Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Imperial Princess’s Doctor Quits (4)

I’ll have to think more about the specifics of how to conduct this research. Maybe revisit the process of medical history development I learned back in undergrad.

How should I persuade the academic community? While I was deep in thought—

Knock knock.

I looked up from the papers I was reading at the sound of the knock. Who could it be? I haven’t even visited the Dean of the Academy yet. Who is it?

“Yes, come in.”

It was someone I hadn’t seen before. Judging by the stack of books they were carrying, they seemed to be a student from the Academy. What brings them here?

My question was quickly answered.

“Uh… Are you recruiting graduate students?”

“Shit, obviously we are.”

Oops, verbal slip-up there. The student who had just entered my lab looked startled and tilted their head in confusion. I coughed awkwardly to cover it up.

“Did I hear wrong?”

“No, we’re recruiting graduate students.”

The mention of graduate students triggered an automatic response from the soul of a professor, but I still needed to hear what this student had to say.

I glanced at the visitor.

Their face still looked very much like that of a student. Round features with light brown hair tied into a ponytail, slightly dark blue eyes. They also looked incredibly tired. Well, anyone willing to seek out grad school voluntarily probably has good reason to look exhausted.

They wore a white shirt, bow tie, and a black robe, which was likely part of the Academy uniform. I’d heard something about that before. Before modern times, doctors’ gowns used to be black—similar to the outfits worn by plague doctors in media. Unless necessary, though, we won’t be needing those beak masks anytime soon.

“Oh, that’s lucky.”

“Take a seat first.”

The prospective graduate student sat down in front of my desk. They had come looking for grad school guidance right after arriving at the Academy.

Lucky break.

“Yes, I’m Istina Ivyheart, an apprentice healer attached to the Royal Academy Hospital. Nice to meet you, Professor Asterix.”

I nodded.

“I heard a new professor was taking over the position at the palace, so I came to see if I might learn under your guidance.”

All good so far. But…

I mulled over Istina’s words. She looked around nervously, her hands fidgeting constantly. It was still early in the year, and the Academy hadn’t officially started its semester yet. Why would she already be seeking a supervisor?

There must be some backstory here.

“Are you from the Academy?”

“Yes!”

“Ms. Istina. If you’re from the Academy, surely there are professors you’ve studied with or know well. Why come to me first?”

“Uh… well…”

Istina anxiously darted her eyes around. No surprise there. Probably got into some trouble. Her reputation or skills might be questionable. She briefly avoided my gaze.

Hmm. What do I do now?

Of course, as a newly appointed professor, I don’t exactly have the luxury of being picky about graduate students. It’s fortunate to have someone show up without any prior expectations. Still, having a bombshell on my hands would be problematic.

“Did you get into some kind of trouble?”

“Uh…”

Looks like I hit the nail on the head. After hesitating a bit, Istina spoke up.

“It wasn’t anything major. Just got into an argument with a senior due to differing opinions. Unfortunately, the story got twisted around. Also, I lack connections or background support.”

I pondered for a moment.

“A week.”

“Huh?”

“Since the semester hasn’t officially started yet, let’s work together for a week. Then I’ll decide whether to take you on or not.”

“Ah, understood. Thank you.”

Istina bowed her head.

“What should we start with?”

Naturally,

“How much vodka do we have?”

“Did I hear wrong?”

Hmm, maybe bringing up alcohol on our first meeting wasn’t such a great idea. Word might spread that I’m a drunkard.

“Next time, bring me some alcohol. As high-proof and clear as possible, and as much as you can get. I’ll pay you later.”

“Um, what kind of alcohol do you prefer?”

“Not for drinking. Get the clearest, highest-proof stuff you can find. We’ll use it for research materials.”

“Alright, understood.”

She looked a little unsure.

“Is there anything else you want to add?”

After a pause, Istina spoke.

“I’ll get the alcohol as soon as possible. By the way, do you have any instructions regarding lectures? Like any classes you plan to teach starting this semester?”

Ah, interesting. I stood up.

“Good. Is there an empty lecture hall nearby?”

“Oh, plenty available.”

“Let’s head to one of the empty lecture halls then.”

Istina and I arrived at an empty lecture hall.

“Alright, Ms. Istina. For the upcoming semester, I’ll be teaching two main subjects. One is an introduction to clinical medicine, and the other is physiology lab experiments.”

“Ah, understood.”

The content needs to be both practically useful and academically beneficial.

“In short, my academic goal is twofold. First, to train immediately useful healers. Second, to correct misconceptions in current academic knowledge.”

Istina tilted her head.

“Misconceptions?”

“Ms. Istina, do you know what bacteria are?”

“Bacteria?”

Anyway, I nodded.

“I’m not sure where to start explaining, but the first thing we need to prove is the existence of bacteria and the necessity of hand disinfection.”

Istina nodded.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Then, let’s have a quick lesson. Bacteria are tiny bug-like organisms that cause various diseases. They also lead to food spoilage.”

“Well, most illnesses seem to stem from environmental factors like insufficient sunlight or poor sanitation rather than specific bugs, right?”

I shook my head.

Miasma theory. The belief that diseases originate from unclean or polluted environments, especially bad air. While not entirely wrong, it overlooks the fact that diseases can also be caused by specific pathogens.

“Depends on the disease, but infectious diseases are indeed caused by bacteria. Take pneumonia, for example.”

“Ah.”

“Anyway, most bacteria die when exposed to alcohol or soap. That’s why hand hygiene is crucial for preventing illness, especially for us who frequently handle patients.”

Istina still looked confused.

“Think about it this way. Have you ever seen an open wound? It’s important to keep it clean.”

“Right.”

“If a wound gets infected with bacteria, it can swell or become abscessed. Proper sterilization of surgical tools and washing hands before surgery can prevent complications.”

“So, pouring alcohol on a wound would help cure it?”

I shook my head.

“While it would kill bacteria, dousing a wound with alcohol does more harm than good. However, disinfecting the surrounding area and surgical instruments is effective in minimizing contamination.”

Istina nodded.

“Back at the palace, I didn’t perform many surgeries, but under my supervision, everything used during surgery—including hands—was sterilized.”

“Ah… Got it.”

I jotted down what I’d just explained on the board.

“Alright, Istina. To prove what I just explained, what do you think we need?”

“If we could see those tiny bugs, that would be direct proof. Ideally from a wound.”

I nodded.

“Exactly. A magnifying glass would help with the research. Since these bugs might be transparent, staining them would make them easier to see.”

A spark of understanding lit up Istina’s eyes.

“Do you understand what you need to study now?”

“Yes. First, emphasize the existence of bacteria, use dye and a magnifying glass to visually demonstrate their presence, and then experiment with using alcohol to eliminate them.”

I nodded.

“Correct.”

Istina was a sharp student.

“For today, study the topic we just discussed. Tomorrow, go buy the alcohol, and we’ll continue our conversation. Methods to prove the existence of bacteria, and ways to kill them.”

I intended to plagiarize the works of the great scholars of this world. Just thinking about bacterial research alone, there are so many brilliant minds to draw from. Pasteur, who discovered bacteria; Lister, who systematized hygiene practices; Gram, who classified bacterial types. This time, I’ll follow the scientific advancements of the original world without trial and error.

“Alright, understood.”

***

Istina sighed.

Since I already messed things up, I figured I might as well cling to this last lifeline. He seems a bit strange, though. Asking me to buy alcohol right off the bat…

His explanation about bacteria made some sense, but it still contradicted the current academic consensus. Should I really trust him?

“Just wait and see, Istina. I’ll turn you into a leading figure in imperial medical science before you graduate.”

In other words, he won’t let me graduate until I become a renowned figure in medical science. Istina sensed impending doom.

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