I Hit the Back of the Tower Master’s Head - Chapter 3

Episode 3

Ruse burned with fever all night. Good thing I stayed up with the dolls.

When morning light finally filtered in, I shook him gently.

[Are you okay? Feeling any clearer?]

He cracked his eyes open, so I quickly shoved my notebook at him. But his deep blue eyes were hazy, like he wasn’t really seeing the words.

Ice mages are supposed to run colder than normal people, but his whole body was burning hot.

I swapped out his lukewarm towel for a fresh one and stroked Lily and Pinocchio’s heads. They’d stayed up with me.

Good job.

They both shrugged like it was no big deal.

〈We only did it because you were suffering!〉 Lily huffed.

I flicked her forehead. You found him, so don’t complain now.

〈I didn’t know you’d drag him into the house!〉

Anyway… I told them to keep an eye on Ruse while I went for a doctor. Lily poked his cheek a few times, but Pinocchio shoved her aside with a scowl. Typical.

So I clipped Lily by the ears onto the laundry line and brought out Lulu.

You watch him instead.

The duck doll flapped her cloth wings seriously and nodded.

Lily flailed, demanding release, but I ignored her and slipped out the door.

Theo showed up right as I was leaving.

“Lunar! Is Kiki fixed yet?”

I handed him the squirrel doll. Kiki wiggled her arms like she was excited to see him. Theo chuckled and stroked her fluffy tail, which twitched like it was ticklish.

“Thanks. Renie cried all day looking for Kiki.”

He looked sheepish, his sleeve faintly stained with grass and flowers. Probably made his sister a flower crown to calm her down.

“I’ll take her home right away.”

I patted his arm for encouragement. Theo gave a tired but fond smile—his freckles glowing with brotherly love.

Then I waved him off and hurried to get the doctor. Ruse needed help.

The town below the forest, Viola, was bustling compared to our little Flora village.

I scribbled Ruse’s condition in my notebook for the doctor. There was no way he could travel himself. I paid extra for a house call.

Luckily, the doctor didn’t have other patients, so he agreed quickly and packed his things.

When we arrived, he nearly fainted at the sight of Pinocchio, Lily, and Lulu moving around. Then he stared at me in disbelief.

Yeah… that was the normal reaction. Either I was a doll magician, or I was filthy rich and bought them all.

I waved impatiently for him to focus. He finally checked Ruse, frowning. His wound was inflamed and feverish.

The doctor cleaned the injuries again, gave me medicines—including fever reducers—and showed me how to re-bandage him properly.

I realized the bandages I’d wrapped yesterday were too loose. Maybe I should’ve let Pinocchio do it. …No, bad idea. He’d probably strangle the poor guy by accident. Guess I’ll keep doing it myself.

“You need to keep him resting. His fever should break today, but if it lasts past tomorrow, I’ll prepare stronger medicine.”

I nodded, paid, and sent Pinocchio to escort the doctor back through the forest.

Lily had freed herself from the laundry line again, sitting smugly on the table. I checked Ruse’s forehead—it was still hot, but maybe easing. Maybe the medicine was strong.

As Pinocchio returned, I unconsciously held Ruse’s hand. His body twitched faintly at the touch.

I started to pull away, embarrassed—but his weak fingers clutched mine.

I could’ve forced free, but his pale face looked like he might cry, even in sleep.

Maybe he was having nightmares.

So I sat down. Lily curled into my lap, Lulu hopped shyly onto the table, and Pinocchio stood watch.

“…Ugh…”

Ruse whimpered in his sleep.

〈Is he having a nightmare? Shouldn’t we wake him?〉 Lily asked.

I reached toward him, then pulled back. No… the doctor said let him sleep deeply.

He mumbled nonsense like a child talking in his sleep. I just squeezed his hand back gently.

Later, he coughed himself awake.

“Cough—cough… what…”

His voice was weak and raspy. He couldn’t even read my notes right now. So I just trickled a little water into his mouth. He licked it gratefully.

“…More…”

I gave him more until he looked a little calmer. But he’d need food for the medicine.

I had Pinocchio sit him up, then brought soup.

[Try to eat a little.]

He blinked at my notebook, slowly nodded, and let me feed him spoonfuls. He didn’t like it, but at least he swallowed enough to take the medicine.

After that, he fell asleep again. I brushed his forehead lightly.

The bump on his skull still hadn’t gone down.

Maybe I should try a cold compress…

Lily tugged on my arm.

〈Go sleep.〉

I pointed at Ruse. Not until his fever drops.

She smacked my shoulder and sat on my lap with determination.

〈Then I’ll stay with you.〉

Despite my brave words, I nodded off in the chair. Lily didn’t wake me.

By morning, he looked much better. I checked his wound again, then tucked him in carefully. My neck was stiff from sleeping in the chair.

The house was a bit dusty too—didn’t help having dolls tromping dirt in. So I called Lulu.

It feels dirty in here.

The duck doll waddled off and started scrubbing.

Her chubby cloth butt swayed side to side rhythmically. Ruse’s gaze locked on it like he couldn’t look away.

Well, I had put extra effort into making Lulu’s backside round and cute.

She swung her mop in protest.

〈Too mean!〉

Sorry, sorry. Keep cleaning.

“…That one’s a cleaning doll?” Ruse asked.

[Yep. She handles everything. Honestly, she cleans better than me.]

He sipped the warm cup of water I handed him, watching me write.

“…I feel a lot better. I guess sleep really helped.”

[Credit the doctor.]

“…Then I’ll thank the medicine. But still, thank you. I owe you.”

[Tell me that once your memory comes back.]

He smiled faintly. “…Alright.”

I reached to check his forehead, but he flinched.

[Relax. I’m just checking your temperature.]

“…Sorry.”

I touched him—his fever was almost gone.

[You’re fine. It’ll be down completely soon.]

“…Isn’t there anything I can do to help?”

I shook my head. [You’re still recovering.]

“I don’t hurt anymore,” he insisted.

Right then, Pinocchio jabbed him in the ribs.

“Argh!”

Ruse doubled over, clutching his side as blood seeped through the bandage again.

I gasped and quickly re-bandaged him. He winced, nodding toward Pinocchio.

“…Is that… an assassin doll?”

[No. He’s a firewood-chopping doll.]

Ruse looked at me like I was insane. Who would keep an assassin doll at home?

I pointed at the others. [Pinocchio chops wood. Lily cooks. Lulu cleans.]

He stared at Lily, who was busy bossing Lulu around about cleaning. Lulu finally snapped and threw her mop at her.

〈Then YOU do it!〉

〈No way, I’m the cooking doll!〉

〈Then shut up and get out of the way!〉

The bickering echoed around the room.

“…Not assassin dolls…?”

[Nope.]

“…Then… thugs?”

[NO. Cooking. Firewood. Cleaning.]

“…Hmm…”

He still looked unconvinced, watching the chaos unfold.