[Management Bureau-Affiliated Hunter-Exclusive Hospital]
This massive hospital located on the outskirts of Seoul was a place where civilian access was thoroughly controlled.
Only awakeners, and among them only those seriously injured during gate conquests or magical beast subjugation, could visit this place. Wounds from monsters were impossible to treat with ordinary medicine, or the recovery speed was remarkably slow.
When Choi Jaeheon’s car entered the hospital’s main gate, the hospital director and medical staff who had been contacted in advance were lined up. Even if the guild master of the nation’s number one guild came, it wouldn’t be like this. They must have been very curious about the S-rank healer.
“Welcome!”
The white-haired hospital director bowed. After Choi Jaeheon returned the bow, he immediately got to the point.
“Where is the patient in the most critical condition?”
“Yes, we have treatment preparations ready now. I’ll guide you.”
“Let’s go, Ian.”
Choi Jaeheon’s steps were unhesitating. Ian toddled after his hyung’s back while glancing sideways at the hospital interior. Along with the smell of disinfectant, faint remnants of magic power could be felt. Throughout the corridors, awakeners with bandages or in wheelchairs were visible. Without exception, pain and resignation lingered in their eyes.
‘It’s better than Lancia’s field hospital though.’
Ian thought bitterly. Anywhere, the smell of injured and sick people was similar.
The place they arrived at was a special intensive care unit inside the hospital. Beyond the glass wall, a man lying in bed could be seen. He had various tubes inserted all over his body, and especially his right leg was grotesquely twisted to the point where its shape was difficult to recognize.
“He was hit by an A-rank gate boss Red Head Ogre. We’re going through the treatment procedures step by step while trying various methods.”
The attending physician who had followed explained while looking at the chart. His expression was dark.
“His leg was crushed under the ogre’s club. It wasn’t a simple fracture—the bones were pulverized to powder, and the muscles and nerves were completely severed. Because of that, it can’t be solved purely with healing alone, so he’s undergone several surgeries.”
“What’s the possibility of treatment?”
“To be honest, we’re somehow holding on, but I think amputation would be better. We’ve attached a healer, but at best they’re only delaying the necrosis.”
Regular monsters and high-rank gate bosses are different. Even with the same wound, wounds inflicted by bosses are much harder to recover from. In the industry, they judged this was due to a peculiar temperament only bosses possessed.
“We named it magic power.”
Different in texture from magi yet the same. A strange ability, but it didn’t have the persistent, sticky darkness like magi. Still, the fact that treatment wasn’t easy was problematic in many ways.
At the doctor’s words, the air inside the hospital room sank heavily. Beside the bed, a woman who appeared to be the patient’s family was crying quietly.
“Ian.”
Choi Jaeheon called his younger brother softly.
“Can you do it?”
Ian stared at the patient intently.
It was a terrible injury. By Earth’s standards, it would be no different from ‘no hope.’ But in Ian’s eyes, it was different.
He had seen far worse than this countless times in Lancia. Severed limbs were commonplace, and he had even saved soldiers whose internal organs had spilled out. This degree of contamination and physical damage wasn’t that difficult a task for him.
‘So this is what hyung wanted to see.’
Not simply going through dungeons, but if he wanted to verify the ability to save people, this method would be best. Ian nodded and opened the hospital room door.
“I’ll go in.”
The medical staff tried to stop him in confusion, but at one glance from Choi Jaeheon, they quietly retreated. Ian approached the bedside. Looking closely, the condition was even more miserable. The patient was groaning and sweating coldly even after receiving sedatives due to the pain.
“…It hurts.”
Ian carefully placed his hand over the patient’s leg.
Warm warmth was transmitted.
‘At this level, I just need to do simple treatment.’
How many times had he revived dying people? This level wasn’t difficult. Just the most basic healing magic that any healer could do. That alone was sufficient.
No words were needed. The soft golden light flowing from Ian’s fingertips embraced the broken body. Though not flashy, it was a subtle and warm light.
But its effect was by no means ordinary.
Crack—
With a hair-raising sound, the twisted leg began to find its place.
The bones that had turned to powder attached to each other as if drawn by magnets, and the severed blood vessels and nerves connected, intertwining like thread. The skin color that had been turning black instantly regained its bright red vitality.
“Huh? Huhhh!”
The eyes of the attending physician watching from beyond the glass window widened as if they would pop out. The hand holding the chart trembled.
“V-vitals! Check vital signs!”
The medical staff hurriedly checked the monitor.
“Blood pressure normal! Pulse normal! Everything is returning to normal!”
It was like magic reversing time.
Just 10 seconds. That was the time it took for the patient’s leg to be perfectly restored. The smooth leg without a single scar looked even sturdier than before the injury.
“Mmm….”
The patient opened his eyes. His brow, which had been contorted in pain, relaxed comfortably. Following that, when he came to his senses, he was startled to see his own leg.
“Wh-what on earth happened?”
To him asking blankly, Ian spoke calmly.
“Would you like to try standing up?”
“Can I stand up?”
“Yes.”
At the firm answer, the patient raised his body as if possessed. And he carefully stepped his feet down to the floor beneath the bed. There was no pain. Strength entered his leg. He tried bouncing in place as if in disbelief, then soon collapsed and sobbed.
“My leg, my leg!”
Outside the hospital room was enveloped in silence.
This was both magic and a miracle.
“…Monster.”
Someone muttered quietly. It wasn’t an insult. It was an exclamation filled with awe. The hospital director looked at Choi Jaeheon, unable to close his mouth.
“S-rank healers are different after all. Truly amazing.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
He was proud to hear his younger brother praised, but on the other hand, there was an uncomfortable part. Now Ian wouldn’t only be within his embrace. Realizing that, strength unconsciously entered his clenched fist.
“Well, that level is natural for Ian-nim.”
Vermouth, who had followed all the way here, nodded as if it was obvious while crossing his arms.
“The only things that don’t heal even after being touched by the Saint’s hand are those already dead. It’s too early to be surprised at healing just such a wound.”
His eyes held an arrogance as if looking at ‘uncivilized Earthlings,’ but no one could object. The results before their eyes proved everything. When Ian came out of the hospital room, the medical staff and patient families in the corridor parted like the Red Sea. Their gazes were now closer to worship than curiosity.
“Pl-please treat my family too!”
“My younger sibling too!”
People gradually began to gather toward Ian. But as if there was an invisible wall, they didn’t approach beyond a certain point. They just approached as close as possible and pleaded.
“It’s okay. I’ll treat everyone.”
When Ian smiled and said that, tears burst out from somewhere.
“Saint-nim.”
When Vermouth casually threw out the word, it transmitted like a wave among the gathered people.
“Saint-nim! It’s the Saint!”
“No!”
That’s not it! Thinking he couldn’t be treated as a saint even here, Ian waved his hands. But the people didn’t stop. That appearance was like watching cultish followers. Even the hospital staff showed signs of wanting to join that crowd.
To awakeners who didn’t know when or how things might happen, a healer who grabbed them by the collar and dragged them from death’s door was no different from a god.
“Ah, excuse me….”
Ian was overwhelmed by the burdensome gazes and slowly backed away. This wasn’t what he wanted. He knew he would become noticeable when starting his awakener life, but wasn’t this too much? It was a sight that reminded him of Lancia.
Ian retreated and grabbed Choi Jaeheon’s clothes.
“Hyung, I want to go home.”
When Ian whispered with a tearful expression, Choi Jaeheon embraced his shoulder as if understanding.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Choi Jaeheon picked up Ian and escaped through the crowd.
Ian’s S-rank initiation ceremony ended spectacularly while turning the hospital upside down. But Ian didn’t know. After this news spread, how many more bothersome and tiresome things would be waiting for him.
***
That night. The Republic of Korea awakener community exploded.
[Breaking News] Stigma Officially Confirms Possession of S-rank Healer! Miracle at Management Bureau-Affiliated Hospital!
[Video] Patient Given Up by Management Bureau Medical Staff in Just 10 Seconds?
The internet was plastered with stories about Ian. And it spread even overseas.
The other side of Earth, New York.
A high-rise penthouse in Manhattan, New York. A blonde-haired, blue-eyed man, Alexander Gray, master of America’s number one ranked guild ‘Empire,’ was staring at the screen.
“Found it.”
“Boss, we received a report that an S-rank healer appeared in Korea. Their healing ability seems excellent.”
“No. That’s not it. This isn’t something that can be expressed with such words. This isn’t simple magic power. It’s ‘divine power.'”
Alexander pointed his finger at the golden light on the screen.
