episode_0075

Episode 75. Hug Me

****

A laboratory at the Whitby Academy.

It was one of the events scheduled for this conference. It was a kind of workshop conducted with researchers from other universities. Since there were fewer people, it was much less crowded than the conference.

About ten people.

“Then. Let’s start the workshop.”

I looked around the lab.

There were nine researchers from the Whitby Academy sitting, and behind them stood Professor Hedwig. I don’t know why she was standing.

“I think everyone is here, so let’s get started. The topic of today’s workshop is how to grow blue mold and its potential uses.”

The people gathered there nodded their heads.

“First. Starting with growing blue mold. Blue mold grows well in cool, dry environments. If the environment is too humid, bugs and other molds may grow. I used bread for this.”

“Second. Verification of sterilization power. My lab inoculated bacteria onto a plate inoculated with blue mold. If the blue mold strain with sterilization power grows properly, you can see that bacteria cannot grow nearby.”

“Third. Selective cultivation of blue mold. Blue mold is a much more complex organism than bacteria. So, a culture solution mixed with soybeans and sugar was used for the cultivation of blue mold.”

This time, from behind, Hedwig raised her hand. It seemed she was writing down everything that was being said.

“Does blue mold grow in liquids?”

“Yes.”

“As for the process of refining the medicinal ingredient penicillin, I can’t go into detail about it since it’s just been handed over to the alchemists.”

Hedwig tilted her head.

“Do we really need to go through a refining process?”

“Penicillin is effective when taken in half a gram a day. It usually takes about a week. To make half a gram of penicillin, you need one bath.”

“Aha.”

“Solutions such as making tea with blue mold and drinking it are not very meaningful.”

So next.

The question of the uses of penicillin.

“Fourth. The question is how to use this. I think the most important use is to prevent gangrene in patients undergoing surgery, trauma patients, and patients with deep wounds.”

Penicillin is an antibiotic that kills gram-positive bacteria. Simply put, it is a drug that kills the most common bacteria found on hands and in food.

So, penicillin doesn’t cure all infections. Food poisoning and gastroenteritis caused by bacterial toxins are difficult to treat, and viral infections such as the flu are not treated.

Although it is a bacterial infection, tuberculosis is not cured with penicillin because the tuberculosis bacteria do not have a cell wall made of peptidoglycan.

Its bactericidal effect against other gram-negative bacteria is also reduced. This may be because many modern bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics.

The classroom was a bit noisy.

Still, it is not difficult to make enough for animal testing now. It can be verified. This time, another professor spoke.

“Professor Asterix, how many years do you think it will take until commercialization? It seems like it’s still a long way off.”

“Animal testing is still possible. It is easy to produce enough to feed to laboratory mice. Until commercialization… … .”

I have no way of knowing, but judging from the reactions of the alchemists I met a while ago, I think it could be commercialized within a few years?

Since Luciana also said that it is possible, there will be a breakthrough soon.

“I am conservatively looking at 5 years. But it depends on how much research funding comes in and how much interest there is from the academic community.”

“I guess so.”

Five years. It may seem like a long time, but it is actually a very short period of time. The researchers gathered there nodded.

****

Hedwig scratched her head.

How could they possibly know the proper dosage for a potion that hasn’t even been made yet, Hedwig thought, but decided to let it slide for now.

Even if you ask, you’ll only get strange answers.

If Professor Astax’s words are true, then we only have five years left until we find the Holy Grail of medicine. Can we really do it?

Well, it’s been a success so far, so it’s only natural to expect that trend to continue. Bacteria, the transmission of dysentery, even white blood cells.

Asterix has proven time and time again what we thought was absurd. Could we have even discussed that last year?

****

Now it’s time to return to the academy.

I thought I was going back on the wyvern because of time constraints, but it seems there was a change in plans. Mint was waiting in front of the carriage.

“Ah. Have you been waiting long?”

“Not really.”

Mint shook her head.

The princess climbed onto the carriage first, then extended her hand to me from above. I held Mint’s hand and climbed onto the princess’ carriage.

“Ego, sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

I sat next to Mint.

Mint has clung to the hand I was holding earlier. I guess I can’t shake it off.

I thought she’d be annoyed at me for making her wait, or at Mint for letting her get in the carriage first. But she just smiled brightly.

“I thought you’d be busy this time too, teacher? I thought you wouldn’t spend time with me.”

“Um… … . I planned to go with the princess from the beginning. It was a relief.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Mint let go of my hand.

He looked at me with an interested look, or perhaps a slightly downcast look. Then he slowly opened his mouth as if he had something to say.

“I don’t usually talk much.”

“What is it?”

“Just say thank you. I know there are times when I annoy you and make you annoyed.”

There are times like that.

“Yes.”

“You’re being honest… … . Anyway.”

A moment of silence.

Mint stared at me blankly and then hugged me tightly. Mint’s hair blocked my vision. A floral scent similar to lavender surrounded me. I forgot to breathe for a moment.

“Uh… ….”

“Please take care of me in the future.”

“Just a moment, Your Majesty.”

I tapped Mint on the back as a sign of surrender, but Mint wouldn’t let me go easily.

“What are you dissatisfied with, sir?”

“No.”

Mint rubbed her cheek against my face, holding me tightly with her arms. I tried to step back a little, but Mint only followed me.

“Princess, over there. Surrender. Tap, tap.”

“Hey. Asterix. Don’t you know what surrender is? If you’re going to surrender, just stay still… … .”

I was pushed to the opposite wall of the carriage. Mint rested her forehead against mine, and then met my eyes again. Her eyes were bluer and deeper than the sea I had just seen. Her pupils were dilated, so they might have looked even more so.

Mint’s eyes sparkled.

“Why, are you offended?”

“That’s not why-”

“Why.”

It’s a complete silence.

“I thought it was okay to be a little annoying to you? That’s what you’ve said to me several times.”

“Yes… … . That’s right.”

Oh, I’m dizzy.

I pressed my temple from the side.

“This is my first time hugging someone. If I show that I don’t like the teacher, he might be a little upset.”

“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant… … .”

I wonder if he got hurt.

I awkwardly patted Mint on the back again. Mint let me go. Not completely, just stopped holding on.

“Just one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Just hug me once and I’ll let you go.”

Mint stepped back completely, then reached out her arms towards me, as if asking me to hug her quickly.

I wrapped my arms around Mint’s waist, and she put her arms around my neck. Mint smiled softly and met my eyes again.

“Just kidding. Keep doing it.”

I let out a small sigh.

Mint chatted for a while after that. The usual small talk topics. What to do when they return to the Academy, how many cookies were left, etc.

****

Mint seemed to have calmed down a bit now.

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

Mint reluctantly let me go. I tried to let go of Mint, but her arm around my waist caught me.

Mint leaned her head on my shoulder.

“I wish it was like this.”

“Uh… ….”

Mint’s eyes sparkled at me. I was mentally tired from continuing to struggle. I wrapped one arm around Mint’s waist again.

“Is that so?”

“Hehe… … .”

“Hmm. What were you talking about earlier?”

“I don’t know.”

It didn’t seem like it was important. Mint was leaning against me, leaning as hard as she could. I looked at Mint’s face again.

“You seem a bit dependent.”

“Huh?”

“I feel a little sorry because I think the princess is relying too much on her memories from when she was in the imperial family or on people she knew back then.”

“Since I left the palace, I have never felt like something was lacking or unsatisfactory. I don’t even think about wanting something to change.”

“That’s true, though.”

“I think it’s a needless worry?”

I just nodded.

“When you return to the academy this time, will you spend time with me? Like usual?”

“Ah. Of course.”

Mint sighed in relief, then leaned her head to the side and closed her eyes. I have no idea what kind of reaction she wants.

Did you just want to see me panic?