Published: August 3, 2025
The colored ink was finally something resembling what it should be. Although you can layer it on paper treated with a fixer without problems, mixing ink with ink on a palette turns it black, so it requires careful handling.
Anyway, it was a step forward.
“Ahh, it was done in no time,”
Unlike me, who was relieved and at ease, Heidi muttered with a disappointed look like a child whose fun was taken away. She had a great time conducting experiments, but she regretted that it ended before uncovering the cause.
Joseph sighed in exasperation and gently tapped Heidi’s head.
“The research funded by the young lady has produced colored ink, so it’s done now.”
“The important results have been obtained, and if you want to continue the research, I’ll provide some more funds.”
“Eh!?”
When I said that, Heidi’s face lit up with joy, while Joseph looked back at me incredulously.
“I believe that basic research on colored ink is important for making the colors brighter and increasing the number of colors. Since time is limited, I prioritized completing the colored ink, but if possible, it’s better to continue the research.”
Since I had no intention of figuring out the cause of the discoloration myself, I was more than happy if someone else could do it instead.
“Miss, you’re the best!”
“You’re spoiling Heidi way too much!”
“To me, both Heidi and Joseph are part of the gutenberg team.”
We also need ink specialists for printing. When I found new members and smiled smugly, Lutz held his head in his hands and said, “They just keep increasing.”
Heidi and Joseph blinked, tilting their heads.
“...Gu-...what did you say?”
“Gutenberg. A great man who revolutionized the history of books with achievements akin to those of a god. So far, Johann with metal movable type, Benno with plant-based paper, and Lutz who sells books are the gutenberg members in this town. Then there’s Ingo, who’s going to make the printing press, and Heidi and Joseph, who make the ink. I consider them all part of the gutenberg team. It’s only natural that I invest in gutenberg.”
I explained this proudly, but Joseph still looked confused. However, Heidi jumped up excitedly.
“Gutenberg, Joseph! It’s work, and they’ll fund it! I can research! Yippee!”
For now, colored ink was done. From now on, Heidi could research as much as she liked. Besides, if the cause is found, it might be useful, so I want her to keep researching ink.
“But the top priority is ink production. If you fail to deliver ordered ink on time, funding will be mercilessly cut off.”
“Eek!?”
Research fanatics often lose sight of everything else once they start. I had to impress the top priority and set penalties for failure to prevent runaway research.
“As expected from one of their kind. You know exactly what they might do.”
Lutz laughed, and Joseph covered his mouth, chuckling softly. Joseph promised to responsibly oversee Heidi’s research.
“Now that the colored ink is on track, the next thing I want is waxed base paper.”
The next thing I wanted to prepare was waxed base paper, essential for stencil printing. Since you can print exactly as you draw with an iron stylus, it should be easier to print the text parts of picture books than cutting out letters or assembling metal movable type.
Also, the pictures will have delicate lines printed, so Vilma’s illustrations might become even more wonderful.
“Isn’t the current stencil paper good enough?”
“It’s not that it’s no good. Picture books can be made with it. But if we can make waxed base paper, it increases the ways we can express things. Instead of carefully cutting stencil paper with a cutter, using an iron stylus to ‘carve’ is much easier, and fine lines can be used.”
To make waxed base paper, we need thin paper that’s translucent.
But we’ve only been making paper for two and a half years with Lutz, and less than a year for everyone in the orphanage. Making thin yet uniform paper, as opposed to the thicker picture book paper, is quite difficult. They tried at myne workshop, but failures still outnumber successes. The paper often tears when removing from the bamboo mat or when mounting it on boards for drying.