Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
"Hmm?"
Holo sat up straight and stared into space.
"What is it?"
Holo's ears twitched left and right. Her ears were good enough to hear a flea cough.
There was no doubt that she would hear it right away if anybody tried to sneak up on them.
"What's wrong? Is it a bear or a stray? Or...bandits?"
Lawrence immediately leaped onto the driver's perch and took the dagger out from under his seat.
It was impossible to avoid danger during travel.
Just as he readied himself for whatever might come at them, Holo spoke.
"'Tis a bee. Unusual for this season."
"A bee?"
Before long, Lawrence could also hear the faint hum of wings.
But as he sat there, looking around trying to spot one, Holo suddenly grabbed his arm.
Her nails painfully dug into him.
"Wh-what?! Ouch, what's—?"
Holo's widening eyes cut Lawrence off, and the fur covering her ears and tail stood on end like a stiff brush.
"Oh, ah, ooh..."
Holo's voice barely made any coherent sounds, rumbling in the depths of her throat. Lawrence thought at first that there might be a huge swarm of bees approaching, but what slipped out from behind one of the large trees was just a single, regular bee.
But the moment he thought something seemed a little off, Holo screamed.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"
Lawrence did not even have the time to be shocked by the scream the likes of which he had never heard coming from her before. She rubbed her face against his chest like a rabbit trying to crawl into its hole. Her ears lay flat on her head and her tail was puffed and swollen, like she was under a thundercloud.
He was puzzled, unsure of what was causing such alarm. Then he noticed the single bee lazily drawing closer.
It did not seem particularly angry. In fact, the bee seemed more confused as to why humans were there.
But as the buzzing grew louder, Holo started to tremble harder. It worried him—he had no idea she was so scared of bees. She loved honey and happily ate bee larvae fried in oil because it was hot and delicious like lily buds. Or perhaps it was because this was a special sort of bee? The bee was indeed a little odd. Its black-and-yellow-striped pattern seemed typical, but for some reason, a white string hung from its body.
Lawrence stared at the bee as it buzzed overhead.
Holo shivered in his arms like a squirrel afraid of a rampaging dragon.
As Lawrence watched the bee leisurely passing before them, he noticed something.
"Oh, it's..."
He unconsciously reached out.
He caught it easily.
It being the string hanging from the bee.
Lawrence immediately undid the hand towel on his waist and suddenly wrapped it around the struggling bee.
While he listened to the angry buzzing, he realized that Holo was staring at him, all the color having drained from her face.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Holo wouldn't have made such a face even if he suddenly threw everything in his wallet onto the street. She gave a sidelong glance at the bundle of cloth like it was an atrocious thing and then immediately hid her face again.
"Throw it away, quickly!"
Lawrence shrugged and said, "What's the matter? It's just a bee."
Holo immediately tensed.
She had many traits that were maiden-like, but he felt like being afraid of bees was not one of them.
"Don't tell me this is a bee that's like one of you?"
—A creature that lived for centuries, that understood the human language, like a spirit of the forest.
If that was true, then he thought this was very rude of her, but Holo buried herself deeper into his chest and shook her head. Her tail was still quivering.
It was then that Lawrence, with a questioning look, peered at the bee angrily buzzing its wings inside the cloth.
"I—I...I cannot..."
"Hmm?"
"I cannot...bear it..."
Holo spoke weakly, her voice shaky due to her tears.
"That insect is being eaten by another insect...is it not? It sickens me to think of it..."
"Oh...Ohhh."
When she said that, it finally clicked.

Output:
He had never heard of Holo being unable to handle bees and other bugs. But there were some things she simply could not deal with on an instinctual level. That turned out to be insects afflicted by parasites. Anyone who traveled through mountains and forests would sometimes come across unsettling sights that could be thought of only as the darker parts of the world.
"Hmm...But..."
When Lawrence brought the cloth closer to Holo, she shrank back, almost rolling off the driver's perch.
"Eek!"
"H-hey, come on—that's dangerous."
"N-no! No!"
While he thought about how cute she was when she was this desperate, Lawrence spoke.
"The thing hanging from the bee isn't a parasite. It's just a string."
Holo shook her head, as though declaring that she wouldn't be fooled by his lies.
But when Lawrence sighed with a troubled smile, Holo finally lifted her head slightly.
"R-really...?"
As Holo's childlike attitude stirred something in his heart he had never felt before, Lawrence responded.
"Yeah. I'm sure."
Holo must have been able to hear that he was not lying, but he also understood why she still doubted him nonetheless.
"Th-then...why is it...here...?"
"You're asking why there's a bee with a string around it, right? A bear can't use a spool, after all."
But Lawrence had an idea.
"You said not many people enter this forest, right?"
"...? Y-yes."
Holo raised her head and responded, but when the bee in the cloth buzzed, she tensed up again.
"I think someone might be poaching the bees."
***
Holo stared at Lawrence with widened eyes and then looked to the cloth.
"...Do you mean to say 'tis a marker?"
Of course the wisewolf would sniff that out.
"But I have never seen such a thing in Nyohhira..."
"It's because the mountains are treacherous out there. You wouldn't be able to follow a bee in those parts. But this forest has great sight lines, so you can tie a string around a bee as a flag and follow it back to its hive. But...if they're doing this here, then it's a poacher who doesn't want anyone else to see them. Nobles and people like that normally own forests, so beehive hunting costs money."
"Mm...So that means..." Holo peered up at Lawrence. "There...is a hive nearby...?"
"I don't know if it would be full of honey at this time of year, though."
The harvest time for beehives was between spring and early summer.
But hives filled to the brim with honey could be worth harvesting even in the dead of winter.
Holo rubbed her watering eyes and sniffed.
"A beehive..."
"That sure cheered you up."
Holo pouted and glared at him when he teased her.
"Should we follow it?"
Holo had large, triangular animal ears and a fluffy tail. She seemed like the type who would run at full speed after a leather ball stuffed with sheep's wool.
She would rage at being treated like a dog, but her tail was already restlessly whipping back and forth.
"But a bee's territory can be large. Do we...have time?"
On the surface, Holo always seemed to want things to go her way, but this was her true nature. Whenever something she truly wanted appeared before her, she hesitated. She had been the same way with Lawrence. It had been Holo who once upon a time wanted to end their journey together before she fell even more in love with him.
On the other hand, Lawrence was a merchant. He greedily reached out to anything he realized he wanted.
And Holo's smile sat at the very top of it all.
"I guess we're not enjoying the true pleasures of travel as planned, are we?" He then added, "We had a rough time starting a fire, and now we've veered way off track."
Holo raised her shoulders and giggled.
Lawrence acted clownishly as he rubbed Holo's cheek with the back of his finger.
"Plus, I got to see a side of my traveling partner I had no idea existed."
Even though he knew Holo down to the direction of the swirl of hair at the base of her tail, he never thought she would hate the sight of one bug being consumed by another so much that it would make her cry.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
He had never heard of Holo being unable to handle bees and other bugs. But there were some things she simply could not deal with on an instinctual level. That turned out to be insects afflicted by parasites. Anyone who traveled through mountains and forests would sometimes come across unsettling sights that could be thought of only as the darker parts of the world.
"Hmm...But..."
When Lawrence brought the cloth closer to Holo, she shrank back, almost rolling off the driver's perch.
"Eek!"
"H-hey, come on—that's dangerous."
"N-no! No!"
While he thought about how cute she was when she was this desperate, Lawrence spoke.
"The thing hanging from the bee isn't a parasite. It's just a string."
Holo shook her head, as though declaring that she wouldn't be fooled by his lies.
But when Lawrence sighed with a troubled smile, Holo finally lifted her head slightly.
"R-really...?"
As Holo's childlike attitude stirred something in his heart he had never felt before, Lawrence responded.
"Yeah. I'm sure."
Holo must have been able to hear that he was not lying, but he also understood why she still doubted him nonetheless.
"Th-then...why is it...here...?"
"You're asking why there's a bee with a string around it, right? A bear can't use a spool, after all."
But Lawrence had an idea.
"You said not many people enter this forest, right?"
"...? Y-yes."
Holo raised her head and responded, but when the bee in the cloth buzzed, she tensed up again.
"I think someone might be poaching the bees."
***
Holo stared at Lawrence with widened eyes and then looked to the cloth.
"...Do you mean to say 'tis a marker?"
Of course the wisewolf would sniff that out.
"But I have never seen such a thing in Nyohhira..."
"It's because the mountains are treacherous out there. You wouldn't be able to follow a bee in those parts. But this forest has great sight lines, so you can tie a string around a bee as a flag and follow it back to its hive. But...if they're doing this here, then it's a poacher who doesn't want anyone else to see them. Nobles and people like that normally own forests, so beehive hunting costs money."
"Mm...So that means..." Holo peered up at Lawrence. "There...is a hive nearby...?"
"I don't know if it would be full of honey at this time of year, though."
The harvest time for beehives was between spring and early summer.
But hives filled to the brim with honey could be worth harvesting even in the dead of winter.
Holo rubbed her watering eyes and sniffed.
"A beehive..."
"That sure cheered you up."
Holo pouted and glared at him when he teased her.
"Should we follow it?"
Holo had large, triangular animal ears and a fluffy tail. She seemed like the type who would run at full speed after a leather ball stuffed with sheep's wool.
She would rage at being treated like a dog, but her tail was already restlessly whipping back and forth.
"But a bee's territory can be large. Do we...have time?"
On the surface, Holo always seemed to want things to go her way, but this was her true nature. Whenever something she truly wanted appeared before her, she hesitated. She had been the same way with Lawrence. It had been Holo who once upon a time wanted to end their journey together before she fell even more in love with him.
On the other hand, Lawrence was a merchant. He greedily reached out to anything he realized he wanted.
And Holo's smile sat at the very top of it all.
"I guess we're not enjoying the true pleasures of travel as planned, are we?" He then added, "We had a rough time starting a fire, and now we've veered way off track."
Holo raised her shoulders and giggled.
Lawrence acted clownishly as he rubbed Holo's cheek with the back of his finger.
"Plus, I got to see a side of my traveling partner I had no idea existed."
Even though he knew Holo down to the direction of the swirl of hair at the base of her tail, he never thought she would hate the sight of one bug being consumed by another so much that it would make her cry.

Output:
"...Fool."
Lawrence was confident that he could easily love her for another hundred years.
"Then I guess we'll go chase the bee. We'll be fine leaving the cart here, right?"
"This is not a place for humans to enter. There are likely no thieves around. As for our surroundings...I believe this spot should be fine because of the smell."
"Right, the sulfur. Should we take a bag and scatter the powder on the path?"
"Hmm. Let me think...Ah, I see. Heh-heh."
Lawrence looked to her, and she was delightfully giggling.
"'Twas part of a fairy tale, no? Children lost in the woods, leaving a trail of bread crumbs to find their way home..."
"Yeah, there is a story like that, but you look like you came straight from a fairy tale yourself."
Holo blinked and then smiled.
Lawrence handed the bundle of cloth to Holo and then immediately started collecting tools that would come in handy for quickly harvesting a beehive. He retrieved an empty linen bag; a pole usually used for propping up a tent corner, measuring the depth of mud, or chasing away stray dogs; some firewood; and a set of flint. Then he gathered all the spare cloth he could find to cover his face and body.
And lastly, sulfur powder to mark their path.
"All right, now we can go."
Holo nodded firmly and unfurled the bundled cloth.
They thought the furious bee might sting them at first, but after buzzing in circles out of evident confusion, it flew off, heading deeper into the woods.
Holo and Lawrence weren't following very fast, but since they were walking with their eyes on the string, Lawrence tripped and almost fell more than once.
Holo's physical strength matched that of the young girl she appeared to be, but her wolflike qualities were obvious, given the way she skillfully threaded through the mountainous terrain. She turned around to watch Lawrence stumble along, then immediately walked backward nonchalantly toward him, grinning all the while.
"Come now—you must give it your all to keep up."
She whirled around and leaped off.
Her fluffy tail bounced about before him, and Lawrence found himself relying on her tail's guidance to stay on course.
He frantically followed after her as she walked lightly, crunching the leaves beneath her steps and bounding over massive tree roots.
She occasionally looked back, a happy, joyful, and teasing smile playing across her face.
Even back at the bathhouse, Holo often teased him about failing to stay in shape, so he defiantly managed to at least keep his footing. However, she seemed to enjoy watching him do that as well.
After the distance between them grew to a certain point, Holo stopped, perhaps because the bee had also stopped somewhere, allowing Lawrence to finally catch up to her.
"Phew, hah...I'm not really sure if I'm following the bee or you anymore."
He breathed hard and aired out his clothes. The air was mostly still in this forest, so it felt dreadfully humid when they moved about.
"Is it because you are always so enraptured by my tail? Are you having a good time?"
Holo showed not a hint of appreciation for his hard work, but Lawrence found himself following that mischievous smile of hers.
"Oh yes, this is just the best," he responded with displeasure, and Holo chuckled, then looked up with a hum.
"We begin anew."
"Okay, okay."
The bee flew from the tree, staggering through the air. Lawrence occasionally dropped some sulfur so they would not forget the way back to the cart.
At this point, for all intents and purposes, Lawrence had no idea where the cart might be. They were so far from any sort of civilization that if Holo abandoned him, then he surely would wind up dead in a ditch somewhere. But when that crossed his mind, he doubted that he would be able to live at all if she did such a thing, the thought of which brought a wry smile to his face.
"Listen."
Holo abruptly stopped and called out to him, bringing him to a sudden halt.
"Hmm? Whatever is the matter?"


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
"...Fool."
Lawrence was confident that he could easily love her for another hundred years.
"Then I guess we'll go chase the bee. We'll be fine leaving the cart here, right?"
"This is not a place for humans to enter. There are likely no thieves around. As for our surroundings...I believe this spot should be fine because of the smell."
"Right, the sulfur. Should we take a bag and scatter the powder on the path?"
"Hmm. Let me think...Ah, I see. Heh-heh."
Lawrence looked to her, and she was delightfully giggling.
"'Twas part of a fairy tale, no? Children lost in the woods, leaving a trail of bread crumbs to find their way home..."
"Yeah, there is a story like that, but you look like you came straight from a fairy tale yourself."
Holo blinked and then smiled.
Lawrence handed the bundle of cloth to Holo and then immediately started collecting tools that would come in handy for quickly harvesting a beehive. He retrieved an empty linen bag; a pole usually used for propping up a tent corner, measuring the depth of mud, or chasing away stray dogs; some firewood; and a set of flint. Then he gathered all the spare cloth he could find to cover his face and body.
And lastly, sulfur powder to mark their path.
"All right, now we can go."
Holo nodded firmly and unfurled the bundled cloth.
They thought the furious bee might sting them at first, but after buzzing in circles out of evident confusion, it flew off, heading deeper into the woods.
Holo and Lawrence weren't following very fast, but since they were walking with their eyes on the string, Lawrence tripped and almost fell more than once.
Holo's physical strength matched that of the young girl she appeared to be, but her wolflike qualities were obvious, given the way she skillfully threaded through the mountainous terrain. She turned around to watch Lawrence stumble along, then immediately walked backward nonchalantly toward him, grinning all the while.
"Come now—you must give it your all to keep up."
She whirled around and leaped off.
Her fluffy tail bounced about before him, and Lawrence found himself relying on her tail's guidance to stay on course.
He frantically followed after her as she walked lightly, crunching the leaves beneath her steps and bounding over massive tree roots.
She occasionally looked back, a happy, joyful, and teasing smile playing across her face.
Even back at the bathhouse, Holo often teased him about failing to stay in shape, so he defiantly managed to at least keep his footing. However, she seemed to enjoy watching him do that as well.
After the distance between them grew to a certain point, Holo stopped, perhaps because the bee had also stopped somewhere, allowing Lawrence to finally catch up to her.
"Phew, hah...I'm not really sure if I'm following the bee or you anymore."
He breathed hard and aired out his clothes. The air was mostly still in this forest, so it felt dreadfully humid when they moved about.
"Is it because you are always so enraptured by my tail? Are you having a good time?"
Holo showed not a hint of appreciation for his hard work, but Lawrence found himself following that mischievous smile of hers.
"Oh yes, this is just the best," he responded with displeasure, and Holo chuckled, then looked up with a hum.
"We begin anew."
"Okay, okay."
The bee flew from the tree, staggering through the air. Lawrence occasionally dropped some sulfur so they would not forget the way back to the cart.
At this point, for all intents and purposes, Lawrence had no idea where the cart might be. They were so far from any sort of civilization that if Holo abandoned him, then he surely would wind up dead in a ditch somewhere. But when that crossed his mind, he doubted that he would be able to live at all if she did such a thing, the thought of which brought a wry smile to his face.
"Listen."
Holo abruptly stopped and called out to him, bringing him to a sudden halt.
"Hmm? Whatever is the matter?"

Output:
"No, what's up with you?"
"Mm-hmm. The hive is near. The buzz is loud. 'Tis quite large."
Her bright, fang-baring grin was so charming, it was almost unbelievable that she had been shaking in his arms just minutes before.
Their peaceful, repetitive life in the bathhouse was also undeniably wonderful.
But traveling together was just one surprise after another. It was a chance to discover the unexpected side of people.
And it was all the more fun with a partner as emotive as Holo.
"What shall we do next?"
With her varied expressions, she quickly put on a more serious one as she spoke.
And he could tell that she was not as serious as she seemed.
"What do you mean? The best thing would be to have you go take the hive in your wolf form. You have thick fur. You probably won't get stung too much."
After turning to him with a reproachful look, her intentions to do no such thing clear, she offered him a flirting smile, typical of a girl who knew how cute she was.
"Are you not averse to relying on my wolf powers?"
***
That was true, but that issue had more to do with his pride, so it was not a problem when it came to harvesting beehives in the forest...is what he wanted to tell her, but arguing with her would just be a waste of breath.
Not only had they gotten a late start and ended up having to sleep roughly on the very first day, he had been unable to light a fire, and after everything else, he had gotten them lost.
If he could not manage to recover here, then he had no idea what Holo might coax out of him in the future.
"I guess it's a knight's job to walk into the jaws of death for his princess."
Lawrence lowered the load from his shoulders, crouched down, and started getting ready. Holo cackled and remarked, "What an unreliable knight you are," as she hung over Lawrence's back and wrapped her arms around him.
He was glad she was in a good mood.
Lawrence wrapped cloth over his face, neck, wrists, and ankles, leaving only his eyes exposed before starting the fire.
It lit immediately.
"We chase the bees away with smoke, yes?" Holo confirmed with him.
Lawrence attached the twigs to the end of the pole in the shape of a bird's nest, drove the butt into the ground at his feet, and placed the slightly damp leaves on top with the embers.
White smoke soon began billowing upward.
"This little smoke is mostly just for peace of mind."
"Is that so?"
"If we burned so much that we found it hard to breathe, then it would definitely be effective, but...Well, there's so much foliage underneath the hive that I'm sure the fire would spread...What is it?"
Holo was staring off into space in response to Lawrence's explanation. For a moment, he entertained the idea that perhaps she pitied how her husband would be stung all over, but instead, she pointed.
"Why not use that?"
"What?"
She was suggesting that they use the devil's powder that summoned hell itself when a single pinch of the substance was added to a fire.
"Well, that's..."
Lawrence faltered but then decided it was worth it.
"We'll give it a try. Now that you mention it, we don't usually see any bugs in Nyohhira."
The smell of sulfur permeated the village they called home. Plenty of withered trees could be found throughout the area around Nyohhira as well, so it was understandable that many depictions of hell were described with the odor of burning sulfur.
"Also."
"Mm?"
Holo stared blankly, and Lawrence proudly spoke.
"If this goes well, we can tap into a whole new market for all that powder."
Holo, who had said herself that it would be effective as wolf repellent, shot him a grim smile.
"You would make money even if you slipped down into that hell the Church speaks of so often."
How lucky Lawrence was as a merchant to hear such a compliment.
In the end, they managed to collect the hive. It was on the larger side, so they could expect to harvest quite a lot of honey from it.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
"No, what's up with you?"
"Mm-hmm. The hive is near. The buzz is loud. 'Tis quite large."
Her bright, fang-baring grin was so charming, it was almost unbelievable that she had been shaking in his arms just minutes before.
Their peaceful, repetitive life in the bathhouse was also undeniably wonderful.
But traveling together was just one surprise after another. It was a chance to discover the unexpected side of people.
And it was all the more fun with a partner as emotive as Holo.
"What shall we do next?"
With her varied expressions, she quickly put on a more serious one as she spoke.
And he could tell that she was not as serious as she seemed.
"What do you mean? The best thing would be to have you go take the hive in your wolf form. You have thick fur. You probably won't get stung too much."
After turning to him with a reproachful look, her intentions to do no such thing clear, she offered him a flirting smile, typical of a girl who knew how cute she was.
"Are you not averse to relying on my wolf powers?"
***
That was true, but that issue had more to do with his pride, so it was not a problem when it came to harvesting beehives in the forest...is what he wanted to tell her, but arguing with her would just be a waste of breath.
Not only had they gotten a late start and ended up having to sleep roughly on the very first day, he had been unable to light a fire, and after everything else, he had gotten them lost.
If he could not manage to recover here, then he had no idea what Holo might coax out of him in the future.
"I guess it's a knight's job to walk into the jaws of death for his princess."
Lawrence lowered the load from his shoulders, crouched down, and started getting ready. Holo cackled and remarked, "What an unreliable knight you are," as she hung over Lawrence's back and wrapped her arms around him.
He was glad she was in a good mood.
Lawrence wrapped cloth over his face, neck, wrists, and ankles, leaving only his eyes exposed before starting the fire.
It lit immediately.
"We chase the bees away with smoke, yes?" Holo confirmed with him.
Lawrence attached the twigs to the end of the pole in the shape of a bird's nest, drove the butt into the ground at his feet, and placed the slightly damp leaves on top with the embers.
White smoke soon began billowing upward.
"This little smoke is mostly just for peace of mind."
"Is that so?"
"If we burned so much that we found it hard to breathe, then it would definitely be effective, but...Well, there's so much foliage underneath the hive that I'm sure the fire would spread...What is it?"
Holo was staring off into space in response to Lawrence's explanation. For a moment, he entertained the idea that perhaps she pitied how her husband would be stung all over, but instead, she pointed.
"Why not use that?"
"What?"
She was suggesting that they use the devil's powder that summoned hell itself when a single pinch of the substance was added to a fire.
"Well, that's..."
Lawrence faltered but then decided it was worth it.
"We'll give it a try. Now that you mention it, we don't usually see any bugs in Nyohhira."
The smell of sulfur permeated the village they called home. Plenty of withered trees could be found throughout the area around Nyohhira as well, so it was understandable that many depictions of hell were described with the odor of burning sulfur.
"Also."
"Mm?"
Holo stared blankly, and Lawrence proudly spoke.
"If this goes well, we can tap into a whole new market for all that powder."
Holo, who had said herself that it would be effective as wolf repellent, shot him a grim smile.
"You would make money even if you slipped down into that hell the Church speaks of so often."
How lucky Lawrence was as a merchant to hear such a compliment.
In the end, they managed to collect the hive. It was on the larger side, so they could expect to harvest quite a lot of honey from it.

Output:
But his prize?
A smile from Holo so great that it made her eyes literally sparkle.
"Mmmmmm! So sweet!"
The hive was so grand that simply smoking it had not been enough to kill the bees inside. They would have to keep it in a sack and process it later, but before they put it away, Holo had broken off a piece of the hive, saying it was for "taste testing," and stuck her spoon into it.
Honey immediately trickled out and clung viscously to her spoon. It had a deeper color than the honey Lawrence usually saw and practically resembled hard candy.
Ultimately, the honey was so good that Holo's tail waved energetically even as she brought the spoon to her mouth and caused her to raise her voice in a cry of delight right after.
"Let me have a lick," Lawrence requested, and Holo, sitting on the driver's perch, looked at him like he was a dreaded debt collector.
After grudgingly shutting her eyes, as though to say she knew that the one who had bravely volunteered himself to obtain this honey for her was none other than Lawrence, Holo extended her spoon toward him.
With a tired smile, Lawrence scooped a bit onto his pinkie and had a taste. He was struck by a heady sweetness that did not belie the honey's impressive appearance.
And not only was it sweet, but there was also a peculiar scent about it, as though the honey carried the faint fragrance reminiscent of a decomposing tree, imparting a sense of what it smelled like deep inside a forest. Naturally, it had an excellent effect on the taste, giving its flavor more depth.
"This is incredible. What kind of syrup is it?"
"You can taste it as well, no?" Holo said, savoring the honey as she licked the spoon. "'Tis born of the large trees in this forest. Syrup of the trees."
"Tree syrup...Sap, huh? Interesting."
Now that he thought back on it, the bee had stopped at a tree on the way back to the hive.
Lawrence learned that day that bees did not collect nectar only from flowers.
"I wonder if the poacher knew the secret of the nectar here."
Someone else had wrapped a string around the bee before they arrived.
"I wonder as well. Bees always cross unbelievable distances. Perhaps it got collared when it became lost on a faraway mountain."
Whoever attached the string to their guide had not found the beehive, so what Holo said was entirely possible.
"But boy, we sure picked up a big one."
Lawrence had finished putting away the tools he had used to secure the hive and was reexamining the large sack sitting on the cart bed.
"I wasn't sure what was going to happen for a second there."
This deed of his should have been enough to clear his name of the trip's earlier blunders, and he wouldn't be surprised to have a little left over after the exchange.
Holo, still greedily licking her wooden spoon, noticed Lawrence's gaze on her and huffed.
"Were you planning to curry my favor with sweets?"
Her reddish-amber eyes stared straight at him, but Lawrence paid them no mind as he climbed up onto the driver's perch and sat next to her. She deliberately pinched her nose and scooted away from him.
"Of course I am. If we take that into the next town, we could get enough honey to fill an entire hand bucket."
"Ooooooh."
Seeing how Holo's eyes glittered in expectation, Lawrence didn't even bother with a wry smile.
He flicked the reins, and the horse moved forward.
"Sheesh, good and back luck really are two sides of the same coin, aren't they?"
A great man once said that good fortune and ill fortune were interwoven, like a rope. Lawrence was certain those wise words were perfectly accurate.
"I would prefer it if you could find a coin with good luck on both sides, though."
When Holo spoke spitefully, Lawrence had a response ready.
"Don't you always crave something salty right after eating sweets? It's the same thing."
"Perhaps you are right."
Holo then placed her hand on Lawrence's, which gripped the reins, and snuggled up to him.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
But his prize?
A smile from Holo so great that it made her eyes literally sparkle.
"Mmmmmm! So sweet!"
The hive was so grand that simply smoking it had not been enough to kill the bees inside. They would have to keep it in a sack and process it later, but before they put it away, Holo had broken off a piece of the hive, saying it was for "taste testing," and stuck her spoon into it.
Honey immediately trickled out and clung viscously to her spoon. It had a deeper color than the honey Lawrence usually saw and practically resembled hard candy.
Ultimately, the honey was so good that Holo's tail waved energetically even as she brought the spoon to her mouth and caused her to raise her voice in a cry of delight right after.
"Let me have a lick," Lawrence requested, and Holo, sitting on the driver's perch, looked at him like he was a dreaded debt collector.
After grudgingly shutting her eyes, as though to say she knew that the one who had bravely volunteered himself to obtain this honey for her was none other than Lawrence, Holo extended her spoon toward him.
With a tired smile, Lawrence scooped a bit onto his pinkie and had a taste. He was struck by a heady sweetness that did not belie the honey's impressive appearance.
And not only was it sweet, but there was also a peculiar scent about it, as though the honey carried the faint fragrance reminiscent of a decomposing tree, imparting a sense of what it smelled like deep inside a forest. Naturally, it had an excellent effect on the taste, giving its flavor more depth.
"This is incredible. What kind of syrup is it?"
"You can taste it as well, no?" Holo said, savoring the honey as she licked the spoon. "'Tis born of the large trees in this forest. Syrup of the trees."
"Tree syrup...Sap, huh? Interesting."
Now that he thought back on it, the bee had stopped at a tree on the way back to the hive.
Lawrence learned that day that bees did not collect nectar only from flowers.
"I wonder if the poacher knew the secret of the nectar here."
Someone else had wrapped a string around the bee before they arrived.
"I wonder as well. Bees always cross unbelievable distances. Perhaps it got collared when it became lost on a faraway mountain."
Whoever attached the string to their guide had not found the beehive, so what Holo said was entirely possible.
"But boy, we sure picked up a big one."
Lawrence had finished putting away the tools he had used to secure the hive and was reexamining the large sack sitting on the cart bed.
"I wasn't sure what was going to happen for a second there."
This deed of his should have been enough to clear his name of the trip's earlier blunders, and he wouldn't be surprised to have a little left over after the exchange.
Holo, still greedily licking her wooden spoon, noticed Lawrence's gaze on her and huffed.
"Were you planning to curry my favor with sweets?"
Her reddish-amber eyes stared straight at him, but Lawrence paid them no mind as he climbed up onto the driver's perch and sat next to her. She deliberately pinched her nose and scooted away from him.
"Of course I am. If we take that into the next town, we could get enough honey to fill an entire hand bucket."
"Ooooooh."
Seeing how Holo's eyes glittered in expectation, Lawrence didn't even bother with a wry smile.
He flicked the reins, and the horse moved forward.
"Sheesh, good and back luck really are two sides of the same coin, aren't they?"
A great man once said that good fortune and ill fortune were interwoven, like a rope. Lawrence was certain those wise words were perfectly accurate.
"I would prefer it if you could find a coin with good luck on both sides, though."
When Holo spoke spitefully, Lawrence had a response ready.
"Don't you always crave something salty right after eating sweets? It's the same thing."
"Perhaps you are right."
Holo then placed her hand on Lawrence's, which gripped the reins, and snuggled up to him.

Output:
"Huh? Wait, that was—"
"'That was' what exactly, hmm?"
Lawrence was at a loss for words in the face of Holo's bright smile.
When she cocked her head slightly, he finally released the breath he had been holding.
"The price we get for the honey. That's your limit."
Lawrence glanced over to Holo, and she beamed, pleased.
"Ha-ha. What a fun trip, no?"
She squeezed her arms around him tighter, clinging to him.
Maybe he should point out that she never complained about him being smelly at times like this.
But even if Holo was behaving rather deliberately, that didn't necessarily mean she was acting that way only for show.
Lawrence could see the difference between his beloved wife's real and fake smiles.
"Yeah, it's fun. So, so fun," Lawrence said. "I'm here with you, after all. Of course it's going to be fun."
Holo's eyes widened, and her ears and tail began to twitch.
They were deep in the woods, far from any human settlement.
Making the excuse to no one in particular, Lawrence wanted people to know that if anyone could smell something particularly sweet nearby, it had to be the beehive in the back and nothing else.
***
The cart made its way leisurely down the riverside road.
The forest thinned and the path started to even out. A few days after leaving the hot spring village of Nyohhira, said to be at the edge of the world, it finally felt like Holo and Lawrence were starting to catch glimpses of the mortal world. And yet, they still sometimes found themselves swallowed up by the mountains that reached the very edge of the river, and sometimes their path forced them to venture deep into the forest.
It was autumn, and they were wading through a sea of fallen leaves that came up to their ankles. The crunch of leaves underfoot was satisfying, and the smell of humus was invigorating. The only problem was that the fallen leaves often concealed the correct path, occasionally creating the illusion of a path that could not exist.
The couple almost found themselves lost on these fake roads many times, discounting the woods that they were familiar with. They did actually become lost once, making their way deep into a wood. By the time they realized their error, they were in a place not marked on the map, a scary situation that gave them chills when thinking back on it.
Lawrence, gripping the reins from atop the driver's perch, might have been a former merchant, but he was no woodcutter who wandered the forests freely.
He would soon fall dead if he got lost on his own and would either wind up as feed for the denizens of the forest or otherwise a nursery bed for mushrooms.
"You fool, that is not the right way."
Luckily, he had a reassuring partner sitting next to him who sometimes told him which way to turn.
It was a girl with flaxen hair, a color that the autumnal forest suited well. She was combing a pelt of the same color on her lap, but she was not the girl she appeared to be. Wolf ears topped her head and the pelt in her hands was in fact her very own tail.
Sitting beside Lawrence was Holo, the avatar of a wolf who resided in wheat, a being who had lived for hundreds of years and was Lawrence's dear companion for life.
"I get chills thinking about how I used to travel alone," Lawrence said as he pulled the reins to turn the horse around and put them back on the correct path. Holo emitted an annoyed sigh.
"That is because the only asset you have to your name is your good fortune."
The outline of Holo's fluffy and carefully groomed tail shimmered gold in the autumn sun. And since she always used rose oil to polish the fur, it was as beautiful as anything that could decorate a nobleman's villa.
"That's very true. I mean, I met you along the way, didn't I?"
Lawrence took her by surprise, saying those words in such a casual way. Holo's eyes immediately shot open before she went back to grooming her tail with a chuckle, but the way her ears flitted about showed that she was not as detached as she would have him believe.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
"Huh? Wait, that was—"
"'That was' what exactly, hmm?"
Lawrence was at a loss for words in the face of Holo's bright smile.
When she cocked her head slightly, he finally released the breath he had been holding.
"The price we get for the honey. That's your limit."
Lawrence glanced over to Holo, and she beamed, pleased.
"Ha-ha. What a fun trip, no?"
She squeezed her arms around him tighter, clinging to him.
Maybe he should point out that she never complained about him being smelly at times like this.
But even if Holo was behaving rather deliberately, that didn't necessarily mean she was acting that way only for show.
Lawrence could see the difference between his beloved wife's real and fake smiles.
"Yeah, it's fun. So, so fun," Lawrence said. "I'm here with you, after all. Of course it's going to be fun."
Holo's eyes widened, and her ears and tail began to twitch.
They were deep in the woods, far from any human settlement.
Making the excuse to no one in particular, Lawrence wanted people to know that if anyone could smell something particularly sweet nearby, it had to be the beehive in the back and nothing else.
***
The cart made its way leisurely down the riverside road.
The forest thinned and the path started to even out. A few days after leaving the hot spring village of Nyohhira, said to be at the edge of the world, it finally felt like Holo and Lawrence were starting to catch glimpses of the mortal world. And yet, they still sometimes found themselves swallowed up by the mountains that reached the very edge of the river, and sometimes their path forced them to venture deep into the forest.
It was autumn, and they were wading through a sea of fallen leaves that came up to their ankles. The crunch of leaves underfoot was satisfying, and the smell of humus was invigorating. The only problem was that the fallen leaves often concealed the correct path, occasionally creating the illusion of a path that could not exist.
The couple almost found themselves lost on these fake roads many times, discounting the woods that they were familiar with. They did actually become lost once, making their way deep into a wood. By the time they realized their error, they were in a place not marked on the map, a scary situation that gave them chills when thinking back on it.
Lawrence, gripping the reins from atop the driver's perch, might have been a former merchant, but he was no woodcutter who wandered the forests freely.
He would soon fall dead if he got lost on his own and would either wind up as feed for the denizens of the forest or otherwise a nursery bed for mushrooms.
"You fool, that is not the right way."
Luckily, he had a reassuring partner sitting next to him who sometimes told him which way to turn.
It was a girl with flaxen hair, a color that the autumnal forest suited well. She was combing a pelt of the same color on her lap, but she was not the girl she appeared to be. Wolf ears topped her head and the pelt in her hands was in fact her very own tail.
Sitting beside Lawrence was Holo, the avatar of a wolf who resided in wheat, a being who had lived for hundreds of years and was Lawrence's dear companion for life.
"I get chills thinking about how I used to travel alone," Lawrence said as he pulled the reins to turn the horse around and put them back on the correct path. Holo emitted an annoyed sigh.
"That is because the only asset you have to your name is your good fortune."
The outline of Holo's fluffy and carefully groomed tail shimmered gold in the autumn sun. And since she always used rose oil to polish the fur, it was as beautiful as anything that could decorate a nobleman's villa.
"That's very true. I mean, I met you along the way, didn't I?"
Lawrence took her by surprise, saying those words in such a casual way. Holo's eyes immediately shot open before she went back to grooming her tail with a chuckle, but the way her ears flitted about showed that she was not as detached as she would have him believe.

Output:
Lawrence thought about how he could always stay by her side and never grow tired of her company because of things like this.
"We really should've taken a boat down."
They could occasionally see the river from the twisting and turning path. It led all the way up to the hot spring village of Nyohhira, so there was quite a lot of boat traffic on the river. If they were willing to splurge, they could load their cart onto a ship and reach the sea in merely two days while they quietly gazed up at the sky and dozed off.
The reason they did not was simply for frugality's sake.
And the other reason was because Lawrence felt it would be a waste if they went so quickly.
This was a journey alone with Holo for the first time in years, and he wanted to take his time and enjoy it.
"But man...my back aches..."
Lawrence stood on the spot, still holding the reins, and stretched his back.
While it may be in part because he had not ridden on a cart for a long time, one of the reasons was his age.
"You exert the horse too much. Trust in it more," Holo scolded him as he stretched, cracked his neck, and sat back down on the driver's perch.
"Am I really using that much force on it?"
"Aye. 'Tis almost like when I first sat beside you."
Holo cast him a sidelong glance with an impish smile on her face.
Ten or so years ago, before he traveled with Holo, Lawrence was not used to being around women, so he used to constantly become flustered whenever she teased him.
"But I guess that hasn't changed much now, either. I'm holding the strings to my coin purse shut as tightly as I can so that none of the coins inside get wasted."
When he chased his response with a smile, Holo stomped on his foot.
"You fool."
Holo butted him on the shoulder with her head, and that only made him smile even more.
"Honestly, what am I to do with you...?"
As Holo was about to return to minding her tail as she muttered, her ears suddenly perked up.
"What is it?"
Just as Lawrence was about to turn to her, Holo lightly leaped from the driver's perch.
His eyes followed her as she walked along the crunching fallen leaves, but then she vanished behind a giant root that reared up from the ground. The moment he thought that his beloved maiden had run off to pick some flowers, she returned.
Her arms were full of large mushrooms that resembled opened umbrellas, and they practically hid her face.
"This forest is open and breezy. Mushrooms are easy pickings here."
She had been like this for the entire trip, and the cart bed was overflowing with foodstuffs. Lawrence could not help but smile as she leaned over the cart bed to file the mushrooms away into their respective sacks, her tail wagging all the while.
The sky was clear, and the weather was comfortable.
He sincerely thought that the only people who were enjoying such a lovely journey had to be them.
"This is fun."
The words slipped from his mouth before he could catch them.
Once Holo finished squirreling away the food, her ears and tail stood up straight in a reproving manner. The moment she turned around, though, the tension vanished, leaving her fur soft and relaxed again.
"Mm-hmm."
Holo took her place on the driver's perch again and smiled with delight.
When they first left Nyohhira, he had found it difficult to light a simple fire, and later got them lost, which made both of them doubtful about how the rest of their journey would turn out, but it seemed like they could continue to have an enjoyable trip.
As Lawrence took a deep breath, savoring the serene moment, Holo's tail nestled closer to join him under the blanket covering his lap. There was nothing warmer than carefully tended fur.
Befitting a merchant, Lawrence made the inexpensive wish that this time would last forever. Perhaps that was to blame for what happened next.
Holo spoke slowly.
"Listen, dear."
"Hmm?"
"I would like to write my memories down so that I will never forget how enjoyable this time is."
With a smile, Holo snuggled up to Lawrence's shoulder.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
Lawrence thought about how he could always stay by her side and never grow tired of her company because of things like this.
"We really should've taken a boat down."
They could occasionally see the river from the twisting and turning path. It led all the way up to the hot spring village of Nyohhira, so there was quite a lot of boat traffic on the river. If they were willing to splurge, they could load their cart onto a ship and reach the sea in merely two days while they quietly gazed up at the sky and dozed off.
The reason they did not was simply for frugality's sake.
And the other reason was because Lawrence felt it would be a waste if they went so quickly.
This was a journey alone with Holo for the first time in years, and he wanted to take his time and enjoy it.
"But man...my back aches..."
Lawrence stood on the spot, still holding the reins, and stretched his back.
While it may be in part because he had not ridden on a cart for a long time, one of the reasons was his age.
"You exert the horse too much. Trust in it more," Holo scolded him as he stretched, cracked his neck, and sat back down on the driver's perch.
"Am I really using that much force on it?"
"Aye. 'Tis almost like when I first sat beside you."
Holo cast him a sidelong glance with an impish smile on her face.
Ten or so years ago, before he traveled with Holo, Lawrence was not used to being around women, so he used to constantly become flustered whenever she teased him.
"But I guess that hasn't changed much now, either. I'm holding the strings to my coin purse shut as tightly as I can so that none of the coins inside get wasted."
When he chased his response with a smile, Holo stomped on his foot.
"You fool."
Holo butted him on the shoulder with her head, and that only made him smile even more.
"Honestly, what am I to do with you...?"
As Holo was about to return to minding her tail as she muttered, her ears suddenly perked up.
"What is it?"
Just as Lawrence was about to turn to her, Holo lightly leaped from the driver's perch.
His eyes followed her as she walked along the crunching fallen leaves, but then she vanished behind a giant root that reared up from the ground. The moment he thought that his beloved maiden had run off to pick some flowers, she returned.
Her arms were full of large mushrooms that resembled opened umbrellas, and they practically hid her face.
"This forest is open and breezy. Mushrooms are easy pickings here."
She had been like this for the entire trip, and the cart bed was overflowing with foodstuffs. Lawrence could not help but smile as she leaned over the cart bed to file the mushrooms away into their respective sacks, her tail wagging all the while.
The sky was clear, and the weather was comfortable.
He sincerely thought that the only people who were enjoying such a lovely journey had to be them.
"This is fun."
The words slipped from his mouth before he could catch them.
Once Holo finished squirreling away the food, her ears and tail stood up straight in a reproving manner. The moment she turned around, though, the tension vanished, leaving her fur soft and relaxed again.
"Mm-hmm."
Holo took her place on the driver's perch again and smiled with delight.
When they first left Nyohhira, he had found it difficult to light a simple fire, and later got them lost, which made both of them doubtful about how the rest of their journey would turn out, but it seemed like they could continue to have an enjoyable trip.
As Lawrence took a deep breath, savoring the serene moment, Holo's tail nestled closer to join him under the blanket covering his lap. There was nothing warmer than carefully tended fur.
Befitting a merchant, Lawrence made the inexpensive wish that this time would last forever. Perhaps that was to blame for what happened next.
Holo spoke slowly.
"Listen, dear."
"Hmm?"
"I would like to write my memories down so that I will never forget how enjoyable this time is."
With a smile, Holo snuggled up to Lawrence's shoulder.

Output:
Whenever she smiled innocently, that usually meant she had ulterior motives.
Holo had been sweetening him up only so she could try to get something from him.
Just like how there was no such thing as a journey that consisted of only good times, there was no journey without its expenses.
Holo was trying to win over Lawrence to buy her more stationery supplies because ever since they embarked on their trip, she had gotten carried away by her good mood and taken advantage of all the free time she had on her hands by writing and then writing some more.
Holo might live for hundreds of years yet, but Lawrence would not. He had suggested for her sake and because of their differing life spans that she should write down what happened every day. That way, she could forever enjoy these blissful days, as long as she wrote so much that she would forget what she wrote at the beginning by the time she reached the end.
Lawrence was not entirely sure if that would truly be a good thing, but Holo, at the very least, had been delighted by the idea. It was even fair to say that she had become obsessed. Ultimately, he was happy to spend money on her paper, pens, and precious ink—which did not come cheap. It wasn't like he could bring coins with him to the afterlife.
He was satisfied with that line of thought, but at the end of the day, Lawrence was a merchant at heart.
He could not help but recoil at how she had used up all her writing supplies jotting down whatever she pleased in the few, scant days since their journey began.
"Why don't you peel a bit of bark off a tree and write on that with a nail?"
Holo's true form was a massive wolf, so she could acquire as much bark as she wanted with a single swipe of her claw.
"You fool, tree bark does not last long."
"Well...I don't think we're going to get any writing material unless we make it out to sea and go all the way up the coast to the port town of Atiph."
"Do they not have sheep and cows wandering about up there?"
It sounded like she was planning on butchering them with her massive claws, skinning their remains, and fashioning parchment from their hides.
"And we would secure some meat from them as well, so two birds with one stone. No ink, but...Oh well, 'tis the same either way."
"I'll tell you up front that I don't know how to make parchment."
"How useless."
Lawrence came incredibly close to saying, Who's the one who wasted it all? before he swallowed those words. Holo had written a tremendous amount while her tail floated about only because so many fun things had happened.
They had several large hemp sacks full of cargo lying in the cart bed. Alongside the bounty of the autumn woods that Holo had been constantly harvesting on the road, there was one bundle that made a buzzing sound that anyone listening carefully could hear. There had actually been an incident earlier involving some of this bag's occupants suddenly escaping through gaps in the lining before whizzing around Holo and Lawrence.
In that bag was a massive beehive, one Lawrence had obtained only after enduring several stings to various places on his body.
"Good grief...Well, it'll take us a little out of the way, but we can make a detour."
"Oh?"
Lawrence offered a suggestion as he unfolded the map, and Holo's interest was piqued.
"There's a branch in the road right here. I think there should be an inn nearby...Yep, there it is. People on their way to Nyohhira stop by there, so I think they might have a store of some paper and ink."
The guests of honor who patronized the hot spring village of Nyohhira included nobles and royalty, as well as archbishops from cathedrals, abbots from great monasteries that owned massive swathes of land, and more of the same. For this class of people, their job was to write, so it would not be surprising if the inn had all the tools they needed to do so.
"Then, we shall head that way. And what praises they shall receive if they offer hot stew as well."


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
Whenever she smiled innocently, that usually meant she had ulterior motives.
Holo had been sweetening him up only so she could try to get something from him.
Just like how there was no such thing as a journey that consisted of only good times, there was no journey without its expenses.
Holo was trying to win over Lawrence to buy her more stationery supplies because ever since they embarked on their trip, she had gotten carried away by her good mood and taken advantage of all the free time she had on her hands by writing and then writing some more.
Holo might live for hundreds of years yet, but Lawrence would not. He had suggested for her sake and because of their differing life spans that she should write down what happened every day. That way, she could forever enjoy these blissful days, as long as she wrote so much that she would forget what she wrote at the beginning by the time she reached the end.
Lawrence was not entirely sure if that would truly be a good thing, but Holo, at the very least, had been delighted by the idea. It was even fair to say that she had become obsessed. Ultimately, he was happy to spend money on her paper, pens, and precious ink—which did not come cheap. It wasn't like he could bring coins with him to the afterlife.
He was satisfied with that line of thought, but at the end of the day, Lawrence was a merchant at heart.
He could not help but recoil at how she had used up all her writing supplies jotting down whatever she pleased in the few, scant days since their journey began.
"Why don't you peel a bit of bark off a tree and write on that with a nail?"
Holo's true form was a massive wolf, so she could acquire as much bark as she wanted with a single swipe of her claw.
"You fool, tree bark does not last long."
"Well...I don't think we're going to get any writing material unless we make it out to sea and go all the way up the coast to the port town of Atiph."
"Do they not have sheep and cows wandering about up there?"
It sounded like she was planning on butchering them with her massive claws, skinning their remains, and fashioning parchment from their hides.
"And we would secure some meat from them as well, so two birds with one stone. No ink, but...Oh well, 'tis the same either way."
"I'll tell you up front that I don't know how to make parchment."
"How useless."
Lawrence came incredibly close to saying, Who's the one who wasted it all? before he swallowed those words. Holo had written a tremendous amount while her tail floated about only because so many fun things had happened.
They had several large hemp sacks full of cargo lying in the cart bed. Alongside the bounty of the autumn woods that Holo had been constantly harvesting on the road, there was one bundle that made a buzzing sound that anyone listening carefully could hear. There had actually been an incident earlier involving some of this bag's occupants suddenly escaping through gaps in the lining before whizzing around Holo and Lawrence.
In that bag was a massive beehive, one Lawrence had obtained only after enduring several stings to various places on his body.
"Good grief...Well, it'll take us a little out of the way, but we can make a detour."
"Oh?"
Lawrence offered a suggestion as he unfolded the map, and Holo's interest was piqued.
"There's a branch in the road right here. I think there should be an inn nearby...Yep, there it is. People on their way to Nyohhira stop by there, so I think they might have a store of some paper and ink."
The guests of honor who patronized the hot spring village of Nyohhira included nobles and royalty, as well as archbishops from cathedrals, abbots from great monasteries that owned massive swathes of land, and more of the same. For this class of people, their job was to write, so it would not be surprising if the inn had all the tools they needed to do so.
"Then, we shall head that way. And what praises they shall receive if they offer hot stew as well."

Output:
Either way, as long as she was having fun, then that was enough.
"All right, let's check it out."
"Indeed."
Lawrence watched Holo from the corner of his eye as she agreed with a satisfied nod. He let out a resigned sigh, then diverted the horse from their original westward course to head north.
The inn was not very far away.
It appeared to have once been a gathering place for woodcutters, so as a holdover from that, there was a pile of several logs nearby, left to the moss and rot. The inn's sign, which resembled an ax, sat above it.
The inn itself was covered in more ivy and moss than the logs were.
"Mm. This is a good inn," Holo said, sniffing. Since the inn was located deep in the woods and the building itself seemed very old, their first impression was that it was like they had stumbled upon a dwelling for forest spirits.
However, the beams and pillars supporting the eaves were made from lumber that looked freshly cut, the fenced garden had vegetables growing in it, and there were goats and pigs lazily munching on sunny patches of grass.
It was readily apparent that the place was well maintained.
That said, Holo was admiring something else entirely—the scent of bread that wafted from the inn's chimney.
"Shall we be staying here tonight?"
"If they have any beds open."
The reason Lawrence gave such a tentative response was not because he was hoping to save on lodging by sleeping in a shed.
He had noticed three magnificent-looking horses tethered to stalls in the stables, as well as several people who were already enjoying some drinks who were most likely the horse guards.
There was a good chance people of considerable status were rooming here.
"Well, I'll at least ask if we can sleep someplace with a roof."
"Shall I pretend to be ill?"
"They might let you sit in front of the fire, but I don't know if you can expect meat and drink like that."
"Ooooh."
Lawrence smiled wryly as Holo sincerely fretted over the possibility of no meat or alcohol with an earnest expression. After he found a spot to park the cart, he decided to first open the door to the inn.
"Excuse me, coming in."
The staff must have been in the middle of preparing dinner because he was immediately greeted by the sweet fragrance of bread. The unmistakable smell of garlic and fat tickled his appetite.
Holo followed in after him, her stomach grumbling loudly.
"Well now, we don't often see people like you around here. A traveling merchant, is it?"
Someone who appeared to be the innkeeper stood from a table where he had been in the middle of a lively conversation. There were white streaks in his beard, and he looked exactly like the kind of person who would live in the forest.
"No, I—"
Just as Lawrence was about to introduce himself, someone who had been sitting at the same table as the innkeeper spoke up.
"Well, if it isn't Sir Lawrence!"
Lawrence looked and saw a monastery abbot who had come to stay as a guest at his bathhouse several times.
"What a pleasant surprise, Father Abbot. This must be God's guidance."
"What a coincidence. Oh, and your wife."
When the abbot greeted Holo after noticing her presence, she gracefully nodded—she was always a skilled actor at times like this.
"Sir, this is the owner of Spice and Wolf in Nyohhira."
"Well, well. Don't tell me you have plans to open a bathhouse in this area, do you?"
Everyone laughed at the innkeeper's joke, and after shaking hands with Lawrence, he offered them a seat.
There was a person of rather high standing there who had stayed seated.
"Ah, Sir Lawrence, this is Lord Beavery, ruler of the neighboring land. Lord Beavery, this is Sir Lawrence, owner of a prominent bathhouse in Nyohhira."
"Ah, a bathhouse. I've heard of it. A bathhouse of endless smiles, is it?"


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
Either way, as long as she was having fun, then that was enough.
"All right, let's check it out."
"Indeed."
Lawrence watched Holo from the corner of his eye as she agreed with a satisfied nod. He let out a resigned sigh, then diverted the horse from their original westward course to head north.
The inn was not very far away.
It appeared to have once been a gathering place for woodcutters, so as a holdover from that, there was a pile of several logs nearby, left to the moss and rot. The inn's sign, which resembled an ax, sat above it.
The inn itself was covered in more ivy and moss than the logs were.
"Mm. This is a good inn," Holo said, sniffing. Since the inn was located deep in the woods and the building itself seemed very old, their first impression was that it was like they had stumbled upon a dwelling for forest spirits.
However, the beams and pillars supporting the eaves were made from lumber that looked freshly cut, the fenced garden had vegetables growing in it, and there were goats and pigs lazily munching on sunny patches of grass.
It was readily apparent that the place was well maintained.
That said, Holo was admiring something else entirely—the scent of bread that wafted from the inn's chimney.
"Shall we be staying here tonight?"
"If they have any beds open."
The reason Lawrence gave such a tentative response was not because he was hoping to save on lodging by sleeping in a shed.
He had noticed three magnificent-looking horses tethered to stalls in the stables, as well as several people who were already enjoying some drinks who were most likely the horse guards.
There was a good chance people of considerable status were rooming here.
"Well, I'll at least ask if we can sleep someplace with a roof."
"Shall I pretend to be ill?"
"They might let you sit in front of the fire, but I don't know if you can expect meat and drink like that."
"Ooooh."
Lawrence smiled wryly as Holo sincerely fretted over the possibility of no meat or alcohol with an earnest expression. After he found a spot to park the cart, he decided to first open the door to the inn.
"Excuse me, coming in."
The staff must have been in the middle of preparing dinner because he was immediately greeted by the sweet fragrance of bread. The unmistakable smell of garlic and fat tickled his appetite.
Holo followed in after him, her stomach grumbling loudly.
"Well now, we don't often see people like you around here. A traveling merchant, is it?"
Someone who appeared to be the innkeeper stood from a table where he had been in the middle of a lively conversation. There were white streaks in his beard, and he looked exactly like the kind of person who would live in the forest.
"No, I—"
Just as Lawrence was about to introduce himself, someone who had been sitting at the same table as the innkeeper spoke up.
"Well, if it isn't Sir Lawrence!"
Lawrence looked and saw a monastery abbot who had come to stay as a guest at his bathhouse several times.
"What a pleasant surprise, Father Abbot. This must be God's guidance."
"What a coincidence. Oh, and your wife."
When the abbot greeted Holo after noticing her presence, she gracefully nodded—she was always a skilled actor at times like this.
"Sir, this is the owner of Spice and Wolf in Nyohhira."
"Well, well. Don't tell me you have plans to open a bathhouse in this area, do you?"
Everyone laughed at the innkeeper's joke, and after shaking hands with Lawrence, he offered them a seat.
There was a person of rather high standing there who had stayed seated.
"Ah, Sir Lawrence, this is Lord Beavery, ruler of the neighboring land. Lord Beavery, this is Sir Lawrence, owner of a prominent bathhouse in Nyohhira."
"Ah, a bathhouse. I've heard of it. A bathhouse of endless smiles, is it?"

Output:
"But, Sir Lawrence, shouldn't you be busy working to prepare for the winter right about now? Or perhaps you are on your way to pick up an order?"
The question was out of the blue, but there was nothing in particular he needed to hide about Col and Myuri. So as Lawrence relaxed, he announced that they were on their way to see the two, and the abbot gave a deep nod.
"I see. My word, we've been hearing about Sir Col's activities. It feels like hearing about a war hero to us, but I'm sure you must be worried."
Col had struck out from Nyohhira, saying that he would give his all to reform the Church that had become so deeply corrupted. Their only daughter, Myuri, had gone after him, and by all accounts, the two of them were accomplishing great things.
"Father Abbot, are you on your way to Nyohhira now?"
"Yes. It is because of Sir Col's influence that things were so dizzying this spring and summer. Things have finally calmed down some, so I decided that I should take a break as soon as the chance presented itself."
Right now, the owners of churches and monasteries were being forced to reevaluate their assets because of Col's and Myuri's influence. They were busy getting piles of permits and property in order to avoid being turned into scapegoats.
"Gosh...I'm sorry Col has been causing you so much trouble."
"Oh, no, he's not any trouble at all. This is a fantastic opportunity. It's hard to get started on a thorough cleaning without some sort of catalyst."
And as someone who was being asked to help with that cleaning by the clergy who patronized the bathhouse, Lawrence found his cordial smile drawn taut.
As they chatted about this and that, Holo suddenly lightly tugged on his sleeve.
She was asking if they could cut to the chase and request what they had originally come for.
"Oh, that's right, if I may inquire about something," Lawrence began. "Would you happen to have any spare writing implements?"
It was not just the abbot but also the innkeeper, who had brought him his drink, who stared at Lawrence blankly.
"Writing implements?"
"We are writing down what we see along the road in order to add to our stock of knowledge, but we have run out of paper and ink. We were hoping that we might borrow some, if you had any left over."
When Lawrence spoke, the abbot and the innkeeper exchanged glances, then both looked at him in tandem with troubled smiles.
"Well, we were just talking about this very thing."
"Sorry?"
The abbot cleared his throat.
"Thanks to everything Sir Col has done, all the vaults of the world are in the middle of literally turning themselves inside out right at this moment. And Sir Col is also working on a common-language translation of the scripture so that anyone may read it, yes? That has quite the impact—quills, ink, and everything else fly off the shelves as soon as they arrive."
There were not many people who could read and write, so there were typically only a limited number of people who needed pens and ink.
"I have also asked around in the towns I've stopped in and they've been hard to find, leaving any leftover stock at a terribly high price. Lord Beavery here"—the abbot gestured to the lord—"he bought and stockpiled quite a bit last year, so we were just discussing how much he might share with me."
The word lord evoked an image of someone with a dignified beard and features, but while Beavery did have a magnificent beard, his eyes were serene, which perhaps made him seem somewhat sleepy.
Since he had easily offered his hand in greeting, perhaps he really was a serene man.
"I simply bought them from a minstrel who just happened to stay in my village last year. He said he was marrying a dancing girl he met in Nyohhira and was returning to his hometown. He said that what he needed were no longer pens but ploughs."


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
"But, Sir Lawrence, shouldn't you be busy working to prepare for the winter right about now? Or perhaps you are on your way to pick up an order?"
The question was out of the blue, but there was nothing in particular he needed to hide about Col and Myuri. So as Lawrence relaxed, he announced that they were on their way to see the two, and the abbot gave a deep nod.
"I see. My word, we've been hearing about Sir Col's activities. It feels like hearing about a war hero to us, but I'm sure you must be worried."
Col had struck out from Nyohhira, saying that he would give his all to reform the Church that had become so deeply corrupted. Their only daughter, Myuri, had gone after him, and by all accounts, the two of them were accomplishing great things.
"Father Abbot, are you on your way to Nyohhira now?"
"Yes. It is because of Sir Col's influence that things were so dizzying this spring and summer. Things have finally calmed down some, so I decided that I should take a break as soon as the chance presented itself."
Right now, the owners of churches and monasteries were being forced to reevaluate their assets because of Col's and Myuri's influence. They were busy getting piles of permits and property in order to avoid being turned into scapegoats.
"Gosh...I'm sorry Col has been causing you so much trouble."
"Oh, no, he's not any trouble at all. This is a fantastic opportunity. It's hard to get started on a thorough cleaning without some sort of catalyst."
And as someone who was being asked to help with that cleaning by the clergy who patronized the bathhouse, Lawrence found his cordial smile drawn taut.
As they chatted about this and that, Holo suddenly lightly tugged on his sleeve.
She was asking if they could cut to the chase and request what they had originally come for.
"Oh, that's right, if I may inquire about something," Lawrence began. "Would you happen to have any spare writing implements?"
It was not just the abbot but also the innkeeper, who had brought him his drink, who stared at Lawrence blankly.
"Writing implements?"
"We are writing down what we see along the road in order to add to our stock of knowledge, but we have run out of paper and ink. We were hoping that we might borrow some, if you had any left over."
When Lawrence spoke, the abbot and the innkeeper exchanged glances, then both looked at him in tandem with troubled smiles.
"Well, we were just talking about this very thing."
"Sorry?"
The abbot cleared his throat.
"Thanks to everything Sir Col has done, all the vaults of the world are in the middle of literally turning themselves inside out right at this moment. And Sir Col is also working on a common-language translation of the scripture so that anyone may read it, yes? That has quite the impact—quills, ink, and everything else fly off the shelves as soon as they arrive."
There were not many people who could read and write, so there were typically only a limited number of people who needed pens and ink.
"I have also asked around in the towns I've stopped in and they've been hard to find, leaving any leftover stock at a terribly high price. Lord Beavery here"—the abbot gestured to the lord—"he bought and stockpiled quite a bit last year, so we were just discussing how much he might share with me."
The word lord evoked an image of someone with a dignified beard and features, but while Beavery did have a magnificent beard, his eyes were serene, which perhaps made him seem somewhat sleepy.
Since he had easily offered his hand in greeting, perhaps he really was a serene man.
"I simply bought them from a minstrel who just happened to stay in my village last year. He said he was marrying a dancing girl he met in Nyohhira and was returning to his hometown. He said that what he needed were no longer pens but ploughs."

Output:
That being said, the abbot had been the first to ask about the ink and whatnot that the lord had bought from the minstrel, so Lawrence had no choice but to give up on it. Just as he was thinking about having Holo wait patiently until they got to Atiph, the abbot spoke.
"But, Lord Beavery, it most certainly is God's will that Sir Lawrence came to the inn looking for ink and paper."
"What?"
When Lawrence asked that in response, Beavery, the abbot, and the innkeeper all looked to him with a smile.
The innkeeper spoke first.
"Lord Beavery has been searching for help. It is very common that knowledgeable and learned people drop by here, after all."
"Unfortunately, I am neither, but I think you would be perfect for the job, Sir Lawrence."
When the abbot spoke, Beavery adjusted himself in his seat and looked straight at Lawrence. It was a display typical of those in power.
"I, Beavery, have devoutly prayed to God here in a land that was once deemed heretical territory. It is a pure stroke of good luck that I have come across you, Sir Lawrence, such a notable and skilled merchant, who has been quietly supporting the Debau Company."
Lawrence was perplexed, unable to figure out where this was going at all, but Holo beside him was leisurely sipping on her drink, which meant that there was nothing dangerous about the situation.
Lawrence cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and replied:
"How could I possibly be of service to you, my lord?"
Beavery responded quietly. "Could you save my land from its plight? With that keen sense you have for trade?" the bearded, sleepy-looking lord implored and then looked to the abbot beside him. "I would like to present Sir Lawrence with some ink and paper as thanks. Would you mind?"
"Oh, of course not. I am sure that is what God desires as well."
Beavery nodded and turned back to Lawrence.
"And so that is what I propose. What do you think?"
These were the urgent wishes of a neighboring lord. And since it seemed the shortage of ink and paper was spreading, there was no guarantee they would get any even if they went all the way to Atiph.
His merchant alarm bells were loudly ringing, wondering what sort of thing might be asked of him, but he could also feel silent pressure emanating from Holo. If he said no here, then he would have to be ready to sleep without Holo's tail for quite a while.
"Very well. I will do all I can to help you."
"Oh, how wonderful!"
Beavery stood, gripping Lawrence's hand with both of his.
The abbot offered a prayer at the sight, and the innkeeper started to fill the cups for a toast.
Lawrence wore a wary smile fit for a merchant, but the situation still bothered him.
What in the world could a lord who frequented this inn be searching for?
While he felt uneasy, he also was curious.
They wanted his knowledge about trade, so he would draw upon all his past experiences.
"I'd like you to come to my land straightaway. I will treat you to the bounties of my—" The genial Beavery said that much before stopping and looking to the innkeeper. "Would that get in the way of your trade, keeper?"
Beavery seemed serious, but both the innkeeper and the abbot burst into laughter and shook their heads.
It seemed like Beavery was the type of lord who was beloved by many people. Even Holo, who was typically strict in her evaluations of people, seemed to be enjoying herself as she sat beside Lawrence.
"Then let us go before the sun sets. My manor is not far from here."
When Beavery spoke, Lawrence respectfully lowered his head.
Beavery's territory was truly not far from the inn. According to what Lawrence heard along the way, the inn was originally a lumber-cutting house that used to belong to the lord's family.
The trees began to thin out, and just as they reached what looked like a small plain between forests, a pastoral village came into view.
As villagers passed Beavery and his lone horse guard, they greeted him casually.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
That being said, the abbot had been the first to ask about the ink and whatnot that the lord had bought from the minstrel, so Lawrence had no choice but to give up on it. Just as he was thinking about having Holo wait patiently until they got to Atiph, the abbot spoke.
"But, Lord Beavery, it most certainly is God's will that Sir Lawrence came to the inn looking for ink and paper."
"What?"
When Lawrence asked that in response, Beavery, the abbot, and the innkeeper all looked to him with a smile.
The innkeeper spoke first.
"Lord Beavery has been searching for help. It is very common that knowledgeable and learned people drop by here, after all."
"Unfortunately, I am neither, but I think you would be perfect for the job, Sir Lawrence."
When the abbot spoke, Beavery adjusted himself in his seat and looked straight at Lawrence. It was a display typical of those in power.
"I, Beavery, have devoutly prayed to God here in a land that was once deemed heretical territory. It is a pure stroke of good luck that I have come across you, Sir Lawrence, such a notable and skilled merchant, who has been quietly supporting the Debau Company."
Lawrence was perplexed, unable to figure out where this was going at all, but Holo beside him was leisurely sipping on her drink, which meant that there was nothing dangerous about the situation.
Lawrence cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and replied:
"How could I possibly be of service to you, my lord?"
Beavery responded quietly. "Could you save my land from its plight? With that keen sense you have for trade?" the bearded, sleepy-looking lord implored and then looked to the abbot beside him. "I would like to present Sir Lawrence with some ink and paper as thanks. Would you mind?"
"Oh, of course not. I am sure that is what God desires as well."
Beavery nodded and turned back to Lawrence.
"And so that is what I propose. What do you think?"
These were the urgent wishes of a neighboring lord. And since it seemed the shortage of ink and paper was spreading, there was no guarantee they would get any even if they went all the way to Atiph.
His merchant alarm bells were loudly ringing, wondering what sort of thing might be asked of him, but he could also feel silent pressure emanating from Holo. If he said no here, then he would have to be ready to sleep without Holo's tail for quite a while.
"Very well. I will do all I can to help you."
"Oh, how wonderful!"
Beavery stood, gripping Lawrence's hand with both of his.
The abbot offered a prayer at the sight, and the innkeeper started to fill the cups for a toast.
Lawrence wore a wary smile fit for a merchant, but the situation still bothered him.
What in the world could a lord who frequented this inn be searching for?
While he felt uneasy, he also was curious.
They wanted his knowledge about trade, so he would draw upon all his past experiences.
"I'd like you to come to my land straightaway. I will treat you to the bounties of my—" The genial Beavery said that much before stopping and looking to the innkeeper. "Would that get in the way of your trade, keeper?"
Beavery seemed serious, but both the innkeeper and the abbot burst into laughter and shook their heads.
It seemed like Beavery was the type of lord who was beloved by many people. Even Holo, who was typically strict in her evaluations of people, seemed to be enjoying herself as she sat beside Lawrence.
"Then let us go before the sun sets. My manor is not far from here."
When Beavery spoke, Lawrence respectfully lowered his head.
Beavery's territory was truly not far from the inn. According to what Lawrence heard along the way, the inn was originally a lumber-cutting house that used to belong to the lord's family.
The trees began to thin out, and just as they reached what looked like a small plain between forests, a pastoral village came into view.
As villagers passed Beavery and his lone horse guard, they greeted him casually.

Output:
"Sir Lawrence, there's a major problem I'd like you to take care of that's giving the village's head some trouble."
That was what Beavery brought up as they made their way down a path that led between wheat fields, both of which had been fully harvested.
"Something that requires my knowledge of trade?"
"Very much so."
Beavery offered a pleasant smile to a villager passing them on the way home from farmwork before continuing.
"As a matter of fact, none of us, including myself, knows anything about trade, so we don't know what to do..."
"But this village seems peaceful enough to me. It doesn't seem like there are any problems."
Most of the time, simply by stepping foot into a village, it was clear whether the people were deep in debt because they had caught the attentions of a wicked merchant or if they were plagued by heavy taxes under a tyrannical lord.
"Luckily, it's not something that's interrupting the villagers' daily lives, but...that is the very reason why we have not been thinking seriously about it." Beavery sighed. "Even in remote villages like this, when the currents of the world—or the waves, rather—reach us, people get tossed about. In a similar way, I, too, have started to lose confidence in my way of thinking."
"What do you mean?"
When Lawrence asked, Beavery spoke with sad eyes, as though revealing shame within his family.
"It's what we should do with this forest that supports my land and my people."
"The forest?"
There was a glint in Holo's eyes, tipsy from drinking wine at the inn.
"Yes. Just as the father abbot said, the world is forging ahead at a hurried pace, and we have been impacted by it. In essence—"
The modest-looking landlord's home could now be seen, standing at the end of the road before the forest.
"We are arguing over how we might be able to get the greatest return from our forest," the homely lord said, the expression on his face showing that he was truly at his wit's end.
The dinner Beavery treated them to that night had the table lined with hare, quail, snipe, and goose.
It was not the large sort of meat meant to be preserved, like beef or pork, but instead the blessings of the mountains meant to be caught fresh every time, and the mere thought of eating something like this in a town would've caused gold coins to fly out of Lawrence's wallet.
Holo was of course absolutely delighted, but Lawrence only felt even greater pressure.
What Beavery told them as they sat around dinner did not sound like something that could be solved simply.
"Phew...I've not had meat quite so delicious in such a long time..."
Holo, laying on the bed with her hand on her stomach, swished her tail back and forth, wholly satisfied.
"The meat makes it clear—the forest behind this mansion is of exceptional quality. To think they might lay their hands on it to cut down the wood—it is the height of folly. The bearded one's point of keeping the trees where they are in the woods is worthy of note."
Lawrence, who sat on the corner of the bed, looked to Holo when she gave a quiet burp, and then looked back toward the candlelight and sighed.
"You may be right, but..."
"What, you side with the fools?"
Holo's words were rather stern because they were dealing with the future of a forest.
Even if it was not her own territory, she could not bear the thought of a bountiful forest being brought to ruin.
"I understand how the villagers feel when they say they want to cut down the trees and sell the wood."
"...Hmm?"
Holo opened one of her eyes to look at Lawrence.
"The war with the pagans ended, trade boomed, and a great many things shot up in price. That's also the reason why we've been so worried about the shortage of small change in Nyohhira."
Fresh in Lawrence's mind was the memory of the bathhouse owners, hearing that he and Holo were headed on a trip, all approaching him and asking for help in exchanging their money for petty change.


Instruction: Given first part of the popular LightNovel spice and wolf as input, continue the story the best you can.

Input:
"Sir Lawrence, there's a major problem I'd like you to take care of that's giving the village's head some trouble."
That was what Beavery brought up as they made their way down a path that led between wheat fields, both of which had been fully harvested.
"Something that requires my knowledge of trade?"
"Very much so."
Beavery offered a pleasant smile to a villager passing them on the way home from farmwork before continuing.
"As a matter of fact, none of us, including myself, knows anything about trade, so we don't know what to do..."
"But this village seems peaceful enough to me. It doesn't seem like there are any problems."
Most of the time, simply by stepping foot into a village, it was clear whether the people were deep in debt because they had caught the attentions of a wicked merchant or if they were plagued by heavy taxes under a tyrannical lord.
"Luckily, it's not something that's interrupting the villagers' daily lives, but...that is the very reason why we have not been thinking seriously about it." Beavery sighed. "Even in remote villages like this, when the currents of the world—or the waves, rather—reach us, people get tossed about. In a similar way, I, too, have started to lose confidence in my way of thinking."
"What do you mean?"
When Lawrence asked, Beavery spoke with sad eyes, as though revealing shame within his family.
"It's what we should do with this forest that supports my land and my people."
"The forest?"
There was a glint in Holo's eyes, tipsy from drinking wine at the inn.
"Yes. Just as the father abbot said, the world is forging ahead at a hurried pace, and we have been impacted by it. In essence—"
The modest-looking landlord's home could now be seen, standing at the end of the road before the forest.
"We are arguing over how we might be able to get the greatest return from our forest," the homely lord said, the expression on his face showing that he was truly at his wit's end.
The dinner Beavery treated them to that night had the table lined with hare, quail, snipe, and goose.
It was not the large sort of meat meant to be preserved, like beef or pork, but instead the blessings of the mountains meant to be caught fresh every time, and the mere thought of eating something like this in a town would've caused gold coins to fly out of Lawrence's wallet.
Holo was of course absolutely delighted, but Lawrence only felt even greater pressure.
What Beavery told them as they sat around dinner did not sound like something that could be solved simply.
"Phew...I've not had meat quite so delicious in such a long time..."
Holo, laying on the bed with her hand on her stomach, swished her tail back and forth, wholly satisfied.
"The meat makes it clear—the forest behind this mansion is of exceptional quality. To think they might lay their hands on it to cut down the wood—it is the height of folly. The bearded one's point of keeping the trees where they are in the woods is worthy of note."
Lawrence, who sat on the corner of the bed, looked to Holo when she gave a quiet burp, and then looked back toward the candlelight and sighed.
"You may be right, but..."
"What, you side with the fools?"
Holo's words were rather stern because they were dealing with the future of a forest.
Even if it was not her own territory, she could not bear the thought of a bountiful forest being brought to ruin.
"I understand how the villagers feel when they say they want to cut down the trees and sell the wood."
"...Hmm?"
Holo opened one of her eyes to look at Lawrence.
"The war with the pagans ended, trade boomed, and a great many things shot up in price. That's also the reason why we've been so worried about the shortage of small change in Nyohhira."
Fresh in Lawrence's mind was the memory of the bathhouse owners, hearing that he and Holo were headed on a trip, all approaching him and asking for help in exchanging their money for petty change.

Output:
Holo then rolled onto her side, propped her head up, and grumpily thumped her tail against the bed.
"Fool. Doing that would lay waste to such a beautiful forest. Have you forgotten how delicious that meat was?"
"I appreciate that position, too. The reason the village has been able to preserve such a relaxing atmosphere is probably thanks to how rich the forest is."
"Mm. So you do understand."
Holo seemed proud, as though she had been praised; she was probably a little drunk.
"Beavery seems like an understanding and good-natured lord. He said he has been generously allowing the villagers to gather mushrooms, honey, and even wild oats and rye from the forest. So even if the harvest fails, they never have to worry about food."
"Aye. 'Tis not a bad thing..."
Holo spoke with half-lidded eyes. It was probably because she had just eaten and drank her fill, but she was also likely tired from being on the road for the first time in quite a while.
"But that being said, they can't make a living without silver. The village needs to make money in order to purchase goods they can't produce on their own."
"Mm-hmm...But to cut down and sell the trees? What a daft plan..."
Holo's head dropped from the support she was giving it.
She would soon go straight to curling herself up, so Lawrence stood with a sigh and began to remove the robe she still had on.
"Rrrgh...I do not mind sleeping like this..."
"Yes you do. You'll damage the fabric."
"Fool..."
Holo's movements grew more sluggish as she spoke. It amazed him that she could act like this on one hand and on the other, insist that she was the wisewolf, a great being once worshipped as a god.
After he peeled the robe from her, he removed the pouch of wheat from around her neck and placed it by the pillow.
By then, she was already in the world of dreams, snoring softly.
"Really, what a handful." Lawrence sighed, folded the robe, and then walked over to the window.
The nighttime autumn wind was a little cold on his skin, and the forest harbored a deep darkness despite the moonlight cast upon it.
"Cut trees will still grow back...so it'd be best to sell them at a high price while they can, huh?"
There were more than a handful of villagers who thought that way.
However, Beavery, who had managed this land for generations, was afraid that laying waste to the forest for such an impulsive leap would mean that they would no longer be able to rely on the blessings of the forest as they always had.
Even if that was a sort of religious view of the forest, it was not entirely groundless.
Even mushrooms would stop growing after a few years if uprooted entirely to sate greed. By cutting down the trees, the direction of the air currents would change, the flow of water would change, the plants would change, and so would the habitats of animals like the birds and the bees.
And it would take more than a generation before the trees would begin to grow back.
In the end, there was ample reason to be cautious over whether they should take this shortcut.
But what if the value of lumber went down as they hemmed and hawed, only for the village to find itself beset by crop failure, or fire, or any other disaster that required a large amount of money?
He could imagine they would start quarrelling over how they should have sold the lumber earlier.
The landlord, Beavery, wanted to lessen the villagers' troubles while also preserving the lush forest for the future and putting some money on reserve for his territory.
Then what were they supposed to do?
Lawrence had been staring into the distance toward the nighttime forest, but he finally sighed and shut the window.
This was not a problem that would unravel itself after a bit of thinking. He would have to hear what the villagers had to say and, depending on the situation, even talk to the village chief or the community leaders directly.