I Became a Plague Doctor in a Romance Fantasy

Episode 65. Summer Vacation Plans (2)

Mint looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just that it’s funny how you always end up doing what people tell you to. Not that there’s much you can do about it anyway.”

“Ugh, personality wreck.”

I pinched Mint’s cheek. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, the reaction is surefire.

“Aah, sorry.”

“Your Highness. If you keep acting like a kid, you’ll be treated like one.”

Mint fidgeted with her hair, looking somewhat apologetic.

Her blue eyes glanced around nervously.

“Didn’t you see patients from the recent monster hunting festival?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Were you injured?”

“I didn’t participate.”

“Is that so?”

“Why would I participate in something like that?”

True, maybe she wouldn’t. Mint has no need to prove anything to anyone and certainly no need for battle merits.

“Most of the patients who came out injured from that event were ones I saw. Thankfully, no serious injuries.”

Mint smirked again.

“I heard about it. Someone from our batch ate mushrooms in the forest and passed out. But they said you saved them well enough.”

“Mushrooms… Eating random things like that is dangerous. It could be fatal.”

Anyway, I doubt Mint came just to talk about mushrooms. There must be some other reason behind this small talk.

What could it be?

“Why did you come today?”

“Do I need a reason to visit?”

Mint glanced up sharply. I stepped back slightly.

“Scaredy-cat.”

“No…”

Cough. Mint cleared her throat briefly.

“Anyway, what I wanted to say was… Let’s go somewhere fun this summer! Maybe see the sea, have a picnic, or even spend a few days at the palace.”

“That might be difficult for various reasons.”

“Don’t you have time?”

Pfft. Mint playfully nudged my head. This time, I gently pushed her aside.

“You’re being quite whiny today.”

“Whiny?”

Mint met my gaze.

“Teacher, don’t you like it when I act friendly?”

“Not exactly… It’s just a bit uncomfortable.”

“Are you serious?”

As I thought about how to respond, Mint looked surprised. What kind of reaction was she expecting? Honestly, it is a bit awkward, but what can I do?

“On a positive note, you could say your social skills are improving. Now we can have conversations without unnecessary irritation…”

“When have I ever been like that? You’re the one who constantly snipes at others with sarcastic comments.”

“But not with you, Your Highness.”

“Really? The second thing you said to me today was ‘personality wreck.'”

I opened my mouth to reply but couldn’t find any words. Everything Mint said was true this time.

“You’re right. My apologies.”

“Acknowledged.”

Then it was Mint’s turn to pinch my cheek. Though bewildering, I had no response…

****

I lost the verbal sparring match with Mint. Not sure why, it just happened as we talked.

“Teacher, really.”

“Will you let go, Your Highness?”

“Nope.”

A few seconds later, Mint released me.

“Your Highness, I checked the summer schedule, and there’s something coming up.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Mint sat quietly, then turned her head toward my voice. Her expression was now full of curiosity.

I flipped through the schedule again.

“There will be a large symposium in Witbi, a coastal city, soon.”

“Ah… So you’re inviting me along?”

“Yes, please join. You can enjoy your vacation or socialize while you’re there. We’ll meet after the symposium ends.”

The princess hesitated, as if trying to come up with a witty response, then shook her head slightly and spoke.

“I thought you’d make some strange joke. But it seems you genuinely considered this.”

“Yeah, well… That’s how it should be.”

Mint nodded.

Though the symposium schedule looks a bit exhausting, I should take the chance to relax while I can.

“Will the symposium take long?”

“One or two days.”

“Oh ho.”

Mint smiled to herself.

Seeing her so eager to get out makes me think academy life must be pretty dull for her.

****

The next morning, at the research lab.

Istina arrived at the lab.

“I brought coffee, Professor.”

She looked slightly sleepy but more energetic than usual. With her round glasses framing tired eyes and pale skin from days indoors.

Her hair was tied up neatly with a ribbon, wearing a white blouse with a bow tie and black skirt.

Does she sell insurance on the side?

“Istina, sit down for a moment.”

“Yes?”

If you ask 100 medical scholars what the greatest advancement in medical history is, 98 would immediately say penicillin without hesitation.

Penicillin is considered one of the greatest inventions of modern history beyond just medicine.

It’s definitely one of the most important modern discoveries we need to introduce here. However, since it wasn’t commercially viable until the 1940s in our world, the process will likely be quite challenging.

“I need to discuss something with you.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know why nobody discovered penicillin before Fleming?”

Istina tucked her glasses into her pocket.

“Of course not. Who’s Fleming, and what’s penicillin anyway?”

I ignored her questions.

“There are several reasons. First, only a few types of mold among hundreds produce antibacterial properties.”

Istina tilted her head.

“Antibacterial? Oh, you mean the stuff that kills bacteria. Why are you telling me this?”

“Secondly, penicillin production was extremely limited, and extraction was incredibly complex. It took twenty years after Fleming’s discovery to start mass production.”

Istina nodded.

“The café downstairs changed their beans. I prefer the new coffee…”

“Additionally, discovering that antibacterial substances existed took time. Most disinfectants would kill humans before killing bacteria if ingested or injected.”

Since it was morning, Istina seemed a bit tired. She stared blankly at me.

“It kills people?”

“Right. People usually die after consuming too much alcohol, but that won’t kill the bacteria in your body.”

“That makes sense.”

Take alcohol for example.

People die with a blood alcohol level of 0.5%, but the concentration needed to kill bacteria would be dozens of times higher.

Most doctors back then didn’t believe antibiotics existed.

Fleming himself didn’t believe in substances that could kill bacteria without harming humans until he observed weak antibacterial effects in mucus.

He discovered the mold while believing in the existence of antibiotics, which went against contemporary scientific consensus.

“It wasn’t a simple accidental discovery. Imagine if someone else found mold growing in their house.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t afford cookies today. Can you buy some later?”

“They’d probably just throw it away thinking ‘Ew, it’s moldy.’ That’s what happened for centuries until Fleming noticed it.”

Until Alexander Fleming, who had the foresight to believe in the existence of antibiotics, encountered the right mold.

Nowadays, we know the structure of bacterial cell walls, allowing us to target new drugs accordingly. But regardless, Fleming’s discovery wasn’t an accident.

“Fleming’s discovery of penicillin wasn’t purely coincidental.”

“Professor, you haven’t explained who Fleming is or what penicillin is yet.”

I thought for a moment. How should I explain this so Istina understands?

“Penicillin is a substance that kills bacteria. Fleming is one of my great predecessors.”

“I see.”

Anyway, continuing…

“Fleming could consider using penicillin as medicine because he had insights that transcended his era’s common knowledge. Even then, it took twenty years.”

“Ah, understood.”

“It’s fine. We don’t need to repeat those trials and errors, so we can proceed faster. I’ll explain everything thoroughly. By the end of this month, all healers in the empire will be talking about this.”

“Hmm… Can you buy cookies?”

“Sure, here’s my wallet. Go ahead and get some.”

“Yes!”

Istina left the lab with my wallet. Though it might just be my imagination, she didn’t seem to listen to anything I said.

She’ll understand when it’s time to publish the paper.

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