Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ep Sign: Episode The Beginning of Winter
Main: The end of autumn.
Main: Right around the time where the farmers come to sell their harvest...
Main: I was...
Ferdinand: that's enough.
Main: Okay!
Ferdinand: The Dedication Ceremony is coming up soon.
Ferdinand: Reserve your mana for now.
Main: Understood, Head Priest.
Ferdinand: How are preparations for your winter stay here going?
Main: Th-They're going great.
Ferdinand: Judging from that look on your face, you appear to have a lot more work to do.
Ferdinand: It will start snowing soon.
Ferdinand: As I stated before,
Ferdinand: you not being able to come here because of a blizzard will be an issue.
Ferdinand: Hurry along with the preparations.
Main: Okay...
Lutz: I think books is about all we can do with what we have.
Main: That's plenty.
Lutz: Don't worry. We'll get them made and sold by the time of your winter stay.
Main: I really wasn't planning to sell the scripture picture books.
Main: This is all Mister Benno's fault.
Flashback,Benno: You're going to hole up at the cathedral?
Flashback,Benno: Then you'll need a dressing gown, a visiting dress, a nightgown,
Flashback,Benno: and street clothes, as well as some thicker socks.
Flashback,Benno: As for your undergarments, make some that are high-quality.
Flashback,Benno: Buy the fabric from my shop and have your mother or Tuuli sew them for you.
Flashback,Main: I'm not exactly planning on having anyone see me in these undies,
Flashback,Main: so they can probably be a bit worn out.
Flashback,Benno: How stupid are you?! That's not the issue here!
Flashback,Benno: You get sick easily enough as is!
Flashback,Benno: Make sure you dress warmly!
Flashback,Main: And I'm telling you I'm not going to be able to get all of those things.
Flashback,Benno: Mmhm... In that case...
Flashback,Benno: You should sell this book!
Main: So yeah, I sold my soul.
Benno: I'm Benno from the Gilberta Company.
Benno: I've come to fill out the necessary paperwork to sell this book.
Freida: Oh, Main? It is you, Main!
Main: Freida.
Freida: Hello.
Main: It's been a while.
Freida: I was worried when I heard that you went to the cathedral,
Freida: but I'm happy to see that you seem well.
Main: Thanks for worrying about me.
Main: How are the pound cakes selling?
Freida: Quite well, actually.
Freida: The nobles have taken quite a liking to them, as well.
Freida: I'd be happy to buy more recipes from you if you have any.
Freida: At a reasonable price, that is.
Main: Say, Freida...
Main: Look. I finally made my book.
Freida: What?
Freida: This is a book?
Freida: Indeed, it is a book.
Freida: But is it just the inside?
Main: That paper is the cover.
Main: We're going to have one of the studios we're working with create a cover
Main: made out of leather the way we want it, too.
Freida: how much is this book?
Main: Huh? Um...
Benno: That'll be one small gold coin and eight large silvers.
Benno: Are you going to buy it?
Freida: Yes, I will, actually.
spirit,Sign: Commercial Spirit
Main: Compared to these two, I'm definitely not cut out to be a merchant!
Freida: I must say, this is the best purchase I've made in quite a while.
Freida: your next picture book should be about the seasonal gods and their kindred.
Freida: I have such a hard time remembering the gods' kindred.
Main: Sure...
Main: I promised Freida I would make a book about the kindred,
Main: and left the Merchants' Guild behind.
Benno: Who knew we'd encounter a pest like that?
Benno: At least we'll be able to sell the book now.
Main: R-Right...
Johann: Please wait!
Johann: Young lady from the Gilberta Company!
Main: Oh, Johann.
Benno: Who's that?
Main: He's an apprentice blacksmith.
Benno: Ah... Did you need something?
Johann: Miss, please!
Main: Huh?
Johann: Please become my patron.
Main: Patron?!
Johann: I'm going to become an adult next year.
Johann: So I need to find a patron out of my customers who believes in my skills
Johann: and can financially back me.
Johann: And I need to make what this patron wants me to make within a year.
Benno: This is what blacksmithing apprentices must go through once they become an adult.
Benno: If they succeed, they will be considered a professional.
Main: You're pretty skilled, Johann, so I'm sure you'd find a patron pretty easily.
Johann: Most of the customers don't really seem to like my work.
Johann: Because... I'm so particular about the finer details.
Main: Come to think of it,
Main: when I asked Johann to make me tools to make my picture book...
Flashback,Johann: I've never had anyone request such a fine, thin, and small blade before.
Flashback,Johann: What are you going to use it for?
Flashback,Johann: You won't be able to cut anything with a blade this small.
Flashback,Johann: You're going to cut plant-based paper?
Flashback,Johann: And this is that plant-based paper...
Flashback,Johann: If the paper's this thin, the blade will have to be thinner, too.
Flashback,Johann: And the shape of the blade will have to change depending on how you're going to cut these.
Flashback,Johann: How am I going to make a blade so thin and small?
Main: I guess you have a point...
Main: But you've really helped me out because you're so particular.
Johann: You're the only one who says that about my work, Miss!
Main: Huh?
Johann: You're the only one who'd ever consider being my patron.
Main: Um...
Johann: Please, Main! No, Miss Main!
Benno: Hey.
Benno: If you truly want her as your patron, shouldn't you be calling her Lady Main?
Benno: Anyway, she's a minor.
Benno: She won't be able to be your patron without permission from her parents or guardians.
Johann: So that's a no?
Benno: You basically wasted your time.
Main: Please wait.
Main: So as long as I have cosigner, I can become his patron, right?
Johann: Huh?
Benno: What are you plotting?
Main: Mister Benno, I have something I want Johann to make for me.
Benno: Now what?
Main: The things I want him to make if I become his patron are...
Main: metal letter types!
Johann: Metal... letter types?
Main: Yes!
letterpress,Sign: Met
Main: Metal letter types!
letterpress,Sign: Metal
letterpress,Sign: Metal Letter
letterpress,Sign: Metal Letter Types
Main: Welp, I guess you twisted my arm!
Main: For my precious little metal letter types,
Main: I'll give you a long explanation without you even asking for it!
type,Sign: Letter Type
Main: Letter types are basically letters carved backwards into blocks.
Main: Essentially, they're like stamps of individual letters.
Main: A long time ago, they were made by carving wood,
Main: but by molding them out of metal instead, mass production became possible.
Main: when you line these letters up on the page of a book, it's called a letterpress.
Main: Then you set the letterpress and print.
type ,Sign: Letter Type
Main: When you print using a letterpress, it's called...
type ,Sign: Letterpress
Main: You guessed it. Letterpress printing.
type ,Sign: Letterpress Printing
Main: So historically, books could be mass produced
Main: because of the introduction of letterpress printing,
Main: but letterpress printing became more widespread because of metal letter types.
Main: Which means that the production of metal letter types is the cornerstone of my ambitions!
Main: It's the super-ultra-miracle-important first step!
Main: Man... I haven't gotten to say something so worthwhile forever.
Main: If the letter types differ in height, the letters will be uneven during printing,
Main: so I'd like the size and the height of all the letter types to be exact.
Main: I think if we have each of the vowels and each of the consonants that'll be enough.
Main: Also...
Johann: U-Um...
Benno: Well, she's basically always like this...
Benno: But she'd be a great patron when it comes to getting paid.
Lutz: If you don't think you can keep up with Main's crazy ideas,
Lutz: you should hurry up and find another patron.
Main: It's going to require very delicate work, and there'll be a lot to make...
Main: What do you think?
Johann: My request stands.
Johann: Please become my patron.
Main: Mister Benno, I'm counting on you to be my cosigner.
Johann: Yes, please!
Benno: Oh, all right. I give you permission as her guardian.
Johann: Thank goodness you're such an understanding father!
Main: Huh?
Benno: What?!
Main: He's not my father!
Benno: There's no way that she's my daughter!
Johann: Huh?
Lutz: The master is single.
Johann: Huh?
Benno: If I was her father, I would never raise her as an air-headed,
Benno: unguarded girl who doesn't think about her actions!
Main: What are you talking about?
Main: If you were my father, I would've run away from home already!
Benno: As if you're that delicate!
Main: I wouldn't even last here a day because you're so obnoxious!
Benno: Who are you calling obnoxious, huh?
Main: I'm home.
Main: Oh, how cute!
Tuuli: I know, right?
Effa: That's what a noble's undergarment looks like.
Main: Hm... I guess I wouldn't mind anyone seeing me in these.
Tuuli: Huh? What did you just say, Main?
Main: Oh, uh... I just mean they're lovely.
Effa: We just have to prepare a few more of these by the time of your winter stay, right?
Main: Yup. Thanks, Mom.
Tuuli: I'll help, too.
Main: Thank you, too, Tuuli.
Gunther: I'm home.
Main: Welcome home, Dad.
Gunther: Here's a gift for you, Main.
Tuuli: You bought them again?
Main: Hey, they're tanie!
Main: I love you, Dad!
Gunther: I love you, too, Main!
Tuuli: And he bought raffle fruits yesterday, too.
Tuuli: Dad's spoiling Main way too much.
Effa: I can't really blame him.
Effa: Soon, she'll be away on her winter stay, and we won't be able to see each other.
Tuuli: At this rate, I think Dad is going to have a harder time than Main is.
Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Main: The scriptures picture book sold by the Gilberta Company
Main: started selling among the rich who had connections with nobles.
Young Employee: Er, excuse me, sir... Would you like to purchase that?
Man A: Yeah.
Man A: Here it is.
Wolf: There's no doubt about it...
Wolf: It's ink.
Man A: According to the foreman,
Man A: the child from the Gilberta Company knows how to make ink.
Flashback,Main: I'm looking for oil-based ink.
Flashback,Main: Do you have any that aren't for parchment?
Flashback,Bierce: Ink is ink. There's only one kind.
Flashback,Main: Wait, please!
Flashback,Main: The ink that everyone makes...
Flashback,Main: is it made from the extracting the dye from plants...
Flashback,Bierce: {\a }Hey, where did you hear that from?
Flashback,Main: Um... Do you really not make any other kind of ink?
Flashback,Bierce: Other kind of ink?
Flashback,Main: I-If you don't, that's totally fine! Sorry!
Wolf: Other kinds of ink?
Main: What did you want to talk about, Mister Benno?
Benno: The Ink Guild's gotten involved.
Main: Here we go. Vested interests.
Benno: I figured they would, but... It's going to be a hassle.
Benno: What do you want to do?
Main: I think we can sell our method of ink production and also abandon making any more ink.
Main: You don't want any more enemies, do you, Mister Benno?
Benno: Hm... And it has nothing to do with my main business.
Benno: If you'd consider that, it'd be helpful.
Main: Then I guess we're set.
Lutz: I've brought some tea.
Benno: You've still got a ways to go.
Main: But he's improving little by little.
Main: It's good, Lutz.
Mark: Sir, you have a guest from the Ink Guild.
Benno: All right. go see Corinna.
Main: Huh?
Benno: The head of the Ink Guild has connections with nobles,
Benno: and there are plenty of terrible rumors about him.
Benno: You should avoid him at all costs.
Main: While negotiations with the Ink Guild were going on,
Main: I was getting fitted for some new ceremonial robes,
Main: since my other ones were ruined trying to subjugate the trombe.
Otto: Corinna, you need to get some rest.
Otto: Seriously... Corinna, you're pregnant,
Otto: but you're getting upper-class noble work.
Main: S-Sorry...
Corinna: Otto.
Corinna: How many times must I tell you that I don't appreciate you nagging me about work?
Otto: I'm just worried about you, Corinna.
Corinna: That's no excuse to complain in front of a customer!
Otto: Now, calm down...
Corinna: You're always the one upsetting me.
Otto: It's not good for the little one in your belly if you get upset.
Main: I see they're as close as ever.
Wolf: I signed it.
Benno: Lutz, take this contract upstairs and get a signature.
Lutz: It's good that you stayed up here, Main.
Main: What do you mean?
Lutz: The head of the Ink Guild's been looking for you.
Main: Huh?
Lutz: He said, "The one who mentioned a different way to prepare ink was a child.
Lutz: If they're here, bring them out."
Lutz: I don't like the look in his eyes.
Lutz: Way worse than the guild master.
Lutz: More importantly, let me see your hand.
Main: Okay...
Lutz: What do you think you're doing?! Let go of me, you jerk!
Main: Ooh, they kicked!
Corinna: They're full of energy, aren't they?
Benno: Lutz had a run-in with a strange man.
Main: What?
Benno: They're probably from the Ink Guild.
Main: Is Lutz okay?
Benno: Yes. Mark is seeing him home now.
Benno: You need to stay here until someone comes for you.
Main: Okay.
Tuuli: Main!
Main: Tuuli!
Benno: Trying to find out more information and seeking out Lutz are both unnatural things to do.
Benno: There's no doubt that this is the work of the Ink Guild,
Benno: but I'm not exactly sure what their motive is.
Benno: If we're going to prioritize safety,
Benno: we might want to have Main start staying at the cathedral now.
Tuuli: What?
Benno: They won't be able to get to her, if she's there.
Tuuli: But starting her winter stay right now is...
Gunther: what do you want to do?
Main: I don't want to be away from all of you,
Main: but I'd regret it even more if something were to happen to any of you,
Main: so I'll go to the cathedral.
Tuuli: Main...
Main: It should start snowing soon, anyway.
Gunther: All right.
Fran: Understood.
Fran: I will inform the head priest as well.
Main: I'll tell everyone else.
Fran: Lady perhaps you should not tell Delia.
Fran: Delia still has connections with the high priest.
Main: Wait, still?
Fran: Considering Delia's situation,
Fran: it would be rather difficult for her to completely cut ties with him.
Main: It's so that she can continue to survive here...
Fran: We will go ahead and take Lady Main into our care.
Gunther: Take good care of Fran.
Fran: Of course.
Gunther: make sure you don't cause too much trouble for everyone.
Gunther: And make sure you tell the head priest everything.
Gunther: No good comes out of not communicating with your boss.
Main: Boss?
Main: Okay.
Tuuli: We'll come visit you on breaks,
Tuuli: so make sure you behave until then, Main.
Main: Yeah... I'll be waiting.
Ferdinand: Make sure Main stays in her room until we can get more information.
Fran: As you wish.
Fran: Also, Main's family has mentioned that they would like to come see her.
Fran: I'm sure that Lady Main will be lonely,
Fran: so I would be grateful if you would allow this.
Ferdinand: That's fine.
Ferdinand: The bigger problem would be if her mana were to go berserk
Ferdinand: from her not being able to control her emotions.
Ferdinand: I'd like to avoid doing the Dedication Ceremony in that manner as much as possible,
Ferdinand: because she will have to face the high priest there, no matter what.
Fran: Right.
Delia: What?
Main: It's a long story, but I'm going to be staying at the cathedral starting today.
Delia: What exactly is this long story?
Main: I can't really talk about it right now.
Main: I hope you'll understand.
Tuuli: Do you think Main will be okay by herself?
Tuuli: We should have brought her these, too.
Rosina and Delia: Good night, Lady Main.
Main: Good night, Delia and Rosina.
Main: I immediately became homesick just after a day.
Gunther: The nobility can piss off. I'm going to protect Main.
Wolf: If this is an order, I will see it through, but this is quite the request...
Wolf: This will require a bit of preparation...
Next_Chapter ,Caption: Next Chapter The Story About Winter Stays and the Future
Main: It's finally about to start!
Main: We offer the gods our prayers!
Ferdinand: I hate to bring down your mood when you're so excited, but this is not a book.
Ferdinand: A proper book has words that are handwritten on pages of parchment.
Ferdinand: They include detailed illustrations,
Ferdinand: and the leather covers are decorated with gold or jewels.
Ferdinand: These magnificent pieces of art are what you call "books."
Main: But I want to make books more affordable and get them out to the masses!
Ferdinand: A proper merchant would want to raise prices and keep as much profit for themselves.
Ferdinand: You are not fit to be a merchant.
Main: I don't need to hear that from you.
03x01 - The Beginning of Winter
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Anime series based on a light novel and manga series written by Miya Kazuki and illustrated by Yō Shiina.
Anime series based on a light novel and manga series written by Miya Kazuki and illustrated by Yō Shiina.