Chapter 32: Medicine at Any Cost
Mother coughed up blood and collapsed. Upon hearing that news, the faces of everyone in the Margrave House clouded over. Mother is kind to everyone around her, making no distinction between nobles and commoners. That is why she is well-liked by the servants as well.
Everyone was heartbroken, feeling that the sun which bestowed love upon everyone in the house had been overshadowed. The circumstances of her infection were also typical of Mother. Mother has long been frequently organizing Soup Kitchens in the Slums.
After Tuberculosis began to spread, Father told the family to stay home as much as possible. However, as anxiety spread among the territory’s people, Mother conducting Soup Kitchens as usual brought relief to the people, so it seems he did not stop her. She wore a mask and apparently washed her hands upon returning home, but it seems she still got infected.
I rushed to Mother‘s room.
“Oh, Will-chan. I am sorry for making you worry.”
Mother spoke in her usual tone, but she looked incredibly gaunt.
When I used Appraisal, the result came out as “Tuberculosis (Severe).” The condition was worse than I thought, and I felt like I was choking from the shock. I could feel the blood draining from my face.
To think she was in such a critical condition. I hadn’t noticed at all. She must have been acting cheerfully even after being infected so as not to worry the family. At this rate…
No, I will save Mother at any cost.
“Mother, I will manage to create medicine somehow.”
Saying that, I returned to my room.
Since reincarnating, how much have I been saved thanks to Mother? She poured unchanging love even upon me, who was blessed not with a Swordsmanship Skill or Magic Skill, but with a Production Skill unbefitting a noble.
I learned later that she gifted the Bags and Furniture I made to other nobles, trying her hardest to promote the merits of Production Skills, which are looked down upon in the noble world. When I was praised for creating drought-resistant Wheat, she rejoiced as if it were her own achievement.
When I caught a cold, or when I collapsed from overusing Body Strengthening Magic, she always nursed me kindly. Yes, because I was wrapped in Mother‘s love, I was able to feel safe in this world.
I must create a cure at any cost. I used my Production Skill at random on materials that seemed good for the body. However, I could not create any medicine that seemed effective.
Having wasted Magic Power in vain, breathing roughly, I punched the wall. If I cannot save Mother, what is the point of this Production Skill? What kind of Savior am I? Production Skill is versatile, but I cannot create anything without materials, nor can I create anything without a clue on how to make it.
Thinking calmly, creating things blindly will never work. I have to rely on the memories of my previous life after all. Antibiotics should be effective against infectious diseases.
Speaking of Antibiotics, Penicillin is famous. But I have heard that Penicillin is not effective against Tuberculosis. The specific medicine for Tuberculosis is… yes, Streptomycin.
If I recall correctly, I feel like it was something produced by some kind of bacteria. Production Skill can separate components even if various things are mixed, so if something existing in the natural world works, I do not have to create it from scratch. I need to think in the direction of finding Streptomycin.
What was the bacteria that produces Streptomycin? I desperately searched the memories of my previous life. Before I knew it, tears were spilling down. But, I just cannot remember. Why does my brain not work at crucial moments?
As I was brooding in front of my desk, Theo, who had entered the room without me noticing, called out to me.
“Master, I have also been saved by Lady Mary‘s kindness. She treated me, who lost my parents, just like family. You don’t know how happy that made me.”
“Let us definitely save her. No, we will save her!”
When I looked up, Theo had a more serious expression than I had ever seen before.
“Dwarves have Ancient Documents passed down through the clan. There might be something written about diseases. My uncle is knowledgeable about Ancient Documents.”
Grasping at straws, I headed to the Dwarf village with Theo.
