episode_0046

Episode 46. An Unknown Plague (2)

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On a business trip.

Last time, the teacher promised that he would make a schedule and post it in the lab. The phrase on today’s schedule was this.

The teacher is on a business trip. Of course, Mint doesn’t have separation anxiety, and there’s no reason for her to be depressed when the teacher leaves the lab for a few days.

It was true that I felt bored and empty. That was true, but I was going to be with Istina right now.

Thinking about it that way, Mint’s mood became even more gloomy. She should go into the dorm and lie down. She’ll be back in a few days anyway.

At least give me a heads up that you’re going on a business trip.

Mint stomped her feet. While on a business trip, she didn’t even tell him where she was going. When she got back, she was going to tease him more than usual and demand that he play with her more.

****

Where the hell are you going?

It was a similar situation to last time. Four Wyvern Knights arrived at the Academy. They kept repeating that they had to hurry.

Istina and I had no choice but to pack a week’s worth of luggage. No, I know it’s urgent, but is it really worth it to fight for every second?

“Sir! At least! Where are you going now! Can you tell me!”

Because of the wind noise, it is difficult to communicate unless you shout at the top of your lungs.

“It’s an imperial edict! We’re on our way to the port city of Imentia. There’s currently an epidemic going on!”

Is this a plague that came across the sea?

If this were the original world, you would be able to get a vague idea of what the disease was depending on the region. But this world’s world map was a bit different.

I don’t know. I hope it’s a disease I’ve seen before, but it’s also very possible that I haven’t. I think I’ll have to go and look at it to find out more.

A plague from far away across the sea. There are many possibilities, but this is the one that comes to mind right now. The Black Death.

Dubrovnik, Croatia, 14th century.

Dubrovnik, then a city of the Republic of Venice, decreed that anyone wishing to enter the city must be quarantined for 40 days in order to prevent the Black Death from spreading within the city.

This policy was effective in controlling the Black Death, since the incubation period of the Black Death was less than 40 days. The Italian word for 40 days later came to mean the quarantine period itself.

Depending on how many patients there were, the Black Death itself could be easily treated with an antibiotic called doxycycline.

Quarantine is also possible. Since it is not a disease that spreads through aerosols, you just need to keep them out of the house. Oh, come to think of it, the Black Death can also spread through fleas. What would you do then?

That didn’t really come to mind as a solution.

Couldn’t we get some pesticides, could we get some effective pesticides in large quantities in this world? That might not be easy.

I felt better as I thought about the solution. This time, there was a good chance that it would be a solvable problem. I should think about it, though.

After some time, the Wyverns lowered their altitude and Imentia Castle revealed its magnificent view. Built against the blue sea, the walls were so white that it hurt the eyes.

The harbor was full of ships anchored, and on the spring sea, dozens of ships, each with white sails fluttering, were floating on the sea, aided by the gentle seasonal breeze.

I was thinking of a gloomy, sick city. It was a more beautiful sight than I expected.

The four wyverns lowered their altitude as if they were about to land. The smell of salt rose strongly.

****

Arrival at Imentia Castle.

Imentia Castle was a bit different from what I expected. I had heard that there was a plague going on, so I had imagined a gloomy and dirty medieval city where the Black Death would spread.

It wasn’t like that at all.

It was a surprisingly pleasant space with a lot of sunlight and good air circulation thanks to the sea breeze. What could be the problem?

We’ll have to see to know.

I, Istina, and Hedwig disembarked from the wyvern that had landed. Istina, once again, started vomiting as soon as she got off.

Yeah, he got motion sickness.

I should have brought you some medicine. I forgot because I was in such a hurry to get here.

“I apologize for bringing you here in such a hurry.”

Hedwig. A plague doctor employed by the Empire, and naturally, her main job is to devise methods to control the plague. It seems that the most useful control method these days is to deploy me.

It seems to be effective, so I have nothing to say. We worked together in the Lapis Territory last time.

“Still, I feel a little relieved that the professor is here. The situation is not so serious.”

“Let’s see what it is first, right?”

Hedwig was wearing a white robe and a gray plague doctor mask around his neck. Judging from the fact that he was wearing it around his neck rather than in his pocket or bag, he seemed to think that even here he was not safe.

“Please follow my last name.”

It would be best to follow Hedwig’s example. I walked towards Imentia’s main castle wearing my plague doctor mask and gloves.

Hedwig, and the castle guards who were attached to our escort followed. Istina followed a few steps behind, retching.

“What kind of disease is it?”

“This is my first time seeing this disease.”

“What are the symptoms?”

“Coughing up blood, skin becoming damaged, hair falling out. In literature, the Black Death was somewhat similar.”

I’ve been thinking about it for a while. My hair is falling out, I’m coughing up blood, my skin is bruised. What on earth is this? Is it radiation poisoning?

That can’t be true.

I don’t know if that’s really a plague.

“Do you have any information like that?”

“Let’s move first. I’ll explain it to you in front of the mayor.”

The conference room of Imentia Castle.

This conference room was uniquely arranged with round tables. It was good that the members could speak on equal terms.

There is no blackboard, no axes for deciding opinions, no axes for information to flow. I don’t think this is the right space for such discussions.

I guess I should start by saying hello.

I got up from my seat.

“Hello. I am Asterix, former royal physician and current academy professor. This is my graduate student, Miss Istina.”

“Nice to meet you, Professor. I am Gregorius Gutmann, the mayor of Imentia.”

Maybe because everyone was busy, the greetings we shared weren’t long. The content was what was important.

First, let’s listen to what Hedwig has to say.

“Since everyone is here, let’s get started. A few days ago, the healers of Imentia Castle noticed that many of the sailors who had recently arrived were sick, and so they asked the Imperial Government for help.”

“Yes.”

“The survey found that a significant number of the sailors who arrived suffered from hair loss, skin damage, and most notably, coughing up blood, as did some of the city people.”

“I see.”

I still don’t know what the disease is.

Bacterial bronchitis, that shouldn’t cause hair loss. If you have strep throat and then strep throat, you’ll lose your hair, your skin will be damaged, and you’ll cough up blood.

It was hard to believe that such a peculiar disease could appear repeatedly in so many people.

“So, Ms. Hedwig thought this might be the Black Death?”

“Yes.”

“What does the mayor think?”

“You can’t leave it at that.”

The mayor of Imentia was a slightly rough-looking old man with a sailor-like appearance. A sturdy man with black hair.

“First, we have implemented a curfew after the sun sets, and we are dispersing people when they gather in large groups. We are finding and treating people with bleeding from the mouth or isolating them at home.”

The round table’s gaze turned to me again.

“What is your opinion, Professor?”

I don’t know yet.

In the case of cholera, I could have given the name of the disease and the treatment method just by hearing the symptoms, but this time, it’s hard to speak rashly.

“The symptoms and history you mentioned are too non-specific. It would be difficult to judge based on the information we have now, so we would have to look at the patient’s case to know.”

“Yes.”

Everyone looked a little disappointed.

But you can’t just name diseases like radiation toxicity or streptococcal nephropathy as they come to mind.

“First, let’s assume that it’s a type of the Black Death, as Hedwig said. The Black Death is transmitted through two main routes. Fleas, and saliva infection due to pneumonic plague.”

The market nodded.

“The latter may be controlled to some extent by curfews and self-isolation. The former may also be effective if large-scale pesticide spraying is applied. Is there a way to catch fleas?”

“Let me find out.”

good night.

So, now that the quarantine policy framework has been established, it’s time to start seeing patients in earnest.

“Where are the patients currently in quarantine or receiving treatment? I would like to directly treat the patients and participate in their treatment.”

Hedwig scratched her head.

“Mayor… … .”

The market cleared its throat.

“My knight son, who returned from his expedition, is now lying in the tower of this castle with that illness.”

Ah. So that’s what happened…

“You should have said that first, Mayor.”

“I was going to say that soon. But there’s a cause, there are more people whose lives are at stake, and there are principles.”

Medicine is not such a cold discipline that you need to put your dying son second.

The study of monarchy might be that kind of study.