Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Your House
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Please wait just a moment."
The doctor was flipping through the chart, peering at it with cold, impassive eyes.
He wasn't even looking at me, but somehow it felt like those icy eyes were fixed on me, making me tense up automatically.
I wasn't the only one on edge.
My parents, who had come up from Busan, were sitting quietly beside me, waiting for the doctor's words even though it had barely been a week into the new year.
Gulp.
The silence was so thick you could hear someone swallowing.
As I listened to what might have been my own gulp, the doctor set the chart down and spoke.
"Everything's perfectly normal. No need to worry."
"...Thank you."
Maybe because I'd been so tense up until that moment, even hearing the good news I'd been desperately waiting for didn't bring any exclamation of joy.
Instead, a wave of relief washed over me, followed by utter exhaustion.
"Honestly, it's almost miraculous—your condition defies modern science and medicine. A patient who's been bedridden for seven years suddenly standing on both legs? At first, we even suspected zombies."
"Is it that unusual?"
"No need to explain. We seriously wanted to dissect you."
"...Whew. Sorry. I've still got plenty of years ahead."
"We'll need to look into that 'no need for sleep' thing and the 'abnormally high focus' you mentioned, Legend. But physically, you're in perfect health, and there's nothing wrong with your brain either."
With a body like this, it'd be fraudulent to keep you tied down worrying about aftereffects.
You can be discharged now.
Switching from inpatient to outpatient care.
At the doctor's words, I clenched my fist tight.
The single hospital room wasn't uncomfortable, but nothing could compare to home.
"Oh, Doctor, thank you... thank you so much."
"No need, ma'am. The surgery was done in Busan anyway, and there haven't been any issues since the first one. Just keep an eye on those two anomalies Legend mentioned—at least come in for checkups every two weeks."
"Got it."
"Don't skip them just because they're a hassle. The brain's still uncharted territory for humanity; we don't know what could happen."
I nodded repeatedly.
And then, in this moment, I asked the most important question.
The one no healthy South Korean citizen could avoid.
Military service.
"Doctor... um, what about... the army...?"
"Ah, military service. No worries there."
"But if my condition's good, don't I have to go?"
"You were in a coma for seven years, had major surgery all over your body, and even open-heart surgery—we touched your heart, at least a bit. Open-heart alone gets you grade 5, and adding the coma makes it a guaranteed grade 6."
The military isn't crazy enough to take someone like that.
Hearing that, I pumped my fist triumphantly.
It was even better news than being discharged.
"Nice."
"What 'nice'? You punk."
Thwack.
Mom's fist hit the back of my head right away.
"You nearly died, and you're thrilled over something like this?"
"Something like this? Anyway, good is good, right, Mom?"
"Jeez, wonder who you got this cheeky side from."
Mom didn't deny it, just ruffled the back of my head.
Yeah, good is good.
About two weeks after waking up, thanks to my fervent push for discharge, the full-body exam came back clean.
Finally, I could leave this hospital.
Seven years and a bit later, I was finally heading home.
"Ahh. Finally going home."
"That exciting?"
"Of course. Home sweet home. Hospital wasn't bad, but it can't beat my own bed."
I was grinning ear to ear just thinking about sprawling out in my room when something felt off.
"...? Dad? Did the roads change a lot while I was out?"
"Never worked on this road."
Sure, I'd been asleep for seven years, but that didn't mean there was a seven-year blank in my memory.
The car accident still felt like just days ago.
So I knew Seoul's roads pretty well, and the hospital I'd stayed at was one I already knew.
One of the top ones in Seoul—no way I wouldn't recognize it.
"Or did we move?"
The car was heading in a weird direction.
The complete opposite of where our house was.
Dad shook his head.
"No, house is still there."
"Oh, then we're grabbing lunch before heading home?"
"What're you talking about? We ate at the hospital."
"...So where are we going right now?"
"Your house."
This is weird.
Did seven years in bed mess up my language skills?
No, I'd chatted fine with Myth—no issues there.
Doctor said everything was fine and discharged me.
Maybe Dad hit his head coming up in that snowstorm.
"Mom. Tomorrow, maybe take Dad to the hospital instead of me?"
"...You little."
"Your dad's just trying to scare you. You two and your love for surprises."
"I get me, but Dad?"
I personally love surprises.
That thrill when you reveal something you've slaved over and see their shock.
Like prepping Myth's avatar for three years without a peep to her.
Or camping at the airport at dawn just to see Myth—maybe that was a surprise instinct too.
Fine for me, but Dad?
The stern, dignified trinity of seriousness?
"Dad liked surprises too?"
Mom chuckled, turning to look at me.
"You don't know how your dad confessed to me? I still remember my name plastered across an entire building—"
"Honey. Let's save that story for later."
Dad's firm interruption cut it short, but I could guess the gist.
"Dad, you're a closet romantic."
"Quiet."
Man, I really wanna know, but Dad's desperate block kept me from asking more.
It was the first time I'd seen him this flustered since waking up.
The car kept going.
Not far from the hospital, heading toward the Han River.
"...Did we move near the Han?"
"Told you, we didn't move."
"Wasn't that a lie for the surprise?"
"Never lied. I said it's your house."
Dad wouldn't give a straight answer.
Mom wasn't volunteering either, following Dad's lead.
What the heck is going on?
"Alright, get out."
"For real, here?"
Dad's car stopped in front of an apartment building I'd never seen.
Okay, seriously, what's happening?
Dazed, I followed after Dad anyway.
"So, you really won't tell me what this place is?"
"You'll see when you go in. You'll know."
"Oh, before we go in, honey, Legend—grab these."
Mom pulled out a ton of boxes from the trunk.
From what looked like kimchi jars for winter prep to a whole lineup of boxes.
She even hauled out a cart from the back seat.
"What's all this?"
"What else? Food to eat. Come on, my arms are killing me. Load the cart quick."
Caught off guard, I grabbed the cart piled high and trailed after Mom and Dad.
The elevator with our family shot up fast, super high-speed.
It went so high my ears popped.
Ding.
The doors opened.
An apartment with just two or three units per floor.
Dad stopped in front of one door.
"So, what is this place? You can tell me now."
"Told you. Your house."
"Hehe, just wait a sec, son. You'll figure it all out once you're inside. Go on, ring the bell."
"Someone's in there?"
What the hell.
Some relative's place?
Gonna have me crash there?
No, none of my relatives are that close.
What to do.
Mom said ring it, can't not do it.
I took a breath and pressed the doorbell.
-Ding-dong~
A classy, classic bell chime sounded, followed by rustling inside, footsteps approaching the door.
Who the heck was in there that they'd hide it like this?
...A fleeting thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head to dismiss it.
Nah, no way Myth's in there—
"Ah, Legend! You're here!"
...Why is she popping out.
Wearing an apron, no less.
Ow, my head.
I pressed my throbbing head with my hand.