Chapter 92

Episode 92: The Graduate Student Cries Once Again

Mint looked up at me with her shiny eyes.

“I was getting bored since there weren’t many days left.”

“Did you wait long?”

“Nope. I just came out for a stroll.”

“That’s good. I was worried that you did nothing all day and were waiting idly.”

“It’s my choice, right? It’s fine even if you do nothing, isn’t it?”

“True enough.”

I took Mint’s parasol, and Mint walked beside me with her arms crossed.

“Where are we going now?”

“Let’s walk a bit. What were you doing?”

“A royal inspection.”

“Did you resolve it?”

Details shouldn’t be told. It’s patient confidentiality. I thought for a moment. How much can I tell Mint?

“Even though I can’t say the details, I think this case was handled well.”

“Of course it would be.”

“I usually don’t go for royal inspections, but the patients had special circumstances. There were quite a few of them too.”

I paused briefly.

“What did the Imperial Princess do?”

“Me? Nothing special. Oh, yeah. The imperial prince came to the academy looking for you.”

“Oh really? What did you tell him?”

“They’re recruiting alchemists. If you need anyone or have specific fields in mind, they said to let them know.”

I thought more about it but couldn’t come to a conclusion immediately. What would be best?

“Let’s see first. Do things the imperial palace way.”

“Sure. They’ll be happy.”

Anyway, the purification process for penicillin is already set; we just need to adjust it. Who we hire as staff doesn’t seem crucial right now.

And I don’t even know any alchemists anyway. We should assign tasks first before deciding who needs what and what’s impossible.

“Manfred isn’t necessary. Let’s go hang out instead! You have no idea how bored I was without a teacher around. No one to talk to!”

“Princess, you surely have people to talk to. There are servants in the palace, and you have plenty of friends from the academy.”

“Hmm? Ah. Not like I didn’t talk at all for days. It’s just an expression.”

“So you did talk?”

“Obviously. The princess holds such an important position; I can’t remain silent forever, can I?”

Thankfully, she understands that now. Earlier this year, she seemed to wander around alone, but maybe her personality has improved somewhat.

“If you understand, that’s good.”

“I’m serious.”

I nodded.

The three noble ladies I saw at the mansion were somewhat similar to Mint. Erzabet, wasn’t it? She had been sick since childhood and suffered because of it—similar aspects made me feel that way.

That’s why I felt more sympathy toward Erzabet. Reminded me of someone I knew.

“Princess, I can say this. When I saw the patient recently, you came to mind. It wasn’t anything major.”

“Why, was she pretty? Adorable?”

“Absolutely not… It was a young student suffering intensely from a curable illness. That’s why I thought of you.”

Mint nodded.

“So, this person isn’t your lover, right?”

“No, seriously!”

“You’re skilled, teacher.”

“Ugh…”

I frowned.

No, I swear. Seeing Mint’s subtle smile, it might’ve been a joke after all? Who knows.

“Let’s go eat something.”

“Yeah, let’s.”

Asterix’s Ward

Erzabet lay in the ward. Istina stood by with medical records, her face filled with enthusiasm as she stared at the third princess.

“Uh, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, I just want to quickly document everything before Professor arrives. Could you give me detailed information about when and where you felt pain? Like headaches?”

“It started about a year ago. It worsened a month ago. Initially, I easily got tired, my hands and feet swelled, then I began having headaches.”

Istina nodded.

“The condition worsened a month ago.”

“Where’s the professor, though?”

Hmm. Probably with Mint right now. Anyway, if he wants to finish the diagnosis today, he’ll come eventually.

“He left some medicine behind. Hmm… Since it’s a lifelong condition, there’s no need to worry too much.”

Indeed, his quick arrival wouldn’t change the disease Erzabet has dealt with her whole life. Erzabet nodded.

“Thank you for coming on the royal inspection, Professor Asterix. I heard he doesn’t accept personal requests despite being the greatest physician on the continent.”

Greatest on the continent…

Seems true, but Istina scratched her head slightly. The professor does have quite a human side, though not always positive.

“Not exactly. At the academy hospital, patients are seen in order of severity by the professor.”

“Anyway…”

“Also, your highness, your condition is severe. If left untreated, your brain will deteriorate.”

“Ah, that bad?”

Istina placed a glass bottle filled with pills next to Erzabet’s bed.

“Take three pills a day.”

“Three? Really?”

“Yes.”

Actually, Istina didn’t know why. The professor just mentioned it earlier.

“It’s medicine to remove copper.”

“How does it work?”

“It binds with copper. Probably excreted through urine, according to the professor.”

Further explanation was difficult. Istina scratched her head, but it seemed Erzabet understood, which was fortunate.

“Do many patients survive here?”

“Ah, patients who have a chance to fully recover, the professor saves them all. Don’t worry about that.”

“All of them?”

“Exactly. This patient’s case is tougher. Saving them is challenging, and managing their condition to prevent brain damage is critical.”

“Ah.”

Surviving isn’t the end. Erzabet must thrive well enough to inherit her family legacy.

“You’re called Istina, right? Please convey something for me.”

“What should I say?”

“Tell them I’m healthy. And capable.”

Suddenly, Erzabet became serious.

“Oh, this is just a hunch, but the patient seems likely to recover fully!”

Both Erzabet and Istina…

Of course, they have experience and responsibility, but fundamentally, they’re still young girls. If they didn’t harbor some youthful, vague optimism that everything would turn out alright, that’d be a lie.

Meanwhile, Professor Wolfram’s Lab

Luciana held the letter in her hand, pondering deeply. The royal letter that arrived yesterday was so worn from Luciana’s handling that it resembled a dishrag now.

– The royal family is establishing a new pharmaceutical and chemical company to help citizens. Assistance is needed.

– As a top talent from the empire’s premier educational institution, Luciana is sought after by the royal family. Positive consideration is requested.

Her hands still trembled.

Though she’d waited her entire life for this moment, now that it had arrived, there was much to consider. First, she needed to wrap up her graduate studies.

But whether Professor Wolfram would allow her to leave was uncertain. Would he truly let Luciana go?

“Professor.”

Luciana bowed deeply. Professor Wolfram glanced up from the textbook he was reading.

“What is it?”

“I apologize, but I’m unsure how to bring this up. Yesterday, I received an offer from the royal palace.”

“Speak freely.”

Luciana hesitated for a while.

“The royal palace plans to establish a pharmaceutical and chemical company under imperial decree. They’re recruiting new students.”

Professor Wolfram closed his book completely and stared directly at Luciana.

“So, you plan to go?”

“No, I wanted to ask for advice on what to do.”

“Do you want to go?”

“Yes.”

“Then there’s no other option. If you want to go, you should.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Did the royal palace specifically request you?”

“Not exactly. It seems some graduate students from the alchemy department received invitations. Maybe based on grades or recommendations.”

“A great opportunity.”

“Yes… It is.”

“Starting tomorrow, you’re on 24-hour duty.”

“Huh?”

“Luciana isn’t a genius, and you need to work all day for research to progress faster. Writing papers for early graduation helps too.”

“Graduation?”

“Well, aren’t you heading to the royal palace? I can’t send you out half-trained. You’ll be representing me as my disciple wherever you go.”

“T-thank you, Professor… I’ll prepare diligently to honor your name.”

“Wah? You got a good offer, yet you cry? Focus on preparing for graduation by next month.”

Luciana bowed deeply.

Professor Wolfram had no reason to let a student leave early or teach them further if they intended to escape. All that remained was his sense of responsibility to properly educate them.

“Thank you very much.”

“Whatever. Isn’t academia about usefulness? People benefit from it, and you earn a living. Isn’t that the point?”

“That’s true…”

“Don’t feel guilty toward me. Study hard. What was it again? Making medicine?”

“Yes.”

“Teacher Luciana will help many people with that. I just nurture future scholars; the big accomplishments are for the students.”

Luciana cried.

She just kept crying, never expecting Professor Wolfram to care this much.

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