The Title of “Gutenberg”

The Title of “Gutenberg”

“Everything ready, Gutenberg?”

“Would you stop calling me that?!”

“Third bell’s gonna ring soon if we don’t get a move on. C’mon! Let’s go, Gutenberg.”

The foreman put the goods into a bag and threw open the door, brushing off my protests with a chuckle. I followed him, the heavy box of metal letter types in my arms and a sharp frown on my face. Today I would be presenting the fruits of my leherl task to the Smithing Guild. Everyone else in the workshop saw us off with grins.

“Hey, Gutenberg, be sure to really sell those types of yours to ’em.”

“My name’s Johann! Quit calling me ‘Gutenberg’!”

“Heheh! Not everyone gets a special title from their patron, y’know. That’s somethin’ you should brag to the guild about.”

...Ngh! Why does everyone have to make fun of me?!

Thanks to the foreman, even my guild mates were calling me “Gutenberg” now. Or rather, I should say it was all thanks to Myne, my one and only patron. As I carried the heavy box, I thought back to the day she had given me my title.

It all happened when I went to the Gilberta Company to present my leherl task to them. I always asked so many questions about the orders I received that no customer except Myne was willing to be my patron. She was tiny and didn’t even look old enough to have been baptized yet, but I guess looks can be deceiving. Besides, it was easy to forget she was a little girl when she was answering questions about her orders, providing blueprints, and paying for what she needed.

In the end, her task for me was making metal letter types. I had to make each letter according to her exact specifications, which was as rewarding as it was immensely difficult.

...I wonder if Lady Myne will like them , I’d thought as I removed the cloth covering the box and unveiled the letter types to my one and only patron, fearfully awaiting the appraisal that would decide my future.

“Wow...”

Myne looked at the letter types, her golden eyes trembling. She had the pale white skin of one who never went out in the sun, which made the fact that her cheeks had flushed with color even more evident. The way she put a hand to her chest while sighing made her look entirely like a girl in love, and there was a certain intensity about her gaze that seemed unnatural for a little girl to have.

She timidly picked up one of the letter types and rolled it around in her tiny palm, looking at it as though it were the greatest treasure in the world.

...I guess it’s safe to say she likes them, then.

The moment I let out a sigh of relief, Myne’s wavering eyes of joy hardened as she adopted a more calm and critical expression. She took out a second letter type and lined them both up on the table before lowering her head to look at them straight on. Then she narrowed her eyes and began measuring their thickness and height, checking for any differences.

A-Are they going to be okay?

I grew fearful again, until she gave me her appraisal.

“They’re wonderful! You truly have become Gutenberg!”

“Wha?”

“Johann, I award you the title of ‘Gutenberg’!”

...Guten-what now?

I dropped my jaw like a fool as I stared at Myne. Her presence as a delicate and frail princess—a beautiful, pale flower sheltered from the world—had just shattered violently before my very eyes.

Lutz tried to calm her down, but Myne’s excitement was unstoppable. She brushed him right off and launched out of her chair, talking as fast as she could, her cheeks now even more flushed.

“I mean, this is the beginning of the printing age! You’re literally bearing witness to the exact moment history was changed forever! This is the second coming of Gutenberg! His first name was Johannes, and now he’s changing history as Johann! What a splendid coincidence! A fateful meeting of legend! Praise be to the gods!”

...Yeah, I have absolutely no idea what she’s talking about.