NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 46
46. The Mysterious Plague (2)
****
On an assignment.
The teacher had promised last time, to make a schedule and post it in the lab. Today’s posted message was this:
“The teacher is on an assignment.” Of course, Mint isn’t someone prone to separation anxiety; there’s no reason for her to feel down just because the teacher will be away from the lab for a few days.
Still, it was true that she felt a bit bored and empty. Not only that, but wasn’t Istina going to be around?
Thinking about that made Mint’s mood even gloomier. “I’ll just head back to the dorm and lie down. He’ll be back in a few days anyway.”
He could’ve at least hinted he was going on an assignment.
Mint stomped her feet. On an assignment, without even saying where he was going. When he gets back, I’m gonna pester him more than usual and demand extra playtime!
****
Where are you going exactly?
It was a situation similar to last time. Four Wyvern knights arrived at the academy. They kept repeating that they needed to hurry.
Istina and I reluctantly packed enough supplies for a week. Sure, it was urgent, but does it have to be this rushed?
“Knight sir! At least tell us where we’re going!”
Because of the wind, if I didn’t shout at the top of my lungs, the message wouldn’t get across.
“It’s by royal order! We’re heading to the port city of Imentia. There’s currently a plague spreading there!”
A plague brought over by sea?
In our world, depending on the region, I might have been able to guess what kind of disease it was. But the map of this world is different.
There’s no way to know. It would be great if it’s a disease I’ve seen before, but the possibility of something completely new is strong. I think I should see it when we arrive.
A plague brought over by sea. There are quite a few possibilities, but one thing came to mind immediately: Black Death.
14th century Croatia, Dubrovnik.
At the time, Dubrovnik, a city under the Venetian Republic, declared that anyone wanting to enter the city must quarantine for 40 days to prevent the Black Death from spreading inside.
Since the incubation period of the Black Death was shorter than 40 days, this policy effectively controlled its spread. The Italian word for 40 days later became synonymous with quarantine itself.
Depending on how many patients there are, treating Black Death itself isn’t too difficult with antibiotics like doxycycline.
Quarantine is also possible. Since it doesn’t spread through aerosols, all we need to do is keep people indoors. Ah, thinking about it, fleas can spread Black Death, right? What if that happens?
That’s not so easy to handle.
Can I get some insecticide here? Is it possible to obtain effective insecticides in bulk in this world? That might be tough.
While pondering potential solutions, my mood improved. This problem seemed solvable again. Still, I need to think about it carefully.
How much time passed? The Wyverns descended in altitude, revealing the breathtaking view of Imentia Castle. Built against the backdrop of a bluer-than-sky sea, its dazzlingly white gray walls were almost blinding.
The harbor was filled with docked ships, and dozens of vessels floated on the spring sea, their white sails billowing with the gentle seasonal winds.
I was expecting a drab, sickly town. But it was more beautiful than I imagined.
The four Wyverns lowered their altitude as if preparing to land, and the scent of salt wafted up.
****
Arrival at Imentia Castle.
Imentia Castle was somewhat different from expectations. I thought it would be a dingy, dirty medieval city stricken with the Black Death.
But it wasn’t.
Surprisingly, it was a rare place that got plenty of sunlight and benefited from the ocean breeze, making it a pleasant space. So, what’s the issue?
We’ll see when we look.
Me, Istina, and Hedwig disembarked from the landed Wyverns. As usual, Istina began gagging the moment she stepped off.
Oh yeah, she gets motion sickness.
“I should’ve prepared medicine for her, but I forgot in the rush.”
“I apologize for summoning you so hastily.”
Hedwig. An imperial-employed Plague Doctor whose primary job is to devise ways to control plagues. These days, the most practical solution seems to involve deploying me.
It appears effective, so I have nothing to say. We worked together last time at Lapis Fief.
“Even so, Professor’s arrival is reassuring. The situation is rather dire.”
“We need to first identify what it is.”
Hedwig wore a white robe with a gray Plague Doctor mask hanging around his neck. Given that he hung it there instead of keeping it in a pocket or bag, it seems he doesn’t consider this area safe.
“Let’s follow me to the castle.”
It’s probably best to follow Hedwig’s example. Wearing a Plague Doctor mask and gloves, I walked toward the main part of Imentia Castle.
Following Hedwig and the palace guards assigned to escort us, Istina trailed behind, still gagging occasionally.
“What kind of disease is it?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“What are the symptoms?”
“Coughing with blood, skin damage, hair loss. In literature, Black Death seems somewhat similar.”
I thought about it. Hair loss, coughing with blood, damaged skin… What kind of disease is this? Radiation poisoning?
No, that can’t be.
Is it really a plague?
“Do you have any materials?”
“Let’s move first. I’ll explain everything once at the mayor’s office.”
The conference room of Imentia Castle.
This meeting room was uniquely arranged in a round table style. While it’s good that members can speak as equals…
There’s no chalkboard, no decision-making axis, nor any clear flow of information. I don’t think this is a suitable space for such discussions.
Let’s start with introductions.
I stood up from my seat.
“Good day. I am Asterix, former Imperial Palace Chief Physician and current Academy Professor. This is my graduate student, Ms. Istina.”
“Professor, nice to meet you. I am Gregory Gutman, Mayor of Imentia.”
Everyone seemed busy, so the greetings were brief. Content matters.
Let’s hear what Hedwig has to say.
“Since everyone’s here, let’s begin. A few days ago, the healers of Imentia Castle discovered numerous sick sailors among those who recently docked and requested assistance from the imperial government.”
“Yes.”
“After investigation, it was found that a significant number of the sailors suffered from hair loss, skin damage, and especially coughing with blood. Some citizens showed similar symptoms.”
“I see.”
I still don’t know what kind of disease it is.
Could it be bacterial bronchitis? But that doesn’t cause hair loss. If it’s streptococcal pharyngitis followed by post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, it could result in hair loss, skin damage, and hemoptysis.
It’s hard to believe such a rare condition would repeatedly appear in multiple people.
“So, Mr. Hedwig thinks this might be the Black Death?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think, Mayor?”
“We cannot rule out the possibility.”
The mayor of Imentia looked like a sailor, slightly rough around the edges, a robust uncle with black hair.
“Curfew has been enforced after sunset, and gatherings are being dispersed. People with bloody coughs are either treated or quarantined at home.”
The round-table focus shifted back to me.
“What’s your opinion, Professor?”
I don’t know yet.
In cases like cholera, I could list the disease name and response methods based solely on symptoms. But this time, it’s hard to jump to conclusions.
“The mentioned symptoms and history are too nonspecific. Based on the information we have now, it’s difficult to judge, and seeing patient cases would help.”
“Yes.”
Everyone seemed slightly disappointed.
Not that I can randomly mention conditions like radiation toxicity or post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
“Let’s proceed under the assumption that this is a type of Black Death. It spreads via two major routes: fleas and saliva infection due to pneumonic Black Death.”
The mayor nodded.
“The latter might be somewhat controllable with curfews and limited outings. The former could possibly be managed with large-scale insecticide spraying. Do we have means to eliminate fleas?”
“I’ll check.”
Good.
So, the framework for the epidemic control policy is set. Now it’s time to examine patients seriously.
“Are the quarantined or treated patients located anywhere currently? I’d like to directly examine and participate in their treatment.”
Hedwig scratched his head a bit.
“Mayor…”
The mayor cleared his throat.
“My knight son, who returned from an expedition, is currently suffering from this illness in the tower of this castle.”
Ah, so there’s a backstory…
“You should’ve mentioned that earlier, Mayor.”
“I intended to bring it up soon. However, there’s a greater good, many more lives at risk, and principles to uphold.”
Medicine isn’t a cold science that requires placing a dying son second.
But maybe politics is.