Main managed to survive, thanks to one of Frieda's magical items.
However...
A year, at most.
Having been told that her only way to live was to make an agreement with a noble,
she holds a family meeting.
Can I stay right here with my family?
She chooses to die with her family,
and vows to make the most of the year she has remaining.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Chapter Twelve Baptisms and Divine Paradises
Oh, so you decided not to work for Master Benno.
Yeah. When I spoke to Otto, he said...
Since you'll bring massive profits to the store,
you may be paid more than people who've worked there for more than a dozen years.
It'll cause all sorts of issues, I'm sure.
And I can only go to work when I'm feeling good, too.
He said that'd cause a lot of friction.
That's true, yeah.
Sorry I can't work with you, Lutz.
I think it's better that way.
If Main isn't joining, that means you don't have to either, Lutz.
It's not too late to find a craftsman—
Stop it, Mom!
I want to be a merchant!
And I'm gonna be one, with or without Main!
Lutz, you...
Do you really think you can do it when your father and I are against it?
I'm ready to be a live-in apprentice, if it comes down to it.
You have to live in an attic, in atrocious conditions,
and you'll practically work for free until you become a pro.
That's how live-in apprenticeships work.
There's no way you're capable of that!
I am! And I've already started preparing for it, too!
Why do you hate the idea of becoming a craftsman so much?
I mean, things will stay the same forever, if I do that.
What do you mean?
My brothers will take everything,
leaving me nothing to call my own.
But if I become a merchant,
I'll be able to savor the fruits of my hard work.
I wanna see what I'm capable of!
If you've given it that much thought, go on and give it your best shot.
Really?
Thanks, Mom!
And so, by the time spring rolled in,
Lutz and I had our plans set in stone.
Blessed be the melting of the snow.
May the Goddess of Spring’s boundless magnanimity grace you both.
Uh, what was that?
A celebratory spring greeting among merchants.
Blessed be the melting of the snow.
May the Goddess of Spring’s boundless... what?
May the Goddess of Spring’s boundless magnanimity grace you.
For your first attempt, that was perfect.
Thank you.
I mean Lutz.
It was time to break the news to Benno.
Very well. I'll cancel your apprenticeship, Main.
I'm sorry.
What do we do about this?
Keep it.
Sign an exclusive contract with us,
and you can conduct your business the same as before.
That marked the beginning of some very hectic days.
The workshop we'd been using officially became the Main Studio,
I sold the paper-making process to Benno,
and the Parchment Guild butted in on our business.
Vested Interest
Our paper's made from trees, so does that really apply?
If our plant-based paper took all the customers,
the parchment business would plummet, and they can't have that.
I applied to start a guild for plant-based paper to prevent any complaints,
but that old fart's just not approving it.
If we say official contracts have to be signed on parchment,
they won't complain since it'll secure their revenue some, right?
Compromise
Good thing the guild master gave his approval, huh?
Yeah. Now we can build a new factory.
Oh, Dad.
I'm Benno, from the Gilberta Company.
Oh, so it's you!
Thank you for helping my daughter out.
Mister Otto?
Benno looks like such a dad with you two in tow!
I'm single!
Main's my daughter!
Let's go.
I didn't know you were a bachelor.
Is that a problem?
Well, it's just, you run a big business,
so I was thinking you must be under a lot of pressure to marry.
Back when I wanted to marry, I had my hands full taking care of Corinna.
And by the time she got married and I was a free man,
the woman I wanted to marry was dead and gone.
I'm not getting married because I haven't found a woman better than her.
That's it, really.
What are you doing?
Just felt like it.
And while I taught Benno how to make paper,
got the Main Studio up and running,
and made preparations for Lutz's apprenticeship,
the seasons warmed up to summer.
Welcome, Main.
I baked some pound cake for you.
Thank you, Miss Ilse.
Let me know what you think.
The pound cake was already way more delicious than before,
but I traded information on how to improve it for a bag of sugar anyway.
Felsine peel, right?
Gotcha. I'll try it out.
With that out of the way...
Long time no see, Main.
I was so surprised when I saw you working at the Merchant Guild.
I'll be on my own when I open my store in the nobles' quarter,
so I've been apprenticing there to learn how everything works.
It's amazing how you think so long term.
You need to be thinking long term, too.
Common sense dictates that you should forget about Benno and join us.
Otto... Someone I know said the same thing,
that I should work for the guild master if I want to forge ties with nobility.
Then why aren't you?
I've been waiting for you!
Summer is almost here!
What are you planning to do?
You see, Frieda...
I've chosen to perish by my family's side.
I don't believe it.
Why?
Because I can't make magical items, I guess?
"If I need it, I'll just make it."
That's how I've always gotten anything I wanted.
But I can't make magical items, right?
Right. That's why you need an agreement...
But I don't want to make an agreement with a noble.
Aren't you scared of dying?
I didn't choose to die.
I just chose to be with my family.
I've made them worry so much for so long.
So I want to make and leave them lots of money before I go.
Then I'll buy the recipe for pound cake from you.
You will let me do that for you, won't you?
Thank you, Frieda.
I sold the exclusive rights to sell pound cake for a year to Frieda.
A year, correct?
Yep. Once that year is passed, I'll make the recipe public.
That'll make a delicious sweet available everywhere.
Oh, I guess I'll have to still be alive then, huh?
If I'm not,
I'll leave the decision to you.
If you don't want me monopolizing it,
you'd best make it public yourself in a year.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
You really do look like a rich girl.
And it seems you've grown a little.
The skirt is looking the perfect length now.
People keep calling me tiny, but I guess I have been growing.
Your swaying hair ornament is really pretty, too.
Thanks for helping me make it, Turi.
Main will be the prettiest girl at today's ceremonies!
Dad, you said the same thing for Turi's baptism.
Of course!
My daughters are the cutest in the world!
Lutz.
What's wrong?
No, uh...
My! You look like you belong to a wealthy family, Main.
Thank you, Missus Carla.
Okay, time to go.
Main! Lutz!
Congratulations!
A new hair ornament?!
Parents aren't allowed past this point.
Take care of Main for me, Lutz.
Sure, you got it.
Hey, Main.
That outfit and the hair ornament look really good on you.
You're so cute, it left me speechless.
Wh-Where did that come from?!
Let's go.
How cute.
It's like we're watching a little wedding.
No, Main!
Oh, they're doing the thing you hate.
Everyone's signing with their blood.
Ugh, you're right.
Looks like we're being registered for something.
Oh, citizenship!
Next.
Come this way.
Hold out your hand with your palm facing upward.
O-Okay.
Press your fingertip on that medallion.
You're all set.
Main!
Over here!
Yeah.
Coming.
The High Priest is here.
Lutz, a book!
I see a book!
That's a book?
It looks nothing like what you were making.
It seems really expensive.
It's a book...
Let me tell you about the gods that created this world.
The lonesome God of Darkness met the Goddess of Light...
The lonesome God of Darkness met the Goddess of Light,
and the two gave birth to the Goddess of Water,
the God of Fire,
the Goddess of Wind,
and the Goddess of Earth,
thus creating our world.
Later, the God of Life fell in love at first sight with the Goddess of Earth,
and the two of them married.
However, he stole her power and sealed her in ice and snow,
thus bringing winter.
The Goddess of Light thawed the ice,
and the Goddess of Water swept the ice and snow away along with the God of Life,
thus allowing offspring to bud in the spring.
The God of Fire helps the budding lives flourish in the summer.
While the Goddess of Wind keeps the God of Life at bay,
harvests are completed in the fall.
And then returns winter, the season of the God of Life.
The God of Fire rules over summer,
and bestows his divine protection through development and guidance.
I so wanna read this myself!
We shall now demonstrate the right way to worship.
Watch carefully.
We offer the Gods our prayers!
It's the Glico running man pose! Why that pose?
Into a kowtow?!
Oh god, that's hilarious.
Now, stand up and join us.
We offer the Gods our prayers!
No way! I can't!
Main? Why didn't you say you weren't feeling good?
Are you okay?
It's not that.
I-I'm fine.
What's the matter?
She seems to be feeling unwell. She suddenly collapsed.
We'll have her rest at once.
This is clearly a room meant for rich folk.
I bet my outfit is the cause.
I can't stay here forever.
I'll miss the ceremony.
Huh? I don't remember seeing this place before...
No, this isn't the right way.
Excuse me. I seem to be lost.
I see.
Please wait here. I'll take you to the prayer hall.
I will. Thank you very much.
So many books...
Part of it's like a chained library, too.
It's an actual library.
I offer the Gods my prayers!
I offer the Gods my thanks!
Now, then.
Pardon me...
Ugh!
Ow!
What is this?
An invisible wall?
But the books are right there...
No!
Hey, let me in!
I want in!
I can't.
I wanna read, but I can't get in!
Only cathedral staff have permission to enter.
You mean I can read these if I become cathedral staff?
I'll do it! I want to!
How do I join?!
Could you tell me why you want to be an apprentice priestess?
Because this place has a library!
A library?
You seem to be misunderstanding something.
The cathedral is a place of worship,
and priests and priestesses are servants of the Gods.
Besides,
if a child from a family like yours wishes to work here,
a sizable donation would be a good indicator of your passion.
A donation?
I guess they think I'm rich.
One large gold is the most I can offer.
L...
A large gold coin?
Is that too much?
It's how much I'm free to spend.
Uh... Have your parents agreed to your working here?
I'll have to talk to them now.
If they object, come see me at once.
I'll help you out.
Thank you.
Also, you can read the scriptures stored here,
so feel free to drop by anytime.
Really? Yay!
I offer the Gods my prayers!
I got too worked up...
Next Chapter The Choice to be an Apprentice Priestess
You finally got screen time!
My screen time doesn't matter.
I can't believe you charged headfirst into the cathedral's library.
Can't you be a bit more rational?
Impossible! I mean, it's a library!
A god-given paradise on earth!
How could I not get excited?!
Settle down. It's not certain that you'll be able to join yet.
Illustration by Kuramoto Kaya