02x06 - The Path Ahead of Lutz

[bunniefuu]

F: Main put in real effort to improve the orphans' living conditions.

F: However, after the Star Festival,

F: she was put in detention

F: and developed a fever.

F: Meanwhile...

D: You fool!

L: Why won't you just accept it?!

L: I've had enough of this! I'm leaving!

D: Do whatever you want!

C: Lutz!

F: Another storm was brewing.

Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm

Title Card: Ascendance of a Bookworm

Ep Ep Title: Chapter Twenty The Path Ahead of Lutz

T: Big trouble, Main!

M: What's wrong, Tuuli?

T: Lutz ran away from home and hasn't come back!

M: Huh?

M: What happened?

T: Tell her, Ralph.

R: Last night, Lutz and Dad got into a fight,

R: and he said he was leaving.

R: We looked all over, but didn't find him.

R: Do you know where he could be, Main?

M: Wasn't he at the Gilberta Company?

R: The Gilberta Company? Where's that?

T: Hey, Ralph! You don't even know where your brother works?!

T: I can't believe you!

M: Can you take Ralph there, Tuuli?

T: Sure.

T: This is the place.

R: He works for such a fancy place?

T: Wait, Ralph!

R: Lutz!

R: What is wrong with you?!

W: Huh? What's going on?

G: What's this about?

L: I'm working. Don't bother me.

R: Why, you...

R: Enough of your nonsense!

R: We're going home!

L: Knock it off! Let me go!

R: Hurry up!

G: Hey, kid! Stop that!

R: What's the big deal?

R: Hey!

R: Give it a rest, Lutz!

R: You think you can just do whatever you want?

R: You're causing everyone trouble with your crap!

T: Let's go, Ralph.

T: We know that Lutz is fine now.

T: Come on.

R: Lutz! Lutz!

M: So he was at the shop.

T: Yeah, he was working.

T: He and Ralph got into a fight, though.

T: Main.

T: I know you're worried, but you need to focus on getting better first.

M: Yeah, you're right.

M: But my fever just refused to go away...

Sa: Give Lutz back!

S: Lutz!

C: What are you people trying to do with Lutz?

C: Give Lutz back to me!

C: Lutz! Lutz!

C: Come on out, Lutz!

M: And several days passed before I could see Lutz.

Ma: Good morning, Main.

Ma: Are you feeling better now?

M: My fever finally went away.

M: So, uh, where's Lutz?

Ma: Let's take this discussion to the back.

Ma: The other employees have been on edge these past few days.

M: How did things turn out this way, Mister Benno?

B: I was planning to take Lutz along on a trip to another town,

B: but he couldn't get his parents' permission.

M: That's what Lutz has always wanted to do!

M: But his family was against his becoming a merchant, and that caused tensions.

L: Master, you called for me?

M: Lutz!

M: Where are you living now?

M: Lutz?

L: Where, you ask?

L: I'm living up in the attic storage.

M: The attic? Why?!

L: What am I supposed to do? I have nowhere else to go.

M: But that's no different than being a live-in apprentice!

M: Can't you do something to help, Mister Benno?

B: I'm considering adopting Lutz.

M: You'll adopt him?

B: I need to talk to his parents about it.

M: Oh...

M: But are you okay with that?

M: Your brothers and everyone else are all worried about you.

L: You're telling me I should go back home?

L: That I'm in the wrong here, just like Mom and my brothers say?

L: That I'm causing everyone I know trouble?

M: Lutz...

M: I'm not saying anything of the sort! How could I?

M: I know how hard you've worked! I know how much you've sacrificed!

M: I'm on your side, no matter what.

M: Lean on me whenever you need, okay?

L: I'm sorry, Main.

L: But if I leaned on you, you'd collapse under my weight.

M: What can I do for Lutz?

M: Even the adoption will require his parents' permission.

M: But as things stand, he's suffering as a live-in apprentice.

F: Main.

M: Y-Yes, Head Priest?

F: You're not making any progress.

M: Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

F: Main, you stopped again.

M: Sorry...

F: Come to the hidden room, Main.

M: But shouldn't we get this done, Head Priest?

F: I need to repair the calculator first.

M: "Calculator"?

M: Is he calling me a calculator?!

F: What is going through your mind?

M: I'm sorry. It's really none of your concern.

M: I'll switch gears and work hard!

F: If work's not getting done, then it's very much my concern.

F: And who wouldn't be bothered by a child moping about?

M: Ed Iest! Ad urz!

M: Wait, are you worried about me?

F: Of course not.

M: The thing is, I don't know what to do about the whole Lutz and Benno thing.

F: Ah, they are both important to you.

F: Tell me about it.

M: Okay.

F: I see.

F: What you want is to improve Lutz's living conditions.

F: Reconciling with his family would be best,

F: but Benno adopting him is also a solution in your eyes.

F: Did I get anything wrong so far?

M: Nope.

F: If Lutz does want to be adopted by Benno, there's a way.

M: Huh? How?

F: Lutz can be deemed abandoned by his parents, and taken in by the orphanage.

F: That way, its director becomes his guardian, and can sign his adoption papers.

M: So I can sign for him?

F: You're still a minor.

F: Your boss's signature will also be required, and that's me.

M: If that can help Lutz right away, can we please do that?

M: But...

M: I don't want to tear apart his family.

F: I can't say anything after hearing only your perspective.

F: I'll need to hear from his parents, too.

M: But how will you?

F: I simply have to summon them.

M: S-Summon?!

F: I'll have them lay it all out for me,

F: and if I deem adoption necessary, I'll help make it happen.

M: U-Uh, isn't this kinda becoming a big deal?

Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm

Eyecatch: Ascendance of a Bookworm

M: And so, the cathedral became

M: the venue of a meeting between everyone involved with Lutz.

Flashback_F: Hold on to this during the meeting.

Flashback,M: What is that, Head Priest?

Flashback,F: A magical item that prevents eavesdropping.

Flashback,F: While you're holding on to this,

Flashback,F: your voice will only be heard by someone who has another: me.

Flashback,M: Huh... That's one quaint item.

Flashback,M: Wait, are you telling me to shut up and watch?!

Flashback,F: Precisely.

Flashback,M: But I want to help Lutz in any way I can in this meeting!

Flashback,F: I want to make the intentions of all participants perfectly clear.

Flashback,F: You'll only make it harder if you meddle.

M: I can't take part in this discussion,

M: but I'm rooting for you in my heart, Lutz!

F: I would like to discuss Lutz's complaint now.

F: Lutz, state your case.

L: They refuse to recognize my efforts, no matter how hard I try.

L: They always push me away, telling me to do what I want.

L: But I want...

D: Don't be a baby!

M: Would you hear Lutz out?!

M: Please! He truly wants to be a merchant!

F: Settle down, Main.

F: Also, cover your mouth whenever you use that item to communicate.

F: Deid, what do you mean by, "Don't be a baby"?

F: I am not familiar with the ways of people downtown. Please explain so I can understand.

L: How is wanting you to accept this being a baby?

C: My husband's not good with words, so please allow me.

C: You want us to accept what you do, but can you really make it in that business?

L: What does that have to do with not letting me to visit another town?

F: State your reasons for withholding permission.

D: It's too dangerous.

C: Yeah! There are animals and bandits outside the city walls!

C: Who would take a child out there?

B: If I may...

B: We would go by carriage, and the town is only half a day away.

F: Wouldn't traveling by carriage ease most of your concerns?

D: There's no need.

L: I told you it was for work!

F: Calm down, Lutz.

F: What do you mean, it's not necessary?

B: We want to take Lutz because we're planning on building a new workshop there.

C: Why would you need a mere apprentice for that?

B: Considering the future of my business and Lutz's abilities,

B: I want to raise him to be my successor.

B: To that end, I would like to adopt him.

C: What are you talking about?

D: Oh?

D: That's hardly worth discussing.

F: Deid, could you state your reasons why?

B: I would like to know as well.

B: The adoption would benefit not only my business, but also Lutz himself.

D: You don't have any kids, do you?

B: No, but that's why I'm considering Lutz to be my successor.

D: That's not it.

B: How so?

D: You may be an excellent merchant,

D: but you can't be his father.

F: Why not? Explain yourself.

D: Parenting is all about what's in here.

D: What benefits who doesn't matter one bit.

B: Ah, yes. I do prioritize my shop's profits above everything else.

B: However, Lutz seriously wants to be a merchant.

L: Yeah. Why can't you at least accept my apprenticeship?

D: I told you to do what you want.

L: Do what I... huh?

M: What's that about?

C: You still don't get it?

C: It was his way of accepting your decision!

L: How am I supposed to get it if you don't spell it out?

D: You fool!

D: You ignored your parents' objections and chose this line of work!

D: So be a man and do whatever it takes, be it a live-in apprenticeship or whatever!

D: Don't be a whiny coward and run to the orphanage!

D: Let alone look for adoption...

D: Who would ever agree to that?!

C: Yeah!

C: You're my dear son, who I gave birth to and raised all these years!

C: I could never give you away to anyone!

D: Apologize, Lutz.

F: That isn't clear enough, Deid.

F: Who should he apologize to, and for what?

D: I have to explain myself again?

D: Lutz, you wasted so many people's time because you couldn't control yourself.

D: Apologize.

M: What?

L: I'm so sorry.

D: I can't hear you.

L: I'm so sorry!

M: But I did this by talking to the head priest!

M: Sorry, Lutz!

F: Well, I can't allow the adoption given what his parents are saying.

F: What will you do, Benno?

B: I truly do value Lutz's talents.

B: Instead of adoption,

B: I can offer him a dapla contract, making him responsible for the store's future.

B: Would you agree to that?

D: You're being awfully hasty.

B: Lutz is a hard worker, and he has the patience and perseverance.

B: I want to secure and start training him as soon as possible.

D: Very well.

D: As much as I want to help him,

D: I don't know anything about business, and I can't back his ventures.

Ma: Then let's file the paperwork with the Merchant Guild immediately.

D: This is why I can't stand merchants.

D: Come on.

D: As our youngest son, he's received a somewhat spoiled upbringing,

D: but he's got spirit.

D: Please take good care of him.

C: Please.

L: Dad... Mom...

L: I swear I'll become a merchant who needs no introduction!

D: Damn right you will!

D: You're a man. Quit whimpering.

B: Head Priest.

B: Thank you very much for today.

D: We're going home, you stupid boy.

L: Ow!

C: I'm so glad, Lutz.

L: Stop that, Mom! Not here!

C: Don't be shy, now.

D: Looks like I hadn't made myself clear.

D: So, uh, thanks.

F: No problem.

L: Mom, I'm feeling kinda hungry.

C: What? Don't you need to visit the Merchant Guild?

L: Well, yeah...

Sa: Lutz!

L: Bro!

Si: You made us all worry, you little punk.

L: Sorry.

R: Did you learn your lesson?

L: Stop that, Ralph!

C: Wait, why was Main at the cathedral, anyway?

B: Please keep what you saw today a secret.

B: Ignorance can be bliss at times.

D: Don't worry.

D: I'm not gonna meddle in the affairs of nobility.

D: Besides, I'm sure she has her own reasons.

F: Do you realize now? Getting one side of the story simply isn't enough.

M: Right...

F: Aren't you glad that family wasn't torn apart?

F: Things turned out exactly as you hoped.

M: I'm so glad.

M: I really am glad.

F: Stop crying, Main.

F: You're making it seem as though I made you cry.

M: These...

M: These are tears of joy, so it's okay.

F: You're such a handful.

M: Thank you kindly.

M: Ferdinand...

M: That was when I realized that the head priest was named Ferdinand.

Title: Next Chapter New Retainers

M: Head Priest, is a magical item that prevents eavesdropping really useful?

F: Of course. Nobles often use it.

F: It's the High Priest! We can't have any trouble!

F: Hide, Main!

M: Got it!

F: That's how it's usually used.

M: So, to discuss secrets?

M: You're the only one who uses it to shut a person up, right?

M: Head Priest!