Ascendance of a Bookworm: Fanbook 4 E-Book

Miya Kazuki

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: Ascendance of a Bookworm: Fanbook
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 98

Beschreibung

Here is the fourth official Ascendance of a Bookworm fanbook, intended to be read after finishing Part 4 Volume 8. This volume contains even more illustrations, character design sheets, and manga, as well as a short story not found in the light novels. Also included are exclusive notes about the development of the anime, design sheets for the gods, coverage of yet another drama CD, and a new extensive Q and A with author Miya Kazuki.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Color Art Gallery

Cover Art Gallery

Christmas Cards and Drama CD Gallery

Anime Design Sheets

Cover, Color Art, and Miscellaneous Art Rough Draft Gallery

“Liz’s Apprentice Selection” by Suzuka

Mana-Sensing and Marriage Partners

Character Design Sheets

Design Sheets for the Gods

“Business Trips are Tough” by Ryo Namino

“Drama CD 3 Post-Recording Report” by Miya Kazuki

“Drama CD 3 Post-Recording Report” by Suzuka

Q&A with Miya Kazuki

“A Comfy Life with My Family” by You Shiina

Messages from the Creators

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Table of Contents

Mana-Sensing and Marriage Partners

“Oh...?”

We had all gathered in the dormitory to study for the knight course when it happened: the noise intensified, and I suddenly felt like I was being watched. I scanned my surroundings, searching for the cause, when Lady Natalie peered up at me from her work.

“Lady Judithe, is something the matter?”

I couldn’t even answer. Everything looked the same as before, but the change was unmistakable. My fellow students could suddenly be divided into two groups: those with a strong presence, and those with a weak one. The sensation was so odd that goose bumps formed all over my body, and I struggled just to set my pen down.

Wait... Is this mana-sensing?!

I was now painfully aware of people who had previously never even caught my eye. I stood up in shock, causing a clatter that made everyone look my way. Mana stirred within the room. I could feel it all, and it was so overwhelming that I made straight for the door.

The others called out to me. I didn’t feel good about ignoring them, but I wouldn’t have been able to hide my emotions. I was probably bright red with embarrassment.

“Did something happen?” asked my attendant Frederika. For as long as I was away from home, she was my closest companion and the eldest woman with whom I could discuss my situation.

“Frederika, I... I...”

The words refused to come out. I didn’t know how to say that I’d developed mana-sensing and that I was having a hard time getting used to it. As it turned out, though, I didn’t need to say anything else; Frederika touched me, and her eyes widened.

“Oh? Your mana... Aah! Congratulations!”

Mana-sensing was a trait that developed in one’s body between the ages of ten and fifteen. It was a secondary sexual characteristic for nobles—the ability to sense those with a mana capacity similar to one’s own. You could quite literally feel who would make a good marriage partner, as mana disparities made it hard to have children.

“It suddenly felt like the room got noisy,” I said. “Then it felt like everyone was watching me. I just couldn’t calm down. What should I do?”

It wasn’t just that I could sense all the mana around me; others could sense mine as well. I wasn’t actively searching for a partner, but my body was signaling that I was ready for marriage. It was so embarrassing that I wanted to die.

“You will get used to it soon.”

“Guh... But how soon? A bell? A day?”

This was a huge problem to me, but Frederika just giggled. “How impatient. I cannot remember how long it took for me—so much time has passed since then—but I can tell you this: when you want to escape the mana and drop the social act, use your hidden room.”

Hidden rooms were made using one’s own mana and stood apart from the rest of the world; being inside one meant not being able to sense anything on the outside. I’d seldom used mine before, but its importance was now clear to me. I wanted to hide away from everyone else’s mana until it was less overwhelming.

“Though if you stay in there forever, you will never get used to mana-sensing.”

“Ngh...”

Frederika had reminded me of my hidden room and then immediately advised me not to use it. Was my discomfort amusing to her?

“We must inform your parents,” she said. “Your development of mana-sensing means the time has come to consider your marriage prospects. Expect things to get a lot busier going forward.”

If such remarks had come from my mother, I would surely have protested and told her not to rush me. Frederika, however, was the attendant of an extended family member; I couldn’t speak so casually with her. It seemed best to keep my distance until my thoughts stopped racing and I felt better equipped to deal with my new emotions.

“I shall entrust that to you,” I said. “I was so shocked that I abandoned my studies and rushed out of the common room. I must go back.”

Not giving Frederika a chance to respond, I took my leave. My cheeks were red and warm despite the winter cold. I gave them a few sobering slaps, but it didn’t help. The others were bound to notice something was wrong.

“Ngh... I can’t go back to them like this. What am I to do?”

“Judithe!” Leonore called out from down the hall; she must have come looking for me. “Is everything okay? We couldn’t believe it when you rushed out of the common room like that.”

“Leonore...” was the most I could manage, and then it hit me—even as she approached, I couldn’t sense anything from her. Was her mana capacity that much higher than mine? On the one hand, that sucked—it went to show how superior archnobles were to mednobles—but on the other, I was relieved to have some peace.

“Well, um... it seems my mana-sensing has developed,” I said. “It happened so suddenly that I didn’t know how to react.”

“Aah, yes. It does take a while to get used to it. You went to discuss it with your attendant, then?”

I nodded, relieved to have found someone who understood. “She was overjoyed and said we need to contact my parents. I tried to explain how overwhelming it was, but she didn’t get it; she said she barely remembered the days when she had to go through it all.”

“You can confide in me, if you want. We girls are the only ones who can enter Lady Rozemyne’s retainer room, so why don’t we go there?”

Lady Rozemyne was back in Ehrenfest, and our male colleagues weren’t allowed up on the third floor. Indeed, we had a lot more privacy there than we were used to in the castle; Leonore, Brunhilde, Lieseleta, Philine, and I were the only ones with access to our lady’s retainer room.

“Please,” I replied.

“You go ahead. I shall return to the others for a moment and do my best to cover for you.”

I thanked Leonore, then went straight to the retainer room. It was pleasantly still, maybe because it was at the far end of the dormitory and Lady Rozemyne wasn’t around.

“You developed mana-sensing?” Brunhilde asked me.

“Yes...”

“Though I consider that cause to celebrate, I understand your desire to keep it secret. Until you grow used to it, at least.” She took some sweets from the nearby shelves, then plated them with a knowing smile.

Brunhilde was right—I wanted someone to sympathize with my worries, not commend me for my sudden growth. “My attendant Frederika said I would get used to it, but how long will that really take?”

“Let’s see... Ten days, perhaps?”

“Maybe not even that,” Lieseleta added. “Mine stopped bothering me after five.”

I clenched my fists on my lap. Both estimates were a lot longer than I’d anticipated.

Lieseleta served Brunhilde some tea—the cup made a gentle clink as it touched the table—and then smiled at me. “For the first three days or so, you won’t need to worry about others noticing the change in you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my eyes widening.

She leisurely made tea for Leonore before returning her attention to me, a gentle look in her green eyes. “Your senses changed abruptly, and now you are extremely sensitive to the mana of those around you. But your own mana is currently unstable and can be sensed only by those close enough to touch you.” Her mana swayed as she set a cup in front of me. I could sense it.

“I can feel yours, but you can’t feel mine?”

“I can, but only when we touch. Like this.” She reached out to demonstrate. “It feels weak and somewhat distant. Could that be because of a gap between our capacities?”

Out of all the girls in the room, Lieseleta was the only one whose mana I could sense. Two of the others were archnobles, and Philine was too young to have developed mana-sensing.

“Your mother would normally teach you these things, but that isn’t an option here at the Royal Academy...” Lieseleta continued. “There must be so much you are uncertain about.”

“You could put your practical lessons on hold and return home for a short while,” Brunhilde said. She gave me a trepidatious look and then added, “Not that I would recommend it...”

I asked her to elaborate.

“Once your parents find out about this, they will invite a plethora of men to celebrate whether you like it or not. You feel embarrassed about your mana-sensing and would rather it not be touched upon, correct? You should stay at the Royal Academy until you are prepared for what will come next.”

Brunhilde explained that her parents had thrown her a massive party. To make matters worse, her father had told her to select a potential groom from among the countless men in attendance. The very thought made my cheeks redden and my eyes tear up. I turned to Leonore, hoping she could ease my concerns... but she returned a vague smile.

“As I am not my house’s successor, my celebration was not so grand. But several men were invited.”

“But that’s just, like... an archnoble thing, right?” I shot a desperate glance at my last hope. “Lieseleta, you didn’t have to go through anything like that, did you?”

She took a sip of tea and gave me a troubled smile. “Yours is an unenviable position. Not only are you unable to consult your mother about this, but you are fated to have a celebration waiting for you as soon as you get home. Though I understand the importance of such events, the trial ahead will not be easy.”

“What? What?! Um...”

I was at a complete loss. Did even mednobles hold such gatherings? Leonore and Brunhilde eyed me with sympathy as I stared on in shock.

As I sat there stunned, Leonore gave me a commiserative smile. “Celebrations of this nature are held during winter socializing or near the Starbinding when relatives and associates are easier to contact.”

“My mana-sensing developed at the end of summer,” Brunhilde added, looking equally sympathetic, “so I was emotionally prepared by the time my celebration came around. You will not have that luxury.”

“No way... No way!” I cried. “Can I prevent the celebration somehow?” I tried to picture it—all those people coming together to find out I was ready for marriage—and my face grew so hot that I thought it might catch fire.

Leonore shook her head. “Parents consider it a crucial opportunity to find their children suitable marriage candidates.”

“If your attendant has contacted yours, they might even be preparing as we speak,” Brunhilde noted.

My elders wore smiles as they encouraged me to accept my fate. I was doomed to have a celebration at the end of the approaching winter.

“Can you at least tell me what to expect?” I asked. “Nobody’s ever invited me to such a celebration!”

“That goes without saying. Their purpose is to put women who have just developed mana-sensing in the same room as compatible, unmarried men. The men find it just as embarrassing as we do, so we’re all in the same boat, at least...”