Chapter 2: It's Not Indigestion [1] What is this?
Kanghyeok swallowed the curse rising in his throat.
The bearded man, Dolseok, was still staring straight at him.
"Young master… if Madam finds out, you'll be in serious trouble."
"Are you talking to me? Who exactly are you, sir? And where is this?"
"Young master, are you joking again? And what on earth is that?"
Kanghyeok lifted what Dolseok was pointing at.
It was the house-call bag he had desperately held onto even while losing consciousness.
But his clothes felt strange.
"What is this? Why am I wearing this?"
"You're wearing it because Madam of the main house made it for you."
"Madam of the main house?"
"Goodness, this isn't the time for jokes. I'll go check on Okseok first."
The unfamiliar man rushed out of the room.
"…Ha."
Left alone in the small room, Kanghyeok let out a sigh.
What the hell is going on?
He quickly checked his condition.
He was sitting on bedding, dressed in white hanbok.
In front of him were a small oil lamp and a low desk.
The walls were covered with white hanji paper—not the kind he usually saw at folk villages.
What happened?
He tried to recall what had happened before he lost consciousness.
Right. I went to see the director… met the chairman…
After that, nothing came to mind.
It was as if someone had cleanly cut out just that part of his memory.
Why is this happening?
While he was thinking, an angry shout came from outside.
"Where did that brat Kanghyeok go?!"
"W-well…"
"Can't you answer properly?!"
Whoever it was sounded furious.
The problem was that the anger was most likely directed at him.
As expected, the door burst open a moment later.
It was opened with such force that the hinges rattled.
"You brat! The sun is already high in the sky, and you're still lazing around?!"
It was an old man with a magnificent beard.
Just looking at his face, he looked exactly like someone Kanghyeok knew well.
That was why he couldn't believe it. There was no way he could be alive.
Hadn't he personally cremated him and scattered the ashes in a river?
Kanghyeok rubbed his eyes.
Even after looking again, it was him.
"…D-Dad?"
"Dad? This brat must still be half asleep!"
"Are you really my dad? You passed away last year… what is going on?"
"What? Ha… hahaha."
The old man laughed as if he had gone mad.
His well-groomed beard trembled.
The man standing behind him trembled as well.
Is he really my father?
Even the way he laughed was exactly the same as his late father.
It felt as if he were possessed.
But the old man was consumed with anger.
"You wretched brat!"
He rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a broom from the wooden floor.
The way he swung it looked like he could easily be a cleanup hitter in an amateur baseball league.
His face was wrinkled all over, yet his strength was that of a powerhouse.
At the terrifying sight, Dolseok rushed forward.
"Please calm yourself, Master! Hasn't he only just recovered from a fever?!"
"Let go, you fool! Dolseok, let go of me!"
"Okseok is already ill—you can't make another patient!"
"Ha… that brat… what am I to do with him?"
The old man, seemingly exhausted, lowered the broom while panting.
Dolseok supported him and spoke.
"My lord, I will take the young master with me."
"You suffer because of that useless boy. Very well. When will the physician arrive?"
"He should be here soon."
"Alright."
The old man shook his head as he walked away, his face full of worry.
"What sin did I commit to have my only son turn out like that? He hasn't even washed his face yet…"
Listening to the muttering made Kanghyeok deeply uncomfortable.
It was the first time he had ever been scolded like that.
Since his school days, he had always been first place and had walked a smooth path all the way to becoming a professor.
If this is a dream, it's a terrible one.
As he stared at the old man's retreating figure with a sullen face, Dolseok approached.
He bowed his head and spoke.
"Young master, please go now. At this rate, Master will collapse from anger."
"Seriously. Where exactly have you been trying to take me since earlier?"
"Please drop the formal speech. Even as a joke, it's very uncomfortable."
It was clearly a face he had never seen before, yet the acting was flawless.
To the point that he seemed like a promising new actor in Chungmuro.
No—an actor couldn't be this real.
That's… lice, isn't it?
White lice were crawling around Dolseok's hair and shoulders.
Yet Dolseok didn't seem to care at all.
Even for a method actor, this would be difficult.
The distant scenery was strange too.
Such a clear sky, with cooking smoke gently rising.
This doesn't feel like a dream…
He couldn't understand any of it.
While Kanghyeok was lost in thought, Dolseok stood still without moving.
For now, I'll follow along. Play along with it too.
It didn't seem like there was any danger.
"Fine. Lead the way."
"Now you sound like yourself, young master."
Dolseok shrugged and began walking.
He seemed quite urgent, judging by how his pace kept increasing.
The two crossed a wide courtyard and arrived at a small thatched house.
Quite a few people had already gathered.
The old man who had been shouting earlier was pacing outside.
Even though it was just a servant who was sick, he couldn't stay still.
"Is the physician not here yet?"
"No, Master."
"This is serious. How can indigestion be this severe?"
The old man muttered anxiously.
From inside, continuous groans could be heard.
Curious, Kanghyeok glanced inside.
A boy who looked about fifteen lay sweating profusely.
Dolseok rushed inside with a groan.
"Okseok, does it hurt a lot?"
"Hyung… nim…"
Even to Kanghyeok, a doctor, the boy looked seriously ill.
His lips were dry—he appeared dehydrated and feverish.
"The physician is here!"
A man Kanghyeok had never seen brought in a physician at a run.
The physician bowed politely upon seeing the old man.
"Have you been well, Elder Seungmun?"
"I'm always the same. Is your father well?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
"A servant boy is very ill. Please take a look."
"I've heard. I'll examine him."
The physician strode into the room.
Then he rolled up Okseok's sleeve.
"I'll check the pulse."
He held the wrist for a while, then nodded.
Kanghyeok watched with interest.
"It's an illness caused by blocked blood stasis. We must prick the fingers and administer Pyeongwi-san and Gwache-san."
The physician immediately tied Okseok's finger and drove a needle in.
Dark red blood dripped down.
Kanghyeok was the one startled.
He actually stabbed him?
He thought it would just be an act, but there was real blood.
Maybe this wasn't a dream or a prank.
Maybe it was reality.
"Ugh…"
Painful groans continued.
At the very least, Okseok's pain was real.
Then he couldn't let this kind of treatment continue.
"Wait, may I take a look too? Or… can I?"
No one responded.
Only the old man, Seungmun, looked displeased.
Kanghyeok cautiously stepped inside and spoke to Okseok.
"Try bending your knees like this."
"Ah… yes, young master."
"Good. I'll check your abdomen."
"Y-yes."
Kanghyeok pressed down on the abdomen with his fingers.
Okseok's face immediately twisted.
The abdomen is rigid and hot… this isn't acting.
It hurt more when he released the pressure.
The pain was concentrated in the lower right abdomen.
Kanghyeok quickly grabbed the boy's wrist.
To measure his pulse rate through the radial artery.
120 beats per minute… that's fast!
Kanghyeok stopped the physician, who was still pricking fingers.
"Stop. This isn't indigestion."
"What did you say?"
"I said stop. Unless you want to kill him! Dolseok, was it? Call 119!"
Dolseok tilted his head.
"What is that?"
"Forget it! Just bring the bag I was holding earlier!"
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