Chapter 160: White Death Disease (2)

The Tuberculosis treatment for the Young Lady of the Keres Ducal Family, Gretel, was decided.

The Treatment plan is simple.

For the next 6 months, she will take the Anti-Tuberculosis Drug regularly.

Until when?

Until that damn White Death Disease completely disappears from her body.

Until then, she was scheduled to stay in this Isolation Room.

"Take good care of your body. I will come often."

"Have a safe trip, Father."

Duke Keres returned to the Duchy.

It was probably his Fault for not being able to leave the Duchy empty for long.

He did say he would come once a month, but,

Judging by his Deeds as a doting father, I think he might come every Fifteen Days.

The more often he comes, the more Holes will be pierced in the Academy Chancellor's Stomach, though.

Ah, for reference, the Duke's Tuberculosis Test Result was Negative.

I guess it's because he's a Superhuman who could have a One-on-one Fight with a Kraken on a single rowboat at sea.

Tuberculosis and the like seemed unable to settle in his sturdy body.

Like that, Gretel came to live a life of recuperation in the Academy Territory.

And now I, carrying her Blood, visited a certain Laboratory.

"......This is an innovation. No, it is to the point that the word innovation is not enough."

Inside the Laboratory.

In front of me, a certain man was pouring out exclamations of Admiration until his mouth went dry.

The Guild Master who once surprised the world by creating Nitroglycerin,

It was Bern.

Right now, he caused a huge Accident because of those Explosives,

So he is working tied to our guild with a Prisoner Status, though.

Former Guild Master Bern spoke to me with shining eyes.

"To think it's a Magical Power Absorption Quantimeter......! Director, no, Lord Saint! How on earth did you come up with this Principle!?"

With a face drenched in Ecstasy, he stroked the Device before his eyes.

"If the Catalyst is lacking, it eats up that much more Magical Power when invoking Magic. To think you would use this obvious logic...... like this......!"

"Is it that amazing?"

At his reaction, my Escort Holy Knight, Gregor, tilted his head.

At that, Bern began to explain the Device as if reprimanding Gregor, or as if he had been waiting for it.

"You ask if it's amazing? The word amazing is not enough! I will explain it easily for you to understand, Knight."

He pointed to one side of the Device.

"You know the fact that the amount of Catalyst determines the Magical Power Consumption Rate when invoking Magic, Holy Knight?"

"Yes. Of course I know."

"It utilizes that Principle. If you invoke a Magic requiring a specific substance here at A, that Magic reaches B over there. By looking at how much the Mercury Thermometer attached to B changes then, you can know how much Magical Power the Magic consumed on its way."

"I suppose so?"

"And if you do an Inverse Calculation of that consumed Magical Power value, you can figure out how much substance is inside the Compound!"

"I understand, but, hmm...... I do not quite know its greatness."

Gregor scratched his head.

Simeon looked at such Gregor with a warm gaze.

"It is fine, Brother. If everyone understood it, it would have been too easy a Technique. Rather, because there are people like you, Brother, the Lord Saint's greatness shines."

"......Brother Simeon. Is that a consolation, or Criticism?"

Gregor made a subtle Facial expression.

Watching such a reaction from Gregor, Bern changed his target to Simeon.

It was to explain it to someone who at least understood his words.

"Priest Simeon, you know the greatness of this Device, right? Now we can figure out only the substances I want, mixed inside a Mixture. This Technique goes beyond Alchemy; it is a great Invention that can shake the foundation of all Magic Studies!"

"As a Parasite Medicine Researcher myself, I also know the greatness of this Technique."

Simeon nodding.

I quietly listened to the praise of Simeon and Bern.

Every time I heard their praise, it felt like my Shoulders naturally shrugged with pride.

'I just did an Application of the Photometer's Principle to tell them the Principle of the Analyzer, and the geniuses of the guild made it on their own, though.'

Strictly speaking, this Device is not something I designed.

I am a Doctor, not a Physicist or Magical Engineer.

I merely told them the Principle and Idea.

And that Idea was almost at the level of chasing clouds.

The ones who materialized it were the Engineers belonging to the guild.

After continuously Overworking them with a Monthly salary and bonuses as the Price, they managed to make it in a few years.

Therefore, while they materialized my Idea, what I did was only about the Design of the Magic the Device would use.

'Teacher was also extremely happy when I said I was making this kind of Device after a long Time.'

The Great Sage also secretly participated in the development of this Device.

In Teacher's words.

If the Principle of this Device is well applied, the 'Quantification of Magical Power' that Mages had only dreamed of would also become possible.

So for the first time since the Vaccine development, Teacher also burned with enthusiasm.

— "As expected, there is no Time to be bored when doing Research with you, Yulian. I am truly proud of you."

Anyway.

The Device currently in front of Bern and Simeon was such a Device.

A Device that could check how much of the substance I wanted was inside a Mixture.

The name was the Mercury Magical Power Absorption Quantitative Analyzer.

A Device called an Analyzer for convenience.

"Furthermore, the Lord Saint's greatness is not just this! You created a Magic Formula for this Device, uniquely applied to each Catalyst. And you didn't Monopoly that Formula, but did a Disclosure for the Development of Academia!"

"Hmm, hmm. That is correct. Would he be the Lord Saint otherwise?"

Bern, still endlessly praising me, and,

Simeon nodding with satisfaction beside him.

I gave no particular affirmation or Denial to the praise of the two.

'I don't care about a Disclosure of that Formula, though.'

To run the Analyzer, a specific Magic Formula is needed.

Since the Catalyst consumed is different for each Magic, it is necessary to adjust the Magic's Runic formula for each substance to be checked.

So I created that Formula through Joint research with Teacher.

The Basic Formula that could connect the Catalyst to this Magic.

Afterwards, I did a Disclosure of that Formula to The public, just like when I created the Vaccine Basic Formula.

The reason was one thing.

'Just because they know the Formula doesn't mean they can make this Device.'

Either way, the Magic Formula itself doesn't have much Usefulness.

Rather, that Magic is a Magic created for this Analyzer.

It means the Formula is a side dish, and the main body is the Analyzer.

That is why I did a Disclosure of the Formula.

It also had a purpose akin to a Food Tasting corner.

So that if a Research Mage tasted that Formula even once, they would have no choice but to crave this Device.

However, unaware of such an Evil(?) trick of mine, people merely applauded me.

Just like now.

"When I first checked Schnabel's 2nd Formula, its beauty was beyond words......!"

"Indeed, indeed."

For reference, that Magic Formula became Schnabel's 2nd Formula.

As soon as I said I wouldn't get a Patent, Teacher forcefully decided the Formula's name with my name.

Thanks to that, I once again had to give an Apology to my Juniors in the distant Future.

The 1st Formula and 2nd Formula have no correlation, so it must be hard to memorize, but......

What can you do.

"So about that......"

Bern, who had been endlessly praising me like that, suddenly approached me bowing his back ingratiatingly.

"......I heard the guild has now started taking pre-orders for these Analyzers too."

"Yes, that is correct."

The Analyzer is an item sold by the Merkur Trading Company.

Normally in my Previous life, didn't Pharmaceutical Companies make Medical Devices or Research Instruments as they grew bigger?

Our guild also became like that.

Starting with this Analyzer, we became a Pharmaceutical Company that also makes 'Research Equipment'.

After creating the Formula and introducing the Analyzer at an Academic Conference.

Quite a lot of people showed Interest in this Magical Power whatever Device.

They say it's before even doing a Trial Operation, but since I made it, they just blindly started making a Reservation.

'As expected, is this why Trustworthiness is important?'

Afterwards, Mages who tested the Prototype of the Analyzer once went crazy.

And places like the Magic Tower and Imperial Magic Research Society started making a Reservation for the Analyzer.

"From what I hear, I heard Reservations are backed up because the 12 Magic Towers that did a Trial Operation of this Analyzer placed an Order."

"Is that so?"

The problem was that this Device was Handmade, so it needed quite a lot of Time to make.

So we unavoidably lined up the Reservation customers.

"So about that......"

Bern spoke while rubbing his hands together in supplication.

Only after hearing the words that followed, I could figure out why he praised me as if flattering.

"By any chance, after the people from the Magic Tower, could you give my guild priority?"

If it were a Democratic society, we would have lined them up on a first-come, first-served basis.

However, because it was a society based on Social status, we lined them up according to the order of social Status and power.

Bern was asking to let him cut in line right after the Magic Tower.

"Hehe. With just this Analyzer, it's clear our guild can be resurrected too."

Bern's goal is the resurrection of his guild.

The resurrection of the guild that had fallen into ruin due to the Accident he caused.

For this, he was eyeing the Analyzer.

"Hehe, would it be possible, Lord Saint?"

"That much is possible."

Changing the order of the Reservation System is no big deal.

In my Previous life, there would be an uproar about it being a Contract violation or whatever, but the Contracts in this world seemed somewhat loose.

It would probably be possible.

Besides, Bern also made a Contribution to the development of this Analyzer, so I could give him that much Privilege.

There was just one problem.

"But do you know the price?"

"......I do not know well. How much is it by any chance?"

"It will Cost a bit."

"Hehe. It is fine. Ever since we started to Supply Nitroglycerin to the Merkur Trading Company, our guild's finances have become somewhat affluent."

"It is roughly...... about 400 million Mar."

"......Yes?"

Bern asking back as if he misheard.

"400...... million?"

400 million Mar.

It was an amount that could buy two houses where the Middle Class of Civitas Square lived.

Roughly the price of two of Student Ayla's houses.

"F-Four hundred million......!"

He muttered with a trembling Voice.

"With the Monthly salary I receive under my Prisoner Status...... it's an amount I could barely touch only after working a full thirty years! Besides, with one unit the Turnover Rate wouldn't come out, so if we procure several units...... Good heavens."

"Research Equipment is originally this expensive."

The Guild Master glumly slumped his Shoulders.

But well, what can you do. What's expensive is expensive.

Even in my Previous life, it was common for one good testing Instrument to be worth about two houses.

Speaking of this Analyzer, even among the testing Instruments existing in this world right now, it was of the Highest grade— truly an item on the level of a Final Boss.

Since it's an item like a Lamborghini for researchers, even at this level, people wanting to buy it have no choice but to line up.

"Haa......"

Bern, feeling despondent, muttered.

"By the way, would the Patients of this Infirmary know?"

The Guild Master who was operating the Device clicked his tongue.

"That we are running this Device just to analyze their Blood. Compared to the Treatment fee the Patients pay...... my word, there is no luxury as extravagant as this."

As soon as his words ended, the Analyzer's Result happened to come out.

The Blood value analysis Result for the Duke's Daughter, Gretel, had come out.

Leaving Bern, who was still chattering, alone, I focused on Gretel's Blood test Report.

On the Report, the values I wanted to see were written.

Compared to the Routine Examination Results of my Previous life, the items were incredibly poor, but,

Even so, the Result was at quite a satisfactory level.

[AST : 22]

[ALT : 18]

[Total bilirubin : 0.8]

"......"

And, having checked the values on the Report, I had no choice but to be flustered.

'What is this.'

Why is it Normal.

Gretel enjoys alcohol.

And quite a lot at that.

Furthermore, among the Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs she will take from now on, there are medicines mixed in that place a burden on the liver.

That is why I checked her Liver Enzyme Levels.

'Why is she healthy.'

Her Liver Enzyme Levels are good.

Better than even mine.

She was so healthy that I even felt a sense of shame.

'Could alcohol...... be good for your health......?'

There is no way.

In the end, today as well, I had no choice but to taste the moment Modern Medicine was defeated by the humans of Another World.

***

The Liver Enzyme Levels came out Normal.

However, there was one more thing left to examine.

Namely, the Alcohol Use Disorder Test.

'Because it'll be a disaster if a Tuberculosis Patient is suffering from Alcoholism.'

Alcoholism is a significant Risk Factor for Tuberculosis.

So by sharing a few Questions with the Young Lady, I did an Investigation into her Alcoholism.

Below is the Result of the answers to those Questions.

1. Have you ever felt the need to cut down on your drinking?

— No? Why cut down on such a good thing?

2. Have you ever felt Annoyance because others aimed Criticism at your drinking?

— Didn't everyone like it, saying I drink with a nice atmosphere?

3. Have you ever felt Guilt or regret about drinking?

— No, I haven't?

4. Have you ever reached for a Hair of the Dog as soon as you opened your eyes in the Morning to soothe your stomach?

— Usually, having a glass of alcohol before falling asleep is the way to enjoy it. Alcohol drunk early in the Morning merely ruins the day instead.

As a Result of compiling the results of these simple questions and scoring them.

She was flawlessly far from Alcoholism.

'What is this? Did I do the Investigation wrong? No. It's a Simple Test, so this kind of Result can come out.'

Afterwards, I moved past the simple questions and threw In-depth Questions at her.

5. How often do you drink?

— I don't know because I just drink whenever I feel like it without counting. A glass when the clouds are beautiful, a glass watching a bird fly by, a glass when the moon is pretty...... Well. It feels different every day and every month.

6. Have you ever caused a problem after drinking? Like hitting someone, I mean.

— It's my first time hearing it's a problem since coming to the Infirmary. Ah, is this considered causing a problem too? It's not? Then no.

7. Do your hands tremble if you can't drink?

— They don't do that, but my mouth just feels bored.

.

.

.

The Result after finishing the Investigation like that.

The Conclusion I made about the Duke's Daughter was one thing.

She did not have Alcoholism.

She merely liked alcohol.

Just as a high school girl would go crazy over tteokbokki, or a high school boy would go crazy over fried chicken,

She was simply going crazy over alcohol.

The reason was one thing.

'......She just liked it because it was delicious and fun?'

She just simply loved alcohol.

When I told her that Result, the Duke's Daughter spoke confidently.

"How is it? I have maintained a life without an inch of Shame when it comes to alcohol."

"Even so, it is not allowed. Because the White Death Disease Medicine has Hepatotoxicity. If you drink it with alcohol, your liver could die."

Tuberculosis Medicine basically places a severe burden on the liver.

If you drink alcohol while taking Tuberculosis Medicine, I'm not joking, you could die within Several days.

Hearing that warning, she flinched and spoke.

"......Is it really dangerous?"

"It is extremely dangerous."

"If so...... what about...... Gamju......"

"Do you really want to put it to the test?"

"(Whimper)."

She fumbled around and handed a Vase over to me.

Looking closely, it was a Liquor Bottle disguised as a Vase.

To be exact, it was an item made to act like a Vase by sticking flowers into a Liquor Bottle.

'......What the heck, damn it. Why is that coming out from there.'

And as I smelled the very faint scent of Alcohol wafting from the thing that used to be a Vase, I thought.

'Why on earth is this not Alcoholism.'

It's my personal thought, but.

It was clear that the 21st Century Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnostic criteria were wrong.