Chapter – 01
Professor Min Yusin is an outsider.
It had only been a few months since he started working at Boksan University Hospital. And yet, with shameless audacity, he had slipped into this place and was playing at being a perfectly respectable doctor.
All while receiving a hefty monthly paycheck. As if it were nothing.
Of course, Yusin knew it well.
That this was a sacred place utterly unsuited to someone like him.
A hospital is the front line where life and death collide. In that sense, it resembled the place he originally belonged far more than one might expect.
Both the hospital and that place were filled with people soaked in the stench of blood and sweat. Only the reasons and purposes differed.
Here, everyone rushed about to save lives.
There, they usually did the opposite.
Yusin was a man who came from such a place.
To someone like him, the hospital was far too serene—too peaceful.
Doesn’t suit me at all.
Thinking that, Yusin picked up the glasses lying on his desk. He slipped on the white coat hanging from the rack and stood before the mirror.
He forced the cold expression reflected there into a gentle smile, then ran a hand through his wildly disheveled hair to smooth it back.
Only then did the familiar image emerge—
The “Professor Min Yusin” known to the hospital staff.
Min Yusin
Professor, Department of Gastroenterology
He tapped the name tag on the left side of his chest with his long fingers.
“…Hmm.”
After letting out one last short sigh, he opened the door to his office and headed toward the elevator.
“Good morning, Professor.”
“Good morning.”
The staff greeted him warmly as the employee elevator doors opened. Wearing a pleasant smile, Yusin returned a small nod as he stepped inside.
He had already been playing the role of a doctor—something never written in his fate—for several months now. But there was little to show for it.
Where the hell do I even start digging today…
Pressing his lips together, Yusin shoved both hands into the pockets of his coat and closed his eyes.
As the elevator descended toward the first floor where the outpatient clinic was located, his thoughts drifted back to the day he first came here.
⋮
The space reeked of cheap alcohol and blood, illuminated only by a single, outdated surgical lamp.
A piano piece blared from the speakers. To the rhythm of Gymnopédie, Yusin’s hands moved swiftly. Slice, slice—blood spread with each motion.
His mask and disposable vinyl gown had long since been drenched in red. With an indifferent expression, he hummed along to the notes spilling from the speakers.
Then—
Creaaak.
A heavy steel door opened.
A man entered the room, immediately grimacing and pinching his nose.
—What, it’s still not over?
Yusin didn’t answer.
The man let out a dry laugh and turned down the volume. Only then did Yusin flick his eyes up to glance at him.
—Oh. You’re here?
—Don’t you ever get sick of this music? Every damn time.
—It’s nice. Clean.
The man looked Yusin up and down, taking in the blood-soaked state of him, then shook his head.
—Yeah. Real clean.
—Hey, Gymnopédie isn’t guilty of anything. It’s those Cheonghwa bastards who turned him into a rag.
—Find anything?
—Not yet. But this—no matter how you look at it—it’s a professional’s work. Did Cheonghwa recruit new talent or something?
After studying the wounds Yusin pointed out, the man shrugged and stepped back.
—I wouldn’t know. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?
—Ah, hell. Then you should at least pay me more. Looks like I’ll be pulling another all-nighter.
The man reacted with mild surprise to Yusin’s irritated tone.
—Why. You need money?
—Who doesn’t like money?
The man smeared the blood pooled on the floor with the toe of his shoe, staring at Yusin.
—Then how about this? I’ll pay you extra, so why don’t you hit the field yourself?
Only then did Yusin turn his head.
Under the surgical lamp, his cold eyes fixed on the man. A short scoff followed.
—That’s not in the contract.
—Yeah, it’s not. But this is.
—What.
—There’s a rumor Cheonghwa’s dealing drugs there.
Before the man even finished speaking, the scalpel in Yusin’s hand began to tremble.
He shifted his grip, curling the scalpel firmly into his palm. In an instant, the blade plunged deep into the corpse’s abdomen.
—Ah… huh?
Yusin’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the man.
—So? You in?
—Where’s the site?
—Boksan University Hospital.
—Ah, shit.
Yusin’s brow furrowed sharply. Watching his reaction, the man continued.
—It’s perfect. I’ll plant you there with a fat salary. Make money, kill two birds with one stone. No matter how I think about it, you’re the only bastard who fits inside a hospital.
—Conditions?
—Professor. A couple of months. Just track their movements. Professors get paid ten million a month. Bonuses on top. From entrance to exit, the company’ll clean everything up nice and neat.
—Dokkaebi, you’re awfully chatty today.
—Because if you refuse, I’m screwed. Hell, I’d even throw in my own money.
At the man’s joking tone, Yusin tugged his bloodstained surgical gloves down along with his mask—and smiled.
—Looks like you succeeded. I’m interested.
⋮
[1st Floor.]
There were less than ten minutes left until morning clinic hours.
As the elevator doors opened, the staff who’d filled it spilled out in a hurry.
“Professor? Aren’t you getting off?”
“Ah… I’m going to grab some coffee in the basement.”
With a smiling face, Yusin took a step back.
If he got off now, he’d be forced to mingle with them all the way to the outpatient wing.
What a hassle.
The doors closed, and with a jolt, the elevator headed underground. Yusin pulled out his phone and checked his recent calls, then dialed Dokkaebi.
After a short ring, the man’s voice came through his Bluetooth earpiece.
[Yo, Scalpel. Reporting for work?]
The moment he heard it, Yusin unleashed his frustration.
“Another dead end yesterday. How the hell does Cheonghwa not leave a single trace for over a month?”
He clicked his tongue softly.
“Seriously. I’m about to lose my temper…”
His voice trailed off as his eyes narrowed.
He felt the cables slowly winding over the pulley above. The speed decreased, brakes engaging, a subtle vibration rippling through the floor.
The display read B5. The elevator was slowing to a stop.
There was movement beyond the closed metal doors.
“Hold on. Don’t hang up.”
With that, Yusin bent forward instantly, rounding his shoulders and lowering his head.
His imposing, confident presence vanished in a heartbeat. Now, the man standing in the corner of the elevator looked like nothing more than an overworked, ordinary doctor.
Ding.
The doors opened.
A woman stepped inside, her hair tightly tied back.
The moment Yusin caught sight of her, he involuntarily held his breath.
She wasn’t strikingly beautiful at first glance.
She wasn’t wearing any noticeable perfume.
And yet, Yusin felt restless.
…What is it?
A sharp sense of unease prickled at him, as if he’d missed something crucial. Unable to resist, he lifted his head again.
Their eyes met.
This time, Yusin was the one who looked away first.
His heart pounded as instinct screamed at him.
This person is dangerous.
It was a sensation he had never felt before.
From the corner of his eye, Yusin studied her silhouette.
Though she appeared relaxed, the way her feet were planted, her posture—straight spine, balanced shoulders—was flawless.
She’s not… a civilian.
Hidden beneath cargo pants and a loose T-shirt, her frame was slender yet unmistakably solid.
As if unaware of his gaze, she muttered, “Oh. Right,” and rummaged through her pocket, pulling out her phone.
She tapped at the screen, opened a message, and let out a deep sigh.
“You have been finally accepted for the Environmental Services position at Boksan University Hospital.”
Yusin’s eyebrow lifted slightly as he stole a glance at the screen.
Environmental services?
After skimming the message, she checked the floor of the office and pressed the button.
[🎵 Ring-ring, ring-ring, ding-ding.]
A loud ringtone echoed through the elevator. The name Park In-gyu flashed on the screen.
Startled, she quickly answered.
“I’m at the hospital. …What do you mean, am I sick? I’m at work. Today’s my first day.”
Muffled grumbling came from the other end.
“Yes, yes.”
[…]
“Fine. I’ll check everything thoroughly and clean it all up before I leave. Satisfied?”
[…Fighting!]
The voice was loud enough to carry out of the phone.
She pulled it away from her ear briefly, wincing, then hung up and shoved it back into her pocket with an exasperated shake of her head.
When the elevator stopped, she turned toward Yusin.
With a small bow of apology for the noise, she stepped out and disappeared at a brisk pace.
Yusin followed her retreating figure with his eyes, then slipped the earphone back into his ear.
“Did you know Cheonghwa was pulling strings inside the hospital like this?”
[What the hell are you talking about?]
“Didn’t hear it?”
[No. What did they say?]
“Cheonghwa. Fighting.”
[…]
A dry swallow came through the earpiece.
Yusin smoothed back the neatly combed hair at his temple and let out a cold chuckle.
“I’ll need to check her out.
Whether it’s real—or not.”
