anyone."
Jeong Minsu spoke bitterly.
But Taesu didn't think too hard about it.
Taesu lightly tapped his shoulder, smiled bitterly, and grumbled.
"Why alone?"
"Ah, right. You'll stay with me, won't you?"
"Let's get our facts straight. You're the one who came to me."
"I know. That's not what's important right now."
Jeong Minsu retorted, choked up.
Meanwhile, Taesu smiled lightly and spoke.
"If your skills fall short, build them up. If you lack experience, fill the gap."
"Does that, does that work right away?"
"If it worked that fast, would we even be here?"
"I suppose."
Jeong Minsu looked around at their reality once more with a bitter expression.
Then Taesu added.
"Don't people need to dream and paint the future to grow?"
"Do you have one?"
"Me? Hmm, the world's only doctor?"
Jeong Minsu glanced at Taesu, who spoke half-heartedly.
"What does that mean?"
"Just that my dream is like that."
Rustle.
Having spoken evasively, Taesu slid his hand into his pocket.
Deep in his pocket, a slim ring case was always there.
It was Caprene's ring.
He wanted to become a doctor like Caprene someday.
It wasn't the respect of other doctors that he sought.
He wanted to become a doctor recognized and respected by patients.
That was all.
At Taesu's vague answer, Jeong Minsu asked with a bitter smile.
"Then what should I do?"
"You should be my dedicated assistant."
"That doesn't sound very appealing."
"Then why don't you try your hand at suturing or something. If you turn weakness into strength, won't you gain confidence?"
When Taesu suggested it, Jeong Minsu's eyes changed.
"That seems like a pretty good idea."
"Not right away."
"Right. We need to take care of the patients in that village first."
"If we're going to catch up on today's backlog too, won't tomorrow be even busier?"
At Taesu's words, Jeong Minsu showed enthusiasm.
"As much as it takes. I'll desperately get through even one more thing, and I'll learn."
"There goes your three-second resolve."
"Hey, that's…… Well."
"Relax a little. There's no one here you have to watch yourself around. *Yawn.* I'm tired. Let's get up now."
Taesu cut the conversation short and got up from his seat.
Jeong Minsu had to realize it for himself.
The hospital life in Korea he had ingrained until now was completely useless here.
Breaking his own framework first had to be the priority.
From the next day, the three of them actively welcomed the flood of patients.
It was so chaotic that they didn't even notice the sun slipping beyond the western hills.
And so, after time had passed, one day.
Morning broke over Sahad.
As time passed, much of the war's remnants had disappeared, and the village had become tidier.
When the sun rose, people appeared from somewhere. And now, as if accustomed to it, they began the village reconstruction work.
Thud, bang.
They repaired broken buildings, and newly erected buildings were easily found as well.
Their village chief, Kandor, climbed high and coordinated so that everyone's work could proceed smoothly.
Then Kandor's gaze turned to the back.
He looked at the NGO tents on the hill behind the village. And he muttered softly in deliberately awkward English.
"Sorry for disturbing your peaceful rest."
He meant it.
It was none other than they who had transformed the despair-filled villagers into such dynamic beings.
Thinking of those sleeping soundly inside, he smiled peacefully.
At the same time.
Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and Kim Hyeokgwon lay fast asleep side by side on military cots inside the accommodation tent atop the hill.
Having released all tension, they showed no reaction even to the abundant sunlight.
Loud and soft snoring drifted from the three, who slept peacefully side by side.
"Honk."
"Krrrr."
Amidst such tranquility.
Thud, bang. Crack.
The sounds of construction outside began to drift in.
At first they didn't move at all, but gradually the three's ears twitched.
But among them, Taesu seemed a little strange.
"Hnngh."
Toss, turn.
Perhaps because the construction noise was loud, he began tossing and turning.
But it didn't seem to be entirely the cause, as beads of sweat began forming on his face.
Was he having a nightmare?
Looking at his expression changing so diversely, it didn't seem like that kind of atmosphere.
Taesu continued tossing and turning.
It was then.
Flash.
Taesu suddenly opened his eyes, let out a low exclamation, and sat up with a start.
"Huk."
At that sound, Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon also reflexively opened their eyes.
Though it was a small exclamation, having grown sensitive to sounds of pain, they quickly sought the cause. And before their eyes, they saw Taesu sitting there with a blank face.
The surprised two immediately spoke to Taesu.
"What is it?"
"What's wrong?"
Taesu raised his hand lightly at their worried voices and answered.
"It's nothing."
"It sure doesn't look like nothing. Your face looks terrible."
"Hoo."
Taesu let out another long breath without much reaction.
Unable to just watch, Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon got up and approached.
And Jeong Minsu asked again.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"I don't know if it was a nightmare or what, but I definitely dreamed something."
"What dream?"
Jeong Minsu asked seriously, furrowing his brow.
Taesu answered, looking with slightly more settled eyes.
"Helicopters were filling the sky, and from them doctors and nurses were rappelling down in droves."
"Huh?"
"I was there too, and, uh, yeah. You were there too."
As Taesu pieced together the dream, Jeong Minsu asked with a bewildered expression.
"And who else was there?"
"I don't know. There were quite a lot, but I don't remember their faces. But they were definitely doctors and nurses."
"NGO?"
"No. I think they were Koreans."
Taesu answered, tracing back uncertain memories.
At those words, Jeong Minsu smiled bitterly.
"Would something like that happen in Korea?"
"Right?"
"Well, it is a dream, so I suppose it can."
Jeong Minsu set aside half his worry and nodded faintly.
Taesu smiled bitterly too.
"So, what kind of dream is this?"
"But you never know. Who says something like that couldn't happen someday?"
"Even if it did, who'd take the lead? What doctor with a bullet in his head would suggest helicopter rappelling? It's just a stupid dream."
Flick.
Taesu expressed his disbelief with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Then Kim Hyeokgwon approached holding a canteen and asked.
"What about me?"
"Huh?"
"I asked if I wasn't there. I don't particularly like being left out, even in a dream."
Taesu thought hard, then snapped his fingers and answered.
Snap.
"Ah, you were there too, Mr. Hyeokgwon. You descended so swiftly that you rivaled me."
"If an interpreter is needed, that means it isn't Korea, doesn't it?"
"You never know. It's a dream."
Taesu answered evasively.
Kim Hyeokgwon nodded absently.
"Ah, that's true. It's a dream, so anything can happen."
"Exactly. Ah."
"Ah? What 'ah'?"
"I think Nurse Song was with us too."
The moment he heard Taesu's words, the faint smile on Kim Hyeokgwon's lips stiffened immediately.
"Who? Song Hyeonmi from Ijambak?"
"Yes. Her."
"Why are you bringing up that nitpicky person?"
Kim Hyeokgwon furrowed his brow, perhaps because the time he had suffered in Ijambak was terrible.
Taesu added another word to him.
"It's faint, but."
"But?"
"After landing, I think you two looked at each other with affectionate eyes, worried about one another."
"Affectionate? Worried? Me? With that prickly nurse?"
"Um, yes."
Taesu nodded once more, retracing the faint dream.
At that moment, Kim Hyeokgwon turned the mouth of the canteen he was holding toward Taesu.
Swish.
And with a serious face, as if he would splash it at any moment, he asked.
"Do you want to drink some cold water and come to your senses, or get hit by a cold water blast first thing in the morning?"
"Yes. I was quite thirsty anyway."
Gulp.
Taesu quickly brought the canteen to his mouth.
But Kim Hyeokgwon grumbled on, perhaps because the more he thought about it, the less he liked it.
"There are dreams you should have, and dreams you shouldn't, no matter how much it's just a dream."
"Ha, ha."
"No, how could I, hoo, how could I be with that nurse? Does that make any sense?"
Kim Hyeokgwon's voice rose, perhaps because he grew angrier the more he thought about it.
Being natural enemies and bitter rivals made it all the more absurd.
Taesu felt a bit aggrieved.
It was just a dream. What could he do?
But he didn't want to provoke Kim Hyeokgwon needlessly, so he simply listened.
An hour later.
Flutter.
The accommodation tent entrance was drawn back, and the three came out in turn.
Standing side by side, the three looked down at the village of Sahad below the hill.
It was a scene of energetic people laboring at the village reconstruction.
A look of fresh emotion rose on their faces as they took it in with their own eyes.
Among them, Kim Hyeokgwon exclaimed in admiration, his earlier sullenness gone.
"I think people are truly amazing."
"Indeed. I think about a month has passed, but it's really changed a lot."
As Taesu spoke, Jeong Minsu added.
"At first, it was an unimaginable sight."
"We couldn't even think about it back then."
"Exactly. Just until a few days ago, we didn't even have time to eat."
Jeong Minsu shuddered lightly at the passing memories.
But then Kim Hyeokgwon glanced at Jeong Minsu and asked.
"Then why is Doctor Jeong's physique still the same after all that suffering?"
"Huh?"
"Looking at that round physique, I don't feel like you've suffered at all."
At Kim Hyeokgwon's continued teasing, Jeong Minsu said with an awkward smile.
"I suppose so. I must still be lacking a lot."
"Eh?"
"Wh-why?"
When Jeong Minsu gauged his reaction, Kim Hyeokgwon's expression turned even more displeased.
"Banter is supposed to go back and forth. You really can't shake that personality."
"I am working on it."
"Forget it. Enough."
Kim Hyeokgwon was the first to turn his gaze away.