Chapter 72

"Whoa…"

In the cafeteria where he had come for lunch, the child in front of him—Yuri—was about to face-plant into the large plate in front of her. Having already finished his meal, he used his free hand to support her head.

Yuri had started her lunch with a beaming smile. At first, she savored the food, but by the time she had eaten half of it, her eyes began to droop. Now, having managed to finish two-thirds of it, she seemed to have finally reached her limit. Despite being in the middle of her meal, she was already fast asleep.

Reflecting on it, the morning had been packed with essential foundational knowledge, crammed into a short period. Even for an adult, it wouldn't have been a pleasant situation. For a child, who is still immature in many ways, it must have been particularly tough.

No wonder she reached her limit so quickly. She was sound asleep in the middle of her meal.

Even though they had only spent the morning together, Yuri was a mysterious child.

During the health check-up, she had been a typical child, trembling at the sight of a needle. But as soon as the check-up was over, she confidently led Captain Vincent by the hand to the cafeteria with a smile. The medical staff, who had been watching, burst into laughter only after the two had completely disappeared from sight. No one else, not even in emergencies, could do such a thing except for her.

When they returned from the cafeteria and she changed into her nurse's uniform, Captain Vincent's demeanor changed completely.

Captain Vincent clearly separates his public and private life. His previous interactions with Yuri were entirely personal, treating her like a beloved child, almost like a father.

However, once he entered his professional domain, everything changed. Captain Vincent allows no compromise in his work. As the leader of a unit that entrusts lives, his sense of responsibility is so strong that even Captain Lois of the elite unit can't match it, in my opinion.

Yuri showed no fear—rather, she faced him head-on. When Captain Vincent turned to leave, she tried to muster her resolve and even bit her lip in disappointment.

She followed me without much hesitation as I started my explanations and preparations with just a simple greeting. When I began explaining, she wrote her name in the notebook given to her and took notes, asking questions about things she found puzzling.

If I had treated her just as a simple notebook, I had planned to take it away and throw it out at the first opportunity. By the way, if the notebook wasn't used, I would sometimes cruelly give repetitive tests. This is a traditional rite of passage for new members of the medical unit, designed to teach them the importance of handling important items properly. Mistakes are made early on, and any shortcomings are gradually addressed while they are still minor and harmless. I intended to do this regardless of her being a child, but she wrote her name first. Her notes were clear and easy to read, written in neat bullet points.

During this time, I tried various things. Although I didn't show it in my words or expressions, I could sense subtle reactions. However, she could be easily distracted with a treat, which made her simple. When I smiled at her with intent, she instinctively understood and followed obediently, though it might have been because she was still wrapped up in something.

Based on my observations of Yuri so far, my evaluation is quite good. I recognize that this child can handle the minimum required tasks.

Three days ago, Captain Vincent asked me to be Yuri's mentor.

Coming from a family of doctors, I had always aimed to join the medical unit and had a smooth career progression. Before I knew it, I had become a well-known member of the medical unit.

When Captain Vincent assigned me as Yuri's mentor, citing the need to assess my ability to train and ensure her safety for the upcoming promotion exam, I couldn't refuse. Moreover, he asked me to evaluate her without hesitation, regardless of her age. I thought it would be an interesting challenge.

Captain Vincent must have anticipated that I would follow his instructions strictly, which is why he appointed me as her mentor. He likely intends to evaluate Yuri without any bias. Whether this is his way of being kind or strict, I can't really tell.

In any case, the medical unit will be a completely different workplace for Yuri compared to other units. Once the practical training with combat units begins, things could get complicated.

I stood up while still supporting Yuri's head, carefully picking her up to ensure she was safe. Her small body was very light and frail. I moved the booster chair to the corner and gently laid her down, making sure her feet were facing the window.

Perhaps it's fitting to call her a genderless child. The skirt-type nurse's uniform prepared by Deputy Captain Kalaf of the forging unit suited her so well that she became the center of attention in the cafeteria. The sound of her noisy sandals, designed to make her location easily detectable for safety, only added to the attention.

The fact that a guard unit had already been formed for her, despite her being a provisional member, was no surprise. Yuri, with her expressive face and small movements, was indeed adorable. Her height made her naturally look up at people.

It was amusing to see the cooking unit, known as a group of intellectual roughnecks, dote on every move Yuri made. The youngest member, a teenager, was already acting like a big brother.

Even members of other units watched her with fondness, some even swooning (or acting suspiciously) at her cuteness.

Observing all the commotion centered around Yuri was never boring. It was oddly soothing, and I never felt bored.

Yuri was adept at being oblivious to the reactions around her, and I didn't need to intervene much. She could think and act on her own, and as long as I kept an eye on her, I could let her do as much as possible on her own. This allowed me to observe her objectively.

However, an unguarded situation like a nap was different. To avoid giving any perverts an opportunity, I turned and smiled at the surrounding people. This made many of them look away, so my strategy seemed to work. If anyone tried to bother Yuri while I was around, they would be subject to disciplinary action.

After tidying up the plates, someone came out from the kitchen.

"You can leave the table as it is. I'll clean up. Just move the dishes to the return counter, please. The captain is waiting there. And take this snack with you."

"Is that okay?"

"Yes. Just move them to the side of the return counter. The captain is waiting. And take this snack with you."

"Understood. Thank you."

I took advantage of the kind offer, put the remaining snack in my pocket, and picked up Yuri with my left arm while collecting the sandals. I headed towards the return counter. As instructed, Captain Dillan of the cooking unit was waiting there.

"Hello, Captain Dillan. I'm Fort, Yuri's mentor."

"Vincent's secret weapon is assigned to train Yuri, huh."

After a polite greeting, Captain Dillan looked at me without changing his expression and said. His ability to recall information about notable members and their meals matched the rumors.

"So, what's the matter?"

"Yeah, I prepared this for her."

When I asked about the matter, Captain Dillan handed me a small paper bag. I took it with my free hand, and it was slightly warm and emitted a faint sweet smell.

"What is this?"

"It's a snack for Yuri. She's already malnourished, and she left some of her meal."

"Did you prepare it specially?"

"Feeding a child only store-bought snacks isn't good. I considered the nutritional balance."

When I commented on the contents of the paper bag, Captain Dillan replied with a hint of exasperation.

You're single, right? How do you know so much about children's snacks?

Considering how busy he was, he still managed to keep track of Yuri's meal. Moreover, the snack seemed homemade. What kind of housewife are you?

...The image of a cool, capable, and powerful cooking unit captain was completely shattered.

"Captain Bax gave milk to Yuri this morning, so it should be in the medical room. Tell Vincent that you'll visit the medical room around the end of the shift."

"Understood."

"Also, as her mentor, I have a warning for you. If you listen only to Vincent and neglect Yuri, the cooking unit will take action."

Not only the snack but also the drink were well-prepared. Captain Dillan's image was completely shattered. I was a bit taken aback.

As Captain Dillan gave his warning, I felt the hair on my arms stand up from the sharp gazes of the returning staff and the kitchen staff.

The Captain Dillan in front of me now was completely different from the housewife-like image I had just a moment ago. He was the Captain Dillan I had heard about. Not only him, but the true nature of the cooking unit was also revealed.

...The difference in their behavior with and without Yuri was significant.

"Vincent is very proud of his work. Assigning you as her mentor shows his bad intentions and keen judgment."

"Thank you."

"Feel free to evaluate the cooking unit as you see fit, but don't make a mistake."

"I understand. I'll keep that in mind."

Even without saying everything, I could clearly understand his intentions. If I mishandled Yuri, the cooking unit would become my enemy. If I focused too much on the cooking unit and neglected Captain Vincent, he would become a work demon. I was being asked to walk a very fine line.

Captain Dillan, like Captain Vincent, seemed to have a keen sense of foresight. Being a captain of a unit, even at a young age, was no small feat. There were many aspects of him that I couldn't fully grasp, and now even more so.

"That's all."

"Thank you."

With a gesture that seemed to dismiss me, I bowed to Captain Dillan and the kitchen staff and started walking towards the medical room.

Yuri, unaware of the tense exchange, was sleeping soundly in my arms, breathing softly.

"...It seems there will be no time for boredom while I'm involved with Yuri. Things are going to get interesting."

Indeed, this promotion exam is turning out to be quite stimulating.

The anticipation of the unexpected days ahead made my lips curl into a smile.

Once Yuri finishes her nap and snack, it will be time for the practical training. There's plenty to do before then, and I need to relay Captain Dillan's message to Captain Vincent.

I have a feeling that the afternoon will be unpredictable in many ways. I need to prepare even more than usual.