Dream Breaker

Chapter 23

I had been suspicious when I saw the unexplainable phenomenon during Song Seon-young's case in the past.

Could this be a dream, I wondered.

Witnessing a person fly without wings or a jetpack, I harbored the same doubts.

'Could this be a dream as well?'

There was circumstantial evidence.

I was with Song Seon-young when she fell unconscious on the school rooftop, just before I fell into her dream.

The same thing happened this time, too. The location was different, but I visited Choi Kang-min who was hospitalized.

Moreover,

'It's too coincidental.'

The symptoms of Song Seon-young and Choi Kang-min were identical.

A comatose state that couldn't be explained scientifically or treated!

According to the doctor's explanation, they were in a deep sleep, so deep that they wouldn't wake up from physical external stimuli.

I looked around.

"Sa, save me..."

"Ah! Doctor! Doctor~!"

"Blood is coming from my head...!

If this situation was during a movie shoot, there would have been cameras and staff all over the place.

But look.

"Uh..."

"Ah..."

There were patients with severe injuries, such as scratches from glass shards that flew when the window broke.

"Ah! My eyes...!"

"I can't see! My eyes~!"

And even severe patients with sharp pieces of glass stuck in their eyes.

'It doesn't make sense.'

They wouldn't have brought in unrelated civilians for a single shoot.

In other words, this is a real situation!

At the same time, it's also a dream.

'Probably.'

The man chasing after the intruder who broke through the glass window of the Elmorang Hospital VIP ward was undoubtedly Choi Kang-min.

Undoubtedly, but...

'Why is he perfectly fine?'

I don't know why he, who was as thin as an Egyptian mummy, is healthy enough to fly in the sky.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

The paramedics began to clean up the situation.

Fortunately, in this unfortunate situation,

"Quickly, start with the critically ill patients! Hurry up!"

"Doctor! Call a doctor...!"

"Minor injuries over here!"

This was the world's best Elmolangs Hospital. There was no need to trouble oneself by transferring the injured patients to a different hospital.

“You should get a thorough check-up, just in case. The hospital offers free support to those affected by this incident.”

"Free of charge?"

“Yes. Free of charge. As most people know, the government fully supports the victims of incidents related to the Magical Boy.”

“Ah! I see. I will definitely get a check-up.”

Free is always right!

Speaking of which...

‘Magical Boy...?’

It was an unfamiliar proper noun that people kept mentioning.

Magical Boy!

Grown adults were casually mentioning a word that stimulates the innocence of childhood.

"Did you see the Magical Boy?"

"Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to marry the Magical Boy!"

"Oh! The Magical Boy has solved another impossible case."

"I love you, Magical Boy!"

Piecing together the conversations, it seemed that the Magical Boy was something like a crusader of justice who defeated villains.

"Brother Kang-min..."

But even hearing such stories, I didn't feel any admiration or envy for Choi Kang-min.

Why?

‘My brother, who is dying, is immersed in playing hero in a dream...’

When I concluded that this place was a dream world through various circumstances, I felt very sorry for Choi Kang-min, who couldn't get out of his delusion.

Anyway,

"Excuse me."

"Yes? What is it?"

In the chaotic situation where people were injured and paramedics were running around, I approached a lady who was engrossed in reading webtoons on her smartphone.

"Who is the Magical Boy?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

Because you seem free!

But I couldn't say that, so I decided to sweeten my words.

"You seem to know well. You're reading a fantasy genre similar to Magical Boy."

"Oh my! I can't believe there are still people saying such things. Listen, this isn't fantasy, it's a modern tale based on reality."

"Oh, I see."

A fantasy where people throw dump trucks and rays come out of their eyes is classified as a modern tale when it becomes reality.

"Never mind. What can I expect from someone who doesn't even know about Magical Boy."

"......"

"The Magical Boy is the true- no, the only hero of this era who doesn't misuse his mighty power!"

"Could you please tell me more in detail?"

“Is the smartphone in your hand just for show? Look up the rest yourself.”

“...It's not for show. I just wanted to hear living knowledge, not indiscriminate information floating on the internet.”

"You talk well. Even though you didn't even know what a modern tale is."

"Haha!"

I laughed it off.

"The Magical Boy has been protecting the Earth for over 10 years without any reward. From super-giant meteorites, mad scientists, mutants, aliens, magical girls, vicious criminals... from countless crises."

"I see."

It seems that an individual stepped forward to solve problems that the nation or the world should have tackled together.

Truly magical!

I wanted to know more, but the lady's patience had reached its limit.

"Do you still have questions?"

"No."

Saying ‘yes.’ here would be tactless.

"If you're still curious about Magical Boy, use your smartphone. Or ask someone else."

"Yes. Thank you for your time. Enjoy your reading."

I, who couldn't feel the need to ask someone else, patiently waited for my turn after taking a waiting ticket and sitting in the waiting area.

'It's true.'

The statement that they provide free treatment and examination to people involved in the Magical Boy's case was true.

"Oh my..."

The lady's sharp advice came to mind.

'Is your smartphone a decoration?'

'Yes! My smartphone is a decoration!'

Since a while ago, a warning message has been flashing on my smartphone.

「Signal not detected. Please replace your USIM card.」

Because of this, most of the functions, including the internet, are not working!

13 years ago- no, it seems that the mobile communication terminal does not fit because it is an old model that came out 16 years ago.

'Ah! Maybe? Oh no...'

The public Wi-Fi at Elmorang Hospital did not work either.

Ding dong!

"Huh? It's already my turn."

I headed to the reception with my number ticket.

"What brings you here?"

"Because of the accident on the 19th floor..."

"Please fill in your name and social security number here."

"Yes."

"If you have any pain, please write it in detail."

"Yes."

Swoosh-

I quickly filled in the information and resubmitted it.

"We will process the registration... Huh?"

The nurse, who had been diligently typing, paused.

“What's wrong?”

"...Please double-check if you have filled it in correctly."

"Yes, it's correct."

"Then it seems there's an error in the system."

"What kind of error…"

"It's a problem that sometimes happens, don't worry about it. Your registration is complete. You can go straight down that hallway and wait after submitting this receipt."

"Thank you."

Could it be because my smartphone is almost broken?

I felt a bit uneasy, but as the nurse said, it wasn't an important issue, so I decided to just let it go.

After that?

"Mr. Kang Moon-soo."

"Yes."

“Please change your clothes in that men's changing room, then wait in front of examination room number 4.”

"Yes."

I did as the hospital instructed.

* * *

I thought I would only receive a simple test like an X-ray to check if my bones were cracked or broken.

Even when they collected my urine, and took my blood…

That was 3 hours ago.

'This is a bit too much...!'

At first, it took a long time due to the long wait, but now, as soon as one test was over, I immediately took the next one, ignoring the wait or order. Nevertheless, I was receiving a variety of tests that took a long time.

"Mr. Kang Moon-soo."

"Yes."

"Have you ever had a colonoscopy?"

"No, I haven't. But do I really have to have it?"

I was reluctant to show my butt to a man I didn't know.

"It's mandatory. Since parasites that control the human body appeared, colonoscopy has become a mandatory task tied to national security."

"......"

'What on earth is this world?! There are such hideous parasites?!'

I got goosebumps.

"Don't worry. We will use anesthesia. When you wake up, it will be all over."

"Excuse me, doctor."

"When will the tests end? I've been taking them for over 3 hours."

"...That's not my responsibility, so I don't know."

"Then who should I ask..."

"Now, the drug will be administered. Count to ten in your mind."

"Okay."

'One, two, three, four-'

I couldn't count all the way to ten.

* * *

It seems I was asleep for quite a long time after that.

"Uh... where is this?"

Was the drug used for sleep anesthesia strong? My eyelids were heavy.

But I tried hard to open my eyes and looked around.

A completely different place.

I was lying in a clean hospital room, covered with a blanket on a soft bed.

I couldn't see outside the window because it was covered with green curtains, but I could guess that it was midnight through the clock on the wall in front of me.

Swoosh-

"You're awake."

The automatic door of the ward opened and a nurse came in.

“How long have I been asleep?”

"It's been about 4 hours since you went under anesthesia."

"Ah..."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel heavy."

"It's probably because the anesthesia hasn't fully worn off yet. The doctor is on his way here, so please wait a moment."

"He's coming in person?"

"Yes. He should be arriving soon... Ah! He's here."

Swoosh-

The doctor appeared in front of the silently opened automatic door.

"Mr. Kang Moon-soo. How are you feeling?"

"I think I'm fine."

It was my first time having a colonoscopy.

On a physical level, it was over in an instant, so it wasn't painful or embarrassing, but maybe it was just my feeling?

I didn't want to have it again.

Specifically, I didn't want to be put under anesthesia.

"The test results are out."

"Finally..."

I was worried because it took so long that there might be something wrong with my body.

"The result is that you are very healthy."

"Very?"

"Yes. Very."

It was a very disappointing answer.

So,

"Doctor, are you saying that this body is healthy?"

I shook my limp wrist, which was only bones left, and questioned the test result.

However,

"Yes."

The doctor asserted, presenting related materials in front of me.

I was momentarily speechless, but I couldn't back down quietly because I didn't want to waste the time and effort I spent getting tested.

"Doctor, look at this. I can barely walk."

“I fully understand what you're saying, Mr. Kang Moon-soo. However, nutritional issues are not related to the Magical Boy, so we can't solve them at this hospital.”

"Ah! You should have told me that from the beginning. There would have been no misunderstanding then."

“No, it's not a misunderstanding. Because there's nothing wrong with your health, Mr. Kang Moon-soo. If I had to give advice as a doctor of health medicine, I would recommend you to moderately diet.”

"......"

'Diet? Me?'

I was flabbergasted.

But I had no choice but to surrender to the doctor, who explained while showing related materials.

"And I have a question."

"For me?"

"Yes. It's really important."

"...Go ahead."

What could be more important to a doctor than a patient's health?

I was curious.

"Are you really Mr. Kang Moon-soo?"

"Pardon?"

"The social security number and name you submitted to the hospital belongs to Kang Moon-soo, who passed away 15 years ago."

"......"

"Who are you, claiming to be Kang Moon-soo?"

"......"

I died 15 years ago?

This was more absurd than the diet.

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