A toy…?
I wondered if I'd misheard, so I asked Lister again.
"A microscope. A microscope."
"Yes, exactly. That toy."
"…Hmm."
Our conversation was going in circles.
The gap between Lister's and my understanding of microscopes was just too vast.
'Is this for real? A doctor calling a microscope a toy…? Wait, could it be…?'
There are professors like that, aren't there?
The type so obsessed with their own field's superiority that they dismiss everything else.
Lister had that vibe in spades, so it wasn't impossible.
'Surgery is king! What good are microscope nerds?'
Thinking like that.
It's absurd considering the role of pathology in modern medicine, but the 19th century was an era where absurdity happened every day—no, every moment. So I brushed it off.
"There are people who use microscopes, right?"
"Ah, yes. Plenty. You know some?"
"Oh, really? Who?"
I asked, half-expecting nothing, but got a positive response.
Now that I thought about it, there should be a few in this hospital.
These people love experimentation.
Though "adventurism" might be a better word than "scientific spirit"…
'Blundell, for one… Even Semmelweis and Thomas, though they're insane. And Kane, obviously.'
Come to think of it, every professor I know by name is eccentric.
What an era. What a hospital.
While I was lost in thought, Lister pondered my question and finally answered.
"Right… There's Lord Damian."
"Huh?"
The name was so unexpected I reflexively echoed it.
Since when was he into medicine?
Well… it was possible.
Back then, medicine was practically a hobby for some aristocrats.
I'd only skimmed non-clinical topics, so I wasn't sure, but still.
"Lord Damian. Microscopes aren't exactly cheap, you see."
"Ah… So they're expensive."
Of course they would be.
Grinding glass lenses for high magnification couldn't be easy.
Even making new surgical tools last time was shocking.
Custom equipment in this era was outrageously priced.
The Industrial Revolution had begun, but automation was still decades away.
"Precisely. So only nobles own them. Like I said—very expensive toys."
"Ah…"
So when he said toy, he meant toy…
These lunatics…
Is this anesthesia all over again?
They had it but just used it for fun?
'These bastards… Don't tell me everything already exists and they're just misusing it?'
What if most drugs were already developed in the 19th century but used for something else…?
I should visit a noble's party sometime to investigate.
Might be a treasure trove.
"But why the sudden interest?"
"Oh, no reason. Just a thought I had."
"A revelation, perhaps?"
At the word thought, Lister perked up, suddenly invoking divine inspiration.
Normally, I'd tell him to stop spouting nonsense and smack him, but…
This was the 19th century, where science and superstition coexisted. And this was Lister. So my reaction was different.
"It might be. I prayed for a long time after the surgery today—I was worried."
One lie begets another.
I've never felt that truth more keenly than now.
In my entire life, I doubt I've prayed for even ten minutes total…
Yet here I am, claiming I prayed for hours.
"How devout. Prayers for patients must never cease."
"Right, right. Of course."
"Well, if there's a chance of revelation, we can't ignore it."
Lister stood up, energized by the word revelation, and grabbed his coat.
I'd rather not involve him, but…
On second thought, going to Lord Damian without Lister might be risky.
Sure, Damian owes me, so he wouldn't turn me away—but the journey there could be dangerous.
London's streets were not safe, to put it mildly.
'And I'm small and precious…'
Technically, I'm on the taller side, but the city's full of people who'd make your knees tremble just by looking at you.
"Let's go together. I've nearly finished reviewing today's surgery anyway."
"Ah, yes. I'd appreciate your company, Brother."
So I nodded cheerfully, and we set off for Lord Damian's estate.
The trip was, of course, perfectly safe.
Not just because we took a carriage—every time trouble almost brewed, one glimpse of Lister made apologies erupt.
-Eek, s-sorry!
-Th-the Sword Master…!
-D-Dr. Lister, f-forgive us!
That sort of thing.
"Ah… Dr. Lister and Dr. Pyeong? I'll announce you. Please wait here."
Upon arrival, it was clear nothing could go wrong.
How could it?
I was his benefactor.
And Lister, already formidable, had recently cemented himself as London's greatest swordsman—no, *London's greatest physician.
"You may enter. His Lordship is in excellent spirits."
A guard (or steward? Hard to tell) guided us inside.
Unsurprisingly, Lord Damian's home was a mansion.
We passed through a grand garden before reaching him.
Last time, I hadn't noticed, but now his nobility was unmistakable.
Well, he was a full-fledged aristocrat with a title, so of course he oozed elegance.
'But I can't unsee that 100x Shame Pose from surgery…'
I fought the memory and bowed.
"Good day, Lord Damian."
"Ah, welcome! How have you been? Thanks to you, I've been splendid."
Yeah, I could tell.
He had the face of a man thoroughly emptied.
'Thank God my surgery worked…'
Though I'd been half-convinced it wouldn't.
Would it? Really? I'm not even a urologist…
But since it did, maybe I could ask for a favor.
It's not like I'm demanding anything—just borrowing and returning it.
Hell, if the magnification's trash, I won't even take it.
"Yes, thanks to your generosity, I've been doing very well."
"Generosity? I just shared a few meals with the director."
"That alone was a tremendous help."
Just meals?
I bet he slapped shoulders and called in favors too.
I've seen how "royals" operate—I'm not one, but I've watched enough.
Wow…
The difference in treatment was almost unfair.
Not that anyone in the hospital dares criticize me now.
Mostly Lister's influence, but if anyone did try, they'd regret it.
"Well then… What brings you today? Your rounds are done, so you must want something."
Being sharp, Damian guessed I had a request before I even hinted.
"Name it. I'd even arrange a killing—depending on the target's status. Haha."
That was… darker than expected.
But if he's offering that, borrowing a microscope should be easy.
"Do you, by chance, own a microscope?"
Damian's face morphed into the same expression Lister had made earlier.
'Is this guy serious?' written all over it.
"That… toy? Why?"
"I, uh… wanted to try using one."
"Haha. It'll take a while to dig out. Wait here."
"Of course."
"It's probably in storage. Have some tea in the meantime."
"Thank you."
"Lister, you too."
"Certainly."
Damian, amused as if humoring a child, ordered a servant to fetch it and sat on the sofa.
Impeccably maintained—not a speck of dust or musty smell.
'If you care this much about cleanliness, why not wash yourself?'
I'd bet my last coin that Damian hadn't bathed since I scrubbed him for surgery.
Elizabeth I, famed for her fastidiousness, bathed once a month. That says it all.
"The tea is excellent."
Lister—whose face screamed hard liquor rather than tea—praised the aroma like a connoisseur.
He does enjoy tea, so I couldn't mock him, but…
I still wanted to.
"And you?"
Me?
I…
Ah.
God, I miss iced Americano.
That brain-freezing first sip from a cup of finely crushed ice…!
"It's wonderful. The black tea's flavor is exquisite."
"Haha. Knew you'd like it. This is premium—from Yunnan. Qing Dynasty, you know?"
"Ah, yes. That explains the sophistication."
"You've got good taste. I like that."
Of course, it was all lies.
I, the paragon of honesty, have been corrupted by the 19th century.
"My Lord."
"Ah, there you are. Wait—you should've cleaned it first! Bringing it like this?"
"Apologies! We'll polish it at once!"
The microscope arrived—covered in dust.
Naturally, Damian scolded them, and soon a gleaming microscope was placed before me.
Its design…
'Looks nothing like the optical microscopes I've used…'
I couldn't even tell how to operate it.
"Let me. It's your first time, isn't it?"
Seeing me fumble, Damian took over with practiced ease, adjusting the lenses and placing a tea leaf on the stage.
"This is why it's expensive. Marvelous, isn't it? Look."
"Yes."
It had adjustable magnification—crude, but up to ~100x.
Damian set it to 50x.
And… it was far clearer than I'd expected.
"Huh…!"
This could definitely show bacteria.
No—it was showing them.
I was sure of it.
The tea leaf was magnified to an incredible degree—even its cellular structure was visible.
At higher magnification, bacteria would absolutely be visible.
"Fascinating, eh? Haha. Careful—I lost months to this thing."
"I'm concerned. To think you'd succumb to a toy."
"Guide him well. Genius or not, he's still a child."
"Haha. He's reckless, but don't worry—I'll beat sense into him if needed."
While I pondered medicine's future, the two adults traded infuriating remarks.
'Just wait. I'll show you the power of sterilization.'
Instead of anger, I steeled my resolve.
If I could demonstrate it, Lister—if no one else—would accept it.
For all his stubbornness, he was more open-minded than anyone.
With him on my side, I feared almost nothing.