I Hit the Back of the Tower Master’s Head - Chapter 17

Episode 17

After waking up late, I kept yawning nonstop. When I sat at the table, Ruth seemed embarrassed about yesterday, as he couldn’t even look me in the eye. He tore up my notebook yesterday, but after eating dinner, everything seemed fine. But after a good night’s sleep, he was suddenly embarrassed about it? I covered my mouth with my hand so Ruth wouldn’t see me smiling.

Then our eyes met. Ruth rubbed his face with one hand and sighed. The tray was placed between us. Lily put a fluffy-looking omelet in front of me and Ruth. Ruth quickly grabbed his spoon and focused on eating.

How should I bring up the idea of making dolls? I thought about it while smashing my omelet. Should I say it’s because I’m bored and ask him to join?

“…Doesn’t it taste good?”

Ruth, who had already eaten more than half, carefully asked. I shook my head. Lily stared at me with wide eyes.

‘It’s delicious, it’s delicious.’

I waved my hand and quickly stuffed the omelet in my mouth, then opened my notebook.

[Do you want to make dolls together later?]

“Out of the blue?”

Ruth frowned after reading what I wrote without any fancy words, and began chewing his spoon. Lily slammed her hands on the table.

“Don’t chew the spoon!”

Ruth didn’t understand Lily’s words, but he understood the angry gesture and put the spoon down before replying.

“I haven’t forgotten how badly I sewed the couch cushion, you know?”

[The more you try, the better you get.]

At least he didn’t refuse. Things like comforting someone should be done in secret. I didn’t say more, and Ruth stared at me blankly for a moment before slowly nodding.

[Let’s start the doll lesson.]

“Hmm… I’ll do my best.”

Ruth awkwardly bowed his head slightly. I nodded back politely.

[Let’s practice from the basics.]

[It’s better to start with sewing.]

I showed him some scrap fabric, a needle, and thread, and demonstrated. Ruth, who looked uninterested at first, carefully threaded the needle after I handed it to him. The thread missed a few times, but after wetting it, he finally got it in. I used chalk to draw a long line on the fabric.

[Try sewing along this line.]

“Got it.”

As I was watching him, Lily waddled over and put down some cookies. Ruth didn’t even notice and kept focusing on the fabric.

“…Done.”

[Good job.]

I praised him generously.

[Do you have any doll you want to make?]

“I… I’m not sure.”

Ruth squinted and looked at Lily and Lulu.

“But both Lily and Lulu look a bit complicated. Actually… Lulu looks more complicated than Lily.”

Lily tried to snatch the cookie, so I called Pinocchio and took him out. Lily struggled and shouted.

“So you’re saying I look simple?! After I baked cookies for you, this is what you say!”

“Is Lily mad right now?”

[Don’t worry about it.]

I pushed the cookie plate toward Ruth, and he glanced at where Lily went but ate a cookie.

[Let’s start with making a chick first.]

Making a chick is simple—just make it round and it’ll be cute. Even beginners can do it. I drew a simple design on light yellow fabric, and Ruth took the scissors and started cutting it.

I watched him happily and then began making socks to wrap around the eagle doll’s feet that Annie had asked for. I used the foot shape I had drawn earlier and began twisting the yarn.

“I don’t think sewing is for me.”

Ruth muttered while holding the yellow lump of fabric in his hand. It was the chick doll.

I suddenly saw an image of a twisted chick from the underworld, groaning in Ruth’s hand. It looked so pitiful, as if it came straight from hell. If children saw it, they’d cry and have nightmares.

[Let’s fix it one step at a time. First… why does the chick doll only have one eye?]

“I attached both, but… oh, here it is. It turned to the back.”

I lost words when I saw the chick doll. Even the wings were uneven. It would be faster to rip it apart and start over.

What else did I make when I practiced making dolls as a kid? Something easier than a chick. Something easier than a chick… fish?

[Do you want to try making a fish?]

“Hmm…”

Ruth stared at the poor chick doll. He looked at his hand, worried he might ruin it.

[There’s less to sew for a fish than a chick.]

“…Okay. Draw it.”

Thirty minutes later, a twisted fish from hell—no, a broken fish doll—was pitifully in Ruth’s hands. If I put magic into that doll, it’d probably beg me to kill it.

[Let’s try making accessories instead, like an apple.]

“Shouldn’t we just give up on me?”

[You can do it.]

I wrote it down in my notebook again, and Ruth cautiously picked up a red fabric. If we keep doing this, his skills will improve for sure. Ruth cut the fabric and stuffed it with cotton.

Soon, the apple was born, but it was completely twisted.

Looking at the set of three twisted dolls, Ruth had a gloomy expression. I thought hard to find something to praise. When I looked closely at the misshapen dolls, Ruth muttered.

“Just give up on me.”

Making dolls was a failure.

[It seems sewing isn’t for Ruth. Don’t you think so too?]

After Ruth went to bed, I entered the studio and lit the lamp, talking to Lily.

Lily shrugged her shoulders.

“Anyway, I baked cookies.”

‘Yeah, thanks.’

I thanked her, and Lily said coldly.

“Pet me. Don’t just say thanks.”

I petted her.

Making dolls was a failure, but Ruth didn’t seem to be sulking or looking like he was about to cry. Spending time normally might’ve helped a little. What should I suggest doing tomorrow?

‘Give me some ideas. If you give me a good one, I’ll give you a gift. Lily gets a ribbon, Lulu gets a new apron, and Pinocchio gets a frying pan cover. What do you think?’

The dolls got excited by what I said.

Lily shouted.

“Cook! I’ll supervise everything from start to finish!”

Lulu pushed Lily.

“If that’s the case, cleaning is better! Even if I’m not perfect at it, I can handle everything!”

“What? Are you pushing cleaning onto Lunaire because you don’t want to do it?”

“What? Are you pushing cooking onto Lunaire because you don’t want to do it?”

Lily and Lulu started pushing each other with their hips. In the middle of the mess, Pinocchio spoke.

“None of you understands the joy of chopping firewood.”

I separated Lily and Lulu and asked Lily.

‘Can you comfort Ruth if he makes a mistake?’

“No? The cooking world is harsh.”

Okay, cooking is rejected.

I pushed the protesting Lily aside and asked Lulu.

‘Can you accept sloppy cleaning?’

“If you’re going to be sloppy, why even clean?”

Okay, cleaning is rejected.

Next, I turned toward Pinocchio. Pinocchio looked at me with hopeful eyes.

‘Pinocchio, no chopping wood. You know why, right?’

Pinocchio tilted his head without changing his expression.

“Why not?”

‘Because it could get worse.’

Pinocchio pouted.

“Then what about the frying pan cover?”

‘No.’

A new morning came. Although I had spent the night groaning, the answers the dolls gave were all rejected. Maybe I should suggest knitting this time. I failed at sewing, but will they like knitting?

After eating, I entered the studio and suddenly noticed the dolls’ sketches.

A drawing. Yeah, drawing. Anyone can do this.

Where did I put the paint? I think I used it when I was very little but left it. As I started searching, Lulu, seeing the room getting messier, began cleaning behind me.

After a while, I found the paint, but it had all hardened. I’ll have to melt it in hot water and throw it out. Where did I put the paper?

Crash! A pile of cloth I had stacked collapsed. Lulu screamed. No, not again!

“What are you doing there?”

The noise was so loud that Ruth peeked into the studio. He looked at the messy room and asked.

“…Are you cleaning up?”

[I was looking for something to draw.]

“Drawing?”

Ruth lightly tapped the hardened paint and said.

“This feels like stone.”

[I’m going to melt it in hot water.]

“Is that how you really want to draw?”

Ruth smiled slyly. His eyes curved into a natural smile, and his laughter flowed. It seemed like a smile born out of simple happiness. I stared at his smile, and when our eyes finally met, I hurriedly opened my notebook.

[It’d be too plain if I only draw with a pen. Wouldn’t you prefer drawing with multiple colors too?]

“Do I get to do it too?”

[Of course.]

“Uh… I don’t mind just drawing with a pen.”

[Well, since we’ve found it, try it once. It’s old, so I’ll use it up and throw it away.]

“Hmm, okay. I’ll go melt it.”

[Are you sure that’s okay?]

I glanced at Ruth’s injury. Ruth, slightly irritated, spoke.

“I’m not a serious patient who can’t even take hot water.”

[Alright. Be careful.]

Ruth sulkily grabbed the rock-like paint and went to the bathroom. After he left, I continued searching the studio and found some large papers that were slightly wrinkled at the edges.

Lulu mumbled.

“You’re not drawing in a notebook again, are you? Lunaire always scribbles in notebooks.”

I answered.

‘The dolls I drew and this are a bit different.’

I grabbed the paper and went to the living room, where Ruth came out of the bathroom with the softened paint. I put the rough brush on the table. Ruth asked.

“So what should I draw?”

[Any of your choices. Let’s draw whatever we want.]

Ruth seemed unsure of what to draw and bit his lips. I decided to motivate him.

[The one who draws better will get Lily’s special cookies.]

Ruth’s eyes widened. Just in time, Lily came running and put down five chocolate cookies filled with big chunks of chocolate. Ruth’s eyes shook.

“…I won’t lose.”

Looks like this will work. With a satisfied face, I grabbed my brush. Now, I’m going to draw the dolls.