Seoul Dragon - Chapter 48

I watched Hayoon with anxious eyes. Despite speaking quite confidently, I couldn't guarantee that the effect would work on Hayoon.

Hayoon, who had finished drinking the dragon blood, slightly frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"...I don't know. Something feels strange."

"Has feeling returned to your legs?"

"...I'm not sure, huh?"

Suddenly, Hayoon's eyes filled with surprise. At the same time, her face contorted.

"What's wrong?"

"It, it hurts."

"What?"

"My legs hurt..."

Wait... if nerves are severed, one shouldn't even feel pain, so have the nerves really regenerated?

Whether my prediction was correct or not, surprise and joy crossed Hayoon's face. Even the pain in her legs seemed welcome.

"How is this..."

She couldn't continue her words. I would probably have reacted the same way. She would have had to live her entire life with lower body paralysis, but from this moment, she gained the possibility of walking normally.

"Hayoon."

"Yes, yes."

Hayoon was already crying. Like someone who had witnessed a miracle.

Watching that, I felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

And then, I realized something.

Before, I was a powerless human who could only stand by and watch when seeing someone's unfortunate story, when observing a disaster.

But now it was different. I could do what I wanted to do.

If I wanted to help them, I could help them, and I could save people in crisis.

Moreover, I could do so without bearing any risk.

I had a lot to think about. What on earth was the reason I gained such power?

It seems different from other mutants' cases.

At the very least, this power wasn't given to be used carelessly.

"Sister, thank you, really, thank you..."

Hayoon said that while crying. I gently stroked her head.

"Yes. In exchange for healing you like this, today's events are a secret. Understand?"

"Yes. I'll take it to my grave."

"You can't tell your parents either. If anyone asks, just say a miracle happened."

"...I understand."

Hayoon continued to cry. They say that when people are too moved, tears come out.

She probably spent each day engulfed in a despair I couldn't even imagine.

But now those days are over. Now she can stand on her two feet in the world again.

Wasn't that alone worth giving the dragon blood?

I organized my thoughts. This could be used for public benefit.

It's not like I'll die from having some blood drawn.

I should talk to the doctor and the Director about this.

What I was thinking about was using dragon blood as a commercially available treatment.

If all patent rights were directed to me... I probably wouldn't have to worry about making a living for the rest of my life.

I'd need to find a trustworthy pharmaceutical company, but that should be manageable through the Director's or the doctor's connections.

How to apply medical insurance would be an issue, but at this level... wouldn't people gladly accept it?

Bluntly speaking, it would mean the disappearance of people suffering from acquired disabilities due to accidents.

Of course, I don't plan to step forward myself.

Just promote it as a miraculous new drug, that's all.

I planned to keep the inclusion of dragon blood a strict secret.

A medicine that boosts vitality and helps neural regeneration would be appropriate.

I don't know if there will be side effects... but that's something to discover through subsequent clinical trials.

Also, we can determine how effective the dragon blood is when diluted.

In many ways, it looked like I would be busy.

After Seohyun left, Hayoon pinched her cheek with a pounding heart.

A slight pain spread across her cheek. Indeed, this wasn't a dream.

How on earth did this happen?

Something unbelievable had happened. She was still feeling pain in her legs.

But that pain was actually a pain of joy. Weren't these the legs that couldn't feel anything, not even pain?

Hayoon shed tears again. There was no particular reason.

Just because she was so moved.

Hayoon felt like she would never forget today.

Hayoon tried hard to stop her tears. Soon, a nurse would come to check on her condition.

She didn't want to show her crying face to others.

But still, the tears continued to flow.

The past few months had been hell every day. It didn't feel like living even though she was alive.

Not only could she never use her legs again, but she also hated the pitying gazes people around her gave her.

'Don't look at me like that.'

That was what Hayoon had wanted to say to others.

But she couldn't bring herself to say it. So she just pretended to be as normal as possible.

Though she wasn't normal at all.

That's why those days were even more hellish.

To the point where she thought it might be better to just die like this.

But it seems people don't always have to die. Since such a sudden miracle was given.

Hayoon didn't forget what Seohyun had said.

Just consider this a miracle, and when telling others, say it that way.

She was well aware of what kind of repercussions the dragon blood Seohyun had given her might cause. If this news spread outside, there would be a huge commotion.

She had no intention of troubling the benefactor who had saved her.

A few hours later, a nurse entered the hospital room to check on Hayoon's condition.

Until then, Hayoon was still unable to calm down.

The nurse noticed Hayoon's swollen eyes and face and asked in surprise.

"Hayoon. Did something happen?"

"Su-suddenly, my legs hurt."

"...What? Wait a moment. Do your legs really hurt?"

Saying this, the nurse gently touched Hayoon's legs.

"...Ah!"

This wasn't a reaction coming from a lie.

She realized she needed to find the attending physician immediately.

"Wait, just wait. I'll bring the doctor."

So, when the doctor hurriedly came to check on Hayoon's condition.

They realized that a miracle had arrived in reality.

Because her nerves had regenerated suddenly, without any particular signs.

"Hayoon. Did something happen?"

"No. This morning, something just felt strange... and suddenly, it hurt."

"My goodness. There didn't seem to be any signs... How is this possible?"

"Doctor. Can I walk now?"

When Hayoon asked that, the doctor answered firmly.

"Let's start rehabilitation soon. If the nerves have regenerated, you should be able to walk just fine once we rebuild your muscles."

As soon as I left Hayoon's hospital room, I contacted the Director.

-Oh, Bureau Chief. What's the matter?

"Ah, Director? I have something to tell you, could I meet you?"

-What is it about?

"It's related to Hayoon."

-I heard you visited Hayoon today... Did something happen?

"I'll explain the details when I see you."

-...Alright. I'll adjust my schedule a bit.

"I'll come right away."

Moving to the National Intelligence Service in one go, I had a private meeting with the Director.

"You said it's related to Hayoon, what is it?"

"Soon, Hayoon will be able to walk again."

The Director's eyes widened at my words.

"...What do you mean?"

"It's one of my abilities. My blood can heal people. However... I don't know exactly what efficacy it has. I only know that it can regenerate nerves and boost vitality, to this extent."

"My goodness. That, that fact... shouldn't it be kept secret? If it gets revealed, all sorts of people will covet your blood."

"That's right. So... I'm thinking of making it so they don't need to covet it."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Director. Do you happen to know any good pharmaceutical companies?"

"Why a pharmaceutical company... Don't tell me."

"I plan to distribute this commercially. So anyone can use it comfortably. But I know that for that, various clinical trials and procedures are needed."

"...I understand your intention."

"And if possible, please talk to the National Health Insurance Service too. I want children like Hayoon to be able to stand in the world again. Even if a new drug is manufactured based on my blood, I don't want it to be a privilege only for the rich."

"I'll do my best. But... are you sure this is okay?"

"It's fine. I was a small-town person who thought having a lot of money would be nice, but now that I've become a being who can rake in money... I don't place that much value on money anymore."

The Director looked at me with a stunned expression.

"...Thank you, truly."

"No. I think I should be the one thanking you, Director. Because you quickly established guidelines for mutants, I've had almost no encounters with human malice since my mutation."

The Director was someone who had more reason than anyone to hate mutants.

But he didn't.

He created guidelines for mutants and helped them blend into society.

He didn't pour blind hatred onto mutants.

He severed the chain of hatred before it even began.

If that's the case, couldn't a mutant do at least this much for such a person?