Ascendance of a Bookworm

Chapter 123: Ink Workshop

"I don't think it's a problem for them to work in Maine's Workshop. As you said, they are making money and improving the environment of the orphanage. Merchants like Benno often get out of the temple, and go to the forest; I heard they have the chance to contact with the outside world, and are very happy. But in the temple, they just make a little contact with the outside world and do things according to the rules of the temple. It will be quite different if they really work outside the temple and act according to the rules there.

"That's right."

I nod, and the Head Priest looks a little relieved for I can understand his analysis.

"Even if Benno can be a guardian, I still don't know him well. I don't know how to judge whether he is more reliable than those lower-class nobles who buy gray-robed priests for rough work. And I do not know whether a restaurant is an appropriate workplace for the priests, either."

"Well, if you come to the tasting, you will see the environment and draw a conclusion."

When I suggest it to the Head Priest with a smile, he shrugs his shoulders dully and shakes his head.

"I don't know what your plan is, but I can read through your face that it's not a good one. I hope you can learn how to hide your emotions. … Anyway, I will allow the merchants to enter Maine's Workshop, and allow them to increase their work. But I must forbid the priests from working outside the temple.

I have expected that my plan may be rejected, so I don’t feel so disappointed. I begin to think I just need to improve gradually, and maybe someday my advice will be accepted by the Head Priest.

"… I see. We still have some time to improve ourselves before we complete the restaurant. Mr. Benno can prove his personality to you by his hard work, Sir."

"Isn't it your hard work?"

"Yes, it is. I will help with the restaurant’s matter to some extent, but meanwhile I have to work hard at a lot of other aspects."

"I see."

The Head Priest smiles, "The most important thing for you is to acquire noble behavior."

… For me, the most important thing is to make a picture book for the baby.

"That's how the Head Priests rejected my proposal about letting gray-robed priests work outside."

The day after I have the lunch with the Head Priest, I report the result to Mr. Benno at his store as usual. After talking about what I saw in the nobles' diet, I tell him that the Head Priest did not allow gray-robed priests to work outside.

"As expected," Mr. Benno also supposed so.

"Well, Maine. Because we are allowed to go to Maine's Workshop, why not open a waiter training center there?"

"Hmm, maybe it's the right time for earning money during the winter when we can't make paper. But I plan to let them do handwork."

Winter is a season when we need lots of firewood and food. We can't find them in the forest, so we have to buy them. We cannot go out because of the heavy snow, so we can do some handwork to kill time, and more importantly, to earn some money.

"What do you want children at the orphanage to do?"

"We plan to make many toys. I would like to order a lot of planks from the woodwork workshop, but the workshop you know is busy with restaurant's interior decoration, right? Could you please introduce some other workshops?"

Besides, I wish Mr. Benno would think about the delay of the restaurant project. Although it is said to be normal here, I' cannot bear the fact that my plan is upset for it.

"Other workshop…"

"Because this is related to preparation of the orphanage for the winter, the delivery date is important."

Benno is reluctant to introduce other workshops. But to be honest, it's also a problem to have my work delayed. Indeed, I need a workshop that can deliver the goods in time.

"If it's so difficult for you to introduce me in terms of relationships, is it ok to ask someone else for help?"

"You mean Frieda? No." Mr. Benno said with his eyes wide open.

Of course, Frieda knows other workshops, just like Mr. Benno. But Mr. Benno rejects my proposal even before I speak out this name.

"… Well. Let me talk to the craftsman and ask him to introduce other workshops to you."

"Well, then, I'd like an ink workshop first. I also need ink. It would be meaningless if I have boards only, without any ink."

Ink, ink… As I demand with greater vehemence, Mr. Benno stands up after scratching his head several times. He suddenly holds me up, and strides out of the room.

“Mark, I will take Maine to the Ink Workshop and Woodwork Workshop. Lutz, come with us."

"Yes, master."

I go to an ink store, being held by Benno.

I check the price of the ink displayed on the shelf, and feel there is a long way to go before I can run a printing business for the over-high price of link.

"Are there any other inks?"

"They are not for sale here. If you really concern with, go to the workshop directly."

I droop my head. Mr. Benno asks the clerk about the location of ink workshop. This time we are heading towards the artisan street.

When we get to the ink workshop of artisan street, a gust of miscellaneous smells rush towards us. Mr. Benno puts me down and I walk into the workshop myself.

"… A customer seldom comes here directly. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Only the wealthy people who can read and write need ink. So, they just order inks at shops, but not at the workshop. It seems that no customer comes to the workshop where the pungent smell like medicine’s is filling the air.

The boss of the workshop in his union suit stained with black paint and oil looks me up and down, with a suspicious face. Extracting the pigment and blending the ink is a delicate task. He looks like a sensitive man.

"Excuse me. I want to know the types of ink made here."

"Types?"

Hearing my question, the boss stares at me with a deeper frown.

"Yes. How do you make it?"

"I cannot tell our method to others, girl."

The boss gives a snort. As he is about to finish the talk, I hurry to explain,

"I don't mean to know the method… I want to know the type of ink. Is it Gallnut ink? or Lamp Black? Do you make the one with high viscosity…? I want to know that."

"… Ha? What?"

Since I don't know the name of the ink type in this world, the boss doesn’t seem to understand me at all. I try desperately thinking all the words I know about the type of ink, in an effort to get the ink-related information from my memory.

"Hmm, how many types do you handle here?"

"Ink is ink. There is only one type."

The boss shrugs his shoulders, gesturing for me not to ask so childish a question.

"Well then, I have known the brief methods. So please tell us what kind of ink you make."

"Ahh."

He closes eyes, looks annoyed and then nods slightly.