Ascendance of a Bookworm (本好きの下剋上 司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません)

While the Archduke and his wife are away,

Rosemyne must stay behind in the castle

to supply mana to the Foundation.

Wow, so this is the teleportation room!

Rosemyne. Wilfried. I'm leaving the castle in your care.

Bonifatius will be staying here as the acting lord while we're gone.

He's your grandfather, Rosemyne.

He was a part of the list of nobles I had to memorize!

Grandfather Bonifatius!

I'm Bonifatius.

He definitely looks like brawn over brains...

I look forward to working with you, Lord Bonifatius.

It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Rosemyne.

May I pray for a blessing upon this meeting,

guided by the pure and flowing waters of the Goddess Fruhtrane?

You may.

O Goddess of Water Fruhtrane.

May you bestow a blessing upon this new encounter.

Was my greeting strange?

You should turn to Bonifatius, should anything happen.

Yes. Yes.

I'll be able to read all I want for the next two weeks

until my adoptive parents come back...

Yahoo!

Then, we're off.

They vanished!

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Episode 17 Holding the Fort During the Archduke Conference

Good morning, Little Princess.

Little Princess, what kind of position is that?!

It's time to get up, Princess!

After breakfast,

I work on building up my stamina, as well as studying.

Even walking is hard for her?

In the afternoon, I practice embroidery.

After dinner, we supply mana.

Apparently, Grandfather isn't supplying any in order to conserve his mana.

Other than that, it's reading time.

It's time for bed, Princess!

Princess, about today's schedule...

I will go to the library during my free time.

It is more important to focus on the preparations for the debut tea party.

Things have gotten troublesome...

I heard you've come up with a new outfit for Brigitte?

Do show me what kind of style you intend to make the latest trend?

I'll leave all the preparations to you, Rihyarda.

No. This is a perfect opportunity for you to learn

how to make the arrangements for a tea party.

It is a tea party hosted by you, after all.

My reading time...

With Mother and Rihyarda's help, I prepared for the day of the tea party.

Lady Rosemyne, your chef is truly skilled.

Thank you kindly.

My children have learned quite a few characters

thanks to the karuta you created, Lady Rosemyne.

Thank you kindly.

Welcome, everyone.

Today, there is an outfit I would like to show all of you.

My, it looks so lovely!

It makes her look so feminine.

I want this dress as well!

Brigitte, it suits you beautifully.

I'm sure a gentleman will wish

to gift you a feystone once they see that unadorned neckline.

Please don't tease me.

Damuel! They say she needs a feystone!

With this outfit, I am sure a gentleman captivated by Brigitte

will definitely appear.

Isn't that right, everyone?

This outfit was specifically designed for her

and does not rely on current trends.

I believe it is best to wear an outfit that makes you look your absolute best,

rather than force yourself to follow the current trend.

Now I can finally read!

A letter has arrived from Angelica's parents, Princess.

Angelica's?

Lady Rosemyne, I've returned.

Welcome home, Angelica.

I heard you have passed all of your courses.

Yes, thanks to everyone's help.

With this, all of our efforts...

Have finally paid off!

Apparently, tutoring Angelica, who hates studying,

was as difficult as subjugating a trombe.

Then, I will give Angelica my mana as her reward.

Yes, please.

It's longer than I expected.

I thought it was the length of a dagger.

The length of the blade changes depending on the mana infused into it.

A longer blade is more advantageous when fighting against feybeasts.

I see.

Then, I just need to infuse it with enough mana to make it longer?

Also, I would like it to acquire elemental affinities I lack.

When you register your mana during your baptism ceremony,

it takes on the sacred color of the gods you have elemental affinities with.

Since Angelica has the affinities of fire and wind,

she wants her blade to gain the affinities of the other elements.

I'm not good at compensating for my shortcomings,

so I would like someone else to make up for them.

I understand.

Angelica lacks intellect, so she needs to listen to the opinions of others

and someone to scold her when she does something wrong.

Wait, that's not a sword anymore, but the high priest.

What are you doing over there?!

Scolded. I'm definitely getting scolded.

If too much of another's mana flows into their sword,

the weapon becomes difficult for the original owner to control.

What were you planning to do if the ownership shifted from Angelica to you?

Um, well...

I'd order the manablade to follow Angelica's orders.

It would listen to its master's commands, right?

As expected of you, Lady Rosemyne.

I would be able to wield a very strong manablade in that case!

You...

Fool!

Master, you don't understand a single thing.

The manablade is speaking...

Is this your doing?

I'm being falsely accused!

That is correct.

I was born in part thanks to the mana and desires

of my master's master, Lady Rosemyne.

So you were at fault, after all.

What did you wish for?

I wished for her to gain some intelligence...

I never expected something like this to happen!

It was not just because of my master's master.

I came into existence because you channeled

some of your mana into me as well.

You also channeled mana into it, Lord Ferdinand?

Just a little. Only to confirm there weren't any serious issues.

Then, you were the one who gave the finishing blow, Lord Ferdinand!

You are clearly the one at fault here!

Angelica, I'm very sorry.

I didn't think it would evolve in such an unfortunate way...

No.

No other blade will remember things in my place

and teach me things like this one.

I hope to continue treasuring Stenluke.

Stenluke?

That's the name of this manablade.

Yes. I shall provide the knowledge my master lacks.

Are you really sure? It will become incredibly naggy, you know?

Dat hurtsh!

After that, the conversation turned to how Stenluke would acquire knowledge.

Reference books for students?

Yes. I remember you mentioning that you were studying military strategy

using gewinnen and Brother Eckhard gave you his study materials from his time

at the Royal Academy when he passed by?

Yes...

I think we could create a reference book if we gathered materials

from people who've graduated from the Royal Academy.

I see. That's a good idea.

Do you think it would sell?

I believe it will.

However...

Selling wooden tablets that summarize lecture notes

or taking notes on behalf of others

are a good way for lesser nobles to earn money at the Royal Academy.

If we sell reference books...

It'll become a financial strain on them...

I understand. I'll think about it a little more.

Thank you very much.

I am one who offers prayer and gratitude to the gods who created this world.

Wilfried, are you all right?

I heard you exhausted a lot of your mana during the initial replenishment.

I'm fine.

Grandfather, thank you kindly for everything.

Huh?

He's glaring at me, right?

Excuse me.

What's wrong, Princess?

I may have done something to anger Grandfather.

I wonder if that girl is all right.

She's staying in the castle until summer?