Chapter 50 – The babysitter

Nayun's dorm room near the top of the female Cube Cadet dormitory building.

Lee had returned from his bathroom break and said he had some paperwork to fill out, so he begged Nayun to watch Evandel.

Obviously, Nayun agreed. Even if Evandel wasn't cute, Nayun owed a lot to Lee, so it wasn't a problem.

Of course, since Evandel WAS cute, it was just even better.

So, sitting on the floor with Evandel nearby, Nayun watched Evandel happily squish the magical blob she always carried around into different shapes, giggling as she did.

'Cute.'

No matter how Nayun looked at it, Evandel was definitely the daughter of both Lee and Rachel.

The toddler was smart. While she couldn't talk properly yet and hold long conversations, it was clear that Evandel definitely understood what people said.

...She was also absolutely playing cutesy to get things.

"Auntie! Nom noms?" Evandel toddled over to hug Nayun's leg and looked up at her with glittering eyes, her pink dress fluttering as she did for even more dramatic effect.

Nayun laughed and tapped Evandel's nose. "Fiiine. But don't tell your Mommy or Daddy, okay?" After saying that, she got up and opened her fridge, grabbing a piece of 5-year old spirit ginseng. After that, she got a knife and started slicing the ginseng into small chips for Evandel to munch on.

"...Huh." Nayun paused as she finished lining the circles on the plate for Evandel. "...I don't think me, Yeonha, or even Jonghak was spoiled this much."

Two years old... technically, only a month if you took in Evandel's real birthday.

But either way, a toddler and already munching on snacks that cost millions of won...

Nayun sat down next to Evandel and held out a slice of ginseng. "Here, you spoiled little princess."

Evandel gasped, her magical blob turning into a heart in response to her emotions. "Auntie Nyun! Best!" Evandel giggled and then reached her small hands out to grab a handful of chips, shoving them into her mouth.

If it was normal ginseng, that might be a concern.

But since it was high quality spirit ginseng that Nayun personally found, all that happened was the ginseng chips squishing into paste across Evandel's mouth and face.

Nayun laughed and then wiped Evandel's face clean. "You don't have to be so eager, Eva. They're not going anywhere."

"But yummy! Like candy!" Evandel grabbed another handful and shoved it into her mouth, munching on it.

Nayun laughed again, seeing that it was a lost cause. But then she paused. "...Like candy? I don't think your Daddy or Mommy would give you candy though?"

Other than the time with the chocolate, both Lee and Rachel had just given Evandel healthy foods.

For Lee, that meant handcooked meals with perfectly balanced macros... or so he said.

And for Rachel, that was stupidly expensive elixirs and potions on the same or greater level as the spirit ginseng.

But they definitely wouldn't have given candy...

Evandel's eyes widened and she covered her mouth. "Oops!"

"Oops? Oho?" Nayun reached out to pinch Evandel's cheek and said, "Our cutiepie is keeping secrets now, huh?"

"Auntie, nooooo!" Evandel squirmed, giggling as she tried batting Nayun's hand away.

"Nope! Tell Auntie who's been sneaking you candy."

"Auntie Yeoha!"

Just like her father would, Evandel immediately threw the culprit under the bus.

And when Nayun heard who it was, she laughed. "Of course it would be her. Trying to be the favorite auntie by bribing with sweets, huh? Well." Nayun let out a smug smile and said, "It's too bad. Our Evandel likes healthy expensive treats better than junkfood. Right?"

Evandel giggled and held up her hands. "Yay! 'Spensive!"

Nayun smiled and tapped Evandel's nose. "Oh, you're going to be trouble when you grow up..."

Evandel was just cute right now. And she was probably acting closer to Rachel did as a toddler.

But when puberty came around and Evandel realized that she could definitely start reeling men around by the nose with her looks, charm, and some sweet words...

Especially since her father was that audacious guy who gunned for Rachel the moment he met her and stole her heart in record time...

Nayun laughed, already relishing the drama and karma that guy was going to have in a decade or so.

Evandel didn't know why Nayun was laughing, but she giggled along too.

Nayun smiled and started feeding Evandel more spirit ginseng chips. "Here, Eva. Eat up and grow big and strong. The world is definitely not going to be ready for you... but that's the best part."

"Yeah! Bestest part!" Evandel let out a toothy smile and giggled.

"...God you're adorable. C'mere."

"Noooo! Auntie Nayn, no squish! Nyoooo!"

===

Instructor Kim Soohyuk looked at the stack of exemption forms placed in front of him. Then he slowly looked up at the Cadet who had placed them there. "...Cadet Lee Shin. If I'm understanding this correctly... before the combat exams begin on Monday, you are requesting to have exemptions to consume numerous medicinal elixirs to improve your physique and magical power."

Lee nodded. "That's correct."

"...May I ask how you even plan to obtain these many ingredients before the combat exams begin?" Instructor Soohyuk looked through the stack again and saw that it was all meticulously annotated to the dates of collections and types of ingredients as well.

"I have connections. Also, half of them are for Evandel."

"...Right." Instructor Soohyuk rubbed his face. "Of course they are."

'God help anyone trying to stop a concerned parent wanting to dote on their child...'

But that aside, Instructor Soohyuk stopped to think about it.

Technically, there was nothing wrong with Cadet Lee Shin's request.

Although it was forbidden to ingest those sorts of items on the day of the exam, there was nothing in the rulebook against consuming it before the exam. And it was still just Saturday afternoon. There were over 24 hours before the duels would begin, and all of the listed items were the sort that would be processed and assimilated within 24 hours.

The main rule for combat exams was to prevent any unfair temporary advantages. Because of that, things like personal weapons with enchantments, magical artifacts, and buff potions or similar items were not allowed and were even grounds for being held back a year.

There was nothing against consuming items that permanently increased your stats though. But there was also a reason why no cadets did that just a few days before combat exams.

Instructor Soohyuk lowered his hands to look at Lee and said, "Will it be fine? If you seriously plan on consuming all of this, your mind not have adjusted to your body's improved parameters in time. It's theoretically possible, but in practice..."

"Don't worry about that, Instructor." Lee gave a solemn nod and said, "I'm aware of the side-effects. But I have additional concerns beyond the exams, you see."

"Beyond the exams? What could-?"

Instructor Soohyuk paused.

Lee had defeated Shin Jonghak in Anti-Personnel training, a fact still talked about to this day despite being over a week ago.

Rachel had an overwhelmingly rabid fanclub overseas... and Cube was going to be completely open to the public on Monday for the exams.

Not only that, but since Monday's combat exam was dueling, and since nominated candidates couldn't refuse a duel, it was theoretically possible for a candidate to face a gauntlet of duels without stopping.

Although it was frowned upon and also disincentivized due to penalties for losing to a lower-ranked Cube Cadet in the duel... since Rachel's fanclub were absolutely going to be livid that Lee was so close to their idol, there were undoubtedly going to be many Cube Cadets who took the loss in exchange for bribes.

Which was technically illegal, but no one could prove it in this context.

After all, Lee was so audacious that no one would fault people for targeting him with his recent actions.

Nominating Lee, who was second to the last in rankings... even if you won, you would be losing points. Unless you were within a hundred ranks of him, it was a lose-lose.

'...But infamy is fame too.'

Trading grade penalties for fame in the greater world by aiding Rachel's fanclub, getting money for what amounted to a hit job, and even being able to say they were the one who beat the guy who trounced Shin Jonghak...

Instructor Soohyuk looked at Lee with a grim expression and said, "...I understand now. You're in a tough spot."

There was no way that Evandel was Rachel's child. But everyone and their mother would be thinking Lee was using Evandel to get close to Rachel... and that it was working.

Those who thought Lee didn't deserve Rachel would be coming at him en masse.

And while Instructor Soohyuk didn't doubt that Lee was capable... considering just the sheer number he would have to endure as well as the recorded stats on his record, average in physical and almost no magic power...

It would be tough.

Lee nodded. "I know. But I chose this path. While I might be able to squeeze through like I am now... I would feel better if I had a safety margin. So... will you approve it?"

Instructor Soohyuk nodded and pulled out his personal stamp. "I'll approve it this once. Thankfully, this once should be all you need." He smiled, eyes filled with expectation. "You are second from the bottom of the rankings. The absolute underdog. But if you win... If you survive everything they throw at you right now. No one will think of you like that ever again."

Lee smiled. "Thanks, Instructor. Oh, one more thing."

"Yes?"

"I figured I should ask this since you're pretty reliable. But do you think you could babysit Evandel sometimes too? Like during our Anti-Monster training classes. I'd rather not have to threaten everyone and their mother... not to mention people will probably start wondering if we're getting an advantage by bringing Evandel with us."

Instructor Soohyuk looked touched. "You're trusting me with your daughter?"

"Well, only for classes. But yes. I figured you're the most reliable among the staff here at Cube. Our instructor in Anti-Personnel training is a lost cause, the other instructors are just lecturers, and the administration... well, you know how they are."

Instructor Soohyuk chuckled. "Fair enough. And I'd love that. My parents have been bothering me about getting children, so I should get some proper experience watching them..."

"...You're still not married?"

"..."

"...Sorry."

"...It's fine."

"...Should I... introduce you to some Aunties? I've been handed a few numbers by older women recently..."

"...I won't say no."