Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 146

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 146.
After another hour and a half on the bus, they would arrive at the volunteer site.
The Southwestern Region had no hospitals on the scale of a comprehensive medical center, but transportation was relatively convenient, or so they’d been told.
During the Joseon dynasty, this had been a place you had to pass through to take the state examinations, so roads ran even to remote villages. Thanks to that, even if the medical bus couldn’t reach everywhere, locals could come to the designated sites.
And this medical volunteer work would be spread across some forty traffic hubs where those roads converged.
Beom-jun had learned these specifics because of the Unit Leader.
In the very front row of the bus, seated across from him, the Unit Leader spoke to Beom-jun without pause—about the meaning and goals of this medical volunteer work.
“We really gave it careful thought before choosing this location. Since everyone made time for it, we want to see as many patients as possible while we’re here.”
The Unit Leader, who had recognized Beom-jun and guided him to the bus, showed considerable enthusiasm for this service.
“I’ll be staying with groups H and I the whole time, so if anything becomes uncomfortable, just let me know whenever.”
He seemed to think he needed to look after Beom-jun carefully. But to his offer of convenience, Beom-jun replied curtly.
“No, thank you. I’d prefer to be treated the same as the other volunteers.”
“Really? Are you sure? It’s rural, so there will be quite a few inconveniences.”
“It doesn’t matter. I grew up in the countryside—well, I just enjoy nature.”
Beom-jun nearly misspoke. In fact, he had spent quite a long time at his grandmother’s place in his previous life, until before he started elementary school.
That was different from the elite path that Hospital Director Beom-jun—Doctor X’s trusted aide—had walked from childhood.
“Oh? Director, you have surprising sides to you.”
The Unit Leader seemed puzzled but accepted it readily enough.
Even that Beom-jun, from whom not a drop of blood should fall if pricked with a needle, enjoyed nature—the Unit Leader tried to understand.
Bump-bump, bump-bump.
As the paved road ended and dirt paths began, the bus bounced heavily.
Beyond the bus window, rice paddies and fields now appeared on both sides.
Instead of convenience stores and franchise signs, there were small supermarkets and orchards; instead of tall buildings, there were low houses and sparse streetlights.
Watching the rural landscape, Beom-jun found his heart growing calm. Having left the fierce heart of Seoul, it felt like entering a different world.
He still had quests to complete, and he hadn’t come on this medical volunteer work for healing, but at least in this moment, his mind was quiet—as though he’d returned to that grandmother’s house where he’d grown up.
But Beom-jun’s peace didn’t last long.
“Director, you do realize this volunteer work is just doctors going, without any support staff, right? Most of the volunteer work Saint Hospital organizes is like that, but…”
Still, as the Unit Leader continued his explanation, Beom-jun had to ask back.
“I’m sorry—what did you just say?”
“That Saint Hospital is organizing this?”
“No, before that.”
“That this entire volunteer group is made up exclusively of doctors?”
Beom-jun could hardly believe his ears. Most hospitals, including Korea University Hospital, operated with one doctor and dozens of staff members.
The doctor would give orders; the staff would confirm and carry them out, distribute medication, perform tests if needed, and even prepare meals matched to the patient’s condition.
Dozens of tasks needed to happen in medical volunteer work, yet there were only doctors? No wonder the personnel seemed so numerous. Almost a thousand doctors participating in this volunteer work, they’d said.
“That’s the biggest characteristic of our volunteer work. Doctors do everything from start to finish. It’s about awakening a spirit of sacrifice.”
Beom-jun was inwardly astonished. A hospital was a space set up so that a doctor could treat patients with everything arranged beforehand. That was how you could see many patients quickly—so how was this anything but inefficient?
“It’s also why we don’t receive support from the hospital level. Only people who give their own time can participate in this volunteer work. What’s done in your spare time isn’t true service, after all.”
But the Unit Leader didn’t concern himself with efficiency. He valued meaning more. Beom-jun could read it in the Unit Leader’s eyes—no hint of merely dressing things up attractively.
‘It’s genuine, this. They’re not just going through the motions.’
Beom-jun had honestly thought the Uigwonhoe consumed medical volunteer work as merely an event. He’d thought it was a place where the thirty-one waiting members would prove themselves. But it was more than that.
The Unit Leader truly seemed to value this volunteer work itself.
“When you leave the hospital and go through hardship, you really come to realize how much you have to be grateful for. Ah, I was the same way, of course. It’s also why I keep coming back to do this work, even though it’s hard.”
He spoke humbly, gesturing to the people seated behind them.
“Not just me, but everyone here probably feels the same way. You can only treat patients with true sincerity if you have dedication.”
Beom-jun glanced back briefly. But the back seats carried an entirely different atmosphere from the Unit Leader.
While the Unit Leader grew excited and moved as they approached the volunteer site, half the people in the back were sleeping, and the other half looked worn out by fatigue.
Yet everyone here had given up their day off to come. That dedication, at least, was genuine.
But Beom-jun found this atmosphere, where dedication had become something assumed, uncomfortable.
“Isn’t that dedication something each person chooses for themselves?”
The Unit Leader didn’t yet realize that his sincerity could become a rule that bound others.
“Of course—they all applied and came voluntarily.”
He seemed to believe that everyone participating in the volunteer work had applied with the same heart he possessed.
* * *
While Beom-jun and the Unit Leader talked, the bus arrived at the volunteer site.
Beom-jun felt like he was approaching a dungeon. Surely Uigwonhoe members would be swarming inside.
Since Beom-jun was known as President Han Myeong-jae’s trusted aide, the Uigwonhoe members might think of him as something like a colleague.
But already, Beom-jun sensed a musty smell.
Doctors who had lost sight chasing profit, who had lost the essence of medicine itself. People who could no longer tell whether they were helping patients or sacrificing them—all gathered in one place.
Before getting off the bus, Beom-jun steeled his resolve.
He must not waver at the Uigwonhoe’s persuasion and explanations. Their logic would be more sophisticated than he expected.
His feet felt heavy as he descended from the bus.
The dozen-odd doctors from Korea University Hospital who followed him down kept their eyes fixed on him alone.
Especially Min-ho, registered as a promising talent, had to be watched carefully.
‘I need to figure out when to use the Fever Mode pass too. It’s better to keep Min-ho at my side as much as possible.’
Though it was unlikely, if Min-ho took any interest in the Uigwonhoe, things would get messy fast.
Once Intern Choi Woo-jeong finished taking attendance, Beom-jun approached the Base Camp, and the Korea University Hospital doctors followed him.
The camp had taken rough form. Medical equipment and supplies were arranged according to the flow of patients entering and leaving. It seemed the bus Beom-jun had ridden was the last to arrive.
Beom-jun swallowed dryly. His throat vibrated in place.
‘Better organized than I expected.’
For the first time, Beom-jun felt slight regret at having left all the talent—Professor-level personnel like Im Sung-hyuk—back at Korea University Hospital.
Though there was nothing entirely trustworthy about it, this was a quest Beom-jun had to complete alone, come what may.
“This way, Director. Shall we go in?”
“Let’s do that.”
Beom-jun stepped into the Base Camp at the Unit Leader’s guidance.
Then, all at once, the Status Window flooded in.
[A Hidden Quest has opened.]
[Hidden Quest: Infiltrate enemy lines.]
Participate in activities without joining the Uigwonhoe.
Reward: Semi-transparent Cloak]
[Hidden Quest has been completed.]
[You have obtained ‘Semi-transparent Cloak’ as a reward.]
‘What is this?’
Beom-jun examined the Status Windows that had appeared simultaneously. He’d unintentionally completed a Hidden Quest that he didn’t know was even part of the medical volunteer work.
[Name: Semi-transparent Cloak]
Effect: Erases the user’s presence. You become like air—appearing both to exist and not to exist.
Remaining uses: Unlimited
Beom-jun grinned as he checked the item.
Until now, because he was the Hospital Director, his actions had been constrained. This was an item that would erase Beom-jun’s presence.
Better still, it wasn’t something that disappeared after one use—it could be employed indefinitely.
Beom-jun found it amusing that the Status Window had dropped such a useful item for him. It felt like it was cheering him on.
But the item was perfect for the task.
If Beom-jun could hide his presence, he could observe Uigwonhoe members throughout the volunteer work.
Among them, there had to be at least one or two people who would cooperate with him.
‘There are bound to be doctors who already have doubts about the Uigwonhoe.’
From what he’d seen on the bus alone, this medical volunteer work didn’t look easy.
The doctors were striving to join the Uigwonhoe, but there would definitely be cracks in that unity.
“Hello, Director Beom-jun. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m honored to volunteer alongside you this time. It would be wonderful to see you again in the future.”
Inside the Base Camp, half the people greeted Beom-jun warmly,
while the other half ignored him outright.
Those trying to bring him into the fold and recruit him into the Uigwonhoe, and those who merely saw him as President Han Myeong-jae’s tool.
Beom-jun turned his back on the clearly divided temperature—the latter group. In fact, he was grateful. Half the field of candidates had just disqualified themselves.
Beom-jun had no interest in those who ignored him. He was too busy finding someone to cooperate with him for the week ahead.
‘For best results, I need someone playing a key role in the Uigwonhoe so I can get good information.’
Beom-jun scanned the people in the Base Camp from left to right.
As the tall Beom-jun swept his gaze across the interior, the volunteers tensed as though being examined.
Even those who had approached him first earlier were no exception.
After several seconds of silence, when all eyes had focused on him, Beom-jun slowly opened his mouth.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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