Chapter 150: Demon Disease, Again (5)

Perisia's driving was rough 'as usual'.

Was it because she was from a military background?

She drove the expensive car as if driving a military vehicle in the middle of a war.

'This is why I hate riding in a car Perisia drives.'

Furthermore, since I told her to hurry up more than usual because we had an emergency patient, her driving seemed much rougher than usual.

Cutting in was a given, and she even executed a fiery Drift whenever she felt like it while driving the car toward the Infirmary.

Inside the Car, I was shaken left and right in the backseat like a pinball.

It's a good thing Freya held onto me.

If not, it wouldn't have been strange if I bounced right out the Car window.

Anyway, the scenery of the Academy Territory's residential area quickly flowed by outside the Car window.

Meanwhile, I reorganized the Runic formula in my head.

The catalyst was the Steroid.

The framework of the Runic formula was a variation of Wither.

The target was the large intestine's out-of-control Immune Cell.

And the final variable.

That was precisely pity and Mercy.

In the process of checking those conditions, I discovered one problem.

'I don't think I'll be as desperate as when I treated Freya.'

I am not a saint.

I am by no means a Virtuous Sage who can love a complete stranger as much as a Blood Relative I've been with my entire Lifetime.

Even if it was a Patient I performed Surgery on, it would be difficult to harbor the same amount of pity I harbored for Freya.

I would make the Effort to harbor as much pity as possible, but this was my innate nature, so it couldn't be helped.

'Emotion is Symbolism. To make up for the lacking Symbolism, an equivalent 'understanding of the Runic formula' must accompany it.'

The fortunate thing was that the symbol, catalyst, and Runic formula were mutually complementary.

It didn't mean one could completely replace the other, but it meant they could amplify each other.

Let's take Fire Magic as an example.

Without a catalyst called Combustible Material, no matter how good of a symbol you bring, the fire won't ignite.

Just like how multiplying anything by 0 is still 0.

However, if you prepare even a small amount of Combustible Material, you can make up for the lacking amount with more symbols and a deeper understanding.

As long as there is a 1, a Result different from 0 will unfold.

The same went for this Patient.

Since the symbol of pity was more lacking than during Freya's time.

A more detailed understanding needed to accompany it accordingly.

I needed to delve deeper than back then when I just smoothed it over as the relationship between acquired immunity and a Virus.

'Wait a minute. What was the mechanism for Crohn's Disease again......'

The Immune System is complex.

To the point where it can't be simply divided into things like White Blood Cells and T Cells.

Even just mentioning it fragmentarily, things like CD19 or NK Cells must also be considered.

Naturally, I am a Surgeon, not a Gastroenterologist, so I don't know it that well.

I was the person who cut when Internal Medicine sent a Crohn's Disease Patient asking for a Bowel resection surgery; why that disease broke out wasn't my jurisdiction.

'I did learn it during my days as a Medical Student, but......'

I tried to recall the pathogenesis mechanism of Crohn's Disease from my hazy memories.

Naturally, it didn't come to mind.

In the end, I decided to use 'that method' for the first time in a while.

Inside the shaking Car, I gently closed my eyes.

Half a year ago, I couldn't use it anywhere other than my old room, but now I could access the Library of Memory if I practiced Meditation in other locations.

What I imagined was the scenery of my cozy room.

The infinitely extending Bookshelves spread out there.

If it were in the past, I would have wasted hours trying to find the Book on Crohn's Disease among these countless Books.

However, after repeated training with Count Barlot, I had now mastered the knack for quickly executing the Extraction of the memories I wanted.

'The Time is a memory from 32 years ago. The keywords are First and second year. The category is Gastroenterology.'

The countless Bookshelves disappeared as if being filtered.

The amount of remaining Bookshelves was by no means small, but it was at a level where I could search through them in 5 minutes.

'Then, the pathomechanism of Crohn's Disease......'

It was the moment I was about to grab the Book I wanted.

Clatter.

The sound of bowls and tableware clinking against each other could be heard inside my room.

When I turned my head in the direction the sound came from, sure enough.

The Cosmic Head Demonkin Babel was having a meal.

The menu was Tête de veau.

It was a dish made using a Calf Brain.

At least the form of the Cooking looked like it.

Though there was no way for me to know if the Ingredient was actually calf.

The cosmic Demonkin Babel, eating the Tête de veau with a clatter.

I folded away my Doubts about how on earth that Meat was absorbed into that Cosmic Head, how that guy tasted it, and where it went down.

Instead, I greeted the Demonkin.

"Good afternoon, Babel."

"It's Morning over here. I just woke up, you see."

"Do Demonkin mainly operate at night?"

"Rather than that, I can only answer that the Time you and I live in is slightly different."

As expected.

It was Babel answering with vague expressions that made it unclear whether we were having a conversation or not, as always.

Babel, who was slicing his meat, glanced at the Book I was holding.

Then, he wet his lips with Wine and nodded as he spoke.

"Is it a treatment for a Patient with Inflammatory Bowel Disease? You are attempting quite a fun treatment, Yulian."

"You recognize it at a glance."

"Between you, who occasionally comes to this Archive, and me, who practically lives here all day, who do you think knows the knowledge of this place better?"

Babel retorted like that, then suddenly pulled out a Book and handed it to me.

"You'll need this."

I received the Book he handed over without replying.

I didn't know this Demonkin's purpose, but it was because the knowledge this guy handed over was always uniformly helpful.

The memories flowing into my head as soon as I touched the Book.

Those memories were none other than contents about how to do Tightrope Walking between the Steroid and the Antibiotic.

"If you perform aggressive Steroid treatment after a Crohn's Disease Patient's Surgery, their Immunity Level will be greatly weakened, making them vulnerable to Infection. Therefore, you'll need to properly balance the two with an Antibiotic."

This was a part I had also been overlooking.

Considering the Patient's age, it wouldn't be strange if an Infection occurred immediately after the Steroid treatment.

So that must be why he was telling me to write a Prescription for an Antibiotic in advance.

However, I couldn't help but feel slightly bitter upon receiving that memory.

It wasn't that I didn't know.

It was just that I was currently in a rush with the Steroid, so I didn't have the leeway to think about that side.

In the first place, all the knowledge in this Archive was my memory, so the expression that I didn't know wasn't even appropriate.

I spoke to the Demonkin, packing in a petty bit of rebellion.

"......This is my Archive."

"I know. Even without me, you would have remembered it. I just wanted to show off a little."

The cosmic Demonkin seemed to laugh.

I couldn't tell because he had no Facial expression.

With a Sigh, I stood opposite the Dining table where he sat.

"Since the situation is urgent right now, I will just make a simple toast and go."

Still, to observe manners, I reached out for the Chalice to make a toast before parting.

At that moment, Babel covered the top of the empty Chalice with his hand as if to block me.

"I do not recommend that you drink this Wine. I will prepare a Wine you can drink later on, so I apologize, but please return empty-handed today."

Saying so, Babel sipped his Dark red Wine.

I nodded bitterly and stood in front of the door heading out of the Archive.

The Demonkin spoke to my back without getting up from the Dining table.

"I am curious to see what kind of choice you will make this time as well. Do well."

Before I could even ask what he meant by that.

My Consciousness had already returned to Reality.

"We have arrived, Lord Yulian."

My Consciousness became clear at Perisia's Voice.

If I had my way, I would have wanted to go back and argue with Babel, but since we had already arrived at the Infirmary, I had no such leeway.

For now, with the contents regarding Crohn's Disease organized in my head, I prepared to get out of the car.

Clack.

Freya opened the door and jumped out even before the car had stopped.

I also grabbed my Medical Bag and followed behind her.

The air mixed with the smell of Antiseptic and blood.

The Priest's Robes moving busily back and forth.

It was a nostalgic smell that I had been smelling just until my shift this Morning.

Though the smell was worse because I didn't have my Crow Mask on.

In the middle of all that, a middle-aged Healer was stomping their feet while holding onto a Communicator.

"No, why isn't The Black Saint answering the Contact!"

"Couldn't it be because the Saint is also resting?"

"But he normally answers well."

The middle-aged Healer speaking to the other Healer, practically in a tearful voice into the Communicator.

'So Vine is taking the Night Duty in the Emergency Ward today.'

Vine.

He was one of the Healers fully in charge of the Emergency Ward.

Vine stomped his feet while only staring at Director Schun's unconnecting Crystal Orb.

Beside him, an apprentice Healer (Resident Doctor) spoke worriedly.

"Couldn't we just ask another Healer for the Surgery?"

"I'm telling you, it's a Demon Disease Patient. There is no one among the Teachers in the Surgery Department who can handle this."

It seemed they were acting like that because of the Patient Freya brought.

I felt a slight Feeling of Guilt watching that sight.

'The Black Saint won't be able to come.'

Because after all, The Black Saint is an Authority on Divine Magic.

There were many problems in various ways with introducing the Black magic needed right now.

It wasn't for nothing that Freya brought 'Yulian' instead of 'Director Schun'.

Meanwhile, Freya moved her steps toward that middle-aged Healer.

However, I restrained her.

"Give me Guidance straight to the Patient."

"Yes? But doing that without a Healer Teacher......"

"It's because I have a plan."

Who would believe me if I said I would treat a Demon Disease Patient using Black magic?

I could say with certainty, it was obvious they would block me, saying such an uncertain method couldn't be attempted on a Patient.

— "Professor Yulian. I give you Acknowledgement that you are an Expert in Black magic, but this is the Infirmary. We cannot grant Permission for such a thing."

They would probably block me by telling me to at least go and get Permission from The Black Saint.

And the Patient would die in the meantime.

Naturally, I do not like such frustrating procedures.

So I decided to use a different method.

"Hurry, Freya."

"A-Alright."

Unable to overcome my urging, Freya gave Guidance to the Patient.

The complexion of the Patient we arrived at was not very good.

The sheet around his Lower body was dyed red, and the apprentice Healer watching over the Patient was restlessly pouring IV Fluid and blood into him.

I approached that apprentice Healer and spoke.

"They are calling for you at the Station, Teacher. It seems Healer Vine has some Words to say regarding this Patient."

"A-Understood."

The apprentice Healer headed toward the Nurses' Station in a panic.

Like that, only Freya and I were left beside the Hospital bed where the Patient lay.

Having even sent the apprentice Healer away, I took a seat next to the bed.

Freya, who was watching my series of actions, seemed to have guessed what I was about to do.

"Older Brother, don't tell me......?"

"Stall for just 2 minutes so no one interrupts, Freya."

"Older Brother, are you perhaps starting to resemble Erika Unnie?"

I didn't reply and prepared my Magic.

What I was preparing was a Brass Holy Symbol and the Steroid.

I took out the Needle I'd acquired by Pilfering from the Nurses' Station on the way here and injected the Steroid into a Blood Vessel.

'Let's set the Dosage to about 40mg.'

Next, while establishing my knowledge about Crohn's Disease in my head, I organized the Runic formulas.

Crohn's Disease.

It is a Disease where one's own Immune Cells attack the bowel, causing the epithelium to peel off.

As the epithelium peels off, the bowel not only becomes highly vulnerable to Infection but its motility also decreases, making it vulnerable to various Diseases.

The biggest problem is that if this Inflammation repeats, the large intestine gradually weakens and can rupture.

That is why I was going this far to treat it.

'NF-κB and AP-1...... Gene...... This should be right, right?'

The important point here was that if I designed the Runic formula exactly the same as during Freya's time, the Patient would die.

The large intestine is the space where Bowel Movement is stored.

However, if I ended up killing all the Immune Cells here, it could lead to a severe Infection later on.

Therefore, I had to keep the Cells alive and adjust the Magic in a way that only destroyed the wrong signals.

'The Runic formula is way too complex compared to Freya's time.'

Thanks to that, it took some Time to design the Runic formula.

After bringing the Runic formula to Completion like that, I prepared the same Black magic for the Patient that I had cast on Freya.

With the Holy Symbol submerged in the basin of Holy Water, I brought my hands together and muttered as if in prayer.

"Sacrifice yourself once more. Apostle."

Lastly, I desperately hoped this Patient would be treated.

Making the Effort to feel pity by recalling this old man's Backstory as much as possible.

Immediately after, I felt the Magical Power drain completely out of my body.

It wasn't a Success.

Because even if the Magic results in a Misfire, it is bound to consume Magical Power and the catalyst.

Furthermore, since it was a Magic where the Result couldn't be seen with the eyes, I waited for the Patient's reaction.

"......Ugh."

The Patient, who had been clutching his stomach while dripping cold sweat.

Then, the Patient's Breath Sounds gradually stabilized.

Soon, the old man was breathing with a comfortable Facial expression.

It was a Success.

'Hell yeah!'

As soon as the Magic succeeded, I frivolously shouted in my head without realizing it.

I usually don't do this, but this time It couldn't be helped.

It was the moment my long-cherished wish, which I had prepared for 10 years, came true.

Even if you brought Nightingale or Hippocrates here instead of me, they would have shouted the same thing in their hearts.

'Now, if I just achieve Mass Production of the Steroid and provide Education to Specialized Healers......'

If that happened, the title of the first treatment for Demon Disease would be mine, Yulian's.

I was rejoicing alone over my Results just like that.

"U-Um...... Older Brother?"

"?"

Freya's Voice calling me could be heard from the Entrance of the Intensive Care Unit.

When I turned my head, I saw the Healers glaring this way from the Entrance, and Freya kneeling while bound among them.

Freya spoke.

"I held out for 10 minutes."

"......It seems it took longer than I thought."

It seemed designing the Runic formula took that much longer.

The gazes of the Healers glaring this way from the Entrance were unusual.

Well, I understand.

Because if it was a Mage who knew how to read Runic formulas even a little, they would Notice that I cast Black magic on the Patient.

Furthermore, this was the Emergency Ward full of Healers.

It was safe to say that most of the people working here had the qualities of a Mage.

In such a place, I had cast Black magic on a dying Demon Disease Patient without any warning.

'I'm screwed when it comes to getting good looks.'

Behind the Healers, I saw the Holy Knights who permanently resided in the Emergency Ward for Security.

I reached out my hands toward those Holy Knights and spoke.

"I have not a single ounce of Shame regarding my choice."

Click.

The handcuffs were fastened.

I welcomed this Misunderstanding.

Because the deeper the Misunderstanding, the greater the impact when overcoming it was bound to be.

'They say forgiveness is originally easier than Permission.'

Like that, Freya and I headed side by side to the Holding Cell.

On the way, the proud smiles on the faces of the Nihilrit Siblings did not fade.