025. What is Force?
In my mind, I had formed the image of "Hannah-san at a Times of Trouble," but even she,
「I can only give you a general description of Folia.」
She looked apologetic.
「Since ancient times, there have been many attempts to study Force and Folia, but as the saying goes, "It varies" and "It depends on the individual," so I can only give you a few general statements.」
According to Hannah-san, the most reliable and effective method is to use [Energy Bolts] and [Lighting] to the limit, which is the most rudimentary method, and then recover with [Force Medicine] and the like. However...
「...... Somehow, it doesn't sound much different than muscle training.」
When I expressed my honest opinion, Hannah-san agreed, saying, "I think so, too".
「To begin with, 'What is force?' Because we don't know, various studies and experiments have been conducted, and even though some effective methods have been discovered, there is still a great deal of uncertainty about the nature of the individual and the species. The quantity and quality of retained force differ depending on gender and other factors, and when you add in issues such as talent and environment, I think it's only natural that things inevitably get more complicated.」
「Hmmm~~~~~~~~~~........」
I certainly understand what Hannah-san is saying, but it doesn't feel right to me.
(It feels like something important is "missing"――)
I thought about it while crossing my arms but could not come up with an answer.
「I guess I'm wasting my time thinking about it any further.」
Since I only had the feeling that I was stuck in a ditch, so I agreed to "learn some simple folia and train steadily" for now.
After that, we decided to go to the only "Grimoire Store" in Hanaria.
「Say, Osada-san. There are 300,000 people living in this city, right? What does it mean that there is only one store that sells grimoires?」
「In the first place, there are very few people who can write a grimoire, and not only is it expensive, but its effectiveness is also limited. Plus, you'd need permits and procedures and things like that, and you wouldn't necessarily say, 'Do I need this in my daily life?' If you ask, who wouldn't think so? There is also the matter of the danger I mentioned earlier. Besides, I don't think we should spread folia and skills so easily, you know?」
「That may be true, but....... Oh, it looks like this is the place.」
Looking at the handmade map that Hannah-san took the trouble to draw for me, I came to a store that stands quietly, as if hiding from the surroundings.
It looked like an ordinary house, and there was only a small sign that read "Grieve Grimoire store" by the entrance.
If I didn't know anything about it ― If I hadn't been aware of it, though, there's a good chance I would have walked right past it without even noticing.
「For now, let's go in」
I nodded in agreement to Osada-kun's words, said in a small voice, "Excuse us," and went inside.
(It's kind of different from what I expected. ......)
I personally had an image of an antiquarian bookstore with books lined up to the ceiling, but when I entered the store, I got the impression that it was quite small, with a counter set up right next to it.
I was surprised to see a simple structure with a long, narrow table in the entrance hallway. I thought, "Is this really a Grimoire store?" But considering all the other things, I am convinced that it must be a closed stack type store.
「Oh, how unusual. Welcome, my guest.」
A girl of about 7 or 8 years old wearing a pointy hat with a large brim greeted us saying so.
Perhaps she is house-sitting or something?
I just ended up saying, "Is there anyone in the store? Or perhaps your father or mother――" treating her like a child.
「You bastaaarrdddd! Don't treat me like a chiiiiiiiiild!」」
She yelled at me in a tone inappropriate for her age.
However, I was like, "What? Huh?" and I was revealing my confusion.
「Yuuto. Look closely. Isn't she a halfling?」
Osada-kun told me that she was not human, and I finally realized that she was a kind of dwarf race that looked a lot like humans.
「Ah~...... as I recall, they are only about half the size of a human, but their lifespan is more than twice as long as a human's.」
「Exactly! What's more, I am one of only a dozen or so "Grimoire Writers" in the world, you know!? If you pull out too many jokes, I'll ban you, you hear!?」
When I was told that, I bowed my head and said, "I'm sorry!". Furthermore,,,,
「This guy has just reached the F rank. He's ignorant of the world, so please forgive him a little bit.」
When Osada-kun said this, she seemed to have lost some of her pent-up.
「Hmm, that's unusual. Are you Dogu tribe?」
「Oh? I'm so glad you recognized me at first sight♪.」
「What? Personally, I was interested in their distinctive appearance.」
As soon as I heard those words, I thought to myself, "That's putting it mildly," but there was no point in stirring the pot any further, so I apologized again and told her my name.
「Hmph. Yuuto and Osada, huh? My name is "Grieve Grimm". I am the owner of this store.」
The girl (?) says with a smile on her face.
「Since you went all the way to this store, you must have something you want, right? Whether you sell it or not, let's just say so.」
「About that ...... I'm ashamed to say that I don't know much about Folia, and I can't use any of it. But I don't want to be useless forever, so I came to this store for the time being.」
「Go home.」
I was told to go home without hesitation, and I said, "Wait! Please wait!" I panicked.
「You foooooolllllll!!! Don't you dare step over the threshold of my store, you amateur who doesn't know the "Ri" word of folia!」 [TLN: 理導/Rishirube, 理/Ri can be translated as reason, principle, logic]
Out of nowhere, she pulled out a broom and swung it to strike me.
「Are you a fool who wants to be a chef when you have never even held a knife!? At the very least learn "What is folia?" "What is force?" and then start over!!」
I almost got kicked out of the store.
「I-I tried to know without even being told that! Though I don't know――I can only have a vague idea!」
Grieve's temper dropped just a little as she said this in desperation.
「It is said that "Force is the energy of the origin of all things that make up this world," or that "Force has the property of crystallizing," or that "Force is indispensable for the exercise of Folia," or many other things, but I'm not sure I'd call it a "theory that gets to the point" just because it's "not wrong"!」
I may be a dim-witted fool, but I still thought hard about it.
I think and think and think―and still, I don't get it. I don't understand.
But there is something that is indispensable to reaching the top ― that is Force and Folia.
「For example, as for the theory of "energy at the root of all things," If you ask me, I don't understand how it is "difference from elementary particles" at all, and it seems that there are groups such as "Leptons" and "Quarks", but is it related――」
I was about to say that.
（No, no, no! I didn't come here to discuss such things!?)
I realized that my story was spiraling out of control, and after taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down,
「To tell you the truth, I'm not from this world――I'm from another world that was forcibly transferred by King Hanaria and others the other day.」
As soon as I told them my secret. Both Osada-kun and Grieve stopped moving and stared at me intently.
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