episode_0073

Episode 73. Summer Vacation and Academic Conference (3)

****

Professor Asterix, after finishing what he had to say, leisurely left the conference room. He did distribute some blue mold strains, though…

The conference had already fallen into disarray. Only the moderator and the next presenter were scratching their heads with a look of dismay.

Of course, it wasn’t completely unexpected. But I didn’t know it would be this much of a mess. The academic society didn’t think that professor would be able to make discoveries that would overthrow the president of the society every time.

This idea is wrong.

Rather, it was the opposite.

The announcement just now may have been the most shocking announcement in the history of medicine. Perhaps that is why… …. defectors are flocking to the organization.

It’s better for someone to go out nicely.

There were also people talking loudly or discussing things in their seats. The next presenter and the moderator tried to restore order, but the commotion did not subside easily.

The blue mold strain that the professor distributed at the conference was a piece of the Holy Grail.

Of course, there were many who said that Asterix was a fraud, but these people were adding to the noise rather than adding to the confusion.

“Hey, everyone. Professor Asterix is out, so let’s move on to the next announcement-”

The host raised both hands. However, few people paid attention to what the host said.

“Does that matter now?”

“Does that make sense? You’re probably trying to make a mess of the conference by bringing some props!”

“Isn’t it logical that fungi compete with bacteria and produce substances that kill them? This needs to be verified.”

The academic world was divided. Those who thought antibiotics might exist, and those who thought Professor Asterix was just a fraud.

Voices from both sides were raised. They were standing up anyway because they were going to ask questions and receive vials of the strain. The audience became even more confused.

“The most important thing is the patient’s health and lifestyle. Only scammers sell panaceas! This professor is no exception!”

“Then, let’s pass the strain on to the professor first.”

“No, don’t you need to verify how wrong that statement is? You have to raise it yourself.”

“No, Professor. If you’re going to experiment like Professor Asterix said anyway, why are you raising your voice and fighting now?”

“I’m mad because of the scammers!”

“It was the same when the bacteria were announced, probably.”

“If that person comes, the conference will be paralyzed. Shouldn’t we block him from entering?”

A somewhat violent answer came back. The audience was filled with the sounds of people moving around and arguing. The host touched his forehead again.

“Professor Asterix, it’s been more than ten minutes since you left… … . It’s not him who’s paralyzing the conference, it’s us… … .”

The moderator sat down in an appropriate seat. I wonder if the conference can resume today.

Asterix, you damn punk. If you were going to do this, you should have stayed and answered questions. You set fire to the conference hall and leisurely escaped on your own.

I wonder if he just has a weird personality. Regardless of his academic background, he just seemed like a really weird person.

****

Kkiruk-

The penicillin presentation is over. I don’t know what happened to Whitby’s conference after I left. I guess it was a total mess.

This is a cafe with a sea view near Whitby Castle. I was sitting by the window with Amy.

A few seagulls flew by outside the window.

Actually, I just call it a cafe, but what it actually does is more like a tea shop. Anyway, it sells coffee, so to me it’s a cafe.

Amy sipped her tea. But she seemed quite nervous about the conference presentation. She was still looking around anxiously.

“You came here with a big bang… … .”

“What, academic society?”

Amy nodded.

“Yes.”

“That’s how it was originally.”

“How could that be?”

Well, I thought about it. That’s usually what happens when I attend conferences. I’ve never been to a conference that I didn’t attend.

I originally thought that this academic society would have a somewhat free atmosphere where people would yell and criticize others when they make presentations, but that wasn’t the case.

Amy hasn’t been to many conferences either.

“Hmm. Other professors and researchers are also people, right? If something truly amazing or something they want rolls around, they can’t help but react like that.”

“Is that so?”

“Right. I shared the strain too.”

Amy tilted her head. How should I put it, the impact of the announcement is important.

“There is something called paradigm theory. It is a theory that scientific development is not gradual or step-by-step… … .”

“Yes.”

“That’s why people look at the world through a certain framework called a paradigm. Even if there are one or two theories that deviate from the framework, they will try to fit them into that framework.”

“I guess so?”

“Isn’t it important to say the right thing? Even if you come up with the right theory, it’s just a square stick stuck halfway into a round hole.”

“It’s a square stone.”

“Similar, yeah.”

The important thing is not to say the right thing. The important thing is to destroy the existing theoretical paradigm to make room for the new paradigm.

It’s not that the existing paradigm is wrong and needs to be destroyed. The existing paradigm was probably the best answer based on what was known.

Now that we know something new, existing theories need to change.

It’s just that the time has come for a generational change.

“Then what is important?”

“Not being trapped in a paradigm. Breaking down existing theories and allowing new theories to be clinically utilized and studied.”

Science is full of ‘maybes’.

The Song Dynasty of China invented the steam engine a thousand years ago. Even the Roman Egyptians of BC created similar machines.

However, these civilizations failed to properly utilize their inventions, recognize their true value, or industrialize them.

I just thought it was strange and moved on.

In the Song Dynasty and in Rome.

If we had recognized the true value of the steam engine and collaborated with those in power to distribute and study it throughout the empire, the course of history might have been different.

Penicillin is similar.

“Aha. So that’s how you do the presentation? For maximum impact?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s unusual.”

Even those who dislike me or don’t believe my theory should hold on to my thesis, if only to refute it.

Amy looked out over the distant sea.

“Most of the academic world is still debating the germ theory. Before textbooks change, if a drug that can selectively kill bacteria starts to be used clinically in a few years… … .”

“The paradigm won’t hold up.”

All textbooks on healing and physiology would have to be rewritten from beginning to end.

“It’s good that you came to Professor’s lab!”

Amy smiled, and I nodded. The goal is to change the world in the way I can. In the best possible way.

****

Meanwhile, Violet.

‘I have to steal the research funds.’

Violet is an Imperial Healer. The Imperial Medical Corps is not a large one, but they treat and conduct research on patients living in and around the palace.

One thing that is special is that not many people can enter the palace, so the number of patients they actually see is also not that many.

Violet was sitting in a corner of a classroom at Whitby College that she had borrowed for the day, with two other royal healers.

The royal healers looked at the moldy bread. The royal family had sent a total of three healers to this conference. Those were these people.

“Thanks to this that was distributed at the conference this time, I think I can get more research funds. I also reported it to the royal family in that way.”

Violet had received the blue mold sample a few days earlier, but the conclusion was similar.

This is what Violet saw.

They may reduce their patient care hours under the pretext of conducting research, ask for research funding, or request additional staffing.

“But. Is this real?”

Violet shrugged. There was no way for Violet to know if it was real or not. She would have to go back and study it.

“What… … . I think I’ve watched Professor Asterix the longest. We’ve been together since he entered the royal family. But I’ve never seen him make a mistake.”

This time, it would be true without any twists. Violet thought so.

“A story about accidentally finding a magic silver bullet that kills disease… … . It’s not something you can easily believe, but it’s worth researching.”

The royal healers nodded. Violet moved on to the most important topic.

“I noticed that you haven’t been doing any research lately, so you’re not doing any clinical work and are just receiving research allowance. Do you think you can last a few months with this?”

“That’s right.”

The royal healers nodded.

That was absolutely right. The results of the research are important, but isn’t it more important to get paid for the research?

Silver bullets, that’s a good thing if you can make them. Even if you can’t make them, isn’t it something that the next generation of researchers might be able to find?