Assuming what he makes is gallnut ink, I begin to explain the process of making the gallnut ink to him as brief as possible.

  "Extract the dye from the botanical node, ferment it, then mix it with ferrous ion… namely ferrite, and then about bark…"

  "That's it! How do you know that?"

  The boss is surprised and changes his bothered attitude, leaning towards me and asking. He bends so much that I am forced one step back.

  "There is no other type, right?"

  "… Is there any other ink?"

  Judging from the reaction of the boss whose eyes suddenly narrow, I guess that only the gallnut ink is made here. I become disappointed, so I drop my shoulders and shake my head.

  “Well, don't mind. It's better to buy ink at a store than to order here, right?"

  "Oh, yes… Wait a minute! How do you know that?"

  "Anyway, I just remember what interests me."

  I say hiding behind Mr. Benno, and the boss sighs slightly. With arms folded over his chest, after thinking for a while, he moves one step backward.

  "Girl, did you say there are other inks?"

  "Yes, I said so. Have I guessed right?"

  When I raise my face a little and look up at the boss, he shakes his head with a bitter face.

  "No. What is your name, girl?"

  "The Gilberta Company's Benno is her guardian. If you have any question, you can ask me. She has just asked so many questions. Sorry for troubling you."

  Covering my mouth to stop me from telling my name, Mr. Benno lifts me up and turns away.

  When I am lifted by Mr. Benno up to his shoulder, I am right face to face with the boss. He stares at me and says,

  "… The Gilberta Company, right? Ok, I see."

  After leaving the ink workshop, we head to the woodwork workshop. On the way, I begin to receive Mr. Benno's sermon.

  "You… What did you say just now?"

  "Huh? I just check the type of ink."

  "Can you think it over before you say something somehow… Uh, you cannot, right."

  I don't intend to pick a quarrel, and think I just had a common talk with the boss. But from Mr. Benno's point of view, it doesn’t look like what I thought.

  However, since there is no other kind of ink, I cannot think out any other ways to ask my question. I don't think he would understand if I say Chinese ink or printing ink.

  "When I heard he said there was only one type of ink, I guessed that he makes Gallnut ink only."

  Gallus ink is a commonly used ink in Europe. It has been widely used because of its simple production process, durability, and its high waterproofness. Unlike Chinese ink, it adheres firmly to parchment and cannot be erased by wiping or washing, which is an advantage of Gallnut ink.

  However, since the iron can be mixed and oxidized, the dried ink will be entangled with the fibers and corrode the paper’s surface. Plant paper is corroded faster than parchment, and years or decades later, there may be holes on the text part.

  So, if it is used for babies' books, that will be a problem for conservation. If I use the flame-retardant kraft, which stands up to the oxidation of iron, it costs so much that I have to give up.

  "Is it better to make the ink by myself?"

  If I write on plant paper, Chinese Ink may be better. For the Gallnut ink, it may be better to dilute the acidity and make it a bit neutral, but that may stick a knife into vested interests of the Gallnut ink-makers. It would be better to develop inks other than Gallnut ink.

  "Ah? Do you mean to challenge the Ink Association squarely?"

  "Why do you look so excited? I'm not going to challenge the Ink Association."

  … Compared with aggressive Mr. Benno, I think I'm calm and amicable, right?

  "I think if there are different inks, one can compare and buy the one he needs. But it's annoying since I have to make them. Basically, I don't like trouble."

  Hearing my objection, Mr. Benno snorts and starts walking. I begin to think about ink making alone while being shaken with the steps of Mr. Benno.

  "I think that Chinese Ink is better for plant paper. But if I want to make engraving, I have to use an ink with high viscosity. Oh, wait a minute. There is an engraving of ancient China in the museum. So it must be somehow manageable to use Chinese ink for engraving. Or, how about trying an"oil-based paint"? Or"mineral paint"? Pictures drawn by crayons will become dirty if they are rubbed, so crayons are not suitable for engraving or picture books."

  When I was still Urano Motosu, I tried making ink, including Gallnut ink, oil paint and crayons with my mother, who once asked me"Are you interested these?" But each and every material was bought at stores. Now, it is difficult to get the equipment and materials here.

  … Crayon can be put in the case of lipstick or lip cream to solidify. The paint needs to be collected in a closed container, but what should I use here?

  "Huh, Lutz. What is Maine saying?"

  "Because she just speaks out what she is thinking, so pay no attention to it. She can get the answer by herself in this way."

  "… Really?"

  Anyway, it's difficult to collect the paints. Just like when I make the charcoal pencil, it's necessary to collect the coal ash together.

  "Hmm, but unlike before, now I can get glue and wax easily. So, the present conditions are quite different…"

  Comparing with the time when I could not even afford a single nail, now the materials are easier to get. The degree of difficulty is indeed lower than before.

  "Yeah, Lutz. It's the same as the paper-making; if I don't make a prototype, I can't show what I want exactly.

  I lean over Mr. Benno's shoulders and ask Lutz, Lutz shrugs at me subconsciously.

  "… Have you decided? What kind of ink do you want to make?"

  "I try to make all kinds of ink for engraving. Because it has the best effect, I will make a picture book with it".

  "Let's work together," I say to Lutz, who heaves a deep sigh."Haven't you given up your idea of making the picture book yet?"

  "It's a gift for the baby from the sister. Can I give up?"

  "… Yes? Though things in Maine's Workshop have been on the right track, now we are getting busy again."

  Lutz says embarrassedly, but laughs as he finds it worthwhile.