Light Novel - Ascendance of a Bookworm

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/19369297

I laughed when I read "What Would Myne Do?" on the rule sidebar of !lightnovels@ani.social, mostly because it brought to mind profiteering and gleeful worker exploitation. (you taught her well, Benno)

More than that though, it also reminded me of a random idea I had never gotten around to sharing. I present to you the Myne is Secretly the Antagonist Challenge. When the mood strikes you, start reading the Bookworm series again from the beginning, but from the perspective that Myne is the antagonist of the story setting. Pay attention to the following themes, whether they are enacted by Myne personally or under her direction:

• Suppressed yandere inclinations
• Selfish demands on others
• Indifference to costs others pay to fulfill her ambitions
• Workforce exploitation
• Child labor
• Corrupt use of political influence
• Cult of personality indoctrination tactics (edit: okay, not really Myne, but has she put a stop to it?)
• Usurpation of power
• War crimes

Don't take this too seriously, it's meant as an exercise in good fun. Most characters need some antagonistic characteristics in order to have good depth to them, and protagonists are no exception.

Most importantly, have fun with this! Share your favorite moments that stick out when you reread or rethink the series from this perspective. Bonus points if you keep a running tally.

Finally downloaded and processed the last Volume of Bookworm from J-Novel. What a way to end the series.

Ascendance of a Bookworm Illustration from the JNC Nina booth at Animagic.

Trivia for anyone interested: they announced German licensing for Spice and Wolf as well as my Quiet Life as a Blacksmith (1st Parts alrewdy available)

Here is the fourth official Ascendance of a Bookworm fanbook, intended to be read after Part 4 Volume 8. Includes notes about the development of the anime, design sheets for the gods, coverage of another drama CD, and a Q & A with author Miya Kazuki.

Ferdinand starts a revolution that will abolish the distorted royal family and put a true Zent on the throne. Meanwhile, Rozemyne continues to wrestle with divine interference.

I wonder how many will get the reference

Souce

Rozemyne, Ferdinand, and their Dunkelfelger allies set out to subjugate the Adalgisa villa. But when Gervasio’s absence and a betrayal within the Sovereign Knight’s Order come to light, the party must switch its focus to the Royal Academy’s library.

"Moe kicking out barney from bar" meme.

Moe: Myne's guardians.

Barney: Myne's crazy antics.

Barney, returning from the other door: Rozemyne's crazy magical antics.

Reddit

Discord - Links to the time of release in the pre-pub channel

J-Novel Club Forums