© Miya Kazuki, TO Books / Ascendance of a Bookworm Production Committee
“Harspiel Concert”
What They Say:
Avid bookworm and college student Motosu Urano ends up dying in an unforeseen accident. This came right after the news that she would finally be able to work as a librarian like she had always dreamed of. When she regains consciousness, she was reborn as Myne, the daughter of a poor soldier. She was in the town of Ehrenfest, which has a harsh class system. But as long as she had books, she really didn’t need anything else. However, books were scarce and belonged only to the nobles. But that doesn’t stop her, so she makes a decision … “If there aren’t any books, I’ll just create some.”
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Finally gaining approval for the concert program from Ferdinand, the Head Priest decides it is time to renew training on how to create a highbeast by moving to the courtyard, handing Rosemyne a feystone and telling her to feed mana into the sphere so she may shape it using her imagination, garnering a callous bit of admiration on how quickly this student understands the concept. After being told to expand the device into an animal large enough to ride, this young noble forms something akin to an amusement park panda from her past life, and though Ferdinand wonders whether this thing can fly, he also relents that she lacks common sense. Bringing out his own impressive winged beast to show as an example, he insists that the talented girl making something like this to honor the lion crest of Ehrenfest, but the resulting cartoonish creature earns his growing ire.
Upon finding her mount too difficult and dangerous to ride, it prompts Rosemyne reform it into something safer like a bus, making it questionable if this wheeled carriage can fly, yet after a successful if shaky test flight, the Head Priest demands it be changed since it lacks beauty, causing his stubborn girl to improve upon the current form and make a red panda transport which makes one wonder if this can be considered a feybeast. Once clashing personalities surrender to her desires, they fly back to the cathedral while following the uncontrollable monstrosity, finally allowing Rosemyne some free time to get back to reading, but not before finishing the final steps in preparation for the harspiel concert, namely, the successful creation of wax paper.
© Miya Kazuki, TO Books / Ascendance of a Bookworm Production Committee
In Summary:
One cannot but smile during the first half of this episode, watching with fascination as we witness Rosemyne create the wild ride she uses in the opening credits, and though one can understand the reserved attitude of noble Ferdinand wishing this highbeast to be something worthy of conveying the adoptive daughter of the archduke, we cannot deny this is a fun creation embodies the mischievous nature of a reborn isekai, perhaps influenced by the bus from My Neighbor Totoro. But as this sequence continues, one has to wonder if we will ever arrive at the title event, and yet as essential information is added to the lengthy interlude, to finally arrive at the concert makes the wait worthwhile, allowing us to smile as Ferdinand worries what has happened to an intimate show, even as he accepts his new fate. And yet it in the closing moments that makes the audience question how the gathering was transformed into an idol event, complete with dancing lights, even as novice viewers witness the nervousness between Karstedt and Rosemyne as Sylvester approaches, not understanding the knowing looks without some reference of what is happening behind the scenes.
Grade: A-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Richard Gutierrez
?????? (Itadakimasu!)
I’m hungry for anything Japanese – from sushi to manga to anime!
And if comes with a side of comics, that makes me even happier! Put it on a platter and watch out!
I’m a messy eater … so better get me a BIG napkin! (Or better yet, just let me use the tablecloth!)
