Chapter 35

When I entered the academy, it seemed inevitable that my studies would take precedence, and my official duties would be put on the back burner.

Before entering, I had completed the final touches on the most important official task and proposed it at a council meeting attended by His Majesty the King.

"Here you are again... What is it this time?"

His Majesty looked at us with a wry smile.

"Is it another costly proposal?" the Minister of Finance's voice made everyone laugh, but today we were serious.

Today, in addition to myself, Sera, the academy researcher Spaluts, and his assistant Jane were also present. The serious expressions on our faces made the attending ministers and high-ranking nobles sense that this was different from usual.

"Today, I would like to propose a method for preventing smallpox."

"Smallpox?!"

The meeting room was in an uproar.

"Have you found a cure for smallpox?!"

The Minister of Health asked eagerly.

"Unfortunately, it's not a cure. What I want to explain today is prevention."

"Prevention? You mean prevention, not a cure?"

"Why prevention? Isn't a cure more important?"

"A cure is still very difficult and remains a challenge. However, we have established the cause of smallpox and a method to prevent it. Please consider it."

"Let's hear it."

His Majesty was more serious than usual. In this country, no one has been spared the loss of a family member to smallpox, and His Majesty is no exception.

"Yes. Jane, please."

Jane, Spaluts' assistant, bowed to His Majesty and began her explanation.

Smallpox is an extremely infectious disease, but it is well known that those who survive it and acquire immunity will never get it again. She explained this point again.

The human body has a "immune system" that develops resistance to diseases it has had before. In the Wyls region, where Jack lives, there has been almost no spread of smallpox. Upon investigating the medical history of the residents, it was found that those who had recovered from cowpox, a disease that infects cows, rarely contracted smallpox.

Smallpox is not a naturally occurring disease but is caused by extremely small microorganisms, smaller than bacteria, as inferred from various cases.

And, importantly, contracting cowpox can also confer immunity to smallpox. Cowpox is a disease very similar to smallpox, but its symptoms are mild, like a cold, and recovery is quick.

Jane explained this with data.

"We believe that as a preventive measure for smallpox, intentionally contracting cowpox, introducing the pathogen into the body, and recovering from cowpox can prevent smallpox."

The meeting room was abuzz with surprise at the research results.

"Is it permissible for doctors to intentionally make patients sick?!"

"Are you transferring a cow's disease to humans? I'll become a cow."

"Isn't it dangerous?"

"Isn't it a mad act to deliberately get sick?"

"What if something goes wrong and you get smallpox? Half of the people die!"

"Can you prove its safety?"

The Minister of Health asked, and Jane firmly replied, "Yes, we can."

"How?"

"Because I tested it on myself."

The meeting room was in an uproar.

"I conducted thorough interviews in the Wyls region, confirmed the residents' medical history, and was convinced of its effectiveness. I took pus from a cow with cowpox and inoculated myself. I contracted cowpox and recovered. Then, I went to a village where smallpox was prevalent and inoculated myself with pus from a smallpox patient, but I did not contract smallpox."

Jane took off her jacket to show the inoculation mark on her shoulder, which looked like a scab had fallen off.

"Unbelievable..."

"What a reckless act..."

"Spaluts! Did you force her to do such a human experiment?"

Spaluts replied.

"No. Of course, I would never allow that. However, she took the initiative to test it herself with a firm belief. It was a reckless and foolish act, but she was fully aware of the risks."

"Even if you haven't developed symptoms, could you be infected with smallpox now?"

"That's impossible. The incubation period has long passed."

"One case alone... It could be a coincidence."

"No. We conducted further tests."

"Further tests?"

"Fifteen staff members in the laboratory confirmed the effect. We inoculated ourselves with the cowpox samples she brought back, recovered, and then inoculated ourselves with smallpox, but none of us, including myself, developed smallpox."

When I opened the meeting room door, the researchers all entered one by one. They bowed to His Majesty, took off their white coats, and showed their inoculation marks on their shoulders.

"What a reckless act..."

"I also received the inoculation."

"What?"

"I also participated in the experiment."

I took off my shirt and showed the inoculation mark on my shoulder.

"Upon hearing that fifteen researchers did not develop smallpox, I decided to get inoculated with cowpox. It was like a mild cold. I had a fever for a few days, but after recovering, I inoculated myself with smallpox and did not develop it. I can also guarantee the safety of the cowpox inoculation."

"Fool!"

His Majesty shouted in a voice that echoed through the room!

"Do you understand your position? Is this what a prince of a country should do? Participating in such a dangerous human experiment without proper verification is not something allowed for the royal family! Can you not distinguish between right and wrong?"

His Majesty stood up and slammed the table!

"The verification was already done by fifteen researchers."

"It's not enough! I said it's not something a prince should do!"

"I did it because I am a prince."

"What?"

"Would Your Majesty, in times of war, leave your subordinates to fight while you flee the battlefield?"

"You insult me."

"Would you not stand with your subordinates, fight to the end, even if your sword breaks and your arrows run out?"

"What are you saying..."

"These people are my trusted subordinates, and we have been working on this research together. As a noble, it is your duty to protect and fight for your people. That is what it means to be a noble."

"That's sophistry."

"In this case, the enemy is smallpox. It is a formidable opponent worth fighting for with your life. It is no different from standing on the battlefield. As a prince, it is worth risking my life to protect the people and the citizens."

"War and disease are different."

"They are the same. If there are subordinates who risk their lives to protect the people, I must respond to their belief."

"Was it necessary?"

"Even a prince must become immune to smallpox through inoculation. This fact is necessary. It is a stepping stone to implementing this for every citizen."

His Majesty sat down heavily.

"Do you want to inoculate the entire population?"

"The effect lasts for five years."

Jane explained.

"I inoculated myself with cowpox and went to a village where smallpox was prevalent to treat patients. A woman who had never contracted smallpox helped with the treatment. She was a tenant farmer who milked cows and had taken care of her husband when he contracted smallpox, but she did not get it. She thought she was naturally resistant, but it is believed that she had immunity from cowpox. After her husband's death, she became a servant in a house and no longer had contact with cows. While helping me, her daughter contracted smallpox, and she also got infected and died shortly after her daughter."

Jane looked pained. She had missed the infection.

"She never understood why she contracted smallpox. Unfortunately, her family was wiped out by smallpox, but she proved that the immunity lasts for about five years. Further investigation revealed that the immunity from cowpox lasts for five to ten years."

"Do you want everyone to milk cows?"

The Minister of Health asked.

"That's not necessary. It can be done through inoculation. Just a needle in the shoulder."

"Can such a large-scale inoculation be done?"

"We will take cows from farmers and keep them at the academy. We will infect one cow with cowpox and then infect another. After the infected cow recovers naturally, we will return it to the farmer and get another cow to infect. By maintaining a constant supply of cows with cowpox, we can preserve the cowpox strain."

"I see..."

"We will inoculate the entire population within five years. By doing it all at once, we can break the chain of infection and eradicate smallpox from the country."

"Five years..."

Spaluts stepped forward and bowed.

"Sera came up with the idea, Viscount Wyls collected the data, Jane proved the effect on her own body, and we all confirmed it through further tests. Prince Shin guaranteed its safety. I humbly request that you do not dismiss this. We seek your decision."

"Sera's idea?"

The ministers in the meeting room were surprised.

Sera, a bit startled by the sudden mention of her name, nodded and explained.

"I just told Prince Shin that people who milk cows and contract cowpox do not get smallpox..."

"No, I had never heard of that. You noticed it well..."

"I also received the cowpox inoculation. Prince Shin did not allow me to receive the smallpox inoculation, but I now have immunity to smallpox. I will not get it for the next five years."

Sera took off her cardigan and showed the inoculation mark on her shoulder, which had a small scab.

"Princess Sera, as the prince's fiancée, did not need to do such a thing... It would have been better to wait until the safety was fully established and widely distributed."

"If I had waited, I would have become the last smallpox patient in this country."

Everyone fell silent.

"Your Majesty"

In the silent meeting room, the general in charge of the national army spoke.

The general, with a pockmarked face and an eye patch over his right eye, was a survivor of smallpox.

"May I speak?"

"What?"

"If fifteen researchers are not enough, I and my direct command, the First Division, are willing to participate in further tests."

Everyone looked at His Majesty, who nodded in understanding.

"Very well. But it must be voluntary. Ensure all precautions are taken."

Jane, who had been crying, was embraced by Spaluts.

I also held hands with Sera and rejoiced.

"We did it!"

The meeting room, in front of His Majesty, was filled with the cheers of the research staff!

"I am impressed by the doctors' determination and resolve..."

His Majesty shook his head.

"How will we implement it?"

"First, we will make inoculation mandatory for everyone entering and leaving the capital. We must prevent the import and export of smallpox."

"Should we check at the city gates?"

"Can we distinguish by the presence of an inoculation mark?"

"We can inoculate people on the spot when they enter or leave the city."

"Good idea! Let's do it!"

"Merchants, travelers, and foreign ambassadors will comply if they cannot enter the city without inoculation. If the reputation spreads to other countries, global eradication is not a dream."

The ministers immediately started offering ideas!

"Prince Shin"

...The general called out to me.

"You truly have the makings of a king."

"Don't flatter him. It will go to his head."

His Majesty said, and everyone laughed a little.

Starting next time, the story will focus on the academy. The game is about to begin!

Next: "35. [Freshman] Stopping the Entrance Ceremony Event"