Soojiki’s note: As no one is picking this up, I’m gradually reviving this. Don’t expect too much out of me though!
As always, read on and enjoy!
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[Possibly author’s excerpt]
Living.
That is this tale. Not that it really matter if it’s interesting or not…..
“An-chan, again with the new stories?”
My imouto called out to me, while I was creating wood block printing by branding the hot iron to the wood to create letters.
“Aahh. I think its about time I taught you letters”
Imperial city and the metropolis or better yet, even in the country side, there are no schools. There are less than 8-10 people who know the alphabet of this world, so the literacy rate is drastically low.
Sure, you can live without caring so much about it, but there’s no disadvantage in knowing. It might even better our lives. Above all, reading allows for an abundant of imagination.
Though with paper manufacturing being underdeveloped, books are expensive. Alphabets that have been transcribed as crystal edition are even scarcer, to the point that nobles can’t even buy it.
With the doctor granny support, she taught me the letters. Saving my pocket changes, I was able to buy a book from a peddler and caught my imouto’s interest when reading. She demanded me to teach her. Though, now I’ve only remember about 17% of it.
That time I was studying I bought books that were travel journals, an encyclopedia about plants and a history book. There’s still some way to go before I can understand the books.
Well then, what am I worried about when I can teach the letters by reciting a fairy tales.
I tried making papers, but it would take a considerable amount of labor put into it. That’s when I thought it doesn’t necessarily have to be paper right? And so
There’s plenty of trees here. I have powers to easily cut down trees. And because I have earth magic, I can change the process to brand the letters.
With an A3 size plywood, one tale can be created using a tiny umbrella to affix the letters. Using earth magic to create a cellar, there was no problems working there.
Tracing is good. Reading is good too. If I were to make a multiplication table, I can teach it too. If I were to sell these as teaching materials, it would go past an over-optimistic calculation.
Well, in my imouto’s case, she likes to study the alphabet by listening to the stories I tell. Winning the argument, she’s graded on memorization from reading aloud.
“What’s the story this time nano?”
“Crane….no, rather its story of the Grateful Large Bird”
“What kinda story is that nano?!”
Her eye’s sparkling as she presses onward.
It’s kind of like the time when the circus came to a town in a world without many entertainment and brought excitement to the kids, that kind of feeling.
“If you finished, I’ll tell you later! Look, Mom’s coming back already, lets finish making breakfast!”
Pushing my imouto back, I entered the living room.
‘Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure’, as she half-heartedly replied while she started placing the food she carried to the table and setting the table.
Today’s breakfast consisted of meat buns with a side of stew, boiled eggs, pickled vegetables, and grilled fish. Unity is nonexistent but if comparing it to the village, or rather, it’s beyond luxurious than the feudal lord’s dining table
It’s the first hearty meal of the day. Eat well and work well is our family motto.
“Alright then, thanks for the meal!”
Though I’m only 10, I’m the head of the household.
“Ittadakimasu”
“Ittadakimass~u”
Ah, that reminds me, Toota is coming back.
Short note: the actual fairy/folk tale is called the Grateful Crane (if I word it correctly)