Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Aftermath (4)
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Meanwhile, in the training committee meeting room that Han Hyun-jae had slipped out of.
Professor Oh Man-seok, seated at the center, let out a deep sigh as he removed his glasses and set them down on the table.
“Ha… What do you all think?”
The first to respond was Choi Jung-gil, head of the hospital’s legal team.
“Professor, there’s no room for discussion here. It’s a clear violation of regulations. An unqualified resident performed invasive surgery without patient consent or a senior’s orders, in a non-sterile environment. This is straight-up insanity. We have to send it to the formal disciplinary committee and hand down at least a suspension—something severe.”
Section Chief Lee Sun-young from administration immediately shot back at his firm words.
“Isn’t that assuming the worst-case scenario? Reality was the exact opposite. The patient survived. And not just survived—thrived. What if word gets out that we disciplined this guy? The media will have a field day. ‘Hero Doctor Who Saved Patient Disciplined by Hospital’—that’s the headline. Our hospital’s reputation? Plain as day, it’ll be toast.”
“Is reputation more important than the hospital’s systems and rules?”
“Those systems and rules could’ve let the patient die!”
The temperature in the meeting room spiked.
Law versus reality. Regulations versus results. A head-on collision.
“But hold on—from the start, wasn’t that laparotomy perfect? I heard Professor Kang Hyun-jun from trauma surgery gave it rave reviews. So this isn’t a mistake—it’s talent, right? Shouldn’t we be protecting and nurturing this guy instead of punishing him?”
Professor Ahn Jae-seon from orthopedics argued.
Legal Team Chief Choi scoffed.
“Talent? A talented lunatic is more dangerous than a plain one. He saved a patient today, but who knows what accident that ‘talent’ will cause tomorrow?”
“But he did save a life in the end!”
Voices rose, and the meeting was on the verge of chaos.
Right then.
A man who’d been sitting quietly in the corner, arms crossed and just listening, finally spoke up softly.
It was Yoon Tae-ryong, vice dean of medical affairs and a former general surgery professor.
“No, but.”
He opened his mouth.
“That packing—it was art, wasn’t it?”
He looked at the legal team chief and continued.
“Rules matter. Systems are important, of course. But what’s the essence of our job? Saving patients. I don’t know what was going through that first-year’s head when he picked up the scalpel. Could’ve been crazy, or maybe some superhuman burst of power. But one thing’s clear. That crazy stunt got the patient alive and in the ICU. While we’re here debating hypotheticals, that kid delivered results in the field.”
The mood in the room flipped completely as Vice Dean Yoon finished.
The legal team chief’s momentum deflated, and the other committee members’ faces clouded with doubt.
‘How do you punish a hero who broke the rules?’
The heated debate dragged on.
Punishment for overstepping authority was inevitable, versus leniency despite it all. The sides were evenly matched.
Finally, they reached a conclusion.
A very, very minor discipline.
Hold him accountable for breaking the rules, but without scarring his career as a doctor.
A tightrope walk: Uphold the hospital’s system without crushing a potentially brilliant future talent.
***
How long had I been sitting slumped on the cold corridor floor, staring blankly into space? My head was a dumpster fire of worst-case scenarios.
Three-month suspension? Six months’ pay cut? Or worst, extend my residency by a year?
Just imagining it was nightmare fuel.
Right then.
Click.
The heavy meeting room door swung open.
I jolted up, springing to my feet and bowing 90 degrees on reflex.
Huh?
Expensive-looking dress shoes. Head still down, I rolled my eyes to check.
Vice Dean Yoon Tae-ryong.
Fuck, what the hell.
He definitely wasn’t there when I went in earlier.
Did he join midway?
Hang on—did the vice dean of this hospital really show up to discuss a first-year resident’s training violation?
Was the scale of my doom bigger than I’d imagined?
My mind went blank.
Someone lightly patted my shoulder.
“?”
I whipped around in shock. Vice Dean Yoon was right behind me now, looking down with a smile that could’ve been kindly or sly fox—I couldn’t tell.
“Heh heh, so you’re the guy from emergency medicine.”
My heart nearly stopped.
I barely steadied myself from a full-on freakout and bowed again.
“Yes, sir. Han Hyun-jae, first-year emergency medicine resident.”
“Right, right. Let me get a look at your face. You’ve been through a lot.”
He patted my shoulder a few more times, then chuckled like a friendly neighborhood uncle.
“Get the results from the chairman. No need to worry too much.”
With that, the vice dean walked off.
…What?
His own hospital’s first-year slices open a patient’s gut in the ER, and he says good work? Don’t worry?
Man, people are impossible to read.
As I scratched my head in confusion.
“Dr. Han Hyun-jae!”
Professor Oh Man-seok’s voice called from the meeting room door.
Here it comes.
I swallowed dryly and stepped back toward the room where my fate awaited.
I stood once more before the central chair.
Professor Oh reviewed the documents one last time, then spoke to me.
“Dr. Han Hyun-jae. The committee’s discussion is over.”
My heart stopped. I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I’ll get to the conclusion. For this incident, the training committee…”
Please. Please. Just dock my pay. Anything but extending residency. Please.
“…issues a formal reprimand and a one-month pay deduction to Resident Han Hyun-jae, the subject of discipline.”
…
“This matter is closed by committee decision and will not be referred to the formal disciplinary committee.”
…Huh?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
My brain buffered, refusing to process. Seeing my dumbfounded face, Professor Oh pinched his brow and repeated.
“Reprimand and one month’s pay docked. That’s it.”
That instant, massive fireworks exploded in my head.
…FUCKING YES!!!!!!!! I did it!!!!!!! Survived!!!!!! My doctor life!!!! No extension!!!!!!!
The legend who got away with a laparotomy as a first-year—that’s me!!!!
Who cares about a month’s pay! Ramen next month! I’m not fired! My license! My career! Alive, you bastards!!!
While my inner self roared, the real me replied in a perfectly calm, polite voice, suppressing all the ecstasy.
“Yes, sir. I humbly accept the committee’s decision.”
Professor Oh smirked at my robotic response and stood.
The other members began packing up one by one.
“No need to explain at length, right? It was insane and risky, but… the fact that you saved the patient weighed heaviest. Can’t fire a doctor who brought back someone who was dying.”
Professor Oh paused, then added.
“Of course, Professor Kang Hyun-jun from trauma and Vice Dean Yoon Tae-ryong’s endorsements played a big role. What could we do when those big shots went all-in praising you? You’ve learned a lot from this, Dr. Han. Good work.”
With that, Professor Oh and the committee filed out one by one.
“It’s over….”
I laughed hollowly as I left the room.
I walked the corridor to the elevators.
A text arrived: Return to the ER starting tomorrow.
***
I crossed the hospital lobby and stepped out the automatic doors.
Cool air rushed in.
Only then did it hit me—I was alive.
Time to go home.
Hot shower, beer, crash without a thought.
Shuffling toward the bus stop.
Vroom.
A black sedan glided silently beside me and stopped. The passenger window slid down smoothly.
“Hey! Get in!”
Director Park Woong from my department grinned from the window.
“Oh, Director! I’m fine! I’ll take the bus…”
“Shut it. Just get in. Got something to say.”
No choice. I bowed and opened the passenger door.
Sinking into the plush leather seat, the day’s fatigue crashed over me.
Long silence. Then Director Park finally spoke.
“Why’d you do it?”
“Pardon?”
I parroted like an idiot.
“Why’d you do it, I asked.”
“Well… I… all I could think was saving the patient.”
He let out a short chuckle at my answer. Then stared ahead and muttered softly.
“Yeah, that’s EM for you. Whatever.”
But his approval ended there. Light changed, car eased forward.
“But.”
His tone grew heavy again.
“Systems exist for a reason. Your seniors have been through hell and back in this ER. The rules and protocols we’ve built? Forged from countless patients’ blood and doctors’ tears. Going rogue to play hero doesn’t just kill you—it endangers the whole team. You got lucky this time, but no guarantee next time. Not a good move.”
I bowed my head.
“Yes, Director. I’ll keep it in mind.”
‘Fuck, it wasn’t even me… It was the crazy ghost inside me….’
My inner scream stayed trapped.
Silence stretched. As the car neared my officetel, Director Park changed topics.
“Oh, right. You’re about due for that KTAT provider course, yeah? Korean Trauma Advanced Treatment training.”
“Yes? Oh, right. Time to prep soon.”
“Yeah. Since you’re going anyway, how about a dispatch to the trauma center for proper hands-on training?”
My heart dropped. Trauma center? The front lines?
“No? No, no! I’m good! Still so much to learn… ER’s better for me!”
I waved my hands frantically, practically yelling my refusal. At my desperation, he eyed me amused, then burst into roaring laughter.
“Hahaha! Yeah, our genius first-year prefers the dynamic general ER, huh? Makes sense—trauma center’s all blood all day, gets old.”
I just gave an awkward laugh.
“Haha… genius? Nah….”
The car stopped at my officetel entrance.
“Head in. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Director. Thanks for the ride. Drive safe.”
I bowed and got out.
The black sedan melted into the night.
I let out a deep sigh and looked up at the sky.
A cool breeze brushed my cheek.
Autumn winds had turned properly chilly.