Part 1 Chapter 4

Learning to Respect Egyptian Culture (エジプト文明、リスペクト中, Ejiputo Bunmei, Risupekuto Chū) is the fourth chapter of the Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 manga adaptation.

Cover Characters

 * Myne
 * Tuuli
 * Otto

Synopsis
After finding parchment paper, Myne charges head-on to aquire paper and ink, just to learn, that everything is too expenssive for her! If there is no paper, I'll make some myself!

Summary
Myne tries to catch a glimpse on Otto's work, which earns her a reprimand of Gunther. She is not bothered and curiously begins to ask him questions about the parchment and ink. She learns new words and also that they are quite expensive. Being unable to turn her down immediately, he argues that Myne does not even know her letters. So, Myne demands him to teach her, but has to learn through Otto's amused interference, that Gunther cannot teach her. As he only knows how to read and write few words, Myne seems to be back at square one. Otto consoles her, defending his superior by stating that Gunther knows a lot, and that knights normally handle paperwork involving nobles. That leads to Otto presenting his old stone slate to Myne which he will bring with him another time. Myne speaks words of gratitude and mixed in that Otto will teach letters to her.

Back at home, Myne thinks about her day. Not only are books expensive, but even paper. With no other option, Myne decides to make her own paper. Thinking about her experience with milk cartons from her Urano days, she thinks about something she might be able to do with her current body. With her sight set on papyrus from the old Egyptian culture, here plans and paper making advance to the next stage. First she has to aquire straight fibers from a plant. This means she would have to go to the forest. Her first hurdle arises; she cannot go to the forest with her weak body. Tuuli who had to explain Myne's uselessness and physical inabilities ended up being the one collecting Myne's fibers. With that out of the way, Tuuli leaves for the forest and Effa returns home. She picks up Myne to leave her at Gerda's babysitting service, because she has to work today. Gerda currently has other toddlers around in addition to Myne. But Gerda's service seems to be sitting around and somtimes wiping pee away. Myne actually tries to look out for the small children while having a culture shock and a little personality crisis. Tuuli comes to pick up Myne later. Myne immediately runs into Tuuli arms which makes Tuuli wonder whether Myne felt lonely. Myne realised she cannot do anything against this horrible way of babysitting and achknowledges that that is just how her new world works. While she tries to cope with her trauma she decided on keeping everything within herself. Tuuli returned with Lutz and Ralph from the forest, so they were waiting for Tuuli to get Myne, and now walk home together. Lutz's and Ralph's family need a lot of plants to feed their chickens, which is why Tuuli helped them gathering in exchange for the plants Myne wanted. Leaving her depression behind, Myne's thoughts are revolving around her faux-papyrus project.

Appearances

 * Otto
 * Myne
 * Gunther
 * Tuuli
 * Gerda (first appearance)
 * Lutz
 * Ralph

Highlights of the Chapter

 * Letters exist
 * Otto promises to give his old stone slate to Myne and teach her letters.
 * Determination to make paper
 * Bamboo aquired

Trivia

 * It's impressive for commoners to be able to be able to read and write their own name.
 * A soldier's main job is to protect the city.
 * Parchment is worth a month's pay from Gunther and normally not buyable by commoners.
 * Gunther's jealousy emerges when he sees Myne fawning over Otto.