Surviving as a Rogue Hospital Director - Chapter 99

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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 99.
After meeting with Eun Tae-gyeong, Bum-jun noticed the atmosphere at Korea University Hospital had shifted.
“Good morning, Director!”
“Good morning to you.”
From the lobby to the Director’s Office, staff greeted him with newfound energy.
Starting yesterday, the Smile Incentive had been rolled out across Korea University Hospital.
It was a system where staff received one percent of their monthly salary as a bonus whenever a discharged patient left a testimonial.
For a hospital already at the domestic top in treatment, metrics like surgical success rates were secondary concerns.
Bum-jun had chosen an incentive suited to Korea University Hospital’s needs, and since the Smile Incentive launched, staff morale had noticeably climbed.
“This way, patient—please come right this way! Let me tell you about what’s next for your care.”
Brighter voices echoed cheerfully throughout the hospital corridors. For now it was mainly clerical staff and nurses, but once the mood took hold, doctors would have no choice but to follow.
‘Not bad.’
Bum-jun felt the shifted air and broke into a grin.
It started as a way to complete the quest, but seeing it this way—the change wrought by his hand becoming real—wasn’t without its appeal. Actually, if he was being honest, it felt good.
The patients’ expressions seemed brighter too. Since the hospital was a place people came because they were ill, even avoiding misery was enough.
“Thank you so much.”
An elderly patient spoke those words to a kind nurse, making eye contact. Watching from a distance, Bum-jun rode the elevator up with a satisfied heart.
“You’ve arrived, Director?”
Park Ha-rin was waiting in the Director’s Office. Though her title was secretary director, she held concurrent positions and was rarely in sight—yet materialized like a ghost whenever there was work to sign off on.
The fact that she was here early meant there was business requiring his approval. Just like yesterday.
Her hair was pulled back into a high knot. She wore a navy-blue business skirt and clutched a stack of documents against her chest. The ID badge hanging at her neck repeated the Korea University Hospital logo like a pattern.
“What’s up?”
Bum-jun spoke crisply to her.
He didn’t expect her to fuss over him the way Jae-gyeong did, but the fact that she only sought him out when she needed something didn’t sit well.
‘She’s still the Deputy Director’s person, most likely.’
Park Ha-rin hadn’t yet been registered as a Talent.
‘What was her Favorability again?’
Bum-jun checked his status. Ha-rin’s Favorability was at five—still a ways to go.
‘At this rate, how long before she becomes a Talent?’
He was steadily raising her Favorability each time they met, but without visible results, what was the point? If he pursued her, she’d only feel burdened. Sigh—raising female character Favorability was relatively troublesome.
“About the residents coming for training from Eunseong Hospital going forward—do we charge a separate fee?”
Ha-rin had sought him out because of a deal negotiated with the Eunseong Group.
Residents typically trained for three years depending on their department, and now one of those years would be spent at Korea University Hospital.
Ha-rin was coordinating the details—which year, in what order.
‘Surely you’re not accepting first-year residents?’
‘Doesn’t really matter much, does it?’
‘First-year residents are basically fresh graduates—they could cause problems. It’d be better if Eunseong Hospital sent someone with at least a year of experience.’
Yesterday she’d kicked up a fuss, insisting first-year residents were absolutely off-limits, and eventually imposed the condition that only second-year and above would be accepted.
Judging by how thoroughly she’d handled it, her work deserved trust.
“Of course we charge. We’re providing the training. Tell Eunseong to pay.”
“Yes, I’ll find market references and report back to you.”
At his words, Ha-rin immediately identified the next task.
The fee had to be at a level Eunseong would accept. Ha-rin would nail that calculation.
Then Bum-jun gave her an additional instruction.
“Whatever training fee we receive, redirect it straight to resident salaries.”
“Oh! I was wondering how to handle personnel costs. That’s a great idea.”
Assigning work meant shouldering the cost, but ultimately that bill would come from Eunseong’s pocket.
Ha-rin jotted a note onto the thick stack of documents she’d been holding. Since it would go toward salaries, she’d quickly calculate how much to request in educational fees.
She capped her pen and slipped it into her front pocket.
Now she’d leave. Her business was done. She was pure transaction—arriving when needed, vanishing when finished.
“So with that arrangement, there shouldn’t be any additional expenses on our end, right?”
But contrary to expectation, Ha-rin craned her neck forward and spoke to him. Her bound hair slid leftward across her shoulders.
The distance between them was closer than usual.
[Park Ha-rin’s Favorability has increased by 1.]
He wondered if her mood was good today—her Favorability had risen.
It seemed personal affection and romantic interest weren’t entirely separate categories.
“That was the plan from the start.”
Bum-jun spoke without deliberately avoiding the narrowed distance.
“Since you took office, Director, Korea University Hospital seems to only gain money, never lose it.”
“Is that so?”
Bum-jun gave her an indifferent reply. He understood that approaching her would only push her away—she had a cat-like nature.
Meanwhile, Ha-rin felt a pleasant tension watching him neither approach nor retreat. There was a stability to it, as though no matter what she did, he would hold his ground.
“You’re impressive. You seem different from the previous directors.”
Ha-rin spoke shyly, lowering her gaze.
[Park Ha-rin’s Favorability has increased by 1.]
[Register Park Ha-rin as a Talent? Yes / No]
‘Perfect.’
Bum-jun was in good spirits simply knowing her Favorability had risen.
Lucky—it jumped by two. He should register her as a Talent while he had the chance. Her accounting skills would be invaluable to running the hospital.
Just then, he rolled his eyes to click yes, but his gaze met Ha-rin’s eyes looking directly at him. Caught off guard, Bum-jun forgot to complete the click.
She smiled softly and, looking embarrassed, slipped out of the Director’s Office. The status window asking whether to register her as a Talent disappeared as well.
‘I can do it next time.’
He missed his chance and thought about calling her back, but stopped—a new quest had appeared.
[A Main Quest has been generated.]
[Main Quest: Secure a Witness]
A false medical incident will occur. Prove the medical staff’s innocence by securing witness testimony.
Reward: Survival Probability +1% per witness
Failure: Death
* * *
After reading the quest window, Bum-jun accessed the hospital system. A new episode’s patient must have been admitted. He typed the patient’s name into the search bar.
It was a name he remembered for its gender-neutral quality.
– Kim Do-yoon / 23 / Male / Neurosurgery Outpatient Clinic
A VIP mark appeared next to the name. He was a VIP of the Eunseong Group, but neither a tycoon nor a celebrity.
He was a young artist sponsored by Eunseong. The group had supported him since high school.
But Eunseong hadn’t funded the foundation to nurture prodigies—they ran it to reduce their tax burden.
Still, for Do-yoon, who barely scrounged a living, Eunseong’s support was more than welcome.
‘Doctor, my hands shake a bit. I’ve noticed it even when I’m not nervous, so something seems off. I’d like to get tests done.’
In Doctor X, he’d presented with Essential Tremor and requested help from the foundation. But Eunseong Hospital found no answers, and he came to Korea University Hospital instead.
For a painter, the symptom was devastating. From that point on, the foundation slowly distanced itself from him, yet Korea University Hospital extended exceptional care. Rare serious patients were always precious research subjects.
‘It wasn’t a rare disease. It was a tumor pressing on a nerve.’
Do-yoon’s right hand was fine; only his left trembled. Despite extensive testing—it wasn’t typical Essential Tremor—the cause turned out to be a tumor in the thorax compressing a nerve.
It was such a straightforward case that Im Sung-hyuk was disappointed.
Ultimately, Do-yoon recovered completely under Im Sung-hyuk’s hands and became a celebrated painter. Later he’d be selected as a young artist in Paris and hold his first exhibition.
‘There’s no accident in Kim Do-yoon’s episode.’
Neurosurgery might stumble for a moment, but once Im Sung-hyuk removed the tumor, it was a straightforward cure.
Yet the quest content differed from the Doctor X narrative Bum-jun knew. He narrowed his eyes. Something felt wrong.
* * *
At that moment, Kim Do-yoon was at Korea University Hospital.
He was in the cafeteria located in the annex—the place Han Myeong-jae used for quiet conversations with important visitors.
An Eunseong Foundation representative sat beside Do-yoon but offered little comfort against his tension.
Sitting at rigid attention, Do-yoon kept glancing toward the door. When Han Myeong-jae appeared, he rose awkwardly.
“Chairman, it’s been so long. I hope you’ve been well. How have things been?”
“What’s there to tell? You’ve been fine, I’m sure. I heard from Kim Mu-hyeong about you—so this is the one, I gather.”
“Ah, yes sir.”
Han Myeong-jae had made a statement rather than asked a question, and the pleasantries ended there.
“Yes! His name is Kim Do-yoon. He’s a young artist we sponsor. He’s scheduled to be admitted to Korea University Hospital next week for detailed tests. I’d appreciate your care.”
“Ah, yes. I heard—a painter with trembling hands.”
“That’s right. He’s someone we have high hopes for. These days he paints with his left hand. Ah, here’s the portfolio you requested.”
The foundation staff handed Han Myeong-jae a thin booklet. He flipped through the pages one by one.
“Hmm, not bad. I was actually thinking of changing the artwork anyway, so I’ll consider it.”
Hospital interior design has limited options. Placing decorative objects creates obstacles for patients moving through halls, and plants risk microbial contamination.
Artwork? Hanging paintings and frames on the hospital’s broad walls is practically the entire scope of interior design.
For a hospital the scale of Korea University, over three hundred works would be displayed combined.
“Yes, Chairman, thank you so much for considering.”
The foundation staff expressed exaggerated gratitude. Han Myeong-jae, who hadn’t even glanced at him, studied the portfolio as he spoke.
“Your right hand doesn’t obey, I hear.”
“Yes, sir!”
Do-yoon, startled at being addressed, answered belatedly after noticing the foundation representative’s cue.
“It’s going to be crucial treatment. Your entire future depends on it.”
At Han Myeong-jae’s words, Do-yoon swallowed hard. The arm resting on his knee tensed, his elbow locking straight.
“I wish you luck.”
Han Myeong-jae spoke with a thin smile.

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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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