A few days had passed since I had been made an accomplice in some terrible plot by Bern.
"Marching training in the snow?"
This time, Lieutenant Colonel Henri, commander of the Southern Army, sent an announcement to the medical department.
"They want us to get used to the cold now so we can be ready for operations starting after the winter."
"Understood."
It was a request for assistance with infantry training.
Since the start of winter, movement had become difficult, and the soldiers at the front line had become idle.
Because of this, the once high-spirited Austin soldiers were starting to feel relaxed.
Sensing this shift, the command headquarters planned a large-scale training operation to help re-establish discipline.
"They say they're going to conduct the training in shifts by platoon, over a total of three days."
"Understood."
"And on the last day of training, the soldiers will stop by Paschen."
"For a medical check-up after the training, right?"
"Yes. We'll have more work to do from now on."
Apparently, us medics are not being asked to train, but instead to help with the training.
The training march will take three days, with them reaching Paschen on the final day.
We were instructed to welcome the soldiers who had finished the training, hand out clean towels and warm soup, conduct health checks, and clean up after they leave.
"I hope there won't be any accidents in the snow mountains during the training."
"Oh, they won't be entering the mountains this time there are a lot of newcomers."
In that case, it should be alright.
***
"Make sure to have plenty of hot water ready by the scheduled arrival time. We won't have to worry about heatstroke in the snow, but hypothermia and dehydration are real risks."
This training operation is indeed a brilliant idea.
The majority of the Renvel Army consisted of newly recruited soldiers who had been drafted urgently from the capital.
It's great that they can get some experience.
"Director Reitalyu, if we predict the amount of firewood we'll need, we don't have nearly enough."
"Don't worry, the soldiers will cut and transport the wood during the training."
"I see."
"However, the firewood they bring won't be dry, so we can't use it immediately. They'll be taken to the empty cabins to dry."
Preparing for the training involved a lot of heavy labor, and people like Cale and Arunoma were especially helpful with the physical tasks.
With help from members of Sergeant Major Zafqua's unit, we set up a gathering place in Paschen.
Over the course of a week, we set up a bonfire, a canteen, a medical station, and other facilities in the square, eventually creating a venue that could accommodate about a hundred people.
"Alright, tomorrow's the real deal. Everyone has confirmed their assigned roles, right?"
"Yes."
"Well then, we're done. Let's do our best tomorrow!"
Reitalyu divided the personnel into groups for operations headquarters, cooking team, medical team, materials team, and transport team.
For tasks like transporting and handling materials, the muscular quartermasters would take charge.
The medical team had more than enough people since we're part of the medical department, so I was assigned to the cooking team.
"Even though it's cooking, all we're preparing is just hot soup. That kind of thing isn't hard, just throw it into the pot according to the recipe."
"Yes."
"But distributing it to the soldiers is going to be tough. There are a lot of them, and it will require quite a bit of effort."
Since I often take part in physical training, I was assigned to a relatively demanding role.
And also…
"Besides, wouldn't the soldiers be happier to receive soup from a cute girl like Touri, rather than from some sweaty man?"
"Eh…"
They're also expecting me to serve as a sort of mascot.
***
"Alright, good work on the training. I've prepared some hot soup for you. Go on and warm yourself up."
The first day of training was very busy from the start.
In the morning, we made soup in a large pot and prepared the dishes and trays.
We guided the soldiers who had received medical checks to the venue and handed them the soup.
The idea is to let the soldiers take a break and then send them back to the front lines.
"Hey, can I get a refill of the soup?"
"I'm sorry, but we only prepared enough for the number of people."
This training will last a total of one month and will be conducted across the entire army.
It's apparently very tough, perhaps because it was meant to keep the soldiers on their toes. Some of them ended up being hospitalized due to dehydration.
"Oh, if that's the case, then I want a cute, busty girl to serve me! Why are all the ones carrying the food men?"
"It's actually a pretty physically demanding job. I'd hesitate to have a lady do it."
"I'll die if I don't regularly pat a woman's ass. It's so cold out that prostitutes aren't coming to the front lines anymore."
Occasionally, we had to deal with troublesome soldiers causing disturbances.
In this world, the concept of sexual harassment wasn't well established, and rough soldiers would shamelessly harass women.
But then…
"Hey, the beautiful lady you asked for is here!"
"Geh, it's the Grim Reaper of the Battlefield!"
Our ultimate weapon against such harassment, Director Reitalyu, rushed in to resolve the situation.
"How about you pat my ass? I'd be happy to sacrifice myself for my subordinates!"
"Shut up! Touching your ass will get a grenade dropped on me. I'm getting out of… Ouch!"
"As expected of Director Reitalyu, just a word from you can make a soldier stumble and get injured."
In fact, she would turn the harassment back on them.
I really want to learn from her vitality.
"Oh, you're bleeding from your head. Time for you to be hospitalized. Secure this man."
"Ah, he hit his head on a rock. This needs to be monitored carefully."
"Stay away from meeeee!"
Thus, the harasser ended up being hospitalized and received "special" medical attention from Director Reitalyu.
"He's a bit older and not my type… but maybe I should try something different once in a while."
"Someone, h-help—"
The next day, her skin looked strangely radiant, but I decided not to mention it.
It looks like the Southern Army's medical department has perfect countermeasures against sexual harassment.
Perhaps it was the brutal harassment she faced that shaped Reitalyu's current personality.
***
"Here you go, I've brought you some soup."
"Huh?"
Then, about two weeks had passed since the start of full-scale training.
"Sorry medic, can you come here for a second?"
"Yes."
I was called over by an unfamiliar soldier to whom I had just handed soup.
"Is there something wrong?"
"So you really do exist…"
"Pardon?"
He looked at me in surprise, then extended his right hand.
"It's an honor to meet you, Chief Medic Touri. Would you please shake my hand?"
"Eh?"
He suddenly asked for a handshake.
"Thank you. Sorry for the strange request."
"N-No problem. If it's just this much, it's fine."
Since I had no particular reason to refuse, I shook his hand. The soldier thanked me happily before walking away.
It didn't feel like sexual harassment… I wonder what the point of that was.
Well, since it wasn't an unpleasant experience, I decided not to worry about it.
***
"Oh, there's the medic! Can I have a moment of your time?"
"Uh, sure…"
From that day on, similar things started happening more often.
Soldiers I didn't know would approach me in strange ways, looking at me and bowing, or asking to pat my head.
"…What's going on here?"
"Little Boss is just too cute."
"Is that really what this is about?"
Since they weren't touching inappropriate areas, I don't think they had that kind of intention.
However, being constantly approached by soldiers was getting in the way of my work.
Should I consult with Reitalyu?
"Does anyone know what's going on?"
"No idea. But I think it's just because you're really cute."
When I shared my concerns with Cale, he just gave me a vague smile.
"If word spreads around the Southern Army that there's a cute girl like Little Boss in the medical department, it wouldn't be surprising if you're treated like a mascot."
"Mascot…"
"Especially since you look so young. It's no wonder there's gossip among the soldiers."
"…Is that how it is?"
Cale casually suggested that I was being treated as some sort of "rare creature."
***
The theory that I was being treated like a "rare creature" turned out to be not entirely wrong.
"Oh, Touri. I heard you're being called the 'Lucky Carry' recently."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I was finally able to hear the details when Senior Allen completed his training and arrived at Paschen.
Apparently, a soldier who saw me carrying soup started a rumor about a "small girl working hard in the medical department."
At first, it was just a curious story, but soldiers who received soup from me started having strange strokes of luck, like winning big at cards or getting a girlfriend.
Knowing Reitalyu's notorious reputation, the Southern Army soldiers began to think, "That small girl must be a lucky medic," and the rumor spread.
Around the same time, word got out that I was with Verdi during that successful retreat operation, further solidifying the belief that I was the "Lucky Carry."
Soldiers began to seek out my supposed good luck, which led to them frequently approaching me.
"I heard that the Lucky Carry is a cute, expressionless little medic. Rodri and I both burst out laughing when we heard about it."
"…"
"Let me share in that luck too, hahaha."
Senior Allen, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, was in a very good mood and ruffled my hair.
I'd like to question the two of them for about an hour to find out what was so funny.
"You've come a long way. The Touri who used to tremble with fear in the trenches is now so grown-up."
"Senior Allen…"
"You're already starting to look like a full-fledged soldier."
But honestly, it felt a little nice to be patted on the head by Senior Allen.
Getting praise from a senior always feels good.
"I still have a long way to go."
"That's not true. Just the rumors of the 'Lucky Carry' have really lifted the morale of the troops."
"That's not something I can take credit for."
Well, I don't mind being treated like a rare animal if that's the case.
If just being looked up to raises the soldiers' spirits, they can go ahead.
"By the way, what happened to Rodri?"
"Him? That idiot caught a cold during training. He's in the treatment line now."
"Eh, is he okay?"
"He's just got a fever. That kid is as cheeky and foul-mouthed as ever."
Hearing that Rodri was absent due to a cold made me worry a bit.
If I have time, I'd like to visit him.
"Aren't you going to see him?"
"…I'm in the cooking team."
"Well, just showing your face should be fine."
Caring for the sick and injured is the medical team's job, not mine.
I really wanted to have a little chat with Rodri, but I guess it can't be helped.
"Well then, make sure to drink your soup and be careful on your way back. Don't get hurt and have to turn around."
"Okay, see you later, Touri."
Though I feel a little hesitant, there's still a lot of work left for the cooking team.
I'm worried about Rodri, but I'll just take a quick glance at the medical department to see his face.
***
"Oh, a young soldier. Nice, are you a new recruit!?"
"W-Whoa… There's something intimidating about this medic."
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you feeling unwell? Let me check every inch of you, just to make sure no germs have gotten in!"
"H-Hey, wait!"
"One young soldier coming through! Now, let me take you to my examination room…"
When I peeked into the medical department, I saw a suspiciously enthusiastic Reitalyu trying to drag Rodri into her examination room.
....
"Ouch! What, why did you suddenly chop me?"
"…He's someone I know. I'll examine him."
"Oh, Touri! But I spotted this guy first!"
I might have let it slide If it had been any other soldier, but Rodri is off-limits.
It would be devastating if he got involved with Reitalyu and was killed in battle.
"Huh? What's wrong, Shorty?"
"Rodri, you want me to examine you instead, right?"
"Eh? Well, I actually kind of like this person—"
"…Huh, is that so? Well then, I will examine you."
"Heyyy?!"
I glared at the suspicious person to intimidate them while pulling Rodri away.
Doesn't he know about Reitalyu's reputation?
"Hey, alright, fine, I'll follow you. Just let go of me."
"No."
Sure, Reitalyu is beautiful and has a great figure. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be tempted if I were a guy.
But all the soldiers who fell for her charms have met a tragic end.
"Uh, Director Reitalyu, a word?"
"…Oh, I get it. I guess there's no helping it if Touri had a prior claim."
Behind me, I could hear Cale whispering something to Reitalyu.
I don't even want to imagine what he said to her.
"Aww, they're so innocent."
"You shouldn't interfere with that."
....
I see. From the outside, does it look like I have a one-sided crush on Rodri?
Yes, it would look that way…
"…Hey, Shorty. Do you really—"
"Rodri, please don't misunderstand and add to my stress."
"Oh, okay…"
After all, the world is truly unfair.