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Chapter 22 – Planning to Get Revenge on the Academic Society?

“I’ve finally found it!”

And once again, the noisy man showed up.
It was, of course, none other than Kouryuu-san. 

And there was no need to ask what he’d found.

Actually, I am filled with shock.

(Wait, it hasn’t even been two months since then, right? Does he really have some kind of god or demon possessing him? Well, if it’s anything, it’s definitely a demon.)

And I was seriously starting to believe that.

This time, his hair was even more unkempt than usual.
It had grown quite long, too.

His trademark stubble was gone, but in its place was a full-grown beard covering his entire mouth.

Wearing a lab coat on top of all that, he looked exactly like some mad scientist from a movie.
And considering he’s even talking about revenge on the academic society, I was starting to think he might as well stick with that look permanently.

(And what kind of state is he in? I made sure to have the Kou family pass on the message that someone should look after Kouryuu-sensei’s meals and daily needs…)

That’s why there was only one thing I needed to do first.

“Mari, get this man into a bath. Then take him to a barber. Kouryuu-ojisama, please have a meal and take a nap. Also, you stink, so do not come near me.”

“H-Huh? Aren’t you going to listen to what I have to say?”

“It’s something obvious, so I’d rather hear it when you’re in a calm and presentable state.”

I reflexively slipped into formal speech.

“Something obvious, huh. True enough… So, you had full confidence in my success, didn’t you?”

Muttering things just loud enough to be heard, he let himself be led away without a single complaint by Mari and the other maids.

The, that afternoon during snack time,

Kouryuu-san, sitting across from me, was tossing cream puffs into his mouth one after another in a single bite.
Just like lightning.

Maybe I should’ve gone with eclairs instead of cream puffs.

(Oh, I get it. He’s smart, so his brain is craving sugar.)

Watching a grown man happily devour sweets, I found myself oddly satisfied with the conclusion I’d come to.
So without saying a word, I quietly enjoyed my own snack as I watched him devour his with gusto.

(Yep. The new double-cream puff I requested was the right call. Freshly made ones really are the best. I need to make sure everyone else gets some too.)

Then, with both of us sipping tea in a refined manner, we finally got down to business.
Since I can’t exactly drink alcohol, this setup might be just right.

“So then, congratulations—is that what I should say?”

“Indeed. Every experiment was a success. Now I just need to compile the paper and seek proper cooperation.”

He looked absolutely smug—and rightfully so.
After everything he accomplished, there was no room for criticism.

And the fact that he was already working on the next step left no room for complacency either.

“Proper cooperation?”

“Yes, exactly. I happen to be acquainted with Dr. Kitasato Shibasaburou of Keio. So I plan to receive support from both Keio University and the Kitasato Institute. With institutions like Ootori University and Ootori Hospital—no matter how much effort the Ootori Zaibatsu puts into them—they’re still considered third-rate. That doesn’t add prestige, and no one would take me seriously. I’m also planning to have them help with additional experiments. I’ve already laid the groundwork for that.”

“You’re well-prepared, aren’t you?”

That’s honestly how I felt.
His ability to take action was as impressive as ever.

For the record, Ootori University and Ootori Hospital weren’t of poor quality—they had substantial backing from the Ootori Zaibatsu.

However, in Japan, everything revolved around the Imperial Universities (mainly Tokyo University).
Even Keio was considered second-rate, and there was a strong belief—especially in academic circles—that if it wasn’t affiliated with an Imperial University, it wasn’t good enough.

(Why is someone capable of all this so underappreciated in the game?)

One of the answers to that question came immediately.
He looked completely serious.

“Naturally. Or I’d like to say that—but it’s thanks to you, Reiko.”

“Me? Not Great-grandfather?”

“Yes. I did receive funding and other support from Souichirou-sama, but ultimately, it’s thanks to you. Just as you first said—building results made all the difference.”

“Oh, that. Well, I’m glad to hear that.”

Of course.
The oral rehydration solution had been one of the cards I played to gain Kouryuu-san’s trust.

“Your reaction’s a bit dull. I am very grateful, you know. Also, regarding the beriberi project—Riken has said that if I ever need cooperation for my original research, they’d be willing to help.”

As he said that, “Fufufufufufu.” he let out an eerie laugh.

(If only he didn’t do that… It really makes him seem like a villain.)

“So, with all these preparations, what are you planning to do? Take revenge on the Imperial University medical faculty or the Japanese medical community?”

“Hmph, laughable. It’s true that I need to prove them wrong, but I am no longer so petty as to cling to something as small as revenge! Reiko, do you not truly understand just how significant penicillin is?”

“I do understand. It ends up being called one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, and it even wins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine—if it gets recognized.”

“You do know, then. But that ‘if it gets recognized’ part—I can’t overlook that.”

He gave me a bit of a sharp glare.
This man clearly didn’t see me as just a four-year-old.

So I decided to talk back.

“Well, the Nobel Prize is basically for white people, isn’t it? Even Dr. Kitasato should have received it before, but he was denied, right? Time has passed since then, but isn’t it still tough? And also…”

“There’s more? I do understand what you’re getting at regarding Dr. Kitasato, but go on.”

“If the whole of Japan isn’t supporting you, don’t you think you’ll have even a weak push in the Western academic world? The ones who have connections and influence with Western academia are the professors from the Imperial Universities, right?”

“That’s true… But unless they bow their heads and come to me first, I have no intention of borrowing help from those guys!”

He said it flat out, and even looked refreshingly resolute.
If he hates them this much, there’s nothing I can say.

“I see. Well, as long as penicillin saves people all over the world, that alone is okay with me.”

“W-Well, it’s not like you’ll be praised for it or anything. That’s why I came to report to you first.”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks for the courtesy. Then why don’t you just hurry up and finish the paper, translate it, and send it off to the West?”

“Yeah. They’re the same bunch who nitpicked and refused to acknowledge oral rehydration solution and beriberi. The core of Japan’s medical establishment is completely unreliable.”

“Is that so? Well, sounds like you’re going to be busy for a while then.”

“Indeed. I need to compile the paper and have the professors review it. Then translate everything into English and German. Send them to every medical authority around the world. At the same time, I’ll proceed with use at Ootori Hospital and Keio University Hospital, gathering more clinical data and information.

Also, that. Of course, there’s Japan, but I’ll move forward with usage applications and registrations overseas too. I’ll also apply for a patent. I’ve already given notice to Ootori Pharmaceuticals and Ootori Trading Company. And preparations for production at Ootori Pharmaceuticals are underway.”

“Wow, sounds like you’ve got everything covered. You really are going to be busy.”

“So what if I am? What, are you going to miss me not coming to see you?”

He smirked.
He wore the kind of look that said, “So you do have a bit of a childish side after all, huh?”

(But you’re wrong, my dear Watson.)

I wondered for a moment how I should answer, but looking at his face, I decided that being a little cryptic would suit him just fine.

“Well, whatever. If you get some free time, drop by. There are still two more, after all.”

“!!”

His expression twisted dramatically in an instant.
He really is someone whose shows everything on his face.

Then, in a swift motion, he leaned in close—face and body both.

“T-Those two—how significant are they?”

“Do you want to know?”

“Of course I do! No—just by saying that much, you’ve already answered! What kind of medicine are they effective against?”

He looked like he might strangle me if I didn’t respond.
He’s absolutely insatiable.

“Can’t be helped, I guess. One is a medicine similar to penicillin, but the approach to making it is completely different. The other one targets an enemy of humanity that penicillin can’t defeat.”

“!! I—I need to know right now!”

“Not now. Focus all your energy on penicillin. Also, when you’ve settled down, there’s another matter I want to talk to you about, so keep that in the back of your mind. Oh, and—make sure you get proper sleep and meals. Listen to the staff when they speak. If you don’t, I won’t tell you anything.”

“Y-Yesss, understood! But just how far do your prophetic dreams go? It’s terrifying…”

“I’m fine, that’s the last of it. I mean, I’m just an ordinary person—there’s no way I could easily understand medicine just from a dream, right?”

“No, you’ve understood it more than enough.”

“That’s only because you, Professor Kouryuu, understood it and made it real. My dreams are just pie in the sky. Oh, by the way, was the blue mold for penicillin taken from mochi?”

“Ah, yeah. Mochi and mandarins were the most common. Anyway, I collected all kinds—around a thousand samples, I’d say.”

I was honestly dumbfounded.
No—more like amazed.

No wonder he found penicillin in just two months.
And now I understood that he also had luck on his side.

(A genius with that kind of drive… this is what you call a real cheat, isn’t it?)

He might be a little eccentric, but I felt like I’d just caught a glimpse of what a true cheat or genius really is.