chapter 8

"You shouldn't talk to a sick person like that."

Doctor Zemel said this while I was asking

where it hurt.

What a lunatic.

We need to know where it hurts.

Before you go sticking dirty needles into their stomach, you idiot.

"..."

Internally, I was calm and composed.

But outwardly, I couldn't show it.

Doctors are the embodiment of apprenticeship-style education, aren't they?

Of course, I don't need to learn from these guys, but...

There probably isn't another school besides this one that would accept an Asian and even grant a license.

"No, just wait a moment."

At that moment, Dr. Liston stepped in.

Even though he spoke softly, Zemel flinched and stepped back.

He was still holding a knife, so it made sense.

Blood was dripping from it.

Honestly, I stepped back too.

-If he says one more word, I'll cut his leg first.

The atmosphere was such that thinking this way wasn't strange at all.

"You ask questions skillfully. It seems you definitely learned from Joseon. Something new?"

Fortunately, Dr. Liston was filled with great curiosity.

Well, he is the embodiment of the spirit of inquiry, after all.

I heard that the knife he always carries isn't some heirloom but one he custom-ordered.

The so-called Liston Knife.

It looks like a weapon from Bloodborne, but it's a surgical knife that can cut through a person's leg in under 30 seconds.

Thinking about it, I got a bit confused whether he was complimenting me or not, but anyway, that's just how Dr. Liston is.

"Try a bit more."

"Yes, Professor."

When the guy holding the knife tells you to try more, what can you do?

There was no one to argue with.

Zemel glanced between the knife, me, and the patient, then bit his lip hard.

It seemed like he had something to say but was afraid of causing a scene if he did.

It was a good thing.

Thanks to that, I bought some time.

"Patient, I'm going to press on your stomach now."

"O..."

Of course, the time was only for me.

The patient looked much worse than before.

Will they survive?

'Probably not...'

Someone might say, "How can a surgery professor give up so easily?"

But according to Zemel, this patient had been complaining of stomach pain for over a week.

At that point, even appendicitis can become fatal.

Especially in the 21st century, where we have antibiotics and various treatments, but here in 19th century London, even those treatments are unavailable.

"Does it hurt?"

"... It hurts, it hurts."

"When I release?"

"Ahhh!"

"Ah, not good."

Anyway, I pressed and then released the patient's lower right abdomen.

The patient complained of tenderness when pressed and rebound tenderness when released.

Given the more intense reaction during rebound tenderness, it wasn't hard to deduce that the patient's abdomen was a mess.

What if we open it up?

Wouldn't everything inside be a complete disaster?

"Not good, isn't that obvious? That's why we need to draw blood to reduce the swelling first."

While the real doctor was deep in serious thought, the quack next to me was whining.

Ah.

If only I were Liston.

Then I could have smashed Zemel's head with the Liston Knife.

No, that's actually impossible.

This is an era with a strict judicial system, after all.

"What if we open up the abdomen?"

Anyway, I asked Dr. Liston instead of the quack, Zemel, the Paris-educated one.

This man, true to his appearance, is full of adventurous spirit, isn't he?

So, couldn't he cut open the abdomen?

Huh?

Let's cut it open.

"Don't talk nonsense. That's taboo."

Oh...

Surprisingly, he had a conservative side too.

"Taboo? For what reason?"

Anyway, I asked as carefully as possible to avoid upsetting him.

"If you open the abdomen, the patient will die. They die from a strange fever."

"No...?"

You lunatic.

That's because you guys poke around with that knife.

If you just wash it with water and lightly disinfect it with fire, they wouldn't die like that...

'No, is that not the case?'

I stopped mid-thought and looked down at my hands.

To the naked eye, they weren't contaminated at all.

No, since I washed them with soap, most of the germs should be dead.

But can I call them clean?

Clean enough to put inside someone else's body, meaning sterile?

I'd have to do it barehanded since there are no sterile gloves.

"No, there's no need to hang your head like that. Ignorance isn't a sin. You're still a freshman."

While I was looking at my hands, Liston continued.

He seemed to be in a good mood.

It wasn't uncommon.

Professors generally like it when students are afraid of them.

Since he's already mistaken, I thought I should solidify that impression, so I kept quiet.

"Anyway, you all should listen carefully. Don't touch the abdomen. But... the way you examined the abdomen was fresh. Asking so specifically where it hurts...

Even if we can't operate on the abdomen, it's good to know these things."

"Yes, we'll keep that in mind!"

The loudest response came from the rich kid.

I couldn't really tell if he was a rich kid or not, but he looked the part.

"Then... let's call it a day. Tomorrow, I'll ask about what we learned today, so study thoroughly."

"Yes, Professor!"

With Dr. Liston's words, we left the ward.

Of course, there was some regret.

That patient.

If I had seen them from the beginning, there might have been a chance.

No, even now, it would be better for me to see them than to leave them like that.

It would be better.

'100%... I can't say for sure. Thinking about it... I don't even have gloves.'

But the reason I didn't step forward more actively was that I wasn't 100% confident I could do it.

In Korea, if a student messes up, it would be a disaster, but here?

Especially a mysterious Asian from the 1st?

It would be perfect for getting into trouble.

"Pyeong-a."

"Yeah?"

So, it's better to just leave.

Thinking that, Joseph called me.

"Anatomy practice is optional, let's go."

He called me to hell.

No.

Joseph. That place is hell.

"Anatomy practice... Shouldn't we look at the diagrams first?"

"Diagrams? Ah, textbooks? Would that be better?"

"Of course. You need to know what you're poking. You can't just poke around without knowing anything, right?"

"You frog, what do you know about poking? You just poked around and saw the heart beating and the insides, right?"

Joseph...

This guy...

No, this man is actually a surgery professor.

He can dissect a frog with just his left hand, even if he can't do it with his right.

Stop generalizing me.

You need to study.

I don't want to go in there.

"Are humans and frogs the same?"

"Ah... Well. That's true. Alright, let's look at the book first."

Thank goodness.

Joseph isn't that stubborn.

"That kid. He acts all diligent in front of the professor, but when he's not around, he won't even enter the practice room."

While I was trying to persuade him, someone sneered.

It was the rich kid.

What should I say?

Should I kill him with knowledge?

I could crush him, but...

'He might not understand anything, so it might not have any impact, but if he gets upset and tattles to his parents...'

What if he says something like, "There's a heretic Asian at the school!?"

Even if the professor steps in, this is London, not Upton.

There are many families as influential as the professor's, you know.

"Why are you picking a fight, man? If you want to go in, go in alone. Are you scared?"

Fortunately, our Joseph has a temper too.

Well, unless you're an Akbari, it's hard to dream of becoming like Dr. Liston.

Besides, even if he's smaller than Dr. Liston, our Joseph is over 175 cm, right?

Compared to these midgets.

At most, 160 cm?

"Scared? I'm just annoyed because you're acting up. You yellow bastard."

"If you call Pyeong-a yellow one more time..."

"What, you gonna hit me?"

"If I hit you, you might die. You might become a dissection subject instead of practicing."

Spicy...

Joseph, you're spicy.

"You..."

Well, a London gentleman can't beat Upton kids.

Unless they're from the slums.

"L..."

"What? Crying? Do you know how tear glands work before you cry?"

"O..."

"I'm going to study that. You can stay here and cry until you figure it out."

Joseph patted the rich kid's shoulder and headed to the lecture hall.

I followed him to the lecture hall.

I thought I heard sniffling behind me, but I didn't turn around.

It was satisfying, but I didn't want any sparks flying my way.

Anyway, the lecture hall was filled with books.

It's called a lecture hall, but with at most 20 students, it felt more like a research lab.

"From here to here, we're allowed to look..."

"Gray's Anatomy... isn't here, as expected."

"Huh?"

"No, nothing."

I thought there would be anatomy books, of course.

But there were only some magazines.

And even those were of poor quality.

The drawings were good, but... they only depicted muscles.

There was no understanding of internal organs, nerves, or blood vessels.

'Should I draw them?'

Joseph.

I owe that guy a mountain of debts, aside from what just happened.

Thanks to him, I didn't starve to death or get beaten to death.

In return, all I did was make him dream of becoming a surgeon, an anachronistic dream.

Now, I can't say no...

Then, shouldn't I make him a proper doctor?

'But what should I say while drawing?'

This is Joseon's shamanism...

Here is Henry Gray, the father of anatomy...

Everyone! This is Gray's Anatomy!

Would that work?

If I do that, I'll be dragged to the square and, for the first time in a long time, burned at the stake as a witch—no, a child of Satan.

'First of all, I don't remember enough to draw without reference...'

Then, I had to become a genius at anatomy practice.

I have the dexterity, so I can draw to some extent.

But...

'Going in and touching a rotting corpse with bare hands...?'

It was unsettling.

Of course, seeing how medical students aren't that afraid of dissection, it might not be that dangerous.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Then, there was a commotion behind me.

I looked and saw a senior holding his bleeding hand.

The smell made it clear it came from the anatomy practice room.

"Uh... I'm okay."

"Not badly hurt. That's good."

No, it's not good.

Did you hurt yourself touching a corpse?

You're really going to die...

"Stop the bleeding and come back in."

"Yeah, I will."

No, you can't.

You guys shouldn't do that...