NOVEL NEXT Chapter 89.1
Helping With Health Checkups
“Sorry to bother you all of a sudden, Yuuri-kun.”
“No, it’s no trouble. If I can be of help, I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you.”
The one smiling softly is Nina, the doctor in charge of the clinic. As she tilted her head, the rabbit ears on her head twitched. Pure white, fluffy rabbit ears. They were so tempting to touch, but Yuuri, who learned in elementary school that rabbit ears are not to be touched lightly, behaved himself. …Rabbit ears are not to be touched casually. They’re sensitive organs, almost like a second heart. Those who think it’s okay to grab rabbits by the ears should know—that’s not an affectionate way to hold them but the way hunters grab prey. Be mindful.
Today, Yuuri was accompanying Nina on her job at her request. Naturally, his familiar, Rooks, was eager to serve as a guard at his feet—whether needed or not was another matter. Their task was to call on troublesome people who ne-ver come for regular health checkups. The practice of visiting these individuals predates Nina’s arrival, and it serves as a courtesy to artisans and shopkeepers who find it hard to book appointments at the clinic because of their busy schedules. Seeking a doctor’s care only after falling ill is a last resort; it’s better to understand one’s physical condition beforehand.
But only those in the healthcare field seem to grasp this concept. For most people, the clinic is where you go when you’re feeling unwell. They probably don’t even think of visiting when they’re healthy.
So, Nina makes rounds to the areas where artisans’ workshops are concentrated, as well as commercial districts, to engage with people and confirm appointments. She brought Yuuri today to make use of his appraisal abilities. If he could point out any signs of trouble, perhaps people would agree to come for a checkup.
…In truth, almost nobody is entirely without issues. Even if someone functions fine in daily life, it’s common to accumulate fatigue. Sometimes, people don’t even realize how their natural constitution leaves them vulnerable. Believing oneself to be perfectly healthy just because one isn’t gravely ill is foolish.
Thus, the two arrived at the district where artisans reside. Few people crossed paths with them since the artisans were working inside their workshops. Noticing a craftsman cleaning the entrance of his workshop, Nina smiled and greeted him.
“Hello, Glugal-san.”
“Oh, it’s Nina-san. Hello. …What’s this? Got a young chick with you too?”
“Hello~”
Yuuri didn’t mind being called a chick. It was no surprise—the grumpy old alchemist Glugal was known for his sharp tongue. Besides, for a mountain folk elder around 200 years old, a teenage human would certainly seem like a fledgling. Nina was called “Miss,” and Ali was “Boy,” so being labeled a chick was only natural for Yuuri.
Yuuri glanced at Nina, wondering if this stubborn old craftsman was one of those who refused to attend health checkups. Nina shook her head with a smile, indicating otherwise.
“Glugal-san is one of the rare craftsmen who comes for his checkup regularly.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course! They adjust the appointment to fit my schedule, so not going would be absurd.”
“I wish everyone thought that way.”
“Hmph. Humans have such short lives, yet they don’t care enough about their health.”
Glugal grumbled as Nina gave a troubled smile. Mountain folk live for about 500 years, and over such a long span, it’s inevitable to encounter injuries or illnesses. Being a race that understands this, they take their health seriously. They possess the resilience to match their long lifespans, but they aren’t foolish enough to believe that’s enough to stay healthy forever.
From Glugal’s perspective, species with lifespans under 100 years—like humans—seem to live recklessly, always pushing themselves. The differences in perspective are hard to reconcile, but from Nina’s experience, only long-lived races tend to visit for health checkups without resistance.
“Hey, chick.”
“Yes?”
“You know that accessory craftsman Bright, right?”
“Yes, I visit him sometimes.”
“Then make sure you convince that brat too. Kids his age always insist they’re fine without reason.”
As Glugal grumbled to himself, Yuuri tilted his head in puzzlement. He looked at Nina, who smiled apologetically. It seemed Bright was one of those troublesome people. Being young, he probably thought sleep would solve everything. But that doesn’t mean his body wasn’t under stress. With a sigh of resignation, Yuuri followed Nina’s lead as she walked ahead.
Taking Glugal’s words to heart, Yuuri found that every craftsman they encountered had some hidden issue. He would point it out, Nina would convince them, and they would agree to the health checkup. Even if the condition wasn’t immediately severe, craftsmen tend to work in fixed postures, placing strain on their bodies. The problem was their lack of awareness about it.
“Bright-saaan!”
“Huh? Oh, Yuuri… and Nina?”
“Hello. We’re here to invite you for a health checkup.”
“Ah…”
When Nina smiled at him, Bright quickly averted his gaze. He started to say something about work, but Yuuri cut him off with a stern look. Having taken Glugal’s advice, Yuuri had already assessed Bright’s condition. As expected, Bright had the same issues as the other craftsmen—his body was under strain.
“Bright, you’re out!”
“What?”
“Oh dear, he didn’t pass?”
“Not at all. Especially his back, neck, and shoulders—they’re in terrible shape. He should go for a checkup and get proper treatment. That’s an order.”
“Wait, Yuuri, what are you even talking about?”
“I mean, even if you don’t notice it, and even if it’s not visible, your body is under stress.”
Bright blinked in confusion as Yuuri explained, his expression serious. Nina checked her notebook and asked if a certain time would be suitable, but Bright seemed unsure. Meanwhile, Rooks tugged on Bright’s pants, looking up at him silently with an almost pleading gaze.
“…What’s Rooks trying to say?”
“He probably wants you to go for the checkup so you won’t collapse.”
“Kyu!”
“Looks like I guessed right.”
“…Wait, why?”
“Rooks likes you, Bright.”
“Kyukyuu!”
Rooks hopped around happily, as if to say, “Exactly!” Yuuri gave a knowing look, while Nina smiled and showed Bright her notebook. Though all three were gentle souls, their persistence overwhelmed Bright, and he let out a sigh of surrender. Scratching his head, he glanced at his schedule and the notebook in Nina’s hands.
“My deadline’s around this time, so I can go after that.”
“That’s fine. …So you’ll come this time?”
“…Yeah. I don’t want to deal with Yuuri if I refuse.”