Chapter 5 — The Age of Sewing Bones (2)

Professor Baek Do-hyun slowly moved to the next slide.

Outside the window, darkness had already begun to fall.

It was 6:30 PM. Most students would normally be leaving campus by now, yet the lecture hall was still filled with energy.

Even though this was an elective course, Professor Baek’s lectures were always crowded. Not only official students but also many auditors came to attend.

That was why he had not been surprised when he saw the unfamiliar student named Kim Seok-un earlier. He simply assumed he was another passionate student.

Of course, now he thought differently.

The image on the screen changed.

Instead of surgical footage, several X-ray images appeared.

“These are radiographs showing the recovery process after surgery.”

4 weeks later. 8 weeks later. 12 weeks later.

The images taken over time appeared one after another.

As time passed, the clear fracture line in the bone gradually faded.

“This is the bone union process over time.”

Stein, sitting in the back row, did not take his eyes off the screen.

His back remained perfectly straight, never leaning against the chair. His chin was slightly raised.

In the earlier video, the bones had been shown directly.

He had admired the way those bones seemed to move like living things and return to their proper positions.

But what he was seeing now was different.

…I can see inside the bone.

Even after performing hundreds of autopsies, he had only been able to examine the bone’s surface and cross-sections.

But this…

He could clearly see the inside of the bone.

And that was not all.

…The pin.

He recognized it immediately.

A metal rod firmly embedded deep inside the bone.

It was the very object that had fixed the broken ulna during the surgery shown earlier.

Stein unconsciously tightened his shoulders, though his expression remained calm.

In the 4-week image, cloudy calcified tissue had begun forming around the fracture.

By 8 weeks, the fracture line had faded.

And by 12 weeks, the bone had nearly returned to its normal shape.

The pin was still in place, but the surrounding bone tissue had completely healed.

The recovery speed… is astonishing. Is this the power of medicine in this world?

Admiration rose to his throat, but Stein pressed his lips tightly together.

Because another bitter question inevitably followed.

…If I had known this technique, could Elise have been saved?

His dark blue eyes deepened.

If I had possessed anesthesia… and the ability to fix bones like that…

Stein deliberately cut off the thought.

There was no point imagining the past.

He simply continued watching the screen quietly.

“Bones are tissues that possess the ability to heal themselves.”

Professor Baek lowered the laser pointer.

The atmosphere in the lecture hall shifted.

Students’ attention focused again.

And for good reason.

Professor Baek Do-hyun had completed an orthopedic residency at Penn Vet, the veterinary school of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the best in the world.

He had trained in leading research institutions and returned with the latest surgical techniques.

Now, in his early forties, he was a young but highly respected orthopedic surgeon.

His lectures were not just theoretical explanations.

They were living knowledge, combining cutting-edge science and rich clinical experience.

The students knew how valuable it was to attend his lectures.

“What we must do is create an environment where that natural healing ability can be expressed to its fullest. Trust nature, and assist it wisely. That is our role.”

The words sounded very familiar to Stein.

It was a belief he himself had repeated throughout his life.

Maximizing the body’s natural healing ability…

In the end, all veterinarians could do was support recovery and reduce pain.

Beyond that was the domain of nature.

Stein recalled the many animals he had treated.

Moments when he could align broken bones but had no way to fix them properly.

Days when infection spread and flesh rotted, leaving him no choice but to cut away the damaged tissue.

And times when even that was impossible, and life simply faded away.

Yet there had also been miracles.

Animals that survived through sheer vitality at the edge of death.

He had seen them with his own eyes.

“The two key elements for successful bone healing are these.”

Professor Baek pointed at the screen again.

“First, stable fixation. Second, adequate blood supply.”

He continued speaking as he slowly walked across the lecture hall.

“Bones receive nutrients and oxygen through blood. Therefore, minimizing damage to blood vessels during fracture fixation is extremely important.”

He paused briefly before adding,

“This is one of the reasons we prefer internal fixation over external fixation.”

The professor pointed to the area on the screen where thick callus had formed.

“This callus formation is the evidence. Proper blood flow allows callus to form and healing to progress normally.”

Stein understood instantly.

I see. That is why there was almost no bleeding earlier. It was not simply skillful hands, but a surgical technique designed to preserve blood vessels.

Impressed, Stein focused again on the screen.

Then—

“Do you understand now?”

The now-familiar voice.

Stein turned toward the professor.

Professor Baek and Stein made eye contact.

…He was watching me.

The professor’s gaze was firm and direct.

Only then did Stein realize that the question had been directed at him.

Several students turned their heads toward Stein.

“I understand perfectly. It is truly a remarkable principle.”

Professor Baek’s expression changed slightly.

For a brief moment, a faint smile appeared.

It was instinct born from experience.

From the way a student asked questions, answered, and looked at things, a professor could often sense their potential.

***

Whispering Students

Whispers spread through the classroom.

“Who is that guy?”

“Kim Seok-un? Never heard of him.”

“Wow… Baek the Iron Wall noticed him. Poor guy.”

“They say if you get caught by Professor Baek’s radar, you’re going straight to graduate school.”

Students looked at Stein with a mix of sympathy and curiosity.

Professor Baek’s classes were unusually quiet.

His nickname was “Iron Wall Baek.”

Cold.

Strict.

A perfectionist.

His surgical skills were considered among the best in the country, but he was not known as a friendly professor.

“Remember senior Kim Do-yoon last year?”

“Of course. He answered one question wrong during a presentation and got ignored for the rest of the semester.”

“And this guy just calmly says ‘I understand’ in front of him? His nerves are insane.”

The murmuring grew louder.

Some students hurriedly looked back at the screen, reviewing the professor’s explanation.

“Blood supply is important after fractures? Why?”

“No idea. Just memorize it. It might be on the exam.”

***

A Familiar Face

In the middle rows, Kang Ju-hyuk turned around.

Kim Seok-un.

He was his junior from high school and someone he occasionally looked after in college.

Was Seok-un always this focused? No… he worked hard, but… something feels different.

Ju-hyuk knew Seok-un fairly well.

He was diligent and hardworking.

But he often seemed overwhelmed before exams.

Ju-hyuk sometimes ate with him, shared notes, and encouraged him.

But the person sitting there now…

Was not the Seok-un he knew.

He was not just “a hardworking student.”

Clear logic.

Sharp thinking.

Fearless questions.

…It’s like he’s a completely different person.

Ju-hyuk felt a strange sense of unease.

***

The Lecture Continues

By 7:30 PM, the lecture continued.

Professor Baek explained various fracture cases.

Simple fractures.

Comminuted fractures.

Open fractures.

He described appropriate internal fixation methods and postoperative care.

“In particular, infection control determines the prognosis in open fractures.”

He pointed to an image of exposed bone.

“Bone and soft tissue exposed to the outside environment are extremely vulnerable to bacterial infection. Therefore immediate irrigation, debridement, and broad-spectrum antibiotics are essential.”

Stein’s eyes flashed.

Antibiotics…?

He had never heard the word before.

But the meaning soon came to him.

Likely derived from Latin.

Anti — against.
Bios — life.

A substance that fights life?

Infections that caused wounds to rot were one of the most common and deadly problems.

If something could prevent that…

How many lives could be saved?

***

“Alright. That concludes today’s lecture.”

The clock showed 7:50 PM.

“Next time we’ll discuss different types of internal fixation devices and complication management. Any questions?”

Silence followed.

Students packed their bags and closed laptops.

After a long day of classes, everyone simply wanted to leave.

Then Stein raised his hand.

The movement in the classroom stopped.

All eyes turned to him again.

Professor Baek smiled slightly.

“Kim Seok-un. What would you like to ask?”

Stein spoke slowly.

“With this method… can a horse with a broken leg also be saved?”

His voice was calm and low.

But something restrained yet powerful lay beneath it.

The classroom fell silent.

Students glanced at each other.

A horse fracture?

Why suddenly ask that?

Professor Baek narrowed his eyes and looked at Stein.

His expression had become serious.

“That is… a very important question.”

He crossed his arms and thought briefly before answering.

“Currently, fractures of long bones in horses still have a very poor prognosis. Mainly because of weight-bearing issues and the difficulty of postoperative care.”

He paused and looked directly at Stein.

“But it cannot be declared impossible. Recently, surgeries combining specially designed internal fixation devices with external support systems have been attempted. There have even been some limited successful cases.”

Stein’s eyes flashed.

“The success rate is still not high. But it means that, unlike the past, euthanasia is no longer automatically the only option.”

Stein’s gaze deepened.

A faint spark ignited deep in his chest.

…So horses like Elise… may have a chance to live.

Stein quietly clenched his fist.

This lecture is excellent. The knowledge and experience that professor possesses… I cannot miss the chance to learn it.

Professor Baek was also watching Stein closely.

This time it was not simple curiosity.

That question had not been mere intellectual interest.

It was the kind of question only someone with deep personal urgency would ask.

The professor could clearly see that desire.

Kim Seok-un… does he run a horse stable at home? Or did a horse he cared about suffer a fracture?

After organizing his thoughts, the professor added,

“If time allows in the next lecture, I will briefly cover recent developments in large-animal orthopedics as well.”

***

After Class

When the class ended, students poured out like a receding tide.

Yet Stein remained seated.

Outside, the campus was already dark.

Streetlights illuminated the paths.

Sewing bones… erasing pain…

This world was strange and confusing.

Yet after seeing and hearing today’s lecture, he felt he had begun to understand why he had come here.

In fact, he even felt grateful.

Stein slowly stood up and walked down the hallway, organizing what he had learned.

General anesthesia.

Intramedullary pin fixation.

The importance of preserving blood flow.

And the medical philosophy of prioritizing pain relief.

Elise…

Stein stopped walking and placed a hand over his chest.

A heavy emotion rose again.

If you had been born in this world… perhaps…

At that moment, a voice came from behind him.

“Seok-un!”

He had never heard the voice before.

But it carried warmth and familiarity.

Someone who knew this body.

Stein slowly turned.

Kang Ju-hyuk approached quickly.

“Hey, you were amazing today. You asked Professor Baek two questions. That takes guts. But more importantly, you don’t usually take this class, do you? Did you get some assignment or something?”

“To ask questions while seeking knowledge is only proper.”

His tone was polite but distant.

Ju-hyuk blinked in surprise.

“What? Why are you suddenly talking so formally? It’s weird.”

“Because it is the proper etiquette.”

“Well… that’s not wrong, but… you were taken to the ER yesterday, right? Did you hit your head or something? I’m kind of worried.”

Stein slowly shook his head.

“Thank you for your concern, but my condition is sound.”

Ju-hyuk still felt that his junior seemed strange and unfamiliar.

But he didn’t press further.

Because he was starving.

“Hey, you haven’t eaten either, right? Let’s go get dinner.”