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Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Or could it be that? Mr. Lawrence, have you taken a special oath of nonviolence?"
The president had asked another question so suddenly, Lawrence felt if he took it too lightly, he would be instantly led around by the nose.
But it was too crazy.
"What? Non...violence?"
The other man might have been asking Lawrence to get rid of eyesores. It was not as though there were no such incidents in the world of trade—though he knew this, he felt his back grow sweaty.
Assassination.
Until just a few years ago, this place had been influenced by a war that spanned several decades. Kill or be killed might have been considered normal.
He gulped out of nervousness, and the president continued, staring at the table.
"Faith is precious. I cannot deny that. But as long as we choose to live, we cannot escape every single loss of life. May I ask you to avert your gaze, just this once?"
His gaze slowly made its way to Lawrence.
"You seem to take good care of yourself, and it doesn't seem that your gut would get in the way."
If a townsperson committed the deed, they would be exposed easily. But if it was someone from the mountains, the president likely thought that they could simply disappear into the mountains. And digging a bath was similar to mining, and mining obviously came with accidents. Just as Holo said jokingly, they could go to the place where the newcomers were digging and bury them in dirt. And the bathhouse coordinator in Nyohhira said the same—if it were back in the old days, they would be ready to cross the mountain with clubs in hand...
Surrounded by the steam that smelled of sulfur, perhaps Lawrence could not clearly see outside the world.
Indeed—the world was a place this cruel and heartless.
He remembered that keeping a clean conscience was a tremendous luxury.
"But I—"
"I know, I know. It's a bit different than the help every year that my association and the village of Nyohhira have agreed on.
It is not just "a bit."
Lawrence wanted to yell that.
"Our money changer association is, as I'm sure you know, filled with those who sit to work. Besides the money changers, the other members of this association are all craftsmen who do metalwork, carve pillars and walls. And they're a bit too...old to run around chasing game."
Lawrence then recalled the president's exclamation from earlier about how happy he was the village had sent someone young this time—only now it had taken on a new, dark meaning. His choice of saying "game" was like a reminder that it happened regularly.
"But do not worry. We are used to these sorts of situations. Mr. Lawrence, I want you to catch our game and bring them back."
Catch, kill, scatter, and bury. The flow of things was already determined.
The president gulped down his ale and spoke.
"I realize that your job is the most difficult. But...to beat them, this is our only choice. And I've heard that you used to live on the road as a merchant. I'm sure you've experienced this once or twice?"
He had certainly heard of those kinds of tradesmen. For example, the kind that stuck close to wars and conflicts. They went around pillaging towns with soldiers and dealt with those who attempted to protect their assets by swallowing gold and jewels.
He had seen and heard about them a few times when he was a traveling merchant. Stories about people who offered to travel together on dangerous roads when they were really the pawns of bandits.
But Lawrence thought himself different. Even if he could not say with pride before God that he was a perfectly honest merchant, he never crossed any moral boundaries the patron saint of trade would refuse to forgive. And it went without saying that he was a father now. There was no way he would be able to hug his beloved daughter when she came home if his hands were covered in blood. He could not. He would not.
| But when he realized the alternative, a chill ran up his spine. Could this be why he was finally being regarded as a member of the village after ten-odd years? It was easy to keep dirty work a secret if they could not leave after being rooted there for such a long time.
If that were the case, then he could imagine what would happen if he refused.
Lawrence's eyes darkened.
Such things did happen.
"Mr. Lawrence?"
The association president called his name, and Lawrence snapped back to reality.
But nevertheless, he could not find his words.
Lawrence looked miserably at Holo, who sat beside him.
"Well."
As he gazed at her, she spoke pitilessly.
"Do you have a reason to reject?"
His vision wavered. But when he thought of the village—right. When he thought of living in the village, that was right. That was the place they called their home, something they would not find again. When he weighed that on the scales, it was almost like putting the devil on the other side.
"And I am with you."
When she smiled at him, he decided with his gut. He could go anywhere, as long as Holo was by his side.
He cleared his dry throat and placed his hand on the gates to hell.
As long as Holo was with him, he could get through it.
"You are breaking out in quite the sweat."
"No, I'm all right."
It was then he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Once before when you took several head-butts in retaliation to the stomach, were you this scared? You took quite the magnificent tumble, though...," Holo remarked.
"...Huh?"
Head-butts? Retaliation?
He then heard a snorting noise of air escaping. When he looked to see the source, the president burst into laughter across the table and hurriedly covered his laugh with his hand.
"Not to mention that should it be a bad hit, something may break."
"Oh, God."
The president murmured with a serious expression and stirred in his chair.
"But your game, too, will be disorganized, so I don't think you need to worry about that."
"Oh? I have heard they are quite the violent ones."
"That is not something I can say as someone who has asked you to do this. But I can guarantee that it will be exciting. Well...I believe you are prepared to take one or two hits..."
What are they talking about?
As Lawrence sat, baffled, Holo split a piece of bread in two and began to munch on it.
"And say the name. Or perhaps, he will hear the name and tremble with fear."
"Oh, I see!"
The president stroked his long, white beard and nodded as though he understood.
"Oh, Mr. Lawrence, I know the name is ominous and it seems fraught with danger, but I don't think it will be that bad."
He spoke cheerfully to Lawrence, who no longer had the strength to ask any more questions.
"It's called the Festival of the Dead, but it's not as gruesome as you imagine. I can't really explain the way and scope of the festival better than this. If you watch, I'm sure you'll understand."
"'Twill be the most exciting. I've heard they serve the meat of the butchered game, as well."
"Exactly. That's why we do it, actually. The point is to enjoy preparing for the Revitalization Festival of the Patron Saint, which happens after the Festival of the Dead. Too many people that gather in town around this time. The workers at the butchers can't meet the need for tallow, to make candles with, and the demand for meat we use in the ceremony all by themselves. We needed to do something to address these issues, and that's how it all started. And everything will get quite complicated after obtaining the political power to monopolize these important preparations."
"When I heard about it, I was most impressed with how well it was performed. And the rules of the festival are rather nice and clear-cut."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | But when he realized the alternative, a chill ran up his spine. Could this be why he was finally being regarded as a member of the village after ten-odd years? It was easy to keep dirty work a secret if they could not leave after being rooted there for such a long time.
If that were the case, then he could imagine what would happen if he refused.
Lawrence's eyes darkened.
Such things did happen.
"Mr. Lawrence?"
The association president called his name, and Lawrence snapped back to reality.
But nevertheless, he could not find his words.
Lawrence looked miserably at Holo, who sat beside him.
"Well."
As he gazed at her, she spoke pitilessly.
"Do you have a reason to reject?"
His vision wavered. But when he thought of the village—right. When he thought of living in the village, that was right. That was the place they called their home, something they would not find again. When he weighed that on the scales, it was almost like putting the devil on the other side.
"And I am with you."
When she smiled at him, he decided with his gut. He could go anywhere, as long as Holo was by his side.
He cleared his dry throat and placed his hand on the gates to hell.
As long as Holo was with him, he could get through it.
"You are breaking out in quite the sweat."
"No, I'm all right."
It was then he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Once before when you took several head-butts in retaliation to the stomach, were you this scared? You took quite the magnificent tumble, though...," Holo remarked.
"...Huh?"
Head-butts? Retaliation?
He then heard a snorting noise of air escaping. When he looked to see the source, the president burst into laughter across the table and hurriedly covered his laugh with his hand.
"Not to mention that should it be a bad hit, something may break."
"Oh, God."
The president murmured with a serious expression and stirred in his chair.
"But your game, too, will be disorganized, so I don't think you need to worry about that."
"Oh? I have heard they are quite the violent ones."
"That is not something I can say as someone who has asked you to do this. But I can guarantee that it will be exciting. Well...I believe you are prepared to take one or two hits..."
What are they talking about?
As Lawrence sat, baffled, Holo split a piece of bread in two and began to munch on it.
"And say the name. Or perhaps, he will hear the name and tremble with fear."
"Oh, I see!"
The president stroked his long, white beard and nodded as though he understood.
"Oh, Mr. Lawrence, I know the name is ominous and it seems fraught with danger, but I don't think it will be that bad."
He spoke cheerfully to Lawrence, who no longer had the strength to ask any more questions.
"It's called the Festival of the Dead, but it's not as gruesome as you imagine. I can't really explain the way and scope of the festival better than this. If you watch, I'm sure you'll understand."
"'Twill be the most exciting. I've heard they serve the meat of the butchered game, as well."
"Exactly. That's why we do it, actually. The point is to enjoy preparing for the Revitalization Festival of the Patron Saint, which happens after the Festival of the Dead. Too many people that gather in town around this time. The workers at the butchers can't meet the need for tallow, to make candles with, and the demand for meat we use in the ceremony all by themselves. We needed to do something to address these issues, and that's how it all started. And everything will get quite complicated after obtaining the political power to monopolize these important preparations."
"When I heard about it, I was most impressed with how well it was performed. And the rules of the festival are rather nice and clear-cut."
| He tightened his hand into a fist and seemed genuinely excited.
Lawrence did not know much about the festivals in this town. He had only heard that his work was to help out. He faintly recalled Holo asking him on the way here what sort of work he would be doing. She loved lively events and had undoubtedly asked one of their guests at the bathhouse about every little detail so she was probably well informed.
"Up until now, I, though unworthy, have held the stick, but I can't win against old age...Having said that, the only ones who can participate in the festival are the ones who have a connection to this land. All the notable young people have already been reserved. That is why at this rate, we'll lose to the other associations who've brought in mercenaries with permits, appearing suddenly like shooting stars. Please consider treating this year as an exception, and accept this job!"
Lawrence, his eyes drained of energy, asked in response:
"And what is it exactly?"
The president spoke.
"To capture sheep and pigs. We will handle the disposal. Yours is the most dangerous job, but please!"
He placed his hands on the table and bowed his head. The ones intruding in on the lumber and meat associations were mercenaries from the south. They were no doubt physically strong.
Lawrence gazed off, staring at the texture of the wooden ceiling, and nodded.
"I accept."
"Ohh! You have my thanks!"
The president looked up, then took Lawrence's hand and shook it vigorously. He would leave things as they were, but Lawrence had been thinking of something else entirely up until now.
He had to somehow hide the foolish misunderstanding.
But the sharp-sighted, mischievous Holo was not one to simply allow his odd behavior a pass. When they returned to the room after eating, she immediately bit into him. He did not try to resist. Like a pet pig that appeared timidly before his hatchet-wielding master, he confessed with blank eyes.
No poet alive could describe how much Holo had rolled about in laughter.
Starting the day after, Lawrence set out inside town with a wooden mallet in hand. It was not something meant for just a bit of timberwork. Including the handle, it was about the same size as Holo. This was a tool meant for hammering in the railing that kept the round fence in the town square together for the Festival of the Dead.
It was simple but backbreaking work, so it was apparently divided between the town's craftsmen associations. So it was obvious with one look at the square which association was working properly. Among them, the money changers' association was not making much progress by any standard. They were quite busy and elderly men who sat down for work every day, so they all had bad backs. That was why every year, they relied on representatives from Nyohhira to do it for them.
Lawrence borrowed just one boy from the association and got to work. Propping up a stake the size of his thigh, there was no way he would be able to hammer it in alone. Though Holo would probably be able to hold it up, she refused. Likely because no matter how carefully she held the stake, she would end up covered in mud.
So in the end, as Lawrence spent the day hammering away, Holo stayed in their room at the association building, preening herself in luxury.
"...I really think I need to have a talk with you about what the word cooperation means."
"There is work that is suitable for a weakling like me."
Holo assured her husband as she elegantly blew on the white hairs at the tip of her tail.
Lawrence did not have the energy to get mad at her and washed himself in the bath the association had prepared for him.
Tired, he sat on the bed and began to dry his hair, but Holo took the handkerchief instead and dried it for him.
"Don't think that this is me forgiving you," Lawrence reminded her, and she spitefully rubbed his face, too.
"More importantly, have you spotted the fools who are trying to intrude on our territory?"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | He tightened his hand into a fist and seemed genuinely excited.
Lawrence did not know much about the festivals in this town. He had only heard that his work was to help out. He faintly recalled Holo asking him on the way here what sort of work he would be doing. She loved lively events and had undoubtedly asked one of their guests at the bathhouse about every little detail so she was probably well informed.
"Up until now, I, though unworthy, have held the stick, but I can't win against old age...Having said that, the only ones who can participate in the festival are the ones who have a connection to this land. All the notable young people have already been reserved. That is why at this rate, we'll lose to the other associations who've brought in mercenaries with permits, appearing suddenly like shooting stars. Please consider treating this year as an exception, and accept this job!"
Lawrence, his eyes drained of energy, asked in response:
"And what is it exactly?"
The president spoke.
"To capture sheep and pigs. We will handle the disposal. Yours is the most dangerous job, but please!"
He placed his hands on the table and bowed his head. The ones intruding in on the lumber and meat associations were mercenaries from the south. They were no doubt physically strong.
Lawrence gazed off, staring at the texture of the wooden ceiling, and nodded.
"I accept."
"Ohh! You have my thanks!"
The president looked up, then took Lawrence's hand and shook it vigorously. He would leave things as they were, but Lawrence had been thinking of something else entirely up until now.
He had to somehow hide the foolish misunderstanding.
But the sharp-sighted, mischievous Holo was not one to simply allow his odd behavior a pass. When they returned to the room after eating, she immediately bit into him. He did not try to resist. Like a pet pig that appeared timidly before his hatchet-wielding master, he confessed with blank eyes.
No poet alive could describe how much Holo had rolled about in laughter.
Starting the day after, Lawrence set out inside town with a wooden mallet in hand. It was not something meant for just a bit of timberwork. Including the handle, it was about the same size as Holo. This was a tool meant for hammering in the railing that kept the round fence in the town square together for the Festival of the Dead.
It was simple but backbreaking work, so it was apparently divided between the town's craftsmen associations. So it was obvious with one look at the square which association was working properly. Among them, the money changers' association was not making much progress by any standard. They were quite busy and elderly men who sat down for work every day, so they all had bad backs. That was why every year, they relied on representatives from Nyohhira to do it for them.
Lawrence borrowed just one boy from the association and got to work. Propping up a stake the size of his thigh, there was no way he would be able to hammer it in alone. Though Holo would probably be able to hold it up, she refused. Likely because no matter how carefully she held the stake, she would end up covered in mud.
So in the end, as Lawrence spent the day hammering away, Holo stayed in their room at the association building, preening herself in luxury.
"...I really think I need to have a talk with you about what the word cooperation means."
"There is work that is suitable for a weakling like me."
Holo assured her husband as she elegantly blew on the white hairs at the tip of her tail.
Lawrence did not have the energy to get mad at her and washed himself in the bath the association had prepared for him.
Tired, he sat on the bed and began to dry his hair, but Holo took the handkerchief instead and dried it for him.
"Don't think that this is me forgiving you," Lawrence reminded her, and she spitefully rubbed his face, too.
"More importantly, have you spotted the fools who are trying to intrude on our territory?"
| "No, I asked around, too, but apparently, they already finished with their work and are gone. For now they've left town, and they are probably digging holes for the baths."
The members of other associations were surprised at how fast those newcomers worked. When Lawrence himself examined the stakes they had hammered, he shuddered. It was set in deep and perfectly straight and did not budge in the slightest. Would he be able to beat them at hunting pigs and sheep? He was beginning to have honest doubts.
"Well, 'twill turn out all right."
When Lawrence told her his thoughts during the day, Holo would not seriously listen to him. She put her cheek to his back, wrapped her arms around his waist, and wagged her tail. She was likely so obviously wanting attention because her usual conversation partner Hanna was not here, and she had spent the entire day alone in the room.
Usually, he would be pleased, but now his mind was filled with other things.
"I can't be as relaxed as you right now."
If they did not do well, then the money changers' association would lose seats in the city council, and they would lose their right to dictate the flow of goods in town. If they lost their standing, then they would no longer be able to give Nyohhira special treatment. Should that happen, Nyohhira's supply procurement would be suddenly hindered...Which might not happen, but it would not be a good thing for the village regardless.
If it came to that, he did not know how he would be able to face the rest of the villagers when they returned home.
"But worrying will not grow muscle in your arms. Still, I doubt you could refuse, then. Even if...'twere assassination?"
Holo said it herself and then laughed. She would be playing with that particular foolish misunderstanding for a while.
"That's...well, true..."
"Then, 'tis decided, aye?"
She released the arms around him and slipped in front of him.
"Food?"
"And drink."
They could not fight on empty stomachs.
Though he had just come back in, the stalls outside would close if they dallied. Mustering up the energy, Lawrence stood up, and Holo held her overcoat.
He was certain that Holo would make him go shopping on his own, but it seemed she was coming with him.
"...You always surprise me with how good you are at pushing and pulling."
On careful examination, he thought that was something normal, but Holo was amazing to think that, for some reason, he meant it as a compliment.
Putting on a fox muffler, which she never wore because it was a bit much for the village, Holo smiled purposefully.
Then, like a cute young girl, she tilted her head as if she was clueless.
This sort of life continued for several days, and they watched the town prepare for the festival.
Two days after Lawrence first used the wooden mallet, he found himself plagued in his body and heart by terrible muscle pain, and he did his best to continue helping as much as he could. While, of course, there was the construction of the round fence for catching pigs and sheep in the Festival of the Dead, he was also running about to help make the giant straw statue for the Revitalization Festival of the Patron Saint, which came afterward. He quite literally dashed to the different districts of Svernel, collecting the straw as he pulled his cart along.
Every town had a similar kind of festival because there was all sorts of trash, such as damaged straw beddings or chair stuffing, after expending things over a long winter. And of course, he would assist pulling out this straw. In addition, he collected stockpiled fodder that had gone bad after rats took up residence inside it as well as packaging material that large companies had long kept.
After he gathered it all, he pushed through the crowd and headed to the square to tie it all together.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "No, I asked around, too, but apparently, they already finished with their work and are gone. For now they've left town, and they are probably digging holes for the baths."
The members of other associations were surprised at how fast those newcomers worked. When Lawrence himself examined the stakes they had hammered, he shuddered. It was set in deep and perfectly straight and did not budge in the slightest. Would he be able to beat them at hunting pigs and sheep? He was beginning to have honest doubts.
"Well, 'twill turn out all right."
When Lawrence told her his thoughts during the day, Holo would not seriously listen to him. She put her cheek to his back, wrapped her arms around his waist, and wagged her tail. She was likely so obviously wanting attention because her usual conversation partner Hanna was not here, and she had spent the entire day alone in the room.
Usually, he would be pleased, but now his mind was filled with other things.
"I can't be as relaxed as you right now."
If they did not do well, then the money changers' association would lose seats in the city council, and they would lose their right to dictate the flow of goods in town. If they lost their standing, then they would no longer be able to give Nyohhira special treatment. Should that happen, Nyohhira's supply procurement would be suddenly hindered...Which might not happen, but it would not be a good thing for the village regardless.
If it came to that, he did not know how he would be able to face the rest of the villagers when they returned home.
"But worrying will not grow muscle in your arms. Still, I doubt you could refuse, then. Even if...'twere assassination?"
Holo said it herself and then laughed. She would be playing with that particular foolish misunderstanding for a while.
"That's...well, true..."
"Then, 'tis decided, aye?"
She released the arms around him and slipped in front of him.
"Food?"
"And drink."
They could not fight on empty stomachs.
Though he had just come back in, the stalls outside would close if they dallied. Mustering up the energy, Lawrence stood up, and Holo held her overcoat.
He was certain that Holo would make him go shopping on his own, but it seemed she was coming with him.
"...You always surprise me with how good you are at pushing and pulling."
On careful examination, he thought that was something normal, but Holo was amazing to think that, for some reason, he meant it as a compliment.
Putting on a fox muffler, which she never wore because it was a bit much for the village, Holo smiled purposefully.
Then, like a cute young girl, she tilted her head as if she was clueless.
This sort of life continued for several days, and they watched the town prepare for the festival.
Two days after Lawrence first used the wooden mallet, he found himself plagued in his body and heart by terrible muscle pain, and he did his best to continue helping as much as he could. While, of course, there was the construction of the round fence for catching pigs and sheep in the Festival of the Dead, he was also running about to help make the giant straw statue for the Revitalization Festival of the Patron Saint, which came afterward. He quite literally dashed to the different districts of Svernel, collecting the straw as he pulled his cart along.
Every town had a similar kind of festival because there was all sorts of trash, such as damaged straw beddings or chair stuffing, after expending things over a long winter. And of course, he would assist pulling out this straw. In addition, he collected stockpiled fodder that had gone bad after rats took up residence inside it as well as packaging material that large companies had long kept.
After he gathered it all, he pushed through the crowd and headed to the square to tie it all together.
| He had done these sorts of things when he traveled as a merchant, so it was nostalgic for him as well as fun. When Lawrence returned to their room at the money changers' association building, his exhaustion was so acute that as he ate with Holo, he began falling asleep.
But it was a very good tired feeling, and Holo happily took care of him.
"Can't you be at least half this helpful on a normal basis?" he asked, but she made a rather foul expression.
"I am Holo the Wisewolf. I will move when the situation calls for it."
She seemed to imply that Lawrence should offer her tribute more frequently, though this particular outing had already cut quite deeply into their savings.
And he had another mountain that he really had to climb.
As the pain racking his body subsided, the incredibly tall statue of the patron saint in the town square was finished.
Svernel was an ironic town—just as the war to establish the Church's teachings in the heathen lands had ended, the southern religion suddenly spread and grew popular. Most people likely found the Church appealing on an emotional level since before. But because the war had still technically been undertaken, albeit only as a shadow of the conflict it once was, people still minded how their neighbors would react if they converted to the enemy's religion at the time.
But listening to the stories of the townspeople he was working with, most of the people who converted to the teachings of the Church were not especially moved by them. They did so mostly because they had heard there were many festivals every year if they adhered to the Church's calendar. If they were to pray to a God that they were not entirely certain existed, then life was more enjoyable.
When he told Holo this, who long ago was offered supplication in return for a good wheat harvest in a village, she reacted with an indescribably bitter smile.
All that being said, the townspeople's passion for the festival was real. It was plain to see this peculiar enthusiasm at the spring festival, the first day of which coincided with the Festival of the Dead.
"Leave the disposal to us! If you like, we'll do it with the sharpened edges of bronze coins that have been shaven down too much!"
The president of the money changers' association howled, holding a large hatchet he had polished just for the occasion today.
The ones accompanying him were all money changers at least a decade or two older than Lawrence. All the younger money changers lay facedown on their desks, asleep after several consecutive days and nights of work. Most of the older money changers' excitement was likely due to sleep deprivation.
But Lawrence admired what looked like the sturdiness of elders that had seen war's hardships, and the president grinned.
"We don't have many years left in us. We will work as hard as we can, knowing we won't be able to come to the festival after a few more years."
There was a saying—"live today as though tomorrow is your last." He looked at them the way Holo peered into something flashing and radiant. He knew that due to Holo's longevity, everything passed before her eyes in an instant. When they all left the association building like an old bandit gang, with the president in front and everyone with their own hatchet in hand, Lawrence spoke to Holo.
"I don't have much longer to live from your perspective, do I?"
Holo opened her eyes, and her expression hardened.
"I'll work as hard as physically possible. So try to smile as much as you can for me?"
Not for a routine where yesterday and today blended together, but for a special day that they could look back on and talk about fondly, where this happened and that happened.
Once he thought about it, Holo probably had her own reasons for suddenly leaving Nyohhira and accompanying him on this errand. Even in that ever-unchanging mountain village, Col left and Myuri followed after him. She might have sensed the approaching feeling of what would come next more strongly than Lawrence had.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | He had done these sorts of things when he traveled as a merchant, so it was nostalgic for him as well as fun. When Lawrence returned to their room at the money changers' association building, his exhaustion was so acute that as he ate with Holo, he began falling asleep.
But it was a very good tired feeling, and Holo happily took care of him.
"Can't you be at least half this helpful on a normal basis?" he asked, but she made a rather foul expression.
"I am Holo the Wisewolf. I will move when the situation calls for it."
She seemed to imply that Lawrence should offer her tribute more frequently, though this particular outing had already cut quite deeply into their savings.
And he had another mountain that he really had to climb.
As the pain racking his body subsided, the incredibly tall statue of the patron saint in the town square was finished.
Svernel was an ironic town—just as the war to establish the Church's teachings in the heathen lands had ended, the southern religion suddenly spread and grew popular. Most people likely found the Church appealing on an emotional level since before. But because the war had still technically been undertaken, albeit only as a shadow of the conflict it once was, people still minded how their neighbors would react if they converted to the enemy's religion at the time.
But listening to the stories of the townspeople he was working with, most of the people who converted to the teachings of the Church were not especially moved by them. They did so mostly because they had heard there were many festivals every year if they adhered to the Church's calendar. If they were to pray to a God that they were not entirely certain existed, then life was more enjoyable.
When he told Holo this, who long ago was offered supplication in return for a good wheat harvest in a village, she reacted with an indescribably bitter smile.
All that being said, the townspeople's passion for the festival was real. It was plain to see this peculiar enthusiasm at the spring festival, the first day of which coincided with the Festival of the Dead.
"Leave the disposal to us! If you like, we'll do it with the sharpened edges of bronze coins that have been shaven down too much!"
The president of the money changers' association howled, holding a large hatchet he had polished just for the occasion today.
The ones accompanying him were all money changers at least a decade or two older than Lawrence. All the younger money changers lay facedown on their desks, asleep after several consecutive days and nights of work. Most of the older money changers' excitement was likely due to sleep deprivation.
But Lawrence admired what looked like the sturdiness of elders that had seen war's hardships, and the president grinned.
"We don't have many years left in us. We will work as hard as we can, knowing we won't be able to come to the festival after a few more years."
There was a saying—"live today as though tomorrow is your last." He looked at them the way Holo peered into something flashing and radiant. He knew that due to Holo's longevity, everything passed before her eyes in an instant. When they all left the association building like an old bandit gang, with the president in front and everyone with their own hatchet in hand, Lawrence spoke to Holo.
"I don't have much longer to live from your perspective, do I?"
Holo opened her eyes, and her expression hardened.
"I'll work as hard as physically possible. So try to smile as much as you can for me?"
Not for a routine where yesterday and today blended together, but for a special day that they could look back on and talk about fondly, where this happened and that happened.
Once he thought about it, Holo probably had her own reasons for suddenly leaving Nyohhira and accompanying him on this errand. Even in that ever-unchanging mountain village, Col left and Myuri followed after him. She might have sensed the approaching feeling of what would come next more strongly than Lawrence had.
| And so would today's festival.
"You fool." Holo smiled as though she would cry and wrapped her hands around her face. "You are my better half. You must shine the brightest at the festival."
"Of course. The village is counting on me, too."
The more game he caught at this festival, the higher the association would rise in status.
In the end, Lawrence had no chances to find out what warriors these former mercenaries were before the event.
It would be difficult to win, but he had to stand his ground.
"I am with you."
"And I'm counting on you."
Lawrence rubbed her head through the hood-like cloth covering her. Then, when he nodded as a signal to go, she seemed as though she would say something else, but chose not to.
More importantly, the town had never been as congested, so there was no time for idle chatter.
They moved forward, Lawrence practically holding Holo so that her small frame would not be shoved around by the crowd.
When they finally reached the square, he was out of breath and felt hot from being jostled around.
"Well then, let's do it!"
The money changers, who had arrived just before them, were raising each other's spirits by striking their hatchets against one another's, in perhaps what was one of their rituals.
Around the outside of the fence, where he had worked so hard hammering in the posts, people were pushing to get closer. He did not know if the barrier was meant to keep in the roaming livestock or if it was to protect them from the crowd.
Inside the round barricade, there were gatherings on a straw mat that had been placed at a set distance away from the edge. That was where the representatives for each association were stationed. Everyone seemed to have done their best to gather young competitors, and Lawrence could not tell at a glance which group contained the mercenaries.
"They determine the winners by the weight of the meat, so instead of aiming for one big one, you have a better chance with two that are easier to capture."
The association president explained the rules to Lawrence as he handed him a club.
"You can also take your opponent's game! If you hit it once, they'll fall over, right? That's when people who aren't veterans wait for a response, and they waste time. Chase after the pigs and sheep with courage, and get them by jumping at them from behind!"
"Don't tackle or hit anyone, though. It'll be trouble later!"
"Let the game do everything for you. Sometimes, they will end up in the air, and it's acceptable if they hit someone else."
He meant that he should hit others with the game. Many town festivals were rough. Though they were getting on in years, the hot-blooded money changers seemed to be having a great old time. To protect himself, he carved their advice into his brain and took a deep breath.
The sky was clear, and he would surely be drenched in sweat if he moved around a lot. As he wondered how a bathhouse master like himself had ended up in a situation like this, a smile broke out on his face due to nerves.
"Oh, Mr. Millike, head of the council."
As Lawrence was thinking to himself, a float arrived in the square, and standing atop it was a man whose scarlet ceremonial mantle—the symbol of a person in power—fluttered in the wind. It was Jean Millike, the town leader, with whom Lawrence was acquainted. Lawrence could not hear his speech over the crowd's noise, but even if he had been next to Millike, it was likely impossible to hear it anyway. That was how busy it was.
Before long, Lawrence was able to see wagons packed with animals that would be set loose as game, and a nauseating anxiousness slowly rose in his stomach. His nature did not contain a predisposition for violence.
Ignoring the money changers, who were currently the spitting image of bandits, holding their hatchets, Lawrence gazed back over the fence.
There was Holo, and she gave him a wry smile.
"Begin!" someone yelled.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | And so would today's festival.
"You fool." Holo smiled as though she would cry and wrapped her hands around her face. "You are my better half. You must shine the brightest at the festival."
"Of course. The village is counting on me, too."
The more game he caught at this festival, the higher the association would rise in status.
In the end, Lawrence had no chances to find out what warriors these former mercenaries were before the event.
It would be difficult to win, but he had to stand his ground.
"I am with you."
"And I'm counting on you."
Lawrence rubbed her head through the hood-like cloth covering her. Then, when he nodded as a signal to go, she seemed as though she would say something else, but chose not to.
More importantly, the town had never been as congested, so there was no time for idle chatter.
They moved forward, Lawrence practically holding Holo so that her small frame would not be shoved around by the crowd.
When they finally reached the square, he was out of breath and felt hot from being jostled around.
"Well then, let's do it!"
The money changers, who had arrived just before them, were raising each other's spirits by striking their hatchets against one another's, in perhaps what was one of their rituals.
Around the outside of the fence, where he had worked so hard hammering in the posts, people were pushing to get closer. He did not know if the barrier was meant to keep in the roaming livestock or if it was to protect them from the crowd.
Inside the round barricade, there were gatherings on a straw mat that had been placed at a set distance away from the edge. That was where the representatives for each association were stationed. Everyone seemed to have done their best to gather young competitors, and Lawrence could not tell at a glance which group contained the mercenaries.
"They determine the winners by the weight of the meat, so instead of aiming for one big one, you have a better chance with two that are easier to capture."
The association president explained the rules to Lawrence as he handed him a club.
"You can also take your opponent's game! If you hit it once, they'll fall over, right? That's when people who aren't veterans wait for a response, and they waste time. Chase after the pigs and sheep with courage, and get them by jumping at them from behind!"
"Don't tackle or hit anyone, though. It'll be trouble later!"
"Let the game do everything for you. Sometimes, they will end up in the air, and it's acceptable if they hit someone else."
He meant that he should hit others with the game. Many town festivals were rough. Though they were getting on in years, the hot-blooded money changers seemed to be having a great old time. To protect himself, he carved their advice into his brain and took a deep breath.
The sky was clear, and he would surely be drenched in sweat if he moved around a lot. As he wondered how a bathhouse master like himself had ended up in a situation like this, a smile broke out on his face due to nerves.
"Oh, Mr. Millike, head of the council."
As Lawrence was thinking to himself, a float arrived in the square, and standing atop it was a man whose scarlet ceremonial mantle—the symbol of a person in power—fluttered in the wind. It was Jean Millike, the town leader, with whom Lawrence was acquainted. Lawrence could not hear his speech over the crowd's noise, but even if he had been next to Millike, it was likely impossible to hear it anyway. That was how busy it was.
Before long, Lawrence was able to see wagons packed with animals that would be set loose as game, and a nauseating anxiousness slowly rose in his stomach. His nature did not contain a predisposition for violence.
Ignoring the money changers, who were currently the spitting image of bandits, holding their hatchets, Lawrence gazed back over the fence.
There was Holo, and she gave him a wry smile.
"Begin!" someone yelled.
| They were bewildered, having suddenly been freed in a wide-open space, but upon seeing the angry waves of people, they dashed off. A young man ran as hard as he could to chase a sheep that was running in circles with all its might, but a pig slammed straight into his side. The crowd watched this and raised a loud shout.
The number of sheep and pigs in the enclosure grew, and there were some that were so confused that they simply stood still. Those poor, lost lambs were quickly taken and pulled away as soon as they froze.
Lawrence, too, jumped into the mayhem with determination.
Most of the sheep and pigs were, of course, mostly younger ones, not bigger, grown specimens. So even though there was no problem dragging their prey along or carrying them off, the animals were still energetic.
He first thought to knock them out with the club, but he understood immediately that there was no time for that.
So he threw himself at one that had stopped moving, grabbed it by the legs from behind, and held it up. "Baa! Baa! Oink! Oink!" came loud noises from all around him.
Lawrence carried the game back to their base, and the money changers took it from him.
He caught a second and then a third quite quickly, and as he caught his fourth, he took a nasty hit to the head and fell face-first into the mud. He felt a four-legged something walk over him and figured it must have been a pig.
Lawrence cleared his reeling head with a shake and jumped desperately toward a sheep that had fallen over like him and was wriggling on the ground. He pinned it like a beast that had forgotten how to speak, lifted it up with strength he was not even aware he had, and returned to their base as fast as he could. The old money changers, covered in blood from the butchering, yelled in exhilaration, and Lawrence threw the sheep to them before immediately turning on his heels.
Everyone running around the square was covered in mud, both people and animals. They were also all frantic.
Jump at anything with four legs, pin them, and carry it back. That was all he could think about in his strange euphoria, and his face smiled on its own. An energetic sheep shook off several men and broke away. The men, shaken off from its back and knocked away after attempts to stop it from the front, immediately rose from the mud and, becoming like mud dolls whose eyes only blazed white, howled in anger before chasing after their prey that got away.
Lawrence watched them and finally realized.
The Festival of the Dead.
That was exactly what it was.
"Number six!"
The old money changers cried in excitement. The meat was piled high on the mat, and the butcher boy who was weighing it had also become excited. It was probably more than some other mats.
"You just need to keep at it!" The association president himself yelled, also out of breath, and he was gripping the hatchet in his hand so hard that it was shaking.
Slaughtering animals was hard work.
"Leave it to me!"
Lawrence screamed in desperation and once again returned to the battlefield, but his body would not keep up. And it became increasingly clear that if this was a battle of endurance, then the four-legged ones were one step above the humans. He began to see that, covered in mud and full of fatigue, the ones who eventually began to totter like dead men staggered after the sheep and pigs, but could no longer keep up with them. There were also a few sneaky ones, who stood in their place and jumped at game that passed by them.
Amid it all, Lawrence jumped at one that had luckily stopped in front of him, picked it up, and dispelling his fatigue with a courageous shout, carried it back to the base.
Number seven. Number eight.
"Amazing! We can do this! We can win!" The association president excitedly encouraged him, and Lawrence turned away, grabbing a pig that had suddenly stopped as though something had caught its attention and carrying it to the base.
"Number nine! It's a miracle!"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | They were bewildered, having suddenly been freed in a wide-open space, but upon seeing the angry waves of people, they dashed off. A young man ran as hard as he could to chase a sheep that was running in circles with all its might, but a pig slammed straight into his side. The crowd watched this and raised a loud shout.
The number of sheep and pigs in the enclosure grew, and there were some that were so confused that they simply stood still. Those poor, lost lambs were quickly taken and pulled away as soon as they froze.
Lawrence, too, jumped into the mayhem with determination.
Most of the sheep and pigs were, of course, mostly younger ones, not bigger, grown specimens. So even though there was no problem dragging their prey along or carrying them off, the animals were still energetic.
He first thought to knock them out with the club, but he understood immediately that there was no time for that.
So he threw himself at one that had stopped moving, grabbed it by the legs from behind, and held it up. "Baa! Baa! Oink! Oink!" came loud noises from all around him.
Lawrence carried the game back to their base, and the money changers took it from him.
He caught a second and then a third quite quickly, and as he caught his fourth, he took a nasty hit to the head and fell face-first into the mud. He felt a four-legged something walk over him and figured it must have been a pig.
Lawrence cleared his reeling head with a shake and jumped desperately toward a sheep that had fallen over like him and was wriggling on the ground. He pinned it like a beast that had forgotten how to speak, lifted it up with strength he was not even aware he had, and returned to their base as fast as he could. The old money changers, covered in blood from the butchering, yelled in exhilaration, and Lawrence threw the sheep to them before immediately turning on his heels.
Everyone running around the square was covered in mud, both people and animals. They were also all frantic.
Jump at anything with four legs, pin them, and carry it back. That was all he could think about in his strange euphoria, and his face smiled on its own. An energetic sheep shook off several men and broke away. The men, shaken off from its back and knocked away after attempts to stop it from the front, immediately rose from the mud and, becoming like mud dolls whose eyes only blazed white, howled in anger before chasing after their prey that got away.
Lawrence watched them and finally realized.
The Festival of the Dead.
That was exactly what it was.
"Number six!"
The old money changers cried in excitement. The meat was piled high on the mat, and the butcher boy who was weighing it had also become excited. It was probably more than some other mats.
"You just need to keep at it!" The association president himself yelled, also out of breath, and he was gripping the hatchet in his hand so hard that it was shaking.
Slaughtering animals was hard work.
"Leave it to me!"
Lawrence screamed in desperation and once again returned to the battlefield, but his body would not keep up. And it became increasingly clear that if this was a battle of endurance, then the four-legged ones were one step above the humans. He began to see that, covered in mud and full of fatigue, the ones who eventually began to totter like dead men staggered after the sheep and pigs, but could no longer keep up with them. There were also a few sneaky ones, who stood in their place and jumped at game that passed by them.
Amid it all, Lawrence jumped at one that had luckily stopped in front of him, picked it up, and dispelling his fatigue with a courageous shout, carried it back to the base.
Number seven. Number eight.
"Amazing! We can do this! We can win!" The association president excitedly encouraged him, and Lawrence turned away, grabbing a pig that had suddenly stopped as though something had caught its attention and carrying it to the base.
"Number nine! It's a miracle!"
| There were great cheers from the other side of the fence, and he had felt as though he had become a hero on a battlefield. He boldly wiped his muddy face with his even muddier arm. Holo would definitely be happy to see him so valiant.
As he tried to search for Holo in the crowd, the sharp voice of the association president cut in.
"Mr. Lawrence, the game!"
A sheep had escaped near their base. The man that was chasing it fell dramatically from sheer fatigue. Lawrence, too, felt a similar exhaustion, but he stood up to catch the scampering sheep.
It immediately noticed him, and tilting its body, it changed directions. Though of course since it had run this far, he would catch it and win this fight.
Lawrence ran after the sheep with every last ounce of energy left in him and closed in on it. The ground felt unsteady. He was out of breath. The sheep's head hung low as it ran as fast as it could. He could see nothing but the sheep. Every single step he took felt like it lasted forever.
Only a bit more, but a bit more would not come. His prey was just far enough that it would get away if he jumped at it. But he could not get any closer. Then should he jump in a last act of desperation?
His lungs felt like they were burning, and his hands and feet did not feel like they were his own.
Everything depended on this!
It was the moment he deeply bent his knees.
The sheep suddenly stopped in shock and slipped onto its side.
Did it trip in the mud?! Whatever it was, now was his only chance!
Stirring his well-honed hunting skill to its limit, he leaped at the sheep. The later he made his next move, the harder it would be for him to stand. Urging his screaming limbs forward, he hoisted it up and walked off. Loud cheers came from the base. Though the money changers were also likely at their physical limit, they waved their hands in support. There were any number of things that were more difficult for merchants. Even that sentiment became his fuel, and he finally carried the sheep to the end.
Then, completely out of energy, Lawrence's knees gave in, and he stared up at the sky as he gasped for air.
He could not take another step. But was it not wonderful?
Among the townspeople who waved and applauded him on the other side of the fence, he found Holo.
It was right after he realized his misunderstanding.
"Did I not say I would be by your side?"
Though it was so noisy he could barely hear his own ragged breathing, he felt as though he could hear Holo's voice loud and clear. She smiled proudly at him because she was satisfied that she could work when the situation called for it.
Lawrence could only smile in defeat.
He was not particularly physically fit, nor was he particularly lucky. If he was having such an easy time, that meant there was something else at play. The silly sheep and pigs that had stopped right in front of him all did so because Holo had glared at them.
"There is work that is suitable for a weakling like me" was not a lie.
From meeting Holo up until now, Lawrence would never have gotten as far as he did by himself. There were times he held her small shoulders, and there were times he clung to the back of a literal huge wolf.
Lawrence spoke.
"It was worth all the tribute."
Holo smiled and moved her lips—"You fool."
The standoff with the butchers' association as well as the weighing of the meat began. The event officials presented each association's result as they finished measuring, and the crowd applauded and cheered. The mud- and blood-covered men of the blacksmiths' association placed their hands on their chests and bent their knees like nobility, earning the crowd's laughter.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | There were great cheers from the other side of the fence, and he had felt as though he had become a hero on a battlefield. He boldly wiped his muddy face with his even muddier arm. Holo would definitely be happy to see him so valiant.
As he tried to search for Holo in the crowd, the sharp voice of the association president cut in.
"Mr. Lawrence, the game!"
A sheep had escaped near their base. The man that was chasing it fell dramatically from sheer fatigue. Lawrence, too, felt a similar exhaustion, but he stood up to catch the scampering sheep.
It immediately noticed him, and tilting its body, it changed directions. Though of course since it had run this far, he would catch it and win this fight.
Lawrence ran after the sheep with every last ounce of energy left in him and closed in on it. The ground felt unsteady. He was out of breath. The sheep's head hung low as it ran as fast as it could. He could see nothing but the sheep. Every single step he took felt like it lasted forever.
Only a bit more, but a bit more would not come. His prey was just far enough that it would get away if he jumped at it. But he could not get any closer. Then should he jump in a last act of desperation?
His lungs felt like they were burning, and his hands and feet did not feel like they were his own.
Everything depended on this!
It was the moment he deeply bent his knees.
The sheep suddenly stopped in shock and slipped onto its side.
Did it trip in the mud?! Whatever it was, now was his only chance!
Stirring his well-honed hunting skill to its limit, he leaped at the sheep. The later he made his next move, the harder it would be for him to stand. Urging his screaming limbs forward, he hoisted it up and walked off. Loud cheers came from the base. Though the money changers were also likely at their physical limit, they waved their hands in support. There were any number of things that were more difficult for merchants. Even that sentiment became his fuel, and he finally carried the sheep to the end.
Then, completely out of energy, Lawrence's knees gave in, and he stared up at the sky as he gasped for air.
He could not take another step. But was it not wonderful?
Among the townspeople who waved and applauded him on the other side of the fence, he found Holo.
It was right after he realized his misunderstanding.
"Did I not say I would be by your side?"
Though it was so noisy he could barely hear his own ragged breathing, he felt as though he could hear Holo's voice loud and clear. She smiled proudly at him because she was satisfied that she could work when the situation called for it.
Lawrence could only smile in defeat.
He was not particularly physically fit, nor was he particularly lucky. If he was having such an easy time, that meant there was something else at play. The silly sheep and pigs that had stopped right in front of him all did so because Holo had glared at them.
"There is work that is suitable for a weakling like me" was not a lie.
From meeting Holo up until now, Lawrence would never have gotten as far as he did by himself. There were times he held her small shoulders, and there were times he clung to the back of a literal huge wolf.
Lawrence spoke.
"It was worth all the tribute."
Holo smiled and moved her lips—"You fool."
The standoff with the butchers' association as well as the weighing of the meat began. The event officials presented each association's result as they finished measuring, and the crowd applauded and cheered. The mud- and blood-covered men of the blacksmiths' association placed their hands on their chests and bent their knees like nobility, earning the crowd's laughter.
| "Wow, this has been much more than a normal year!"
The association president spoke, washing his face with hot water. A big company near the square opened up their loading area as a place for the participants to wash up and take a break. He washed every place on him he could with the hot water and made a toast with cold ale.
He sat in a chair there and faced the square, where the commotion beyond the crowd suggested they were still weighing.
"I wonder how much our opponents have caught."
"Yes, I wonder...We, too, were quite engrossed in our work."
He looked at Holo, sitting next to him, and she shrugged her shoulders.
"There were definitely some courageous ones."
"Well, since we did so much, even if we lost, I don't think there would be much of a gap between us. I first thought we would be dead last! Oh, it's all thanks to you, Mr. Lawrence. You've really helped us!"
He shook hands with everyone, including the president, for the hundredth time. He had not accomplished anything alone, but he was happy if he was of some help.
"Then what shall we do? After this, there will be more ceremonial things to do for the festival, and it won't be for a while until the meat is served. Well, they'll be serving this meat for some time starting today, so you may grow tired of it! Since that's the gist of it, why don't you go back to the building for a bit?"
Lawrence was not an association member. It would be out of place if he were present for the ceremonial proceedings.
He looked at Holo, wondering what she wanted to do, and she nodded.
"Then we will do just that."
"Please help yourself to any of the food and drink in the building! But just don't take too much money!"
Lawrence laughed in response to the unsubtle money changer–style joke, and he and Holo both stood up. As he did, his knees stiffened, and he wavered. Holo immediately supported her husband and directed a wry smile at him.
He felt as though he had aged fifty years in an instant.
"This is practice." Lawrence whispered to her, and realizing what he meant, Holo's face twitched as she tried to smile.
"But 'tis not for a while yet."
She sounded like she was scolding him.
"That's what I plan on."
When he moved his overworked and stiff body bit by bit, a modicum of flexibility came back to him. They used the back entrance of the company, and it was easier to walk on the side streets since there were few people.
As they walked down the quiet street, the tumult that had pierced his ears, sprinting for the first time in many years—it all felt like a distant dream.
It might have been because he was tired. Since no one was around, with his muddy body leaning against Holo, who did not seem to mind, he gave her a fawning kiss on the cheek.
"...You once had strange ideas in these back roads before, as well."
She was as harsh as always.
"I think it's because it feels like we're the only ones in the world."
"You fool."
She kicked him.
"And the work I did today. How was it? Did you see that I can do things when I need to? But when I thought that, I was really in the palm of your hand all along."
***
Lawrence spoke, facing straight ahead, and he could feel Holo's gaze on his cheek.
"When I first met you, I would have been frustrated...But today, I truly am happy. You're always teasing me, but you know exactly when to help me out."
He looked at her and smiled naturally.
She tightened her lips, then immediately looked away. She was unexpectedly shy.
"I thank you." But instead of teasing her, Lawrence spoke. He did not need to say anything else.
The two walked slowly through the back roads.
It was then Holo stopped.
"I, too, rely on you."
"It's an honor."
"And I believe that you rely on me, too."
Was this her complicated way of expressing herself?
Lawrence thought that for a moment but realized that was wrong. Something was odd about her.
"Holo?"
He called her name, and the ears under her hood visibly twitched.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Wow, this has been much more than a normal year!"
The association president spoke, washing his face with hot water. A big company near the square opened up their loading area as a place for the participants to wash up and take a break. He washed every place on him he could with the hot water and made a toast with cold ale.
He sat in a chair there and faced the square, where the commotion beyond the crowd suggested they were still weighing.
"I wonder how much our opponents have caught."
"Yes, I wonder...We, too, were quite engrossed in our work."
He looked at Holo, sitting next to him, and she shrugged her shoulders.
"There were definitely some courageous ones."
"Well, since we did so much, even if we lost, I don't think there would be much of a gap between us. I first thought we would be dead last! Oh, it's all thanks to you, Mr. Lawrence. You've really helped us!"
He shook hands with everyone, including the president, for the hundredth time. He had not accomplished anything alone, but he was happy if he was of some help.
"Then what shall we do? After this, there will be more ceremonial things to do for the festival, and it won't be for a while until the meat is served. Well, they'll be serving this meat for some time starting today, so you may grow tired of it! Since that's the gist of it, why don't you go back to the building for a bit?"
Lawrence was not an association member. It would be out of place if he were present for the ceremonial proceedings.
He looked at Holo, wondering what she wanted to do, and she nodded.
"Then we will do just that."
"Please help yourself to any of the food and drink in the building! But just don't take too much money!"
Lawrence laughed in response to the unsubtle money changer–style joke, and he and Holo both stood up. As he did, his knees stiffened, and he wavered. Holo immediately supported her husband and directed a wry smile at him.
He felt as though he had aged fifty years in an instant.
"This is practice." Lawrence whispered to her, and realizing what he meant, Holo's face twitched as she tried to smile.
"But 'tis not for a while yet."
She sounded like she was scolding him.
"That's what I plan on."
When he moved his overworked and stiff body bit by bit, a modicum of flexibility came back to him. They used the back entrance of the company, and it was easier to walk on the side streets since there were few people.
As they walked down the quiet street, the tumult that had pierced his ears, sprinting for the first time in many years—it all felt like a distant dream.
It might have been because he was tired. Since no one was around, with his muddy body leaning against Holo, who did not seem to mind, he gave her a fawning kiss on the cheek.
"...You once had strange ideas in these back roads before, as well."
She was as harsh as always.
"I think it's because it feels like we're the only ones in the world."
"You fool."
She kicked him.
"And the work I did today. How was it? Did you see that I can do things when I need to? But when I thought that, I was really in the palm of your hand all along."
***
Lawrence spoke, facing straight ahead, and he could feel Holo's gaze on his cheek.
"When I first met you, I would have been frustrated...But today, I truly am happy. You're always teasing me, but you know exactly when to help me out."
He looked at her and smiled naturally.
She tightened her lips, then immediately looked away. She was unexpectedly shy.
"I thank you." But instead of teasing her, Lawrence spoke. He did not need to say anything else.
The two walked slowly through the back roads.
It was then Holo stopped.
"I, too, rely on you."
"It's an honor."
"And I believe that you rely on me, too."
Was this her complicated way of expressing herself?
Lawrence thought that for a moment but realized that was wrong. Something was odd about her.
"Holo?"
He called her name, and the ears under her hood visibly twitched.
| An ambush? In an old habit from his trading days, he reflexively reached behind him in search of his short sword. But he had left it in the association building. And he was not left wanting for protection because Holo was by his side.
Was it a giant legendary bear that carried mountain ridges on his back, who could pick up the moon in his outstretched paw, that dared face a giant wolf who could swallow a person whole? Or...
"We do not intend you any harm."
The young man that appeared from around the corner of the alley spoke. Behind him, a meek-looking girl followed him.
The young man wore clothes that were covered in mud, and his short, golden hair was still wet as though he had just washed it. The girl's plain travel kit was dyed with blood. He knew almost immediately what exactly they had just been doing.
But what caught Lawrence's eye was the unique air about them.
Both he and Holo had lived a while and had grown accustomed to this feeling with experience.
The pair that confronted them were, without a doubt, not human.
"My name is Aram. This is my sister, Selim."
The boy called Aram inhaled deeply as though he was nervous. He held his breath and put his hand on the sword hilt hanging by his waist, which was the only thing not covered in mud.
"We were mercenaries in the south."
The blade of the sword slipped out of the sheath, and it glinted dully in the shadow of the back road.
One cannot even draw a longsword without practice. Lawrence could tell that Aram was not an ordinary swordsman by the way he unsheathed his weapon without hesitation and by his tempered body.
But he had been left speechless for a completely different reason.
It was why Lawrence ended up chasing after pigs and sheep in the mud. At the end of a road that led from Svernel, there would apparently be a new hot spring town. He heard that the hopeful newcomers were mercenaries from the south. In that case...
With the same elegance in which he unsheathed the sword, Aram removed the sheath from his waistband and crossed it with his sword at his feet. It was a sign of the utmost respect from mercenaries and knights. To his side, his sister, Selim, went to her knees.
Lawrence knew immediately that they did not have any harmful intentions, nor were they simple thieves, but he did not know their purpose.
Then, Aram fixed his eyes not on Lawrence, but Holo.
"We have come to see the long-lived, proud lord of wolves."
He spoke like a knight pledging his loyalty, but Holo was expressionless.
"I appreciate the flattery, but during the festival, you certainly held back when you noticed my presence. What is your purpose?"
He had wondered how the others were doing during the Festival of the Dead. When Lawrence asked her, she had not been clear when she said that there were some courageous ones. This is probably what she meant.
"...We had not realized that someone such as yourself was assisting the money changers' association until the middle of the festival. We failed to notice right away since there is the strong smell of sulfur about you."
Holo's expression finally shifted a little. Then, she sniffed her own shoulders and Lawrence's sleeves.
"You probably do not notice it yourself. That is how rooted you are to the land of Nyohhira."
If he had asked any of the townspeople who the strangers helping the money changers were, he would have found out immediately. Any person working in trade in Svernel, from craftsmen to merchants, knew that bathhouse masters from Nyohhira came to help around this time every year.
But Aram was probably surprised. There was a nonhuman among the villagers of Nyohhira. And her companion was a human male.
"And?" Holo asked innocently.
Aram and Selim were clearly the ones trying to start a new hot spring village. And now they were on their knees before Holo, offering the greatest form of respect. It was impossible that this was just a courtesy call.
Aram spoke.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | An ambush? In an old habit from his trading days, he reflexively reached behind him in search of his short sword. But he had left it in the association building. And he was not left wanting for protection because Holo was by his side.
Was it a giant legendary bear that carried mountain ridges on his back, who could pick up the moon in his outstretched paw, that dared face a giant wolf who could swallow a person whole? Or...
"We do not intend you any harm."
The young man that appeared from around the corner of the alley spoke. Behind him, a meek-looking girl followed him.
The young man wore clothes that were covered in mud, and his short, golden hair was still wet as though he had just washed it. The girl's plain travel kit was dyed with blood. He knew almost immediately what exactly they had just been doing.
But what caught Lawrence's eye was the unique air about them.
Both he and Holo had lived a while and had grown accustomed to this feeling with experience.
The pair that confronted them were, without a doubt, not human.
"My name is Aram. This is my sister, Selim."
The boy called Aram inhaled deeply as though he was nervous. He held his breath and put his hand on the sword hilt hanging by his waist, which was the only thing not covered in mud.
"We were mercenaries in the south."
The blade of the sword slipped out of the sheath, and it glinted dully in the shadow of the back road.
One cannot even draw a longsword without practice. Lawrence could tell that Aram was not an ordinary swordsman by the way he unsheathed his weapon without hesitation and by his tempered body.
But he had been left speechless for a completely different reason.
It was why Lawrence ended up chasing after pigs and sheep in the mud. At the end of a road that led from Svernel, there would apparently be a new hot spring town. He heard that the hopeful newcomers were mercenaries from the south. In that case...
With the same elegance in which he unsheathed the sword, Aram removed the sheath from his waistband and crossed it with his sword at his feet. It was a sign of the utmost respect from mercenaries and knights. To his side, his sister, Selim, went to her knees.
Lawrence knew immediately that they did not have any harmful intentions, nor were they simple thieves, but he did not know their purpose.
Then, Aram fixed his eyes not on Lawrence, but Holo.
"We have come to see the long-lived, proud lord of wolves."
He spoke like a knight pledging his loyalty, but Holo was expressionless.
"I appreciate the flattery, but during the festival, you certainly held back when you noticed my presence. What is your purpose?"
He had wondered how the others were doing during the Festival of the Dead. When Lawrence asked her, she had not been clear when she said that there were some courageous ones. This is probably what she meant.
"...We had not realized that someone such as yourself was assisting the money changers' association until the middle of the festival. We failed to notice right away since there is the strong smell of sulfur about you."
Holo's expression finally shifted a little. Then, she sniffed her own shoulders and Lawrence's sleeves.
"You probably do not notice it yourself. That is how rooted you are to the land of Nyohhira."
If he had asked any of the townspeople who the strangers helping the money changers were, he would have found out immediately. Any person working in trade in Svernel, from craftsmen to merchants, knew that bathhouse masters from Nyohhira came to help around this time every year.
But Aram was probably surprised. There was a nonhuman among the villagers of Nyohhira. And her companion was a human male.
"And?" Holo asked innocently.
Aram and Selim were clearly the ones trying to start a new hot spring village. And now they were on their knees before Holo, offering the greatest form of respect. It was impossible that this was just a courtesy call.
Aram spoke.
| Lawrence thought he saw Holo's tail puff up under her overcoat.
"We wish to create a place that we can come home to with our companions for hundreds of years to come."
The era of forests and spirits was gone, and nonhumans now felt small and inferior. On their journey some ten-odd years ago, to save their companions who were forced into nomadic wandering, they met a golden sheep that created a peaceful place for them to reside on the prairie. If they hid in the woods, there were roads. In the mountains, people built mines and cut them open to find coal. With no other choice, they may have decided to try to live in the human world, but a nonhuman would always be nonhuman.
So everyone had the thought of living in a remote place far removed from human civilization, doing modest work. For example, a merchant and the embodiment of a wolf running a bathhouse in Nyohhira.
"We've heard that the one next to you is the merchant that saved this town, who is now the master of the bathhouse Spice and Wolf. And it seems you have a deep relationship. If the God that humans worship does indeed exist, then this must be his will."
Lawrence listened to Aram speak and finally understood Holo's stiff expression.
He turned to him and spoke.
"To teach you how to manage your bathhouse?"
"Or..." Aram was not in the least bit daunted. "...To come live in our village."
He called it a village.
According to the money changers, there were no more than ten of them, and they wanted to construct a bathhouse out of the ruined monastery. Lawrence thought at first that they would live as hunters if they could not find any water, but they had meticulously laid the groundwork with the town's associations.
After doing all that and calling it a village, then that meant Aram's dream was much bigger than that.
"Your power and knowledge would be the strength of a hundred, no, a thousand people."
"We lived poorly as mercenaries in the southlands...To be more precise, we made our living by protecting small villages from outlaws who caused havoc during wartime."
Standing next to Aram, Selim spoke falteringly. She seemed more serious than Aram. Lawrence could sense her nunlike essence, the impression that she could work for two or three days straight without sleeping or saying a word. She appeared to be a bit older than Holo, but from all the trials she must have gone through, her weary expression made her look even more like an adult. Moreover, he was taken aback by her hands. They were indescribably rough, and not just because she had performed the butchering at the Festival of the Dead.
They were completely different from Holo's hands.
"It was a life that we, as your kindred, must be ashamed of."
This meant that Aram and Selim's companions, too, were wolves.
Holo must have known this already. Her expression did not change as she continued to stare at them.
"We do not know much about the human world. We have only somehow helped the companies in this town for now. My brother and I are the only ones who can speak the language of this region."
"You may find this foolish or even laugh at us."
Aram dropped his eyes to the sword and sheath crossed on the ground, then courageously raised his head.
"The world continues to change, and even our small reason to live crumbled before us. In the end, we barely managed to subsist on the embers of war. Then we were blessed with the chance to receive a special permit for this land, so we decided we had no choice but to place our hopes here, and so we came."
And it also seemed that they could obtain water from the ground, and there was even a monastery still standing.
So that was it.
Everyone in this world had their own circumstances.
"Are you...?" There, Holo butted in. "...Asking us to throw away the village we have made our home in?"
"We would ask nothing more should you come to move with us. But of course, we would also appreciate it if you simply helped us—"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Lawrence thought he saw Holo's tail puff up under her overcoat.
"We wish to create a place that we can come home to with our companions for hundreds of years to come."
The era of forests and spirits was gone, and nonhumans now felt small and inferior. On their journey some ten-odd years ago, to save their companions who were forced into nomadic wandering, they met a golden sheep that created a peaceful place for them to reside on the prairie. If they hid in the woods, there were roads. In the mountains, people built mines and cut them open to find coal. With no other choice, they may have decided to try to live in the human world, but a nonhuman would always be nonhuman.
So everyone had the thought of living in a remote place far removed from human civilization, doing modest work. For example, a merchant and the embodiment of a wolf running a bathhouse in Nyohhira.
"We've heard that the one next to you is the merchant that saved this town, who is now the master of the bathhouse Spice and Wolf. And it seems you have a deep relationship. If the God that humans worship does indeed exist, then this must be his will."
Lawrence listened to Aram speak and finally understood Holo's stiff expression.
He turned to him and spoke.
"To teach you how to manage your bathhouse?"
"Or..." Aram was not in the least bit daunted. "...To come live in our village."
He called it a village.
According to the money changers, there were no more than ten of them, and they wanted to construct a bathhouse out of the ruined monastery. Lawrence thought at first that they would live as hunters if they could not find any water, but they had meticulously laid the groundwork with the town's associations.
After doing all that and calling it a village, then that meant Aram's dream was much bigger than that.
"Your power and knowledge would be the strength of a hundred, no, a thousand people."
"We lived poorly as mercenaries in the southlands...To be more precise, we made our living by protecting small villages from outlaws who caused havoc during wartime."
Standing next to Aram, Selim spoke falteringly. She seemed more serious than Aram. Lawrence could sense her nunlike essence, the impression that she could work for two or three days straight without sleeping or saying a word. She appeared to be a bit older than Holo, but from all the trials she must have gone through, her weary expression made her look even more like an adult. Moreover, he was taken aback by her hands. They were indescribably rough, and not just because she had performed the butchering at the Festival of the Dead.
They were completely different from Holo's hands.
"It was a life that we, as your kindred, must be ashamed of."
This meant that Aram and Selim's companions, too, were wolves.
Holo must have known this already. Her expression did not change as she continued to stare at them.
"We do not know much about the human world. We have only somehow helped the companies in this town for now. My brother and I are the only ones who can speak the language of this region."
"You may find this foolish or even laugh at us."
Aram dropped his eyes to the sword and sheath crossed on the ground, then courageously raised his head.
"The world continues to change, and even our small reason to live crumbled before us. In the end, we barely managed to subsist on the embers of war. Then we were blessed with the chance to receive a special permit for this land, so we decided we had no choice but to place our hopes here, and so we came."
And it also seemed that they could obtain water from the ground, and there was even a monastery still standing.
So that was it.
Everyone in this world had their own circumstances.
"Are you...?" There, Holo butted in. "...Asking us to throw away the village we have made our home in?"
"We would ask nothing more should you come to move with us. But of course, we would also appreciate it if you simply helped us—"
| "Holo."
The one who called her name was Lawrence.
Aram and Selim were certainly their competitors, but it was easy to see that they had their own circumstances. And like Holo, they were not human. More importantly—they were wolves. There was no mistaking that they were more similar to Holo than the people of Nyohhira.
Though at the same time, it was likely for that very reason she treated them so coldly.
If she sympathized with them just a little bit, if she opened her heart to them, then she would have no choice but to help them. And that would be treason against Nyohhira.
Holo was an alien existence, whose true identity had to be hidden from the villagers of Nyohhira. She was indebted to Lawrence more than he knew.
But Lawrence spoke to her.
"We can't just decide on an answer to their proposal like that."
He was talking about how this would affect her far into the future, something that coincided with their fundamental problem.
That reason was...
"Lady Holo."
Aram, still on his knees, drew closer.
"Please, think about it. What you have now will not last forever."
They were mercenaries who came from the south and had barely scraped by.
As it stood, Aram's dauntless expression was much too direct.
In the world, there were things that, however right, should not be said.
Lawrence realized his mistake in not conveying those words.
"...So what if it's true?" Holo's voice was cold to its core. "What does that have to do with you?"
"Holo..."
"Answer me!"
A wise man once said that no happy story lasted forever. One day, Lawrence would die, and only Holo would live on. In response to that, Lawrence found the answer together with Holo. They both decided to put on a brave show, saying, So what?
Holo grasped Lawrence's arms. She gripped so hard that it hurt.
"I was once called the wisewolf, but that is the past. I suggest you try someone else."
He could hear her heart slam shut.
Holo began to walk off, and she forcefully pulled on his arm. Her threatening attitude was almost as though she had kicked away the sword and sheath Aram had laid out in respect.
When they passed Aram, his expression was one of shock. He most likely had not thought Holo would grow angry at hearing his reasoning. Lawrence thought that he had such a straightforward nature that one did not often see in the human world.
But one could not live in this world with a purely straightforward manner. There were few, rare places that had straight roads—only found in towns protected by high walls.
"Holo."
When they could not see Aram or Selim anymore, Lawrence called her name, but she did not stop walking.
"Holo— Hey, Holo!"
His back and legs still hurt, and he instead pulled on her arm. Her power was only that of a girl when she held this form.
And her slim body could not protect her soft heart.
Holo turned to face him, and she was crying. How she had so forcefully pulled him away was only a show.
"I—I...You..."
"I know. You don't have to say any more."
Lawrence hesitated for a moment, since his clothes were muddy, but he ended up pulling the sobbing Holo into his arms. She clung to him, not caring that her face would be covered in mud. He rubbed her back—comforting her small, helpless form.
Embracing her as she cried, he rested his back against the wall and looked up.
Wedged among the tall buildings, the sky above him looked small and distant from the narrow path.
He knew that they were the foolish ones.
He suddenly noticed someone enter his field of vision and looked in that direction. There was Selim, so bewildered that she seemed to be suffering. She did not try to come too close and looked at Lawrence. He shook his head slightly.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Holo."
The one who called her name was Lawrence.
Aram and Selim were certainly their competitors, but it was easy to see that they had their own circumstances. And like Holo, they were not human. More importantly—they were wolves. There was no mistaking that they were more similar to Holo than the people of Nyohhira.
Though at the same time, it was likely for that very reason she treated them so coldly.
If she sympathized with them just a little bit, if she opened her heart to them, then she would have no choice but to help them. And that would be treason against Nyohhira.
Holo was an alien existence, whose true identity had to be hidden from the villagers of Nyohhira. She was indebted to Lawrence more than he knew.
But Lawrence spoke to her.
"We can't just decide on an answer to their proposal like that."
He was talking about how this would affect her far into the future, something that coincided with their fundamental problem.
That reason was...
"Lady Holo."
Aram, still on his knees, drew closer.
"Please, think about it. What you have now will not last forever."
They were mercenaries who came from the south and had barely scraped by.
As it stood, Aram's dauntless expression was much too direct.
In the world, there were things that, however right, should not be said.
Lawrence realized his mistake in not conveying those words.
"...So what if it's true?" Holo's voice was cold to its core. "What does that have to do with you?"
"Holo..."
"Answer me!"
A wise man once said that no happy story lasted forever. One day, Lawrence would die, and only Holo would live on. In response to that, Lawrence found the answer together with Holo. They both decided to put on a brave show, saying, So what?
Holo grasped Lawrence's arms. She gripped so hard that it hurt.
"I was once called the wisewolf, but that is the past. I suggest you try someone else."
He could hear her heart slam shut.
Holo began to walk off, and she forcefully pulled on his arm. Her threatening attitude was almost as though she had kicked away the sword and sheath Aram had laid out in respect.
When they passed Aram, his expression was one of shock. He most likely had not thought Holo would grow angry at hearing his reasoning. Lawrence thought that he had such a straightforward nature that one did not often see in the human world.
But one could not live in this world with a purely straightforward manner. There were few, rare places that had straight roads—only found in towns protected by high walls.
"Holo."
When they could not see Aram or Selim anymore, Lawrence called her name, but she did not stop walking.
"Holo— Hey, Holo!"
His back and legs still hurt, and he instead pulled on her arm. Her power was only that of a girl when she held this form.
And her slim body could not protect her soft heart.
Holo turned to face him, and she was crying. How she had so forcefully pulled him away was only a show.
"I—I...You..."
"I know. You don't have to say any more."
Lawrence hesitated for a moment, since his clothes were muddy, but he ended up pulling the sobbing Holo into his arms. She clung to him, not caring that her face would be covered in mud. He rubbed her back—comforting her small, helpless form.
Embracing her as she cried, he rested his back against the wall and looked up.
Wedged among the tall buildings, the sky above him looked small and distant from the narrow path.
He knew that they were the foolish ones.
He suddenly noticed someone enter his field of vision and looked in that direction. There was Selim, so bewildered that she seemed to be suffering. She did not try to come too close and looked at Lawrence. He shook his head slightly.
| Lawrence rubbed Holo's back once more before patting it lightly.
"Holo, nothing will get done like this."
His words were convincing, since he was once a merchant who could not make money if he was unable to walk forward.
"Let's go back to the room for now. Then..."
Then?
He was afraid to continue his sentence, but he could count on Holo, and she was relying on him.
Unflinching, he spoke.
"Then, let's think properly, without looking away."
Holo did not say anything.
But when Lawrence slowly opened his arms, Holo backed away herself.
Unwittingly he smiled, as her face was completely covered in mud.
"If anyone saw you now, I don't think they'd imagine you were once called the wisewolf."
Holo hiccupped and furiously wiped her face on her sleeve, then balled her hand into a fist and punched him once in the stomach.
Then with the same hand, she grasped Lawrence's. She was much more girl-like than the tomboyish Myuri.
"Cheer up. They said we could take any food or drink we wanted back at the association."
Holo sniffled and head-butted his shoulder.
"Fool."
She still sounded like she was crying, but she was all right for now if she was insulting him.
There was a strong bond between himself and Holo.
It would turn out all right, and they would see to it that it did.
When they entered the main street from the back road, like a suggestion of something, the warmth of the sun greeted them.
The money changers' association building was silent.
During the festivals, there were no large transactions between companies, but travelers and craftsmen who were taking off work came and went to and from town with change. The money changers, who were closing big deals and exchanges in the big hall all up until yesterday put their scales together and headed out into town.
And since the square was open after the Festival of the Dead and all the people suddenly gathered there, the district itself was quiet. It felt as though the sun had come out during the nighttime.
"Phew, I'm alive again. It really is a Festival of the Dead."
He was covered in mud from the top of his head to underneath his fingernails, and standing naked, he could see that there were big bruises all over his body.
He had the appearance of the dead during the festival, but there was no mistaking that the one who had come up with the name of the festival named it for this exact phrase Lawrence uttered after bathing.
"Have you calmed down, too?"
Holo's face was streaked with mud and tears. And since she had hugged him, her clothes had gotten dirty, too. She looked just like a girl who had fallen face-first into a muddy road and cried all the way home. The boys who stayed behind seemed more concerned for Holo than Lawrence, who had participated in the festival.
***
With hot water, she washed her face, her hands, then changed her clothes, and sat silently in the corner of the bed.
She had not even touched the alcohol and the snacks that the boys prepared for them.
"Well...It was sudden. And he was as straightforward as a knight on horseback."
With such excellent swordsmanship, Aram had made a living guarding a village.
Surely, he would hesitate to use his power against others. Lawrence had a feeling that what he was protecting was also a poor village that no one would bother to help. If that was the case, then Lawrence also felt that the ones left behind working on the monastery ruins were much the same—honest folk who would have trouble living in today's world.
"Everyone knows what's right. Drink alcohol in moderation, use discretion when you talk, work hard, be gentle to the weak. And occasionally, pray to God."
As Lawrence talked, he walked over to the desk and picked up the leather mug. It was a proud, stiff leather that was to be expected from a town that flourished as a distribution channel of furs and amber for a long time, and it could even be used for weapons. There was wine inside. He poured some into an even smaller tin cup and held it out to Holo.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Lawrence rubbed Holo's back once more before patting it lightly.
"Holo, nothing will get done like this."
His words were convincing, since he was once a merchant who could not make money if he was unable to walk forward.
"Let's go back to the room for now. Then..."
Then?
He was afraid to continue his sentence, but he could count on Holo, and she was relying on him.
Unflinching, he spoke.
"Then, let's think properly, without looking away."
Holo did not say anything.
But when Lawrence slowly opened his arms, Holo backed away herself.
Unwittingly he smiled, as her face was completely covered in mud.
"If anyone saw you now, I don't think they'd imagine you were once called the wisewolf."
Holo hiccupped and furiously wiped her face on her sleeve, then balled her hand into a fist and punched him once in the stomach.
Then with the same hand, she grasped Lawrence's. She was much more girl-like than the tomboyish Myuri.
"Cheer up. They said we could take any food or drink we wanted back at the association."
Holo sniffled and head-butted his shoulder.
"Fool."
She still sounded like she was crying, but she was all right for now if she was insulting him.
There was a strong bond between himself and Holo.
It would turn out all right, and they would see to it that it did.
When they entered the main street from the back road, like a suggestion of something, the warmth of the sun greeted them.
The money changers' association building was silent.
During the festivals, there were no large transactions between companies, but travelers and craftsmen who were taking off work came and went to and from town with change. The money changers, who were closing big deals and exchanges in the big hall all up until yesterday put their scales together and headed out into town.
And since the square was open after the Festival of the Dead and all the people suddenly gathered there, the district itself was quiet. It felt as though the sun had come out during the nighttime.
"Phew, I'm alive again. It really is a Festival of the Dead."
He was covered in mud from the top of his head to underneath his fingernails, and standing naked, he could see that there were big bruises all over his body.
He had the appearance of the dead during the festival, but there was no mistaking that the one who had come up with the name of the festival named it for this exact phrase Lawrence uttered after bathing.
"Have you calmed down, too?"
Holo's face was streaked with mud and tears. And since she had hugged him, her clothes had gotten dirty, too. She looked just like a girl who had fallen face-first into a muddy road and cried all the way home. The boys who stayed behind seemed more concerned for Holo than Lawrence, who had participated in the festival.
***
With hot water, she washed her face, her hands, then changed her clothes, and sat silently in the corner of the bed.
She had not even touched the alcohol and the snacks that the boys prepared for them.
"Well...It was sudden. And he was as straightforward as a knight on horseback."
With such excellent swordsmanship, Aram had made a living guarding a village.
Surely, he would hesitate to use his power against others. Lawrence had a feeling that what he was protecting was also a poor village that no one would bother to help. If that was the case, then Lawrence also felt that the ones left behind working on the monastery ruins were much the same—honest folk who would have trouble living in today's world.
"Everyone knows what's right. Drink alcohol in moderation, use discretion when you talk, work hard, be gentle to the weak. And occasionally, pray to God."
As Lawrence talked, he walked over to the desk and picked up the leather mug. It was a proud, stiff leather that was to be expected from a town that flourished as a distribution channel of furs and amber for a long time, and it could even be used for weapons. There was wine inside. He poured some into an even smaller tin cup and held it out to Holo.
| Holo did not look at him, but she took the cup as though accepting his words.
"Aram and his companions will start business at their bathhouses with all who are not human. And their neighbors will grow, and before long, they will show off their village...Just thinking about it makes it sound like a fairy tale."
Nyohhira, too, was often called uncharted territory, the boundary line between this world and heaven, but this was different. If a guest woke up in the middle of the night, they would surely find wolves and sheep, rabbits and foxes in the village square instead, drinking the night away.
There was likely a very good reason that those sorts of fairy tales still existed here and there today.
"Hey, Holo."
He called out to her, and she looked up, startled. They were about to peel back the bandages that covered the wounds they pretended not to see. As she tried to stand up, forgetting she was holding her drink, Lawrence held her back with his hand.
"First, let's say that helping Aram would mean betraying Nyohhira."
Holo knew well that Lawrence was trying his hardest to fit in with the village. She also knew that it was incredibly difficult, since even though the people of Nyohhira had no malicious intent, they still always treated him like an outsider, like a newcomer. And she knew that even still, Lawrence purely and simply loved their home and offered his expertise at every opportunity so that the entire village would prosper.
And within it, only Holo would be giving up their knowledge to the enemies of Nyohhira.
All the while living comfortably in Nyohhira.
"I think that's fine."
"...But..."
"I'm a merchant."
Lawrence smiled wryly, and it caught her off guard.
"I'm used to dealing with all kinds of people. Subtle communication is my specialty."
If he could not do two completely different things at the same time, as if there were two of him, he could not be a businessperson.
Take for example, a transaction. While he must be cautious that the other would not outsmart him, or set him up in a trap, or commit fraud, he had to place his trust in the other party somehow and shake on it or the deal would not go through.
What's more, while still doubting the other, he would even sometimes truly enjoy drinking with them after the deal was finished. And finally, the following day, he would continue doing business, still suspicious.
That was that. This was this.
"Even if you worked with Aram and the others, I would not interpret that as you trying to inflict losses on Nyohhira directly. That's more than enough for an excuse. And I don't think it's bad if good competition shows up. Working at the bathhouse there I always think—it's been too peaceful for hundreds of years. Our neighbors lack a sense of danger."
Though he had suggested several things to bring customers in the spring and fall when all the guests leave, his seniors had shown that they at least wanted to rest during that season.
As Lawrence spent most his time in the village, the laid-back atmosphere was beginning to infect him.
But if there was outside competition, they might wake from their slumber.
"Because of that, if you were to help Aram, then of course I would help you, but that would be unforgivable to the other bathhouse owners...Well, at least a bit. I'll just shrug my shoulders, since there's nothing that can be done."
He knew it was being unfaithful. But if they had bigger plans than this, then he was prepared to gracefully accept the sins as an apostate.
"And that's not what you're most worried about, is it?"
Holo pursed her lips, as though reopening an old wound.
"I should have said it before Aram did."
What she had now would not last forever.
They both knew and decided to go through it as though they did not notice.
"You can't stay in Nyohhira forever. You can only fool them for so long about why you don't age. After everyone has died out, could you continue to live as a thankless guardian spirit like you once did in the wheat fields of Pasloe?"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Holo did not look at him, but she took the cup as though accepting his words.
"Aram and his companions will start business at their bathhouses with all who are not human. And their neighbors will grow, and before long, they will show off their village...Just thinking about it makes it sound like a fairy tale."
Nyohhira, too, was often called uncharted territory, the boundary line between this world and heaven, but this was different. If a guest woke up in the middle of the night, they would surely find wolves and sheep, rabbits and foxes in the village square instead, drinking the night away.
There was likely a very good reason that those sorts of fairy tales still existed here and there today.
"Hey, Holo."
He called out to her, and she looked up, startled. They were about to peel back the bandages that covered the wounds they pretended not to see. As she tried to stand up, forgetting she was holding her drink, Lawrence held her back with his hand.
"First, let's say that helping Aram would mean betraying Nyohhira."
Holo knew well that Lawrence was trying his hardest to fit in with the village. She also knew that it was incredibly difficult, since even though the people of Nyohhira had no malicious intent, they still always treated him like an outsider, like a newcomer. And she knew that even still, Lawrence purely and simply loved their home and offered his expertise at every opportunity so that the entire village would prosper.
And within it, only Holo would be giving up their knowledge to the enemies of Nyohhira.
All the while living comfortably in Nyohhira.
"I think that's fine."
"...But..."
"I'm a merchant."
Lawrence smiled wryly, and it caught her off guard.
"I'm used to dealing with all kinds of people. Subtle communication is my specialty."
If he could not do two completely different things at the same time, as if there were two of him, he could not be a businessperson.
Take for example, a transaction. While he must be cautious that the other would not outsmart him, or set him up in a trap, or commit fraud, he had to place his trust in the other party somehow and shake on it or the deal would not go through.
What's more, while still doubting the other, he would even sometimes truly enjoy drinking with them after the deal was finished. And finally, the following day, he would continue doing business, still suspicious.
That was that. This was this.
"Even if you worked with Aram and the others, I would not interpret that as you trying to inflict losses on Nyohhira directly. That's more than enough for an excuse. And I don't think it's bad if good competition shows up. Working at the bathhouse there I always think—it's been too peaceful for hundreds of years. Our neighbors lack a sense of danger."
Though he had suggested several things to bring customers in the spring and fall when all the guests leave, his seniors had shown that they at least wanted to rest during that season.
As Lawrence spent most his time in the village, the laid-back atmosphere was beginning to infect him.
But if there was outside competition, they might wake from their slumber.
"Because of that, if you were to help Aram, then of course I would help you, but that would be unforgivable to the other bathhouse owners...Well, at least a bit. I'll just shrug my shoulders, since there's nothing that can be done."
He knew it was being unfaithful. But if they had bigger plans than this, then he was prepared to gracefully accept the sins as an apostate.
"And that's not what you're most worried about, is it?"
Holo pursed her lips, as though reopening an old wound.
"I should have said it before Aram did."
What she had now would not last forever.
They both knew and decided to go through it as though they did not notice.
"You can't stay in Nyohhira forever. You can only fool them for so long about why you don't age. After everyone has died out, could you continue to live as a thankless guardian spirit like you once did in the wheat fields of Pasloe?"
| "You are my most beloved. But..."
No matter what, he hesitated to say it. But keeping quiet here would indeed be a betrayal to his love.
"...You're not human. With the long time you have left, you should live with Aram and the others."
Holo looked up.
As she opened her lips, they trembled.
"But 'tis...'Tis as though I am preparing for your death..."
"That's right. That's what it is. I've already mostly practiced for your funeral. And now it's your turn."
Before the astonished Holo could say anything in response, Lawrence reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, wiping the tears away with his thumb.
"I know we promised that until the time comes, we would act like this relationship would last forever. But after we slept on the riverbank of time, a boat came. You wouldn't lose anything if you caught hold for now to reach the other side in the far, far future."
Lawrence smiled bitterly, because as he gazed at Holo, she seemed to look at him as though she were watching him die now.
He stooped before her, below her eye line.
"You're the wife of a merchant and you should act like one."
***
"It's insurance. Before you go on an adventure where you might lose everything, you prepare for when you've lost everything. But if you truly did not want to lose anything, then not venturing out into danger would be the perfect insurance. Long ago, you wanted to choose the latter."
Saying goodbye before the parting became too painful.
"But that way, you would miss out on the profits you might gain. Okay, let's say you help Aram and the others, and their business is going well. Let's say you could live rather peacefully with others who have the same long life span as you. Think about it. Because you all know about each other, if you wanted to keep Spice and Wolf, then you can ask for their help and keep it after my death. If you come and go between Nyohhira and Aram's bathhouse every thirty years or so, then the people of Nyohhira would be none the wiser, and you could keep that up forever. Of course...as long as you aren't wasteful and let it go bankrupt, that is."
He smiled mischievously, and Holo, looking down at him, was caught in a fit of laughter.
"You fool..."
"I don't think it's a bad idea. There's no loss for anyone. Well, we do need to keep some secrets while we rival Aram's bathhouse and the people of Nyohhira are racking their brains."
Lawrence took Holo's hand and shook it a bit in encouragement.
"For you, I think it's okay to go against God's teachings, just a little bit."
Holo's smile looked pained because Lawrence was trying so hard to make a joke, so she forced herself to smile even more.
But that was enough. Even if it was forced at first, soon they would get used to it and then finally accept it.
If they decided to fight against the providence of the world, he had to give at least that much effort.
"Okay?"
Lawrence looked up at Holo, and she seemed like she would close her eyes, but she did not.
"We'll help Aram and Selim. You should be friendlier toward them."
And after this entire conversation, Holo finally made a displeased expression, and Lawrence could not help but laugh.
"You're rather shy around strangers."
"Wha—?" Holo gulped, and with a sudden fierce look in her eyes, she glared at Lawrence. "I am only prideful!"
She unfurled her fist and with a smack, she hit Lawrence's cheek.
He reached out for her hand that had struck him.
Holo was indeed glaring down at him in anger, but her tail was making a slight thumping sound as it wagged.
"That's true, too."
He took the cup she was holding and set it at his feet.
He rose up to Holo's eye level and wrapped his arms around her.
"Because you're a princess."
"...A wisewolf, you fool."
Holo would always be Holo. When he let his guard down, she would knock him down instead. It was then that Lawrence realized he had forgotten to close the wooden window, but today was the festival. It was not too much of a problem.
He could see the clear sky through the open window.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "You are my most beloved. But..."
No matter what, he hesitated to say it. But keeping quiet here would indeed be a betrayal to his love.
"...You're not human. With the long time you have left, you should live with Aram and the others."
Holo looked up.
As she opened her lips, they trembled.
"But 'tis...'Tis as though I am preparing for your death..."
"That's right. That's what it is. I've already mostly practiced for your funeral. And now it's your turn."
Before the astonished Holo could say anything in response, Lawrence reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, wiping the tears away with his thumb.
"I know we promised that until the time comes, we would act like this relationship would last forever. But after we slept on the riverbank of time, a boat came. You wouldn't lose anything if you caught hold for now to reach the other side in the far, far future."
Lawrence smiled bitterly, because as he gazed at Holo, she seemed to look at him as though she were watching him die now.
He stooped before her, below her eye line.
"You're the wife of a merchant and you should act like one."
***
"It's insurance. Before you go on an adventure where you might lose everything, you prepare for when you've lost everything. But if you truly did not want to lose anything, then not venturing out into danger would be the perfect insurance. Long ago, you wanted to choose the latter."
Saying goodbye before the parting became too painful.
"But that way, you would miss out on the profits you might gain. Okay, let's say you help Aram and the others, and their business is going well. Let's say you could live rather peacefully with others who have the same long life span as you. Think about it. Because you all know about each other, if you wanted to keep Spice and Wolf, then you can ask for their help and keep it after my death. If you come and go between Nyohhira and Aram's bathhouse every thirty years or so, then the people of Nyohhira would be none the wiser, and you could keep that up forever. Of course...as long as you aren't wasteful and let it go bankrupt, that is."
He smiled mischievously, and Holo, looking down at him, was caught in a fit of laughter.
"You fool..."
"I don't think it's a bad idea. There's no loss for anyone. Well, we do need to keep some secrets while we rival Aram's bathhouse and the people of Nyohhira are racking their brains."
Lawrence took Holo's hand and shook it a bit in encouragement.
"For you, I think it's okay to go against God's teachings, just a little bit."
Holo's smile looked pained because Lawrence was trying so hard to make a joke, so she forced herself to smile even more.
But that was enough. Even if it was forced at first, soon they would get used to it and then finally accept it.
If they decided to fight against the providence of the world, he had to give at least that much effort.
"Okay?"
Lawrence looked up at Holo, and she seemed like she would close her eyes, but she did not.
"We'll help Aram and Selim. You should be friendlier toward them."
And after this entire conversation, Holo finally made a displeased expression, and Lawrence could not help but laugh.
"You're rather shy around strangers."
"Wha—?" Holo gulped, and with a sudden fierce look in her eyes, she glared at Lawrence. "I am only prideful!"
She unfurled her fist and with a smack, she hit Lawrence's cheek.
He reached out for her hand that had struck him.
Holo was indeed glaring down at him in anger, but her tail was making a slight thumping sound as it wagged.
"That's true, too."
He took the cup she was holding and set it at his feet.
He rose up to Holo's eye level and wrapped his arms around her.
"Because you're a princess."
"...A wisewolf, you fool."
Holo would always be Holo. When he let his guard down, she would knock him down instead. It was then that Lawrence realized he had forgotten to close the wooden window, but today was the festival. It was not too much of a problem.
He could see the clear sky through the open window.
| From an observer's point of view, the other party was aligned against the money changers' association and Nyohhira. If Lawrence and Holo went to see them in the open, it would get complicated if someone saw.
So, Lawrence used a convenient intermediary.
"When you two appear, I get nervous that some sort of commotion will happen again."
When they entered the waiting room meant for guests of nobility, the master of the town, Jean Millike, spoke with a grimace.
"Sorry for intruding at such a busy time."
"It truly is busy, but if the hidden leading figure of this town came with a wolf and told me to throw open the gates, I would have no choice."
Millike sat on a red-cushioned chair and gave a big sigh. He was not so much displeased as he was fatigued. In the commotion of the festival, it was so hectic as to be incredibly taxing, like trying to stir a giant pot of stew with many ingredients in it.
"But I did not expect to see you participate in the Festival of the Dead. I had not realized."
The crowd was huge, and it seemed they had masked their wolf scent with sulfur.
"The money changers did get the most meat in the end."
They had lived up to the reputation. Lawrence, wanting to share his happiness with Holo, looked beside him, but she was indifferent. Since she had helped, that result was to be expected, seemed to be Holo's thoughts on the matter, and she merely munched on the sugared flowers that Millike offered them. She had just been crying, so her mouth likely felt salty.
"And your request—it was to summon the ones who have the special permit to settle the old monastery ruins, right?" Millike asked, and as Lawrence was about to nod, he leaned forward, as though trying to rein in his guest.
"Are you sure this won't cause trouble?"
Millike had been worried about this since they came.
Ten-some years ago, Lawrence and his companions were involved in a huge commotion and came to this town on a sliver of hope. There was no mistaking that to Millike, who was dragged into it, it felt like the whole disaster had been pushed onto him.
Though it had somehow turned out all right, the grudge he still held against them was eight-parts-out-of-ten justified.
"It's to make sure there won't be any trouble, actually."
"Hmm?"
Millike seemed doubtful, but Holo, happily eating a purple flower covered in sugar, butted in as she licked her fingers. "Why did you hide them from us? Or why did you hide us from them? Such honest people must have come to greet you, the master of this town, first. You should have known."
They were not pressuring words, and Millike only slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Right. They were worried if their moldy permit was still valid. They came to confirm that as well."
"So you did not tell them, then, that there is a wolf in Nyohhira, though they say they wish to make bathhouses."
Millike stared at Holo, as though trying to feel out her true intentions. Holo, instead, did not seem to mind and happily returned enthusiastically to eating the fancy candied, sugar-coated flowers.
In the end, Millike sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"There are two reasons."
Then, he sat up and took a piece of candy from the ever-decreasing pile.
"First, my wish is to maintain the development of this town. If it works for the town, then it works for me."
The money changers' association president had explained that they would gain more profits if there were two hot spring villages.
"Second, they reminded me of you two from those ten-odd years ago."
"In that terrible a state?" Lawrence asked, and Millike shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"At first glance, they're clinging to outrageous dreams, and they haven't done enough prior preparations, if you know what I mean."
Jean Millike had always been harsh.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | From an observer's point of view, the other party was aligned against the money changers' association and Nyohhira. If Lawrence and Holo went to see them in the open, it would get complicated if someone saw.
So, Lawrence used a convenient intermediary.
"When you two appear, I get nervous that some sort of commotion will happen again."
When they entered the waiting room meant for guests of nobility, the master of the town, Jean Millike, spoke with a grimace.
"Sorry for intruding at such a busy time."
"It truly is busy, but if the hidden leading figure of this town came with a wolf and told me to throw open the gates, I would have no choice."
Millike sat on a red-cushioned chair and gave a big sigh. He was not so much displeased as he was fatigued. In the commotion of the festival, it was so hectic as to be incredibly taxing, like trying to stir a giant pot of stew with many ingredients in it.
"But I did not expect to see you participate in the Festival of the Dead. I had not realized."
The crowd was huge, and it seemed they had masked their wolf scent with sulfur.
"The money changers did get the most meat in the end."
They had lived up to the reputation. Lawrence, wanting to share his happiness with Holo, looked beside him, but she was indifferent. Since she had helped, that result was to be expected, seemed to be Holo's thoughts on the matter, and she merely munched on the sugared flowers that Millike offered them. She had just been crying, so her mouth likely felt salty.
"And your request—it was to summon the ones who have the special permit to settle the old monastery ruins, right?" Millike asked, and as Lawrence was about to nod, he leaned forward, as though trying to rein in his guest.
"Are you sure this won't cause trouble?"
Millike had been worried about this since they came.
Ten-some years ago, Lawrence and his companions were involved in a huge commotion and came to this town on a sliver of hope. There was no mistaking that to Millike, who was dragged into it, it felt like the whole disaster had been pushed onto him.
Though it had somehow turned out all right, the grudge he still held against them was eight-parts-out-of-ten justified.
"It's to make sure there won't be any trouble, actually."
"Hmm?"
Millike seemed doubtful, but Holo, happily eating a purple flower covered in sugar, butted in as she licked her fingers. "Why did you hide them from us? Or why did you hide us from them? Such honest people must have come to greet you, the master of this town, first. You should have known."
They were not pressuring words, and Millike only slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Right. They were worried if their moldy permit was still valid. They came to confirm that as well."
"So you did not tell them, then, that there is a wolf in Nyohhira, though they say they wish to make bathhouses."
Millike stared at Holo, as though trying to feel out her true intentions. Holo, instead, did not seem to mind and happily returned enthusiastically to eating the fancy candied, sugar-coated flowers.
In the end, Millike sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"There are two reasons."
Then, he sat up and took a piece of candy from the ever-decreasing pile.
"First, my wish is to maintain the development of this town. If it works for the town, then it works for me."
The money changers' association president had explained that they would gain more profits if there were two hot spring villages.
"Second, they reminded me of you two from those ten-odd years ago."
"In that terrible a state?" Lawrence asked, and Millike shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"At first glance, they're clinging to outrageous dreams, and they haven't done enough prior preparations, if you know what I mean."
Jean Millike had always been harsh.
| "We met them just now, and they were a real nuisance."
As though satisfied with the sugared candy for now, Holo sipped the hot tea boiled from the flowers' leaves. She had sworn at Lawrence once, asking him if there was any point to a drink such as tea if she could not get drunk from it, but she seemed to like its fragrance.
Svernel was much richer than he thought. All the things they had been given out of hospitality were imports from the south—things one would expect to see in the mansions of aristocrats.
"It was too much of a pain if it made you think I sent that nuisance in your direction. And I thought it would be wiser for you to eventually meet naturally at some point."
There was a wariness in his eyes that suited him. Impressed, Lawrence nodded.
"But if you chanced upon each other, then that surely wasn't it. Why must I call on them for you? Are you sure this won't become a problem?"
Millike frowned and Lawrence looked at him, about to explain the situation. Though he remembered that Holo began to cry then and how little time had passed since they talked after returning to the room, he was troubled as to how to explain it well.
"Well, that's, actually..."
When he stumbled over his words, Holo spoke.
"The moment we met them, all they did was ask for help. We could not answer at the time, so we returned to our inn and discussed it for a while. By then, the opportunity had passed."
She was not lying, but it was incredibly far from the truth.
As Holo coolly sipped her tea, Lawrence remained impressed.
"And the result?"
Millike implied that he wanted to be informed ahead of time if they wanted to go through him. Lawrence signaled Holo with his eyes, and she snorted, uninterested.
"We shall help them. There are times I wish to spend some time away from this one."
If Lawrence said, That's my line! then she would likely not talk to him for three days and three nights.
"If that's the case, then all right."
Millike breathed a sigh of relief and directed his gaze toward the open wood window.
"I am of the same opinion."
"Huh?"
Lawrence was surprised, and Millike narrowed his eyes as though he was looking at a dunce.
"I've been here for a long time. It's about time I open this town again."
Jean Millike was a name passed down to him by the previous leader of the town. He was also a lord that had another name of Havlish. What he might do was feign illness and withdraw to his territory, then publicly die from illness, then return as some relative who inherited all his domain and power. There were times among the noble class where they would place siblings and close relatives far away to protect their bloodline. Since it was quite a common practice, no one would question it.
And there was even a place nearby for him to hide, so it was no problem.
"'Tis fine since you have your beard. I could never hide my beautiful face. 'Tis actually quite troublesome."
***
When helping with Aram's bathhouse, someone who was not human would understand in an instant how it would be used. But it was unfortunate that Lawrence, a human, could not fit in that circle.
Even so, Lawrence thought, it seemed Holo and Millike got along surprisingly well. Even after he died, or even if Myuri decided to settle down somewhere on her journey, perhaps Holo would not have to end up tending to her tail all alone.
"Anyway, I'll go ahead and call them in, all right?"
"Yes, please. If the townspeople found out we were communicating with them, it might cause some problems down the road."
"How very merchant-like of you."
Millike sighed and rang a small bell on the table. There immediately was a knock at the door, and in came a boy wearing well-starched clothes. Millike told him to fetch Aram, and the boy bowed respectfully before leaving the room.
"What's wrong?" Millike asked him with a questioning glance, as Lawrence watched the scene carefully.
"Oh no...I was just thinking, what a good boy he is."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "We met them just now, and they were a real nuisance."
As though satisfied with the sugared candy for now, Holo sipped the hot tea boiled from the flowers' leaves. She had sworn at Lawrence once, asking him if there was any point to a drink such as tea if she could not get drunk from it, but she seemed to like its fragrance.
Svernel was much richer than he thought. All the things they had been given out of hospitality were imports from the south—things one would expect to see in the mansions of aristocrats.
"It was too much of a pain if it made you think I sent that nuisance in your direction. And I thought it would be wiser for you to eventually meet naturally at some point."
There was a wariness in his eyes that suited him. Impressed, Lawrence nodded.
"But if you chanced upon each other, then that surely wasn't it. Why must I call on them for you? Are you sure this won't become a problem?"
Millike frowned and Lawrence looked at him, about to explain the situation. Though he remembered that Holo began to cry then and how little time had passed since they talked after returning to the room, he was troubled as to how to explain it well.
"Well, that's, actually..."
When he stumbled over his words, Holo spoke.
"The moment we met them, all they did was ask for help. We could not answer at the time, so we returned to our inn and discussed it for a while. By then, the opportunity had passed."
She was not lying, but it was incredibly far from the truth.
As Holo coolly sipped her tea, Lawrence remained impressed.
"And the result?"
Millike implied that he wanted to be informed ahead of time if they wanted to go through him. Lawrence signaled Holo with his eyes, and she snorted, uninterested.
"We shall help them. There are times I wish to spend some time away from this one."
If Lawrence said, That's my line! then she would likely not talk to him for three days and three nights.
"If that's the case, then all right."
Millike breathed a sigh of relief and directed his gaze toward the open wood window.
"I am of the same opinion."
"Huh?"
Lawrence was surprised, and Millike narrowed his eyes as though he was looking at a dunce.
"I've been here for a long time. It's about time I open this town again."
Jean Millike was a name passed down to him by the previous leader of the town. He was also a lord that had another name of Havlish. What he might do was feign illness and withdraw to his territory, then publicly die from illness, then return as some relative who inherited all his domain and power. There were times among the noble class where they would place siblings and close relatives far away to protect their bloodline. Since it was quite a common practice, no one would question it.
And there was even a place nearby for him to hide, so it was no problem.
"'Tis fine since you have your beard. I could never hide my beautiful face. 'Tis actually quite troublesome."
***
When helping with Aram's bathhouse, someone who was not human would understand in an instant how it would be used. But it was unfortunate that Lawrence, a human, could not fit in that circle.
Even so, Lawrence thought, it seemed Holo and Millike got along surprisingly well. Even after he died, or even if Myuri decided to settle down somewhere on her journey, perhaps Holo would not have to end up tending to her tail all alone.
"Anyway, I'll go ahead and call them in, all right?"
"Yes, please. If the townspeople found out we were communicating with them, it might cause some problems down the road."
"How very merchant-like of you."
Millike sighed and rang a small bell on the table. There immediately was a knock at the door, and in came a boy wearing well-starched clothes. Millike told him to fetch Aram, and the boy bowed respectfully before leaving the room.
"What's wrong?" Millike asked him with a questioning glance, as Lawrence watched the scene carefully.
"Oh no...I was just thinking, what a good boy he is."
| "Indeed."
Lawrence spoke as though he was giving up, and Millike raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What, are you opening a branch for your bathhouse? You have that young one, Col, and your daughter, too."
Millike had mentioned it, so Lawrence briefly described what happened with Col and Myuri.
"I see. You can't fight blood."
"Yes. So this time, we thought it might be good to hire someone new in town."
"Hmm. Then you may as well hire some of these mercenaries, yeah?"
"I almost want to take that possibility into consideration."
As Lawrence spoke, he looked at Holo beside him, and she made a frown.
"I've heard they're kin of wolves. Isn't that perfect?"
"That's true. What's the matter?"
Catching Lawrence and Millike's attention, Holo made a face as though there were pebbles in the sugar. But she must have thought it would be silly to try to fool them, so she looked the other way and sighed before reluctantly speaking.
"I am Holo the Wisewolf. I have dignity that I must preserve."
Dignity? Lawrence looked at Millike with that question in mind, and the head of Svernel shrugged his shoulders. He was rather strict with her.
"She means that in front of her kin, she can't carelessly drink during the day or take naps." He could almost hear Holo glaring at Millike, but of course, he was not fazed. "Is that wrong?"
Instead it was the final blow, and she groaned, frustrated.
"But I think she's a hard worker. She always proves herself every day through the work I have for her. She's more of a loyal hound than a wolf."
"Definitely, she had a trustworthiness and energy that felt more like a hound."
"But on the other hand, she's shortsighted. She believes that the right thing will always and forever be the right thing. The reason they barely scraped by as mercenaries though they were not human wasn't due to their lack of abilities, but a problem with their nature."
Everyone in this world had their strengths and weaknesses.
And saying that it was right to do the right thing had made Holo angry.
"A new hot spring village, hmm. It might be a good thing to get on board with them for now, but..."
"Is there a problem?"
Millike gave a tired sigh.
"It's the permit they had. It's probably the real thing, but I just can't shake this bad feeling. Then you two came and told me to call them, so I looked up to the heavens."
It seemed there was a basis for his doubts.
"That is, there must be something supporting it...For example, the shadow of someone with authority who is trying to fulfill his territorial ambitions or something."
Millike was able to judge that the permit was real because those were things the people in power surrounding him manufactured, and he handled them on a regular basis.
But if that were the case, then there was something odd about it. Aram and the others were mercenaries from far south, and they did not just happen upon a moldy permit. It was not unusual that a permit could pass through various hands and end up far away, but typically when it traveled from lord to lord, the name on it would change.
As though Millike remembered something important, he pinched his brow.
"The one that printed that permit was the pope."
"The pope? That's a permit printed by the lead temple?"
If that was true, then it would not have been completely impossible for Aram and his companions, who worked in the south, to have gotten their hands on it, nor was it odd that Millike could determine its authenticity. The Church's network was scattered all over the world.
"But I've heard that there's an old monastery up in that area. So it must be the one that was printed for that."
"Normally, yes."
What else was there besides normally? That question must have made itself known on his face. Millike groaned for a bit and spoke, irritated.
"The permit guaranteed in the pope's name exclusive rights to whatever was dug up in that entire area."
"That...must be necessary to dig up water. But that's..."
Lawrence suddenly cut himself off.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Indeed."
Lawrence spoke as though he was giving up, and Millike raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What, are you opening a branch for your bathhouse? You have that young one, Col, and your daughter, too."
Millike had mentioned it, so Lawrence briefly described what happened with Col and Myuri.
"I see. You can't fight blood."
"Yes. So this time, we thought it might be good to hire someone new in town."
"Hmm. Then you may as well hire some of these mercenaries, yeah?"
"I almost want to take that possibility into consideration."
As Lawrence spoke, he looked at Holo beside him, and she made a frown.
"I've heard they're kin of wolves. Isn't that perfect?"
"That's true. What's the matter?"
Catching Lawrence and Millike's attention, Holo made a face as though there were pebbles in the sugar. But she must have thought it would be silly to try to fool them, so she looked the other way and sighed before reluctantly speaking.
"I am Holo the Wisewolf. I have dignity that I must preserve."
Dignity? Lawrence looked at Millike with that question in mind, and the head of Svernel shrugged his shoulders. He was rather strict with her.
"She means that in front of her kin, she can't carelessly drink during the day or take naps." He could almost hear Holo glaring at Millike, but of course, he was not fazed. "Is that wrong?"
Instead it was the final blow, and she groaned, frustrated.
"But I think she's a hard worker. She always proves herself every day through the work I have for her. She's more of a loyal hound than a wolf."
"Definitely, she had a trustworthiness and energy that felt more like a hound."
"But on the other hand, she's shortsighted. She believes that the right thing will always and forever be the right thing. The reason they barely scraped by as mercenaries though they were not human wasn't due to their lack of abilities, but a problem with their nature."
Everyone in this world had their strengths and weaknesses.
And saying that it was right to do the right thing had made Holo angry.
"A new hot spring village, hmm. It might be a good thing to get on board with them for now, but..."
"Is there a problem?"
Millike gave a tired sigh.
"It's the permit they had. It's probably the real thing, but I just can't shake this bad feeling. Then you two came and told me to call them, so I looked up to the heavens."
It seemed there was a basis for his doubts.
"That is, there must be something supporting it...For example, the shadow of someone with authority who is trying to fulfill his territorial ambitions or something."
Millike was able to judge that the permit was real because those were things the people in power surrounding him manufactured, and he handled them on a regular basis.
But if that were the case, then there was something odd about it. Aram and the others were mercenaries from far south, and they did not just happen upon a moldy permit. It was not unusual that a permit could pass through various hands and end up far away, but typically when it traveled from lord to lord, the name on it would change.
As though Millike remembered something important, he pinched his brow.
"The one that printed that permit was the pope."
"The pope? That's a permit printed by the lead temple?"
If that was true, then it would not have been completely impossible for Aram and his companions, who worked in the south, to have gotten their hands on it, nor was it odd that Millike could determine its authenticity. The Church's network was scattered all over the world.
"But I've heard that there's an old monastery up in that area. So it must be the one that was printed for that."
"Normally, yes."
What else was there besides normally? That question must have made itself known on his face. Millike groaned for a bit and spoke, irritated.
"The permit guaranteed in the pope's name exclusive rights to whatever was dug up in that entire area."
"That...must be necessary to dig up water. But that's..."
Lawrence suddenly cut himself off.
| But monks were a group of people who choose to live in adversity to cultivate their faith. Following that reasoning, there was something strange about this scenario.
Lawrence tilted his head in thought, and beside him, Holo burped.
"The monks I know do not dig holes."
"Huh?"
He looked at Holo and their eyes met. Her reddish, amber eyes were staring straight at him.
"Right. Nyohhira was quite well known even then, so they might have tried to follow that example. But even that is strange."
"Yes, I see. But even though they held out in a dangerous land for many years, why did they withdraw from the region after it had finally become safe?"
He murmured, and something clicked in his head.
"It was not their passion...that they ran out of."
It was not.
They had been saying that Aram and the others got their hands on a moldy permit, but it was possible to interpret it another way.
It was a permit they had regretfully held on to until it grew moldy.
Perhaps they were hoping something was still there.
"Could it be...?"
As Lawrence murmured, there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked toward it, and peeking in was a different boy from the one Millike instructed earlier.
"What is it?"
The boy's expression was rather confused in response to Millike's question, and he turned back to the hall.
"There's a woman named Selim here who wishes to see you."
"What?"
She did not come because she was called. Millike turned back to them with that realization written on his face, but it did not make any sense to Lawrence and Holo, either.
"Let her in. Ah, and she said her name was Selim, right? So, is she alone?"
"Yes. One woman in traveler's clothes. And she was incredibly flustered...," the boy added, perplexed.
Millike ordered him to bring her in for now, and he turned on his heels and ran off.
It was not Aram, but Selim that came, alone and in a panic.
She could not have possibly brought some happy news.
No one spoke, and the only sound was that of Holo sipping her tea.
And when she placed the empty cup onto the table, Selim appeared.
Selim's face was pale.
She was about to say something to Millike, who came to greet her, but she finally realized that Lawrence and Holo were also in the room.
"Perfect timing. I had just wanted to call on Mr. Aram and you. I wanted to apologize for the disrespect earlier."
Lawrence spoke with his best smile because Selim was clearly upset. He learned from his experience as a merchant that showing someone a pleasant expression would calm them down for at least a moment.
As intended, some of her tension peeled away when she saw Lawrence smile and, though she still seemed uncomfortable, she gave him a bow.
"Well, take a seat. And is it a situation where you need soldiers right away?"
Selim was beautiful, but the air about her was not that of a dignified wolf. It was more that of a shy sheep that ate grass in the corner of a field. If any stray dogs saw her, with their spirits high from the festival, they might make passes at her.
"N-no..."
Selim shook her head, and as though she had suddenly realized something, she shook her head again.
"No, but perhaps..."
"Perhaps?" he asked back, and Selim shook her head again as though fighting off the confusion.
"I don't know what happened...Suddenly, people from the association came to our room. They said, 'Where did you get that? Bad things will happen.'"
For a moment he thought they were talking about the permit, but that was odd. Aram and Selim had stepped foot into the associations for the exact reason that they had a permit and were going to open a bathhouse.
Selim closed her mouth, as though swallowing her nervousness, then spoke.
"We had some townspeople research the ore we found while digging for water."
Ore.
Lawrence realized that the final missing cogwheel had fallen in place. This was what fit into the hole of the odd story surrounding the permit.
"And where's your brother?" Millike asked calmly, though he also likely had already caught on.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | But monks were a group of people who choose to live in adversity to cultivate their faith. Following that reasoning, there was something strange about this scenario.
Lawrence tilted his head in thought, and beside him, Holo burped.
"The monks I know do not dig holes."
"Huh?"
He looked at Holo and their eyes met. Her reddish, amber eyes were staring straight at him.
"Right. Nyohhira was quite well known even then, so they might have tried to follow that example. But even that is strange."
"Yes, I see. But even though they held out in a dangerous land for many years, why did they withdraw from the region after it had finally become safe?"
He murmured, and something clicked in his head.
"It was not their passion...that they ran out of."
It was not.
They had been saying that Aram and the others got their hands on a moldy permit, but it was possible to interpret it another way.
It was a permit they had regretfully held on to until it grew moldy.
Perhaps they were hoping something was still there.
"Could it be...?"
As Lawrence murmured, there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked toward it, and peeking in was a different boy from the one Millike instructed earlier.
"What is it?"
The boy's expression was rather confused in response to Millike's question, and he turned back to the hall.
"There's a woman named Selim here who wishes to see you."
"What?"
She did not come because she was called. Millike turned back to them with that realization written on his face, but it did not make any sense to Lawrence and Holo, either.
"Let her in. Ah, and she said her name was Selim, right? So, is she alone?"
"Yes. One woman in traveler's clothes. And she was incredibly flustered...," the boy added, perplexed.
Millike ordered him to bring her in for now, and he turned on his heels and ran off.
It was not Aram, but Selim that came, alone and in a panic.
She could not have possibly brought some happy news.
No one spoke, and the only sound was that of Holo sipping her tea.
And when she placed the empty cup onto the table, Selim appeared.
Selim's face was pale.
She was about to say something to Millike, who came to greet her, but she finally realized that Lawrence and Holo were also in the room.
"Perfect timing. I had just wanted to call on Mr. Aram and you. I wanted to apologize for the disrespect earlier."
Lawrence spoke with his best smile because Selim was clearly upset. He learned from his experience as a merchant that showing someone a pleasant expression would calm them down for at least a moment.
As intended, some of her tension peeled away when she saw Lawrence smile and, though she still seemed uncomfortable, she gave him a bow.
"Well, take a seat. And is it a situation where you need soldiers right away?"
Selim was beautiful, but the air about her was not that of a dignified wolf. It was more that of a shy sheep that ate grass in the corner of a field. If any stray dogs saw her, with their spirits high from the festival, they might make passes at her.
"N-no..."
Selim shook her head, and as though she had suddenly realized something, she shook her head again.
"No, but perhaps..."
"Perhaps?" he asked back, and Selim shook her head again as though fighting off the confusion.
"I don't know what happened...Suddenly, people from the association came to our room. They said, 'Where did you get that? Bad things will happen.'"
For a moment he thought they were talking about the permit, but that was odd. Aram and Selim had stepped foot into the associations for the exact reason that they had a permit and were going to open a bathhouse.
Selim closed her mouth, as though swallowing her nervousness, then spoke.
"We had some townspeople research the ore we found while digging for water."
Ore.
Lawrence realized that the final missing cogwheel had fallen in place. This was what fit into the hole of the odd story surrounding the permit.
"And where's your brother?" Millike asked calmly, though he also likely had already caught on.
| "What is the ore? It must be a bigger deal than I thought if association members left during the festival."
"I—I don't know, either. We asked townspeople to appraise it, since if we could sell it, then it could help us get on our feet. My brother thought it might be lead..."
"Lead?"
It was a metal that was everywhere, and it was not unusual. It was not something that association members, red in the face, would go after.
That is what Millike's expression suggested.
But Lawrence thought differently.
He recalled his time as a merchant.
"Ores that contain lead are sometimes abundant in precious metals," Lawrence said to Millike, who looked back at him. "Gold. Or silver."
Millike's eyes widened. If either one was discovered in the mountains, it would cause a huge uproar.
Silver would be especially troublesome. Like the association members that imposed on Aram had said, bad things would happen.
The severe mountain ranges hindered travel in this area, and the region could not be unified by the sword, but they were able to consolidate the economy through silver coin. It was easy to recall what the money changers' association president had said.
Under present circumstances, silver was a weapon that held power in this region.
If they found a spring that produced "weapons," what would those in power think?
"Then those monks from long ago really were mining for ore while they prayed to God..."
"That also explains why they were able to build a stone monastery deep in the mountains. With the excuse that they were digging for stones for building and not necessarily searching for ore, no one would notice if they carried it out if they changed the silver they dug up and refined it into ceremonial candle stands and crests."
"But silver? If that's so..."
Millike placed his hand on his forehead and staggered, but quickly stood up straight again.
"Why did you come here?" He suddenly changed the angle of his questions. "And what are you going to do here?"
Selim seemed so bewildered that it felt like anyone watching her would become nervous, too, but there was a strength in her rough hands that suited her.
"I—I can tell, t-to a certain extent, what someone wants by their footsteps."
That was due to the life she had lived until now. And since she was kin of wolves, she must have had good hearing like Holo.
"I immediately hid it in the straw of the bed. My brother took the opportunity to tell me to come to you. We have stepped on the tail of something that we should not have, and that you, Lord Millike, could help us..."
That was a hopeful observation, or even wishful thinking, but it could also be called reliance, and it was likely a good representation of Aram's personality. Millike, who was not human, just like how they were not, would help them, and then naturally, they would help him if their roles were reversed.
But Millike's expression did not waver.
"I want to ask you something. Did you really come here not knowing about that ore?"
Selim gulped as Millike's sharp gaze bore deep into her.
Lawrence remembered trade negotiations from long ago. This was the atmosphere of that dried-up world, where no one could easily trust another, where they should not easily believe anyone.
What Millike was most afraid of was Selim pretending to be an innocent traveler while aiming to open a mine. He could not be sure that nonhumans did not work as agents for humans. If he lent them a hand, simply because they were both like him, then it could lead to the town's destruction.
There came a third voice.
"Well, 'tis likely true."
It was Holo.
"Should she be lying, then I may as well sew my ears closed."
She removed her hood and showed her wolf ears, and they twitched. She was able to discern lies with her hearing.
"Should their goal be gold or silver or whatnot, would they ask the townspeople to identify what they unearthed if they did have these ulterior motives? 'Twould be announcing that they search for treasure."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "What is the ore? It must be a bigger deal than I thought if association members left during the festival."
"I—I don't know, either. We asked townspeople to appraise it, since if we could sell it, then it could help us get on our feet. My brother thought it might be lead..."
"Lead?"
It was a metal that was everywhere, and it was not unusual. It was not something that association members, red in the face, would go after.
That is what Millike's expression suggested.
But Lawrence thought differently.
He recalled his time as a merchant.
"Ores that contain lead are sometimes abundant in precious metals," Lawrence said to Millike, who looked back at him. "Gold. Or silver."
Millike's eyes widened. If either one was discovered in the mountains, it would cause a huge uproar.
Silver would be especially troublesome. Like the association members that imposed on Aram had said, bad things would happen.
The severe mountain ranges hindered travel in this area, and the region could not be unified by the sword, but they were able to consolidate the economy through silver coin. It was easy to recall what the money changers' association president had said.
Under present circumstances, silver was a weapon that held power in this region.
If they found a spring that produced "weapons," what would those in power think?
"Then those monks from long ago really were mining for ore while they prayed to God..."
"That also explains why they were able to build a stone monastery deep in the mountains. With the excuse that they were digging for stones for building and not necessarily searching for ore, no one would notice if they carried it out if they changed the silver they dug up and refined it into ceremonial candle stands and crests."
"But silver? If that's so..."
Millike placed his hand on his forehead and staggered, but quickly stood up straight again.
"Why did you come here?" He suddenly changed the angle of his questions. "And what are you going to do here?"
Selim seemed so bewildered that it felt like anyone watching her would become nervous, too, but there was a strength in her rough hands that suited her.
"I—I can tell, t-to a certain extent, what someone wants by their footsteps."
That was due to the life she had lived until now. And since she was kin of wolves, she must have had good hearing like Holo.
"I immediately hid it in the straw of the bed. My brother took the opportunity to tell me to come to you. We have stepped on the tail of something that we should not have, and that you, Lord Millike, could help us..."
That was a hopeful observation, or even wishful thinking, but it could also be called reliance, and it was likely a good representation of Aram's personality. Millike, who was not human, just like how they were not, would help them, and then naturally, they would help him if their roles were reversed.
But Millike's expression did not waver.
"I want to ask you something. Did you really come here not knowing about that ore?"
Selim gulped as Millike's sharp gaze bore deep into her.
Lawrence remembered trade negotiations from long ago. This was the atmosphere of that dried-up world, where no one could easily trust another, where they should not easily believe anyone.
What Millike was most afraid of was Selim pretending to be an innocent traveler while aiming to open a mine. He could not be sure that nonhumans did not work as agents for humans. If he lent them a hand, simply because they were both like him, then it could lead to the town's destruction.
There came a third voice.
"Well, 'tis likely true."
It was Holo.
"Should she be lying, then I may as well sew my ears closed."
She removed her hood and showed her wolf ears, and they twitched. She was able to discern lies with her hearing.
"Should their goal be gold or silver or whatnot, would they ask the townspeople to identify what they unearthed if they did have these ulterior motives? 'Twould be announcing that they search for treasure."
| "Well...I suppose your brother had no choice but to travel to the dig site with the townspeople. There is no depending on the ones who intruded and demanded he take them there."
Selim nodded uncomfortably at Holo's words.
"Then from what I've heard, there is no proper road to where the holes are. Then this might also mean he's buying time. Though the townspeople may be red in the face, they cannot move until they confirm how much treasure they may obtain from the mountain. Then again, the boy Aram has realized that he has stepped into something terrible, but has, on second thought, decided that it might become more complicated should he act without understanding the situation. Buy time and rely on what he can. Well, 'tis good judgment."
"Save for the one who is going to solve this problem in the meantime."
Millike, who was being depended on to fulfill such a role, sighed, feeling annoyed.
"Considering the situation, they probably found silver in the mountains. And how are we supposed to explain this to someone who doesn't know how much trouble finding silver in this area means? What's more, the owner of that land isn't anyone around here—it's the pope!"
His long beard and hair seemed to quiver in anger.
Even now, Selim seemed as though she might cry out of guilt, so Lawrence piped in.
"Do you think the Debau Company would intervene and settle this nicely for us?"
It was troublesome that they found silver here because the Debau Company, who had unified this region into its current state, maintained its power through the circulation of silver coins.
If some stranger came and opened up a silver mine within their sphere of influence and then used that silver to mint coins, then it would be a clear violation of territorial sovereignty.
And since there were great concessions that came with the circulation of coin, Debau was incredibly sensitive about the treatment of silver, which was the foundation for their currency. The money changers' association president also complained about that.
But the same could be said about the opposite. If they were to sell land with silver in it to the Debau Company, then they probably would not be angry. Rather, they would gladly buy it.
They should think that why the association members were so angry and forced Aram to take them to the dig site was because the picture was clear.
But Millike gave a sigh that sounded like it came from the depths of hell.
"The pope printed that permit. Afterward, he might hear that a large amount of silver was discovered there. That's more than enough reason to spark a war."
What was written on the permit was not the written will of God.
How many large companies went bankrupt after they lent money to royalty and titled nobility, only to have them annul their debts?
"Then what shall we do?"
Millike groaned.
"In reality...the only thing that could happen is that the Debau Company would buy the silver they find there and put the bill into the pope's pocket. That's what they have in common."
Though the pope at the head temple of the Church had fallen from a position of ultimate power, he was still a prominent figure in this world. What's more, there were those in this land who despised the Debau Company. By the logic that the enemies of enemies were friends, then it was entirely possible there existed people who might purposefully instigate a confrontation between the pope and Debau.
And if it came to war, then there was no doubt that Svernel would become one of the main battlefields.
This was the worst possible outcome for Millike, who wanted to protect his town, and also for Lawrence, who was a person from the town of Nyohhira, which depended solely on Svernel for the distribution of their materials.
An oppressive air lay heavily over them all, and there came a small voice that sounded out of place.
"Um..."
It was Selim.
"Wh-what should...we...do..."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Well...I suppose your brother had no choice but to travel to the dig site with the townspeople. There is no depending on the ones who intruded and demanded he take them there."
Selim nodded uncomfortably at Holo's words.
"Then from what I've heard, there is no proper road to where the holes are. Then this might also mean he's buying time. Though the townspeople may be red in the face, they cannot move until they confirm how much treasure they may obtain from the mountain. Then again, the boy Aram has realized that he has stepped into something terrible, but has, on second thought, decided that it might become more complicated should he act without understanding the situation. Buy time and rely on what he can. Well, 'tis good judgment."
"Save for the one who is going to solve this problem in the meantime."
Millike, who was being depended on to fulfill such a role, sighed, feeling annoyed.
"Considering the situation, they probably found silver in the mountains. And how are we supposed to explain this to someone who doesn't know how much trouble finding silver in this area means? What's more, the owner of that land isn't anyone around here—it's the pope!"
His long beard and hair seemed to quiver in anger.
Even now, Selim seemed as though she might cry out of guilt, so Lawrence piped in.
"Do you think the Debau Company would intervene and settle this nicely for us?"
It was troublesome that they found silver here because the Debau Company, who had unified this region into its current state, maintained its power through the circulation of silver coins.
If some stranger came and opened up a silver mine within their sphere of influence and then used that silver to mint coins, then it would be a clear violation of territorial sovereignty.
And since there were great concessions that came with the circulation of coin, Debau was incredibly sensitive about the treatment of silver, which was the foundation for their currency. The money changers' association president also complained about that.
But the same could be said about the opposite. If they were to sell land with silver in it to the Debau Company, then they probably would not be angry. Rather, they would gladly buy it.
They should think that why the association members were so angry and forced Aram to take them to the dig site was because the picture was clear.
But Millike gave a sigh that sounded like it came from the depths of hell.
"The pope printed that permit. Afterward, he might hear that a large amount of silver was discovered there. That's more than enough reason to spark a war."
What was written on the permit was not the written will of God.
How many large companies went bankrupt after they lent money to royalty and titled nobility, only to have them annul their debts?
"Then what shall we do?"
Millike groaned.
"In reality...the only thing that could happen is that the Debau Company would buy the silver they find there and put the bill into the pope's pocket. That's what they have in common."
Though the pope at the head temple of the Church had fallen from a position of ultimate power, he was still a prominent figure in this world. What's more, there were those in this land who despised the Debau Company. By the logic that the enemies of enemies were friends, then it was entirely possible there existed people who might purposefully instigate a confrontation between the pope and Debau.
And if it came to war, then there was no doubt that Svernel would become one of the main battlefields.
This was the worst possible outcome for Millike, who wanted to protect his town, and also for Lawrence, who was a person from the town of Nyohhira, which depended solely on Svernel for the distribution of their materials.
An oppressive air lay heavily over them all, and there came a small voice that sounded out of place.
"Um..."
It was Selim.
"Wh-what should...we...do..."
| This was the meaning of too much luck becoming a curse.
"There's nothing to be done. If we offered compensation to the pope, it wouldn't be worth it if we don't exploit the ore on a large scale. Secretly doing leisurely things such as running a bathhouse wouldn't be possible."
"N-no..."
Rather, it would not be unusual if they were held responsible for bringing a complicated problem to this land. Millike did not say that, though, as it was the least he could do to console her.
With her rough hands, Selim gripped her clothes.
"There at least would be jobs at the mine. All you can do is save your money and go to a new land."
They coordinated with the associations in town, and all that was left was to wait for water to appear. They had only just barely touched their dream, and the disappointment was staggering. Selim reeled, and she sunk to the floor.
Millike did not say anything to her and only slightly narrowed his eyes.
"First, we need to contact the Debau Company. It would be best to have everyone from Debau here and ready when the ones who went to check on the mining come back. We can't give those greedy folk time to do anything."
As Millike spoke, he looked at everyone in the room in turn, as though confirming the order of things. Lawrence, Selim, and then finally, Holo.
"...You treat me like a post-horse."
"How much do you think all the sugared candy you ate cost?"
The bowl, which was filled with candy, had at some point become empty.
"And you should be on good terms with the rabbit in Debau Company."
The one who kept accounts there was not human, but the embodiment of a rabbit. With him, Lawrence and Holo had escaped to this city and had history of planning a comeback.
"Honestly...When we finally get out of the village, things go wrong."
"W-wait."
The one that interjected as Holo reluctantly agreed was Selim, who had been so dazed until then.
"P-please let me do it."
Holo did not look at Selim, but at Millike, and tilted her head.
Millike was expressionless, either because it was his natural face or because he was a man with power that was used to passing cold judgment, and he looked down at Selim.
"If you are volunteering to work because you feel responsible, then no. You have no stock in the Debau Company and doing needless work now will just cause more problems."
Thoughtless charity would not help anyone.
But this would have Selim completely left out. The situation would be taken care of in a way that was completely out of her hands. Lawrence, who was nothing but a simple salesman, knew well the feeling of being left behind by the system.
It was all because of bad luck and bad chances.
"And, Wisewolf Holo, I want you to go see Aram first. Delay their journey as much as you can. I'm sure wolves can communicate with each other without the townspeople realizing."
"So rough for a wolf handler," Holo said discontentedly as she stood from her chair.
"And? Troublesome ones like yourself enjoy writing all the time, aye? Should you have something I should bring, prepare it quickly. The sun will soon set."
"I will do so shortly."
Passing by Selim, who still sat on the floor, Millike left the room.
Millike was cold to everybody. The only thing he considered precious was this town.
"Can you stand?"
Lawrence, obliged, helped her up, and Selim finally snapped back to the present.
And when she did, the reality of the situation seemed to catch up to her at the same time. Tears pooled in her eyes.
It was difficult to hold back tears once they started. When she did, Lawrence first realized how young she truly was. Selim and Aram had an innocent dream that was fitting for their youth. If there was light at the end of the path, they believed in just that.
"Hey, young girls shouldn't cry over things like that."
Selim looked quite like his daughter Myuri, and as he held her up by the shoulders, Holo stared at them. Of course, on purpose.
"It's not your fault, and they won't take the permit for free."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | This was the meaning of too much luck becoming a curse.
"There's nothing to be done. If we offered compensation to the pope, it wouldn't be worth it if we don't exploit the ore on a large scale. Secretly doing leisurely things such as running a bathhouse wouldn't be possible."
"N-no..."
Rather, it would not be unusual if they were held responsible for bringing a complicated problem to this land. Millike did not say that, though, as it was the least he could do to console her.
With her rough hands, Selim gripped her clothes.
"There at least would be jobs at the mine. All you can do is save your money and go to a new land."
They coordinated with the associations in town, and all that was left was to wait for water to appear. They had only just barely touched their dream, and the disappointment was staggering. Selim reeled, and she sunk to the floor.
Millike did not say anything to her and only slightly narrowed his eyes.
"First, we need to contact the Debau Company. It would be best to have everyone from Debau here and ready when the ones who went to check on the mining come back. We can't give those greedy folk time to do anything."
As Millike spoke, he looked at everyone in the room in turn, as though confirming the order of things. Lawrence, Selim, and then finally, Holo.
"...You treat me like a post-horse."
"How much do you think all the sugared candy you ate cost?"
The bowl, which was filled with candy, had at some point become empty.
"And you should be on good terms with the rabbit in Debau Company."
The one who kept accounts there was not human, but the embodiment of a rabbit. With him, Lawrence and Holo had escaped to this city and had history of planning a comeback.
"Honestly...When we finally get out of the village, things go wrong."
"W-wait."
The one that interjected as Holo reluctantly agreed was Selim, who had been so dazed until then.
"P-please let me do it."
Holo did not look at Selim, but at Millike, and tilted her head.
Millike was expressionless, either because it was his natural face or because he was a man with power that was used to passing cold judgment, and he looked down at Selim.
"If you are volunteering to work because you feel responsible, then no. You have no stock in the Debau Company and doing needless work now will just cause more problems."
Thoughtless charity would not help anyone.
But this would have Selim completely left out. The situation would be taken care of in a way that was completely out of her hands. Lawrence, who was nothing but a simple salesman, knew well the feeling of being left behind by the system.
It was all because of bad luck and bad chances.
"And, Wisewolf Holo, I want you to go see Aram first. Delay their journey as much as you can. I'm sure wolves can communicate with each other without the townspeople realizing."
"So rough for a wolf handler," Holo said discontentedly as she stood from her chair.
"And? Troublesome ones like yourself enjoy writing all the time, aye? Should you have something I should bring, prepare it quickly. The sun will soon set."
"I will do so shortly."
Passing by Selim, who still sat on the floor, Millike left the room.
Millike was cold to everybody. The only thing he considered precious was this town.
"Can you stand?"
Lawrence, obliged, helped her up, and Selim finally snapped back to the present.
And when she did, the reality of the situation seemed to catch up to her at the same time. Tears pooled in her eyes.
It was difficult to hold back tears once they started. When she did, Lawrence first realized how young she truly was. Selim and Aram had an innocent dream that was fitting for their youth. If there was light at the end of the path, they believed in just that.
"Hey, young girls shouldn't cry over things like that."
Selim looked quite like his daughter Myuri, and as he held her up by the shoulders, Holo stared at them. Of course, on purpose.
"It's not your fault, and they won't take the permit for free."
| But at any rate, the wandering lifestyle still waited for them afterward.
"Or..."
Lawrence began to speak, but then hesitated. Even if he asked them to come work at his bathhouse, there was no way he could take in all of them. In the end, it was a hopeless situation. If he had vast amounts of money, he would lend it to them so they would be able to build their own bathhouse deep in the mountains of Nyohhira.
But unfortunately, even if he knew all the ways of the world, there were still some things that could not be done.
That was why preachers always had to teach people about good lifestyles.
"We can also ask the people at the Debau Company if they have jobs, so we can keep you two as close together as possible."
Having watched Myuri, he knew that the tears of younglings fell like jewels.
Selim, too, tears still rolling down her cheek like small stones, looked at Lawrence.
He hoped the reason why she harbored no grudges was because of her personality. Hoped that it was not resignation simply because the hopes they held onto until now had been crushed in the end.
"Thank...you...so much..."
She thanked him with a hoarse voice and looked down.
Lawrence could only pat her thin shoulders.
Then he looked at Holo, suggesting that they leave her alone for now, and left the room.
"Hmm..."
The one that sighed when they exited to the hallway was not Lawrence, but Holo.
"Is there nothing that can be done?"
She looked as though she was enduring the pain and looked beyond the closed door.
She had acted like it had nothing to do with her, but she was much more openhearted than Lawrence. She was the one that wanted to help the most in that room.
"Probably not. We can only hope for a miracle."
The world was endless, and wherever one went, it already belonged to somebody.
"A miracle, hmm."
Holo murmured and took a deep breath.
"Would you be angry with me if I became an enemy of humanity?"
If he gave an easy answer, Holo would scorn him. And if he trusted her, then the words came naturally.
"If you became my enemy or if you broke everything I kept dear. But I know you won't. So I'll listen. What's your idea?"
"...I do not like it when you make my head hurt like that."
He would take that as a compliment.
"I cannot create miracles, but I believe I can create the opposite of miracles."
But Holo did have some crazy ideas.
"The opposite of miracles?"
"A curse."
The sun was already starting to set, and it was dim inside the building.
It was the time when demons hid in the darkness everywhere—around the corners, beside the bookshelves.
"I recall a fairy tale. Men filled with greed are led by their guide to the place where treasure lies. They thought the guide an honest one, but the shadow he cast by the bonfire had fangs."
It was certainly the type of story to scare children, but Lawrence unwittingly showed a twitching smile.
Usually, he would let it pass as a silly story, but he thought carefully about it.
The situation now was exactly the same as that fairy tale.
"Once they enter the mountains, it will not end safely. Demons of the mountains spread rumors of treasure. Those monks from long ago lost their fear of such a thing."
Then, the people would not go near the mountain, and the stories of silver would grow vague.
Though there were reckless ones who thought, Damn the stories, and ventured up anyway, but they would be surrounded by wolves deep in the mountains.
And there, they would also find a giant wolf who could easily swallow a person whole.
"You can't."
That voice echoed coolly in the cold hallway.
"The people of today's world are not afraid of the dark forests."
It was Millike, holding a letter. It had not been rolled yet, and when he gave it a light shake, the sand to dry the ink scattered to the ground.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | But at any rate, the wandering lifestyle still waited for them afterward.
"Or..."
Lawrence began to speak, but then hesitated. Even if he asked them to come work at his bathhouse, there was no way he could take in all of them. In the end, it was a hopeless situation. If he had vast amounts of money, he would lend it to them so they would be able to build their own bathhouse deep in the mountains of Nyohhira.
But unfortunately, even if he knew all the ways of the world, there were still some things that could not be done.
That was why preachers always had to teach people about good lifestyles.
"We can also ask the people at the Debau Company if they have jobs, so we can keep you two as close together as possible."
Having watched Myuri, he knew that the tears of younglings fell like jewels.
Selim, too, tears still rolling down her cheek like small stones, looked at Lawrence.
He hoped the reason why she harbored no grudges was because of her personality. Hoped that it was not resignation simply because the hopes they held onto until now had been crushed in the end.
"Thank...you...so much..."
She thanked him with a hoarse voice and looked down.
Lawrence could only pat her thin shoulders.
Then he looked at Holo, suggesting that they leave her alone for now, and left the room.
"Hmm..."
The one that sighed when they exited to the hallway was not Lawrence, but Holo.
"Is there nothing that can be done?"
She looked as though she was enduring the pain and looked beyond the closed door.
She had acted like it had nothing to do with her, but she was much more openhearted than Lawrence. She was the one that wanted to help the most in that room.
"Probably not. We can only hope for a miracle."
The world was endless, and wherever one went, it already belonged to somebody.
"A miracle, hmm."
Holo murmured and took a deep breath.
"Would you be angry with me if I became an enemy of humanity?"
If he gave an easy answer, Holo would scorn him. And if he trusted her, then the words came naturally.
"If you became my enemy or if you broke everything I kept dear. But I know you won't. So I'll listen. What's your idea?"
"...I do not like it when you make my head hurt like that."
He would take that as a compliment.
"I cannot create miracles, but I believe I can create the opposite of miracles."
But Holo did have some crazy ideas.
"The opposite of miracles?"
"A curse."
The sun was already starting to set, and it was dim inside the building.
It was the time when demons hid in the darkness everywhere—around the corners, beside the bookshelves.
"I recall a fairy tale. Men filled with greed are led by their guide to the place where treasure lies. They thought the guide an honest one, but the shadow he cast by the bonfire had fangs."
It was certainly the type of story to scare children, but Lawrence unwittingly showed a twitching smile.
Usually, he would let it pass as a silly story, but he thought carefully about it.
The situation now was exactly the same as that fairy tale.
"Once they enter the mountains, it will not end safely. Demons of the mountains spread rumors of treasure. Those monks from long ago lost their fear of such a thing."
Then, the people would not go near the mountain, and the stories of silver would grow vague.
Though there were reckless ones who thought, Damn the stories, and ventured up anyway, but they would be surrounded by wolves deep in the mountains.
And there, they would also find a giant wolf who could easily swallow a person whole.
"You can't."
That voice echoed coolly in the cold hallway.
"The people of today's world are not afraid of the dark forests."
It was Millike, holding a letter. It had not been rolled yet, and when he gave it a light shake, the sand to dry the ink scattered to the ground.
| That way they would expose the darkness of the forest, where the demons and spirits lived, to the light.
"Sometimes, people like Aram come to this town from the south. Without the blessing of wits to live in the human world, and yet those who no longer have a place to hide themselves. They reluctantly hope to survive in the north because they think there are still untouched lands."
Though there were some here and there, they were places that were incredibly difficult to live in. It was different from the south, where it was warm, where the tree limbs grew heavy with ripened fruit, where one could find wild honey to eat.
"That is why since they came pretending to be monks, they succeeded. If it were a sanctuary, people would still pay some respect."
They had many choices. There would be no way to know which one was the best choice.
And it was not easy to pretend to be a monk. Since Svernel was now a town that celebrated the Revitalization Festival of the Patron Saint on a grand scale, if new monks came to the ruins of the monastery, then there would be fervent believers that might go to pray. It was only a matter of time before someone found out.
"Well, it seems the ink's dry. Take this to Hilde at Debau. It has the gist of the situation and the plan in it."
He rolled it up and tied it with an odd string.
"You use such old things."
Holo smiled dryly, and Lawrence finally realized the string was likely Millike's hair.
"Sealing wax will break in the cold, and this is proof of my identity."
"'Tis true."
"I'll have a carriage take you outside the wall."
Things were moving along quickly. There was no time for sentimentality or to leave any aftertaste.
No one spoke of Selim, and when they exited the government building, they climbed onto the driver's perch of the carriage Millike had prepared for them, and Lawrence gripped the reins.
Night had already fallen on the town, but the town was instead dyed a madder-lake red.
Lit all throughout town were not lamps, but fires to roast the meat.
"Looks delicious..."
Her words were carefree, but her heart was not in it.
She was likely still unwilling to move ahead in her mind as they left Selim and the others behind.
"You can eat as much as you like when we get back."
Lawrence stuck to Holo's topic.
The two things he learned as he grew older were that he had to understand the things he could and could not do in this world, as well as the boldness to pretend he had not realized certain things.
Conversation did not spark between them, and the carriage passed slowly through the town.
Then, they could see the square at the end of the road. The torches shone brightly, and they could see well the large statue of the saint.
"What would they gain from such a thing?"
"Who knows? It might be to protect them from illness or to keep away enemies from outside. At the end of the festival they light it on fire, and that is when the saint gives his body to God in our place. Then in thanks, they take the ashes and bury them at the base of the city walls. There are several saints with stories like that, and maybe it really happened in an old era."
The townspeople explained this and that to him when they were making the statue, but it was nothing new.
"It must be quite troublesome to be a saint or whatnot. Even after you die and become ashes, you still must work for the town."
"It's better to be ashes, I think. There's a famous church that houses the body of a saint that shriveled up a thousand years ago. Every single day pilgrims come to his side as he sleeps and offer prayers. It can't be possible for him to sleep well like that."
"I would not mind being worshipped about once a year..."
Holo spoke, and she looked straight at him.
"If you're going to watch me for a thousand years, at least just eat me," said Lawrence.
Holo bared her fangs and cackled.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | That way they would expose the darkness of the forest, where the demons and spirits lived, to the light.
"Sometimes, people like Aram come to this town from the south. Without the blessing of wits to live in the human world, and yet those who no longer have a place to hide themselves. They reluctantly hope to survive in the north because they think there are still untouched lands."
Though there were some here and there, they were places that were incredibly difficult to live in. It was different from the south, where it was warm, where the tree limbs grew heavy with ripened fruit, where one could find wild honey to eat.
"That is why since they came pretending to be monks, they succeeded. If it were a sanctuary, people would still pay some respect."
They had many choices. There would be no way to know which one was the best choice.
And it was not easy to pretend to be a monk. Since Svernel was now a town that celebrated the Revitalization Festival of the Patron Saint on a grand scale, if new monks came to the ruins of the monastery, then there would be fervent believers that might go to pray. It was only a matter of time before someone found out.
"Well, it seems the ink's dry. Take this to Hilde at Debau. It has the gist of the situation and the plan in it."
He rolled it up and tied it with an odd string.
"You use such old things."
Holo smiled dryly, and Lawrence finally realized the string was likely Millike's hair.
"Sealing wax will break in the cold, and this is proof of my identity."
"'Tis true."
"I'll have a carriage take you outside the wall."
Things were moving along quickly. There was no time for sentimentality or to leave any aftertaste.
No one spoke of Selim, and when they exited the government building, they climbed onto the driver's perch of the carriage Millike had prepared for them, and Lawrence gripped the reins.
Night had already fallen on the town, but the town was instead dyed a madder-lake red.
Lit all throughout town were not lamps, but fires to roast the meat.
"Looks delicious..."
Her words were carefree, but her heart was not in it.
She was likely still unwilling to move ahead in her mind as they left Selim and the others behind.
"You can eat as much as you like when we get back."
Lawrence stuck to Holo's topic.
The two things he learned as he grew older were that he had to understand the things he could and could not do in this world, as well as the boldness to pretend he had not realized certain things.
Conversation did not spark between them, and the carriage passed slowly through the town.
Then, they could see the square at the end of the road. The torches shone brightly, and they could see well the large statue of the saint.
"What would they gain from such a thing?"
"Who knows? It might be to protect them from illness or to keep away enemies from outside. At the end of the festival they light it on fire, and that is when the saint gives his body to God in our place. Then in thanks, they take the ashes and bury them at the base of the city walls. There are several saints with stories like that, and maybe it really happened in an old era."
The townspeople explained this and that to him when they were making the statue, but it was nothing new.
"It must be quite troublesome to be a saint or whatnot. Even after you die and become ashes, you still must work for the town."
"It's better to be ashes, I think. There's a famous church that houses the body of a saint that shriveled up a thousand years ago. Every single day pilgrims come to his side as he sleeps and offer prayers. It can't be possible for him to sleep well like that."
"I would not mind being worshipped about once a year..."
Holo spoke, and she looked straight at him.
"If you're going to watch me for a thousand years, at least just eat me," said Lawrence.
Holo bared her fangs and cackled.
| "Hmm? How does one know if 'tis a fake? Should they be dead, would it not be difficult to tell?"
"It's easy. Saint Alviross had five arms, and Saint Heres had two heads. The thing that makes me laugh the most is Martyr Rudeon's bones. There are three bodies of his, and they're all different sizes. They say they're his bones from when he was very little, then bones from his childhood, then from when he was adolescent."
"Hmm? Is there something odd about that?"
Her response was nonchalant. Rather, Lawrence even thought that she was teasing him.
"...He couldn't have molted like a shrimp or crab. Why would one human leave multiple skeletons?"
"Oh."
It seemed that she really did not notice. Holo hit Lawrence's arm, even though she was the one that misunderstood and exposed her foolishness.
"Even though everyone knew at first that they weren't real, as time passed everyone started to think of them that way. That's why, as they bury the ashes of the burned statue under the walls, I'm sure at some point they might believe that the ashes of the saint are really buried there."
"Humans are foolish."
Holo was smiling softly, as though remembering a funny dream she had the previous night, either because she was exasperated or because she thought the foolishness of humans endearing.
"But if they are, why not take advantage of that?"
"Take advantage?"
"You should concoct something fake and make the monastery in the mountains its pilgrimage site and whatnot."
He stared back at Holo not because he was surprised at such a reckless idea. He was surprised that she had not yet given up on Selim and the others.
Lawrence pulled on the reins, and the horses stopped. Holo did not ask why they did so.
"I will work my hardest, and when I open a new bathhouse, I also have the option of hiring them."
"I have no doubts that if you save enough money for that, you will go through with it."
Holo was not stupid. She of course knew how much time and money it would cost to open a new business.
"Holo..."
"Apologies. 'Twas nonsense. I wanted an excuse."
She tried her best, but it was no use.
When Lawrence did not respond, Holo gave a strong smile.
"Let me off. I know what we must do."
So that this would not end up in trouble with the pope, they would have the Debau Company settle it for them. Aram and Selim would have to give up. Lawrence and Holo themselves would watch the festival, then return to Nyohhira. Everything would pass without incident.
But Millike had said that Aram and the others were much like themselves from ten years ago.
Then, they had drawn in their own luck. At the very end, they did.
He could only think that their luck was good. He had used all the knowledge he knew, and if he had not depended on Holo in the end, it would not have come to fruition, even if he did know how to do it.
That was luck.
Aram and the others did not have that.
"I think it would be great, really, if we could use your pilgrimage site idea."
Lawrence held the reins again and smacked the rump of the horse.
***
Holo did not look at him and nodded meekly.
"Even if the roads are bad—no, because the roads are bad, people will come and give lots of tithes. If you annexed an inn there, you would already have many guests. It's much easier than running a bathhouse. You just need to be careful that someone won't steal the holy artifacts on display."
The carriage headed toward the city wall, and there were fewer and fewer people.
"It's not a bathhouse, so it wouldn't conflict with Nyohhira. Rather, pilgrims on their way home might even stop by at Nyohhira. And everyone would be happy."
He added that they might come to quarrel over the distribution of food and drink, though.
"But even if we made up some artifacts, it would be difficult to have them recognized as the real thing. We don't have that problem in the bathhouses. As long as we have spring water, no one will doubt us."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Hmm? How does one know if 'tis a fake? Should they be dead, would it not be difficult to tell?"
"It's easy. Saint Alviross had five arms, and Saint Heres had two heads. The thing that makes me laugh the most is Martyr Rudeon's bones. There are three bodies of his, and they're all different sizes. They say they're his bones from when he was very little, then bones from his childhood, then from when he was adolescent."
"Hmm? Is there something odd about that?"
Her response was nonchalant. Rather, Lawrence even thought that she was teasing him.
"...He couldn't have molted like a shrimp or crab. Why would one human leave multiple skeletons?"
"Oh."
It seemed that she really did not notice. Holo hit Lawrence's arm, even though she was the one that misunderstood and exposed her foolishness.
"Even though everyone knew at first that they weren't real, as time passed everyone started to think of them that way. That's why, as they bury the ashes of the burned statue under the walls, I'm sure at some point they might believe that the ashes of the saint are really buried there."
"Humans are foolish."
Holo was smiling softly, as though remembering a funny dream she had the previous night, either because she was exasperated or because she thought the foolishness of humans endearing.
"But if they are, why not take advantage of that?"
"Take advantage?"
"You should concoct something fake and make the monastery in the mountains its pilgrimage site and whatnot."
He stared back at Holo not because he was surprised at such a reckless idea. He was surprised that she had not yet given up on Selim and the others.
Lawrence pulled on the reins, and the horses stopped. Holo did not ask why they did so.
"I will work my hardest, and when I open a new bathhouse, I also have the option of hiring them."
"I have no doubts that if you save enough money for that, you will go through with it."
Holo was not stupid. She of course knew how much time and money it would cost to open a new business.
"Holo..."
"Apologies. 'Twas nonsense. I wanted an excuse."
She tried her best, but it was no use.
When Lawrence did not respond, Holo gave a strong smile.
"Let me off. I know what we must do."
So that this would not end up in trouble with the pope, they would have the Debau Company settle it for them. Aram and Selim would have to give up. Lawrence and Holo themselves would watch the festival, then return to Nyohhira. Everything would pass without incident.
But Millike had said that Aram and the others were much like themselves from ten years ago.
Then, they had drawn in their own luck. At the very end, they did.
He could only think that their luck was good. He had used all the knowledge he knew, and if he had not depended on Holo in the end, it would not have come to fruition, even if he did know how to do it.
That was luck.
Aram and the others did not have that.
"I think it would be great, really, if we could use your pilgrimage site idea."
Lawrence held the reins again and smacked the rump of the horse.
***
Holo did not look at him and nodded meekly.
"Even if the roads are bad—no, because the roads are bad, people will come and give lots of tithes. If you annexed an inn there, you would already have many guests. It's much easier than running a bathhouse. You just need to be careful that someone won't steal the holy artifacts on display."
The carriage headed toward the city wall, and there were fewer and fewer people.
"It's not a bathhouse, so it wouldn't conflict with Nyohhira. Rather, pilgrims on their way home might even stop by at Nyohhira. And everyone would be happy."
He added that they might come to quarrel over the distribution of food and drink, though.
"But even if we made up some artifacts, it would be difficult to have them recognized as the real thing. We don't have that problem in the bathhouses. As long as we have spring water, no one will doubt us."
| "Typically, you need to get approval from the center of the Church, or at least the archbishop. For that, you need proof that it's a real miracle, or if not, a mountain of gold nuggets that could be considered nothing but a miracle."
Because the designation was a method to get rich, it required the appropriate amount of payment. Since this was all the Church was ever doing, they had likely lost some of their authority.
"Well, the most I am able to do is mostly child's play."
Holo was the embodiment of a wolf who lived in wheat and had watched over the growing golden fields. Once, she had shown him a seed immediately turning into a stalk of wheat.
"That might come in handy, depending on the situation."
The place in question was too cold to grow wheat, so it would be too unnatural.
"And there's also your miraculous appetite."
"Fool."
Holo stomped on Lawrence's foot.
Then, her foot resting on his in place of holding hands, she spoke.
"Do you think we can do it if I show my true form?"
"Everyone will be surprised, but that's different than a miracle."
Holo had showed all the cards in her hand, but none of them would help. The carriage reached the city gates at the wall.
They had to give in to the reality that confronted them.
"For now, let's leave the town and go where there's no one else. I have to wrap your clothes around your neck."
"There were no walls where the Debau Company was. I hope they do not mind my intruding as a wolf."
"Mr. Hilde is the embodiment of a rabbit. I don't think he'd want a wolf standing by his pillow at night."
"Heh-heh. Of course."
"Well, it's a lot of work, but thank you. Nyohhira's survival depends on this, too."
"Leave it to me."
Using the pass they received from Millike, they exited the walls, and it suddenly felt colder. Inside and outside the walls were two different worlds.
"But if you run fast, you can get to the Debau Company in Lesko in one night. It takes three days hurrying with human legs. That in itself is a miracle."
"Hmm. They, too, should just become merchants. They could deliver faster than anyone, running around with goods on their back."
He thought it was possible at first, but he calmly thought about it and shook his head.
"People would wonder how they carried it. They might think magic or something nefarious was at play. They might think that someone is there that shouldn't be."
"The human world is quite troublesome."
As Holo spoke, she began to remove her clothes, as though determining that no one was around.
For the moment, he averted his gaze out of respect, but his eyes suddenly went to the walls.
There were small nails evenly spaced along the wall. They looked like small mounds, and it was probably where they buried the ashes of the saint's statue.
Luckily, since they were not the real ashes, there was no tired expression of the saint, sitting on the mounds being made to protect the town, nor did the saint have to endure a coughing fit every year after they dug the holes and added new ashes.
"Ha-ha."
It was when he imagined that and laughed.
He thought he saw Selim sitting on a mound, looking at him.
"What is it?"
Holo, removing her last piece of clothing, noticed Lawrence.
Lawrence tried his hardest to think of the meaning of what he had just seen.
Sitting on the mound, the saint, who should not be there.
This, too, was a common type of narrative in the Church.
The most conspicuous example was grave robbing.
"...Hey."
Not looking away from the mounds, he swallowed, and then spoke.
"I want to ask something."
"What is it?"
He jumped a little because her voice was rather close.
He turned around, and Holo was practically whispering in his ear.
"'Tis been a long time since I've seen that expression."
Holo narrowed her eyes, grinning. Her tail wagged happily.
"...I might not be able to live up to your expectations...There is a chance you might become angry."
"Hmm?" Holo said, and her animal ears twitched, as if saying, Say what you want to say.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Typically, you need to get approval from the center of the Church, or at least the archbishop. For that, you need proof that it's a real miracle, or if not, a mountain of gold nuggets that could be considered nothing but a miracle."
Because the designation was a method to get rich, it required the appropriate amount of payment. Since this was all the Church was ever doing, they had likely lost some of their authority.
"Well, the most I am able to do is mostly child's play."
Holo was the embodiment of a wolf who lived in wheat and had watched over the growing golden fields. Once, she had shown him a seed immediately turning into a stalk of wheat.
"That might come in handy, depending on the situation."
The place in question was too cold to grow wheat, so it would be too unnatural.
"And there's also your miraculous appetite."
"Fool."
Holo stomped on Lawrence's foot.
Then, her foot resting on his in place of holding hands, she spoke.
"Do you think we can do it if I show my true form?"
"Everyone will be surprised, but that's different than a miracle."
Holo had showed all the cards in her hand, but none of them would help. The carriage reached the city gates at the wall.
They had to give in to the reality that confronted them.
"For now, let's leave the town and go where there's no one else. I have to wrap your clothes around your neck."
"There were no walls where the Debau Company was. I hope they do not mind my intruding as a wolf."
"Mr. Hilde is the embodiment of a rabbit. I don't think he'd want a wolf standing by his pillow at night."
"Heh-heh. Of course."
"Well, it's a lot of work, but thank you. Nyohhira's survival depends on this, too."
"Leave it to me."
Using the pass they received from Millike, they exited the walls, and it suddenly felt colder. Inside and outside the walls were two different worlds.
"But if you run fast, you can get to the Debau Company in Lesko in one night. It takes three days hurrying with human legs. That in itself is a miracle."
"Hmm. They, too, should just become merchants. They could deliver faster than anyone, running around with goods on their back."
He thought it was possible at first, but he calmly thought about it and shook his head.
"People would wonder how they carried it. They might think magic or something nefarious was at play. They might think that someone is there that shouldn't be."
"The human world is quite troublesome."
As Holo spoke, she began to remove her clothes, as though determining that no one was around.
For the moment, he averted his gaze out of respect, but his eyes suddenly went to the walls.
There were small nails evenly spaced along the wall. They looked like small mounds, and it was probably where they buried the ashes of the saint's statue.
Luckily, since they were not the real ashes, there was no tired expression of the saint, sitting on the mounds being made to protect the town, nor did the saint have to endure a coughing fit every year after they dug the holes and added new ashes.
"Ha-ha."
It was when he imagined that and laughed.
He thought he saw Selim sitting on a mound, looking at him.
"What is it?"
Holo, removing her last piece of clothing, noticed Lawrence.
Lawrence tried his hardest to think of the meaning of what he had just seen.
Sitting on the mound, the saint, who should not be there.
This, too, was a common type of narrative in the Church.
The most conspicuous example was grave robbing.
"...Hey."
Not looking away from the mounds, he swallowed, and then spoke.
"I want to ask something."
"What is it?"
He jumped a little because her voice was rather close.
He turned around, and Holo was practically whispering in his ear.
"'Tis been a long time since I've seen that expression."
Holo narrowed her eyes, grinning. Her tail wagged happily.
"...I might not be able to live up to your expectations...There is a chance you might become angry."
"Hmm?" Holo said, and her animal ears twitched, as if saying, Say what you want to say.
| It could work, but there were parts of it that might offend Holo.
Lawrence spoke slowly of the ridiculous plan that had popped into his head, and approaching the delicate parts, he said:
"Would you get angry if I sat atop another woman?"
Holo's smile clearly changed to a forced one.
Then, she spoke.
"I trust you. I shall not grow angry over every single thing. And I have sharp eyes and ears."
And of course, sharp fangs.
But the way she spoke was her mark of approval.
"Of course, 'tis the only choice with your plan."
"You go ahead and follow Mr. Millike's plan, because I don't know if this will work out well."
"Hmm. I, too, wish to run freely by myself sometimes."
She removed her last piece of clothing, intentionally threw it at Lawrence, and jumped from the carriage, now naked.
"Are you forgetting your praise?" She was not the least bit embarrassed.
Instead, she seemed cold.
"This reminds me of old times," Lawence said, and Holo widened her eyes in surprise, then immediately laughed.
"Fool."
In that moment, she returned to a giant wolf.
"My clothes," she said to him, and Lawrence hurriedly folded the clothes she had scattered everywhere and gathered them with a string. Like a big dog, she was bumping his head with her nose the entire time.
"I'm counting on you."
The wolf's sharp, magnificent eyes stared at Lawrence.
"You as well."
Holo swiftly stood and gazed out at the horizon.
"Should those fools make a small village of wolves, then we know what the name of their patron saint shall be."
He could tell she was smiling with that fanged mouth.
And before Lawrence could say anything, Holo dashed off like the wind.
He wiped off the mud she had splattered on him as she ran off, likely on purpose, until he could no longer see her.
"Honestly..."
He swore, but his face smiled.
He made Holo expect quite a bit from this. If this ended in a fruitless delight, then he did not know what she would do to him.
"Well then, let's go make miracles!"
With newfound energy, he jumped onto the driver's perch of the wagon.
When Lawrence returned to the city government building, he summoned Millike.
He told him about his plan and saw how it made the other man wear a clear frown.
Though he had that expression, Millike did not say no.
"This way, the Debau Company will calm down, the Church will save face, and Aram and the others can live there."
There was just one way everything could be settled peacefully.
"...No harm in trying...hmm."
"At the worst, the Archbishop might think he was tricked by a fox."
"Mm..."
Millike thought silently for a brief moment, and his beard quivered under his breath.
"You've really thought about this. Is this how trade goes between merchants?"
"I am not a merchant." Lawrence shrugged and smiled. "I am the master of a bathhouse in Nyohhira, which sits between this world and the next."
Millike, astonished, waved his hand and returned to business.
Lawrence, with his own feet, headed toward the room that was set aside for Selim. When he opened the door, there was Selim sitting on the bed, the candles in the room unlit. Perhaps she had heard Lawrence's big footsteps and resigned herself to any kind of treatment.
"We have a plan. Everything might end well for all of us."
Since he had said such a thing so suddenly, she did not seem surprised, but rather looked at Lawrence dubiously.
"But it might end up a bit differently than how you dreamed," he said as a disclaimer and then explained it to her.
Selim was perplexed at first, but as she came to see the outcome, the color of her eyes suddenly changed.
And Lawrence added one last thing.
"I need your assistance."
She stood up, emboldened.
"I will help."
Standing there was not a sorry sheep munching on grass. Supposing she were one, she was more like the brave sheep that was the last standing in that muddy square.
Selim was a wolf. Once she decided on her prey, her expression mirrored that of Holo's.
"But I must confirm one thing with you."
"What is it?"
Lawrence cleared his throat.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | It could work, but there were parts of it that might offend Holo.
Lawrence spoke slowly of the ridiculous plan that had popped into his head, and approaching the delicate parts, he said:
"Would you get angry if I sat atop another woman?"
Holo's smile clearly changed to a forced one.
Then, she spoke.
"I trust you. I shall not grow angry over every single thing. And I have sharp eyes and ears."
And of course, sharp fangs.
But the way she spoke was her mark of approval.
"Of course, 'tis the only choice with your plan."
"You go ahead and follow Mr. Millike's plan, because I don't know if this will work out well."
"Hmm. I, too, wish to run freely by myself sometimes."
She removed her last piece of clothing, intentionally threw it at Lawrence, and jumped from the carriage, now naked.
"Are you forgetting your praise?" She was not the least bit embarrassed.
Instead, she seemed cold.
"This reminds me of old times," Lawence said, and Holo widened her eyes in surprise, then immediately laughed.
"Fool."
In that moment, she returned to a giant wolf.
"My clothes," she said to him, and Lawrence hurriedly folded the clothes she had scattered everywhere and gathered them with a string. Like a big dog, she was bumping his head with her nose the entire time.
"I'm counting on you."
The wolf's sharp, magnificent eyes stared at Lawrence.
"You as well."
Holo swiftly stood and gazed out at the horizon.
"Should those fools make a small village of wolves, then we know what the name of their patron saint shall be."
He could tell she was smiling with that fanged mouth.
And before Lawrence could say anything, Holo dashed off like the wind.
He wiped off the mud she had splattered on him as she ran off, likely on purpose, until he could no longer see her.
"Honestly..."
He swore, but his face smiled.
He made Holo expect quite a bit from this. If this ended in a fruitless delight, then he did not know what she would do to him.
"Well then, let's go make miracles!"
With newfound energy, he jumped onto the driver's perch of the wagon.
When Lawrence returned to the city government building, he summoned Millike.
He told him about his plan and saw how it made the other man wear a clear frown.
Though he had that expression, Millike did not say no.
"This way, the Debau Company will calm down, the Church will save face, and Aram and the others can live there."
There was just one way everything could be settled peacefully.
"...No harm in trying...hmm."
"At the worst, the Archbishop might think he was tricked by a fox."
"Mm..."
Millike thought silently for a brief moment, and his beard quivered under his breath.
"You've really thought about this. Is this how trade goes between merchants?"
"I am not a merchant." Lawrence shrugged and smiled. "I am the master of a bathhouse in Nyohhira, which sits between this world and the next."
Millike, astonished, waved his hand and returned to business.
Lawrence, with his own feet, headed toward the room that was set aside for Selim. When he opened the door, there was Selim sitting on the bed, the candles in the room unlit. Perhaps she had heard Lawrence's big footsteps and resigned herself to any kind of treatment.
"We have a plan. Everything might end well for all of us."
Since he had said such a thing so suddenly, she did not seem surprised, but rather looked at Lawrence dubiously.
"But it might end up a bit differently than how you dreamed," he said as a disclaimer and then explained it to her.
Selim was perplexed at first, but as she came to see the outcome, the color of her eyes suddenly changed.
And Lawrence added one last thing.
"I need your assistance."
She stood up, emboldened.
"I will help."
Standing there was not a sorry sheep munching on grass. Supposing she were one, she was more like the brave sheep that was the last standing in that muddy square.
Selim was a wolf. Once she decided on her prey, her expression mirrored that of Holo's.
"But I must confirm one thing with you."
"What is it?"
Lawrence cleared his throat.
| He thought it polite to at least ask. She was of age, after all.
"...As long as Lady Holo does not grow angry, then it is fine with me."
"She probably won't."
"Heh-heh. Then all right. Mr. Lawrence, I will be sure to take you to Lenos."
"I'm only with you until the reception. Everything after that depends on your wits."
In the joy of being given a big responsibility, Selim beamed a smile that suited a girl her age and spoke.
"I am confident I can portray a dreary nun very well."
She was actually a girl who could smile and joke like this.
Lawrence nodded.
"Let's see if I agree with you."
Selim smiled uncomfortably, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. There appeared the face of a nun who had never smiled before in her life.
"Long ago in the mountains, there was a monastery. In those ruins, there is a grave, and there are those who are unearthing it. I am Selim. I am the nun whose grave is being robbed."
It was perfect.
Together with Selim, Lawrence headed out past the walls, and this time with complete respect, he turned away as she changed.
When prompted, he turned back, and there was a young-looking female wolf with beautiful silver fur that was two sizes smaller than Holo, but still much larger than a person.
"...It is odd that you do not fear me."
"Mine is much scarier."
The feel about her was much different than Holo, but he was oddly touched when he realized that the way wolves smiled was the same.
With the letter he had Millike prepare for him, the nun clothes, and Selim's clothes on his back, he climbed up onto the silver wolf.
"Then we shall go."
They immediately became the wind.
It would take more than two full days on the legs of a wolf to reach Lenos, the town of fur and lumber. On human legs, one would have to prepare for a journey of ten days. Then, there was the archiepiscopate, which was the Church's authority that spread throughout that region, and the archbishop, who could say the head of a herring was sacred and it would be so.
According to Lawrence's plan, Selim would sneak into the archbishop's house and speak to him by his pillow.
I am Sister Selim. Far to the north, I have slumbered under the blessings of God...
It was all and well that she matured her faith deep in the mountains and was then called to God's side, but the body she left behind, by a heavenly miracle, unseen, turned into silver. She was able to rest soundly because the creatures of the forest had no interest, but greedy humans were different. She was troubled for they were planning to dig up her grave, and she wanted the archbishop to help her in the name of God.
It would be easy for wolf Selim to climb over the walls and sneak in.
Two days later, bracing against the cold wind, they finally reached Lenos—a place he had not been to for a long time. Briefly savoring the nostalgia, they headed to their destination.
The archbishop was asleep in his manor, which was like a noble's mansion, built on the side of the giant cathedral.
As the moon, as slim as a wolf claw, rose in the sky, Lawrence watched Selim disappear into the manor's garden.
The following day, Lawrence made himself seem timid and knocked on the gates of the great cathedral. "I am a humble peddler, but last night I had a dream that commanded me to guide the archbishop to Svernel..."
The archbishop, who was visited last night in something that could have either been a dream or reality, seemed like he would not have doubted even the wildest of stories. He received Lawrence warmly, thinking he was truly a servant of God, and forgetting all his business, he immediately began to prepare for the journey.
Then the archbishop headed straight for Svernel, and there was the Debau Company, who controlled the silver mining in the north, and the ones who had found silver while digging with the pope's permit in hand, all sitting together silently, waiting. Moreover—they were in the middle of an ugly fight over the silver.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | He thought it polite to at least ask. She was of age, after all.
"...As long as Lady Holo does not grow angry, then it is fine with me."
"She probably won't."
"Heh-heh. Then all right. Mr. Lawrence, I will be sure to take you to Lenos."
"I'm only with you until the reception. Everything after that depends on your wits."
In the joy of being given a big responsibility, Selim beamed a smile that suited a girl her age and spoke.
"I am confident I can portray a dreary nun very well."
She was actually a girl who could smile and joke like this.
Lawrence nodded.
"Let's see if I agree with you."
Selim smiled uncomfortably, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. There appeared the face of a nun who had never smiled before in her life.
"Long ago in the mountains, there was a monastery. In those ruins, there is a grave, and there are those who are unearthing it. I am Selim. I am the nun whose grave is being robbed."
It was perfect.
Together with Selim, Lawrence headed out past the walls, and this time with complete respect, he turned away as she changed.
When prompted, he turned back, and there was a young-looking female wolf with beautiful silver fur that was two sizes smaller than Holo, but still much larger than a person.
"...It is odd that you do not fear me."
"Mine is much scarier."
The feel about her was much different than Holo, but he was oddly touched when he realized that the way wolves smiled was the same.
With the letter he had Millike prepare for him, the nun clothes, and Selim's clothes on his back, he climbed up onto the silver wolf.
"Then we shall go."
They immediately became the wind.
It would take more than two full days on the legs of a wolf to reach Lenos, the town of fur and lumber. On human legs, one would have to prepare for a journey of ten days. Then, there was the archiepiscopate, which was the Church's authority that spread throughout that region, and the archbishop, who could say the head of a herring was sacred and it would be so.
According to Lawrence's plan, Selim would sneak into the archbishop's house and speak to him by his pillow.
I am Sister Selim. Far to the north, I have slumbered under the blessings of God...
It was all and well that she matured her faith deep in the mountains and was then called to God's side, but the body she left behind, by a heavenly miracle, unseen, turned into silver. She was able to rest soundly because the creatures of the forest had no interest, but greedy humans were different. She was troubled for they were planning to dig up her grave, and she wanted the archbishop to help her in the name of God.
It would be easy for wolf Selim to climb over the walls and sneak in.
Two days later, bracing against the cold wind, they finally reached Lenos—a place he had not been to for a long time. Briefly savoring the nostalgia, they headed to their destination.
The archbishop was asleep in his manor, which was like a noble's mansion, built on the side of the giant cathedral.
As the moon, as slim as a wolf claw, rose in the sky, Lawrence watched Selim disappear into the manor's garden.
The following day, Lawrence made himself seem timid and knocked on the gates of the great cathedral. "I am a humble peddler, but last night I had a dream that commanded me to guide the archbishop to Svernel..."
The archbishop, who was visited last night in something that could have either been a dream or reality, seemed like he would not have doubted even the wildest of stories. He received Lawrence warmly, thinking he was truly a servant of God, and forgetting all his business, he immediately began to prepare for the journey.
Then the archbishop headed straight for Svernel, and there was the Debau Company, who controlled the silver mining in the north, and the ones who had found silver while digging with the pope's permit in hand, all sitting together silently, waiting. Moreover—they were in the middle of an ugly fight over the silver.
| Please wait, do not touch that silver! That is a holy woman who has been blessed by God!
Those words also marked the birth of a pilgrimage tourist attraction.
If the miracle of the holy woman really did happen, then the archbishop would not have handled the earth so carelessly after she stood by his side at night. Then the townspeople, no matter how greedy, would be unable to mine for silver. If they could not mine for silver, then the Debau Company had no need to bare its fangs.
Then, if people came and offered money, they would be able to open a little inn there.
"There were many rough edges, but it all rounded out quite nicely."
Holo was unusually impressed.
"That's only because you fought for it until the very end."
That was not modesty. The time when they would have been breathlessly convinced that something good was waiting for them at the end of the road had already passed. As it brought about peace, it also created a feeling similar to resignation that things that were meant to be would be.
On their journey some ten-odd years ago, the one that would have cared the most about Aram and the others would definitely have been himself. He could imagine it—there was no mistaking that he would have raised a stink when he got a whiff of the profit he could make off a conflict of interest surrounding unexploited silver. In the process, he would have reached out a hand to Selim, unable to leave her out of the excitement; then Holo would grow jealous and there would have been a fight and a big commotion...
But about that last part, it was not as though Lady Holo the Wisewolf had already forgiven him.
"So, did you enjoy riding on that girl?" his wife inquired with a smile.
And Lawrence lay in bed, and Holo sat in a chair beside it. She held a bowl full of porridge in one hand and scooped some with a spoon and was feeding him.
Though it was fine clinging to Selim's back, heading to Lenos as a part of the plan, he could not win against his age. He had gotten all muddy and used up all his strength in the festival event, then traveled to Lenos for two whole days in the cold wind, and then turned right around and journeyed almost a week with the archbishop—there was no way he could have endured such an exhausting journey hale and hearty.
That night after seeing through Svernel's situation, he was seized by a high fever and collapsed.
He had nightmares for three days and three nights, and his fever was only now subsiding.
"She had silver fur."
"Hmm."
Holo blew on the porridge in the spoon to cool it down and fed it to him properly.
"She was about two sizes smaller than you. A bit bigger than a big cow."
"Mm."
"I don't really know how fast she was going."
She scooped up more from the bowl and blew on it.
"And?"
When she asked him that, he realized.
She wanted to be mad.
"Yeah...It might have been because she was young, but her fur was really soft— Mgh!"
She shoved the spoon into his mouth as he spoke.
Holo, smiling, rattled the spoon around in his mouth.
Lawrence somehow bit into it and held fast until she let go.
He had a feeling he knew why she wanted to be angry.
"I couldn't have predicted how it would end from the start. I was doing my best when I thought of how to round out those rough edges."
And he had not thought of what to do after he had grabbed a hold of those edges.
Holo stared at Lawrence and slowly wagged her tail back and forth. She looked like a wolf who was ready to move immediately whether her prey ran left or right.
He did not know how long the silence lasted, and when Holo slowly took the spoon from Lawrence's hand, she scooped some more porridge and blew on it.
Then, she ate it herself.
"You fool."
Though since after eating some herself for a bit, she started to slowly feed Lawrence again, she was probably not truly angry at him. She might have gotten angry if he had lumped them together, like a dog asserting its territory.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Please wait, do not touch that silver! That is a holy woman who has been blessed by God!
Those words also marked the birth of a pilgrimage tourist attraction.
If the miracle of the holy woman really did happen, then the archbishop would not have handled the earth so carelessly after she stood by his side at night. Then the townspeople, no matter how greedy, would be unable to mine for silver. If they could not mine for silver, then the Debau Company had no need to bare its fangs.
Then, if people came and offered money, they would be able to open a little inn there.
"There were many rough edges, but it all rounded out quite nicely."
Holo was unusually impressed.
"That's only because you fought for it until the very end."
That was not modesty. The time when they would have been breathlessly convinced that something good was waiting for them at the end of the road had already passed. As it brought about peace, it also created a feeling similar to resignation that things that were meant to be would be.
On their journey some ten-odd years ago, the one that would have cared the most about Aram and the others would definitely have been himself. He could imagine it—there was no mistaking that he would have raised a stink when he got a whiff of the profit he could make off a conflict of interest surrounding unexploited silver. In the process, he would have reached out a hand to Selim, unable to leave her out of the excitement; then Holo would grow jealous and there would have been a fight and a big commotion...
But about that last part, it was not as though Lady Holo the Wisewolf had already forgiven him.
"So, did you enjoy riding on that girl?" his wife inquired with a smile.
And Lawrence lay in bed, and Holo sat in a chair beside it. She held a bowl full of porridge in one hand and scooped some with a spoon and was feeding him.
Though it was fine clinging to Selim's back, heading to Lenos as a part of the plan, he could not win against his age. He had gotten all muddy and used up all his strength in the festival event, then traveled to Lenos for two whole days in the cold wind, and then turned right around and journeyed almost a week with the archbishop—there was no way he could have endured such an exhausting journey hale and hearty.
That night after seeing through Svernel's situation, he was seized by a high fever and collapsed.
He had nightmares for three days and three nights, and his fever was only now subsiding.
"She had silver fur."
"Hmm."
Holo blew on the porridge in the spoon to cool it down and fed it to him properly.
"She was about two sizes smaller than you. A bit bigger than a big cow."
"Mm."
"I don't really know how fast she was going."
She scooped up more from the bowl and blew on it.
"And?"
When she asked him that, he realized.
She wanted to be mad.
"Yeah...It might have been because she was young, but her fur was really soft— Mgh!"
She shoved the spoon into his mouth as he spoke.
Holo, smiling, rattled the spoon around in his mouth.
Lawrence somehow bit into it and held fast until she let go.
He had a feeling he knew why she wanted to be angry.
"I couldn't have predicted how it would end from the start. I was doing my best when I thought of how to round out those rough edges."
And he had not thought of what to do after he had grabbed a hold of those edges.
Holo stared at Lawrence and slowly wagged her tail back and forth. She looked like a wolf who was ready to move immediately whether her prey ran left or right.
He did not know how long the silence lasted, and when Holo slowly took the spoon from Lawrence's hand, she scooped some more porridge and blew on it.
Then, she ate it herself.
"You fool."
Though since after eating some herself for a bit, she started to slowly feed Lawrence again, she was probably not truly angry at him. She might have gotten angry if he had lumped them together, like a dog asserting its territory.
| So in terms of where she should go, there was a bathhouse right nearby that needed some help. Furthermore, that bathhouse was looking for people who would work hard and not be surprised even if they knew the secret that the mistress of the house had the ears and tails of an animal.
Even Holo knew the answer of what she should do.
But much like Lawrence knew all about Holo, Holo knew all about Lawrence.
"You fancy the ill-fated, weak girls, aye? Mm?"
She did not cool the porridge she scooped and, still hot, brought it close to his face.
It is often said that one should not interfere with lover's quarrels, but this porridge would soon interfere with his mouth.
"But you, too...Hot! H— Ho!"
In a fluster, he reached for the ale that sat by his bed.
Holo paid no mind to him and simply ate the porridge in the spoon herself.
"'Tis how I am adorably envious."
"...That was too much."
He did not have any burns, but his mouth stung.
Lawrence spoke to Holo as she ate the porridge.
"Thank you for looking after me."
Holo's ears stood straight up.
"I do not mind. I am the very model of a loving wife."
"Sure."
She was probably truly worried about him. When he finally woke up, the first thing he had said was that he was hungry, and she was so relieved that she was somehow irritated.
Though she was called the wisewolf and had many things at her disposal, she could not completely control her own emotions sometimes.
But he did not mind being played with because of that.
"I want to go back to the bathhouse soon."
Holo, who ended up eating half of the porridge, gave a satisfied sigh and spoke.
"Well, we have no work for a while. You must rest properly for now."
Prompted by her, he lay down in the bed, and she pulled the covers up over his shoulders.
"See, good children must close their eyes now."
How old do you think I am? he thought, but he did not mind being treated like a child.
As she gently kissed his forehead and cheeks, he drifted off into sleep.
He felt as though he was with Holo all throughout his dreams.
***
The mountains were dyed the color of fire in this busy season of preparing for winter.
The hot spring village Nyohhira, deep in the northern mountains, saw the end of the short summer and was now just waiting for winter to come.
The wind grew colder every day, and the sound of falling leaves occasionally brought about something that felt like sadness. There are those that called it depression, but it felt more like sleepiness. It was a drowsy time before the coming of a quiet winter.
He did not hate it.
"Mr. Lawrence, should I put the cheeses from Alvo in the cellar?"
"Yeah, thanks, Col. Just put them anywhere...Whoa, they're big."
That day, when it truly became fall, everyone was working hard in their preparations to fill the bellies of the guests who would come to this bathhouse in Nyohhira, Spice and Wolf. The two men were sorting out the goods they received from the neighboring village. The cheeses they stacked were each so large that a full grown adult could barely carry one.
"The bigger they are, the more edible parts there are...Right?"
"Because the hard, outer skin tastes terrible and is practically inedible, right? There's less wasted in bigger cheese, but...This is huge. I think the mayor of Alvo would make more money if he quit and opened a cheese shop."
The inside of the gleaming, amber-colored cheese also felt quite substantial.
"I've heard it's hard to make them bigger. If you don't strain the water well enough, apparently, it will get moldy inside."
"Then...let's pray that we don't cut it open to find it full of mold."
"Ha-ha. Their mayor has the heart of a craftsman, so I don't think that'll happen." Lawrence, the master of Spice and Wolf, laughed. It has been ten-some years since he came to this land and started a bathhouse, and though he still could not get away from the other villagers' newcomer treatment, he was already quite used to life here.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | So in terms of where she should go, there was a bathhouse right nearby that needed some help. Furthermore, that bathhouse was looking for people who would work hard and not be surprised even if they knew the secret that the mistress of the house had the ears and tails of an animal.
Even Holo knew the answer of what she should do.
But much like Lawrence knew all about Holo, Holo knew all about Lawrence.
"You fancy the ill-fated, weak girls, aye? Mm?"
She did not cool the porridge she scooped and, still hot, brought it close to his face.
It is often said that one should not interfere with lover's quarrels, but this porridge would soon interfere with his mouth.
"But you, too...Hot! H— Ho!"
In a fluster, he reached for the ale that sat by his bed.
Holo paid no mind to him and simply ate the porridge in the spoon herself.
"'Tis how I am adorably envious."
"...That was too much."
He did not have any burns, but his mouth stung.
Lawrence spoke to Holo as she ate the porridge.
"Thank you for looking after me."
Holo's ears stood straight up.
"I do not mind. I am the very model of a loving wife."
"Sure."
She was probably truly worried about him. When he finally woke up, the first thing he had said was that he was hungry, and she was so relieved that she was somehow irritated.
Though she was called the wisewolf and had many things at her disposal, she could not completely control her own emotions sometimes.
But he did not mind being played with because of that.
"I want to go back to the bathhouse soon."
Holo, who ended up eating half of the porridge, gave a satisfied sigh and spoke.
"Well, we have no work for a while. You must rest properly for now."
Prompted by her, he lay down in the bed, and she pulled the covers up over his shoulders.
"See, good children must close their eyes now."
How old do you think I am? he thought, but he did not mind being treated like a child.
As she gently kissed his forehead and cheeks, he drifted off into sleep.
He felt as though he was with Holo all throughout his dreams.
***
The mountains were dyed the color of fire in this busy season of preparing for winter.
The hot spring village Nyohhira, deep in the northern mountains, saw the end of the short summer and was now just waiting for winter to come.
The wind grew colder every day, and the sound of falling leaves occasionally brought about something that felt like sadness. There are those that called it depression, but it felt more like sleepiness. It was a drowsy time before the coming of a quiet winter.
He did not hate it.
"Mr. Lawrence, should I put the cheeses from Alvo in the cellar?"
"Yeah, thanks, Col. Just put them anywhere...Whoa, they're big."
That day, when it truly became fall, everyone was working hard in their preparations to fill the bellies of the guests who would come to this bathhouse in Nyohhira, Spice and Wolf. The two men were sorting out the goods they received from the neighboring village. The cheeses they stacked were each so large that a full grown adult could barely carry one.
"The bigger they are, the more edible parts there are...Right?"
"Because the hard, outer skin tastes terrible and is practically inedible, right? There's less wasted in bigger cheese, but...This is huge. I think the mayor of Alvo would make more money if he quit and opened a cheese shop."
The inside of the gleaming, amber-colored cheese also felt quite substantial.
"I've heard it's hard to make them bigger. If you don't strain the water well enough, apparently, it will get moldy inside."
"Then...let's pray that we don't cut it open to find it full of mold."
"Ha-ha. Their mayor has the heart of a craftsman, so I don't think that'll happen." Lawrence, the master of Spice and Wolf, laughed. It has been ten-some years since he came to this land and started a bathhouse, and though he still could not get away from the other villagers' newcomer treatment, he was already quite used to life here.
| "Then, I'll go put these away...I'm a bit worried that the shelves might break since they're so big, though."
It seemed too much to bring it up onto his shoulders, so though awkward, he held onto it with both hands like a baby lamb.
As he tottered around to the back of the main building, he could hear the lively voices coming from the baths beyond the partition.
Summer and winter were Nyohhira's peak seasons, and it was now around the time when guests for the winter were starting to arrive.
Most of the patrons were nobility or the directors of huge commercial firms or high-ranking clergy, so once they were finished managing the many festivals and events in the spring and fall, they would come to unwind.
There were already several guests at Spice and Wolf, and they were lazily spending their day in the outdoor bath.
As of yet, the number of guests were few, so the dancers and musicians who made their earnings in Nyohhira during the winter were nowhere to be seen, and it was quiet throughout town.
What he could hear beyond the partition was a rather heated commotion.
"Wa-ha-ha-ha! You can do it!"
"Here, drink, drink! Put your heart into it!"
They were rather lively for how high the sun was in the sky.
And for some reason, he could hear the clop, clop of a horse's hooves on stone.
What on earth was going on in there?
Customers in the baths typically lost track of time once they became drunk. But that was usually when there were more people, more alcohol, and after they grew bored of staying in for a long while.
But this made him a bit uneasy, and still holding the cheese, he waddled to the partition and peeked through the crack.
"Make sure the rope doesn't break! Did you tie it right?!"
"Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Shield! The shield! The shield is...Ba-ha-ha-ha!"
"Go, goddess of ours!"
"Yes! May God watch over you!"
It was an unusual amount of excitement. It seemed that guests from other bathhouses had come, too.
The naked men were all generally holding a mug of drink in one hand, waving it around, and cheering.
He could not see well through the steam of the baths, but he knew immediately what the clopping sound was coming from.
It was a mule. A pack mule was stomping around by the side of the bath. There was a boy, a nervous expression on his face, trying to keep it calm. It was the boy who brought the goods from Alvo on his pack mule.
But why was it in the bath?
A clue to his question was the thick rope that extended from its yoke.
The people were looking at the end of the taut rope, which went to the top of the bath.
"...Wh-wha..."
He was at a loss for words. There stood a girl, raising her hands to the cheers and smiling at everybody.
She did not seem to mind that the men were naked and only wore thin linen wrapped around her chest and hips. Though since the baths were not separated by gender that in itself was not unusual, but she, for some reason, was wearing rough-looking gloves.
"...Wh-what?"
He had a fiercely unpleasant feeling.
There in the middle of the cheers was the bathhouse owner's—Lawrence's—only daughter, Myuri.
She would be twelve or thirteen this year, an age where it would not be unusual to be wed off early. Typically, this was around the time when she would be practicing needlework or cooking every day, preparing to support her husband as a good wife or saddling the household's prosperity as a mother.
But for some reason, here she was half-naked, wearing roughly hewn gloves, holding the rope of a mule that had been brought into the baths. And even still, Myuri was standing atop something odd.
He remembered what the guests were saying: "Shield, shield."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Then, I'll go put these away...I'm a bit worried that the shelves might break since they're so big, though."
It seemed too much to bring it up onto his shoulders, so though awkward, he held onto it with both hands like a baby lamb.
As he tottered around to the back of the main building, he could hear the lively voices coming from the baths beyond the partition.
Summer and winter were Nyohhira's peak seasons, and it was now around the time when guests for the winter were starting to arrive.
Most of the patrons were nobility or the directors of huge commercial firms or high-ranking clergy, so once they were finished managing the many festivals and events in the spring and fall, they would come to unwind.
There were already several guests at Spice and Wolf, and they were lazily spending their day in the outdoor bath.
As of yet, the number of guests were few, so the dancers and musicians who made their earnings in Nyohhira during the winter were nowhere to be seen, and it was quiet throughout town.
What he could hear beyond the partition was a rather heated commotion.
"Wa-ha-ha-ha! You can do it!"
"Here, drink, drink! Put your heart into it!"
They were rather lively for how high the sun was in the sky.
And for some reason, he could hear the clop, clop of a horse's hooves on stone.
What on earth was going on in there?
Customers in the baths typically lost track of time once they became drunk. But that was usually when there were more people, more alcohol, and after they grew bored of staying in for a long while.
But this made him a bit uneasy, and still holding the cheese, he waddled to the partition and peeked through the crack.
"Make sure the rope doesn't break! Did you tie it right?!"
"Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Shield! The shield! The shield is...Ba-ha-ha-ha!"
"Go, goddess of ours!"
"Yes! May God watch over you!"
It was an unusual amount of excitement. It seemed that guests from other bathhouses had come, too.
The naked men were all generally holding a mug of drink in one hand, waving it around, and cheering.
He could not see well through the steam of the baths, but he knew immediately what the clopping sound was coming from.
It was a mule. A pack mule was stomping around by the side of the bath. There was a boy, a nervous expression on his face, trying to keep it calm. It was the boy who brought the goods from Alvo on his pack mule.
But why was it in the bath?
A clue to his question was the thick rope that extended from its yoke.
The people were looking at the end of the taut rope, which went to the top of the bath.
"...Wh-wha..."
He was at a loss for words. There stood a girl, raising her hands to the cheers and smiling at everybody.
She did not seem to mind that the men were naked and only wore thin linen wrapped around her chest and hips. Though since the baths were not separated by gender that in itself was not unusual, but she, for some reason, was wearing rough-looking gloves.
"...Wh-what?"
He had a fiercely unpleasant feeling.
There in the middle of the cheers was the bathhouse owner's—Lawrence's—only daughter, Myuri.
She would be twelve or thirteen this year, an age where it would not be unusual to be wed off early. Typically, this was around the time when she would be practicing needlework or cooking every day, preparing to support her husband as a good wife or saddling the household's prosperity as a mother.
But for some reason, here she was half-naked, wearing roughly hewn gloves, holding the rope of a mule that had been brought into the baths. And even still, Myuri was standing atop something odd.
He remembered what the guests were saying: "Shield, shield."
| That was when she yelled, standing atop the shields.
"Ready!"
She raised one hand, raising a cry like a knight in the battlefield, and he could almost hear her lift the corner of her mouth and clench her teeth.
She was looking at the mule. Next to the mule was the boy, who looked like he was about to cry. At the prompting of the cheers, he closed his eyes as though he had no choice and hit its rump with his stick.
"Charge!"
Though he was not sure if that is exactly what she said.
Everything happened in an instant, and while the entire world was paused, only Myuri, atop the shield, slid to the side.
Pulled by the rope, both Myuri and the shield slid across the water. It slid so fast and so cleanly on the water that it was almost funny. The audience gave a loud cheer and tossed their mugs. There was a loud clunk as the shield hit the edge of the bath.
"Ohhh!"
Myuri's slender body flew into the air with the shield, but she did not fall. It hit the ground with a sound that pierced the air, and the mule pulled them along the wet stone. It was so skillfully done, Col could not speak.
He snapped out of it when he saw the excited guests all begin to run around, and the blood drained from his face.
He abandoned the cheese and ran after Myuri with the guests. Beyond the trail on the rocks left by the shield was the forest, covered in fallen leaves. Then there was a downward slope, and the mule likely ran as fast as it could. A single dark path of earth was carved into the carpet of leaves, and it gradually turned right.
Then, the path suddenly stopped.
These men, who once they returned home all had positions of power and fame and fortune, were making a big ruckus naked in the forest. Standing in the middle of it all, big grin on her face, was a girl who looked like she had been raised from the dead, covered in leaves and mud.
The men lifted Myuri up and carried her back up the hill.
When the cackling girl realized who was waiting for her, her face stiffened for a moment.
But when he glared at her, being carried by the men, she immediately pretended not to notice.
He was not filled with anger, but exasperation.
He followed after Myuri, whom the men were cheering on, and he heard the sound of her being thrown into the bath. When she poked her head out of the water, she had a refreshed look on her face. Her beautiful forehead, now clear of mud and leaves, was covered in scratch-like cuts. Cuts on her maiden face!
But Myuri did not mind and waved to the guests cheering around her, then swam to the edge. He bent his knees and held his hand out to her, and she took it calmly.
"Eh-heh-heh, did you see that? Wasn't it awesome?"
Myuri's innocent smile has never changed.
He sighed and pulled her slim body up.
"Are you hurt?"
"Nope, not at all," she said, but there were skid marks all over her forehead and cheeks, and her long legs were the same as well.
However, for Myuri, these did not fall under the category of "injury."
Under her hair, which was the strange color of silver specks in ash, one could find many scars from her childhood. He did not know how many times he had fainted at the sight of a blood-smeared Myuri.
"Get changed and come to the fire."
"Oh, are you gonna braid my hair?!"
"It's a scolding!" he yelled at her and she drew up her shoulders, but her expression was that of annoyance. "Your answer?"
"...Fine."
Guests that stayed for a while found these sorts of usual occurrences amusing, but it was not funny to those who had to clean up after Myuri. First, going into the bath covered in mud and dead leaves was inexcusable, and they had to fix the stone arrangements that the shield had broken. Then, they had to find that unlucky boy from the neighboring village and apologize to him.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | That was when she yelled, standing atop the shields.
"Ready!"
She raised one hand, raising a cry like a knight in the battlefield, and he could almost hear her lift the corner of her mouth and clench her teeth.
She was looking at the mule. Next to the mule was the boy, who looked like he was about to cry. At the prompting of the cheers, he closed his eyes as though he had no choice and hit its rump with his stick.
"Charge!"
Though he was not sure if that is exactly what she said.
Everything happened in an instant, and while the entire world was paused, only Myuri, atop the shield, slid to the side.
Pulled by the rope, both Myuri and the shield slid across the water. It slid so fast and so cleanly on the water that it was almost funny. The audience gave a loud cheer and tossed their mugs. There was a loud clunk as the shield hit the edge of the bath.
"Ohhh!"
Myuri's slender body flew into the air with the shield, but she did not fall. It hit the ground with a sound that pierced the air, and the mule pulled them along the wet stone. It was so skillfully done, Col could not speak.
He snapped out of it when he saw the excited guests all begin to run around, and the blood drained from his face.
He abandoned the cheese and ran after Myuri with the guests. Beyond the trail on the rocks left by the shield was the forest, covered in fallen leaves. Then there was a downward slope, and the mule likely ran as fast as it could. A single dark path of earth was carved into the carpet of leaves, and it gradually turned right.
Then, the path suddenly stopped.
These men, who once they returned home all had positions of power and fame and fortune, were making a big ruckus naked in the forest. Standing in the middle of it all, big grin on her face, was a girl who looked like she had been raised from the dead, covered in leaves and mud.
The men lifted Myuri up and carried her back up the hill.
When the cackling girl realized who was waiting for her, her face stiffened for a moment.
But when he glared at her, being carried by the men, she immediately pretended not to notice.
He was not filled with anger, but exasperation.
He followed after Myuri, whom the men were cheering on, and he heard the sound of her being thrown into the bath. When she poked her head out of the water, she had a refreshed look on her face. Her beautiful forehead, now clear of mud and leaves, was covered in scratch-like cuts. Cuts on her maiden face!
But Myuri did not mind and waved to the guests cheering around her, then swam to the edge. He bent his knees and held his hand out to her, and she took it calmly.
"Eh-heh-heh, did you see that? Wasn't it awesome?"
Myuri's innocent smile has never changed.
He sighed and pulled her slim body up.
"Are you hurt?"
"Nope, not at all," she said, but there were skid marks all over her forehead and cheeks, and her long legs were the same as well.
However, for Myuri, these did not fall under the category of "injury."
Under her hair, which was the strange color of silver specks in ash, one could find many scars from her childhood. He did not know how many times he had fainted at the sight of a blood-smeared Myuri.
"Get changed and come to the fire."
"Oh, are you gonna braid my hair?!"
"It's a scolding!" he yelled at her and she drew up her shoulders, but her expression was that of annoyance. "Your answer?"
"...Fine."
Guests that stayed for a while found these sorts of usual occurrences amusing, but it was not funny to those who had to clean up after Myuri. First, going into the bath covered in mud and dead leaves was inexcusable, and they had to fix the stone arrangements that the shield had broken. Then, they had to find that unlucky boy from the neighboring village and apologize to him.
| "Put on some warm clothes."
"Okay."
He sent her off into the main building and sighed, then went to retrieve the cheese he had left behind. There, he heard Myuri, calling back to him.
"Hey, brother!"
"...What is it?"
Myuri, still dripping wet, stood in the doorway, a bit of a praiseworthy air around her. When she was behaving, she seemed like a little girl who got caught in the rain.
"...Wasn't it amazing?"
Look, look, brother, I caught a really big fish!
She has not changed since her innocent childhood.
Through his shock, his face smiled on its own.
"That's...Yes, it was amazing...I could hardly believe my eyes."
"Ha-ha-ha, yay!"
She bounced in place and then entered the main house.
She did not seem to regret her actions one bit.
But it was true that it was "amazing." He would never have dared to do such a thing or even think of it.
When he thought this, he shook his head. It was his job as her pseudo older brother to reprimand her for her tomboyishness. She was supposed to be ladylike and become a proper wife.
"All right."
For the time being, he did his best to carry the cheese. And once that was over, he took his place in front of the stove, scripture in one hand. Although he waited and waited, Myuri did not come.
He went to check on her in her room, and he found her napping happily.
"Heh-heh-heh."
When Col told the story during their meal, a girl with the same face as Myuri laughed.
But there was a strange bit of intensity to this laugh, and the color of her hair was different. At a glance, she looked like a teenage girl, just like Myuri, but she was actually several hundred years old and the avatar of the wolf-that-lived-in-wheat—Holo the Wisewolf.
Holo, with big triangular ears on her head and tail wagging from her behind, was Myuri's mother and the good wife of Lawrence, the master of the Spice and Wolf bathhouse.
"It is not something to laugh about..."
"'Tis fine. She is unhurt in the end, is she not?"
"Is it all right to call this unhurt?"
Myuri, devouring her food, was covered in bandages from her face to her arms. Underneath the bandages, Lawrence had lathered on a special ointment that contained a bit of herb, pig fat, and sulfur. He had been astonished when he saw all her cuts and forced the bandages onto her, so that her injuries would not leave any scars.
"Father and brother are making too big a deal of it."
"It's fine that it ended all right, but if it didn't, you would be seriously hurt."
Col complained, but she just shrugged her slim shoulders.
He sighed anxiously, and Holo cackled.
"But where did the master of the house run off to?"
"Mr. Lawrence? He had Myuri help him find the Alvo boy's mule, and he went straight to the village to apologize. He said it will affect their delivery of goods later."
Since Nyohhira was deep in the mountains, there was a limit on how much material could be brought in. Should their relationship with the surrounding areas grow worse, then it was possible they could fold due to just that.
"It's fine," said Myuri, the one whose fault this all was.
"What made you say that?" he asked, and Myuri wiggled the same ears and tail as her mother. She took the lingonberry-honey jam, the fruit they had collected off a mountain in the forest over the summer, and spread it on the tough rye bread. For the moment, she put aside the question and bit into the loaf, overflowing with honey. The hair on her ears and tail bristled at the sourness.
Usually, unlike her mother Holo, she had her ears and tail put away, but they would occasionally show themselves when her emotions peaked, such as in astonishment or anger. It seemed that typically, it was more natural for them to be out.
"Wha d'yu mean...om nom. Besides, that kid likes me."
***
Holo burst out laughing at his shock.
"Males are fools."
"Yep, yep."
He had nothing more to say to Myuri, as she added salt to her mushroom soup and slurped it down.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Put on some warm clothes."
"Okay."
He sent her off into the main building and sighed, then went to retrieve the cheese he had left behind. There, he heard Myuri, calling back to him.
"Hey, brother!"
"...What is it?"
Myuri, still dripping wet, stood in the doorway, a bit of a praiseworthy air around her. When she was behaving, she seemed like a little girl who got caught in the rain.
"...Wasn't it amazing?"
Look, look, brother, I caught a really big fish!
She has not changed since her innocent childhood.
Through his shock, his face smiled on its own.
"That's...Yes, it was amazing...I could hardly believe my eyes."
"Ha-ha-ha, yay!"
She bounced in place and then entered the main house.
She did not seem to regret her actions one bit.
But it was true that it was "amazing." He would never have dared to do such a thing or even think of it.
When he thought this, he shook his head. It was his job as her pseudo older brother to reprimand her for her tomboyishness. She was supposed to be ladylike and become a proper wife.
"All right."
For the time being, he did his best to carry the cheese. And once that was over, he took his place in front of the stove, scripture in one hand. Although he waited and waited, Myuri did not come.
He went to check on her in her room, and he found her napping happily.
"Heh-heh-heh."
When Col told the story during their meal, a girl with the same face as Myuri laughed.
But there was a strange bit of intensity to this laugh, and the color of her hair was different. At a glance, she looked like a teenage girl, just like Myuri, but she was actually several hundred years old and the avatar of the wolf-that-lived-in-wheat—Holo the Wisewolf.
Holo, with big triangular ears on her head and tail wagging from her behind, was Myuri's mother and the good wife of Lawrence, the master of the Spice and Wolf bathhouse.
"It is not something to laugh about..."
"'Tis fine. She is unhurt in the end, is she not?"
"Is it all right to call this unhurt?"
Myuri, devouring her food, was covered in bandages from her face to her arms. Underneath the bandages, Lawrence had lathered on a special ointment that contained a bit of herb, pig fat, and sulfur. He had been astonished when he saw all her cuts and forced the bandages onto her, so that her injuries would not leave any scars.
"Father and brother are making too big a deal of it."
"It's fine that it ended all right, but if it didn't, you would be seriously hurt."
Col complained, but she just shrugged her slim shoulders.
He sighed anxiously, and Holo cackled.
"But where did the master of the house run off to?"
"Mr. Lawrence? He had Myuri help him find the Alvo boy's mule, and he went straight to the village to apologize. He said it will affect their delivery of goods later."
Since Nyohhira was deep in the mountains, there was a limit on how much material could be brought in. Should their relationship with the surrounding areas grow worse, then it was possible they could fold due to just that.
"It's fine," said Myuri, the one whose fault this all was.
"What made you say that?" he asked, and Myuri wiggled the same ears and tail as her mother. She took the lingonberry-honey jam, the fruit they had collected off a mountain in the forest over the summer, and spread it on the tough rye bread. For the moment, she put aside the question and bit into the loaf, overflowing with honey. The hair on her ears and tail bristled at the sourness.
Usually, unlike her mother Holo, she had her ears and tail put away, but they would occasionally show themselves when her emotions peaked, such as in astonishment or anger. It seemed that typically, it was more natural for them to be out.
"Wha d'yu mean...om nom. Besides, that kid likes me."
***
Holo burst out laughing at his shock.
"Males are fools."
"Yep, yep."
He had nothing more to say to Myuri, as she added salt to her mushroom soup and slurped it down.
| "Honestly..."
As Myuri began to look more and more like Holo, her father Lawrence would often find himself beaten in an argument instead. Holo had a broad-minded personality, and she did not mind the small things. So Col was the one who had to keep it together.
However, the struggle to make Myuri into a wonderful and ladylike daughter always felt in vain.
"Anyway, once you've finished eating, you're going to practice reading and writing."
"Nooo..."
"Don't give me that."
"Well, he's right; 'tis a good thing to be able to read and write."
Holo spoke, sprinkling a good helping of rock salt onto her cured pork and stuffing it into her mouth.
At her words, Myuri shrugged and looked at Holo, and her ears and tail drooped in obedience.
"...Okay."
The hierarchy of their group was clear.
Holo, Lawrence, himself, then Myuri.
Recently, Myuri was rising rapidly up this hierarchy, and when she seemed about to treat him cruelly, Holo would take the opportunity to intervene. Myuri would only ever listen to what Holo had to say. Perhaps the rules of the forest were entrenched in their blood. Before the wisewolf herself, a young pup behaved like a little dog.
"Then get ready and come to the room."
"Okay."
Myuri voiced her response in a bored tone, and in retaliation, reached for a new piece of bread.
As Col read the scriptures aloud in the candlelight, there came a knock on the door.
But the sound was rather near the floor.
Dubious, he opened the door, and there was Myuri, still covered in bandages, carrying a large blanket.
"Myuri, how many times have I told you not to kick the door?"
She gave no response and quickly entered the room, dumping the blanket onto the bed. He knew it was cold this time of year, and she did not have the luxury of a stove and the sort in her own room, but she also had a sheep's wool pillow, for some reason.
"Mother went to get father. Mother said she'll shear all the hair off on my tail if I touch the stove, so let me sleep here tonight."
Holo was typically lenient with her, but of course, she was strict when it came to dealing with fire.
"I haven't slept here in forever! Ah-ha, the straw is so hard! Do you change it at all?"
Col's bed was made from the wild wheat that they used to feed the livestock—it was gathered into a bundle with a hemp sheet pulled over it. The stiffness Myuri felt beneath her was since she was light; there was no need to tie the bundle of straw tightly.
Col and Myuri often slept in the same bed when they were little, but after they grew up, they started to sleep separately. It was especially cold here, so wearing clothes to bed in the middle of winter would instead make one sick. It was normal to warm oneself through body heat.
Though that was typical, as a servant of God and as a good older brother, he wanted Myuri to have a maiden's sense of shyness. And there were the times he would be startled at how similar she looked to Holo in the darkness.
"If you do that, you really will fall asleep."
Myuri's specialty was the ability to fall asleep as soon as she lay down. Even now she had already gone quiet, and Col immediately pulled her up by the arm.
"Uuuu..."
"Come on, get up now!"
Even if he gripped her thin shoulders, her neck would lean at an angle.
But if she was truly sleepy, her tail would have been curled up, so she was merely acting.
"If you pretend any more, I'll have you sleep on the floor."
***
She cracked one eye open and giggled.
"You're always so angry, brother. It's in the scripture, right? 'Thou shalt not give in to anger!'"
"That's all you remember...?"
He sighed, and Myuri nimbly got out of the bed. She took the blanket and wrapped it around her, then sat in the chair.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Honestly..."
As Myuri began to look more and more like Holo, her father Lawrence would often find himself beaten in an argument instead. Holo had a broad-minded personality, and she did not mind the small things. So Col was the one who had to keep it together.
However, the struggle to make Myuri into a wonderful and ladylike daughter always felt in vain.
"Anyway, once you've finished eating, you're going to practice reading and writing."
"Nooo..."
"Don't give me that."
"Well, he's right; 'tis a good thing to be able to read and write."
Holo spoke, sprinkling a good helping of rock salt onto her cured pork and stuffing it into her mouth.
At her words, Myuri shrugged and looked at Holo, and her ears and tail drooped in obedience.
"...Okay."
The hierarchy of their group was clear.
Holo, Lawrence, himself, then Myuri.
Recently, Myuri was rising rapidly up this hierarchy, and when she seemed about to treat him cruelly, Holo would take the opportunity to intervene. Myuri would only ever listen to what Holo had to say. Perhaps the rules of the forest were entrenched in their blood. Before the wisewolf herself, a young pup behaved like a little dog.
"Then get ready and come to the room."
"Okay."
Myuri voiced her response in a bored tone, and in retaliation, reached for a new piece of bread.
As Col read the scriptures aloud in the candlelight, there came a knock on the door.
But the sound was rather near the floor.
Dubious, he opened the door, and there was Myuri, still covered in bandages, carrying a large blanket.
"Myuri, how many times have I told you not to kick the door?"
She gave no response and quickly entered the room, dumping the blanket onto the bed. He knew it was cold this time of year, and she did not have the luxury of a stove and the sort in her own room, but she also had a sheep's wool pillow, for some reason.
"Mother went to get father. Mother said she'll shear all the hair off on my tail if I touch the stove, so let me sleep here tonight."
Holo was typically lenient with her, but of course, she was strict when it came to dealing with fire.
"I haven't slept here in forever! Ah-ha, the straw is so hard! Do you change it at all?"
Col's bed was made from the wild wheat that they used to feed the livestock—it was gathered into a bundle with a hemp sheet pulled over it. The stiffness Myuri felt beneath her was since she was light; there was no need to tie the bundle of straw tightly.
Col and Myuri often slept in the same bed when they were little, but after they grew up, they started to sleep separately. It was especially cold here, so wearing clothes to bed in the middle of winter would instead make one sick. It was normal to warm oneself through body heat.
Though that was typical, as a servant of God and as a good older brother, he wanted Myuri to have a maiden's sense of shyness. And there were the times he would be startled at how similar she looked to Holo in the darkness.
"If you do that, you really will fall asleep."
Myuri's specialty was the ability to fall asleep as soon as she lay down. Even now she had already gone quiet, and Col immediately pulled her up by the arm.
"Uuuu..."
"Come on, get up now!"
Even if he gripped her thin shoulders, her neck would lean at an angle.
But if she was truly sleepy, her tail would have been curled up, so she was merely acting.
"If you pretend any more, I'll have you sleep on the floor."
***
She cracked one eye open and giggled.
"You're always so angry, brother. It's in the scripture, right? 'Thou shalt not give in to anger!'"
"That's all you remember...?"
He sighed, and Myuri nimbly got out of the bed. She took the blanket and wrapped it around her, then sat in the chair.
| "But I really am sleepy, so let's hurry up and finish this so I can sleep."
"I agree. If Mr. Lawrence does not come back tonight, then I must get up early to do the work tomorrow."
"You sound like I don't do any help at all."
"Then will you get up before dawn and break the ice in the well for me?"
Myuri's ears immediately flattened, and she began to scratch out the letters.
It was not that she was the lazy type and actually, she was a rather hard worker. The problem lay in the fact that Myuri was not a morning person, and it took her a while to get started on her work. And she would immediately get caught up in some foolishness if a guest egged her on.
Col watched the girl from behind, relieved, and once she had written about three lines, her tail began to fidget nervously.
"Aww, we've got another busy winter coming up, huh?"
Though Nyohhira had its fair share of visitors in the summer, the real deal was when the snow piled high in the winter, starting right around this time.
"You played a lot this spring, summer, and fall."
Since Nyohhira was in the north, the transition from spring to fall passed quickly, but there were still many fun things to do. In the spring they collected wild plants, in the summer they collected tree seeds and caught fish, and in the fall they harvested mushrooms and fruit. Hunting was also occasionally included.
"That's why I want to sleep during the winter."
"...I don't think wolves hibernate."
"Wolves don't study."
She always had a retort ready.
"Then you must be a child, since you hate studying and cause mischief all the time."
Lately, treating Myuri like a child would cause her to become angry.
"This is wrong."
He reached over her and pointed to a letter, and she scratched it away with her fingernail.
"I haven't done anything too bad," she muttered as she wrote.
He was exasperated at what she was trying to say, considering she used a shield as a sled and skidded across the baths.
"Then what would be something that is too bad?"
Scratching the letters onto the board, she shrugged her slender shoulders.
"Brother, what's this?"
"Like this."
It was when he drew his face in by her side and tried to take the branch to write an example for her.
Myuri suddenly reached out and clamped both of her hands onto his cheeks.
Before he realized it, her long eyelashes were directly in front of his eyes, and the tips of their noses were touching. And then their lips.
It seemed that one's body really could freeze. He could not move at all due to the suddenness of it all.
He could not breathe, and Myuri peeked one eye open, hesitating a bit before looking at him.
Her eyes were swimming feverishly, as though she would cry, and as though she was happy.
She leaned back and pursed her lips.
"Don't tell father, okay?" Myuri whispered, smiling, even though it still seemed as though she would cry.
It was too quiet—a deep silence that almost moved him.
He knew Myuri was quite attached to him, but this was impossible.
The moment he thought about it, something burned deep in his heart. Even though their lips were parted, he still could not breathe. His heart was beating loudly, and his chest hurt as though the blood had nowhere to go.
And then there was Myuri, looking down, embarrassed.
The unexpectedly rough feeling of her lips still remained, as well as the strong smell of sulfur, likely since she was in the water...Rough?
Myuri's lips remained a smooth cherry pink, even in winter.
As he thought something was amiss, Myuri let go of his face.
The bandages were pulled across her hands, creating a bridge. They were exactly the right width to fit perfectly over his mouth.
She looked up, her mouth forming a small pout, bearing a smile.
"This is father's special ointment, so I think it'll fix your dry lips, brother," she said, the smile of a demon on her face, and wagged her tail.
Col finally understood what she did to him and off came the lid on his thoughts.
All the blood in his chest rushed to his head at once.
"M-M-Myuri!"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "But I really am sleepy, so let's hurry up and finish this so I can sleep."
"I agree. If Mr. Lawrence does not come back tonight, then I must get up early to do the work tomorrow."
"You sound like I don't do any help at all."
"Then will you get up before dawn and break the ice in the well for me?"
Myuri's ears immediately flattened, and she began to scratch out the letters.
It was not that she was the lazy type and actually, she was a rather hard worker. The problem lay in the fact that Myuri was not a morning person, and it took her a while to get started on her work. And she would immediately get caught up in some foolishness if a guest egged her on.
Col watched the girl from behind, relieved, and once she had written about three lines, her tail began to fidget nervously.
"Aww, we've got another busy winter coming up, huh?"
Though Nyohhira had its fair share of visitors in the summer, the real deal was when the snow piled high in the winter, starting right around this time.
"You played a lot this spring, summer, and fall."
Since Nyohhira was in the north, the transition from spring to fall passed quickly, but there were still many fun things to do. In the spring they collected wild plants, in the summer they collected tree seeds and caught fish, and in the fall they harvested mushrooms and fruit. Hunting was also occasionally included.
"That's why I want to sleep during the winter."
"...I don't think wolves hibernate."
"Wolves don't study."
She always had a retort ready.
"Then you must be a child, since you hate studying and cause mischief all the time."
Lately, treating Myuri like a child would cause her to become angry.
"This is wrong."
He reached over her and pointed to a letter, and she scratched it away with her fingernail.
"I haven't done anything too bad," she muttered as she wrote.
He was exasperated at what she was trying to say, considering she used a shield as a sled and skidded across the baths.
"Then what would be something that is too bad?"
Scratching the letters onto the board, she shrugged her slender shoulders.
"Brother, what's this?"
"Like this."
It was when he drew his face in by her side and tried to take the branch to write an example for her.
Myuri suddenly reached out and clamped both of her hands onto his cheeks.
Before he realized it, her long eyelashes were directly in front of his eyes, and the tips of their noses were touching. And then their lips.
It seemed that one's body really could freeze. He could not move at all due to the suddenness of it all.
He could not breathe, and Myuri peeked one eye open, hesitating a bit before looking at him.
Her eyes were swimming feverishly, as though she would cry, and as though she was happy.
She leaned back and pursed her lips.
"Don't tell father, okay?" Myuri whispered, smiling, even though it still seemed as though she would cry.
It was too quiet—a deep silence that almost moved him.
He knew Myuri was quite attached to him, but this was impossible.
The moment he thought about it, something burned deep in his heart. Even though their lips were parted, he still could not breathe. His heart was beating loudly, and his chest hurt as though the blood had nowhere to go.
And then there was Myuri, looking down, embarrassed.
The unexpectedly rough feeling of her lips still remained, as well as the strong smell of sulfur, likely since she was in the water...Rough?
Myuri's lips remained a smooth cherry pink, even in winter.
As he thought something was amiss, Myuri let go of his face.
The bandages were pulled across her hands, creating a bridge. They were exactly the right width to fit perfectly over his mouth.
She looked up, her mouth forming a small pout, bearing a smile.
"This is father's special ointment, so I think it'll fix your dry lips, brother," she said, the smile of a demon on her face, and wagged her tail.
Col finally understood what she did to him and off came the lid on his thoughts.
All the blood in his chest rushed to his head at once.
"M-M-Myuri!"
| "Gosh, don't get so mad at me."
"Y-y-you..."
"Don't worry, brother, your purity is safe," she said and pressed a slender finger against his lips. Obedience, purity, and asceticism were the three virtues that those who decided to serve God vowed to adhere to. Of course, it was not as though Myuri was thinking in a way that followed the teachings of a kind God.
However, Col did not know what to say to this sinful, frightening girl. And what's more, he did not know how to deal with the feelings that had welled up when their eyes met.
"...That's enough for today."
"What? Really?" Myuri exclaimed happily and jumped up from her chair. She unwrapped the blanket from around herself and neatly laid it on the bed.
When he pinched the flame on the candle, like killing a bug, the room fell into darkness. He slowly approached Myuri, who had not touched her blanket yet, from behind.
As though she had sensed him, she quickly whipped around.
"B-brother?"
Col did not reply and just reached out—
And took in his hand his own blanket.
"I will sleep on the floor."
"Huh?"
"I will sleep on the floor."
His reply was curt as he wrapped himself in the blanket and lay down on the floor.
"Huh, brother? Hey, wait, what, why?"
She truly sounded upset by this, but he would not have any of it.
"I came because it's too cold to sleep by myself..."
He reclined on the cold, hard floor and faced away from her.
He wrapped the blanket tightly around himself and single-mindedly recited the scripture.
May God protect me. May God forgive me for my sins...
"Hey, brother!"
He did not budge. Should he move, there were many things that could get messy.
After that, Myuri slept on her own and gave several fake-sounding sneezes, but in the end she slept soundly.
For several days afterward, she was just a bit more obedient.
She probably thought that Col was mad at her, but he was not.
It was for the foolish reason that he could not seriously look at her without becoming embarrassed.
The daughter of the wisewolf, Myuri.
She had quite the future ahead of her.
***
Wh-what...? You should have made up your mind that day, five years ago...!
Mwa-ha-ha-ha! Did I not say I was immortal?! I will come back to life over and over. Yes, over and over!
While that is not true, it is my first new book in five years. Isuna Hasekura here.
This book is comprised of three short stories that were printed in Dengeki Bunko Magazine's special home page (discussed later) and one new short novella. Chronologically, this takes place ten-some years after book 17.
The reason why I decided to publish this new novel was because I did not have any money...No, it was because when I was looking over material for a different series, May Your Soul Rest in Magdala, there were many things that had me thinking, This would fit Spice and Wolf much better than Magdala, and the manga version, drawn by Keito Koume-sensei, was plunging into the climax, so my supervisor's suggestion of publishing a short story collection in combination with promoting the manga version served as its inception. And then there was also the fact that it was the tenth anniversary of my first book, so my supervisor said we should do many things for that, and so we did.
But when I set out to write it, Holo and Lawrence's antics were not much of a problem, but the two children turned out to be much more of a handful than I thought, so I was in trouble. And then I remembered the old saying: "Let the troubled child go."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Gosh, don't get so mad at me."
"Y-y-you..."
"Don't worry, brother, your purity is safe," she said and pressed a slender finger against his lips. Obedience, purity, and asceticism were the three virtues that those who decided to serve God vowed to adhere to. Of course, it was not as though Myuri was thinking in a way that followed the teachings of a kind God.
However, Col did not know what to say to this sinful, frightening girl. And what's more, he did not know how to deal with the feelings that had welled up when their eyes met.
"...That's enough for today."
"What? Really?" Myuri exclaimed happily and jumped up from her chair. She unwrapped the blanket from around herself and neatly laid it on the bed.
When he pinched the flame on the candle, like killing a bug, the room fell into darkness. He slowly approached Myuri, who had not touched her blanket yet, from behind.
As though she had sensed him, she quickly whipped around.
"B-brother?"
Col did not reply and just reached out—
And took in his hand his own blanket.
"I will sleep on the floor."
"Huh?"
"I will sleep on the floor."
His reply was curt as he wrapped himself in the blanket and lay down on the floor.
"Huh, brother? Hey, wait, what, why?"
She truly sounded upset by this, but he would not have any of it.
"I came because it's too cold to sleep by myself..."
He reclined on the cold, hard floor and faced away from her.
He wrapped the blanket tightly around himself and single-mindedly recited the scripture.
May God protect me. May God forgive me for my sins...
"Hey, brother!"
He did not budge. Should he move, there were many things that could get messy.
After that, Myuri slept on her own and gave several fake-sounding sneezes, but in the end she slept soundly.
For several days afterward, she was just a bit more obedient.
She probably thought that Col was mad at her, but he was not.
It was for the foolish reason that he could not seriously look at her without becoming embarrassed.
The daughter of the wisewolf, Myuri.
She had quite the future ahead of her.
***
Wh-what...? You should have made up your mind that day, five years ago...!
Mwa-ha-ha-ha! Did I not say I was immortal?! I will come back to life over and over. Yes, over and over!
While that is not true, it is my first new book in five years. Isuna Hasekura here.
This book is comprised of three short stories that were printed in Dengeki Bunko Magazine's special home page (discussed later) and one new short novella. Chronologically, this takes place ten-some years after book 17.
The reason why I decided to publish this new novel was because I did not have any money...No, it was because when I was looking over material for a different series, May Your Soul Rest in Magdala, there were many things that had me thinking, This would fit Spice and Wolf much better than Magdala, and the manga version, drawn by Keito Koume-sensei, was plunging into the climax, so my supervisor's suggestion of publishing a short story collection in combination with promoting the manga version served as its inception. And then there was also the fact that it was the tenth anniversary of my first book, so my supervisor said we should do many things for that, and so we did.
But when I set out to write it, Holo and Lawrence's antics were not much of a problem, but the two children turned out to be much more of a handful than I thought, so I was in trouble. And then I remembered the old saying: "Let the troubled child go."
| Furthermore, there will be at least one more short collection for Spice and Wolf, so look forward to it and please take a look at Koume-sensei's exciting comic version of Spice and Wolf!
Also, the short stories we plan to publish in this new book are posted every month at Spice and Wolf & Isuna Hasekura 10th Anniversary Official Site (I get embarrassed writing that out myself). You can read them for free, so if there are those that cannot wait for the book, please take a visit. There are announcements for other tenth anniversary event things besides S&W, so please keep an eye out.
The URL is http://hasekuraisuna.jp.
Well then, I will keep working hard for the decade to come.
—Isuna Hasekura
***
No matter how much he cleaned, dust gathered in the corners of rooms, so of course the neglected shed grew messier throughout the years. He'd come searching for the hand mill he suddenly needed for a village event, but it was impossible to find.
"That's strange...I don't think I threw it away, and since Hanna doesn't use it, it should be here..."
Lawrence stood up, scratching his head, and exited the dusty shed for the moment.
"Can you not find it?"
Holo sat on a tree stump in front of the small structure, a knitted, woolen shawl draped over her shoulders. Had she sat quietly, she would have been the very image of a young, new bride, what with her loosely braided flaxen hair, the long skirt she wore, and that hint of childishness still in her face.
However, Holo was not as young as she appeared, and a wolf's tail, the same color as her hair, peeked out from under her clothes. It was not fur she carried to keep her warm but her actual tail, and its owner was the avatar of a wolf who had lived for several hundred years.
Over ten years earlier, she had met Lawrence, a traveling merchant at the time, and at the end of their journey, they had arrived at the northern hot springs of Nyohhira as husband and wife.
"I can't ask you to sniff out the smell of stone, huh?"
As the incarnation of a wolf, Holo had big, triangular animal ears on her head, and her sense of smell rivaled that of any hound. She could even sniff out something lost in the mountains, but a small millstone would likely be quite a feat.
"Had you slept with it in your arms every night, I may have."
"I'd probably suffer horribly if I cheated on you."
He could easily imagine Holo glaring at his pained self over a drink.
"Fool. I would tear you to shreds for such adultery."
She leaned forward and rested her chin on her palm, showing her fangs in a toothy grin.
Despite what she said, Lawrence thought that if anything like that did happen, she would be more sad than angry—and about how bringing tears to her eyes would be much more agonizing than being ripped apart.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
"As long as you make sure it stays in your puny mind."
Holo stood and hopped to the entrance of the shed, peeking inside.
"'Tis full of things."
"It's been ten years since we started the bathhouse. It's quite a collection now."
"Mm. 'Tis true, seeing this and that brings back memories."
The shed held things they typically used such as axes, saws, and hammers, as well as things that guests had forgotten or left in their care, all on top of spare parts for fixing broken chairs and the like. They all gave meaning to these past ten years.
"This netting as well...Had we not used this as a cradle for Myuri?"
Holo brushed a dust-covered netting that hung from the ceiling with her finger as she smiled with her eyes.
It had not exactly been intended as a replacement for a cradle but something they put their daughter in when it was impossible to divert any attention from their work, mostly because they never knew what sort of trouble the overly energetic Myuri would get into if they left her alone.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Furthermore, there will be at least one more short collection for Spice and Wolf, so look forward to it and please take a look at Koume-sensei's exciting comic version of Spice and Wolf!
Also, the short stories we plan to publish in this new book are posted every month at Spice and Wolf & Isuna Hasekura 10th Anniversary Official Site (I get embarrassed writing that out myself). You can read them for free, so if there are those that cannot wait for the book, please take a visit. There are announcements for other tenth anniversary event things besides S&W, so please keep an eye out.
The URL is http://hasekuraisuna.jp.
Well then, I will keep working hard for the decade to come.
—Isuna Hasekura
***
No matter how much he cleaned, dust gathered in the corners of rooms, so of course the neglected shed grew messier throughout the years. He'd come searching for the hand mill he suddenly needed for a village event, but it was impossible to find.
"That's strange...I don't think I threw it away, and since Hanna doesn't use it, it should be here..."
Lawrence stood up, scratching his head, and exited the dusty shed for the moment.
"Can you not find it?"
Holo sat on a tree stump in front of the small structure, a knitted, woolen shawl draped over her shoulders. Had she sat quietly, she would have been the very image of a young, new bride, what with her loosely braided flaxen hair, the long skirt she wore, and that hint of childishness still in her face.
However, Holo was not as young as she appeared, and a wolf's tail, the same color as her hair, peeked out from under her clothes. It was not fur she carried to keep her warm but her actual tail, and its owner was the avatar of a wolf who had lived for several hundred years.
Over ten years earlier, she had met Lawrence, a traveling merchant at the time, and at the end of their journey, they had arrived at the northern hot springs of Nyohhira as husband and wife.
"I can't ask you to sniff out the smell of stone, huh?"
As the incarnation of a wolf, Holo had big, triangular animal ears on her head, and her sense of smell rivaled that of any hound. She could even sniff out something lost in the mountains, but a small millstone would likely be quite a feat.
"Had you slept with it in your arms every night, I may have."
"I'd probably suffer horribly if I cheated on you."
He could easily imagine Holo glaring at his pained self over a drink.
"Fool. I would tear you to shreds for such adultery."
She leaned forward and rested her chin on her palm, showing her fangs in a toothy grin.
Despite what she said, Lawrence thought that if anything like that did happen, she would be more sad than angry—and about how bringing tears to her eyes would be much more agonizing than being ripped apart.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
"As long as you make sure it stays in your puny mind."
Holo stood and hopped to the entrance of the shed, peeking inside.
"'Tis full of things."
"It's been ten years since we started the bathhouse. It's quite a collection now."
"Mm. 'Tis true, seeing this and that brings back memories."
The shed held things they typically used such as axes, saws, and hammers, as well as things that guests had forgotten or left in their care, all on top of spare parts for fixing broken chairs and the like. They all gave meaning to these past ten years.
"This netting as well...Had we not used this as a cradle for Myuri?"
Holo brushed a dust-covered netting that hung from the ceiling with her finger as she smiled with her eyes.
It had not exactly been intended as a replacement for a cradle but something they put their daughter in when it was impossible to divert any attention from their work, mostly because they never knew what sort of trouble the overly energetic Myuri would get into if they left her alone.
| The months and days since then had flown by in a flash.
"She fit so well in such a small thing."
"Yeah, she's grown up fast." Lawrence sighed as he spoke, because once her height had doubled, her energy seemingly quadrupled. "Hmm, oh, right."
"Mm?"
"Myuri used to mess around in here sometimes. She might've just taken it to use in one of her pranks."
Holo looked at him in puzzlement at first, then chuckled.
"'Tis quite possible. I recall she was interested in making ointments at one time."
Their daughter had delighted in collecting grasses and mushrooms for her pet project, grinding the ingredients with rocks and rolling the paste into balls. For some reason, all the village children had been obsessed.
"She may have considered it too much work to put it away and buried it someplace on the mountain."
"...I'll ask her."
Lawrence's sigh was clear this time as he placed a hand on the door.
"Hey, I'm closing up now."
Holo had been staring curiously around the shed and turned toward him when he spoke.
Then, as she was about to exit as requested, her gaze suddenly fixed on a corner of the room.
"What's wrong?"
"Mmm...I feel as though I may recall something..."
Holo reached toward an assortment of small objects sitting on a wooden shelf. Coated as the items were in grime and mold, it was hard to distinguish them by shape alone. She took one from the shelf, brushed off some dust, and rubbed it against the hem of her clothes, revealing a small glass vial.
"Ahh, aye."
As she looked at the vial, the hint of a smile appeared on her face.
"This...It may be next to impossible to find the mill."
"Huh?"
Just as he was about to ask what she meant, Lawrence finally realized.
The corners of his mouth drew upward on their own. It was, of course, a wry smile.
"That's right, I remember now."
"You obtained this vial on our journey so long ago, yes? Did Myuri not find it here and press questions upon us with her usual curiosity?"
Holo placed her hand on the cork of the vial as she spoke.
And then she removed the lid on Lawrence's memories.
He had come across that vial during his second spring with Holo.
Traveling merchants were much like migratory birds. From the snowy, northern countries to the warm climes and blue seas of the south, their year was spent traveling in all directions. Unlike town-based traders, they were not tied to land or people, so it was rather easy to move freely. The one difficulty was the inability to make close friends, the unchanging fact that no matter where they went, they would forever be an outsider. Even after death, they simply rotted away in the village they happened to be passing through or by the roadside, unbeknownst to anyone. Though their destinations welcomed merchants, along with the cargo and business they brought, this did not mean friendship.
It was hard to tell comfort and loneliness apart.
That was why logic dictated he should find someone to sit beside him in the driver's perch to bury the nighttime loneliness. He would simply have to endure losing part of his comfort.
"Why do we head east?"
He heard a voice from behind. She had happily sat beside him in the driver's perch up until three days before, when her mood took a turn for the worse.
He knew the reason.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Lawrence spoke, still gripping the reins, not bothering to look back.
It was spring, and though the wind was still chilly, the sun grew stronger and stronger with each day. The two were passing through endless fields of tall grass. Lawrence sensed that Holo was sulking in the wagon. Her tail was likely puffed out wide in anger. He sighed, but not because he had grown irritated with her selfishness.
"I wish we could go west, too. We've been living on the road for three weeks now. I want to splurge on a room with a wool-stuffed bed and drink wine to my heart's content. I want to wake up late, eat lunch with the windows open, and lazily gaze out on lively town streets."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | The months and days since then had flown by in a flash.
"She fit so well in such a small thing."
"Yeah, she's grown up fast." Lawrence sighed as he spoke, because once her height had doubled, her energy seemingly quadrupled. "Hmm, oh, right."
"Mm?"
"Myuri used to mess around in here sometimes. She might've just taken it to use in one of her pranks."
Holo looked at him in puzzlement at first, then chuckled.
"'Tis quite possible. I recall she was interested in making ointments at one time."
Their daughter had delighted in collecting grasses and mushrooms for her pet project, grinding the ingredients with rocks and rolling the paste into balls. For some reason, all the village children had been obsessed.
"She may have considered it too much work to put it away and buried it someplace on the mountain."
"...I'll ask her."
Lawrence's sigh was clear this time as he placed a hand on the door.
"Hey, I'm closing up now."
Holo had been staring curiously around the shed and turned toward him when he spoke.
Then, as she was about to exit as requested, her gaze suddenly fixed on a corner of the room.
"What's wrong?"
"Mmm...I feel as though I may recall something..."
Holo reached toward an assortment of small objects sitting on a wooden shelf. Coated as the items were in grime and mold, it was hard to distinguish them by shape alone. She took one from the shelf, brushed off some dust, and rubbed it against the hem of her clothes, revealing a small glass vial.
"Ahh, aye."
As she looked at the vial, the hint of a smile appeared on her face.
"This...It may be next to impossible to find the mill."
"Huh?"
Just as he was about to ask what she meant, Lawrence finally realized.
The corners of his mouth drew upward on their own. It was, of course, a wry smile.
"That's right, I remember now."
"You obtained this vial on our journey so long ago, yes? Did Myuri not find it here and press questions upon us with her usual curiosity?"
Holo placed her hand on the cork of the vial as she spoke.
And then she removed the lid on Lawrence's memories.
He had come across that vial during his second spring with Holo.
Traveling merchants were much like migratory birds. From the snowy, northern countries to the warm climes and blue seas of the south, their year was spent traveling in all directions. Unlike town-based traders, they were not tied to land or people, so it was rather easy to move freely. The one difficulty was the inability to make close friends, the unchanging fact that no matter where they went, they would forever be an outsider. Even after death, they simply rotted away in the village they happened to be passing through or by the roadside, unbeknownst to anyone. Though their destinations welcomed merchants, along with the cargo and business they brought, this did not mean friendship.
It was hard to tell comfort and loneliness apart.
That was why logic dictated he should find someone to sit beside him in the driver's perch to bury the nighttime loneliness. He would simply have to endure losing part of his comfort.
"Why do we head east?"
He heard a voice from behind. She had happily sat beside him in the driver's perch up until three days before, when her mood took a turn for the worse.
He knew the reason.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Lawrence spoke, still gripping the reins, not bothering to look back.
It was spring, and though the wind was still chilly, the sun grew stronger and stronger with each day. The two were passing through endless fields of tall grass. Lawrence sensed that Holo was sulking in the wagon. Her tail was likely puffed out wide in anger. He sighed, but not because he had grown irritated with her selfishness.
"I wish we could go west, too. We've been living on the road for three weeks now. I want to splurge on a room with a wool-stuffed bed and drink wine to my heart's content. I want to wake up late, eat lunch with the windows open, and lazily gaze out on lively town streets."
| That was because Lawrence was a traveling merchant, and he had a client to meet.
"And you have tossed such important things aside all for a chance to make money!"
"That's right. I love gold. Oh, beautiful lumione!"
Lawrence's voice was loud and exaggerated, and he could hear Holo's groan behind him.
Holo also understood that there was nothing to be done about the situation, but it had probably been unwise for her to assume they would stop for a break in a town.
"But the abbot at a monastery who I have known for many years through peddling has asked me a favor, so I have no choice but to go. And he's asked me to check on an unlucky lamb who was suddenly called home to serve as a lord, even though it was his family who decided to place him in the monastery at a young age. Not only will we be able to get close to this new young lord, who's probably facing great hardship from his ignorance about earthly matters and totally unable to tell his left from his right, but we might even have a chance to help him! Any merchant would go, and those who wouldn't...are definitely not merchants."
After a number of adventures, he had promised Holo he would no longer accept big jobs that would put them in danger, but not only did he believe this did not fall into that category, it was also novel work with promising profits.
The only thing they needed to offer in compensation was to slightly delay their rest, but in return, they would make the acquaintance of a feudal lord, and that was profit enough.
Holo was reluctant, and though she should have understood by now, still she argued.
"You..."
That deep voice was proof of her displeasure. If Lawrence continued in this manner and truly angered Holo, she would most certainly not allow him to have her warm tail under the blanket while he slept that night.
Though it was spring, it was still cold sleeping outside.
"I know, I know. Know that I'll make it up to you."
***
There was no response, so he sighed before continuing.
"Though the place where we're heading is small, it's still the house of a lord. Look forward to the hospitality..."
He spoke only up to that point before tapering off because he suddenly felt a lukewarm breath on the nape of his neck.
Holo could discern people's lies with those wolf ears of hers.
It was child's play for her to gauge the substance of his words.
Before she had a chance to nip the back of his neck, he gave up and turned around.
"I get it. I promise. If we get to the lord's house and they give this traveling merchant the cold shoulder, then we'll go to a nearby town. We'll spend our money there."
Even if it was not a wool and silk bed, they could no doubt secure a room with a roof and a bed stuffed with straw in any town around the area. Then dinner would likely consist of fresh pork or chicken or, at the very least, a hodgepodge of seasonal vegetables and mushrooms. They had almost come far enough south to reach lands where grapes were harvested, so wine would also be available in great quantities.
"I wish to bid farewell to cold porridge and spoiled ale."
Holo glared at him with accusatory eyes and kept her gaze trained on him for a while.
Then, she finally sighed deeply and audibly exhaled through her nose.
"And you absolutely must bathe."
"Huh?"
Surprised, Lawrence unwittingly sniffed his own clothes. He thought for a moment that he was still perfectly fine, but he suddenly reached a conclusion. Perhaps the reason why Holo wished to stop and rest at a town was for this very reason.
"If you wish to use my tail for warmth in the cold evenings, then you must clean yourself a tad more. I shall not tolerate any mites or lice!"
Holo was devoted to caring for her tail. Much like how a mercenary reveled in maintaining a polished blade and steeled muscles, her tail was her pride.
So despite Holo doing all she could to put up with her traveling companion, who seemed as though bugs wafted from him even at that very moment, it was apparent that she was at her limit.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | That was because Lawrence was a traveling merchant, and he had a client to meet.
"And you have tossed such important things aside all for a chance to make money!"
"That's right. I love gold. Oh, beautiful lumione!"
Lawrence's voice was loud and exaggerated, and he could hear Holo's groan behind him.
Holo also understood that there was nothing to be done about the situation, but it had probably been unwise for her to assume they would stop for a break in a town.
"But the abbot at a monastery who I have known for many years through peddling has asked me a favor, so I have no choice but to go. And he's asked me to check on an unlucky lamb who was suddenly called home to serve as a lord, even though it was his family who decided to place him in the monastery at a young age. Not only will we be able to get close to this new young lord, who's probably facing great hardship from his ignorance about earthly matters and totally unable to tell his left from his right, but we might even have a chance to help him! Any merchant would go, and those who wouldn't...are definitely not merchants."
After a number of adventures, he had promised Holo he would no longer accept big jobs that would put them in danger, but not only did he believe this did not fall into that category, it was also novel work with promising profits.
The only thing they needed to offer in compensation was to slightly delay their rest, but in return, they would make the acquaintance of a feudal lord, and that was profit enough.
Holo was reluctant, and though she should have understood by now, still she argued.
"You..."
That deep voice was proof of her displeasure. If Lawrence continued in this manner and truly angered Holo, she would most certainly not allow him to have her warm tail under the blanket while he slept that night.
Though it was spring, it was still cold sleeping outside.
"I know, I know. Know that I'll make it up to you."
***
There was no response, so he sighed before continuing.
"Though the place where we're heading is small, it's still the house of a lord. Look forward to the hospitality..."
He spoke only up to that point before tapering off because he suddenly felt a lukewarm breath on the nape of his neck.
Holo could discern people's lies with those wolf ears of hers.
It was child's play for her to gauge the substance of his words.
Before she had a chance to nip the back of his neck, he gave up and turned around.
"I get it. I promise. If we get to the lord's house and they give this traveling merchant the cold shoulder, then we'll go to a nearby town. We'll spend our money there."
Even if it was not a wool and silk bed, they could no doubt secure a room with a roof and a bed stuffed with straw in any town around the area. Then dinner would likely consist of fresh pork or chicken or, at the very least, a hodgepodge of seasonal vegetables and mushrooms. They had almost come far enough south to reach lands where grapes were harvested, so wine would also be available in great quantities.
"I wish to bid farewell to cold porridge and spoiled ale."
Holo glared at him with accusatory eyes and kept her gaze trained on him for a while.
Then, she finally sighed deeply and audibly exhaled through her nose.
"And you absolutely must bathe."
"Huh?"
Surprised, Lawrence unwittingly sniffed his own clothes. He thought for a moment that he was still perfectly fine, but he suddenly reached a conclusion. Perhaps the reason why Holo wished to stop and rest at a town was for this very reason.
"If you wish to use my tail for warmth in the cold evenings, then you must clean yourself a tad more. I shall not tolerate any mites or lice!"
Holo was devoted to caring for her tail. Much like how a mercenary reveled in maintaining a polished blade and steeled muscles, her tail was her pride.
So despite Holo doing all she could to put up with her traveling companion, who seemed as though bugs wafted from him even at that very moment, it was apparent that she was at her limit.
| Lawrence tentatively fought back. He never minded when he was traveling by himself, but since he started traveling with Holo, he had given some effort to keep clean.
Holo, however, would be the judge of that.
"I always smell of sweet, fragrant flowers, but you simply never notice."
Her retort was issued while holding her hand to her nose. She certainly did smell faintly sweet all the time, but even Lawrence knew that trick.
"That's thanks to the oil you use on your tail. It was expensive, after all."
Holo glared hard at him.
"You fool. I have always smelled this way!"
"...If you say so."
There was no point in arguing, so he faced forward and gripped the reins again. Even if it was simply the oil she used, a soft, sweet scent borne by the breeze that tickled his nose, Lawrence did not mind so much.
Did her oil smell like this, though?
As he pondered, Holo sniffed a bit and looked around.
"Mm. Quite suddenly, I smell something sweet. Perhaps someone is baking?"
"No, this..."
He had started speaking when the road in the field took a sharp turn, and when he saw the land ahead, he understood.
"Aha."
Holo sounded surprised as she spoke her next words, and her reaction was wholly appropriate.
"How marvelous!"
Suddenly, as though a line had been drawn in the ground, the greenery changed into a purple carpet spreading out endlessly before them.
"There is, however...too much of a good thing..."
Though it did not bother Lawrence much, Holo, with her keen sense of smell, found it necessary to hold her nose as they traveled along the road that ran through the field of flowers.
There were also quite a number of bees, which must have been drawn to the heady scent.
After cautiously exiting the field of flowers and continuing beyond a creek where a dingy and tattered water mill spun creakily, Lawrence could finally see his destination. According to the information he had received ahead of time, the village they would soon reach was called Hadish.
He could tell immediately it was a small hamlet by the size of the lines that connected house to house. He was unsure whether it was true or not, but Lawrence had once heard that the paths in a village were made just wide enough to carry a coffin after someone has died. In places where no one would stand along the roadside to send off the deceased, the paths were so small that a wagon bed would stick out on either side.
What most drew his attention was the distance between houses.
"Perhaps the villagers here do not get on?"
Before meeting Lawrence, Holo had spent decades—even centuries—hiding in the wheat fields of a town called Pasloe, so she had a rather keen sense for figuring out the state of things in human settlements.
The homes in Hadish were so far apart that it would be impossible to see the face of a person standing in the doorway at the nearest house.
"But the roads are very clean, considering that. The grass is cut, and the dirt is hardened. There are also lots of chickens."
If the villagers did not get along, then there was no way chickens would be left to roam about as it would have led to quarrels regarding stealing or finding stolen livestock.
As he gazed at the village, a sweet scent riding on the breeze, the only word he could think of was peaceful.
"There must be a reason. It's odd that there's such a wide-open field, but they haven't cultivated much of it."
All cities surrounded with walls were overcrowded, and there were many who would carry a plow out to fertile land immediately if they had a chance.
"Perhaps the king here is wicked, and everyone has run off? Perhaps we should flee, too?"
Holo was still saying such things even after they had come this far.
"I don't think that's impossible, but according to the abbot, the person who took up the seat of the new lord is someone truly worthy of faith. I don't think he'd do anything cruel."
"...Hmph."
That being said, when Holo heard he was of good faith, she frowned.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Lawrence tentatively fought back. He never minded when he was traveling by himself, but since he started traveling with Holo, he had given some effort to keep clean.
Holo, however, would be the judge of that.
"I always smell of sweet, fragrant flowers, but you simply never notice."
Her retort was issued while holding her hand to her nose. She certainly did smell faintly sweet all the time, but even Lawrence knew that trick.
"That's thanks to the oil you use on your tail. It was expensive, after all."
Holo glared hard at him.
"You fool. I have always smelled this way!"
"...If you say so."
There was no point in arguing, so he faced forward and gripped the reins again. Even if it was simply the oil she used, a soft, sweet scent borne by the breeze that tickled his nose, Lawrence did not mind so much.
Did her oil smell like this, though?
As he pondered, Holo sniffed a bit and looked around.
"Mm. Quite suddenly, I smell something sweet. Perhaps someone is baking?"
"No, this..."
He had started speaking when the road in the field took a sharp turn, and when he saw the land ahead, he understood.
"Aha."
Holo sounded surprised as she spoke her next words, and her reaction was wholly appropriate.
"How marvelous!"
Suddenly, as though a line had been drawn in the ground, the greenery changed into a purple carpet spreading out endlessly before them.
"There is, however...too much of a good thing..."
Though it did not bother Lawrence much, Holo, with her keen sense of smell, found it necessary to hold her nose as they traveled along the road that ran through the field of flowers.
There were also quite a number of bees, which must have been drawn to the heady scent.
After cautiously exiting the field of flowers and continuing beyond a creek where a dingy and tattered water mill spun creakily, Lawrence could finally see his destination. According to the information he had received ahead of time, the village they would soon reach was called Hadish.
He could tell immediately it was a small hamlet by the size of the lines that connected house to house. He was unsure whether it was true or not, but Lawrence had once heard that the paths in a village were made just wide enough to carry a coffin after someone has died. In places where no one would stand along the roadside to send off the deceased, the paths were so small that a wagon bed would stick out on either side.
What most drew his attention was the distance between houses.
"Perhaps the villagers here do not get on?"
Before meeting Lawrence, Holo had spent decades—even centuries—hiding in the wheat fields of a town called Pasloe, so she had a rather keen sense for figuring out the state of things in human settlements.
The homes in Hadish were so far apart that it would be impossible to see the face of a person standing in the doorway at the nearest house.
"But the roads are very clean, considering that. The grass is cut, and the dirt is hardened. There are also lots of chickens."
If the villagers did not get along, then there was no way chickens would be left to roam about as it would have led to quarrels regarding stealing or finding stolen livestock.
As he gazed at the village, a sweet scent riding on the breeze, the only word he could think of was peaceful.
"There must be a reason. It's odd that there's such a wide-open field, but they haven't cultivated much of it."
All cities surrounded with walls were overcrowded, and there were many who would carry a plow out to fertile land immediately if they had a chance.
"Perhaps the king here is wicked, and everyone has run off? Perhaps we should flee, too?"
Holo was still saying such things even after they had come this far.
"I don't think that's impossible, but according to the abbot, the person who took up the seat of the new lord is someone truly worthy of faith. I don't think he'd do anything cruel."
"...Hmph."
That being said, when Holo heard he was of good faith, she frowned.
| A good monk was one who aimed to eat simple foods and adhered to the commandment of silence.
Of course, it was completely incompatible with Holo's morally lax lifestyle.
That was likely one reason she had been fussy for the past few days.
"If that is where we must go, then look, why not that house? There are onions and dried trout hanging from the eaves. There are chickens and pigs in the garden, and the soil in the vegetable plot is an earthy black."
Holo pointed to a building that gave the impression it would stay the same for a thousand years, topped by a short and stout straw-thatched roof that looked like a dog had rolled in it. Though they would likely receive scratchy straw beds to sleep on, it was certain that the food would be good. And since the locals could gather the ingredients straight from the fields, there was likely lots of drink as well.
"But not every monk who lives at an abbey is so straitlaced. Not to mention the kind of monastery that the houses of fine lords would visit, even the ones in poor, remote villages. I don't think they'd welcome nobles with roasted beans and onions."
And there was significance in staying at the house of a lord. That was because once permission to stay had been given, those guests would be allowed to stay again. That was how trust was built.
Lawrence explained as much, though Holo made a face that looked like she had swallowed a bug.
"And we're dealing with a young lord who has suddenly been cast out into the mortal world and is deeply troubled. If we manage this well, then I'm sure we'll get some help when we open a store."
He was aware that he sounded like he was merely considering loss and profits, but of course, he had no intention of letting this young lord deal with any losses.
If there were even one suspicious merchant hoping to take advantage of a new lord who was ignorant of market prices in the hope of making a quick coin, everyone would be sent away.
"You...! I have had enough!"
Holo finally became fed up and said one last thing before curling up in the wagon bed.
Though Lawrence thought her mood had cheered up considerably, she was still rather irritable from the fatigue of travel.
However, he felt like she had not been this way until they stopped over at the monastery. There was something odd about it—had she wanted to visit the towns in the west that badly?
As he wondered why, a large number of people appeared from the house Holo had pointed out.
At the front stood a short, bald old man, and there was a group of men who seemed to be the villagers. They all wore displeased expressions and were huddled near one another, talking. Among them were those who looked up to the heavens in exaggeration or those who shook their heads strongly.
Then, they all looked inside the house.
"Holo."
Quietly, Lawrence called her name over his shoulder. Though she was balled up in the back of the wagon, her ears would be able to hear what they were saying. Even Holo knew that if there were quarrels happening in the place they were headed, then it would be best to have a grasp of them.
"Hmph."
However, the only response she gave was a huff from her nose. Surprised that Holo was in such a foul mood, Lawrence turned around, but at the same moment, the people waiting outside the house finally noticed they were there.
Feeling their eyes on him, he faced forward again, and they were indeed staring at him.
"Hello."
Lawrence greeted them after stopping the wagon an appropriate distance away.
"I see everyone's gathered together. Talks about the spring festival, perhaps?"
He spoke with a smile, as though signaling he was an idiot who had not grasped a single hint of the tension hanging in the air.
The villagers exchanged glances in hesitation, and the small old man finally looked his way.
"A traveling merchant, I see. Our village's festival is in the summer."
He showed him a cheerful, insincere smile. It seemed this old man was the village head.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | A good monk was one who aimed to eat simple foods and adhered to the commandment of silence.
Of course, it was completely incompatible with Holo's morally lax lifestyle.
That was likely one reason she had been fussy for the past few days.
"If that is where we must go, then look, why not that house? There are onions and dried trout hanging from the eaves. There are chickens and pigs in the garden, and the soil in the vegetable plot is an earthy black."
Holo pointed to a building that gave the impression it would stay the same for a thousand years, topped by a short and stout straw-thatched roof that looked like a dog had rolled in it. Though they would likely receive scratchy straw beds to sleep on, it was certain that the food would be good. And since the locals could gather the ingredients straight from the fields, there was likely lots of drink as well.
"But not every monk who lives at an abbey is so straitlaced. Not to mention the kind of monastery that the houses of fine lords would visit, even the ones in poor, remote villages. I don't think they'd welcome nobles with roasted beans and onions."
And there was significance in staying at the house of a lord. That was because once permission to stay had been given, those guests would be allowed to stay again. That was how trust was built.
Lawrence explained as much, though Holo made a face that looked like she had swallowed a bug.
"And we're dealing with a young lord who has suddenly been cast out into the mortal world and is deeply troubled. If we manage this well, then I'm sure we'll get some help when we open a store."
He was aware that he sounded like he was merely considering loss and profits, but of course, he had no intention of letting this young lord deal with any losses.
If there were even one suspicious merchant hoping to take advantage of a new lord who was ignorant of market prices in the hope of making a quick coin, everyone would be sent away.
"You...! I have had enough!"
Holo finally became fed up and said one last thing before curling up in the wagon bed.
Though Lawrence thought her mood had cheered up considerably, she was still rather irritable from the fatigue of travel.
However, he felt like she had not been this way until they stopped over at the monastery. There was something odd about it—had she wanted to visit the towns in the west that badly?
As he wondered why, a large number of people appeared from the house Holo had pointed out.
At the front stood a short, bald old man, and there was a group of men who seemed to be the villagers. They all wore displeased expressions and were huddled near one another, talking. Among them were those who looked up to the heavens in exaggeration or those who shook their heads strongly.
Then, they all looked inside the house.
"Holo."
Quietly, Lawrence called her name over his shoulder. Though she was balled up in the back of the wagon, her ears would be able to hear what they were saying. Even Holo knew that if there were quarrels happening in the place they were headed, then it would be best to have a grasp of them.
"Hmph."
However, the only response she gave was a huff from her nose. Surprised that Holo was in such a foul mood, Lawrence turned around, but at the same moment, the people waiting outside the house finally noticed they were there.
Feeling their eyes on him, he faced forward again, and they were indeed staring at him.
"Hello."
Lawrence greeted them after stopping the wagon an appropriate distance away.
"I see everyone's gathered together. Talks about the spring festival, perhaps?"
He spoke with a smile, as though signaling he was an idiot who had not grasped a single hint of the tension hanging in the air.
The villagers exchanged glances in hesitation, and the small old man finally looked his way.
"A traveling merchant, I see. Our village's festival is in the summer."
He showed him a cheerful, insincere smile. It seemed this old man was the village head.
| "Yes, I typically make my rounds on merchant routes more north of here, but I've been asked a favor."
"A favor?"
"I've heard the ruling lord here is new and has recently taken over. An old acquaintance has asked me to give respects in his stead."
The moment he mentioned the lord, the people behind the village head exchanged meaningful glances.
It seemed that though they should be busy farming during this time of year, they were gathered during the day because of the lord.
"Oh ho. So you mean the abbey our lord is from?"
"Yes. By orders of the abbot there."
He did not know for what reason the villagers were standing up against the landlord, but for now, he pretended that he did not notice. He supported his story that he had simply come to fulfill his favor with a clueless smile.
"And so, would you be able to tell me where the lord's manor is?"
Unlike city nobles who lived within walls, it was difficult for outsiders to tell where country lords resided. Either way, after Lawrence asked with the intention of learning the way there, the village head glanced back over his shoulder at the people behind him.
"Well, you have perfect timing," he said, and the villagers loitering outside the house quickly parted for the entrance. "The landlord just happens to be here in this house on business. I shall mention you."
Passing between the villagers, the village head entered the house.
He returned before long with a person following behind him.
"This is the merchant."
The village head motioned with his hand to the person standing behind him—a large man of towering height, wide shoulders, and deep chest. With power reminiscent of a wild ram, his puffed beard reached all the way down to his chest, and it almost looked as though his upper arms had legs growing out of them. Though his clothes were hemmed with fur as a display of authority, he looked like nothing so much as a bandit leader.
Of course, there were a number of sturdy monks, and there were many who had old-looking features.
However, no matter how Lawrence looked at it, the man before him seemed over fifty, and the thickness of his fingers and the shape of his fingernails clearly showed years of labor.
Was this the lost little lamb who was suddenly called home from the monastery and placed in the seat of landlord that the abbot talked about?
The man's eyes moved with a vigor that almost seemed to make a sound, and he peered at Lawrence from above.
As Lawrence stood, shocked, at a loss for words, the man suddenly turned around and moved to the side.
"Huh?"
Then, appearing from behind him was a lady with a neat face, her red hair tied back in a low bun.
"Are you the messenger from Ivan Abbey?"
There was almost no embroidery on her long robe, and though it was simple, he could tell it was beautifully woven linen. The pendant hanging from her neck was a tear-shaped piece of amber.
More importantly, the large man beside her bowed to her stiffly.
And so, though the answer was obvious, it was all so sudden that the words inside Lawrence's head did not quite string together.
"Is something the matter?"
Her question snapped him back to reality. This person was the landlord.
Typically, it was the eldest son who inherited the family estate, but if there was no one else, then such situations were possible. And then Lawrence finally remembered—as it was a monastery he had been dealing with for a long time, it had completely slipped his mind. As earthly persons could not enter the building proper, he and the abbot always held their conversations outside, so he never quite registered it in his mind, but the proper name for the place was:
The Saint Isiodorus Brotherhood Ivan Girls Abbey.
A family sending off their daughter to a monastery was a means of keeping their inheritance rights from leaving their control and a way for noble families who could not prepare dowries to rid themselves of a nuisance.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Yes, I typically make my rounds on merchant routes more north of here, but I've been asked a favor."
"A favor?"
"I've heard the ruling lord here is new and has recently taken over. An old acquaintance has asked me to give respects in his stead."
The moment he mentioned the lord, the people behind the village head exchanged meaningful glances.
It seemed that though they should be busy farming during this time of year, they were gathered during the day because of the lord.
"Oh ho. So you mean the abbey our lord is from?"
"Yes. By orders of the abbot there."
He did not know for what reason the villagers were standing up against the landlord, but for now, he pretended that he did not notice. He supported his story that he had simply come to fulfill his favor with a clueless smile.
"And so, would you be able to tell me where the lord's manor is?"
Unlike city nobles who lived within walls, it was difficult for outsiders to tell where country lords resided. Either way, after Lawrence asked with the intention of learning the way there, the village head glanced back over his shoulder at the people behind him.
"Well, you have perfect timing," he said, and the villagers loitering outside the house quickly parted for the entrance. "The landlord just happens to be here in this house on business. I shall mention you."
Passing between the villagers, the village head entered the house.
He returned before long with a person following behind him.
"This is the merchant."
The village head motioned with his hand to the person standing behind him—a large man of towering height, wide shoulders, and deep chest. With power reminiscent of a wild ram, his puffed beard reached all the way down to his chest, and it almost looked as though his upper arms had legs growing out of them. Though his clothes were hemmed with fur as a display of authority, he looked like nothing so much as a bandit leader.
Of course, there were a number of sturdy monks, and there were many who had old-looking features.
However, no matter how Lawrence looked at it, the man before him seemed over fifty, and the thickness of his fingers and the shape of his fingernails clearly showed years of labor.
Was this the lost little lamb who was suddenly called home from the monastery and placed in the seat of landlord that the abbot talked about?
The man's eyes moved with a vigor that almost seemed to make a sound, and he peered at Lawrence from above.
As Lawrence stood, shocked, at a loss for words, the man suddenly turned around and moved to the side.
"Huh?"
Then, appearing from behind him was a lady with a neat face, her red hair tied back in a low bun.
"Are you the messenger from Ivan Abbey?"
There was almost no embroidery on her long robe, and though it was simple, he could tell it was beautifully woven linen. The pendant hanging from her neck was a tear-shaped piece of amber.
More importantly, the large man beside her bowed to her stiffly.
And so, though the answer was obvious, it was all so sudden that the words inside Lawrence's head did not quite string together.
"Is something the matter?"
Her question snapped him back to reality. This person was the landlord.
Typically, it was the eldest son who inherited the family estate, but if there was no one else, then such situations were possible. And then Lawrence finally remembered—as it was a monastery he had been dealing with for a long time, it had completely slipped his mind. As earthly persons could not enter the building proper, he and the abbot always held their conversations outside, so he never quite registered it in his mind, but the proper name for the place was:
The Saint Isiodorus Brotherhood Ivan Girls Abbey.
A family sending off their daughter to a monastery was a means of keeping their inheritance rights from leaving their control and a way for noble families who could not prepare dowries to rid themselves of a nuisance.
| And then Lawrence finally understood why Holo had been in such a bad mood since leaving the monastery.
"Oh no, my apologies."
Lawrence stood up straight and retrieved the abbot's letter from his chest pocket.
"This is from the abbot."
The lady—perhaps it was even possible to call her a girl—moved to accept the paper. It was clear that she did not know how to act as a lady as she moved to take it directly from his hands.
Her slender fingers, which looked as though they would redden from simply peeling kidney beans from their pods, extended toward the letter, but thick hands that could probably break rocks obstructed her. The girl seemed surprised, but Lawrence was not. Those of high status did not take things directly from strangers of humble birth.
"Th-thank...you."
She took the letter from the big man, who would more appropriately be called an attendant than a manservant in all likelihood. Then she donned a vague expression of thanks that made it unclear whether she intended it for Lawrence or the towering figure.
However, since she had been in an abbey, there was no hesitation in her hands as she opened the letter, and she read quickly. The abbot must have written something nice as a smile slowly spread across her face with an innocence that gave him the impression of reading the scripture in a sunny garden.
The abbot was a man who had been so stingy with his prices that most town merchants had given up doing business with him. It got to the point where he had to trust the delivery of the abbey's goods to a traveling merchant who would work for the slightest of profits. But even so, he was still the kind to be worried and concerned.
Lawrence looked at the neat features and brown eyes of this young lady and quietly held his breath.
Holo had been angry about this the entire time.
Since it was a women's abbey, he should have noticed right away that it was a young girl who returned home. If anything, it would have been odd if she were not angry when she saw how motivated he was to come see her.
He had sat and trampled on her tail without even noticing.
He glanced back at Holo, who was pretending to be cargo on the wagon bed, and when he thought about what they were going to do afterward, his heart sank.
"Mr....Lawrence?"
The sound of his name suddenly returned him to reality.
"Yes."
It seemed the young landlady had found his name in the letter.
"I am Kraft Lawrence. I am a traveling merchant. I have known the abbot for a long time."
"Which means you are the one to thank for such delicious bread at the abbey."
She spoke kindly and a soft smile appeared on her face. The large man beside her did not even blink, and Lawrence was painfully aware of how he stared, the sharp gaze overpowering him.
The girl, however, was an innocent youth who had come straight from an abbey.
"What makes bread delicious are the hands of a baker and the blessings of God."
He responded modestly, and the young lady chuckled.
"That may be true, but the letter says that you have a traveling companion."
He could see her young eyes looking nervously at the cart, and he almost wanted to laugh.
"Please forgive her rudeness, but she is lying down in the back of the wagon. It seems the long journey has taken its toll."
"Oh, well then."
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she began quickly folding the letter.
"Now, please come to the house."
Her expression was so serious it almost made him regret telling that lie.
"But it seemed you were in the middle of something important, my lady."
After Lawrence spoke, the redheaded girl hurriedly looked around her, but her expression suddenly changed to show a sad smile.
"No...We're done for now."
When she said that, out of the corner of his eye, he could see several villagers drop their shoulders in defeat. The young ruler handed the folded letter to the large man, excused herself, and stood before the village head, who was watching over the exchange.
"Let us continue discussing this at a later date."
"As you wish."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | And then Lawrence finally understood why Holo had been in such a bad mood since leaving the monastery.
"Oh no, my apologies."
Lawrence stood up straight and retrieved the abbot's letter from his chest pocket.
"This is from the abbot."
The lady—perhaps it was even possible to call her a girl—moved to accept the paper. It was clear that she did not know how to act as a lady as she moved to take it directly from his hands.
Her slender fingers, which looked as though they would redden from simply peeling kidney beans from their pods, extended toward the letter, but thick hands that could probably break rocks obstructed her. The girl seemed surprised, but Lawrence was not. Those of high status did not take things directly from strangers of humble birth.
"Th-thank...you."
She took the letter from the big man, who would more appropriately be called an attendant than a manservant in all likelihood. Then she donned a vague expression of thanks that made it unclear whether she intended it for Lawrence or the towering figure.
However, since she had been in an abbey, there was no hesitation in her hands as she opened the letter, and she read quickly. The abbot must have written something nice as a smile slowly spread across her face with an innocence that gave him the impression of reading the scripture in a sunny garden.
The abbot was a man who had been so stingy with his prices that most town merchants had given up doing business with him. It got to the point where he had to trust the delivery of the abbey's goods to a traveling merchant who would work for the slightest of profits. But even so, he was still the kind to be worried and concerned.
Lawrence looked at the neat features and brown eyes of this young lady and quietly held his breath.
Holo had been angry about this the entire time.
Since it was a women's abbey, he should have noticed right away that it was a young girl who returned home. If anything, it would have been odd if she were not angry when she saw how motivated he was to come see her.
He had sat and trampled on her tail without even noticing.
He glanced back at Holo, who was pretending to be cargo on the wagon bed, and when he thought about what they were going to do afterward, his heart sank.
"Mr....Lawrence?"
The sound of his name suddenly returned him to reality.
"Yes."
It seemed the young landlady had found his name in the letter.
"I am Kraft Lawrence. I am a traveling merchant. I have known the abbot for a long time."
"Which means you are the one to thank for such delicious bread at the abbey."
She spoke kindly and a soft smile appeared on her face. The large man beside her did not even blink, and Lawrence was painfully aware of how he stared, the sharp gaze overpowering him.
The girl, however, was an innocent youth who had come straight from an abbey.
"What makes bread delicious are the hands of a baker and the blessings of God."
He responded modestly, and the young lady chuckled.
"That may be true, but the letter says that you have a traveling companion."
He could see her young eyes looking nervously at the cart, and he almost wanted to laugh.
"Please forgive her rudeness, but she is lying down in the back of the wagon. It seems the long journey has taken its toll."
"Oh, well then."
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she began quickly folding the letter.
"Now, please come to the house."
Her expression was so serious it almost made him regret telling that lie.
"But it seemed you were in the middle of something important, my lady."
After Lawrence spoke, the redheaded girl hurriedly looked around her, but her expression suddenly changed to show a sad smile.
"No...We're done for now."
When she said that, out of the corner of his eye, he could see several villagers drop their shoulders in defeat. The young ruler handed the folded letter to the large man, excused herself, and stood before the village head, who was watching over the exchange.
"Let us continue discussing this at a later date."
"As you wish."
| It was uncertain if the landlady had noticed, but she prompted Lawrence to follow her and walked off. It seemed she would be returning to the house on foot. Perhaps she had never learned how to ride horses. Lawrence jumped onto the driver's perch, gripped the reins, and followed the large man, who walked perfectly behind her and slightly to the side. Lawrence turned around, and he saw that the villagers seemed thoroughly defeated as they reentered the village head's house. The village head saw Lawrence and the others off for a while before finally going inside himself.
What could they have possibly been arguing about?
As he wondered what was going on, he faced forward again, only to see the girl had turned around to stare at him while she walked ahead.
"Do you want to know?" she asked with a troubled smile.
Lawrence hesitated for a moment but then decided to go with it.
"The abbot instructed me to help you, my lady."
The same should have been written in the letter.
The girl he called "my lady" stopped walking, the troubled smile still on her face.
"Please don't call me that."
"Then what am I to call you?"
With a short cry of surprise, the girl placed her hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry. I haven't introduced myself yet."
She cleared her throat, placed her hand on her chest, and spoke.
"I am Amalie Draustem-Hadish, the seventh lord of this land." And in a quiet, embarrassed voice, she added, "I still can't believe it, though."
Since Amalie had been put into the abbey, which meant the previous lord had had a proper male heir to inherit, there must have been some sort of accident that had resulted in the simultaneous loss of both the previous lord and his son.
It was not because Amalie was a resilient girl that she seemed unfazed by their loss. It was likely the truth that she had been left in the abbey for as long as she could remember.
"Then, Lady Draustem?"
"They called me Amalie at the abbey."
It seemed she was not fond of her grandiose family name.
But when he glanced at the large man, just to make sure if it was all right to call a landlady by her first name, the response was a look of resignation. It seemed there had already been an argument between this taciturn vassal and Amalie.
"Then, Lady Amalie."
"Lady is too formal..."
"Lady Amalie."
The large man spoke for the first time since Lawrence had arrived, drawing Amalie's gaze toward him. Apparently this was the point of compromise between them. She nodded reluctantly.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"No, the pleasure is all mine."
Lawrence dipped his head reverently.
"So the abbot has instructed me to be your pen in this world, Lady Amalie."
Her sword was that large man.
Amalie began walking again and gave a clear sigh.
"Ha...Well, it's quite the regrettable story."
She broached the subject, and as they made their way to the house, she told Lawrence about the dispute, which was roundabout, and though it had not quite yet reached a conclusion, it ended up being rather simple.
The Draustem family estate was less of a manor and more of a luxurious farmhouse.
Lord was not much more than a title for those who only governed poor villages, since they, too, had to work diligently in the fields for a living. The Draustem family had a stable and a sheepfold, and they kept some fish in a small pond, while chickens and pigs nibbled at grass in the courtyard. The large man was likely the one taking care of all this.
As simple as it was, the estate was very well taken care of and it appeared a comfortable place to live.
Had this been a fort or small castle built on a hill, then the landlord, his family, and their servants would have been crammed together into very tight quarters. The number of people who could live comfortably as lords was overwhelmingly small.
When they arrived at the house, the large man named Yergin, who was Amalie's vassal, prepared the guest room.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | It was uncertain if the landlady had noticed, but she prompted Lawrence to follow her and walked off. It seemed she would be returning to the house on foot. Perhaps she had never learned how to ride horses. Lawrence jumped onto the driver's perch, gripped the reins, and followed the large man, who walked perfectly behind her and slightly to the side. Lawrence turned around, and he saw that the villagers seemed thoroughly defeated as they reentered the village head's house. The village head saw Lawrence and the others off for a while before finally going inside himself.
What could they have possibly been arguing about?
As he wondered what was going on, he faced forward again, only to see the girl had turned around to stare at him while she walked ahead.
"Do you want to know?" she asked with a troubled smile.
Lawrence hesitated for a moment but then decided to go with it.
"The abbot instructed me to help you, my lady."
The same should have been written in the letter.
The girl he called "my lady" stopped walking, the troubled smile still on her face.
"Please don't call me that."
"Then what am I to call you?"
With a short cry of surprise, the girl placed her hand over her mouth.
"I'm sorry. I haven't introduced myself yet."
She cleared her throat, placed her hand on her chest, and spoke.
"I am Amalie Draustem-Hadish, the seventh lord of this land." And in a quiet, embarrassed voice, she added, "I still can't believe it, though."
Since Amalie had been put into the abbey, which meant the previous lord had had a proper male heir to inherit, there must have been some sort of accident that had resulted in the simultaneous loss of both the previous lord and his son.
It was not because Amalie was a resilient girl that she seemed unfazed by their loss. It was likely the truth that she had been left in the abbey for as long as she could remember.
"Then, Lady Draustem?"
"They called me Amalie at the abbey."
It seemed she was not fond of her grandiose family name.
But when he glanced at the large man, just to make sure if it was all right to call a landlady by her first name, the response was a look of resignation. It seemed there had already been an argument between this taciturn vassal and Amalie.
"Then, Lady Amalie."
"Lady is too formal..."
"Lady Amalie."
The large man spoke for the first time since Lawrence had arrived, drawing Amalie's gaze toward him. Apparently this was the point of compromise between them. She nodded reluctantly.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"No, the pleasure is all mine."
Lawrence dipped his head reverently.
"So the abbot has instructed me to be your pen in this world, Lady Amalie."
Her sword was that large man.
Amalie began walking again and gave a clear sigh.
"Ha...Well, it's quite the regrettable story."
She broached the subject, and as they made their way to the house, she told Lawrence about the dispute, which was roundabout, and though it had not quite yet reached a conclusion, it ended up being rather simple.
The Draustem family estate was less of a manor and more of a luxurious farmhouse.
Lord was not much more than a title for those who only governed poor villages, since they, too, had to work diligently in the fields for a living. The Draustem family had a stable and a sheepfold, and they kept some fish in a small pond, while chickens and pigs nibbled at grass in the courtyard. The large man was likely the one taking care of all this.
As simple as it was, the estate was very well taken care of and it appeared a comfortable place to live.
Had this been a fort or small castle built on a hill, then the landlord, his family, and their servants would have been crammed together into very tight quarters. The number of people who could live comfortably as lords was overwhelmingly small.
When they arrived at the house, the large man named Yergin, who was Amalie's vassal, prepared the guest room.
| They were led to a room common for the countryside, with a dirt floor and exposed roof beams, but it was clean, and the straw in the bed was fresh. For Lawrence's body, which was used to the hard wagon bed, it was enough to feel luxurious.
"Hmm. Now we can relax a bit."
When they arrived at the house, Holo finally emerged from the wagon bed, and Amalie was happy to see her dressed as a nun but disappointed when she learned the outfit was only a means to an end for their journey.
It seemed this landlady was still thinking about the abbey.
On the other hand, due to the morals she had cultivated at the abbey, Amalie was a bit apprehensive about placing Lawrence and Holo in the same room. So he told her that once he was finished working as a traveling merchant, they were planning on opening a store and getting married.
It was not a lie, but it felt like one since it did not seem real for some reason, and perhaps he was expecting Holo's mood to improve once he said this.
After they had been led into the room (but before Lawrence could set down any luggage), Holo collapsed onto the bed.
Then she finally talked to him.
"You fool."
Lawrence packed their things into the long chest in the room and turned back to her.
"You will go anywhere to aid helpless females, will you not?"
The nuance in her words was less "softhearted" and more "cheater."
"No, actually..."
Lawrence was about to make an excuse when Holo buried her face into the pillow and heaved a long sigh before glancing sideways at him.
"Silence."
He had no choice but to do what he was told.
Lawrence obediently closed his mouth, and Holo took a deep breath and rustled her tail under her robe. Her expression was more exasperated than angry.
"Sigh...I was displeased by what an inattentive idiot you are, but to think that you were actually a fool who did not notice the ruler of this land was female in the first place!"
It seemed she had completely noticed his surprise when he saw that the girl who appeared from the village head's house was the landlord.
"You are an extraordinary idiot."
"I assumed the landlord would be a man."
Lawrence gave his response, and Holo turned the opposite way in a huff.
However, that was not rejection but something else entirely.
Unwilling to give up, he sighed, then sat down on a corner of the bed that Holo was lying on.
"I had no idea that was why you were in such a bad mood."
***
Holo did not look at him, but the wolf ears on her exposed head were facing him. The triangular ears of the wisewolf could hear the ring of any lie being told.
After moving her ears this way and that for a bit, she slowly turned to face him again.
"Hmph. Why would I be in a bad mood? You are not bold enough to cheat on me, not to mention, you are not handsome enough to attract other females."
They were meant to be harsh words, but Lawrence desperately held back a laugh.
Holo had been jealous over Lawrence's apparent eagerness to head toward Hadish in aid of an ignorant girl who had been suddenly called home from a girls' abbey. Though there was likely nothing between them, he must have seemed oddly worried about this female ruler.
On the other hand, the very same Lawrence had not even considered the possibility that the landlord would be a lady.
Her verbal barb had been the result of experiencing such unnecessary anxiety.
Of course, it was cute.
Lawrence reached out to Holo's head and ran his fingers through her soft, flaxen-colored hair.
"That may be true."
The only one who would spend this much time with him was the bighearted wisewolf.
Even if he saw through her facade, no matter how much of an act she put on, that appearance was what counted.
"But you might like watching me gallantly saving troubled girls, huh?"
Her ears twitched as he stroked her head, and she smiled with her eyes closed.
"...Fool."
Though she was not entirely happy with this detour, she did not stubbornly oppose it, likely for this reason.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | They were led to a room common for the countryside, with a dirt floor and exposed roof beams, but it was clean, and the straw in the bed was fresh. For Lawrence's body, which was used to the hard wagon bed, it was enough to feel luxurious.
"Hmm. Now we can relax a bit."
When they arrived at the house, Holo finally emerged from the wagon bed, and Amalie was happy to see her dressed as a nun but disappointed when she learned the outfit was only a means to an end for their journey.
It seemed this landlady was still thinking about the abbey.
On the other hand, due to the morals she had cultivated at the abbey, Amalie was a bit apprehensive about placing Lawrence and Holo in the same room. So he told her that once he was finished working as a traveling merchant, they were planning on opening a store and getting married.
It was not a lie, but it felt like one since it did not seem real for some reason, and perhaps he was expecting Holo's mood to improve once he said this.
After they had been led into the room (but before Lawrence could set down any luggage), Holo collapsed onto the bed.
Then she finally talked to him.
"You fool."
Lawrence packed their things into the long chest in the room and turned back to her.
"You will go anywhere to aid helpless females, will you not?"
The nuance in her words was less "softhearted" and more "cheater."
"No, actually..."
Lawrence was about to make an excuse when Holo buried her face into the pillow and heaved a long sigh before glancing sideways at him.
"Silence."
He had no choice but to do what he was told.
Lawrence obediently closed his mouth, and Holo took a deep breath and rustled her tail under her robe. Her expression was more exasperated than angry.
"Sigh...I was displeased by what an inattentive idiot you are, but to think that you were actually a fool who did not notice the ruler of this land was female in the first place!"
It seemed she had completely noticed his surprise when he saw that the girl who appeared from the village head's house was the landlord.
"You are an extraordinary idiot."
"I assumed the landlord would be a man."
Lawrence gave his response, and Holo turned the opposite way in a huff.
However, that was not rejection but something else entirely.
Unwilling to give up, he sighed, then sat down on a corner of the bed that Holo was lying on.
"I had no idea that was why you were in such a bad mood."
***
Holo did not look at him, but the wolf ears on her exposed head were facing him. The triangular ears of the wisewolf could hear the ring of any lie being told.
After moving her ears this way and that for a bit, she slowly turned to face him again.
"Hmph. Why would I be in a bad mood? You are not bold enough to cheat on me, not to mention, you are not handsome enough to attract other females."
They were meant to be harsh words, but Lawrence desperately held back a laugh.
Holo had been jealous over Lawrence's apparent eagerness to head toward Hadish in aid of an ignorant girl who had been suddenly called home from a girls' abbey. Though there was likely nothing between them, he must have seemed oddly worried about this female ruler.
On the other hand, the very same Lawrence had not even considered the possibility that the landlord would be a lady.
Her verbal barb had been the result of experiencing such unnecessary anxiety.
Of course, it was cute.
Lawrence reached out to Holo's head and ran his fingers through her soft, flaxen-colored hair.
"That may be true."
The only one who would spend this much time with him was the bighearted wisewolf.
Even if he saw through her facade, no matter how much of an act she put on, that appearance was what counted.
"But you might like watching me gallantly saving troubled girls, huh?"
Her ears twitched as he stroked her head, and she smiled with her eyes closed.
"...Fool."
Though she was not entirely happy with this detour, she did not stubbornly oppose it, likely for this reason.
| More confidently, he also thought that Holo would find him more attractive.
If he said that out loud, she would laugh at him and drag him through the dirt, but then in the end, she would look at him with eyes filled with expectation. And if he did well, she would praise him.
Her rustling tail had finally fallen silent.
It was quiet for a few moments.
Lawrence leaned over to kiss Holo on the cheek, but her hands suddenly flew up and landed on both sides of his face, holding him there.
"Bathe first."
She then thrust him aside.
"...Is it really that bad?"
Lawrence sniffed his clothes, but he really could not tell.
But if the princess said so, then he had to obey.
"And you have work to do. It all seemed rather troublesome. Will you be all right? I shall not allow you to endanger yourself around me, aye?"
Despite sulking in the wagon bed, she had clearly heard everything.
But if he mentioned it, she would definitely get mad and refuse to let him hug her tail during the night.
"Your powers could solve this instantly."
Holo snorted at his declaration, hugging the pillow.
"I am not a dog."
Lawrence shrugged and stood up.
"Finding a hand mill itself isn't hard."
The argument with the villagers that Amalie had explained on the way was essentially about money, starting with the repairs of the water mill.
The structure had been neglected for a long time, and after they called on a repairman, it turned out the work would require quite a lot of money. Though it never really functioned well, it fell apart completely after being neglected in the confusion of the sudden succession. In reality, the mill belonged to the ones who owned the land, but the Draustem family did not have enough funds to repair it on their own. And since it was operated by the fees the villagers paid when they used it, Amalie took Yergin's advice and came to a very logical solution: collect installation costs from the villagers.
Of course, many villagers objected. Not all of them relied on the water mill to the same extent. The ones who would gain from the installation of the water mill would be the families who owned extensive fields and those with lots of sheep.
Or perhaps, it would be easier for households without young workers to use the water mill by paying money. Even the Draustem family themselves needed the water mill, as they collected wheat as taxes and land usage fees.
On the other hand, what was left over from the fees to use the water mill would not be added to the Draustem family coffers, but instead go toward mending bridges and fixing roads. So until recently, it was a rule that the villagers used the water mill when grinding their wheat into flour.
However, from the perspective of the villagers, whose precious coin would be collected, they wanted to avoid using the mill if they could.
And so, since the time of the previous landlord, the villagers secretly produced hand mills so that they would not have to use the water mill.
Amalie went into direct negotiations to resolve the situation.
"If those hand mills or whatnot are the reason why they refrain from using the water mill, then 'tis logical to retrieve them, but...Hmm, how shall I say this?"
"Precisely. You're earnest."
"Unlike you."
He looked at Holo, and he found a smile beaming on her tilted head.
"You are soft—'tis a compliment."
Her teasing was proof that she was in a better mood, so he simply left it at that with a shrug.
"So do you plan to help this little girl?"
"I do. The reason why is Miss Amalie. But..."
"But?"
"You heard, too, didn't you? The water mill catches fire almost every year."
It was the biggest factor in why Amalie's explanation was somewhat hard to understand and a key reason the villagers were so opposed to her plan.
"I cannot believe it so readily."
The water mill was built on a river, and water flowed through the river. And as long as there were no candles around it at night, there was almost no danger of accidental fires.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | More confidently, he also thought that Holo would find him more attractive.
If he said that out loud, she would laugh at him and drag him through the dirt, but then in the end, she would look at him with eyes filled with expectation. And if he did well, she would praise him.
Her rustling tail had finally fallen silent.
It was quiet for a few moments.
Lawrence leaned over to kiss Holo on the cheek, but her hands suddenly flew up and landed on both sides of his face, holding him there.
"Bathe first."
She then thrust him aside.
"...Is it really that bad?"
Lawrence sniffed his clothes, but he really could not tell.
But if the princess said so, then he had to obey.
"And you have work to do. It all seemed rather troublesome. Will you be all right? I shall not allow you to endanger yourself around me, aye?"
Despite sulking in the wagon bed, she had clearly heard everything.
But if he mentioned it, she would definitely get mad and refuse to let him hug her tail during the night.
"Your powers could solve this instantly."
Holo snorted at his declaration, hugging the pillow.
"I am not a dog."
Lawrence shrugged and stood up.
"Finding a hand mill itself isn't hard."
The argument with the villagers that Amalie had explained on the way was essentially about money, starting with the repairs of the water mill.
The structure had been neglected for a long time, and after they called on a repairman, it turned out the work would require quite a lot of money. Though it never really functioned well, it fell apart completely after being neglected in the confusion of the sudden succession. In reality, the mill belonged to the ones who owned the land, but the Draustem family did not have enough funds to repair it on their own. And since it was operated by the fees the villagers paid when they used it, Amalie took Yergin's advice and came to a very logical solution: collect installation costs from the villagers.
Of course, many villagers objected. Not all of them relied on the water mill to the same extent. The ones who would gain from the installation of the water mill would be the families who owned extensive fields and those with lots of sheep.
Or perhaps, it would be easier for households without young workers to use the water mill by paying money. Even the Draustem family themselves needed the water mill, as they collected wheat as taxes and land usage fees.
On the other hand, what was left over from the fees to use the water mill would not be added to the Draustem family coffers, but instead go toward mending bridges and fixing roads. So until recently, it was a rule that the villagers used the water mill when grinding their wheat into flour.
However, from the perspective of the villagers, whose precious coin would be collected, they wanted to avoid using the mill if they could.
And so, since the time of the previous landlord, the villagers secretly produced hand mills so that they would not have to use the water mill.
Amalie went into direct negotiations to resolve the situation.
"If those hand mills or whatnot are the reason why they refrain from using the water mill, then 'tis logical to retrieve them, but...Hmm, how shall I say this?"
"Precisely. You're earnest."
"Unlike you."
He looked at Holo, and he found a smile beaming on her tilted head.
"You are soft—'tis a compliment."
Her teasing was proof that she was in a better mood, so he simply left it at that with a shrug.
"So do you plan to help this little girl?"
"I do. The reason why is Miss Amalie. But..."
"But?"
"You heard, too, didn't you? The water mill catches fire almost every year."
It was the biggest factor in why Amalie's explanation was somewhat hard to understand and a key reason the villagers were so opposed to her plan.
"I cannot believe it so readily."
The water mill was built on a river, and water flowed through the river. And as long as there were no candles around it at night, there was almost no danger of accidental fires.
| It seemed that was the reason why the village houses were built so far from one another as well.
"To think that flower field catches fire every summer and becomes a sea of flames...'Tis unthinkable in the land we lived in."
It was something that happened occasionally to oily flowering plants, and it had the worrying characteristic of blooming in spring and bearing fruit in the summer, when the sunlight would cause it to burst into flames, spreading its seeds to sprout again in the burned fields. Of course, other plants and flowers naturally burned to ash in the fire, so once those flowers began taking root in an area, they soon dominated as the only things left standing.
Misfortune befell the village when these flowers took root one day by chance and flourished.
According to Amalie, they were not around during her grandfather's time, and out of the entire region, it was only in the vicinity of Hadish where this plant grew.
"So the fire finally dies down around the river, but the nearby flames scorch the water mill, and it keeps falling apart. In the past, the houses would burn whenever there was a brush fire, and since they needed lots of lumber, all the surrounding forests became fields."
"'Tis quite wise they spaced their houses out to prevent them from all being killed at once."
The area had few inhabitants because they sacrificed the forests to harvest materials to build their homes, and half the space had been taken over by those purple flowers.
"To make sure the reconstructed water mill stays around a long time, they would need to cut down as many of those flowers as possible before summer comes, but it's the busy season and the villagers don't want to help."
"No water mill means they would not have to go through the trouble, perhaps."
But if they are unable to grind the wheat into flour, then they could not make bread, and it took too much time to grind by hand. It signaled that, in the bigger picture, the villagers' productivity would drop—and consequently their tax revenue—and the village's economy would wither. With the water mill, they could save that time, giving them a chance to cultivate more fields. They could sell the surplus goods in towns and gain the ability to buy many things. From a top-down perspective, it was clearly for the villagers' sake.
It was apparently Yergin who explained this to Amalie, and Yergin himself learned that from the previous landlord, who seemed to have been a wise ruler.
That being said, others did not always accept sound arguments, which led to the current situation.
"Mr. Yergin said he could confiscate the hand mills by force, but they want to avoid that if possible. It would only cause problems later. So Miss Amalie went to them herself and was hoping the villagers would hand over the mills on their own."
"Hmm. But would it not be the same if you found and confiscated the mills in secret?"
Holo said this without particularly thinking.
Lawrence smiled ironically and answered.
"No. Mr. Yergin and Miss Amalie live here. But I'm a traveling merchant. It's the travelers who bring misfortune to villages. If we make it so that I was the one who put an idea into Miss Amalie's head, then I'll be the target of the villagers' resentment. And so when I leave, then the person who everyone hates simply disappears. I don't think Miss Amalie has thought of this, but it seems like Mr. Yergin is already well aware of how to best use me. That's probably why they've given us such a nice room."
Traveling merchants, who never settled in one place, derived their value from the very characteristic Lawrence had just described. They brought things the villages needed, then took away what they did not need. Even Holo, who was once called a god who governed the harvests of wheat, had experienced this treatment.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | It seemed that was the reason why the village houses were built so far from one another as well.
"To think that flower field catches fire every summer and becomes a sea of flames...'Tis unthinkable in the land we lived in."
It was something that happened occasionally to oily flowering plants, and it had the worrying characteristic of blooming in spring and bearing fruit in the summer, when the sunlight would cause it to burst into flames, spreading its seeds to sprout again in the burned fields. Of course, other plants and flowers naturally burned to ash in the fire, so once those flowers began taking root in an area, they soon dominated as the only things left standing.
Misfortune befell the village when these flowers took root one day by chance and flourished.
According to Amalie, they were not around during her grandfather's time, and out of the entire region, it was only in the vicinity of Hadish where this plant grew.
"So the fire finally dies down around the river, but the nearby flames scorch the water mill, and it keeps falling apart. In the past, the houses would burn whenever there was a brush fire, and since they needed lots of lumber, all the surrounding forests became fields."
"'Tis quite wise they spaced their houses out to prevent them from all being killed at once."
The area had few inhabitants because they sacrificed the forests to harvest materials to build their homes, and half the space had been taken over by those purple flowers.
"To make sure the reconstructed water mill stays around a long time, they would need to cut down as many of those flowers as possible before summer comes, but it's the busy season and the villagers don't want to help."
"No water mill means they would not have to go through the trouble, perhaps."
But if they are unable to grind the wheat into flour, then they could not make bread, and it took too much time to grind by hand. It signaled that, in the bigger picture, the villagers' productivity would drop—and consequently their tax revenue—and the village's economy would wither. With the water mill, they could save that time, giving them a chance to cultivate more fields. They could sell the surplus goods in towns and gain the ability to buy many things. From a top-down perspective, it was clearly for the villagers' sake.
It was apparently Yergin who explained this to Amalie, and Yergin himself learned that from the previous landlord, who seemed to have been a wise ruler.
That being said, others did not always accept sound arguments, which led to the current situation.
"Mr. Yergin said he could confiscate the hand mills by force, but they want to avoid that if possible. It would only cause problems later. So Miss Amalie went to them herself and was hoping the villagers would hand over the mills on their own."
"Hmm. But would it not be the same if you found and confiscated the mills in secret?"
Holo said this without particularly thinking.
Lawrence smiled ironically and answered.
"No. Mr. Yergin and Miss Amalie live here. But I'm a traveling merchant. It's the travelers who bring misfortune to villages. If we make it so that I was the one who put an idea into Miss Amalie's head, then I'll be the target of the villagers' resentment. And so when I leave, then the person who everyone hates simply disappears. I don't think Miss Amalie has thought of this, but it seems like Mr. Yergin is already well aware of how to best use me. That's probably why they've given us such a nice room."
Traveling merchants, who never settled in one place, derived their value from the very characteristic Lawrence had just described. They brought things the villages needed, then took away what they did not need. Even Holo, who was once called a god who governed the harvests of wheat, had experienced this treatment.
| And so Holo had snuck into Lawrence's wagon.
When he thought about it, he noticed that the way they met was much like how similar tools were stored away in the same place since there was no other place to put them.
But Lawrence did not consider his job an unhappy one.
Because it was thanks to his work that he had met Holo.
"Don't make that face."
Lawrence's smile was a bit forced. Seeing Holo's hurt expression, he moved to pinch her small nose.
"Now that I have someone to share my burden with me on the driver's perch, what else do I need?"
"...Fool."
She knocked his hand away and spoke grumpily. Only her tail was restless.
"Would you truly be able to find the mills, however? Should the time call for it, I may be able to find them by the scent of the wheat."
Holo spoke up, but this time, Lawrence showed her a boastful smile.
"If this is a contest of cunning, I won't lose, you know!"
He puffed out his chest, and after Holo gave him a blank stare, she chuckled.
"Perhaps you have mistaken it for shallow wit."
"You judge harshly."
Lawrence shrugged, and Holo intertwined her index finger with his, which she had just been gripping. She was more of a lady than he thought.
So Lawrence, who acknowledged himself as a gentleman, laid out his words tentatively.
"Well, it probably won't be very fun, so you don't have to come collect the mills if you don't want."
Holo, still smiling, brought Lawrence's hand up to her mouth and bared her fangs.
"I am quite fond of seeing your face blubbering with tears."
"Oh, I see we'll get along, then."
Holo's ears and tail twitched happily.
"Fool."
Holo smiled, leaned her head against him, and kissed his hand.
Then she let go.
"Then I shall be watching how you work."
Before long, there was a knock on the door and Yergin came to call on them.
The bread they were given was far from fresh, but it was good white bread made from wheat. Moreover, the soup was not simply seasoned with salt and vinegar but had been thickened with bread crumbs, and it contained large chunks of lamb.
But most surprising was the liquor bottle on the table.
"What a gorgeous bottle. It's a lovely shade of green."
Once Amalie finished the long, long prayer she had learned from the abbey, the meal finally began in earnest, and Lawrence broached the subject with his curious comment.
"It was my father's hobby, it seems. There are many things fashioned from glass in the basement of the manor...There are truly so many I thought maybe I could keep some and sell the rest and use that to cover the costs of the water mill, but..."
Amalie spoke apprehensively, and Yergin, sitting uncomfortably at a corner of the table, glanced at Lawrence. His awkwardness stemmed from his large stature but was also likely due to an outlook of his that probably said master and servant did not sit at the same table.
Between the two of them, it seemed there was a great difference in their ways of thinking, and that apparently applied to the glass collection as well.
Amalie, with an impartial spirit, most certainly thought of selling the glass, but for Yergin, there was no doubt that even thinking of such a thing was outrageous. Heirlooms that belonged to the previous landlord were the same as family treasures.
"If you forbade the use of the hand mills, however, you might solve the water mill problem for the time being." Lawrence offered his suggestion as he broke off a piece of bread and dipped it into his soup. "I've seen a similar thing happen somewhere else in the past. I am sure I can help you."
Then, Yergin sat up straight again. It was as though he realized that Lawrence also understood.
"You can?"
"Yes. Even in wide-open farming villages, there really aren't that many places to hide things."
When she heard the word hide, her twinkling expression quickly deflated.
She was most certainly hoping that the villagers would help her of their own free will.
Lawrence took a sip of wine, then spoke like a cruel, money-mad man.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | And so Holo had snuck into Lawrence's wagon.
When he thought about it, he noticed that the way they met was much like how similar tools were stored away in the same place since there was no other place to put them.
But Lawrence did not consider his job an unhappy one.
Because it was thanks to his work that he had met Holo.
"Don't make that face."
Lawrence's smile was a bit forced. Seeing Holo's hurt expression, he moved to pinch her small nose.
"Now that I have someone to share my burden with me on the driver's perch, what else do I need?"
"...Fool."
She knocked his hand away and spoke grumpily. Only her tail was restless.
"Would you truly be able to find the mills, however? Should the time call for it, I may be able to find them by the scent of the wheat."
Holo spoke up, but this time, Lawrence showed her a boastful smile.
"If this is a contest of cunning, I won't lose, you know!"
He puffed out his chest, and after Holo gave him a blank stare, she chuckled.
"Perhaps you have mistaken it for shallow wit."
"You judge harshly."
Lawrence shrugged, and Holo intertwined her index finger with his, which she had just been gripping. She was more of a lady than he thought.
So Lawrence, who acknowledged himself as a gentleman, laid out his words tentatively.
"Well, it probably won't be very fun, so you don't have to come collect the mills if you don't want."
Holo, still smiling, brought Lawrence's hand up to her mouth and bared her fangs.
"I am quite fond of seeing your face blubbering with tears."
"Oh, I see we'll get along, then."
Holo's ears and tail twitched happily.
"Fool."
Holo smiled, leaned her head against him, and kissed his hand.
Then she let go.
"Then I shall be watching how you work."
Before long, there was a knock on the door and Yergin came to call on them.
The bread they were given was far from fresh, but it was good white bread made from wheat. Moreover, the soup was not simply seasoned with salt and vinegar but had been thickened with bread crumbs, and it contained large chunks of lamb.
But most surprising was the liquor bottle on the table.
"What a gorgeous bottle. It's a lovely shade of green."
Once Amalie finished the long, long prayer she had learned from the abbey, the meal finally began in earnest, and Lawrence broached the subject with his curious comment.
"It was my father's hobby, it seems. There are many things fashioned from glass in the basement of the manor...There are truly so many I thought maybe I could keep some and sell the rest and use that to cover the costs of the water mill, but..."
Amalie spoke apprehensively, and Yergin, sitting uncomfortably at a corner of the table, glanced at Lawrence. His awkwardness stemmed from his large stature but was also likely due to an outlook of his that probably said master and servant did not sit at the same table.
Between the two of them, it seemed there was a great difference in their ways of thinking, and that apparently applied to the glass collection as well.
Amalie, with an impartial spirit, most certainly thought of selling the glass, but for Yergin, there was no doubt that even thinking of such a thing was outrageous. Heirlooms that belonged to the previous landlord were the same as family treasures.
"If you forbade the use of the hand mills, however, you might solve the water mill problem for the time being." Lawrence offered his suggestion as he broke off a piece of bread and dipped it into his soup. "I've seen a similar thing happen somewhere else in the past. I am sure I can help you."
Then, Yergin sat up straight again. It was as though he realized that Lawrence also understood.
"You can?"
"Yes. Even in wide-open farming villages, there really aren't that many places to hide things."
When she heard the word hide, her twinkling expression quickly deflated.
She was most certainly hoping that the villagers would help her of their own free will.
Lawrence took a sip of wine, then spoke like a cruel, money-mad man.
| He smiled as though that were simply the course of things.
Amalie grimaced, but she did not look to Yergin because she knew that he was not on her side.
"The installation of the water mill is for the sake of the village, after all. Oh, and of course, I will not do anything that would trouble you, Lady Amalie. I can collect the hand mills."
"Oh, but you—"
"Of course, it would be difficult to carry the hand mills, so I wish to ask Mr. Yergin's assistance."
Amalie was a smart girl. She immediately realized that she needed to distance herself from the dirty work that would take place. But she also had a kind heart that felt confusion and guilt about doing such a thing.
And then there was Yergin, who responded in a hard tone of voice.
"Any time."
Amalie looked between Lawrence and Yergin with a dejected expression and stared toward her feet. The seat of authority was not as comfortable as some assumed, and it was not meant for everyone.
But Lawrence considered Amalie once more. For better or worse, people could grow used to power.
Some poets called this a worn-down heart, but for whatever reason, the world was not kind to people.
"And it is an unanticipated delight for a traveling merchant to help the lord of a land."
He said this hinting at his expectation of additional perks.
At that, the taciturn Yergin opened his mouth to speak.
"The Draustem family will reward you for your services."
He concluded that the wicked one was the merchant who came from the outside for money, and he was the obstinate vassal.
As she watched this exchange, Holo shot a bit of a sympathetic look toward Amalie, but of course, she did not interject. Holo knew better than anyone of the world's mercilessness.
"Well then, let us go quickly after our meal."
"Lady Amalie?"
Yergin checked with her, and Amalie raised her head and seemed as though she would say something, but she ended up staring downward again.
Her shoulders shook as she gripped the hemp cloth she had so daintily placed on her lap.
"...Yes, all right..."
Lawrence's expression suddenly relaxed and not because it had gone exactly as he imagined.
Amalie was softhearted, but she did have the courage to stand up to destiny.
And so all he had to do was cooperate the best he could.
They decided to use Lawrence's wagon to transport the hand mills. As he was unloading his cargo from the bed, Yergin suddenly spoke.
"Pardon."
Lawrence did not stop working, but since his eyes met Holo's, he smiled at him.
"We will be asking a fee for using the wagon."
Of course, he knew that Yergin was not talking about the wagon.
"And the abbot from Ivan Abbey is relying on me. He's stingy and thinks of nothing but his abbey and is the kind who has never appropriately rewarded me for my troubles, for carrying his goods. But he said that Lady Amalie is likely in trouble and I should help her."
That was a merchant's roundabout way of expressing she was a wonderful person to warrant such a response from the abbot.
Yergin, with the muscles on his shoulders like those of a raging bull, picked up some cargo and gently placed it on the ground.
Though he looked a bit like a bandit, it did not mean he was unrefined.
"I'm sure Lady Amalie will make a great landlord."
With a smile, Lawrence removed the last of the cargo from the bed.
"It means it will be worth my while to help her."
Then, once again, Lawrence made his way to the village head's place. Holo wondered for a moment if she should stay behind with Amalie and comfort her, but Lawrence stopped her. They would soon be leaving the village. That was Yergin's job. Besides, Yergin would pass away before Amalie would. It was never too early for her to learn while his wisdom was still available to her.
Lawrence headed to the village, pulling the rattling, empty wagon behind him. When he arrived, he found the village head and the others completely unguarded, as they were in the middle of a humble feast.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | He smiled as though that were simply the course of things.
Amalie grimaced, but she did not look to Yergin because she knew that he was not on her side.
"The installation of the water mill is for the sake of the village, after all. Oh, and of course, I will not do anything that would trouble you, Lady Amalie. I can collect the hand mills."
"Oh, but you—"
"Of course, it would be difficult to carry the hand mills, so I wish to ask Mr. Yergin's assistance."
Amalie was a smart girl. She immediately realized that she needed to distance herself from the dirty work that would take place. But she also had a kind heart that felt confusion and guilt about doing such a thing.
And then there was Yergin, who responded in a hard tone of voice.
"Any time."
Amalie looked between Lawrence and Yergin with a dejected expression and stared toward her feet. The seat of authority was not as comfortable as some assumed, and it was not meant for everyone.
But Lawrence considered Amalie once more. For better or worse, people could grow used to power.
Some poets called this a worn-down heart, but for whatever reason, the world was not kind to people.
"And it is an unanticipated delight for a traveling merchant to help the lord of a land."
He said this hinting at his expectation of additional perks.
At that, the taciturn Yergin opened his mouth to speak.
"The Draustem family will reward you for your services."
He concluded that the wicked one was the merchant who came from the outside for money, and he was the obstinate vassal.
As she watched this exchange, Holo shot a bit of a sympathetic look toward Amalie, but of course, she did not interject. Holo knew better than anyone of the world's mercilessness.
"Well then, let us go quickly after our meal."
"Lady Amalie?"
Yergin checked with her, and Amalie raised her head and seemed as though she would say something, but she ended up staring downward again.
Her shoulders shook as she gripped the hemp cloth she had so daintily placed on her lap.
"...Yes, all right..."
Lawrence's expression suddenly relaxed and not because it had gone exactly as he imagined.
Amalie was softhearted, but she did have the courage to stand up to destiny.
And so all he had to do was cooperate the best he could.
They decided to use Lawrence's wagon to transport the hand mills. As he was unloading his cargo from the bed, Yergin suddenly spoke.
"Pardon."
Lawrence did not stop working, but since his eyes met Holo's, he smiled at him.
"We will be asking a fee for using the wagon."
Of course, he knew that Yergin was not talking about the wagon.
"And the abbot from Ivan Abbey is relying on me. He's stingy and thinks of nothing but his abbey and is the kind who has never appropriately rewarded me for my troubles, for carrying his goods. But he said that Lady Amalie is likely in trouble and I should help her."
That was a merchant's roundabout way of expressing she was a wonderful person to warrant such a response from the abbot.
Yergin, with the muscles on his shoulders like those of a raging bull, picked up some cargo and gently placed it on the ground.
Though he looked a bit like a bandit, it did not mean he was unrefined.
"I'm sure Lady Amalie will make a great landlord."
With a smile, Lawrence removed the last of the cargo from the bed.
"It means it will be worth my while to help her."
Then, once again, Lawrence made his way to the village head's place. Holo wondered for a moment if she should stay behind with Amalie and comfort her, but Lawrence stopped her. They would soon be leaving the village. That was Yergin's job. Besides, Yergin would pass away before Amalie would. It was never too early for her to learn while his wisdom was still available to her.
Lawrence headed to the village, pulling the rattling, empty wagon behind him. When he arrived, he found the village head and the others completely unguarded, as they were in the middle of a humble feast.
| "This—this is..."
Though the village head seemed to be the cleverest of all the villagers, he of course could not hide his confusion.
"Oh, I don't mind if you stay where you are. I have received the right to collect taxes in the landlady's stead, so I have come to give notice."
"The right to collect taxes...Wait, but that is—"
"During the reign of the previous lord, there was a declaration that forbade the use of hand mills, yes? And so by that declaration, I have come to confiscate them."
He could almost hear the villagers' hair stand on the back of their necks.
But the village head quickly signaled them with his eyes. It seemed like he gave them a faint nod, perhaps to calm them down.
"Is that so...? But as you can see, we are not sitting around a pile of hand mills. There are no places to hide them in a shack such as this."
That meant the others were already hidden.
Lawrence did not change the smile on his face and nodded.
"Indeed. Unlike town houses, the beams supporting the roofs are exposed, and so you cannot hide them in the ceiling. The floor is not made of boards but of packed earth. It would be obvious if you buried them in the ground, and of course, it would be difficult to dig them back up."
The villagers were bewildered by his sudden statements.
"So what about the fields? It would be easy to search them. One simply needs to poke the ground with a stick. And all the crops have already been planted for this season. There should be no large holes."
One or two villagers gulped. Yergin would pick out those who did.
"I'm sure there are plenty of spaces to hide them in the backyards of the houses and on the roads to the fields, but one would be able to tell from far away by how the weeds grew if they were dug up. I'm sure it's possible to hide them in the field on the other side of the river, but I doubt anyone would be willing to carry a hand mill that far. Which means?"
Lawrence looked around and peered into the kitchen one room over, no door separating the continuous stretch of dirt floor.
"Inside the stove...which would mean the hand mills would be rather big. And the shaft would burn, too."
Then where would they hide them? A good part about being a traveling merchant was that he had visited many lands and he had learned that no matter the place, everyone thought the same way.
"Something that would always be included when building a house and difficult to tell if it has been turned over and somewhere that no one thinks to bother with."
Lawrence turned on his heel and stood before Holo, who rested in the doorway, watching. She stared blankly up at him, and when he respectfully motioned for her to move, beneath her was a stone slab.
"People are constantly passing through here, so the earth quickly hollows out."
So it would be easy to dig a hole and then place the stone above it. And as the tax collector searched the house, the owner would typically stand around the doorway anxiously, so it was the biggest blind spot.
When Yergin took the metal stick to be used as a lever in his hands, the village head sadly gritted his teeth and looked down.
"Even if we use the water mill, it will only burn in the wildfire..."
They would need to either cut away the whole lot of those ridiculous purple flowers or at least prune the area around the mill. Such worthless plants, during such a busy season.
"I can assure you as a merchant...," Lawrence said, "that having a water mill would be for the benefit of all the village."
Yergin pried away the stone slab, and beneath it was a hand mill.
Though there were several houses they could not find hand mills in, those families likely did not have one. He did casually glance at Holo to make sure, but had the villagers been lying, she would have signaled to him.
In the end, they collected seventeen hand mills.
The cart horse snorted unhappily as it pulled the heavily laden wagon along.
"We managed it without force."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "This—this is..."
Though the village head seemed to be the cleverest of all the villagers, he of course could not hide his confusion.
"Oh, I don't mind if you stay where you are. I have received the right to collect taxes in the landlady's stead, so I have come to give notice."
"The right to collect taxes...Wait, but that is—"
"During the reign of the previous lord, there was a declaration that forbade the use of hand mills, yes? And so by that declaration, I have come to confiscate them."
He could almost hear the villagers' hair stand on the back of their necks.
But the village head quickly signaled them with his eyes. It seemed like he gave them a faint nod, perhaps to calm them down.
"Is that so...? But as you can see, we are not sitting around a pile of hand mills. There are no places to hide them in a shack such as this."
That meant the others were already hidden.
Lawrence did not change the smile on his face and nodded.
"Indeed. Unlike town houses, the beams supporting the roofs are exposed, and so you cannot hide them in the ceiling. The floor is not made of boards but of packed earth. It would be obvious if you buried them in the ground, and of course, it would be difficult to dig them back up."
The villagers were bewildered by his sudden statements.
"So what about the fields? It would be easy to search them. One simply needs to poke the ground with a stick. And all the crops have already been planted for this season. There should be no large holes."
One or two villagers gulped. Yergin would pick out those who did.
"I'm sure there are plenty of spaces to hide them in the backyards of the houses and on the roads to the fields, but one would be able to tell from far away by how the weeds grew if they were dug up. I'm sure it's possible to hide them in the field on the other side of the river, but I doubt anyone would be willing to carry a hand mill that far. Which means?"
Lawrence looked around and peered into the kitchen one room over, no door separating the continuous stretch of dirt floor.
"Inside the stove...which would mean the hand mills would be rather big. And the shaft would burn, too."
Then where would they hide them? A good part about being a traveling merchant was that he had visited many lands and he had learned that no matter the place, everyone thought the same way.
"Something that would always be included when building a house and difficult to tell if it has been turned over and somewhere that no one thinks to bother with."
Lawrence turned on his heel and stood before Holo, who rested in the doorway, watching. She stared blankly up at him, and when he respectfully motioned for her to move, beneath her was a stone slab.
"People are constantly passing through here, so the earth quickly hollows out."
So it would be easy to dig a hole and then place the stone above it. And as the tax collector searched the house, the owner would typically stand around the doorway anxiously, so it was the biggest blind spot.
When Yergin took the metal stick to be used as a lever in his hands, the village head sadly gritted his teeth and looked down.
"Even if we use the water mill, it will only burn in the wildfire..."
They would need to either cut away the whole lot of those ridiculous purple flowers or at least prune the area around the mill. Such worthless plants, during such a busy season.
"I can assure you as a merchant...," Lawrence said, "that having a water mill would be for the benefit of all the village."
Yergin pried away the stone slab, and beneath it was a hand mill.
Though there were several houses they could not find hand mills in, those families likely did not have one. He did casually glance at Holo to make sure, but had the villagers been lying, she would have signaled to him.
In the end, they collected seventeen hand mills.
The cart horse snorted unhappily as it pulled the heavily laden wagon along.
"We managed it without force."
| "Craftiness is a merchant's strength."
Lawrence made his remark as he gripped the reins.
"The problem is Lady Amalie, correct?"
He thought for a moment that Yergin would hit him, but he only groaned.
"She seems to be a bit too kind to be a landlord."
"...It is unthinkable that the people would be happy to pay taxes. Even if it is for their benefit."
"That hits a little close to home."
Traveling merchants cheated on customs tariffs and plotted in order to avoid every sort of taxes towns imposed on their people. Even if they knew the tax would expand infrastructure in the town, making it safer, gathering people from all around, and expanding trade.
"Worse, she might run out of money to repair the water mill again. When that happens, she might have to resort to even harsher methods."
There would not be any more hand mills to collect next time.
"Is there any other way?"
When Yergin asked this, Holo glanced at Lawrence. She was trying to discourage him from getting too deeply involved, so he patted her head to reassure her.
"I've done trade in many different towns, and I've seen taxes of every kind. I can think of quite a few."
"...So that really is our only choice."
"Well, there is the option of finding something that would make the villagers rich."
Without a means to make or gain money, there was no way they could pay.
"...We are not merchants."
"Of course."
Lawrence answered simply, but he imagined that every time Amalie levied a new tax, the soft parts of her heart would chip away.
"With my knowledge of trade, I might be able..."
But before he could finish his thought...
"Lady Amalie?"
They could see Amalie jogging her way toward the manor, coming from a different direction. She held something heavy looking in her arms, and her steps were unsteady.
Then, she disappeared into the back garden.
It seemed that she had gone out somewhere while they were collecting the hand mills.
"What is she doing?"
"Mm..."
It seemed Yergin did not know, either. Thinking Holo might know, Lawrence looked to her, and she seemed surprised at first but then smiled somewhat happily.
He learned why as they reached the manor.
"Y...young miss?"
They found Amalie sitting at the table where they had lunch, and Yergin, without thinking, called her that.
"I thought you promised me you would not call me that anymore."
Amalie's response was sharp.
She had her sleeves rolled up while she fiddled with what she had spread out on the table.
It was the purple flowers that had brought disaster to the village.
"These are the culprits, after all," Amalie continued to explain. "If there was a use for these flowers, then the villagers would be happy to cut them down, and we would be able to protect the water mill."
This was not the girl who had been thrown about by fate, too helpless to do anything but shed tears.
"And you are a traveling merchant, Mr. Lawrence. If a distant land has need for these flowers, then you will be able to go and sell them for us."
Holo shot him a teasing glance, as though asking You will?
But he had no other choice but to give one answer.
"Of course. If there are profits to be had."
That was the one point he refused to negotiate on.
"For now, why don't we try using it in cooking? I learned how to use fragrant grasses at the abbey. This flower has a nice scent, you know."
This pioneer had already come up with some ideas.
Suggestions were easy to come up with, but it was more important to have the resolve to follow through.
"If we place it on a thick beef shoulder steak, it may impart a nice flavor."
"What else?"
"Maybe submerging it in low-quality wine?"
Amalie nodded, placed her hand on her chin, then made another suggestion.
"Perhaps we may be able to eat it as is?"
Yergin cleared his throat.
"That is the one thing I wish not to try again. Whether boiled or fried."
It seemed he had already thoroughly tried it, and his conclusion was that eating the flowers straight was not bearable.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Craftiness is a merchant's strength."
Lawrence made his remark as he gripped the reins.
"The problem is Lady Amalie, correct?"
He thought for a moment that Yergin would hit him, but he only groaned.
"She seems to be a bit too kind to be a landlord."
"...It is unthinkable that the people would be happy to pay taxes. Even if it is for their benefit."
"That hits a little close to home."
Traveling merchants cheated on customs tariffs and plotted in order to avoid every sort of taxes towns imposed on their people. Even if they knew the tax would expand infrastructure in the town, making it safer, gathering people from all around, and expanding trade.
"Worse, she might run out of money to repair the water mill again. When that happens, she might have to resort to even harsher methods."
There would not be any more hand mills to collect next time.
"Is there any other way?"
When Yergin asked this, Holo glanced at Lawrence. She was trying to discourage him from getting too deeply involved, so he patted her head to reassure her.
"I've done trade in many different towns, and I've seen taxes of every kind. I can think of quite a few."
"...So that really is our only choice."
"Well, there is the option of finding something that would make the villagers rich."
Without a means to make or gain money, there was no way they could pay.
"...We are not merchants."
"Of course."
Lawrence answered simply, but he imagined that every time Amalie levied a new tax, the soft parts of her heart would chip away.
"With my knowledge of trade, I might be able..."
But before he could finish his thought...
"Lady Amalie?"
They could see Amalie jogging her way toward the manor, coming from a different direction. She held something heavy looking in her arms, and her steps were unsteady.
Then, she disappeared into the back garden.
It seemed that she had gone out somewhere while they were collecting the hand mills.
"What is she doing?"
"Mm..."
It seemed Yergin did not know, either. Thinking Holo might know, Lawrence looked to her, and she seemed surprised at first but then smiled somewhat happily.
He learned why as they reached the manor.
"Y...young miss?"
They found Amalie sitting at the table where they had lunch, and Yergin, without thinking, called her that.
"I thought you promised me you would not call me that anymore."
Amalie's response was sharp.
She had her sleeves rolled up while she fiddled with what she had spread out on the table.
It was the purple flowers that had brought disaster to the village.
"These are the culprits, after all," Amalie continued to explain. "If there was a use for these flowers, then the villagers would be happy to cut them down, and we would be able to protect the water mill."
This was not the girl who had been thrown about by fate, too helpless to do anything but shed tears.
"And you are a traveling merchant, Mr. Lawrence. If a distant land has need for these flowers, then you will be able to go and sell them for us."
Holo shot him a teasing glance, as though asking You will?
But he had no other choice but to give one answer.
"Of course. If there are profits to be had."
That was the one point he refused to negotiate on.
"For now, why don't we try using it in cooking? I learned how to use fragrant grasses at the abbey. This flower has a nice scent, you know."
This pioneer had already come up with some ideas.
Suggestions were easy to come up with, but it was more important to have the resolve to follow through.
"If we place it on a thick beef shoulder steak, it may impart a nice flavor."
"What else?"
"Maybe submerging it in low-quality wine?"
Amalie nodded, placed her hand on her chin, then made another suggestion.
"Perhaps we may be able to eat it as is?"
Yergin cleared his throat.
"That is the one thing I wish not to try again. Whether boiled or fried."
It seemed he had already thoroughly tried it, and his conclusion was that eating the flowers straight was not bearable.
| If it could serve as fodder for the livestock, then the villagers would be happy to turn their animals loose in the flower fields. It was clear to see why no one did.
"It wouldn't be enough if we just sold them as decorations or fragrances for cooking."
The flowers came from a practically endless field.
"Then why don't we place the flower into a scented sachet? We did that often with the herbs we grew at the abbey."
Young girls to old madams gathered at the all-women abbey, and it must have been an elegant, calming sight to watch them sew the sachets, needle in hand.
"Scented sachets are a thing, and this flower does have a strong, sweet scent. But it certainly isn't something that sells a lot. I can't foresee anything like that could sell so much that it would make a difference."
The question was, would people be more likely to buy a nice-smelling petal or nice-smelling bread?
Not to mention that once someone bought a scented bag, they would not need to buy another one for a while.
"Even if we sell a little bit in one town, then why not sell in many towns?"
"It's possible the goods might get caught in the rain on the way, and dried-out petals would be light but a burden. The wagon bed is not that big. Selling just one tankard full at one town does not quite make for a lucrative business, and I can't imagine such a small amount will reduce the field."
Amalie bit her nails in frustration, but it did not seem to mean she had given up.
"Then...all right. If they burn well, then why not use them as daily fuel?"
"There must be a reason why the villagers aren't already doing that."
Lawrence countered her suggestion, and Yergin continued for him.
"We would find ourselves in trouble if those flowers crossed the river and took root on this side as well. They are also a symbol of fire. To store those in our houses would prevent anyone from having a good night's sleep."
This was not a problem that could be solved in a hurry. Though they were villagers, these people were not foolish, and their previous landlord was a wise ruler.
But Amalie did not seem discouraged. Lawrence could tell that she was fully aware of her ignorance about the world. She had already prepared herself.
"I will think of something."
It was a confident declaration.
"If anything, I did a lot of thinking at the abbey."
"Young miss..."
The large Yergin murmured, his eyes bleary.
"I thought I told you to stop calling me that," Amalie quipped again, smiling bitterly. "I am now the head of this family."
Lawrence gave Holo a little poke on her back and took a flower in his hand.
"Then let us brainstorm."
Though they spoke so enthusiastically, reality was not as sweet as the flower's scent. They thought about this and that until the evening, and once they ran out of ideas, the candle finally burned out, signaling a stop for the night.
Another tallow candle was lit for them, and Yergin offered them some ale to help them sleep—it must have been his way of giving thanks. They happily accepted.
Once Lawrence returned to their room, he found Holo, who had returned a bit earlier than him, sitting by the open window grooming her tail by the light of the moon.
"This feels like a dream."
Lawrence spoke as he closed the door, and Holo, as she bit the strands of hair on her tail that had gone crooked, did not seem particularly happy.
"No good thing ever happens when you compliment me."
"You caught me."
He poured the ale he had received from Yergin into a wooden mug and handed it to Holo.
She took the mug and quickly went to drink it, and her hands stopped.
"When they brew it, either the flowers are used as fuel or the scent simply hangs heavy in the village air."
They noticed that aroma plenty in the dining room, and it smelled so much like flowers that it nearly drove them crazy. Holo was typically happy to try unconventional ale, but she was predictably fed up with it.
"Hmm...Well, the wheat is not bad."
She gulped it down and finished with a cough.
"But how useless it is."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | If it could serve as fodder for the livestock, then the villagers would be happy to turn their animals loose in the flower fields. It was clear to see why no one did.
"It wouldn't be enough if we just sold them as decorations or fragrances for cooking."
The flowers came from a practically endless field.
"Then why don't we place the flower into a scented sachet? We did that often with the herbs we grew at the abbey."
Young girls to old madams gathered at the all-women abbey, and it must have been an elegant, calming sight to watch them sew the sachets, needle in hand.
"Scented sachets are a thing, and this flower does have a strong, sweet scent. But it certainly isn't something that sells a lot. I can't foresee anything like that could sell so much that it would make a difference."
The question was, would people be more likely to buy a nice-smelling petal or nice-smelling bread?
Not to mention that once someone bought a scented bag, they would not need to buy another one for a while.
"Even if we sell a little bit in one town, then why not sell in many towns?"
"It's possible the goods might get caught in the rain on the way, and dried-out petals would be light but a burden. The wagon bed is not that big. Selling just one tankard full at one town does not quite make for a lucrative business, and I can't imagine such a small amount will reduce the field."
Amalie bit her nails in frustration, but it did not seem to mean she had given up.
"Then...all right. If they burn well, then why not use them as daily fuel?"
"There must be a reason why the villagers aren't already doing that."
Lawrence countered her suggestion, and Yergin continued for him.
"We would find ourselves in trouble if those flowers crossed the river and took root on this side as well. They are also a symbol of fire. To store those in our houses would prevent anyone from having a good night's sleep."
This was not a problem that could be solved in a hurry. Though they were villagers, these people were not foolish, and their previous landlord was a wise ruler.
But Amalie did not seem discouraged. Lawrence could tell that she was fully aware of her ignorance about the world. She had already prepared herself.
"I will think of something."
It was a confident declaration.
"If anything, I did a lot of thinking at the abbey."
"Young miss..."
The large Yergin murmured, his eyes bleary.
"I thought I told you to stop calling me that," Amalie quipped again, smiling bitterly. "I am now the head of this family."
Lawrence gave Holo a little poke on her back and took a flower in his hand.
"Then let us brainstorm."
Though they spoke so enthusiastically, reality was not as sweet as the flower's scent. They thought about this and that until the evening, and once they ran out of ideas, the candle finally burned out, signaling a stop for the night.
Another tallow candle was lit for them, and Yergin offered them some ale to help them sleep—it must have been his way of giving thanks. They happily accepted.
Once Lawrence returned to their room, he found Holo, who had returned a bit earlier than him, sitting by the open window grooming her tail by the light of the moon.
"This feels like a dream."
Lawrence spoke as he closed the door, and Holo, as she bit the strands of hair on her tail that had gone crooked, did not seem particularly happy.
"No good thing ever happens when you compliment me."
"You caught me."
He poured the ale he had received from Yergin into a wooden mug and handed it to Holo.
She took the mug and quickly went to drink it, and her hands stopped.
"When they brew it, either the flowers are used as fuel or the scent simply hangs heavy in the village air."
They noticed that aroma plenty in the dining room, and it smelled so much like flowers that it nearly drove them crazy. Holo was typically happy to try unconventional ale, but she was predictably fed up with it.
"Hmm...Well, the wheat is not bad."
She gulped it down and finished with a cough.
"But how useless it is."
| Lawrence poured more ale into her mug, which had gone empty in an instant.
She looked at him uncertainly and deliberately puffed out her fluffy tail.
"What else could be so good for nothing?"
"Well...There's the traveling merchant's cunning."
Lawrence smiled, and Holo chugged the ale again, then skillfully fell backward onto the bed.
"You're going to spill that someday."
"'Tis a dream of mine to fall asleep soaked in liquor."
"That's silly. Come on."
He reached out for the mug of ale sitting on her stomach, and she obediently handed it to him.
It seemed the gears in her head were still churning behind her closed eyelids.
"To think that I, once called the Wisewolf of Yoitsu, would ever fret so much over what to do with a flower..."
"If you could concoct amazing ideas for trading goods one after the other, I would have become the president of a company a long time ago."
"Fool. I would be saving the money, so 'twould all be mine."
She rolled over onto her stomach, rested her chin on her arms, and wagged her tail back and forth.
Perhaps she was imagining a hoard of riches the height of mountains and a luxurious life filled with drink and meat.
"But flowers..."
Lawrence groaned, then Holo came to sit beside him. Her tail smacked him gently on the back.
"If only they were roses."
"Oh?"
"Townspeople use roses a lot in festivals and such, so you can sell them in bunches. People cover the roads with them when royalty and nobility come visit as well. And even farther south, businesses use them in expensive food and candies; they're really popular."
"Ohhh?"
She drew closer to him, as if very interested in hearing more. Lawrence quickly gave a disclaimer, saying he only had some secondhand information before continuing.
"Apparently almond milk, rose water, and sugar are all necessities for noble banquets. And especially, when they mix them all together, it makes a thick and sweet soup that smells of flowers. Then you boil that with rice and drink it with raspberry cider after the meal. Or you can add ginger to make it refreshing and then boil with quail or duck. Those weakened by illness get better almost immediately after drinking this, I've heard."
Holo had completely forgotten to blink, and she gulped.
Though they had already taken their meal while they were brainstorming in the dining room, it seemed she could still eat more. While he found himself exasperated, he also thought it was funny to see this silly side of Holo, strung along by her appetite, and he continued.
"What's even more amazing is the candy from the countries with deep-blue seas, where more than half the year could be counted as summer."
Holo grasped the clothes around his waist, her tail whipping back and forth.
"Even in hot countries, where they harvest dates, there are amazingly tall mountains that have ice hidden on their peaks all year round. In the boiling heat, the nobles send their servants up the mountainsides and have them cut out some ice. Then, they shave it with blades to make fluffy snow, mix it with sugar, then finally cover it in rose water, the skin of a tart fruit they call lemon boiled with honey, and honey itself."
He piled snow into an imaginary bowl and pretended to pour honey over it, and Holo's eyes followed his hands in fascination.
"Then, when it's all cold, they eat it with a silver spoon. It makes a crunch inside their mouths, and the cold, tart honey rolls down their throat...Ow, ouch...Holo!"
She was gripping his thigh, her nails digging into his flesh.
"...We must...go south after this..."
"No. We are not."
He regretted getting so carried away.
"It's more expensive than honeyed peaches anyway, so we can't afford it in the first place."
"Ohhh..."
Holo suddenly seemed like she would cry and then bit into his leg.
"Ouch, that hurts!"
As she dug her fangs into his legs, as though wanting him to suffer with her, Holo suddenly raised her head.
"Sheesh, my clothes might rip..."
"But wait."
"What is it now?"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Lawrence poured more ale into her mug, which had gone empty in an instant.
She looked at him uncertainly and deliberately puffed out her fluffy tail.
"What else could be so good for nothing?"
"Well...There's the traveling merchant's cunning."
Lawrence smiled, and Holo chugged the ale again, then skillfully fell backward onto the bed.
"You're going to spill that someday."
"'Tis a dream of mine to fall asleep soaked in liquor."
"That's silly. Come on."
He reached out for the mug of ale sitting on her stomach, and she obediently handed it to him.
It seemed the gears in her head were still churning behind her closed eyelids.
"To think that I, once called the Wisewolf of Yoitsu, would ever fret so much over what to do with a flower..."
"If you could concoct amazing ideas for trading goods one after the other, I would have become the president of a company a long time ago."
"Fool. I would be saving the money, so 'twould all be mine."
She rolled over onto her stomach, rested her chin on her arms, and wagged her tail back and forth.
Perhaps she was imagining a hoard of riches the height of mountains and a luxurious life filled with drink and meat.
"But flowers..."
Lawrence groaned, then Holo came to sit beside him. Her tail smacked him gently on the back.
"If only they were roses."
"Oh?"
"Townspeople use roses a lot in festivals and such, so you can sell them in bunches. People cover the roads with them when royalty and nobility come visit as well. And even farther south, businesses use them in expensive food and candies; they're really popular."
"Ohhh?"
She drew closer to him, as if very interested in hearing more. Lawrence quickly gave a disclaimer, saying he only had some secondhand information before continuing.
"Apparently almond milk, rose water, and sugar are all necessities for noble banquets. And especially, when they mix them all together, it makes a thick and sweet soup that smells of flowers. Then you boil that with rice and drink it with raspberry cider after the meal. Or you can add ginger to make it refreshing and then boil with quail or duck. Those weakened by illness get better almost immediately after drinking this, I've heard."
Holo had completely forgotten to blink, and she gulped.
Though they had already taken their meal while they were brainstorming in the dining room, it seemed she could still eat more. While he found himself exasperated, he also thought it was funny to see this silly side of Holo, strung along by her appetite, and he continued.
"What's even more amazing is the candy from the countries with deep-blue seas, where more than half the year could be counted as summer."
Holo grasped the clothes around his waist, her tail whipping back and forth.
"Even in hot countries, where they harvest dates, there are amazingly tall mountains that have ice hidden on their peaks all year round. In the boiling heat, the nobles send their servants up the mountainsides and have them cut out some ice. Then, they shave it with blades to make fluffy snow, mix it with sugar, then finally cover it in rose water, the skin of a tart fruit they call lemon boiled with honey, and honey itself."
He piled snow into an imaginary bowl and pretended to pour honey over it, and Holo's eyes followed his hands in fascination.
"Then, when it's all cold, they eat it with a silver spoon. It makes a crunch inside their mouths, and the cold, tart honey rolls down their throat...Ow, ouch...Holo!"
She was gripping his thigh, her nails digging into his flesh.
"...We must...go south after this..."
"No. We are not."
He regretted getting so carried away.
"It's more expensive than honeyed peaches anyway, so we can't afford it in the first place."
"Ohhh..."
Holo suddenly seemed like she would cry and then bit into his leg.
"Ouch, that hurts!"
As she dug her fangs into his legs, as though wanting him to suffer with her, Holo suddenly raised her head.
"Sheesh, my clothes might rip..."
"But wait."
"What is it now?"
| Holo had been learning unnecessary things on her merchant's journey.
"If there were, then who would pay that much for it?"
Her tail smacked him on his back.
"And rose water? It exists, yes? Is it also expensive?"
"What?"
Lawrence questioned her while Holo mumbled something to herself with a distant look. She must have been using all the knowledge she had gained thus far and was thinking about how she might be able to make ice candy.
Then suddenly, when consciousness returned to her eyes, they wavered with angry flames and turned on Lawrence.
"Which do you think is more valuable: the price of that rose water or whatnot or the warmth from my tail on cold nights, hmm?"
Even the highest-quality wolf fur was inferior to deer fur, and deer fur was not as good as rabbit fur, and rabbit fur was no match for fox fur, but even fox fur was nothing compared to that of the ermine. Ermine fur could be traded as is for silver trenni coins, and if one wanted to buy rose water they would have to trade the same weight in gold. This fact would deeply hurt her pride as a wolf.
However, Lawrence was not worried she would rip him to shreds because she had made some sort of misunderstanding.
"All the wolf fur lined up in a market might not be able to buy a single drop of rose water."
Holo's eyes widened. She was speechless.
Before long her hands began to tremble, then her shoulders, then her ears, then her tail.
As she lifted her upper lip, showing the two sharp canines beneath, Lawrence spoke.
"But do you know what it is you put on your tail?"
"...Huh?"
The tail that she constantly combed and caressed day in and day out without rest was puffed out so large in just the slightest bit of anger, and the ends of the hairs glinted like thin bundles of glass.
What was it that gave it that sheen and a sweet scent that tickled his nose?
Holo gazed at her own tail, then turned toward Lawrence.
"The warmth of your tail is much more expensive than any rose water. So, so much more."
Lawrence dropped his shoulders with a sigh.
"You can't find the oil you use at an oil merchant's. It was from an apothecary. And it would be absolutely absurd to use it in cooking. But since you picked it out only by scent and bought it without looking at the price, and well, that simply shows how good your nose is. You managed to pick out the most expensive thing from the apothecary without a second thought."
Holo pestered him for expensive things whenever he made a foolish blunder of equal worth, so Lawrence could never protest with much strength. And so he would loosen the string around his coin purse as he was told, and Holo bought what she wanted without much hesitation. But this was typically something that the women of nobility used and not something a merchant would give as a present to his daughter.
Plenty of which had been rubbed into the tail of one blank-eyed Holo.
"That is collected from the clear top layer that appears when rose water is made, and then it's diluted in different oil. Of course, there are tales of a tyrant of a large empire from long ago who gave it as gift to a princess, but it didn't compare to undiluted, refined oil pressed from even a single rose petal. According to legend, after using as many flower petals that equaled the weight of ten fat horses, the tyrant finally managed to fill a small vial the size of the tip of his pinkie. But even the perfumed oil that you use would need a wagonful of..."
Lawrence got that far in his story when his words caught.
"Full of..."
"...Hello?"
Holo wore a nervous expression on her face and peered up at him from below.
Then Lawrence suddenly whipped around.
He looked not at Holo's worried face but to her fluffy, wagging tail.
"A wagonful?"
"Fwa?!"
Holo let out an odd cry and tried to stand up.
Lawrence did not even notice as he gripped her tail and stared hard at it.
"O-oh, my tail...You're so violent—"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Holo had been learning unnecessary things on her merchant's journey.
"If there were, then who would pay that much for it?"
Her tail smacked him on his back.
"And rose water? It exists, yes? Is it also expensive?"
"What?"
Lawrence questioned her while Holo mumbled something to herself with a distant look. She must have been using all the knowledge she had gained thus far and was thinking about how she might be able to make ice candy.
Then suddenly, when consciousness returned to her eyes, they wavered with angry flames and turned on Lawrence.
"Which do you think is more valuable: the price of that rose water or whatnot or the warmth from my tail on cold nights, hmm?"
Even the highest-quality wolf fur was inferior to deer fur, and deer fur was not as good as rabbit fur, and rabbit fur was no match for fox fur, but even fox fur was nothing compared to that of the ermine. Ermine fur could be traded as is for silver trenni coins, and if one wanted to buy rose water they would have to trade the same weight in gold. This fact would deeply hurt her pride as a wolf.
However, Lawrence was not worried she would rip him to shreds because she had made some sort of misunderstanding.
"All the wolf fur lined up in a market might not be able to buy a single drop of rose water."
Holo's eyes widened. She was speechless.
Before long her hands began to tremble, then her shoulders, then her ears, then her tail.
As she lifted her upper lip, showing the two sharp canines beneath, Lawrence spoke.
"But do you know what it is you put on your tail?"
"...Huh?"
The tail that she constantly combed and caressed day in and day out without rest was puffed out so large in just the slightest bit of anger, and the ends of the hairs glinted like thin bundles of glass.
What was it that gave it that sheen and a sweet scent that tickled his nose?
Holo gazed at her own tail, then turned toward Lawrence.
"The warmth of your tail is much more expensive than any rose water. So, so much more."
Lawrence dropped his shoulders with a sigh.
"You can't find the oil you use at an oil merchant's. It was from an apothecary. And it would be absolutely absurd to use it in cooking. But since you picked it out only by scent and bought it without looking at the price, and well, that simply shows how good your nose is. You managed to pick out the most expensive thing from the apothecary without a second thought."
Holo pestered him for expensive things whenever he made a foolish blunder of equal worth, so Lawrence could never protest with much strength. And so he would loosen the string around his coin purse as he was told, and Holo bought what she wanted without much hesitation. But this was typically something that the women of nobility used and not something a merchant would give as a present to his daughter.
Plenty of which had been rubbed into the tail of one blank-eyed Holo.
"That is collected from the clear top layer that appears when rose water is made, and then it's diluted in different oil. Of course, there are tales of a tyrant of a large empire from long ago who gave it as gift to a princess, but it didn't compare to undiluted, refined oil pressed from even a single rose petal. According to legend, after using as many flower petals that equaled the weight of ten fat horses, the tyrant finally managed to fill a small vial the size of the tip of his pinkie. But even the perfumed oil that you use would need a wagonful of..."
Lawrence got that far in his story when his words caught.
"Full of..."
"...Hello?"
Holo wore a nervous expression on her face and peered up at him from below.
Then Lawrence suddenly whipped around.
He looked not at Holo's worried face but to her fluffy, wagging tail.
"A wagonful?"
"Fwa?!"
Holo let out an odd cry and tried to stand up.
Lawrence did not even notice as he gripped her tail and stared hard at it.
"O-oh, my tail...You're so violent—"
| They had fuel. They had tools. They had materials. Everything needed was already on hand. Not only that, it was the sort of thing where the result was guaranteed before they even started. On top of all this, the product was not the bulky kind.
"This is it! This is the answer!"
Lawrence finally raised his head from his sea of ideas and showed Holo a smile.
Then, when he finally realized that her face was red and there were tears brimming at the edges of her eyes, it was much too late.
"You...fool!"
She puffed out her cheeks as far as she could.
But even if she fell from the bed at that very moment, Lawrence could not stop smiling.
"This could be something amazing!"
He leaped up hand in hand with Holo, who was still sadly checking to see if he had left an odd mark on her tail from gripping it so tightly.
She recoiled at his outburst, slightly frightened.
"And it'll be useful for the maintenance of your tail!"
Holo, whose tail had just been treated horribly, was about to say something, but Lawrence gave her hand a tug and she almost tumbled from the bed.
"W-wait, wait, you!"
"Come on—what are you doing? Let's go!"
He grasped the tallow candle on the candlestand on the wall and opened the door.
"We can help these people and make a fortune, too!"
Holo sighed in irritation, but she did not shake off Lawrence's hand.
Here we go again crossed her face for a moment, but a small smile of amusement appeared afterward.
The flowers, full of oil that could catch fire by just the light of the summer sun, as well as possessing an effusive aroma, bloomed endlessly before them.
In the very center of that flower field, they prepared a copper distilling pot with a narrowed opening in the shape of a flattened jar, clay, and the glass vials that Amalie's father had so passionately collected.
Once the fuel was lit, they could gather as much as they needed from the field afterward.
With everything they had readied, they would be able to turn the purple flower field that only brought disaster into a product that could be traded for gold.
"Something like this?"
The landlady Amalie had her sleeves rolled up and was stuffing clay into the mouth of the distilling pot. It was filled to the brim with flower petals and water she had drawn from the river.
"And then, into this glass bottle..."
Skillfully combining it with the clay, Lawrence attached the thin mouth of the glass bottle diagonally. In reality, they would ask a specialist glassmaker to create a pipe or prepare a copper tube, but this was just a makeshift version.
They first had to be certain if it was possible.
"And now I will light it."
The one that spoke uneasily was the representative of the villagers, the village head. The villagers all looked very unsettled, wondering what on earth they would do with boiled flowers in a distilling pot, as they watched from a distance.
They should have all the tools and procedures they needed.
Lawrence watched as he lit the fire, the stems and leaves plucked from the flowers also catching, and the smoke rose into the air.
"And...so?"
Amalie, who stood beside him, asked as though giving a prayer.
When he told her his idea the night before, she had been just as excited—if not even more so—than he was and nearly went straight into the field with sickle in hand, but Yergin managed somehow to hold her back. It seemed, however, that she had not been able to get any sleep due to her excitement, and the circles under her eyes were as dark as ash.
Yergin lamented that she should have maintained her dignity as a landlord, but despite how tired she looked, she behaved quite lively.
Though she looked meek, perhaps that did not mean she preferred being absorbed in meditation.
"Once it starts boiling, the steam will seep into the glass bottle. Then, we chill it with water."
The villagers, who were neglecting their farmwork to answer the call to gather here, were all holding wooden buckets and standing at attention, however reluctantly.
"It won't be long now...Look."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | They had fuel. They had tools. They had materials. Everything needed was already on hand. Not only that, it was the sort of thing where the result was guaranteed before they even started. On top of all this, the product was not the bulky kind.
"This is it! This is the answer!"
Lawrence finally raised his head from his sea of ideas and showed Holo a smile.
Then, when he finally realized that her face was red and there were tears brimming at the edges of her eyes, it was much too late.
"You...fool!"
She puffed out her cheeks as far as she could.
But even if she fell from the bed at that very moment, Lawrence could not stop smiling.
"This could be something amazing!"
He leaped up hand in hand with Holo, who was still sadly checking to see if he had left an odd mark on her tail from gripping it so tightly.
She recoiled at his outburst, slightly frightened.
"And it'll be useful for the maintenance of your tail!"
Holo, whose tail had just been treated horribly, was about to say something, but Lawrence gave her hand a tug and she almost tumbled from the bed.
"W-wait, wait, you!"
"Come on—what are you doing? Let's go!"
He grasped the tallow candle on the candlestand on the wall and opened the door.
"We can help these people and make a fortune, too!"
Holo sighed in irritation, but she did not shake off Lawrence's hand.
Here we go again crossed her face for a moment, but a small smile of amusement appeared afterward.
The flowers, full of oil that could catch fire by just the light of the summer sun, as well as possessing an effusive aroma, bloomed endlessly before them.
In the very center of that flower field, they prepared a copper distilling pot with a narrowed opening in the shape of a flattened jar, clay, and the glass vials that Amalie's father had so passionately collected.
Once the fuel was lit, they could gather as much as they needed from the field afterward.
With everything they had readied, they would be able to turn the purple flower field that only brought disaster into a product that could be traded for gold.
"Something like this?"
The landlady Amalie had her sleeves rolled up and was stuffing clay into the mouth of the distilling pot. It was filled to the brim with flower petals and water she had drawn from the river.
"And then, into this glass bottle..."
Skillfully combining it with the clay, Lawrence attached the thin mouth of the glass bottle diagonally. In reality, they would ask a specialist glassmaker to create a pipe or prepare a copper tube, but this was just a makeshift version.
They first had to be certain if it was possible.
"And now I will light it."
The one that spoke uneasily was the representative of the villagers, the village head. The villagers all looked very unsettled, wondering what on earth they would do with boiled flowers in a distilling pot, as they watched from a distance.
They should have all the tools and procedures they needed.
Lawrence watched as he lit the fire, the stems and leaves plucked from the flowers also catching, and the smoke rose into the air.
"And...so?"
Amalie, who stood beside him, asked as though giving a prayer.
When he told her his idea the night before, she had been just as excited—if not even more so—than he was and nearly went straight into the field with sickle in hand, but Yergin managed somehow to hold her back. It seemed, however, that she had not been able to get any sleep due to her excitement, and the circles under her eyes were as dark as ash.
Yergin lamented that she should have maintained her dignity as a landlord, but despite how tired she looked, she behaved quite lively.
Though she looked meek, perhaps that did not mean she preferred being absorbed in meditation.
"Once it starts boiling, the steam will seep into the glass bottle. Then, we chill it with water."
The villagers, who were neglecting their farmwork to answer the call to gather here, were all holding wooden buckets and standing at attention, however reluctantly.
"It won't be long now...Look."
| "This is how the steam will cool and become water."
The sound of bubbling, boiling water came from inside the distilling pot, and steam silently steeped into the glass bottle. Though it was spring, the mountains upstream were still in a snowy season, so the waters from the river were cold. Whenever they poured water onto the glass, it cooled, and they could see the inside.
"There is more and more water..."
Amalie raised her voice in surprise.
"Is that...oil...on the water surface?"
"It looks like it's a success."
Gathering near the mouth of the leaning glass bottle was a film of oil.
It already smelled strongly of flowers around them, and under the hood that covered her eyes, Holo pressed her hand against her mouth.
After watching them repeat the same activity for a while, Lawrence reached out to remove the glass bottle.
But Yergin interrupted him.
"It will be my job to endlessly carry on this work now."
Or perhaps it was his way of making sure a guest did not get burned.
Lawrence smiled and gave his spot to Yergin.
His thick palms gently grasped the glass bottle and released it from the clay, making sure the contents did not spill.
"Whoa."
"What a smell!"
The scent that wafted from it was so tremendous that the surrounding villagers unwittingly cried out.
And when held up to the sun, there was a clear divide between water and oil in the bottle.
Yergin pointed the opening of the bottle toward his mistress, Amalie.
Then she dipped her finger into the oil slightly and wiped it onto the cloth she had prepared.
"...Incredible."
That was all she could manage, shocked as she was.
"It will take a lot of flowers to make perfumed oil, but that's not a problem here. And an apothecary will dilute such a strong perfume with oil before quickly selling it off. A traveling merchant like myself only needs a bit of the original oil in a small vial. It would be fine in the rain and wouldn't put too much pressure on my wagon."
He did not know how much they would be able to sell, but at least they would have a lot, and it smelled wonderful.
It seemed Lawrence could safely expect the villagers to cut more than enough flowers.
"The only problem is..."
When Lawrence spoke up again, Amalie, who had been engrossed in sniffing the oil she rubbed on the cloth, as well as Yergin, Holo, and the village head, looked at him.
"...once you finish working on this, whatever you eat that night will smell sweet."
Everyone laughed, and Yergin even clapped.
"This wise traveler has shared splendid wisdom with us. Now, we must overcome this challenge that God has given us and make this field of flowers our boon!"
There was a veritable mountain of flowers to be cut, and then the villagers had to pluck the stems before drying them, all so they would burn better.
Not only that, they had to carry on with their normal farmwork, and once the season changed, the flowers would fall.
There was no time to stand around.
The place suddenly burst into a hive of activity, and Lawrence, in a very traveler-like manner, took one, then two quiet steps away.
Then a hand landed on his shoulder with a thud.
"Oh."
He turned around, and it was Holo.
"How about it? Aren't you impressed with my cunning?"
She would allow him to puff out his chest in pride a little.
When he spoke, and as soon as she showed him an exasperated smile under the hood she had pulled down to her nose, she twisted her body and drove her fist straight into his stomach.
"Guh?!"
"'Tis the grudge for my tail, you fool."
"Augh..."
It did not hurt that much, but his body buckled in surprise.
Then Holo peered at Lawrence's face when it grew closer, and there was quite a scary smile on her face that he could see even with the intervening cloth, and then she spoke.
"I shall never, ever forget that you mussed up my tail."
"N-no, wait—"
"And so..."
Holo drew closer.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "This is how the steam will cool and become water."
The sound of bubbling, boiling water came from inside the distilling pot, and steam silently steeped into the glass bottle. Though it was spring, the mountains upstream were still in a snowy season, so the waters from the river were cold. Whenever they poured water onto the glass, it cooled, and they could see the inside.
"There is more and more water..."
Amalie raised her voice in surprise.
"Is that...oil...on the water surface?"
"It looks like it's a success."
Gathering near the mouth of the leaning glass bottle was a film of oil.
It already smelled strongly of flowers around them, and under the hood that covered her eyes, Holo pressed her hand against her mouth.
After watching them repeat the same activity for a while, Lawrence reached out to remove the glass bottle.
But Yergin interrupted him.
"It will be my job to endlessly carry on this work now."
Or perhaps it was his way of making sure a guest did not get burned.
Lawrence smiled and gave his spot to Yergin.
His thick palms gently grasped the glass bottle and released it from the clay, making sure the contents did not spill.
"Whoa."
"What a smell!"
The scent that wafted from it was so tremendous that the surrounding villagers unwittingly cried out.
And when held up to the sun, there was a clear divide between water and oil in the bottle.
Yergin pointed the opening of the bottle toward his mistress, Amalie.
Then she dipped her finger into the oil slightly and wiped it onto the cloth she had prepared.
"...Incredible."
That was all she could manage, shocked as she was.
"It will take a lot of flowers to make perfumed oil, but that's not a problem here. And an apothecary will dilute such a strong perfume with oil before quickly selling it off. A traveling merchant like myself only needs a bit of the original oil in a small vial. It would be fine in the rain and wouldn't put too much pressure on my wagon."
He did not know how much they would be able to sell, but at least they would have a lot, and it smelled wonderful.
It seemed Lawrence could safely expect the villagers to cut more than enough flowers.
"The only problem is..."
When Lawrence spoke up again, Amalie, who had been engrossed in sniffing the oil she rubbed on the cloth, as well as Yergin, Holo, and the village head, looked at him.
"...once you finish working on this, whatever you eat that night will smell sweet."
Everyone laughed, and Yergin even clapped.
"This wise traveler has shared splendid wisdom with us. Now, we must overcome this challenge that God has given us and make this field of flowers our boon!"
There was a veritable mountain of flowers to be cut, and then the villagers had to pluck the stems before drying them, all so they would burn better.
Not only that, they had to carry on with their normal farmwork, and once the season changed, the flowers would fall.
There was no time to stand around.
The place suddenly burst into a hive of activity, and Lawrence, in a very traveler-like manner, took one, then two quiet steps away.
Then a hand landed on his shoulder with a thud.
"Oh."
He turned around, and it was Holo.
"How about it? Aren't you impressed with my cunning?"
She would allow him to puff out his chest in pride a little.
When he spoke, and as soon as she showed him an exasperated smile under the hood she had pulled down to her nose, she twisted her body and drove her fist straight into his stomach.
"Guh?!"
"'Tis the grudge for my tail, you fool."
"Augh..."
It did not hurt that much, but his body buckled in surprise.
Then Holo peered at Lawrence's face when it grew closer, and there was quite a scary smile on her face that he could see even with the intervening cloth, and then she spoke.
"I shall never, ever forget that you mussed up my tail."
"N-no, wait—"
"And so..."
Holo drew closer.
| "Wha—? No, we don't even know if it'll sell..."
"Oh, do you not wish to continue sleeping in warmth at night?"
Her reddish-amber eyes glinted like boiled fruit.
Though he had come here for the tantalizing promise of making a quick profit, it did not seem like his wallet would be getting any fatter in the end.
"...Okay."
He replied obediently, and Holo grinned like an innocent girl.
Then, she spoke.
"I must clean out your wallet regularly, after all."
***
He looked at her, and she happily clung to his arm.
The villagers were busily working while Yergin and Amalie were in the middle of a heated conversation.
They suddenly noticed the two of them and came over with attractive, beaming smiles.
"Mr. Lawrence, there is no doubt that you are a gift from God!"
When she said that, Lawrence responded with a troubled smile, lightly raising his hand.
His other arm was in the grip of a greedy wolf, making sure he would not be taken away.
"I'm nothing of the sort. If anything, I'm more like a sacrifice for someone who was once called a god...," he murmured quietly to himself.
"'Tis the pleasure of the merchant-sort to help others."
Holo's tail wagged underneath her robe as she made the remark.
Lawrence gazed up at the beautiful blue sky. Winter had ended, and it was nearly spring.
That was the story of a field of flowers that filled his entire body with sweetness whenever the wind blew.
Standing before the dusty shed, Lawrence finally awoke from the memories that wafted from the small vial.
It seemed that its potency had not faded over the years.
"Now I remember. Myuri wasn't at all interested in this little vial."
"While it may smell nice, and while it is sweet, it cannot be eaten, after all."
Myuri was too much of a child to be content with simply enjoying the scent of flowers.
"That fool was much more interested in hiding the hand mill. 'Tis why it may be hiding in a place that does not occur to us."
Their only daughter, Myuri, loved pranks more than anything and was obsessed with treasure hunting as well as adventure stories.
"That reminds me of a certain someone..."
"Yes, of you, how you are obsessed with treasure and how you try stuff as much as you can in that purse of yours."
"No, I'm thinking of someone who will pick out the best piece of jerky from a bag of rations and hide it for later."
"No, you fool."
"Oh ho. It seems there are things even the wisewolf doesn't know."
"I surely know much more than you!"
The two continued this back-and-forth as they knocked shoulders, exiting the shed together and walking back to the main house. Though they bickered, their hands were clasped together tightly.
Wafting behind them as they walked was a sweet scent.
It was not that of a flower, however, but something entirely different.
Perhaps it was the fragrance of happiness.
***
The snow was melting, the festivals celebrating the coming spring had ended, and a season of fresh green had arrived.
There was still time before the guests seeking to escape the heat of summer showed themselves, while the noisiest and most frantic season of winter was still some ways away. The village had calmed some, as the buildings were being mended or rebuilt in preparation for the next season, and every bathhouse was quiet.
The bathhouse Col worked at, Spice and Wolf, was no exception. There were no guests; the master, Lawrence, had gone to a village assembly, and his wife, Holo, had curiously tagged along for once. The more likely story was that it was a meeting only in name and was actually a drinking party with lots of good seasonal food. The woman in charge of Spice and Wolf's kitchen, Hanna, had also gone out to gather mushrooms and mountain vegetables and such. And so, having worked throughout the morning, Col found himself bored before lunch.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Wha—? No, we don't even know if it'll sell..."
"Oh, do you not wish to continue sleeping in warmth at night?"
Her reddish-amber eyes glinted like boiled fruit.
Though he had come here for the tantalizing promise of making a quick profit, it did not seem like his wallet would be getting any fatter in the end.
"...Okay."
He replied obediently, and Holo grinned like an innocent girl.
Then, she spoke.
"I must clean out your wallet regularly, after all."
***
He looked at her, and she happily clung to his arm.
The villagers were busily working while Yergin and Amalie were in the middle of a heated conversation.
They suddenly noticed the two of them and came over with attractive, beaming smiles.
"Mr. Lawrence, there is no doubt that you are a gift from God!"
When she said that, Lawrence responded with a troubled smile, lightly raising his hand.
His other arm was in the grip of a greedy wolf, making sure he would not be taken away.
"I'm nothing of the sort. If anything, I'm more like a sacrifice for someone who was once called a god...," he murmured quietly to himself.
"'Tis the pleasure of the merchant-sort to help others."
Holo's tail wagged underneath her robe as she made the remark.
Lawrence gazed up at the beautiful blue sky. Winter had ended, and it was nearly spring.
That was the story of a field of flowers that filled his entire body with sweetness whenever the wind blew.
Standing before the dusty shed, Lawrence finally awoke from the memories that wafted from the small vial.
It seemed that its potency had not faded over the years.
"Now I remember. Myuri wasn't at all interested in this little vial."
"While it may smell nice, and while it is sweet, it cannot be eaten, after all."
Myuri was too much of a child to be content with simply enjoying the scent of flowers.
"That fool was much more interested in hiding the hand mill. 'Tis why it may be hiding in a place that does not occur to us."
Their only daughter, Myuri, loved pranks more than anything and was obsessed with treasure hunting as well as adventure stories.
"That reminds me of a certain someone..."
"Yes, of you, how you are obsessed with treasure and how you try stuff as much as you can in that purse of yours."
"No, I'm thinking of someone who will pick out the best piece of jerky from a bag of rations and hide it for later."
"No, you fool."
"Oh ho. It seems there are things even the wisewolf doesn't know."
"I surely know much more than you!"
The two continued this back-and-forth as they knocked shoulders, exiting the shed together and walking back to the main house. Though they bickered, their hands were clasped together tightly.
Wafting behind them as they walked was a sweet scent.
It was not that of a flower, however, but something entirely different.
Perhaps it was the fragrance of happiness.
***
The snow was melting, the festivals celebrating the coming spring had ended, and a season of fresh green had arrived.
There was still time before the guests seeking to escape the heat of summer showed themselves, while the noisiest and most frantic season of winter was still some ways away. The village had calmed some, as the buildings were being mended or rebuilt in preparation for the next season, and every bathhouse was quiet.
The bathhouse Col worked at, Spice and Wolf, was no exception. There were no guests; the master, Lawrence, had gone to a village assembly, and his wife, Holo, had curiously tagged along for once. The more likely story was that it was a meeting only in name and was actually a drinking party with lots of good seasonal food. The woman in charge of Spice and Wolf's kitchen, Hanna, had also gone out to gather mushrooms and mountain vegetables and such. And so, having worked throughout the morning, Col found himself bored before lunch.
| Beside him sat the sweet mead that had recently become a regular part of his diet. With a twinge of regret for his laziness, he took a sip and leaned his head back toward the heavens, spreading before him as one beautiful blue sky.
There was nothing else he could wish for, and he even felt like he was approaching the happiness God's teachings spoke about. Closer than he ever could from opening his theology texts...
"Ah..."
He wanted it to last forever.
He placed his work and his disciplined devotion to study on the side and indulged himself in a bout of laziness, when—
"Broootheeer!"
Col thought he could just make out a distant voice.
For a moment, he thought he had dozed off and imagined it in a dream, but then he heard it again, more clearly.
"Brotheeer!"
It seemed that Myuri, who had gone to play in the river, had returned. The only daughter of the master of Spice and Wolf, Lawrence, and his wife, Holo, Myuri often called him "brother" in admiration. She was about twelve or thirteen and was about the right age if she were to be married off early, and when he thought about that, he grew a bit sad.
That being said, lately, he was concerned in a completely opposite manner.
"I'm in the bath!"
He called to her, but before long, he could hear her feet slapping against the ground, finally followed by Myuri appearing in the baths.
"There you are! Brother!!"
When she looked at him, her face instantly lit up.
Though her facial features and eye color were the same as her mother's, the two smiled differently. Holo's smile had a softness to it, like slowly being boiled in honey, but Myuri's was exactly like the summer sun.
It shone brightly and sometimes burned others.
"Brother! Look, look! Look at this! Isn't it cool?!"
She shook the cage she held with both arms and jogged over to him. Her clothes were soaked because she had probably been so focused on playing in the river that she had fallen in several times.
She was covered with countless fresh cuts, her energy and innocence unchanged since childhood, and her smile was filled with a charm that could not help but elicit a similar response from those who saw it. She had a great power to make others feel her youth and naïveté.
But at a certain point, her smile became concerning.
"Myuri, if you run like that—"
—You'll slip was how he planned to complete his thought, but he never had a chance.
Myuri had been so fixated on running that when she tried to stop at the edge of the bath, her feet completely flew out from under her.
"Huh?"
Then, she, along with the cage she carried, plunged directly into the bath.
***
The spray covered Col's head, and beyond his dripping wet bangs, he could see bubbles gathering on the surface of the water. Girls of twelve or thirteen were encouraged to learn embroidery and cooking, instructed not to show their teeth when they smiled, and taught how to shyly tilt their heads. But all these things were so far removed from Myuri's daily life.
He would be sad if Myuri, who he had taken care of as his own sister, were to be married off, but recently, he was starting to worry whether anyone would take her as a bride. He sighed and went to pull Myuri up, as she had yet to come up on her own, but then he realized—
Something was moving in the water.
"Pwah!"
Myuri finally lifted her head above the water.
"Myuri, what on earth have you—?"
"Brother! Don't just stand there!"
She did not even look at him as she stared into the water and braced herself for something.
Then slowly, she submerged herself completely into the water, and this time, her face and arms immediately returned to the surface.
"Hey...Stay still!"
She shouted at a fat, round lamprey eel dancing in her grip.
"Ah, ah, it's gonna get away, it's gonna—Eek!"
The lamprey slipped out of her hands, and Myuri, chasing after it in a strange stance, dove into the water again.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Beside him sat the sweet mead that had recently become a regular part of his diet. With a twinge of regret for his laziness, he took a sip and leaned his head back toward the heavens, spreading before him as one beautiful blue sky.
There was nothing else he could wish for, and he even felt like he was approaching the happiness God's teachings spoke about. Closer than he ever could from opening his theology texts...
"Ah..."
He wanted it to last forever.
He placed his work and his disciplined devotion to study on the side and indulged himself in a bout of laziness, when—
"Broootheeer!"
Col thought he could just make out a distant voice.
For a moment, he thought he had dozed off and imagined it in a dream, but then he heard it again, more clearly.
"Brotheeer!"
It seemed that Myuri, who had gone to play in the river, had returned. The only daughter of the master of Spice and Wolf, Lawrence, and his wife, Holo, Myuri often called him "brother" in admiration. She was about twelve or thirteen and was about the right age if she were to be married off early, and when he thought about that, he grew a bit sad.
That being said, lately, he was concerned in a completely opposite manner.
"I'm in the bath!"
He called to her, but before long, he could hear her feet slapping against the ground, finally followed by Myuri appearing in the baths.
"There you are! Brother!!"
When she looked at him, her face instantly lit up.
Though her facial features and eye color were the same as her mother's, the two smiled differently. Holo's smile had a softness to it, like slowly being boiled in honey, but Myuri's was exactly like the summer sun.
It shone brightly and sometimes burned others.
"Brother! Look, look! Look at this! Isn't it cool?!"
She shook the cage she held with both arms and jogged over to him. Her clothes were soaked because she had probably been so focused on playing in the river that she had fallen in several times.
She was covered with countless fresh cuts, her energy and innocence unchanged since childhood, and her smile was filled with a charm that could not help but elicit a similar response from those who saw it. She had a great power to make others feel her youth and naïveté.
But at a certain point, her smile became concerning.
"Myuri, if you run like that—"
—You'll slip was how he planned to complete his thought, but he never had a chance.
Myuri had been so fixated on running that when she tried to stop at the edge of the bath, her feet completely flew out from under her.
"Huh?"
Then, she, along with the cage she carried, plunged directly into the bath.
***
The spray covered Col's head, and beyond his dripping wet bangs, he could see bubbles gathering on the surface of the water. Girls of twelve or thirteen were encouraged to learn embroidery and cooking, instructed not to show their teeth when they smiled, and taught how to shyly tilt their heads. But all these things were so far removed from Myuri's daily life.
He would be sad if Myuri, who he had taken care of as his own sister, were to be married off, but recently, he was starting to worry whether anyone would take her as a bride. He sighed and went to pull Myuri up, as she had yet to come up on her own, but then he realized—
Something was moving in the water.
"Pwah!"
Myuri finally lifted her head above the water.
"Myuri, what on earth have you—?"
"Brother! Don't just stand there!"
She did not even look at him as she stared into the water and braced herself for something.
Then slowly, she submerged herself completely into the water, and this time, her face and arms immediately returned to the surface.
"Hey...Stay still!"
She shouted at a fat, round lamprey eel dancing in her grip.
"Ah, ah, it's gonna get away, it's gonna—Eek!"
The lamprey slipped out of her hands, and Myuri, chasing after it in a strange stance, dove into the water again.
| Col stood before Myuri and the fish splashing about in the bathwater, took a deep breath, then exhaled.
"Myuri!"
His calm and peaceful moment had vanished in an instant.
When Col told this story, the person placing a skewered fish over the red-hot coals in the hearth chuckled. She had flaxen-colored hair and red eyes, and her face was the same as Myuri's. Their physiques were even similar; she did not look much older than fourteen, and if she stayed silent she was nothing but a pretty little girl. However, her smile inspired an odd feeling in all who saw it. That was likely due to the grimness of living such a terribly long time.
Myuri's mother, Holo, was not human. On the wall, illuminated by the light of the hearth, was a shadow of her large triangular ears and her tail. She was the avatar of a wolf, called Holo the Wisewolf, who was once worshipped as a god and lived in wheat and would live on for hundreds of years.
"It is not funny. We were lucky that there are no guests here during this season."
"What, with fish in the bath, it shall save us some time when we must collect snacks to go with our drink, will it not?"
Holo's response was one of amusement.
The fish they managed to rescue from those that Myuri had thrown into the baths were left to live in a barrel filled with water while the rest had been boiled. It seemed like a waste to throw them out, but it also did not seem appropriate to offer such things to the other villagers, so they smoked some of them while the rest were grilled and salted for their meal.
The reason they did not think to use the fish in a hot pot was because it seemed sad to boil the poor things even more.
"And so where has that fool gone?" Holo asked as she sprinkled more salt onto the fish before licking her fingers.
"Mr. Lawrence scolded her, so now she should be cutting firewood."
Then Holo looked up from the fish, which made a juicy sizzling sound as it cooked.
"Hmm?"
Then, the large, triangular ears on the top of her head twitched. Though she was hundreds of years older than him and the wife of the bathhouse master, Col thought her ears and fuzzy tail were, to speak frankly, very cute. When he was younger, she had allowed him to cling to that tail countless times.
"Is something the matter?"
"Mm. 'Tis much too quiet for woodcutting."
There were no guests at the bathhouse, and it was silent all around. It was almost quiet enough to hear a mouse yawn.
If Holo, whose vaunted ears were literally as sharp as a wolf's, said so, then there was significance to this silence.
"Mr. Lawrence should be watching over her..."
"My dear husband had plenty of drink. He may very well be sleeping."
Holo, too, had had plenty to drink.
"I'll go check."
Col stood, and Holo called after him.
"Mm. Ah, while you're gone, please place the raisins in water."
"Raisins?"
He turned around, and Holo's eyes glittered as she wagged her tail.
"'Tis a gift from someone who had traveled south. They were given to us at the meeting. They are quite sweet eaten as they are, but I was told after steeping them overnight in water, using that water in bread dough will make for a very sweet and delicious bread."
Holo was many times more childish than Myuri when it came to food.
But raisin bread did sound good.
"Little Col, you are fond of sweets, are you not? 'Tis well to sample some before putting them in the water. I grant you permission in my name."
She called him the way she used to back when he first met Holo and Lawrence as a young boy, and he felt a little embarrassed.
But he still preferred sweet mead to bitter ale even though he had grown up, so he could not protest her treating him like a child.
"Thank you. I'll try some."
"Go ahead."
Holo sent him off, her interest already returned to the frying fish. A small smile appeared on Col's face, and then he headed toward the back of the building.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Col stood before Myuri and the fish splashing about in the bathwater, took a deep breath, then exhaled.
"Myuri!"
His calm and peaceful moment had vanished in an instant.
When Col told this story, the person placing a skewered fish over the red-hot coals in the hearth chuckled. She had flaxen-colored hair and red eyes, and her face was the same as Myuri's. Their physiques were even similar; she did not look much older than fourteen, and if she stayed silent she was nothing but a pretty little girl. However, her smile inspired an odd feeling in all who saw it. That was likely due to the grimness of living such a terribly long time.
Myuri's mother, Holo, was not human. On the wall, illuminated by the light of the hearth, was a shadow of her large triangular ears and her tail. She was the avatar of a wolf, called Holo the Wisewolf, who was once worshipped as a god and lived in wheat and would live on for hundreds of years.
"It is not funny. We were lucky that there are no guests here during this season."
"What, with fish in the bath, it shall save us some time when we must collect snacks to go with our drink, will it not?"
Holo's response was one of amusement.
The fish they managed to rescue from those that Myuri had thrown into the baths were left to live in a barrel filled with water while the rest had been boiled. It seemed like a waste to throw them out, but it also did not seem appropriate to offer such things to the other villagers, so they smoked some of them while the rest were grilled and salted for their meal.
The reason they did not think to use the fish in a hot pot was because it seemed sad to boil the poor things even more.
"And so where has that fool gone?" Holo asked as she sprinkled more salt onto the fish before licking her fingers.
"Mr. Lawrence scolded her, so now she should be cutting firewood."
Then Holo looked up from the fish, which made a juicy sizzling sound as it cooked.
"Hmm?"
Then, the large, triangular ears on the top of her head twitched. Though she was hundreds of years older than him and the wife of the bathhouse master, Col thought her ears and fuzzy tail were, to speak frankly, very cute. When he was younger, she had allowed him to cling to that tail countless times.
"Is something the matter?"
"Mm. 'Tis much too quiet for woodcutting."
There were no guests at the bathhouse, and it was silent all around. It was almost quiet enough to hear a mouse yawn.
If Holo, whose vaunted ears were literally as sharp as a wolf's, said so, then there was significance to this silence.
"Mr. Lawrence should be watching over her..."
"My dear husband had plenty of drink. He may very well be sleeping."
Holo, too, had had plenty to drink.
"I'll go check."
Col stood, and Holo called after him.
"Mm. Ah, while you're gone, please place the raisins in water."
"Raisins?"
He turned around, and Holo's eyes glittered as she wagged her tail.
"'Tis a gift from someone who had traveled south. They were given to us at the meeting. They are quite sweet eaten as they are, but I was told after steeping them overnight in water, using that water in bread dough will make for a very sweet and delicious bread."
Holo was many times more childish than Myuri when it came to food.
But raisin bread did sound good.
"Little Col, you are fond of sweets, are you not? 'Tis well to sample some before putting them in the water. I grant you permission in my name."
She called him the way she used to back when he first met Holo and Lawrence as a young boy, and he felt a little embarrassed.
But he still preferred sweet mead to bitter ale even though he had grown up, so he could not protest her treating him like a child.
"Thank you. I'll try some."
"Go ahead."
Holo sent him off, her interest already returned to the frying fish. A small smile appeared on Col's face, and then he headed toward the back of the building.
| But he could not spot the raisins that Holo mentioned. Perhaps Lawrence used them as bait to lure Myuri into chopping wood. Thinking this, Col went outside and peered inside the firewood shed. Lit by the stars and the moon, leaning against a mountain of logs was the master, Lawrence, fast asleep.
"...Mr. Lawrence."
Col murmured, irritated, and Lawrence's breath paused for a moment with a "Ngh," but his quiet snoozing started soon again. He still looked young, similar to how he was when they first met, but he always said self-deprecatingly that he could not hold his liquor as well as he used to now that he had grown older, and it seemed that was no exaggeration.
And of course, Myuri was nowhere to be seen. There was a blanket over Lawrence's body, and Col could guess that was Myuri's work. He wished to think that, of course, it was a daughter's consideration for her father, but it was more likely a scheme to make sure her father did not get too angry that she skipped out on chopping wood.
Perhaps it was his weakness as a father, but Lawrence had never lost his temper with Myuri even once.
"But where has she gone?"
Holo and Lawrence returned home before dinner, and once her father learned of what happened, he immediately ordered Myuri to cut wood. She was probably hungry. Not only had she inherited Holo's face and red eyes but also her appetite. It was unthinkable for her to go to bed without eating.
As he considered this, he could hear the sounds of water splashing over Lawrence's soft snoring.
"She's in the baths?"
A little ways away from the firewood shed, Col emerged onto the stone path extending out from the bathhouse.
He followed it and arrived at the wide-open outdoor baths, but at the entrance, he already found traces of Myuri's presence.
"...How many times do I have to tell her not to throw her clothes everywhere before she'll stop...?"
He grumbled with a sigh and began collecting her scattered clothes. He folded each piece carefully, and as he at last bundled the pile with her waist wrap, he could hear her voice coming from the other side of the partition.
"Come on, you can do it!"
Whatever she was doing, it sounded like she having quite a time. It could be that children from other bathhouses had come over to play. They were all infamously naughty children, but Myuri stood out even among them, and she was naturally their boss.
Wondering what they were doing at this hour, he rounded the partition, and his jaw dropped.
He let the nicely folded pile of Myuri's clothes fall to the floor at the absurd sight.
"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Mm?"
A stark-naked Myuri noticed Col.
The light of the stars and the moon was much brighter than any candle, clearly illuminating the scene. Myuri, her hair of ash with silver flecks inherited from her father, wagged her fluffy tail of the same color as she stood proudly on the rocks surrounding the edge of the bath without a single stitch on.
This time, Col set aside his disappointment in her lack of shame as a young maiden. He even forgave how the wolf ears and tail she inherited from Holo, which she usually kept hidden, were out in the open.
He could even ignore the hemp sack she gripped in her right hand, and the mountain of what seemed to be raisins, freshly hoisted from the bag, in her left hand.
No, the true problem lay where Myuri was looking.
On the small island in the middle of the bath, two bears stood face-to-face.
"Myuri...Wh-what are...?"
"Ah-ha-ha, Brother! Just in time!"
Myuri spun around, nimbly skipped over to him, and threw herself into his chest without any reserve or consideration.
Though she was thin and delicate and he stood one head above her, she was tomboyish and had the intensity of youth about her.
Col managed to catch her, but before he could launch into a scolding, she lifted her head.
"See, see, Brother? Look at that!"
Beaming and using the hand with which she gripped the sack, she pointed to the center island.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | But he could not spot the raisins that Holo mentioned. Perhaps Lawrence used them as bait to lure Myuri into chopping wood. Thinking this, Col went outside and peered inside the firewood shed. Lit by the stars and the moon, leaning against a mountain of logs was the master, Lawrence, fast asleep.
"...Mr. Lawrence."
Col murmured, irritated, and Lawrence's breath paused for a moment with a "Ngh," but his quiet snoozing started soon again. He still looked young, similar to how he was when they first met, but he always said self-deprecatingly that he could not hold his liquor as well as he used to now that he had grown older, and it seemed that was no exaggeration.
And of course, Myuri was nowhere to be seen. There was a blanket over Lawrence's body, and Col could guess that was Myuri's work. He wished to think that, of course, it was a daughter's consideration for her father, but it was more likely a scheme to make sure her father did not get too angry that she skipped out on chopping wood.
Perhaps it was his weakness as a father, but Lawrence had never lost his temper with Myuri even once.
"But where has she gone?"
Holo and Lawrence returned home before dinner, and once her father learned of what happened, he immediately ordered Myuri to cut wood. She was probably hungry. Not only had she inherited Holo's face and red eyes but also her appetite. It was unthinkable for her to go to bed without eating.
As he considered this, he could hear the sounds of water splashing over Lawrence's soft snoring.
"She's in the baths?"
A little ways away from the firewood shed, Col emerged onto the stone path extending out from the bathhouse.
He followed it and arrived at the wide-open outdoor baths, but at the entrance, he already found traces of Myuri's presence.
"...How many times do I have to tell her not to throw her clothes everywhere before she'll stop...?"
He grumbled with a sigh and began collecting her scattered clothes. He folded each piece carefully, and as he at last bundled the pile with her waist wrap, he could hear her voice coming from the other side of the partition.
"Come on, you can do it!"
Whatever she was doing, it sounded like she having quite a time. It could be that children from other bathhouses had come over to play. They were all infamously naughty children, but Myuri stood out even among them, and she was naturally their boss.
Wondering what they were doing at this hour, he rounded the partition, and his jaw dropped.
He let the nicely folded pile of Myuri's clothes fall to the floor at the absurd sight.
"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Mm?"
A stark-naked Myuri noticed Col.
The light of the stars and the moon was much brighter than any candle, clearly illuminating the scene. Myuri, her hair of ash with silver flecks inherited from her father, wagged her fluffy tail of the same color as she stood proudly on the rocks surrounding the edge of the bath without a single stitch on.
This time, Col set aside his disappointment in her lack of shame as a young maiden. He even forgave how the wolf ears and tail she inherited from Holo, which she usually kept hidden, were out in the open.
He could even ignore the hemp sack she gripped in her right hand, and the mountain of what seemed to be raisins, freshly hoisted from the bag, in her left hand.
No, the true problem lay where Myuri was looking.
On the small island in the middle of the bath, two bears stood face-to-face.
"Myuri...Wh-what are...?"
"Ah-ha-ha, Brother! Just in time!"
Myuri spun around, nimbly skipped over to him, and threw herself into his chest without any reserve or consideration.
Though she was thin and delicate and he stood one head above her, she was tomboyish and had the intensity of youth about her.
Col managed to catch her, but before he could launch into a scolding, she lifted her head.
"See, see, Brother? Look at that!"
Beaming and using the hand with which she gripped the sack, she pointed to the center island.
| When he pointed that out, Myuri looked at her own hands in surprise, but she immediately smiled.
"Eh-heh-heh. Do you want some?"
"Myuri!"
He promptly admonished her, and she tensed her shoulders, flattened her ears, and closed her eyes.
However, she did not let go of the raisins, and even when he reached out to take them back, she spun around to evade him.
"Come on, Brother, stop being so loud."
He felt a headache coming on as she complained. He was starting to lose track of what he should be angry about, but for now, he was certain that his main concern was the bears, glaring at each other in the center island.
"No, tell me what that is."
Nyohhira was a place nestled deep in the mountains, and one could come across wild animals even within the village. If anything, the bathhouses beyond the center of the village were intruding on the territory of those who dwelled in the surrounding forests. Of these, wolves and bears were the most feared. At a normal bathhouse, this would have caused a commotion that would draw the attention of the entire village.
"That? They said they wanted to have some raisins, so I said that whoever wins the fight can have some."
"...A fight?"
"Yeah. No biting or scratching. I don't want them getting hurt. The one that falls into the water first loses."
Myuri, an avatar of a wolf like her mother, seemed to be able to communicate with the forest animals. It was almost like a fairy tale. But if it was, then Myuri infused a limitless innocence into the story, almost to the point of cruelty.
"N-no, if you make those two bears fight..."
Lawrence had insisted they install a center island in the baths, and he worked incredibly hard to put the stones together so that the musicians would have a place to perform elegantly. It was a jewel of his sweat and toil, and of course, he only ever imagined that humans would be standing on it. As the bears stared intently at each other, circling while watching for any stray moves, the edges of the island were already falling apart. Once the fight began in earnest, Col could already imagine how the island would end up.
But even if he tried to stop the bears, he did not think that they would understand him.
Would it be a better idea to get Holo's help?
As he was considering this, the naked Myuri thrust the raisins up high.
"Hey, if you wish to have these, you shall show me your strength!"
She made her declaration, perhaps imitating how her mother spoke.
And the bears, with their appetites and pride on the line, menacingly bared their fangs at each other.
Please stop.
Before Col could say it, Myuri carried on.
"Ready...Fight!"
With an earth-rumbling growl, the bears began to fight. Their frightening strength raised waves in the bath, and the center island trembled, as though in fear.
Every time a stone fell into the water, there was a loud plop, plop.
As Col helplessly watched the bears, now standing on two legs while pushing and jostling each other, he noticed Myuri had come to stand next to him.
"Hey, Brother?"
At some point, he had begun to feel a bit of fear whenever he heard "Brother."
Lit by the stars and moon, Myuri's unclad body looked like it had been sculpted from silver and ice. She was looking up at him with an adorable smile.
"Brother, who do you think will win?"
Absolutely unfettered innocence.
Before long, a corner of the island collapsed, and both bears fell into the water.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | When he pointed that out, Myuri looked at her own hands in surprise, but she immediately smiled.
"Eh-heh-heh. Do you want some?"
"Myuri!"
He promptly admonished her, and she tensed her shoulders, flattened her ears, and closed her eyes.
However, she did not let go of the raisins, and even when he reached out to take them back, she spun around to evade him.
"Come on, Brother, stop being so loud."
He felt a headache coming on as she complained. He was starting to lose track of what he should be angry about, but for now, he was certain that his main concern was the bears, glaring at each other in the center island.
"No, tell me what that is."
Nyohhira was a place nestled deep in the mountains, and one could come across wild animals even within the village. If anything, the bathhouses beyond the center of the village were intruding on the territory of those who dwelled in the surrounding forests. Of these, wolves and bears were the most feared. At a normal bathhouse, this would have caused a commotion that would draw the attention of the entire village.
"That? They said they wanted to have some raisins, so I said that whoever wins the fight can have some."
"...A fight?"
"Yeah. No biting or scratching. I don't want them getting hurt. The one that falls into the water first loses."
Myuri, an avatar of a wolf like her mother, seemed to be able to communicate with the forest animals. It was almost like a fairy tale. But if it was, then Myuri infused a limitless innocence into the story, almost to the point of cruelty.
"N-no, if you make those two bears fight..."
Lawrence had insisted they install a center island in the baths, and he worked incredibly hard to put the stones together so that the musicians would have a place to perform elegantly. It was a jewel of his sweat and toil, and of course, he only ever imagined that humans would be standing on it. As the bears stared intently at each other, circling while watching for any stray moves, the edges of the island were already falling apart. Once the fight began in earnest, Col could already imagine how the island would end up.
But even if he tried to stop the bears, he did not think that they would understand him.
Would it be a better idea to get Holo's help?
As he was considering this, the naked Myuri thrust the raisins up high.
"Hey, if you wish to have these, you shall show me your strength!"
She made her declaration, perhaps imitating how her mother spoke.
And the bears, with their appetites and pride on the line, menacingly bared their fangs at each other.
Please stop.
Before Col could say it, Myuri carried on.
"Ready...Fight!"
With an earth-rumbling growl, the bears began to fight. Their frightening strength raised waves in the bath, and the center island trembled, as though in fear.
Every time a stone fell into the water, there was a loud plop, plop.
As Col helplessly watched the bears, now standing on two legs while pushing and jostling each other, he noticed Myuri had come to stand next to him.
"Hey, Brother?"
At some point, he had begun to feel a bit of fear whenever he heard "Brother."
Lit by the stars and moon, Myuri's unclad body looked like it had been sculpted from silver and ice. She was looking up at him with an adorable smile.
"Brother, who do you think will win?"
Absolutely unfettered innocence.
Before long, a corner of the island collapsed, and both bears fell into the water.
| Even so, he still knit his eyebrows and let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry that it's always like this...Col."
As though sensing his displeasure, Lawrence, stacking stones with a pale face, spoke weakly.
Though he seemed hungover, the bathhouse master was someone with a strong sense of responsibility, so he would not leave the cleanup for his daughter's misconduct to another alone.
"I don't think Myuri means any harm, but...I don't think she knows when to stop..."
"N-no, it's not..."
Placing another stone on the pile, Col cut himself short and offered a feeble laugh.
"Well...I suppose...just a little..."
His hand lifted another heavy rock into place with a clack, and he was suddenly reminded of his own anxiety.
"But, I swear, where on earth has she run off to on her own?"
Lawrence, who saw the terrible state of the baths in the morning, was merciless in admonishing her for once, but it must have fallen on deaf—or wolf—ears. The girl was nowhere to be found.
Even if she were around, her small arms would find it tough to lift many of those stones, so it would have only created unnecessary trouble. That being said, showing sincerity was important. If she simply sat at the side and reflected on her actions quietly, that would have been enough whether she helped or not.
"If she only behaved a little better, then there would be no cuter daughter..."
Lawrence sounded exactly like an overly fond parent, but it was true that if Myuri behaved, there was no one more adorable. She smiled a lot, was always cheerful, and was constantly full of energy, though she also had some thoughtful parts. She may have been a prankster, but she was not naturally malicious.
She did not have to be wise and crafty like her mother, Holo, but if only she could be slightly more obedient. As the pair ruminated over the thought while collecting the stones scattered about the bath floor, they could hear Holo's distant voice.
"Dear."
Though it was not loud by any means, her voice sounded like it had been carried in on the wind. There was a certain softness to Holo's tone when she called Lawrence "dear," and that might have been why.
Col looked up, and Holo was standing on the path to the bathhouse. An apron she did not often wear was tied around her waist, and her arms up to her elbows were completely white. It seemed she was trying to make the raisin bread.
"Come take a look at the fire on the stove. I do not know how strong it must be."
"Ah...Miss Hanna isn't back yet?"
"'Tis a good season. Well, perhaps 'tis well she stretches her wings once in a while."
Hanna, like Holo, was not human and was the embodiment of a bird or something of the sort. She was a talented woman who worked harder than anyone else in the kitchen, but things like this did happen sometimes.
"But the fire, dear."
"Ah, um."
Lawrence glanced at Col.
"Please, go ahead."
He did not smile at them because they were his employers. It was simply that he was happy watching the village's most renowned couple of lovebirds.
"Sorry. I'll be right back."
"I have some prepared for you, too, little Col. Look forward to it for me."
Holo spoke and turned on her heel, and Lawrence followed.
Col saw them off as Holo slowly leaned her face in toward Lawrence, and he scratched the tip of her nose.
Holo's tail, which was exposed since there were no guests around, swished about happily.
His strain from stacking stones softened as he watched them go together.
He recentered himself and started piling stones one by one, when a chill suddenly shot down his spine.
Or perhaps, it was a premonition.
"Broootheeer!"
He heard Myuri's voice, who was liable to kick everything about with a smile, and he felt his gut tense up. Even Myuri was so busy in the summer, and especially in the winter, that she did not have any free time to be mischievous, but when there was a moment of respite, like during the current season, someone had to deal with all her energy.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Even so, he still knit his eyebrows and let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry that it's always like this...Col."
As though sensing his displeasure, Lawrence, stacking stones with a pale face, spoke weakly.
Though he seemed hungover, the bathhouse master was someone with a strong sense of responsibility, so he would not leave the cleanup for his daughter's misconduct to another alone.
"I don't think Myuri means any harm, but...I don't think she knows when to stop..."
"N-no, it's not..."
Placing another stone on the pile, Col cut himself short and offered a feeble laugh.
"Well...I suppose...just a little..."
His hand lifted another heavy rock into place with a clack, and he was suddenly reminded of his own anxiety.
"But, I swear, where on earth has she run off to on her own?"
Lawrence, who saw the terrible state of the baths in the morning, was merciless in admonishing her for once, but it must have fallen on deaf—or wolf—ears. The girl was nowhere to be found.
Even if she were around, her small arms would find it tough to lift many of those stones, so it would have only created unnecessary trouble. That being said, showing sincerity was important. If she simply sat at the side and reflected on her actions quietly, that would have been enough whether she helped or not.
"If she only behaved a little better, then there would be no cuter daughter..."
Lawrence sounded exactly like an overly fond parent, but it was true that if Myuri behaved, there was no one more adorable. She smiled a lot, was always cheerful, and was constantly full of energy, though she also had some thoughtful parts. She may have been a prankster, but she was not naturally malicious.
She did not have to be wise and crafty like her mother, Holo, but if only she could be slightly more obedient. As the pair ruminated over the thought while collecting the stones scattered about the bath floor, they could hear Holo's distant voice.
"Dear."
Though it was not loud by any means, her voice sounded like it had been carried in on the wind. There was a certain softness to Holo's tone when she called Lawrence "dear," and that might have been why.
Col looked up, and Holo was standing on the path to the bathhouse. An apron she did not often wear was tied around her waist, and her arms up to her elbows were completely white. It seemed she was trying to make the raisin bread.
"Come take a look at the fire on the stove. I do not know how strong it must be."
"Ah...Miss Hanna isn't back yet?"
"'Tis a good season. Well, perhaps 'tis well she stretches her wings once in a while."
Hanna, like Holo, was not human and was the embodiment of a bird or something of the sort. She was a talented woman who worked harder than anyone else in the kitchen, but things like this did happen sometimes.
"But the fire, dear."
"Ah, um."
Lawrence glanced at Col.
"Please, go ahead."
He did not smile at them because they were his employers. It was simply that he was happy watching the village's most renowned couple of lovebirds.
"Sorry. I'll be right back."
"I have some prepared for you, too, little Col. Look forward to it for me."
Holo spoke and turned on her heel, and Lawrence followed.
Col saw them off as Holo slowly leaned her face in toward Lawrence, and he scratched the tip of her nose.
Holo's tail, which was exposed since there were no guests around, swished about happily.
His strain from stacking stones softened as he watched them go together.
He recentered himself and started piling stones one by one, when a chill suddenly shot down his spine.
Or perhaps, it was a premonition.
"Broootheeer!"
He heard Myuri's voice, who was liable to kick everything about with a smile, and he felt his gut tense up. Even Myuri was so busy in the summer, and especially in the winter, that she did not have any free time to be mischievous, but when there was a moment of respite, like during the current season, someone had to deal with all her energy.
| "Guh?!"
"Brother!"
His chest thudded against the pile of rocks, but Myuri pulled his arm back with a cackle.
"Hey, hey, Brother! Listen, listen!"
***
Coughing, he turned toward her only to see mud plastered on her cheeks, spiderwebs in her hair, and she must have been attacked by swarms of horseflies as her bare arms were covered in bug bites.
There was no chance for him to ask where she had been and what she had done, since Myuri, like a little puppy chasing after a thrown ball, excitedly popped out her wolf ears and tail that she typically kept hidden as she continued to rattle on.
"So! I found something really cool in the forest! You'll be so surprised, Brother! So, like, let me take you into the forest, and we'll get your—"
She only got that far.
Col understood now that, like a bath, there was only so much he could hold in.
"Um...ah, Bro...ther?"
Even Myuri noticed his expression. Her ears lowered, and her tail drooped lifelessly. Lawrence could never bring himself to really get angry at her because she was his adorable daughter, but Col was different. Though they were not related by blood, he still thought of her as his cute little sister, so he had to be strict with her.
"Myuri."
When he said her name, she recoiled.
And yet, though there was a troubled expression on her face, she still hesitantly opened her mouth.
"S...so, yeah? I'll...take you to the forest, okay?"
He felt a sort of slight respect for how she was still trying to get him to play with her, but this time she had crossed the line.
He looked fixedly and quietly at her, then spoke.
"That's enough."
Myuri was not a little kid, and she was naturally a smart girl. She knew exactly what his curt words meant.
She froze, like she had been struck in the heart with a cursed arrow, and stared up at him in a daze.
"I have work to do."
He was happy that she looked up to him like an older brother, but he could not always treat her like a small child.
He needed to admonish her as the closest thing she had to an actual older brother.
"I need to lift more stones, so please move."
He spoke with even less emotion, crouched down, and raised another piece. It was a part of the island that broke because she convinced two bears to fight. Even if she could not lift a stone, he would still forgive her if she felt responsibility for what happened the night before and sat quietly to the side.
But after Lawrence scolded her, she had run off and been gone all day. It seemed she had decided to spend time in idle amusement in the forest after seeing and listening to him.
Her mother Holo occasionally spent a fair amount of time wandering outside, but she was old enough to know self-control. Someone had to teach this young, energetic silver wolf discretion.
***
She did not speak, and as she stared at his work, it did not seem she would move, either. She was used to being reprimanded or chided, and there were even some times when she was actually happy to be scolded. However, she was not used to someone pushing her away so coolly, and her mood would quickly sour if the only responses she received were inattentive grunts.
Of course, if she showed that she was willing to apologize and reflect on her actions, then everything would end quickly, and in reality, Col was not angry but rather a little sad. Myuri did not mind at all that someone else had to clean up after her, and she left the work behind while she went somewhere to play. He did not want Myuri to be a girl like that.
Whenever he placed another stone on the pile and the now-familiar clack resounded, Myuri shrunk even smaller. He did not even have to look at her to know that she was about to cry.
She gripped her hands in front of her and let go and repeated this for a while, simply standing there. When Lawrence scolded her, she would look upset, but that was all an act. But at the moment, there was no need for Myuri to pretend.
After placing an especially large stone on top with a thud, Col sighed.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Guh?!"
"Brother!"
His chest thudded against the pile of rocks, but Myuri pulled his arm back with a cackle.
"Hey, hey, Brother! Listen, listen!"
***
Coughing, he turned toward her only to see mud plastered on her cheeks, spiderwebs in her hair, and she must have been attacked by swarms of horseflies as her bare arms were covered in bug bites.
There was no chance for him to ask where she had been and what she had done, since Myuri, like a little puppy chasing after a thrown ball, excitedly popped out her wolf ears and tail that she typically kept hidden as she continued to rattle on.
"So! I found something really cool in the forest! You'll be so surprised, Brother! So, like, let me take you into the forest, and we'll get your—"
She only got that far.
Col understood now that, like a bath, there was only so much he could hold in.
"Um...ah, Bro...ther?"
Even Myuri noticed his expression. Her ears lowered, and her tail drooped lifelessly. Lawrence could never bring himself to really get angry at her because she was his adorable daughter, but Col was different. Though they were not related by blood, he still thought of her as his cute little sister, so he had to be strict with her.
"Myuri."
When he said her name, she recoiled.
And yet, though there was a troubled expression on her face, she still hesitantly opened her mouth.
"S...so, yeah? I'll...take you to the forest, okay?"
He felt a sort of slight respect for how she was still trying to get him to play with her, but this time she had crossed the line.
He looked fixedly and quietly at her, then spoke.
"That's enough."
Myuri was not a little kid, and she was naturally a smart girl. She knew exactly what his curt words meant.
She froze, like she had been struck in the heart with a cursed arrow, and stared up at him in a daze.
"I have work to do."
He was happy that she looked up to him like an older brother, but he could not always treat her like a small child.
He needed to admonish her as the closest thing she had to an actual older brother.
"I need to lift more stones, so please move."
He spoke with even less emotion, crouched down, and raised another piece. It was a part of the island that broke because she convinced two bears to fight. Even if she could not lift a stone, he would still forgive her if she felt responsibility for what happened the night before and sat quietly to the side.
But after Lawrence scolded her, she had run off and been gone all day. It seemed she had decided to spend time in idle amusement in the forest after seeing and listening to him.
Her mother Holo occasionally spent a fair amount of time wandering outside, but she was old enough to know self-control. Someone had to teach this young, energetic silver wolf discretion.
***
She did not speak, and as she stared at his work, it did not seem she would move, either. She was used to being reprimanded or chided, and there were even some times when she was actually happy to be scolded. However, she was not used to someone pushing her away so coolly, and her mood would quickly sour if the only responses she received were inattentive grunts.
Of course, if she showed that she was willing to apologize and reflect on her actions, then everything would end quickly, and in reality, Col was not angry but rather a little sad. Myuri did not mind at all that someone else had to clean up after her, and she left the work behind while she went somewhere to play. He did not want Myuri to be a girl like that.
Whenever he placed another stone on the pile and the now-familiar clack resounded, Myuri shrunk even smaller. He did not even have to look at her to know that she was about to cry.
She gripped her hands in front of her and let go and repeated this for a while, simply standing there. When Lawrence scolded her, she would look upset, but that was all an act. But at the moment, there was no need for Myuri to pretend.
After placing an especially large stone on top with a thud, Col sighed.
| He wanted her to reflect on her actions.
Myuri tensed her body so much that the tips of hair atop her flattened ears seemed to quiver, but she finally nodded. Or perhaps she just barely managed to hold back tears and had been hunched over.
Either way, she hung her head, looking like the light inside her had been snuffed out as she took one, then two steps back.
She waited for a moment, probably expecting him to say something kind to her. But he only ignored her and continued stacking rocks, so she gave up, turned her back, and pattered off.
Col watched Myuri's back recede as she left the waterless bath and headed toward her room, and she looked like she was constantly wiping her face. Seeing that made his heart ache, but it was necessary for her to grow.
Then during lunch, if he asked if she thought about what she did, she would probably be her normal, bright self again.
He continued stacking stones as he mused about all this, and when the sun rose to the highest point in the sky, the main part of his work had mostly been completed. All that was left was to have someone from the village who was well-known for being an expert at arranging stonework to place wedged wood between the pieces to make sure everything stayed in place. It was not enough to simply pile stones one on top of the other—much like experience and human relationships.
Col stretched out his back, flexed his arms, and breathed a heavy sigh. He was thirsty and hungry.
Holo should have gotten around to baking the raisin bread by then, and he would love to have it with a bit of mead. If Holo, who loved to drink, saw him indulge in having sweets with sweets, she would probably be exasperated.
But he suddenly wondered if there was any more mead left in storage. The main ingredient for mead was honey, an incredible sweetener on its own as well as a preservative, so it was certainly not cheap. Additionally, mead was too sweet for the regular drinkers in the village, so its production was often low priority.
As he walked, he thought of what to do in order to secure himself some honey, which was starting to appear in shops during this season when new greenery appeared. Just then, Holo appeared from the main building.
"Oh, your stomach is quite on time."
It seemed she had been about to call him in for lunch.
"I could tell from where the sun is in the sky."
Col pointed to the heavens, and after Holo stared up at the sky in a childlike manner, she faced him again and nodded.
"You have always been the logical sort, little Col."
"Please stop calling me 'little.'"
He protested with a wry smile, and Holo waved her tail, which was a size bigger than Myuri's.
"No matter how much time passes, you are all the same as children."
There was not much he could say about that to the wisewolf Holo, who would live on for hundreds of years.
"Why do you insist that you are not children, then quarrel so?"
Her riddle-like way of speaking was due to her typical playfulness, but the topic made Col pay closer attention.
"Quarrel?"
He asked for clarification, and she crossed her arms in disappointment.
"My charming little daughter has been crying. If you were not as good as one of my own, little Col, then I would bite your head off."
She was looking hard at him with the same eyes and face as Myuri, but the air about her was different.
Perhaps she had not come to call him in for lunch but instead to discuss this.
"Er, but, well..."
He wanted to say, I would not make Myuri cry for no reason, but Holo stopped him with an irritated smile and a mischievous poke to the chest.
"I know the situation. Bears that Myuri stirred up broke the island in the bath, and while you were fixing it, the girl left to run about in the mountains. Well, it is quite right that even my mild and fair dear would grow angry."
If she knew that much, then why did she sound like she was on Myuri's side?
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | He wanted her to reflect on her actions.
Myuri tensed her body so much that the tips of hair atop her flattened ears seemed to quiver, but she finally nodded. Or perhaps she just barely managed to hold back tears and had been hunched over.
Either way, she hung her head, looking like the light inside her had been snuffed out as she took one, then two steps back.
She waited for a moment, probably expecting him to say something kind to her. But he only ignored her and continued stacking rocks, so she gave up, turned her back, and pattered off.
Col watched Myuri's back recede as she left the waterless bath and headed toward her room, and she looked like she was constantly wiping her face. Seeing that made his heart ache, but it was necessary for her to grow.
Then during lunch, if he asked if she thought about what she did, she would probably be her normal, bright self again.
He continued stacking stones as he mused about all this, and when the sun rose to the highest point in the sky, the main part of his work had mostly been completed. All that was left was to have someone from the village who was well-known for being an expert at arranging stonework to place wedged wood between the pieces to make sure everything stayed in place. It was not enough to simply pile stones one on top of the other—much like experience and human relationships.
Col stretched out his back, flexed his arms, and breathed a heavy sigh. He was thirsty and hungry.
Holo should have gotten around to baking the raisin bread by then, and he would love to have it with a bit of mead. If Holo, who loved to drink, saw him indulge in having sweets with sweets, she would probably be exasperated.
But he suddenly wondered if there was any more mead left in storage. The main ingredient for mead was honey, an incredible sweetener on its own as well as a preservative, so it was certainly not cheap. Additionally, mead was too sweet for the regular drinkers in the village, so its production was often low priority.
As he walked, he thought of what to do in order to secure himself some honey, which was starting to appear in shops during this season when new greenery appeared. Just then, Holo appeared from the main building.
"Oh, your stomach is quite on time."
It seemed she had been about to call him in for lunch.
"I could tell from where the sun is in the sky."
Col pointed to the heavens, and after Holo stared up at the sky in a childlike manner, she faced him again and nodded.
"You have always been the logical sort, little Col."
"Please stop calling me 'little.'"
He protested with a wry smile, and Holo waved her tail, which was a size bigger than Myuri's.
"No matter how much time passes, you are all the same as children."
There was not much he could say about that to the wisewolf Holo, who would live on for hundreds of years.
"Why do you insist that you are not children, then quarrel so?"
Her riddle-like way of speaking was due to her typical playfulness, but the topic made Col pay closer attention.
"Quarrel?"
He asked for clarification, and she crossed her arms in disappointment.
"My charming little daughter has been crying. If you were not as good as one of my own, little Col, then I would bite your head off."
She was looking hard at him with the same eyes and face as Myuri, but the air about her was different.
Perhaps she had not come to call him in for lunch but instead to discuss this.
"Er, but, well..."
He wanted to say, I would not make Myuri cry for no reason, but Holo stopped him with an irritated smile and a mischievous poke to the chest.
"I know the situation. Bears that Myuri stirred up broke the island in the bath, and while you were fixing it, the girl left to run about in the mountains. Well, it is quite right that even my mild and fair dear would grow angry."
If she knew that much, then why did she sound like she was on Myuri's side?
| And so it was odd that Holo would be taking Myuri's side, and Col could only stand there, confused.
"Hmm. Well, if you do not understand, then I must continue calling you 'little.'"
He was like a chick with a piece of eggshell still stuck to his bottom.
The wisewolf narrowed her eyes in affection.
"Myuri is most certainly a tomboy, but she is no fool."
"That's...right."
"And she adores you."
Holo chuckled in a teasing manner, but Col never once doubted that Myuri was attached to him.
"Of course, I feel the same about her as well. She is very important to me. Which is why I want her to know composure and discretion."
"Hmph."
Holo's expression fell at that. She removed the finger from his chest only to poke him again with a bit more force.
"Both males in this family cloud their vision obsessing over things that do not matter."
Before he could ask what that meant, Holo turned on her heel and began walking back toward the bathhouse.
"M-Miss Holo?"
"Myuri cried herself hoarse, and now she sleeps from exhaustion. I shall be holding on to your raisin bread until you two make up."
Then she returned inside the bathhouse.
Col stood rooted to the spot, now alone.
Make up?
But there was nothing to reconcile. What happened between him and Myuri was not a quarrel. That was something he did because he wanted her to know what was right. There was no part that involved her.
He had been so confident, but he lost his footing listening to Holo and seeing how she acted.
Perhaps if all he wanted to do was teach her what was right, then he should have told her calmly in an easy-to-understand way. He had not needed to choose the method that would hurt her the most.
So then, why did he act like that?
He slowly dusted off his memory, and there he found a simple sentiment.
He only wanted her to apologize. It was not about what was right, nor did he want her to promise that she would never pull any more pranks—he only wanted her to say, "Sorry."
Then, even if she had gone to spend time in the forest, he would not have minded so much. Her small arms would not have been much help in stacking stones, and having her sit to the side with a blue expression would have accomplished nothing but troubling him.
And more than anything, it was because he wanted her to always be smiling.
"...Aghh, I get it..."
He recalled how he felt then and placed his hand on his forehead in exasperation.
That was because he had tried to hurt Myuri on purpose.
Myuri was precious to him, and he was always thinking about her. He was irritated with himself that he treated her so poorly despite that. This was not about what was right under the teachings of God or anything else.
When he realized this, it was most certainly a quarrel.
However, it was fact that Myuri had gone out to play without a single word of apology, and the whole beginning of this affair was surely her fault alone. He felt like the scales did not quite balance out. It was odd that Holo would take Myuri's side the way she did. That was to say nothing of how she told him that she was withholding his share of raisin bread, as though both parties were to blame. Wondering if maybe he should show how he could act like an adult, he considered that it was likely Holo was actually treating him, Myuri, and even Lawrence the same as children.
Standing in the middle of the path, he tilted his head in puzzlement.
Something was odd.
What was he missing...? As he contemplated this, he could hear footsteps echo from the front entrance to the bathhouse. It was not likely a guest during this time of year, so it was probably someone from the village.
But this visitor did not knock on the door, and he could tell by the sound that they changed direction. The footfalls approached Col, and slipping easily through the space between the trees planted for privacy was a familiar face.
"Wah!"
The intruder jumped and let out a cry. He had probably not expected anyone.
"Hello, Kalm."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | And so it was odd that Holo would be taking Myuri's side, and Col could only stand there, confused.
"Hmm. Well, if you do not understand, then I must continue calling you 'little.'"
He was like a chick with a piece of eggshell still stuck to his bottom.
The wisewolf narrowed her eyes in affection.
"Myuri is most certainly a tomboy, but she is no fool."
"That's...right."
"And she adores you."
Holo chuckled in a teasing manner, but Col never once doubted that Myuri was attached to him.
"Of course, I feel the same about her as well. She is very important to me. Which is why I want her to know composure and discretion."
"Hmph."
Holo's expression fell at that. She removed the finger from his chest only to poke him again with a bit more force.
"Both males in this family cloud their vision obsessing over things that do not matter."
Before he could ask what that meant, Holo turned on her heel and began walking back toward the bathhouse.
"M-Miss Holo?"
"Myuri cried herself hoarse, and now she sleeps from exhaustion. I shall be holding on to your raisin bread until you two make up."
Then she returned inside the bathhouse.
Col stood rooted to the spot, now alone.
Make up?
But there was nothing to reconcile. What happened between him and Myuri was not a quarrel. That was something he did because he wanted her to know what was right. There was no part that involved her.
He had been so confident, but he lost his footing listening to Holo and seeing how she acted.
Perhaps if all he wanted to do was teach her what was right, then he should have told her calmly in an easy-to-understand way. He had not needed to choose the method that would hurt her the most.
So then, why did he act like that?
He slowly dusted off his memory, and there he found a simple sentiment.
He only wanted her to apologize. It was not about what was right, nor did he want her to promise that she would never pull any more pranks—he only wanted her to say, "Sorry."
Then, even if she had gone to spend time in the forest, he would not have minded so much. Her small arms would not have been much help in stacking stones, and having her sit to the side with a blue expression would have accomplished nothing but troubling him.
And more than anything, it was because he wanted her to always be smiling.
"...Aghh, I get it..."
He recalled how he felt then and placed his hand on his forehead in exasperation.
That was because he had tried to hurt Myuri on purpose.
Myuri was precious to him, and he was always thinking about her. He was irritated with himself that he treated her so poorly despite that. This was not about what was right under the teachings of God or anything else.
When he realized this, it was most certainly a quarrel.
However, it was fact that Myuri had gone out to play without a single word of apology, and the whole beginning of this affair was surely her fault alone. He felt like the scales did not quite balance out. It was odd that Holo would take Myuri's side the way she did. That was to say nothing of how she told him that she was withholding his share of raisin bread, as though both parties were to blame. Wondering if maybe he should show how he could act like an adult, he considered that it was likely Holo was actually treating him, Myuri, and even Lawrence the same as children.
Standing in the middle of the path, he tilted his head in puzzlement.
Something was odd.
What was he missing...? As he contemplated this, he could hear footsteps echo from the front entrance to the bathhouse. It was not likely a guest during this time of year, so it was probably someone from the village.
But this visitor did not knock on the door, and he could tell by the sound that they changed direction. The footfalls approached Col, and slipping easily through the space between the trees planted for privacy was a familiar face.
"Wah!"
The intruder jumped and let out a cry. He had probably not expected anyone.
"Hello, Kalm."
| He must have come looking for her to join a game, but he was rather heavily armed. He carried a long stick and what seemed like a big folded linen sack was bound to his shoulder. Even stranger was the bundle of conifer branches, still with plenty of needles attached, that he held at his side.
It was impossible to even guess what sort of game they would be playing.
"Oh, it's Col. Hello. Where's Myuri? We've been waiting for her at home, but she hasn't showed up."
"Myuri? Umm..."
There was no way he could say that he had made her cry, which tired her out, and she was now sleeping. Naturally, he stumbled over his words.
Then, he picked up on the fact that Kalm mentioned they had waited for her at home.
"Do you have a playdate with Myuri?"
"Yes. We were going into the forest. Dadd...Father was going to come with us, so I finished helping him, got ready, and waited."
When he corrected himself to say "father," Col could tell that it was the display of a young man showing off, and he could not help but smile, but something was strange. They were planning on bringing Kalm's father into the forest, too?
That was a bit much for children's games. Then, he remembered what Myuri had said when she came into the bath.
"So! I found something really cool in the forest! You'll be so surprised, Brother!"
Something "really cool" that required an adult from the village to be around...That meant that it had to be something like actual hunting. But if so, Kalm's equipment did not seem to match up.
Then, he recalled the rest of what Myuri had said.
"So, like, let me take you into the forest, and we'll get your—"
What exactly had she wanted to do?
"Well, since Myuri was the one who found it, could you tell her that she'll get her share, even if she doesn't come with us? Other people might take it if they find it before us, so we have to go quickly."
The boy, Kalm, adjusted the sack on his shoulder as he spoke.
"I went out to look quite a bit, though I can't match what the adults can do. But Myuri is fine going places adults are too scared to go, so she found something insane."
Kalm spoke excitedly, and Col remembered what she had looked like when she came to him eagerly in a happy mood. In a word, tattered.
"Um, what was it that Myuri found in the mountains?"
What constricted his heart was a feeling awfully similar to regret.
He should have asked Myuri that question, not Kalm.
"Oh, she didn't tell you?"
Kalm seemed surprised before he grinned.
"An insanely huge beehive. Then, she came to Father because she wanted him to make some mead."
Kalm's father, Cyrus, was a master brewer, one of the best in the village. More importantly, he mentioned mead.
Myuri was of that age where she was eager to grow up, so she was waiting for her chance to have her turn with alcohol. But this time, there was no mistaking her goal.
Myuri had reflected on what she did. She knew it was her fault, realized that she would be useless in stacking the stones back up, and understood perfectly that a simple apology would not be enough, so she thought of the best thing she could do and set out immediately.
Because she knew that he had taken a liking to mead recently.
Why had he not listened to her then? If only he had listened to what she had to say, there was no doubt he would have been overjoyed at her thoughtfulness.
Of course Holo became be angry.
If Col had just trusted Myuri a little more, then this misunderstanding would never have come about.
"Kalm."
"Yes?"
Col spoke to the boy.
"Would it be all right if I went instead?"
Kalm stared at him wide-eyed for a second before shrugging his shoulders like an adult, then spoke.
"You'll get stung a lot, though."
It was exactly what he wanted.
Punishment must be accompanied by pain.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | He must have come looking for her to join a game, but he was rather heavily armed. He carried a long stick and what seemed like a big folded linen sack was bound to his shoulder. Even stranger was the bundle of conifer branches, still with plenty of needles attached, that he held at his side.
It was impossible to even guess what sort of game they would be playing.
"Oh, it's Col. Hello. Where's Myuri? We've been waiting for her at home, but she hasn't showed up."
"Myuri? Umm..."
There was no way he could say that he had made her cry, which tired her out, and she was now sleeping. Naturally, he stumbled over his words.
Then, he picked up on the fact that Kalm mentioned they had waited for her at home.
"Do you have a playdate with Myuri?"
"Yes. We were going into the forest. Dadd...Father was going to come with us, so I finished helping him, got ready, and waited."
When he corrected himself to say "father," Col could tell that it was the display of a young man showing off, and he could not help but smile, but something was strange. They were planning on bringing Kalm's father into the forest, too?
That was a bit much for children's games. Then, he remembered what Myuri had said when she came into the bath.
"So! I found something really cool in the forest! You'll be so surprised, Brother!"
Something "really cool" that required an adult from the village to be around...That meant that it had to be something like actual hunting. But if so, Kalm's equipment did not seem to match up.
Then, he recalled the rest of what Myuri had said.
"So, like, let me take you into the forest, and we'll get your—"
What exactly had she wanted to do?
"Well, since Myuri was the one who found it, could you tell her that she'll get her share, even if she doesn't come with us? Other people might take it if they find it before us, so we have to go quickly."
The boy, Kalm, adjusted the sack on his shoulder as he spoke.
"I went out to look quite a bit, though I can't match what the adults can do. But Myuri is fine going places adults are too scared to go, so she found something insane."
Kalm spoke excitedly, and Col remembered what she had looked like when she came to him eagerly in a happy mood. In a word, tattered.
"Um, what was it that Myuri found in the mountains?"
What constricted his heart was a feeling awfully similar to regret.
He should have asked Myuri that question, not Kalm.
"Oh, she didn't tell you?"
Kalm seemed surprised before he grinned.
"An insanely huge beehive. Then, she came to Father because she wanted him to make some mead."
Kalm's father, Cyrus, was a master brewer, one of the best in the village. More importantly, he mentioned mead.
Myuri was of that age where she was eager to grow up, so she was waiting for her chance to have her turn with alcohol. But this time, there was no mistaking her goal.
Myuri had reflected on what she did. She knew it was her fault, realized that she would be useless in stacking the stones back up, and understood perfectly that a simple apology would not be enough, so she thought of the best thing she could do and set out immediately.
Because she knew that he had taken a liking to mead recently.
Why had he not listened to her then? If only he had listened to what she had to say, there was no doubt he would have been overjoyed at her thoughtfulness.
Of course Holo became be angry.
If Col had just trusted Myuri a little more, then this misunderstanding would never have come about.
"Kalm."
"Yes?"
Col spoke to the boy.
"Would it be all right if I went instead?"
Kalm stared at him wide-eyed for a second before shrugging his shoulders like an adult, then spoke.
"You'll get stung a lot, though."
It was exactly what he wanted.
Punishment must be accompanied by pain.
| It was easier said than done.
But he finally returned to the Spice and Wolf bathhouse as the sun began to set, and when Holo came out to greet him, she leaped back in surprise.
"...You are looking quite handsome."
With a wry smile, her eyes gave the impression that she was complimenting someone who had grown up.
"Where's Myuri?"
"In her room. That carefree girl is still moping about. It was surely quite a weight for her to bear, yes?"
She held back nothing, the blame clearly ringing in her words.
"It seems you have done your part, however."
Holo moved to the side and allowed him passage. He had a feeling that she and Lawrence had faced similar situations many times.
"Oh, Miss Holo, there's a favor I'd like to ask of you."
"Mm? What might that be?"
"I'd like you to taste this for me."
When the honest Holo heard the word taste, her ears stood straight up. She looked at the barrel he held in his arms and grinned.
"'Twould be my pleasure."
They went into the kitchen and began preparing various things. Then Col headed toward Myuri's room.
He knocked, but there was no answer.
She might have been sleeping, but quickly growing anxious that she might still be crying, Col placed his ear to the door.
It was quiet.
He knocked again, then took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Myuri?"
After opening it slightly, he called her name. If a pillow or a carafe or even jeers flew his way, then he would give her some more time.
However, there seemed to be no particular rejection on her part so he opened the door completely. Myuri was curled up on the bed, spectacularly covered from head to toe in a blanket.
***
Her current state was an indication that she did not want anyone to see her face, and it almost seemed like a joke.
But if they took the first awkward step toward making up, then surely, as the elder of the two, it was Col's responsibility to make the first move.
"Myuri."
He called her name again, and the bundle stirred.
"Come on, cheer up now."
He spoke as if he was pleading with her, and a corner of the round balled-up blanket opened slightly.
"...You're the one who's mad."
It sounded like she was sulking, but it was a weak voice, one that would shatter if he tapped it slightly.
"I'm not angry anymore."
He pulled the chair from the desk, placed it beside the bed, and sat down.
"Will you show me your face?"
***
He could only see the hand that gripped the blanket.
It was a small, delicate hand.
"...Bro...ther?"
The familiar word echoed from the small gap in the blanket.
"What is it?"
"...I'm...sorry."
Though he had heard that phrase before, it almost felt like it was his first time.
"B-but, you know, um, I, um—"
"Myuri."
As he said her name, Myuri, who was about to try explaining herself with a shaky voice that made it sound like she would start crying again, shrunk farther into her blanket like a hermit crab.
Col sighed, as if to relax himself, then continued.
"Miss Holo told me about it earlier, but your voice really is terrible."
***
Her voice was cracked and dry. There was a pain to it, as though it had been worn thin, and just listening to it made him want to cough. She had cried her eyes out, dehydrating herself, then likely kept crying despite that.
Col had done something terrible.
Myuri could fall from a cliff, end up covered in blood even as she smiled, but the heart inside her small body was still very delicate.
"I brought medicine. It will be good for your throat."
***
Myuri rustled about, in order to find a place to poke her face out from the shell.
"Miss Holo helped me. She has given her guarantee for its flavor."
He took the spoon sitting in the small wooden cup he held in his hands, mixed it once more, and scooped some up.
"Mm. Delicious."
He gave it a taste, and it really was quite good.
As Myuri had not even eaten lunch, it immediately caught her interest.
"Do you want any?"
Though she had hesitated before, she peeked out from beneath the blankets.
"...Yes."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | It was easier said than done.
But he finally returned to the Spice and Wolf bathhouse as the sun began to set, and when Holo came out to greet him, she leaped back in surprise.
"...You are looking quite handsome."
With a wry smile, her eyes gave the impression that she was complimenting someone who had grown up.
"Where's Myuri?"
"In her room. That carefree girl is still moping about. It was surely quite a weight for her to bear, yes?"
She held back nothing, the blame clearly ringing in her words.
"It seems you have done your part, however."
Holo moved to the side and allowed him passage. He had a feeling that she and Lawrence had faced similar situations many times.
"Oh, Miss Holo, there's a favor I'd like to ask of you."
"Mm? What might that be?"
"I'd like you to taste this for me."
When the honest Holo heard the word taste, her ears stood straight up. She looked at the barrel he held in his arms and grinned.
"'Twould be my pleasure."
They went into the kitchen and began preparing various things. Then Col headed toward Myuri's room.
He knocked, but there was no answer.
She might have been sleeping, but quickly growing anxious that she might still be crying, Col placed his ear to the door.
It was quiet.
He knocked again, then took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Myuri?"
After opening it slightly, he called her name. If a pillow or a carafe or even jeers flew his way, then he would give her some more time.
However, there seemed to be no particular rejection on her part so he opened the door completely. Myuri was curled up on the bed, spectacularly covered from head to toe in a blanket.
***
Her current state was an indication that she did not want anyone to see her face, and it almost seemed like a joke.
But if they took the first awkward step toward making up, then surely, as the elder of the two, it was Col's responsibility to make the first move.
"Myuri."
He called her name again, and the bundle stirred.
"Come on, cheer up now."
He spoke as if he was pleading with her, and a corner of the round balled-up blanket opened slightly.
"...You're the one who's mad."
It sounded like she was sulking, but it was a weak voice, one that would shatter if he tapped it slightly.
"I'm not angry anymore."
He pulled the chair from the desk, placed it beside the bed, and sat down.
"Will you show me your face?"
***
He could only see the hand that gripped the blanket.
It was a small, delicate hand.
"...Bro...ther?"
The familiar word echoed from the small gap in the blanket.
"What is it?"
"...I'm...sorry."
Though he had heard that phrase before, it almost felt like it was his first time.
"B-but, you know, um, I, um—"
"Myuri."
As he said her name, Myuri, who was about to try explaining herself with a shaky voice that made it sound like she would start crying again, shrunk farther into her blanket like a hermit crab.
Col sighed, as if to relax himself, then continued.
"Miss Holo told me about it earlier, but your voice really is terrible."
***
Her voice was cracked and dry. There was a pain to it, as though it had been worn thin, and just listening to it made him want to cough. She had cried her eyes out, dehydrating herself, then likely kept crying despite that.
Col had done something terrible.
Myuri could fall from a cliff, end up covered in blood even as she smiled, but the heart inside her small body was still very delicate.
"I brought medicine. It will be good for your throat."
***
Myuri rustled about, in order to find a place to poke her face out from the shell.
"Miss Holo helped me. She has given her guarantee for its flavor."
He took the spoon sitting in the small wooden cup he held in his hands, mixed it once more, and scooped some up.
"Mm. Delicious."
He gave it a taste, and it really was quite good.
As Myuri had not even eaten lunch, it immediately caught her interest.
"Do you want any?"
Though she had hesitated before, she peeked out from beneath the blankets.
"...Yes."
| The area around her eyes, which looked listless, was especially bright red and swollen, giving her the appearance of a corpse.
When Col thought about how he was the reason why she ended up like this, his heart ached, but he knew how to fix things.
He presented the spoon to Myuri, and the worn-out girl did not even lift herself when she opened her mouth, readily accepting it.
It was right after that when her drooping wolf ears suddenly stood up straight.
"Th-this—"
Myuri was surprised, and then she finally noticed how Col looked.
"B-b-brother, your face..."
"I did not expect that taking down a beehive would be such a hassle."
No matter how much armor he donned, the bees would slip in somewhere and sting him.
Every bit of him had swollen up, and it seemed like it would be hard to even wash his own face for a while.
"How is the medicine, by the way? This is squeezed juice of ginger added to honey, then mixed with a bit of wine. I've heard that royal songstresses have this when they catch colds."
Myuri looked back and forth between his face and the cup in his hand before she finally smiled slightly.
"It's good."
"That's good."
"I want more."
Col got the sense that she was returning to her regular self, but of course, he did not discourage her.
He scooped another spoonful and fed her. Myuri happily flopped her tail about.
"Oh, but if I have too much, you won't..."
"It's all right. A waterfall of honey came out of the beehive. And as there is both honey and wine in this, if we leave it too long, it will become alcohol. Eat it quickly."
"...I wanna try the alcohol one."
"You may not."
Myuri puffed out her cheeks, and it seemed everything was back to normal.
But when she deliberately deflated her cheeks, Col was shocked when he got the feeling she would start crying again the moment she smiled.
As a matter of fact, she was already rubbing at her eyes as she smiled.
"Brother, you dummy."
There was no need to inquire further as to what she meant.
"I'm sorry."
Then, with a satisfied smile, Myuri opened her mouth in a request for more honey, but suddenly, she looked at him and her expression told him she had noticed something.
"What is it?"
As soon as he asked, she leaned forward without any notice and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He heard the telltale smooch, then Myuri backed away slowly.
It was so sudden. She smiled at him with her head tilted to the side, but he could not move. She, of course, knew he lived strictly by the teachings of God and had taken vows of abstinence. She always teased and played with that understanding.
"Myuri, do I need to lecture you again?"
"It wasn't a prank. I heard that the fastest way to heal beestings is to suck out the poison. It's a cure!"
She always had a quip prepared.
And she loved pranks more than anything.
"I tried it with my arms and stuff, but..."
Myuri slowly placed her fingers on the collar of her clothes, then quickly turned the back of her neck to him.
"I was stung here, too."
There was definitely a sting mark on her thin, white neck. She had also pulled her collar quite low, and baring her pale neck like that was dreadfully sensational, so it was less of a beesting and more a stab to Col's eye. Her actions were too suggestive, likely due to the influence of the musicians and dancer girls who came to the bathhouse and thought it was funny to teach her these things.
But Myuri was Myuri. The alluring aura that was much too old for her vanished in an instant, and her tail began to thump on the bed. She was having too much fun with her prank. She leaned forward even more.
Realizing it was the regular Myuri he knew well, Col was able to react with a cool head. He retrieved cartilage from a shell at his chest, and rubbed it on her neck, as she cheerfully had her eyes closed, waiting for a kiss.
"This is medicine from Mr. Cyrus. He said it works very well."
He deliberately smiled at her, and Myuri pursed her lips and furrowed her eyebrows, as if it was not a joke.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | The area around her eyes, which looked listless, was especially bright red and swollen, giving her the appearance of a corpse.
When Col thought about how he was the reason why she ended up like this, his heart ached, but he knew how to fix things.
He presented the spoon to Myuri, and the worn-out girl did not even lift herself when she opened her mouth, readily accepting it.
It was right after that when her drooping wolf ears suddenly stood up straight.
"Th-this—"
Myuri was surprised, and then she finally noticed how Col looked.
"B-b-brother, your face..."
"I did not expect that taking down a beehive would be such a hassle."
No matter how much armor he donned, the bees would slip in somewhere and sting him.
Every bit of him had swollen up, and it seemed like it would be hard to even wash his own face for a while.
"How is the medicine, by the way? This is squeezed juice of ginger added to honey, then mixed with a bit of wine. I've heard that royal songstresses have this when they catch colds."
Myuri looked back and forth between his face and the cup in his hand before she finally smiled slightly.
"It's good."
"That's good."
"I want more."
Col got the sense that she was returning to her regular self, but of course, he did not discourage her.
He scooped another spoonful and fed her. Myuri happily flopped her tail about.
"Oh, but if I have too much, you won't..."
"It's all right. A waterfall of honey came out of the beehive. And as there is both honey and wine in this, if we leave it too long, it will become alcohol. Eat it quickly."
"...I wanna try the alcohol one."
"You may not."
Myuri puffed out her cheeks, and it seemed everything was back to normal.
But when she deliberately deflated her cheeks, Col was shocked when he got the feeling she would start crying again the moment she smiled.
As a matter of fact, she was already rubbing at her eyes as she smiled.
"Brother, you dummy."
There was no need to inquire further as to what she meant.
"I'm sorry."
Then, with a satisfied smile, Myuri opened her mouth in a request for more honey, but suddenly, she looked at him and her expression told him she had noticed something.
"What is it?"
As soon as he asked, she leaned forward without any notice and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He heard the telltale smooch, then Myuri backed away slowly.
It was so sudden. She smiled at him with her head tilted to the side, but he could not move. She, of course, knew he lived strictly by the teachings of God and had taken vows of abstinence. She always teased and played with that understanding.
"Myuri, do I need to lecture you again?"
"It wasn't a prank. I heard that the fastest way to heal beestings is to suck out the poison. It's a cure!"
She always had a quip prepared.
And she loved pranks more than anything.
"I tried it with my arms and stuff, but..."
Myuri slowly placed her fingers on the collar of her clothes, then quickly turned the back of her neck to him.
"I was stung here, too."
There was definitely a sting mark on her thin, white neck. She had also pulled her collar quite low, and baring her pale neck like that was dreadfully sensational, so it was less of a beesting and more a stab to Col's eye. Her actions were too suggestive, likely due to the influence of the musicians and dancer girls who came to the bathhouse and thought it was funny to teach her these things.
But Myuri was Myuri. The alluring aura that was much too old for her vanished in an instant, and her tail began to thump on the bed. She was having too much fun with her prank. She leaned forward even more.
Realizing it was the regular Myuri he knew well, Col was able to react with a cool head. He retrieved cartilage from a shell at his chest, and rubbed it on her neck, as she cheerfully had her eyes closed, waiting for a kiss.
"This is medicine from Mr. Cyrus. He said it works very well."
He deliberately smiled at her, and Myuri pursed her lips and furrowed her eyebrows, as if it was not a joke.
| "I do, too. I see through all of your tricks."
"Boo!"
She shouted, then opened her mouth wide.
"Honey!"
It was an unladylike sight, as she opened her mouth so wide that he could see the back of her throat, but it oddly suited her. And he felt like he had seen this somewhere before.
He scooped some honey and brought the spoon to her mouth, which closed around it with a sharp sound. Then, he remembered. That wide-open mouth foretold that one day Myuri would bite him on the head.
"Do you want more?"
And yet, he posed his question calmly, without getting flustered.
At the very least, as long as there was good food around, she would be in a good mood.
"Yeah!"
Her voice rang throughout the dusk in the season of new green.
***
If he counted, it wound up being a little more than ten years since he opened a bathhouse in a hot spring village deep in the mountains. Basically, he had been working as a bathhouse master longer than he had spent alone as a traveling merchant.
I see, I'm getting older...
Lawrence thought this to himself as he lay on his back in the bed of his wagon; he gazed up at the sky.
"Come now, you fool. Have you not woken yet?"
As that voice called to him, fur landed on his face. He looked up through the fur, which smelled like straw that had dried under plenty of sunlight paired with the scent of sweet boiled honey, and he could see a beautiful display of well-combed coat glinting in the sun.
"I don't mind if you drive the wagon. You've sat next to me and watched me hold the reins for years, haven't you?"
His reply came through the fur that swished mischievously across his face.
"I am Holo the Wisewolf of Yoitsu. Such a prideful wolf would not deign to grasp the reins of a horse."
The fur removed itself from his face, and a girl peered down at him with her arms crossed in dissatisfaction.
She had flaxen-colored hair and reddish-amber eyes. Then, there were large, triangular wolf ears the same color as her hair and a fluffy tail swaying back and forth beneath her coat. Though they met over ten years ago, her appearance had not changed at all.
Holo, who had called herself the Wisewolf of Yoitsu, was not human, as she was a kind of spirit that lived in wheat and was the embodiment of a wolf.
"...Then, hold on a little bit. My back hurts..."
"Hah..."
Holo sighed deliberately, and once she unfolded her arms, she began to rustle through the luggage.
"And this is the result of a male's hard work."
She glanced at him sideways with irritated eyes.
"Was the festival in that town not several days ago now? How pathetic it is that you sit all day in the driver's perch and then cannot move from back pain."
She pulled out a large piece of bread, butter, then cheese and honey from the bag.
"H-hey, you can't seriously plan on eating all that at...ow, ow..."
They were all gifts of thanks from the money changers' association at the town they had just been staying at, Svernel. Lawrence visited as a representative of Nyohhira, where his bathhouse was, and helped out with their big festival. It was called the Festival of the Dead, an exciting affair where they had to catch sheep and pigs running loose in the town square, and the captured animals were butchered on the spot. Due to the lupine Holo's help, he had been able to secure a handy victory after catching an extraordinary amount, but he could not win against age.
His muscles and joints ached as the days went by. When he finally thought he could move properly, they had left the town, but now he had ended up like this.
"Stay where you are, fool. I shall enjoy this by myself."
She began putting butter directly onto the whole, big piece of round bread, not bothering to break it into pieces. She behaved a little better when their only daughter and guests were around in the bathhouse, but here, at the side of the road in the woods, there was no one around to see them.
Once she spread on plenty of butter, Holo opened her mouth wide and bit into the bread.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "I do, too. I see through all of your tricks."
"Boo!"
She shouted, then opened her mouth wide.
"Honey!"
It was an unladylike sight, as she opened her mouth so wide that he could see the back of her throat, but it oddly suited her. And he felt like he had seen this somewhere before.
He scooped some honey and brought the spoon to her mouth, which closed around it with a sharp sound. Then, he remembered. That wide-open mouth foretold that one day Myuri would bite him on the head.
"Do you want more?"
And yet, he posed his question calmly, without getting flustered.
At the very least, as long as there was good food around, she would be in a good mood.
"Yeah!"
Her voice rang throughout the dusk in the season of new green.
***
If he counted, it wound up being a little more than ten years since he opened a bathhouse in a hot spring village deep in the mountains. Basically, he had been working as a bathhouse master longer than he had spent alone as a traveling merchant.
I see, I'm getting older...
Lawrence thought this to himself as he lay on his back in the bed of his wagon; he gazed up at the sky.
"Come now, you fool. Have you not woken yet?"
As that voice called to him, fur landed on his face. He looked up through the fur, which smelled like straw that had dried under plenty of sunlight paired with the scent of sweet boiled honey, and he could see a beautiful display of well-combed coat glinting in the sun.
"I don't mind if you drive the wagon. You've sat next to me and watched me hold the reins for years, haven't you?"
His reply came through the fur that swished mischievously across his face.
"I am Holo the Wisewolf of Yoitsu. Such a prideful wolf would not deign to grasp the reins of a horse."
The fur removed itself from his face, and a girl peered down at him with her arms crossed in dissatisfaction.
She had flaxen-colored hair and reddish-amber eyes. Then, there were large, triangular wolf ears the same color as her hair and a fluffy tail swaying back and forth beneath her coat. Though they met over ten years ago, her appearance had not changed at all.
Holo, who had called herself the Wisewolf of Yoitsu, was not human, as she was a kind of spirit that lived in wheat and was the embodiment of a wolf.
"...Then, hold on a little bit. My back hurts..."
"Hah..."
Holo sighed deliberately, and once she unfolded her arms, she began to rustle through the luggage.
"And this is the result of a male's hard work."
She glanced at him sideways with irritated eyes.
"Was the festival in that town not several days ago now? How pathetic it is that you sit all day in the driver's perch and then cannot move from back pain."
She pulled out a large piece of bread, butter, then cheese and honey from the bag.
"H-hey, you can't seriously plan on eating all that at...ow, ow..."
They were all gifts of thanks from the money changers' association at the town they had just been staying at, Svernel. Lawrence visited as a representative of Nyohhira, where his bathhouse was, and helped out with their big festival. It was called the Festival of the Dead, an exciting affair where they had to catch sheep and pigs running loose in the town square, and the captured animals were butchered on the spot. Due to the lupine Holo's help, he had been able to secure a handy victory after catching an extraordinary amount, but he could not win against age.
His muscles and joints ached as the days went by. When he finally thought he could move properly, they had left the town, but now he had ended up like this.
"Stay where you are, fool. I shall enjoy this by myself."
She began putting butter directly onto the whole, big piece of round bread, not bothering to break it into pieces. She behaved a little better when their only daughter and guests were around in the bathhouse, but here, at the side of the road in the woods, there was no one around to see them.
Once she spread on plenty of butter, Holo opened her mouth wide and bit into the bread.
| "Honestly..."
Lawrence, who had a sense that nothing he said would matter, could only relax and gaze up at the sky.
As he did so, after every third bite she took from the bread, Holo broke off a piece and fed it to him. He told himself that the pieces were rather small not because she was being stingy with what she gave him but because she was making sure that they were easy to swallow.
Thanks to the generously salted butter, the sweetness of the wheat bread tasted even better.
He looked up at the sky as he chewed, then swallowed. The weather was good, and there was no wind.
Lawrence did not mind spending time like this.
"This reminds me of the past."
Several small birds emerged from the fields and flew into the forest. Perhaps prompted by the sound of their wings, Holo spoke absently, holding a skin filled with wine.
But there was no sign that she had become drunk from unreserved day drinking.
"Do you want to go traveling again?"
It had been during Lawrence's time as a traveling merchant when he met Holo. Then, on an exciting journey to find her homeland, they got themselves into all sorts of commotion, time and time again.
It felt like nothing had changed since then, but when he watched the profile of Holo's face, looking up at the sky, it did seem like it had changed a bit.
Holo looked down at him and smiled bitterly.
"You fool. Of course not."
She stood, brushing off a mass of bread crumbs that had fallen on her skirt, then stretched.
She gazed at the scenery around her, and the edges of her mouth twisted into a satisfied grin.
"I am fond of where I soak in hot water every day. The place you created."
She looked down at him, then smiled, baring her fangs.
Lawrence narrowed his eyes, though not because the light of the sun was too bright.
"Soaking in hot water might cure my back pain."
"Of course. And the nights are still cold. I would enjoy not camping outside."
Though it was warm while the sun was out, there was still plenty of snow in the dark corners of the woods. Once the sun set, it grew dreadfully cold, and he would not be able to sleep without Holo's tail.
"It would be awful if I got sick, too. There's so much to do to get ready for summer, and we have new help coming. We have to prepare her room and think about how we're going to divide up the work. We have to get home and start...Hmm? What's wrong?"
As he ran over the things they had to do, he suddenly realized that Holo was glaring at him.
She was not cross with him; it was more like she was glaring at a frostbitten toe that was itchy, but she could not scratch.
"'Tis nothing."
Then she turned away in a huff.
Lawrence stared dumbly at her offended form for a while, and then he finally realized what it was. He smiled wryly.
"What, you're still not satisfied?"
She did not even glance at him.
"Whatever could you be speaking of?"
To top it off, she was playing dumb.
"Seriously..."
This was not something he could just ignore with a sigh, because even if she was only half-joking, that meant that she was also half-serious. During the festival at Svernel they had just come from, the two of them had run into an unexpected party. There had been quite a lot of talk about them, as this group were prospective rivals in business for the hot spring village of Nyohhira, but their identity turned out to be a band of nonhumans. And of all things, they were not birds or rabbits or sheep—but wolves.
They had been working as mercenaries in the south when they happened across a chance to obtain a permit and had made their way to the northlands to found their own hot spring village, a place they could rest. But sure enough, trouble arose around the permit, and Lawrence reached out to help them solve their problem.
He thought that everything had come together nicely in the end. But he had forgotten about the sharp corner that had been left behind even after everything else had rounded out.
That was because one of the wolves absolutely had to live away from her companions.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Honestly..."
Lawrence, who had a sense that nothing he said would matter, could only relax and gaze up at the sky.
As he did so, after every third bite she took from the bread, Holo broke off a piece and fed it to him. He told himself that the pieces were rather small not because she was being stingy with what she gave him but because she was making sure that they were easy to swallow.
Thanks to the generously salted butter, the sweetness of the wheat bread tasted even better.
He looked up at the sky as he chewed, then swallowed. The weather was good, and there was no wind.
Lawrence did not mind spending time like this.
"This reminds me of the past."
Several small birds emerged from the fields and flew into the forest. Perhaps prompted by the sound of their wings, Holo spoke absently, holding a skin filled with wine.
But there was no sign that she had become drunk from unreserved day drinking.
"Do you want to go traveling again?"
It had been during Lawrence's time as a traveling merchant when he met Holo. Then, on an exciting journey to find her homeland, they got themselves into all sorts of commotion, time and time again.
It felt like nothing had changed since then, but when he watched the profile of Holo's face, looking up at the sky, it did seem like it had changed a bit.
Holo looked down at him and smiled bitterly.
"You fool. Of course not."
She stood, brushing off a mass of bread crumbs that had fallen on her skirt, then stretched.
She gazed at the scenery around her, and the edges of her mouth twisted into a satisfied grin.
"I am fond of where I soak in hot water every day. The place you created."
She looked down at him, then smiled, baring her fangs.
Lawrence narrowed his eyes, though not because the light of the sun was too bright.
"Soaking in hot water might cure my back pain."
"Of course. And the nights are still cold. I would enjoy not camping outside."
Though it was warm while the sun was out, there was still plenty of snow in the dark corners of the woods. Once the sun set, it grew dreadfully cold, and he would not be able to sleep without Holo's tail.
"It would be awful if I got sick, too. There's so much to do to get ready for summer, and we have new help coming. We have to prepare her room and think about how we're going to divide up the work. We have to get home and start...Hmm? What's wrong?"
As he ran over the things they had to do, he suddenly realized that Holo was glaring at him.
She was not cross with him; it was more like she was glaring at a frostbitten toe that was itchy, but she could not scratch.
"'Tis nothing."
Then she turned away in a huff.
Lawrence stared dumbly at her offended form for a while, and then he finally realized what it was. He smiled wryly.
"What, you're still not satisfied?"
She did not even glance at him.
"Whatever could you be speaking of?"
To top it off, she was playing dumb.
"Seriously..."
This was not something he could just ignore with a sigh, because even if she was only half-joking, that meant that she was also half-serious. During the festival at Svernel they had just come from, the two of them had run into an unexpected party. There had been quite a lot of talk about them, as this group were prospective rivals in business for the hot spring village of Nyohhira, but their identity turned out to be a band of nonhumans. And of all things, they were not birds or rabbits or sheep—but wolves.
They had been working as mercenaries in the south when they happened across a chance to obtain a permit and had made their way to the northlands to found their own hot spring village, a place they could rest. But sure enough, trouble arose around the permit, and Lawrence reached out to help them solve their problem.
He thought that everything had come together nicely in the end. But he had forgotten about the sharp corner that had been left behind even after everything else had rounded out.
That was because one of the wolves absolutely had to live away from her companions.
| The problem was that she had the appearance of a young girl. And she was also the avatar of a wolf. Holo apparently had multiple thoughts regarding these things.
That being said, it was not an option to chase away the girl they wound up hiring, named Selim. If that happened, then she would truly have nowhere to go, as it was necessary for her to live far away from her older brother and family, who had traveled with her from the south. It would be horrible for a nonhuman to live alone in an unfamiliar town, and Holo was much more sensitive to loneliness than the average person. She was not opposed to the hiring of Selim itself, but her wolflike sense of territory itched at the back of her mind.
"A young girl coming to us now doesn't mean anything."
No matter how many times he repeated this, Holo was not completely convinced.
"Fool. I am not worried about that."
Her reply brushed the matter aside, but Lawrence knew that it bothered her a little bit. He almost wanted to prattle on and on about how much she meant to him. Holo, who could detect a glove dropped two valleys away by smell alone, knew better than anyone that there was nothing he could hide from her while living under the same roof.
So her irritation was not logical but emotional.
He looked at her and privately thought she was adorable.
The wisewolf Holo only showed her sillier sides to Lawrence.
"...And what is it you are grinning about?"
She glared at him with a chilling gaze, and he looked away.
If he angered her during this time of year, she would definitely make him sleep alone in the cold night.
"Anyway, when Miss Selim arrives, the busy season of summer will already be waiting. There's no time to think about anything else."
***
Holo, still offended, did not respond. Normally, he would embrace her to help her fix her mood, but he could not move as he pleased due to his back pain. While he was privately frustrated with himself, Holo moved her wolf ears and tail about listlessly, staring out into the distance.
"'Tis not what I worry about."
Then, as he pondered why she was mumbling to herself for once, Holo raised the hood over her head. He did not need to speculate on the reason because before long he could faintly hear the sound of a cranky infant's cries in the distance.
A baby? On this road?
Lawrence tilted his head in puzzlement, until he heard the distinctive sound of a bell.
Perhaps Holo was in a mood because she noticed their presence before he did.
She was a wolf and did not get along well with their kind.
Shepherds.
"Fool."
She muttered underneath her breath, her words hanging in the air, though it was uncertain who they were aimed at. Then she pulled a blanket over her head and lay down.
With a slightly muffled clang, clang, the shepherd's bell swayed as the end of his staff struck the ground. It was a tool that confirmed their identities, and they used it to raise sheep outside of towns.
Lawrence had heard it was grueling work, moving about all day long without much sleep at night to ensure that the sheep did not run away, get attacked by wild dogs, or get stolen. On top of that, townspeople treated them as outsiders as they were scarcely around due to the nature of their work.
On the contrary, because people did not often get to see their labors, there was a multitude of misunderstandings about them. People held prejudices against shepherds, believing rumors that they understood the words of beasts or lay with them and that they indulged in hideous acts that defied the teachings of God. The shepherdess Lawrence and Holo met long ago had experienced much the same.
The only partner a shepherd could rely on was typically a lone sheepdog. These companions kept the flock together, fought off thieves alongside their master, and sometimes even faced wolves that targeted their charges. To Holo, the avatar of a wolf and someone who adored the taste of mutton, there was no being as incompatible with her as a shepherd.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | The problem was that she had the appearance of a young girl. And she was also the avatar of a wolf. Holo apparently had multiple thoughts regarding these things.
That being said, it was not an option to chase away the girl they wound up hiring, named Selim. If that happened, then she would truly have nowhere to go, as it was necessary for her to live far away from her older brother and family, who had traveled with her from the south. It would be horrible for a nonhuman to live alone in an unfamiliar town, and Holo was much more sensitive to loneliness than the average person. She was not opposed to the hiring of Selim itself, but her wolflike sense of territory itched at the back of her mind.
"A young girl coming to us now doesn't mean anything."
No matter how many times he repeated this, Holo was not completely convinced.
"Fool. I am not worried about that."
Her reply brushed the matter aside, but Lawrence knew that it bothered her a little bit. He almost wanted to prattle on and on about how much she meant to him. Holo, who could detect a glove dropped two valleys away by smell alone, knew better than anyone that there was nothing he could hide from her while living under the same roof.
So her irritation was not logical but emotional.
He looked at her and privately thought she was adorable.
The wisewolf Holo only showed her sillier sides to Lawrence.
"...And what is it you are grinning about?"
She glared at him with a chilling gaze, and he looked away.
If he angered her during this time of year, she would definitely make him sleep alone in the cold night.
"Anyway, when Miss Selim arrives, the busy season of summer will already be waiting. There's no time to think about anything else."
***
Holo, still offended, did not respond. Normally, he would embrace her to help her fix her mood, but he could not move as he pleased due to his back pain. While he was privately frustrated with himself, Holo moved her wolf ears and tail about listlessly, staring out into the distance.
"'Tis not what I worry about."
Then, as he pondered why she was mumbling to herself for once, Holo raised the hood over her head. He did not need to speculate on the reason because before long he could faintly hear the sound of a cranky infant's cries in the distance.
A baby? On this road?
Lawrence tilted his head in puzzlement, until he heard the distinctive sound of a bell.
Perhaps Holo was in a mood because she noticed their presence before he did.
She was a wolf and did not get along well with their kind.
Shepherds.
"Fool."
She muttered underneath her breath, her words hanging in the air, though it was uncertain who they were aimed at. Then she pulled a blanket over her head and lay down.
With a slightly muffled clang, clang, the shepherd's bell swayed as the end of his staff struck the ground. It was a tool that confirmed their identities, and they used it to raise sheep outside of towns.
Lawrence had heard it was grueling work, moving about all day long without much sleep at night to ensure that the sheep did not run away, get attacked by wild dogs, or get stolen. On top of that, townspeople treated them as outsiders as they were scarcely around due to the nature of their work.
On the contrary, because people did not often get to see their labors, there was a multitude of misunderstandings about them. People held prejudices against shepherds, believing rumors that they understood the words of beasts or lay with them and that they indulged in hideous acts that defied the teachings of God. The shepherdess Lawrence and Holo met long ago had experienced much the same.
The only partner a shepherd could rely on was typically a lone sheepdog. These companions kept the flock together, fought off thieves alongside their master, and sometimes even faced wolves that targeted their charges. To Holo, the avatar of a wolf and someone who adored the taste of mutton, there was no being as incompatible with her as a shepherd.
| There was something odd.
"Thank God for his guidance! Hello there, traveler!"
The shepherd stood a little ways away and yelled in a loud voice. Then his sheepdog barked loudly and the flock of sheep stood still. There were quite a lot of them—not just a dozen or two. It was a huge mass. Beyond the sheer number, Lawrence also noticed that the sheep, thoroughly muddied on their lower halves, were all plump and seemed quite healthy. It was clear evidence of the shepherd's skill.
The good-natured shepherd with a white-streaked goatee growing from his chin stood before the flock of sheep, which were baaing as they pleased with great energy.
For some reason, the man carried his sheepdog on his shoulder.
"I am Horad the shepherd!"
His companion's coat was the color of chestnuts, and as the sheepdog lay across Horad's shoulders, it almost seemed like it was his hair.
The shepherd who identified himself as Horad was a man old enough to have deep wrinkles on his face, so the whole situation was unusual.
"I am a traveling mer—Ahem. I am Nyohhira bathhouse master Kraft Lawrence! What is it you need?!"
Lawrence raised his voice so the bleating sheep did not drown him out, and Horad bowed his head deeply, as though thanking him for simply responding.
"I sincerely believe that meeting you here, Master Lawrence, is due to God's guidance! If you would have pity on me, then would you be so kind as to offer us a lift to Svernel?!"
Horad made his request, swaying a bit as he readjusted the sheepdog on his shoulder. His partner obediently stayed still, keeping watch over the sheep.
"We are actually just coming from Svernel and now returning north!"
There was a bit of distance between here and Svernel. They probably would not be able to make it before sundown. If they did not want to camp outside, then there was no choice but to continue north and reach a roadside inn.
"Oh...I see..."
He may have been expecting to hitch a ride if they were all going in the same direction.
Horad appeared discouraged, and the dog on his shoulders seemed like it might suddenly slip off.
"Is something the matter?!"
It was not unheard of for a shepherd to call out to a traveler. Many believed that there was something magical about shepherds, so there were times when people would ask for charms or some such to protect them on the road, and there were also shepherds who reached out to travelers on their own, offering those services in hopes of making a little extra money.
However, it did not seem that Horad was that sort of person, and it was the first time Lawrence had ever seen a shepherd carrying his sheepdog on his shoulders.
"Truth be told, my partner here stepped on a sharp rock and cannot walk!"
When he spoke, Lawrence finally noticed there was a bandage wrapped around the sheepdog's front right foot.
"That's..."
Once upon a time, he, too, was a traveling merchant who lived on the road without a place in any town to call home. How would he have felt if his only conversation partner at the time, his wagon horse, got injured?
He held his breath and dropped his gaze into the wagon bed.
There, the avatar of a wolf had covered herself with a blanket and was sulking.
"Holo."
She should have heard the entire conversation, and Lawrence's tone of voice clearly indicated how he felt.
There was still snow on the ground, and the road was muddy from repeatedly freezing over, then thawing out. Then, by chance, this shepherd's only companion and hope had become injured, unable to walk.
He could not overlook this.
"We might have to camp outside..."
Hesitatingly, he placed his hand on top of the blanket. But a ferocious wolf with her fangs bared did not jump out at him. When he thought he saw the fuzzy tail that was filling the blanket move, a response came.
"If 'tis cold, you shall make it warm for me, aye?"
It was her way of asking if she could drink the finely distilled liquor they bought at Svernel.
"If you drink yourself to sleep, I'll even take care of you afterward."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | There was something odd.
"Thank God for his guidance! Hello there, traveler!"
The shepherd stood a little ways away and yelled in a loud voice. Then his sheepdog barked loudly and the flock of sheep stood still. There were quite a lot of them—not just a dozen or two. It was a huge mass. Beyond the sheer number, Lawrence also noticed that the sheep, thoroughly muddied on their lower halves, were all plump and seemed quite healthy. It was clear evidence of the shepherd's skill.
The good-natured shepherd with a white-streaked goatee growing from his chin stood before the flock of sheep, which were baaing as they pleased with great energy.
For some reason, the man carried his sheepdog on his shoulder.
"I am Horad the shepherd!"
His companion's coat was the color of chestnuts, and as the sheepdog lay across Horad's shoulders, it almost seemed like it was his hair.
The shepherd who identified himself as Horad was a man old enough to have deep wrinkles on his face, so the whole situation was unusual.
"I am a traveling mer—Ahem. I am Nyohhira bathhouse master Kraft Lawrence! What is it you need?!"
Lawrence raised his voice so the bleating sheep did not drown him out, and Horad bowed his head deeply, as though thanking him for simply responding.
"I sincerely believe that meeting you here, Master Lawrence, is due to God's guidance! If you would have pity on me, then would you be so kind as to offer us a lift to Svernel?!"
Horad made his request, swaying a bit as he readjusted the sheepdog on his shoulder. His partner obediently stayed still, keeping watch over the sheep.
"We are actually just coming from Svernel and now returning north!"
There was a bit of distance between here and Svernel. They probably would not be able to make it before sundown. If they did not want to camp outside, then there was no choice but to continue north and reach a roadside inn.
"Oh...I see..."
He may have been expecting to hitch a ride if they were all going in the same direction.
Horad appeared discouraged, and the dog on his shoulders seemed like it might suddenly slip off.
"Is something the matter?!"
It was not unheard of for a shepherd to call out to a traveler. Many believed that there was something magical about shepherds, so there were times when people would ask for charms or some such to protect them on the road, and there were also shepherds who reached out to travelers on their own, offering those services in hopes of making a little extra money.
However, it did not seem that Horad was that sort of person, and it was the first time Lawrence had ever seen a shepherd carrying his sheepdog on his shoulders.
"Truth be told, my partner here stepped on a sharp rock and cannot walk!"
When he spoke, Lawrence finally noticed there was a bandage wrapped around the sheepdog's front right foot.
"That's..."
Once upon a time, he, too, was a traveling merchant who lived on the road without a place in any town to call home. How would he have felt if his only conversation partner at the time, his wagon horse, got injured?
He held his breath and dropped his gaze into the wagon bed.
There, the avatar of a wolf had covered herself with a blanket and was sulking.
"Holo."
She should have heard the entire conversation, and Lawrence's tone of voice clearly indicated how he felt.
There was still snow on the ground, and the road was muddy from repeatedly freezing over, then thawing out. Then, by chance, this shepherd's only companion and hope had become injured, unable to walk.
He could not overlook this.
"We might have to camp outside..."
Hesitatingly, he placed his hand on top of the blanket. But a ferocious wolf with her fangs bared did not jump out at him. When he thought he saw the fuzzy tail that was filling the blanket move, a response came.
"If 'tis cold, you shall make it warm for me, aye?"
It was her way of asking if she could drink the finely distilled liquor they bought at Svernel.
"If you drink yourself to sleep, I'll even take care of you afterward."
| Holo snorted, and their negotiations were settled.
"Mr. Horad!"
Lawrence called out his name, and Horad, who was studying his partner's leg, looked up.
"We'll help you!"
He immediately broke into a smile.
"Thank you!"
"Should I take you to town?!"
At Lawrence's feet, Holo covered her ears in an exaggerated manner, but it probably had as much to do with how irritating the bleating sheep had become.
"Well, I was just thinking about that. Even if you spent the whole night and then some bringing me to town, I wouldn't be able to repay you!"
Lawrence was about to say how that was unnecessary when Horad continued.
"Instead, do you think you could look after my sheep for a bit?!"
"Your sheep?"
Lawrence murmured unwittingly, practically speaking to himself.
Would Horad simply run to town with his partner over his shoulders in the meantime?
"I suddenly remembered I have a friend just over there!" Horad explained as he pointed behind Lawrence.
For a moment, a shiver shot down Lawrence's spine, as he imagined the possibility that bandits were approaching from behind them, falling into a trap where they would be attacked on both sides. But he quickly realized Holo would most certainly have noticed that. His powerful watchwolf was still under the blanket, plugging her ears and puffing her cheeks out, in a rather poor mood.
"I know a charcoal maker who should be in a charcoal-making hut during this season! I'll go leave my partner with him, so could I ask you to watch over my sheep until I come back?!"
Even the most skilled shepherds would not be able to bring such a large flock into the woods and expect good results. But doing it this way, Lawrence and Holo would probably still be able to make it to the next inn by sunset, so the least they could do was take care of the sheep.
"All right, then!"
Horad smiled in relief and started coming closer, parting the sheep around him.
The chestnut-colored sheepdog was anxiously trying to look back at the flock of sheep.
When the dog gave up and glanced at Lawrence, he saw eyes that were intelligent and a deep, burned brown.
"May God bless you, Master Lawrence."
"Oh, no worries. We were planning to stay parked here for a while anyway."
"That's..."
Horad had come over to stand by the side of the wagon bed, and when he finally noticed Holo, he nodded in understanding.
"From far away, I was sure you had a servant boy with you, but...How rude of me to interrupt..."
"Ah no, you misunderstand. We were just in Svernel participating in the Festival of the Dead, and we were resting here because I've injured my back."
Horad stared at him blankly, unsure if he should laugh or not.
"By the way, Mr. Horad."
Lawrence was curious.
"You don't think I might run away with your sheep?"
The vague smile did not vanish from Horad's face when he turned his bright blue eyes toward Lawrence.
He gave off the impression that no matter what hard days he had been through, he would still gaze into the sunset with this expression.
"It's strange, but watching sheep every day has, for some reason, given me the ability to weigh people."
Lawrence shrugged and nodded.
"Besides, the road is muddy and the forest still has snow everywhere. There is still a clean layer of it on the field over there. At least until spring comes, I'd be able to follow you anywhere, Master Lawrence."
He was absolutely right.
"Well then, I'll keep a sharp eye on your sheep. Do you need water? We have wine, as well."
"Thank you so much. I'll just have some water."
Lawrence retrieved the waterskin from his things, and after asking permission, Horad placed his partner onto the wagon bed, taking a breather to have a drink. Then, he cupped some water in his hand and offered it to his companion. The sheepdog wagged his tail as he drank from his master's hand, but he kept glancing toward Holo under the blanket.
"Well, we'll be off. It is not that far, so even if the sheep start disappearing, I'll be right back."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Holo snorted, and their negotiations were settled.
"Mr. Horad!"
Lawrence called out his name, and Horad, who was studying his partner's leg, looked up.
"We'll help you!"
He immediately broke into a smile.
"Thank you!"
"Should I take you to town?!"
At Lawrence's feet, Holo covered her ears in an exaggerated manner, but it probably had as much to do with how irritating the bleating sheep had become.
"Well, I was just thinking about that. Even if you spent the whole night and then some bringing me to town, I wouldn't be able to repay you!"
Lawrence was about to say how that was unnecessary when Horad continued.
"Instead, do you think you could look after my sheep for a bit?!"
"Your sheep?"
Lawrence murmured unwittingly, practically speaking to himself.
Would Horad simply run to town with his partner over his shoulders in the meantime?
"I suddenly remembered I have a friend just over there!" Horad explained as he pointed behind Lawrence.
For a moment, a shiver shot down Lawrence's spine, as he imagined the possibility that bandits were approaching from behind them, falling into a trap where they would be attacked on both sides. But he quickly realized Holo would most certainly have noticed that. His powerful watchwolf was still under the blanket, plugging her ears and puffing her cheeks out, in a rather poor mood.
"I know a charcoal maker who should be in a charcoal-making hut during this season! I'll go leave my partner with him, so could I ask you to watch over my sheep until I come back?!"
Even the most skilled shepherds would not be able to bring such a large flock into the woods and expect good results. But doing it this way, Lawrence and Holo would probably still be able to make it to the next inn by sunset, so the least they could do was take care of the sheep.
"All right, then!"
Horad smiled in relief and started coming closer, parting the sheep around him.
The chestnut-colored sheepdog was anxiously trying to look back at the flock of sheep.
When the dog gave up and glanced at Lawrence, he saw eyes that were intelligent and a deep, burned brown.
"May God bless you, Master Lawrence."
"Oh, no worries. We were planning to stay parked here for a while anyway."
"That's..."
Horad had come over to stand by the side of the wagon bed, and when he finally noticed Holo, he nodded in understanding.
"From far away, I was sure you had a servant boy with you, but...How rude of me to interrupt..."
"Ah no, you misunderstand. We were just in Svernel participating in the Festival of the Dead, and we were resting here because I've injured my back."
Horad stared at him blankly, unsure if he should laugh or not.
"By the way, Mr. Horad."
Lawrence was curious.
"You don't think I might run away with your sheep?"
The vague smile did not vanish from Horad's face when he turned his bright blue eyes toward Lawrence.
He gave off the impression that no matter what hard days he had been through, he would still gaze into the sunset with this expression.
"It's strange, but watching sheep every day has, for some reason, given me the ability to weigh people."
Lawrence shrugged and nodded.
"Besides, the road is muddy and the forest still has snow everywhere. There is still a clean layer of it on the field over there. At least until spring comes, I'd be able to follow you anywhere, Master Lawrence."
He was absolutely right.
"Well then, I'll keep a sharp eye on your sheep. Do you need water? We have wine, as well."
"Thank you so much. I'll just have some water."
Lawrence retrieved the waterskin from his things, and after asking permission, Horad placed his partner onto the wagon bed, taking a breather to have a drink. Then, he cupped some water in his hand and offered it to his companion. The sheepdog wagged his tail as he drank from his master's hand, but he kept glancing toward Holo under the blanket.
"Well, we'll be off. It is not that far, so even if the sheep start disappearing, I'll be right back."
| "If the charcoal maker is not in or I can't find him, then I will take that as a sign from God to take you up on the offer to go to Svernel."
Horad beamed a bright expression at Lawrence and dipped his head.
Directly after, without hesitation, he started making his way into the woods.
"Well, then."
Lawrence murmured and took the shepherd's staff that had been left leaning against the wagon bed.
"It's only for a short time, but how am I supposed to keep all these sheep together...?"
The moment Horad and his partner disappeared, the bleating sheep immediately began to scatter, like a barrel that had its hoops come loose.
Lawrence tried to stand, but all the joints in his body groaned in pain.
"Ooof...Damn, I swear."
But he believed moving around a bit would at least make it a little more bearable, so he placed his hand on the edge of the bed, but the staff was suddenly swiped from him. He looked, and Holo, still pouting, gripped the shaft.
"You are quite infuriating."
"Huh?"
"I am not a fool who simply eats and sleeps. What am I to you?"
Holo had asked this same question during his traveling merchant days, and Lawrence remembered how he was flabbergasted at the time.
That was a time when he only ever looked at where his feet were as he walked, and whenever he found change on the floor, he truly considered it a blessing from God. He had been unable to bring himself to believe the enormous treasure that had been set before his eyes, making him scared to reach out back then.
But now, he could speak with confidence.
"My cute wife who I am very proud of."
Holo widened her eyes, and her ears and tail moved so vigorously he could almost hear it.
"You are a fool."
"I probably am."
Holo lightly jumped from the wagon bed. She was so petite and thin that the shepherd's staff looked large lined up next to her, but that gave the scene a sort of charm.
But as soon as he thought she would start rounding up the sheep right away, since she had jumped down with such authority, she suddenly turned around, placed her foot on a wheel, and leaped back on the wagon bed.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
Holo rustled about in the luggage and spoke with a serious expression.
"My tail will get muddied! There should be clothes for my tail somewhere!"
Holo had changed a bit throughout the years.
Lawrence privately thought to himself that it was probably his fault, since he spoiled her so.
Shepherds were occasionally mocked as children born between humans and animals. They spent much of their time in the fields and the mountains, and they held an eerie presence for humans who lived in towns.
But one only need to watch the shepherds' skills once to understand that such a terrible prejudice also came from a certain species of admiration.
Just by waving around one staff, they could control an entire flock of sheep at their will.
"Ho! Come now! There shall be no running!"
Clang, clang, clang. The bell hanging at the end of the staff rang violently. Holo was not so much holding the stick as she was partially clinging to it. When she glared at the sheep toward the left that had tried to sneak off when she was watching those on her right, the unattended wards seized the opportunity to start meandering off, and when she yelled at them, the sheep right in front of her tried to wander away as well.
Holo busily ran back and forth, mud covering her up to her knees.
"You...foolish...!"
She seized a nearby sheep by the scruff of its neck, displaying the depth of her indignation. The unlucky specimen, which Holo held tightly with her fangs bared, cried as though pleading for its life. But since the flock was so large, the sheep at the edges decided it was irrelevant and resolutely continued trying to move about as they pleased.
Lawrence thought that keeping a flock of sheep together would be a piece of cake for Holo, an embodiment of a wolf. She must have thought the same.
It had become clear that was a mistake.
"Hah...hah..."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "If the charcoal maker is not in or I can't find him, then I will take that as a sign from God to take you up on the offer to go to Svernel."
Horad beamed a bright expression at Lawrence and dipped his head.
Directly after, without hesitation, he started making his way into the woods.
"Well, then."
Lawrence murmured and took the shepherd's staff that had been left leaning against the wagon bed.
"It's only for a short time, but how am I supposed to keep all these sheep together...?"
The moment Horad and his partner disappeared, the bleating sheep immediately began to scatter, like a barrel that had its hoops come loose.
Lawrence tried to stand, but all the joints in his body groaned in pain.
"Ooof...Damn, I swear."
But he believed moving around a bit would at least make it a little more bearable, so he placed his hand on the edge of the bed, but the staff was suddenly swiped from him. He looked, and Holo, still pouting, gripped the shaft.
"You are quite infuriating."
"Huh?"
"I am not a fool who simply eats and sleeps. What am I to you?"
Holo had asked this same question during his traveling merchant days, and Lawrence remembered how he was flabbergasted at the time.
That was a time when he only ever looked at where his feet were as he walked, and whenever he found change on the floor, he truly considered it a blessing from God. He had been unable to bring himself to believe the enormous treasure that had been set before his eyes, making him scared to reach out back then.
But now, he could speak with confidence.
"My cute wife who I am very proud of."
Holo widened her eyes, and her ears and tail moved so vigorously he could almost hear it.
"You are a fool."
"I probably am."
Holo lightly jumped from the wagon bed. She was so petite and thin that the shepherd's staff looked large lined up next to her, but that gave the scene a sort of charm.
But as soon as he thought she would start rounding up the sheep right away, since she had jumped down with such authority, she suddenly turned around, placed her foot on a wheel, and leaped back on the wagon bed.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
Holo rustled about in the luggage and spoke with a serious expression.
"My tail will get muddied! There should be clothes for my tail somewhere!"
Holo had changed a bit throughout the years.
Lawrence privately thought to himself that it was probably his fault, since he spoiled her so.
Shepherds were occasionally mocked as children born between humans and animals. They spent much of their time in the fields and the mountains, and they held an eerie presence for humans who lived in towns.
But one only need to watch the shepherds' skills once to understand that such a terrible prejudice also came from a certain species of admiration.
Just by waving around one staff, they could control an entire flock of sheep at their will.
"Ho! Come now! There shall be no running!"
Clang, clang, clang. The bell hanging at the end of the staff rang violently. Holo was not so much holding the stick as she was partially clinging to it. When she glared at the sheep toward the left that had tried to sneak off when she was watching those on her right, the unattended wards seized the opportunity to start meandering off, and when she yelled at them, the sheep right in front of her tried to wander away as well.
Holo busily ran back and forth, mud covering her up to her knees.
"You...foolish...!"
She seized a nearby sheep by the scruff of its neck, displaying the depth of her indignation. The unlucky specimen, which Holo held tightly with her fangs bared, cried as though pleading for its life. But since the flock was so large, the sheep at the edges decided it was irrelevant and resolutely continued trying to move about as they pleased.
Lawrence thought that keeping a flock of sheep together would be a piece of cake for Holo, an embodiment of a wolf. She must have thought the same.
It had become clear that was a mistake.
"Hah...hah..."
| Not only did she just have two eyes, she was also heavily outnumbered.
"Holo, are you okay?"
Unable to ignore her, Lawrence called out to her, and she turned to glare at him, too.
If he asked if he should help her, then he would have to pay the price for hurting her pride.
"Ooohhh...Why do they not listen!"
She slammed the staff into the ground, but the flock gave her no heed as they sauntered off in all directions.
The incessant baa, baas must have been getting on her nerves, as he could clearly see the ears under her hood were stiff with rage.
She took such a deep breath that it almost looked like her body grew larger, and then she spoke like she was chanting a curse.
"Perhaps I should show you how frightening I can truly be?"
Lawrence was shocked—there was no way she would show her true form here, right?
At that moment, she looked like a frail girl just growing into her teenage years, but her true form was a gigantic wolf. If she transformed and bared her fangs to the sheep, they would not only tremble in fear but probably also drop dead on the spot.
For even one sheep to die during this season, when every town had many expenses to cover, would be a great loss. Like a prayer, Lawrence whispered, "Calm down," from the back of the wagon to her back.
"......Ngh!"
He thought he saw her shoulders shake.
He thought that she might be sniffling, but something was odd.
Right when he was about to call out to Holo, she lifted the staff, as though she was going to make a heavy swing with it.
"Freeze!"
About three sheep, attempting to leave the flock in a group, suddenly stopped in place.
They really did listen to the wolf when she looked directly at them and spoke. Lawrence had been able to perform well because of this power of hers during the festival in Svernel, too. That was why Holo was exceptionally angry.
But her behavior really was strange.
This time she clearly sniffed her nose, and with an open hand, she wiped her face.
"Holo."
Lawrence called her name, and her back shivered in surprise.
And Lawrence was just as surprised. She seemed just like a scolded child.
He was taken aback and felt hurt—did she think that he would really get angry with her if it did not go well, despite how eagerly she took the staff? He was not such an intolerant man.
However, Holo's body was petrified, and she gripped the pole tightly with both hands.
Was it true? Had she really thought that?
Lawrence felt like he might cry, and an instant before he was going to call out to her—
"I—I...am not...a good-for-nothing."
She spoke with such a thin voice, Lawrence almost thought he had imagined it.
Holo was always dignified, calm, and composed. And yet now, she seemed hideously small from behind.
"I've never thought of you like that. So what's...?"
After getting that far, Lawrence finally realized it.
He remembered a conversation from Svernel.
It was when they were talking with Millike, the man who governed over Svernel, about whether or not they could hire the wolves who hailed from the south. Millike, who was also nonhuman, teased Holo, who was a bit less enthusiastic about hiring Selim and the others.
In front of her kin, she can't carelessly drink during the day or take naps.
Holo was vain and stubborn. Though she wore the face of an excellent mother and master of the household in front of her only daughter, Myuri, and Col, peeling back a layer revealed she was a great deal more delicate than the tomboy Myuri, and there was a part of her that felt like a shy little girl.
Not only that, Holo was often prone to contemplating the darker sides of things. Perhaps it was because she had lived alone for so long in a state where her consciousness had practically faded away, but there were times when her preconceived notions were intense. Because of her harmful resolution to do many things on her own, she was incredibly reliable in the time of need, but on the other hand, she also stumbled over the strangest things.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Not only did she just have two eyes, she was also heavily outnumbered.
"Holo, are you okay?"
Unable to ignore her, Lawrence called out to her, and she turned to glare at him, too.
If he asked if he should help her, then he would have to pay the price for hurting her pride.
"Ooohhh...Why do they not listen!"
She slammed the staff into the ground, but the flock gave her no heed as they sauntered off in all directions.
The incessant baa, baas must have been getting on her nerves, as he could clearly see the ears under her hood were stiff with rage.
She took such a deep breath that it almost looked like her body grew larger, and then she spoke like she was chanting a curse.
"Perhaps I should show you how frightening I can truly be?"
Lawrence was shocked—there was no way she would show her true form here, right?
At that moment, she looked like a frail girl just growing into her teenage years, but her true form was a gigantic wolf. If she transformed and bared her fangs to the sheep, they would not only tremble in fear but probably also drop dead on the spot.
For even one sheep to die during this season, when every town had many expenses to cover, would be a great loss. Like a prayer, Lawrence whispered, "Calm down," from the back of the wagon to her back.
"......Ngh!"
He thought he saw her shoulders shake.
He thought that she might be sniffling, but something was odd.
Right when he was about to call out to Holo, she lifted the staff, as though she was going to make a heavy swing with it.
"Freeze!"
About three sheep, attempting to leave the flock in a group, suddenly stopped in place.
They really did listen to the wolf when she looked directly at them and spoke. Lawrence had been able to perform well because of this power of hers during the festival in Svernel, too. That was why Holo was exceptionally angry.
But her behavior really was strange.
This time she clearly sniffed her nose, and with an open hand, she wiped her face.
"Holo."
Lawrence called her name, and her back shivered in surprise.
And Lawrence was just as surprised. She seemed just like a scolded child.
He was taken aback and felt hurt—did she think that he would really get angry with her if it did not go well, despite how eagerly she took the staff? He was not such an intolerant man.
However, Holo's body was petrified, and she gripped the pole tightly with both hands.
Was it true? Had she really thought that?
Lawrence felt like he might cry, and an instant before he was going to call out to her—
"I—I...am not...a good-for-nothing."
She spoke with such a thin voice, Lawrence almost thought he had imagined it.
Holo was always dignified, calm, and composed. And yet now, she seemed hideously small from behind.
"I've never thought of you like that. So what's...?"
After getting that far, Lawrence finally realized it.
He remembered a conversation from Svernel.
It was when they were talking with Millike, the man who governed over Svernel, about whether or not they could hire the wolves who hailed from the south. Millike, who was also nonhuman, teased Holo, who was a bit less enthusiastic about hiring Selim and the others.
In front of her kin, she can't carelessly drink during the day or take naps.
Holo was vain and stubborn. Though she wore the face of an excellent mother and master of the household in front of her only daughter, Myuri, and Col, peeling back a layer revealed she was a great deal more delicate than the tomboy Myuri, and there was a part of her that felt like a shy little girl.
Not only that, Holo was often prone to contemplating the darker sides of things. Perhaps it was because she had lived alone for so long in a state where her consciousness had practically faded away, but there were times when her preconceived notions were intense. Because of her harmful resolution to do many things on her own, she was incredibly reliable in the time of need, but on the other hand, she also stumbled over the strangest things.
| Pressing his hand against his pained back, Lawrence stood uneasily and gritted his teeth as he stepped down from the wagon bed. The sheep continued to baa and drift apart.
Forgetting about the flock for a moment, Lawrence embraced Holo from behind, who also seemed like she might drift apart piece by piece.
"No matter how hard Selim works, you can drink as much as you want right by the hearth."
Though they did have to make a good impression on their newcomer, Holo probably lost some confidence imagining herself working so hard again, as they had been pretty relaxed recently.
"The reason I don't scold you for sleeping in every day, going to the kitchen to eat four, five times a day, and grooming your tail whenever you have the chance is because I know you have your own proper work to do."
If one thought of the bathhouse in Nyohhira as a flock, then Holo would be the one standing above Lawrence. And even though she looked like she did not do much of anything, he knew well that she was keeping a careful watch over her wards.
It was only Holo who could admonish the tomboyish and mischievous Myuri, and if she ordered the serious, hardworking Col to take a break, he would. He also understood that whenever she went to get a snack, Holo would call out for this and that in Hanna's stead, who managed the kitchen.
Then, when Lawrence was down or nervous about something concerning the operation of the bathhouse, she would keep him steady, like inserting wedges into the gaps of a stone wall on the verge of collapse.
That was how the Spice and Wolf bathhouse ran smoothly. Even when Selim the new recruit arrived, he would not make his wife cut wood or start the fires or sprinkle salt on cheese before kneading it. Those jobs would be left to those who were capable. Holo was the only one who could shepherd the flock. As long as she did that, there was nothing for him to say.
If there was any problem to speak of, it was only that Holo herself did not much enjoy standing at the top.
So because of that, things like this happened.
If she were the kind of person to enjoy that, she would not have become flustered after learning Selim would be coming, and she would not conjure up any strange thoughts, either. Had her personality really been like that, then if anything, she would be eager to have a chance to train the girl.
"I'm sorry, I hadn't noticed."
He placed his hand on the staff she still held, and surprisingly, she tightened her grip.
"Sniff...I—I must watch over the sheep."
The fact that she could talk like that even now showed just how determined she was.
And it made Lawrence feel much better than her saying, "I'm okay."
"That's true, but...they're all running away."
The sheep were steadily heading off on their own.
Lawrence thought that even though she could not do it all on her own, something could probably be done if he helped her.
"Here, let me see the staff. You have your majesty as a wolf, so you don't need this."
But still she would not let go.
"...That dog can do this, so...why...?"
Her words came out as a mumble. It seemed she did not want to lose to a dog, of all things, and her pride as a wolf was on the line.
"Isn't that simply the skill of a professional? Even if the sheepdog is a dog."
The chestnut-colored dog had flawlessly carried out his work, even sitting atop Horad's shoulders. Lawrence could only imagine there had to be some trick to it. And there were times where it seemed that Holo managed to somehow keep them more or less all together, so there was probably some sort of method that could be relied on.
"It really is strange. I thought it would be impossible to watch over it all from the wagon bed. But if that sheepdog had a good leg, then his line of sight would be lower than most of the sheep, and yet he can still brilliantly keep the flock together."
Logically, if their eyes lay below the level of the sheep, it was impossible to look out across over the entire flock.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Pressing his hand against his pained back, Lawrence stood uneasily and gritted his teeth as he stepped down from the wagon bed. The sheep continued to baa and drift apart.
Forgetting about the flock for a moment, Lawrence embraced Holo from behind, who also seemed like she might drift apart piece by piece.
"No matter how hard Selim works, you can drink as much as you want right by the hearth."
Though they did have to make a good impression on their newcomer, Holo probably lost some confidence imagining herself working so hard again, as they had been pretty relaxed recently.
"The reason I don't scold you for sleeping in every day, going to the kitchen to eat four, five times a day, and grooming your tail whenever you have the chance is because I know you have your own proper work to do."
If one thought of the bathhouse in Nyohhira as a flock, then Holo would be the one standing above Lawrence. And even though she looked like she did not do much of anything, he knew well that she was keeping a careful watch over her wards.
It was only Holo who could admonish the tomboyish and mischievous Myuri, and if she ordered the serious, hardworking Col to take a break, he would. He also understood that whenever she went to get a snack, Holo would call out for this and that in Hanna's stead, who managed the kitchen.
Then, when Lawrence was down or nervous about something concerning the operation of the bathhouse, she would keep him steady, like inserting wedges into the gaps of a stone wall on the verge of collapse.
That was how the Spice and Wolf bathhouse ran smoothly. Even when Selim the new recruit arrived, he would not make his wife cut wood or start the fires or sprinkle salt on cheese before kneading it. Those jobs would be left to those who were capable. Holo was the only one who could shepherd the flock. As long as she did that, there was nothing for him to say.
If there was any problem to speak of, it was only that Holo herself did not much enjoy standing at the top.
So because of that, things like this happened.
If she were the kind of person to enjoy that, she would not have become flustered after learning Selim would be coming, and she would not conjure up any strange thoughts, either. Had her personality really been like that, then if anything, she would be eager to have a chance to train the girl.
"I'm sorry, I hadn't noticed."
He placed his hand on the staff she still held, and surprisingly, she tightened her grip.
"Sniff...I—I must watch over the sheep."
The fact that she could talk like that even now showed just how determined she was.
And it made Lawrence feel much better than her saying, "I'm okay."
"That's true, but...they're all running away."
The sheep were steadily heading off on their own.
Lawrence thought that even though she could not do it all on her own, something could probably be done if he helped her.
"Here, let me see the staff. You have your majesty as a wolf, so you don't need this."
But still she would not let go.
"...That dog can do this, so...why...?"
Her words came out as a mumble. It seemed she did not want to lose to a dog, of all things, and her pride as a wolf was on the line.
"Isn't that simply the skill of a professional? Even if the sheepdog is a dog."
The chestnut-colored dog had flawlessly carried out his work, even sitting atop Horad's shoulders. Lawrence could only imagine there had to be some trick to it. And there were times where it seemed that Holo managed to somehow keep them more or less all together, so there was probably some sort of method that could be relied on.
"It really is strange. I thought it would be impossible to watch over it all from the wagon bed. But if that sheepdog had a good leg, then his line of sight would be lower than most of the sheep, and yet he can still brilliantly keep the flock together."
Logically, if their eyes lay below the level of the sheep, it was impossible to look out across over the entire flock.
| What did that mean?
He racked his brains, and a light suddenly flicked on in his head. It was obvious for a flock.
"Hey, Holo."
He called out to her, and she turned. She looked like a little girl on the verge of tears, and in actuality, she really was ready to cry. As Lawrence wiped at the edges of her eyes with his thumb, he explained his thoughts to her. She seemed doubtful but must have decided it was worth trying.
Still holding the staff, she placed a foot onto a wheel and stood at the edge of the wagon bed.
Rising over the flock of unfettered sheep, she bent backward and took a deep breath.
Then she yelled a single word.
"Fools!"
She did not howl because if it reached Horad's ears, he would have returned in a mad rush.
It seemed all the sheep responded the same way. Hearing the roar of a wolf, they all lifted their heads, bustling about in a big tumult. They all wanted to rush to a safe place, but the majority of sheep had no idea where to go, so they jostled one another and baaed incessantly.
It was in one corner of the flock that all the sheep were looking toward.
They were all focusing on one sheep, trying to keep in pace with it.
"I found it! 'Tis you!"
Holo waved the staff and pointed it straight at that sheep. The animal was not particularly large or extraordinary-looking, but with the staff pointed at it, the creature baaed pitifully, and the sheep in its vicinity immediately began to panic.
That sheep was the leader. Be it a flock of birds or sheep, there was a proper hierarchical order to the community, and having the leader under her thumb meant Holo could control them.
Holo drew the staff in an arc to the right, and the sheep under the intense stare of a wolf had no choice but to listen. The lead sheep plodded along, and the others followed. Interestingly enough, the sheep now moved as one.
"Heh."
Completely the opposite from earlier, Holo stood on the wagon bed, smiling proudly. She must have been happy to live up to her reputation as a wolf. Once she understood the trick, it worked in an instant. She directed the sheep with only her chin and was making them endlessly circle the area.
It cheered her up considerably as she stepped down from the wagon to continue controlling the sheep while barely looking at them.
"Sometimes, we simply need to change our perspective."
Lawrence shrugged, and Holo laughed in a slightly self-deprecating way.
"Because for the longest time, I have been gazing at only one sheep. But no matter."
She clung to Lawrence.
"I've got it easy. I only ever need to look at just one wolf."
"I shall not forgive your looking at other wolves."
"Of course not." He patted her head, and after a slow, relieved exhalation, he spoke. "You think you'll be okay with bringing on Selim?"
Still clinging to Lawrence, Holo inhaled deeply, then stopped.
"I'm sure you'll get along."
"You fool." Holo breathed and smiled. "I am not a child."
Lawrence shrugged, agreeing with her, and Holo chuckled as she rubbed her face up against him.
The sheep bleated in annoyance as they kept walking around in circles.
Horad, who had safely dropped off his partner at the charcoal hut, soon returned, allowing them to hand the flock back over to him. Lawrence's back still ached, but they needed to take their leave.
When they could no longer see Horad or his flock, Lawrence sat on the driver's perch and gripped the reins.
"Well then, let's go home."
"Mm."
Holo, sitting next to him, responded in her usual tone.
Not minding one bit that her feet were covered in mud, Holo rested her head on Lawrence's shoulder, happily swishing her tail about.
Winter was almost over.
It was a new season, one of new beginnings.
***
It was a nice day.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | What did that mean?
He racked his brains, and a light suddenly flicked on in his head. It was obvious for a flock.
"Hey, Holo."
He called out to her, and she turned. She looked like a little girl on the verge of tears, and in actuality, she really was ready to cry. As Lawrence wiped at the edges of her eyes with his thumb, he explained his thoughts to her. She seemed doubtful but must have decided it was worth trying.
Still holding the staff, she placed a foot onto a wheel and stood at the edge of the wagon bed.
Rising over the flock of unfettered sheep, she bent backward and took a deep breath.
Then she yelled a single word.
"Fools!"
She did not howl because if it reached Horad's ears, he would have returned in a mad rush.
It seemed all the sheep responded the same way. Hearing the roar of a wolf, they all lifted their heads, bustling about in a big tumult. They all wanted to rush to a safe place, but the majority of sheep had no idea where to go, so they jostled one another and baaed incessantly.
It was in one corner of the flock that all the sheep were looking toward.
They were all focusing on one sheep, trying to keep in pace with it.
"I found it! 'Tis you!"
Holo waved the staff and pointed it straight at that sheep. The animal was not particularly large or extraordinary-looking, but with the staff pointed at it, the creature baaed pitifully, and the sheep in its vicinity immediately began to panic.
That sheep was the leader. Be it a flock of birds or sheep, there was a proper hierarchical order to the community, and having the leader under her thumb meant Holo could control them.
Holo drew the staff in an arc to the right, and the sheep under the intense stare of a wolf had no choice but to listen. The lead sheep plodded along, and the others followed. Interestingly enough, the sheep now moved as one.
"Heh."
Completely the opposite from earlier, Holo stood on the wagon bed, smiling proudly. She must have been happy to live up to her reputation as a wolf. Once she understood the trick, it worked in an instant. She directed the sheep with only her chin and was making them endlessly circle the area.
It cheered her up considerably as she stepped down from the wagon to continue controlling the sheep while barely looking at them.
"Sometimes, we simply need to change our perspective."
Lawrence shrugged, and Holo laughed in a slightly self-deprecating way.
"Because for the longest time, I have been gazing at only one sheep. But no matter."
She clung to Lawrence.
"I've got it easy. I only ever need to look at just one wolf."
"I shall not forgive your looking at other wolves."
"Of course not." He patted her head, and after a slow, relieved exhalation, he spoke. "You think you'll be okay with bringing on Selim?"
Still clinging to Lawrence, Holo inhaled deeply, then stopped.
"I'm sure you'll get along."
"You fool." Holo breathed and smiled. "I am not a child."
Lawrence shrugged, agreeing with her, and Holo chuckled as she rubbed her face up against him.
The sheep bleated in annoyance as they kept walking around in circles.
Horad, who had safely dropped off his partner at the charcoal hut, soon returned, allowing them to hand the flock back over to him. Lawrence's back still ached, but they needed to take their leave.
When they could no longer see Horad or his flock, Lawrence sat on the driver's perch and gripped the reins.
"Well then, let's go home."
"Mm."
Holo, sitting next to him, responded in her usual tone.
Not minding one bit that her feet were covered in mud, Holo rested her head on Lawrence's shoulder, happily swishing her tail about.
Winter was almost over.
It was a new season, one of new beginnings.
***
It was a nice day.
| In such weather, she sat on a straw mat by the bath inside the empty bathhouse while she worked.
Resting atop the straw mat was practically a mountain of wild vegetables that had just been gathered from the mountains, bits of frost still stuck here and there. The rounded buds were the only edible parts, so she tossed those into the basket. The rest would be dried in the sunlight and fed to the horses and sheep. The buds would be boiled with chicken bones and ginger to make a light broth. It was popular with those who could eat nothing but salted meat and fish during the winter and thus fell ill.
When she first tried it, she thought it must be a soup meant for rabbits, but after getting used to it, she quickly grew fond of the crunch from the vegetables and the grease from the chicken bones. It was also good for the cold nights after the sun set, since the ginger warmed her. And when she thought about how perfect it was with an accompaniment of hard liquor, she barely stopped herself from drooling.
As she thought about that, she took a plant from the right, broke off the tip, put it in the basket in front, then threw the rest to the left. This went on for quite some time. There was still a mess of other work waiting for her.
It would not be long before the monotonous work and warm sun brought on a drowsiness.
Several times she dozed off, and her head would suddenly droop. Each time she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
It was almost boring how peaceful the calm, early spring weather felt.
"Lady Holo."
Someone suddenly called her name, and Holo's eyes snapped open. She had apparently been dreaming about working. She looked over, and a girl stood beside her. The girl was thin, and her hair was whiter than it was silver, which gave her an evanescence that made it seem she would disappear in the sunlight.
This was the girl recently hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, Selim.
They had originally planned to take her in during the summer, but she had arrived not too long ago instead, already beginning to live and work with them.
"Mm-hmm...I cannot believe you saw that." Holo joked, and Selim blinked with surprise before showing a troubled smile.
"Sir Lawrence said you were surely sleeping and to wake you up..."
"What?"
That fool was what she wanted to say, but it disappeared behind a big yawn.
Her companion never noticed the important things, yet he was only ever sensible about the oddest things.
Holo stretched and sighed in exasperation, causing Selim to jump.
"Hahh...Ahh. Apologies...I shan't grow sleepy in this season."
She closed her eyes and shook her ears and tail as though throwing off a coating of water. She managed to suppress a bit of her sleepiness.
After Holo displayed the extent of her lethargy in an exaggerated manner, Selim wore an honest smile.
She was a rather formal girl, so it would be perfect if she relaxed just a little bit.
"And what is it you need?"
"Yes. It's nearly lunchtime, so I've come to get you."
"Mm. That time already. Tell them I shall be there soon."
"Very well."
She bowed her head gracefully, and Holo suddenly noticed how she was still staring at her.
"Lady Holo, has a leaf or the sort hurt you?"
"Hurt me?"
The wild vegetables were soft and not the kind to cause cuts, nor was she using a knife.
"Ah well, I can smell blood..."
Selim spoke timidly as Holo checked herself and, when she lifted her arm, discovered—
—a round, plump leech dangling from her wrist.
"Oh, this."
She had not noticed at all, thanks to her drowsiness and the chilly morning dew still clinging to the vegetables. It was a gluttonous fellow, and like how Myuri was once she found some delicious food, it would not let go. As she was about to pinch the tenacious leech and rip it off, Selim stopped her.
"Lady Holo, please don't. Please wait a moment. I'll bring some fire," she said, dashing off into the main building. It could easily come off by roasting it with embers.
"...What a fool. The new girl need not go so far."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | In such weather, she sat on a straw mat by the bath inside the empty bathhouse while she worked.
Resting atop the straw mat was practically a mountain of wild vegetables that had just been gathered from the mountains, bits of frost still stuck here and there. The rounded buds were the only edible parts, so she tossed those into the basket. The rest would be dried in the sunlight and fed to the horses and sheep. The buds would be boiled with chicken bones and ginger to make a light broth. It was popular with those who could eat nothing but salted meat and fish during the winter and thus fell ill.
When she first tried it, she thought it must be a soup meant for rabbits, but after getting used to it, she quickly grew fond of the crunch from the vegetables and the grease from the chicken bones. It was also good for the cold nights after the sun set, since the ginger warmed her. And when she thought about how perfect it was with an accompaniment of hard liquor, she barely stopped herself from drooling.
As she thought about that, she took a plant from the right, broke off the tip, put it in the basket in front, then threw the rest to the left. This went on for quite some time. There was still a mess of other work waiting for her.
It would not be long before the monotonous work and warm sun brought on a drowsiness.
Several times she dozed off, and her head would suddenly droop. Each time she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
It was almost boring how peaceful the calm, early spring weather felt.
"Lady Holo."
Someone suddenly called her name, and Holo's eyes snapped open. She had apparently been dreaming about working. She looked over, and a girl stood beside her. The girl was thin, and her hair was whiter than it was silver, which gave her an evanescence that made it seem she would disappear in the sunlight.
This was the girl recently hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, Selim.
They had originally planned to take her in during the summer, but she had arrived not too long ago instead, already beginning to live and work with them.
"Mm-hmm...I cannot believe you saw that." Holo joked, and Selim blinked with surprise before showing a troubled smile.
"Sir Lawrence said you were surely sleeping and to wake you up..."
"What?"
That fool was what she wanted to say, but it disappeared behind a big yawn.
Her companion never noticed the important things, yet he was only ever sensible about the oddest things.
Holo stretched and sighed in exasperation, causing Selim to jump.
"Hahh...Ahh. Apologies...I shan't grow sleepy in this season."
She closed her eyes and shook her ears and tail as though throwing off a coating of water. She managed to suppress a bit of her sleepiness.
After Holo displayed the extent of her lethargy in an exaggerated manner, Selim wore an honest smile.
She was a rather formal girl, so it would be perfect if she relaxed just a little bit.
"And what is it you need?"
"Yes. It's nearly lunchtime, so I've come to get you."
"Mm. That time already. Tell them I shall be there soon."
"Very well."
She bowed her head gracefully, and Holo suddenly noticed how she was still staring at her.
"Lady Holo, has a leaf or the sort hurt you?"
"Hurt me?"
The wild vegetables were soft and not the kind to cause cuts, nor was she using a knife.
"Ah well, I can smell blood..."
Selim spoke timidly as Holo checked herself and, when she lifted her arm, discovered—
—a round, plump leech dangling from her wrist.
"Oh, this."
She had not noticed at all, thanks to her drowsiness and the chilly morning dew still clinging to the vegetables. It was a gluttonous fellow, and like how Myuri was once she found some delicious food, it would not let go. As she was about to pinch the tenacious leech and rip it off, Selim stopped her.
"Lady Holo, please don't. Please wait a moment. I'll bring some fire," she said, dashing off into the main building. It could easily come off by roasting it with embers.
"...What a fool. The new girl need not go so far."
| Selim was such a thin and polite girl, Holo worried for a moment that she was the type to faint when she saw the leech, but that did not seem to be the case. In the south, she and her friends had survived daily on an eat-or-be-eaten basis. Since she said they barely scraped by playing mercenary, it was probably safe to assume she was stronger than Holo first expected. And she had a good nose.
Like Holo, Selim was an embodiment of a wolf, and her human form was a temporary guise. As they recently hired her to work in the bathhouse, it was good for Holo to have someone who she did not need to hide her ears or tail from.
However, once they brought her in, Holo was very uneasy regarding hiring someone new. Shameful as it was, she had worried that her spot would be jeopardized.
Luckily, it turned out to be a groundless fear. Instead, Selim had the tendency to hold Holo in too high of a regard.
Before long, Selim returned with dead embers from the kitchen, then proceeded to sear the leech. She caught it the moment it let go, throwing the creature into the wilderness.
"You must eat a lot for lunch to make up for what was drained away."
Selim smiled and gathered up all the stems of the vegetables.
"Well then, I will go ahead and take these to dry."
"Thank you."
The new girl was a hard worker. Lawrence and Holo had been worried about what would happen since they lost two of their young helpers at once, but with Selim's help, there would be no trouble when the guests came.
As she thought about this, Holo stretched expansively one last time and cracked her back.
"Well, 'tis time for lunch."
Her tail puffed out in the early spring sun and swished about.
"How is Miss Selim?"
That night, as Holo's companion wrote some things down, he asked this without bothering to look over.
The question came while she was in the middle of grooming the fur on her tail, thinking about how it was the time of year she should soon be shedding her winter coat.
"She is quite different from what I imagined."
"Hmm?"
He must have just finished a sentence, as he then turned toward her. They had met a little over ten years ago, and though they had changed much over the years, it almost felt like they had not changed at all.
No, he has gained a bit of weight, Holo thought as she looked at the base of her companion's bent neck.
"Do you mean that in a good way? Or a bad way?"
"A good way, mostly."
Smearing the expensive floral oil she had her companion buy for her onto her comb, she gracefully put on the fluffy finishing touches to her tail.
"And the rest, what I had imagined in a bad way was wrong in a good way."
"Wrong in a good...what? What does that mean?"
Her companion made a puzzled face. While he understood a bathhouse that did not hire new people could not carry on with business, he was probably still worried about hiring Selim.
It was not in the way that a shopkeeper would hire a boy and worry about whether or not he would be doing the appropriate work for his level. Rather, it was the awkwardness of boarding a young female under his own roof. However, Selim behaved well and was unobtrusive, and she also had a bit of an unfortunate air about her—the very sort of girl that her companion liked.
And he knew that Holo understood this well. He was also conscious of the fact that should anything happen, it would result in a troublesome uproar, and he had prepared for that.
That being said, Holo did trust her companion. Even if Selim was her companion's type, she was certain that he would not be unfaithful. In exchange, as he always overthought some things, if he worried too much about Selim, it would only trouble him.
And yet, he must have calmed a bit as he aged, since in the past if such a girl merely showed him the faintest of smiles, he would become infatuated with her. Now, he worked efficiently and professionally with her. At the same time, he was also taking good care of her, since she was far from her friends.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Selim was such a thin and polite girl, Holo worried for a moment that she was the type to faint when she saw the leech, but that did not seem to be the case. In the south, she and her friends had survived daily on an eat-or-be-eaten basis. Since she said they barely scraped by playing mercenary, it was probably safe to assume she was stronger than Holo first expected. And she had a good nose.
Like Holo, Selim was an embodiment of a wolf, and her human form was a temporary guise. As they recently hired her to work in the bathhouse, it was good for Holo to have someone who she did not need to hide her ears or tail from.
However, once they brought her in, Holo was very uneasy regarding hiring someone new. Shameful as it was, she had worried that her spot would be jeopardized.
Luckily, it turned out to be a groundless fear. Instead, Selim had the tendency to hold Holo in too high of a regard.
Before long, Selim returned with dead embers from the kitchen, then proceeded to sear the leech. She caught it the moment it let go, throwing the creature into the wilderness.
"You must eat a lot for lunch to make up for what was drained away."
Selim smiled and gathered up all the stems of the vegetables.
"Well then, I will go ahead and take these to dry."
"Thank you."
The new girl was a hard worker. Lawrence and Holo had been worried about what would happen since they lost two of their young helpers at once, but with Selim's help, there would be no trouble when the guests came.
As she thought about this, Holo stretched expansively one last time and cracked her back.
"Well, 'tis time for lunch."
Her tail puffed out in the early spring sun and swished about.
"How is Miss Selim?"
That night, as Holo's companion wrote some things down, he asked this without bothering to look over.
The question came while she was in the middle of grooming the fur on her tail, thinking about how it was the time of year she should soon be shedding her winter coat.
"She is quite different from what I imagined."
"Hmm?"
He must have just finished a sentence, as he then turned toward her. They had met a little over ten years ago, and though they had changed much over the years, it almost felt like they had not changed at all.
No, he has gained a bit of weight, Holo thought as she looked at the base of her companion's bent neck.
"Do you mean that in a good way? Or a bad way?"
"A good way, mostly."
Smearing the expensive floral oil she had her companion buy for her onto her comb, she gracefully put on the fluffy finishing touches to her tail.
"And the rest, what I had imagined in a bad way was wrong in a good way."
"Wrong in a good...what? What does that mean?"
Her companion made a puzzled face. While he understood a bathhouse that did not hire new people could not carry on with business, he was probably still worried about hiring Selim.
It was not in the way that a shopkeeper would hire a boy and worry about whether or not he would be doing the appropriate work for his level. Rather, it was the awkwardness of boarding a young female under his own roof. However, Selim behaved well and was unobtrusive, and she also had a bit of an unfortunate air about her—the very sort of girl that her companion liked.
And he knew that Holo understood this well. He was also conscious of the fact that should anything happen, it would result in a troublesome uproar, and he had prepared for that.
That being said, Holo did trust her companion. Even if Selim was her companion's type, she was certain that he would not be unfaithful. In exchange, as he always overthought some things, if he worried too much about Selim, it would only trouble him.
And yet, he must have calmed a bit as he aged, since in the past if such a girl merely showed him the faintest of smiles, he would become infatuated with her. Now, he worked efficiently and professionally with her. At the same time, he was also taking good care of her, since she was far from her friends.
| In summary, things were going so well now, it was almost a disappointment.
What made it complicated was that things had gone a little differently from how she wanted it to turn out.
"Really, I was expecting a bit more."
Her companion stared at her, trying to feel out what she really meant. He gulped, knowing that everything looked calm on the surface, but wondering if there was some sort of trouble he had not noticed underneath.
Holo almost wanted to smile watching him. What a good male.
That was because it felt like she had been bound by how hard he worked in every little thing.
"That means..."
She slipped off the bed and stood beside her companion. She shooed him with her hand, and hesitatingly, he scooted to the side, giving her space to sit.
There were many letters spread out over the desk, waiting for the ink to dry.
"You are managing this much better than I expected, and I cannot even foresee the Q in quarrel anywhere."
Lawrence's expression was slightly taken aback, and a hint of irritation appeared in relief's stead.
"What...? That means there's no problems now, right?"
"Hmm. I thought that I may be able to be unfriendly with you for the first time in a long time."
She placed her face on his shoulder as her companion developed a clearly vexed, twitching smile.
"Wouldn't you prefer we didn't fight?"
"'Tis much more stimulating to add pepper to meat or drink, no? We lived quietly while Myuri was around, but now she is no longer here."
She rubbed her face on his shoulder and wagged her tail.
"I swear..."
But her companion only sighed and faced the desk again, continuing to write his letters in a bit of a cramped manner.
She was disappointed—had she snuggled up to him like this in the past, that would have been enough to agitate him and it had been quite adorable. The way things were now made it seem like all she thought about was playing.
"Does it seem like we'll be able to open the bathhouse?"
The very competent Col and their only daughter Myuri, who had followed after him, were gone, and they had supported the bathhouse until recently. Without their two young helpers, they simply did not have enough hands.
She was suspicious that her companion was possibly not writing letters to guests thanking them for their patronage, asking them to come in the next season, but rejections, requesting various parties to postpone their visit because they were short on help.
There was no doubt that their particular bathhouse could not easily hire people because she was not human. It would have been a different story if she could easily hide her ears and tail, but she could not, causing them difficulties.
It would be a lie to say she did not feel indebted.
"Miss Selim will do enough work. She can handle it. It'll be much easier, since she's not the mischievous Myuri, who creates double the work after finishing one job."
"That foolish girl truly is nothing but pranks. I know not who she takes after."
She sighed, and her companion stared at her with an indescribable expression.
She half glared back at him, and he immediately looked away, like a sheep.
"But for that, it seems the liveliness in this house will die down. Are you all right with that?"
Her companion's back was to her, and he simply dropped his head lifelessly.
"I'm worried about that, too. We don't have Col, either, who chatted with all the high-ranking clergymen...When I think about that, I can't deny that what once attracted the guests to our bathhouse has disappeared."
"'Tis because you can talk of nothing but trade."
"I wouldn't mind if you started singing and dancing, you know."
Each bathhouse had its own specialty in soothing the tedium for long-stay guests. This bathhouse, Spice and Wolf, had truly been able to tout little Col, who could participate in complex discussions, and Myuri, who was as bright as any dancer.
However, when she imagined herself doing Myuri's job, not to mention little Col's, Holo felt exhausted.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | In summary, things were going so well now, it was almost a disappointment.
What made it complicated was that things had gone a little differently from how she wanted it to turn out.
"Really, I was expecting a bit more."
Her companion stared at her, trying to feel out what she really meant. He gulped, knowing that everything looked calm on the surface, but wondering if there was some sort of trouble he had not noticed underneath.
Holo almost wanted to smile watching him. What a good male.
That was because it felt like she had been bound by how hard he worked in every little thing.
"That means..."
She slipped off the bed and stood beside her companion. She shooed him with her hand, and hesitatingly, he scooted to the side, giving her space to sit.
There were many letters spread out over the desk, waiting for the ink to dry.
"You are managing this much better than I expected, and I cannot even foresee the Q in quarrel anywhere."
Lawrence's expression was slightly taken aback, and a hint of irritation appeared in relief's stead.
"What...? That means there's no problems now, right?"
"Hmm. I thought that I may be able to be unfriendly with you for the first time in a long time."
She placed her face on his shoulder as her companion developed a clearly vexed, twitching smile.
"Wouldn't you prefer we didn't fight?"
"'Tis much more stimulating to add pepper to meat or drink, no? We lived quietly while Myuri was around, but now she is no longer here."
She rubbed her face on his shoulder and wagged her tail.
"I swear..."
But her companion only sighed and faced the desk again, continuing to write his letters in a bit of a cramped manner.
She was disappointed—had she snuggled up to him like this in the past, that would have been enough to agitate him and it had been quite adorable. The way things were now made it seem like all she thought about was playing.
"Does it seem like we'll be able to open the bathhouse?"
The very competent Col and their only daughter Myuri, who had followed after him, were gone, and they had supported the bathhouse until recently. Without their two young helpers, they simply did not have enough hands.
She was suspicious that her companion was possibly not writing letters to guests thanking them for their patronage, asking them to come in the next season, but rejections, requesting various parties to postpone their visit because they were short on help.
There was no doubt that their particular bathhouse could not easily hire people because she was not human. It would have been a different story if she could easily hide her ears and tail, but she could not, causing them difficulties.
It would be a lie to say she did not feel indebted.
"Miss Selim will do enough work. She can handle it. It'll be much easier, since she's not the mischievous Myuri, who creates double the work after finishing one job."
"That foolish girl truly is nothing but pranks. I know not who she takes after."
She sighed, and her companion stared at her with an indescribable expression.
She half glared back at him, and he immediately looked away, like a sheep.
"But for that, it seems the liveliness in this house will die down. Are you all right with that?"
Her companion's back was to her, and he simply dropped his head lifelessly.
"I'm worried about that, too. We don't have Col, either, who chatted with all the high-ranking clergymen...When I think about that, I can't deny that what once attracted the guests to our bathhouse has disappeared."
"'Tis because you can talk of nothing but trade."
"I wouldn't mind if you started singing and dancing, you know."
Each bathhouse had its own specialty in soothing the tedium for long-stay guests. This bathhouse, Spice and Wolf, had truly been able to tout little Col, who could participate in complex discussions, and Myuri, who was as bright as any dancer.
However, when she imagined herself doing Myuri's job, not to mention little Col's, Holo felt exhausted.
| She could easily tell he was serious by how bashful his expression was, but this fool truly did not understand anything.
Her human form now was indeed young by human standards. When she thought about Myuri, who was truly young, however, she easily imagined how reckless it would be for herself to dance in her stead.
The image of the patrons looking up at her with confused smiles—This isn't bad, but something's off—easily came to mind.
Even though they appeared to be the same age, the aura around her was completely different compared to a girl who was truly young.
"I may as well stick with being particular about food."
If they stayed on the topic much longer, she felt her dignity as a wisewolf would be on the line, so she immediately changed the subject.
"Food, huh? You do have some opinions about food."
"Hanna may not be so happy to hear she would get more work."
Hanna not only ran the kitchen but she was also not human either, her true identity being the avatar of a bird.
"We lost one person stealing snacks, so maybe you can make up for that."
Talking about it now, Holo was beginning to lose track of whether Myuri, the bathhouse master's only daughter, had helped with the work or merely played as she liked.
It was fine that she was as energetic as she was, but perhaps they had been a little too lax with her.
"But it really is quiet without Myuri around."
Her companion paused his writing hand and looked up contemplatively, his gaze distant. Around this time of day, Myuri would be snoring on her bed in her usual room or playing around in Col's room as he studied by candlelight, accompanied by his angry voice after she bothered him too much with her mischief.
Once it became clear that Myuri had left on the journey as well, Holo's companion had raised such a fuss; she thought he had finally accepted it, but it seemed he was still a bit reluctant about it.
"I hope they haven't gotten in trouble where they are..."
"Had a letter not just recently come?"
"That's true, but..."
She sighed at her unsettled companion and embraced him.
"Have you forgotten who sits by your side?"
Her companion, now so far to the edge of the chair he was about to fall off, planted his foot on the other side and managed to stay up.
Then, he smiled flatly.
"Yeah. You're always by my side."
"Mm. 'Twould be best for your health to forget about your daughter after she has gone off to be wed."
"Sh-she's not getting married!"
The fool, who stubbornly told himself that Myuri and Col were nothing but very close siblings, retorted on reflex. Of course, she knew he did not truly oppose it. He was simply enjoying the role of the father of an only daughter to his heart's content.
And that meant she, too, had to enjoy her role.
"See here. I shan't be going anywhere. However, if you carelessly let go, I may be blown away by the wind."
She spoke while scratching her ears on his sharp shoulders.
The tallow candle had almost burned out, so it was good timing.
"Do you not think so?"
By the wavering candlelight, she narrowed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction.
Her companion would always seem frightened at times like these.
She vaguely remembered that he once said he felt like he was about to fall into the depths of oblivion.
Of course, she understood what he was trying to say.
That was because after they had fallen in love, they had arrived here.
"As you say, madam."
Her companion embraced her in return and stood, picking her up, then carrying her to bed.
Before long, the candle blew out, and the room fell into darkness.
The bathhouse was silent without guests, and she could hear the hoot, hoot of an owl beyond the window.
"Eh-heh."
She twisted in her companion's arms.
"Dear, be gentle with me—"
Just as she said that, there was a thud as he made a misstep. His posture collapsed, and they fell to the floor in the darkness.
Her foolish companion always did this at the most important moments.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | She could easily tell he was serious by how bashful his expression was, but this fool truly did not understand anything.
Her human form now was indeed young by human standards. When she thought about Myuri, who was truly young, however, she easily imagined how reckless it would be for herself to dance in her stead.
The image of the patrons looking up at her with confused smiles—This isn't bad, but something's off—easily came to mind.
Even though they appeared to be the same age, the aura around her was completely different compared to a girl who was truly young.
"I may as well stick with being particular about food."
If they stayed on the topic much longer, she felt her dignity as a wisewolf would be on the line, so she immediately changed the subject.
"Food, huh? You do have some opinions about food."
"Hanna may not be so happy to hear she would get more work."
Hanna not only ran the kitchen but she was also not human either, her true identity being the avatar of a bird.
"We lost one person stealing snacks, so maybe you can make up for that."
Talking about it now, Holo was beginning to lose track of whether Myuri, the bathhouse master's only daughter, had helped with the work or merely played as she liked.
It was fine that she was as energetic as she was, but perhaps they had been a little too lax with her.
"But it really is quiet without Myuri around."
Her companion paused his writing hand and looked up contemplatively, his gaze distant. Around this time of day, Myuri would be snoring on her bed in her usual room or playing around in Col's room as he studied by candlelight, accompanied by his angry voice after she bothered him too much with her mischief.
Once it became clear that Myuri had left on the journey as well, Holo's companion had raised such a fuss; she thought he had finally accepted it, but it seemed he was still a bit reluctant about it.
"I hope they haven't gotten in trouble where they are..."
"Had a letter not just recently come?"
"That's true, but..."
She sighed at her unsettled companion and embraced him.
"Have you forgotten who sits by your side?"
Her companion, now so far to the edge of the chair he was about to fall off, planted his foot on the other side and managed to stay up.
Then, he smiled flatly.
"Yeah. You're always by my side."
"Mm. 'Twould be best for your health to forget about your daughter after she has gone off to be wed."
"Sh-she's not getting married!"
The fool, who stubbornly told himself that Myuri and Col were nothing but very close siblings, retorted on reflex. Of course, she knew he did not truly oppose it. He was simply enjoying the role of the father of an only daughter to his heart's content.
And that meant she, too, had to enjoy her role.
"See here. I shan't be going anywhere. However, if you carelessly let go, I may be blown away by the wind."
She spoke while scratching her ears on his sharp shoulders.
The tallow candle had almost burned out, so it was good timing.
"Do you not think so?"
By the wavering candlelight, she narrowed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction.
Her companion would always seem frightened at times like these.
She vaguely remembered that he once said he felt like he was about to fall into the depths of oblivion.
Of course, she understood what he was trying to say.
That was because after they had fallen in love, they had arrived here.
"As you say, madam."
Her companion embraced her in return and stood, picking her up, then carrying her to bed.
Before long, the candle blew out, and the room fell into darkness.
The bathhouse was silent without guests, and she could hear the hoot, hoot of an owl beyond the window.
"Eh-heh."
She twisted in her companion's arms.
"Dear, be gentle with me—"
Just as she said that, there was a thud as he made a misstep. His posture collapsed, and they fell to the floor in the darkness.
Her foolish companion always did this at the most important moments.
| "You...fool......hmm?"
She realized she was lying down on a straw mat.
Before her sat a mountain of wild vegetables, waiting to be taken care of, glistening in the spring sun. There was no one else in the baths, and she could only hear the bubbling sound of flowing water.
"...Hmm...?"
It seemed she had completely fallen asleep in the gentle spring sunlight. She was upset she had woken up during a good moment, but the warm sunlight was comfortable, like she had entered the bath while still wearing clothes, and she almost closed her eyes again.
But she could not allow Selim to see her in such a state.
She managed to pull herself up and yawned, reaching out to the pile of vegetables.
"But...'twas quite a vivid dream I had..."
A strange feeling overcame her as she plucked the buds.
"...No, 'twas not a dream. That happened yesterday for...hmm?"
She murmured, suddenly doubting herself.
How many days had she been plucking the buds from vegetables? There were plenty to gather in the mountains, and bored women and children in the village plucked hundreds in order to earn some pocket change. They also were used as feed for the livestock, so while there were no guests around, every household dried and stored as much as they could, day after day. There was no difference between yesterday and today, and the next day she would be repeating the same all over again.
There was still frozen morning dew on the pile of wild vegetables, and they glistened in the sunlight. The temperature was just starting to rise, and the melted drops bubbled like nectar. Plucking the buds off wild vegetables let her know that spring had come to the village.
But how many times had spring come now? Ten? Twelve? Was it this year that Myuri and little Col had left the bathhouse? Or was that in the past?
In the wheat fields she had once slept in, she could roughly count the years as babies became children, children grew into adults, and adults aged into elders. In a year, she could only mark the dates by the changing seasons and the various festivals that came and went. The rest was simply a thread in the boundless tapestry that was the "every day."
Her memories of regular days were much too vague as to what came before or after what. And that became truer the more distant the memory.
Had it really been the night before that her companion was writing many letters to guests, then carried her to the bed after the candle went out? Had she not been dreaming of a nostalgic memory long past? It was like when she recalled her friends from her home village as she dozed off in the wheat fields.
Suddenly, an unsettling feeling rose in her chest, and she looked up toward the sky. There, the new spring sun silently shone with warmth. But it was too quiet. Was this a dream?
Anxiety bubbled up inside her, to the point she could clearly hear her heartbeat in her chest. If she was dreaming that the bathhouse was this quiet, then she could not imagine how quiet it was outside of her dream.
She was not like her companion and little Col and the rest of the villagers. Their entire lives would be over in the blink of an eye for her. It was not a dream or illusion that she would be the only one left of all her loved ones and that they would one day leave the bathhouse forever. That was a reality lying in wait for her.
***
Tears of anxiety and loneliness welled up in her eyes, and just as she was about to call out her companion's name, regardless of appearances. A flock of birds flew overhead from the direction of the woods, flitting about one another. The wind gusted, shaking the tree branches, and small waves rippled on the bath. There was still a hint of winter on the wind blowing across her cheek. It was all much too vivid to be a dream.
Before she began to cry like a small child, she looked at her left wrist. There, she could see the faint scar where the leech had bit her. When she scratched it, she could feel the pain.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "You...fool......hmm?"
She realized she was lying down on a straw mat.
Before her sat a mountain of wild vegetables, waiting to be taken care of, glistening in the spring sun. There was no one else in the baths, and she could only hear the bubbling sound of flowing water.
"...Hmm...?"
It seemed she had completely fallen asleep in the gentle spring sunlight. She was upset she had woken up during a good moment, but the warm sunlight was comfortable, like she had entered the bath while still wearing clothes, and she almost closed her eyes again.
But she could not allow Selim to see her in such a state.
She managed to pull herself up and yawned, reaching out to the pile of vegetables.
"But...'twas quite a vivid dream I had..."
A strange feeling overcame her as she plucked the buds.
"...No, 'twas not a dream. That happened yesterday for...hmm?"
She murmured, suddenly doubting herself.
How many days had she been plucking the buds from vegetables? There were plenty to gather in the mountains, and bored women and children in the village plucked hundreds in order to earn some pocket change. They also were used as feed for the livestock, so while there were no guests around, every household dried and stored as much as they could, day after day. There was no difference between yesterday and today, and the next day she would be repeating the same all over again.
There was still frozen morning dew on the pile of wild vegetables, and they glistened in the sunlight. The temperature was just starting to rise, and the melted drops bubbled like nectar. Plucking the buds off wild vegetables let her know that spring had come to the village.
But how many times had spring come now? Ten? Twelve? Was it this year that Myuri and little Col had left the bathhouse? Or was that in the past?
In the wheat fields she had once slept in, she could roughly count the years as babies became children, children grew into adults, and adults aged into elders. In a year, she could only mark the dates by the changing seasons and the various festivals that came and went. The rest was simply a thread in the boundless tapestry that was the "every day."
Her memories of regular days were much too vague as to what came before or after what. And that became truer the more distant the memory.
Had it really been the night before that her companion was writing many letters to guests, then carried her to the bed after the candle went out? Had she not been dreaming of a nostalgic memory long past? It was like when she recalled her friends from her home village as she dozed off in the wheat fields.
Suddenly, an unsettling feeling rose in her chest, and she looked up toward the sky. There, the new spring sun silently shone with warmth. But it was too quiet. Was this a dream?
Anxiety bubbled up inside her, to the point she could clearly hear her heartbeat in her chest. If she was dreaming that the bathhouse was this quiet, then she could not imagine how quiet it was outside of her dream.
She was not like her companion and little Col and the rest of the villagers. Their entire lives would be over in the blink of an eye for her. It was not a dream or illusion that she would be the only one left of all her loved ones and that they would one day leave the bathhouse forever. That was a reality lying in wait for her.
***
Tears of anxiety and loneliness welled up in her eyes, and just as she was about to call out her companion's name, regardless of appearances. A flock of birds flew overhead from the direction of the woods, flitting about one another. The wind gusted, shaking the tree branches, and small waves rippled on the bath. There was still a hint of winter on the wind blowing across her cheek. It was all much too vivid to be a dream.
Before she began to cry like a small child, she looked at her left wrist. There, she could see the faint scar where the leech had bit her. When she scratched it, she could feel the pain.
| "...What a fool..."
With relief came a feeling of embarrassment.
Deep in her heart was a well filled with dark things. The weight of her happiness, which was almost too warm for comfort, kept a tight lid on it. She almost always forgot about it, but when she let her guard down, it would come seeping out. The darkness inside had a name—loneliness.
Her happy, daily routine flowed from yesterday to today without any distinction between them. If she was too happy, time would pass by much too quickly.
That was why her words to her companion the night before had not been a lie. There were several things she was expecting from Selim, the new girl.
The first was to simply do her share of work as a helper, so that this bathhouse her companion had spent his blood, sweat, and tears on could mature. And the second was to be a spark that could incite a quarrel between herself and her companion.
Then, her memory of the fight and the consequent reconciliation would emerge as a clear pattern in the tapestry of her every day, become a concrete event in her memory, and keep the lid closed tight on her well of loneliness. The other hundreds and thousands of days without strife would become the same as her naps in the afternoon and would be pushed far away into the depths of her memory.
Time passed much too quickly. Her only choice was to make a mark on herself with her nails so that she would not forget. Like the scar the leech left on her wrist.
Human and animal activity, however, was nothing but the same actions repeated over and over again. So all she could do was simply soothe her anxiety a bit in a way that she would just forget the following day.
Embracing her companion from behind as he worked, drinking hard liquor until she became stupidly drunk, imparting all her knowledge to her only daughter as a bedtime story so she may capture the male she fancied...
That being said, it was like bottling the summer air to save it for winter.
The repetition of daily life wore many things down. So while the days went by smoothly and efficiently, not everything stayed in her memory.
It was not that she hated plucking buds off wild vegetables. It was honest work atop more honest work that kept the bathhouse running, and the better it ran, the happier her companion became. In the end, she considered herself living in luxury. She was like a dog peering into a stream with a piece of meat in its mouth only to greedily attempt to snatch the morsel in the water's reflection.
"What a fool I am."
She murmured to herself and returned to work plucking buds.
Though she was happy, she was sad she could not give names to each and every piece of her happiness.
Holo's work plucking buds was over before noon, thanks to her diligence.
She had Selim dry the parts that would become fodder while she took the edible buds to the kitchen, returning to the main house after. For now, she wanted to find where her companion was and stick close to him. It was like an insect sipping tree sap. He was a bit of a wooden blockhead, so it made sense.
"If you're looking for the master, he's out front."
Hanna, who was parboiling the buds in the kitchen, informed her of his whereabouts. On her way out, Holo pilfered a few slices of jerky from a shelf, and Hanna scolded her.
"We'll be eating lunch soon."
If her companion was out front, that meant he must have been doing some sort of hard labor. Perhaps a traveling merchant delivering goods had come on the now-thawed mountain roads, or maybe it was a boat along the river that had brought cargo.
If he was in the middle of heavy lifting, then she would of course not interfere, but she would be able to accompany him to the baths after he was done.
She thought about this and that as she passed through the corridor and came out the front, where her companion was, with Selim.
"I am sorry..."
"Don't worry about it. It's my fault for not telling you."
As they talked, they were untying the bundles of fodder stacked by the front entrance.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "...What a fool..."
With relief came a feeling of embarrassment.
Deep in her heart was a well filled with dark things. The weight of her happiness, which was almost too warm for comfort, kept a tight lid on it. She almost always forgot about it, but when she let her guard down, it would come seeping out. The darkness inside had a name—loneliness.
Her happy, daily routine flowed from yesterday to today without any distinction between them. If she was too happy, time would pass by much too quickly.
That was why her words to her companion the night before had not been a lie. There were several things she was expecting from Selim, the new girl.
The first was to simply do her share of work as a helper, so that this bathhouse her companion had spent his blood, sweat, and tears on could mature. And the second was to be a spark that could incite a quarrel between herself and her companion.
Then, her memory of the fight and the consequent reconciliation would emerge as a clear pattern in the tapestry of her every day, become a concrete event in her memory, and keep the lid closed tight on her well of loneliness. The other hundreds and thousands of days without strife would become the same as her naps in the afternoon and would be pushed far away into the depths of her memory.
Time passed much too quickly. Her only choice was to make a mark on herself with her nails so that she would not forget. Like the scar the leech left on her wrist.
Human and animal activity, however, was nothing but the same actions repeated over and over again. So all she could do was simply soothe her anxiety a bit in a way that she would just forget the following day.
Embracing her companion from behind as he worked, drinking hard liquor until she became stupidly drunk, imparting all her knowledge to her only daughter as a bedtime story so she may capture the male she fancied...
That being said, it was like bottling the summer air to save it for winter.
The repetition of daily life wore many things down. So while the days went by smoothly and efficiently, not everything stayed in her memory.
It was not that she hated plucking buds off wild vegetables. It was honest work atop more honest work that kept the bathhouse running, and the better it ran, the happier her companion became. In the end, she considered herself living in luxury. She was like a dog peering into a stream with a piece of meat in its mouth only to greedily attempt to snatch the morsel in the water's reflection.
"What a fool I am."
She murmured to herself and returned to work plucking buds.
Though she was happy, she was sad she could not give names to each and every piece of her happiness.
Holo's work plucking buds was over before noon, thanks to her diligence.
She had Selim dry the parts that would become fodder while she took the edible buds to the kitchen, returning to the main house after. For now, she wanted to find where her companion was and stick close to him. It was like an insect sipping tree sap. He was a bit of a wooden blockhead, so it made sense.
"If you're looking for the master, he's out front."
Hanna, who was parboiling the buds in the kitchen, informed her of his whereabouts. On her way out, Holo pilfered a few slices of jerky from a shelf, and Hanna scolded her.
"We'll be eating lunch soon."
If her companion was out front, that meant he must have been doing some sort of hard labor. Perhaps a traveling merchant delivering goods had come on the now-thawed mountain roads, or maybe it was a boat along the river that had brought cargo.
If he was in the middle of heavy lifting, then she would of course not interfere, but she would be able to accompany him to the baths after he was done.
She thought about this and that as she passed through the corridor and came out the front, where her companion was, with Selim.
"I am sorry..."
"Don't worry about it. It's my fault for not telling you."
As they talked, they were untying the bundles of fodder stacked by the front entrance.
| Holo's call prompted the two to look back at her.
"Oh, hey. Perfect timing. Can you help us?"
"Help?"
Beside him, Selim stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, a guilty expression written on her face. Her slender shoulders drooped so low it was like they nearly disappeared.
"I, um...used the wrong string to tie the fodder together..."
Responding quietly, she continued working. It seemed she was taking apart the bundles she had put together.
"Hmm. Should I undo everything?"
"No, just tie it with new string. And there's some three-strand twine mixed in there, too, so take those off as well."
"How bothersome."
She had meant for it to be the lighthearted response she always gave him, but Selim recoiled and shrunk back.
"Oh, mm, 'twas not meant for you. I, too, make this mistake often," she added hurriedly. The girl was nervous being in an unfamiliar pack. Even if she poked fun at her companion as she always did, it sounded harsh to the newcomer's ears. She had to be careful.
She flashed an exceptional smile toward Selim and returned to work.
According to her companion, he had told Selim to use the old string to bundle the withered grasses together, but she had mistaken the new cord for the old. Both the old and new hemp string were in the same place in the shed, so it was undoubtedly complicated.
The task was completed rather quickly with all three of them working together. She told her former traveling-merchant companion that his fussy way of saving material by using the oldest things first made this his fault.
And it was good since Selim had made a modest mistake, as it gave Holo an excuse to ease up on her work. Had she done her work perfectly, it would have been suffocating.
But then again, the next day Selim made another little mistake.
In the spring, the villagers of Nyohhira hold a small, private festival. They worshipped Alzeuri, the patron saint of hot springs or some sort. Selim took the wrong votive candles to use in the festival.
She was supposed to hand over beeswax candles but apparently instead brought a boxful of tallow candles to the meeting hall.
"I'm sorry..."
Selim looked as though she might cry, perhaps in response to her continued mistakes. But it could be quickly resolved by simply switching the candles, and it did not seem like she was slacking in her duties. She worked without complaint and did everything she was told. And so of course, she prepared the correct candles without any scolding and simply carried them to the meeting hall.
By now, Holo had come to know Selim better. She was diligent and hardworking, but there were foolish parts to her. There were times she stumbled or dropped things. The person in question did seem aware of it, so it was admirable how she made sure to overcome her shortcomings. She was very much the kind of girl her companion fancied.
And so, Holo was not that surprised that the girl had mistaken beeswax candles for tallow ones. They were molded in a similar shape, and she may not have ever seen beeswax before in her life.
Because of that, her mistakes only came up once in a while when Holo and her companion talked before going to sleep at night. The problem was that Selim apparently did not see it that way.
Ever since the day she mistook the candles her mood had been awful. She was an honest girl, and she may have been needlessly pressuring herself.
The young wolf was a valuable worker, and it would cause problems for even Holo if she quit. Even without quitting, her mood would most certainly affect the atmosphere in the bathhouse. This was a place that brought people smiles and happiness, and so they could not tolerate anyone stifling that.
But what should they do? Selim did not seem the sort to cheer up with drink. And telling her not to mind appeared to only result in her becoming even more self-conscious.
Though Holo had lived for a long time, this was her first experience with this sort of situation.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Holo's call prompted the two to look back at her.
"Oh, hey. Perfect timing. Can you help us?"
"Help?"
Beside him, Selim stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, a guilty expression written on her face. Her slender shoulders drooped so low it was like they nearly disappeared.
"I, um...used the wrong string to tie the fodder together..."
Responding quietly, she continued working. It seemed she was taking apart the bundles she had put together.
"Hmm. Should I undo everything?"
"No, just tie it with new string. And there's some three-strand twine mixed in there, too, so take those off as well."
"How bothersome."
She had meant for it to be the lighthearted response she always gave him, but Selim recoiled and shrunk back.
"Oh, mm, 'twas not meant for you. I, too, make this mistake often," she added hurriedly. The girl was nervous being in an unfamiliar pack. Even if she poked fun at her companion as she always did, it sounded harsh to the newcomer's ears. She had to be careful.
She flashed an exceptional smile toward Selim and returned to work.
According to her companion, he had told Selim to use the old string to bundle the withered grasses together, but she had mistaken the new cord for the old. Both the old and new hemp string were in the same place in the shed, so it was undoubtedly complicated.
The task was completed rather quickly with all three of them working together. She told her former traveling-merchant companion that his fussy way of saving material by using the oldest things first made this his fault.
And it was good since Selim had made a modest mistake, as it gave Holo an excuse to ease up on her work. Had she done her work perfectly, it would have been suffocating.
But then again, the next day Selim made another little mistake.
In the spring, the villagers of Nyohhira hold a small, private festival. They worshipped Alzeuri, the patron saint of hot springs or some sort. Selim took the wrong votive candles to use in the festival.
She was supposed to hand over beeswax candles but apparently instead brought a boxful of tallow candles to the meeting hall.
"I'm sorry..."
Selim looked as though she might cry, perhaps in response to her continued mistakes. But it could be quickly resolved by simply switching the candles, and it did not seem like she was slacking in her duties. She worked without complaint and did everything she was told. And so of course, she prepared the correct candles without any scolding and simply carried them to the meeting hall.
By now, Holo had come to know Selim better. She was diligent and hardworking, but there were foolish parts to her. There were times she stumbled or dropped things. The person in question did seem aware of it, so it was admirable how she made sure to overcome her shortcomings. She was very much the kind of girl her companion fancied.
And so, Holo was not that surprised that the girl had mistaken beeswax candles for tallow ones. They were molded in a similar shape, and she may not have ever seen beeswax before in her life.
Because of that, her mistakes only came up once in a while when Holo and her companion talked before going to sleep at night. The problem was that Selim apparently did not see it that way.
Ever since the day she mistook the candles her mood had been awful. She was an honest girl, and she may have been needlessly pressuring herself.
The young wolf was a valuable worker, and it would cause problems for even Holo if she quit. Even without quitting, her mood would most certainly affect the atmosphere in the bathhouse. This was a place that brought people smiles and happiness, and so they could not tolerate anyone stifling that.
But what should they do? Selim did not seem the sort to cheer up with drink. And telling her not to mind appeared to only result in her becoming even more self-conscious.
Though Holo had lived for a long time, this was her first experience with this sort of situation.
| "Do you think you could help me with Miss Selim?"
"Help?"
"Can you think of an excuse to take her into the mountains?"
Holo looked back at him, puzzled, wondering what he meant.
"Take her out saying you're going to find new springs or something, and could you bring her to the other side of the mountains while you're at it?"
She finally got the point.
"Have her visit her family, you mean?"
"Yeah."
Selim's older brother and other relatives were building lodgings some two or three mountains away. They were apparently planning to make a fortune by attracting pilgrims, touting their location as a sacred destination where the miracle of a holy woman had transpired. Had the good little boy Col known about this, he would definitely have made an unhappy face, but the one who thought of the scheme was her companion. That was the only plan that they could think of when they were at a loss in Svernel.
The problem was, the one who had played the part of the holy woman was Selim. She was supposed to be buried deep underground, so it would be odd if she were constantly seen around the inn. So accordingly, she was hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, which was in need of helpers, but that meant she was forced to live far, far away from her family.
Of course, she could cross the distance in no time if she ran in her wolf form, so it was not an eternal parting.
Which was why Holo thought her companion's idea would be counterproductive.
"Is the girl not right in the middle of getting used to her new pack? Would having them meet after such a short time not only bring her and her friends' resolution into question?"
Selim and her older brother were especially serious folk. When Selim first came to the house, her expression was steely, as though in preparation for war. The kin of wolves would never stray from a path once they had decided upon it, no matter what.
And so she explained that to her companion.
"Logically, that makes sense."
"Dear, I am serious—"
Holo stopped speaking because of the look in her companion's eyes.
He never gave the impression of having confidence in himself and always seemed to have strange assumptions about things, but he occasionally held such unwavering beliefs that even a wisewolf could not sink her teeth in.
At times like those, though he should have exuded strength, his eyes always seemed somewhat sad.
She easily bent to his will whenever she saw those eyes of his.
Unwittingly, Holo's ears and tail drooped.
"I was once a traveling merchant. I've carried people who lived far away from their family and friends many times. So many people did nothing but complain when they sat in the back of the wagon. 'I don't want to see them,' 'I can't meet them now after all this time,' 'They'll pummel me when they see me,' and on and on."
He flashed a tired smile and knelt down to her eye level.
It was almost as though he were reasoning with a child.
"But when they finally did meet, they were always happy. That's not logical."
Then, he reached out to touch her cheek.
She jumped and recoiled, because it almost felt as though he was going to directly touch the soft parts of her heart.
"You know this."
He was right.
When she wanted to go home but had forgotten the way there and sat at a loss in a field of wheat, she forcefully snuck into her companion's wagon. She did not care what came after. She missed her homeland that much.
And then, facing many dangers, her companion took her where she needed to go. At first, she only thought that he was just a hopelessly good-hearted person, but that was not so. He held true to his own beliefs born from his own experiences.
"And it might be a problem that Miss Selim's brothers are so close."
"...Hmm?"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Do you think you could help me with Miss Selim?"
"Help?"
"Can you think of an excuse to take her into the mountains?"
Holo looked back at him, puzzled, wondering what he meant.
"Take her out saying you're going to find new springs or something, and could you bring her to the other side of the mountains while you're at it?"
She finally got the point.
"Have her visit her family, you mean?"
"Yeah."
Selim's older brother and other relatives were building lodgings some two or three mountains away. They were apparently planning to make a fortune by attracting pilgrims, touting their location as a sacred destination where the miracle of a holy woman had transpired. Had the good little boy Col known about this, he would definitely have made an unhappy face, but the one who thought of the scheme was her companion. That was the only plan that they could think of when they were at a loss in Svernel.
The problem was, the one who had played the part of the holy woman was Selim. She was supposed to be buried deep underground, so it would be odd if she were constantly seen around the inn. So accordingly, she was hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, which was in need of helpers, but that meant she was forced to live far, far away from her family.
Of course, she could cross the distance in no time if she ran in her wolf form, so it was not an eternal parting.
Which was why Holo thought her companion's idea would be counterproductive.
"Is the girl not right in the middle of getting used to her new pack? Would having them meet after such a short time not only bring her and her friends' resolution into question?"
Selim and her older brother were especially serious folk. When Selim first came to the house, her expression was steely, as though in preparation for war. The kin of wolves would never stray from a path once they had decided upon it, no matter what.
And so she explained that to her companion.
"Logically, that makes sense."
"Dear, I am serious—"
Holo stopped speaking because of the look in her companion's eyes.
He never gave the impression of having confidence in himself and always seemed to have strange assumptions about things, but he occasionally held such unwavering beliefs that even a wisewolf could not sink her teeth in.
At times like those, though he should have exuded strength, his eyes always seemed somewhat sad.
She easily bent to his will whenever she saw those eyes of his.
Unwittingly, Holo's ears and tail drooped.
"I was once a traveling merchant. I've carried people who lived far away from their family and friends many times. So many people did nothing but complain when they sat in the back of the wagon. 'I don't want to see them,' 'I can't meet them now after all this time,' 'They'll pummel me when they see me,' and on and on."
He flashed a tired smile and knelt down to her eye level.
It was almost as though he were reasoning with a child.
"But when they finally did meet, they were always happy. That's not logical."
Then, he reached out to touch her cheek.
She jumped and recoiled, because it almost felt as though he was going to directly touch the soft parts of her heart.
"You know this."
He was right.
When she wanted to go home but had forgotten the way there and sat at a loss in a field of wheat, she forcefully snuck into her companion's wagon. She did not care what came after. She missed her homeland that much.
And then, facing many dangers, her companion took her where she needed to go. At first, she only thought that he was just a hopelessly good-hearted person, but that was not so. He held true to his own beliefs born from his own experiences.
"And it might be a problem that Miss Selim's brothers are so close."
"...Hmm?"
| "Mm-hmm...And so...you mean to say...'tis different?"
She looked back at him, and he smiled bitterly.
"I know Miss Selim is trying her best to be a member of this house. But any newcomer will always feel helpless. But on the other hand, do you remember Selim's brother's face when he saw her off? He was practically sick with worry. If you bring her to him, there's no chance he would be cruel to her. He would encourage and comfort her. It would help her a hundred times more than us saying anything. She has someone like that not too far away, so why doesn't she go see him?"
His train of thought was like grasping the ends of a tangled mess of thread, then pulling on them only to find that nothing had been tangled all along.
With both a will and a way, one should act.
She could even call this a very merchantlike way of thinking.
Of course, that included her companion's personal outlook on life and his innate good-heartedness. There were a great many bathhouses that handled their help like tools, and if anything, such treatment was actually expected in the human world to the point where it was often considered that a master who did not punish their workers was already a good one.
But her companion was not that kind of person. Those who rode in the back of his wagon were his friends, and he tried his best to deal with them in a kind manner. It was perhaps similar to a merchant's attachment to their cargo.
When she herself was a part of his cargo, she was distraught with worry about how he would treat other freight, but now she sat beside him on the driver's perch.
And so, as his partner on his journey, she could depend on him for and was even proud of how he treated his cargo so well.
Her companion was so attractive in how he would not be tied down by common sense when it came to his friends, and she almost hated him for it.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Her companion finally noticed her state and was staring at her, puzzled.
Unable to hold back the warm feeling in her heart, she grinned proudly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You are such a fool, such a foolish man."
"Huh?"
He sounded suspicious, but he understood that she was in a good mood by how her ears and tail twitched happily.
He returned the favor by embracing her back, and she managed to calm herself for the moment.
"Hmm...Regarding your idea, I do not mind, but there are still humans about in the mountains during this time of year. Would you mind if we left once night fell?"
"Oh, of course not. We have work during the day anyway."
"You fool. 'Tis not the question."
Her companion seemed puzzled. It seemed he did not understand what she had meant.
"I am asking if you do not feel lonely sleeping alone at night?"
Their daughter Myuri was not around, either.
Then, after a slight moment of surprise, he gave her a small smile.
"What? When you come home, you know how grateful I'll be."
Her companion knew how to treat her well, too.
"Heh-heh. Very well, then."
In the end, unable to control herself, she clung to him again, and her tail swished about happily.
Though it was not a full moon that night, it was just bright enough.
They ate dinner, and around the time they would typically start going to bed, they instead gathered behind the bathhouse.
There was the wisewolf, who could easily swallow anything human-sized in one gulp, and a cute little wolf who one might typically see roaming around the forest. And the wisewolf's shivering companion.
"I wish I had your fur."
Once the sun set, a midwinter chill descended onto the mountains. A puff of white smoke rose from her companion's mouth when he spoke.
"We shall return before dawn."
"Make sure the charcoal makers and whatnot don't get a good look at you."
"Fool."
She bumped him with her nose, and he scratched her around her chin. It was a natural exchange for them, but when she noticed that Selim was beside them watching, she suddenly grew embarrassed.
"...Ahem. Well, shall we be off?"
"Yes."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Mm-hmm...And so...you mean to say...'tis different?"
She looked back at him, and he smiled bitterly.
"I know Miss Selim is trying her best to be a member of this house. But any newcomer will always feel helpless. But on the other hand, do you remember Selim's brother's face when he saw her off? He was practically sick with worry. If you bring her to him, there's no chance he would be cruel to her. He would encourage and comfort her. It would help her a hundred times more than us saying anything. She has someone like that not too far away, so why doesn't she go see him?"
His train of thought was like grasping the ends of a tangled mess of thread, then pulling on them only to find that nothing had been tangled all along.
With both a will and a way, one should act.
She could even call this a very merchantlike way of thinking.
Of course, that included her companion's personal outlook on life and his innate good-heartedness. There were a great many bathhouses that handled their help like tools, and if anything, such treatment was actually expected in the human world to the point where it was often considered that a master who did not punish their workers was already a good one.
But her companion was not that kind of person. Those who rode in the back of his wagon were his friends, and he tried his best to deal with them in a kind manner. It was perhaps similar to a merchant's attachment to their cargo.
When she herself was a part of his cargo, she was distraught with worry about how he would treat other freight, but now she sat beside him on the driver's perch.
And so, as his partner on his journey, she could depend on him for and was even proud of how he treated his cargo so well.
Her companion was so attractive in how he would not be tied down by common sense when it came to his friends, and she almost hated him for it.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Her companion finally noticed her state and was staring at her, puzzled.
Unable to hold back the warm feeling in her heart, she grinned proudly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You are such a fool, such a foolish man."
"Huh?"
He sounded suspicious, but he understood that she was in a good mood by how her ears and tail twitched happily.
He returned the favor by embracing her back, and she managed to calm herself for the moment.
"Hmm...Regarding your idea, I do not mind, but there are still humans about in the mountains during this time of year. Would you mind if we left once night fell?"
"Oh, of course not. We have work during the day anyway."
"You fool. 'Tis not the question."
Her companion seemed puzzled. It seemed he did not understand what she had meant.
"I am asking if you do not feel lonely sleeping alone at night?"
Their daughter Myuri was not around, either.
Then, after a slight moment of surprise, he gave her a small smile.
"What? When you come home, you know how grateful I'll be."
Her companion knew how to treat her well, too.
"Heh-heh. Very well, then."
In the end, unable to control herself, she clung to him again, and her tail swished about happily.
Though it was not a full moon that night, it was just bright enough.
They ate dinner, and around the time they would typically start going to bed, they instead gathered behind the bathhouse.
There was the wisewolf, who could easily swallow anything human-sized in one gulp, and a cute little wolf who one might typically see roaming around the forest. And the wisewolf's shivering companion.
"I wish I had your fur."
Once the sun set, a midwinter chill descended onto the mountains. A puff of white smoke rose from her companion's mouth when he spoke.
"We shall return before dawn."
"Make sure the charcoal makers and whatnot don't get a good look at you."
"Fool."
She bumped him with her nose, and he scratched her around her chin. It was a natural exchange for them, but when she noticed that Selim was beside them watching, she suddenly grew embarrassed.
"...Ahem. Well, shall we be off?"
"Yes."
| Holo was of course not envious, but she had a fleeting thought that if she could be that size, she and her companion could stay in the same room even in this form.
"Be safe."
She did not know if her companion was aware of her thoughts, but he spoke all the same.
For all intents and purposes, they were supposedly searching for new springs, but it was really for Selim's sake.
They turned away without a response and dashed off. Holo made rounds out in the mountains in this form to make sure that there would be no avalanches once the snow started to soften, but she had not done so lately. She loved the feeling of running in the mountains in this large form, and she could not help her gaining speed.
Once they reached the peak of the mountain behind the bathhouse, she looked back, and Selim was already out of breath.
"Sorry. Am I going too fast?"
"N-no...ah, um, yes..."
She perhaps thought it would cause Holo even more trouble if she could not keep up.
"We shall go slowly. 'Tis the first chance in a long time I have had to run, so I could not help but frolic like a pup."
The truth was, of course, she wished to run at top speed, and she wanted to howl at the moon as loud as she could. But if she did that, however, then it would echo through the entire village of Nyohhira, and there would be an uproar at the clear signal of a wolf. All the villagers would light fires and spend the entire night on watch.
Of course, her companion would know whose fault it was and stand under the torch with a cross expression.
"Well, should you get lost, you shall be able to return by scent, aye?"
Selim's wolf mouth flawlessly curled into a smile at her banter.
Then they roamed about the mountains at the pace of a leisurely stroll. Though Holo had not particularly claimed that this was her territory, dutiful bears and deer looked up at her, wondering what was the matter.
Under the pretense of looking for springs, they inevitably arrived at locations that smelled as though they had potential for that purpose, but Holo had long since found all the noteworthy spots back when they were first opening the bathhouse. So in a casual manner, the two wolves simply went in circles, with Holo's feet steadily aiming toward the other side of the mountains, where Selim's older brother and relatives were constructing lodgings.
But Selim was not a naive or stupid girl. As they were about to cross the second ridge, she spoke, as though having made up her mind.
"Lady Holo."
"Hmm?"
"Um...I'm...sorry..."
Of course, Holo played dumb.
"Why do you apologize? You have followed me this far, have you not?"
She spoke with a faint smile, so Selim did not say any more.
However, though she agreed with her companion's logic, she was still apprehensive in a corner of her heart that they were being too meddlesome. There was no doubting that Selim had made up her mind when she came to the bathhouse. If they gave her special consideration simply because she was feeling down after a few mistakes, then it was entirely possible that treating her like a child would hurt her.
But when it came to thoughtfulness, matters only grew more complicated the more one second guessed them, eventually becoming like the snake that ate its own tail. So her companion's idea that for the time being they should try the first thing that came to mind in hopes of showing their sincerity was refreshing and, most likely, correct.
When Holo herself had gotten stuck on certain points—like how she had once been called the wisewolf, or that she was eternally young, or how she was not human in the first place—it was her companion who had grasped her hand and pulled her along. It went without saying as to how that ended up.
Then, as fate would have it, Selim joined their pack. There would be nothing better than if she enjoyed her time with them.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Holo was of course not envious, but she had a fleeting thought that if she could be that size, she and her companion could stay in the same room even in this form.
"Be safe."
She did not know if her companion was aware of her thoughts, but he spoke all the same.
For all intents and purposes, they were supposedly searching for new springs, but it was really for Selim's sake.
They turned away without a response and dashed off. Holo made rounds out in the mountains in this form to make sure that there would be no avalanches once the snow started to soften, but she had not done so lately. She loved the feeling of running in the mountains in this large form, and she could not help her gaining speed.
Once they reached the peak of the mountain behind the bathhouse, she looked back, and Selim was already out of breath.
"Sorry. Am I going too fast?"
"N-no...ah, um, yes..."
She perhaps thought it would cause Holo even more trouble if she could not keep up.
"We shall go slowly. 'Tis the first chance in a long time I have had to run, so I could not help but frolic like a pup."
The truth was, of course, she wished to run at top speed, and she wanted to howl at the moon as loud as she could. But if she did that, however, then it would echo through the entire village of Nyohhira, and there would be an uproar at the clear signal of a wolf. All the villagers would light fires and spend the entire night on watch.
Of course, her companion would know whose fault it was and stand under the torch with a cross expression.
"Well, should you get lost, you shall be able to return by scent, aye?"
Selim's wolf mouth flawlessly curled into a smile at her banter.
Then they roamed about the mountains at the pace of a leisurely stroll. Though Holo had not particularly claimed that this was her territory, dutiful bears and deer looked up at her, wondering what was the matter.
Under the pretense of looking for springs, they inevitably arrived at locations that smelled as though they had potential for that purpose, but Holo had long since found all the noteworthy spots back when they were first opening the bathhouse. So in a casual manner, the two wolves simply went in circles, with Holo's feet steadily aiming toward the other side of the mountains, where Selim's older brother and relatives were constructing lodgings.
But Selim was not a naive or stupid girl. As they were about to cross the second ridge, she spoke, as though having made up her mind.
"Lady Holo."
"Hmm?"
"Um...I'm...sorry..."
Of course, Holo played dumb.
"Why do you apologize? You have followed me this far, have you not?"
She spoke with a faint smile, so Selim did not say any more.
However, though she agreed with her companion's logic, she was still apprehensive in a corner of her heart that they were being too meddlesome. There was no doubting that Selim had made up her mind when she came to the bathhouse. If they gave her special consideration simply because she was feeling down after a few mistakes, then it was entirely possible that treating her like a child would hurt her.
But when it came to thoughtfulness, matters only grew more complicated the more one second guessed them, eventually becoming like the snake that ate its own tail. So her companion's idea that for the time being they should try the first thing that came to mind in hopes of showing their sincerity was refreshing and, most likely, correct.
When Holo herself had gotten stuck on certain points—like how she had once been called the wisewolf, or that she was eternally young, or how she was not human in the first place—it was her companion who had grasped her hand and pulled her along. It went without saying as to how that ended up.
Then, as fate would have it, Selim joined their pack. There would be nothing better than if she enjoyed her time with them.
| As Holo wondered if her companion was freezing all alone, she saw a figure move at the edge of her vision, behind a cluster of trees.
"How admirable for you to come greet her."
She smiled and murmured, and though it was unlikely they heard, more shadows appeared behind the first. The wind blew down the mountain at this hour, so their scent must have reached them on the wind.
"Look."
Holo tried to encourage Selim, who stood stuck in place beside her, but she did not move. Perhaps it was from fear that her family would blame her for being weak.
But Holo had brought her all this way, and there was no turning back now, not to mention how dejected Selim was at the house.
At the head of the pack was a wolf who had been watching them silently, had the exact same coat color as Selim, and seemed so worried that it was possible he would start howling even now.
She recalled how it was the same expression little Col wore on his face as he loitered around the door whenever Myuri was late coming home from playing in the mountains.
Whether human or wolf, anxious males seemed to all be very similar.
"Do you wish for our kindness to be in vain?"
Holo bumped Selim's neck with her nose, and she finally took a few steps forward.
When Selim glanced back at her, she bared her fangs in a grin.
"I do not know how many times I clung to that companion of mine in tears at times like this."
Selim was clearly surprised, but at the same time, it seemed she understood Holo's feelings.
Her wide-open eyes seemed to grow softer, and she looked at Holo as they glistened.
"Thank you."
"'Tis what you must say to my foolish companion."
Without a word in response or a nod of the head, Selim dashed off, as though she had been set free.
Her older brother waited a moment, too, before dashing toward Selim. Though it was likely he would scold or become irritated with her, there was no way that he did not think dearly of his little sister, with whom he faced many hardships. Her companion's plan had been irritatingly on point.
Holo sighed in relief, but now she did not know what to do. If she hung around, Selim's friends would defer to her and that seemed like it would be annoying. If she stayed by Selim's side, she might hesitate and quickly decide it was time to return.
Getting in their way was inappropriate, so in the end, she decided to search for springs, as per their original goal. Besides, she had long wished for a place where she could relax by herself whenever she was so inclined.
She wandered as her nose led her, and on the way back to the second mountain, she found a place where water bubbled up naturally. It was in a secluded ravine, where even a hunter, relentlessly pursuing their prey, would not come.
"Hmm. 'Tis in a nice spot, but a bit small."
It was shallow, filled with rocks, surrounded by fallen trees and such and was only big enough for a bear to wet its bottom.
The stones cut off the water, struggling to rise. She could certainly fit into the spaces between the rocks if she returned to her human form, but if she were going that far, then the baths at the house were good enough.
"If there is a spring here, then there must be others."
She wandered across the face of the mountain, but the vein of water must have been very far underground as she could not find any more. As a test, she pulled the fallen trees away with her mouth and rolled the smaller stones away with her claws, and it seemed like more water came up. If she cleared all the stones and such, then it may have yet started to look like a proper bath.
"Lady Holo?"
She had stuck her nose in the water, trying to figure out where the water was coming from when someone called her name.
"What is it? Are you finished already?"
"Yes. And, um..."
Selim's ears and tail and head were all drooping, and behind her, her older brother and family were waiting.
Holo sighed in relief, and thinking it too much of a hassle to stop now, she spoke as she returned to searching for the source of the water.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | As Holo wondered if her companion was freezing all alone, she saw a figure move at the edge of her vision, behind a cluster of trees.
"How admirable for you to come greet her."
She smiled and murmured, and though it was unlikely they heard, more shadows appeared behind the first. The wind blew down the mountain at this hour, so their scent must have reached them on the wind.
"Look."
Holo tried to encourage Selim, who stood stuck in place beside her, but she did not move. Perhaps it was from fear that her family would blame her for being weak.
But Holo had brought her all this way, and there was no turning back now, not to mention how dejected Selim was at the house.
At the head of the pack was a wolf who had been watching them silently, had the exact same coat color as Selim, and seemed so worried that it was possible he would start howling even now.
She recalled how it was the same expression little Col wore on his face as he loitered around the door whenever Myuri was late coming home from playing in the mountains.
Whether human or wolf, anxious males seemed to all be very similar.
"Do you wish for our kindness to be in vain?"
Holo bumped Selim's neck with her nose, and she finally took a few steps forward.
When Selim glanced back at her, she bared her fangs in a grin.
"I do not know how many times I clung to that companion of mine in tears at times like this."
Selim was clearly surprised, but at the same time, it seemed she understood Holo's feelings.
Her wide-open eyes seemed to grow softer, and she looked at Holo as they glistened.
"Thank you."
"'Tis what you must say to my foolish companion."
Without a word in response or a nod of the head, Selim dashed off, as though she had been set free.
Her older brother waited a moment, too, before dashing toward Selim. Though it was likely he would scold or become irritated with her, there was no way that he did not think dearly of his little sister, with whom he faced many hardships. Her companion's plan had been irritatingly on point.
Holo sighed in relief, but now she did not know what to do. If she hung around, Selim's friends would defer to her and that seemed like it would be annoying. If she stayed by Selim's side, she might hesitate and quickly decide it was time to return.
Getting in their way was inappropriate, so in the end, she decided to search for springs, as per their original goal. Besides, she had long wished for a place where she could relax by herself whenever she was so inclined.
She wandered as her nose led her, and on the way back to the second mountain, she found a place where water bubbled up naturally. It was in a secluded ravine, where even a hunter, relentlessly pursuing their prey, would not come.
"Hmm. 'Tis in a nice spot, but a bit small."
It was shallow, filled with rocks, surrounded by fallen trees and such and was only big enough for a bear to wet its bottom.
The stones cut off the water, struggling to rise. She could certainly fit into the spaces between the rocks if she returned to her human form, but if she were going that far, then the baths at the house were good enough.
"If there is a spring here, then there must be others."
She wandered across the face of the mountain, but the vein of water must have been very far underground as she could not find any more. As a test, she pulled the fallen trees away with her mouth and rolled the smaller stones away with her claws, and it seemed like more water came up. If she cleared all the stones and such, then it may have yet started to look like a proper bath.
"Lady Holo?"
She had stuck her nose in the water, trying to figure out where the water was coming from when someone called her name.
"What is it? Are you finished already?"
"Yes. And, um..."
Selim's ears and tail and head were all drooping, and behind her, her older brother and family were waiting.
Holo sighed in relief, and thinking it too much of a hassle to stop now, she spoke as she returned to searching for the source of the water.
| "I am sorry my sister has caused you such trouble."
Selim's older brother, as the leader of the pack, took one step forward as he spoke. His manner and speech were stiff and formal.
These people were so clumsy that, though they had powers that surpassed any human, they struggled to earn enough to eat as mercenaries. And once, her older brother had said something toward Holo that was much too straightforward, courting her displeasure. Though she knew she was mostly the reason for this, it was hard for him to shake the bad first impression.
"She is not any trouble at all. Selim is a hard worker."
"But she is in your care now. For you to indulge her so—"
"Are you saying this is a point of honor for your bloodline?"
There were six in the pack including Selim, but they were all small. Even if they did surround Holo, a fight with them would be over in a flash.
But that is perhaps why they placed so much emphasis on honor.
"...With all due respect."
Selim's brother awkwardly hung his head.
Holo sighed—what a job he has done.
"On my companion's orders, I am simply here to search for new springs. Since we have come so close to her home, we merely took the opportunity to pay a visit along the way."
"B-but—"
"So we may come to visit occasionally. There is no need for such drastic good-byes. I shan't mind if you take your time when we come."
Due to how honest he was, it seemed he could not argue when faced with such pretext.
He looked back and forth between the ground and his sister several times before he finally faced Holo in defeat.
"...As you wish."
"Good. Then shall we soon call it a day?"
After she finished speaking, Selim came to her side without hesitation. She could tell by the air around her that whatever had been causing her gloom was lifted.
Until recently, these siblings had never been separated, living and growing up as one. Her family may have not been as prepared to send Selim off to work alone at the bathhouse as they thought.
It was not exactly for that reason, but it was because she knew this that they would come again soon. As she and the young white wolf were about to head back to the bathhouse, Holo suddenly stopped.
"Ah, I forgot to mention."
A shock ran among Selim's friends.
"You shall not dig up this spring without my knowing. Let me do as I please."
***
"Or is this water you found?"
"N-no."
"Then I shall be using this for a while."
This time they actually set off, traversing the dark woods at a brisk pace.
Selim followed silently. Holo still felt a bit of stiffness, or perhaps it was fighting spirit, around the younger wolf, but she was getting used to the bathhouse, and once her family's lodgings were settled, she might relax more. Selim was well-behaved, but she had a strong heart that was evident in her profile even now.
And Holo was simply excited to make that spring hers. Once it was finished, she could jump in during the daytime in her wolf form without any hesitation even during the busiest seasons.
She would keep it a secret from her companion for a while.
When she imagined that, she was a bit thrilled for some reason.
"Lady Holo."
Selim spoke again when they finally arrived at the bathhouse.
"Thank you."
Selim gave her thanks quickly, after returning to her human form. Though she was slender, her body was different from that of Holo's daughter, and she quickly covered it with clothes she had prepared beforehand.
It did not seem like she considered Holo's meddling as a bother, so Holo only shrugged.
"I do not mind as I also have found something to look forward to. But you must sleep now or else work tomorrow will be a pain."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "I am sorry my sister has caused you such trouble."
Selim's older brother, as the leader of the pack, took one step forward as he spoke. His manner and speech were stiff and formal.
These people were so clumsy that, though they had powers that surpassed any human, they struggled to earn enough to eat as mercenaries. And once, her older brother had said something toward Holo that was much too straightforward, courting her displeasure. Though she knew she was mostly the reason for this, it was hard for him to shake the bad first impression.
"She is not any trouble at all. Selim is a hard worker."
"But she is in your care now. For you to indulge her so—"
"Are you saying this is a point of honor for your bloodline?"
There were six in the pack including Selim, but they were all small. Even if they did surround Holo, a fight with them would be over in a flash.
But that is perhaps why they placed so much emphasis on honor.
"...With all due respect."
Selim's brother awkwardly hung his head.
Holo sighed—what a job he has done.
"On my companion's orders, I am simply here to search for new springs. Since we have come so close to her home, we merely took the opportunity to pay a visit along the way."
"B-but—"
"So we may come to visit occasionally. There is no need for such drastic good-byes. I shan't mind if you take your time when we come."
Due to how honest he was, it seemed he could not argue when faced with such pretext.
He looked back and forth between the ground and his sister several times before he finally faced Holo in defeat.
"...As you wish."
"Good. Then shall we soon call it a day?"
After she finished speaking, Selim came to her side without hesitation. She could tell by the air around her that whatever had been causing her gloom was lifted.
Until recently, these siblings had never been separated, living and growing up as one. Her family may have not been as prepared to send Selim off to work alone at the bathhouse as they thought.
It was not exactly for that reason, but it was because she knew this that they would come again soon. As she and the young white wolf were about to head back to the bathhouse, Holo suddenly stopped.
"Ah, I forgot to mention."
A shock ran among Selim's friends.
"You shall not dig up this spring without my knowing. Let me do as I please."
***
"Or is this water you found?"
"N-no."
"Then I shall be using this for a while."
This time they actually set off, traversing the dark woods at a brisk pace.
Selim followed silently. Holo still felt a bit of stiffness, or perhaps it was fighting spirit, around the younger wolf, but she was getting used to the bathhouse, and once her family's lodgings were settled, she might relax more. Selim was well-behaved, but she had a strong heart that was evident in her profile even now.
And Holo was simply excited to make that spring hers. Once it was finished, she could jump in during the daytime in her wolf form without any hesitation even during the busiest seasons.
She would keep it a secret from her companion for a while.
When she imagined that, she was a bit thrilled for some reason.
"Lady Holo."
Selim spoke again when they finally arrived at the bathhouse.
"Thank you."
Selim gave her thanks quickly, after returning to her human form. Though she was slender, her body was different from that of Holo's daughter, and she quickly covered it with clothes she had prepared beforehand.
It did not seem like she considered Holo's meddling as a bother, so Holo only shrugged.
"I do not mind as I also have found something to look forward to. But you must sleep now or else work tomorrow will be a pain."
| Though her companion was completely useless on his own, before she had a chance to notice, he had the power to bring all sorts of people together.
He was not the person who stood shining at the front of battle, but he had a good character for rallying the pack. Confident in her ability to judge others, she returned to the bedroom.
She did wonder at least once if he would be awake waiting for her, but there her companion was, sleeping soundly.
She crawled into the bed and just stuck her cold hands and feet on him.
He opened his eyes in surprise, and after he groaned for a moment, he greeted her.
"Urrghhh...Welcome back."
"I'm home."
Holo clung to him and closed her eyes, drifting off into sleep in an instant.
Possibly due to the village of Nyohhira's typically festive atmosphere, the Festival of Saint Alzeuri was rather quiet and simple affair. They did not even construct a huge statue and march around with it in a pompous parade. They converted the communal shed into an impromptu church and the villagers gathered there to offer prayers, followed by a feast afterward. The most festival-like part of it all was how every single candle inside the shed was lit.
In the festivals of larger towns, associations competed to see who could donate the largest and greatest quantity of candles in order to display their wealth, but here, the number of candles they lit was a prayer for how hot the bathwaters would be. Of course, vain people could be found anywhere, but if the large candles prepared in service of their vanity were offered to warm the springs that bubbled up in the village, then people welcomed it. There were more than a few merchantlike characters who were fine with virtually anything, as long as others' money worked in their benefit.
Holo, who was once called a god and oversaw the harvest of wheat in a village, could only shrug her shoulders in response to that truth of the human world. It was Selim's first time seeing the festival, so she watched with great interest, but Holo paid the ceremony no mind and smacked her lips appreciatively over the food.
The Festival of Saint Alzeuri was a marker that signified the guests for the next season would start arriving. Though it was not nearly as busy as winter, there were still quite a number of summer patrons. A tense excitement ran through the air but also a feeling of tedium at the coming of another noisy, lively season.
"Hello! Is the master in?"
An energetic voice came from the entrance to the house. It had been three days since the start of the festival.
Though he did not quite seem to be a herald, it still likely signaled that someone of high rank was on their way. It was surely a servant sent to give a preliminary announcement.
"Abbot Harivel will be arriving tomorrow morning. Is everything in order?"
"We've been waiting for you. Everything is prepared."
The servant was satisfied with Holo's companion's response, then happily took the rare opportunity to soak in the baths without any hesitation before his master came.
Holo was ready for the coming battle, but there was an odd expression on her companion's face.
"What is it?"
This Harivel came every year. He always behaved well and paid generously during his stay. Myuri was excited every year to see how long that long, white beard of his had grown.
Even her companion was usually happy to see him. Their guest did not generally inspire such facial contortions.
"Hmm? Oh no, it just feels like he's a bit early this year."
"Early? Perhaps he simply could not wait."
This was a hot spring village on the threshold between paradise and the mortal world. Those who came here to escape the fetters of worldly affairs always looked like they were going off to hell when they left.
"That would be nice, but..."
He may have been nervous that it was now finally time to part with his lazy days.
Holo felt proud when she thought that, as she expected, he was no good without this wisewolf by his side.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Though her companion was completely useless on his own, before she had a chance to notice, he had the power to bring all sorts of people together.
He was not the person who stood shining at the front of battle, but he had a good character for rallying the pack. Confident in her ability to judge others, she returned to the bedroom.
She did wonder at least once if he would be awake waiting for her, but there her companion was, sleeping soundly.
She crawled into the bed and just stuck her cold hands and feet on him.
He opened his eyes in surprise, and after he groaned for a moment, he greeted her.
"Urrghhh...Welcome back."
"I'm home."
Holo clung to him and closed her eyes, drifting off into sleep in an instant.
Possibly due to the village of Nyohhira's typically festive atmosphere, the Festival of Saint Alzeuri was rather quiet and simple affair. They did not even construct a huge statue and march around with it in a pompous parade. They converted the communal shed into an impromptu church and the villagers gathered there to offer prayers, followed by a feast afterward. The most festival-like part of it all was how every single candle inside the shed was lit.
In the festivals of larger towns, associations competed to see who could donate the largest and greatest quantity of candles in order to display their wealth, but here, the number of candles they lit was a prayer for how hot the bathwaters would be. Of course, vain people could be found anywhere, but if the large candles prepared in service of their vanity were offered to warm the springs that bubbled up in the village, then people welcomed it. There were more than a few merchantlike characters who were fine with virtually anything, as long as others' money worked in their benefit.
Holo, who was once called a god and oversaw the harvest of wheat in a village, could only shrug her shoulders in response to that truth of the human world. It was Selim's first time seeing the festival, so she watched with great interest, but Holo paid the ceremony no mind and smacked her lips appreciatively over the food.
The Festival of Saint Alzeuri was a marker that signified the guests for the next season would start arriving. Though it was not nearly as busy as winter, there were still quite a number of summer patrons. A tense excitement ran through the air but also a feeling of tedium at the coming of another noisy, lively season.
"Hello! Is the master in?"
An energetic voice came from the entrance to the house. It had been three days since the start of the festival.
Though he did not quite seem to be a herald, it still likely signaled that someone of high rank was on their way. It was surely a servant sent to give a preliminary announcement.
"Abbot Harivel will be arriving tomorrow morning. Is everything in order?"
"We've been waiting for you. Everything is prepared."
The servant was satisfied with Holo's companion's response, then happily took the rare opportunity to soak in the baths without any hesitation before his master came.
Holo was ready for the coming battle, but there was an odd expression on her companion's face.
"What is it?"
This Harivel came every year. He always behaved well and paid generously during his stay. Myuri was excited every year to see how long that long, white beard of his had grown.
Even her companion was usually happy to see him. Their guest did not generally inspire such facial contortions.
"Hmm? Oh no, it just feels like he's a bit early this year."
"Early? Perhaps he simply could not wait."
This was a hot spring village on the threshold between paradise and the mortal world. Those who came here to escape the fetters of worldly affairs always looked like they were going off to hell when they left.
"That would be nice, but..."
He may have been nervous that it was now finally time to part with his lazy days.
Holo felt proud when she thought that, as she expected, he was no good without this wisewolf by his side.
| Unlike real war, no one would die if she made an error.
It was partially a joke, but Selim seemed quite relieved.
The following day, a familiar elderly priest arrived at the bathhouse.
"Oh, Sir Lawrence. Thank you for having me again this year."
The old priest had a strong physique even in his old age, and though he was bald, a white beard overflowed from his chin, which made him look even bigger. He embraced her companion and, seeing Holo, embraced her, too, with the smile of a gentle old man.
Finding her face buried deep in that fuzzy beard, she gained a slightly better understanding of why her companion and little Col always wanted to do the same with her tail.
"Is your daughter out hunting now?"
"Well..."
As he heard the story of Myuri and little Col, Harivel's face quickly flushed red.
"Oh, that's exactly it! That's what it is!"
Then, as though his own excited voice surprised himself, he placed his hand on his chest and whipped back and forth to look between his attendant and Holo's companion.
"Erm...Father? Why not come inside for now? You must be tired after your journey."
"Ah yes, you have my thanks. But oh, I had wondered if that was the case when I heard the rumors, but oh my..."
The large, bearded elderly priest walked energetically to the dining hall and sat in a chair, still buzzing with excitement.
Their guest was restless even in his seat, but when he saw Selim bring him a drink, he showed her a smile; he stood out even among their most amiable patrons.
"You've hired a new girl, I see. Thank you."
He stated his gratitude, took several sips, then he sniffed and looked at Holo's companion.
"The young priest I've heard so much about from the Kingdom of Winfiel who's causing the commotion is Mr. Col, then."
Though he had given the details of their activities in a letter, it was rather hard to know what little Col was up to when Spice and Wolf was nestled so deep in the mountains. And little Col always governed himself with humility and modesty.
She exchanged glances with her companion. It seemed the journey was not as insignificant as his letter had made it sound.
"He's translated the scripture into the vernacular, forced an indulgent archbishop to repent, and even had the stubborn folk from the rural areas, who are sometimes under suspicion of heresy, awaken to a new, righteous faith. Oh, I'll be, when I first met him, he was still only this big!"
His thick hands motioned to a height just above his own head.
Little Col grew up quickly, and when he surpassed Holo in height, she recalled how she was proud of him but also a bit sad.
"Is...Col causing problems for you?"
Her companion's grave expression did not seem like an act.
Little Col was certainly angry with the Church organization, which had the world under their thumb, and how rotten they had become; he had ventured out from the mountains in order to fix that. And those who came to this bathhouse were high-ranking members of that very Church.
"Oh no, of course not. If there are those who feel like he's causing problems, it means they must also be ashamed of themselves."
The old priest spoke decisively. The serviceman who was Holo's companion was clearly relieved, but there was something within the old priest's beard that was not so easily satisfied.
"I must say, however."
As he uneasily rubbed his thick beard, the old priest glanced at his attendant, and he retrieved something odd from his wicker chest. It was a huge bundle of rather dusty parchment.
"It is certain that many people heeded their conscience and followed the teachings of God. Even I, who is still unknown, think so, even though my discipline is not perfect. That being said, that does not mean there are no problems."
"O-oh."
There was such a large pile of parchment on the dining table that they could hardly see one another's faces.
Holo did not know why the old priest had come to the bathhouse so early, but it seems the reason was within the parchment.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Unlike real war, no one would die if she made an error.
It was partially a joke, but Selim seemed quite relieved.
The following day, a familiar elderly priest arrived at the bathhouse.
"Oh, Sir Lawrence. Thank you for having me again this year."
The old priest had a strong physique even in his old age, and though he was bald, a white beard overflowed from his chin, which made him look even bigger. He embraced her companion and, seeing Holo, embraced her, too, with the smile of a gentle old man.
Finding her face buried deep in that fuzzy beard, she gained a slightly better understanding of why her companion and little Col always wanted to do the same with her tail.
"Is your daughter out hunting now?"
"Well..."
As he heard the story of Myuri and little Col, Harivel's face quickly flushed red.
"Oh, that's exactly it! That's what it is!"
Then, as though his own excited voice surprised himself, he placed his hand on his chest and whipped back and forth to look between his attendant and Holo's companion.
"Erm...Father? Why not come inside for now? You must be tired after your journey."
"Ah yes, you have my thanks. But oh, I had wondered if that was the case when I heard the rumors, but oh my..."
The large, bearded elderly priest walked energetically to the dining hall and sat in a chair, still buzzing with excitement.
Their guest was restless even in his seat, but when he saw Selim bring him a drink, he showed her a smile; he stood out even among their most amiable patrons.
"You've hired a new girl, I see. Thank you."
He stated his gratitude, took several sips, then he sniffed and looked at Holo's companion.
"The young priest I've heard so much about from the Kingdom of Winfiel who's causing the commotion is Mr. Col, then."
Though he had given the details of their activities in a letter, it was rather hard to know what little Col was up to when Spice and Wolf was nestled so deep in the mountains. And little Col always governed himself with humility and modesty.
She exchanged glances with her companion. It seemed the journey was not as insignificant as his letter had made it sound.
"He's translated the scripture into the vernacular, forced an indulgent archbishop to repent, and even had the stubborn folk from the rural areas, who are sometimes under suspicion of heresy, awaken to a new, righteous faith. Oh, I'll be, when I first met him, he was still only this big!"
His thick hands motioned to a height just above his own head.
Little Col grew up quickly, and when he surpassed Holo in height, she recalled how she was proud of him but also a bit sad.
"Is...Col causing problems for you?"
Her companion's grave expression did not seem like an act.
Little Col was certainly angry with the Church organization, which had the world under their thumb, and how rotten they had become; he had ventured out from the mountains in order to fix that. And those who came to this bathhouse were high-ranking members of that very Church.
"Oh no, of course not. If there are those who feel like he's causing problems, it means they must also be ashamed of themselves."
The old priest spoke decisively. The serviceman who was Holo's companion was clearly relieved, but there was something within the old priest's beard that was not so easily satisfied.
"I must say, however."
As he uneasily rubbed his thick beard, the old priest glanced at his attendant, and he retrieved something odd from his wicker chest. It was a huge bundle of rather dusty parchment.
"It is certain that many people heeded their conscience and followed the teachings of God. Even I, who is still unknown, think so, even though my discipline is not perfect. That being said, that does not mean there are no problems."
"O-oh."
There was such a large pile of parchment on the dining table that they could hardly see one another's faces.
Holo did not know why the old priest had come to the bathhouse so early, but it seems the reason was within the parchment.
| His long preliminary statement was a request for him to keep a secret.
At any rate, Holo's companion glanced at the pile of parchment out of the corner of his eye, and he was perplexed.
"...Are they...permits?"
"Indeed. This includes our monastery, our daughter monastery, grandchild monastery, and their daughter monastery."
Holo once heard that the point of monasteries building other monasteries was similar to a master craftsman ordering all his apprentices to build additional workshops. Both took a percentage of those profits.
Piled on top of the table was a vast treasure firmly in the hands of the old priest.
"These permits are...well, they certainly seem like too much for us if you look closely. God commands us to share what we have. There are also Mr. Col's activities, and I've heard there is now the tendency to re-recognize God's true teachings, and..."
He faltered, his conscience, vanity, and pride all struggling with one another.
"In other words, you wish to lift a weight from your shoulders?"
"Yes! That's right! To lift a weight! Why, thank you, Master Lawrence!"
The former merchant that he was changed his manner of speech from a moral matter of right or wrong to one that suggested he simply wished to rid himself of the burden weighing him down.
"However, these were permits supplied by our monastery and our dependent institutions, originally for the salvation of our souls. We cannot just simply give them up, either...But then, I remembered that you were once a famous merchant, Master Lawrence..."
Holo could see that her companion was translating the old priest's words in his head.
"So you wish for me to give this to someone who needs this the most?"
"Oh, God! Bless this wise bathhouse master!"
It was as though the Father wished to make the first move in selling his treasure before he was deemed greedy but nevertheless wanted the highest price possible for it. This annoyed Holo slightly, but her companion's expression as he exchanged a firm handshake with the old priest suggested it was not as bad as she thought, so there must have been a way for them to benefit from it somehow. In any case, if they profited from this and she could have more food at dinner, then she had no argument.
She extended her hand and plucked up a piece of parchment and saw grandiloquent designs and rows of picturesque letters.
"Is this similar to what you once had?"
She showed it to Selim, who stood next to her. Selim and her family, in a land far south, obtained a certain permit for a mountain and came all the way to the north.
"It's similar, but...ours was not as fancy as this."
The young wolf whispered softly to Holo. That meant there were likely unimaginable things written down on this one piece of paper, and there was a whole mountain of more just like it.
Holo did not know that much about the human world, but the majority of its inhabitants were poor people who lived day to day.
No matter what it was, keeping everything for oneself was not good.
Her thoughts got that far, but then she corrected herself in her heart.
She counted everything else separately from the love her companion gave her. Her daughter, Myuri, should be satisfied with what she could wring out from little Col.
"And of course, I will look into the contents of these permits and see if they may be of any use."
"Thank you so much."
The old priest spoke solemnly, as though praying to God, and then suddenly continued.
"So may I go ahead into the baths?"
This was a village in the space between nirvana and the mortal world.
A place to brush off the dust of earthly life.
She should have expected it, but her companion had become totally engrossed in the permits.
When he had time during the day, he would make short trips back to the bedroom and roll open some parchment, and after supper, he would quickly return to the bedroom and do the same. She noticed he had been waking up rather early, too, and of course, he was rolling open parchment.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | His long preliminary statement was a request for him to keep a secret.
At any rate, Holo's companion glanced at the pile of parchment out of the corner of his eye, and he was perplexed.
"...Are they...permits?"
"Indeed. This includes our monastery, our daughter monastery, grandchild monastery, and their daughter monastery."
Holo once heard that the point of monasteries building other monasteries was similar to a master craftsman ordering all his apprentices to build additional workshops. Both took a percentage of those profits.
Piled on top of the table was a vast treasure firmly in the hands of the old priest.
"These permits are...well, they certainly seem like too much for us if you look closely. God commands us to share what we have. There are also Mr. Col's activities, and I've heard there is now the tendency to re-recognize God's true teachings, and..."
He faltered, his conscience, vanity, and pride all struggling with one another.
"In other words, you wish to lift a weight from your shoulders?"
"Yes! That's right! To lift a weight! Why, thank you, Master Lawrence!"
The former merchant that he was changed his manner of speech from a moral matter of right or wrong to one that suggested he simply wished to rid himself of the burden weighing him down.
"However, these were permits supplied by our monastery and our dependent institutions, originally for the salvation of our souls. We cannot just simply give them up, either...But then, I remembered that you were once a famous merchant, Master Lawrence..."
Holo could see that her companion was translating the old priest's words in his head.
"So you wish for me to give this to someone who needs this the most?"
"Oh, God! Bless this wise bathhouse master!"
It was as though the Father wished to make the first move in selling his treasure before he was deemed greedy but nevertheless wanted the highest price possible for it. This annoyed Holo slightly, but her companion's expression as he exchanged a firm handshake with the old priest suggested it was not as bad as she thought, so there must have been a way for them to benefit from it somehow. In any case, if they profited from this and she could have more food at dinner, then she had no argument.
She extended her hand and plucked up a piece of parchment and saw grandiloquent designs and rows of picturesque letters.
"Is this similar to what you once had?"
She showed it to Selim, who stood next to her. Selim and her family, in a land far south, obtained a certain permit for a mountain and came all the way to the north.
"It's similar, but...ours was not as fancy as this."
The young wolf whispered softly to Holo. That meant there were likely unimaginable things written down on this one piece of paper, and there was a whole mountain of more just like it.
Holo did not know that much about the human world, but the majority of its inhabitants were poor people who lived day to day.
No matter what it was, keeping everything for oneself was not good.
Her thoughts got that far, but then she corrected herself in her heart.
She counted everything else separately from the love her companion gave her. Her daughter, Myuri, should be satisfied with what she could wring out from little Col.
"And of course, I will look into the contents of these permits and see if they may be of any use."
"Thank you so much."
The old priest spoke solemnly, as though praying to God, and then suddenly continued.
"So may I go ahead into the baths?"
This was a village in the space between nirvana and the mortal world.
A place to brush off the dust of earthly life.
She should have expected it, but her companion had become totally engrossed in the permits.
When he had time during the day, he would make short trips back to the bedroom and roll open some parchment, and after supper, he would quickly return to the bedroom and do the same. She noticed he had been waking up rather early, too, and of course, he was rolling open parchment.
| "Can you read?"
With a straight face, her companion shoved some parchment toward her. It seemed he was rather enjoying himself, so she could not refuse him and the bags under his eyes. More than anything, she wanted him to finish his work and come back under the covers; the night was still cold during this season.
And so she read the contents of the parchment, sorting each permit sheet by region and purpose. There were many place-names she was unfamiliar with, but she found them rather easily, searching for them on the map in the bathhouse. That map was something that Myuri, who yearned to go on a big adventure around the world, had pestered every guest to draw out, wondering where they all had come from. It was something her rather easily bored daughter carried on for a long time, and disregarding its accuracy of the details, it had become a rather rich map once put together.
The permits were interesting in and of themselves.
Though she worked earnestly, there were of course difficulties.
"...Anyway, there are much too many."
As she recounted the work from the past few days, Holo placed her front paws together firmly on the ground, flattened her shoulders down, and assumed a posture where she bent her back forward. Then, she planted her back paws on the ground, lowered her behind, and stretched.
Finally, she shook out her body and felt like her blood finally started circulating again.
Sitting in a chair and doing nothing but reading brought about a different sort of weariness than working on mending.
After she had shifted into her wolf form outside the bathhouse, her mood greatly improved.
"That fool is having far too much fun."
She sighed, and her breath still puffed white in the cold.
"I am sorry for having you help us."
Selim, who was bending over, scratching her behind with her nose, immediately adjusted her posture and bowed her head deeply.
"Oh no...I am sorry I have not been much help..."
For once, her words were not a show of simple humility.
"I do not mind. You have enough work during the day. I only ask you help occasionally. Were you to be enthusiastic about this, I would earn more work as well."
Selim smiled slightly and gazed up at the waning moon.
People did not walk about in the woods without a full moon, but in their wolf forms, Holo and Selim could rely on the scent of the trees and the earth to get far enough.
"But I'm learning a lot. I can truly feel how large the world is."
"Hmm? I heard you all were once in a town so far south that my companion had never even heard of it."
She should learn how big the world was with her own feet. When Holo spoke with that in mind, Selim smiled weakly.
"It was the sort of journey where we ate the grass on the side of the road, captured wild rabbits, and merely walked along while staring down at our feet. We couldn't think of anything but putting our right foot out, then our left foot next. When we arrived at the northlands from the south, the only thing we noticed was that the color of the roads was slightly different."
She may have been modest in some regards, but when Holo looked back on her own journey, there were similarities.
Though she had lived for so long, she felt as though she had been looking at the same things the entire time.
The growing wheat and the clouds floating across the sky.
That all suddenly changed only after she met her companion.
"I, too, spent all my years looking at a similar sight."
Selim smiled weakly.
Then together, they ran out into the mountains. They were going to meet Selim's family, but it was not for her sake. She had grown used to her work, and though she would still get discouraged when she made mistakes, Holo no longer needed to worry about her. And so when they occasionally left the bathhouse at night to go beyond the mountains, it was simply for work.
"The smell of sharpened metal unsettles me."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Can you read?"
With a straight face, her companion shoved some parchment toward her. It seemed he was rather enjoying himself, so she could not refuse him and the bags under his eyes. More than anything, she wanted him to finish his work and come back under the covers; the night was still cold during this season.
And so she read the contents of the parchment, sorting each permit sheet by region and purpose. There were many place-names she was unfamiliar with, but she found them rather easily, searching for them on the map in the bathhouse. That map was something that Myuri, who yearned to go on a big adventure around the world, had pestered every guest to draw out, wondering where they all had come from. It was something her rather easily bored daughter carried on for a long time, and disregarding its accuracy of the details, it had become a rather rich map once put together.
The permits were interesting in and of themselves.
Though she worked earnestly, there were of course difficulties.
"...Anyway, there are much too many."
As she recounted the work from the past few days, Holo placed her front paws together firmly on the ground, flattened her shoulders down, and assumed a posture where she bent her back forward. Then, she planted her back paws on the ground, lowered her behind, and stretched.
Finally, she shook out her body and felt like her blood finally started circulating again.
Sitting in a chair and doing nothing but reading brought about a different sort of weariness than working on mending.
After she had shifted into her wolf form outside the bathhouse, her mood greatly improved.
"That fool is having far too much fun."
She sighed, and her breath still puffed white in the cold.
"I am sorry for having you help us."
Selim, who was bending over, scratching her behind with her nose, immediately adjusted her posture and bowed her head deeply.
"Oh no...I am sorry I have not been much help..."
For once, her words were not a show of simple humility.
"I do not mind. You have enough work during the day. I only ask you help occasionally. Were you to be enthusiastic about this, I would earn more work as well."
Selim smiled slightly and gazed up at the waning moon.
People did not walk about in the woods without a full moon, but in their wolf forms, Holo and Selim could rely on the scent of the trees and the earth to get far enough.
"But I'm learning a lot. I can truly feel how large the world is."
"Hmm? I heard you all were once in a town so far south that my companion had never even heard of it."
She should learn how big the world was with her own feet. When Holo spoke with that in mind, Selim smiled weakly.
"It was the sort of journey where we ate the grass on the side of the road, captured wild rabbits, and merely walked along while staring down at our feet. We couldn't think of anything but putting our right foot out, then our left foot next. When we arrived at the northlands from the south, the only thing we noticed was that the color of the roads was slightly different."
She may have been modest in some regards, but when Holo looked back on her own journey, there were similarities.
Though she had lived for so long, she felt as though she had been looking at the same things the entire time.
The growing wheat and the clouds floating across the sky.
That all suddenly changed only after she met her companion.
"I, too, spent all my years looking at a similar sight."
Selim smiled weakly.
Then together, they ran out into the mountains. They were going to meet Selim's family, but it was not for her sake. She had grown used to her work, and though she would still get discouraged when she made mistakes, Holo no longer needed to worry about her. And so when they occasionally left the bathhouse at night to go beyond the mountains, it was simply for work.
"The smell of sharpened metal unsettles me."
| They either must have been laboring quite hard or did not understand how to use them, but they were having a hard time because the ones they had were growing dull quickly, so Holo and the others sharpened the tools for them. Of course, they were not sharpening them at the bathhouse but commissioning a craftsman in the village for the work; in exchange, Selim's family had been sharing a portion of the game they caught in the mountains.
Until recently, Myuri and little Col hunted for the bathhouse, and their yield comprised the majority of their meat supply. Once those two had gone, they either had to buy meat from a hunter in one of the nearby communities or from town at the bottom of the mountain, but Holo's stingy companion insisted that they be frugal when it came to meat. In the end, there was a reason why this wisewolf could not do the hunting.
The animals of the forest held Holo in veneration, perhaps because she could not completely hide her wisewolf majesty. They occasionally depended on her to mediate territorial disputes and to care for animals that escaped, injured, from hunters.
It felt wrong to slaughter them. If she did go out to hunt, the deer would all line up, lie on their sides, and, with sad expressions, ask her to eat them.
On the other hand, Myuri and little Col faced the animals as humans with bows and traps. They both understood that it was a battle of wits and power between hunter and the hunted. Of course, when the animals of the forest came for a dip in the baths, they shared a tacit understanding with one another that it was a truce.
And so, their exchange with Selim's family was a lifesaver.
"Oh, 'tis bear today."
They always met with Selim's family by the spring Holo was in the middle of making on the second mountain.
Today, lying there was a magnificently large bear with pitch-black fur.
"We wished to exist peacefully together, but..."
Selim's brother and the rest of her family were waiting for them in their human forms, and he spoke with a pained expression.
They intruded on the mountain and were trying to attract humans to make money, so it was more or less inevitable that they would clash with the residents of the forest. It was no different for the animals that lived here. Even this large bear, before establishing his territory, most certainly took it by force from someone else.
But even though they were aware of all those details, it still pained them.
Though it annoyed Holo slightly, it also pleased her. That sort of sincerity would certainly serve them well in an inn for pilgrims.
"At the very least, please enjoy his meat and use everything, down to the bone. May we have the tools? We'll handle the bear, as always."
"Mm-hmm. Thank you."
Holo glanced at Selim, and she had her family remove the baggage she carried on her back, then shook her head and body to fix the lie of her fur.
Watching from the corner of her eye as they each took up tools and set about flaying the bear, she put her feet into the ill-shaped spring, still in her wolf form.
The water vein really was quite far underground, because even after a bit of digging, there was still only a little water. Not only that, it was bubbling up onto plain, flat ground, so the piddling amount was spread out wastefully thin, its temperature much too cool.
There was a proper reason as to why Nyohhira thrived in the place that it did now.
It did seem like she would finally get everything out of the way, but in the end, it appeared unlikely the situation would take any favorable turns. With what she had, only the bottom of her stomach would get wet if she tried to lie down.
"It might spring up all at once if I dig somewhere."
She walked along in the water, then suddenly mud swirled up and became white and cloudy. She dug at it with her claws, searching for the water hole, but she could not find anything.
"Do even your claws come up empty-handed, Lady Holo?"
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | They either must have been laboring quite hard or did not understand how to use them, but they were having a hard time because the ones they had were growing dull quickly, so Holo and the others sharpened the tools for them. Of course, they were not sharpening them at the bathhouse but commissioning a craftsman in the village for the work; in exchange, Selim's family had been sharing a portion of the game they caught in the mountains.
Until recently, Myuri and little Col hunted for the bathhouse, and their yield comprised the majority of their meat supply. Once those two had gone, they either had to buy meat from a hunter in one of the nearby communities or from town at the bottom of the mountain, but Holo's stingy companion insisted that they be frugal when it came to meat. In the end, there was a reason why this wisewolf could not do the hunting.
The animals of the forest held Holo in veneration, perhaps because she could not completely hide her wisewolf majesty. They occasionally depended on her to mediate territorial disputes and to care for animals that escaped, injured, from hunters.
It felt wrong to slaughter them. If she did go out to hunt, the deer would all line up, lie on their sides, and, with sad expressions, ask her to eat them.
On the other hand, Myuri and little Col faced the animals as humans with bows and traps. They both understood that it was a battle of wits and power between hunter and the hunted. Of course, when the animals of the forest came for a dip in the baths, they shared a tacit understanding with one another that it was a truce.
And so, their exchange with Selim's family was a lifesaver.
"Oh, 'tis bear today."
They always met with Selim's family by the spring Holo was in the middle of making on the second mountain.
Today, lying there was a magnificently large bear with pitch-black fur.
"We wished to exist peacefully together, but..."
Selim's brother and the rest of her family were waiting for them in their human forms, and he spoke with a pained expression.
They intruded on the mountain and were trying to attract humans to make money, so it was more or less inevitable that they would clash with the residents of the forest. It was no different for the animals that lived here. Even this large bear, before establishing his territory, most certainly took it by force from someone else.
But even though they were aware of all those details, it still pained them.
Though it annoyed Holo slightly, it also pleased her. That sort of sincerity would certainly serve them well in an inn for pilgrims.
"At the very least, please enjoy his meat and use everything, down to the bone. May we have the tools? We'll handle the bear, as always."
"Mm-hmm. Thank you."
Holo glanced at Selim, and she had her family remove the baggage she carried on her back, then shook her head and body to fix the lie of her fur.
Watching from the corner of her eye as they each took up tools and set about flaying the bear, she put her feet into the ill-shaped spring, still in her wolf form.
The water vein really was quite far underground, because even after a bit of digging, there was still only a little water. Not only that, it was bubbling up onto plain, flat ground, so the piddling amount was spread out wastefully thin, its temperature much too cool.
There was a proper reason as to why Nyohhira thrived in the place that it did now.
It did seem like she would finally get everything out of the way, but in the end, it appeared unlikely the situation would take any favorable turns. With what she had, only the bottom of her stomach would get wet if she tried to lie down.
"It might spring up all at once if I dig somewhere."
She walked along in the water, then suddenly mud swirled up and became white and cloudy. She dug at it with her claws, searching for the water hole, but she could not find anything.
"Do even your claws come up empty-handed, Lady Holo?"
| The bear had been skinned in an instant and was now being divided into parts with a large hatchet.
Regardless of her skinny arms, Selim was apparently quite adept at skinning, likely because of how skillful her hands were.
"If the flow of water has always been weak, then digging it up will create nothing but a lukewarm puddle."
Now, as Selim stood in the spring in her human form, the water only reached up to her ankles.
It might be faster to simply search for a different spring.
"Lady Holo, it's all finished."
She turned around at the voice, saw the bear pelt drying on a tree branch, and realized the meat was already wrapped in large, smooth leaves that grew in swamps. If they took the fur back to the bathhouse, then the townspeople would grow suspicious as to who went hunting and when, so that was the only thing they left Selim's family to take care of, and they would sell it in town when they went down the mountain. They were very close to what could be called Nyohhira's business competitors, so they could not maintain their relationship publicly.
"Then put it in the sack. Should I carry it back in my mouth, it may disappear before we arrive."
"Because it is quite greasy. Understood."
As they smiled and began to pack it away, Holo spoke to them.
"Ah, be sure to take your own portion. Game is to be enjoyed by all."
They were silent and ended up giving all the meat to Holo. It irritated her slightly, but their stiff formality was also rather adorable.
Selim had carried the baggage on the way here, and Holo carried it on the way home.
Holo lay on her stomach, and as Selim's family adjusted the bag filled with meat on her back, she gazed at the pathetic puddle of water. She had looked forward to making a bath in secret, then telling her companion once she was finished, but it seemed she would have to start this project over from the beginning.
It was not that she was unsatisfied with the baths currently available at the house. Neither was she so desperate for one that she could visit freely in her wolf form.
Despite that, she realized how utterly disappointed she was as she stared at the puddle of water on the forest floor. She was also a bit surprised at how disheartened she felt.
"...Holo? Lady Holo?"
"Mm."
She realized that Selim and the others were all looking at her. They must have called to her countless times.
"Apologies. I was thinking."
"About the bath? If so, then we can search the mountains for you."
What a fool I am, she thought to herself.
"There is no need. I simply wish to fool around with my claws and fangs once in a while. Digging holes and such."
"Is that so?"
"Well then, we shall return home before it gets too late. You have work tomorrow as well, no?"
She stood, and the cloth bag was indeed tied firmly around her neck with rope. She could guess by the weight on her back that there was quite a large amount inside. Hanna would surely be glad, but when she considered how they would have to process the meat by drying and salting it, she thought it a bother.
"Oh, may I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Do you have any requests for the next hunt? This time was unusual in that it was bear, but we were wondering if you tire of the usual deer."
She was impressed—they were an attentive bunch.
"Let me see."
What came to mind were smaller animals, like pheasant and squirrel. Smaller game did not have much meat on them, but they were deliciously loaded with flavor.
While she did not mind how hardworking the family was, they were not very adaptable. They did not seem to be adept at making traps for smaller animals, so she refrained from mentioning it.
"No, I am fine with deer. My companion is also quite grateful he does not have to order any deliveries."
"Very well."
Selim's older brother and the rest of her family bowed their heads, like foot soldiers seeing off a king. With a wry smile, Holo looked toward Selim before they ran off.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | The bear had been skinned in an instant and was now being divided into parts with a large hatchet.
Regardless of her skinny arms, Selim was apparently quite adept at skinning, likely because of how skillful her hands were.
"If the flow of water has always been weak, then digging it up will create nothing but a lukewarm puddle."
Now, as Selim stood in the spring in her human form, the water only reached up to her ankles.
It might be faster to simply search for a different spring.
"Lady Holo, it's all finished."
She turned around at the voice, saw the bear pelt drying on a tree branch, and realized the meat was already wrapped in large, smooth leaves that grew in swamps. If they took the fur back to the bathhouse, then the townspeople would grow suspicious as to who went hunting and when, so that was the only thing they left Selim's family to take care of, and they would sell it in town when they went down the mountain. They were very close to what could be called Nyohhira's business competitors, so they could not maintain their relationship publicly.
"Then put it in the sack. Should I carry it back in my mouth, it may disappear before we arrive."
"Because it is quite greasy. Understood."
As they smiled and began to pack it away, Holo spoke to them.
"Ah, be sure to take your own portion. Game is to be enjoyed by all."
They were silent and ended up giving all the meat to Holo. It irritated her slightly, but their stiff formality was also rather adorable.
Selim had carried the baggage on the way here, and Holo carried it on the way home.
Holo lay on her stomach, and as Selim's family adjusted the bag filled with meat on her back, she gazed at the pathetic puddle of water. She had looked forward to making a bath in secret, then telling her companion once she was finished, but it seemed she would have to start this project over from the beginning.
It was not that she was unsatisfied with the baths currently available at the house. Neither was she so desperate for one that she could visit freely in her wolf form.
Despite that, she realized how utterly disappointed she was as she stared at the puddle of water on the forest floor. She was also a bit surprised at how disheartened she felt.
"...Holo? Lady Holo?"
"Mm."
She realized that Selim and the others were all looking at her. They must have called to her countless times.
"Apologies. I was thinking."
"About the bath? If so, then we can search the mountains for you."
What a fool I am, she thought to herself.
"There is no need. I simply wish to fool around with my claws and fangs once in a while. Digging holes and such."
"Is that so?"
"Well then, we shall return home before it gets too late. You have work tomorrow as well, no?"
She stood, and the cloth bag was indeed tied firmly around her neck with rope. She could guess by the weight on her back that there was quite a large amount inside. Hanna would surely be glad, but when she considered how they would have to process the meat by drying and salting it, she thought it a bother.
"Oh, may I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Do you have any requests for the next hunt? This time was unusual in that it was bear, but we were wondering if you tire of the usual deer."
She was impressed—they were an attentive bunch.
"Let me see."
What came to mind were smaller animals, like pheasant and squirrel. Smaller game did not have much meat on them, but they were deliciously loaded with flavor.
While she did not mind how hardworking the family was, they were not very adaptable. They did not seem to be adept at making traps for smaller animals, so she refrained from mentioning it.
"No, I am fine with deer. My companion is also quite grateful he does not have to order any deliveries."
"Very well."
Selim's older brother and the rest of her family bowed their heads, like foot soldiers seeing off a king. With a wry smile, Holo looked toward Selim before they ran off.
| "We were wondering if you tire of the usual deer."
It suddenly occurred to her that just maybe she was so disappointed over the worthless puddle of water because she was bored of life in the bathhouse.
As she thought Impossible to herself, her drifting off as she plucked buds from wild vegetables and imagining wild things in her drowsy state sprung fresh from her memory.
Life in the bathhouse was not dissimilar from life in the wheat fields in that she repeated the same things over and over again. What was it that she was hoping to see from Selim in the first place? She was honestly hoping the girl would stir up some trouble.
Anyone could get used to anything. She understood that. She knew that quite well, but that was different from being satisfied with it. Whether or not she could stand it was also another question.
As she told herself she was not that unsatisfied with her current life, something about that was just her own insistence. There was no way today was much more exciting than the day before.
As these thoughts churned in her head, her legs moved forward and carried her all the way to the main house. It was the same as time passing as she idled away.
Selim returned to her human form, and as the young girl undid the bagful of meat hanging from her neck, Holo started to feel restless. If she spent all her days idly like this, she wondered if she would end up like that puddle. She wondered if, even though she would be warm, she would not be a lake and not a river but a place that others could only get their feet wet.
And then, in decades, when everyone was gone, her wet fur would chill her and she would sneeze alone.
She had spent over ten years living in the bathhouse, and she was confident her relationship with her companion had deepened so much that it irritated her. But at the same time, nothing was new anymore. Ever since Myuri was born, every day was like being swept up in a storm, but that only daughter of hers had left the bathhouse with little Col.
She could foresee that their lives from now on would be a repetition of the same things over and over.
Could she recall what she did yesterday, the day before, and the day before that? Would anything happen from here on out that would stay in her memory if she looked back in a hundred years? She grew anxious there was not enough happening if she hoped to bathe in plentiful warm memories.
As she thought about this and that, she tossed the meat hanging from her neck into an underground ice room on the bathhouse grounds. The mounds of snow in the winter could not keep in the summer, but she could enjoy the ice as much as she wanted if they stuffed it in the ice room. It could be called the wisdom of an extraordinary person, but even the squirrels in the woods fervently buried their nuts in the fall.
And she should be doing the same, should she not?
With sleepy, bleary eyes, Selim returned to her room.
Holo saw her off, then returned to her own.
She placed a hand on the door, and faint candlelight was visible through the uneven gaps in the wood. Breathing through her nose, she could smell her companion, the unique scent of tallow burning, parchment, and the smell of ink that reminded her of little Col.
Behind the door, her companion was eagerly sending a pen flying across the page, a blanket draped over his hunched back.
"Oh, welcome back."
He noticed her and turned around, and though he looked tired, he seemed to be rather enjoying himself.
But that familiar face, too, was a bit different from what it had been when she first met him. It was not just the light of the candle; she could most certainly make out the age on his face. Though life in the bathhouse was an endless repetition of the same things, the flow of time was not.
And baths that once had plenty of water, too, would one day dry out, become a puddle that could only wet one's feet, and even that would eventually vanish.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "We were wondering if you tire of the usual deer."
It suddenly occurred to her that just maybe she was so disappointed over the worthless puddle of water because she was bored of life in the bathhouse.
As she thought Impossible to herself, her drifting off as she plucked buds from wild vegetables and imagining wild things in her drowsy state sprung fresh from her memory.
Life in the bathhouse was not dissimilar from life in the wheat fields in that she repeated the same things over and over again. What was it that she was hoping to see from Selim in the first place? She was honestly hoping the girl would stir up some trouble.
Anyone could get used to anything. She understood that. She knew that quite well, but that was different from being satisfied with it. Whether or not she could stand it was also another question.
As she told herself she was not that unsatisfied with her current life, something about that was just her own insistence. There was no way today was much more exciting than the day before.
As these thoughts churned in her head, her legs moved forward and carried her all the way to the main house. It was the same as time passing as she idled away.
Selim returned to her human form, and as the young girl undid the bagful of meat hanging from her neck, Holo started to feel restless. If she spent all her days idly like this, she wondered if she would end up like that puddle. She wondered if, even though she would be warm, she would not be a lake and not a river but a place that others could only get their feet wet.
And then, in decades, when everyone was gone, her wet fur would chill her and she would sneeze alone.
She had spent over ten years living in the bathhouse, and she was confident her relationship with her companion had deepened so much that it irritated her. But at the same time, nothing was new anymore. Ever since Myuri was born, every day was like being swept up in a storm, but that only daughter of hers had left the bathhouse with little Col.
She could foresee that their lives from now on would be a repetition of the same things over and over.
Could she recall what she did yesterday, the day before, and the day before that? Would anything happen from here on out that would stay in her memory if she looked back in a hundred years? She grew anxious there was not enough happening if she hoped to bathe in plentiful warm memories.
As she thought about this and that, she tossed the meat hanging from her neck into an underground ice room on the bathhouse grounds. The mounds of snow in the winter could not keep in the summer, but she could enjoy the ice as much as she wanted if they stuffed it in the ice room. It could be called the wisdom of an extraordinary person, but even the squirrels in the woods fervently buried their nuts in the fall.
And she should be doing the same, should she not?
With sleepy, bleary eyes, Selim returned to her room.
Holo saw her off, then returned to her own.
She placed a hand on the door, and faint candlelight was visible through the uneven gaps in the wood. Breathing through her nose, she could smell her companion, the unique scent of tallow burning, parchment, and the smell of ink that reminded her of little Col.
Behind the door, her companion was eagerly sending a pen flying across the page, a blanket draped over his hunched back.
"Oh, welcome back."
He noticed her and turned around, and though he looked tired, he seemed to be rather enjoying himself.
But that familiar face, too, was a bit different from what it had been when she first met him. It was not just the light of the candle; she could most certainly make out the age on his face. Though life in the bathhouse was an endless repetition of the same things, the flow of time was not.
And baths that once had plenty of water, too, would one day dry out, become a puddle that could only wet one's feet, and even that would eventually vanish.
| Had she truly been prepared for this, she should have been able to enjoy everything until the end without any doubts.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
She did not respond to his perplexed words, closed the distance between them with long strides, and embraced him from behind.
He did seem a bit surprised, but he must have thought it was one of her typical whims.
He did not say anything in particular as he reached back with both hands and stroked her head.
"You're really cold. You going to take a dip in the baths before going to sleep?"
"...Mm. You smell quite sour."
"Huh?"
Though he probably was not that lazy, her companion hurriedly sniffed his own sleeve. He smelled rather sour from the scent of the ink. Of course, she had purposefully said it in a way so he would misunderstand.
"So, the baths, yes?"
She let him go and took a step back.
Ever since coming to Nyohhira, where they could enter the baths at their leisure, he, too, began to keep himself tidy and clean. When he had lived in the wagon on the road, he had maintained nothing but a rough sense of cleanliness.
Though he was concerned about his body odor even now, he took the time to lean back in his chair, grab the fur blanket on his shoulders, stand, and stretch.
"Ooohhh...Nngh. Hahhh...I used to be able to work all night long once."
He said it like a joke, but it was true.
And then one day, he would not open his eyes again.
What was she to do about that?
She felt herself freezing before nature's providence, but at the very least, he was here now before her eyes.
There was so much she could do.
First, she would not think too hard or too deeply about it and enjoy her time with him. She had forgotten this general rule when she first began her journey with him, and it had brought on quite a lot of trouble.
"We have received bear meat from Selim's friends. Why not use that for energy?"
"Oh, bear, huh? I don't know when it was, but I heard that the best part of a bear is its paw. I wonder if that's true."
"The paw? How does one eat that?"
As they chatted about such frivolous things, they made their way toward the baths.
But as they walked together, she had to be careful not to grip his hand too tightly.
Though she was supposed to be happy, she was bitter that this was not enough for her.
And again the next day, she was plucking buds from wild vegetables.
She would be doing this work until the snow disappeared from the mountains.
She always considered this work to be a chore, but now she also thought that she should not be using her time for this.
She needed to stock up on as many memories as she could, so that she would be ready for the cold, harsh days alone that waited for her.
In order to do that, she needed to make events, the ingredients of memory, bubble up like hot springs.
"Are you in a fight with the Sir?"
Hanna asked this casually, looking at the buds in the basket.
"F-for what reason do you ask?"
Holo was so shaken that her wisewolf name could have practically wept.
Hanna shrugged.
"Your plucking is a bit sloppy."
"...We are not fighting."
If she had a bigger body, she could easily hide the things in her heart, but so much ended up seeping out from this little frame.
And it was true that they were not fighting, so she found herself annoyed at Hanna's exasperated expression.
"More importantly, there is a pile of bear meat in the middle of the ice room. Please add plenty of meat to the pot today."
She mentioned the news as she was about to head off to her next work, then she stopped.
"Do not say anything odd to him. We are not fighting, after all."
Though that made it seem like they really were fighting, having her companion be attentive to her in that sort of way was a bit different from what she had hoped.
She was not unhappy with their current situation. She just wanted to spend time naturally, having fun.
"Okay, very well. Understood."
Sometimes, she wondered if it was Hanna that was the one who was twice her age.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Had she truly been prepared for this, she should have been able to enjoy everything until the end without any doubts.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
She did not respond to his perplexed words, closed the distance between them with long strides, and embraced him from behind.
He did seem a bit surprised, but he must have thought it was one of her typical whims.
He did not say anything in particular as he reached back with both hands and stroked her head.
"You're really cold. You going to take a dip in the baths before going to sleep?"
"...Mm. You smell quite sour."
"Huh?"
Though he probably was not that lazy, her companion hurriedly sniffed his own sleeve. He smelled rather sour from the scent of the ink. Of course, she had purposefully said it in a way so he would misunderstand.
"So, the baths, yes?"
She let him go and took a step back.
Ever since coming to Nyohhira, where they could enter the baths at their leisure, he, too, began to keep himself tidy and clean. When he had lived in the wagon on the road, he had maintained nothing but a rough sense of cleanliness.
Though he was concerned about his body odor even now, he took the time to lean back in his chair, grab the fur blanket on his shoulders, stand, and stretch.
"Ooohhh...Nngh. Hahhh...I used to be able to work all night long once."
He said it like a joke, but it was true.
And then one day, he would not open his eyes again.
What was she to do about that?
She felt herself freezing before nature's providence, but at the very least, he was here now before her eyes.
There was so much she could do.
First, she would not think too hard or too deeply about it and enjoy her time with him. She had forgotten this general rule when she first began her journey with him, and it had brought on quite a lot of trouble.
"We have received bear meat from Selim's friends. Why not use that for energy?"
"Oh, bear, huh? I don't know when it was, but I heard that the best part of a bear is its paw. I wonder if that's true."
"The paw? How does one eat that?"
As they chatted about such frivolous things, they made their way toward the baths.
But as they walked together, she had to be careful not to grip his hand too tightly.
Though she was supposed to be happy, she was bitter that this was not enough for her.
And again the next day, she was plucking buds from wild vegetables.
She would be doing this work until the snow disappeared from the mountains.
She always considered this work to be a chore, but now she also thought that she should not be using her time for this.
She needed to stock up on as many memories as she could, so that she would be ready for the cold, harsh days alone that waited for her.
In order to do that, she needed to make events, the ingredients of memory, bubble up like hot springs.
"Are you in a fight with the Sir?"
Hanna asked this casually, looking at the buds in the basket.
"F-for what reason do you ask?"
Holo was so shaken that her wisewolf name could have practically wept.
Hanna shrugged.
"Your plucking is a bit sloppy."
"...We are not fighting."
If she had a bigger body, she could easily hide the things in her heart, but so much ended up seeping out from this little frame.
And it was true that they were not fighting, so she found herself annoyed at Hanna's exasperated expression.
"More importantly, there is a pile of bear meat in the middle of the ice room. Please add plenty of meat to the pot today."
She mentioned the news as she was about to head off to her next work, then she stopped.
"Do not say anything odd to him. We are not fighting, after all."
Though that made it seem like they really were fighting, having her companion be attentive to her in that sort of way was a bit different from what she had hoped.
She was not unhappy with their current situation. She just wanted to spend time naturally, having fun.
"Okay, very well. Understood."
Sometimes, she wondered if it was Hanna that was the one who was twice her age.
| "Oh, would you prefer garlic or ginger in the pot today?"
Holo seriously pondered the question for a moment and answered, "Garlic."
Next, she made her way to the back of the house.
As she got closer, the peculiar smell of raw meat enveloped her. It was a mysterious thing that it smelled good enough to make her drool when it was being cooked but so horrendous when boiling in a pot.
Behind the building was Selim, stirring the pot, an expression on her face that suggested she had given up on everything.
"Come now, I have come to help. Go breathe some fresh air and take a rest."
"Lady Hol...Guh, cough, cough—"
Selim spoke through her nose, and her eyes were even watering. She said a bit of thanks, handed the mixing stick to Holo, and unsteadily walked off. Her sense of smell was much better since she was young, so it must have been even more painful for her.
They were separating the plentiful fat from the bear meat with heat for the making of tallow candles.
After she mixed it well, there was still the job of picking out fragments of meat and bone that got into the mixture. If they were lazy about that, then that would cause extra smoke and foul odors once it was used as a candle. Her lungs would be thick with the smell of fat for a while.
It was typically little Col and his dull sense of smell or Myuri, as a punishment after she pulled a prank, who did this work, but now that they were shorthanded, there was no one left to do it except herself and Selim.
She added wood to the fire, mixed the pot, and scooped out some debris that caught her eye.
The first time she did this, she was so impressed to see this was how candles were made that she did not really mind the smell, but now it was just another part of her routine. It was nothing but a bother.
If they had to make candles, they should make the better smelling beeswax ones.
While she daydreamed about the nice scent of honey, she also had to struggle against the reality before her. This was not the only work she had to do.
"Hmm...Once the candles are done, next is checking on the rest of the cheese."
Spring was also the season of cheese. In preparation for the next season, they had to place an order with a craftsman specifying what kind of cheese they wanted. There were many types: Some kept for a long time and others went bad quickly; there were ones that were easy to make and ones that were more complicated.
They also had to consider the fact that it was not something they would only place on their own dinner table but also serve to patrons.
As their first guest came much earlier than they expected, they had to place their order quickly, otherwise they would have to serve leftover cheese from the winter. The guests would immediately notice any inferior substitutes, and it would spawn rumors.
"And then...ah yes. Once we order the cheese, I must braid thread from the wool we received. Then I must mend all the frayed ones, like that and that and that...Ah! Foolish Myuri lost the weights for the threads, did she not?! Were there replacements in the shed...? Oh yes...I must clean the shed, otherwise bugs will start breeding by summer...'Tis only the bugs that do not listen to me...What should I do about that? Oohh..."
As she swirled the fat around in the pot, so many thoughts swirled around in her head.
She missed living on the road, relaxing and napping in the bed of the wagon.
No, she was only this busy because little Col and Myuri were gone.
On the other hand, she was now painfully aware of the sort of degenerate lifestyle she had been living.
This was what it meant to have no time to worry, but she shuddered when she thought about life continuing in the same manner forever.
She did not hate work itself.
She only wanted to avoid suddenly realizing that she had let all the good times pass.
"I must do something about this..."
That sad, trickling basin she had found in the mountains was stuck in the back of her mind.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | "Oh, would you prefer garlic or ginger in the pot today?"
Holo seriously pondered the question for a moment and answered, "Garlic."
Next, she made her way to the back of the house.
As she got closer, the peculiar smell of raw meat enveloped her. It was a mysterious thing that it smelled good enough to make her drool when it was being cooked but so horrendous when boiling in a pot.
Behind the building was Selim, stirring the pot, an expression on her face that suggested she had given up on everything.
"Come now, I have come to help. Go breathe some fresh air and take a rest."
"Lady Hol...Guh, cough, cough—"
Selim spoke through her nose, and her eyes were even watering. She said a bit of thanks, handed the mixing stick to Holo, and unsteadily walked off. Her sense of smell was much better since she was young, so it must have been even more painful for her.
They were separating the plentiful fat from the bear meat with heat for the making of tallow candles.
After she mixed it well, there was still the job of picking out fragments of meat and bone that got into the mixture. If they were lazy about that, then that would cause extra smoke and foul odors once it was used as a candle. Her lungs would be thick with the smell of fat for a while.
It was typically little Col and his dull sense of smell or Myuri, as a punishment after she pulled a prank, who did this work, but now that they were shorthanded, there was no one left to do it except herself and Selim.
She added wood to the fire, mixed the pot, and scooped out some debris that caught her eye.
The first time she did this, she was so impressed to see this was how candles were made that she did not really mind the smell, but now it was just another part of her routine. It was nothing but a bother.
If they had to make candles, they should make the better smelling beeswax ones.
While she daydreamed about the nice scent of honey, she also had to struggle against the reality before her. This was not the only work she had to do.
"Hmm...Once the candles are done, next is checking on the rest of the cheese."
Spring was also the season of cheese. In preparation for the next season, they had to place an order with a craftsman specifying what kind of cheese they wanted. There were many types: Some kept for a long time and others went bad quickly; there were ones that were easy to make and ones that were more complicated.
They also had to consider the fact that it was not something they would only place on their own dinner table but also serve to patrons.
As their first guest came much earlier than they expected, they had to place their order quickly, otherwise they would have to serve leftover cheese from the winter. The guests would immediately notice any inferior substitutes, and it would spawn rumors.
"And then...ah yes. Once we order the cheese, I must braid thread from the wool we received. Then I must mend all the frayed ones, like that and that and that...Ah! Foolish Myuri lost the weights for the threads, did she not?! Were there replacements in the shed...? Oh yes...I must clean the shed, otherwise bugs will start breeding by summer...'Tis only the bugs that do not listen to me...What should I do about that? Oohh..."
As she swirled the fat around in the pot, so many thoughts swirled around in her head.
She missed living on the road, relaxing and napping in the bed of the wagon.
No, she was only this busy because little Col and Myuri were gone.
On the other hand, she was now painfully aware of the sort of degenerate lifestyle she had been living.
This was what it meant to have no time to worry, but she shuddered when she thought about life continuing in the same manner forever.
She did not hate work itself.
She only wanted to avoid suddenly realizing that she had let all the good times pass.
"I must do something about this..."
That sad, trickling basin she had found in the mountains was stuck in the back of her mind.
| Working in a business like that would surely have its own difficult tasks every day. And living in a town meant being around the eyes of humans, so she would have to worry about how they would treat her since she could not hide her ears and tail and did not age.
"Mmm..."
She groaned, and much like how her dissatisfaction was coming to a boil, bubbles floated to the surface from beneath the churning fat.
That being said, she was looking forward to when Selim grew used to this work and eliminated some of the hustle and bustle. Or maybe when Selim's family was finished building their lodgings, they could hire another one of them once they had settled.
Indeed. She had to be patient for a while. And then she could start thinking about how she could make more memories with her companion.
She insisted this to herself.
"Well, soon we shall strain this and make the candles."
She tapped the mixing stick on the edge of the pot, called Selim over, and began their work. All jobs would eventually end as long as they worked at it. Another guest arrived in the afternoon, and finally the sun set.
After finishing dinner, she returned to their room in relief, and there, her companion stood frozen before the desk.
"What is the matter?"
She wondered for a moment if Myuri had doodled on the parchment on the desk, but she then remembered that she was off traveling.
As she wondered what it might be, her companion turned around, and his expression was apologetic.
"Before you get mad, let me apologize."
"...Hmm?"
He continued.
"The new guest also brought in parchment."
Behind him, the bundles of parchment had doubled. If one person had an idea, then it seemed someone elsewhere had the same.
Though she was impressed that little Col and Myuri's journey was making such large waves throughout the world, her companion's face was dismal, so there had to be more to it.
"Is that all?"
When she asked, he released the breath he had been holding in—strangely, almost as if he had been saved—then slowly shook his head.
Perhaps it was difficult for him to broach the subject by himself.
"...Others staying elsewhere came over earlier, wanting to talk about the same thing."
***
Their relaxing, affectionate time together at night. Apparently, she would be unable to request it for a while.
But such a pile of work could also be called a notable incident. If she looked back after a while, it might very well become a memory she could recall clearly. And she was glad it was something she could do together with him. Sitting beside each other, she could keep the lid on that dark well tightly shut.
It was not so bad when she thought of it like that.
"Well, we have no choice. Aye?"
So she spoke brightly, and he seemed disappointed.
"What? Did you wish for me to get angry?"
He was always much too straightforward at times like this.
"There won't be any time for you to take a nap..."
"You fool."
She smiled, closed the door, and quickly walked over to the desk.
The amount of parchment piled on the desk was intimidating.
"And we may make quite a lot of quick coin, no?"
"It should be enough for our troubles. Ask me for anything. We can probably get honeyed peaches."
He spoke of a luxury item that was practically worth its weight in gold.
Her former merchant companion was handing her a blank contract, so this job must truly contain great prospects.
"Mm. I shall think about it."
"But there aren't infinite amounts of money."
He did not forget to warn her.
She shrugged and stepped on his foot lightly.
"Well then, shall we get started?"
"Yeah. We can't even waste time this late in the day. If we don't manage this well, even more of the same work might come our way."
"Shall we allot some to Selim?"
She wondered if they should add another duty on top of what the young wolf already had, but her companion looked a bit troubled.
"I'd want her to help, but..."
He spoke vaguely, and after glancing at the door, he drew close to her ear and whispered.
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Working in a business like that would surely have its own difficult tasks every day. And living in a town meant being around the eyes of humans, so she would have to worry about how they would treat her since she could not hide her ears and tail and did not age.
"Mmm..."
She groaned, and much like how her dissatisfaction was coming to a boil, bubbles floated to the surface from beneath the churning fat.
That being said, she was looking forward to when Selim grew used to this work and eliminated some of the hustle and bustle. Or maybe when Selim's family was finished building their lodgings, they could hire another one of them once they had settled.
Indeed. She had to be patient for a while. And then she could start thinking about how she could make more memories with her companion.
She insisted this to herself.
"Well, soon we shall strain this and make the candles."
She tapped the mixing stick on the edge of the pot, called Selim over, and began their work. All jobs would eventually end as long as they worked at it. Another guest arrived in the afternoon, and finally the sun set.
After finishing dinner, she returned to their room in relief, and there, her companion stood frozen before the desk.
"What is the matter?"
She wondered for a moment if Myuri had doodled on the parchment on the desk, but she then remembered that she was off traveling.
As she wondered what it might be, her companion turned around, and his expression was apologetic.
"Before you get mad, let me apologize."
"...Hmm?"
He continued.
"The new guest also brought in parchment."
Behind him, the bundles of parchment had doubled. If one person had an idea, then it seemed someone elsewhere had the same.
Though she was impressed that little Col and Myuri's journey was making such large waves throughout the world, her companion's face was dismal, so there had to be more to it.
"Is that all?"
When she asked, he released the breath he had been holding in—strangely, almost as if he had been saved—then slowly shook his head.
Perhaps it was difficult for him to broach the subject by himself.
"...Others staying elsewhere came over earlier, wanting to talk about the same thing."
***
Their relaxing, affectionate time together at night. Apparently, she would be unable to request it for a while.
But such a pile of work could also be called a notable incident. If she looked back after a while, it might very well become a memory she could recall clearly. And she was glad it was something she could do together with him. Sitting beside each other, she could keep the lid on that dark well tightly shut.
It was not so bad when she thought of it like that.
"Well, we have no choice. Aye?"
So she spoke brightly, and he seemed disappointed.
"What? Did you wish for me to get angry?"
He was always much too straightforward at times like this.
"There won't be any time for you to take a nap..."
"You fool."
She smiled, closed the door, and quickly walked over to the desk.
The amount of parchment piled on the desk was intimidating.
"And we may make quite a lot of quick coin, no?"
"It should be enough for our troubles. Ask me for anything. We can probably get honeyed peaches."
He spoke of a luxury item that was practically worth its weight in gold.
Her former merchant companion was handing her a blank contract, so this job must truly contain great prospects.
"Mm. I shall think about it."
"But there aren't infinite amounts of money."
He did not forget to warn her.
She shrugged and stepped on his foot lightly.
"Well then, shall we get started?"
"Yeah. We can't even waste time this late in the day. If we don't manage this well, even more of the same work might come our way."
"Shall we allot some to Selim?"
She wondered if they should add another duty on top of what the young wolf already had, but her companion looked a bit troubled.
"I'd want her to help, but..."
He spoke vaguely, and after glancing at the door, he drew close to her ear and whispered.
| Unlike her usual jobs during the day, she did seem to be a bit clumsy when it came to this. She had made quite a few reading and spelling mistakes.
"She works hard during the day, so she's probably tired at night."
Little Col displayed his odd enthusiasm for studying by chasing away his nighttime sleepiness with sand in his mouth or munching on raw onions. It would be cruel to expect that much from Selim.
But something occurred to Holo.
"But when we go to trade on the other side of the mountain, she is never that sleepy."
Selim did seem a little tired when they set out on the way home, but she did not appear to be falling asleep.
"It's probably a matter of her strengths and weaknesses, right? She probably gets sleepy looking at writing. Myuri's the same."
When he spoke their daughter's name, she understood.
"I am as good as anyone when it comes to this."
"That's not much to be proud of. Well, you can read, but when it comes to writing...Don't you think the Wisewolf of Yoitsu should be a bit better at writing?"
He hit her where it hurt, earning him a glare from her.
"I have improved quite a bit. This form of mine is temporary anyway. 'Tis not much I can do if my hands do not work well."
"Even though you can grab meat so quickly from the pot?"
She bared her fangs, and he looked away, pretending not to notice.
"You fool. Learning letters does not fill the stomach!"
"...Myuri says the same thing, doesn't she?"
"I beg your pardon?!"
She scolded her mumbling companion, and he shrugged cheekily.
"Look, come on, let's get working."
He was never constantly cornered the way he used to be.
And she did not hate this sort of bickering.
"Honestly, you fool."
As she murmured that, she placed a chair next to his and stuck to his side. Of course, they shared the blanket as it draped over both of their backs. This was not bad at all.
She cemented in her memory that this moment had happened.
As she did so, she took the first piece of parchment into her hand.
There was the thud of wooden utensils being set down, and Holo opened her eyes.
It was after lunch, and the unoccupied Hanna had brought her something.
"Good work today."
"...Wine, how unusual."
Holo lifted her head from the table, and her nose twitched at the scent of the warmed wine, steam still rising from it.
Hanna was normally concerned with cost so it was curious for her to offer wine so freely.
Then, just as Holo was about to gratefully reach out to take the cup.
"Hmm, this is...?"
There was a wooden bowl, and it was filled with things she had never seen before.
"It's a gift from a guest. The Sir told me to serve some for you when he went out."
It was candied something or other. Sugar could be obtained by boarding a boat in town at the bottom of the mountain and heading downstream, then changing vessels after arriving at the open sea and traveling farther south, eventually reaching a port in a sunny country where the sea was a clear green and it was summer for more than half the year, all to trade with someone who had come by boat from an even more southern point.
If sugar was harvested from the earth like salt, then she would not mind living there and spending all her days licking the ground.
It was that delicious of a sweetener, but she was caught by Hanna's words.
"...You hid this from me?"
Hanna only shrugged innocently.
"He said you might end up eating it all if I showed it to you once."
"That fool!"
I am not Myuri, she thought to herself as she grabbed a piece, finding the sweet in her hand quite strange.
Whatever the fruit was, it was cut into round slices and had been seasoned with sugar, but the shape was odd.
She had never seen such a fruit like this before, but when she put it in her mouth, she was shocked.
"'Tis ginger?!"
"It's still cold when the sun isn't out, so it will also warm you up."
"Mm-hmm...Mmm..."
|
Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can. | Unlike her usual jobs during the day, she did seem to be a bit clumsy when it came to this. She had made quite a few reading and spelling mistakes.
"She works hard during the day, so she's probably tired at night."
Little Col displayed his odd enthusiasm for studying by chasing away his nighttime sleepiness with sand in his mouth or munching on raw onions. It would be cruel to expect that much from Selim.
But something occurred to Holo.
"But when we go to trade on the other side of the mountain, she is never that sleepy."
Selim did seem a little tired when they set out on the way home, but she did not appear to be falling asleep.
"It's probably a matter of her strengths and weaknesses, right? She probably gets sleepy looking at writing. Myuri's the same."
When he spoke their daughter's name, she understood.
"I am as good as anyone when it comes to this."
"That's not much to be proud of. Well, you can read, but when it comes to writing...Don't you think the Wisewolf of Yoitsu should be a bit better at writing?"
He hit her where it hurt, earning him a glare from her.
"I have improved quite a bit. This form of mine is temporary anyway. 'Tis not much I can do if my hands do not work well."
"Even though you can grab meat so quickly from the pot?"
She bared her fangs, and he looked away, pretending not to notice.
"You fool. Learning letters does not fill the stomach!"
"...Myuri says the same thing, doesn't she?"
"I beg your pardon?!"
She scolded her mumbling companion, and he shrugged cheekily.
"Look, come on, let's get working."
He was never constantly cornered the way he used to be.
And she did not hate this sort of bickering.
"Honestly, you fool."
As she murmured that, she placed a chair next to his and stuck to his side. Of course, they shared the blanket as it draped over both of their backs. This was not bad at all.
She cemented in her memory that this moment had happened.
As she did so, she took the first piece of parchment into her hand.
There was the thud of wooden utensils being set down, and Holo opened her eyes.
It was after lunch, and the unoccupied Hanna had brought her something.
"Good work today."
"...Wine, how unusual."
Holo lifted her head from the table, and her nose twitched at the scent of the warmed wine, steam still rising from it.
Hanna was normally concerned with cost so it was curious for her to offer wine so freely.
Then, just as Holo was about to gratefully reach out to take the cup.
"Hmm, this is...?"
There was a wooden bowl, and it was filled with things she had never seen before.
"It's a gift from a guest. The Sir told me to serve some for you when he went out."
It was candied something or other. Sugar could be obtained by boarding a boat in town at the bottom of the mountain and heading downstream, then changing vessels after arriving at the open sea and traveling farther south, eventually reaching a port in a sunny country where the sea was a clear green and it was summer for more than half the year, all to trade with someone who had come by boat from an even more southern point.
If sugar was harvested from the earth like salt, then she would not mind living there and spending all her days licking the ground.
It was that delicious of a sweetener, but she was caught by Hanna's words.
"...You hid this from me?"
Hanna only shrugged innocently.
"He said you might end up eating it all if I showed it to you once."
"That fool!"
I am not Myuri, she thought to herself as she grabbed a piece, finding the sweet in her hand quite strange.
Whatever the fruit was, it was cut into round slices and had been seasoned with sugar, but the shape was odd.
She had never seen such a fruit like this before, but when she put it in her mouth, she was shocked.
"'Tis ginger?!"
"It's still cold when the sun isn't out, so it will also warm you up."
"Mm-hmm...Mmm..."
| It was scandalous to hide such a wonderful thing from her.
She asked Hanna with her mouth full of the crunchy sugared ginger, "Is this all?"
"He said to make sure to give only a little bit at a time."
It was exactly how he would have treated their daughter, Myuri. She almost wanted to demand Hanna give her more, immediately, lots more, but then that would only acknowledge his point that she would eat it all once she laid eyes on it. She had to avoid that as the wisewolf.
That being said, it was difficult to resist its charm.
She had been fighting with that parchment for a while, and her mind felt like it was melting.
To have this sweet and spicy food after all that was almost violent.
Even a wisewolf would roll over in surrender.
But before she did that, she spoke, managing to maintain a semblance of reason.
"C-come now, it may go bad if we do not eat it quickly, aye?"
"Sweets don't spoil so quickly."
"Then bugs and mice—"
"These will be fine buried in the ice room."
There was no one in the bathhouse who could contest Hanna about food.
If she persisted, Holo felt like she would even be able to eat the bowl itself.
"Ooohhh..."
"Why not eat it slowly? You'll be able to enjoy it longer that way."
"You fool. I may also enjoy it all at once!"
Hanna sighed in exasperation.
But she was right, and the inside of her mouth was rather hot.
Heartbroken, she pushed the wooden bowl away toward Hanna, in a way that she did not have to look at it.
"Put it away..."
"My, how prudent of you. Very well then, I will go put this away before you change your mind."
"Ah!"
Then, in a moment of weakness, Holo reached out and took one piece. Hanna smiled, slightly aggravated.
"Let me just say this now, but I am going to hide this in a place you can't find, so don't come looking for it."
Hanna said the same thing Holo did when she scolded Myuri. She wondered if it was because they were two peas in a pod.
"You fool."
"I am not a fool. I would not be happy to find my pantry in complete disarray because you went looking for it. I will put a tight lid on this, so even that great nose of yours will be no use."
"Urgghhh..."
In a bathhouse, the greatest monetary costs were related to food, so her companion had given Hanna tremendous authority. It was almost as though it was difficult to tell who was master of the house when they were in the kitchen together.
Not only that, he also asked her to be strict with Holo and Myuri.
The kitchen was filled with things they could immediately gnaw on, but those were more akin to traps meant to distract them.
"I am working so hard, and yet such cruelty..."
Holo spoke reproachfully, but Hanna did not give the bowl back to her.
"Well, I don't know about that, but I heard that it will be of great help once you finish all that work you are doing. Once that's squared away, you can ask for sugar or anything else you'd like."
"Of course I plan to. But I do not know when it will be over."
It was not an act when she laid face-first on the table.
Guests were starting to arrive and musicians had returned to the bathhouse, so it was quite lively. As long as the guests had songs and dancing, they could spend the entire day in the baths, which meant she and her companion could leave them alone.
Once this was routine, there were some extremely hectic moments but also stretches of time with nothing to do at all.
But now, during her idle hours, she was pouring all her energy into those sheets of parchment. If she did not, then it would never end, and if they received more requests in the future, it was possible the work would not be finished at all until the fall.
Of course, they could refuse to do anything that was too much for them, but the guests were rushing to unburden themselves, all thanks to little Col and Myuri's adventure, so they could not say they had no responsibility.
And her companion had said with a grave expression that if they accept the work now, it would lead to other things later.
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Subsets and Splits