A fish released from a tank into the open sea would surely swim freely in every direction. A bird set free from its cage would want to fly to the ends of the sky without rest.
In the same way, my life, temporarily set loose beyond the walls, had become incredibly hectic.
"...Hey."
What woke me up that day was the voice of someone in a rather foul mood.
I opened my eyes slightly and saw wood grains. Apparently, I was slumped face-down on the floor.
The farm shed that had become my combined bedroom and laboratory was filled with white light. Ah, morning... I could tell by the colour. I must have hit my limit at some point last night... no, probably around dawn, and fallen asleep without realizing it.
I lifted my heavy body up with both hands and sat up to see Giedt crouching surprisingly close by. He was already on duty in his armour and sword.
And just as his voice had suggested, his face looked strangely grumpy.
"Morning, Giedt. Yawn... What's wrong? You're awfully gloomy this early."
I asked without bothering to stifle the yawn that slipped out, and his uncovered right eye shifted to look behind me.
I turned my head and found Lux-san slumped face-down on the floor just like I had been a moment ago, right at my feet. He'd passed out too.
"Don't tell me you've been sleeping here all the time?"
"It just happened by chance."
"Have some sense of caution... or shame, at least. This guy's still a man, you know."
He said "this guy" while pointing at my benefactor.
He was sleeping like the dead, so he probably didn't hear it.
"Hmm, I wasn't planning on sleeping yet, but I guess three nights without sleep was pushing it."
"Huh? You haven't slept that long?"
The surprise wiped the sour look right off Giedt's face. His right eye went wide, then he spoke in exasperation.
"Cut it out! Do you want to end up sick too?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Thanks for worrying. So, who's summoning me this time?"
He probably hadn't come to wake me up.
Giedt shrugged.
"The usual higher-ups. They want a status report. Go see them after you grab something to eat."
I smiled at the kindness lurking beneath his casual tone.
"I'll eat on the way."
I got ready quickly, mounted my horse, and left the village.
After being thoroughly questioned by the officials from the capital about what kind of magic tools I'd made, where I planned to install them, and whether I had been making anything unnecessary, I stepped out of the lord's mansion and spotted a head of dazzling golden hair.
"General Owen?"
I'd run into him at the stables when I went to fetch my horse. He was in the middle of putting his foot in the stirrup when he turned at the sound of my voice.
"Aime? You were here?"
"Yes, I was called in to give a status report. I've just finished."
"So you're heading back to Kikus Village? I'll give you a ride then."
He said, patting the back of a brown horse.
Give me a ride, he says?
"Do you have business in the village, General?"
I already knew the answer, but I asked him anyway. He looked away, somewhat uncomfortable.
"Well, I thought I'd patrol around the village during my break."
"I see. How dedicated of you, working even on your break."
At that very moment, as if answering my spiteful thoughts, an unusual commotion erupted from beyond the mansion gates. The sound of several people arguing fiercely echoed through the air.
"A fight, perhaps? We should stop it quickly."
I urged forcefully and he turned his sullen face towards the direction of the noise.
"Y-yes..."
"The chaos from the lord's absence must still be ongoing. The town has more people, so it might be better to patrol there more closely than the village."
"Ugh..."
I delivered another blow as he gritted his teeth in frustration and gripped the reins with one hand.
"Oh, and General, the official said they had something to discuss with you."
"What?"
"Once the fight's settled, please pay them a visit."
That was, of course, a complete lie.
His break would be wasted completely between breaking up the fight and going on a wild goose chase. He must have realized this too, because he put his forehead against the saddle as if about to cry.
Stalker repelled.
Right then, off to the next task.
I made it back to Kikus Village by sunset after installing the remaining purification devices and explaining things to the people living nearby.
"This formula wastes mana unnecessarily, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Maybe we could trim this part."
After a simple dinner of bread and such, I had a meeting with the now-awake Lux-san at a table in the medical team's break area.
Our meetings went on and on every day without end because there were so many things I needed and wanted to do. It was incredibly taxing on my brain, but it was fun and fulfilling.
But the moment I let my guard down just a little, a yawn slipped out.
"Even you're getting tired?"
Lux-san stopped talking and tilted his head at me. I quickly shut my mouth.
"No, I'm still fine."
"Really? Well, I'm glad to hear that today, but tomorrow's me probably won't be."
Uh, what does that mean exactly?
"Aime, why don't you rest for the day?"
Then Rille-nee, who had just finished eating dinner late after swapping shifts with another doctor, came over to us.
"Ehh, I can still keep going though?"
I was having fun doing what I wanted to do and felt myself reluctant to stop since time was precious.
Lux-san suddenly stood up from his seat.
"Well, I'm going to go for a walk."
"It's already dark out."
"I've always found that good ideas come to me when I take in the night air."
I couldn't tell if that was true or just a considerate lie, but Lux-san headed outside with his long cane.
"Come on, Aime, come here."
Rille-nee took my hand and led me to one of the futons in the break area.
I was definitely sleep-deprived, but I hadn't hit my limit yet. Still, I guess I'll just lie down and wait until Lux-san comes back.
That was what I was planning to do, but then Rille-nee sat down on her knees where the pillow was.
"Here."
She patted both her thighs with her hands, beckoning me.
Wait, a lap pillow?
"That's a bit embarrassing."
"If I don't do this, who knows if you'll actually rest."
"I will, I will rest. You're tired too, Rille-nee, aren't you? You don't have to do this."
"Come on."
I gave up in the end, and figuring it would only be for a little while, I laid my head on her soft lap.
Instantly, a wave of drowsiness washed over me.
Oh no, this is... I'm going to actually fall asleep. I thought, but my eyelids were far too heavy to lift.
The hand softly stroking the side of my face delivered the final blow.
"You're working so hard, Aime. Everyone knows that, so they're worried about you. Please rest a little for our sakes too."
I'm not the only one working hard, you know.
"Next time... I'll give you... a lap pillow, Rille-nee..."
I mumbled, half-asleep, and heard a gentle laugh.
"Thank you. I'll take you up on that."
Beyond the walls, lay a phenomenal view.
So that I could reach the very end of it, no matter what.
I was taking a brief break from the sudden busyness.
