Ascendance of a Bookworm

Autumn has come to a close. Main starts selling the scripture picture books, gets asked by the apprentice blacksmith Johann to be his patron, and starts taking the next step in her bookmaking endeavors. While this is going on, Main finds out that the guild master of the Ink Guild, Wolf, is trying to get information on her. Benno then proposes an idea to Main and...

Lutz recounts all the events leading up to Main's present.

Main ends up having to start her winter stay at the cathedral. However, she instantly becomes homesick. Also, in a meeting with Benno, Ferdinand, and Karstedt, it's revealed that Wolf is a dangerous individual with ties to nobles. Apparently, even the nobles are after Main because of her powerful mana and her bizarre knowledge. In order to keep her out of danger, Ferdinand comes up with a...

Lutz's retelling of Main's story continues.

The knight Damuel has become Main's bodyguard. Now that she's able to go places, Main is excited about going to the library. They hold the Dedication Ceremony where she offers her mana into small holy grails. That was quite tiring for her, but she still goes back into town to see how Johann is doing with her order. Her passion for books just doesn't top. Spring is drawing closer, and Main can't...

Main and the others get ready to head off to the Spring Prayer, when they meet a blue-robed priest named Sylvester. Main doesn't know how to deal with Sylvester who seems to do whatever he wants. She tries to avoid Sylvester as they go around to various farming villages and she does an amazing job doing all of the rituals. Eventually, they end up at Viscount Gerlach's mansion. Apparently he had...

With the Spring Prayer finished, Main and the others returned to the cathedral. Sylvester appoints Main as his guide to show him around the orphanage and workshop, where they observe how the scripture picture books are made. As he leaves, Sylvester gives Main a necklace with a black stone, saying it's a protection charm just in case anything were to happen. Meanwhile, Ferdinand, who had also...

Main is finally able to go home. Her little brother Kamil is born and she becomes even more determined to create books. That is when Main meets a helpful collaborator named Heidi, who is the daughter of an ink maker. Heidi is extremely curious and passionate, so she hit it off immediately with Main. They start to make colored inks through trial and error. Meanwhile, a baby is abandoned at the...

Dirk suddenly develops a high fever. Delia, who adored Dirk, and started to see him as her own family, was worried sick. Main sees his symptoms and realizes that he may have the Devouring. After talking to Ferdinand, they decide to raise him without letting others know that he has the Devouring. Meanwhile, Main continues her colored-ink experiments with Heidi as she helped out with taking care...

On the way home from Heidi's workshop, they hear the emergency bells sound through the city as well as see a red emergency flare go up into the sky. Main is worried about what might've happened. It is decided that Main should stay home until they can find out what is going on. Main gets to spend some time with her family back home again. After a while, Main is finally allowed back outside and...

Because of the lack of caution exercised by one of the gate guards, the carriage with the noble from another domain has entered the city. Gunther finds out that Main is being targeted and gets worked up over protecting Main. But then, Main is attacked by some mysterious men. Main believes what Sylvester told her and presses her blood seal upon the black charm he gave her. But then, Main's...

Main's mana goes berserk as the high priest and Bindewald try to force her to agree to an unreasonable contract. Ferdinand then shows up and faces off with Bindewald. Sylvester and Karstedt also eventually show up. Bindewald and the high priest demand that Main be punished for threatening them. A judgment will be placed upon all of them. Also, Main's family is told about a certain decision...