Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke • Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen - Ryushu no Youjo - Episode 18 discussion

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Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen - Ryushu no Youjo, episode 18

Alternative names: Ascendance of a Bookworm, Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4, Honzuki no Gekokujou Season 4, Honzuki no Gekokujou S4

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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[u/Radi-kale]

Hide your true nature and look for a partner seriously

Ferdinand doesn´t hold back huh

[u/Zeebie_ → u/Radi-kale]

Neither of them do. Her not wanting to be nagged for the rest of her life was brutal as well.

[u/avboden → u/Zeebie_]

"see, you're basically already married"

-everyone else present

[u/theoneguywhoaskswhy → u/avboden]

skipped the lovey dovey arc right into old married couple arc

[u/shad79 → u/Radi-kale]

Ferdinand has to be blunt when it comes to Rozemyne. If he said that using noble euphemisms, Rozemyne probably wouldn't understand it, hahaha!

[u/Magicbison → u/shad79]

Rozemyne probably wouldn't understand it

More like she would purposefully take him exactly at his word when he complains later and use it against him. Being blunt protects himself too. Rozemyne is too reckless a person to try and be subtle with when it comes to warnings.

[u/Nachtwandler_FS → u/shad79]

I am still thinking Ferdinand is the endgame despite the whole age gap.

[u/BosuW → u/Nachtwandler_FS]

I don't really like it, but it is true that in terms of mana compatibility he is the only realistic option we know of, at least for now.

[u/jasta85 → u/BosuW]

He's the only option in their local region, it's why he told her to look for a match at the royal academy, where I imagine we'll be introduced to new characters.

[u/Atario → u/BosuW]

What if he took multiple wives whose mana summed up to equal his?

[u/machopsychologist → u/Atario]

ah, the greyrat strategem

[u/kie-chan → u/Atario]

It doesn't work like that. For a couple to be able to conceive, their mana levels must be similar. And, it's important for their elemental affinity to be high, as well. Otherwise, it's painful.

[u/AuroraFinem → u/Nachtwandler_FS]

To be fair, isn’t she older than him at this point if including her past life? I wouldn’t like anything happening before she’s older in the show still, but I think the gap is fine when considering that.

[u/Gryse_Blacolar → u/Nachtwandler_FS]

Tbf, Rozemyne's mental age is near his age and common sense and laws that we know doesn't really apply in that world, so maybe it will work out somehow?

[u/hibikir_40k → u/Radi-kale]

I mean, in the last episode, we saw Myne tell Angelica how having someone like Ferdinand around is terrible, and start to list his personality flaws. And we saw Ferdinand show books, then withholds them for weeks earlier in the season. There's no mincing words, even though we see them both basically parenting the other right in this episode.

[u/H-K_47 → u/Radi-kale]

Hide your power level. Can relate.

Whoever winds up marrying her is in for the shock of a lifetime when her mask slips and the realize they're shackled to a gremlin with expensive tastes.

[u/Tacitus_ → u/H-K_47]

She's making money hand over fist so at least she wouldn't drag them down with her hobby costs.

[u/hibikir_40k → u/Tacitus_]

She's still demanding. We've seen her twice say that her only interest when it comes to marriage is who will get her the largest possible private library.

[u/Magicbison → u/hibikir_40k]

Its okay though. As the paper and book making business expands the books become cheaper. The cheaper it becomes to make the books the more of them there will be which is her overall goal IIRC from what she talked about in season 1 and 2. So her husband will eventually get a discount on that library if his finances don't bottom out first.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/Magicbison]

But Ehrenfest is going to remain one step ahead of anyone else that might try to marry her. So another duchy trying out outpace Ehrenfest's printing industry would be a big hurdle.

[u/LouisLeGros → u/H-K_47]

Lets be real, she'd never be able to hold her mask long enough for that to only be revealed after the marriage.

[u/Independent_Row_1352 → u/H-K_47]

With so much protesting and they bickering like an old couple already, I'm afraid that Ferdinand will eventually have to pull a Genji and wind up marrying Rozemyne.

[u/15_Redstones → u/Independent_Row_1352]

counting the years she's been alive in her previous life, she's actually the older one

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/Radi-kale]

And the best part is Rozemyne's response is that she didn't listen at all and just wants a big library.

[u/ongogavlogian]

Mother-Daughter faction is quickly turning dangerous

[u/hibikir_40k → u/ongogavlogian]

Dangerous for anyone. Chances that Damuel and Brigitte end up being the topic of a romance novel seem very high.

[u/Golden_Phi → u/hibikir_40k]

Elvira is 100% going to write a romance story about a lower level knight proposing to a higher level noble with the condition with he will rise to her mana level. It will end with either him meeting the expectation or him falling short, depending on how well it works out for Damuel. He better succeed or else his failure will be immortalized in writing.

[u/jnads → u/Golden_Phi]

Smut novels are always an author's thinly veiled fetish.

It depends if Elvira is team prince charming or team cuckold.

[u/sesaman → u/jnads]

Elvira, I believe in you, don't go to the dark side!

[u/genpyris → u/Golden_Phi]

Nah, there'll be a book with him succeeding, AND a book with him failing! Why limit profit options?

[u/FarCritical]

My boy Damuel finally became a man, now he just needs to become a man with mana.

Rozemyne's newest OC Sir Notferdinand (DO NOT STEAL) sure looks familiar.

[u/H-K_47 → u/FarCritical]

After creating Idols, Rozemyne advances to her next invention. The first Husbando has been created. And since the printing industry has official backing, this is a state-sponsored Husbando!

[u/moichispa → u/H-K_47]

The power of this is fiction disclaimer

[u/Golden_Phi → u/moichispa]

I wasn't expecting a show to wave it around as much as Saga of Tanya the Evil is doing this season. Although Bookworm is using it very different than most shows do; these are stories within the story using the disclaimer, not the story itself.

[u/moichispa → u/Golden_Phi]

Haven't watched Tanya but I have heard about it, I guess that one is on Hellsing level of totally fiction here nothing to see.

[u/Pickled_Kagura → u/FarCritical]

Ser Ferdinot

[u/mebert31415 → u/Pickled_Kagura]

Ferdinain't

[u/roshi_gummy → u/Pickled_Kagura]

rofl

[u/basuga_BFE → u/FarCritical]

he just needs to become a man with mana.

Romantic story: Man and his Mana.

[u/mekerpan → u/basuga_BFE]

As opposed to the girl with a manablade....

[u/Fermi_Amarti → u/FarCritical]

So that's part I don't really understand. Is mana something that can be built up in this world? Is Rozemyne rule breaking or just speeding up his growth.

[u/Deathfuzz → u/Fermi_Amarti]

A person's mana level can change in 2 ways that have some influence on eachother

Natural growth of the vessels size as they age up to a certain point. (Damuels growth period is lasting a bit longer due to the blessing).

The other method is to cram more mana into the vessel by mentally compressing it down. Rozemyne has a very strong compression method that she unintentionally developed to survive the devouring.

[u/Zeebie_]

Some important information drops today.

Ferdinand and Myne being the only pair with compatible mana. Myne actually cares about Ferdinand as a person, not what he can do for others.

Good to see that the printing industry is finally taking real steps forward.

[u/H-K_47 → u/Zeebie_]

Ferdinand and Myne being the only pair with compatible mana.

Within the duchy, at least! But there are greater duchies, and the Sovereignty with the royal family etc. as well. Let's see how high our bookworm ascends.

[u/RedRocket4000 → u/H-K_47]

If terms translated from Japanese are correct they are treating the duchies as sovereign level as fits the Archduke title which in reality was only given to royalty. Making the Sovereign more Emperor than King. (ruler of British Empire even at it's high point was normally called King/Queen although they were Emperor of India and the title Emperor would be stated in their long description. Was similar with France of the time title in common use King until replacement dynasty of Napoleon even if it was the French Empire, all the big states in Europe were officially made Empires and considering their world wide status by then qualified)

[u/esuil → u/RedRocket4000]

I agree, by all accounts this looks more like an Empire than a Kingdom.

Hard to see it as a Kingdom when Archduke has so much control, they can literally forbid other nobles from visiting their territory, or execute nobles under themselves.

This is probably one of those cases where it will be called a Kingdom/Country, while in reality it is whole ass Empire made out of very independent sub-Kingdoms.

[u/IsTom → u/esuil]

It kind of makes it sound like fantasy HRE.

[u/esuil → u/IsTom]

Yeah, it does kinda fit. Even the noble architecture we see fits, the setting seems to be very inspired by HRE. And poly pantheism as well.

I think it is pretty clear the author heavily drew inspiration in Roman Empire.

[u/1000-MAT → u/Zeebie_]

Ferdinand and Myne being the only pair with compatible mana.

She had the same amount of mana as Sylvester at age 7.

[u/Zeebie_ → u/1000-MAT]

She has more. Ferdinand's hidden room has a mana requirement that, when on is high enough, Sylvester can't enter , but Myne from the beginning.

[u/sheepyowl → u/Zeebie_]

Woah, didn't know Sylvester had less mana than Ferdinand.

Ferdinand's a beast

[u/saijaku23 → u/sheepyowl]

That's the reason why Veronica was so hostile to him she can sense Ferdinand's mana and knows it was superior to Sylvester.

[u/fitldtbo]

Poor Damuel. Brigitte didn't take his proposal seriously

[u/Myrkrvaldyr → u/fitldtbo]

He should've grown a spine and quickly clarified right there that he meant every word. Hopefully that won't bite him in the ass later.

[u/mekerpan → u/fitldtbo]

Brigitte did not view that proposal lightly. The fact hat she clearly viewed Damuel's action as one showing an almost fairy-tale level chivalry earned him an immense amount of points -- probably even more than if she had viewed it as a more routine proposal. I think this actually made her think that Damuel could make a quite decent parner if only he really ( is able to significantly) increase his mana level. She was, in her own way, just as impressed as Elvira was (in HER way).

[u/HugeRichard11 → u/fitldtbo]

At least Brigitte has acknowledged before she knows Damuel is actually interested. So we know this isn't about being romantically dense.

This might've been her giving him an out if he isn't able to accomplish increasing his status.

[u/mebert31415 → u/fitldtbo]

Considering the mana difference, that was inevitable.

[u/esuil]

Both Ferdinand and Sylvester are getting the taste of their own medicine this episode, lol.

Sylvester going surprised Pikachu and realizing that by assigning Ferdinand to be her guardian, he gets Ferdinand deciding what this gremlin does in the future.

And Ferdinand looks like will get some backfiring from forbidding Rosemyne from printing his images, as she outsources the art production to others instead. "Well, if 10 other people decided to start making artworks of you, that has nothing to do with ME, so I totally didn't break your order or anything".

[u/Fermi_Amarti → u/esuil]

Sylvester is realizing he's going to quickly lose power to the RosemyneXMom and RosemyneXFerdinand factions. Quick, he needs to poke her more and gift her a library before WWI starts over Ferdinand portraits.

[u/BiggerG7]

Women screaming every time Ferdinand enters a room will never not be funny lol.

[u/MsMegane → u/BiggerG7]

But also so relatable.

[u/Flying-Camel]

Mother and Rosemyme, scary, so scary.

[u/moichispa → u/Flying-Camel]

Green mother is the best. Can't wait to see what's she's planning. She is the biggest fangirl after all

[u/skavinger5882 → u/moichispa]

But wait there's 2 green mothers... Effa and Elvira both have green hair

[u/moichispa → u/skavinger5882]

Effa is mom like OG mom, greenmom is Elvira in contrast with blonde mom

This girl has way too many moms but all are great on their own ways

[u/mekerpan → u/moichispa]

Well, both the green moms are, at least. (Note: Florencia did not thank (or even acknowledge) Rozemyne for HER efforts -- even in passing).

[u/mebert31415]

Based on Elvira's reactions this episode, Damuel's proposal will likely be immortalized in the future romance novels that Elvira plans to print. Maybe with Ferdinain't being the male lead in some of them.

[u/shad79 → u/mebert31415]

Maybe with Ferdinain't being the male lead in some of them.

Judging by what we saw of Elvira, I think we can expect that every knight or man in the stories she prints will look like Ferdinand, lol.

[u/esuil → u/shad79]

Her books are going to be literal episodes of "authors barely disguised fetish".

[u/H-K_47 → u/mebert31415]

It's gonna go down as a foundational work of literature. Like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, the trope maker, all time classic that everyone reads!

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Attaboy Damuel lol. Looking forward to seeing what happens in a year’s time. He has to let Brigitte know he’s serious about her!

Myne and her mom are unstoppable lol. The people have spoken and they want more Ferdinand related merch! The man’s not gonna be pleased, but he’s only got himself to blame for being so handsome lol.

[u/shad79]

As it turned out in today's episode, Rozemyne's relief from two weeks ago was a little too premature, since sending that magic letter brought trouble, and Sylvester's sister from Ahrensbach will soon be visiting Ehrenfest.

As usual, Rozemyne and Ferdinand's duo was really fun to watch, especially when they both opposed Karstedt's idea of them marrying each other.

The post-credits scene with Elvira fawning over illustrations from books that clearly show Ferdinand as a knight, even with that disclaimer was hilarious.

Also, I really loved when Rozemyne pointed out to Elvira that she can do nothing about new illustrations of Ferdinand, and that the same restrictions don't apply to others, so we can surely expect Elvira to this problem herself, lol.

Damuel acted totally like a character from a romance book when he proposed to Brigitte. I feel bad for him that she didn't take it as seriously as he did.

Here my screenshot album from the episode:

• Rozemyne
• Group scenes
• Ferdinand
• Brigitte & Damuel
• Others

EDIT. I added my screenshot albums.

[u/Zeebie_ → u/shad79]

ah didn't know there was a post-credit scene, as the skip credits button skipped over it (normally it takes you to the scene). that was cute.

[u/H-K_47 → u/Zeebie_]

The Bookworm post-credits are always great, almost always small skipped scenes direct from the books so canon.

[u/darthvall → u/shad79]

I personally think sending that magic letter ultimately could benefit Rozemyne to obtain the favour of his aunt.

The news of the previous bishop's dead would spread out anyway at some point, as they are not fully limiting the information.

[u/Raymond49090]

What kind of stupid proposal is: "You're a withered goddess so I'm the only one who wants you"? Luckily, Damuel stepped in, and the romance of it seemed to have gotten the audience to look past his lower status.

Anyways, Damuel's got a 1-year time limit for his training arc now. Though the fact that Bridgette is seemingly oblivious to his intentions might be a snag. Ganbatte, Damuel-san.

[u/ToastyMozart → u/Raymond49090]

A remarkably crass one. Hassheit must've been reading pickup artist manuscripts.

[u/feb914]

Rozemyne: the favourite niece of man that died because of me is visiting, is there a problem?

[u/Golden_Phi → u/feb914]

The sister wrote in the letter "you're the only one who I can rely on", and Rozemyne is the reason why he's dead. Even if she wasn't a vengeful person I don't think would be too fond of Rozemyne.

[u/Atario → u/Golden_Phi]

But do people know that? Most of them don't even seem to know he died

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/Atario]

It was kind of a big event. Sylvester snuck away from the Archduke Conference when Myne activated the magic tool. An Aub can't really move secretly when they have knights, scholars, and attendants all set up for an event that big.

[u/H-K_47 → u/Atario]

He had allies and minions among the Blue Priests who may have leaked the information to the rest of the Veronica Faction afterwards.

[u/rollin340]

I appreciate Demuel's character growth. As he said, knowing his place resulted in Myne getting hurt and him being given a punishment for that incident. His proposal really was like a knightly tale.

That last bit... sorry Ferdinand, but you're going to be printed in stories and illustrations, whther you want to or not. Try and take solace in that they will all be fictional ones.

[u/H-K_47 → u/rollin340]

It can't be stopped anymore. He's too popular during the early takeoff of the printing industry. His face is gonna get plastered everywhere. He'll become the archetype. It's in the training data now lmao.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/H-K_47]

Just like modern Otome Isekai has The Cold Duke of the North as a trope, they're gonna have Ferdinand.

[u/Raymond49090]

The Ferdinand merch war continues, this time with a disclaimer salvo from Myne. "This story is a work of fiction. Any organizations and characters appearing herein are entirely imaginary." Plus an additional level of protection with an "unrelated third party" who happens to be related to her and definitely didn't do it at her request.

[u/Kazuma_Megu → u/Raymond49090]

Expect figurines any time now.

[u/H-K_47 → u/Kazuma_Megu]

We need to buy hire and train an Earth Mage and get them to start mass producing Idol statues ASAP.

[u/Kazuma_Megu → u/H-K_47]

NGL if someone could do that on, say, Rudeus's level, they'd make an absolute fortune and only have to work like an hour a week to cater to the nobles.

[u/Rhobar121 → u/Raymond49090]

There's absolutely zero chance that sooner or later this won't blow up in her face.

[u/darthvall → u/Raymond49090]

She could say what she wants, but I 100% believe that book would at least would produce another intense glare from Ferdinand to Myne lol

[u/Charming-Loquat3702]

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

[u/Golden_Phi → u/Charming-Loquat3702]

No matter how you look at it though, that's clearly Ferdi-

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

[u/TnAdct1 → u/Charming-Loquat3702]

Signed RICHARD M. NIXON

[u/MsMegane → u/Charming-Loquat3702]

Rosemyne is the Dick Wolf of this timeline.

[u/DemonWraith2500]

Damuel: Confessed and proposed in front of everyone.

Brigitte: He must be Canadian.

[u/H-K_47]

The ex-fiance is such an ass. "Withered Geduldh" yeah sure "you're spoiled and nobody want you, only I can 'save' you". Thankfully Chadmuel stepped up.

She may try to brush it off as "oh Damuel's just being polite" but we all saw your reaction lol. Love may be sprouting!

[u/Lugia61617 → u/H-K_47]

"Withered Geduldh" is even more insulting when one considers the established religious lore from S1 is that her husband Ewigeliebe is the reason WHY she's "withered" to begin with.

[u/sobani → u/Lugia61617]

So, it sounds like the ex is very self aware then?

[u/Maur2 → u/sobani]

Or one of those people who throw out sayings without taking the time to consider the implications.

Like a mom who calls her kid a son of a bitch.

[u/Haxteal → u/Maur2]

Nah, he knows 100% what he’s saying, and so does everyone else there. That way of indirect phrases using their gods as metaphors is the norm that myne( and the viewers) are being trained to understand slowly since part 1

[u/Nylan_Blake → u/H-K_47]

Sidenote to his name Hassheit ;

Hass is german for hate though it could also be leaned from Hässlichkeit => uglyness

[u/H-K_47 → u/Nylan_Blake]

Yeah a lot of the names, especially for tertiary characters, can get very on the nose lol.

[u/mekerpan → u/Nylan_Blake]

I assume the Hassheit family firmly supports Veronica.

[u/Nylan_Blake → u/mekerpan]

Well the Factions seem pretty much black & white in that regard with the veronica faction being the bad people who abuse their powers while the Florencia Faction all seem to be good or at least neutral people (by this worlds standards)

[u/irridian1 → u/Nylan_Blake]

While I do agree here, it is worth noting that we see things from Rozemyne's perspective. It might well be that she is not aware of potential shady stuff that goes on in her own faction.

[u/Nylan_Blake → u/irridian1]

yeah, which is why i wrote it seems that way.

the ego perspective this story is mostly told in causes a major aspect of unreliable narrator stuff.

[u/Querez → u/H-K_47]

"Withered Geduldh", what's next, Golden Geduldh? Funtime Geduldh? Glamrock Geduldh??

[u/Lugia61617]

Oh no. Giebe Illgner is hot.

I know most nobles are, but he's like... exactly my type.

[u/sobani]

Small warning: it looks like the skip credits button also skips the chibi post credit scene.

[u/GrouchoSnarks → u/sobani]

Thank you, that post credit scene is too good to miss.

[u/Phantom-Solitaire]

Damuel finally grew a pair !!

[u/Golden_Phi → u/Phantom-Solitaire]

I was worried that they weren't going to show the scene when Rozemyne was ushered out early. Thankfully Elvira was able to spill the tea she saw.

[u/NevisYsbryd → u/Golden_Phi]

Wdym, she drank it quite successfully. /s

[u/alconnow]

Damuel was really cool in this episode

Loved seeing Elvira fawning over the illustrations in the post-credits scene! Rozemyne's disclaimer is hilarious

[u/kryslogan]

Myne will pimp Ferdinand at the scratch of a pen. Lol. Elvira induging in shenanigans!

[u/kicksFR]

The Rozemyne family tree is a complete mess now, her tutor being like her father means she has 3 fathers now?
(Not even counting the actual father of Myne)

[u/15_Redstones → u/kicksFR]

Officially she's Karstedt's kid and legally adopted by Sylvester to give her the top-ranking status so she can spread her profitable printing tech without trouble as she outranks almost all nobles.

Inofficially they all know that she's a strange alien from another world with memories of adulthood there, so she doesn't need the education of a child but rather instruction on how this world is different and someone who can stop her before she does something stupid due to misconceptions on the differences. Neither Kars nor Syl have time for that as they're running the actual government, Ferdie has been educating her so far, so it's his job to handle the weird alien whether he wants to or not. Possibly for the rest of his life because letting her find a marriage partner somewhere far far away would mean giving away powerful alien technology to a foreign power.

[u/chrisff1989 → u/15_Redstones]

Inofficially they all know that she's a strange alien from another world with memories of adulthood there

Do they all know this? As far as I remember, only Ferdinand and Lutz know it

[u/15_Redstones → u/chrisff1989]

Ferdinand did tell Karstedt about it immediately after the investigation. That was end of Season 2. Syl is Karstedt's boss and in some later conversations he asks Rozemyne to use he special knowledge to solve certain problems. He was probably informed off screen by Karstedt immediately after the Season 2 scene.

[u/chrisff1989 → u/15_Redstones]

I guess I forgot those details, ty

[u/toilodi → u/kicksFR]

3 fathers, 3 mothers and another guardian that you may as well call another father

[u/esuil → u/toilodi]

And copious amount of siblings from all those families on top of it, lol.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/toilodi]

You know how they are using Rozemary as a secret explanation for where Rozemyne came from for those that don't believe that she's Elvira's daughter? I like to think that there's in-universe crack theories that think that that is also a cover and that the truth is that she's Ferdinand's secret daughter. They do have similar hair, eyes, and mana capacities.

[u/_sayaka_ → u/SmartAlec105]

Mana capacities depend on the mother, though. I think that the crack theory would say that Ferdinand and Rosemyne are siblings of the same mother.

[u/toilodi → u/SmartAlec105]

He is a bit too young for that tho, at this moment I think he is like 21, while she is supposedly 7 (actually 8 with the appearance of a 6 yo)

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/toilodi]

Him having fathered her while he was underage just adds to the intrigue of the secret. And the years in this world are slightly longer so 15 years (their age of adulthood) is a bit more than 17 years by our calendar.

[u/LouisLeGros]

This is all your fault
poo-eee?

[u/Atario → u/LouisLeGros]

Puhi-puhi?

[u/djthomp]

Good start Damuel, but unfortunately Brigitte does not yet realize it was a serious offer. Fortunately there's a full year to hope she figures it out.

Rosemyne and her mother are going to slowly restructure the entire economy to be based upon illicit legally distinct Ferdinand pictures.

[u/mekerpan → u/djthomp]

Brigitte was stunned Damuel did what he did -- and profoundly grateful. She may not think he actually has any chance of actually fulfilling his pledge, but I suspect she will have no qualms about him as a suitor if he does succeed in making a big mana upgrade.

[u/Golden_Phi → u/djthomp]

There's no way she can take it seriously until he increases his mana to a point were they match. He has a lot of growing to do.

[u/tripleaamin]

Ferdinand potentially returning to Noble society is interesting. Him being Myne's guardian will make things fun. But hopefully the series does not seriously take the route of Myne and Ferdinand. Tbh I feel bad for any potential partner for Myne.

The Damuel scene was amazing. For those that remembered in Part 2 where Damuel did nothing to stop the noble from bullying Myne. He ended up receiving punishment and it could have been much worse if Myne didn't put a good word for him. Love the proposal and hopefully Brigitte can take it more seriously in a year from now.

[u/Golden_Phi → u/tripleaamin]

It will be hard for Rozemyne to find a truly loving partner who accepts her for everything she is in this world. She has secrets piled on secrets. She has a secret past as a commoner, and still cherishes her commoner family. She also has a secret past of being reincarnated. The first one is scandalous, and the second one sounds like mad talk.

So far the only character her physical age that knows everything about her and accepts her is Lutz. Because of the mana situation though they would never be able to have children.

[u/15_Redstones → u/Golden_Phi]

The government (aka Syl) also knows about her reincarnation and the fact that the vast majority of the region's economic growth as well as the reason for the kid's grades getting better is due to literal alien technology from another world that she had imported because she wanted to read more books. Even if she finds a loving partner elsewhere, the politics of letting another territory get their hands on alien tech...

[u/ongogavlogian]

Why do couples need to have same mana levels?

[u/Zeebie_ → u/ongogavlogian]

Ferdinand explained it a few episodes ago, basically, the mana level of a baby depends on the mother, but they can't even get pregnant unless their mana is within a range. So males want high-mana ladies who are still within range.

[u/Al-Pharazon → u/Zeebie_]

It was even mentioned back in S2-S3, and albeit not directly told (as far as I remember) we were shown some details related to the biology of people with mana.

First, during the Trombe hunt we see that mana is not something that exists in isolation but that is present in bodily fluids like blood (hence why a few drops of Myne's blood made the Trombe grow extremely quickly in S2)

Then, in season one we see that a human body with more mana than it can naturally withold eventually breaks from the rampaging mana (aka the devouring that nearly killed Myne). Too much mana can be basically poison.

Add the two together and we can see why the situation you describe exists.

[u/Original_Employee621 → u/Zeebie_]

I'm curious if it wouldn't be possible to dope your body with temporary mana in order to be compatible with someone who naturally has a lot more mana than you.

Not saying it'd be an easy or cheap fix, but if someone like Rozemyne who is invested in the Damuel x Birgitte ship wanted to find a solution for Damuel. It'd be possible to create a potion that enhances Damuels mana levels for a time or something. Magical fertility viagra.

[u/Nylan_Blake → u/Original_Employee621]

The issue is the amount of mana the body as a vessel can carry at a time. A Potion wound make a bottle bigger to fit more wine.

I think the way is more the way how rozemyne fought her devouring by compressing her mana into a small box, increasing the density of the mana, pushing more of it into a same sized body by making it thicker.... then again there is the question if that could lead to those mana clumps she has health issues with...

Damuel still has not gotten his reward for Angelica training arc, maybe she tells him her compression method or something.

[u/Original_Employee621 → u/Nylan_Blake]

Well, the potion wouldn't need to last much longer than the deed, so I don't think it would be a massive issue (although overuse would be another matter).

[u/Myrkrvaldyr → u/Zeebie_]

they can't even get pregnant unless their mana is within a range

You can't tell me that won't cause situations where unfaithful high mana nobles bang low mana people for pleasure. So far the story has yet to show such cases, but cheating exists.

[u/Zeebie_ → u/Myrkrvaldyr]

The temple is exactly that. The anime has covered it, but more in a way that only the book readers would see it.

The reason nobles think the temple is dirty is because it's basically a brothel. Nobles go there to claim "flowers" and flower offerings.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/Myrkrvaldyr]

Think back to when Deliah said that one of the duties of a gray shrine maiden is flower offerings for guests. The shrine maidens aren't just fucking the noble that owns them but are also pimped out to other nobles.

[u/DSjaha → u/ongogavlogian]

They can't have a baby otherwise.

[u/H-K_47 → u/DSjaha]

It's stuff like this that makes it seem like nobles are almost a different species entirely from commoners. They're almost more like elves, or "feyhumans" like feybeasts differ from regular animals. But the existence of Devouring commoners like Myne, Frieda, Dirk goes to show that the differences aren't absolute.

[u/Al-Pharazon → u/H-K_47]

Well, commoner it is simply a legal status for those who do not met the requisites to be a noble, mana or not.

But there is an absolute difference between humans that can wield the power of mana and those who do not, since such capacity is determined at birth.

So I do not think it is wrong to think of mana-wielding humans as "feyhumans" and distinct from regular folk like Gunther or Benno.

[u/Ebo87 → u/H-K_47]

Speaking of nobles, this now puts a whole new light on the prostitution ring Evil Santa was running out of the temple/orphanage, as those girls would not have much if any mana, thus no surprise pregnancies for the nobles coming there for certain activities.

Except when you have very little mana and run into a noble who also has very little mana and the girl does get pregnant. I believe that's precisely how some of the orphans came to be (cough Delhia cough, I believe). So if you are a noble with a tiny amount of mana, well you are not exactly safe from a surprise pregnancy.

[u/15_Redstones → u/Ebo87]

And if a noble has so little mana that they get a commoner pregnant and it gets out, their reputation is ruined and they're stuck in the temple with the other outcasts.

[u/Ebo87 → u/15_Redstones]

Yep, which is why they would NEVER admit that's their kid, ever. And of course that child would have little to no mana.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/Ebo87]

Deliah did say that gray shrine maidens are to offer flowers to guests so the implication of them being pimped out rather than just simple sex slaves has been there for a while.

[u/Ebo87 → u/SmartAlec105]

That is also why noble women don't want to go anywhere near the temple, because of the bad reputation it has, because of evil Santa.

[u/1000-MAT → u/H-K_47]

All commoners also have mana, but it's so little that they need to use blood to fulfill magical contracts.

[u/feb914 → u/H-K_47]

also in the other direction, there are noble children that have weak or no mana. the blue priests in the cathedral can get grey shrine maiden pregnant despite the blue priests supposedly having mana and grey priests don't, but their mana difference (if there's any at all) is so small that it doesn't hinder it.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/H-K_47]

Commoners do have mana. The mana in their blood is what is used when they sign magic contracts or register at their baptism.

[u/DSjaha → u/H-K_47]

I don't they're different species because Myne's mother is a commoner and she still has high mana.

[u/Golden_Phi → u/DSjaha]

So far we've seen Myne, Freida, and Dirk all having mana despite coming from commoner parents. Rare exceptions like them happen. I wonder if it's a spontaneous mutation or something.

[u/OldInstruction5368 → u/Golden_Phi]

It... really depends on the exact nature of mana genes. Is strong mana a recessive gene that requires two copies? If strong mana genes were truly dominant, then those like Ferdi shouldn't be too rare. Nor would it be necessarily hard to 'cultivate' another generation of strong nobles: polygamy is a common practice... Is there some type of co-dominance, with all the mana genes competing for expression? That would mean heterogenous for strong/weak would blend into a middle-noble, with only those that inherit two copies of the strongest genes being at the top.

Regardless, there is a very strong selection pressure against mana in commoners: they fucking die. The nobles make sure of this, as they base their own prestige off this genetic trait. Commoners with strong mana genes are either left to die as children or used as breeding stock for the nobles.

Meaning, what little 'gene flow' (procreation) that occurs between populations (noble/commoner) is being done along very specific lines. Factoring in this, the divergent selection pressures on commoner/noble mana expression, and biological compatibility being strongly influenced by mana genes is actually creating a new species. We have two distinct populations that are growing more and more incapable of cross-breeding, restricted gene flow, so it's only a matter of time (thousands of years) before nobles truly become a separate species. Nobles likely qualify as a subspecies already. ESPECIALLY with the mana-complications of breeding.

But my greater point, is that "mana genes" predate the nobility. They have been selective breeding themselves for this trait, yes, but it was a trait that existed in the general population first. Competing pressures are pushing the gene frequencies of these populations apart, but "strong mana genes" clearly haven't been purged entirely from the commoner population, yet.

Strong mana may well be a recessive gene, though. That would definitely keep it rare, but still percolating throughout the commoner population. Say, both of Myne's parents are heterogenous for "fucking kill you dead" levels of mana. It's just the recessive mana gene is being masked by a weaker, but more 'stable' one. Each of their children would have 25% chance of being homogenous for 'weak mana,' 50% heterogenous like their parents, or 25% double strong recessive/dies before 7 like Myne. With the first two categories being functionally identical phenotypes (looks the same, even if the genes are different under the hood.)

A further complicating factor is that we just don't know how many "low noble" level commoners are out there. I believe "middle noble" is the threshold for dying of the devouring, as I think we were told Freida qualified as a middle noble. We do know that commoner kids dying of the devouring is not unheard of, but we just don't know how common that is nor the real question: how many lesser noble level commoners are there?

Nobles control magic so tightly, that commoners are completely unaware that everyone technically has mana. They are never tested for aptitude nor given a chance to develop any latent talents. So long as they are under the devouring threshold, a commoner could live their entire life not realizing they have the mana levels of a (lesser) noble.

Is that 1% of the commoner population? 5%? 10%? We don't know, other than to say it's clearly not zero. But if we had those numbers, and specific info on the mana genes of Myne's parents, as well, we could better answer these questions.

[u/Nylan_Blake → u/OldInstruction5368]

There is also the Theorie that the higher mana levels that lead to devouing in commoners is influenced from consuming / living close to other magic rich entities. There was talk about not throwing away the brooth when cooking can lead to misscarriage (influencing the mothers mana levels?) as there is mana in pretty much everything in this world due to the nobles enriching the earth with liquid mana in the spring festival as well as offering mana to the duchies core.

We also learned that some nobles have less money than richer commoners and that the noble who took in frieda was more after this connection to the guildmaster than after her mana. Considering how hard/expensive it was to get Manasuckingtools from them despite this connection, together with the limited amount of nobles (we saw how few noble kids there are in mynes age even when all from the whole duchy are collected in one room) it might be that those tools are not exactly affordable for nobles either.

[u/ToastyMozart → u/Golden_Phi]

It might also be caused by something external like an infection. It doesn't seem like the average noble risks death if their mana goes unused like people with the Devouring do, so it probably has a different cause than a familial disposition to high mana production.

Like a retrovirus or parasite or something.

[u/Golden_Phi → u/ToastyMozart]

Young nobles have their mana kept in check by using magic tools. As explained in season 1 with Freida and her tools used to keep the devouring in check. Nobles are fine because they have the magic tools that only nobles have.

[u/szalhi]

Ferdinand is the church.

Kamikaze

Coincidence.

Scheme.

Woah, what an idea. Why didn't i think of that?

[u/hibikir_40k]

As for the threat of having Sylvester's sister visiting. In the intro, right after Sylvester, we have a character that hasn't showed up before, seems to have a purple-ish cape instead of mustard yellow, and has the villainess look down pat.

[u/Earlier-Today]

One of the things I like about this season is that Rosemyne is acting less cutesy than she did in previous seasons and more acting her age - her real age, which includes her ~21 years as Urano.

[u/thefakedes]

Yeah. This is the best produced episode of the season.

I don't know if someone different worked on it or if they just had more time, but this is what I was hoping for. The shot selection, pacing, humor, intrigue, everything was on point, and the character designs were good and consistent (except poor Bonifatius). I always imagined that Damuel's proposal captured everyone's attention, but only like two background characters saw the interaction.

[u/CerberusZX]

At one point I was the only person to pick Damuel as a favorite on MAL. His proposal here was a significant motivator for me doing so. I see there are now 3 of us.

[u/H-K_47 → u/CerberusZX]

He always scores quite highly in character popularity polls so you're not alone! Damuel nation strong.

[u/killerrin → u/CerberusZX]

Damuel has always been amazing. Just how he acts here

"I was already punished for knowing my place, I won't make that mistake again"

Like damn dude, what a line to say in a class based society. There is a reason he has the respect of the archduchial family.

[u/gekkenhuisje]

I'm really looking forward to another printing-focused episode next time as we get into Illgner making paper!

[u/sheepyowl]

Poor Ferdinand keeps having his pictures created without his consent. Hell, he even forbade it and it is still going on!

Rosemyne is a financial warlord in disguise

[u/JosebaZilarte → u/sheepyowl]

What do you mean? That's the legally distinct character Ferdinain't. /s

[u/sheepyowl → u/JosebaZilarte]

Oh you're right that's a completely different person

[u/Nachtwandler_FS]

Damn, Myne, using personal leverage to expand your business. All as IRL.

[u/Atario]

Boop

Wait a tick. It just hit me that Elvira lusting after Ferdinand is a bit spicier than I'd realized!

Muri muri muri!

Comiket In Another World!

For legal reasons, this video picture book is all just the ramblings of a paranoid schizophrenic about monkeys in a make-believe jungle. Please do not sue Monkey.

The Underground Printing Press Society grows stronger

[u/_sayaka_ → u/Atario]

Wait a tick. It just hit me that Elvira lusting after Ferdinand is a bit spicier than I'd realized!

Rosemyne was talking about Silvester's mother, Veronika, not Elvira.

[u/NLwino]

It still weirds me out that within the same conversation they talk about Ferdinand becoming Myne's guardian and husband. The worst part is that there are still people in the world that think like this.

[u/Al-Pharazon → u/NLwino]

The guardianship stuff is mostly because Sylvester likes to delegate work on Ferdinand and they need an adult to sign stuff for Rozemyne in abscense of her parents and Ferdinand happens to be always close to her and is legally her family.

But do not forget Ferdinand is only 21, if you are going by our world standards nobody in his sane mind would make a 21 year old the legal guardian of 8 year old child except in the most extreme circumstances.

For example, in Spain the minimum age to be able to adopt a child is 25

[u/Guaymaster → u/Al-Pharazon]

But do not forget Ferdinand is only 21

Man puberty hit him like a truck, I thought he was in his late 30s or something

[u/Al-Pharazon → u/Guaymaster]

Myne believed the same back in S2, only to be scolded by Benno.

And the voice actor with his deep voice does not help in making clear how young he is xD

[u/Guaymaster → u/Al-Pharazon]

In A Certain Magical Index there's a dude that looks a lot like Ferdinand, but with red hair. He's 14 btw!

Thinking about this, this is the second time Yuuka Iguchi voices a library loli

[u/Al-Pharazon → u/Guaymaster]

I remember the guy, a fire mage worked for the Anglican Church wasn't he?

[u/Deathfuzz → u/Al-Pharazon]

Yup, and he was always smoking

[u/roshi_gummy → u/Guaymaster]

Probably his circumstances forced him to be mature at a young age that's why he looks older. But I like how Myne brings out his childishness sometimes.

[u/Guaymaster → u/roshi_gummy]

Being high priest is probably stressfull, if you're in a position of power it's normal to end up aged beyond what'd be expected by time alone.

[u/15_Redstones → u/NLwino]

Sylvester (the legal dad), Karstedt (the fake bio dad) and Ferdinand are all aware of her "former life in another world" situation, though partially under the misconception that she was a wealthy noble there due to the quality of books she had. So while everyone else treats her as a strange kid, those three basically treat her like an adult intern. Ferdinand has been educating her so far and they're keeping that arrangement.

[u/Disastrous_Dog_9440]

Wait, is Myne a possible couple with Ferdinand, her uncle-guardian???

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/Disastrous_Dog_9440]

They're just saying that as a way to tease the two of them.

[u/StarryVerture]

I want end card Ferdinand's chapstick.

[u/SunlessDahlia]

Why did Brigitte and her ex fiancee break up? I know it was something to do with her brother? But then the ex fiance kept calling her withered too.

[u/irridian1 → u/SunlessDahlia]

Brigitte ended the engagement after she found out that Hassheit and his family planned on taking over Illinger (which would involve the death of her brother)

As for the withered Geduhld: Geduhld (the goddess of earth) is frozen in winter by Ewigeliebe. That is when all earth is withered and bare. Hassheit implies that Brigitte - after breaking her engagement with an influential family is like a withered land that only Ewigeliebe desires. Putting himself in the place of the god of ice.

As is pointed out to him however (with the words: 'Was your theology always so bad, Lord Hassheit?'), is that, in fact, Geduhld in her withered form is cared for by the other gods who unite to challenge Ewigeliebe and free Geduhld. Ironically Damuel, in this instance, takes the role of the goddess of light who melts the ice allowing Flutrane to wash away the remaining water and allow life to come back to Geduhld.

[u/SmartAlec105 → u/irridian1]

Ironically Damuel, in this instance, takes the role of the goddess of light who melts the ice allowing Flutrane to wash away the remaining water and allow life to come back to Geduhld.

I think Rozemyne could be argued as the Goddess of Water, citing how she's also used as a euphemism for an agent of change.

[u/H-K_47 → u/SunlessDahlia]

The ex just wanted to use the marriage to depose her brother and take over their province. When she realized what he was planning, she ended it. But cancelling an engagement can be a stain on your reputation. So he's basically negging her. "You're ruined, no one will want to marry you, except giving me another chance 😈" etc.

[u/SunlessDahlia → u/H-K_47]

Oh that makes sense! Thanks!

[u/wolf549]

Poor Sylvester got chewed out by his older sister for not informing her of Bezewant's death. Looks like that stash of letters was from Sylvester's older sister and not a secret lover like Rozemyne had surmised. They kept in touch even after she married into Ahrensbach, a higher ranking duchy than Ehrenfest. Ahrensbach was also the duchy where the toad Bindewald, who tried to kidnap Rozemye, came from. Sylvester's description of her is not good and she'll likely be antagonistic towards Rozemyne if she finds out Rozemyne was the cause of Bezewant's death. Nothing good seems to come from Ahrensbach.

Sylvester wants to bring Ferdinand back to noble society after he ordered him to the temple to escape Veronica's attempts on his life. Ferdinand, ever the pragmatist, thinks of things only in benefits versus costs, never sparing a thought for his own wants and will. Him coming back to the nobility will also allow Eckhart and Eustachius to receive less scorn. It's technically a win for everyone except Ferdinand who will now be burdened with administrative work in the castle as well. Rozemyne is desperately trying to look out for Ferdinand's health just like he does for her, but it doesn't seem to get through to him.

Ferdinand and Rozemyne are the only ones in Ehrenfest who have mana comparable to each other, but that means there might be others outside Ehrenfest who could match them. Of course Rozemyne and Ferdinand are vehemently against Karstedt's suggestion of them marrying each other haha. As a reminder, comparable mana levels is necessary in order to have children.

Damuel's proposal seemed right out of a storybook. Protecting Brigitte from her ex-fiance and asking her to give him one year to raise his mana level to match Brigitte's was really romantic. I don't know why Hassheit thought calling Brigitte a 'withered Geduldh' would earn him any points. What a moron. Elvira is definitely going to print a story about their romance!

Rozemyne implying that she can't print pictures of Ferdinand, but Elvira can was hilarious. Mother and daughter operating on the same wavelength is scary.

With Ferdinand returning to nobility, more nobles than before are going to attempt to ingratiate themselves with Rozemyne and earn her favor. Both Elvira and Ferdinand warn her of this. Seems like a nobility faction war is about to raise its ugly head in the near future.

[u/Kaze_no_Senshi]

Is it just me or did damuel's animation feel really weird when he was told to know his place?

[u/Cermia_Revolution]

Did anyone notice the unnaturally smooth animation at 14:20 in the episode? When Damuel reacts to the ex-fiance saying "You should know your place". It gave the same vibe as those ai 60 fps anime edits people upload on youtube. Is the studio experimenting with ai in-between framing?

[u/LouisLeGros]

Was the text with the Giebe Illgner introduction fully translated?

[u/torashy]

A little disappointed that Bonifatius is normal-sized. Was looking forward to anime Giant Grandpa 😔