"It looked like our Kal'tsit really had been working herself too hard."
Gerald leaned against the wall behind him, facing the Doctor. "I was actually surprised that you chose to make those jokes with a stranger you'd just met. I don't really mind... but it was still an unconventional move."
"—A little offensive, wasn't it?"
The Doctor smiled and pointed at herself. "But judging by appearances, I neither have any convincing qualities nor the world-shattering abilities of other operators. If someone wanted to kill me, one brick to the head would probably make my skull burst and splatter blood everywhere."
"And for most operators, they care about who leads them. Even a leader's personal charisma falls within their considerations. But nobody could possibly be told, 'This is your superior now,' and immediately devote themselves heart and soul or swear unwavering loyalty to that person."
"Therefore, covering up whatever prejudices they might have with a stronger first impression is a pretty good first choice."
The Doctor spoke in a somewhat lazy tone. She leaned back slightly, sinking against the cold wall, while her gaze remained fixed on the door before her. "I just didn't expect her not to realize that part of the logic. She should have noticed something, at least."
Was it because she cared too much? Would that Kal'tsit really think that way?
The Doctor silently shook her head.
Gerald shifted his gaze away. Rather than answering the previous question, he simply replied, "I understand. For a commander, one outstanding result in battle can instantly change how others see them."
"That's a very precise description." The Doctor came back to herself and smiled as she made a gesture of approval. "That's what I'm doing to you right now too. The results have been pretty good, haven't they?"
"You're comparing