Chapter 49

With the summer vacation over, all the students have returned to the academy.

"Shin, how was your summer vacation?"

"…Just official duties. Jack, did you get vaccinated?"

"Of course. Since the data I collected started this, I had to be the first to get it, or it wouldn't have been fair."

I'm relieved. Currently, all students and their associates (including maids) returning from their fiefs to the capital's academy are being vaccinated at the city gates, as required by a five-year temporary law. Jack and Silfa-san had only returned to their fief for about a week after Silfa-san's remedial classes ended.

When vaccinated, a scab forms on the shoulder, which is checked upon entry and exit. Those without it are vaccinated on the spot. We also check for the needle mark from a recent vaccination. If we made it a certificate or card, it would surely be forged.

Still, some noble dignitaries and their children forcefully pass through the gates, saying, "We don't need such things!"

Therefore, after gathering all the students in the auditorium for the opening ceremony, a lecture by Jane was held...

"I lost my parents and siblings to smallpox..."

Jane's lecture, which began with this shocking confession, had a significant impact on the students. Jane, who had avoided infection while studying in the capital, decided to pursue a career in medicine after losing her family in her hometown village. She studied hard and became a researcher at the Medical Academy. During her studies, she explored the possibility of using Spaloot's serum for antibody therapy against smallpox, but it didn't work, and she couldn't conduct human experiments. Then, she learned that people who had naturally recovered from cowpox were immune to smallpox.

She gathered detailed data in the Wyls fief, where livestock farming was prevalent, and became convinced that people who had cowpox were immune to smallpox.

She then vaccinated herself with cowpox and contracted it. Later, she went to a village where smallpox was prevalent, treated patients, and inoculated herself with the pus from the blisters of the patients she treated, contracting smallpox.

"I was supposed to contract smallpox from the patients, but I didn't get sick. Smallpox can be prevented by cowpox vaccination!"

The audience was in an uproar. After all, no student who had experienced the terror of smallpox would ignore this.

Currently, this "vaccination" has been confirmed to be safe by Jane's research group of fifteen members who conducted human experiments on themselves. It was also confirmed to be effective by fifty volunteer soldiers. The preventive effect of smallpox lasts five to ten years. The king has now mandated that all citizens receive the vaccine within five years.

"Everyone, please get vaccinated. And please, convince your fathers and all the citizens of your fiefs to get vaccinated. If everyone in the country gets vaccinated within five years, smallpox can be eradicated! Smallpox is the enemy of humanity that took my family, and a world without smallpox is my dream. I ask for your cooperation!"

The students were shaken by Jane's desperate plea, bowing to the entire auditorium. "Is it really safe to receive such a thing..." whispers could be heard. The atmosphere was not good. Her passionate speech made it seem like a personal request from Jane.

"Sera"

I stood up and reached out to Sera, who smiled and took my hand. I escorted her to the podium, and the audience buzzed.

"Hello everyone, it's been a while. I'm Shin Midland. I have actually received this smallpox vaccine. Sera has too. I participated in the clinical trial as part of the first group to receive the vaccine."

Voices of surprise rose from the audience. It was understandable.

"I even inoculated myself with smallpox after the vaccine, but I didn't get sick. I have become immune to smallpox. It's the same as those who have survived smallpox. The effect is undeniable."

The buzz in the audience didn't subside.

"The first vaccination may cause a mild cold and a slight fever, but it will pass quickly, just like a cold. I think it's a good deal to be immune to smallpox for more than five years for such a minor inconvenience. It's free because it's a national policy. We have prepared the vaccine in a separate room, so please get vaccinated as you leave the auditorium. I ask this of you."

I bowed with Sera.

...The auditorium fell silent.

Clapping sounds echoed as someone climbed the podium. I was surprised to see the absolute queen of the academy, the student council president, Elena Stradis!

She glared at me...

Then, she turned to the audience and declared, "I am the student council president, Elena Stradis. I am going to get vaccinated for smallpox right now."

The student council members rushed to the podium, declaring, "I'll get it too!" "I'll get it too!" "I'll get it too!"

The audience erupted in cheers.

Elena shook hands with Jane. It was as if she had organized the lecture herself. You must have ignored the king's mandate and forced your way through the gate. That's called a last-minute move. Really...

"Your Highness"

"The academy says to call you 'Your Highness' in the student council, President"

"I resent it"

"Why?"

"...If you had established this preventive method five years earlier, my beloved brother would not have become a cripple and been disinherited due to smallpox."

Ah, I see...

The mortality rate of smallpox is 50%. It's a fifty-fifty chance of living or dying.

Even those who survive often have ugly scars on their face and body, and may suffer from disabilities such as loss of limb movement or blindness. There are many examples of nobles being disinherited or losing their status due to smallpox.

"I was ten years old five years ago. I think it was inevitable."

"...You say that easily"

She glared back at me. I'm not liked, am I?

After that, the students lined up in a separate room to get vaccinated.

The president, with her arm rolled up, squeezing her eyes shut and gritting her teeth, was amusing.

It's not the arm, it's the shoulder, President. Oh, girls should go to a different room. Scram, scram.

The vaccination talk got a bit long.

The season is now autumn, and the capital's harvest festival is approaching.

The academy will also hold a cultural festival. The main events are the drama club's play, the music club's orchestra performance, and the art club's painting exhibition. For regular students, the festival ends after seeing these events. There are few activities...

Traditionally, each class would do something, but the activities have become less enthusiastic, and now more classes do nothing.

"Since we have the chance, we should do something"

"I agree"

The cultural committee member Patricia says this in front of the podium during homeroom.

The cultural festival activities are mainly organized by the cultural committee, so I, as the committee chair, don't need to interfere, but I will certainly help.

My class has no dukes or marquises, only earls, viscounts, and barons. Other classes have high-ranking nobles like dukes. The balance was probably maintained with the presence of the prince and princess. There are students who use their parents' influence to wield power, so the class power balance is adjusted.

Well, because of that, there are misunderstandings like Fried Black thinking, "You're dominating us."

But our class is friendly. There are no students who flaunt their parents' titles. I don't flaunt mine either.

"Anyway, I want everyone to freely suggest what they want to do"

Under Patricia's guidance, suggestions are written on the blackboard during homeroom.

Many students have helped with local harvest festivals in their fiefs, so their ideas reflect their backgrounds. High-ranking nobles often leave such tasks to their subordinates, but our class, composed of lower-ranking nobles, has a lot of experience and is reliable.

"Roast chicken stand"

"Roast duck stand!"

"Whole roasted pig"

"Whole roasted cow!"

Hmm, maybe we should move away from roasting.

"Haunted house?"

"Coffee shop...?"

"No, let's be more unique. We have a prince and princess in our class, after all."

We are officially only engaged, but since we are so close, Sera is already recognized as the "princess" everywhere. "The duke's daughter, the prince's fiancée" is too long.

We are secretly married, so I don't bother denying it.

"Then, how about a butler and maid café!"

Ah, that's the popular café in the city.

Apparently, the waiters and waitresses wear butler and maid uniforms and say things like, "Welcome back, miss" and "Welcome back, master."

Even citizens without titles can enjoy a noble experience, so it's popular.

What kind of popularity is that...

"Great idea!"

Why is Patricia so excited?! In a noble academy, everyone having butlers and maids at home is normal. It's nothing new.

"Hehehe... Shin and Sera as butler and maid... This will be a hit! It will be packed for sure!"

"...Why are you so sure?"

"You can command Shin and Sera as butlers and maids. People who have always wanted to do that will flock here."

Do I really have that many enemies...

"No, no, no, I'll help, and I'll follow what everyone decides. But everyone should participate too. We want to enjoy the festival too... I can't do it all day."

Well, we couldn't do it all day, so we decided to do it only in the morning, with me and Sera and the girls as waiters and waitresses.

The rest of the work will be done by the class, so we don't have to do anything else.

Sure, Patricia, I'll leave it to you. I didn't know you were into that kind of thing...

Next: "49. The Night Before the Cultural Festival"