TV-Series
Description
Benno is the head of the Gilberta Company, a successful merchant business in the city of Ehrenfest. He has milk-tea colored hair and dark red eyes. His family consists of his two younger sisters: Corinna, who is married to Otto, and another unnamed sister who lives in another city.
Benno was forced to take over the operation of the Gilberta Company at a young age after his father was killed by bandits. At the time, his mother was bedridden with grief, and the company fell into turmoil, with most of its contracts not being renewed. With the help of Mark, who became his trusted right-hand man, Benno was able to rebuild the store, though this meant abandoning his personal dream of becoming a world-influential merchant in order to protect his family and their business.
His past has also led to a deep-seated dislike for Gustav, the Guildmaster. Benno interprets Gustav's actions as insensitive attempts to take over the Gilberta Company, which included proposing marriage to Benno's mother shortly after she was widowed, offering one of his daughters to Benno after the death of his fiancée, and trying to marry his sons to Benno's two younger sisters. These actions caused one of Benno's sisters to flee to another city to escape such an arrangement.
At first glance, Benno appears cold and menacing, but this exterior hides a more caring nature for those he is close to. He is hot-blooded and confrontational, always taking challenges head-on and never backing down from rivals or authorities. He has a hot temper and is known to yell at people, but he is also willing to go to great lengths to protect his family, friends, and business partners. This protective side is most evident in his relationship with Myne, the series protagonist. Despite his profit-driven demeanor, he shows genuine concern for her frail health, once giving her a significant sum of money for information, which was enough to purchase a magic tool to ease the symptoms of the Devouring, the same illness that claimed his late fiancée's life. He often scolds Myne when her lack of common sense gets her into trouble, yet he is a constant source of support for her ambitions.
In the story, Benno serves as a mentor and business partner to Myne and her friend Lutz. He takes Lutz on as an apprentice, or leherl, while also acting as a guardian and cosigner for Myne. Recognizing the immense potential in Myne's ideas, he helps her launch a range of new ventures, including plant paper, ink, printing, and even an Italian restaurant. His role expands significantly as the printing industry grows. When the Aub of Ehrenfest announces plans to make plant paper production a government-backed business, Benno's workload increases dramatically. He eventually founds a new company called the Plantin Company to exclusively sell printed goods, leaving the management of the original Gilberta Company to his sister Corinna and her husband Otto.
Benno's key relationships are central to his character development. He relies heavily on Mark as his right hand and trusted advisor. He sees much of his younger, determined self in Lutz and views him as his successor and protégé, offering him guidance on both business and personal matters. His relationship with Myne is complex; she is a constant source of both tremendous profit and unending headaches. While their bond is primarily business, he has a soft spot for her and is said to see her as family. He remains deeply affected by the death of his late fiancée, Liz, who died from the Devouring, and this past love is the reason he does not wish to marry anyone else. His connection to nobles is also notable; he has a good working relationship with Rozemyne, Myne's noble identity, and frequently bonds with her guardian Ferdinand over the shared exasperation caused by Rozemyne's antics.
Benno possesses notable abilities as a merchant. He is a ruthless negotiator who rarely fails to make a profit, though his success in haggling with Myne is often due to his fondness for her. Unlike many merchants who only buy and sell existing goods, Benno has a strong tendency to invest in new product concepts and start entirely new lines of business. This talent for product development is a major asset, though Myne worries that he often spreads himself too thin across too many ventures.
Benno was forced to take over the operation of the Gilberta Company at a young age after his father was killed by bandits. At the time, his mother was bedridden with grief, and the company fell into turmoil, with most of its contracts not being renewed. With the help of Mark, who became his trusted right-hand man, Benno was able to rebuild the store, though this meant abandoning his personal dream of becoming a world-influential merchant in order to protect his family and their business.
His past has also led to a deep-seated dislike for Gustav, the Guildmaster. Benno interprets Gustav's actions as insensitive attempts to take over the Gilberta Company, which included proposing marriage to Benno's mother shortly after she was widowed, offering one of his daughters to Benno after the death of his fiancée, and trying to marry his sons to Benno's two younger sisters. These actions caused one of Benno's sisters to flee to another city to escape such an arrangement.
At first glance, Benno appears cold and menacing, but this exterior hides a more caring nature for those he is close to. He is hot-blooded and confrontational, always taking challenges head-on and never backing down from rivals or authorities. He has a hot temper and is known to yell at people, but he is also willing to go to great lengths to protect his family, friends, and business partners. This protective side is most evident in his relationship with Myne, the series protagonist. Despite his profit-driven demeanor, he shows genuine concern for her frail health, once giving her a significant sum of money for information, which was enough to purchase a magic tool to ease the symptoms of the Devouring, the same illness that claimed his late fiancée's life. He often scolds Myne when her lack of common sense gets her into trouble, yet he is a constant source of support for her ambitions.
In the story, Benno serves as a mentor and business partner to Myne and her friend Lutz. He takes Lutz on as an apprentice, or leherl, while also acting as a guardian and cosigner for Myne. Recognizing the immense potential in Myne's ideas, he helps her launch a range of new ventures, including plant paper, ink, printing, and even an Italian restaurant. His role expands significantly as the printing industry grows. When the Aub of Ehrenfest announces plans to make plant paper production a government-backed business, Benno's workload increases dramatically. He eventually founds a new company called the Plantin Company to exclusively sell printed goods, leaving the management of the original Gilberta Company to his sister Corinna and her husband Otto.
Benno's key relationships are central to his character development. He relies heavily on Mark as his right hand and trusted advisor. He sees much of his younger, determined self in Lutz and views him as his successor and protégé, offering him guidance on both business and personal matters. His relationship with Myne is complex; she is a constant source of both tremendous profit and unending headaches. While their bond is primarily business, he has a soft spot for her and is said to see her as family. He remains deeply affected by the death of his late fiancée, Liz, who died from the Devouring, and this past love is the reason he does not wish to marry anyone else. His connection to nobles is also notable; he has a good working relationship with Rozemyne, Myne's noble identity, and frequently bonds with her guardian Ferdinand over the shared exasperation caused by Rozemyne's antics.
Benno possesses notable abilities as a merchant. He is a ruthless negotiator who rarely fails to make a profit, though his success in haggling with Myne is often due to his fondness for her. Unlike many merchants who only buy and sell existing goods, Benno has a strong tendency to invest in new product concepts and start entirely new lines of business. This talent for product development is a major asset, though Myne worries that he often spreads himself too thin across too many ventures.