01x08 - Lutz's Main
Posted: 06/30/23 08:58
F: After tense negotiations,
F: Main secured the rights to produce and sell her paper.
F: However,
F: that made Lutz suspicious of her.
F: With his unspoken doubts still up in the air,
F: the two were about to dive headlong into the process of paper making.
Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Title ,Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ep Ep Title: Chapter Eight Lutz's Main
Mk: This will be your workshop.
Mk: It's already been given a quick cleanup.
Mk: You can see your pot and ashes right there,
Mk: and we'll have your materials brought here as they're delivered to the company.
M: Thank you, Mister Mark.
L: Let's carry the stuff we brought from home inside.
M: Okay.
M: Lutz is interacting with me like usual.
M: I was worried that he'd figured out that I wasn't really Main.
M: I'm glad we've made up.
Mk: I have to return to the store.
Mk: Here is the key to this place.
Mk: Be sure to lock up and return the key every day.
M: Understood. Thank you for everything.
L: So, what are we doing today?
M: Hmm... Decide what size the steamer will be,
M: take another look at the order forms, and...
M: Oh, we also need to make bamboo sticks.
L: Bamboo sticks? For what?
Diagram ,Sign: Drainer
L: We'll put a bunch of them together to make a drainer.
M: It's part of the deckle, used to screen the paper solution.
Diagram ,Sign: Deckle
L: It broke again.
M: These are really difficult to make.
M: Maybe we should just decide on a length and have someone else make it.
L: We're going to the lumberer's to order the steamer and stuff tomorrow.
L: We can ask then.
M: Yeah...
C: Huh?
C: What kinda wood did ya say ya want?
M: U-Uh... To make a steamer...
C: Yeah, so what kinda wood?!
M: E-Er... It should be hard and dry so that the steam doesn't alter its shape.
C: Okay, good. You do know your stuff.
C: I'd say you want hedwan, tworso, or peditree.
C: Which will it be?
M: How am I supposed to decide?
M: Do you know, Lutz?
L: Hedwan is probably the easiest to use.
C: Do ya have a size in mind?
M: Yes, it's on the order form.
M: We would also like a mallet to pound fibers.
M: Something Lutz can hold and swing.
C: Pound fibers?
C: What for?
M: Unfortunately, I can't tell you that.
C: Striking the right balance between hardness and weight will be key.
C: What ya use as a base will also change things.
M: A base?
M: I hadn't considered that.
M: Can we have the mallet and the base made together?
M: I'll write another order form now.
C: Sure, that's not a problem... But you're gonna write the form?
M: Yes.
M: Will this do?
C: Y-Yeah...
C: Unbelievable. This looks good.
M: Oh, one last thing.
M: We want bamboo sticks like this one. Can you make them?
C: Hmm... Precision work like this is beyond me.
C: You should ask a craftsman.
M: Understood!
M: Thank you for all your help!
C: Sure. Drop by anytime ya need anything.
Cr: Bamboo sticks, eh?
Cr: Does it have to be wavy?
M: I was trying to make it nice and straight, actually.
Cr: Then coming to me was the right decision.
Cr: Is that all you need?
M: Can you also make a drainer for us?
M: It's a screen of sorts, with the bamboo sticks tied up in a row like this.
Cr: That seems like a pain, but it's not impossible.
Cr: However, I will need really sturdy thread for it.
M: Sturdy thread?
Cr: Like in spinne webs.
Cr: I can pick something out for you if we can go to a thread seller now.
M: Absolutely!
L: Hey, don't push yourself.
L: You'll go down first.
M: I'll be fine! I'm not exerting myself...
Mk: Then I'll bring her there.
Mk: It seems she's once again in the mood to be carried.
M: Sorry to make you do this again and again.
Mk: Oh, it's nothing. Please don't worry about it.
M: A month and a half later,
M: we had everything in place to start making our paper.
M: Blue skies! White clouds!
M: 'Tis the perfect day to make paper, Lutz!
M: Lutz?
M: Are you okay?
M: Do you want me to carry the steamer?
L: Nah, you can't handle it.
M: Maybe you should take a break, Lutz.
L: Nah.
L: Once we start steaming, we'll have to sit around and wait for a bell's time, right?
L: That can be my break.
L: Okay.
L: I'm gonna go chop some wood.
L: You watch the pot and rest up.
M: But you need the rest more than I do.
L: I can't have you falling sick before we finish the paper.
L: You can pick up twigs or whatever around here, but don't try to do too much.
L: And yell if anything goes wrong, okay?
M: Got it.
M: We're out of twigs.
M: Guess I'll go pick up some more.
M: What is that?
M: That is one red fruit.
M: Is it edible?
M: Ow, hot!
M: H-Huh? What's with this sprouty thing?
M: Lutz... Lutz!
L: What's wrong?
M: What is this?
L: Trombe!
M: Trombe? What's that?
L: I'll explain later!
R: What's the matter, Lutz?
L: We have a trombe!
L: You run away!
M: Okay.
R: See any more sprouting?
F: There shouldn't be.
M: What the... What a weird plant.
L: Are you okay?
M: Yeah... Lutz, what was that?
L: A trombe.
L: If it's not weeded out as soon as it starts sprouting,
L: it'll suck up all the nutrients in the soil and grow in a flash.
M: So that's why it sprouted so quickly.
L: Yeah. It becomes a real danger if it gets too big,
L: and the knight order would have to be called in.
M: They have a knight order? Sounds like a fantasy world, all right.
L: But that's weird.
L: It's not trombe season yet, and it was growing really fast.
L: But it hasn't affected the soil here much.
M: Huh...
L: What? Don't you find it strange?
M: Well, I've never seen one before.
L: Right.
L: You only started coming to the forest this spring.
M: I have an idea!
M: Why don't we try make paper out of that trombe?
M: There's a bunch lying around, and you chopped it down right after it sprouted,
M: so the fibers should still be soft.
M: And so we started making the paper with trombe.
L: Will this do for the steaming part?
M: Probably.
M: Let me try peeling the bark off.
M: Oh, wow!
M: It came off!
M: This might be the perfect material for paper!
L: I'm surprised you can tell.
L: So, what next?
M: We stretch it out and let it dry.
M: When it's fully dried, we wash it in the stream again.
L: Hey...
M: What?
L: Never mind. We'll talk about it when we finish the paper.
L: You can never predict when trombe will grow.
L: We'll have to try other plants as well.
M: Is Lutz still suspicious of me?
M: The paper making process continued to go smoothly,
M: but I couldn't tell what was on Lutz's mind.
M: Today, we boil the dried bark!
L: We just have to let it boil for a bell, right?
M: Yeah, but we also need to stir it...
M: Gah! I just remembered another thing we're missing!
L: What is it?
M: Lutz, make me two long sticks to stir the pot.
Diagram ,Sign: Basically...
M: Bamboo would be nice.
Diagram ,Sign: Chopsticks
L: Will this do?
M: Yeah! Thanks, Lutz!
L: It's impressive that you can hold them like that to stir the pot.
M: U-Uh... Yeah, aren't I cool?
Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm
M: Today's work involves
M: me removing any knots and bruises in the fiber
M: and Lutz b*ating the fiber down.
M: Once the edile fruit mixed in water produces a sticky starch,
M: we mix the fiber in it,
M: completing the paper solution.
M: We finally got to a stage I'm familiar with!
M: You see, I made paper out of milk cartons back when I was Urano.
L: Are you really familiar with it?
M: I've done this before. I got this.
L: When and where?
M: I, uh... I-I...
M: It's a girly secret! No prying!
L: Why are you shaking it like that?
M: It balances out the thickness of the paper.
L: Huh. And you know that because you've done it before?
M: Lutz...
M: Please don't glare at me like that.
M: A few more days passed...
M: Everything went smoothly,
M: and we finished our first pieces of paper.
M: It's paper.
M: It's actually paper.
M: We really did it.
M: It'll be dry by sunset.
M: Once it's dried, we have to peel it off carefully so it doesn't tear,
M: and we'll be all done.
L: So it's as good as finished, right?
L: I said we'd talk when we finished the paper, remember?
M: Do you want to do it out here or inside the workshop?
L: Here is fine.
M: So, what did you want to talk about?
L: Tell me...
L: Who are you?
L: You know how to make paper, and even said you'd done it before.
L: There's no way you're Main.
M: You're right.
L: Then if you're not her...
L: Where is the real Main? Give her back!
M: Okay.
M: I don't mind giving her back,
M: but it'd be better if I did it back home.
L: Why?
M: Because I'm pretty sure only a corpse will remain after I'm gone.
L: Y... Wha... Wh... What are you saying?!
L: You mean she's gone forever?
L: She's never coming back?!
M: I think so.
L: Answer me this:
L: did you devour Main with your fever?
M: That's half-right and half-wrong.
M: I believe that the real Main was consumed by her fever, too.
M: But I am not the cause of the fever.
M: Hell, it's eating away at me, too.
L: What does that mean?!
L: Isn't this all your doing?!
L: Didn't Main disappear because of you?!
L: Tell me I'm right!
M: You know...
M: It's not like I wanted to be Main!
M: I lived and d*ed in a different world,
M: but suddenly I found that I'd become some child!
M: If I had the choice, I'd never have picked such a sickly body!
L: You didn't want to take Main's place?
M: Would you want to?
M: Her body is so frail, just walking a little leaves it bedridden the next day.
M: Is that fever gonna eat you alive, just like Main?
M: Yeah, probably.
M: So if you want me gone, just say so.
M: I'll go away anytime.
L: Why are you telling me that?
M: Because I would've been long gone already if it wasn't for you.
M: I fell sick after Mom used my wood tablets as firewood, remember?
M: At the time, I didn't mind if the fever swallowed me whole.
M: Try as I might, I was never getting my books, so I didn't care anymore.
M: But then...
M: I saw your face,
M: remembered the promise I made to you, and came back to myself.
L: What promise?
M: To introduce you to Otto.
L: Oh, but that was...
M: We met Otto and Benno, so I fulfilled my promise.
M: I even managed to make paper.
M: I do still want to complete a book,
M: but if you want me gone, I'm okay with that.
L: That's just absurd!
L: Since when have you been Main?
M: What do you think?
M: When do you think I stopped being the Main you knew?
L: Why, you...
L: Was it when you started wearing that thing?
M: Yeah, that's correct.
L: That's almost an entire year ago!
L: The family hasn't realized?
M: They have noticed that I'm weird,
M: but I don't think they've ever considered that I might not be Main.
M: Besides, Dad was saying he was happy just seeing how active I'd become.
L: I see.
M: Lutz?
L: I don't think it's my place to decide. It should be Main's family.
M: Are you saying things can stay like this for now?
M: And you're okay with that?
L: Again, it's not my place to decide!
M: Are you sure you don't want me gone?
M: I'm not the real Main, you know?
L: It's fine.
L: It's not like Main will come back once you're gone.
L: Besides, if it's been you for an entire year,
L: most of my memories with "Main" are actually of you.
L: So... You can still be Main to me.
M: Lutz's words made everything fall into place deep inside of me.
M: It may have only been a tiny piece,
M: but it was the final piece of the puzzle that is my life here.
M: And as the river grew colder,
M: and paper-making became that much harder...
M: Mister Benno, we've brought prototypes of the paper.
B: Oh?
M: We've made three samples of varying thickness each from two plants.
B: Let me see for myself how good it is.
B: Wow, it works.
B: It's easier to write on than parchment, but it does blot the ink a little.
B: It's not that big a problem, I suppose...
M: So, do we pass?
M: Can Lutz be your apprentice?
B: You pass.
M: Yay!
M: We did it, Lutz!
L: Yeah!
B: This one is higher quality.
M: We made those from trombe.
B: What? Trombe?!
M: Hmm... It'd be nice if we could mass-produce paper from it.
L: No way! Not with something that dangerous!
B: Do you want to turn the forest into a wasteland?!
M: Huh? We can't use it?
Next_Chapter,Title: Next Chapter The Guild Master's Granddaughter
M: How do you like that, Head Priest?
M: I went and finished my paper!
F: Good. Now you can finally start making books.
M: U-Uh, no. There's a lot left to do yet.
M: Apparently, you need some kind of license to sell paper.
M: And the next step in the book-making process will need even more capital...
F: I see you still have a long, long way to go.
F: Main secured the rights to produce and sell her paper.
F: However,
F: that made Lutz suspicious of her.
F: With his unspoken doubts still up in the air,
F: the two were about to dive headlong into the process of paper making.
Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Title ,Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ep Ep Title: Chapter Eight Lutz's Main
Mk: This will be your workshop.
Mk: It's already been given a quick cleanup.
Mk: You can see your pot and ashes right there,
Mk: and we'll have your materials brought here as they're delivered to the company.
M: Thank you, Mister Mark.
L: Let's carry the stuff we brought from home inside.
M: Okay.
M: Lutz is interacting with me like usual.
M: I was worried that he'd figured out that I wasn't really Main.
M: I'm glad we've made up.
Mk: I have to return to the store.
Mk: Here is the key to this place.
Mk: Be sure to lock up and return the key every day.
M: Understood. Thank you for everything.
L: So, what are we doing today?
M: Hmm... Decide what size the steamer will be,
M: take another look at the order forms, and...
M: Oh, we also need to make bamboo sticks.
L: Bamboo sticks? For what?
Diagram ,Sign: Drainer
L: We'll put a bunch of them together to make a drainer.
M: It's part of the deckle, used to screen the paper solution.
Diagram ,Sign: Deckle
L: It broke again.
M: These are really difficult to make.
M: Maybe we should just decide on a length and have someone else make it.
L: We're going to the lumberer's to order the steamer and stuff tomorrow.
L: We can ask then.
M: Yeah...
C: Huh?
C: What kinda wood did ya say ya want?
M: U-Uh... To make a steamer...
C: Yeah, so what kinda wood?!
M: E-Er... It should be hard and dry so that the steam doesn't alter its shape.
C: Okay, good. You do know your stuff.
C: I'd say you want hedwan, tworso, or peditree.
C: Which will it be?
M: How am I supposed to decide?
M: Do you know, Lutz?
L: Hedwan is probably the easiest to use.
C: Do ya have a size in mind?
M: Yes, it's on the order form.
M: We would also like a mallet to pound fibers.
M: Something Lutz can hold and swing.
C: Pound fibers?
C: What for?
M: Unfortunately, I can't tell you that.
C: Striking the right balance between hardness and weight will be key.
C: What ya use as a base will also change things.
M: A base?
M: I hadn't considered that.
M: Can we have the mallet and the base made together?
M: I'll write another order form now.
C: Sure, that's not a problem... But you're gonna write the form?
M: Yes.
M: Will this do?
C: Y-Yeah...
C: Unbelievable. This looks good.
M: Oh, one last thing.
M: We want bamboo sticks like this one. Can you make them?
C: Hmm... Precision work like this is beyond me.
C: You should ask a craftsman.
M: Understood!
M: Thank you for all your help!
C: Sure. Drop by anytime ya need anything.
Cr: Bamboo sticks, eh?
Cr: Does it have to be wavy?
M: I was trying to make it nice and straight, actually.
Cr: Then coming to me was the right decision.
Cr: Is that all you need?
M: Can you also make a drainer for us?
M: It's a screen of sorts, with the bamboo sticks tied up in a row like this.
Cr: That seems like a pain, but it's not impossible.
Cr: However, I will need really sturdy thread for it.
M: Sturdy thread?
Cr: Like in spinne webs.
Cr: I can pick something out for you if we can go to a thread seller now.
M: Absolutely!
L: Hey, don't push yourself.
L: You'll go down first.
M: I'll be fine! I'm not exerting myself...
Mk: Then I'll bring her there.
Mk: It seems she's once again in the mood to be carried.
M: Sorry to make you do this again and again.
Mk: Oh, it's nothing. Please don't worry about it.
M: A month and a half later,
M: we had everything in place to start making our paper.
M: Blue skies! White clouds!
M: 'Tis the perfect day to make paper, Lutz!
M: Lutz?
M: Are you okay?
M: Do you want me to carry the steamer?
L: Nah, you can't handle it.
M: Maybe you should take a break, Lutz.
L: Nah.
L: Once we start steaming, we'll have to sit around and wait for a bell's time, right?
L: That can be my break.
L: Okay.
L: I'm gonna go chop some wood.
L: You watch the pot and rest up.
M: But you need the rest more than I do.
L: I can't have you falling sick before we finish the paper.
L: You can pick up twigs or whatever around here, but don't try to do too much.
L: And yell if anything goes wrong, okay?
M: Got it.
M: We're out of twigs.
M: Guess I'll go pick up some more.
M: What is that?
M: That is one red fruit.
M: Is it edible?
M: Ow, hot!
M: H-Huh? What's with this sprouty thing?
M: Lutz... Lutz!
L: What's wrong?
M: What is this?
L: Trombe!
M: Trombe? What's that?
L: I'll explain later!
R: What's the matter, Lutz?
L: We have a trombe!
L: You run away!
M: Okay.
R: See any more sprouting?
F: There shouldn't be.
M: What the... What a weird plant.
L: Are you okay?
M: Yeah... Lutz, what was that?
L: A trombe.
L: If it's not weeded out as soon as it starts sprouting,
L: it'll suck up all the nutrients in the soil and grow in a flash.
M: So that's why it sprouted so quickly.
L: Yeah. It becomes a real danger if it gets too big,
L: and the knight order would have to be called in.
M: They have a knight order? Sounds like a fantasy world, all right.
L: But that's weird.
L: It's not trombe season yet, and it was growing really fast.
L: But it hasn't affected the soil here much.
M: Huh...
L: What? Don't you find it strange?
M: Well, I've never seen one before.
L: Right.
L: You only started coming to the forest this spring.
M: I have an idea!
M: Why don't we try make paper out of that trombe?
M: There's a bunch lying around, and you chopped it down right after it sprouted,
M: so the fibers should still be soft.
M: And so we started making the paper with trombe.
L: Will this do for the steaming part?
M: Probably.
M: Let me try peeling the bark off.
M: Oh, wow!
M: It came off!
M: This might be the perfect material for paper!
L: I'm surprised you can tell.
L: So, what next?
M: We stretch it out and let it dry.
M: When it's fully dried, we wash it in the stream again.
L: Hey...
M: What?
L: Never mind. We'll talk about it when we finish the paper.
L: You can never predict when trombe will grow.
L: We'll have to try other plants as well.
M: Is Lutz still suspicious of me?
M: The paper making process continued to go smoothly,
M: but I couldn't tell what was on Lutz's mind.
M: Today, we boil the dried bark!
L: We just have to let it boil for a bell, right?
M: Yeah, but we also need to stir it...
M: Gah! I just remembered another thing we're missing!
L: What is it?
M: Lutz, make me two long sticks to stir the pot.
Diagram ,Sign: Basically...
M: Bamboo would be nice.
Diagram ,Sign: Chopsticks
L: Will this do?
M: Yeah! Thanks, Lutz!
L: It's impressive that you can hold them like that to stir the pot.
M: U-Uh... Yeah, aren't I cool?
Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm
Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm
M: Today's work involves
M: me removing any knots and bruises in the fiber
M: and Lutz b*ating the fiber down.
M: Once the edile fruit mixed in water produces a sticky starch,
M: we mix the fiber in it,
M: completing the paper solution.
M: We finally got to a stage I'm familiar with!
M: You see, I made paper out of milk cartons back when I was Urano.
L: Are you really familiar with it?
M: I've done this before. I got this.
L: When and where?
M: I, uh... I-I...
M: It's a girly secret! No prying!
L: Why are you shaking it like that?
M: It balances out the thickness of the paper.
L: Huh. And you know that because you've done it before?
M: Lutz...
M: Please don't glare at me like that.
M: A few more days passed...
M: Everything went smoothly,
M: and we finished our first pieces of paper.
M: It's paper.
M: It's actually paper.
M: We really did it.
M: It'll be dry by sunset.
M: Once it's dried, we have to peel it off carefully so it doesn't tear,
M: and we'll be all done.
L: So it's as good as finished, right?
L: I said we'd talk when we finished the paper, remember?
M: Do you want to do it out here or inside the workshop?
L: Here is fine.
M: So, what did you want to talk about?
L: Tell me...
L: Who are you?
L: You know how to make paper, and even said you'd done it before.
L: There's no way you're Main.
M: You're right.
L: Then if you're not her...
L: Where is the real Main? Give her back!
M: Okay.
M: I don't mind giving her back,
M: but it'd be better if I did it back home.
L: Why?
M: Because I'm pretty sure only a corpse will remain after I'm gone.
L: Y... Wha... Wh... What are you saying?!
L: You mean she's gone forever?
L: She's never coming back?!
M: I think so.
L: Answer me this:
L: did you devour Main with your fever?
M: That's half-right and half-wrong.
M: I believe that the real Main was consumed by her fever, too.
M: But I am not the cause of the fever.
M: Hell, it's eating away at me, too.
L: What does that mean?!
L: Isn't this all your doing?!
L: Didn't Main disappear because of you?!
L: Tell me I'm right!
M: You know...
M: It's not like I wanted to be Main!
M: I lived and d*ed in a different world,
M: but suddenly I found that I'd become some child!
M: If I had the choice, I'd never have picked such a sickly body!
L: You didn't want to take Main's place?
M: Would you want to?
M: Her body is so frail, just walking a little leaves it bedridden the next day.
M: Is that fever gonna eat you alive, just like Main?
M: Yeah, probably.
M: So if you want me gone, just say so.
M: I'll go away anytime.
L: Why are you telling me that?
M: Because I would've been long gone already if it wasn't for you.
M: I fell sick after Mom used my wood tablets as firewood, remember?
M: At the time, I didn't mind if the fever swallowed me whole.
M: Try as I might, I was never getting my books, so I didn't care anymore.
M: But then...
M: I saw your face,
M: remembered the promise I made to you, and came back to myself.
L: What promise?
M: To introduce you to Otto.
L: Oh, but that was...
M: We met Otto and Benno, so I fulfilled my promise.
M: I even managed to make paper.
M: I do still want to complete a book,
M: but if you want me gone, I'm okay with that.
L: That's just absurd!
L: Since when have you been Main?
M: What do you think?
M: When do you think I stopped being the Main you knew?
L: Why, you...
L: Was it when you started wearing that thing?
M: Yeah, that's correct.
L: That's almost an entire year ago!
L: The family hasn't realized?
M: They have noticed that I'm weird,
M: but I don't think they've ever considered that I might not be Main.
M: Besides, Dad was saying he was happy just seeing how active I'd become.
L: I see.
M: Lutz?
L: I don't think it's my place to decide. It should be Main's family.
M: Are you saying things can stay like this for now?
M: And you're okay with that?
L: Again, it's not my place to decide!
M: Are you sure you don't want me gone?
M: I'm not the real Main, you know?
L: It's fine.
L: It's not like Main will come back once you're gone.
L: Besides, if it's been you for an entire year,
L: most of my memories with "Main" are actually of you.
L: So... You can still be Main to me.
M: Lutz's words made everything fall into place deep inside of me.
M: It may have only been a tiny piece,
M: but it was the final piece of the puzzle that is my life here.
M: And as the river grew colder,
M: and paper-making became that much harder...
M: Mister Benno, we've brought prototypes of the paper.
B: Oh?
M: We've made three samples of varying thickness each from two plants.
B: Let me see for myself how good it is.
B: Wow, it works.
B: It's easier to write on than parchment, but it does blot the ink a little.
B: It's not that big a problem, I suppose...
M: So, do we pass?
M: Can Lutz be your apprentice?
B: You pass.
M: Yay!
M: We did it, Lutz!
L: Yeah!
B: This one is higher quality.
M: We made those from trombe.
B: What? Trombe?!
M: Hmm... It'd be nice if we could mass-produce paper from it.
L: No way! Not with something that dangerous!
B: Do you want to turn the forest into a wasteland?!
M: Huh? We can't use it?
Next_Chapter,Title: Next Chapter The Guild Master's Granddaughter
M: How do you like that, Head Priest?
M: I went and finished my paper!
F: Good. Now you can finally start making books.
M: U-Uh, no. There's a lot left to do yet.
M: Apparently, you need some kind of license to sell paper.
M: And the next step in the book-making process will need even more capital...
F: I see you still have a long, long way to go.