E12 - Baptism and Divine Paradises Source: Crunchyroll Translator: Editor: Timer: QC: (Please feel free to edit the speaker names. This is handled on a best-effort basis depending on how the subtitle file was created so they may be incomplete or inaccurate. Dialogue is left as is.) [00:00] Main      [00:01] Ferdinand     Main managed to survive,     thanks to one of Freida's magical items. [00:04] Ferdinand     However... (Flashback) [00:06] Freida     A year, at most. [00:09] Ferdinand     Having been told that her only way to live     was to make an agreement with a noble, [00:14] Ferdinand     she holds a family meeting. (Flashback) [00:16] Main     Can I stay right here with my family? [00:20] Ferdinand     She chooses to die with her family, [00:23] Ferdinand     and vows to make the most of     the year she has remaining. SIGN    Ascendance of a Bookworm SIGN    Ascendance of a Bookworm SIGN    Chapter Twelve Baptisms and Divine Paradises [02:12] Lutz     Oh, so you decided not to      work for Master Benno. [02:18] Main     Yeah. When I spoke to Otto, he said... (Flashback) [02:22] Otto     Since you'll bring massive     profits to the store, (Flashback) [02:25] Otto     you may be paid more than people who've     worked there for more than a dozen years. (Flashback) [02:29] Otto     It'll cause all sorts of issues, I'm sure. [02:33] Main     And I can only go to work     when I'm feeling good, too. [02:37] Main     He said that'd cause a lot of friction. [02:41] Lutz     That's true, yeah. [02:45] Main     Sorry I can't work with you, Lutz. [02:50] Lutz     I think it's better that way. [02:52] Karla     If Main isn't joining, that means     you don't have to either, Lutz. [02:57] Karla     It's not too late to find a craftsman— [02:59] Lutz     Stop it, Mom! [03:01] Lutz     I want to be a merchant! [03:04] Lutz     And I'm gonna be one, with or without Main! [03:10] Karla     Lutz, you... [03:13] Karla     Do you really think you can do it when     your father and I are against it? [03:19] Lutz     I'm ready to be a live-in apprentice,     if it comes down to it. [03:25] Main     You have to live in an attic,     in atrocious conditions, [03:29] Main     and you'll practically work for     free until you become a pro. [03:33] Main     That's how live-in apprenticeships work. [03:37] Karla     There's no way you're capable of that! [03:40] Lutz     I am! And I've already started     preparing for it, too! [03:46] Karla     Why do you hate the idea of     becoming a craftsman so much? [03:50] Lutz     I mean, things will stay the     same forever, if I do that. [03:54] Karla     What do you mean? [03:56] Lutz     My brothers will take everything, [04:00] Lutz     leaving me nothing to call my own. [04:04] Lutz     But if I become a merchant, [04:06] Lutz     I'll be able to savor the     fruits of my hard work. [04:11] Lutz     I wanna see what I'm capable of! [04:17] Karla     If you've given it that much thought,     go on and give it your best shot. [04:23] Lutz     Really? [04:26] Lutz     Thanks, Mom! [04:33] Main     And so, by the time spring rolled in, [04:35] Main     Lutz and I had our plans set in stone. [04:42] Mark     Blessed be the melting of the snow. [04:44] Mark     May the Goddess of Spring’s boundless     magnanimity grace you both. [04:50] Main     Uh, what was that? [04:52] Mark     A celebratory spring     greeting among merchants. [04:56] Both     Blessed be the melting of the snow. [04:58] Main     May the Goddess of Spring’s     boundless... what? [05:02] Lutz     May the Goddess of Spring’s     boundless magnanimity grace you. [05:06] Benno     For your first attempt, that was perfect. [05:09] Main     Thank you. [05:10] Benno     I mean Lutz. [05:13] Main     It was time to break the news to Benno. [05:20] Benno     Very well. I'll cancel     your apprenticeship, Main. [05:24] Main     I'm sorry. [05:28] Main     What do we do about this? [05:33] Benno     Keep it. [05:35] Benno     Sign an exclusive contract with us, [05:37] Benno     and you can conduct your     business the same as before. [05:41] Main     That marked the beginning     of some very hectic days. [05:44] Main     The workshop we'd been using     officially became the Main Studio, [05:49] Main     I sold the paper-making process to Benno, [05:53] Main     and the Parchment Guild     butted in on our business. SIGN    Vested Interest [05:57] Lutz     Our paper's made from trees,     so does that really apply? [06:00] Main     If our plant-based paper     took all the customers, [06:03] Main     the parchment business would     plummet, and they can't have that. [06:06] Benno     I applied to start a guild for plant-based     paper to prevent any complaints, [06:11] Benno     but that old fart's just not approving it. [06:14] Main     If we say official contracts     have to be signed on parchment, [06:18] Main     they won't complain since it'll     secure their revenue some, right? SIGN    Compromise [06:24] Main     Good thing the guild master     gave his approval, huh? [06:28] Benno     Yeah. Now we can build a new factory. [06:31] Main     Oh, Dad. [06:40] Benno     I'm Benno, from the Gilberta Company. [06:42] Gunther     Oh, so it's you! [06:45] Gunther     Thank you for helping my daughter out. [06:47] Main     Mister Otto? [06:49] Otto     Benno looks like such a     dad with you two in tow! [06:53] Benno     I'm single! [06:55] Gunther     Main's my daughter! [06:59] Benno     Let's go. [07:01] Main     I didn't know you were a bachelor. [07:04] Benno     Is that a problem? [07:06] Main     Well, it's just, you run a big business, [07:09] Main     so I was thinking you must be     under a lot of pressure to marry. [07:15] Benno     Back when I wanted to marry, I had my     hands full taking care of Corinna. [07:21] Benno     And by the time she got     married and I was a free man, [07:24] Benno     the woman I wanted to     marry was dead and gone. [07:33] Benno     I'm not getting married because     I haven't found a woman better than her. [07:37] Benno     That's it, really. [07:47] Benno     What are you doing? [07:50] Main     Just felt like it. [07:58] Main     And while I taught Benno how to make paper, [08:01] Main     got the Main Studio up and running, [08:04] Main     and made preparations for     Lutz's apprenticeship, [08:07] Main     the seasons warmed up to summer. [08:12] Liese     Welcome, Main. [08:14] Liese     I baked some pound cake for you. [08:17] Main     Thank you, Miss Liese. [08:19] Liese     Let me know what you think. [08:22] Main     The pound cake was already way     more delicious than before, [08:25] Main     but I traded information on how to     improve it for a bag of sugar anyway. [08:31] Liese     Felsine peel, right? [08:33] Liese     Gotcha. I'll try it out. [08:38] Freida     With that out of the way... [08:40] Freida     Long time no see, Main. [08:42] Main     I was so surprised when I saw you     working at the Merchant Guild. [08:46] Freida     I'll be on my own when I open my     store in the nobles' quarter, [08:50] Freida     so I've been apprenticing there     to learn how everything works. [08:55] Main     It's amazing how you think so long term. [09:00] Freida     You need to be thinking long term, too. [09:03] Freida     Common sense dictates that you should     forget about Benno and join us. [09:09] Main     Otto... Someone I know said the same thing, [09:12] Main     that I should work for the guild master     if I want to forge ties with nobility. [09:20] Freida     Then why aren't you? [09:22] Freida     I've been waiting for you! [09:27] Freida     Summer is almost here! [09:30] Freida     What are you planning to do? [09:45] Main     You see, Freida... [09:52] Main     I've chosen to perish by my family's side. [10:04] Freida     I don't believe it. [10:06] Freida     Why? [10:08] Main     Because I can't make magical items, I guess? [10:15] Main     "If I need it, I'll just make it." [10:17] Main     That's how I've always     gotten anything I wanted. [10:20] Main     But I can't make magical items, right? [10:23] Freida     Right. That's why you need an agreement... [10:25] Main     But I don't want to make     an agreement with a noble. [10:30] Freida     Aren't you scared of dying? [10:33] Main     I didn't choose to die. [10:36] Main     I just chose to be with my family. [10:41] Main     I've made them worry so much for so long. [10:44] Main     So I want to make and leave     them lots of money before I go. [10:51] Freida     Then I'll buy the recipe     for pound cake from you. [10:56] Freida     You will let me do that for you, won't you? [11:01] Main     Thank you, Freida. [11:04] Main     I sold the exclusive rights to sell     pound cake for a year to Freida. [11:09] Freida     A year, correct? [11:11] Main     Yep. Once that year is passed,     I'll make the recipe public. [11:15] Main     That'll make a delicious     sweet available everywhere. [11:19] Main     Oh, I guess I'll have to     still be alive then, huh? [11:23] Main     If I'm not, [11:24] Main     I'll leave the decision to you. [11:27] Freida     If you don't want me monopolizing it, [11:30] Freida     you'd best make it public yourself in a year. SIGN    Ascendance of a      Bookworm SIGN    Ascendance of a      Bookworm [11:50] Eva     You really do look like a rich girl. [11:54] Eva     And it seems you've grown a little. [11:56] Eva     The skirt is looking the perfect length now. [11:58] Main     People keep calling me tiny, but     I guess I have been growing. [12:03] Tuuli     Your swaying hair ornament     is really pretty, too. [12:06] Main     Thanks for helping me make it, Tuuli. [12:09] Gunther     Main will be the prettiest     girl at today's ceremonies! [12:12] Main     Dad, you said the same     thing for Tuuli's baptism. [12:16] Gunther     Of course! [12:17] Gunther     My daughters are the cutest in the world! [12:22] Main     Lutz. [12:26] Main     What's wrong? [12:28] Lutz     No, uh... [12:31] Karla     My! You look like you belong     to a wealthy family, Main. [12:35] Main     Thank you, Missus Karla. [12:37] Gunther     Okay, time to go. [12:50] Otto     Main! Lutz! [12:52] Otto     Congratulations! [12:58] Benno     A new hair ornament?! [13:17] Gunther     Parents aren't allowed past this point. [13:18] Gunther     Take care of Main for me, Lutz. [13:21] Lutz     Sure, you got it. [13:25] Lutz     Hey, Main. [13:27] Lutz     That outfit and the hair ornament     look really good on you. [13:31] Lutz     You're so cute, it left me speechless. [13:33] Main     Wh-Where did that come from?! [13:39] Lutz     Let's go. [13:43] Woman     How cute. [13:44] Woman     It's like we're watching a little wedding. [13:48] Gunther     No, Main! [14:10] Lutz     Oh, they're doing the thing you hate. [14:14] Lutz     Everyone's signing with their blood. [14:16] Main     Ugh, you're right. [14:18] Lutz     Looks like we're being     registered for something. [14:21] Main     Oh, citizenship! [14:22] Freida     Next. [14:24] Freida     Come this way. [14:26] Freida     Hold out your hand with     your palm facing upward. [14:29] Main     O-Okay. [14:37] Freida     Press your fingertip on that medallion. [14:43] Freida     You're all set. [14:44] Lutz     Main! [14:46] Lutz     Over here! [14:47] Main     Yeah. [14:48] Main     Coming. [15:02] Gunther     The High Priest is here. [15:12] Main     Lutz, a book! [15:13] Main     I see a book! [15:15] Benno     That's a book? [15:17] Benno     It looks nothing like what you were making. [15:20] Benno     It seems really expensive. [15:23] Main     It's a book... [15:27] High Priest     Let me tell you about the     gods that created this world. [15:32] High Priest     The lonesome God of Darkness     met the Goddess of Light... [15:37] Narrator     The lonesome God of Darkness     met the Goddess of Light, [15:41] Narrator     and the two gave birth     to the Goddess of Water, [15:44] Narrator     the God of Fire, [15:46] Narrator     the Goddess of Wind, [15:47] Narrator     and the Goddess of Earth, [15:49] Narrator     thus creating our world. [15:52] Narrator     Later, the God of Life fell in love at     first sight with the Goddess of Earth, [15:57] Narrator     and the two of them married. [15:59] Narrator     However, he stole her power and     sealed her in ice and snow, [16:06] Narrator     thus bringing winter. [16:08] Narrator     The Goddess of Light thawed the ice, [16:11] Narrator     and the Goddess of Water swept the ice     and snow away along with the God of Life, [16:15] Narrator     thus allowing offspring to bud in the spring. [16:20] Narrator     The God of Fire helps the budding     lives flourish in the summer. [16:25] Narrator     While the Goddess of Wind     keeps the God of Life at bay, [16:29] Narrator     harvests are completed in the fall. [16:33] Narrator     And then returns winter, the     season of the God of Life. [16:40] High Priest     And then returns winter, the     season of the God of Life. [16:48] High Priest     The God of Fire rules over summer, [16:50] High Priest     and bestows his divine protection     through development and guidance. [16:56] Main     I so wanna read this myself! [17:00] High Priest     We shall now demonstrate     the right way to worship. [17:03] High Priest     Watch carefully. [17:10] High Priest     We offer the Gods our prayers! [17:12] Main     It's the Glico running     man pose! Why that pose? [17:15] Main     Into a kowtow?! [17:17] Main     Oh god, that's hilarious. [17:20] High Priest     Now, stand up and join us. [17:24] High Priest     We offer the Gods our prayers! [17:26] All     We offer the Gods our prayers! [17:28] Main     No way! I can't! [17:32] Lutz     Main? Why didn't you say     you weren't feeling good? [17:35] Lutz     Are you okay? [17:36] Main     It's not that. [17:37] Main     I-I'm fine. [17:39] Gunther     What's the matter? [17:40] Lutz     She seems to be feeling unwell.     She suddenly collapsed. [17:44] Gunther     We'll have her rest at once. [17:51] Main     This is clearly a room meant for rich folk. [17:58] Main     I bet my outfit is the cause. [18:03] Main     I can't stay here forever. [18:06] Main     I'll miss the ceremony. [18:19] Main     Huh? I don't remember seeing     this place before... [18:23] Main     No, this isn't the right way. [18:29] Main     Excuse me. I seem to be lost. [18:37] Woman     I see. [18:39] Woman     Please wait here. I'll take     you to the prayer hall. [18:44] Main     I will. Thank you very much. [18:57] Main     So many books... [19:00] Main     Part of it's like a chained library, too. [19:05] Main     It's an actual library. [19:07] Main     I offer the Gods my prayers! [19:09] Main     I offer the Gods my thanks! [19:12] Main     Now, then. [19:13] Main     Pardon me... [19:14] Main     Ugh! [19:17] Main     Ow! [19:20] Main     What is this? [19:22] Main     An invisible wall? [19:25] Main     But the books are right there... [19:29] Main     No! [19:31] Main     Hey, let me in! [19:33] Main     I want in! [19:35] Woman     I can't. [19:37] Main     I wanna read, but I can't get in! [19:40] Woman     Only cathedral staff have     permission to enter. [19:44] Main     You mean I can read these     if I become cathedral staff? [19:47] Main     I'll do it! I want to! [19:49] Main     How do I join?! [19:55] High Priest     Could you tell me why you want     to be an apprentice priestess? [19:59] Main     Because this place has a library! [20:02] High Priest     A library? [20:03] High Priest     You seem to be misunderstanding something. [20:07] High Priest     The cathedral is a place of worship, [20:09] High Priest     and priests and priestesses     are servants of the Gods. [20:13] High Priest     Besides, [20:14] High Priest     if a child from a family like     yours wishes to work here, [20:19] High Priest     a sizable donation would be a     good indicator of your passion. [20:23] Main     A donation? [20:26] Main     I guess they think I'm rich. [20:34] Main     One large gold is the most I can offer. [20:36] Woman     L... [20:37] High Priest     A large gold coin? [20:41] Main     Is that too much? [20:42] Main     It's how much I'm free to spend. [20:51] High Priest     Uh... Have your parents     agreed to your working here? [20:57] Main     I'll have to talk to them now. [21:01] High Priest     If they object, come see me at once. [21:05] High Priest     I'll help you out. [21:06] Main     Thank you. [21:08] High Priest     Also, you can read the     scriptures stored here, [21:13] High Priest     so feel free to drop by anytime. [21:15] Main     Really? Yay! [21:18] Main     I offer the Gods my prayers! [21:26] Main     I got too worked up... SIGN    Next Chapter The Choice to be an Apprentice Priestess [23:08] Main     You finally got screen time! [23:11] Ferdinand     My screen time doesn't matter. [23:13] Ferdinand     I can't believe you charged headfirst     into the cathedral's library. [23:18] Ferdinand     Can't you be a bit more rational? [23:20] Main     Impossible! I mean, it's a library! [23:23] Main     A god-given paradise on earth! [23:26] Main     How could I not get excited?! [23:28] Ferdinand     Settle down. It's not certain     that you'll be able to join yet. SIGN    Illustration by Kuramoto Kaya