I Became a Plague Doctor in a Romance Fantasy Novel

The Mysterious Plague (2)

On a business trip.

The teacher had promised last time to make a schedule and post it in the lab. Today’s schedule had this note.

The teacher is on a business trip. Of course, Mint wasn’t suffering from separation anxiety, and there was no reason to be depressed just because the teacher was away from the lab for a few days.

But it was true that Mint felt bored and empty. And besides, the teacher was with Istina now.

Thinking about it made Mint feel even more depressed. Might as well go lie down in the dormitory. After all, the teacher would be back in a few days.

Couldn’t they have at least given a heads-up about the trip?

Mint stomped their feet. On a business trip, without even saying where. When they return, I’ll pester them more than usual and demand more playtime.

Where on earth are they going?

It was a similar situation to last time. Four wyvern knights had arrived at the academy. They kept repeating that we had to leave quickly.

Istina and I had no choice but to pack a week’s worth of luggage. I mean, I understand it’s urgent, but is it really a matter of life and death?

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

Due to the sound of the wind, communication is difficult unless you shout at the top of your lungs.

“It’s Hwangmyeong! We are on our way to the port city of Imentia. There is currently an epidemic!”

An epidemic that came across the sea?

If this were the original world, I might have a vague idea of what disease it is depending on the region. The world map of this world was a bit different.

I can’t know. It would be nice if it were a disease I’ve seen before, but the possibility of it not being so is high. I think we need to go and see the details.

An epidemic from a distant place across the sea. There are more than a few possibilities, but what comes to mind now is the Black Death.

14th century Croatia, Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik, a city of the Venetian Republic at the time, declared that everyone who wanted to enter the city must be quarantined for 40 days to prevent the Black Death from spreading within the city.

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

Depending on how many patients there are, the Black Death itself can be easily treated with antibiotics. Doxycycline, for example.

Quarantine is also possible. Since it is not a disease that spreads through aerosols, you just need to keep people from coming out of their homes. Ah, come to think of it, the Black Death can also spread through fleas, right? What should we do then?

I couldn’t think of a good solution for that.

Could we get insecticides? Would it be possible to obtain effective insecticides in large quantities in this world? That might not be easy.

Thinking about solutions made me feel better. There was a high possibility that this problem could be solved this time as well. I need to think about it, though.

How much time has passed, the wyverns lowered their altitude, and the castle of Imentia revealed its magnificent view. Built against the sea bluer than the sky, the dazzlingly white and gray walls of the castle.

The harbor was full of docked ships, and dozens of ships, borrowing the power of the gentle seasonal wind, were floating on the spring sea with their white sails billowing.

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

The four wyverns lowered their altitude as if to land. The smell of salt surged up.

Arrival at Imentia Castle.

Imentia Castle was a bit different from what I expected. I thought it would be a gloomy and filthy medieval city, like one plagued by the Black Death.

But it wasn’t quite like that.

Surprisingly, it was a pleasant space with plenty of sunlight and well-ventilated air, thanks to the sea breeze. What could be the problem?

We’ll have to see.

I, Istina, and Hedwig dismounted from the landed wyvern. Istina, as usual, started retching as soon as she got off.

Right, she gets motion sickness.

I should have brought some medicine, but I forgot in the rush to get here.

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

Hedwig. He’s a plague doctor employed by the Empire, and naturally, his main job is to devise ways to control the plague. It seems the most useful method these days is to deploy me.

It seems effective, so I have no complaints. We worked together in the Lapis territory last time as well.

“Still, I’m relieved that you’re here, Professor. The situation is quite serious.”

“First, we need to see what it is, right?”

Hedwig was wearing a white robe and had a gray plague doctor’s mask hanging around his neck. Seeing that he was wearing it around his neck instead of in his pocket or bag, it seemed he thought this place wasn’t safe either.

“Please follow me to the castle.”

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

Following Hedwig and the castle guards assigned to protect us. Istina followed a few steps behind, still retching.

“What kind of disease is it?”

“It’s a disease I’ve never seen before.”

“What are the symptoms?”

“Coughing up blood, damaged skin, and hair falling out. The literature suggests that the Black Death is somewhat similar.”

I pondered for a moment. Hair falling out, coughing up blood, and damaged skin. What kind of disease is that? Radiation poisoning?

That can’t be right.

I don’t even know if it’s really a plague.

“Do you have any data?”

“Let’s move first. I’ll explain everything to the mayor.”

The conference room of Imentia Castle.

This conference room was unusually arranged in a round table. It’s good that members can speak on equal terms, but…

There’s no blackboard, no axis to decide opinions, no axis for information flow. I don’t think this is a suitable space for such discussions.

I should start with introductions.

I stood up from my seat.

“Hello. I am Asterix, former royal physician and currently a professor at the academy. This is my graduate student, Istina.”

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

Everyone seemed busy, so the exchanged greetings were brief. The content is what’s important.

Let’s listen to what Hedwig has to say first.

“Since everyone is here, let’s begin. A few days ago, among the healers of Imentia Castle, it was discovered that many of the sailors who docked this time were sick, and they were puzzled and asked the imperial government for help.”

“Yes.”

“As a result of the investigation, a significant number of the sailors who docked were experiencing hair loss, skin damage, and most notably, coughing up blood. Some of the city people had similar symptoms.”

“I see.”

I still don’t know what kind of disease it is.

Is it bacterial bronchitis? That shouldn’t cause hair loss. If it’s streptococcal pharyngitis and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, then hair could fall out, skin could deteriorate, and there could be hemoptysis.

It was hard to believe that such a peculiar disease was repeatedly appearing in multiple people.

“So, Dr. Hedwig, you think this might be the plague?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think, Mayor?”

“We can’t rule out the possibility.”

The person who was the mayor of Imentia had the impression of a sailor, a slightly rough-looking man. A sturdy man with black hair.

“We’ve established a curfew after sunset, and we’re dispersing gatherings of people. Those who have blood coming from their mouths are being found and treated or isolated at home.”

The eyes of the round table turned back to me.

“What is your opinion, Professor?”

I still don’t know.

In the case of cholera, I could name the disease and the response method just by hearing the symptoms. But this time, it’s hard to say rashly.

“The symptoms and history you’ve mentioned are too nonspecific. It’s hard to judge with the information we have now, and I think we need to see patient cases.”

“Yes.”

Everyone looked slightly disappointed.

But I can’t just name diseases like radiation toxicity or post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis as they come to mind.

“For now, let’s move on the assumption that it’s a type of plague, as Mr. Hedwig suggested. The plague is transmitted mainly in two ways: fleas and pneumonic plague through saliva.”

The mayor nodded.

“The latter might be somewhat controllable with curfews and restrictions on going out. The former might be effective if we spray a large amount of insecticide. Do we have any means to catch fleas?”

“I’ll look into it.”

Alright.

Then, with this, the framework for the quarantine policy is set. It’s time to start seeing patients in earnest.

“By any chance, where are the patients currently in isolation or treatment? I want to personally examine and participate in their treatment.”

Hedwig scratched his head a bit.

“Mayor…”

The mayor cleared his throat.

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

Ah. So that’s the story…

“You should have told me that first, Mayor.”

“I was going to tell you soon. But there are greater causes, more lives at risk, and principles to uphold.”

Medicine is not a cold science that needs to place a dying son as a secondary priority.

But the study of kingship might be such a discipline.