Saving the Heir
Nam Gyuil rode in U Seongjin's car toward the Korean Hospital. He sat with his shoulders squared, exuding unwavering confidence. He already knew the cure.
'It's a disease that cropped up after the gates appeared. More precisely, it's caused by mana.'
He'd committed every detail to memory from the Akashic Records, including the treatment method. He slipped a hand into his pocket. His fingertips brushed a hard, solid lump. It was a pill he'd formed from compressed herbs. Just getting this into U Jin-ho would cure the boy completely.
Nam Gyuil's lips quirked upward faintly. 'My plan was to cure the illness and claim the golden horn as payment.' He hadn't anticipated hearing an offer to become a sponsor, too. 'Truth be told, even if I'd won the auction for the golden horn, I still would've cured U Jin-ho... Well, I lost by a landslide, so what can you do?'
Screech.
The car soon pulled up to the Korean Hospital. Nam Gyuil entered the hospital room, where U Seongjin shot him a cold warning.
"As I said before, I value clear rewards and punishments. If this is a scam, you'd better be prepared—if you still want to see the sun tomorrow."
It was a brutally stark threat, implying live burial for any fraud. Nam Gyuil pulled out the pill—a round lump of herbs packed into a plastic pill case.
"Don't worry. The treatment is foolproof."
U Jin-ho's condition was called Mana Root Block. It cropped up occasionally even in Arnía. Mana clumped in the bloodstream, causing the body to seize up, skin to bruise blue, and consciousness to fade. Over time, the blood vessels thickened relentlessly.
'This happens when awakening fails.'
It struck those who nearly awakened through mana but botched it midway. A rare affliction even in Arnía. There were two cures. The first: a skilled awakener disperses the clumped mana internally, guiding a proper awakening. The second was simpler—feed herbs to expel the accumulated mana from the body. This prevented awakening altogether.
'The heart, meant to generate mana, isn't functioning. Incoming mana just keeps piling up.'
Either force an awakening or block it forever. Nam Gyuil chose the latter. Truthfully, forcing an awakening in that state wouldn't yield strength anyway—no potential for growth. The faulty heart couldn't produce mana smoothly from the start.
Awakened or not, the outcome was the same. Better to block awakening outright, sparing the boy conscription into the Hunter Agency. A body incapable of growth would mean near-certain death in a gate.
The moment Nam Gyuil reached into the plastic container for the pill—
"Hold on!!"
Someone burst in through the door—a doctor.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
The doctor bellowed furiously, grabbing Nam Gyuil's wrist to stop him. He turned desperately to U Seongjin.
"Chairman, you're really entrusting U Jin-ho's life to someone without a medical license?!"
"Hah, that's why I had my secretary summon you—for your opinion. Without Nam Gyuil knowing, of course."
U Seongjin had no intention of blindly trusting a stranger, especially when his grandson's life hung in the balance. He'd called the doctor as a precaution. Of course, he'd do anything to save his grandson—even grasp at straws.
How could he stand idle while LS Group's sole heir lay in such a wretched state? His gut twisted with agony. With his son and daughter-in-law gone in an accident, the boy was his only family left.
'If my Jin-ho dies...'
U Seongjin squeezed his eyes shut, unwilling to even imagine it. He had to save him. He'd stake his entire fortune if needed. But with a life on the line, caution was paramount. U Jin-ho's condition had worsened to desperation, forcing him to bring Nam Gyuil here—but no proof existed that the man wasn't a con artist. He could even make things worse.
U Seongjin was naturally suspicious; it was that trait that had elevated him so high.
Nam Gyuil let out a long sigh. Of course things weren't going smoothly. He spoke up.
"Without this pill, the patient dies. There's no other way."
The doctor shot back.
"Even if there's no other way, this isn't it. We don't know what symptoms that drug might cause."
"But you can't just sit idle, can you? His condition's worsening—he's already comatose."
Nam Gyuil had a point. The doctor flinched, at a loss, then turned to U Seongjin.
"Chairman, do you really trust this man?"
"......"
U Seongjin fell silent, unable to answer. All he knew of Nam Gyuil was that he'd competed for the golden horn. He glanced at his secretary.
"Kim Secretary, have you investigated Nam Gyuil?"
"Yes. I started the moment you asked his name—as usual."
Asking a name was U Seongjin's subtle signal to investigate.
"Report."
The secretary began succinctly recounting Nam Gyuil’s background—from his role as a national hunter under the Hunter Agency to his current standing.
U Seongjin nodded slowly.
"At least he's no con artist."
His conclusion: trustworthy enough, though not fully.
The doctor glared, eyeing Nam Gyuil like a fraud.
'Some unlicensed hack playing doctor?'
It bordered on excessive paranoia for mere concern. The doctor blustered on.
"How can someone without a license save a patient? Chairman, please reconsider."
But he didn't truly wish for U Jin-ho's recovery. Quite the opposite.
'He needs to stay sick forever—that's how I keep bleeding money from Chairman U Seongjin.'
Cure was impossible. Quick death, worse. The current limbo was ideal—a slow fade.
The doctor wasn't remotely ethical. Medical knowledge was opaque to laypeople, perfect for scams. He'd fleeced countless patients this way. Korea Hospital boasted Korea's top doctors, so for incurables, admission here was "best"—facilities justified the cost over futile trips elsewhere. He exploited that ruthlessly.
Nam Gyuil sighed.
"So, you're fine letting the patient die like this?"
The doctor raised his voice.
"What doctor in the world wants their patient dead?!"
"If you care so much, why not send him overseas? I hear America's a medical powerhouse."
"Th-that's..."
Now the doctor faltered. He glanced nervously at U Seongjin, cleared his throat with a cough.
"No need for overseas—domestic treatment suffices."
"And that's why he's comatose, wandering the brink of death?"
The doctor scowled, utterly rebutted.
Nam Gyuil turned to U Seongjin.
"Chairman U, at this rate, the patient dies. No clear treatment abroad, right? That's why Korea Hospital—easier to visit."
U Seongjin nodded. Exactly why he'd brought a total stranger here.
"Can you cure him?"
"Yes."
"Such certainty—why?"
"I can't explain in detail, but I know this disease's cure."
Nam Gyuil smiled brightly. U Seongjin still hesitated.
'The doctor's word or this man's?'
Then Nam Gyuil struck at his heart.
"Chairman U Seongjin, are you confident you won't regret this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Without my treatment, U Jin-ho dies soon. At his funeral, staring at his photo—sure you won't regret passing on this chance?"
U Seongjin went quiet. He'd haunt himself forever over that photo, drowning in grief. But—
"And if you fail?"
He eyed Nam Gyuil coldly, demanding assurance. Failure meant equal regret; he needed a guarantee. Time to test the man's character.
Nam Gyuil pondered, then chuckled softly.
"If I fail, I die with him."
"What?"
"I'll die alongside him."
U Seongjin blinked in shock at the unexpected vow. He pressed.
"Die if you fail? Empty words?"
"Hardly."
Nam Gyuil shrugged, eyes clear and voice ringing.
"I say it because I will save him. Success is certain—why would I die?"
U Seongjin's eyes widened. The words resonated deeply. He admired that unshakeable confidence—the mindset to stake everything on sure victory.
He nodded.
"Good. I like your conviction. Go ahead—risk your life on the treatment."
Permission granted. With no viable cure, he entrusted an unlicensed man. It was a gamble. But U Jin-ho's decline left no time for doubt.
U Seongjin clenched his fists. Lips dry with tension despite his decision.
Nam Gyuil forced the pill into U Jin-ho's mouth, making him swallow. Changes came swiftly. Color returned gradually. The bluish skin faded; after an hour, it was normal. U Jin-ho's eyes fluttered open. Bloodshot whites cleared.
"G-Grandfather."
He murmured softly at U Seongjin.
"I-Impossible!"
The doctor staggered back in shock. He, a doctor, had no cure—yet Nam Gyuil succeeded. U Seongjin's eyes welled at his grandson's voice.
"Oh, my one and only grandson. Do you recognize your grandfather, U Seongjin?"
"Yes."
U Jin-ho nodded, trying to rise—but his arms trembled weakly.
"It's fine, Jin-ho. Lie back."
U Seongjin waved him down hastily. Nam Gyuil asked.
"How do you feel?"
"Limp, no strength. Tired, drained."
Expected. Comatose, sustained on IVs without food or movement, muscles atrophied. Recovery and rehab awaited. But the disease was gone—that mattered most.
U Seongjin bowed deeply to Nam Gyuil.
"Thank you. Truly. You saved my grandson's life."
"No need for thanks."
Nam Gyuil stood tall, pressing his claim.
"You remember what you said? Strict on rewards and punishments... even mentioned sponsorship."
This was business. Treatment rendered; payment due.
U Seongjin nodded.
"U Seongjin never breaks a promise."
"Then, the golden horn?"
"Of course. And more—I'll sponsor you, as pledged."
"More?"
Korea's top tycoon grinned proudly at him.
Nam Gyuil headed to U Seongjin's estate. The black sedan sped along the road.
Screech.
The massive gates of the mansion swung open, revealing sprawling grounds lined with armed guards. The car stopped before the house. Nam Gyuil stepped out, stunned by its scale. Even drama sets paled; it could house 300 easily. House or hotel?
U Seongjin led him inside, down to the basement. Passing security, he unlocked a hidden vault. Nam Gyuil's eyes bulged.
'What the—?!'
An unimaginable sight: the vault brimmed with items and herbs U Seongjin had amassed for his grandson's cure.
"Take whatever you want."
A statement worthy of Korea's top magnate. Nam Gyuil entered, securing the golden horn first, then grabbing appealing extras. Then—
'Whoa—wait, that's!!'
Unexpected fortune awaited.