Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 Volume 3 (Manga Review)
Ascendance of a Bookworm: I’ll do anything to become a librarian! Part 1 (If there aren’t any books, I’ll just have to make some!!)
Honzuki no Gekokujou: Part 1
本好きの下剋上 ～司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません～ 第一部 「本がないなら作ればいい！」

Since I unearthed the series while unpacking, I’ve really become sucked into this interesting world and the young woman, reincarnated into the body of a little girl on another world. So without further ado, let’s get into the review. (As a disclaimer, as I write this, I have read several volumes now. However, I am reviewing based on my notes for this volume only.)

–> Buy Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 Volume 3 (manga) from Amazon.com

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis

Tuuli turns seven, gets baptized, and becomes an apprentice seamstress. Myne continues to work with Lutz on making paper. At the same time, she gets information to help Lutz for his dream to become a traveling merchant. Unfortunately, some stuff Myne saved to help make paper got burned by her mother. As such, Myne’s anger causes her internal fever to explode, knocking her out. She is near death, but when she becomes aware of Lutz, she manages to get control of things.

Myne gets Lutz an interview with Otto. However, Otto has merchant and company owner Benno there as well. Otto lays out the harshness of life as a traveling merchant. Lutz is able to tell Benno what kind of merchant he’d be. Further, Myne promises to have prototype paper for Benno to inspect before Lutz and her baptism. Afterward, Benno, Otto, and his wife (and Benno’s sister) Corinna discuss how unique Myne is. Benno thinks she has the Devouring disease.

Corinna gets Myne to wash her hair with the shampoo Myne made. Myne trades some for nails she needs as part of her paper project. Benno invites Myne and Lutz over. They set up a contract whereby Benno provides supplies to Myne and Lutz, but he has certain rights to her shampoo and paper. When they are done, Lutz demands to know who Myne really is.

About Motosu-Myne

Blog reader Gamen let me know that Kazuki-sensei wrote on Twitter about the true nature of Motosu and Myne. This hasn’t appeared in the story yet (even the source light novels), but it is considered canon. To that end, Motosu was actually reincarnated as Myne on this other world. Myne had some level of access to Motosu’s memories on Earth. And due to her sickly state, these memories were like dreams to her, where she could escape her bedridden condition.

Eventually, the Devouring overtook Myne, and in desperation, she reached out to her Motosu self, who took over Myne. The Motosu persona still had full access to all her memories as Myne, but also all her memories as Motosu. Thus the reason she can do the things she does, including what we saw in Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 Volume 3. It makes me feel a bit better about their situation, and about the potential romance between Lutz and Myne.

Moving Forward

Well, we now have the name of Myne’s disease in Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 Volume 3 — the Devouring. Rather an ominous name for a disease, but seemingly appropriate. And it certainly is an odd disease, which we’ll learn about in the upcoming volumes. But I’m glad it isn’t a mystery disease. Still, it is interesting how Myne getting upset really seems to trigger the fever inside her and knock her out.

I previously stated that I found it a bit of a stretch for Myne (Motosu) to remember how to make things. However, it is a minor thing as I attribute it to Motosu having a near photographic memory. That aside, I do like that Myne’s shampoo got noticed, and with her desire to make paper rather than parchment, she has two products to potentially sell through Benno.

Regardless, I’m enjoying seeing Myne use her advanced knowledge to succeed in this world. Considering her illness and generally weak nature, her mind is her best asset. Suzuka-sensei’s art really helps bring out Myne’s charm as well. I love how Myne looks after Lutz, who in turn, looks after Myne. This is aided by the art, which is quite good.

Finally, it is interesting that Lutz decided to challenge Myne on her identity. Well, I suppose he would have known her from before the Motosu persona took over. And since he’s around Myne in a more intimate fashion due to their combined goal to make and sell paper, he’d notice more things. That said, it will be interesting to see how Myne deals with this.

Omake

There’s a bonus manga chapter where Myne makes a meal for her family. There’s a short story that introduces us to Freida, who will appear in a future manga volume. There are separate notes from Suzuka-sensei and Kazuki-sensei. There’s there’s a diagram, explaining how things work for baptism and work (and adulthood at 15). And finally, there’s an art page where Otto is shown gushing about his wife to an annoyed Benno.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

In the end, Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 1 Volume 3 continues the very interesting story of Myne (and Motosu) as she works on her goal to become a librarian.