Today was a day where I could taste both heaven and hell at once — the Chief Priest's sermon and my first trip home in ages. On one hand, I couldn't contain my excitement about the evening when Father and Turi would come to pick me up, but on the other, just thinking about the Chief Priest's sermon I had to endure made my stomach churn.
"
"Y-yes…"
When I went to the Chief Priest's room with
As always, I was made to sit on the long chair. The Chief Priest then took out a wooden tablet from his desk, set an inkwell on a small stand, picked up a pen, crossed his legs, and fixed me with an interrogating stare.
"I didn't call you here to scold you. I said I had things I wanted to hear and things I wanted to say. First, I'd like you to tell me in detail about the printing press you're trying to create."
It seemed he had compiled a list of questions he hadn't been able to ask during his visit to Mine Workshop, and he fired off one after another about how many books the press could print and at what speed. However, I couldn't give a clear answer to any of them.
"The printing press isn't anywhere near completion, and to make books with text only, I'll need far more metal type. Besides, right now I'd have to make both paper and ink at the workshop before I could print anything. Even if I managed to build a single press, there's no telling how fast or how much it could print until I actually try."
"I see."
The Chief Priest said this while dropping his gaze to the board in his hands.
"Then I'd like to ask about the point of history changing. If printing begins, what happens to the books that have been copied by hand up until now? What became of those who made their living as copyists in your world?"
"When it's a hobby that's one thing, but thinking of it as a profession… the wave of mechanization pushed them out, and they gradually faded away. Over the course of about one hundred to two hundred years, I'd say. It wasn't something that happened in ten or twenty years."
The Chief Priest scrawled away on his board, furrowing his brow as he did.
"You said that in your world, everyone studies. I imagine that in such a world, everyone could read and books were naturally within reach, but it couldn't have started out that way. When literacy rates rose and books spread, what changed in society, and how?"
"Quite a few things changed. But the impact varied depending on the country and the social conditions. Since the world itself was different, I don't think it would be much of a reference at all."
"Changed how, for example?"
His words brought to mind the history of Myne's era. There were plenty of examples, but I wasn't sure they would resonate with the Chief Priest, who lacked the necessary background knowledge.
"There were cases where the masses shared information and gained knowledge, overthrew the ruling class, and ushered in government by the people. On the other hand, there were leaders who printed pamphlets with information favorable to themselves, arbitrarily united the public's awareness, and used it for incitement. While it was clear that the masses learning to read would greatly change the means of information transmission, what exactly would change and how — who knows. It all depends on how someone uses it."
"I suppose it does depend on how it's used, but if the impact is so enormous that no one can predict the outcome… That's troublesome…"
The Chief Priest murmured this even as he continued jotting things down on his board.
"In my world, this is a society where life cannot function without nobility who possess Magic Power, correct? Even if literacy rates rose and books spread, you can't tell the same story about the movements of the commoners. Rather, wouldn't it be a good idea to publicize how hard the nobility are working for the commoners, by putting it in a book and spreading the word? Though it would backfire if the nobility and priests weren't actually doing their jobs properly."
"What do you mean?"
The Chief Priest looked at me quizzically. I gave a light shrug.
"The people in the lower town actually have surprisingly little idea what the nobility are doing. In the rural villages, Harvest Festivals are held, and the commoners see the Holy Cup being filled with Magic Power right before their eyes, directly connected to their own lives. So their faith in the gods is deep, and unlike in the lower town, they seemed to be praying to the gods quite openly."
"I'd never even considered the commoners' faith in the lower town. …Your perspective is quite interesting. It differs from ours."
Naturally, this stemmed from class differences, but also because my memories of Mine's era still lingered strongly within me. The Chief Priest seemed to find it amusing that I held opinions different from those of anyone else in this world.
"Hmm. …Then, having considered the situation from my own perspective, I shall issue my orders. Do not print anything for the time being."
"Huh? Why not?"
"The commoners are, as you say, unpredictable in how they might turn, and it is possible they could be managed through Magic Power. However, one thing is certain — the backlash from the nobility would be enormous."
According to the Chief Priest, those who could copy manuscripts earned a stable, high income. And many nobility students, priests, and Shrine Maidens from families that weren't all that wealthy — particularly those without money at the Noble Academy — made their living through copywork. If books consisting solely of text were suddenly mass-printed, it would inevitably earn the resentment of those lower-ranking nobility, the Chief Priest said.
"…So the entrenched interests are the nobility, then?"
Their power was incomparable to the vested interests of old. This was terrifying. I shuddered involuntarily, and the Chief Priest slowly let out a sigh.
"Until now, the books you've been printing are picture books for children, and moreover, you're printing them on paper, so production can't be that large-scale — isn't that what you told me? So I didn't think the impact on copyist nobility and priests would be significant enough to warrant a ban on printing. But what happens when you use a printing press?"
The reason I'd wanted to prepare metal type was that carving each character one by one with a cutter was exhausting. I'd hoped that if I could make text-only books with even a little less effort, that would be good. But that was no different from taking away the scribes' jobs — the same thing that happened in Mine's world.
"Do not print for the time being, you said… For how long, exactly?"
Even after building the press, not being able to print would be agonizing. When I asked how long I had to endure, the Chief Priest narrowed his golden eyes smoothly.
"Until you become
"Huh?"
"If a commoner interferes with the nobility's domain, they'll be crushed in an instant. However, if you begin printing as a territorial enterprise under a high-ranking noble of this region with the Lord's permission, you won't be crushed so easily."
If it were just one commoner, they could be crushed easily. But if I had the status of a high-ranking noble's adopted daughter and started it as a national enterprise with the Lord's permission, it would be beyond the reach of lower-ranking nobility scraping together pocket money. Rather, he suggested bringing those lower-ranking nobility into the printing enterprise.
The conversation had suddenly become enormous in scope, and I gulped without thinking.
If we launched the printing industry across the entire territory at once, no one would be able to crush it. But with the press completed, could I really wait another two years before printing? It had been two and a half years since I started living as Myne. Could I endure making nothing but children's picture books for the same length of time again?
As if reading the thoughts spinning in my mind, the Chief Priest narrowed his eyes, looked straight at me, and raised the corner of his mouth just slightly.
"Well, Myne. Why not become Karstedt's adopted daughter right now?"
For just an instant, the scales in my heart wavered.
But it really was only an instant, and I quickly shook my head.
"I won't. I'm finally, finally able to go home…"
"Are you dissatisfied with Karstedt?"
"Not at all. I think Lord Karstedt is a truly wonderful person. He's dependable, composed, and holds a high position — as an adoptive father, I couldn't ask for more."
Even so, I wanted to be with my family. I already had a deadline of ten years at the longest. I didn't want it to become any shorter.
"When you're separated from your family, of course you'd miss them. …Why don't you go home, spend plenty of time being spoiled by your family, and then think it over. You might arrive at a different answer."
The Chief Priest's face, broken into a soft smile, looked triumphant. He was clearly predicting that I would be unable to endure life without books and would come begging to be adopted before I turned ten.
I clenched the hand resting on my lap and looked the Chief Priest straight in the eye.
"I won't come to a different answer. I want to stay with my family until the very last moment I'm allowed. …It was the Chief Priest who confronted me with just how unfilial I had been, with books always at the top of my priorities."
By using a Magical Tool to present me with overwhelming memories appealing to all five senses, the Chief Priest had seared the existence of my irreplaceable family deep into my heart.
My words drew a light breath from the Chief Priest.
"If you have that strong a resolve, then there's nothing to be done. For the next two years, limit yourself to making children's books on a small scale."
"…Yes."
"Myne, I've come to pick you up."
"Is your talk with the Chief Priest finished?"
When I returned to my room after finishing my conversation with the Chief Priest, Father and Turi were already waiting for me in the first-floor hall.
"Father! Turi!"
All the swirling mists of anxiety from my conversation with the Chief Priest vanished in an instant. I left Fran and Damuel by the door and dashed forward, throwing myself into Father's arms.
"Oof!"
When I leaped into Father's arms, he caught me and lifted me up, just as expected. He hoisted me high, spun me around once in a full circle, and set me back down. After that, he ruffled my hair vigorously with his big hands — that was the ritual, and my hair ended up completely disheveled.
"Myne, your hair's all messy again."
Turi, who had watched Father and me reunite, laughed as she removed my Hairpin and tidied my hair with a comb. Holding the Hairpin Turi had taken out, I felt a nostalgic warmth from the sensation of having my hair arranged.
"I'll go change real quick, so wait for me."
In high spirits, I headed upstairs and changed with Deria's help. I took off the blue Shrine Maiden's robe, removed the noble lady's flowing-sleeved jacket, and for the first time in ages slipped my arms into my apprentice outfit from the
When I'd been confined in the
"…Lady Myne. Is family truly that wonderful a thing?"
As she fastened the buttons, Deria tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Even if I serve you with all my heart, you'll be gone. Wouldn't it be better to be with your family than with us?"
"It's not that I hated living here in the winter. Everyone served me well, and I had a comfortable life. But I was lonely all the same. I want to go home, and I want to be with my family."
I knew Deria had served me faithfully, but even so, I wanted to go home. I wanted to return to my family.
"I'm sorry, Deria."
"There's no need for you to apologize, Lady Myne. …I simply don't understand. What is family?"
Her tone wasn't one of resentment toward a master who wanted to return to her family. Deria simply blinked her eyes in puzzlement as she asked. Having grown up as an orphan, never knowing her parents' faces and avoiding the other orphans she'd supposedly grown up with, Deria had no one close enough to be called family either.
"Hmm, I think it depends on the person, but for me… it's where I belong, I suppose?"
"Where you belong?"
"Yes. The place where I feel most at ease."
Deria cast her gaze longingly toward the stairs.
"…That does sound like a wonderful thing."
Once I finished changing, I reached for the belongings I'd be taking home.
"You've improved your Feischpiel over the winter and refined your manners as well. You tend to be swayed by your environment, Lady Myne, so please be mindful not to forget your training even after you return home."
"…Yes."
Rosina began earnestly admonishing me about things to watch out for after returning home, much like the Chief Priest had. The amount of information she wanted me to write on a list was staggering. There was no way I could remember it all. It wasn't even like we'd never see each other again — this was excessive.
"Rosina, I'll be coming back again tomorrow, so could we continue this then?"
"Yes, I suppose so. …You will be returning tomorrow, won't you?"
Rosina caught herself, covering her mouth with her hand. Then, with a slightly lonely smile, she laughed softly.
"It somehow felt as if you would never come back here again. When Lady
Seeing the sorrow of having been left behind at the Temple reflected in Rosina's expression, I realized that the wounds left by her previous master ran deeper than I'd expected.
"Rosina, I shall be back tomorrow as well."
"Yes. I'll be waiting."
There wasn't much to bring home. I didn't need fancy clothes or shoes, and we had everything we needed at home. All I had to do was carry back the tote bag I'd brought with me.
When I headed downstairs with my bag, Deria and Rosina followed behind me. They were going to see me off.
"Father, Turi, thanks for waiting."
On the first floor, all my attendants were gathered.
"Then, let's head home. Everyone, thank you for taking care of Myne for so long."
"It's only natural to look after Lady Myne. We are her attendants, after all."
Father's words drew a big grin from Gil.
Chuckling softly at Gil's blend of polite and familiar speech, I looked around at everyone.
"I'll be counting on you to look after things while I'm gone."
"We eagerly await your swift return."
The attendants all crossed their hands before their chests and knelt in unison.
Damuel had to come along to serve as my escort on the way home. And Fran, who had never come to our house before, was accompanying us to guide Damuel on the return trip.
Stepping through the Temple's Gate, I walked along the cobblestones, now entirely free of snow, feeling a warm sense of nostalgia. It had been ages since I'd walked through town on my own feet.
Today I walked hand in hand with Lutz and Turi. While at the Temple, there was no opportunity to walk holding someone's hand like this. Having both hands so warm made me happy.
Father trailed behind us, chatting with Damuel and Fran about dangers to watch for and the town's security.
"It's been a while since we walked at Myne's pace."
"Hey, Myne. While you were at the Temple, did your walking speed get slower?"
"No way!? It got slower!?"
When moving around the Temple, neither Fran nor Damuel ever rushed me along. When we needed to hurry, I was simply picked up and carried. Since no one pressured me, I walked at my own pace, but it was entirely possible I'd slowed down.
"How fast were you going before? About this speed?"
When I tried to move my legs harder, Lutz laughed and shook his head.
"Stop it, Myne. There's no need to push yourself. It's been ages — just take your time heading home, okay?"
Walking at a leisurely pace while looking around, we spotted the Gilberta Company. I remembered what the Chief Priest had told me — to stop printing for a while.
"I might need to go talk to
"Did something happen?"
"I was told to stop printing for a while, so I need to discuss it."
When I shrugged, Turi's eyes widened slightly as she looked at me.
"Huh? Why? It was something you wanted so badly and worked so hard for!"
"Nobility affairs."
"…I see. That's too bad."
Turi stroked my head with her free hand to comfort me. I closed my eyes lightly, savoring the sensation, and smiled softly.
"It's not like I was told I absolutely can't do it. It's just a little over two years to endure. I'll be fine."
Moments like this — when I was sad or lonely, having family close by to lean on. I couldn't possibly be separated from them. Once again, I felt confirmed that my choice was not wrong.
"Then I'll come pick you up at the second bell tomorrow. Until then, don't wander off."
When we arrived at the well square, Damuel said this with a stern look. I was apparently under a curfew until my escort arrived, even here outside the Temple and even after reaching home.
"Understood, Lord Damuel. Fran, I know it's a lot of work making the round trip, but thank you."
"Yes. Tonight, please relax and enjoy time with your family. We'll be waiting for you to return tomorrow."
Fran crossed his hands before his chest.
"Thank you, Fran, Lord Damuel. Well then, see you tomorrow."
Damuel and Fran turned on their heels and departed from the well square.
After waving goodbye to Lutz, I climbed the five flights of stairs, huffing and puffing all the way.
"Come on, Myne. Hang in there, almost there!"
If I hadn't received encouragement from Father and Turi, I might not have made it home. My physical stamina must have really declined over the winter. It was already less than ideal — if it dropped any further, I'd be in real trouble.
"I'm home, Mom!"
I opened the door to our house for the first time in ages. The smell of dinner preparation flooded in the instant I turned the handle. She must have noticed our footsteps on the stairs, because she had already started setting the table. The scent of Mom's home cooking, which I hadn't smelled in so long, made my face break into an irrepressible grin.
"Welcome home, Myne."
Mom, cradling her enormous belly, set down a plate with a clink and looked up. Her smile filled my chest with joy, nostalgia, and happiness, filling the emptiness of my lonely heart.
"I walked outside for the first time in ages, so I'm starving."
"Put your things away and come help me prepare."
"Okay!"
I set down my tote bag, washed my hands, and began setting the table alongside Turi. Doing the work myself was something I hadn't done in a while, and it was actually kind of fun.
"Mom, when are you going to have the baby?"
Looking at her belly, so enormous it seemed like it might burst, I asked, and Mom stroked it lovingly.
"It could be any time now. She might have been waiting for you to come home," Mom said with a little giggle.
If she had truly been waiting for me, that made me happy. I stroked Mom's belly too and said, "Big sister's home." As if answering, I felt a kick against my palm.
"Ow! She kicked me. It was like she answered!"
My voice made the whole family laugh.
We ate Mom's home-cooked meal, goofed around with Turi while bathing, and when I curled up in the narrow bed where I'd bump into Turi if either of us tossed and turned, we all fell asleep together as a family.
At dawn, Mom began groaning with the onset of labor.
I received a "wait" order from the Chief Priest regarding printing.
No sooner had I returned home for the first time in ages than Mom went into labor.
Next time: the new family member.