Episode 27

"The Beginning of Winter" (冬の始まり, Fuyu no Hajimari) is the twenty-seventh episode of the Ascendance of a Bookworm anime series, and the first episode of Season 3. It originally aired on April 11, 2022.

This episode was adapted from Part 2 Volume 3 of the Light Novel series (Chapter 1: Printing Guild - Chapter 3: The Ink Guild and the Beginning of Winter).

Summary
As autumn comes to a close in Ehrenfest, Myne continues her daily work as an apprentice priestess at the cathedral, including her management of the orphanage printing workshop. Her finances are starting to run low, so she reluctantly sells Benno and Freida some of the books produced at the workshop for extra income.

On her way back from the Merchant’s Guild, the young blacksmith Johann chases after her. He explains that to become a recognized blacksmith, he needs a patron who will vouch for his work; unfortunately, Myne is the only client he’s ever had who isn’t put off by his highly detailed approach. Myne agrees to sponsor him as a patron if he can successfully create metal letter types for a printing press. Benno also agrees to cosign the sponsorship.

That evening, Myne returns home to her family. Tuuli and her mother are sewing new undergarments for her to wear at the cathedral, and her father brings home seasonal tanieh nuts as a treat.

Myne’s scripture picture books are beginning to sell to wealthy merchants who do business with nobles, and the unusual ink used in them attracts the attention of the Ink Guildmaster. In order to avoid unnecessary business conflict, Benno and Myne agree to stop producing ink and sell the rights to their method to the ink guild through a magic contract.

Because Myne is getting fitted for her replacement ceremonial robes with Corinna and Otto, she does not attend the contract signing. The Ink Guild representatives are annoyed not to meet her in person, and Lutz is later harassed by a strange man who demands information on Myne. Worried about what this might mean, Benno suggests that Myne start living at the cathedral full-time until the spring.

Myne reluctantly agrees and says her goodbyes to her family at the cathedral. She begins living in the orphanage director’s quarters with her gray-robed priest retainers, Gil, Delia, Rosina, and Fran. Fran warns her not to reveal too much about her circumstances to Delia, who still associates closely with the Head Priest.

Elsewhere, the Ink Guildmaster meets with an unfamiliar man and receives payment for an unknown request.

Trivia

 * The bickering between Benno and Myne when Johann mistaken them as father and daughter is improvised on the spot by the voice actors. According to Miya Kazuki's blog, there's nothing but "Gya Gya" written on their scripts after Myne said "I would've left the house".