chapter 71………………………………………….
Rest (1)
After returning from their business trip, the three of them were so exhausted they had lost even the strength to speak.
When they barely managed to open their mouths, sighs and groans they couldn’t hide escaped between their words.
Even Lerry — who prided himself on having near-limitless stamina — was lying flat and whimpering pitifully.
“Um… maybe I’m not a summoned creature after all but a real bird? I’m so tired I can’t even open my eyes…”
Lerry sprawled out on the table, his white belly exposed. Well, he had good reason to be dejected.
“Now that you mention it, Lerry, did you ever get close with that canary?”
“Uwaah…! Miss Temia, listen to this! It turns out that canary already had a mate! Can you believe it?!”
“…That’s unfortunate.”
“I was just trying to chat because I was bored, but then it tried to peck me to death! I was terrified!”
Having once bragged about befriending the canary, Lerry now looked completely deflated after learning the truth.
Apparently, while Temia’s party was running around various parts of Kalisland, he had spent the time sulking in one spot.
His round belly puffed up as his short legs twitched in the air. He was whining for sure, but his words weren’t just jokes.
Even Lowell — who could usually walk out on his own after several nights of nonstop research — was utterly worn out this time, slumped in a chair, too tired to respond.
Naturally, Temia, whose stamina was far worse, had already collapsed completely.
Lowell exhaled a long sigh and finally spoke.
“Let’s take a short break. We’ve been pushing too hard, so let’s rest for about two weeks straight. The festival’s over, so it’s off-season anyway. At this rate… we’re all going to die.”
When the workshop master officially declared a vacation, everyone agreed wholeheartedly.
Thus, for the first time since it was founded, the Green Sandwich Workshop hung up a notice announcing it would close entirely for two whole weeks.
* * *
The news that the perpetually busy workshop was finally taking a break drew unexpected curiosity elsewhere — particularly from the townsfolk who had grown fond of it thanks to its new, friendly assistant.
“What? The workshop’s closed? What happened?”
“Yeah, usually they just put up a ‘on business trip’ sign…”
“Don’t tell me… that young assistant quit?”
“Don’t say such ominous things!”
The workshop master was still intimidating and hard to approach, but the polite, capable assistant with her gentle manners was different.
At first, when Temia had appeared, the townspeople assumed she’d quit soon like the others before her.
But months passed, and she remained steadfast at her post — and people’s perceptions slowly changed.
“She really is just an assistant, right? I mean, isn’t it weird how that scary wizard suddenly acts tame around her?”
“Honestly, I hope they’re together. Maybe that’ll calm his temper a bit.”
“Even if they’re not like that, I hope she stays! The place is so much easier to visit now.”
“Exactly. I used to be too scared to even open the door, you know!”
Thanks to the workshop master’s strangely softened demeanor in her presence, the emotional barrier that once existed began to fade.
Perhaps for that reason, more and more villagers began visiting — sometimes to chat, sometimes just to see Temia.
At first, they’d been cautious, since she seemed far too refined for someone living on the outskirts.
But then again, that eccentric wizard wasn’t bad-looking either.
It was only natural, perhaps, that the rumors eventually died down.
“I have so much leftover dough… and you helped me before, so I thought I’d share some.”
“Ahem. That spore-slime adhesive you recommended — it’s leagues better than what other workshops sell. So, I wanted to give my first finished piece to you, miss.”
Villagers often brought freshly baked cookies or bread, or handmade crafts made from leftover cloth as gifts.
Such small acts of kindness accumulated until Temia’s heart brimmed with warmth.
Before long, she had naturally let down her guard and blended into the community.
So when she ran into some townspeople while out walking on her rare day off, it felt natural to stop and chat.
“Temia, are you running an errand?”
“No, it’s my day off! The workshop gave us a long vacation, so I thought I’d go for a walk.”
“Oh really? I noticed it’s been closed for a while. So it’s just vacation, huh? I thought maybe… you’d gone somewhere for work.”
“Ah, we’ve been traveling so much lately that Master thought it’d be best to take a short break.”
“Makes sense. You’ve never done that before, so I wondered what was going on. So… you’re free for a bit now?”
“For the time being, yes.”
“Perfect timing! I’ve wanted to ask you before, but you always looked so busy.”
The woman speaking was one of the shopkeepers who often bought dye from the workshop.
Temia expected the usual small talk — but soon the woman looked hesitant and said:
“Do you have some time later?”
“For what? A work request?”
“Oh, heavens no! Not work again. Actually, there’s a regular town meeting coming up. Since you finally have a break, why don’t you join us?”
Temia blinked in surprise. The woman’s hopeful gaze followed her, full of expectation at the idea of a new member joining their group.
When Temia still looked puzzled, the woman hesitated before adding:
“Well… we would’ve liked your master to join too, but you know how he is. He’s never been interested in village matters, so it felt awkward to even ask…”
Her cautious tone reminded Temia of how the villagers used to act around her — wary, unsure.
But the woman seemed determined to seize the opportunity, so Temia nodded and listened.
“You think so too, right? Anyway, he’s never attended one of our meetings. And since you’re part of the workshop, we never had the chance to invite you either.”
“Ah, I see. It makes sense — there really wasn’t any time for that.”
“So… if you come to this one, could you maybe bring the wizard along too? He’s lived here for years now — it’d be nice to finally talk together as fellow residents.”
“Haha… I’ll try asking him.”
Temia smiled awkwardly.
It was hard to imagine Lowell fitting into a friendly town meeting.
True, he’d become easier to talk to, even gentler at times — but interacting with the townsfolk simply wasn’t something he did.
“Maybe I should’ve told her not to expect much…”
As she walked home, Temia quietly pondered.
“It really would be nice if we had some kind of connection with the village. No matter what happened before, this is still where people live.”
Lowell never seemed like someone who enjoyed social interaction.
Even after spending time with him, she could see that clearly.
He didn’t consider others’ feelings when he spoke.
He had few friends — and probably didn’t even count Rio as one.
The only person he kept in contact with was his old mentor, the academy dean.
“It’s like he’s built his own castle just to live in it alone.”
Temia thought such a life might be comfortable, but far too lonely.
And it saddened her that people kept their distance from him.
Because up close, Lowell was surprisingly funny, mischievous, and honest — if not always considerate.
“Maybe… helping him connect with people again is the right thing to do — so he doesn’t repeat the past.”
She understood why he’d been defensive when they first opened the workshop — the villagers had crowded him all at once.
But now, Temia wished others could see the different sides of him too.
If there were misunderstandings, perhaps this was the time to clear them up.
She knew he probably wouldn’t like her plan.
“Still… I hope he can experience what it’s like to get along with ordinary people. Maybe then, he’d start rethinking things like that whole ‘Wizard Supremacy’ ideology.”
And if she could be by his side during that process — that would be even better.
Temia found herself quietly looking forward to their future together.
* * *
“Wait — you’re saying… you want me to go? With you? To that kind of place?”
It was only natural that, after much thought, Temia finally gathered the courage to bring it up.
And as expected, Lowell’s reaction was reluctant at best.
He looked as if he couldn’t fathom why this conversation was even happening.
“You’re on break too, aren’t you?! You could use some fresh air. It wouldn’t hurt to participate just once.”
“Ugh… just thinking about it makes me sick. You mean a place where people sit around wasting time on pointless talk?”
“It’s not pointless! If you live here, you should at least know what’s going on in the village. …And it wouldn’t hurt to exchange a few pleasantries while we’re at it.”
Temia struggled to persuade him, speaking in a calm, coaxing tone.
But as usual, she ran into the unyielding wall of Lowell’s logic.
“Can’t they manage on their own? And pleasantries? We see everyone just by walking a few steps outside — what’s there to ask?”
“That’s called socializing! There’s a lot you can’t learn just by looking!”
In the end, Temia puffed her cheeks and snapped slightly.
She’d only wanted to help the townspeople understand him better — but the man himself was being uncooperative.
Seeing her sulky face, Lowell finally started chuckling.
“You seem awfully desperate. Did someone ask you to drag me there?”
“I can’t say no. But still — you’ve lived here for years, haven’t you? You should try getting to know people.”
“You’ll be coming with me, right?”
“Of course I will, but come on, you’re a grown man!”
“I don’t know… I think I can only relax when you’re beside me now.”
