As Citis appeared using teleportation magic, he immediately took a seat and bowed reverently to Serj.
“Magician Citis, I presume,” Serj acknowledged.
“This is… Lord Serj, the leader of the fairies.”
“Sit down quickly, we can’t start the discussion standing.”
Citis hesitantly took his seat, the atmosphere clearly dominated by Serj.
“The prince suspects that Citis might be the companion of Iris’s nocturnal misadventures.”
Citis looked at Rezeda, who returned the gaze squarely.
“I was the one who took Iris to the Black Forest. She has committed no infidelity. Calm your suspicions, prince,” Serj said with a teasing smile.
“…infidelity?”
“That’s right, Lord Serj! There’s nothing between the prince and me! So it doesn’t matter who I go with or where.”
Iris energetically chimed in to support herself.
“Nothing… indeed, nothing as of now… but to say it doesn’t matter…”
Rezeda slumped his shoulders, muttering under his breath.
“Oh? I thought the prince was suspecting his lover of infidelity?”
Serj looked amusingly at Iris.
“That’s a misunderstanding. He’s not my lover, and there’s no future in which he could be!”
As Iris spoke firmly, Rezeda clammed up and Citis made an indescribable face.
“Well, I’m not interested in that drama, but don’t harass Iris too much. She’s my dear child,” Serj said, then gently patted Iris’s head as if she were a small child.
Lord Serj thinks of me as some sort of pet, Iris thought, frowning while being patted.
“The Black Forest is dangerous enough, let alone a cave full of smallpox patients!”
Rezeda cast a stern look at Serj, not intimidated even by a Fairy Leader.
“Rest assured. I am her guardian and accompany her. Nothing, not even disease, can harm her,” Serj reassured.
Rezeda and Citis frowned at this statement.
“Why would you do that?”
“It’s because Iris wished it so. I merely granted her wish. This is what she was making,” Serj said, taking out a vial of vaccine and shaking it. The silver powder inside rattled softly.
“What is that?”
“It’s called a vaccine.”
“A vaccine… Iris mentioned that earlier, didn’t she?”
Rezeda stared at Iris.
“What is it?”
“It’s a preventative medicine for smallpox,” Iris explained.
Rezeda fell silent.
“Since the misunderstandings seem cleared, I’ll take my leave,” Serj said, and vanished like an illusion.
“Uh…”
Iris plopped back onto the chair, quickly catching the vial of vaccine that fell with her.
Rezeda leaned back in his chair, exhausted.
“I’ve seen it now… Or rather, was it shown to me…?” he murmured.
Citis admired Rezeda’s boldness in facing a fairy so directly, especially since it was his first time. The royalty indeed possessed a different mettle. But what kind of person was Iris? A lady without magical power, favored by a fairy leader, was unheard of.
Rezeda and Citis looked at Iris, while Nigel seemed too stunned to react.
“Iris, can you explain what’s going on?”
Citis asked.
“It may be hard to believe, but smallpox… it will have an outbreak next summer.”
Iris began her surprising revelation, and Citis asked calmly for the basis of her claim.
“I’ve read various texts. There’s an overlap between the outbreaks of smallpox and climatic changes. The current conditions match those from previous outbreaks, so…”
Rezeda looked at Iris.
“And what does the scab have to do with it?”
“I thought the powder from the scabs might prevent smallpox. If we start prevention now, we might reduce the damage.”
Rezeda exhaled deeply.
“And you did this alone?”
“I enlisted Lord Serj’s help… I cannot use magic.”
Iris looked down.
“Iris, look at me,” Rezeda gently took her hand.
“Tell me everything you know. What troubles you, what you want to achieve.”
“You believe me?”
Iris looked up, and Rezeda smiled reassuringly and nodded.
“I believe you. That’s why I want you to consult me.”
“Thank you!”
Iris grabbed Rezeda’s hands with both of hers. Rezeda blushed unexpectedly.
“Iris, I’d like to consult too…”
Nigel tugged at Iris’s blouse.
“Understood,” Iris nodded.
“Can I hear more about it?”
“Yes!”
Rezeda’s inquiry led Iris to explain everything to the three of them.
“So, we need magic to transform the scabs into a vaccine,” Citis summarized.
“Yes. This is what Lord Serj transformed into a vaccine,” Iris showed them the sparkling powder in the vial.
“It’s been detoxified, so it won’t cause illness,” Citis examined the vial intently, his monocle displaying swirling magical symbols as he analyzed the spell.
“It’s definitely detoxified.”
“However, without the magic, it could still infect people, which is why I’m troubled. Is there a mage like me, skilled in smallpox?”
Nobles with smallpox are officially non-existent, except for Iris who admits it openly.
Rezeda looked at Citis.
“Citis, can you analyze this magic? Can it be replicated with a magic circle? Then we could collect the scabs in a container treated with the circle?”
“I’ve just analyzed it. It seems to involve complex combinations of spells. It’s theoretically reproducible. Challenging, but a worthwhile endeavor,” Citis said, his monocle glowing.
Iris was relieved. This meant they could see a way forward with the vaccine. Now, it was just about dissemination.
But still, who would want to inhale smallpox scabs?
As essential as the vaccine was, if people didn’t accept it willingly, it would be pointless. Those in the cave, facing death, had willingly been vaccinated. But healthy individuals taking the risk? Unlikely.
Iris shared these thoughts with the others. Rezeda pondered for a moment.
“Did the people in the cave inhale it?”
“Yes.”
“Then, why not start by getting their families to try it?”
Iris looked at Rezeda.
“Give it for free to those in town who are willing. Of course, I’ll reach out to the nobility, but it’ll be hard to convince them. I believe because I trust you and Lord Serj, but honestly, I’m resistant. However, if rumors of its effectiveness spread, even the nobility can’t ignore it.”
“Wouldn’t it be impossible to offer it for free?”
Iris questioned. Creating the magic circles required a magician’s power and the activation of magic, which would burden the kingdom financially.
“Naturally, we’ll charge the nobility,” Rezeda said with a mischievous smile.
“Let’s start by spreading the word. Citis, how long to create the circle?”
“A week, including verification,” Citis answered, and Rezeda nodded.
“However, I’d like my involvement in the vaccine to remain a secret,” Iris requested.
“Why?”
“I’m a non-magical smallpox carrier. I don’t want to be misunderstood as having malicious intentions,” Iris explained, causing Nigel to sigh in frustration and Rezeda’s face to stiffen.
“I see. It’s a kind of forbidden technique. Anyone who knows would think Iris is a dangerous person,” Citis responded coolly.
“…Forbidden technique?”
Rezeda looked at Iris.
“It’s… a coincidence? I don’t know any forbidden techniques!”
Rezeda sighed exasperatedly.
“Well, alright. Iris, I look forward to good news.”
“Thank you!”
Iris struggled to hold back tears of joy.
Rezeda was really a good person… Handsome and nice, too much like a prince. He is a prince.
Iris looked at him with tearful eyes, and Rezeda smiled shyly.
Soon after, Iris reached out to the people she met in the cave to help with the vaccine distribution. Vaccination was free, and those who helped were paid a daily wage. Only those with a history of smallpox or who had been vaccinated could assist.
The scar-faced man Iris met in the cave organized this effort. The mother and child who first gave her the scabs also helped. It turned out the scar-faced man had some influence in the underworld, being seen as a hero who had survived the disease. His word carried weight, unlike in the noble society where the opposite was true.
The men, reckless enough to volunteer for vaccination, did so as if competing in bravery.
As it became clear the vaccine was non-toxic, more families with sick members expressed interest in getting vaccinated. Being free also attracted many who thought, “Why not take it if it’s free?”
Thanks to Rezeda’s advice, Iris was grateful and thrilled that they had gained a foothold in spreading the vaccine throughout the town.
