Published: August 3, 2025
After the knights order’s request, I naturally fell ill and was bedridden for several days. But falling ill at this time of year wasn’t particularly unusual, so my family didn’t say much. I just hoped that the high priest wasn’t once again taking on unnecessary responsibility by saying, “It’s my fault.”
By the time I was able to move again, autumn had deepened considerably, and it had become too cold to use river water for paper-making.
“Myne, alongside making paper, we started printing the picture books yesterday.”
Finally able to go outside after a long time, I headed toward the Gilberta Trading Company while listening to Lutz talk about the recent happenings at the Myne Workshop and among the attendants.
“Lutz, do you have an idea how many picture books we can make? And how much paper did we end up with?”
“Eighty is the limit. Including the paper currently being made, that’s eighty. We can definitely make about seventy-five or seventy-six with what we have now, but if we want to make them all at once, it’s better to have a few extra, right?”
“Yeah, thanks. It’s getting cold, so it must be tough, but do your best.”
According to Lutz’s calculations, the second volume of the children’s Sacred Scripture could produce eighty copies. If the priests who learned to print last time continue printing one after another, it likely won’t take long to complete.
What I have to consider now is the distribution channel for the picture books. I sighed slowly while looking down at my feet.
“…If we’re going to sell books, it’s better to establish a new association, isn’t it?”
“An association?”
“Yes. Like a printing association or publishing association… You can tell that the books owned by nobles until now are completely different from the ones we make at Myne Workshop, right?”
“Ah.”
The books that have existed here until now were each handwritten on parchment, gathered together. They contained colorful, delicate illustrations, and the leather-bound covers often featured gold leaf and jewels, making them high-value artistic works.
“The books we make have low artistic value. They’re picture books for children, after all…”
“It’s not just that — the production methods are completely different. The high priest told me this: the old books couldn’t be made in just one workshop.”
“Huh?”
Until now, each step in bookmaking—writing the text, drawing the illustrations, binding the pages together, making the leather cover, applying gold leaf or jewel decorations—was assigned to different craftsmen in different workshops. That’s why a single workshop dedicated solely to book production didn’t exist.
“The customer who wants a book brings the stack of paper to an artisan’s workshop to start the process. After the artisan binds the pages with thread, it goes to the leather workshop to make the cover. Then it’s taken to the workshop that can do gold or jewel decoration to be adorned.”
“That’s completely different from Myne Workshop.”
As Lutz said, the books made and sold at Myne Workshop, even though simplified, use printing technology. This allows producing many copies of the same book at once in a single workshop.
Since making and selling books will become a new business, securing profits and technology, and maintaining quality will require an association to oversee the business.
“First, I need to consult with Benno…”
“But, about what?”
If I sell books, through Lutz I would sell them at Gilberta Trading Company. Then, establishing the printing association as a new business would be up to Benno. I can’t imagine Benno would leave the printing association to someone else, but it might be quite a burden.
“The main business of Gilberta Trading Company, Rinshan’s workshop, the plant paper association and its workshop, the Italian restaurant we hope to finish by spring, and now the printing association. I worry he’ll overwork himself.”
Counting Benno’s work that I knew of on my fingers, I was shocked to realize I was involved in almost all of it. If Benno were to die from overwork, I might be the cause.