NOVEL NEXT Chapter 89.2
Helping With Health Checkups
Bright’s muttered comment reflected his honest feelings. What he dreaded wasn’t just Yuuri’s persistence but also the protective circle behind him—like the members of Scarlet Lynx and the perfumer Leopold. Bright knew all too well that offending Leopold, who could disarm people with a smile while striking at their weak points, was a bad idea.
Though it took some doing, Bright ended up calmly going through with his health check. Nina was in a cheerful mood as they walked. Normally, people would respond with things like, “I have work” or “I’m fine, there’s no problem,” but this time, they all accepted their appointments without complaint. As a doctor, that made her happy.
The true calling of a physician isn’t just curing the sick. It’s equally important to prevent illness and help people stay healthy. Beyond treating injuries or diseases, learning how to maintain health is vital. That’s why Nina has carried on the health check program passed down from her predecessor.
Their final destination was Komorebi-tei, a diner familiar to Yuuri. Just as Yuuri was wondering why they were heading there, Arga—the poster boy from the neighboring inn, Higure-tei—came running over. Arga grabbed Nina’s hand firmly, leaving Yuuri bewildered, while Nina could only manage a wry smile.
“Hello, Arga-san. …So, persuasion failed?”
“Sorry. That stubborn old man, really, really…!”
“Hello, Arga-saaan!”
“Huh? What’s Yuuri doing here?”
“I’m helping Nina-san today!”
With a playful puff of his chest, Yuuri proudly struck a pose, making Arga blink in confusion. After a few blinks, a look of realization crossed Arga’s face as he clapped his hands together. Until that moment, he had completely forgotten that Yuuri had appraisal abilities. To Arga, Yuuri was the boy good at housework for Scarlet Lynx, who occasionally ate at his father’s inn. Well… that wasn’t entirely wrong, either.
While they were engaged in lighthearted banter, a woman’s shout reached their ears. It came from Komorebi-tei, and the voice belonged to the inn’s poster girl, Sheila.
“You idiot, Dad!”
Calling her own father an idiot, Sheila’s voice rang out loud and clear. Arga clutched his head in frustration, while Nina could only smile wryly. Arga then peeked at Nina’s notebook and began scheduling health checks for himself, his mother, and his sister. In the end, it seemed that the only one refusing the check-up was their father, Darius. Yuuri absentmindedly wondered if the former adventurer-turned-innkeeper just had an aversion to doctors.
“Yuuri, could you handle this?”
“Roger that~”
Peeking into the diner, Yuuri saw Sheila scolding her father, with no other customers around. Despite Sheila’s anger, Darius let her words wash over him, ignoring her entirely. What a tough dad.
Yuuri quietly used his ability, [God’s Eye], to assess Darius’s condition. With a heavy sigh, Yuuri confirmed his suspicions: though Darius appeared fine thanks to his sturdy physique from years as an adventurer, his accumulated fatigue was clear. Maintaining his body wasn’t optional; it was necessary. His resilience only masked the problem, making him a troublesome case.
“Hello! Darius-san, you’re out of luck—please take your health check.”
“Yuuri?”
“Huh? What do you mean, kid?”
“I see strain on your shoulder, knee, and left ankle. Your internal organs seem fine, but your joints are fatigued~”
“…What?”
Sheila grabbed one of Darius’s arms firmly, while Arga—who had appeared at some point—took the other. Together, they hauled their father over to Nina. Smiling sweetly, Nina held her notebook in hand, radiating her usual calm, rabbit-like charm.
“Since the rest of us have scheduled ours, Dad, it’s your turn now.”
“Exactly! If Yuuri says you need it, you should listen!”
“What’s with you guys?!”
“‘Ali’s star pupil is never wrong!’”
“…”
Faced with his children’s enthusiastic arguments, Darius fell silent. He knew Ali’s reputation well, though he had never personally seen Yuuri’s abilities in action. However, the mention of Ali’s name—a brilliant appraiser leading Scarlet Lynx—seemed to sway even the stubborn Darius.
In the end, Darius relented and scheduled a health check. To Nina’s delight, everything went more smoothly than expected. She valued everyone’s health and had always hoped they would willingly participate in the check-ups. Thanks to Yuuri’s intervention, even the most stubborn folks had cooperated this time, making it a particularly easy day.
“Yuuri, thank you for your help today.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just glad everyone got their check-ups done.”
“Truly… Thank you.”
Nina smiled warmly at him, and Yuuri returned the gesture. At their feet, Rooks let out a lively chirp. Keeping everyone healthy and preventing illness was the ultimate goal, after all. With that shared thought, the three of them stood together, content.