Entering the Forensic Pathologist
Woojin could only gape at Choi Kyu-bo's words. What? Do the autopsy himself?
"Me?"
"Yeah, you."
"No way, how am I supposed to do that?"
"Just do it well~"
"What kind of nonsense is that? I can't. I'm not even a forensic pathologist."
Woojin waved his hands frantically, shaking his head.
"Why not? You've got this body right here."
"Could you suddenly act if I told you to, hyung?"
"I bet I could. There's nothing I can't do~"
"Argh, seriously! Stop messing around."
Choi Kyu-bo chuckled at Woojin's indignant reaction.
"Forgot what I said earlier?"
"What?"
"This place was made for you to experience my life."
"I get that, but..."
"If you get it, give me your hand."
His hand? Suddenly?
"Why my hand?"
"No time. Just give it here."
Choi Kyu-bo snatched Woojin's hand. The moment their hands clasped, it felt incredibly soft—yet Woojin could sense the calluses between the fingers. Is this the hand of a forensic pathologist?
"This place can give you whatever info you need, however it takes."
With those words, Choi Kyu-bo gripped tighter.
"Ow! That hurts."
"Hang in there just a sec."
The instant he squeezed hard, Woojin felt a warmth spreading through their clasped hands. Soon, his vision blurred.
"Huh?"
It happened in the blink of an eye. His hazy sight cleared moments later, and something astonishing unfolded.
What the—?
Choi Kyu-bo had vanished from his view. Just like the old woman who gave him the diary, fading like a mirage in an instant.
"Kyu-bo hyung?"
No answer, no matter how he called. Stunned and bewildered, Woojin suddenly felt off.
Wait a minute.
Something was deeply wrong.
"Ahh."
It wasn't Woojin's voice. But it was familiar—one he'd just been hearing...
No way?
"Ahhh. This is Kyu-bo hyung's voice?"
Sure enough, every sound he made came out in Choi Kyu-bo's voice. As the saying goes, the unbelievable strikes.
"I've gone and possessed Kyu-bo hyung's body now?"
Woojin stood before the mirror on the wall. The reflection was exactly as expected—not himself, but the eccentric guy with permed hair and frameless glasses. Waving his arms, touching his face—it all matched perfectly. Choi Kyu-bo moved in sync.
Success.
Then, a voice whispered in his ear—not from his mouth, but separate. Woojin whipped around, but no one was there. He responded to the air.
"Kyu-bo hyung?"
Yep.
"What the hell is this?"
What do you think? You've entered my body.
Exhaustion from the constant surprises. The diary's wonders far exceeded Woojin's imagination—from regression to virtual worlds, all impossible feats. Now, merging with a character? Absurdity piled on astonishment.
Told you I'd help.
"You meant this when you said I should do the autopsy?"
Obviously, you punk. You think I'd hand you a scalpel solo? Anyone else maybe, but not my bro.
Woojin barely swallowed his words. "You really seemed like the type."
Shocked?
"Over this?"
More to come.
We'll see~
Choi Kyu-bo continued in his trademark playful tone, brimming with mischief.
Alright, let's go.
"Where?"
Autopsy time.
As soon as he spoke, the body moved—without Woojin willing it.
"What? Why's the body moving?"
It's my body. I move it. Got a problem?
"N-no."
Sensory sharing, let's call it. See what I see, feel what I feel. That's your job.
Choi Kyu-bo pocketed a pen from his gown and left the office.
Step, step.
The corridor to the autopsy room stretched long. The echoing footsteps stirred a mix of excitement and anxiety in Woojin—though anxiety weighed heavier.
Whirr.
Finally, the autopsy room door slid open.
The autopsy room resembled a hospital OR from medical dramas—spacious, dimly lit overall. One wall featured a glass window, like an interrogation room, likely for observers beyond.
Don't utter a word.
Choi Kyu-bo warned Woojin as they entered. With body-sharing, communicate only via thoughts from now on.
"Age 18, found in nearby mountains."
A body lay on the autopsy table. Seeing a corpse in person dwarfed photos, yet Woojin felt surprisingly calm and detached. Is it because I'm in a pro forensic pathologist's body? he wondered cautiously. Is possession scary like this? Or do I just have a stronger stomach than I thought?
"Found naked, so presumed rape-murder."
As the assistant gave a brief, Choi Kyu-bo checked the case file. Woojin speed-read along with his gaze.
[Victim's clothes scattered within 30m radius of body.]
What a bastard.
Rage boiled inside Woojin. The tragic sight of the young victim—flower of youth, now a corpse—was heartbreaking enough. Clothes stripped?
Why so pissed?
Woojin fought to calm down, sending a thought. Hyung, you're not mad? How could anyone...?
Rape-murder, huh?
Obvious, right? Clothes were off.
Dunno. Doesn't look like it to me~
What?
It hit like a slap. Contradicting the obvious pre-autopsy facts.
Why not?
We'll confirm now.
Choi Kyu-bo picked up the scalpel, positioning it at the neck.
Wait, hyung!
Scared ya. What?
Not ready yet.
Now that the cut was imminent, courage faltered.
Scared?
Not fear—first time seeing this.
So skip watching?
No, but...
Can't play a pathologist without knowing autopsy basics.
True enough—no retort.
Steel yourself. Here we go.
"Commencing autopsy."
With a curt word, he pressed the scalpel. The sensation vividly transmitted to Woojin.
Slash.
A straight line from neck to lower abdomen. Internal organs exposed. Choi Kyu-bo scanned them with sharp eyes.
Ugh.
First real glimpse inside a body—brutal for Woojin. But then—
Hold it together, man. Don't be such a wuss.
Choi Kyu-bo's ribbing continued. Tempted to close eyes, but sensory sharing made it impossible—his vision was Woojin's now.
Damn sensory sharing. Woojin endured, cursing inwardly.
"Minor abdominal bleeding aside, no other organ abnormalities."
Now examining the lower body. Upper clean by comparison; legs bore multiple bruises, especially thighs and calves.
Holding up?
Yeah. For now.
Time to show why it's not rape-murder.
His voice rang with conviction. Speaking to the detective observing and assistant recording—but really for Woojin.
"Subcutaneous hemorrhage on back of thigh, femoral fracture visible."
His hands moved deftly. Woojin focused on the sensations.
Choi Kyu-bo set down the scalpel, picked up a measuring tape to the legs.
"Damage at 65cm from toes. Traffic accident. No nose-dive marks from hard braking. Hit without brakes—from behind."
He flipped the body face-up, pointing to the head.
"Finally, depressed wound on forehead: presumed rollover injury post-collision. Likely fatal brain trauma from that."
He switched off the room lights, turned on UV.
What's this?
Ultraviolet.
Why UV suddenly?
Hidden evidence invisible to naked eye.
What do you—
Chatterbox. Just watch.
Blue UV bathed the body. Flipped to back—
Huh?
Bingo~
Clear to all eyes: imprint on the rear buttocks.
"Perp vehicle's emblem mark, embedded in skin from impact."
Normal lights on—room brightened. The vivid emblem on the buttocks faded instantly.
"No sexual assault traces. Dumped in mountains to fake rape-murder. Clear hit-and-run."
The detective nodded. "Hit-and-run confirmed—no need to scour mountains further?"
"Yes. Bruises and femur fracture suggest SUV. Check auto shops for bumper/headlight repairs—will turn up quick."
Choi Kyu-bo took back the report, added notes.
• Cause of Death: Brain trauma from external impact
• Manner of Death: Accident
• Pathologist: Choi Kyu-bo
Woojin's first autopsy—first taste of Choi Kyu-bo's life—ended.
Good job, kid.
Whew.
Back in the office, Woojin had exited Choi Kyu-bo's body, restored to himself. Sighing deeply, he scribbled furiously in the diary. Choi Kyu-bo grinned.
"That much to write?"
"Gotta jot it before I forget. Still so vivid."
The hour flew, but scalpel sensations lingered. When else feel this?
Thud.
Woojin closed the packed diary, leaned back.
"Time flies. Didn't even notice."
"Yep~ Twenty-four hours ain't enough for this body."
Stretching, Woojin eyed the clock—lunchtime. Choi Kyu-bo shed his gown, pondered seriously.
"Something bothering you?"
"Yeah."
"What?"
"Lunch. What to eat. Oh, right!"
His face turned matter-of-fact. "Time for you to head back."
Woojin shot up. "What?"
Not even half a day—already?