Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Conference Wrap-Up (End)
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And with that, the first day of the conference came to a close.
Or more accurately, I survived it.
My very first oral presentation had completely upended my entire career as a doctor.
Of course, I...
Had become a star at the convention center.
It happened right after the presentation ended, while I was chugging free coffee at the lobby booth.
A group from the table next to mine— their name tags boldly emblazoned with the intimidating words "Seoul Asung Hospital"—kept glancing my way and whispering.
"Hey, hey, you see that resident over there...?"
"Yeah, that's the guy who sliced open that belly..."
"Damn, can you believe he's only a second-year? The guy's got guts... His supervising professor looked like he was about to shit himself."
'Yeah, that's me, you bastards. I'm the one who screwed over your buddies.'
I deliberately ignored their stares and downed the hot instant coffee in one go.
My tongue felt scorched, but that wasn't important right now.
It was the same in the hallways as I headed to another session room.
A group of dignified professors passing by recognized me and stopped in their tracks.
Of course, I pretended not to notice their gazes and marched on steadfastly, acting like I didn't care at all.
But I couldn't block their voices from drifting into my ears.
"Heh heh, that guy's the one from Busan who did the oral presentation in the trauma session, right...?"
"Oh, the laparotomy case? He was bold as hell proposing that with just one case. I like his spirit."
"Tsk tsk, spirit or recklessness...?"
I had to bow my head low to avoid eye contact and hurry past them.
Please, just stop paying attention to me.
Even at the restaurants near the conference hall, this insane star treatment showed no signs of stopping.
That evening, at dinner with my hospital colleagues.
We were sitting in a quiet corner, grilling meat in peace.
"Hyeon-jae, you were awesome today anyway. Felt so damn good."
Lee Min-jae chuckled as he refilled my glass.
It wasn't booze, of course—he said he always had bad luck after drinking.
"Ah, keep it down. Right now..."
Before I could finish, the restaurant door swung open, and a crowd of doctors from another hospital poured in.
Luckily, they didn't seem to recognize me.
Then came the whispers.
"Hey, that's him..."
"Real-life encounter."
"That famous stethoscope-wielding Han Hyeon-jae? Oh, the guy with that insane trauma presentation...?"
The pork belly I'd picked up with my chopsticks slipped and fell onto the grill.
'Can't even eat in peace.'
I kept my head down and shoveled rice into my mouth.
Yeah, Han Hyeon-jae.
This is the path you chose... but I couldn't help being bothered by the stares.
That night at the restaurant, I felt dozens of eyeballs boring into my back.
Even in the hotel lobby, this crazy star experience wouldn't quit.
On the second morning, hungover and wrecked from the previous day's drinking and stress, I dragged myself down for the hotel breakfast.
The elevator doors opened, and a group of residents sipping coffee on the sofas froze at the sight of me.
"Hey, hey, that's him..."
"No way. It's really him. The guy from yesterday's presentation."
"Damn, check out that aura. Rocking a hoodie..."
I looked down at my disheveled self—hotel slippers and all.
'Aura my ass. I look like some local bum.'
Basking in their awestruck stares, I shuffled toward the breakfast buffet's scrambled eggs.
...Yeah.
I'd unintentionally become a star.
As the second-year psycho who sliced open bellies in the ER.
And everywhere—in the corner of the convention hall, across the dinner table, inside the hotel elevator—lurking in my peripheral vision was Professor Cheon Eun-jeong, clutching the back of her neck with a soulless expression.
Throughout the conference, she stared at me with a look that screamed "Oh, my wretched fate," rubbing her neck with deep sighs over and over.
I just played dumb and steadfastly collected the swag.
Free eco-bags were pure gold.
**
And with that, the two-day conference truly wrapped up.
Or rather, it was one step away from the curtain call.
I sat there, deep in thought.
'It's not like some lunatic called "God's Scalpel" possessed me or anything. Why the hell did I do that...? Ugh...'
Armed with skills and hundreds of ghosts' real-time coaching, my mouth had fluently debated the paradigm shift in Korean emergency medicine—without any input from my brain.
Thanks to that, I'd become a complete lunatic.
"Haah..."
What could I do? The topic was already out there.
Whatever.
Might as well go all out now.
I was watching the final session: the closing ceremony and awards.
'I wanna go home. Eat some fried chicken at home. Ignore my texts and just sleep.'
Someone took the mic on stage.
"Now, for the final awards: outstanding presentations. First up, the outstanding poster presentation awards."
...
"That concludes the outstanding poster presentation awards. Congratulations to all."
Yeah, the poster awards just ended... so what's next?
I blankly flipped through the program book.
[BEST ORAL PRESENTATION]
Ah, outstanding oral presentations.
Whatever, nothing to do with me.
I should be grateful I got through without causing more trouble.
That's for real academics—like that professor who presented the AI prognosis model or the ones ranting about post-resuscitation care.
I reached for my bag zipper to start packing.
"Next, we will announce the winners of the Spring Academic Conference Outstanding Oral Presentation Awards!"
Drumroll—
Some pointless sound effect blared.
Fire the AV people next year.
What the hell is that cheesy BGM?
"We have four winners! Please come up to the stage when your name is called!"
Four names popped up on the screen amid flashy fanfare effects.
[Ulsung University School of Medicine, Kim Min-jin]
[Gyeonggi Fire & Disaster Headquarters, Ambulance Supervising Physician Hwang Joo-won]
'Yeah, yeah, they deserved it. Nod nod.'
I started grabbing my bag to leave, no regrets.
[Cheongjin University School of Medicine, Han Hyeon-jae] [Dong-a University School of Medicine, Choi Jung-guk]
"Pffft—!"
I nearly spat out the free water I'd just gulped.
I clamped my mouth shut with wet hands.
My name.
Right there.
Why?
Me? There?
No, honestly, it was shocking, but it wasn't award-worthy.
"Damn, shoulda seen this coming."
No way.
How could I predict it?
Giving an award for that insane presentation?
A presentation basically declaring war: 'Emergency docs should slice open bellies too'?
This conference...
Was crazier than I thought.
"Stay calm."
Beside me, Professor Cheon pinched my arm.
"Hey. It's you. You. Get up there."
Even her voice trembled slightly.
At that moment, the entire hall buzzed.
"That Ulsung guy... just got tenure as assistant professor? Wow, AI prediction model... Deserves it."
"Ambulance supervising physicians are important too."
"But what's that? Cheongjin University's Han Hyeon-jae?"
"Laparotomy? What the hell kind of case was that? You hear about it?"
"Come on, Professor, you don't know? That Cheongjin guy was the most famous at this conference..."
"No way. They gave an award for that presentation? The conference has lost it."
"Nah, it had impact. Bet it's gonna spark a showdown with surgery later."
"Please, everyone, quiet down..."
On the verge of tears, I pushed through hundreds of stares to the stage.
And just like that, I found myself onstage in a daze.
To my left stood the Ulsung assistant professor, looking like a bona fide genius. To my right, the seasoned ambulance supervising physician.
And in between, me—shriveled up like a runt.
The conference chair approached me with a kindly smile that masked a look screaming "You're something else, kid."
"Congratulations, Dr. Han. Very impressive."
"Ah... yes... thank you..."
I stood there and accepted the hefty plaque—nameplate? Trophy? Trophy thingy? Whatever it was.
Camera flashes exploded from all sides.
"Look this way! Smile!"
I forced my lips into a grin.
We posed for photos onstage, smiling at the conference chair.
My vision went white; I couldn't see a thing.
Except for one guy.
Third row in the audience.
Lee Min-jae.
'Don't you dare laugh, Lee Min-jae.'
Lee Min-jae was filming this historic moment of humiliation on his phone, shoulders shaking wildly.
His mouth twitched trying to hold back laughter.
That jerk.
I'd actually hoped his presentation made outstanding oral.
'I can see you're dying laughing at my face.'
"Yes, congratulations again to Dr. Han Hyeon-jae!"
The emcee's voice snapped me back.
I bowed awkwardly once more, clutched the award that felt heavier than a year's salary, and stepped down.
And with that, my first oral presentation—the biggest black mark in my medical career, and simultaneously the source of my greatest fame—along with this dazzling yet miserable spring conference, finally drew to a close.