"Excuse me?"
Was he seriously suspecting that I'd gotten help with my assignment?
What was this, elementary school?
"I didn't ask anyone. Those were just my own thoughts. I'm glad they happened to be right."
"I see. I only asked because I've occasionally helped Ha-neul with his assignments before."
The strength instantly drained from my stare.
Professor Lee Min-seok answered calmly.
So there really was an elementary-school-level classmate among us.
Ha-neul always acted like they were close, calling him hyung and everything.
Apparently they really were.
"As I mentioned before, there aren't any Korean medicine doctors in my family."
"Remarkable."
He didn't seem suspicious at all.
Apparently he had been genuinely curious.
"It was obvious how much thought you put into the patient."
Professor Lee folded his arms.
"Perhaps far more thought than I, the attending physician, put into treating him."
"That's not true."
"When I first read your report, I thought you were making far too many assumptions. In the end, though, I was the one who was wrong."
He laughed softly.
"I reflected on that. I never imagined that patient could improve to that extent."
He wasn't merely praising me.
The fact that a professor would admit something like that in front of a student was surprising enough.
"I was lucky."
I scratched my cheek.
"He opened up to me, so I was able to learn things I otherwise wouldn't have."
"That's exactly what's impressive."
Professor Lee pointed at me.
"I spent weeks trying to get that patient to trust me. Then he meets you and immediately decides to quit drinking."
He shook his head.
"You'll become an excellent physician."
"You're embarrassing me."
I accepted the excessive compliments awkwardly.
It wasn't really that extraordinary.
"Speaking of which..."
Professor Lee suddenly changed the subject.
"What are your plans after graduation? Are you thinking about applying to Internal Medicine?"
"Internal Medicine?"
"You seem more interested in herbal prescriptions than most students."
He tilted his head.
"If not Internal Medicine, then perhaps Acupuncture or Rehabilitation Medicine?"
...Ah.
So this was the real reason he'd called me here.
No wonder Hwang Sang-hoon and Jo Ha-neul were so wary.
Getting an internship at Korea University's Korean Medicine Hospital was difficult enough.
After that came the competition for residency positions in specific specialties.
There were eight specialist tracks for Korean medicine physicians.
Among them, Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Medicine were generally the most popular.
After all, most patients visiting clinics wanted treatment for musculoskeletal problems.
If I were still interested in residency training, this conversation would have been incredibly valuable.
I could openly express interest in joining his department before applications even started.
"Have you not decided yet?"
Before I could answer, Professor Lee asked again.
This time, sounding strangely impatient.
"If you've already committed to another lab, that's fine. Just tell me."
"...A lab?"
Something about his choice of words sent a chill down my spine.
A familiar sense of danger crawled up my back.
Wasn't this exactly how the Heavenly Demon had approached me?
My instincts screamed at me.
"I thought graduate research usually began after internship and residency."
"I see."
Professor Lee smiled.
"So nothing's been decided."
I had tried to answer cautiously.
Unfortunately, he seemed delighted.
"I don't even know whether I'll do an internship."
"Ah, right."
He nodded.
"Korea University is competitive. Students don't usually secure advisors early."
"You did?"
"Yes."
Professor Lee grinned.
"I assisted my advisor's research every vacation starting in my second year. That's how I met Jo Ha-neul."
"...That sounds exhausting."
I offered a bit of sympathy.
Rather than looking burdened, however, he chuckled and patted my shoulder.
"Then this works out perfectly."
He looked directly at me.
"If you haven't chosen anywhere yet, I'd like you to join my lab."
And there it was.
The invitation had finally arrived.
"Professor..."
"Don't worry about internship placement."
He waved a hand dismissively.
"If not Han Yeo-won, then who would they choose?"
"I don't have the influence to force decisions, but the other professors aren't blind."
"No, that's not—"
"And you don't need to obsess over connections."
He interrupted me.
"Publishing strong papers is far more important."
Professor Lee tapped his chest.
"Look at me. I graduated from Umyeong University, yet I still became a professor at Korea University."
"Professor, I'm sorry!"
I finally cut him off.
Rather rudely.
"I've completely given up on internships!"
"...What?"
"And graduate school isn't part of my plans for at least the next twenty years!"
The intensity of his recruitment efforts rivaled that of the Alliance Leader trying to recruit a martial master.
Before my journey to the martial world, hearing words like these would've moved me to tears.
Now?
I'd already made my decision.
I had absolutely no lingering attachment to residency.
The most important things in my life were:
Adequate sleep.
Three unhealthy meals a day.
There was no universe in which I willingly spent four years being overworked and sleep-deprived.
I intended to order delivery food every day and enjoy my life in peace.
And what?
Join Professor Lee's research lab?
Everyone else would sleep six hours while I slept two and spent the rest writing papers.
Absolutely not.
A glorious future of gaming day and night awaited me.
Why would I voluntarily walk into hell?
"Has another hospital already recruited you?"
Professor Lee looked puzzled.
"Perhaps Imperial Korean Medicine Hospital?"
He paused.
"Or do you have a private mentor somewhere?"
Neither.
I had no intention of asking Seo-young to get me into Imperial Hospital.
And the mentor I'd served...
Was trapped in another world I'd never see again.
How do I explain this?
I couldn't exactly tell Professor Lee that my future plans consisted primarily of eating snacks and playing video games.
After a moment of thought, I settled on something more respectable.
"I considered residency."
I nodded.
"But recently I've been leaning toward opening my own clinic."
"Opening a clinic?"
Professor Lee's eyes widened.
"Immediately after graduation?"
Older students who entered medical school in their thirties or forties occasionally did that.
Students who entered straight out of high school almost never did.
Most completed residency or worked as associate physicians first.
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Professor Lee looked me up and down thoughtfully.
Here it comes.
He was probably about to tell me how many young graduates had ruined themselves by rushing into business.
Or that I should study more before opening a clinic.
"That doesn't sound bad."
"...What?"
I blinked.
Caught completely off guard.
"I think you'd do well."
Professor Lee nodded.
"You're comfortable treating patients."
"And you're comfortable dealing with people."
He smiled.
"Honestly, that's the more important skill."
"Medical knowledge can always be learned."
"There are books everywhere."
He laughed.
"Talking about needing a master in this day and age... perhaps I'm the old-fashioned one."
"You're not going to try and stop me?"
"How could I?"
Professor Lee shrugged.
"If someone wants to make money."
"It's not just about money."
"I'm sure."
He nodded.
"But I understand."
Then he smiled again.
"I thought you and I were cut from the same cloth."
"Still, I think you'll be successful."
"Not only in medicine."
"In business too."
Hmm.
Was he disappointed?
The truth was that workload mattered far more to me than money.
But no matter which excuse I used, neither sounded particularly noble.
The important thing was that Professor Lee had finally abandoned his attempt to drag me into graduate school.
"Don't look so nervous."
He laughed.
"I just think working together would've been interesting."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."
"It's not excessive praise."
Professor Lee shook his head.
"Patient Jung Gwang-su improved tremendously because of you."
"Please continue helping patients after graduation."
"That was because you treated him well, Professor."
Whether I actually opened a clinic or spent my days lounging around was another matter entirely.
For now, I accepted the compliment humbly.
"If you ever change your mind, let me know."
Professor Lee smiled knowingly.
"Even ten years from now."
"If you become interested in academia, my door will remain open."
I declined as politely as possible.
And Professor Lee finally let me go.
Still wearing that mysterious smile.
Time flew by.
At first, my classmates had tensed up whenever Professor Lee assigned another project.
Gradually, however, everyone adapted.
Assignments improved.
Presentations improved.
At this point, they were convinced they could survive any bizarre examination he came up with.
Which made his announcement all the more shocking.
The final exam would be exactly the same format used by the previous professor.
In other words:
There was nothing special to prepare.
I had already reviewed every acupuncture point the moment the semester began.
For me, placing needles in designated locations was easier than eating porridge.
Waiguan.
Baihui.
Sanyinjiao.
Taibai.
Four points?
I could probably hit them by throwing needles.
...Probably.
Still, I carefully inserted them one by one into my practice partner's head and limbs.
"Perfect."
"Thank you."
"Don't leave campus yet. Wait in the classroom."
"Yes, Professor."
After the practical exam ended, everyone returned to class.
The room was packed.
Apparently we'd all received the same instructions.
Please don't tell me there's another lecture after the exam.
"This means everyone's getting full marks."
Seo-young announced confidently from her seat.
The questions hadn't matched previous exams exactly.
But nobody had relied solely on old test papers.
After witnessing Professor Lee's teaching style, everyone had studied seriously.
Seo-young had reportedly stayed awake for two nights memorizing all 365 acupuncture points.
The others looked equally cheerful.
Apparently they'd survived through sheer desperation.
"Kang Ji-won~"
The front door opened.
"Huh?"
"Starting from student number one, come collect your score sheets!"
"What? The exam's over already."
"In order: Herbal Medicine Exam One, Exam Two, Medical Law, Acupuncture Assignment, and the practical exam you just completed."
The teaching assistant grinned.
"If you have complaints, don't tell me. Go argue with the professor directly."
Thankfully, no additional lecture followed.
Unfortunately...
Score sheets appeared instead.
The classroom immediately exploded.
"Herbal Medicine is insane!"
"Nobody's getting held back, right?!"
"Wait, I lost twenty points?!"
"I was only off by one centimeter!"
"Quiet down, everyone~!"
The assistant continued calling names.
"Choi Su-mi! Han Yeo-won! Hwang Sang-hoon! Hwang Seo-young! Next!"
All students with surnames starting with H collected their papers.
I narrowed my eyes and checked my scores.
43. 100. 100. 98. 100.
The practical exam was obviously perfect.
The assignment had only cost me two points.
Medical Law was fine.
The problem...
Was the Herbal Medicine exam from the first day of class.
"After all that big talk..."
I rubbed my forehead.
I'd proudly announced to Jo Ha-neul.
I'd proudly announced to Professor Lee.
That I wouldn't do residency.
If I ended up unable to get one because of my grades...
How humiliating would that be?
Forty-three.
Forty-three points.
Out of a hundred.
I'd failed so spectacularly it was almost artistic.
The only major evaluation remaining was the graduation examination.
Technically it covered every subject.
Still, the thought that two days of testing could determine everything was terrifying.
"There's no retake for Herbal Medicine, right?"
Seo-young groaned.
"What did you get?"
I leaned over and peeked at her score.
"Sixty-eight?"
I blinked.
"That's pretty good."
"You definitely got almost everything right!"
Seo-young huffed indignantly.
Without a word, I handed her my score sheet.
"...Did you accidentally shift all your answers down one line?"
"Let's just go study."
The exam hadn't even been difficult.
I had simply failed all by myself.
Still.
Spilled water couldn't be gathered back up.
The only option now was to crush the graduation exam and make up for it.
"Lee Min-seok, you bastard!"
Across the room, Jo Ha-neul shouted in frustration.
Apparently he'd suffered a disaster somewhere too.
Perhaps the assignment.
Perhaps the practical.
"Hey, Hwang Sang-hoon!"
Jo Ha-neul grabbed his friend.
"Starting today, let's study at your place."
For a moment, Hwang Sang-hoon turned toward me with exhausted eyes.
Then he smiled at Ha-neul.
"Sure."
He's not actually incapable of saying no, is he?
"Yeo-woooon!"
The instant I thought that, Seo-young latched onto my right arm.
"What if I fail the graduation exam?!"
"Let's study together! Please?"
"And you've been spending all your time in the library lately!"
Even the class representative suddenly appeared and grabbed my left arm.
"I feel neglected!"
"Let me ride the Yeo-won Express too!"
Throwing off two women would've been easy.
Ridiculously easy.
But...
"Fine."
I sighed.
"Let's study together at my dorm tonight."
It was a foolish decision.
Yet these were some of the few people who had genuinely cared about me.
Maybe I'd neglected them a little too much lately.
So I allowed myself to be dragged away.
One woman hanging from each arm.
As we headed toward the dormitory.
And thus...
The graduation exam season officially began.
A passionate storyteller who loves creating immersive worlds and captivating characters.
