“The Black Protective Charm”
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):
As Myne and Tuli are forcefully carried away by unknown assailants, Gunther arrives in time to see his family being chased by Damuel and her attendants, but after catching up with one of the kidnappers and rescuing Myne, they are all horrified as the remaining desperate man holds a knife to her sister’s throat in a bid to escape. With her anger now fully sparked, the Devouring takes hold as her eyes and body begin to radiate a rainbow glow, allowing the normally calm girl to threaten the foolish criminal with death if he does not release her sister, causing him to immediately feel his throat being strangled. Wasting no time the bold father throws a dagger which allows Tuli to escape, but all fail to see the third mercenary struggle to stand as he points a magic ring at the now relieved parent, but it is only at the last minute that a courageous knight steps in to shield all from the resulting energy bolt, prompting Damuel to warn Gunther to take the apprentice priestess to the cathedral and tell Ferdinand of what has transpired. However, when Lutz notices his friend is bleeding, the now serene Myne asks Otto if this is an appropriate time to call for help, only then remembering the black charm which Sylvester gifted her and stated if she was ever in trouble, to place some blood on the jewel and he come to save her, and yet after following the cryptic instructions, the girl is disappointed when nothing happens.
With Fran now aware of the situation, he is concerned when head attendant Arno states Ferdinand is nowhere to be found, but passes along the message that the unscrupulous noble who tried to sneak in before is now in the city, but as his stress now seems placated, a gloating Delia asks if he has seen Lady Myne around since Dirk’s new father wishes to speak to her. When the apprentice priestess finally arrives at the cathedral and her aid passes along the message, she is concerned by the current situation, even more so once Damuel arrives and surrenders the magic ring used by one of the kidnappers as a means of protection, and yet they waste no time to once again see the Head Priest so that all may find a solution to this growing problem. But as the group makes their way to the office, it is worrisome when they witness the High Priest escorting a now adopted Dirk out of the building, so in an attempt to avoid any conflict, he escorts everyone to an alternate route, only to be surprised when they unavoidably run into their foes and Lord Bezewanst introduces the visiting Count Bindewald to his daily annoyance, allowing the foul man boldly state the young girl will enter into a contact of servitude with him.
In Summary:
Ever since we were introduced to the cabal behind Myne’s initial kidnapping, it was only a matter of until this foul group succeeded in their misdeeds, particularly since we knew how much the High Priest wanted to get rid of the girl who caused him so much trouble ever since they met. And yet who would have guessed Lord Bezewanst would go to such lengths to attain his goals, with his arrogant demeanor an indication of the vile acts this callous man would commit all in an effort to rid himself of a single girl who stood in the way of his ambitions. And while we may be saddened by Delia’s suffering once she learns the truth behind Dirk’s adoption, it is the disastrous fallout from the resulting confrontation and what our heroes must sacrifice which makes this episode so heartbreaking, especially when we know what it means to Myne and her family in the near future.
Grade: A+
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
