Ascendance of a Bookworm

To make a picture book using woodblock prints, boards are needed. I went to report to Benno and decided to order ten boards for the prints.

“Good morning, Benno-san.”

“What are you planning to do this time?”

I went enthusiastically to meet him, only to be looked at as if I were some kind of shady character. However, burning with passion for book-making, I ignored that look and raised my hand decisively.

“Yes! I’m going to make a picture book using ‘woodblock prints’!”

“Hangaa?”

“Yes, if you carve into wood, uneven parts form, right? Then, if you spread ink thickly on top and press paper down from above, only the raised parts get inked, and you can print pictures or text onto the paper.”

Quickly, I took out a stone slab, drew a cross-section of wood with bumps, drew ink lines over it, and then drew paper lines on top. Benno, glaring at the slab, furrowed his brows deeply.

“…I get what you mean, but ink is expensive, you know? How much do you need?”

At Benno’s words, all the blood drained from my face.

Even though small bottles only cost four small silver coins, and the price was kept lower than parchment, paper was still expensive. I had been rushing forward on the exhilaration of making a book, but when considering the cost, making multiple picture books would be impossible. At best, I could make printed handouts, not textbooks.

“Ugh, I didn’t calculate the cost.”

“Idiot! What kind of merchant doesn’t calculate costs!?”

“…I’m a shrine maiden apprentice, after all.”

I muttered softly, and was wordlessly pinched hard on the cheek. He showed no mercy even to a little girl.

“Ow, ow!”

“Shut up.”

Benno sometimes acts so immature. Rubbing the cheek he finally let go of, I asked him to introduce me to an ink workshop.

“For now, please introduce me to an ink workshop so I can consider quantity and price.”

“Got it.”

“…In the worst case, we might have to start making ink ourselves. I don’t even know if there’s ink suitable for printing…”

Even making a book had a long way to go. The feeling of excitement drained out with a sigh.

“You can make ink too?”

“…Like with paper, I know how to make it. Before, I couldn’t get the materials, but now I think I can manage to gather them myself. We also have more hands now… Though there will be trial and error regarding the formula and how it actually works, I believe if we take enough time, we can manage.”

“I see…”

When I was leaving the shop, Mark called me and reported that the karuta boards for the orphanage had been given to Lutz.

After signing the receipt, I headed to the temple carrying the boards. I was going to deliver them to Wilma and ask her to paint pictures on them. While at it, I wanted to be healed by that saint-like smile.

When I arrived at the temple, it wasn’t Fran but Gil who was waiting by the gate. Lately, Gil has been spending more time at the Myne workshop, so seeing him here was rare.

Seeing me, Gil relaxed and softened his expression.

“Good morning, Myne-sama.”

“Good morning, Gil. It’s been a while since I saw you here. Is something wrong?”

“…Something’s about to happen. Delia was waiting for you with a terrifying face.”

Hearing that, I felt as if all movement around me had stopped.

“Fran is holding her back for now, but it’s only a matter of time before she explodes. Complaints are popping up like sprouts.”

“…What happened?”

“The new attendant… Rosina, right? Well, there’s something going on.”

With a sigh, Gil looked unusually tired.

What could have happened between Delia and Rosina while I was in the forest yesterday? Is it the kind of thing where old pets get jealous when you get new ones? A territorial dispute, maybe?

I’ve never kept pets, so I only had book knowledge about this, but as I recalled how to handle it properly, I arrived at my room.

Gil opened the door and let me in as usual. Inside, the elegant sound of Fischpiel echoed.

…Both of them are more like cats than dogs, aren’t they? If I had to compare, Delia is like a capricious calico cat that changes moods quickly, and Rosina is like a proud but calm Maine Coon, isn’t she?