An F-Rank Veterinarian Physically Heals an S-Rank Magical Beast - Chapter 94
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 94
KUAAAAAANG—!!!
The impact sent a tremor through Gangnam District.
The moment the crowbar’s tip drove into the core’s outer wall, the entire mutated form convulsed violently. Choi Myung-seok’s roar tore free—not a cry of rage, but the anguished howl of a beast overwhelmed by pain.
[System: Detecting internal structural changes in real-time through the Eye of Divine Will.]
[Nectar Core outer wall fracture detected. Approximately 30% of total surface area shattered.]
[Internal core body exposure status: Incomplete. Further intervention required.]
I confirmed the readings and spoke tersely to Ma Dong-tak.
“Wait. Now is not the time for another strike. From here on, I’m going in.”
Ma Dong-tak withdrew the crowbar and stepped back.
“Understood.”
Through the fractured outer wall, a sweet yet metallic scent seeped out—the smell of refined bio-energy. It was identical to the odor I’d encountered in the 17th Floor Bio-Extraction Factory. The raw nectar solution Choi Myung-seok had stored within his blood vessels was now leaking outward as the core’s outer wall shattered.
I pulled on latex gloves taut and approached the fracture.
The Murim Alliance Elders still pinned Choi Myung-seok’s wrists to the ground. Ma Dong-tak had bound his legs with the crowbar. Choi Myung-seok thrashed, but the impact to his core’s outer wall had drained the strength from his entire body.
“Wh-what are you doing? Kang Jin-hyuk! Stop!”
“Director Choi.”
I crouched before the fracture and peered inside.
“The Nectar Core is not merely a mass of energy.”
My vision activated the Eye of Divine Will, and the core’s internal structure materialized in crimson outline.
[Analyzing Nectar Core internal structure.]
[Core body is connected to Choi Myung-seok’s vascular network through a total of 12 primary connecting vessels.]
[Nerve bundle connections confirmed: 3 sympathetic trunk lines, 1 parasympathetic branching point.]
[Complete severance of these connections will deprive the core of its energy supply entirely.]
I murmured quietly.
“It’s connected to its host through blood vessels and nerve bundles like a living organ. Just as cancer cells create new blood vessels around them to siphon nutrients. Sever all these connections, and the core can no longer draw energy.”
I withdrew two surgical scalpels and gripped one in each hand—one with a long blade, the other short and sharp.
“Starting with the blood vessel ligation.”
One scalpel entered the fracture.
Choi Myung-seok shrieked in terror.
“N-no! Stop! Don’t touch inside! The nectar will backflow and you’ll—!”
“If it backflows, I’ll handle it. Continuing.”
Scritch—!
The first blood vessel was severed.
Choi Myung-seok’s body convulsed violently. Muscles rippled across the mutated form’s surface, and some of the densely packed hypertrophied muscle beneath the skin lost tension and began to sag. One of the twelve connections had been severed.
My hands did not pause.
Scritch. Scritch. Scritch—!
Second, third. The connecting vessels were severed in rapid succession.
The Murim Alliance Elders braced against Choi Myung-seok’s convulsions, pressing his wrists down harder. Sweat beaded on Namgoong Cheon’s forehead.
“Tch! This force is abnormal! It’s not just raw strength—mana is mixed in and pushing through!”
“Just ten more seconds. Please hold.”
I moved the scalpel toward the nerve bundle.
It was more difficult than the blood vessels. The nerve bundle was thinner than the vessels and embedded much deeper within the core body. But the Eye of Divine Insight pinpointed its exact location with perfect clarity.
[Sympathetic Nerve Main Line 1 Position: 2 centimeters to the right of core body. Exercise caution with excision angle.]
[Careless excision may trigger core explosion reaction.]
“Explosion reaction.”
I raised my eyebrows slightly upon reading those words.
“Manager Yoo. You’re saying that excising the sympathetic nerve main line could trigger a core explosion reaction—what energy magnitude should I anticipate?”
Yoo Yi-soo’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Based on the residual charge currently stored in the core, it would be roughly equivalent to a small vehicle explosion.”
“Then there’s no problem.”
“No problem?”
“Ma is standing right beside me, isn’t he?”
Ma Dong-tak let out a hollow laugh upon hearing that.
“Ah, so you intend to use me as a shield.”
“Precisely.”
“…Understood. I’ll prepare myself.”
Ma Dong-tak positioned the pry bar in front of him and shifted to my side.
I adjusted the angle of the scalpel and slowly inserted it.
Nerve bundles react instantaneously when severed. Blood vessels may be cut and their flow gradually ceases, but when a nerve is severed, its signal is immediately blocked.
If the control signal descending to the core suddenly cuts off, the core loses regulation and can randomly discharge its stored energy. This was the so-called explosion reaction.
That’s why the sequence matters.
First, ligate the blood vessels to block energy inflow, then sever the nerve. If the nerve is severed while energy inflow is blocked, the core loses control but has no energy to draw upon. The explosion magnitude is limited only to the residual charge stored.
I was already following that sequence.
[Sympathetic Nerve Main Line 1 excision position reached.]
The scalpel stopped.
“Manager Ma. Is the shield ready?”
“Ready!”
“Proceeding.”
Crunch—!
BOOM!!!
Just as anticipated. The residual mana within the core reacted and energy erupted outward. The golden radiance distinctive of Nectar poured forth in radiating waves through the core’s fractures.
Ma Dong-tak thrust the pry bar forward and took the full force of the explosion head-on.
SCREECH—!
The surface of the pry bar blackened with scorch marks. Heat reached Ma Dong-tak’s arms as well. Yet he did not release the pry bar. He planted his feet firmly on the asphalt and held his ground.
“Ugh!”
“Are you alright?”
“I can take two more. Continue.”
I moved the scalpel toward the second nerve bundle.
― Wait, that’s an explosion—he’s catching it with a pry bar?
― Is Ma Dong-tak’s arm okay? It got scorched.
― Ah, that’s genius—stationing a shield next to the veterinarian
― But wait, Choi Myung-seok’s body keeps shrinking??
The last chat message had been right.
All twelve connected blood vessels had been severed, and as the nerve bundles were cut off, the mutant’s body was visibly transforming. With the nectar supply completely severed, the hypertrophied muscles began to contract.
The creature’s height, which had been six meters, shrank to five meters, then to four.
Choi Myung-seok let out a wail.
“No…! I can’t… I can’t lose my power like this…!”
“You’re not losing it.”
I said, severing the final nerve bundle.
“It was never yours to begin with. You built it from someone else’s life force.”
Crunch—!
The last connection severed.
[System: All biological connections to the Nectar Core have been severed.]
[Core Current Status: Energy supply completely cut off. Operating on residual energy only.]
[Residual Energy Depletion Rate: Approximately 40% per minute. Estimated time until natural dissolution: Approximately 2 minutes 30 seconds.]
I withdrew my scalpel from the fissure.
Rising to my feet, I looked at Ma Dong-tak.
“Manager Ma. This is the final strike on the core body. It’s at its most vulnerable right now.”
“Just a moment.”
Ma Dong-tak brushed the soot from his arm once.
He reversed his grip on the lever and angled it toward the point where the fissure gaped widest.
“Give me the exact location.”
I peered into the fissure once more.
[Core Body Current Coordinates: 4 centimeters inside the fissure, 1.5 centimeters left of center.]
“Slightly to the left of the fissure’s center. In that direction.”
Ma Dong-tak nodded.
“Will one strike be enough?”
“One will suffice.”
Ma Dong-tak raised the lever.
Choi Myung-seok screamed one last time.
“No! You iron lever bastard, don’t you dare touch my core…!”
KUAAAAAANG—!!!
The lever’s tip plunged deep into the fissure. It pierced the exact coordinates I had marked, striking the core body dead center.
PAAAAAASH—!!!
A flash erupted.
An explosion of golden and dark crimson light shattered the core’s outer wall to pieces. The remaining nectar ignited all at once, spreading intense heat and brilliance in all directions. Ma Dong-tak shut his eyes and endured. The Murim Alliance Elders turned their faces away, pressing their wrists.
And then.
Silence fell.
As the reverberations of the explosion faded, a sound emerged from the mutant—something escaping. It was like air rushing out, or perhaps liquid draining away.
Thud-thud-thud. Thud-thud-thud.
The hypertrophied muscles began to contract. Slowly at first, then rapidly. From six meters to five, four, three. The abnormally swollen masses shrank, shedding their grotesque form.
Two meters.
One meter eighty.
The mutant vanished.
What remained on the asphalt was a single human figure sprawled across the ground, draped in the tattered remnants of a torn gown.
It was Choi Myung-seok.
His form exactly as it had been before the mutation—a gaunt frame in his early sixties. Now his body was covered in abrasions, his hands and feet trembling. His eyes remained open. Consciousness persisted. Yet he lacked the strength to rise.
The Murim Alliance Elders released their grip on his wrists.
Ma Dong-tak looked down at Choi Myung-seok.
“Is it finished, Director?”
“It is.”
I peeled off my latex gloves and approached Choi Myung-seok slowly.
The surrounding cameras captured the moment in unison. The global live broadcast did not miss this instant.
― The core shattered and he reverted to normal
― Is that really Choi Myung-seok?? That tiny thing??
― It’s completely over
― I think I need hospitalization from an overdose of satisfaction
― Look at Kang Jin-hyuk’s expression, just look at it
Choi Myung-seok, lying on the ground, looked up at me.
Venom still lingered in his eyes—the last vestige of pride refusing to acknowledge defeat.
“Kang Jin-hyuk… This isn’t the end. The assets I possess, my connections, the Apollo network—they’re still….”
“Director.”
I knelt before Choi Myung-seok, bringing my eyes level with his.
My tone remained unchanged from before—quiet and cold.
“Apollo Hospital’s assets and network have already become subjects of investigation through tonight’s broadcast. The underground laboratory footage, the Nectar smuggling contracts, the recorded orders to dispose of missing Hunters—all of it is out there. This is already finished.”
Choi Myung-seok’s lips trembled.
“But, still….”
“And.”
I pushed my glasses up with a swift motion.
“There remains a medical bill.”
Choi Myung-seok went rigid.
“Emergency treatment for Nectar core-induced mutation. Chiropractic procedure fees. Thoracic anatomical incision and fascial resection. Twelve critical vessel ligations. Four nerve bundle excisions. Core extraction assistance. And the treatment costs for Ma Director’s burned arm.”
I withdrew an electronic pad from my pocket and presented it before Choi Myung-seok.
“As a hospital director of standing, would you sign with proper courtesy?”
“This, this insane….”
“Let’s wrap this up before the police arrive. Look over there.”
Multiple police sirens wailed in the distance, drawing closer. Hunter Association audit team vehicles were visible. The filming crew’s helicopter circled overhead.
― Bill LOL It’s really Kang Jin-hyuk.
― Is this the world’s first veterinarian to bill a fallen villain for treatment?
― Even billing Ma Dong-tak for his arm treatment—that’s truly satisfying
― Ah, this is so satisfying. Truly.
Choi Myung-seok slowly reached out and accepted the pad.
His hand trembled. Yet he signed anyway. He had neither the strength to flee nor any grounds to refuse. The entire world was already watching.
I rose to my feet as I took the pad back.
At that moment, the front entrance of Arcana Medical Center opened.
Luna emerged carrying a stretcher and IV stand. Behind her, Beris followed with a reluctant expression. The two approached Choi Myung-seok and began administering basic first aid.
“Ugh. I have to save this filthy mass of bacteria.”
Beris clicked his tongue and checked Choi Myung-seok’s pulse.
“Pulse confirmed, Director. He’s in shock, but there’s no danger to his life.”
“That’s sufficient.”
I turned away, flicking the latex gloves onto the asphalt.
Police cars arrived. The Hunter Association Audit Team descended from their vehicles and rushed toward Choi Myung-seok. Reporters surged toward me with cameras raised.
“Director Kang! What will happen to Apollo Hospital? Please tell us your future plans!”
“Apollo Hospital’s assets and medical network will be returned to the state through proper legal procedures, and investigations into the related crimes will proceed accordingly.”
I continued, turning to survey Arcana Medical Center.
“And to fill that void—”
The reporters all prepared to take notes.
“Effective immediately, I, Director Kang Jin-hyuk, will very prudently and exclusively acquire and merge the vacant position in South Korea’s medical sector.”
Camera flashes erupted simultaneously.
― Is there really a human in this world who can say something like that so confidently?
― Acquisition and merger lol
― Wait, is he really an F-rank veterinarian? Where does this confidence come from?
― If I showed up in the middle of Gangnam with the world’s strongest team, I could probably say that too lol
Ma Dong-tak approached my side, rubbing his scorched arm.
“Director. Are you serious about that medical bill for my arm?”
“Of course. Injuries sustained during duty naturally warrant billing.”
“Then should I submit a bill as well?”
“Absolutely.”
Ma Dong-tak laughed heartily.
“Then I’ll submit my overdue overtime pay for the past three years as well.”
I paused for a moment.
“That requires separate negotiation.”
“Are you refusing?”
“I’m reviewing it.”
Ma Dong-tak burst into laughter.
His laughter cut through the night air of Gangnam District.
Kuuuuuung—!!!!
The entire Arcana Medical Center trembled.
This vibration was on an entirely different scale from moments before. The asphalt beneath our feet rippled like water. The full-length glass panels on the building’s exterior walls chimed sharply. The reporters who had been surging forward with cameras moments ago staggered backward.
The Hunter Association Audit Team members lowered their waists into defensive stances.
Ma Dong-tak’s laughter ceased.
“Director.”
“I understand.”
Jin-hyuk was already touching his earpiece as he gazed at the building.
“Chun-sam.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Chun-sam’s voice came through an octave lower than usual.
“Master. The energy pattern in the 19th Floor Server Zone has breached critical threshold. The residual mana signature of Demiurge is surging rapidly right now. It’s estimated that the data remnants we failed to completely eliminate when extracting the Tower’s core have exceeded reactivation threshold by absorbing Choi Myung-seok’s nectar explosion just now.”
Jin-hyuk’s brow furrowed.
“What’s the status of Floor 20?”
“That’s the thing.”
Chun-sam hesitated for a moment.
“The Floor 20 entrance is locked from the inside right now. Even my administrator authority can’t open it.”
The uppermost level of Arcana Medical Center.
Jin-hyuk’s gaze turned toward it. At the very top of the hundred-story building, the floor-to-ceiling windows of the section corresponding to Floor 20 were stained crimson. It was the same floor where the Constellations who had fought against the Outer God Demiurge during the Tower ascent had their ward.
Yoo Yi-soo’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Kang Jin-hyuk. I’m looking at it from the first floor lobby right now.”
“What do you see?”
“The Floor 20 elevator panel is operating on its own. No one pressed it.”
Jin-hyuk adjusted his glasses.
At that very moment, a crimson beam of light pierced through the ceiling of Arcana Medical Center’s uppermost level and shot into the night sky above Gangnam District.
Police officers stirred. Reporters turned their cameras toward it. Ma Dong-tak gripped the crowbar again.
Jin-hyuk gazed quietly at that crimson beam for a moment, then slowly adjusted his medical bag across his shoulder.
“Chun-sam. Lock the elevator for direct access to Floor 20.”
“Currently, Floor 20 is under lockdown with my authority….”
“If you can’t lock it, set up a barricade in the 19th Floor lobby instead. It’s better to go up before they come down.”
Ma Dong-tak raised his eyebrows.
“You’re going up?”
“We can’t leave it unattended.”
Jin-hyuk began walking toward the building’s main entrance.
“Demiurge is reviving by consuming the Tower’s core and Earth’s bio-energy. We have to stop it here and now. If it fully awakens and emerges, this won’t end with just Gangnam District.”
Ma Dong-tak followed without hesitation.
Namgoong Cheon gripped his tai chi sword again and moved with the Murim Alliance Elders.
The crimson beam of light split the sky a second time.
Beneath that light, the silhouette of Kang Jin-hyuk walking into the building was captured in full by cameras broadcasting live to the entire world.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————