CHAPTER 72. Rest (2)
“Seems like you’ve finally gotten used to having me around, huh?”
“Well, I’ve been used to it for a while now. At this point, I’d say I’m comfortable. Feels kind of empty when you’re not there.”
“…!”
“And besides, I get nervous thinking about what kind of trouble you might cause if I leave you alone.”
“Lowell!”
Fortunately, Lowell didn’t refuse this time and agreed without much resistance. Since they had both decided to take a break, their schedules were relatively free — which made it easier for the two to head out together.
“Um, are you really sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”
Unfortunately, Lerry stood out far too much, so they decided to leave him behind to avoid drawing attention during the meeting. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mind — perhaps, like his master, he didn’t enjoy crowded places.
“When I go somewhere like that, everyone just has to touch my feathers! Hmph! I’m a stylish bird with dignity — getting my look ruined is absolutely unacceptable.”
Seeing the bird puff up his chest with such a haughty air, Temia decided she didn’t need to worry. With a shrug to each other, she and Lowell walked side by side toward the meeting place.
And now—
For some reason, a quiet, awkward silence stretched between them as they trudged along. Eventually, Temia couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.
“Um, Lowell. I was the one who suggested coming, but… are you sure you’re okay with this?”
The question carried many layers. She’d brought him along hoping it might help him change for the better — but whether he could adapt was another matter entirely. What if things went badly and the townsfolk ended up liking him even less? Looking at the faintly irritated expression on his face, that outcome didn’t seem so far-fetched.
Is he planning to cause chaos just so no one ever asks him to attend one of these again?
As she eyed him suspiciously, Lowell muttered,
“You’re the one who talked me into this, Temia. Don’t tell me you’re backing out now?”
“T-talked you into it? Who’s talking anyone into anything?! You’re phrasing that weird again!”
“But it’s true. Who was it that asked me to come along with that hard-to-refuse face? That’s what I call persuasion.”
“What kind of face is that supposed to be?! And seriously, you really need to watch how you phrase things — people could misunderstand!”
“If I misunderstood, then maybe it’s because it looked that way to me. If I didn’t know how strict you were, I might’ve thought someone put you up to it. And what kind of misunderstanding are we talking about here, anyway?”
“…”
She had no comeback for that. Saying something like “people might think we’re a couple” felt too embarrassing — especially when he looked so nonchalant, and she was the only one flustered.
Ugh, this is so irritating!
She narrowed her eyes at his smirking mouth — that mouth that seemed born to get him in trouble. Never in her life had she met someone who fit the saying “his mouth brings disaster” so perfectly.
…Should I just ditch him and go alone?
Unfortunately, it was too late to turn back — they’d already arrived. Standing in front of the shop where the meeting was to be held, Temia glared at him and hissed,
“Behave yourself and keep quiet, or I’ll go in there alone! And if we came all this way just to waste our time, I’ll make sure you regret it!”
As soon as the door opened, all eyes turned toward the entrance. Normally, this would’ve been the moment for warm greetings — but the once lively room fell completely silent. No doubt because of the man standing beside Temia.
“Ah, hello! Are we… late?”
Temia managed to break the silence with an awkward smile. Thankfully, the villagers inside quickly snapped out of their surprise and scrambled to welcome the pair.
“Oh, not at all! We were just surprised — didn’t expect you to bring him! Come, have a seat.”
“R-right! The more the merrier! It’s nice having some new faces today.”
The two found themselves sitting side by side, quietly watching the meeting unfold — without really knowing what was going on. In truth, they’d agreed to attend without much thought or preparation. Fortunately, the others were kind enough to summarize what they’d missed before resuming.
It seemed they’d only missed a little bit from the beginning. The first agenda item was still ongoing:
“Flood Countermeasures for the Summer Season.”
Judging by the bold writing on the parchment posted on the wall, it was an important issue. Perhaps that’s why, after an initial round of stolen glances at Lowell, everyone soon refocused on the discussion.
“We have to reinforce the reservoir embankment — make it sturdier!”
“No, that won’t do. The old structure can’t hold anymore. We should rebuild it completely!”
“Rainy season is almost here. For now, we should strengthen what we have and gradually make improvements. If we tear it down first, we’ll be left defenseless while rebuilding.”
“I’m telling you, the current wall won’t hold! The rainfall gets heavier every year — it’ll be the same this summer! If we wait until disaster strikes, it’ll be too late!”
“…”
“I heard the weak sections collapsed last time, didn’t they? Then it’s better to start fresh now rather than patch it up again!”
The debate went on and on, with no sign of resolution. Both sides had valid points.
This isn’t really something I can butt into…
Temia didn’t know much about local issues yet, so she just observed quietly. Lowell, too, sat with his arms crossed, watching without comment.
After a while, Temia couldn’t stand it anymore and nudged him with her elbow.
“Hey, Lowell. You said you’ve lived here for years, right? Shouldn’t you at least share an opinion? If there’s flooding, your workshop won’t come out unscathed either…”
She didn’t necessarily expect him to be the talkative type — but something about the topic felt oddly familiar. The reservoir being discussed was likely near his workshop.
Back when the weather had been dry, the reservoir hadn’t been an issue, and Temia hadn’t recognized it even after seeing it. But if that really was the reservoir, then a flood would almost certainly reach the workshop first.
Oh no… Lerry!
She pictured the tiny bird frantically trying to rescue the workshop’s tools with his beak — only to be swept away by rushing water. The thought drained the color from her face.
True, Lowell had enchanted the workshop’s structure and materials with strong magic, and even if they collapsed, he was capable enough to repair them. But still — he answered her worries without a trace of concern.
“Well… if the old embankment can’t do its job, then yes, rebuilding is the right choice. You can patch a torn cloak all you want, but that won’t make it new again. It’ll just keep the wind out for a while — until you catch a cold from the drafts.”
“Then why don’t you help them figure out how to rebuild it? We’re limited in resources, so we need to be clever about it!”
“But isn’t there no point in talking about it beyond this? The village probably doesn’t have enough manpower or money to take on something like that…”
“I know that! But we can still come up with ways to minimize damage! Everyone’s doing their best to find solutions — don’t just rain on their parade! And besides, your workshop’s right in the potential flood zone, so contribute something useful! Stop acting like some cranky pessimist!”
Smack!
The sharp sound of Temia’s hand hitting his back echoed in the room. She hadn’t meant to hit hard, but it came out louder than expected. The room fell silent again.
Oh no… too loud?
Temia froze, eyes wide.
The villagers stared between the two, dumbfounded. Since the day Lowell had moved in, he’d barely spoken to anyone — and now here he was, getting scolded in public without even raising his voice in return.
Wasn’t that magician supposed to have a terrible temper?
He’d normally snap back by now… why’s he so calm?
Wait… are the rumors true? Are they actually… a thing?
Until now, most people had been intimidated by the magician’s sharp demeanor and prickly attitude. But at that moment, he looked almost… normal. Maybe even approachable. And clearly, it had a lot to do with the fearless assistant beside him.
“Still… it’d be a shame if it really can’t be done. Frankly, you’re the one best suited to give advice on this matter…”
The hesitant words came from an older man with a furrowed brow — one of the village elders.
He might actually give an honest answer this time.
Lowell seemed far more relaxed than usual. It felt like the perfect opportunity to ask for his input. The issue was serious enough to justify taking that risk. Fortunately, Lowell didn’t brush it off.
“Well… that’s kind of a tough one to answer. Saying ‘it can’t be done’ sounds too negative, but saying ‘it’s easy’ would make me look arrogant.”
“Then just say it can be done!”
Temia interjected before he could overcomplicate things again.
“But it’d take a lot of work. Controlling natural disasters isn’t simple. If we mess with the embankment and the weather doesn’t cooperate, it could make things worse. I could use magic, sure… but that might be meddling too much.”
“Would it kill you to just say, ‘Yes, I’ll try my best!’ for once?”
“Wait, hold on! Why are you giving me that look? Were you about to pinch me?!”
