E20 - The Path Ahead of Lutz

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[00:01] Ferdinand
    Main put in real effort to improve
    the orphans' living conditions.
[00:06] Ferdinand
    However, after the Star Festival,
[00:09] Ferdinand
    she was put in detention
[00:11] Ferdinand
    and developed a fever.
[00:13] Ferdinand
    Meanwhile...
[00:15] Deid
    You fool!
[00:18] Lutz
    Why won't you just accept it?!
[00:20] Lutz
    I've had enough of this! I'm leaving!
[00:22] Deid
    Do whatever you want!
[00:27] Karla
    Lutz!
[00:29] Ferdinand
    Another storm was brewing.
SIGN    Ascendance of a Bookworm
SIGN    Ascendance of a Bookworm
SIGN    Chapter Twenty The Path Ahead of Lutz
[02:14] Tuuli
    Big trouble, Main!
[02:16] Main
    What's wrong, Tuuli?
[02:18] Tuuli
    Lutz ran away from home and hasn't come back!
[02:21] Main
    Huh?
[02:23] Main
    What happened?
[02:25] Tuuli
    Tell her, Ralph.
[02:27] Ralph
    Last night, Lutz and Dad got into a fight,
[02:31] Ralph
    and he said he was leaving.
[02:34] Ralph
    We looked all over, but didn't find him.
[02:37] Ralph
    Do you know where he could be, Main?
[02:41] Main
    Wasn't he at the Gilberta Company?
[02:44] Ralph
    The Gilberta Company? Where's that?
[02:47] Tuuli
    Hey, Ralph! You don't even know
    where your brother works?!
[02:51] Tuuli
    I can't believe you!
[02:53] Main
    Can you take Ralph there, Tuuli?
[02:56] Tuuli
    Sure.
[03:02] Tuuli
    This is the place.
[03:03] Ralph
    He works for such a fancy place?
[03:13] Tuuli
    Wait, Ralph!
[03:16] Ralph
    Lutz!
[03:17] Ralph
    What is wrong with you?!
[03:19] Woman
    Huh? What's going on?
[03:21] Man
    What's this about?
[03:23] Lutz
    I'm working. Don't bother me.
[03:25] Ralph
    Why, you...
[03:27] Ralph
    Enough of your nonsense!
[03:29] Ralph
    We're going home!
[03:32] Lutz
    Knock it off! Let me go!
[03:33] Ralph
    Hurry up!
[03:35] Man
    Hey, kid! Stop that!
[03:35] Ralph
    What's the big deal?
[03:37] Ralph
    Hey!
[03:43] Ralph
    Give it a rest, Lutz!
[03:45] Ralph
    You think you can just do whatever you want?
[03:47] Ralph
    You're causing everyone
    trouble with your crap!
[03:50] Tuuli
    Let's go, Ralph.
[03:51] Tuuli
    We know that Lutz is fine now.
[03:54] Tuuli
    Come on.
[03:55] Ralph
    Lutz! Lutz!
[03:59] Main
    So he was at the shop.
[04:02] Tuuli
    Yeah, he was working.
[04:05] Tuuli
    He and Ralph got into a fight, though.
[04:09] Tuuli
    Main.
[04:10] Tuuli
    I know you're worried, but you need
    to focus on getting better first.
[04:15] Main
    Yeah, you're right.
[04:19] Main
    But my fever just refused to go away...
[04:22] Sascha
    Give Lutz back!
[04:24] Sieg
    Lutz!
[04:25] Karla
    What are you people trying to do with Lutz?
[04:28] Karla
    Give Lutz back to me!
[04:30] Karla
    Lutz! Lutz!
[04:32] Karla
    Come on out, Lutz!
[04:36] Main
    And several days passed
    before I could see Lutz.
[04:40] Mark
    Good morning, Main.
[04:43] Mark
    Are you feeling better now?
[04:45] Main
    My fever finally went away.
[04:47] Main
    So, uh, where's Lutz?
[04:50] Mark
    Let's take this discussion to the back.
[04:53] Mark
    The other employees have been
    on edge these past few days.
[04:58] Main
    How did things turn out
    this way, Mister Benno?
[05:02] Benno
    I was planning to take Lutz
    along on a trip to another town,
[05:05] Benno
    but he couldn't get his parents' permission.
[05:08] Main
    That's what Lutz has always wanted to do!
[05:12] Main
    But his family was against his becoming
    a merchant, and that caused tensions.
[05:21] Lutz
    Master, you called for me?
[05:23] Main
    Lutz!
[05:28] Main
    Where are you living now?
[05:32] Main
    Lutz?
[05:34] Lutz
    Where, you ask?
[05:37] Lutz
    I'm living up in the attic storage.
[05:43] Main
    The attic? Why?!
[05:45] Lutz
    What am I supposed to do?
    I have nowhere else to go.
[05:49] Main
    But that's no different than
    being a live-in apprentice!
[05:53] Main
    Can't you do something to help, Mister Benno?
[05:57] Benno
    I'm considering adopting Lutz.
[06:01] Main
    You'll adopt him?
[06:03] Benno
    I need to talk to his parents about it.
[06:07] Main
    Oh...
[06:09] Main
    But are you okay with that?
[06:11] Main
    Your brothers and everyone
    else are all worried about you.
[06:13] Lutz
    You're telling me I should go back home?
[06:16] Lutz
    That I'm in the wrong here, just
    like Mom and my brothers say?
[06:21] Lutz
    That I'm causing everyone I know trouble?
[06:34] Main
    Lutz...
[06:35] Main
    I'm not saying anything
    of the sort! How could I?
[06:40] Main
    I know how hard you've worked!
    I know how much you've sacrificed!
[06:47] Main
    I'm on your side, no matter what.
[06:50] Main
    Lean on me whenever you need, okay?
[06:54] Lutz
    I'm sorry, Main.
[06:59] Lutz
    But if I leaned on you, you'd
    collapse under my weight.
[07:06] Main
    What can I do for Lutz?
[07:12] Main
    Even the adoption will require
    his parents' permission.
[07:15] Main
    But as things stand, he's suffering
    as a live-in apprentice.
[07:23] Ferdinand
    Main.
[07:25] Main
    Y-Yes, Head Priest?
[07:30] Ferdinand
    You're not making any progress.
[07:33] Main
    Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
[07:43] Ferdinand
    Main, you stopped again.
[07:48] Main
    Sorry...
[07:55] Ferdinand
    Come to the hidden room, Main.
[07:58] Main
    But shouldn't we get this done, Head Priest?
[08:01] Ferdinand
    I need to repair the calculator first.
[08:03] Main
    "Calculator"?
[08:07] Main
    Is he calling me a calculator?!
[08:13] Ferdinand
    What is going through your mind?
[08:16] Main
    I'm sorry. It's really none of your concern.
[08:20] Main
    I'll switch gears and work hard!
[08:23] Ferdinand
    If work's not getting done,
    then it's very much my concern.
[08:37] Ferdinand
    And who wouldn't be bothered
    by a child moping about?
[08:40] Main
    Ed Iest! Ad urz!
[08:50] Main
    Wait, are you worried about me?
[08:54] Ferdinand
    Of course not.
[08:58] Main
    The thing is, I don't know what to do
    about the whole Lutz and Benno thing.
[09:04] Ferdinand
    Ah, they are both important to you.
[09:07] Ferdinand
    Tell me about it.
[09:08] Main
    Okay.
[09:11] Ferdinand
    I see.
[09:12] Ferdinand
    What you want is to improve
    Lutz's living conditions.
[09:17] Ferdinand
    Reconciling with his family would be best,
[09:20] Ferdinand
    but Benno adopting him is
    also a solution in your eyes.
[09:25] Ferdinand
    Did I get anything wrong so far?
[09:26] Main
    Nope.
[09:29] Ferdinand
    If Lutz does want to be adopted
    by Benno, there's a way.
[09:34] Main
    Huh? How?
[09:36] Ferdinand
    Lutz can be deemed abandoned by his
    parents, and taken in by the orphanage.
[09:44] Ferdinand
    That way, its director becomes his guardian,
    and can sign his adoption papers.
[09:50] Main
    So I can sign for him?
[09:53] Ferdinand
    You're still a minor.
[09:55] Ferdinand
    Your boss's signature will also
    be required, and that's me.
[09:58] Main
    If that can help Lutz right
    away, can we please do that?
[10:03] Main
    But...
[10:04] Main
    I don't want to tear apart his family.
[10:12] Ferdinand
    I can't say anything after
    hearing only your perspective.
[10:16] Ferdinand
    I'll need to hear from his parents, too.
[10:19] Main
    But how will you?
[10:22] Ferdinand
    I simply have to summon them.
[10:26] Main
    S-Summon?!
[10:28] Ferdinand
    I'll have them lay it all out for me,
[10:31] Ferdinand
    and if I deem adoption necessary,
    I'll help make it happen.
[10:36] Main
    U-Uh, isn't this kinda becoming a big deal?
SIGN    Ascendance of a
     Bookworm
SIGN    Ascendance of a
     Bookworm
[10:52] Main
    And so, the cathedral became
[10:53] Main
    the venue of a meeting between
    everyone involved with Lutz.
[11:04] Ferdinand
    Hold on to this during the meeting.
(Flashback) [11:07] Main
    What is that, Head Priest?
(Flashback) [11:10] Ferdinand
    A magical item that prevents eavesdropping.
(Flashback) [11:12] Ferdinand
    While you're holding on to this,
(Flashback) [11:14] Ferdinand
    your voice will only be heard
    by someone who has another: me.
(Flashback) [11:18] Main
    Huh... That's one quaint item.
(Flashback) [11:23] Main
    Wait, are you telling me
    to shut up and watch?!
(Flashback) [11:28] Ferdinand
    Precisely.
(Flashback) [11:30] Main
    But I want to help Lutz in any
    way I can in this meeting!
(Flashback) [11:36] Ferdinand
    I want to make the intentions of
    all participants perfectly clear.
(Flashback) [11:41] Ferdinand
    You'll only make it harder if you meddle.
[11:50] Main
    I can't take part in this discussion,
[11:52] Main
    but I'm rooting for you in my heart, Lutz!
[11:56] Ferdinand
    I would like to discuss Lutz's complaint now.
[12:02] Ferdinand
    Lutz, state your case.
[12:06] Lutz
    They refuse to recognize my
    efforts, no matter how hard I try.
[12:10] Lutz
    They always push me away,
    telling me to do what I want.
[12:13] Lutz
    But I want...
[12:14] Deid
    Don't be a baby!
[12:19] Main
    Would you hear Lutz out?!
[12:22] Main
    Please! He truly wants to be a merchant!
[12:28] Ferdinand
    Settle down, Main.
[12:31] Ferdinand
    Also, cover your mouth whenever
    you use that item to communicate.
[12:38] Ferdinand
    Deid, what do you mean by, "Don't be a baby"?
[12:44] Ferdinand
    I am not familiar with the ways of people
    downtown. Please explain so I can understand.
[12:54] Lutz
    How is wanting you to
    accept this being a baby?
[13:00] Karla
    My husband's not good with
    words, so please allow me.
[13:04] Karla
    You want us to accept what you do, but
    can you really make it in that business?
[13:10] Lutz
    What does that have to do with not
    letting me to visit another town?
[13:16] Ferdinand
    State your reasons for
    withholding permission.
[13:26] Deid
    It's too dangerous.
[13:28] Karla
    Yeah! There are animals and
    bandits outside the city walls!
[13:32] Karla
    Who would take a child out there?
[13:35] Benno
    If I may...
[13:36] Benno
    We would go by carriage, and the
    town is only half a day away.
[13:41] Ferdinand
    Wouldn't traveling by carriage
    ease most of your concerns?
[13:48] Deid
    There's no need.
[13:50] Lutz
    I told you it was for work!
[13:53] Ferdinand
    Calm down, Lutz.
[13:56] Ferdinand
    What do you mean, it's not necessary?
[13:58] Benno
    We want to take Lutz because we're planning
    on building a new workshop there.
[14:03] Karla
    Why would you need a mere
    apprentice for that?
[14:08] Benno
    Considering the future of my
    business and Lutz's abilities,
[14:12] Benno
    I want to raise him to be my successor.
[14:16] Benno
    To that end, I would like to adopt him.
[14:19] Karla
    What are you talking about?
[14:22] Deid
    Oh?
[14:25] Deid
    That's hardly worth discussing.
[14:31] Ferdinand
    Deid, could you state your reasons why?
[14:35] Benno
    I would like to know as well.
[14:37] Benno
    The adoption would benefit not only
    my business, but also Lutz himself.
[14:45] Deid
    You don't have any kids, do you?
[14:49] Benno
    No, but that's why I'm considering
    Lutz to be my successor.
[14:53] Deid
    That's not it.
[14:55] Benno
    How so?
[15:04] Deid
    You may be an excellent merchant,
[15:08] Deid
    but you can't be his father.
[15:12] Ferdinand
    Why not? Explain yourself.
[15:19] Deid
    Parenting is all about what's in here.
[15:21] Deid
    What benefits who doesn't matter one bit.
[15:26] Benno
    Ah, yes. I do prioritize my shop's
    profits above everything else.
[15:33] Benno
    However, Lutz seriously
    wants to be a merchant.
[15:37] Lutz
    Yeah. Why can't you at least
    accept my apprenticeship?
[15:42] Deid
    I told you to do what you want.
[15:46] Lutz
    Do what I... huh?
[15:50] Main
    What's that about?
[15:51] Karla
    You still don't get it?
[15:54] Karla
    It was his way of accepting your decision!
[16:00] Lutz
    How am I supposed to get it
    if you don't spell it out?
[16:04] Deid
    You fool!
[16:07] Deid
    You ignored your parents' objections
    and chose this line of work!
[16:11] Deid
    So be a man and do whatever it takes,
    be it a live-in apprenticeship or whatever!
[16:16] Deid
    Don't be a whiny coward
    and run to the orphanage!
[16:20] Deid
    Let alone look for adoption...
[16:23] Deid
    Who would ever agree to that?!
[16:25] Karla
    Yeah!
[16:26] Karla
    You're my dear son, who I gave birth
    to and raised all these years!
[16:32] Karla
    I could never give you away to anyone!
[16:48] Deid
    Apologize, Lutz.
[16:51] Ferdinand
    That isn't clear enough, Deid.
[16:54] Ferdinand
    Who should he apologize to, and for what?
[16:56] Deid
    I have to explain myself again?
[16:58] Deid
    Lutz, you wasted so many people's time
    because you couldn't control yourself.
[17:03] Deid
    Apologize.
[17:05] Main
    What?
[17:11] Lutz
    I'm so sorry.
[17:12] Deid
    I can't hear you.
[17:14] Lutz
    I'm so sorry!
[17:16] Main
    But I did this by talking
    to the head priest!
[17:20] Main
    Sorry, Lutz!
[17:22] Ferdinand
    Well, I can't allow the adoption
    given what his parents are saying.
[17:28] Ferdinand
    What will you do, Benno?
[17:29] Benno
    I truly do value Lutz's talents.
[17:32] Benno
    Instead of adoption,
[17:34] Benno
    I can offer him a dapla contract, making
    him responsible for the store's future.
[17:37] Benno
    Would you agree to that?
[17:40] Deid
    You're being awfully hasty.
[17:42] Benno
    Lutz is a hard worker, and he has
    the patience and perseverance.
[17:45] Benno
    I want to secure and start
    training him as soon as possible.
[17:53] Deid
    Very well.
[17:55] Deid
    As much as I want to help him,
[17:58] Deid
    I don't know anything about business,
    and I can't back his ventures.
[18:02] Mark
    Then let's file the paperwork with
    the Merchant Guild immediately.
[18:06] Deid
    This is why I can't stand merchants.
[18:09] Deid
    Come on.
[18:12] Deid
    As our youngest son, he's received
    a somewhat spoiled upbringing,
[18:16] Deid
    but he's got spirit.
[18:18] Deid
    Please take good care of him.
[18:21] Karla
    Please.
[18:24] Lutz
    Dad... Mom...
[18:42] Lutz
    I swear I'll become a merchant
    who needs no introduction!
[18:46] Deid
    Damn right you will!
[18:49] Deid
    You're a man. Quit whimpering.
[18:58] Benno
    Head Priest.
[18:59] Benno
    Thank you very much for today.
[19:03] Deid
    We're going home, you stupid boy.
[19:06] Lutz
    Ow!
[19:07] Karla
    I'm so glad, Lutz.
[19:09] Lutz
    Stop that, Mom! Not here!
[19:11] Karla
    Don't be shy, now.
[19:16] Deid
    Looks like I hadn't made myself clear.
[19:19] Deid
    So, uh, thanks.
[19:23] Ferdinand
    No problem.
[19:24] Lutz
    Mom, I'm feeling kinda hungry.
[19:27] Karla
    What? Don't you need to
    visit the Merchant Guild?
[19:31] Lutz
    Well, yeah...
[19:35] Sascha
    Lutz!
[19:37] Lutz
    Bro!
[19:38] Sieg
    You made us all worry, you little punk.
[19:41] Lutz
    Sorry.
[19:42] Ralph
    Did you learn your lesson?
[19:44] Lutz
    Stop that, Ralph!
[19:46] Karla
    Wait, why was Main at the cathedral, anyway?
[19:51] Benno
    Please keep what you saw today a secret.
[19:54] Benno
    Ignorance can be bliss at times.
[19:58] Deid
    Don't worry.
[19:59] Deid
    I'm not gonna meddle in
    the affairs of nobility.
[20:02] Deid
    Besides, I'm sure she has her own reasons.
[20:07] Ferdinand
    Do you realize now? Getting one side
    of the story simply isn't enough.
[20:13] Main
    Right...
[20:21] Ferdinand
    Aren't you glad that
    family wasn't torn apart?
[20:26] Ferdinand
    Things turned out exactly as you hoped.
[20:33] Main
    I'm so glad.
[20:36] Main
    I really am glad.
[20:45] Ferdinand
    Stop crying, Main.
[20:47] Ferdinand
    You're making it seem as
    though I made you cry.
[20:50] Main
    These...
[20:53] Main
    These are tears of joy, so it's okay.
[20:57] Ferdinand
    You're such a handful.
[21:05] Main
    Thank you kindly.
[21:13] Main
    Ferdinand...
[21:17] Main
    That was when I realized that the
    head priest was named Ferdinand.
SIGN    Next Chapter New Retainers
[23:00] Main
    Head Priest, is a magical item that
    prevents eavesdropping really useful?
[23:06] Ferdinand
    Of course. Nobles often use it.
[23:10] Ferdinand
    It's the High Priest!
    We can't have any trouble!
[23:13] Ferdinand
    Hide, Main!
[23:15] Main
    Got it!
[23:22] Ferdinand
    That's how it's usually used.
[23:24] Main
    So, to discuss secrets?
[23:26] Main
    You're the only one who uses
    it to shut a person up, right?
[23:32] Main
    Head Priest!
SIGN    Illustration by Foo Midori