Looking for Something ②
She looked at the book I was holding.
“What manner of book is that?”
“It’s a Cookbook.”
“Hmm. An old one, it is. You there. Do you cook?”
“I wouldn’t be able to get by if I didn’t cook for myself.”
“Hmm? Is that so? Lupinus handles the cooking for us, you see.”
Lupinus… probably that beautiful elf woman.
Ohh, she cooks?
She has such a noble appearance, I can’t imagine it.
“This isn’t what I’m looking for.”
“Hmm? What is it you’re after, then?”
“An encyclopedia or dictionary with detailed information on medicinal herbs and healing potions.”
“Mmm. That is quite a rare thing you search for.”
“So it really is rare?”
“Most books are tales or poems, you see.”
“Ah, true… But it’s practical.”
There’s no harm in knowing about medicinal herbs and healing potions.
In fact, shouldn’t it be common knowledge for a Seeker?
“It sounds useful, but its applications are rather limited, you see.”
“So there really aren’t many?”
“And then there are matters of skill, demand, time, effort, and budget, yes.”
In short, they don’t sell.
Bookbinding also costs money. Whether they’d sell enough to cover the costs…
With the current low literacy rate, it’s difficult.
In fact, the Cookbook is also faded, which lends credence to the idea that they don’t sell well.
“Do you think they sell them in town?”
“That is a difficult question.”
She gave a faint, wry smile.
Seeing her reaction, my face fell as I wondered if I should just give up.
But I’ll try everything I can. It’s too early to give up.
“…Do you know anywhere else that sells books?”
“Hmm. There are several. I am quite familiar with all the places that sell books, you see.”
“Please. I’ll pay an information fee, so please tell me.”
“Very well. There is no need for an information fee.”
“Are you sure?”
“Warawa is not so hard-pressed as to accept coin for the likes of this.”
Being Tier III, she probably earns a lot.
“Then, let us be off.”
“Um?”
I was bewildered by the implication that we were going together.
She laughed.
“There are places one can describe, and places one cannot grasp without seeing them.”
“I see. Ah, my name is Wof.”
“I am Pachira.”
And so, I ended up going around with Ms. Pachira.
I bought the Cookbook.
The next place was also a general store. There was a bookshelf tucked away quietly in a corner at the back of the shop.
We were the only ones approaching it.
“This place also only has stories and poems.”
“So it seems.”
“Hmm.”
No Travelogues or Cookbooks either.
“You there. Do you hold no interest in tales or poems?”
“I have some interest.”
“Hoh, so it is not a complete lack of interest.”
“That’s right.”
“Perhaps adventure tales or heroic sagas?”
“Yes…”
It’s true I like heroic sagas, knight tales, adventure stories, and collections of folktales.
I have a few at home too.
But compared to the light novels and such from my past life’s memories… how should I put it?
There’s no grammar, so they’re written however the author pleases.
They haven’t been revised, so they’re overwhelmingly difficult to read.
It was like that with Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’ from Russia that I read long ago.
Also, the phrasing is archaic. The stories lack ups and downs.
They end strangely. Many feel like they were abruptly cancelled.
The strong religious themes are also tough to handle. There’s probably propaganda-like stuff too.
Maybe religious groups have higher literacy rates? Anyway, I read a few and then stopped.
I have absolutely no interest in poetry. I don’t understand that sensibility.
And, naturally, there are no manga at all.
There are no picture books either, so there’s nothing like a prototype.
Is there no concept of incorporating illustrations somehow?
But murals exist. Doesn’t the idea extend from there to scrolls or paper?
I mostly read manga, so… yeah.
“…”
Still, what’s this?
Lately, it feels like there’s a trend towards romance in both stories and poems.
On this bookshelf too, about 20 of the stories and poems are romance.
They must be here because they sell well.
I’ve never picked up a romance story.
I don’t really understand that sort of thing right now.
Even my past self wouldn’t understand.
“Nothing here either, it seems.”
“Looks like it.”
“Then, on to the next place.”
“Yes.”
Next was an Antique Shop. Not Ms. Arifa’s shop.
That shop doesn’t have books. Here too, the bookshelf was at the back.
“Ah, a Cookbook and a Travelogue.”
“An encyclopedia…”
A Weapon Encyclopedia. Something like this exists?
It was thick. I picked it up and flipped through it.
“Hoh. It lists all sorts of weapons.”
Ms. Pachira brought her face closer.
Her cat ears twitched.
“This looks like OOPArts.”
“Hmm, hmm. Quite an interesting thing.”
It was certainly rare. But it wasn’t the book I was looking for.
I closed it and put it back where it was.
“Are you not buying it?”
“I don’t have that kind of money. What about you, Ms. Pachira?”
“It is interesting, but not quite my hobby. However…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nay, it is nothing. Nothing suitable… Hmm?”
“What is it?”
“Ah, ‘Morning Scenery’ by Ipomoea Nil.”
“?”
“It is a collection of poems. The poet Ipomoea Nil. Have you not heard of her?”
“I’m not very familiar with that sort of thing.”
“A poet from 200 years ago. As she is an elf, she is still alive today. Although, she is more famous for her nightscapes, you see.”
“Ohh… Ms. Pachira. Are you going to buy that?”
“I shall not. Poetry is but a minor pastime for me.”
“Are the books you usually buy stories?”
“Indeed. That is all I purchase.”
“Like heroic sagas or adventure tales?”
“Indeed.”
Her replies were curt.
Ah, come to think of it, the book I got down for her was… a romance.
I see. She’s a girl, after all.
“…Shall we go to the next place?”
“Mm. However, before that.”
Ms. Pachira picked up the Weapon Encyclopedia.
“Are you buying it?”
“Mm.”
“But you said it wasn’t your hobby.”
“It might just prove useful, you see.”
“Useful?”
Ms. Pachira bought the Weapon Encyclopedia.