I Hit the Back of the Tower Master’s Head - Chapter 15

Episode 15

Ruth opened the history book. At first, he thought it wasn’t worth reading just by looking at the cover, but there was no choice. The basic magic book was something he couldn’t even look at, and he was still aching from his wounds.

Lunar often looked like she was wondering if Ruth might fly away or burst if she touched him. Plus, the village was peaceful to the point of being boring.

Ruth glanced at the cover one more time and then smirked. The book was about history for kids. It was thick, but it seemed like it was written in a fun way to make studying enjoyable for children.

The first page told the myth of the founding of the first emperor. The emperor was drawn to look like a cute gingerbread cookie. Of course, there were exaggerated parts—like how he summoned a storm to defeat a disaster, or how he used a storm to crush many wars and secure the empire’s land.

Flip, flip. Ruth turned the pages faster and faster. Then, suddenly, his hand stopped.

In the year 207 of the Philos calendar, when the country was in danger, the baron defeated the dark magician and was awarded the title of count for his achievement.

In the cute illustration, there was an ugly dark magician wearing a small black hood and a cute girl with purple hair tied up high, looking like a gingerbread cookie.

“…But she was soon cursed and lost her voice.”

King Aiden III awarded the baron for his service to the country, and soon after, the title of count was granted. The count became widely known as a master of doll magic…

Ruth’s gaze turned back to the picture. The ugly dark magician had his hands outstretched in a ridiculous pose. Ruth absentmindedly touched his own wound. His throat was dry. Dark magic. His fingertips started trembling, and the cold feeling began creeping up his body.

Suddenly, a loud knock echoed on the door, making Ruth drop the book. The thick leather-bound book rolled across the floor. His eyes darted around as Pinocchio went up to open the door.

“Hmm? Oh, it’s Pinocchio. Is Lunar not here?”

A deep voice was heard. Pinocchio hesitated.

“If you could understand doll speech, that would be helpful. Well, I guess she’s not here, huh? Tell her the stars will fall in a week.”

A hand, thick with veins, reached inside the door. The hand dropped a large basket with a heavy thud. The basket seemed to be filled with meat, as the contents around the basket were tinged with a reddish color.

The owner of the hand was a muscular, sturdy old man. His white hair was cut short, and his sharp black eyes gleamed when he looked at Ruth.

The old man was eyeing Ruth warily, with a faint trace of hostility. Or was it fear? But why?

“Are you Rose? I hear you’ve been staying at Lunar’s place lately?”

“…I’m Ruth.”

“Ah, Rose, is it? I’m Ezra Hill. You can call me Ezra, or Grandpa Ezra, or just whatever you want. I don’t mind. You can even call me the old man if you like. But I’ll call you Rose, is that okay?”

“It’s Ruth.”

Ezra looked Ruth up and down, and then emphasized his use of the name “Rose” as if trying to tease him.

“Rose, huh? I hear you’ve been hurt pretty badly. Lost your memory… Do you see any signs of it coming back?”

“…No.”

“Well, if you want, I can find a healer for you. It pains me to see a young man like you so hurt.”

That’s a lie.

Ruth thought to himself. It wasn’t pity at all; it seemed more like Ezra just wanted to get rid of him. The old man was giving off a strong aura, and although Ruth could instinctively tell that he was a magician, he didn’t seem particularly impressive.

He could easily overpower him.

Ruth thought this naturally, but at the same time, his body froze. The unfamiliar feeling of scanning for weak points, something he had been so good at, felt unsettling and unpleasant. Was he thinking of using magic? Why? How? The nausea began to rise.

As soon as Ezra spoke again, Ruth dashed to the bathroom and threw up everything from breakfast. He had tensed up his body too much, and his wound ached while his stomach churned. When he came out, pale and weak, Ezra, who had been eyeing him with hostility, now looked at him with pity.

“…It really looks like you’re in pain. Come here.”

“What…?”

“Can’t you even feel the wound opening?”

Ezra calmly walked into the house as Lulu handed him bandages and medicine.

Ezra smiled faintly at Lulu, his eyes showing a proud look as he watched the little girl.

“Lunar’s good with her hands, isn’t she?”

Lulu nodded vigorously in agreement. Ruth, still clutching his aching wound, stood stiffly like a rock. Ezra gestured for him to sit.

“Sit down.”

Ruth awkwardly sat on the couch as Ezra’s scarred hands cut away the bandage and applied medicine.

“Does Lunar treat you kindly?”

“…Yes.”

“Then, don’t forget that kindness once you get your memory back.”

Ezra spoke softly, almost as a warning. He gave Ruth’s shoulder a couple of pats with his rough, calloused hand. When he finished tending to Ruth, he pulled out a thick envelope from his coat and handed it to Pinocchio.

“Give this to Lunar. It’s beef inside.”

Lily came out of the kitchen, sluggishly, and took the basket. Ezra smiled happily and started explaining about the meat. Lily simply nodded grumpily. Ezra laughed and waved his hand as he left.

Ruth stared down at his hands. The cold creeping from his fingertips. The voices that whispered in his dreams.

“You’re a monster.”

“Don’t come near me, monster!”

Ruth buried his face in both hands.

“Whew, really insane magic power.”

“Sir.”

“Call me Grandpa, you little brat. Who calls an old retired man ‘sir’?”

Ezra slapped Albert on the back. Albert bit his tongue and groaned while rubbing his back.

“Ugh! Stop hitting me so much!”

“Are you the commander or am I?”

“…It’s me.”

“Why are you so sloppy even after being over 40?”

“…Sorry…”

Albert mumbled in a voice barely audible.

“By the way… Did you check on it?”

“Yeah. I wonder where the lady found someone like that. Are you sure you’re patrolling properly?”

“Sir, no, I just got back from the capital… Do you recognize him?”

“No.”

“But how many magicians with power like that are there in Philos?”

Ezra looked towards Lunar’s house. Even from this distance, he could feel the powerful magic faintly, and it felt fiercer because it was uncontrolled.

She’s quite something. Ezra muttered as he passed by. Not even flinching in front of someone with that much power. She’s truly Aileen’s daughter.

“The lord said Lunar’s an ice mage. And when you think of a powerful ice mage, there’s only one name.”

Master of the Tower, Evan Ruskanel. How fitting that the name is just right for him. Ezra clicked his tongue. Albert’s mouth opened halfway.

“…Is it possible for Master of the Tower to lose his memory? He might just be a foreigner, right?”

“One thing’s for sure, if someone with that much power goes after the lady, the two of us won’t be enough to stop him.”

“Tell Jenny to come back quickly.”

It’s better to have three than two, I guess. Albert nodded gravely at Ezra’s words.

“…What should we tell the lady?”

“To tell her, we’d have to reveal our true identities. The lord will handle it. Just stay alert.”

Ezra kicked Albert in the shins. Albert groaned and rubbed his leg.

When I came back with a basket full of mushrooms, Ruth was lying on the couch with a pale, gloomy face. Pinocchio quietly came over and stuffed an envelope into my arms like a bribe.

‘What’s this?’

〈It’s from Grandpa Ezra.〉

‘Not Grandpa, it’s Grandfather.’

〈Yeah, Grandfather.〉

I looked at the thick envelope. The wax seal on the letter was familiar. It was from my uncle.

I tucked the letter into my pocket and walked over to Ruth. He gave me a weak smile, still looking pale.

“Did you have a good time?”

[Are you feeling sick? Should I call the doctor?]

“It’s not that.”

Ruth shook his head weakly. Lily rushed out of the kitchen and took the mushrooms from my hands.

〈Grandfather brought meat.〉 ‘Alright, put it in the storage. I’ll deliver the thanks.’

I relayed the message to Lily and sat back down on the couch.

[What’s wrong? Is it a serious problem?]

[Is it something you’re finding hard to share with me?]

Ruth absentmindedly stared at the notebook. His throat slowly bobbed up and down.

“…I don’t know. I don’t know why I’m like this.”

〈He threw up everything he ate this morning.〉

Pinocchio shouted out like a gossip and went to hide in the corner of the house.

“I just… just…”

Ruth mumbled incoherently. I almost reached out but hesitated. I knew Ruth didn’t like being touched when he was this sensitive. His eyes were fixed on my hand, which had stopped moving.

[Can I touch your shoulder?]

“…Yes.”

I asked for permission and gently patted Ruth’s shoulder. Ruth, still in pain, wiped his face repeatedly.

“It’s annoying, isn’t it?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say… I don’t know why I feel this way. Why am I… like this?”

Ruth stopped talking. I didn’t know anything about Ruth, not really. In fact, I didn’t know anything at all. I wondered if something sweet would help him feel better. Could I offer him cookies in this situation?

Now, even unnecessary thoughts were flooding my mind.

“I feel like I’d understand everything once I get my memory back… but…”

“I’m suddenly scared. Scared of finding my memory.”

Ruth stopped speaking and shut his mouth. His eyes trembled with confusion.

His shoulders, once narrow, now looked incredibly slumped. It was hard to believe he was the same man who had been fierce and threatening before. The difference was so big, it almost didn’t feel like the same person. I patted his shoulder again.

[Didn’t you say something like this before?]

[Maybe it’s really nothing.]

“…Maybe I’m a serious criminal.”

[That’s going too far.]

I shook my head seriously. If a magician with this much power committed a crime, the entire empire would be after them, so there was no way I wouldn’t know their face.

I couldn’t say anything because I didn’t know what might hurt him. The pen rolled uselessly in my hand.

[How about we do something to take your mind off things?]

“What…”

[The day when the stars fall is coming soon.]

“…What’s that?”

[It’s literally a day when stars rain down from the sky. There’s nothing particularly special about it, but everyone climbs onto their roofs with snacks to watch the stars.]

[You seem to have a lot on your mind right now.]

[It might be impatience, not fear. The impatience of wanting to find your memory.]

[Look at beautiful things, take in the good, and calm your heart. And if you’re really scared…]

I stopped the pen for a moment. The ink formed a dark ripple on the paper.

Ruth’s gaze was locked on the notebook. I slowly drew a line through the dark ripples.

[It’s okay if you don’t find your memory. Building another house in this village isn’t that hard.]

[Everything will be fine.]

“How can you be so sure?”

[I just hope so.]

Ruth took my hand, which had been patting his arm, and held it tightly. His hand was still cold, but not as bad as when the cold was taking over. I blinked rapidly to keep my surprise hidden.

“…Tear this paper.”

Ruth requested.

“…I want to keep it.”

Slowly, his cold hand dropped the paper I had been writing on. Ruth carefully ripped it, the ink smudging. He blew on it a few times to dry the ink before folding the crumpled paper into a small note.

“I’m sorry for being so difficult.”

Ruth quietly smiled.

“…Thank you.”

His smile wasn’t faint, nor was it blurry. It was genuine.

“Thank you… for listening.”