Chapter 132

Chapter 132: The Sacred Maiden of the Empire (1)

I stroked Mint’s head.

Mint just smiled.

“I’m still a bit flustered.”

“Honestly, it’s understandable, isn’t it?”

“Why? Because I’m too pretty?”

“Is that so?”

Mint wiped her mouth and let me go, though she still held my hand tightly.

“Ah, I was trying to think hard about what I wanted to say… but then you hugged me and everything got interrupted…”

Mint closed her eyes briefly in thought.

“I know what you were going to say at the symposium. It wasn’t about creating something new, right?”

“Huh?”

“Helping people is what matters most—whether it’s reducing a patient’s pain with painkillers or providing them with better conditions.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was going to say.”

Mint nodded knowingly, clearly having given this some serious thought.

“Anyway, see you tomorrow, Teacher.”

I nodded, and Mint left. The Imperial Princess probably has things to do today too.

A few days ago…

Piles of letters from all over the empire were stacked outside my research lab. Some replies are taking longer than others.

Still, there were certain letters I had to respond to—like ones from the imperial palace.

Or this one:

-Professor, I’ve heard much about your great achievements. Especially a few days ago when you helped temple priests save patients from the Black Death in Vinia, leaving quite an impression on both believers and priests alike.

-I would like to meet you personally.

-Not only to express gratitude for aiding the empire’s citizens through the church, but also because I have great interest in your research.

-If there’s a way we can help those in need more effectively, it would be sinful not to participate. I’ll visit the academy during the fall symposium—I hope we can meet.

-Sacred Maiden, Captain of the Salvation Knights, Arcasia.

I thought about it…

My memories of church people aren’t entirely positive—they’ve often been unhelpful, even obstructive at times.

But whether they’ve done wrong or not…

Still, if the Sacred Maiden wants to come,

how could I possibly stop her? She’s attending the symposium anyway, so telling her not to come wouldn’t make her skip it.

-Thank you. I look forward to your visit, Sacred Maiden. I hope we can collaborate.

-Professor Asterix.

I didn’t see the Sacred Maiden at the symposium venue…

I’m not sure if she arrived yet or not. Maybe she plans to join starting the next day, maybe she just picked up the conference materials, or perhaps she’s already here.

The symposium lasts more than one day after all.

I looked up as I heard strange wheel noises and footsteps approaching. Who’s coming to the lab?

After a knock, I opened the door to find someone who looks like the Sacred Maiden accompanied by two temple priests.

“Oh, hello?”

The clerics quietly nodded.

I glanced at the Sacred Maiden and the two priests—all women. The Sacred Maiden notably wears a thin white eye patch and carries a walking stick.

In a wheelchair, though it seems she can walk short distances occasionally. That must be why she brings the cane despite being in the chair.

Or maybe… in a darker interpretation, the cane symbolizes her desire to walk. I’ve seen patients like that before.

Weirdly curious…

“Nice to meet you.”

The priests waited outside while the Sacred Maiden parked her wheelchair next to the sofa.

I sat across from her.

She slowly cleared her throat and briefly scanned the lab. Oh no…

We should’ve met somewhere else.

This place isn’t presentable for outsiders. Though the graduate students and the princess might be used to it…

My lab is gradually resembling Dr. Frankenstein’s workshop. Evidence of human dissections litters the space.

A femur used for observing bone marrow cells, another femur tested for leg bone strength, a preserved heart used to study blood circulation principles…

Oh dear. I awkwardly glanced around, and the Sacred Maiden winced slightly at the sight.

“Looks like you’re close to assembling a whole person.”

I didn’t have a good response.

Not just one, but five could probably emerge. There are seven bodies purchased specifically for dissection.

Thinking about it now…

Showing pieces of human corpses scattered around the lab might not have been ideal for a clergy member.

I sighed.

“It happens during research.”

“Professor, you’re quite… unique, as I’ve heard. Let’s start with a conversation.”

I stared directly at the Sacred Maiden. She covered one eye with an eye patch.

Her light brown hair framed a face pale enough to show veins, likely due to limited mobility from her wheelchair. Her visible eye lacked double eyelids and looked perpetually sleepy.

Eye patch. Cane. Age…

Something feels familiar, yet elusive. I scratched my head.

“If I may ask, how did the Sacred Maiden end up in a wheelchair?”

She gave a wry smile.

“Figures you’d worry about symptoms first. But this isn’t the kind of illness you can cure. During a monster hunt with holy knights, I fell off my horse after being attacked by a beast.”

“Wow, that must’ve been tough.”

My brain instinctively switched to ‘deliver bad news’ mode, but she shook her head.

Right, she’s a healer too; she’d recognize that tone.

“No need to talk to me like a patient. I didn’t come here for treatment. It was simply part of God’s plan—not to be a frontline healer fighting monsters.”

I had many questions, but…

If she doesn’t want to talk about it, there’s nothing I can do.

This medieval era isn’t particularly healthy, but wow, there sure are a lot of sick people in the empire.

“Anyway, I didn’t come here to discuss my condition. I’m actually a fan of yours, Professor.”

That was unexpected.

“Oh, really?”

I thought she’d just spout boring church stuff, but the Sacred Maiden agreed enthusiastically.

“Yes! I’ve read all of your books, papers, publications, even articles this year!”

What’s she getting at?

“How did you find them?”

“They were amazing! The invention of the microscope, the discovery of bacteria, eradication of epidemic dysentery, finding white blood cells, understanding circulatory system principles, discovering capillaries… All these millennium-old mysteries solved thanks to you!”

Those were indeed remarkable discoveries.

By the way, if I think harder about her condition, I might figure out what’s wrong. Something feels off beyond just an injury.

Let me think…

“Right.”

“Is that all? Haven’t you revolutionized medicine? Not just one, but dozens of new frontiers opened!”

Her voice was soft, making it hard to fully catch everything she said.

“Excessive praise.”

“Of course, progress was slow. Medicine is conservative, and the church even more so. It’s unlikely all your theories will be accepted within a year.”

I nodded.

“The entire church didn’t support your ideas, right? In fact, many strongly opposed them.”

“True. Many called your theories heresy. Though we don’t burn witches anymore, plenty still reacted that way—basically, old fuddy-duddies.”

Heresy? I never made any theological claims. Strange people…

“Still, I passionately argued that we must accept and verify your theories. Medicine hasn’t advanced in almost a thousand years, right?”

She kept talking.

“Since the fall of the ancient empire, humanity largely failed to surpass its cultural and technological standards in every aspect.”

I felt frustrated, flipping through my mental copy of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.

I feel like I know what’s wrong, but it’s just out of reach. Hmm, what disease is it?

I half-listened to the Sacred Maiden, occasionally nodding.

“So, I managed to convince the priests that feeding shark sashimi to people isn’t very helpful…”

I stared at her.

Listening vaguely makes it hard to follow. Where did the shark meat topic come from?

“Excuse me, Professor, are you listening?”

“Nope.”

She looked annoyed.

Fair enough, she came all this way to talk while I ignored her. I felt a bit guilty, but there’s someone in my head gesturing to give the answer soon.

Almost there…

“Professor, you’re not listening. Sometimes senile patients visiting the temple communicate better than-“

Senility?

“Ah!”

Finally figured it out!

An injury-related condition, mainly affecting young women, giving reason to cover one eye, necessitating a wheelchair…

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