Chapter 99

Episode 99: Curing Diseases, Uncuring Diseases (2)

****

I placed a single pill and a cup of water beside the patient’s bed. Once the patient wakes up, this ampicillin will serve as a preventive antibiotic.

The patient remained tranquil, showing no particular reaction. Their eyes were half-open, gazing blankly into space.

When will the anesthesia wear off? I wanted to explain but… could I have administered too much?

“Are you feeling alright, patient?”

The patient didn’t respond.

Is everything okay? Did I miscalculate the dosage? Should I prepare naloxone? Just then, the patient made a sound.

“Grrr…”

“Are you regaining consciousness?”

“No.”

“Try wiggling your toes.”

I poked the patient’s foot with a toothpick. There seemed to be some response, though not entirely clear yet. Let’s wait a bit longer.

“Does your foot hurt?”

“No.”

“Whenever you think of it, wiggle your toes. Better blood circulation means faster recovery.”

The patient slightly moved their toes. Thankfully, they seem to be moving fine.

“Understood…”

“Take deep breaths.”

I looked around. The patient took a few deep breaths, then slowly lifted their head, blinking a few times.

“The surgery went well. We’ll check if the wound is healing properly and ensure there are no complications before you’re discharged.”

The patient nodded.

“Please take the medicine as soon as you’re fully awake.”

“Yes.”

****

The surgery and post-op care took about an hour. The morning outpatient queue was backed up when Student Bernard arrived.

Who is he again…?

A few days ago, he was admitted after fainting. A cardiac abnormality was detected during auscultation. He’s a student from the Alchemy Department at the Academy. I thought he had recovered and been discharged…

“Is this Bernard?”

“Yes.”

“What brings you here?”

“Just… worried.”

Recap:

Bernard fainted.

The cause was suspected to be nitrogen oxides found in the alchemy lab. Upon auscultation of his heart, mitral valve regurgitation was discovered as an underlying condition.

While it’s unclear what symptoms the mitral valve regurgitation causes, it seems plausible that it contributed to the fainting episode.

Here’s the problem: Mitral valve regurgitation isn’t treatable by our world’s standards. I explained this last time, but…

He still appears anxious.

“Hmm… There’s nothing urgent you need to address right now. Just be cautious in your daily life.”

“Yes.”

“If we assume the fainting was due to the toxins, there’s no evidence the mitral valve regurgitation caused any symptoms. No need to worry excessively.”

“Is that so…?”

Time to bring out the trump card.

“I’ll give you some vitamins.”

“Will they help?”

These are carefully selected vitamins that won’t harm you. Of course, expecting them to cure heart disease would be unrealistic.

What’s most important for this patient is alleviating anxiety. The structural heart issue itself isn’t the priority.

“They should help.”

And I wasn’t lying.

The patient’s expression visibly relaxed after receiving the vitamins. I pondered my next words—something to further ease their worries.

Ah, got it.

“There’s also medication to prevent complications from mitral valve regurgitation. Though you’d need to take it regularly, there’s no immediate need to start.”

“Not immediately?”

“Let’s work together to manage the situation. Things should be fine for now.”

“Oh, that’s reassuring.”

Bernard finally nodded in relief. Worrying isn’t healthy, especially for someone with pre-existing heart issues.

Honestly, informing him about the mitral valve regurgitation might’ve been a mistake. It wasn’t particularly helpful.

“You’ve done well. For now, things seem stable. If you feel unwell, come back to the hospital. Otherwise, see us in two months. And remember to take your medicine.”

Bernard’s consultation ended. After bowing, he grabbed his medicine bottle and exited the clinic.

****

I stretched my legs out in the clinic chair. Istina had disappeared somewhere, having finished her shift with Teacher Amy. Are there more patients?

I glanced at Amy.

“More patients?”

“There was one more.”

“What kind of patient?”

Amy tilted her head.

“Don’t know. They seemed perfectly fine.”

Of course, just looking doesn’t tell you much. People usually visit the hospital because they’re sick. Fine-looking people can still be unwell.

“Call the next patient in. You can go home, Teacher Amy.”

“Eek, thank you!”

Amy left. Soon after, light footsteps approached the clinic door.

Graduate students have a completely different way of walking. Even without seeing the patient’s face, I already have a hunch about who it might be.

Probably talkative.

“Come i-”

Before I could finish inviting them in, the next patient opened the door and entered. I looked up.

“Patient, please co-”

“Hello!”

I closed my mouth. What is this person?

Definitely eccentric.

****

I scrutinized the new patient for a moment. No matter how hard I look, I can’t figure out why they’re here.

An overly cheerful Academy female student, wearing her uniform rather sloppily. Her dark blue hair was cut short in a somewhat messy style, probably done with scissors herself. Striking golden eyes caught my attention.

Her uniform was anything but neat—her loosely tied necktie, untucked shirt, and slouched posture all pointed to a lack of discipline.

“What’s your name, patient?”

“Natalia Nachtigal. But many people struggle with my family name, so just call me Natalie casually.”

I nodded.

“What brings you here?”

“A cold. But it feels worse than usual? Maybe sore throat? It’s different from regular colds.”

This patient sure has high conversational efficiency. One question yields ten answers.

“I see. Did you have a fever?”

“A little, but I think it’s gone now. Still, I feel a bit dizzy.”

Severe sore throat and fever—it seems more serious than a common cold. Could be something else entirely. What illness could it be?

There are several illnesses similar to colds but more severe, like influenza or pneumonia. I nodded cautiously.

“When did it start?”

“Two days ago. I saw a white cat in front of the dormitory, which is strange because the usual cat there is black. So, I assumed the original cat had been chased away…”

I raised a hand to interrupt Natalia.

“So?”

“Ah! That’s how I clearly remember it started two days ago! Because of the cat.”

I checked the clock on the wall. Surprisingly, there’s plenty of time left. Should I just let her talk? There are things I need to confirm anyway.

“So, what happened to the original black cat?”

“Ah, yes! I thought the black cat had been driven away because it was making noises at the white cat, but then they started hanging out together. Must’ve become friends!”

I pulled out the patient’s medical record.

– Difficulty focusing on one topic during conversation. Tends to leave thoughts unfinished.

– Lacks social awareness. Although possible, shows no self-awareness regarding this trait. Poor at analyzing social cues.

“Do you usually do well in school?”

“Huh? I’m decent, generally top-tier. But lately, I haven’t been able to focus because of the sore throat. Really hoping to get better soon since studying while sick is such a chore.”

“That’s true.”

I looked up from the medical record to observe the patient again. Nothing unusual aside from those notes. Time to examine what illness she might have.

She mentioned coming in for a cold.

“Can you cough for me?”

“How exactly should I cough?”

“Just a few ‘cough, cough.'”

Natalia paused, contemplating.

“Fascinating. Skilled doctors can diagnose illnesses just by hearing coughs, right? You’re supposed to be the best doctor in the Empire, so-”

“Cough.”

“Oh, right.”

Natalia coughed a few times.

I listened carefully to the cough. It sounded completely normal. Come to think of it, she hadn’t been coughing since entering.

If it were a cold or pneumonia, she would’ve been coughing earlier, and she wouldn’t ask how to cough properly. This suggests minimal coughing despite being ill.

Less likely to be a cold.

“Do you have trouble swallowing?”

“Yes.”

“Have you developed any rashes?”

“Just on my neck. You’re good at diagnosing…”

I think I know what it might be. She claims it resembles a cold but without coughing, accompanied by rashes and difficulty swallowing.

On another note, perhaps more importantly—difficulty focusing, lacking social awareness, speaking freely without restraint.

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