Ascendance of a Bookworm

I naturally fell asleep after the Knights' request. I slept for a few days, but it's not very uncommon to sleep at this time of year, so my family didn't say anything in particular. I just hope the clergyman hasn't shouldered the unnecessary responsibility of "it's my fault" again.

By the time I was able to move, the autumn was getting rather deeper and it was getting harsher and colder to make paper out of river water.

"Mine, in parallel with paper making, because I started printing picture books yesterday"

Having been able to get out for a long time, I was listening from Lutz as I headed to the Guilberta Chamber of Commerce about the recent state of Mine Workshop and Side Service.

"Lutz, do you know how many books you're going to be able to do? How much paper did you end up with?

"That's the limit of 80 books. Put in the paper you're making right now, 80. 75 or 76 for sure just for a minute now, but if you want to make it all at once, you'd better have a little more, right?

"Yeah, thanks. I know it's getting cold, but good luck."

The second episode of the Children's Bible, according to Lutz's calculations, can make 80 books. If the clerics who learned how to imprint it last time imprinted one after the other, it wouldn't take that many days to complete it.

Then all I have to think about is the sales channels of the picture books. I sighed slowly as I looked at my feet.

"... If you're selling a book, you should create a new association."

"Association?"

"Yes. Printing associations, publishing associations... You know the books that nobles have so far are completely different from the Mine Workshop books that we make, right?

"Ah."

Every book that ever existed here is a compilation of handwritten parchment. It is only natural that the book contains colourful and delicate illustrations and that the skinned cover has a high artistic value, even with gold leaves and gems.

"The books we're making are of low artistic value. It's a picture book for kids..."

"That's not all, it's a completely different way of making it. This is what the Chief Cleric taught me, but the books so far are not what you can do in one workshop."

"To?"

Until now, the person who writes the body, the person who draws the picture, the person who sews the paper together to form the body of the contents, the person who makes the cover of the skin, the person who performs the fine work of gold leaves and gemstones on the cover… In all the processes, the different craftsmen of the different workshops were entrusted one process at a time to make a single book. For this reason, there seems to be no such thing as a workshop for making books.

"For the first time, a customer who wants a book brings a bunch of paper that they want to make into a book to a mechanic's workshop. When the mechanic finishes stitching the paper using yarn, he goes to the skincare workshop to make the cover. Take it to a workshop where you can work on gold and jewelry and have it decorated."

"It's nothing like Mine Workshop."

Rutz is right, the books he makes and sells in Mine Workshop use printing techniques, albeit simple, so he can do many of the same things in one workshop at once.

More than making and selling a book becomes a new business, we need an association to lead the business in order to secure profits and technology and preserve quality.

"First, I need to talk to Mr. Benno..."

"But what?

If I were to sell the book, through Lutz, I would sell it at the Guilberta Chamber of Commerce. In doing so, it is Benno who must set up a printing association as a new business. I don't even think that Benno would leave the printing association to others, but would it be a considerable burden?

"The main Gilberta Chamber of Commerce, the Lincian's workshop, the Botanical Paper Association and its workshop, an Italian restaurant that I hope will be finished in the spring, plus the Printing Association, right? I'm too busy to break my body, I worry."

I counted Benno's work to the best of my knowledge and was almost stunned that I was involved. If Mr. Benno died of overwork, wouldn't I be the cause?

Lutz looked sinister at me blue-blue.

"I'm keeping you busy because it's what my husband likes and does. Mr. Marc won't stop, so he says it's still okay."

Given the relationship between those two people, Benno, who likes and keeps busy, and Marc, who fully follows it, it's probably Marc who's having the hardest time.

"Good morning, Mr. Benno"

"Mine! What the hell did you do!?

Benno's thunder exploded the moment Marc let him through to the back room. I have no recollection at all, and I shake my head as I sift, making my eyes black and white.

"Hey, what is it!? I haven't done anything yet!?

I brought the printing association story, but I haven't done anything yet, and I'm here to talk to Benno, so it shouldn't be about getting angry.

"A request has come from a senior nobleman. I need you to tailor your ritual costume as soon as possible. I'm not supposed to be doing anything!

In those words I struck a hand with a pong, having regard to the senior nobleman whom I had asked.

"Ah, a senior aristocrat, is that Master Calstead? You're the leader of the Knights, but you kept your word properly. Good."

"Not good! I was suddenly summoned by a senior nobleman and my heart stopped! Report anything as soon as you can, you idiot!

To Benno's words, I blued in an instant, imagining that I had been put in the situation. It's nothing but fear to suddenly receive a call from a senior nobleman for something you don't remember.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I had a fever and I fell, and I didn't care that much."

Besides, I haven't even been able to tell Rutz what I'm worried about, as he was told by the clergy chief, Calstead and Fran, who are tough with the extraoral law to relate to the Knights. I didn't think of reporting it to Benno.

"Well, fine. It was bad for my heart, but I had a connection to a senior nobleman. Because of this, I will make the most of this opportunity.... Nevertheless, your costume must have just been done the other day, right? What happened to that one?

I dropped my shoulders, remembering the ritual costumes that had worn me out.

"I can't tell you because I was told that it's basically an out-of-mouth law to relate to the Knights"

"Then you have no choice. Sometimes it's better not to know anything extra even over here. So, if it's not about the costume, what can I do for you this time?

When I made X in front of my chest and refused to explain, Benno scratched his head with Gasigasi and gave him a once convincing look.

"I started making a second episode of the Children's Bible, so I thought we should talk about sales channels. When you made the new plant paper, you created the Plant Paper Association. I thought we might need to create a printing association this time..."

Looking at the book board, explaining the need for the printing association I had in mind, Benno nodded several times, stroking his jaw.

"A printing association?... sooner or later you'll need it, and it's not funny that someone grabbed your rights, so you should make it from the beginning. Mine, how many books can you sell here right now?

"...... I can turn what I'm going to make into a textbook, so I can sell 20 copies for what I'm making before"

After all, I didn't sell it when I bought clothes, so if I wanted to sell it this time, I could sell 20 books. Except for five copies handed out in the dedication and five in the orphanage cafeteria, they remain stacked in the workshop.

"Lutz, go to the workshop and get it. Without the in kind, permission would be dropped for the establishment of a printing association"

"Yes!"

Lutz rushes to the temple.

I was left with questions from Benno about the matters necessary for the documents for the establishment of the association. Benno, who writes Gashigashi and the paperwork for the application, seems really busy, and he thinks he's looking at the wrinkles between his eyebrows that it's bad to get more work than this.

"... you also create a printing association, Mr. Benno is too busy, isn't he? Are you all right, sir?

"It's not something you worry about. Besides, I just created a printing association, and I don't think there's much more printing studios, huh?

I blinked at the words of Benno, who said lightly that there would be no other workshop for the time being to be registered except Mine Workshop.

"Huh? Why not? If you don't get more printing workshops, you won't get more books."

"Firstly, there are few buying layers. The plant paper workshop itself is still scarce. I haven't even spread the way I make ink, so I don't have the ink to print it. No, it's because it's exhaustive. It will be your exclusive business for a while. [M] Then I'm not very busy just building associations."

The plant paper association had vested interests, and Benno himself was trying to build a workshop before new entries, so it was very busy and difficult, but the printing association doesn't have all the materials for printing, so it doesn't seem to increase for the time being. I don't know what that means.

"... I'm glad Mr. Benno isn't busy, but I'm not at all happy that the Printing Association isn't thriving"

"Whether or not the printing society gets busy is a question of how acceptable the book is."

Benno shrugs as he prepares his crisps and paperwork. I answered, thinking of the literacy rate and the purchasing layer.

"I think the children's Bible can be sold to aristocrats with small children… especially to lower and intermediate aristocrats who are not so wealthy. So for a while now, we're going to be making pictures of God's stories and knights' stories."

"Why?

"… it is imperative for the aristocracy to remember God's name"

I thought while I was asleep with fever. About the magical weapons and healing rituals and God's blessings that the Knights used during the Trombe Crusade.

The glowing tact we all had is probably a catalyst for using magic, and changing its shape is not difficult if it has magic. But to use it as God's blessing, as a healing ritual, as an absurd magic or a sorcery, you should need God's name.

My blessings could also be coincidental by mentioning God's name, and God's name appeared in prayer complaints that were difficult to remember. Prayer complains were also imperative to obtain the blessing of the Dark God for the weapon.

In other words, in an aristocratic society, it is necessary to remember the name of God in order to use massive magic.

"Nobles definitely have to remember God's name. Besides, you have to remember the names of the gods, too, the clerks in the big stores who seem to be dating nobles, right? Because Mr. Benno also used God's name in his greeting to the Chief Cleric. For that kind of study, and if you complain about the sale, I think you can sell it to noblemen and big store merchants."

"... I've known the aristocrats. You say, so I don't think the focus is bad. But it doesn't look good as it is now. Again, you should put it on the cover of the skin"

I shook my head slowly at Benno's point.

"No, Mine Workshop books, I'll go like that. I think people who need a skinned cover should, as usual, have it brought to a skinned workshop themselves"

"What's the reason?

Guillaume and Benno turn their sharp eyes to me. I stood up my index finger.

"The first is the decentralization of work. If you were to place an order through the Gilberta Chamber of Commerce, you would concentrate your request on a single workshop. It's not a good idea for one workshop to monopolize work, even considering delivery times, quality maintenance, and competition principles."

"Speaking of which, you didn't like to decide exclusively."

Benno frowned and said so. From Italian restaurant-related interactions, it seems that in Benno I do not like to have an exclusive.

"I don't hate anything. I don't mind having a shop. But I just don't like the lack of accommodation that I can't ask for anywhere else, even though I know that workshop holds too much work. And I think the focus on one thing will be on the extra bits."

When I pointed my lips, Benno snorted with hun.

"What's next?

"The second is the preference of the customer. If you're a book that pays dearly, you want to do what you want, don't you? Then I think it would be more satisfying to have it made to the customer's liking. Providing only the contents would also eliminate the hassle of peeling off the cover, rather than putting the appropriate skinned cover on this one? Mine workshop books are just spelled out in thread, so it's easy to solve and easy to process."

With two fingers up and explaining, I think about the second book making. I was going to use the glue that I made and put my back on tightly, but if I were to assume that it would be processed, it might be in good condition to just fasten it with yarn.

"The third is time. If you make the cover look good, it will take time to make one. The advantage of Mine Workshop is that the same book can be done in a short period of time at once, so taking the time to make the cover is bad in terms of aligning the numbers. Besides, if you want to spend enough time on the cover, you want to keep getting more and more book types."

I want more books than one fine book, more books. I don't like to wait long enough to get it up. I understand it's totally personal, but I don't want to give in.

"The fourth is the price. If it's not cheap, even the narrow and small purchasing layer won't spread. For one thing, it's most important that you buy a book. Besides, even poor aristocrats who want to look good can buy it if they can make excuses for having it processed but the workshop is busy, and some customers, like me, need content and don't show interest on the outside."

As I lined up my reasons for not skinning the cover, Benno slapped his temples with his fingertips with a complex expression.

"I see your passion for lowering the book's value and price as much as possible and selling it widely. It's the exact opposite of thinking about merchants who want to hoist their value and monopolize their profits."

Benno says it's normal to be attentive to appearance in order to increase the value of the product, increase the value with a scorch that's hard to buy, and profit by hoisting the price a bit.

"... no?

"No, it's not that bad if you're going to do business in this city alone, anyway, if you want to do business widely in this city here and there. It would be nice to push a different side to the front than previous books."

That's what Benno said and exhaled slowly. He then looks at me with his sharp reddish brown eyes as a merchant.

"This is my business as a merchant... but as far as books are concerned, I feel I should make you like it as much as possible. But unlike all the merchants I've ever known, I wanted to pull a reason out of you that I was comfortable with."

That's what Benno said, allowing me to sell the Mine Workshop books as they were in Japanese.

"Well, let's go ahead and sell it in thin profits."

"No, I take profit exactly. Sell it wide on top of that, Idiot."

By the time the application documents were ready, Lutz came back with a book in his bag. I sold it to Benno and I got three large gold coins.

To cheapen the book, it's still going to take some time to sigh half-side, my nose moisturizes and leaks a ho relief breath as well. Now, by the time it starts snowing, I think I'll be able to buy some more food for both the orphanage and my room.

Mine, we're going to the commercial guild.

"Huh."

Let Lutz hold the book and hold me up as usual for walking slowly, Benno headed to the commercial guild.

A wagon carrying harvested crops is crossing the street. More peasants come to sell their crops in the city where winter begins, and there are tons of shoppers, smelling of cow fat making candles from all over the city and smelling.

"Mr. Benno, do you think a candle that smells less for nobility can sell?

I hear rich aristocrats use beeswax, but they may sell it if they become aristocrats who want to save money. Remembering the herbaceous candles made in the orphanage, I asked Benno.

Benno hoists his eyebrows like he says, What are you going to say?

"Candles with less odor, you say?

"Oh, that Ensemble, the one that mixes the herbs in? I don't know because I haven't used it yet, but the candle itself smells less than normal."

"Lutz! They haven't reported us!

Benno barked. Lutz turned his eyes round and tilted his neck.

"Huh?... I talked to you when I reported on the winter support for the orphanage. At the same time, I think my husband wasn't listening because he was conscious of making glue."

"Oh... that's possible"

For Benno, glue making seems to have been a rarer attraction than candle making. Although there is glue here as well, I don't bother to make it myself unless I often buy what I need when I need it and it's also the workshop I need to make the product.

"I'm not 'salting' around us because I'm poor, and I wondered if the candles the millionaires are buying are 'salting'. Is the candle used by Mr. Benno light yellow? Is it white?

"That's a light yellow. Half cow fat and beeswax..."

"So the candles bought by the millionaires have not been 'salted' either?"

He said that Benno's winter support can almost be done with money. If Benno doesn't know, you can assume that there are no salted candles in this city.

"We don't bother to make it, so it looks like we should sell the method to a wax workshop or association."

"Well, in the spring, let's go to the wax workshop, sell the information, and get Rowe to help us make the original paper."

With such talk, we go up to the third floor through the second floor of a commercial guild where people are in and out of heavily.

As Benno talked about registration wanting to create a new printing association, Frieda, who found me, came out of the back. Rocking the cherry twin tail, Fluffy smiling Frieda feels much more grown-up because of her growing taller than she saw at the beginning of the summer.

"Well! Good day, Mine"

"Frieda, it's been a while. How's Katorkar selling?

The last time I saw Frieda was at Katorkar's tasting. The tasting was a huge success, and I hadn't seen him since I heard about Cattle Carl's name, flavor, and the Ilse and Frieda names he made.

"The sale is going great. The nobles also like it. I can hear you saying there are no other treats. Mine, can I get you anything? I'll buy it for the right price, okay?

Take your gaze off Frieda, who laughs at Nico and twists the recipe, and watch Benno. I understand it was rejected because I was so excited to be stripped of my eyes. If it was time for the lack of money a while back, I would have sold the wheels. It's important to have room for your nostalgia.

"Mr. Benno's gonna be mad at me, and I'm moisturizing my nostrils today, so I'll see you next time."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Frieda put her hand on her cheek with a look that seemed so unfortunate that she knew Benno would not give her permission.

"... I was worried to hear that Mine had entered the temple, but you look fine. Are you okay with the fever? Did you find anyone noble to sign the contract with?

"Thank you for worrying. Eaters are fine so far. I didn't know you had plans for a contract with nobles. Because I want to be with my family."

"Really? There must be plenty of applications, right?

Frieda tilts her neck strangely. I leaned my neck the same way. Nobles have never signed up for a contract.

"It's okay because I don't have an application, and I'm not willing to sign a contract. Besides, we'll have a brother or sister in the spring. I can't make a deal with nobility to be your sister, can I?

If I sign the contract now, I won't even be able to see the face of the baby I'm going to have. I absolutely don't like that situation.

"Well, congratulations, tell your mother. Then, if you have time, go play. Ilse is waiting."

"... um, I'm busy for a while. Lots to do."

I've been busy since I started going to the temple. Except for the days when you're falling and resting, there's so much to do that there's no such thing as daunting at home.

"Is it something to do with setting up a new association that's busy?

"That's right. Because that's what I want to do most."

Now I cut the thick paper, I make the paper, but I also want to print the Gali edition, and I want to get my hands on printing the hard copy. Paper needs to be improved, and ink needs to be improved. My head is full of books, busy, but fun.

"Mine wants to do the most...... book, is it?

"Yeah! I got a book. We're going to make and sell a lot of them. Buy Frieda, too."

Frieda shook her head loosely, smiling bitterly at my words.

"I can't promise you without looking at the real thing."

"Well, you're right"

I take a book of children's scriptures out of Lutz's luggage and give it to Frieda. I grew up as a lady and wanted to know how much I appreciated it from Frieda, who also had sharp eyes as a merchant.

"This is the real thing. What do you say?"

You thought the same thing as me, Benno, who was in the process, stopped his hand and moved his gaze to Frieda.

"... that's definitely a book. But is it just the contents?

Frieda asks looking at the parallax and the contents. For those of you who are used to the book here, it seems that the cover of the paper is not the cover.

"Once the flower paper is the cover. The cover of the skin is your own workshop, and you're going to have it made the way you want it. If you don't have a workshop in Gilberta, I can introduce you to it."

It's good to be able to build something other than the workshop introduced by the Gilberta Chamber of Commerce, Frieda said while taking a glimpse of Benno.

"Mine, how much is this book?

To the words of Frieda I turned my gaze to Benno. I do not know how much Benno intends to multiply his own interests.

"One small gold coin and eight large silver coins. You want to buy it?"

"Yeah, I'll take it."

Instant Frieda matches the cards with Benno and buys a children's Bible. Freeda, which can be bought instantly, is amazing, but so is Benno, who profits from three large silver coins in a single book. Maybe we should have raised the price a little bit and secured more of this profit.

To me, frustrated that I cannot be a merchant, Frieda closes her picture book with patari and smiles with a nickel.

"Mine, the next picture book is a good one with more details about each season. It's hard for me to remember the family of the Gods."

In this Children's Bible, we are talking about the Supreme God and the five gods related to the season. It has not come out with regard to the families of the five gods.

By stating her request, Frieda offered me what knowledge millionaire children and aristocratic children wanted. When such a request is made, the next picture book is easy to make.

"Thank you, Frieda. Next time, I'll make a family picture book."

I will put out the calligraphy board and make a note of it. Frieda looked lightly at him as he watched the thing. Peek into the book board and keep an eye on the pen.

"Mine, what is that? Mr. Benno has rights again?

"... you're a really sharp lady"

Benno exhaled a caged sigh of admiration, and Frieda exhaled a sigh of dismay.

"I'm not sorry you couldn't hold Mine first. No matter how profitable you are, you're not helping at all."

Benno then finishes the process while he's lightly public speaking with Frieda. It takes days for registration to complete, so I'm done doing my job in the Alliance.

"See you, Frieda."

I waved to Frieda and walked myself until I went down the stairs.

But there are so many people upstairs that Benno will hold them up and move on so they don't get messed up. A loud voice rang out of the crowd upstairs as Benno stepped out to just poke him through.

"Wait! Wait! Gilberta, lady of the Chamber of Commerce!

To his voice I will face Benno.

"... Mr. Corinna has a passionate fan, right?"

"Idiot. I'm holding you up, so you'll be the only one. Don't run away from reality."

'Cause in a lot of places like this, they call me out loud, and I don't want to respond, even though I'm not the daughter of the Gilberta Chamber of Commerce.

"In the meantime, let's go outside because our surrounding gaze hurts. If you really have business, I think you're coming after me."

In haste of Benno, we left the commercial guild early on. The owner of the shout will follow us as expected.

In the central square, where he left the building of the guild, Benno stopped and lowered me.

Turn around and look back, a mid teenage boy with bright orange habit hair tied to one behind him jumps out of the guild building and runs.

"Lady of the Gilberta Chamber of Commerce! Be my patron!

Kneeling in front of the fountain in Central Square, it was Johann boy in the blacksmith's workshop who shouted so.