Now, wear this.
What is this, Head Priest?
Can't you tell? It's a magical item.
I'm asking what we're using it for.
Please... tell... me...
Myne's the only one who uses this to tie her hair.
And it's not just this hairpin.
She has brought us all sorts of creations.
But the most surprising thing of all
is her passion for books.
She treasures literature, and even wrote some picture books for children.
Her obsession is clearly abnormal.
Just what goes through that head of yours?
I shall take a look into your past, Myne.
Before I was Myne,
I lived in a distant era as Motosu Urano.
Psychology.
Religion.
History.
Geography.
Education.
Folklore.
Mathematics.
Physics.
Geology.
Chemistry.
Biology.
Art.
Health.
Language.
Fiction...
Literature was my life.
I loved books—laden with mankind's knowledge in all disciplines—with all my heart,
and felt unbridled joy at living a life surrounded by them.
But then...
On the verge of death, I uttered a silent prayer.
"O God, may I be able to read all kinds of books in my next life, too."
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Chapter One A World Without Books
It's so hot... I can't breathe... I can't take this anymore!
Yeah.
It's so hot... Help!
Yeah.
Someone help me!
Huh? The voice is fading.
Wait!
Where am I?
Are these really my hands?
Wait, I'm pretty sure I died.
Am I having some kind of weird, dying dream?
I'm not dreaming. What's going on?
What am I doing here?
Who is that?
Her hair's green!
What? I don't understand what she's saying.
Someone's memories are bursting into my mind!
Myne?
No! I'm not Myne!
My name is Motosu Urano!
Myne? Are you all right, Myne?
I can understand her now!
How are you feeling, Myne?
Mom...
In this moment, Motosu Urano began her life as Myne.
And that's when I realized...
My mother had been just as happy as me when I landed my librarian job,
but now I would never see her again.
Mom...
I'm so sorry.
If only I had a book to read...
Yeah, as long as I have books,
I can deal with things no matter where I am.
No. I will deal with it.
I just need my books.
I wonder where I can find one, though...
Myne? Are you okay to be up and about now?
Turi, my older sister.
Oh, I know.
Hey, Turi, bring me a book.
A book?
Yeah. I wanna read.
What's a book?
Huh?
Does she not know what a book is?
Hang on a sec. How does that even happen?
Maybe there are no books for kids in this house?
Are you okay, Myne?
Myne, how's your fever?
Mom, it looks like her head hurts.
The fever is starting to go down, but I guess you're still not feeling your best.
Sleep tight until dinnertime, okay?
Come help me, Turi.
Sure!
Now's my chance to find some books.
Books are worth it.
Clothes, huh?
What even is this?
It would've been perfect if there were books in this very room,
but I guess it's not gonna be that easy.
Time to check the next room over, then.
And we've already hit a snag.
Whatever. Books are worth it.
I made it!
Ow!
This pain will be my medal of honor!
It's open.
The kitchen, huh?
No books in here, I bet.
A storeroom, I think?
It's locked. I wonder if it leads outside.
I looked all over the house, but I couldn't find any books.
Why?
Wait, are books really expensive in this world?
Even in the history of my world,
books were rare and pricey till the printing press made them possible to mass-produce.
If you weren't upper class, you would never get the chance to read one.
Oh, well.
There must be something to read, though.
If not books, then newspapers or calendars.
Nothing.
Nothing! Why is there no writing in any way, shape, or form?
How the heck am I supposed to live here?
We're back.
Myne? Didn't I tell you to stay in bed until dinnertime?
And look at this mess you've made.
I can't find any books.
What's wrong, Myne?
Does it hurt somewhere?
I can't find any books!
I want a book!
I want to read!
That's all I want!
Who can I talk to that'll understand me?
Someone please tell me!
It's been three days since I woke up as Myne.
These three days have been hell.
Also, life here seriously sucks.
The "toilet" is a bedroom bedpan which is then dumped outside,
and then "Dad," who I barely even know, changes my clothes.
Good grief!
Femininity
Shame
I have to abandon these things or I'll never last!
Now I've given up and even get them to wipe me down.
Turi thought that was weird, but it made me feel a lot better.
And then...
What are you doing?
I'm trying to tie up my hair 'cause it's bothering me,
but it's not working out.
Well, you do have really straight hair.
Yeah. If I use a ribbon, it falls right away.
Oh, right.
Can I break this?
That's my doll!
You know it's important to me! You meanie!
Uh, sorry.
I want a hairpin... I guess you wouldn't know what I mean.
I need a thin wooden stick like this doll's legs.
In that case, I could make one for you.
Will this do?
Yeah! Thanks, Turi!
How does that look?
Myne, no!
Only grown-ups are allowed to tie all their hair up.
Really?
Is this okay, then?
Yeah, I think so.
But from here it looks like you've got a splinter stuck in your head.
Oh, that's fine.
Now what do I do about my hair? It feels so sticky and gross.
How are you feeling, Myne?
Your fever's gone. Do you feel tired?
Nope.
Do you want to go shopping with Mom, then?
Shopping?
I didn't find any books at home, but there might be a bookstore out there.
If there is one...
"I won't feel lonely if I have books.
I'll watch over the house all you want!"
That should get her to buy me some!
Yep! I wanna go!
Oh? Where is all this energy coming from?
I know it'll be fun!
Let's go shopping, then.
Cold! Scary! Stinky!
Get on, Myne.
You can't walk all the way to the market, right? Come on.
O-Okay...
I see.
Myne's body is pretty frail, so Mom's always given her piggyback rides.
But I'm pretty sure I could handle this easily.
Our building has five floors, huh?
Wow, this area's full of townhouses.
So that's where we get the water from.
Amazing! It's like a Medieval European town straight out of all those photobooks!
Mom, is that a castle?
It's the cathedral.
When you turn seven, you'll get to go there for your baptism.
Huh...
That's an awfully big gate.
That's the castle town gate.
Beyond it lies the lord's castle and the other nobility's mansions,
but it's kind of a different world to us.
What about that wall?
The city wall. It keeps us safe inside.
Dad's a gatekeeper at the south gate, remember?
Oh, right.
Gatekeeper, yeah...
But if there's a lord's castle, and it's surrounded by walls,
then that means this is technically a big city.
And yet,
I don't see any writing anywhere in town, either.
Do they not have a writing system at all?
The thought didn't even cross my mind!
We've reached the market, Myne.
Can I have three of these?
Sure thing!
Hurry up!
Fresh seasonal vegetables. Would you like to try any?
I hadn't even considered that they might not have a writing system.
If that's true, then they're not gonna have any books!
Mom! What's that on that plank?
Oh, it shows the price, so you know how much you can buy something for.
Numbers! They do have a number system!
What does it say, Mom?
This is 20 lyon,
and that's 23 lyon.
Is this 30 lyon, then?
That's correct!
I can't believe you picked it up so quickly. You're very smart, Myne.
What is this stench?
Myne? What's wrong?
Dead chicken!
Myne? Hang in there, Myne!
Mom...
You fainted all of a sudden. I didn't know what to do.
Are you okay now?
I'm... not okay.
Oh...
Oh, dear. I can't get any shopping done like this.
No, go ahead. I'll wait here.
But...
Ma'am.
Do you mind if I wait here for a while, please? I'm not feeling very well.
I promise I won't be any trouble.
Oh, my. Aren't you a polite young lady?
No problem. Go get your shopping done.
You don't want her fainting again, do you?
If you're worried, she can wait inside the shop.
Nobody's going to kidnap her if she's in the back.
I'll be a good girl and wait.
Thank you so much. I'll be right back.
Stay right here, okay?
'Kay.
Please take care of her.
It's all too much for me to take in.
Thanks for having me.
Wait, could that be...
Mister! What... What is that?!
Oh, it's a book.
Yahoo!
I finally found one!
There are books here!
Is this your first time seeing one?
Yeah.
Hey, do you know a shop that sells books? Where is it?
A shop? There isn't one.
Huh? There are books, but no bookstores?
Books have to be copied by hand, you see.
They cost so much money that very few people can buy any.
Even this one was pawned off by a noble who couldn't repay his debt.
I haven't put it on sale.
Only other nobles would even think about buying something so expensive.
Damn those lucky nobles!
In that case...
Please let me hold that book!
Kowtow In Japan, this is the most dramatic show of requesting or apologizing
I know I can't buy it, so I'll make do with just holding it!
I'd like to at least enjoy the sweet scent of ink!
I beg you!
I don't know why, but I get the feeling that it'd be risky to let you touch it.
Please wait.
I'll just flip through it, I promise.
No.
I understand.
Thank you for looking after my daughter.
Okay, Myne. Let's go home.
I didn't even get to hold it.
I got some raffle fruit, your favorite.
Yeah...
Are you still not feeling well?
Yeah...
There are no bookstores in this town.
In fact, there might be not be any anywhere in this world.
I'm not gonna get any books if there are no bookstores.
What can I do, then?
I'll just have to make them myself!
Make?
Myne?
What are you going to make?
Nothing. Never mind.
Forget it. I don't care what it takes.
I'm gonna get my books if it's the last thing I do!
I won't let this world beat me!
Next Chapter Lifestyle Upgrades and Slates
I see.
So your obsession for books remained with you even after death.
This is making my head hurt.
Please don't say that with a straight face.
You don't even get to show up until—
No spoilers, fool!
Illustration by Shiina You