Zack

Zack (ザック, Zakku) is commoner blacksmith working in Ehrenfest and one of Rozemyne’s Gutenberg. He views Johann as his rival.

Zack has sharp gray eyes and short crimson hair styled in a crew cut. He looks roughly the same age as Johann.

Zack has a competitive, enthusiastic demeanor. He is very confident in his skills, and he has the talent to back it up.

Although Zack feels a sense of rivalry with his fellow smith Johann, their talents and personalities make them an effective team. A gifted engineer, Zack can design efficient and workable blueprints based on very general instructions, while Johann has the skill to precisely execute those designs.

Zack was trained and works for the Verde workshop in Ehrenfest City. Having worked as apprentice smiths around the same time and both being among the most talented apprentices of their age-group, Zack developed a one-sided rivalry with Johann. During their leherl task appraisal, Johann’s metal letter types were chosen over his own project, injuring his pride. A short time later Zack resolved to take the title of Gutenberg from Johann by demonstrating his skills to Rozemyne.

Zack accompanies Johann and Lutz to meet with Rozemyne at the temple, where he asks Rozemyne to test his skills and give him the title of Gutenberg if he succeeds.

Rozemyne assigns him to make blueprints for a wax paper roller in three days, and he designs several options which are all workable. While Zack chooses to use the less complicated blueprint for his machine, Johann makes the most complicated design and executes it to the letter. Because both machines work as needed, Rozemyne awards Zack the title of Gutenberg. However is somewhat dismayed to learn that the title is not exclusive and that he will be one of several Gutenbergs.

Rozemyne calls Zack, Johann and Ingo to discuss improvements to the printing press. Zack is initially dismayed at the idea of being asked to work together on a project: He says that even if he designs the parts, Johann will receive the money and credit for the project because he’s the one who can produce the best products. Rozemyne suggests that she pay Zack for the blueprints alone, which is an unheard-of practice in Ehrenfest, and he is persuaded to accept.

Zack is easily able to understand and envision Rozemyne’s vague instructions. He designs several blueprints for working printing presses and works with the other Gutenbergs to refine them into a final product.

When the printing press is completed, Zack is present for its first trial run, which is a success. Rozemyne is so satisfied that she wants to make Zack the foreman of his own workshop, but he explains that he his leherl apprentice contract prevents him from starting other workshops.

Disappointed, Rozemyne instead assigns him to design a hand pump for drawing water from wells. He is confused by her plans to release the design for free, but she explains that she wants to create a magic contract that guarantees both her and Zack a small royalty fee for each hand pump made.

Despite only being contracted to make the schematics, Zack creates a working prototype quickly. When he’s asked to explain the design to Ferdinand, he is clearly intimidated but manages to stammer his way through an explanation. His nerves get much worse later, when he presents a second pump to the archduke. The product is approved, and every hand pump made after that is engraved with Zack’s and Rozemyne’s names.

While Rozemyne is asleep in her jureve, Zack is given instructions to continue working on designs for spring mattresses and suspension carriages. Managing those projects on top of the work for his regular patrons keeps him very busy.

Originally Zack was supposed to accompany Lady Rozemyne to Kirnberger and help with the establishment of new workshops in the spring after her third year at the Royal Academy. Due to getting married this year however, Zack requests to be allowed to stay in Ehrenfest and the High Bishop gives her permission. At the same meeting Josef reports that his wife Heidi is pregnant and thus Rozemyne aquits them and have a replacement go in their stead. This gives her the idea to use this opportunity to foster the next generation of craftspeople and thus she requests that all the Gutenbergs either take along their chosen successors or send them entirely in their own stead. As his representative Zack chooses the young Sead. While he is not as skilled as Johann's disciple Danilo in smithing, his open personality make Zack believe him to be the ideal choice to mediate between his more introverted and uncommunicative colleague and the local smiths.