Part 2 Volume 3

This is the sixth volume of Ascendance of a Bookworm light novel.

Synopsis
As Myne continues her busy life as an apprentice blue shrine maiden, some good news changes everything: Her mother is pregnant! Naturally, Myne immediately sets out to make a picture book for her future little sibling. But there's still so much she doesn't know about the temple that doing anything is a struggle. She's forced into the education of a shrine maiden and has her hands full with her new attendants. She has a mountain of work as the orphanage director, too. As always Myne has bitten off more than she can chew, but she charges forward with her love of books giving her strength. And as it becomes clear that someone with her level of mana will not continue to go unnoticed, the door to the world of nobles opens and the plot escalates dramatically! Winter approaches, and a blizzard is about to fall upon this bibliofantasy!

Characters
Characters are listed in order of appearance.

Contents

 * Prologue (Karstedt POV)
 * Chapter 1: Printing Guild
 * Chapter 2: Johann's Task
 * Chapter 3: The Ink Guild and the Beginning of Winter
 * Chapter 4: Winter Hibernation and Handiwork
 * Chapter 5: Meeting of the Minds
 * Chapter 6: Punishment for the Knight's Order and My Future
 * Chapter 7: Daily Winter Life
 * Chapter 8: The Dedication Ritual
 * Chapter 9: Rosina's Coming of Age Ceremony
 * Chapter 10: Rumtopf and Shoes
 * Chapter 11: Completion of the Metal Letter Types
 * Chapter 12: Temple Stay Extended
 * Chapter 13: Preparing for the Spring Prayer
 * Chapter 14: Spring Prayer
 * Chapter 15: An After-Meal Invitation
 * Chapter 16: Ambush
 * Chapter 17: The Wild and Uncontrollable Blue Priest
 * Chapter 18: Visit to the Orphanage and Workshop
 * Chapter 19: Talking with the High Priest and Returning Home
 * Chapter 20: A New Member of the Family
 * Epilogue (Delia POV)
 * Lunchtime in the Temple (Damuel POV)
 * The Title of "Gutenberg" (Johann POV)
 * Afterword

Summary
The High Priest engages in a strategy meeting with Karstedt about Myne's future.

Meanwhile, Myne asks Benno to start a Printing Guild, which he agrees to do. In addition, she sells on of the books to Freida. On the way out of the Merchant's Guild's office, she encounters Johann, who asks Myne to become his patron. Myne, upon understanding what it means, accepts with Benno becoming a cosigner. Johann's task is to make movable letter types.

With Myne's new ink attracting attention due to its black colour, in contrast to the usual blue, the Ink Guild requests to have this new ink. Benno organizes a magic contract with the Ink Guild. After its signing, it is discovered that the Ink Guild is doing research on Myne, resulting with Myne heading to the temple early.

While spending her winter at the temple, she organizes a temple school to teach the orphans reading, writing, and mathematics. She finishes her playing cards and reversi.

Benno delivers the remade ceremonial clothes, and meets with the High Priest to exchange information. After Benno leaves, the High Priest, Karstedt, and Damuel use sound-blocking magic tool. Damuel is assigned as Myne's guard, Shikikoza was executed, and Myne is informed that she would have to be adopted by a member of the nobility to ensure her survival. Myne, who does not wish to leave her family, yet sees the necessity of noble adoption for her survival, agrees to become Karstedt's adopted daughter at age 10.

Winter life progresses, and the time for parues arrives, as does the Dedication Ritual. As Myne and the High Priest's mana is greater than the others, they do the ritual separately without the other Blue Priests. The number of chalices to fill with mana continue to grow.

With Rosina coming of age, Myne feels inclined to prepare a gift. She asks the High Priest to record songs that she remembers from her time as Urano Motosu from Japan, and he obliges. She gifts the sheet music to Rosina, who is delighted.

Benno sends an apprentice to Myne so that he can train as a waiter for the Italian Restaurant and Tuuli brings Myne the rumtopf she left at home.

Benno informs Myne of the completion of her letter types. Myne, Damuel, Gil, and Fran visit the Gilberta Company. Johann is already there. Myne is exceedingly pleased with Johann's work and gifts him the name of Gutenberg, and then collapses due to overexcitement.

Myne learns of Wolf's death, and due to increasingly dangerous Noble Activity regarding her, is commanded to stay in the Temple until the end of the Spring Prayer. Myne's parents are informed of Myne's adoption by the age of ten, and Effa accepts.

Myne gives Lutz a blueprint for the printing press. As the preparations for Spring Prayer continue to increase, Myne practices her prayers. Accompanying Myne and the High Priest is a blue priest by the name of Sylvester. It is determined that Myne will travel by highbeast.

The Spring Prayer Ceremony begins. They visit farming villages with a winter mansion, blessing the land and handing out chalices. They stay at winter mansions along the way. During dinner at Baron Blon's, Myne, still not fully understanding noble culture, commits a faux pas. Myne is invited to the post-meal gathering. Sylvester plays harspiel for her, resulting in Myne having high standards for the musical aptitude of nobles.

On the way to the Leisegang Mansion from the Gerlach mansion, the carriages are ambushed, and Myne's mana overflows and she casts a barrier by praying to Schutzaria. While Sylvester, Damuel, and Karstedt head out to deal with the attackers, Myne stays behind with the High Priest. She prays to Angriff for protection. Sylvester sends out a bird and Karstedt attacks, utterly destroying the area. Myne passes out from mana overuse and overexcitement. The High Priest scolds her for letting her mana overflow.

Upon returning to the Temple, Sylvester tells Myne that he wishes to visit the Lower City Forest and the orphanage. Upon seeing the state of the orphanage, including the education level of the orphans, and especially as the newly constructed printing press, the High Priest is thoughtful and surprised.

After Sylvester gets the opportunity to visit the lower city Forest, he hands Myne a necklace with a black stone as a protection charm that would let him save her when she gets blood on it in case she is ever in a touch situation.

The High Priest discusses the implications of the printing press with Myne and warns her that the vested interests – in this case, nobles – means that she can't use it until she is a noble herself. Myne returns home just in time to witness the birth of of her baby brother, Kamil.

Delia hears that a noble will visit the temple soon, but misses that this noble is looking for a Devouring child. Meanwhile, Zack, a competitor of Johann hears about the Gutenberg title and is envious.

Adaptation Notes
Differences from the original web novels: