Ascendance of a Bookworm

After collapsing right in front of the head priest, I was escorted back to my room by a gray-robed priest summoned by him, and a shrine maiden was assigned to watch over me so I wouldn’t wander off on my own.

As a result, I couldn’t sneak off alone to the bathroom and had to rely on the shrine maiden’s help.

Feeling tearful about being monitored by someone else during such a private act, and overwhelmed by the shame and guilt of making her clean up after me, I couldn’t even look her in the eye. I wanted to bury my head under the covers and writhe around, but my body was too weak even for that.

Lying stretched out on the bed, disappointed in myself for all the things I couldn’t do, Lutz, having finished the baptism ceremony, came to check on me. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the guarded, tense atmosphere in the beautiful room, and he quickly came over to my bedside.

“What the hell did you do, Myne!?”

“Umm, I got lost looking for water… and then collapsed.”

I slowly lifted my head from the bed and gave a rough explanation. Lutz looked at me with a damp gaze, crossed his arms, and shook his head.

“That’s not all, is it? Tell me everything.”

“Ugh… Well, I found the library and got excited…”

He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head in confusion mid-sentence.

“The library? What’s that?”

“It’s a paradise on earth made by the gods.”

“Huh?”

“…A room full of books.”

“Oh… Okay, never mind. I get the gist without you saying more.”

Lutz pressed a hand to his forehead and waved his other hand dismissively. With the conversation cut short, I reached for the hair ornament by the bedside to get ready.

“You didn’t tell him the important part, right? That you collapsed after appealing directly to the head priest, young lady.”

As I twisted my hair up, the shrine maiden assigned to watch us shrugged with an exasperated look since she had overheard our conversation.

Lutz, clearly aggravated, pinched and pulled at my cheek sharply.

“What are you doing, idiot!”

“Sorry. I guess I got a bit too excited.”

I wished I could have handled things more calmly and rationally, but as things turned out, it was fine. It seems I’m likely to become a shrine maiden apprentice, and I was even allowed to read the Sacred Scripture in the head priest’s room. I’m reflecting on it, but I don’t regret it.

“Before you do anything else reckless, let’s go home.”

Lutz carried me on his back, and the shrine maiden led us out of the temple. Outside, my father was waiting in the square in front of the temple, looking irritated.

“…So you have someone to pick you up. Well then, I’ll be going.”

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

I was carried home by my father. Listening to Lutz briefly report today’s events to him, I gradually drifted off to sleep, lulled by the gentle rocking.

“I’m going to finish the contract at the shop first, then I’ll come back.”

Lutz’s voice brought me back to consciousness as we arrived in front of Benno’s shop. In this state, I couldn’t possibly stop by Benno’s shop. We parted ways here—Lutz to report and finalize his apprenticeship contract, and me with my father.

Mark, noticing us, came out to greet me. I waved from my father’s back.

“Thanks for today, Mark. I can’t stop by the shop now, but I’ll come again.”

“Take care.”

“Lutz, make sure to get your contract done properly.”

“Yeah. And you, make sure you rest.”

Waving back to Lutz and Mark, I returned home with my father.

After a slightly luxurious dinner to celebrate, we sat down for tea as I faced my father. I needed to tell him about my desire to become a shrine maiden apprentice.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Yes?”

He took a sip of his tea.

“I’m thinking of becoming a shrine maiden apprentice at the temple.”

My father’s smile vanished instantly.

The next moment, a loud bang echoed as he slammed his cup on the table. The tea inside splashed onto the table as he jerked back, startling me. His low, threatening voice sent chills down my spine.