Chapter 27 – A Terrible Illness (2)

“Please stand up first. If that is the case, shouldn’t we examine the patient first?”

“Then will you treat the young lady?”

‘It is not the Joseon dynasty, so would they really kill me? Or would they? Ugh, it seems I’ve gotten caught in bad luck.’

“I want to examine the patient first, so please guide me to where the patient is.”

“Understood! I will guide you.”

As Kim Ji-hyuk showed a positive reaction, color returned to Butler Hwang’s face.

In that way, Kim Ji-hyuk moved to where the patient was under Butler Hwang’s guidance.

The room at the very end of the corridor on the third floor. This was the room where Chairman Han Chang-gyu’s granddaughter resided.

Compared to the luxurious exterior and bright lighting, the third-floor corridor was dark and gloomy, and even carried a dreary vibe.

‘It feels completely cut off from the outside…’

Ji-hyuk felt a chill.

“Doctor, please wait here for just a moment. I will go in first and meet the young lady. Do not be startled even if there is a loud noise.”

‘A loud noise? Just what is the situation here?’

“Yes. I understand.”

Sure enough,

Arghhh!

Clatter, crash!

As soon as Butler Hwang entered, a sharp scream along with the noisy sound of throwing objects was heard.

And not long after, Butler Hwang came out sweating cold sweat.

“Whew, she seems to have calmed down now.”

Butler Hwang wiped the sweat flowing down his forehead with his sleeve. It seemed a racket had broken out inside.

“Elderly gentleman, are you okay?”

“Yes. I am fine. The young lady sometimes shows seizure-like symptoms like that. It became more severe since the Madam passed away a while ago.”

“By the Madam, you mean?”

“Yes. She was the Chairman’s only daughter. She passed away from the same illness as the young lady.”

Butler Hwang spoke with a serious expression.

‘The same illness? Then is it a hereditary disease? Just what kind of illness is it for both Professor Cho Dong-gi and Butler Hwang to keep it hush-hush? It’s frustrating. I must see the patient first.’

Although he was afraid, Kim Ji-hyuk’s curiosity as a doctor was triggered.

“Yes. Then may I enter?”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s hand was already on the doorknob.

“Yes. Please do so. However, do not try to look at the young lady’s face under any circumstances! You might suffer a great punishment.”

‘How do I examine a patient without seeing her face? They should talk sense.’

“Yes. I understand.”

Whether his life was at stake or not, Kim Ji-hyuk was now driven to the verge of madness out of curiosity if he did not see the patient.

With that, Kim Ji-hyuk walked inside.

Inside the patient’s room.

A pitch-black room.

It was a dark room where the bed, furniture, and curtains were all black. Moreover, as if they would not allow even a single ray of light, they had sealed all the window frames with tape.

Ji-hyuk found it difficult to take steps because it was too dark.

‘Oh man, how do I conduct an examination in a place like this? It’s pitch black all over!’

Kim Ji-hyuk took steps as carefully as possible, fearing he might lose his footing.

“Patient, are you there? If you are, please say something. It is too dark, so I cannot see anything.”

Even in the darkness, a silhouette of something huddled in a corner of the large bed was faintly visible.

Kim Ji-hyuk spoke toward that silhouette.

“…….”

However, the patient did not move a muscle despite Kim Ji-hyuk’s presence. Judging by the round shape, she seemed to be huddled up completely.

The patient, who did not even let out a breathing sound, remained motionless.

This sight was even terrifying.

“Patient, I think I need to turn on the light to conduct the examination, would that be okay?”

Kim Ji-hyuk groped around looking for the switch.

It was a situation where nothing could be done without turning on the light.

“No! If you turn on the light, I will die. Never turn it on!”

The shrill voice of the girl was finally heard.

At the mention of turning on the light, the patient’s voice cracked sharply.

‘Seeing how her voice is husky, her nose must be completely stuffed… Since they say they’ll kill me if I leave, how can I leave?’

“I want to do that too, but if I do not turn on the light, I cannot examine you, and then I will die. And patient! Seeing as you seem young, let’s not speak informally, okay? I am turning on the light.”

“……!”

“And one more advice, how about refraining from throwing or breaking things as you please? Right now, the majority of people outside are starving to death. Frankly, this behavior doesn’t look good. Even if you just sell these broken items, I think the children in the orphanage could eat their fill for a week.”

“……!”

She flinched. She was startled by Kim Ji-hyuk’s unexpected reaction.

It was understandable since no one had ever retorted to her words point-blank.

At any rate, there was no doubt that the patient was flustered.

‘Whatever. I must bluff at least to see the patient’s face, shouldn’t I? I need to know what kind of illness it is first to cure it or not.’

“I do not know what kind of illness you are suffering from, but there is no incurable disease. There are only incompetent doctors.”

“……!”

“So, please let me see your condition, will you?”

“C-can you really cure my illness?”

Only then did the patient soften her voice slightly.

“Speaking informally again? Didn’t I tell you to use polite language? Then I will speak informally too, okay?”

“……!”

“Shouldn’t I examine you first to see if I can cure it? If you continue like this, I cannot do anything either. If you do nothing, nothing changes! Are you going to keep hiding like a beast in a cave??”

Swish, Kim Ji-hyuk pulled the black curtains hanging over the large window.

At that, sunlight poured into the room.

That sunlight headed entirely toward the huddled girl.

“Arghhh!”

And immediately, the girl’s scream was heard, and she covered her face with both hands at the speed of light.

Right at that moment, her hands came into Kim Ji-hyuk’s field of vision, and Kim Ji-hyuk could not close his agape mouth.

‘H-Hansen’s disease! That is why she wore a black cloak and did not allow the lights to be turned on!’

Kim Ji-hyuk was immediately able to gauge the illness she was suffering from.

Hansen’s disease.

A disease that was once called leprosy, leper’s disease, or a divine curse, strikes people with terror. A terrifying infectious disease that was despised and kept at a distance, fearing one might catch it just by looking at the patient.

Even in the 1950s, the fear of this Hansen’s disease was still present. It was said that if someone contracted Hansen’s disease, they could even hold a funeral and execute inheritance, which was enough to gauge how terrifying this disease was.

However, Hansen’s disease was not as serious as people at that time thought.

It was not hereditary, as people of this era believed, nor was it a disease easily contracted through daily life or simple contact.

Hansen’s disease appearing in movies was merely exaggerated to show dramatic situations.

It was a disease that could be completely cured if treated with a combination of dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine, which are highly effective antibiotics against the leprosy bacillus that causes Hansen’s disease. Since even a single injection of rifampicin could drop infectivity close to zero.

Of course, this was before these drugs were released.

‘Have these drugs been developed now? Anyway, Cho Dong-gi, that son of a bitch! He didn’t say anything to me about the patient because it was Hansen’s disease.’

Kim Ji-hyuk tilted his head.

At any rate, it was the moment the reason both Professor Cho Dong-gi and Butler Hwang kept it so hush-hush was revealed.

Since Professor Cho Dong-gi could not handle it himself, he had dumped it onto Kim Ji-hyuk.

“Patient, may I take a look at your hands?”

However, he could not declare it as Hansen’s disease for sure yet. Kim Ji-hyuk thought he should examine the patient’s condition a bit more.

“……!”

Fearing Kim Ji-hyuk might see her face, she pulled down the hood she was wearing. Then she quickly hid her hands behind her back.

“It is okay. Must I not see the lesions to treat them? Please show me your hands. There will be parts I can help you with.”

At that, Kim Ji-hyuk spoke gently in a calm voice.

“……!”

At that moment, her eyes, caught in a glimpse, were trembling in fear, yet they were the clear and pure eyes of an innocent teenage girl.

“It is really okay. Please show me your hands!”

She, who could not hide her bewilderment at Kim Ji-hyuk’s unexpected action. Feeling the sincerity in Kim Ji-hyuk’s voice, she finally peeked out and extended her hands toward Kim Ji-hyuk.

It was only natural.

Since even her one and only grandfather kept his distance from her if possible.

‘Dark red rashes scattered here and there on her hands!’

Kim Ji-hyuk tilted his head.

“May I feel them a bit?”

“……!”

She flinched at Kim Ji-hyuk’s words. It was only natural, as no one had ever tried to touch her hands.

“No! You might catch it…”

The girl finally spoke to Kim Ji-hyuk.

‘She is cute. She stopped speaking informally so quickly? Don’t worry! Since Hansen’s disease is not transmitted that easily.’

“It is fine. It won’t be transmitted, and even if it is, we just need to treat it. I am a doctor, so trust me and show me your hands.”

“Pardon? T-treatment? Can this terrible disease be cured?”

She opened her eyes wide.

Despised as a leper, even her own grandfather, her blood relative, did not touch her. Yet, it was surprising that a complete stranger tried to touch her hands without a second thought, but what surprised her even more must have been Kim Ji-hyuk’s words that it could be cured.

To the point where she wanted to believe it even if it were a lie.

“Of course. I told you, didn’t I? There is no incurable disease in the world. There are only incompetent doctors.”

“Liar!”

It was a word that burst out inevitably even while hoping it was not a lie.

‘Naturally. Since it is currently the 1950s, would she believe my words?’

“It is not a lie. I am just telling you the facts as they are. So do not worry and show me your hands. Even if I contract Hansen’s disease, wouldn’t you have nothing to lose?”

“……!”

“You also let me into this room because you had a shred of hope, didn’t you? Must we not check the affected area to treat it or do anything?”

“R-really? Can leprosy really be cured? My mother also passed away from this disease.”

The girl, trying to hold a sliver of expectation due to Kim Ji-hyuk’s confidence.

‘Is that so? Come to think of it, Butler Hwang said so earlier too, didn’t he? But Hansen’s disease is not a hereditary disease, is it?’

Even in the 1950s, the theory that Hansen’s disease was hereditary was dominant, but later, research results were revealed one after another showing that Hansen’s disease has nothing to do with heredity.

Therefore, the claim that Hansen’s disease was hereditary was a myth with absolutely no scientific basis.

“Patient, quickly your hands… no, let’s check your face!”

Swish, Kim Ji-hyuk quickly lifted up the hood the patient was wearing.