“T-Then he won't be able to walk?”
“Well, that, for now.” The doctor blurred his words.
The injury in which nerve cells between C7 and C8 of the spine were cut off was enough to cripple the strong and sturdy young man.
“For now? Then he would be able to after surgery?”
“It's not completely impossible, but the money required is...”
“Doctor! Please, please save my child! I will pay as much money as I can. How much will it cost? How much do you need? If I withdraw everything I have been saving-”
The middle-aged woman sitting on a small chair knelt on the floor and grabbed the doctor's coat.
It took only about 3 seconds, for the hope of her son being able to walk again, to turn into despair.
“About 2 billion.”
“…Yes?”
“Sorry.”
“N-No. How much?”
“It's about... 2 billion.”
The doctor sighed and the middle-aged woman closed her eyes.
“2 billion...That’s...”
“It is an operation that is impossible in Korea. In Germany... No, it's complicated to explain in detail. Anyway, the estimated amount is around 2 billion, but in fact, it may cost more. What I should say to you is 2.5 billion, no... It may even cost more than 3 billion.”
In 2030, when virtual reality was created and self-driving cars traveled on the highway, money was still precious, and outstanding doctors and medicine even more so.
The doctor no longer spoke, and the middle-aged woman loosened the strength of her hands and cried.
“Sorry.” The doctor apologized as if he had done something wrong. 2 billion. That was a huge sum, how could a small house save 2 billion for the operation?
It was a military accident, so at first, the doctor thought that the government would provide support for them and he took a few steps to find out.
However, he got rejected. In the process of transferring the patient from the Armed Forces Hospital to the University Hospital, he even met a person in charge of the Ministry of National Defense directly, but it was useless.
“Why not?” The doctor went ahead and criticized them.
“The victim will be fined for the negligence of public affairs. According to the testimony of a soldier at the scene, he saw that the victim moved the ammunition carelessly. They were joking and playing.” A Department of Defense spokesman said while scratching his head.
“Then.” However, the doctor himself had never seen the scene and couldn't argue with the words of the eyewitness.
Once Leeha hears this. He didn’t drop the bullets, and there was no external shock, but it was labeled as ‘Carelessness of the parties’.
“Anyway, the pension or compensation will be paid properly, so you don't have to worry about it.”
“How can I not care? The young man became an invalid!”
“So, aren't you saying that we need to pay for the cost of this surgery?”
“Ha.” The doctor yelled at the Department of Defense spokesman, but it was useless.
The military pension and disability compensation received as a lump sum has already been used to pay for this operation.
At the very least, the doctor had decided that the victim was only short by a small amount, and proceeded with the operation. If they had less money, Leeha might have been moved back to the Armed Forces Hospital, or the surgery may have been delayed until they were able to pay the bill. In any case, various payments will be given to the hospital as soon as compensation is deposited into Leeha's bankbook.
“Then I'll get going.” The doctor, after recalling his interaction with the Department of Defense spokesman who had no sympathy, comfort, or even any explanation for the accident, got up from his seat with a sad expression.
“Gosh.” In the consultation room where doctors and nurses went out, the middle-aged woman was lying on the floor and didn't know how to stand up.
“My Leeha. My Leeha.”
To: Sergeant(Reserve) Ha Leeha，29y/o
Subject: Notification of Compensation payment
We wish you peace in your home.
You were in an accident while in military service. We will notify you that all medical services have been properly settled, and all the compensation calculation procedures have been completed.
However, you are judged to be able to engage in labor due to the maintenance of both arms, face, and brain functions (see Attachment 1), and the negligence of the person involved in the accident is considerably acknowledged (see Attachment 2). You cannot register for mental and physical disability higher than level 7.
Therefore, mental and physical disability payment compensation will be at Level 7. However, we regret to inform you that the registration for a person of national merit and veterans compensation has not been approved.
For the above reasons, according to Article 23 of the Military Pension Act (variable pension), 397,000 won is paid monthly.
“Leeha. My Leeha.”
397,000 won per month in exchange for all the senses of the lower body.
Contrary to the statement in the official letter, it would not be easy to have peace at home. The short official letter tore the heart of the reader.
There will not be many people who would blame Leeha even if he went on a rampage after opening his eyes.
Ttok, Ttok, Ttok.
Leeha did not respond to the harsh knocking sound.
“This is a courier. Is there Mr. Ha Leeha? Mr. Ha Leeha!”
Leeha laid down and did not want to answer.
He hated answering and going to the front door.
“Mr. Ha Leeha? Mr. Ha Leeha!”
‘Just go.’
Most of all, he didn't remember buying anything that could come by courier.
No, he hadn't bought anything recently, far from buying anything, he hated going outside, moving, eating, and even breathing.
When he was a sergeant, he had a sturdy physique.
‘Did he leave?’ When Leeha, who was lying down, finally found peace, he heard another buzzing sound outside the front door.
‘There’s another?’ He heard a sound that he couldn't understand properly and then heard another knock on the front door.
“Hyung! Leeha-hyung! I know you are there! Can you open the door? If you're doing something weird by yourself, put on your pants quickly! I will open in just 10 seconds!”
‘Shit… What the hell is he saying?’ Leeha, who was lying down, barely raised his upper body.
What did he mean by 'doing something weird' and 'putt on your pants'? It's too harsh of a joke for someone with a disabled lower body.
Leeha had to endure it because Kijeong was a close cousin, and if it were someone else, Leeha would have run them over with a wheelchair.
The door opened with the sound of a door lock opening while Leeha was crawling towards his wheelchair.
An installation engineer with a bright and cheerful expression appeared with an embarrassed face.
“Hyung! I knew you were here. Mister, please install that over there.”
Kijeong pointed the location to the installer while entering the house. He has never bought something like this, and it's pretty much bigger than a refrigerator box, so it's just absurd.
“What is it? Mister, what is that?”
“That's-”
“I'll explain, just install it quickly.”
“Yes.”
Kijeong stopped talking to the installation engineer and approached Leeha who was in a mermaid-like posture with only his upper body in bed. With the natural cooperation of the two, Leeha was sat in the wheelchair.
“What is it, Kijeong? I'm not in the mood to play.”
“Once again, you're depressed. Shouldn't I come here to help you feel better? Can people be like this every day? You have to get some air to be healthy.”
Kijeong pushed the wheelchair and opened the door to the balcony, the world outside the transparent window, where cool wind blows.
However, it was now too scary and rough for Leeha to live.
“How can I live healthily with this body?”
Of course, Leeha also knew that many people live more difficult lives, however, he was having difficulties adapting to such a world.
No, most of all, he couldn't admit and accept his condition.
“Umm... You know me well, hyung. Ppuing ppuing?”
“You're so excitable.” Leeha snorted and shook his head.
‘This guy is also suffering because of me.’
While thinking that, Leeha listened to Kijeong.
For Leeha and his mother, who lived in disgrace, only Kijeong visited whenever he had time.
Since Leeha knew that Kijeong had good intentions, he couldn't treat him coldly.
“So what is that?”
“Are you curious? Are you curious?” Kijeong moved to a place near an installer who was sweating while pushing the wheelchair.
What came out of the box was a huge, chair-like object.
‘Is this something like an extremely luxurious massage chair?’
“Virtual Reality Connector?”
Leeha looked up at Kijeong with an embarrassed expression.
‘What is a Virtual Reality Connector doing here? The price is quite... expensive. If I had that kind of money, I would just save it. But this guy has so much money, so this.’
“No, no. It's not a normal connector. It's perfect for playing [Middle Earth].”
“Middle… What? So that's... for gaming.”
Kijeong raised his finger and said proudly, but with an expression more serious than Leeha.
“Not just a normal game! [Middle Earth] has a Virtual reality game market share of 31% and the total number of subscribers worldwide exceeded 100 million in 4 months after its launch! It was so hard to convince aunty.”
“What do you mean? Why are you bringing mom into this?” Kijeong cared about Leeha, but Leeha's mom cared more about him than Kijeong ever would.
“I asked aunty to buy it for me.” Kijeong's words made Leeha realize.
“My mom? Hey! Are you crazy? What are you talking about! You want me to play right now while knowing our situation clearly? You mean you urged mom to buy a game machine?”
“Oh? No, hyung, not that-”
“Is it not? Mom is already working so hard to take care of her stupid son and you want me to play games?”
Leeha's pleasant and optimistic nature disappeared along with the senses of his lower body. Leeha took everything negatively and he sharply shouted at Kijeong with bloodshot eyes.
How could he not? Knowing clearly the circumstances of Leeha's family, Kijeong convinced Leeha's mother to buy something like this.
“Listen to me, hyung. Would I ask you to only play a game? [Middle Earth]! Do you think I persuaded aunty without thinking? She said that you are not able to find a job! But with [Middle Earth] you can make money while playing!”
Lee Ha was angry, but he couldn't push it anymore.
“Come on, what can a kid like you know?”
“I know you're angry, but believe me. If you just log in, your heart will be unburdened.”
“… Haaaa. All right, then. What's the point of arguing with you?”
Leeha barely pressed down his boiling anger.
(To be continued...)
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