I Became a Plague Doctor in a Romance Fantasy

Episode 17. The Academic Community’s Lunch (2)

The symposium has concluded.

I ended up yakking for over an hour in the auditorium. Explaining microscopes, explaining research samples, individually responding to every random argument… My jaw hurts again today.

Istina seemed genuinely pleased that the symposium went well. She’s beaming.

“This was my first time attending a symposium!”

“Oh, really?”

Actually, it was my first time too.

To be precise, not entirely. I attended a few conferences in my past life and even participated in something resembling a symposium at the Imperial Palace.

We’d pretend to read papers, then inevitably devolve into either tea parties or drinking binges depending on the time of day.

If the sun is up, it’s a tea party; if the sun sets, it’s a drinking session. Thinking back now, I lived like a total layabout back then.

“Is this how it usually goes?”

“I’ve only been to the imperially hosted symposia. Not sure how others run theirs.”

“What was the imperial one like?”

“Let me tell you the truth?”

“Yes.”

“Even I don’t know much. I always bolted before those boors could crack open their sorghum liquor.”

One of those “boors” was Violet, whom I just saw earlier. For some reason, she decided to attend the academy’s symposium today.

Finally deciding to get some actual work done, huh? Instead of wasting all day trying to perfect her poker face.

“What’s the next experiment going to be?”

That’s the next big thing. Pasteur’s swan-neck flask experiment proving bacterial causation of putrefaction, followed by Lister’s antiseptic surgery method.

“Nothing too groundbreaking for now. Just antiseptic surgery and experiments proving the cause of decay.”

“Ah, so you’ve already planned it out?”

I nodded. It’s a bit grandiose to call it planning—more like plagiarizing from textbooks.

“Go rest for today.”

Anyway, tomorrow starts the grind again with more research and patient consultations. Still, it’s disappointing we haven’t had any new graduate student applicants yet.

Why are there no grad student applicants, anyway?

I had a few theories but decided to think positively. Probably because students aren’t focused enough on academics yet, and not many have taken my lectures yet.

The next day,

Professor Klaus visited my research lab. I looked up. It must be about our co-authored paper.

“Hello.”

“Thank you for your presentation yesterday, Professor Asterix. Rumor has it you completely turned the stage upside down. To the point where the symposium proceedings were disrupted.”

Yeah, that happened.

“Was it that bad?”

“I can’t speak for others, but I believe your research marks the beginning of a paradigm shift. Many around me feel the same way.”

Klaus sat across my desk.

“Glad to hear that.”

“What’s your next research plan?”

“In short, the evidence linking bacteria we discovered under the microscope to disease and decay seems insufficient. We’ll aim to address that gap by pinpointing causes.”

“From patients?”

That might be tough.

There’s no clear method to do that yet. Let’s start by refuting the biogenic theory or smell transmission theory.

“It’s the swan-neck flask experiment. Boil culture medium and place it in identical flasks. Leave one open while sealing the other indirectly using the swan-neck design.”

“And?”

“Seal the swan-neck flask with water, allowing air to pass but blocking particles.”

Klaus paused briefly to think.

“Ah, the open flask will likely decay much faster. The other might not decay at all since particles can’t easily enter.”

“Exactly.”

“You won’t have much time from here on. Every medical researcher in the empire will try replicating your methods after reading your paper.”

Papers are meant to be replicated. If they follow my research, that’s fine.

Though, shouldn’t they pay royalties or something? I’m actually paying to publish this stuff. What kind of injustice is that?

If my paper sells well, they should pay me, not me paying the journal. Maybe I’ll write a book later.

At least they’d give me some royalties then.

In any case,

Istina and I headed to the clinic the next day. I teach only once a week, so the rest of the time is spent on research or seeing patients.

Today’s task: outpatient consultations.

“Good afternoon, professor.”

“Good afternoon.”

Our first patient of the day.

This is Benjamin. He came to me previously with a broken arm. He was discharged successfully, but there was concern about whether his fingers would regain full mobility.

I’m not an orthopedic specialist, so there’s still a chance his fingers might not move properly. Are they functioning normally?

“Patient, please try mimicking this motion.”

I raised both hands and made a fist several times in front of him. Benjamin copied the action.

Only one side had the broken bone.

His fingers seem to move symmetrically on both sides. The surgery went well, and recovery appears successful. His recovery was faster than expected. Was it due to healing magic?

Or was the surgery simply that good?

“I asked around, and everyone says if it wasn’t for you, professor, I’d probably never use my arm again. Thank you so much.”

Hmm. If I hadn’t operated and just used splints or casts, compartment syndrome and its complications would have likely killed him within a month.

“Could have been. Does your arm hurt at all? How’s the wound?”

“Not particularly painful. Sometimes it itches.”

“Whatever you do, don’t scratch it.”

Benjamin lifted his arm to show the stitches. A few more days until we remove them. No signs of redness or opening wounds.

“Any issues moving your elbow?”

“None.”

Benjamin moved both elbows without problems. Things look good, but infections can still occur.

“Your arm looks fine. But don’t overdo it. If there’s redness, itching, or fever near the stitched area, come back immediately.”

“Understood.”

“While you shouldn’t overuse the arm, avoiding movement altogether might stiffen the surgical site. Please move it moderately.”

It might hurt a bit, but…

Benjamin nodded.

“Again, thank you so much. I didn’t expect such a full recovery. Someone I know also fell off a horse and had a permanently bent arm that couldn’t move properly.”

After saying that, Benjamin left the clinic. Who’s next? Did we get many patients today?

Not many came for consultations.

Maybe there aren’t many sick people right now, or transportation is difficult, or perhaps it’s because I haven’t been here long enough.

A cold patient. An early-stage syphilis patient. A couple of headache patients who might just be faking.

– I keep coughing. Honey tea didn’t help, so I came here.

Three days’ worth of oral antibiotics and regular cold medicine.

– Also, there’s a red spot appearing.

One penicillin shot. Syphilis is a scary disease, but surprisingly easy to treat with modern medicine. Even basic antibiotics can handle it effortlessly.

– My head hurts.

This patient didn’t appear ill at all.

Gave them some chocolate, claiming it was medicine. If they’re truly sick, they’ll return. There’s no way to conduct neurological exams here anyway.

*

Morning broke again.

Looks like there aren’t many sick people these days. Even patients with fall-related injuries seem scarce.

Bang bang bang!

As I was spacing out, someone knocked urgently on the clinic door. Shortly after, Istina peeked in.

“Professor! Someone’s looking for you!”

“Who?”

“Someone important, I think.”

Istina grabbed my sleeve and dragged me out. What’s going on?

I followed Istina outside…

Two winged reptiles stood on the academy rooftop. One spread its wings upon noticing us.

“What’s happening?”

“They’re wyvern dragoons.”

The wyverns stepped aside, revealing a person in black plague doctor attire standing between their wings. The figure lowered their mask.

Surprisingly, just a regular person.

“Priest, healer Hedwig speaking.”

“Professor Asterix. I am the imperial palace’s chief healer.”

Hedwig cleared their throat.

“Professor Asterix. We need your immediate assistance. It’s urgent.”

“Let me hear the details first.”

“A dysentery-like epidemic is spreading through a city near the capital. They say the communal cemetery’s coffins are all used up. All gone.”

Coffins running out…

I already know what this is. Dysentery-like epidemic suggests cholera is most likely. The question is how to handle it…

“I’ll go. Hedwig, was it? Let’s talk in my lab while I gather supplies.”

The plague doctor visiting my lab nodded. Once we arrive, I’ll understand the situation better.

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