Chapter 163: White Death Disease (5)

One month since taking on the Demon Disease treatment of the Keres Ducal Family.

The Duke, who had returned to the Duchy, visited the Academy Territory as soon as he received Contact that his Daughter's quarantine was over.

"......Thus, the risk of Infection from your Daughter's White Death Disease is now gone. It would be fine to set your mind at ease."

The fact that the risk of Infection was gone also meant that the active Tuberculosis was almost entirely gone.

It was also a signal that the treatment was proceeding well.

Upon hearing those Words, the Duke's bronze face brightened radiantly.

"Oh......! Then is she completely cured now?"

"No. The Vigor of the White Death Disease Germs has merely been broken, but there will still be Germs remaining in a dormant state."

"You mean there are remnants left."

"That is correct."

The reason Tuberculosis is tricky is due to its dormant characteristic.

Normally, for Germs like a Cold, it is safe to consider the Germs completely dead once the Symptom disappears.

However, Tuberculosis is different.

They have a separate Team that causes the Disease and a Team that stays dormant to prepare a follow-up strike.

Because of this, if you stop the medicine just because it seems quiet on the outside, the hidden follow-up Team raises its head again.

Even worse, this Time they come equipped with Drug Resistance to the medicine.

Therefore, Tuberculosis is not over just because the Symptom has disappeared.

"They are Germs that return stronger if caught sloppily. Therefore, I plan to continue using the medicine for 5 months so that no remnants remain."

One month is enough to catch the Symptom.

However, to completely eradicate the dormant Germs, there was a need to consistently use the medicine for 5 months even without a Symptom.

"Hah, it sounds like a persistent Disease just by hearing about it."

Whether I should call it a relief, the Duke did not despair even after hearing this.

Rather, he looked as if he was convinced.

"I also suffered from the White Death Disease once, but thanks to a High-rank Healer, I didn't suffer much, so I was ignorant of other people's Circumstances. So when I asked the knights, they said the White Death Disease is a malicious Disease comparable to the Southern Fever."

The infamy of the White Death Disease is no less than the Southern Fever (Malaria).

In fact, there were even more people in the Eastern Region who feared the White Death Disease than Malaria.

"It makes sense that it is this persistent."

The corners of Duke Keres's mouth drew an arc as he said that.

"In other Words, the fact that this treatment was a Success would also mean that our Eastern Region can now push the Frontline back like the Southern Region."

"Aren't you jumping to conclusions too quickly?"

"The Retainers unanimously said so. Looking at the Southern Region's case, they said the Eastern Region will definitely be the same."

The Southern Region's Frontline was once being pushed back due to Malaria.

This is because no matter how outstanding a Superhuman is, it is difficult to fight against Demonic Beasts while enduring a Disease.

What changed the battle situation of that Southern Front was Quinine.

"I heard the Southern Region reclaimed the land of their Ancestors thanks to that medicine called Quinine you made. I heard His Highness Imperial Prince Edmund is gradually expanding the territory using the reclaimed Fortress as a Strategic point."

After Quinine came out, Soldiers and knights no longer needed to care about the Fever.

Leaving the bugs to bite them as much as they wanted, they focused solely on battle and pushed back the Frontline,

And now, 10 years later, the Southern Region has still never lost the reclaimed Frontline.

As a Result, the Southern Region became the 'best land to live in' in the Empire.

Duke Keres seemed to believe their Territory would also become like that.

"Come to think of it, sailors were indeed vulnerable to the White Death Disease."

"That wouldn't be the only problem, would it?"

"That is true. Since there are so many diseases that torment sailors."

The sea is the main battlefield of the Eastern Region.

Therefore, most of the Nobles and knights of the Eastern Region are sailors.

However, as far as I knew, the White Death Disease was not the only thing tormenting sailors.

'Of course, a ship has a structure vulnerable to Tuberculosis.'

Ships are a closed environment where people live in groups, making them vulnerable to Tuberculosis.

However, what truly tormented them was something else.

"By any chance, during long voyages, do they bleed without reason or have trouble stopping the bleeding?"

"Yes. You know of the Witch's Curse."

"It is not a Curse but a Disease."

"......By any chance, do you have a medicine for that Disease?"

"I can make one, but it's not exactly a Disease that needs to be treated with medicine."

Scurvy.

A Disease that has tormented navigating sailors for a long time.

To explain, it is a Disease where a lack of vitamins causes the structure of Protein to break down, which in turn causes the internal organ skin to collapse and bleed.

The Treatment Method is simple.

"Before setting sail, pack as much Fruit and vegetables as possible, and feed them to the sailors every meal."

"Will any Fruit do?"

"I will write down a list."

For a moment, I thought about saying any Fruit would do since it's harder to find Fruit without Vitamin C anyway.

However, just in case they packed some strange Fruit, I just wrote down a list.

"I lack knowledge about sailing, so I don't know well which of these Fruits are easy to store. So please understand even if a strange Fruit is written down."

"This alone is enough."

The Duke casually glanced over the list while saying so.

He nodded.

"Tangerines would be convenient. I am truly indebted to you."

"Not at all. Isn't it thanks to the Duke protecting the sea that I can live comfortably like this."

From what I heard, many of the Demonic Beasts from the sea were monsters that would make one automatically say, 'They fight like fucking shit.'

It was common for something that looked like it came out of Cthulhu to snap a ship in half,

And whale-like bastards that swallowed ships whole could be seen commonly.

The Nobles of the Eastern Region were the ones preventing such monsters, which seemed like they belonged in the wrong genre, from coming up on land.

So I should at least do this much for him.

"Ah, this is just between you and me, Duke, but the White Death Disease Vaccine is currently in development."

"There is a Vaccine for the White Death Disease too?"

"I know, right. I didn't think of it either, but it existed."

In addition to this, the Tuberculosis (BCG) Vaccine is currently in the making.

"It's because I recently developed the White Death Disease Curse. I was able to make it through that Curse."

10 years ago, at the Time when the first Smallpox Vaccine was made.

My Teacher and I created a Formula that turns Black magic Curses into a Vaccine.

That Formula is exactly the Schnabel Formula 1.

......What a naming sense.

Anyway, thanks to that Formula, finding a Plague Curse meant that the Curse could immediately be turned into a Vaccine.

And recently, I developed the White Death Disease Curse during the process of Researching the White Death Disease Medicine.

Developing a Curse was easy.

It popped right out when I pestered Belgian.

— "You piece of trash! I'm already feeling like I'm dying trying to find a Mold suitable for the Yam, and now you want me to develop this Curse too! Do you even have a human heart!"

— "There are no Labs that only run one Project. We must proceed with at least 3 simultaneously."

— "Fuck! I can't do it! I said I can't!"

Belgian threw a petty tantrum at the Time, but.

His Stance became docile after having a Meeting with Simeon.

As expected, the experience gained from meeting various people while on a Pilgrimage didn't just disappear.

Anyway.

"Once the Vaccine is made, it looks like it would be a good idea to Supply the Eastern Region first."

"I will look forward to the day I can treat you to a boat ride."

This was all for the story about the White Death Disease and Scurvy.

We returned to the story about the Duke's Daughter Keres's Disease again.

"I apologize, but I will treat the Demon Disease after the White Death Disease treatment is over. It is dangerous because the White Death Disease is still present."

"I've endured for 3 years, so why would I be impatient over a mere 5 months. I will pay the Treatment fee as much as needed, so please completely cure my Daughter's Disease."

"Understood."

The Duke nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he adjusted his posture and sat up straight.

"......By the way."

"?"

"I personally wish to offer a Reward to you, but, the thing is, there are more than a couple of tricky aspects."

As soon as I heard those Words, I waved my hands.

"I only need to receive the fee for the treatment of the White Death Disease and Demon Disease. I don't need anything that grand."

Receiving money for treatments was for the sake of maintenance in the first place.

It wasn't like I could run a business by digging up the ground for free.

So as long as the price for the treatment was paid, that was enough.

"Furthermore, since it was a Clinical trial, I don't plan to charge a large fee."

Originally, excessive Greed leads to trouble.

Even if the Duke's Daughter was the Duke's only Treasure, I didn't want to receive something too grand.

At that, the Duke gave a pleased smile.

"You are having a Misunderstanding. I am not trying to offer a Reward solely for my Daughter's treatment."

He tapped the Fruit list I handed him with his finger and spoke.

"This is a Reward for the method to prevent the Curse of the Sea Witch, and the promise to Supply the Eastern Region in the Future. I heard those fellows from the Southern Region Rewarded you with the Right to the Railway."

That's right.

I had forgotten.

I held a Bond for the Southern Railway.

Seeing as I don't even bother checking the Merkur Trading Company stocks now because it's annoying, there's no way I would have Interest in a Bond.

So I completely didn't know how that Railway industry turned out, and what happened to my Bond.

"I heard the Southern Railway industry has prospered greatly. It's been almost 1 year since it was built, and I heard the Railway isn't being damaged by Demonic Beasts either. I heard you currently hold the most Bonds there right after the Imperial Court."

Hearing the Recent News of the Bond I bought through another person's mouth was profound.

"However, the Eastern Region can't possibly have less generosity than those Southern Region tightwads. So I prepared this."

The Duke flicked his finger at his butler.

Then, the butler handed over a Scroll to the Duke's hand.

"Originally, this was a Reward the Retainers and I prepared to give when we heard you developed the White Death Disease Medicine, but...... I will have to add a clause here."

I checked the Contract once.

The original content of the Contract was about territory.

The Eastern Region has many islands, and the content was that they were handing one of those many islands over to me.

The island was not only located in a relatively shallow sea but also naturally protected by surrounding archipelagos, literally a place that wouldn't fall short even if called prime real estate.

The Duke was trying to hand such an island over to me.

'Wow, am I becoming a land-rich person?'

Just as I was thinking that, the Duke added a clause to the content.

"Originally, it would be right to discuss with the Retainers, but no Complaint would particularly arise even if I decide it here. I will hand over the Eastern Region's Secret Technique for Selective Breeding here."

"Yes? What does that mean?"

Selective Breeding?

I was briefly confused by the word that suddenly popped out.

Doing Selective Breeding of what?

Why Selective Breeding from the Eastern Region in the first place?

For someone like me who was confused, the Duke explained.

"The sea of our Eastern Region is more terrible than anywhere else, but in shallow waters, relatively delicious fish are caught well, and the land is on the relatively safe side."

Of course, it wasn't completely safe because of the Cthulhu fish crawling up from the sea.

Still, the inland side was said to be on the slightly safer 'side.'

Specifically, if a Fortress is built, there is enough abundance to farm quite largely inside it.

"Thus, our Eastern Region has had an abundance of land produce since ancient times. Fish are caught plentifully, and quite a bit of grain is harvested. I dare say, until 10 years ago, our Eastern Region could be called the most well-fed land in the Empire."

"......I suppose so."

Only now did I understand these folks' splendid food culture.

With plenty to eat, Cooking developed as well.

That table setting overflowing with food I was treated to on the Airship didn't come out of nowhere.

Of course, it seemed they had lost that Land of Abundance title to the Southern Region now.

"However, that abundance wasn't achieved simply by luck. How could abundance just fall from the sky."

The Duke lowered his Voice for fear that someone might hear.

"Grains that grow even in barren land, crops that survive even the invasion of Demonic Beasts. The Nobles of the Eastern Region each naturally have a Secret Manual that has sorted out and cultivated such things for generations."

According to his Words, a certain Count in the Eastern Region Cultivated wheat well, and a certain family Cultivated Spices well.

'So this was the reason why that damn Star anise was mostly from the Eastern Region.'

The Keres Ducal Family was on the side of Cultivating Medicinal Herbs well among them.

"Over Generations, the Nobles of the Eastern Region learned the method to grant their desired characteristics to the crops."

"But why are you giving something like that to me......?"

Did I need Selective Breeding?

At that Time, the Duke told me something I had not even thought of.

"I heard many of your medicines rely on plants. If so, what would happen if I pass down the method to grow the plants that yield those medicines in large quantities?"

"......!"

The moment I heard those Words, an Inspiration flashed through my head for the first time in a while.

'Granting desired characteristics to plants?'

It was exactly the Technique I needed.

The Raw material for Steroids came from the Wild Yam, but its content was only at an unsatisfactory level.

But what if I succeeded in Cultivating only Yams with a high Component content through Selective Breeding?

'It's not just Steroids.'

Quinine was the same.

Right now, Quinine is being produced in sufficiently large quantities, but its means of production relies on the wild.

It was a method where Adventurers would scrape the bark off wild Cinchona Trees growing at the entrance of the Southern Demonic Realm, and then it would be processed into medicine.

But what if those trees could be grown directly on an island?

And even strengthen the Component through Selective Breeding?

'The unit cost of production can be lowered significantly more.'

Come to think of it, Pharmaceutical Companies in my Previous life also used to do Selective Breeding on the plants they needed in this way.

However, I could not do that over here.

This was a domain I couldn't do alone no matter how much 21st Century knowledge I possessed.

Because I am a Doctor, not an agronomist.

The Duke was saying he would hand that know-how over to me.

"You may or may not know, but the tangerines or grapes you know are originally foods that can only be eaten after Selective Breeding. It is the Result of our Ancestors selecting seeds for Hundreds of years."

"Does that mean......"

"The Keres Ducal Family will hand over those seeds to you."

At that moment, I tried converting the value of those seeds.

I had heard it somewhere before, that the breed of Chicken used for fried chicken was so expensive it cost tens of millions of won per bird.

Handing over that know-how was by no means a small Proposal.

"But whether the other Eastern Region Nobles will be convinced......"

"Well. I don't think they would do that even after being promised a Vaccine. If there is a family with that little sense of judgment, that family won't be able to enjoy the abundance of the sea alone when the Eastern Region reclaims it."

The Duke's Stance was resolute.

"How is it? Will this be enough?"

"It is overflowing."

"No. Compared to the debt the Eastern Region will owe you, this much is nothing."

It seemed the Duke valued the Scurvy Treatment Method, Tuberculosis Vaccine, and Tuberculosis Treatment Method much more highly.

On the contrary, I was valuing the Selective Breeding much more highly.

I wondered if this was also a misalignment typical of the Misunderstanding Genre, but I decided not to think deeply about that part.

'I'll have to ask Perisia later about which one is better.'

Since I didn't know a single thing about the military value of my medicine in the first place,

I decided to ask someone who knew these things well.

"I will make sure to Supply the White Death Disease Medicine and Vaccine to the Eastern Region as soon as possible."

"We will also have to prepare on our side to give you the seeds as soon as possible."

Like that, the Duke promised me a great gift and finished the consultation.

.

.

.

"Ah, I am just asking just in case."

Before leaving the Consultation Room.

The Duke spoke to me cautiously.

"About those Fruits. Do we really have to take them as they are?"

"What does that mean?"

"Can't we brew them into alcohol and take them?"

"You even brew alcohol with tangerines?"

"Are there Fruits you can't brew into alcohol?"

"......Just dry them and take them. Alcohol interferes with vitamin absorption."

"Ugh...... Understood."

The Duke feeling regret.

Even his Bodyguard and Retainers in the corner of the Consultation Room licked their lips in regret, showing their Appetite.

Looking at those figures, I was certain.

Where the Duke's Daughter Keres learned those drinking habits.

***

"......Hmm."

On the way back to the Duchy.

Inside the Airship, the Duke let out a Groan.

"......Head Butler."

"Yes, Master."

"Was the Nihilrit Baronial Family in the Capital?"

"Yes. It is a Judicial Officer Family. And they received a Promotion in Noble Rank to a Viscount Family a few years ago."

"Ah, my mistake. It's because I'm in the dark regarding the Center."

"By any chance, do you plan to drop by the Capital before returning to the Territory?"

"As expected. I like the Head Butler because you catch on quick."

"I will prepare the daffodil bulbs."

"I leave it to you."

The Light Purple Daffodil.

It was the flower that served as a Symbol of the Keres Ducal Family protecting the Eastern Front.

The Light Purple Daffodil, created at the end of Selective Breeding, was a flower that only the Keres Ducal Family, or families that had formed a close relationship with them, could bloom in their backyard.

'I am looking forward to what kind of reaction Baron Nihilrit will show.'

The Child of a Mountain Lord is bound to be a Mountain Lord.

As the father who naturally raised a Saint, he would respond resolutely to this level of Reward, right?

And that Afternoon.

Freya, who returned home after finishing Class, received Contact from the Main Estate.

— [Freya.]

"What is the matter, Mother?"

— [What on earth did your Older Brother do?]

Beyond the Crystal Orb, Viscountess Nihilrit pointed to numerous flowerpots and spoke.

— [People keep sending bulbs or seeds. Among them was even His Grace the Duke. What is going on?]

"Ah, it seems the flowers and Letters sent by the Nobles who couldn't send them when Older Brother was Director Schun have gone there."

Director Schun is a Cleric.

Therefore, Nobles could not give a Reward using the Nobles' method.

However, if it becomes known that the Nihilrit Viscount Family's Young Master Yulian and Director Schun are the Same Person, the story changes.

"Please raise them carefully so they don't wither."

— [Your Mom is already having a very hard time.]

"Didn't you hire a gardener?"

— [They submitted a Resignation letter as soon as they heard there was a bulb from the Keres Ducal Family.]

"......"

Freya looked at the Crystal Orb wordlessly for a moment.

Thinking that her Older Brother being too famous was also a problem.