A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 355

The Martial Surgeon – Episode 355

Chapter 68: Newbie (5)

“Is that really true? You’re not kidding, are you?”

Startled, Hector widened his eyes as he asked.

The news Austin had just delivered was that shocking.

It was almost unbelievable.

“Do you think I’m the kind of person who would play silly jokes on you?”

“Don’t you joke around a lot usually? Well, not this kind of thing, but still.”

Austin chuckled at Hector’s remark.

“Anyway, everything I just said is true. Every single word, no lies.”

“I see.”

Hector nodded, his mouth slightly open, as if the lingering shock hadn’t quite faded.

According to Austin.

Jun-hoo already possessed the talent to become a renowned doctor.

Even though it was his first time seeing pediatric neurosurgery outpatients, he handled the patients skillfully.

Jun-hoo’s diagnosis reportedly matched Austin’s diagnosis by nearly 60 percent.

It was truly an astonishing figure.

Jun-hoo, along with the other Boost Up program applicants, was just a greenhorn [a novice or beginner].

At least in the field of pediatric neurosurgery.

He hadn’t received proper training yet.

Nor had he accumulated experience.

Yet he achieved such an unbelievable score?

It was close to a miracle.

Hector recalled the day he first saw outpatients and smiled bitterly.

It was a living hell.

The patients and guardians were glaring with sharp eyes.

The video and various test results contradicted each other.

And to make matters worse, the patient load was heavy, and consultation times were short, and so on.

If he could have.

Hector wanted to run away from that spot.

“The highlight is that he diagnosed a newly developed case of hydrocephalus [a buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain]. His observational skills are extraordinary.”

“That’s what I’m saying. He even noticed that I was trying to trick him.”

Austin shook his head, looking exasperated.

“Come to think of it, I heard that Jun-hoo, not Raymond, topped this Boost Up test.”

“Watching him from the side, it’s understandable.”

“This year, we’re blessed with talented applicants. Raymond, Jun-hoo, and even Oliver.”

“Let’s not talk about Oliver.”

Austin said abruptly, his expression changing.

Hector realized his mistake and covered his mouth with his hand.

Oliver was Professor Austin’s own son.

That’s why it was more cautious to bring him up.

If the evaluation of Oliver was excessively favorable, it might be said that he was favoring his own child.

Austin was especially wary of that.

“You have a brain tumor surgery to perform a little later, right?”

“Yes, you remember.”

“I’m going to have Jun-hoo take over that surgery.”

Hector frowned at Austin’s unconventional proposal.

Hector’s voice was not pleasant as he retorted.

“Isn’t that crossing the line? We need to teach him step by step, starting with easier surgeries. A pediatric brain tumor surgery right after starting education.”

“I think that friend can do it.”

“You only saw him briefly for three hours, didn’t you? It’s too early to judge Jun-hoo based on that.”

Hector didn’t budge an inch.

It was a measure to protect Jun-hoo.

If he failed after performing a difficult surgery from the first day of education, the aftereffects would be long and lasting.

He might become a cripple if things went wrong.

Austin was definitely a respectable surgeon, but his teaching methods sometimes went too far.

Like today.

“Are you going to treat a lion cub the same as a rabbit cub?”

“Even lions don’t teach their newborn cubs to hunt.”

“You’re being particularly difficult today. Do you have a problem with me?”

“Think about it. All the friends who have caught your eye so far have ended up falling by the wayside, haven’t they?”

“…….”

“The higher the potential of a friend, the more carefully they should be handled.”

“Why are you blaming me for them leaving on their own accord?”

Austin replied with a sulky face.

He still didn’t seem to be aware of his shortcomings.

“Anyway, let’s pretend we didn’t hear what you just said.”

“Are you daring to commit insubordination?”

“It’s because you’re acting like a tyrant, Professor. Please, just this once, listen to me.”

As Hector became earnest, Austin stroked his chin.

Then, he smiled as if he had come up with an interesting idea.

Hector was even more uneasy because of that.

“Okay, then how about we do this?”

* * *

At that moment.

Jun-hoo was standing at the empty consultation desk, scanning the lobby.

As the wait stretched longer than expected, his boredom was also growing endlessly.

If he enhanced his hearing with internal energy.

Eavesdropping on Austin and Hector’s conversation would be a piece of cake.

But he didn’t want to do that.

If the other party was an enemy, he wouldn’t hesitate to use any means to gather information.

But Austin and Hector were not enemies.

He wanted to protect the privacy of his allies.

With nothing to do, Jun-hoo revisited each of the patients he had seen in the morning one by one.

He meticulously analyzed what he had done well.

And where he was lacking or had completely missed the mark.

It was as if he was reviewing a martial arts match after competing in one.

Jun-hoo’s solo review was even reverent.

His eyes were sharp.

And his tightly closed lips were determined.

Perhaps it was only natural.

If he imagined that a patient’s illness had worsened due to his misdiagnosis, he couldn’t help but be desperate even when reviewing a single patient.

And that desperation was…….

Beyond martial arts and internal energy, it could be said to be the driving force that made Jun-hoo grow.

Just because you have wings.

Doesn’t necessarily mean you can fly.

A bird cannot fly unless it flaps its wings.

Bang!

Just as the review was about to end, the consultation room door opened.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Hector’s face looked dark.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“Well, sort of. Let’s grab a quick bite to eat? We need to buy Professor a sandwich, so it’d be good to eat sandwiches.”

“Sure.”

“What did you guys talk about that took so long?”

Jun-hoo cautiously brought it up.

“He was saying something ridiculous again, so I cut him off.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll tell you after we eat. You’ll get indigestion.”

A bitter smile spread across Hector’s lips.

The place Hector found was the cafeteria on the first basement floor.

The interior of the cafeteria was as stylish and neat as the hospital building.

Chinese, Japanese, and even Korean restaurants caught his eye.

Jun-hoo scanned the menu in front of the restaurant with curiosity, then widened his eyes like a newly sighted Sim Cheong [a Korean folktale character known for her naivete upon seeing the world].

The price of the budae jjigae [a type of Korean stew] was outrageous.

It cost a whopping 20,000 won per person.

Considering Mei’s salary and NewTube revenue, it wasn’t a lot of money, but.

Still, the shock was shocking.

The restaurant Hector found was a burger and sandwich shop called Sandy Party.

They ordered the best-selling sandwich, and the two sat by the window.

Because it was a quick meal, they finished eating quickly.

“Please continue the story from earlier. I’m dying of curiosity.”

“Ah…… that? Seriously, you’ll be dumbfounded when you hear it too.”

Hector frowned and continued.

“Well, he wants you to take over the surgery right now.”

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do anyway?”

Jun-hoo asked, tilting his head.

According to the orientation file, Boost Up program applicants were supposed to be in charge of at least one surgery and one assist per day.

So, Austin’s proposal felt rather normal.

“It’s not a normal surgery, that’s why. He wants you to operate on an eight-year-old’s frontal lobe pilocytic astrocytoma [a type of brain tumor].”

“Ah…… it was a brain tumor surgery.”

“Yeah. It’s benign, but it’s still difficult and dangerous.”

As if his throat was dry, Hector sucked on his orange juice through a straw and continued.

“At your level, meningiomas [tumors that arise from the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord] or pituitary tumors [tumors that occur in the pituitary gland] would be perfect.”

“…….”

“Do you know what’s even more ridiculous?”

“What is it?”

“He’s telling me to ask you if you want to do the surgery, and if you want to, he’ll let you. Of course, you’ll refuse, right?”

“No. I want to do it.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was without a moment’s hesitation.

Surprised by this, Hector choked and coughed.

Jun-hoo tilted his head to avoid the droplets of saliva mixed with orange juice that were coming out of Hector’s open mouth.

“The newbies these days have a bold sense of humor. But it’s not funny at all. You.”

“Of course, it wouldn’t be funny. Because it’s not a joke.”

“Do you fully understand the meaning of what you just said?”

“Yes. I fully understand.”

“If you understood, you wouldn’t dare say such a thing?”

Hector looked at Jun-hoo with a dissatisfied look, his arms crossed.

But Jun-hoo’s attitude was calm.

He didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

As soon as he heard the story of the benign pilocytic astrocytoma, Jun-hoo thought that this was the surgery he had to do.

Hector might see Jun-hoo as a green apple [inexperienced or immature].

But Jun-hoo was by no means a green apple.

He had almost mastered the brain tumor part in Korea.

He had codified the professors’ surgeries.

And he had imagined it as the ‘Occipital Optic Nerve Pressure Point Technique’ and performed countless surgeries.

Of course, he had never operated on a pediatric brain tumor patient.

But he was confident that the big picture would not be different from adult surgery.

Isn’t the United States a land that values individual ability?

If so, he didn’t want to stop playing the role of hiding his strength anymore.

He wanted to fully, no, a hundred percent, demonstrate the skills he had accumulated so far.

“If Professor Austin said he would leave it to my judgment, then my judgment is Professor Austin’s judgment, right?”

“Uh…… well, that’s true, but.”

“Then I’ll do the pilocytic astrocytoma surgery.”

Thinking that he wouldn’t be able to persuade him even if he tried, Hector sighed as if the ground was sinking.

“If you insist, there’s no way for me to stop you. But listen. You might regret today’s decision for the rest of your life. Can you handle that?”

“Yes.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was short and firm.

“Okay. Then don’t say anything else later. Like I forced you into the operating room.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Let’s get up. We’ll give Professor Austin the sandwich and go straight to the operating room.”

Hector took the lead, and Jun-hoo followed behind him.

Without knowing Hector’s burning heart.

Jun-hoo was excited about his first surgery in the United States.

His steps were as light as if he had wings.

* * *

“Sandwich delivery.”

The door to the Pediatric Neurosurgery Clinic Room 1 opened, and Hector came inside.

Austin was sitting at his desk, drinking coffee.

“Judging by your rotten expression, it didn’t go as you wanted, did it?”

Austin smiled, showing his teeth, and received the sandwich that Hector handed him.

The movements of his hands as he tore open the packaging were cheerful.

“Jun-hoo, that friend doesn’t seem to be in his right mind. He’s a complete crazy boy, you know?”

Hector complained, pounding his chest as if he was frustrated.

“No, as soon as I brought up the story, he said he would do the surgery himself. It doesn’t work even if I try to persuade him nicely.”

“See? What did I tell you? Jun-hoo is my type.”

Austin chuckled.

“I was wrong earlier. So, Professor, please stop Jun-hoo. I’m going to ruin a kid like this.”

“He says he can do it, right? Then we have to trust him and leave it to him.”

“With that logic, would you entrust surgery to a kindergartener?”

“That’s an excessive analogy.”

Austin’s outstretched index finger wiggled from side to side.

“If he boasts like that and fails the surgery, how are you going to handle the aftermath?”

“That’s…… is that my business?”

A cold smile appeared on Austin’s lips.

Only those who are meant to live will live.

Only those who can become strong will become strong.

That was Austin’s educational philosophy.