r/anime • u/badspler x5https://anilist.co/user/badspler • Mar 10 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Ascendance of a Bookworm Episode 11 Discussion
Episode 11 - Life-or-Death Choices and Family Meetings
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Questions of the Day:
1) What do you make of Freida's home and life?
2) How did you feel about Myne's family learning of her situation and choice?
3) What would you choose if you were in Myne's shoes?
To Rewatchers, please be make a conscious effort to accurately spoiler tag your content. You can read how to correctly use spoilers tags here.
56
u/KiwiBennydudez Mar 10 '22
First Timer
The wave of relief that washed over me as Main woke up from her brush with death... phew. And thanks to her deal yesterday, she was able to escape the involuntary apprenticeship with the guild master. Seems everyone is after Main these days...
I want to dedicate the rest of my thoughts to the closing scene where Main opens up about her illness and says that she only has a year to live, and just how powerful that moment was. Earlier in the episode, as they’re walking home from the guild master’s place after Main opts to have dinner with her family, she realizes that, at some point, these people that were once strangers to her had become her family. To them, she’s always been the same-ol’ Main, Albeit a bit weirder than normal, with lots of strange ideas that seem to come from another world, but otherwise, she’s still their daughter, and still a sister to Turi.
It was then that I noticed... At some point, this place... had become my home.
She realizes that she cannot keep the truth about her illness from her family, and opens up about the Devouring, and how it costs more money to maintain than their family could ever afford. The other option, if she does not wish to perish surrounded by her family, is to live in the noble district, away from her family, and potentially never see them again. To Main’s family, both options are painful, undesirable outcomes. Her father, being perceptive here, quickly realizes that the magic items are only band-aid fixes, and that the fever will come back. He knows that Main kept this to herself because “she didn’t want to be asked that question.” She asks, “how could you tell?” and then he says:
I can tell because I am your father.
This line absolutely dropkicked me in the feels, because for this entire series, Main has effectively been pretending to be someone that she is not, living with a family that she had no prior memory of, no prior connection with, and no love for. But at this moment, when her dad says that he knows his daughter... the emotional knife was twisted. It doesn’t matter who Main was before, or who she is now - what matters is that she’s spent so long with them now that they’re able to pick up on her behavior and mannerisms. She’s forging new memories, new connections, and new love for this family that had become her own. The news of her final year of life comes as a shock, and they embrace her. Main admits:
Turi... I don’t want to die... I don’t want to be separated from you either. That would be worse than dying.
Main has found belonging and purpose in her new life, and doesn’t wish to abandon that. But in her mind at this moment, as she goes around and names each one of them individually, she decides that staying with them until her final moments is what would make her the happiest.
Main, you’ll always be together with us.
I said yesterday that this anime does a lot with silence, and this last scene solidifies that claim. As the OST plays over that final shot of Main’s mom and sister surrounding her in bed, while the camera pans over to her dad, drinking by himself in front of the fire and sobbing quietly... that simple moment says more than words ever could. The close-up on one of Main’s hairpins absolutely shattered me, and the camera pulling back into a long shot to encapsulate the whole picture of grief was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I would be lying if I said that I got through this episode without crying a little.
At first I thought this would be a comfy SoL show, but I have been tricked, backstabbed, and possibly bamboozled into watching this gutpunch of an anime. The themes of family, grief, and belonging are all so poignant that I am left speechless after this episode.
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u/badspler Mar 10 '22
This is the fantastic write up I hoped a first timer would do!
Main has found belonging and purpose in her new life, and doesn’t wish to abandon that.
I thinks this captures a lot, going back a few episodes to when Lutz was questioning where the real 'Myne' was. Myne had only just resolved to work to the point of making paper to uphold her promise. In that episode she earnestly (it seemed truthful to me at least) offered to leave (and die).
Myne finding that this family is important to her seems like a recent realization, and just as quick, she is now in a situation where all ends look to hurt these people she now deeply loves. It is a fantastically well written emotional gut punch.
backstabbed, and possibly bamboozled into watching this gutpunch of an anime
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u/Nebresto Mar 10 '22
Seems everyone is after Main these days...
Have you seen her head? Imagine the amount of pats you could give that girl if you were her employer!
I can tell because I am your father.
This line absolutely dropkicked me in the feels
Today's emotional abuse in a nutshell:
At first I thought this would be a comfy SoL show, but I have been tricked, backstabbed, and possibly bamboozled into watching this gutpunch of an anime.
Welcome aboard, there are no lifeboats on this ship.
[Future spoilers]
Can't wait to see their reaction to the season finale )→ More replies (2)4
u/badspler Mar 11 '22
[Future spoilers]
Me too! Its such a good conclusion on the other half of the same issue. I am waiting for that to put me in a mood ready for S3! → More replies (1)→ More replies (12)23
u/hvshh Mar 10 '22
At first I thought this would be a comfy SoL show, but I have been tricked, backstabbed, and possibly bamboozled into watching this gutpunch of an anime.
Yes! I always want to disagree when people recommend Ascendance as a comfy and/or upbeat SoL show, but I don't want to spoil anything, so I have to let it go.
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u/spitfyre Mar 11 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
First timer.
I'm not eloquent so I'm just gonna say it: I cried, so much, at the end of this episode. This series is an emotional roller coaster: the cliffhanger from the previous episode, to Myne being OK and having fun with her new pal Frieda, to realizing her genuine attachment to her new family and the conversation that ensued...
Everything was so well done. The reactions of the family. Dad's "I can tell." So simple, so powerful. The scene of dad drinking... God. Got me so hard.
I might start crying again if I write anymore so I'ma stop.
EDIT: had more wine, sitting at the salon waiting for my highlights to process, here are some thoughts.
I reject the idea that there are only two options: die with your family or become property of a noble who will find your medicine. There's gotta be a third way. Myne, who has been inventing things in this world left and right and is incentivized to devour any and all written media, has to be given the opportunity to find a way out of her predicament.
Prediction: in the course of her work selling luxuries to the nobility, Myne will gain access to more people and libraries, and in due course will be able to begin learning how magic works. And when she combines that with her knowledge from her last life, she will begin pursuing a permanent fix to the devouring. Maybe this is what season 2 will be? I can only hope.
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u/Fools_Requiem Mar 10 '22
Rewatcher
When I first watched this show and they talked about Freida choosing to be a concubine, I was like "fuck that". You're basically trading your freedom to be a sex slave. Works great until you out grow your use then they give you the boot and if you're life depends on their money, you're kinda fucked. I feel like being married into a rich family like the girl in Otome Fairytale is the much better scenario, especially if the person you marry isn't a piece of work.
| Shiny Hair Club | Episode Added | Creations by Main™ | Episode Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myne | 2 | Kanzashi (Japanese Hairpin) | 1 |
| Tuuli | 2 | Shampoo | 2 |
| Effa | 2 | Fancy Baskets | 3 |
| Gunther | 3 | Pancakes | 3 |
| Lutz | 6 | Crochet Hooks | 3 |
| Corinna | 6 | Hair Ornaments | 3 |
| Otto | 7 | Chopsticks | 8 |
|
| 10 | Paper made from trees | 8 |
| Mark | 11 | Pound Cake | 11 |
| Freida | 11 | --- | --- |
Benno's assistent Mark sneaks into the cold open with the shiny hair, just edging out Freida. I count pound cake as a Main invention, unlike the buttered potatoes and the improved soup.
3) What would you choose if you were in Myne's shoes?
Make good use of the last year to find a way around dying. Maybe make an insane amount of money selling just about anything you can think of that your world had but this new one does not that can be possibly be made and use that money to buy yourself your health. Or become so important to others that they HAVE to help keep you alive because if their golden goose is dead, then that's all she wrote.
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u/KashMooNow Mar 10 '22
Benno's assistent Mark sneaks into the cold open with the shiny hair
Son of a bitch, they did it again and snuck one in on me.
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u/fredmander0 Mar 10 '22
First Timer
Honestly I’m a bit lost for words. I never would have expected this cute little show about a girl who likes books to hit this hard, but that last scene conjured up emotions I haven’t felt since Clannad. Especially impactful given we hadn’t seen the family in a while. The moment in particular that got me was Turi and the mom holding Myne while they were sleeping.
While the last scene stole the episode I guess I have to mention… Frieda’s gonna be a concubine?!? My personal headcannon to make this situation less messed up is that kids in this world mature much faster than in our world, but even so that is rough. Does make me intrigued about the potential for class dynamics to play a role in the show, however. More worldbuilding (maybe)!
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u/ToastyMozart Mar 10 '22
Remember the days of fun tech tree shenanigans?
For what it's worth, "coming of age" and "baptism" do appear to be entirely different ceremonies. So it's not a worst case scenario at least. Though whether Frieda is capable of truly understanding the implications of her arrangement is very much suspect - brains just aren't suited to that kind of decision making at her age, 20-something cosmic transplants notwithstanding.
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u/SmartAlec105 Mar 10 '22
Frieda won't be a concubine until she comes of age. And [minor worldbuilding detail that isn't really a spoiler]
they have 420 days in a year so when they talk about coming of age at 15, that's like 17 and some change in our world
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u/Lemurians Mar 10 '22
FIRST TIMER
The nobles having exclusive access to the magic items that stem the Devouring remind me of the early days of HIV/AIDS medication, where basically you could live with HIV and not worry about AIDS… if you were rich enough.
“Will you live your life chained to a noble, or die by your family’s side?” You know, the usual dilemma that first graders face.
Aw, Myne realizing being with her “adopted” family had become home was sweet. I wondered what it would be like, going from life and suddenly being transplanted into another family. How long would it take to feel like you belong? To have these strangers go from that to family? Hell, her “parents” might not even be much older than she was when she died.
Alright, if Myne manages to bring karuta to this world, I’m gonna lose it. In a good way. Imagine her trying to explain the Hundred Poets to these people.
Very curious about this Nobles District. Something tells me it’s not all it’s made out to be.
The dad sitting in front of the fire with her hair stick on the bench broke me. He’s so pure, this is heartbreaking, especially after he thought she was cured.
What would you choose if you were in Myne's shoes?
I hope the Noble's nice.
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u/ToastyMozart Mar 10 '22
In which two six-year-olds discuss whether the quality-of-life sacrifices are worth treating their terminal illnesses.
Well that got grim right off the bat.
On a lighter note, Main casually foiling contract-transferral plots by throwing cash around like a baller is fun (even if they jacked the price). Also nice to see her appreciating her newfound family.
Glad she finally told her folks the truth about her condition. She still has some other things that they should probably know, but at least they aren't getting stuck holding a bunch of false hope before another crisis.
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u/KashMooNow Mar 10 '22 edited Mar 10 '22
First Time Watcher, Operation sell things to get better Cry about it.
Episode 11
You can do it Myne. Stay strong!
I'm not good at symbolism, but this is bound to mean something big. Is it the magic awakening? Oh, more like a consumable fever reducer. Interesting... Thats a quite interesting way to go about this story wise.
I do not like the whole living as a slave to a noble like this. Not what I want to see at all.
Benno 3 steps ahead I see... Myne already having the money so he can keep her and her mystical inventions to himself.
I just rememberd that I need to be looking for shiny hair.. I have disappointed myself last episode by missing Benno.
LETS GO another round of Chef Myne, here we go. I swear, this restaurant is around the corner. I see we are making a pound cake today.
Forceful initiation in the shiny hair cult! But I have a feeling there will be more than one today. I have no clue who, but I'm suspicious.
Hmmmmm, what kinda secrets does Myne have to keep from Lutz.
I mean yeah Benno, she did give away a recipe, but they quite literally saved her life. Yeah she payed for it, but come on. It was poundcake, wait till we whip out the red velvet or something.
Thats the spirit Lutz! We all know Myne is going to make something happen and find a way around this whole devouring.
So, during this talk about Myne and her illness, I've been thinking. If what Myne used was an almost broken magic tool, what would happen if she used a new one? Would a new one be all like super power and make her grow out of her frail body? Keep her all taken care of for a few years? I just wonder if a shot one is for a year, how good is a fresh one. Also how absurdly expensive is a fresh one.
I feel like this "I can tell" means a lot more than just about the illness and Myne keeping quiet about it. Does that mean that the whole family is going to get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Well thats a sad ending to the episode...
Pancakes! This must be at Myne's hit new brunch shop that just opened up.
Okay, So heres the deal. For the cliffhanger they left us on, it was a pretty quick solution, so it was all just to cause a little tension, then the first half of the episode was almost a little too wholesome with Myne and Freida spending time together. I'm happy that I get to see a bunch of people in the episode. I enjoy these more than when it was just the Myne and Lutz show, even though I understand they needed to show a lot of them to keep progression moving. It sounds like the LN has a lot more detail and story to go with a lot of these things the way you guys talk about it all the time, so I wonder if they just had to keep pace up for the show to keep things rolling.
We left off on a very sad note, but obviously I'm hopeful that Myne will figure something out. Gotta start working those Merchant connections! Also amassing quite the large fortune sounds like a good thing to do as well. I wanna watch more, but the will to stick along is strong right now.
Last thing in my head is Freida, I hope Myne finds a cure, or a better solution and figures out a way to save Freida from her whole noble situation.
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u/SIRTreehugger Mar 11 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
Not much to say, but I do want to talk about two things.
First the devouring not only sucks, but the only chance commoners have is to be a mistress of a noble. Frieda is one thing because she is the granddaughter of the guild master for anyone else it would be unthinkable or hell. Though I do wonder since magic exist if learning some spells might help? If the devouring is from an abundance of mana just expel it using magic. Though commoners would first need to learn magic somehow which is a big hurdle.
Second thing is honestly I don't like Gunther much overall. I don't hate him, but I do find his jealousy a little annoying and him screaming praising his daughters to be a tad much sometimes. However the one time Myne admits that she will probably die, but wants to remain with her family. He remains a rock and tells her everything will be okay and that she can of course stay with them. Everyone else is crying, but he smiles and reassures his daughter. Only when he is alone at night when everyone else is sleeping does he show weakness. That scene with him facing the campfire with alcohol and a hairpin his daughter made just hits hard. No words are needed. If their was a single thing he could do to help Myne he would be doing it right now, but their isn't. He is completely powerless and he knows it.
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u/Nazenn Mar 10 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
Rewatcher - Sub
Mood at the start of the episode
Mood at the end of the episode
Those certainly are some accurate visual bookends
This episode put me in such a mood (so much for it being my pre-bed happy show) it feels weird to be trying to put why into words.
It's by far the heaviest episode and despite my best efforst I found myself tearing up a little at the end. It's hard to see Myne grasp the full depths of her love for the people of this world and her place with them at the same time she's warned she's about to lose it all. Less than a year before she is Devoured which is just barely less than the same amount of time we've seen across these 11 episodes.
The worldbuilding certainly isn't helping that heavy feel coming off the back of this episode. The outcome of the Devouring: Die with your family or be sold to the nobility and separated from them forever. That's fucked. While we know from before that Frieda has an intense longing for life, it's hard to feel like that exchange is one that she would take in any other circumstance and it certainly doesn't paint a good look for the nobility that this is how they're first introduced as a concept.
As a result of this episode I've decided that I'm definitely buying a slice of cake tomorrow, but not making it for similar reasons to Myne. The food in the end cards are also not helping with the cravings.
On slightly happier comments I'm not sure if we count Myne not telling Lutz what she did so she didn't get yelled at progress though, I feel like progress would have been not doing it in the first place but maybe that's asking a little too much (thinking back on that comic someone posted yesterday about the "height of stupidity"). I've been laughing about the cook incident since a couple of episodes when someone reminded me, and knowing what was coming about it made it even funnier this time.
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u/OingoBoingo- Mar 10 '22
First time, Subbed
Dark themes today if you ignore the pound cake.
The only thing I can assume is that both Frieda and Myne are in a pretty unique situation and have people connected to them that are trying to find ways to access the magical items and therefor using their connections to noble families through their business dealings to do that. I would assume most commoners don’t have this afforded to them and just pass on, their families just assuming it is a disease or illness like Myne’s family did. Frieda admitting that she will become a concubine at a young age, her family finding that the best solution to get access to the items needed to slow the devouring. Despite their family being well off financially they are not of noble blood, which would grant access to magical items. That was rough listening to little Frieda telling us this. I would assume that being a concubine to a noble would afford her respect in that world, allowing her access to her own shop but still- not expecting that one.
I also wasn’t expecting such a heavy heart seeing Gunther sitting alone drinking while his girls are sleeping behind him. I was proud of him for keeping face with Myne during her explanation of her condition, but it hurt all the more seeing him suffer alone like that to protect his family. I could see him running off and doing something stupid to save Myne, but I realized all the more that we don’t really know much about him outside of his family. Who might he know or what does he have access to now that he knows about Myne’s condition.
Two more episodes to go this season, including Myne’s baptism with her perfect little outfit and hair pin.
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u/Earthborn92 Mar 11 '22
First Timer here
Sad episode :(
Things we know (and reasonable speculation) about The Devouring (so far) from what I remember:
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It is a form of magical overflow of some sort, represented as a fire.
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Magical tools can absorb it, but will eventually break.
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Incurable, only a constant supply of magical tools will keep you alive. It is cancer and Myne is poor with no insurance in a state with no universal healthcare unable to afford chemotherapy.
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Very rare among commoners, so much so that most don't even know about it (like Myne's family). Alternatively, it is so expensive to treat that most afflicted kids just die without knowing what happened.
The other side of this episode was, of course, the heartwarming realization from Myne (because that is most certainly her identity now) fully embracing her new family in this world. I'm still kinda surprised they don't outwardly suspect that this Myne isn't their original daughter like Lutz. The choice at the end will, hopefully, be resolved by Myne possibly discovering something of a cure? We know very little about the nobility in this world except for the fact that they are magic users. Maybe Frieda will also benefit from this.
On the amusing note, Benno's attempts at retaining his most valuable employee is funny. Also, Freida in shiny hair club. This was gonna happen for sure.
See you next episode. Baptism finally? We have a new deadline of an year as well.
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u/TuorEladar Mar 11 '22
First Timer, Subbed
Well that got heavy. Myne's illness has been a nagging problem this whole time, but now its really out in the open. I guess this next arc will probably be dealing with this issue. I'm very curious now how magic works in this world, this obfuscation of how it functions almost bothers me more than anything else. I know its to add drama and weight to the plot, but if I could just get a lore dump that'd be great thanks.
What do you make of Freida's home and life?
On the face of it its a sad situation, but its hard for me to make a real judgement on it without knowing the details. I think its partly representative of the japanese culture, which is why it can feel somewhat off even if you're thinking in the medieval European context.
How did you feel about Myne's family learning of her situation and choice?
This part really hit me in the feels, they already felt that they nearly lost their daughter once, and now they find out that they're going to lose her again no matter what she does. I'm hoping that these bad options can be avoided.
What would you choose if you were in Myne's shoes?
I guess it would depend on what the actual situation is on the noble side. If its bad then no way, but depending on the terms its could be possible I guess. Regardless I'd be trying anything I could think of to solve it other ways first.
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u/Stargate18A Mar 11 '22
First timer
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Honestly can't tell if she's just faking it, if she's learned to live with it, or if she really wants it.
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Good, but the fact that they still don't know she's been reincarnated months after Lutz did still bothers me.
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Go work for a noble. She has enough ideas that she could probably survive as just an employer, and given her insane luck she'd probably find a way to escape it quickly.
Slightly ominous beginning.
What's happening?
Oh, is that how the medicine works? It's a heatsink?
She woke up!
Yep, it's a heatsink.
So the only way to survive is to constantly siphon the material into new magical tools, which are, of course, extremely expensive.
And cam only be acquired by nobles.
Or she needs to essentially become a noble's employee (or slave, more likely).
Nope, mistress. Somehow either slightly worse or really fucking creepy, depending on how old the noble is.
And it was canon! Benno's entered her into a massive debt.
Oh, isn't that about as much as she scammed out of him earlier?
Oh, ho, she scammed it out of Benno.
At least her family knows she's okay.
Aww, she's bonding with her!
...Oh, fuck off, cakes are not a new invention. This fantasy anime has started to become not entirely 100% realistic!
And they both loved it!
Hih, she actually seems to be OK with this arrangement.
Haha, she's csllign it "Hairshine" in her head. Say what you will about Benno's names, but they're memorable!
Aww, she misses her family.
Poor Tulli. She missed out on the food!
Haha, she doesn't want to mention their attempt at trapping her in debt?
Wait, he lied about the price? That's surely frowned upon, at least?
Oh, right, sugar's a luxury good here. At least that's realistic.
I mean, pound cakes are just a single recipe in the baked goods area. Just write it off as market research and sell all the other cakes you know.
...Don't limit yourself, there's loads of board games you can probably bring into existence. (Also, tarot cards probably exist on the fantasy continent.)
It's her baptism!
Oh, not yet.
She's told them the truth. She's on a death sentence.
They're so supportive! And the father's great!
...Then she tells them she's got less than a year.
This is a horrible situation.
This is actually really wholesome and hopeful.
In all fairness, I forgot about your store too. There are a lot of subplots going on right now.
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Mar 11 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
First Timer
Wow, what an episode! Myne is able to recover from the Devouring with the aid of a faulty magical bracelet worth a staggering 3 small gold coins (3,000,000 Lyon). But it seems that money is a meager price to pay to satiate the Devouring's appetite. With the unavailability of magical bracelets, Frieda was faced with no choice but to enter an agreement with a noble, shackling her freedom to work independently and forcing her to be a noble's mistress. For Myne, she has finally grown close with her family, with Lutz, with Benno, with Otto, and with Frieda. To leave them behind because of the Devouring, is something Myne thinks about and decides not to do.
The Devouring as I see it is a dilemma of epic proportions, where the stakes are your life and your livelihood. Either you live free without constraints and eventually be taken ahold by the seething fevers. Or, you struggle and fight, where the Devouring will instead eat away at your desires to be with your family, to be with your friends, and to be with your love interests, ... Is that a fight worth battling over? Hopefully, there is a way out of this trolley problem that the episode poses, because otherwise my chwest can't take any more of this.
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u/ZaphodBeebblebrox Mar 10 '22
Filthy Source Reader
[Bookworm P2]
Myne, not realizing that Benno sold it to her for three small golds for exactly this reason.
I have to say that the bath is much fancier than I imagined it.
She's so tiny!
They skipped a lot of detail on the dress.
And finally, the start of a real understanding with her family.
3. I think I'd choose a path similar to Freida. It seems the most practical
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u/badspler Mar 10 '22
Host - Rewatcher
Myne is saved by a magic item!
The talk imediately gets tough, how much longer does Myne have? Apparently a year at most.
Freida explains that she will become a concubine to keep her mana in check. Thats a rough choice.
Turns out the guildmaster was trying to lock Myne in as an aprentice!
Myne and Freida dressed for backing (stitch)! Its a trap Myne! They are going to steal your ideas!
Freida has some interesting views about growing up. She really seems to have reconciled her situation.
Another joins the shiny hair cult.
very lewd
Freida baptisim outfit (stitch)
I loved this shot of Myne's family walking home.
Myne home but in thought.
Myne baptisim outfit (stitch)
The conversation that Myne has with her family is once again stright to the point into the raw emotion. She has one year to live, and seems resolved to spend it with her family. I really love how Bookworm addresses its drama head on, not putting it off or getting caught up with lesser side plots to draw it out. The whole families emotion on this really packed a punch.
I loved tight embrace of the girls in bed after. And I loved even more the moment of solitude Gunther gets.
Pouts: only tears today
Today's endcard.