IBTMH 04

I scolded Lulu a bit, but I didn’t even get any satisfaction out of it and ended up huffing in frustration. I casually picked up the sulking Lily and placed her on the bed. Ruse carefully looked at Lily, who seemed soft and cute.

Lily suddenly turned toward Ruse and started poking his thigh. She even flapped her little hands wildly.

After watching her for a long time with a mix of “she’s cute” and “this is troublesome,” Ruse suddenly turned to me as Lily kept pointing at him.

“…What is she trying to say?”

〈I saved you, so you should admire me! Bow to me.〉

After hearing that, Lulu, who was cleaning, threw down her broom.

〈Nonsense!〉

[She says she’s glad you’re getting better.]

〈I never said that!〉

Lily waved her arms against my knee. But it didn’t hurt at all—just soft.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

Ruse cleared his throat and spoke politely in his own way. Lily crossed her arms and turned away.

〈I didn’t say anything like that!〉

Since no one could understand her properly, Lily quickly lost interest and went to bother Lulu again.

〈Sweep properly!〉

〈Then you do it!〉

Tired of being bothered, Lulu shouted back bravely and ran off to the kitchen, shaking her round little butt, still gripping the broom with her wing.

She’s going to fight again later. I thought calmly.

“I want to take a look around the village.”

Ruse leaned weakly against the doorway, swaying.

[Are you okay to walk?]

“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”

He really should rest more before going out. While I hesitated, Ruse quickly added,

“I liked the view from the window.”

[Please don’t push yourself.]

“I’ll try.”

Ruse frowned and slowly stepped outside. His body kept wobbling, and after only a few steps, he collapsed to the ground. He bit his lip, clearly bothered by his weakness.

I asked Pinocchio for help, and he lifted Ruse up. When Ruse tried to push him away as if he didn’t need support, Pinocchio gave him an annoyed look.

〈Can I just drop this guy?〉

‘No. His wound will reopen.’

I held out my notebook.

[It’s better if you go with Pinocchio. Or you can sit outside the house and enjoy the view. Walking is still too hard for your body.]

“…”

Ruse looked back and forth between Pinocchio and me, then slowly nodded. Watching their backs, Lily spoke.

〈He doesn’t know how to accept kindness!〉

I picked Lily up and patted her.

‘He’s just not used to it. He’s scared.’

I placed Lily on the table and went into the workshop, starting to draw a pattern on soft light-brown fabric. I planned to make a teddy bear and just place it in the display cabinet without giving it magic. I already had many like that.

〈Make one to assist me.〉

Lily appeared beside me and demanded.

I patted her head.

‘I don’t have such a thing. This one is just for display.’

Lily kicked the pin cushion in protest and turned away. I ignored her.

“Runa!”

Knock, knock, knock.

I set the fabric down and opened the door. Annie was standing there holding a brown cat doll. She was the same age as me.

“Can you add new abilities to existing dolls? Like… I want my kitty to try fishing.”

I shook my head. Annie patiently waited while I grabbed my notebook.

[That cat doll is for catching mice. If you want it to fish, you need to make a separate doll.]

“Can’t you just add a new ability or something?”

Impossible. I firmly shook my head, and Annie looked disappointed. “Nyannyang” the cat doll lazily swayed its tail at her. Annie gently stroked it.

After thinking for a moment, she whispered while playing with its tail,

“…Then can you make a new one? I’ll bring mushrooms.”

[What about your dad? Why are you asking for dolls?]

“My father slipped and hurt his back.”

Annie frowned slightly.

“It happened yesterday. The doctor said he needs to rest for a while. But I’ve never gone fishing before.”

[It’s not hard to make, but wait a bit.]

“Okay! I’ll do something else while waiting. How many baskets of mushrooms?”

Would Ruse like mushrooms? I scribbled carelessly.

[Two baskets should be enough.]

“Great. I’ll count on you. Oh, and can you fix the stuffing coming out of this one?”

[Of course.]

After handing me Nyannyang, Annie smiled brightly and adjusted her hat. With gloves and a basket in hand, she looked like she was about to go pick mushrooms.

I closed the door and wrote Annie’s request on a paper.

A fishing doll. Did I already have anything like that? I checked the cabinet in the workshop.

None. I should make more variety next time.

I pushed aside the old fabric and took out new cloth.

The goal: an eagle doll. Dolls don’t like water anyway, so it should fly and catch things from the sky.

Ruse only came back in the evening, sweating coldly.

Pinocchio complained to me that he had been taking care of Ruse all day and was exhausted.

‘Good job.’

After patting Pinocchio, I checked Ruse’s pale face.

[How about taking a shower?]

“…Where is the bathroom?”

I asked Pinocchio to guide him.

[Be careful of your wounds.]

I found some clean clothes… where were they again? I had gotten plenty from Grandpa Ezra. I placed them by the door and went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Lily was stirring a ladle. She was making soup. Bread was baking in the oven beside her.

She glared at the oven.

〈Go play somewhere else! It’s dangerous!〉

I wasn’t playing at all.

I sent a note with Pinocchio.

[Will you come out wearing just pants? I’ll apply medicine to your wounds.]

Soon after, Ruse appeared, wearing only pants, his face and head covered with a towel out of embarrassment. His wounds had already reopened slightly. I panicked.

[Did you go hiking?]

“…Just walked around the area.”

〈He only went nearby. But he’s very stubborn.〉

Pinocchio casually explained.

I had Lulu bring medicine and spread it over Ruse’s wound. His upper body jolted strongly. I wanted to ask if he was okay, but I couldn’t speak.

So I worked quickly—cleaning, disinfecting, applying medicine, wrapping bandages. Pinocchio held Ruse still from behind. Ruse looked very startled. I tightened the bandage.

“Ugh!”

When it was done, Ruse quickly put his clothes back on.

[How was the village?]

Ruse stared at the notebook, then took a deep breath and sat properly.

“It’s quiet… peaceful. It’s a good village.”

[Thank you.]

The conversation ended there. Ruse fidgeted with his hands.

I suddenly remembered he felt uncomfortable eating with others.

[Would it be uncomfortable to eat together? Lily is preparing dinner… If it’s uncomfortable, I can eat somewhere else.]

“No, no. It’s fine.”

Ruse quickly waved his hands after reading the note.

“I can’t chase away the owner. Let’s eat together.”

“….”

“What I felt uncomfortable about last time was… you sitting next to me without eating.”

I nodded slightly, and dinner was soon ready. Pinocchio helped Ruse sit down without being asked. Lily placed bread and soup on the table.

“…A doll that cooks.”

Ruse murmured.

Lily stared at him quietly after hearing that. Ruse flinched slightly at her button-like eyes. Lily kept staring, then turned away and continued serving food.

I noticed Lily was deliberately giving Ruse slightly damaged bread. Ruse didn’t seem to care, though. Lily looked confused—whether she should be angry or satisfied seeing him eat happily.

I barely held back a smile and dipped bread into soup.

“…”

[What is it?]

“I just saw a doll I haven’t seen before.”

Ruse pointed at Annie’s Nyannyang.

Nyannyang was lying lazily in the basket, seemingly liking it. Ruse’s dark blue eyes showed a tiny hint of interest.

[It already has an owner. A friend asked to add a new feature, but I can’t do that, so I’ll make a new one. I also brought it to fix the stuffing.]

“It’s cute.”

Ruse muttered.

I suddenly handed him my notebook.

[Do you like cats?]

Ruse read the note carefully and blinked blankly. He looked like he was searching his memory. He frowned slightly, even pressed his forehead.

After a while, he nodded.

“…Maybe. I think… I might like them.”

Without thinking, I quickly wrote.

[Should I make you one?]

“No, it’s fine.”

Ruse replied quickly.

I scribbled again.

[I have time. Opportunities like this are rare.]

“I don’t want it.”

I looked at him.

He was trembling, holding his forehead so tightly his hand turned pale. Cold sweat ran down his face.

What? He said he liked them?

I reached out in confusion, but Ruse avoided my hand.

“…”

I lowered my hand.

[Calm down. I won’t make it.]

I wrote it big and waved it in front of him.

Maybe he had a bad memory? Even though he lost his memories, was it bad enough to reject it so strongly?

Ruse took a deep breath and whispered,

“Sorry.”

I stood still in front of him for a moment. His breathing gradually stabilized.

I quietly hid Nyannyang, and he didn’t mention it.

“…I’ll go inside.”

[Good night.]

I quickly wrote it down, and Ruse said,

“You too.”

Ruse staggered toward the room, and I called Pinocchio, but Ruse firmly refused help. He seemed able to walk on his own now.

〈I’ve done enough.〉

Pinocchio said awkwardly, then slipped into the corner of the house.