I Hit the Back of the Tower Master’s Head - Chapter 8

Episode 8

I couldn’t fall asleep for ages, and only dozed off around dawn. So when morning came, I really didn’t want to get up.

What finally dragged me out of bed was the smell of fresh bread drifting into my room. Sleep disappeared in an instant.

When I stepped outside, I found Ruse already standing by the kitchen, sniffing around like a kid.

I crept up behind him and was about to grab his shoulder, but he spun around lightning-fast and caught my wrist.

“…Ah.”

He muttered faintly, then quickly let go, looking a little embarrassed.

I reached for my notebook but realized I’d left it in the room while following the smell of bread. I dashed back, grabbed it, and came out again. Ruse was still standing there, awkwardly frozen.

[Did I scare you just now? Smells good, right?]

“…Yeah.”

He hesitated. My wrist still felt a trace of cold from his grip, but I shook it off.

[Did you sleep well?]

“…Of course. You?”

He dodged a little, so I changed the subject and checked his wound. Calling Lulu, I brought medicine. Ruse had gotten used to it by now; he pulled his shirt aside without fuss.

I cleaned the wound and he flinched.

“Ugh… how long do we need to disinfect this?”

[Until it scabs over?]

“…That’s not from a doctor, is it?”

Of course not.

When I kept a straight face, Ruse chuckled softly. I slathered ointment generously and got fresh bandages.

‘Pinocchio!’

〈I’m running an errand.〉

‘For who?’

〈Lily.〉

I peeked into the kitchen and almost choked.

Lily was pulling out huge loaves from the oven, and Pinocchio was hauling pans around like a worker in a bakery.

‘What the—are you planning to open a shop?’

〈This is the last batch!〉 Lily snapped proudly.

The oven door slammed shut with a bang.

“…Are we seriously eating all of that today?”

Ruse shuffled in, shirt half-open, still showing his wound. I quickly ordered Pinocchio to restrain him while I finished wrapping the bandage. He grimaced but didn’t groan this time.

[Looks like we’ll have to hand them out to every neighbor.]

“Ugh…”

Ruse sighed as he lowered his shirt, then blinked at the mountain of bread and back at me.

“You’re really going to deliver all that?”

[It’s just the two of us here. Otherwise we’ll be eating bread three times a day for a week straight. I’ll drop some off at Annie’s house first.]

“…I’d be fine with that.”

[But I wouldn’t.]

“I could help carry them.”

[No. You’re the patient. Sit down.]

Cooking was Lily’s job, cleaning was Lulu’s, heavy lifting was Pinocchio’s. Bread delivery? Yeah, that too could go to Pinocchio.

With bread in my mouth as a quick breakfast, I filled baskets until we ran out. Then we started stuffing the rest into giant bags—one of them was practically as big as our front door.

Clearly Lily had burned through every last grain of flour we had.

I glared at her, but she only shrugged.

Knock knock knock.

The door next-door opened immediately.

“Lunar!” Annie’s face lit up.

[Here, take these.]

I shoved a basket full of bread at her and scribbled.

[For the fish yesterday.]

“Oh, you didn’t have to. Thanks, we’ll enjoy them.”

She grinned and called back inside.

“Mom! Lunar brought bread!”

“I’ll be right out! Wait a moment!” came Mrs. Karen’s voice.

Annie smirked at me.

“Hang on. Mom made fish balls with the catch yesterday. They’re great in soup—I’ll pack you some.”

[Thanks.]

She spotted Pinocchio lurking behind me with the massive bag.

“That’s all bread? …Oh, let me guess. You told Lily to bake a little extra and she went overboard?”

[Try living with it for three days. You won’t be laughing.]

Annie just laughed harder. Soon, Mrs. Karen came out and pressed a plate of fish balls into my hands. After quick thanks, I hurried off—still plenty of houses left.

By the time I got back, my arms were loaded with return gifts—fruit, grains, sausages, even cuts of meat. Pinocchio was weighed down just as much. I kicked the front door.

‘Lily, Lulu! Open up!’

Click! The latch turned. The door creaked open with Lily dangling from the knob.

I nudged it wider with my foot, and Ruse rushed forward to take the bundles from me.

“You don’t need to worry, it’s not that heavy,” he assured me.

Pinocchio thudded in behind us with the rest. Lily clambered up his shoulder to check everything like a foreman.

‘Sort them out and stock the storage… ah. We forgot to buy flour.’

I froze in despair. Not just flour—we still needed books for Ruse.

When I slumped down, he tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

[No flour.]

“…Ah.”

[And no books for you either.]

“Books can wait. You just didn’t have spare hands, right?”

He spoke calmly, glancing at the chaos of goods around us. True.

I pulled Pinocchio aside before Lily could conscript him.

‘Come on. We’re buying flour.’

In Viola Village, I sent Pinocchio to the grocer while I ducked into the bookstore. The old man at the counter peered at my handwriting, nodded, and let me browse.

I picked three books: one novel, one basic magic guide (in case it jogged Ruse’s memory), and one history book. Paid, packed, done.

Then I regrouped with Pinocchio, who was politely nodding at the grocer’s chatter.

I called him, and he instantly perked up. We loaded him with three sacks of flour, ignoring the grocer’s startled, “He can lift all that alone?”

Once the flour was back in storage, I felt relieved. But lunch was already late.

Right on cue, Ruse’s stomach growled loudly. His face turned bright red.

[Let’s eat.]

“…Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

[Didn’t hear a thing.]

He buried his face in his hands as I led him inside. Lily was already frying sausages and eggs.

[You only had one piece of bread for breakfast. No wonder you’re hungry.]

“…I said pretend!”

[Of course. I was talking about me.]

He snorted quietly. I set the three new books on the sofa.

[Just a few for now. Try them, and I’ll get more of whichever you like.]

“…Thanks.”

The meal was soon ready—leftover bread, sausages, eggs, milk.

I slathered apricot jam on mine, topped it with an egg, and bit in.

Ruse, watching me, mimicked the jam-and-egg combo.

“…It’s really good.”

I pointed at Lily. He got the message immediately.

“You made this?”

She planted her hands on her hips proudly. He scooped even more jam.

I grimaced—how many jars do we even have left? Lily mumbled, “Two.” Out of five.

“…What’s wrong?” Ruse asked, mid-bite.

[Lily made too much bread. We’ll need to make more jam.]

He froze, spoon hovering.

No, no—that wasn’t me telling him not to eat! I waved frantically.

[Whether you eat or not, I’ll have to make more anyway. So go ahead.]

“…Got it.”

This time he spread the jam more carefully. Lulu leaned over to whisper:

〈Don’t worry, Lunar. Everything you do is always right.〉

No it’s not!

[Eat more, Ruse. Emptying this jar means I can justify making a fresh batch. That sigh was for Lily.]

I shoved the jar closer. He looked sheepish.

“…It’s delicious.”

[Later, when we make more jam, ask Lily to bake cookies too.]

“…Cookies.”

He went thoughtful, glancing between Lily and me.

[What? Remember something?]

“She gave me one before. Just one, to taste.”

[Only one?!]

“…Yeah.”

[This time we’ll make plenty—]

Wait. If I tell her that, she’ll blow through the flour again. I scratched it out and rewrote:

[This time, enough to actually enjoy.]

[With lots of jam!]

Ruse chuckled low.

After lunch, he finished the jam jar clean and drained two glasses of milk.

[Hungry, huh.]

“…We agreed to forget that.”

[But you looked so cute eating.]

[It’s worth the effort feeding you. Even if Lily cooks it.]

“…Stop saying weird things.”

[Fine. But you’re full now, right?]

“Please…”

His ears flushed scarlet, his pale face blazing red like fire. He hid behind both hands.

〈Is he crying?〉 Lulu whispered.

‘No, he’s not.’

Pinocchio added solemnly: 〈You’re supposed to ignore that.〉

〈Why’s he upset?〉

〈Because Lunar made him.〉

“…I didn’t!” I protested.