04x17 - Ryoushu Kaigi no Orusuban

[bunniefuu]

While the Archduke and his wife are away,

Rosemyne must stay behind in the castle

to supply mana to the Foundation.

Wow, so this is the teleportation room!

Rosemyne. Wilfried. I'm leaving
the castle in your care.

Bonifatius will be staying here as
the acting lord while we're gone.

He's your grandfather, Rosemyne.

He was a part of the list of
nobles I had to memorize!

Grandfather Bonifatius!

I'm Bonifatius.

He definitely looks like
brawn over brains...

I look forward to working
with you, Lord Bonifatius.

It is a pleasure to meet you.
My name is Rosemyne.

May I pray for a blessing
upon this meeting,

guided by the pure and flowing
waters of the Goddess Fruhtrane?

You may.

O Goddess of Water Fruhtrane.

May you bestow a blessing
upon this new encounter.

Was my greeting strange?

You should turn to Bonifatius,
should anything happen.

Yes.
Yes.

I'll be able to read all I want
for the next two weeks

until my adoptive parents come back...

Yahoo!

Then, we're off.

They vanished!

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Episode 17
Holding the Fort During the Archduke Conference

Good morning, Little Princess.

Little Princess, what
kind of position is that?!

It's time to get up, Princess!

After breakfast,

I work on building up my
stamina, as well as studying.

Even walking is hard for her?

In the afternoon, I practice embroidery.

After dinner, we supply mana.

Apparently, Grandfather isn't supplying
any in order to conserve his mana.

Other than that, it's reading time.

It's time for bed, Princess!

Princess, about today's schedule...

I will go to the library
during my free time.

It is more important to focus on the
preparations for the debut tea party.

Things have gotten troublesome...

I heard you've come up with
a new outfit for Brigitte?

Do show me what kind of style you
intend to make the latest trend?

I'll leave all the preparations
to you, Rihyarda.

No. This is a perfect
opportunity for you to learn

how to make the arrangements
for a tea party.

It is a tea party hosted
by you, after all.

My reading time...

With Mother and Rihyarda's help,
I prepared for the day of the tea party.

Lady Rosemyne, your
chef is truly skilled.

Thank you kindly.

My children have learned
quite a few characters

thanks to the karuta you
created, Lady Rosemyne.

Thank you kindly.

Welcome, everyone.

Today, there is an outfit
I would like to show all of you.

My, it looks so lovely!

It makes her look so feminine.

I want this dress as well!

Brigitte, it suits you beautifully.

I'm sure a gentleman will wish

to gift you a feystone once they
see that unadorned neckline.

Please don't tease me.

Damuel! They say she needs a feystone!

With this outfit, I am sure a
gentleman captivated by Brigitte

will definitely appear.

Isn't that right, everyone?

This outfit was specifically
designed for her

and does not rely on current trends.

I believe it is best to wear an outfit
that makes you look your absolute best,

rather than force yourself
to follow the current trend.

Now I can finally read!

A letter has arrived from
Angelica's parents, Princess.

Angelica's?

Lady Rosemyne, I've returned.

Welcome home, Angelica.

I heard you have passed
all of your courses.

Yes, thanks to everyone's help.

With this, all of our efforts...

Have finally paid off!

Apparently, tutoring Angelica,
who hates studying,

was as difficult as subjugating a trombe.

Then, I will give Angelica
my mana as her reward.

Yes, please.

It's longer than I expected.

I thought it was the length of a dagger.

The length of the blade changes depending
on the mana infused into it.

A longer blade is more advantageous
when fighting against feybeasts.

I see.

Then, I just need to infuse it with
enough mana to make it longer?

Also, I would like it to acquire
elemental affinities I lack.

When you register your mana
during your baptism ceremony,

it takes on the sacred color of the gods
you have elemental affinities with.

Since Angelica has the
affinities of fire and wind,

she wants her blade to gain the
affinities of the other elements.

I'm not good at compensating
for my shortcomings,

so I would like someone
else to make up for them.

I understand.

Angelica lacks intellect, so she needs
to listen to the opinions of others

and someone to scold her when
she does something wrong.

Wait, that's not a sword
anymore, but the high priest.

What are you doing over there?!

Scolded. I'm definitely getting scolded.

If too much of another's
mana flows into their sword,

the weapon becomes difficult for
the original owner to control.

What were you planning to do if the
ownership shifted from Angelica to you?

Um, well...

I'd order the manablade to
follow Angelica's orders.

It would listen to its
master's commands, right?

As expected of you, Lady Rosemyne.

I would be able to wield a very
strong manablade in that case!

You...

Fool!

Master, you don't understand
a single thing.

The manablade is speaking...

Is this your doing?

I'm being falsely accused!

That is correct.

I was born in part thanks
to the mana and desires

of my master's master, Lady Rosemyne.

So you were at fault, after all.

What did you wish for?

I wished for her to gain
some intelligence...

I never expected something
like this to happen!

It was not just because
of my master's master.

I came into existence
because you channeled

some of your mana into me as well.

You also channeled mana
into it, Lord Ferdinand?

Just a little. Only to confirm
there weren't any serious issues.

Then, you were the one who gave the
finishing blow, Lord Ferdinand!

You are clearly the one at fault here!

Angelica, I'm very sorry.

I didn't think it would evolve
in such an unfortunate way...

No.

No other blade will remember
things in my place

and teach me things like this one.

I hope to continue treasuring Stenluke.

Stenluke?

That's the name of this manablade.

Yes. I shall provide the
knowledge my master lacks.

Are you really sure? It will become
incredibly naggy, you know?

Dat hurtsh!

After that, the conversation turned to
how Stenluke would acquire knowledge.

Reference books for students?

Yes. I remember you mentioning that
you were studying military strategy

using gewinnen and Brother Eckhard gave
you his study materials from his time

at the Royal Academy when he passed by?

Yes...

I think we could create a reference
book if we gathered materials

from people who've graduated
from the Royal Academy.

I see. That's a good idea.

Do you think it would sell?

I believe it will.

However...

Selling wooden tablets that
summarize lecture notes

or taking notes on behalf of others

are a good way for lesser nobles to
earn money at the Royal Academy.

If we sell reference books...

It'll become a financial
strain on them...

I understand. I'll think
about it a little more.

Thank you very much.

I am one who offers prayer and gratitude
to the gods who created this world.

Wilfried, are you all right?

I heard you exhausted a lot of your
mana during the initial replenishment.

I'm fine.

Grandfather, thank you
kindly for everything.

Huh?

He's glaring at me, right?

Excuse me.

What's wrong, Princess?

I may have done something
to anger Grandfather.

I wonder if that girl is all right.

She's staying in the
castle until summer?

I hope she doesn't cause any trouble.

I'll see Lutz tomorrow,
so I'll ask him about Myne.

Oh, that's right. You're going
to buy clothes tomorrow.

Good for you, Tuuli.

I'm glad you were able to transfer
to Ms. Corinna's workshop.

Yeah. To be exact, I'm transferring
to the Gilberta Company.

Huh?

Ms. Corinna's workshop is a
part of the Gilberta Company.

Oh.

Well, it doesn't change the fact
that you've worked hard Tuuli.

You'll work as a live-in...
It's going to be lonely.

Thank you for helping, Lutz.

Master asked me to help, too.

Oh, over there!

I've worn knee-length until now, but it's
shin-length after the age of ten...

It feels strange.

You'll get used to it soon enough.

Next, you'll need a blouse.

One set should be enough for now, right?

That's nowhere near enough.

We don't have that kind of money.

Thank goodness we have you with us, Lutz.

She entrusted me with it.

She told me to use the money
she's earned until now.

We'll continue depending on you.

With you around, I can feel at
ease, even if Tuuli leaves home.

We may not be together forever...

Huh? What do you mean?

Just between us...

It looks like Master plans on having
the papermaking and bookmaking business

break off from the Gilberta
Company and go independent.

Huh?! Then...

I promise you. I'll make you
all your clothes, Myne.

What will happen to me?

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Rosemyne, what do you
plan to do on Earthday?

More reading?

That was my original intention,

but since we don't need to replenish
the mana during the weekend,

I'd like to check on the workshop
and the children at the cathedral.

Actually, the high priest informed
me that I received a meeting request

from the Gilberta Company.

Once I finish the mana replenishment
the day after tomorrow,

may I be away until the next
mana replenishment on Waterday?

There it is again...

He's definitely angry...

Yes. Very well.

Thank you kindly...

It looks like he really dislikes me.

She's fallen ill?! How weak!

If you shout at her like that,
Father, Rosemyne would die.

Such an exaggeration...

Fine.

I'll try my best not to get
too close to Rosemyne.

Patience. Patience.

This is all for the sake of
my adorable granddaughter.

When I returned to the cathedral,

the picture book about the subordinate
gods of winter was finished.

With this, all the picture books
for the children are complete!

Let us offer our thanks to my
Gutenbergs and pray to the gods.

I offer my prayers to the
Goddess of Wisdom Mestionora

and Goddess of Art Kunstzeal!

That is Lady Rosemyne's normal
reaction in front of a book.

Please get used to it.

During the next sales event,

I plan to sell sheet music that
you played at the concert...

As long as you don't add any strange
illustrations, you may do as you like.

The only thing left to do
is bind this into a book.

It's finished.

The only book of it in the world!

Lady Rosemyne.

May the Goddess of Water Fruhtrane, who
has guided this meeting pure and true,

give us her blessing.

It is a pleasure to meet you.

My name is Otto.

I look forward to our
future acquaintance.

It's Mr. Otto!

I shall bestow a heartfelt
blessing upon you.

May the blessing of the
Goddess of Water Fruhtrane

be granted upon the Gilberta Company.

Lutz! Lutz! Lutz!

I wanted to see you!

Yeah. Okay, okay.

Hey, Lutz. I have a favor to ask.

I want you to give this to Tuuli.

She turns ten this summer,
so it's a celebration gift.

Mom's Storybook Collection, huh?

I'll get it to her.

You're making a new company?

Yeah. With Mark, Lutz, and myself.

Why all of a sudden?

After we had the sales
event at the castle,

my dealings with the
nobility have increased.

The masters of other major merchant houses

weren't too happy with that
and started complaining.

They're arguing that the
Gilberta Company is supposed

to be a clothing and accessory shop.

Jealousy, huh?

Since you're involved,
the profits are massive...

That's why we're separating
from the Gilberta Company

to become a shop that
handles printing work!

Wait a moment.

What about Tuuli?

She's supposed to transfer
to Ms. Corinna's workshop

when she turns ten, right?

We're moving forward with the
plan to permanently contract her

as a dapla live-in apprentice.

The thing is, as a dapla, she won't be
able to move freely if a crisis hits.

Move freely?

It's fine if you stay in
Ehrenfest forever, but...

Just like you suddenly
joined the cathedral

just because you found a library
and wanted to read books...

I'm worried that the size
of a book collection

might suddenly cause you to
marry into another duchy.

She could easily switch
workshops if she was

a short-term dalua apprentice, but...

You'd like to keep Tuuli, my exclusive
seamstress, tied to the shop, right?

Do you have any good ideas?

The idea of "chain stores"
doesn't exist here,

so the concept of franchising probably
won't make sense to them...

If it really comes down to it,
I'll prepare a workshop for Tuuli!

You really aren't the same
girl you used to be...

After that, I was asked to come
up with a new business name.

A name that makes it
clear we're starting this

with your seal of approval would be good.

Hmm, other than Gutenberg?

How about the Plantin Company?

Cristophe Plantin was a man who
was questioned by the Inquisition

for printing the Bible and
even produced a multilingual

polyglot Bible while on the run.

He dedicated his entire life to
printing and his printing workshop

has now become the
Plantin-Moretus Museum.

Where'd you get that name from?

That's a secret.

Plantin, huh?

Well, I should be glad you
didn't just name it Gutenberg.

Mr. Benno, let's keep churning
out books and selling them,

just like the Plantin Workshop!

Ouch!

Didn't the high priest tell you to
work on that impulsiveness of yours?

That's right.

Restraint. Restraint...

May I just throw restraint
out the window?

Of course not, you idiot!

This back and forth! How nostalgic.

The Archduke and his wife
will return tomorrow.

Tonight will be the last
night of mana replenishment.

You have both done well.

It's an honor.

Looks like he disliked me
right up until the very end.

I really wanted to talk to Grandfather...

Too bad.

I wasn't able to read a lot of books...

It is time for bed, Princess!

Today is the last day! Please let me
read to my heart's content, Rihyarda!

Translation Angela Tamae Liu

Timing Edgar Cruz

Editing Tara Campbell

QC Alicia Ashby

FQC Michelle Tymon

Next Episode
Damuel's Proposal

Who gets to eat the sweets first?

Let's settle it with a game of gewinnen!

No. Not that piece.

That was Stenluke.

I thought it was Lord Ferdinand.

Not there.

It even gives advice to your opponent.

What a very meddlesome manablade.

I am not a manablade.

L-Lord Ferdinand! My apologies!

It's gotten quite confusing.

We have no choice but to get used to it.

Illustration by: Bokutengo