I returned home and waited anxiously, and soon Lutz came with an engraved board. As soon as I saw the board handed by him, I knew it had been a complete failure.

  "Maine, my brothers want me to tell you that this job requires high skills and is too difficult for them."

  "…well, I probably knew it when I saw the board."

  Lutz looked ashamed as he took the message for his brothers. Probably because they did not grasp the force of the engraving, so the lines are either too convex or too deep. One reason was that they were not accustomed to making prints, the other reason was that Wilma's paintings were too detailed, which made the work more difficult. Even Ralph and Seig, who worked in the carpentry workshop, couldn't stand the job, it seemed that it was not easy to increase the number of pages of picture books by making prints.

  "If you can print a good picture book with these prints, would you consider entrusting Mr. Inge's workshop for carving?"

  "Yeah, let's entrust it to the real workshop. This job is too elaborate to earn pocket money."

  I nodded in agreement with lutz, but my heart sank at the thought of the rising cost of picture books.

  "So, how to use the brush?"

  Lutz quickly turned his attention to how to print picture books. He took the newly bought brush out of the bag and played with its tip. I took out the homemade baren and paper from my wooden box and started to explain.

  "First lay paper underneath and place engraved board on it. Then apply the oily pigment lightly to the paper with the tip of the brush like this, making sure to brush evenly."

  I brushed back and forth on a board with a brush that had not been stained with any pigment to demonstrate Lutz, and he took notes while watching my demonstration.

  "The roller is used in this step. Although I really want to spread the pigment evenly with a roller, it is not available right now, so I can only give up. After brushing the pigment, lightly place the paper on the board, and then press with baren, so that the pigment can be printed on the paper. Be sure to press all corners with the same force."

  I held baren and pressed in circles on the paper. "I thought you'd made something strange again," Lutz whispered. "I didn't expect it would really come in handy."

  "After pressing, slowly tear off the paper, dry it and you are done."

  "I know what to do. Let’s try it out tomorrow."

  The next day, I went to the temple with my heart in my mouth, but when I saw the Head Priest, he didn't say anything about my unusual behavior. He just gave me instructions as calmly as if nothing had happened. Until finally, the Head Priest did not question me a word, which made me feel relieved.

  Good. I got through the worst. Next is to make prints!

  "Well, I'll take my leave today."

  All I could think of at the moment was prints, and the joy almost made me hum. As for the sight of the Head Priest that seemed to pierce me, I pretended not to feel it.

  "Master Maine, you are in a good mood."

  "Because I am done with the official duties, I’m going to the workshop to make picture books."

  When I answered Fran, I was already humming. When I came to Maine workshop after lunch, my mood was even better, a little too excited to say the least.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting. So, let's start printing right away. Lutz, give it a try!"

  When I arrived at the workshop, I saw that lutz was almost ready to make prints. Paper had been laid on the workbench with a board on it. The children were all around the bench in high spirits.

  "Master Maine, what will these make?"

  " Well, please wait and see."

  As I made my way to the workbench, everyone backed away, leaving a special position with a great view. Because it was vacated for me, I stayed there to watch Lutz work. Lutz dipped the ink with a brush, then blackened the board, and the children let out squeals of excitement.

  "Wow, it's all painted black! I can't see anything!"

  For the squeals of the children, Lutz just raised his eyebrows and calmly went on with his work. He laid the paper down lightly on the inked board and pressed it with baren as I explained yesterday.

  "Ah, it looks so fun. I also want to try it."

  "Me too, me too!"

  Lutz put baren down and pinched the edges of the paper with his fingers. With my excited gaze, Lutz tore the paper carefully and slowly. Under my expectant gaze, lutz tore the paper carefully and slowly. As I expected, the paper was printed with black pigment, just like the prints I was familiar with…


  "Wow, it's a picture! It's black, but there are white lines on it!"

  The children all beamed and chattered when Lutz conjured up a picture from a black board. After telling the children to go back to making paper, Lutz and I looked at the print.

  "Maine, what do you think?"

  "… It seems weird."

  That was all I felt now, though I had been waiting excitedly for the paper to turn over. Unlike the prints made by Urano in primary school, this one was more delicate and full of artistic flavor. It seemed that it was indeed the right decision to entrust the engraving task to Ralph and Seig.

  "As a print, in fact, it is a success. But this isn't for picture books, is it?"

  "Yeah. Although the words are understandable, the black background with white letters will make eyes uncomfortable."

  Not only did it hurt my eyes to read white letters on a black background, but I also made mistakes in some of them. This was my fault, but the picture and the letters were on the same board, if I wanted to change the characters, I had to change the picture together. Besides, it looked a bit ugly because there were so many places that were not well engraved. Although this was because Ralph and Seig were not used to engraving, if we use this board to make picture books, the children may not be able to adapt.

  "Wouldn’t it be more clear if the letters were engraved on the seal?"

  "Ralph and Seig have said that the pattern this time is too complicated, how can we engrave all the letters on the seal? Relief requires a different amount of labor and time than ordinary engraving."

  "That's right… It seems we have to think about other methods. At least it is certain that prints are not suitable for picture books. There are too many black parts on the print, making it look a bit scary."

  Lutz put the print on a shelf near the wall and began to pack his tools. After all, even I felt weird, there was no point in continuing.

  Hmm… the paintings of Wilma seemed to be more suitable for making etchings…


  However, even if I wanted to make etchings, I didn't know if I could easily buy corrosion fluid here. Also, the workshop was full of children, and I wanted to avoid dangerous chemicals.

  …But what should I do?

  In fact, I had never been frustrated by failure before, but this time I first asked Wilma to draw, and then asked Ralph and Seig to engrave, and it was really hard for me to tell them I’d failed. Besides, I couldn't ask them to continue to help me without being sure of the chances of success.

  "What are you thinking?"

  After finishing packing, Lutz walked back.

  "I’m thinking of just not illustrating the children's edition of the Scripture. Anyway, even if there are no pictures, as long as there are words, it can also be called a book, right?

  "I don't insist on illustrations, that's ok. But can a book without pictures be called a picture book?"

  "No. That's why I'm thinking about not making picture books, just general books."

  "But didn't you say that the first picture book was the first gift you would give to your cute brother and sister?"

  "Ah! Yeah! How can I compromise! I must make a great picture book!"

  …I can't be discouraged by one or two failures. Think of methods other than prints!