Chapter 124

Plan to Make Ink

Proofread by Ruriko

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 .