Main lived a new life as part of a poor soldier's family in a world without books.
Wanting to read,
she looked to make her own books through trial and error.
But she had failed to account for one huge problem...
If it is the Devouring,
she'll die very soon.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Chapter Seven Seeds of Suspicion
Wow!
Yeah. Hard to believe it's part of the same town, isn't it?
I bet lunch will be amazing, too.
Yeah... That invitation we received
was one for lunch with Mister Benno.
"See me at Gilberta Company by the fourth bell."
Where's the Gilberta Company?
It's on the first floor where I live.
Where you live?
So Mister Benno was the one who didn't want
to be separated from his dear sister?
Which means you and him are... brothers-in-law?!
Correct.
They got us.
Lutz, we have to be careful not to be tricked today.
Huh? Aren't we just gonna have lunch?
This is the place.
Okay, I'm starting to get nervous.
Someone just went in.
I don't see many customers.
Not many goods, either.
Do they really make money?
I'm pretty sure they do.
The shop is squeaky clean,
the customer service is thorough, and the employees are all classy.
Their clientele must be nobility and the wealthy.
I apologize for asking you to come on such short notice. Now, let's eat.
Thank you.
Ugh, they've thrown all the broth away.
The soup at home is way better than this.
Is Benno mad at something?
What did I do?
All right. It's time to talk.
He's gonna yell at me!
Why did you turn to Otto?
He told me that he provided nails for you.
He also mentioned that it was a trade for the liquid that makes hair shine.
You mean the Simple All-In-One Shampoo?
That's right. Is there a problem with that?
Of course there is!
You should've come to me first!
But we've only been conditionally accepted.
We're not your apprentices yet.
Yeah.
That's not it!
Listen. If the plant-based paper you make has value,
you two will be hired as apprentices to this company.
The paper will be Gilberta Company's merchandise,
so you should be talking to me first about everything!
I'm sorry.
I failed to realize that it would make you look bad as our employer.
It won't happen again.
What are you doing?
Crap! They don't bow their heads in apology here!
Nothing... I understand.
As long as we're clear.
Now, let's get down to business.
I'll provide you with everything you need to make your paper.
But isn't this our apprenticeship test?
Are you sure you want to help us with it?
I can't assess your abilities fairly without the right environment.
Besides, you can't start a new business without capital investment.
That's true, but still...
Of course, I'm not doing it out of the goodness of my heart.
In return, I want the recipe for the liquid that makes hair shine. How's that?
I see.
You want it instead of collateral, right?
Where did you learn that word?
What's collateral?
When you lend money to someone, you take something in exchange for security's sake.
You'd want to ensure you got your money back, wouldn't you?
But a recipe can't serve as a collateral, so I'll buy it outright.
That certainly doesn't sound like a bad deal.
When you say "everything we need," is that limited to tools and equipment?
Or can we ask for materials as well?
That's fine by me.
I've already heard that Lutz has been talking to lumberers.
You're looking for a tree with soft wood, aren't you?
So this is a merchant's connections at work.
How long will your backing last?
Apprentice Age 7 Age 6
Baptism
Salary 10%
Paper Gilberta Company
Sale Money
Until your baptism.
We'll buy all the paper you've produced by then.
Once we deduct the material costs and commission, the rest of the money is yours.
And after our baptism?
The paper will be sold through us.
Ten percent of the profits will be added to your pay as royalties.
Instead of those royalties,
I want to reserve the right to produce the paper.
And Lutz will have exclusive rights to sell it.
What do you mean?
Royalties added to our pay will mean nothing if we're fired.
I'd rather not be cast aside as soon as you have the product in hand.
You want job security rather than short-term profits, huh?
That's right. Is that a problem?
I'm impressed that you already have the wherewithal to protect your interests.
You've only mentioned the rights to the paper.
What about the liquid... Simple All-In-One Shampoo, was it?
Don't you want to reserve the rights to that as well?
No, that's all right. I'm selling it to you.
Very well.
That's that, then.
Go ahead and make your order forms.
Wait, how am I supposed to...
Pardon me.
I'm Mark.
Rest assured, Master has filled me in already.
And so, I learned how to write order forms from Mark,
while Lutz practiced how to write.
You can calculate without using a calculator?
How intriguing.
I just don't know how to use one, actually.
Lutz, are you okay?
Yeah.
I'm done writing out the order forms.
Good.
Mark, prepare the contract magic.
At once.
Huh? Contract magic?
Did he just say "magic"?
Is this a fantasy world?
Will I get to use magic, too?!
As I'm sure you know, only nobles possess mana.
First the books, and now mana? Darn those lucky nobles!
Contract magic was created as a way of curbing high-handed nobles.
When signed, the magic ensures that the terms are binding,
and it can't be canceled without the consent of all parties.
This is the paper and special ink used for contract magic:
magical items only granted to merchants that cater to nobles.
That's a strange ink pot. The ink is blue, too.
It's highly expensive,
so it's only used for deals that are considered very profitable.
So wait, the Simple All-In-One Shampoo?
I let it go too easily!
"Main reserves all rights to produce the paper or decide who makes it.
Lutz retains exclusive rights to sell the paper.
Neither shall retain any rights to decide its pricing or the profits."
Is that acceptable to you two?
Yes, it looks fine to me.
I'm okay with it, too.
Then please sign here.
Mark.
The ink turned from blue to black!
It's your turn now.
What? I can't!
Main? Aren't you going to sign the contract?
Hold out your hand. I'll do it for you.
With this, our contract is signed.
I didn't expect to spend so much time there.
I was surprised that you managed to write your name perfectly.
I was taught how to write it before.
You did well not to forget.
Now all that's left is to make the paper.
Yeah.
What's the matter, Lutz?
Lutz!
Wait, Lutz!
Hey, uh...
You are Main, right?
Ascendance of a Bookworm
If you are, how were you able to have that conversation?
What conversation?
All that stuff you were talking about with the boss. I didn't get half of it.
Main talking to an adult about stuff I don't know like an equal doesn't seem right.
Are you really Main?
Are you saying I seem like someone else to you?
Uh, sorry. That was a weird thing to say.
I'm just a bit surprised by all the complicated stuff you were saying.
I messed up. I was too eager today.
But once we start making the paper,
Lutz will definitely realize that I'm not Main.
What will he do when he finds out?
Lutz...
I'm home!
Welcome back. You were out late.
Yeah. I had to write out order forms at Mister Benno's place.
I have to prepare for tomorrow.
I know you only just got back,
but could you get some water for us?
Oh, sure.
Hey!
Who are you?
Where's Main? Give her back!
Help!
Who are you?
No!
Main?
Did you have a bad dream?
I'm fine now.
Then go back to sleep, okay?
If they find out that I'm not Main...
then I can just let the fever consume me and disappear.
I don't wanna have any regrets when that happens,
so I'll put my everything into making that paper.
Facing Lutz is a little awkward now, though...
Morning.
I have to go to the forest today, so I can't come with you to see Mister Benno.
Got it.
I should finish all my dealings with adults while Lutz isn't around.
That way, I'll avoid any more suspicion.
That's it!
Shall we go place our orders, then?
Yes, please.
Mister Mark, could we have a workshop to put all our equipment?
A workshop, is it? I'll talk to Master about it.
Do you have any requirements?
We'll be going to the forest a lot, so something near the south gate would be nice.
Understood. I'll take a look around that area.
Oh, we're nearly at the lumberer's.
Oh, is that it...
Miss Main?!
Huh? Where am I?
You've come to, Main?
Oh, you're up, lass!
I lost years of my life when I heard you'd collapsed!
I'm terribly sorry!
Wh-What are you doing?
Kowtowing!
W-Well, uh, it's my way of showing I mean it when I say I'm sorry.
Otto did tell me you were frail,
but I didn't expect it to be quite this bad.
I'm fine now!
Your fever's gone down.
Yes, it has! It's gone!
Go straight home today.
But there's so much to do!
Why, you little! I said to go straight home!
Ow!
You're hereby banned from coming here alone!
The lad should be with you every time!
If you have any memory at all, you'll never forget that!
Okay, okay! I won't!
Ouch!
And so, I was forcibly brought home,
where I was given a real earful by Mom
and found myself bedridden again.
That lass...
She really may have the Devouring.
You brought that up last time. What exactly is it?
It manifests in commoners who are born with mana.
But don't only nobles possess mana?
Besides, I've never even heard of this.
It's not well known because most of these kids don't live to see their baptism.
What? Don't live to see their baptism?
Yeah. As one grows, so does their mana.
But if it grows too much, it'll devour and kill them.
And the more mana they have, the sooner they die.
Is there any way to survive it?
Yes, but it needs magical items that can extract the excess mana from their body.
Then without them, Main will...
We don't know that for sure yet.
But if it really is the Devouring,
she will die very soon.
The captain will be inconsolable.
Listen up, Main!
Push yourself one more time, and I'm not letting you out of the house!
I-I get it, Dad.
Lutz, take care of her.
Sure, Mister Gunther.
Also, you are to accompany her every time she has to go to Gilberta.
They said I'm banned from entering if you're not with me.
Banned?
I'm counting on you, Lutz.
I was just really upset, you know?
When I saw you doing calculations and talking about all that complicated stuff,
I felt like you didn't need me at all.
Lutz...
That's why I lashed out.
Sorry.
Oh, that was you lashing out?
Thank goodness. I thought you'd come to hate me.
I-I don't hate you!
Come on, let's go.
Lad! Looking after the lass is your number one priority!
Know that it's a vital mission that only you can handle, okay?
Only I can handle it?
That's right.
Do you think anyone other than you and her family could babysit this reckless lass?
Nope.
Do you think anyone here could do it?
Nope.
Then let me ask you:
do you think she can walk to the south gate today?
Should be fine as long as she doesn't walk too fast.
Excellent.
I'm letting you have a workshop close to the south gate.
Have Mark show you there.
Thank you!
We should move everything as soon as...
Don't do anything stupid! Just behave yourself!
I'll do the heavy lifting, so don't do anything that'd leave you in bed.
Please, just take care of your health.
From that look on your face, I bet all that went in one ear and out the other.
Huh? How'd you know?!
Sheesh!
At the time, I hadn't yet realized
that Lutz had completely stopped calling me "Main" since that day.
Next Chapter Lutz's Main
From this day onward, Lutz came to be highly valued as the Main Supervisor.
Well, I can certainly see why.
What's that supposed to mean?
Can you imagine how shocking it is to see you suddenly collapse?
I truly empathize with Benno and the others.
Oh, High Priest! I'll actually make plant-based paper next time,
so look forward to it!
Illustration by Chima