Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Volume 5 (Manga Review)
Ascendance of a Bookworm: I’ll do anything to become a librarian! Part 2 (I’ll even join the temple to read books!)
Honzuki no Gekokujou: Part 2
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~ 第二部 「本のためなら巫女になる! 」

It is nice getting to read so much good manga from my backlog. I’m glad I bought this volume when is was initially released, as it is about to go out of print. 😑

–> Buy Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Volume 5 from Amazon.com.

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis

Delia complains about Rosina not doing any work. Rosina believes her only role should be music. Her attitude stems from her time as Christine’s attendant. Myne consults with her attendants about Rosina. Wilma pleads for Myne to give Rosina a chance. Myne informs Rosina that she will have to do other work or return to the orphanage. Rosina has a heart talk with Wilma, and decides it is better to concedes to Myne’s request.

Myne learns that ink is massively expensive. Since she knows other methods of creating ink, she decides to sell the idea to the ink guild with the option to allow her workshop to make their own ink. Myne gets Wilma to make art for the blocks that will be used to print the picture books. The initial attempt to create a printed page proves the concept. However, it is a black background with white text.

Myne comes up with a new solution to get the black text on a white background. She also instructs Wilma to change her art style to better suit the printing method they will use. After experiencing a meal for nobles, Myne tells High Priest Ferdinand her plants to make a children’s bible. Further, she wants to educate all of the orphans to read as it will benefit their work in the Myne Workshop.

Ferdinand demands to know how Myne learned to write as well as she does. He feels her writing is that of a foreigner writing in a non-native tongue. As such, he demands to know who Myne is.

Staffing Drama

The first part of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Volume 5 is dedicated to Myne dealing with her next staffing drama. I can certainly understand Rosina feeling that her job should be solely dedicated to music. After all, she’s to be Myne’s music teacher. And the miko to whom Rosina originally worked for allowed that.

But since that’s only a small job, it is understandable that Myne would need her to do more to assist her. Myne isn’t Christina, so naturally things change. I couldn’t help but think how that just happens in any situation where you get a new boss who has a new way of doing things.

Still, there was a childish element to everything. I felt Myne handled things in a mature way. Not surprising since her personal is that of someone older than everyone of her attendants. She got everyone to put in their thoughts, then gave Rosina a choice. But, Delia added the childish element with her complaints, even if they were valid.

Picture Books

Again, it is pretty incredible that Myne would know so much about every aspect of bookmaking, from how to actually make paper, to how to actually make ink. However, Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Volume 5 does make an effort to show the trial and error of the process. And I concede this same path was used when it came to making paper.

However, as I read this volume, I realized that Kazuki-sensei isn’t making Myne a know it all. Yes, Myne does know a ton from her Motosu persona. It is clear that Motosu had a high level of memory retention. And who knows how much this “reincarnation” effect enhanced that. Regardless, Myne remembers the types of inks, but has to experiment to see what works best. Further, she has to do the same when it comes to the printing side of things. So I can let my “concerns” pass.

That aside, I think it is pretty nifty that Myne is going to make a picture book for her new sibling. In addition, Myne’s going to make sure the orphans get an education, which is awesome.

Still, it is interesting that Ferdinand challenged Myne on who she is. I remember Lutz doing it. I can’t remember if the high priest did it before or not. Nevertheless, I am curious as to how Myne deals with this. Will she come clean or not?

Omake

The extra manga chapter is a meeting between Benno, Myne, Fran, and Rosina over the new Italian restaurant that will come in. Again, Myne makes some waves by introducing things that those in the upper city and lower city find amazing.

The short story is Tuuli working on getting stuff for her new sibling.

We get the usual notes from Kazuki-sensei and Suzuka-sensei. There’s the two-page “Game of Life” display of Myne’s life since her Motosu persona awakened. And there are ads from J Novel Club.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

In the end, Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Volume 5 continues to be an interesting and fascinating read. Hopefully, J Novel Club keeps the books in print.