Publishedat 28th of July 2019 08:03:19 PMChapter 3
Translated by: Jamechi
Edited by: JustDerpin
LD - 2 . Elixir (3)
“Let’s keep monitoring your progress . ”
The doctor stated calmly, alarming Han Seo Jin a bit .
“Is it ok to leave it alone?”
“Within a month, the cancer should naturally cure itself . What helped you was your body’s immune system, not through any external means . In my opinion, it is best to let nature takes it course and not use drugs or other treatments . ”
The doctor’s explanation convinced Han Seo Jin, allowing him to relax .
In fact, Han Seo Jin had been worried on how to refuse treatment options the doctor could’ve recommended . No other treatment process would be as effective as his Elixir .
“Let’s monitor your progress and do frequent tests to ensure that you’re healing well . The tests would be conducted every three days . ”
‘Once every three days? This would cost him a lot of money…’
Even with the lottery winnings and his retirement funds combined, he did not have more than $200 million won left . After recovering from the cancer, he still had to worry about his everyday life and large appet.i.te .
‘Hm, I’ve spent about $1 . 5 billion won . . . It might be possible to haggle the price of treatment to $500 million won . ’
Now that he thought about it, he did not feel a sullen from losing that much money . In the past, even if he spent his whole life working, he would not have been able to even collect this sum of money . But now, he could easily gather $500 million won from a few lottery tickets .
The doctor understood Han Seo Jin’s train of thought and smiled .
“I would like to congratulate you . ”
“Sir, although you asked me to come in for observance every three days… is it not too frequent? I don’t have enough money, so I can’t afford this type of treatment…”
“Well… I think you’ve misunderstood my words . I hope you listen to the rest of what I’m about to say . ”
“Oh yes, please continue . ”
“In cases like yours, this is a rare and miraculous situation . Therefore, I would like to conduct some research for academic purposes . Will that be alright with you? I won’t accept any medical expenses, so everything will be free . ”
“Research on me? That’s a little…”
After hearing about the doctor’s plans, Han Seo Jin could not help but compare that to human experiments and warily looked at the doctor . Realizing that there could’ve been some misinterpretation, the doctor waved his hands and clarified his intents .
“Oh, I understand what you are imagining, but I can a.s.sure you that none of that will happen to you . There will only be some blood and other body fluids tests, tissue sampling, some simple tests on your reflexes, and MRIs like how you have done previously . The studies aren’t dangerous or harmful, please rest a.s.sured . ”
Han Seo Jin pondered over the doctor’s sincere suggestion . There was no falsehood or hypocrisy in his words, but Han Seo Jin was still unsure about this idea .
‘After three days, I recovered from the Elixir and expelled it from my system . Plus I will be cured soon, right? If my condition gets worse, then I can just drink it again . ’
He still had about 90% of the Elixir remaining from the last attempt . After thinking of his options thoroughly, Han Seo Jin shook his head .
“It is okay, I will just pay for the testing and not be researched on . ”
“Patient Han Seo Jin, I don’t advise doing that . ”
“When I am cured, I will need to work to survive . In my opinion, I will be making a full recovery soon and partic.i.p.ating in the research isn’t going to be a long term solution . I am only thinking of what is best for my future . ”
“Then the observation will only be done until you’re cured . ”
“Until I am cured… Yes . I can possibly work with that . ”
To Han Seo Jin, since the observance did not exceed past his recovered state, there was nothing left to lose . So he agreed to the terms and and wondered about the efficiency of the Elixir . How much of the cancer had the Elixir treated?
Hearing this, the doctor immediately organized a dedicated medical team for his case . He was, after all, a professor with high influence in the hospital .
“This man’s immune system is extraordinary, how else could he have been able to recover from end stage pancreatic cancer without prior treatment? If we are able to study more on his immune system, then there will be a huge breakthrough in cancer treatment . ”
Han Seo Jin was a.s.signed to a private patient room . Outside of his room, he heard the medical team discussing about his case outside his door . Most of what they talked about were incomprehensible due to the mixture of medical terminology and layman terms . During his stay, the hospital provided him all sorts of benefits . This included the latest technology, delicious food, and other impressive materials . They tried very hard to flatter him with these benefits .
“Professor, please look at this . ”
“Is something the matter?”
“A substance was extracted from the patient’s blood… this is the first time we have seen this substance . It doesn’t seem to be something synthesized by the patient’s body . ”
“Is it a drug?”
Professor Kim Ja Hong frowned at the student’s discovery . He had not heard of any development of such potent drugs that could cure cancer .
“I did not prescribe the patient any medication . Instead, it is possible that the patient’s immune system produced antibodies to combat against the cancer . ”
“But professor, this is the first time I’ve seen this substance . ”
“This might be something unique that only this patient’s immune system has produced . So, is this all you need to report?”
“No, we have made another great discovery . ”
“What did you find?”
“When we injected the mysterious substance into a test tube of cancerous tissue from another patient, the malignant tissue had, surprisingly, died off . Only the normal tissues were left unaffected . ”
Professor Kim Ja Hong slapped his knees and stood up .
“That’s amazing! This substance, how much more of it do you have?”
“There is none left . I only extracted a minimal amount from the blood… and it was all used to experiment with the other patient’s cancerous tissues . ”
Professor Kim Ja Hong’s expression grew dark .
“This… Things have just gotten harder . ”
~~~
A week had pa.s.sed after Han Seo Jin’s hospitalization .
He felt that something was off . Although he felt better than before, the medical team had told him that some of the cancer remained but did not give him any treatment .
‘In three days, about 90% of the cancer was eradicated and the remaining 10% stayed within his body for a week? Weird… Maybe the Elixir lost its efficiency?’
Bored out of his mind, Han Seo Jin decided to change his clothes and go home . A nurse came into the room and was surprised that Han Seo Jin was wearing his casual clothes .
“Oh, sir . Where are you going?”
“I will be returning home for a while . ”
“That’s not possible, I haven’t heard about any discharge orders for you . ”
“I am not being discharged from the hospital, I only plan on returning home for a bit . I have something urgent to do there . ”
“Then please wait a moment, allow me to report this to the professor . ”
The professor rushed to the room after hearing of Han Seo Jin’s plans .
“You have not fully recovered yet, it isn’t advised to leave yet . ”
“I don’t intend to be discharged yet, I just want to go home for a little bit . After packing some things up to bring here, I’ll be back . ”
“Huh, if it’s like that…”
Unsettled on the thought that Han Seo Jin may disappear after going home, Professor Kim Ja Hong repeatedly questioned him of his plans and tried to change his mind . But Han Seo Jin was stubborn and couldn’t be swayed . The professor could only give up on his attempts and reminded Han Seo Jin to return .
“Alright then, try to be back at the hospital this afternoon . You’ve almost completely recovered, but it is still incomplete . Do not give up . ”
“I understand . ”
After the tremendous struggle to persuade the professor to let him leave, he returned home .
His studio remained exactly as he had left it 10 days ago, the Elixir was still stashed in his desk .
“Have you lost your effectiveness? I do not know how potent you are…”
Han Seo Jin looked at the sapphire Elixir for a moment and filled a cup with it . The amount he drank was only a third of what he consumed previously .
A warm feeling permeated from his throat .
“ . . . ?”
He felt odd and hesitated .
‘I think that something is different compared to before…’
The last time he had drunk the Elixir, there was a strong sense of hot energy that settled in his stomach . The feeling was not painful, and it had warmed his body to the temperature of a pleasant fever .
But now he did not feel any of that .
“ . . . surely . ”
His face grew stiff and he left the Elixir at his desk . Once again, Han Seo Jin exited his studio apartment .
He went to the hospital he had received his second diagnosis . There, the doctor recognized and greeted him .
“When I went to the hospital that I received my first diagnosis, they told me that I had improved by a lot . I would like a detailed checkup to see my improvement . ”
“Your situation has improved? I’m really glad about that . Let us do the tests . ”
The doctor had thought that Han Seo Jin had ‘improved a little,’ and conducted the tests . When he looked at the results, his face couldn’t help but harden .
After several hours of testing Han Seo Jin’s condition, the doctor could not believe his eyes .
“It’s a miracle, the cancer has been cured . But, how can this be…”
“I’m cured?”
“Yes, there are no signs of the malignant cells . Only normal tissues are left . What treatment did you receive?”
Complete recovery .
When he thought about Professor’ Kim Ja Hong’s desperate expression, Han Seo Jin’s eyes grew cold .