“Unfortunately, there’s no alternative. If we just leave it as is, the calcific tendinitis will only worsen. Are you prepared mentally? Then I’ll begin the procedure.”
“J-just a moment… could you give me some time to think? I’m really scared.”
The patient tried to stall, but Kim Cheol-su pushed forward decisively.
In truth, it wasn’t a procedure painful enough to warrant such fear.
“You can’t leave it untreated anyway. I’ll help you recover quickly. Don’t worry—once we remove the calcium deposits, you’ll feel much better. Right now, it hurts because something is pressing inside.”
“Alright. I’ll trust you, doctor. Uh… the injection scares me. Please don’t let it hurt.”
“I’ll start with a light disinfection and local anesthesia. It won’t hurt at all.”
If left as it was, the pain would only intensify.
If this situation continued for about three more weeks, the patient risked developing severe secondary frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis, also known as “fifty-year-old shoulder”—a condition where the shoulder stiffens and movement becomes impaired without specific trauma).
That would be a real disaster.
But the patient wasn’t in a position to rest leisurely right now, so Kim Cheol-su’s expression grew serious.
He prepared a small syringe to administer local anesthesia in the shoulder before proceeding with the procedure.
As he raised the 18-gauge syringe, he could sense the patient’s fear.
“Don’t worry. You won’t feel pain once the anesthesia takes effect.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. I’ll do my best to keep it painless.”
Kim Cheol-su’s gentle reassurance brought a visible change to the patient’s expression.
Compared to other doctors, his kindness was comforting.
He believed that not only surgery or procedures but also easing the patient’s mind was crucial.
After all, most illnesses recover depending on the patient’s mental state.
Therefore, psychological stability was equally important.
“Alright, I’ll start extracting the calcium deposits with the syringe now.”
“Ugh…! Okay! I’m ready.”
“Take a deep breath… and don’t tense your arm. Remember, I promised it won’t hurt.”
“Y-yes…”
The patient’s face relaxed noticeably. The arm’s muscles loosened as well, making the injection easier.
Feeling that the patient was now ready, Kim Cheol-su slowly inserted the syringe in full view.
—Puncture!
“I’m extracting the calcium deposits now. Just stay comfortable.”
“Yes… doctor. It really doesn’t hurt. It’s amazing.”
“That’s because of the anesthesia.”
Usually, it’s better to use ultrasound imaging to see inside the body while suctioning, but earlier, Kim Cheol-su had replaced it with his own X-ray vision… directly confirming the calcium’s location and accurately inserting the syringe.
As he sucked out the calcium with the 18-gauge syringe, something was drawn inside.
Mixed with blood, it appeared reddish, but the calcium itself was pure white.
“Since all the calcium is removed, I’ll now bandage it with gauze and a wrap.”
After completing the procedure, he asked,
“All done. How do you feel? Try moving your arm.”
“Huh? This is strange. Suddenly, there’s no pain at all… How did this happen? Is it because you’re a master doctor? How can one injection cure it so perfectly… it’s incredible!”
“When you remove the calcium, the pain lessens. Since the calcium is gone, the surrounding pressure decreases. Also, piercing the calcium with the needle speeds up the absorption of any remaining deposits by the body. Overall healing time shortens.”
“That’s amazing. The injection has so many benefits… but really, you’re incredible, doctor. Just one syringe and it’s completely healed! Ha ha ha! I don’t feel a thing now! Not at all!!”
Cheol-su’s patient, the Nepalese man Choi Beodeul, was so thrilled he rotated his shoulder.
The remarkable effect was largely thanks to Kim Cheol-su’s hex-ray vision.
A vision far more precise than ultrasound.
Still, it was strange… lately his vision had become even sharper.
Kim Cheol-su felt his ability was growing stronger.
It had always been good, but now it was as clear as CT or MRI scans.
Because of that, he could practically remove calcium deposits completely with the syringe, leaving almost no residue.
This was a high-level skill no ordinary doctor dared attempt, yet Kim Cheol-su—who wasn’t even an orthopedic specialist—pulled it off in one go.
He was a genius who understood everything quickly and applied it immediately in treatment.
“Now you can even lift a watermelon without pain. You’ve recovered so quickly! Doctor, thank you. Thanks to you, I won’t ruin this summer’s watermelon harvest. I’ll bring plenty of watermelons to your home as thanks!”
“Oh, the ones you ate today are enough. If you bring too many, I won’t be able to finish them.”
“Then I’ll have one delivered every day so you can eat them regularly. Don’t stop me. I’ll carry the watermelons with the arm you fixed.”
“Ha ha… alright. I’ll gratefully enjoy them.”
Kim Cheol-su smiled, accepting Choi Beodeul’s words.
How could he refuse a heartfelt gift?
“For now, take these three watermelons you harvested today! I’ll send more when you finish these. Thank you so much for the injection treatment, doctor.”
Kim Cheol-su awkwardly smiled as he left the greenhouse, with three watermelons in his arms.
Still, he thought it would be delicious to put them in the fridge at home and eat later.
Is this how rural people live together? It warmed his heart for some reason.
—Ding dong…!
—Ding dong…!
At that moment, his phone rang.
Kim Cheol-su put the watermelons down to answer.
“Yes? Who is this?”
“Is this Major Kim Cheol-su’s phone? This is the sergeant from the training center.”
“Ah… yes.”
It was the non-commissioned officer who had been ordered to find the attacker of Noh Gi-nam.
Kim Cheol-su’s expression turned serious as he switched the call to speakerphone.
“Did you find anything?”
“Well… the culprit hasn’t been pinpointed exactly yet. But there are several suspects, and they went out on leave today to Hampyeong Hospital.”
“The instructors went on leave?”
“Yes. They don’t seem very sick but applied for leave anyway. It seems they went to the hospital to contact Noh Gi-nam, who is admitted there. I thought you should know, Major.”
“Those guys must be the culprits. Thank you for calling. From now on, I’ll handle this directly, so you don’t need to worry.”
“R-really? Thank you, Major. This favor… I won’t forget it…”
—Click.
Kim Cheol-su hung up before the sergeant could finish speaking.
Though the sergeant wasn’t directly involved in this matter, he couldn’t avoid the responsibility of caring for trainees.
They had cooperated to find the direct culprit, but Kim Cheol-su didn’t have a good feeling about the sergeant.
In any case, Kim Cheol-su looked up at the sun rising high in the sky and said,
“… I’ll have to go back to the hospital. I rested well this morning, so I should work this afternoon. Looks like a lot of things suddenly came up. I’ll start with lunch at the hospital, then get moving.”
He went home, showered, changed into his uniform, and headed to the hospital.
—Mess Hall
“Oh my—Major Kim, it feels like it’s been a while since I saw your face. How have you been?”
The mess hall lady, Hong Jin-o’s mother, greeted warmly as she served food.
Kim Cheol-su had saved her dying son with surgery and even helped him get discharged from service. To her, he was like a savior.
Since she usually served soldiers on the other side, she rarely ran into Kim Cheol-su.
Today, she was assigned to serve the officers, so they finally met.
“Today’s menu is budae-jjigae. Eat up, Major!”
“Hah… uh… am I the only one getting such a big serving? There are other officers behind me…”
“Oh, even if they bring ten or twenty people, they can’t compare to our Kim Cheol-su. Haven’t you heard? The enemy of soldiers is the officers! Eat plenty. Hoho!”
“Where did you hear that?”
“My Jin-o told me. It’s a joke, but it’s also officers’ karma, isn’t it? They must have bullied the kids a lot for such a saying to come up… Anyway, I gave you extra delicious Spam, so enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
Kim Cheol-su looked at the generously filled bowl of budae-jjigae and rice, feeling the eyes of the other officers around him.
Just then, Lieutenant Shin Se-young, standing nearby for her turn to be served, exclaimed with wide eyes,
“Mother, me too! Please fill my bowl and rice bowl as well!”
“Of course—Lieutenant Shin, have plenty too!”
Her skinny frame and sudden appetite looked endearing.
Kim Cheol-su said to Shin Se-young,
“Take your time getting served. I’ll go to our seats first.”
“Yes! Doctor! Mother, could I have two more donggeurangttaeng? I’m really hungry…”
He left her chatting happily with the mess lady and sat at a table near the window to eat.
Budae-jjigae was one of the most popular dishes in the military.
Scooping soft Spam with well-cooked kimchi, the salty, spicy flavors were perfect.
Kim Cheol-su soaked plain rice in the broth and took another bite.
“Mm, budae-jjigae is good. Delicious. Spam is always top-notch, and the little sausages add a nice savory flavor.”
Today’s key ingredient was the small sausage called Vienna sausage.
It had a fun, popping texture with each chew. Plus, its mild flavor held its own against the Spam.
Kim Cheol-su was glad he came to work this afternoon.
If he’d stayed home lounging around, he wouldn’t have had this meal.
A small happiness washed over him, and he smiled as he saw Shin Se-young starting to eat across from him.
“Nom nom… Major, try these donggeurangttaeng. They’re so tasty. Do you think they’re made with domestic meat? They have a smoky flavor!”
“No way. Smoky flavor? This isn’t a restaurant.”
Kim Cheol-su shook his head in disbelief.
Shin Se-young puffed her cheeks and said,
“I’m serious—try one.”
“Alright. Hmm! Not bad. I can definitely taste the smoky flavor.”
Kim Cheol-su tilted his head in surprise.
It really did have a smoky taste. Donggeurangttaeng with smoky flavor in the military? Thanks to Hong Jin-o’s relief, the mess lady’s cooking skills had improved.
Kim Cheol-su suddenly wondered how Hong Jin-o, who had been discharged due to injury, was doing.
“By the way, do you know where Jin-o is now?”
“Yes—he’s admitted to Seoul Y University Hospital, I heard. Why do you ask?”
“… Let’s visit him together sometime. He must be really bored.”
“I’d love to, but I don’t have reason to go to Seoul… Ah! But Major, you’re harsh. I was surprised this morning when I came to work and heard you were assigned to the Medical Command. You should have told me earlier.”
“There was no time. Anyway, Lieutenant Shin Se-young is my person, so she has no veto power. Whether she lives or dies, she’s coming with me.”
“……”
Suddenly, she fell silent and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Kim Cheol-su didn’t notice, lost in thought.
After eating, he would have to catch the instructors who beat Noh Gi-nam… and come to think of it, he had something to tell Shin Se-young as well.
He stopped eating and looked at her.
She looked a little off, but he didn’t pay much attention and said,
“On Sunday, July 15th, you have to go to Seoul with me. Don’t make any plans that day. Understand?”
“…. Y-yes?”
Shin Se-young’s pretty face turned bright red like a beetroot.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.