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

Input:
Even when colluding in battle, going along as part of a tacit agreement, there were things one did not do.
"It's part of the boss's idea."
Luward snorted. He raised his sword high and said, "Explain."
"As you wish. The boss said he wants to negotiate a prisoner exchange and wants to present an ultimatum at that time."
"Negotiate?" Luward asked back. He glanced at Moizi.
"Yes. We have both suffered losses from attrition. So, there must be room to negotiate. The boss will bring that merchant overseer along to the meeting. We would like Master Luward Myuri and one other person to come to negotiate."
Lawrence imagined what that would look like.
Right in the middle of a snow-covered road, each mercenary leader paired with a merchant as they faced each other down.
Those negotiating would be on the one hand, a mercenary company that had nearly half its members taken as captives, desperately trying to escape and survive. On the other hand would be a mercenary company with overwhelming military superiority and financial resources backed by the Debau Company.
In other words, surrender now and give up on going to Svernel and they shall be permitted their lives alone.
The negotiations would no doubt be very one-sided.
And when the time came, who would be the specialist who would negotiate?
Having thought that far, Lawrence understood where this was going.
"In other words, your ignorant, pure young merchant will demand ransom for our captured comrades and will push us to surrender after that."
The messenger, who had maintained a neutral expression the whole time, cracked a smirk for a single moment before regaining his composure.
"You will become very angry at the content of the negotiations. And in the face of overbearing, unreasonable demands, you will have no difficulty taking advantage of the carelessness of a naive youth, taking him hostage. We will be forced to release our captives and allow you to escape. We will report that we sincerely tried, but someone was foolish."
"You think it'll go that smoothly? He might be young and naive, but he's still from the Debau Company."
The messenger made a blunt sigh at Luward's question.
"He's horrible. The boss has put up with him pretty well. Should've killed him on the first day."
Amid all that formality, his real opinion poked its head out.
The male messenger politely amended his words with, "Ahem, or so what everyone says."
"Got it. We were just thinking of how to get into Svernel ourselves. This is good, I think. It's what I'd expect of a plan from the famed veteran captain of the Hugo Mercenary Company."
"The captain will be proud to hear of your words. I believe we must leave it at that."
"Understood. Then, we need the particulars...or are those details being left to us?"
"The boss said as much."
Luward made a small laugh. He wanted to say, I expected as much.
"All right, we'll let you know when and how we're gonna go at it. Fine with you?"
"As you wish."
The messenger knelt and bowed his head, darting off and running across the snow immediately after.
His speed truly evoked the expression a hare on the run. In no time at all, he vanished amid the trees along the road.
"So, that's how it is, Moizi. Pick about fifteen unlucky guys. And use all of our pig's blood. For the little details...how about we do it like back at Lesso Valley?"
"...I see. Understood. I shall find for a proper place with all haste."
"Please do."
With that, various preparations began until finally all was ready.
No troupe of players performing in a plaza ever made use of such extravagant devices.
Lawrence was quite beside himself as he watched them go to work. But the mercenaries making preparations were enjoying themselves like little children.
The two armies faced off atop hills separated by a valley.

Output:
The commanders, Luward and Rebonato, stood atop the hills on both sides of the valley, with the slopes continuing from the hills to the valley lined with troops. Since one could look down at both one's own force and the enemy force from a high place, the order of battle was obvious at a glance.
However, the anecdotes of a large army being shattered by a small army were legion. Perhaps such anecdotes accounted for why the Myuri Mercenary Company's morale was so high in spite of their numerical disadvantage.
If someone was observing both armies facing off from the outside, he would surely think as much.
"Everyone's blades are smeared with grease, right?"
Those were the words that came out from Luward's mouth. With the blade smeared with grease, a sword was no different than a stick. According to the script, the Myuri Mercenary Company realized it could not shake off the Hugo Mercenary Company if it continued to flee, so it decided to turn and strike back, girding itself for one final battle.
Lawrence was suspicious as to whether they could pull this performance off, but Moizi handled command extremely well. Perhaps the Hugo Mercenary Company also had a keen understanding of how it might best be driven back at such a time.
At any rate, even knowing it was all a show, Lawrence and the others' flight, carrying them into the valley and up the hill, was quite suspenseful.
"Yes. They seem to be using rather well-worn weapons as well. They'll say they broke during combat and request compensation, I imagine."
"Ha, makes me jealous...How about we do that, too?" Luward turned his head back as he asked.
Of course, he was not asking Lawrence, directing his question at Hilde, who Lawrence carried in the wicker cage.
Hilde made only a flick of his ears out of the cage; his face never rose from its side. Though their de facto employer, he was a prudent merchant, careful about what he promised, both in print and by words alone.
Luward simmered as he smiled, but Moizi did not seem to notice.
"Well, the biggest concern is moving exactly according to plan. No oversights, right?"
"Correct. They are reasonable people as well. As they have made their preparations, it should all go well."
"I see."
As Luward spoke, he took in a deep breath. The way he raised his brow and then narrowed his eyes was no doubt because he knew just how absurd this so-called battle was.
However, the battle would accomplish the triple feat of having no meaningless fatalities, leaving as few grudges between them and the enemy as possible, and mutually protecting their favorable relationships with their employers. Though it might have been absurd, unimportant it was not.
At any rate, there was nothing for Luward to gain by thinking about it by himself. As mercenaries built up their reputations over long careers, there were many things they needed to understand as implicit—problems that could not be resolved with money alone, nor that could be glossed over with bluster and conciliation.
There lay the crystallization of the will of the many that approved of the mercenary life.
A traveling merchant came to glimpse at the various worlds of various professions. Few among them had problems that could be resolved with money alone.
By Lawrence's thinking, it would have been nice if there were a few more problems that could be resolved with money; Hilde had supported the Debau Company with that very concept in mind. However, sometimes things in this small world were settled by absurd, splendid performances onstage.
The huge man on the opposite hill with his arms folded, looking in their direction, was no doubt Rebonato. Lawrence saw a Moizi-like blaze in how he looked. His long, frizzy red hair went in all directions, and his face was sunburned even in this season. He was so muscular that merely folding his arms seemed to threaten to rip his clothes apart.
Rebonato made a small nod as he looked at Luward. After glancing at Moizi to make sure, Luward nodded back.


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

Input:
The commanders, Luward and Rebonato, stood atop the hills on both sides of the valley, with the slopes continuing from the hills to the valley lined with troops. Since one could look down at both one's own force and the enemy force from a high place, the order of battle was obvious at a glance.
However, the anecdotes of a large army being shattered by a small army were legion. Perhaps such anecdotes accounted for why the Myuri Mercenary Company's morale was so high in spite of their numerical disadvantage.
If someone was observing both armies facing off from the outside, he would surely think as much.
"Everyone's blades are smeared with grease, right?"
Those were the words that came out from Luward's mouth. With the blade smeared with grease, a sword was no different than a stick. According to the script, the Myuri Mercenary Company realized it could not shake off the Hugo Mercenary Company if it continued to flee, so it decided to turn and strike back, girding itself for one final battle.
Lawrence was suspicious as to whether they could pull this performance off, but Moizi handled command extremely well. Perhaps the Hugo Mercenary Company also had a keen understanding of how it might best be driven back at such a time.
At any rate, even knowing it was all a show, Lawrence and the others' flight, carrying them into the valley and up the hill, was quite suspenseful.
"Yes. They seem to be using rather well-worn weapons as well. They'll say they broke during combat and request compensation, I imagine."
"Ha, makes me jealous...How about we do that, too?" Luward turned his head back as he asked.
Of course, he was not asking Lawrence, directing his question at Hilde, who Lawrence carried in the wicker cage.
Hilde made only a flick of his ears out of the cage; his face never rose from its side. Though their de facto employer, he was a prudent merchant, careful about what he promised, both in print and by words alone.
Luward simmered as he smiled, but Moizi did not seem to notice.
"Well, the biggest concern is moving exactly according to plan. No oversights, right?"
"Correct. They are reasonable people as well. As they have made their preparations, it should all go well."
"I see."
As Luward spoke, he took in a deep breath. The way he raised his brow and then narrowed his eyes was no doubt because he knew just how absurd this so-called battle was.
However, the battle would accomplish the triple feat of having no meaningless fatalities, leaving as few grudges between them and the enemy as possible, and mutually protecting their favorable relationships with their employers. Though it might have been absurd, unimportant it was not.
At any rate, there was nothing for Luward to gain by thinking about it by himself. As mercenaries built up their reputations over long careers, there were many things they needed to understand as implicit—problems that could not be resolved with money alone, nor that could be glossed over with bluster and conciliation.
There lay the crystallization of the will of the many that approved of the mercenary life.
A traveling merchant came to glimpse at the various worlds of various professions. Few among them had problems that could be resolved with money alone.
By Lawrence's thinking, it would have been nice if there were a few more problems that could be resolved with money; Hilde had supported the Debau Company with that very concept in mind. However, sometimes things in this small world were settled by absurd, splendid performances onstage.
The huge man on the opposite hill with his arms folded, looking in their direction, was no doubt Rebonato. Lawrence saw a Moizi-like blaze in how he looked. His long, frizzy red hair went in all directions, and his face was sunburned even in this season. He was so muscular that merely folding his arms seemed to threaten to rip his clothes apart.
Rebonato made a small nod as he looked at Luward. After glancing at Moizi to make sure, Luward nodded back.

Output:
As a cold wind blew gently, Rebonato lit the match.
"So now that you see you can't run you're minded to fight! We, the Hugo Mercenary Company, will show our respect for the Myuri Mercenary Company's banner and fight with all our strength!"
Sound traveled poorly on the snow-covered roads. In spite of that, Rebonato's booming voice made them feel like he had reached out and touched them right on their own hill.
Luward was the one who responded.
He slowly drew the sword hanging from his hip, raising it high above his head as he replied.
"We advance, our destinies granted by God! Those who live by the sword must sometimes turn our backs against God himself and accept the stigma of apostates! However, what they cannot endure is the stigma of foully attacking their enemy's back! We desire to put our lives on the line for the sake of the much-reputed Hugo Mercenary Company's honor!"
Lawrence did not know if their lines were scripted, but they nearly made him laugh, all the more so because he knew what was about to happen would be a large-scale farce.
Even from a distance, Rebonato's look of rage was apparent; worked up even before, he was now all the angrier. Standing next to him, the overseer from the Debau Company seemed quite indignant at Luward's speech.
As the overseer was the only one in all this playing his role seriously, it was impressive.
Or perhaps, in a certain sense, both Luward and Rebonato were taking this very seriously.
If this was a ritual that was part of their being mercenaries, it might well be so.
Holo would have been quite pleased to see this.
"Very well! No doubt the war god Rajitel will reveal the truth!" As Rebonato spoke those words, he took his ax from his hip and swung it high; the mercenaries deployed along the slope brought their weapons to bear all at once.
The sight of over a hundred men readying swords and spears in unison was not something one saw very often.
As a man who had been stirred by tales of the slaying of dragons, Lawrence's heart quivered at the sight.
"A worthy foe! Attack!!"
With those words, Luward signaled the start of the battle.
The next moment, the troops ran down the slopes like avalanches.
Perhaps the merchant serving as overseer—the same age as or a little younger than Lawrence—was caught up in the moment, raising his voice in such excitement, one half-expected that if someone handed him a sword, he would run to join the battle himself.
Certainly, in the face of a scene like this, few young men were able to keep their cool.
That was true even for a merchant who mocked the stupidity of war, scorning it as unprofitable.
Lawrence felt as though he understood why many men continued to make their living at war, even though it was dangerous, made them hated by the world, and that he absolutely could not call it profitable. This excitement was difficult to taste any other way.
This was where someone might ask, Which side is stronger? Yet the answer was so simple, even a baby that had not spoken his first words could understand.
If Holo were here, Lawrence had no doubt she would get annoyed and start cheering the friendly forces on. Depending on the situation, she might even take wolf form and leap into the fray herself.
Easily able to imagine the sight, Lawrence made a small chuckle to himself.
That moment—
There was a small rustle of movement within the wicker cage Lawrence carried securely within his arms.
Just after he realized Hilde had raised his head, he heard these words from behind.
"What is so amusing?"
"What do you mean, what? It's obv—"
Lawrence smiled as he began to answer, turning around, and only then realized what his eyes were seeing.
It was Holo.
"Holo!"
Lawrence immediately raised his voice. Holo closed her eyes, looking annoyed.
And his voice made the others around them realize the presence of an intruder.
A girl like Holo walking all around the place should stand out, but no one had noticed her at all. That's a wolf for you, he supposed.


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

Input:
As a cold wind blew gently, Rebonato lit the match.
"So now that you see you can't run you're minded to fight! We, the Hugo Mercenary Company, will show our respect for the Myuri Mercenary Company's banner and fight with all our strength!"
Sound traveled poorly on the snow-covered roads. In spite of that, Rebonato's booming voice made them feel like he had reached out and touched them right on their own hill.
Luward was the one who responded.
He slowly drew the sword hanging from his hip, raising it high above his head as he replied.
"We advance, our destinies granted by God! Those who live by the sword must sometimes turn our backs against God himself and accept the stigma of apostates! However, what they cannot endure is the stigma of foully attacking their enemy's back! We desire to put our lives on the line for the sake of the much-reputed Hugo Mercenary Company's honor!"
Lawrence did not know if their lines were scripted, but they nearly made him laugh, all the more so because he knew what was about to happen would be a large-scale farce.
Even from a distance, Rebonato's look of rage was apparent; worked up even before, he was now all the angrier. Standing next to him, the overseer from the Debau Company seemed quite indignant at Luward's speech.
As the overseer was the only one in all this playing his role seriously, it was impressive.
Or perhaps, in a certain sense, both Luward and Rebonato were taking this very seriously.
If this was a ritual that was part of their being mercenaries, it might well be so.
Holo would have been quite pleased to see this.
"Very well! No doubt the war god Rajitel will reveal the truth!" As Rebonato spoke those words, he took his ax from his hip and swung it high; the mercenaries deployed along the slope brought their weapons to bear all at once.
The sight of over a hundred men readying swords and spears in unison was not something one saw very often.
As a man who had been stirred by tales of the slaying of dragons, Lawrence's heart quivered at the sight.
"A worthy foe! Attack!!"
With those words, Luward signaled the start of the battle.
The next moment, the troops ran down the slopes like avalanches.
Perhaps the merchant serving as overseer—the same age as or a little younger than Lawrence—was caught up in the moment, raising his voice in such excitement, one half-expected that if someone handed him a sword, he would run to join the battle himself.
Certainly, in the face of a scene like this, few young men were able to keep their cool.
That was true even for a merchant who mocked the stupidity of war, scorning it as unprofitable.
Lawrence felt as though he understood why many men continued to make their living at war, even though it was dangerous, made them hated by the world, and that he absolutely could not call it profitable. This excitement was difficult to taste any other way.
This was where someone might ask, Which side is stronger? Yet the answer was so simple, even a baby that had not spoken his first words could understand.
If Holo were here, Lawrence had no doubt she would get annoyed and start cheering the friendly forces on. Depending on the situation, she might even take wolf form and leap into the fray herself.
Easily able to imagine the sight, Lawrence made a small chuckle to himself.
That moment—
There was a small rustle of movement within the wicker cage Lawrence carried securely within his arms.
Just after he realized Hilde had raised his head, he heard these words from behind.
"What is so amusing?"
"What do you mean, what? It's obv—"
Lawrence smiled as he began to answer, turning around, and only then realized what his eyes were seeing.
It was Holo.
"Holo!"
Lawrence immediately raised his voice. Holo closed her eyes, looking annoyed.
And his voice made the others around them realize the presence of an intruder.
A girl like Holo walking all around the place should stand out, but no one had noticed her at all. That's a wolf for you, he supposed.

Output:
"I returned to the town the day before yesterday, but 'twas delayed a bit there."
Holo seemed a bit tired compared to when he had last seen her. Her hood and the face beneath it seemed dusty somehow.
When he thought more deeply about it, Holo had just returned from a journey that would have taken some seven days on human feet. No horse would have survived being pushed so recklessly.
But more than all of that, though it had only been a few days, the sight of her made him as happy as if it had been several years.
"I see...I mean, I'm glad you're sa—"
But as Lawrence tried to speak, Holo interrupted him with a wave. "So? What is the hare doing here?"
Lawrence's mouth hung open as if to continue his earlier words. He remembered when as an apprentice he had become separated from his master in an unfamiliar city, and when he thought he had finally found his master, it turned out to be someone else.
He faintly recalled that something like this had happened once before. It was when Holo had been captured in Pazzio, when Lawrence had been waiting for Holo in the subterranean passage.
"Things went in a completely different direction than we expected."
Luward was the one who answered. Though Holo could keep her hood lowered and hide her tail to look like a normal girl, there was no way they could allow Hilde to speak where people could see.
"Do not tell me you fell for honeyed words and promises?"
Luward made a pained laugh at Holo's sarcastic words. As that had been precisely the case, he made no reply.
"Hmph. Well, we heard most of the story back in town. I can deduce the rest."
"We?"
When Lawrence asked, Holo made an annoyed-looking wave toward him and pointed above her head.
As Lawrence and Luward looked to the sky, there was a single bird flying above them in a circle.
"I shall ask for the details later. First, what are you doing? Using pig's blood even; is there some kind of festival afoot?" Perhaps it was to be expected that Holo instantly understood it was a farce.
"Maybe it's easiest to call it mercenaries putting on an act together?"
Holo made a voiceless laugh at Luward's words. Mixed with the circumstances, she might have understood a very great deal from what those words indicated. "Putting on an act is very important. Everyone has their role to play, after all."
"I'm happy that you understand. I feared I might be muddying the name of Myuri with this farce."
"I might well be angry if 'twere done poorly."
Luward pursed his lips as he made a funny face.
"But 'tis well done. Myuri was quite fond of playing tricks upon others, after all."
Luward, who had purposefully put on a look of surprise, was genuinely amazed by Holo's words.
And as a smiling face seemingly burst forth, he turned toward the banner they flew, looking back at Holo once more.
"Is that so?!"
"It is. However, males of all sorts like this sort of thing, do they not? Provided that they are not sweaty-palmed fools, that is."
Holo clapped Lawrence on the back as if she might or might not be referring to him.
Though he wanted to say something in return, he made no protest, for it was the truth.
"I suppose that's true not just of mercenaries, but everyone who lives on the battlefield. Well, it might be hard to watch, but please bear it a bit longer. The curtain will rise very shortly."
"So it would seem. So that's why you're sneaking something off toward the mountain?"
Moizi, who had only just finished giving orders for advancing in formation toward the valley, turned in shock at Holo's nonchalant words. She really was a wolf, noticing every little thing.
"That is correct."
"And this is because you want those great sleds and so forth to move forward, is it not?"
The slumping of Luward's shoulders indicated "it is as you say."
"Thanks to that, 'twas hard for me to find anywhere to hide, you see."
"A place to hide?"
"Indeed. Well, then, 'tis not your place to mind the hare forever."


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

Input:
"I returned to the town the day before yesterday, but 'twas delayed a bit there."
Holo seemed a bit tired compared to when he had last seen her. Her hood and the face beneath it seemed dusty somehow.
When he thought more deeply about it, Holo had just returned from a journey that would have taken some seven days on human feet. No horse would have survived being pushed so recklessly.
But more than all of that, though it had only been a few days, the sight of her made him as happy as if it had been several years.
"I see...I mean, I'm glad you're sa—"
But as Lawrence tried to speak, Holo interrupted him with a wave. "So? What is the hare doing here?"
Lawrence's mouth hung open as if to continue his earlier words. He remembered when as an apprentice he had become separated from his master in an unfamiliar city, and when he thought he had finally found his master, it turned out to be someone else.
He faintly recalled that something like this had happened once before. It was when Holo had been captured in Pazzio, when Lawrence had been waiting for Holo in the subterranean passage.
"Things went in a completely different direction than we expected."
Luward was the one who answered. Though Holo could keep her hood lowered and hide her tail to look like a normal girl, there was no way they could allow Hilde to speak where people could see.
"Do not tell me you fell for honeyed words and promises?"
Luward made a pained laugh at Holo's sarcastic words. As that had been precisely the case, he made no reply.
"Hmph. Well, we heard most of the story back in town. I can deduce the rest."
"We?"
When Lawrence asked, Holo made an annoyed-looking wave toward him and pointed above her head.
As Lawrence and Luward looked to the sky, there was a single bird flying above them in a circle.
"I shall ask for the details later. First, what are you doing? Using pig's blood even; is there some kind of festival afoot?" Perhaps it was to be expected that Holo instantly understood it was a farce.
"Maybe it's easiest to call it mercenaries putting on an act together?"
Holo made a voiceless laugh at Luward's words. Mixed with the circumstances, she might have understood a very great deal from what those words indicated. "Putting on an act is very important. Everyone has their role to play, after all."
"I'm happy that you understand. I feared I might be muddying the name of Myuri with this farce."
"I might well be angry if 'twere done poorly."
Luward pursed his lips as he made a funny face.
"But 'tis well done. Myuri was quite fond of playing tricks upon others, after all."
Luward, who had purposefully put on a look of surprise, was genuinely amazed by Holo's words.
And as a smiling face seemingly burst forth, he turned toward the banner they flew, looking back at Holo once more.
"Is that so?!"
"It is. However, males of all sorts like this sort of thing, do they not? Provided that they are not sweaty-palmed fools, that is."
Holo clapped Lawrence on the back as if she might or might not be referring to him.
Though he wanted to say something in return, he made no protest, for it was the truth.
"I suppose that's true not just of mercenaries, but everyone who lives on the battlefield. Well, it might be hard to watch, but please bear it a bit longer. The curtain will rise very shortly."
"So it would seem. So that's why you're sneaking something off toward the mountain?"
Moizi, who had only just finished giving orders for advancing in formation toward the valley, turned in shock at Holo's nonchalant words. She really was a wolf, noticing every little thing.
"That is correct."
"And this is because you want those great sleds and so forth to move forward, is it not?"
The slumping of Luward's shoulders indicated "it is as you say."
"Thanks to that, 'twas hard for me to find anywhere to hide, you see."
"A place to hide?"
"Indeed. Well, then, 'tis not your place to mind the hare forever."

Output:
"Hm. So this is why I caught the scent of blood. Damned fool."
Speaking while making a teasing face, Holo swayed the cage from side to side and shook it up and down.
Hilde had no option but to endure it.
Under the blanket, he was not a frog caught in the gaze of a snake, but a hare under the gaze of a wolf.
Holo's teasing of Hilde having brightened her somber mood, she pushed the cage onto a nearby youngster. "Hold this, will you?"
Already bewildered by a girl suddenly appearing in the center of their unit and being treated with respect by their captain for some unfathomable reason, the youngster, even more bewildered, looked to his captain, hoping to be rescued.
"Take good care of it. It's an important hare."
"Aye, I'm counting on it. Come, you, let us be off." As the hesitant youngster found himself pressed by his captain's command and Holo's smiling face, Holo grabbed Lawrence's hand and walked off. Lawrence was not the only one at a loss.
"Where are you going?"
Luward asked the extremely pertinent question.
Holo, who was already dragging Lawrence along as she strode off, suddenly stopped, turning around. "I hid a certain something in the mountains. I must go retrieve it."
"If that's the case, I can send one of my men to..."
Holo momentarily let go of Lawrence's hand as Luward made his offer, perhaps made out of respect to Holo, and looked squarely at Luward as she replied, "Though I am grateful for your concern, this fool would sulk soon enough."
Holo poked a finger into Lawrence's belly.
Certainly Lawrence had said he would take all responsibility for the forbidden book and so forth when asking Holo to help. For the text to bypass Lawrence and go straight to Luward and Hilde would be a rather dull affair.
But just as Lawrence was about to protest that he was not such a child, Holo instantly turned back around and seized Lawrence's hand. Looking over her shoulder, she said this.
"That being so, wait just a bit. I shall return soon enough."
Luward gave a vague reply as he watched them go. "Ah, yes..."
Keeping Lawrence's hand in her grip, Holo advanced farther and farther until they reached a place that no sign of conflict reached. Ahead there remained distinct tracks of sleds and those transporting them.
The smallest set of tracks mingled with the others before splitting off midway and heading toward the mountains.
"So, that's where you came here from?"
"Aye. When I heard sounds of fighting, I really thought I might have to join the battle as a wolf."
There had been times when he might well have prayed for salvation from Holo, so he could not just laugh it off. However, since he knew what was behind the curtain of the grand farce, he forced a bitter laugh.
"It was a close call, then. If that'd happened the whole thing would've been a waste."
"If Luis hadn't told me, it would have been a much closer thing."
"Luis?" Lawrence echoed back as Holo pulled up the hem of her robe as she climbed the slope of the mountain she had descended from.
"Do not make that face. There. There."
She pointed to the sky.
"It's rare for you to remember a name."
As Lawrence spoke, Holo made a satisfied smile and laughed as if she had found a fun new toy.
"What, are you jealous?"
She was irritatingly accurate.
"Well, judging from your look after you noticed I was there, 'tis surely that as well. What had you so flustered? You were like a dog who had not seen his master in ages."
Holo smiled teasingly as she climbed the slope farther on her own.
Though mortified, Lawrence could not find any words to reply with. Even so, he made his usual resigned sigh and trod up the slope as they retraced her footsteps.
Goodness, he had been looking forward to their reunion, but it had been a storm of invective.
Unlike the light-footed Holo, Lawrence's legs became mired where the falling snow had grown thick. When he pulled his legs out of the snow, the malicious Holo hurled even more abuse at him.


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

Input:
"Hm. So this is why I caught the scent of blood. Damned fool."
Speaking while making a teasing face, Holo swayed the cage from side to side and shook it up and down.
Hilde had no option but to endure it.
Under the blanket, he was not a frog caught in the gaze of a snake, but a hare under the gaze of a wolf.
Holo's teasing of Hilde having brightened her somber mood, she pushed the cage onto a nearby youngster. "Hold this, will you?"
Already bewildered by a girl suddenly appearing in the center of their unit and being treated with respect by their captain for some unfathomable reason, the youngster, even more bewildered, looked to his captain, hoping to be rescued.
"Take good care of it. It's an important hare."
"Aye, I'm counting on it. Come, you, let us be off." As the hesitant youngster found himself pressed by his captain's command and Holo's smiling face, Holo grabbed Lawrence's hand and walked off. Lawrence was not the only one at a loss.
"Where are you going?"
Luward asked the extremely pertinent question.
Holo, who was already dragging Lawrence along as she strode off, suddenly stopped, turning around. "I hid a certain something in the mountains. I must go retrieve it."
"If that's the case, I can send one of my men to..."
Holo momentarily let go of Lawrence's hand as Luward made his offer, perhaps made out of respect to Holo, and looked squarely at Luward as she replied, "Though I am grateful for your concern, this fool would sulk soon enough."
Holo poked a finger into Lawrence's belly.
Certainly Lawrence had said he would take all responsibility for the forbidden book and so forth when asking Holo to help. For the text to bypass Lawrence and go straight to Luward and Hilde would be a rather dull affair.
But just as Lawrence was about to protest that he was not such a child, Holo instantly turned back around and seized Lawrence's hand. Looking over her shoulder, she said this.
"That being so, wait just a bit. I shall return soon enough."
Luward gave a vague reply as he watched them go. "Ah, yes..."
Keeping Lawrence's hand in her grip, Holo advanced farther and farther until they reached a place that no sign of conflict reached. Ahead there remained distinct tracks of sleds and those transporting them.
The smallest set of tracks mingled with the others before splitting off midway and heading toward the mountains.
"So, that's where you came here from?"
"Aye. When I heard sounds of fighting, I really thought I might have to join the battle as a wolf."
There had been times when he might well have prayed for salvation from Holo, so he could not just laugh it off. However, since he knew what was behind the curtain of the grand farce, he forced a bitter laugh.
"It was a close call, then. If that'd happened the whole thing would've been a waste."
"If Luis hadn't told me, it would have been a much closer thing."
"Luis?" Lawrence echoed back as Holo pulled up the hem of her robe as she climbed the slope of the mountain she had descended from.
"Do not make that face. There. There."
She pointed to the sky.
"It's rare for you to remember a name."
As Lawrence spoke, Holo made a satisfied smile and laughed as if she had found a fun new toy.
"What, are you jealous?"
She was irritatingly accurate.
"Well, judging from your look after you noticed I was there, 'tis surely that as well. What had you so flustered? You were like a dog who had not seen his master in ages."
Holo smiled teasingly as she climbed the slope farther on her own.
Though mortified, Lawrence could not find any words to reply with. Even so, he made his usual resigned sigh and trod up the slope as they retraced her footsteps.
Goodness, he had been looking forward to their reunion, but it had been a storm of invective.
Unlike the light-footed Holo, Lawrence's legs became mired where the falling snow had grown thick. When he pulled his legs out of the snow, the malicious Holo hurled even more abuse at him.

Output:
When he had been waiting for Holo in the subterranean aqueducts of Pazzio included, did she even realize how much he had worried about her? Certainly, this time there was little direct cause for concern. But by its very nature, one never knew what travel would bring.
In particular, on Lawrence's side, it had been entirely possible that one mistake would have truly ended in death. Leaving Holo's concern for Lawrence aside, it would have been nice if Holo had worried about Lawrence just a little more.
Was he wrong to expect such a thing? I'm being quite irrational, he was well aware, yet knowing that did not keep out the spontaneous thought.
He kept pulling his legs out when they became stuck, searched for the next reliable foothold, and used trees to pull himself up the suddenly steepening slope. Since he could not lift his gaze, he had no idea how far Holo had gone. He could not even hear her footsteps anymore.
If it was going to be like this, I should have waited downhill.
But the instant he stopped to catch his breath, making a sigh...
"Hng, wha—!"
Lawrence sustained a heavy impact with sky and earth switching places.
The terror of climbing a slope and going backward down it can only be appreciated by those who have experienced it. The world turned on its head.
However, somehow Lawrence's body came to a complete stop in deep snow before rolling over.
"...Urgh..."
Rustle, rustle. Along with the dizziness of his head and the oppressive feeling of something mounted atop his chest, he heard the rustling of snow. It seemed snow had fallen right on him from the treetops.
As he thought, Holo's going to laugh at me again, and tried to get his nicely inverted body up, he found himself barely able to lift hand or foot.
It was around then when he finally realized.
"...Holo?"
She had not come to rescue him. She had not come to laugh at him.
Holo had been on top of Lawrence the whole time, head buried in his chest, unmoving.
Holo had leaped right into him, bowling him over.
***
She wordlessly pressed her face against Lawrence, both arms wrapped around Lawrence's back, squeezing with all her might.
As if she truly was at the limits of her strength, from time to time she took a breather, changed the positions of her hands and her body a little, and embraced him with all her strength once more. As the snow fell down with a rustling sound, Holo admirably swept the snow away with her dexterous tail.
Once Lawrence took the entire situation in, he stopped trying to rise, relaxing into the snow. His head rather deeply in as he had fallen into it with some force, with walls of snow filling his vision before suddenly coming to a halt. Of course, the snow covered both ears, limiting the sounds he could hear to very little. The only sounds he heard were those made by him and Holo.
He was unable to see up to the sky, with evergreens, filled to the brim with snow, acting as a chilly barrier. With that, Lawrence finally understood the true reason why Holo had hidden the forbidden book in the middle of the mountains. She had wanted to bring Lawrence this far out, to a place hidden from not only Luward and Moizi and Hilde, but from the high-flying Luis's line of sight as well.
As Holo rested atop Lawrence's chest, he put his arms around her back and lightly stroked her. He felt she had become a little thinner. As he stroked Holo's back, Holo made a raspy, painful-sounding voice as her small body shuddered. The claws on the hands around his own back dug in enough to hurt.
He had not been the only one happy to be reunited. He had not been the only one who felt the last few days were torture. Lawrence gave a light laugh.
"So you were the one putting on an act," he said.
Those were the words Luward had used. As Lawrence laughed, Holo's claws dug into his back more strongly, no doubt partly in a show of protest.
"Ow, ow! Well, I'm sure you'd have been appalled if you knew how I'd been faring."


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

Input:
When he had been waiting for Holo in the subterranean aqueducts of Pazzio included, did she even realize how much he had worried about her? Certainly, this time there was little direct cause for concern. But by its very nature, one never knew what travel would bring.
In particular, on Lawrence's side, it had been entirely possible that one mistake would have truly ended in death. Leaving Holo's concern for Lawrence aside, it would have been nice if Holo had worried about Lawrence just a little more.
Was he wrong to expect such a thing? I'm being quite irrational, he was well aware, yet knowing that did not keep out the spontaneous thought.
He kept pulling his legs out when they became stuck, searched for the next reliable foothold, and used trees to pull himself up the suddenly steepening slope. Since he could not lift his gaze, he had no idea how far Holo had gone. He could not even hear her footsteps anymore.
If it was going to be like this, I should have waited downhill.
But the instant he stopped to catch his breath, making a sigh...
"Hng, wha—!"
Lawrence sustained a heavy impact with sky and earth switching places.
The terror of climbing a slope and going backward down it can only be appreciated by those who have experienced it. The world turned on its head.
However, somehow Lawrence's body came to a complete stop in deep snow before rolling over.
"...Urgh..."
Rustle, rustle. Along with the dizziness of his head and the oppressive feeling of something mounted atop his chest, he heard the rustling of snow. It seemed snow had fallen right on him from the treetops.
As he thought, Holo's going to laugh at me again, and tried to get his nicely inverted body up, he found himself barely able to lift hand or foot.
It was around then when he finally realized.
"...Holo?"
She had not come to rescue him. She had not come to laugh at him.
Holo had been on top of Lawrence the whole time, head buried in his chest, unmoving.
Holo had leaped right into him, bowling him over.
***
She wordlessly pressed her face against Lawrence, both arms wrapped around Lawrence's back, squeezing with all her might.
As if she truly was at the limits of her strength, from time to time she took a breather, changed the positions of her hands and her body a little, and embraced him with all her strength once more. As the snow fell down with a rustling sound, Holo admirably swept the snow away with her dexterous tail.
Once Lawrence took the entire situation in, he stopped trying to rise, relaxing into the snow. His head rather deeply in as he had fallen into it with some force, with walls of snow filling his vision before suddenly coming to a halt. Of course, the snow covered both ears, limiting the sounds he could hear to very little. The only sounds he heard were those made by him and Holo.
He was unable to see up to the sky, with evergreens, filled to the brim with snow, acting as a chilly barrier. With that, Lawrence finally understood the true reason why Holo had hidden the forbidden book in the middle of the mountains. She had wanted to bring Lawrence this far out, to a place hidden from not only Luward and Moizi and Hilde, but from the high-flying Luis's line of sight as well.
As Holo rested atop Lawrence's chest, he put his arms around her back and lightly stroked her. He felt she had become a little thinner. As he stroked Holo's back, Holo made a raspy, painful-sounding voice as her small body shuddered. The claws on the hands around his own back dug in enough to hurt.
He had not been the only one happy to be reunited. He had not been the only one who felt the last few days were torture. Lawrence gave a light laugh.
"So you were the one putting on an act," he said.
Those were the words Luward had used. As Lawrence laughed, Holo's claws dug into his back more strongly, no doubt partly in a show of protest.
"Ow, ow! Well, I'm sure you'd have been appalled if you knew how I'd been faring."

Output:
In return, knowing he should make full use of his good fortune, Lawrence said this.
"Welcome back."
Holo's face shot up from his chest.
And as she looked at Lawrence, her face lost all composure.
Lawrence was flustered no more. This time, with Holo on the verge of tears, he embraced her body once more, shifting his body around to position his feet to stand. Holo shot him a look of protest, but Lawrence replied with a strained smile, "If we're too slow someone's going to come looking for us."
No doubt Holo's vanity could not have taken that.
As her lips made a pout, she pressed her face against Lawrence's breast to wipe away the tears that had seeped out, and after a final embrace, she hopped right up.
"Somehow, I feel like I've been ridden like a horse."
Once he had been pinned to the ground by a giant wolf claw, too.
But this time Holo did not bare her fangs at him, but instead, she moved a little aside and extended a hand to Lawrence to help him get up.
"...Why does the one holding the reins end up on the bottom?"
He took them as words of gratitude, but did not ask back, So, which of us wears a rope around their neck? Instead, once Lawrence had gotten up, he wiped a lingering tear from the corner of Holo's eye with a finger. Even as Holo turned her face with a sour look, her ears and tail seemed pleased.
Furthermore, now that he had wiped her right eye, her left eye regarded him.
Lawrence sighed and carefully wiped the tears from her left eye.
***
"So, this is the forbidden book."
The book was within the luggage Holo had carried from Kieschen.
It was marvelously bound in leather, with that alone giving it an overwhelming, overbearing feeling.
"The contents?"
"Who knows...but according to that portly book merchant..."
Holo, speaking as she changed clothes, exhaled a sharp "phew" as she poked her heard out of her shirt. "...'Tis authentic."
"I—I see..."
When he opened it, the ink bore the particular fragrance of knowledge.
But Lawrence was of course unable to read the characters written within. Apparently, the contents had been written in the words of a desert kingdom to make them more difficult to read. It was all strangely thin and curvy. Lawrence did not even know if these were actual characters.
"It's good you managed to get it, though."
As Lawrence spoke, Holo's hand, in the middle of pulling her long hair out from under her shirt, stopped as she suddenly made a sullen look.
"...There was an argument?"
As it was not an inexpensive book, something between her and Le Roi could well have taken place.
Lawrence thought that as he asked his question. Holo brushed her hair back and seemed annoyed as she spoke. "Something like that."
"I-is that so...?"
It was written loud and clear on Holo's face that something she truly disliked had happened when she drew near at Lawrence's mild-mannered expression of concern.
"Surely you comprehend how great a chore it is to shake off Col?"
"Ah!"
Lawrence finally got it.
"We forced him to go his separate way to begin with, so of course the sight of my face put him in tears. I had to make my escape while that overly serious church girl held him back!"
Lawrence understood all too well the storm of protest Holo's arrival to get the forbidden book must have kicked up.
Col was probably clinging to her the whole time, pleading for her to let him help.
Had Elsa not stopped him, Holo really might have ended up with Col riding on top of her the whole way back.
"Well, that's...really..."
As Lawrence had not witnessed it himself, all he could do was offer sympathy.
Holo was well aware of that, so her face was not terribly indignant when she looked the other way. "It certainly is! And after all I've done for her, the attitude that serious church lass took with me..."
Holo, apparently remembering her anger at the time whatever had happened, became worked up all over again.
There were few girls as fearless as Elsa, and she must have said something to Holo to make her so worked up.


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

Input:
In return, knowing he should make full use of his good fortune, Lawrence said this.
"Welcome back."
Holo's face shot up from his chest.
And as she looked at Lawrence, her face lost all composure.
Lawrence was flustered no more. This time, with Holo on the verge of tears, he embraced her body once more, shifting his body around to position his feet to stand. Holo shot him a look of protest, but Lawrence replied with a strained smile, "If we're too slow someone's going to come looking for us."
No doubt Holo's vanity could not have taken that.
As her lips made a pout, she pressed her face against Lawrence's breast to wipe away the tears that had seeped out, and after a final embrace, she hopped right up.
"Somehow, I feel like I've been ridden like a horse."
Once he had been pinned to the ground by a giant wolf claw, too.
But this time Holo did not bare her fangs at him, but instead, she moved a little aside and extended a hand to Lawrence to help him get up.
"...Why does the one holding the reins end up on the bottom?"
He took them as words of gratitude, but did not ask back, So, which of us wears a rope around their neck? Instead, once Lawrence had gotten up, he wiped a lingering tear from the corner of Holo's eye with a finger. Even as Holo turned her face with a sour look, her ears and tail seemed pleased.
Furthermore, now that he had wiped her right eye, her left eye regarded him.
Lawrence sighed and carefully wiped the tears from her left eye.
***
"So, this is the forbidden book."
The book was within the luggage Holo had carried from Kieschen.
It was marvelously bound in leather, with that alone giving it an overwhelming, overbearing feeling.
"The contents?"
"Who knows...but according to that portly book merchant..."
Holo, speaking as she changed clothes, exhaled a sharp "phew" as she poked her heard out of her shirt. "...'Tis authentic."
"I—I see..."
When he opened it, the ink bore the particular fragrance of knowledge.
But Lawrence was of course unable to read the characters written within. Apparently, the contents had been written in the words of a desert kingdom to make them more difficult to read. It was all strangely thin and curvy. Lawrence did not even know if these were actual characters.
"It's good you managed to get it, though."
As Lawrence spoke, Holo's hand, in the middle of pulling her long hair out from under her shirt, stopped as she suddenly made a sullen look.
"...There was an argument?"
As it was not an inexpensive book, something between her and Le Roi could well have taken place.
Lawrence thought that as he asked his question. Holo brushed her hair back and seemed annoyed as she spoke. "Something like that."
"I-is that so...?"
It was written loud and clear on Holo's face that something she truly disliked had happened when she drew near at Lawrence's mild-mannered expression of concern.
"Surely you comprehend how great a chore it is to shake off Col?"
"Ah!"
Lawrence finally got it.
"We forced him to go his separate way to begin with, so of course the sight of my face put him in tears. I had to make my escape while that overly serious church girl held him back!"
Lawrence understood all too well the storm of protest Holo's arrival to get the forbidden book must have kicked up.
Col was probably clinging to her the whole time, pleading for her to let him help.
Had Elsa not stopped him, Holo really might have ended up with Col riding on top of her the whole way back.
"Well, that's...really..."
As Lawrence had not witnessed it himself, all he could do was offer sympathy.
Holo was well aware of that, so her face was not terribly indignant when she looked the other way. "It certainly is! And after all I've done for her, the attitude that serious church lass took with me..."
Holo, apparently remembering her anger at the time whatever had happened, became worked up all over again.
There were few girls as fearless as Elsa, and she must have said something to Holo to make her so worked up.

Output:
To Holo, the entire misadventure must have seemed like one unpleasant event after another.
She snatched her sash, which she had always let Lawrence wrap around her, from his shoulder, roughly wrapping it around herself. Someone just happening to come along might make a few assumptions about the situation, but it was nothing of the sort. Holo had returned to her wolf form to dig up the book she had buried in the snow like a fox.
Holo seemed in ill humor as she lobbed her words at Lawrence.
"I did hear talk of you heading to Svernel, hare in hand, plotting to join the rebels. How many times must my precious Lawrence stick his nose into danger no matter what I say before he is satisfied, I wonder?"
Had they merely handed over the forbidden book the danger would have been minimal.
But by taking Hilde to Svernel, the danger was not limited so.
"About that...it was because Mr. Hilde's strategy was just too good; that's all I can really say."
Lawrence explained his dealings with Hilde at the inn in Lesko and how, thanks to a single utterance by Hilde, he had tied the mercenaries into knots and how that was linked to their difficult decision.
Holo, of course, was not amused.
"But in spite of all that, what kind of idiot heads for enemy territory on purpose?" she said after listening to the whole story.
He understood what Holo was trying to say.
Since it was clearer than a cloudless, sunny sky that Hilde's counterattack was reckless, they should not have lent their support.
Yet Lawrence and the others had gone along, ending up walking the narrow mountain roads.
Therefore, Lawrence could only ask Holo this: "Well, should just the two of us run away?"
That option was a great deal simpler than performing a dramatic reversal scene and heading to Svernel as planned, but it had obvious drawbacks.
"...I just wanted to say it."
Holo seemed unamused as she spoke.
If Holo was coldhearted enough to so easily abandon Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company, she, too, might sing the praises of this world a little more.
"But a few things will probably sprout from this, yes?"
Meaning, there was at least a possibility of cracking open the present circumstances.
Lawrence made a light nod at her question and closed the book. Holo then stuffed it back into the hemp sack she had carried it in, securing it shut. This was not some cheap thing; the hemp was the same high quality as used to embroider stout ropes. Stored within was every last gold coin Hilde had placed in Holo's care.
No doubt a book merchant of Le Roi's caliber would have immediately pulled out his scales. If the forbidden book proved unnecessary due to the failure of Hilde's plan, Holo would invariably take it back by force. Therefore, taking the possibility of things turning sour into account, the best move was to sell Hilde's gratitude. That, more than accepting three hundred gold lumione now, was thinking of far greater potential profits.
Probably something like that.
"You saw that stage play, too, didn't you? The Debau Company seems to be fairly shaken internally. The company's middle management planned to use the power of the lords to seize control, but apparently it's really the lords using them. That's why they're forced to make a rather stupid decision like this."
As Lawrence spoke, Holo stared straight at him, and seeming to carefully weigh his words, she lifted her chin.
"...It serves them right."
"Yeah. But that's a favorable situation for our side."
Holo seemed a bit dissatisfied with Lawrence's reply.
"Is that so? All it means is the enemy's switched from backstabbing merchants to disorganized oafs."
"That may be so, but from the beginning the Debau Company planned to use the lords as its puppets while seizing power over the region from them. In other words, we think there's a high likelihood the traitors within the Debau Company didn't want the situation as it is now."
"So light the fires of rebellion, and sympathizers shall emerge from the rebels and such...?"


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

Input:
To Holo, the entire misadventure must have seemed like one unpleasant event after another.
She snatched her sash, which she had always let Lawrence wrap around her, from his shoulder, roughly wrapping it around herself. Someone just happening to come along might make a few assumptions about the situation, but it was nothing of the sort. Holo had returned to her wolf form to dig up the book she had buried in the snow like a fox.
Holo seemed in ill humor as she lobbed her words at Lawrence.
"I did hear talk of you heading to Svernel, hare in hand, plotting to join the rebels. How many times must my precious Lawrence stick his nose into danger no matter what I say before he is satisfied, I wonder?"
Had they merely handed over the forbidden book the danger would have been minimal.
But by taking Hilde to Svernel, the danger was not limited so.
"About that...it was because Mr. Hilde's strategy was just too good; that's all I can really say."
Lawrence explained his dealings with Hilde at the inn in Lesko and how, thanks to a single utterance by Hilde, he had tied the mercenaries into knots and how that was linked to their difficult decision.
Holo, of course, was not amused.
"But in spite of all that, what kind of idiot heads for enemy territory on purpose?" she said after listening to the whole story.
He understood what Holo was trying to say.
Since it was clearer than a cloudless, sunny sky that Hilde's counterattack was reckless, they should not have lent their support.
Yet Lawrence and the others had gone along, ending up walking the narrow mountain roads.
Therefore, Lawrence could only ask Holo this: "Well, should just the two of us run away?"
That option was a great deal simpler than performing a dramatic reversal scene and heading to Svernel as planned, but it had obvious drawbacks.
"...I just wanted to say it."
Holo seemed unamused as she spoke.
If Holo was coldhearted enough to so easily abandon Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company, she, too, might sing the praises of this world a little more.
"But a few things will probably sprout from this, yes?"
Meaning, there was at least a possibility of cracking open the present circumstances.
Lawrence made a light nod at her question and closed the book. Holo then stuffed it back into the hemp sack she had carried it in, securing it shut. This was not some cheap thing; the hemp was the same high quality as used to embroider stout ropes. Stored within was every last gold coin Hilde had placed in Holo's care.
No doubt a book merchant of Le Roi's caliber would have immediately pulled out his scales. If the forbidden book proved unnecessary due to the failure of Hilde's plan, Holo would invariably take it back by force. Therefore, taking the possibility of things turning sour into account, the best move was to sell Hilde's gratitude. That, more than accepting three hundred gold lumione now, was thinking of far greater potential profits.
Probably something like that.
"You saw that stage play, too, didn't you? The Debau Company seems to be fairly shaken internally. The company's middle management planned to use the power of the lords to seize control, but apparently it's really the lords using them. That's why they're forced to make a rather stupid decision like this."
As Lawrence spoke, Holo stared straight at him, and seeming to carefully weigh his words, she lifted her chin.
"...It serves them right."
"Yeah. But that's a favorable situation for our side."
Holo seemed a bit dissatisfied with Lawrence's reply.
"Is that so? All it means is the enemy's switched from backstabbing merchants to disorganized oafs."
"That may be so, but from the beginning the Debau Company planned to use the lords as its puppets while seizing power over the region from them. In other words, we think there's a high likelihood the traitors within the Debau Company didn't want the situation as it is now."
"So light the fires of rebellion, and sympathizers shall emerge from the rebels and such...?"

Output:
Certainly, it might be a very convenient way of looking at things.
But since the words were not those of an amateur, but those of Hilde, who had been inside the Debau Company, they carried weight.
"At the very least, that's what Hilde thinks. I think it's an optimistic perspective, too, but some of the traitors must be more fervent than others. It wouldn't be strange if some thought, If we keep on going like this, the lords will run us into the ground, and so forth."
***
Holo surely understood the logic of it, yet she was deeply perturbed.
Before Lawrence could ask her what she really thought, Holo said this.
"So what, call back the owner they have bared their fangs at once already? And if called back, would he forgive them?"
Certainly, that was a sensible reaction.
But merchants were shockingly greedy, thick faced, and black hearted. These trends were exacerbated in merchants of exceptional skill. Famous merchants were specialists at throwing their weight around, but Lawrence had heard they were just fine with rubbing their cheek against the ground right in front of others.
In practice, such things usually did not obtain any definite results, and if the middle managers did not kill Debau himself because they could still use him, the reverse was equally true. In other words, even if Debau returned to power at the head of the company, Hilde and Debau could never return the company to its former state by themselves.
"I think...they will. And Mr. Hilde and the others are spurring a counterattack because they think so."
For a while, Holo's eyes watched Lawrence as if he looked like a creepy magician or the like, finally making a sigh. Perhaps she averted her gaze because looking at the forest calmed her heart.
"You merchants truly are a pack of fools..."
Tone aside, those words seemed to constitute tentative assent. Besides, this was very good news so far as Holo was concerned.
Even Holo would want to avoid making the choice to abandon Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company if at all possible.
After all, handing Hilde the forbidden text was with the intent of averting an unprecedented crisis in the northlands. Moreover, had Holo and Lawrence not become involved with the Myuri Mercenary Company, it would not have become wrapped up in such danger.
With such thoughts in mind, Holo and Lawrence could not just flee by themselves.
All they could do right now was hope that all would settle down; right now, that was still possible.
And Holo knew this, of course.
She did not like it, but she accepted it. Perhaps she had raised the issue because she wanted to rule out their running away on their own, but he made no effort to confirm that.
Lawrence had something else he wanted to say instead.
"So if you were an exceptionally skilled merchant who could easily do such shocking things, what would you do?"
"Mm?"
Holo looked at him, seemingly taking a bit of time to understand the meaning of his words.
Though not being simply led by the nose by Holo made him happiest, taking a long, hard look at Holo's face changing into a bewildered expression was a close second.
She looked like she was not going to give up even if it took her the next hundred years.
"...Do you intend to push this onto me? I must say that is very small-minded of you."
"I think we stupid males are proud of being good at that."
And without laughing, Holo snuggled nicely into Lawrence's side and said this.
"Yes, yes. That is so."
Holo took Lawrence's hand, as if asking, Is this all right?
The smile Lawrence sent back covered his whole face.
"Hmph."
Holo looked the other way with an annoyed expression.
From there, the two descended the slope and came out onto the road.
To the right was where Luward and the others were fighting; to the left, the winding road continued all the way to Svernel.
By now the heavy sleds must have all advanced quite a ways down the road. The marvelous feast of sword and spear was due to come to an end, so those not involved had gone ahead.


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

Input:
Certainly, it might be a very convenient way of looking at things.
But since the words were not those of an amateur, but those of Hilde, who had been inside the Debau Company, they carried weight.
"At the very least, that's what Hilde thinks. I think it's an optimistic perspective, too, but some of the traitors must be more fervent than others. It wouldn't be strange if some thought, If we keep on going like this, the lords will run us into the ground, and so forth."
***
Holo surely understood the logic of it, yet she was deeply perturbed.
Before Lawrence could ask her what she really thought, Holo said this.
"So what, call back the owner they have bared their fangs at once already? And if called back, would he forgive them?"
Certainly, that was a sensible reaction.
But merchants were shockingly greedy, thick faced, and black hearted. These trends were exacerbated in merchants of exceptional skill. Famous merchants were specialists at throwing their weight around, but Lawrence had heard they were just fine with rubbing their cheek against the ground right in front of others.
In practice, such things usually did not obtain any definite results, and if the middle managers did not kill Debau himself because they could still use him, the reverse was equally true. In other words, even if Debau returned to power at the head of the company, Hilde and Debau could never return the company to its former state by themselves.
"I think...they will. And Mr. Hilde and the others are spurring a counterattack because they think so."
For a while, Holo's eyes watched Lawrence as if he looked like a creepy magician or the like, finally making a sigh. Perhaps she averted her gaze because looking at the forest calmed her heart.
"You merchants truly are a pack of fools..."
Tone aside, those words seemed to constitute tentative assent. Besides, this was very good news so far as Holo was concerned.
Even Holo would want to avoid making the choice to abandon Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company if at all possible.
After all, handing Hilde the forbidden text was with the intent of averting an unprecedented crisis in the northlands. Moreover, had Holo and Lawrence not become involved with the Myuri Mercenary Company, it would not have become wrapped up in such danger.
With such thoughts in mind, Holo and Lawrence could not just flee by themselves.
All they could do right now was hope that all would settle down; right now, that was still possible.
And Holo knew this, of course.
She did not like it, but she accepted it. Perhaps she had raised the issue because she wanted to rule out their running away on their own, but he made no effort to confirm that.
Lawrence had something else he wanted to say instead.
"So if you were an exceptionally skilled merchant who could easily do such shocking things, what would you do?"
"Mm?"
Holo looked at him, seemingly taking a bit of time to understand the meaning of his words.
Though not being simply led by the nose by Holo made him happiest, taking a long, hard look at Holo's face changing into a bewildered expression was a close second.
She looked like she was not going to give up even if it took her the next hundred years.
"...Do you intend to push this onto me? I must say that is very small-minded of you."
"I think we stupid males are proud of being good at that."
And without laughing, Holo snuggled nicely into Lawrence's side and said this.
"Yes, yes. That is so."
Holo took Lawrence's hand, as if asking, Is this all right?
The smile Lawrence sent back covered his whole face.
"Hmph."
Holo looked the other way with an annoyed expression.
From there, the two descended the slope and came out onto the road.
To the right was where Luward and the others were fighting; to the left, the winding road continued all the way to Svernel.
By now the heavy sleds must have all advanced quite a ways down the road. The marvelous feast of sword and spear was due to come to an end, so those not involved had gone ahead.

Output:
According to Hilde, the bird named Luis knew to tell her that if anything had happened in Lesko, Hilde would be heading toward Svernel.
Therefore, since the eyes of a bird in flight surely would have spotted Lawrence and the others right away, a rather large amount of time had passed.
As he asked, Holo shrugged her shoulders a bit and said this.
"The town was like a clam that had closed its shell. Even knowing without doubt something had happened to the hare, I had little notion of what exactly that something was. That and someone left the inn without leaving so much as a note."
Holo said it with invective, but in that situation, Lawrence would never have left a note.
If he carelessly left such a thing, he would have no idea what way it might be taken.
"So you were investigating the circumstances?"
"Aye. Luis's comrades had vanished as well. But though Luis did not take human form, he truly has courage and is quite valiant. He said he would not give up and would keep searching. Aye. Enough that 'tis truly wasted on a bird."
From Holo, who rarely even remembered other people's names, this was rather high praise.
As Lawrence thought as much, he also knew he had best keep his face neutral, but apparently the decision had come too late. Holo noticed and leered at him from the side.
"...This Luis is so incredible, then?"
So he said it before it was said for him.
"Aye. Let us say we had a bit of an adventure."
"I see," Lawrence calmly replied, but Holo seemed to be testing him as she said all this.
"Making a forced march, running all over day and night, finally arriving at the town and searching for those who were missing and gathering information was not something that could be done alone. Sometimes he urged me on; sometimes I urged him on. Sometimes I led him; sometimes he led me. That is why..."
Holo made a small pause in her words.
"...I might have fallen for him just a bit."
She turned her face away as she spoke for good measure.
As Holo spoke such words, she made what seemed to be a constrained smile.
A man and a woman bound together through hardship was one of the staples of the old ballads.
It could not be. Could it...?
If a man and a wolf was fine, why not a wolf and a bird?
But if he showed even a hint of suspicion about that, it would mean he did not trust Holo.
More than anything else, he was certain Holo thinking he did not trust her would hurt her.
While Lawrence desperately tried to maintain his logic and self-control, Holo diligently gazed at Lawrence's face as a satisfied smile came over her face.
"Wh-why you little—!"
A moment before Lawrence could finish, Holo hugged Lawrence.
And taking in a deep breath as if sniffing the scent of Lawrence's clothes for all she was worth, she held it for a while before gently exhaling.
When she pulled back, she seemed happy, so much she teared up a bit.
"How much do you think I love you, you fool?"
Certainly, it was Holo who had lured Lawrence to a place with no trace of anyone else and pushed him down.
Lawrence had no words of rebuttal, scratching his face as he looked the fool.
"But quite a lot actually happened. We ended up fleeing from the town in a big hurry."
Instead of feeling like a fly was crawling on his head, the about-face made Lawrence's head seem to go numb somewhere.
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. I do not intend to second-guess the judgments you all made...but they are a fiercer enemy than before. Perhaps it is because of their internal disputes that they have hardened their defenses to excess. 'Tis the time for it, after all. That sack has much of Luis's courage packed in it."
As Lawrence looked at the hemp sack over his shoulder, she told him, "By the way, you may not.
"Luis was told so by his master. If the worst happens, do not let anyone see or ask, just deliver the package to the hare."
Holo's face made plain that she was not saying it as a joke.
Lawrence looked at the hemp sack on his shoulder once again.


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

Input:
According to Hilde, the bird named Luis knew to tell her that if anything had happened in Lesko, Hilde would be heading toward Svernel.
Therefore, since the eyes of a bird in flight surely would have spotted Lawrence and the others right away, a rather large amount of time had passed.
As he asked, Holo shrugged her shoulders a bit and said this.
"The town was like a clam that had closed its shell. Even knowing without doubt something had happened to the hare, I had little notion of what exactly that something was. That and someone left the inn without leaving so much as a note."
Holo said it with invective, but in that situation, Lawrence would never have left a note.
If he carelessly left such a thing, he would have no idea what way it might be taken.
"So you were investigating the circumstances?"
"Aye. Luis's comrades had vanished as well. But though Luis did not take human form, he truly has courage and is quite valiant. He said he would not give up and would keep searching. Aye. Enough that 'tis truly wasted on a bird."
From Holo, who rarely even remembered other people's names, this was rather high praise.
As Lawrence thought as much, he also knew he had best keep his face neutral, but apparently the decision had come too late. Holo noticed and leered at him from the side.
"...This Luis is so incredible, then?"
So he said it before it was said for him.
"Aye. Let us say we had a bit of an adventure."
"I see," Lawrence calmly replied, but Holo seemed to be testing him as she said all this.
"Making a forced march, running all over day and night, finally arriving at the town and searching for those who were missing and gathering information was not something that could be done alone. Sometimes he urged me on; sometimes I urged him on. Sometimes I led him; sometimes he led me. That is why..."
Holo made a small pause in her words.
"...I might have fallen for him just a bit."
She turned her face away as she spoke for good measure.
As Holo spoke such words, she made what seemed to be a constrained smile.
A man and a woman bound together through hardship was one of the staples of the old ballads.
It could not be. Could it...?
If a man and a wolf was fine, why not a wolf and a bird?
But if he showed even a hint of suspicion about that, it would mean he did not trust Holo.
More than anything else, he was certain Holo thinking he did not trust her would hurt her.
While Lawrence desperately tried to maintain his logic and self-control, Holo diligently gazed at Lawrence's face as a satisfied smile came over her face.
"Wh-why you little—!"
A moment before Lawrence could finish, Holo hugged Lawrence.
And taking in a deep breath as if sniffing the scent of Lawrence's clothes for all she was worth, she held it for a while before gently exhaling.
When she pulled back, she seemed happy, so much she teared up a bit.
"How much do you think I love you, you fool?"
Certainly, it was Holo who had lured Lawrence to a place with no trace of anyone else and pushed him down.
Lawrence had no words of rebuttal, scratching his face as he looked the fool.
"But quite a lot actually happened. We ended up fleeing from the town in a big hurry."
Instead of feeling like a fly was crawling on his head, the about-face made Lawrence's head seem to go numb somewhere.
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. I do not intend to second-guess the judgments you all made...but they are a fiercer enemy than before. Perhaps it is because of their internal disputes that they have hardened their defenses to excess. 'Tis the time for it, after all. That sack has much of Luis's courage packed in it."
As Lawrence looked at the hemp sack over his shoulder, she told him, "By the way, you may not.
"Luis was told so by his master. If the worst happens, do not let anyone see or ask, just deliver the package to the hare."
Holo's face made plain that she was not saying it as a joke.
Lawrence looked at the hemp sack on his shoulder once again.

Output:
The last part was surely a joke, but what had been entrusted to her was no doubt of such importance—certainly something worthy of Holo remembering his name and praising him.
But what could it be that she had been entrusted with? This master was no doubt Hilbert Von Debau.
All Lawrence could think of were letters or perhaps money, or failing that, various documents bearing the Debau Company's stamp of authority. Certainly, if that was so, it had to be something no one would know about or think even the possibility existed that it would move beyond their grasp.
When push came to shove, company operations always functioned on trust. Scattering documents embodying that trust outside of the company meant throwing the company's trust out of the window as well.
Even though they had let the former owner live so far because he was still useful, they would most certainly kill him for that. Or perhaps they would let him live so that something hidden would not be exposed.
"Have you seen it?"
As Lawrence asked, expression vanished from Holo's face, and a moment later, Lawrence's field of vision flipped.
It took him a while to realize Holo had pulled his leg and sent him tumbling.
"You truly are a fool."
As she haughtily looked down upon him with a frigid look, Lawrence remained on the ground as he raised his head, muttering, "Certainly."
As Lawrence and Holo arrived back, the party was in full swing.
In Luward's camp, about four men bound with ropes were being made to sit.
Their faces bore numerous scars; even their hands bore large reddish-black lumps on them.
It seemed that the blood that dyed the snow red was not something made up.
Small doubt what stood out was how upbeat their faces were in spite of looking like that. Merely understanding that their lives were not in danger could not account for that. They looked like they had just finished a horse race.
"We're back."
When Lawrence called out to Luward, Luward nodded without a word, exchanging looks with Moizi.
"It is about time."
Lawrence nodded at Moizi's words and, leading Holo by the hand, came to rest at a nook in the road.
Even from there, they had a plenty good view of the false battlefield.
Snowflakes danced, battle cries rose; it did not look like a single person was holding back. In practice, though the swords and spears did not cut, they were plenty useful as blunt instruments. A square hit in the head would make someone swoon; it would be easy for someone to lose his life. Even in the short time Lawrence and Holo watched together, there were a number of people carried to the rear with broken bones or who had been knocked out cold.
Furthermore, even though this had been prearranged, the situation put the Myuri Mercenary Company at a clear disadvantage. One could say they were overwhelmed.
However, they exhausted every effort, friend and foe alike. Everyone had an equal possibility of dying. But even knowing this, they were all so serious that it lit a fire in Lawrence's chest. He truly understood why people liked battle.
Therefore, no matter how idiotic the goal, regardless of it being a matter of ego, Lawrence still thought it looked stirring. Why is it stirring? he thought. He even thought, If only I could join in. For this was the world of sword and shield, a world that lay beyond the path not taken.
"You truly do seem envious," Holo pointed out to him.
As Lawrence tried to maintain a neutral expression, he self-consciously patted his own face.
"I know not what is so good about it." Holo seemed exasperated as she spoke, shrugging her shoulders. Lawrence could not explain it himself, after all; when push came to shove, those who were fighting did not know themselves. Even so, there was something attractive about it. Battle had a certain something to it.
Though he did not want to say, A woman probably would not understand, there certainly was something about it.
"Well, if I'd been a mercenary, I might not have ever traveled with you."


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

Input:
The last part was surely a joke, but what had been entrusted to her was no doubt of such importance—certainly something worthy of Holo remembering his name and praising him.
But what could it be that she had been entrusted with? This master was no doubt Hilbert Von Debau.
All Lawrence could think of were letters or perhaps money, or failing that, various documents bearing the Debau Company's stamp of authority. Certainly, if that was so, it had to be something no one would know about or think even the possibility existed that it would move beyond their grasp.
When push came to shove, company operations always functioned on trust. Scattering documents embodying that trust outside of the company meant throwing the company's trust out of the window as well.
Even though they had let the former owner live so far because he was still useful, they would most certainly kill him for that. Or perhaps they would let him live so that something hidden would not be exposed.
"Have you seen it?"
As Lawrence asked, expression vanished from Holo's face, and a moment later, Lawrence's field of vision flipped.
It took him a while to realize Holo had pulled his leg and sent him tumbling.
"You truly are a fool."
As she haughtily looked down upon him with a frigid look, Lawrence remained on the ground as he raised his head, muttering, "Certainly."
As Lawrence and Holo arrived back, the party was in full swing.
In Luward's camp, about four men bound with ropes were being made to sit.
Their faces bore numerous scars; even their hands bore large reddish-black lumps on them.
It seemed that the blood that dyed the snow red was not something made up.
Small doubt what stood out was how upbeat their faces were in spite of looking like that. Merely understanding that their lives were not in danger could not account for that. They looked like they had just finished a horse race.
"We're back."
When Lawrence called out to Luward, Luward nodded without a word, exchanging looks with Moizi.
"It is about time."
Lawrence nodded at Moizi's words and, leading Holo by the hand, came to rest at a nook in the road.
Even from there, they had a plenty good view of the false battlefield.
Snowflakes danced, battle cries rose; it did not look like a single person was holding back. In practice, though the swords and spears did not cut, they were plenty useful as blunt instruments. A square hit in the head would make someone swoon; it would be easy for someone to lose his life. Even in the short time Lawrence and Holo watched together, there were a number of people carried to the rear with broken bones or who had been knocked out cold.
Furthermore, even though this had been prearranged, the situation put the Myuri Mercenary Company at a clear disadvantage. One could say they were overwhelmed.
However, they exhausted every effort, friend and foe alike. Everyone had an equal possibility of dying. But even knowing this, they were all so serious that it lit a fire in Lawrence's chest. He truly understood why people liked battle.
Therefore, no matter how idiotic the goal, regardless of it being a matter of ego, Lawrence still thought it looked stirring. Why is it stirring? he thought. He even thought, If only I could join in. For this was the world of sword and shield, a world that lay beyond the path not taken.
"You truly do seem envious," Holo pointed out to him.
As Lawrence tried to maintain a neutral expression, he self-consciously patted his own face.
"I know not what is so good about it." Holo seemed exasperated as she spoke, shrugging her shoulders. Lawrence could not explain it himself, after all; when push came to shove, those who were fighting did not know themselves. Even so, there was something attractive about it. Battle had a certain something to it.
Though he did not want to say, A woman probably would not understand, there certainly was something about it.
"Well, if I'd been a mercenary, I might not have ever traveled with you."

Output:
"Who knows? At the very least, you would never be able to keep up to their fine work as you are now. Perhaps you would have died before ever meeting me?"
That was a rather frank and realistic opinion. Even more so, it sounded convincing.
However, Lawrence pictured it anyway: him, burlier and sturdier than he was now, accustomed to wielding a sword or an ax, perhaps using one of them to earn his supper as a mercenary.
And then, one day meeting Holo and heading to Yoitsu. Of course, being a mercenary, he would have tried to deal with this and that on their journey to cut open a path with force of arms and intellect.
At such times, Holo would be standing at his side. Certainly, this was Holo, but since he would be a professional mercenary blazing a trail with his blade, Holo would not have to do anything excessive. If her form as a wolf was exposed, he would stand right by her side, sword in hand.
If she spotted an enemy, like just below this hill, Holo would counter sword with fang all on her own.
Himself, perhaps called a wolf of the battlefield, beside Holo, giant wolf fangs bared?
Surely no young man could fail to quiver at such a sight?
"But," said Holo.
Lawrence felt embarrassed at having peered at such an idiotic fantasy, but Holo's narrowed eyes gazed across the wide-ranging battlefield when she said this:
"Since 'twould be you, it might have been fun whatever happened."
And she looked toward Lawrence, making an embarrassed-looking smile. With such a smiling face before him, Lawrence could not right himself with any elegance. If he was a valiant man, devoting himself to professional mercenary work, not batting an eyebrow at putting his life on the line, that would surely have its very own charm.
Unfortunately, however, he was simply a pathetic man in practice.
Lawrence could not help but think so, but Holo did not seem to think it herself. She pulled her head back, smiled with an amused look, and looked over the battlefield once more. As she breathed in and out, there was a white shade to her lips, natural as that might be.
"There's such a thing as fate. 'Tis what I believe."
Lawrence did not think those words came to her all of a sudden.
Meeting Holo was by coincidence, and having come this far involved a number of very large coincidences as well. All of them could have ended up differently; that was why, had he met her as a mercenary, it was quite possible he would have bid her farewell by dying on some battlefield somewhere.
"I am tired of grieving. I am tired of worry and hesitation. Hungry, all four paws hurting from the cold, frantically running on the snow-covered roads—even so, I thought about it. Until even a very short time ago, I never imagined she called the Wisewolf of Yoitsu would end up doing this sort of thing. However, if 'tis fate, 'tis not a poor one, I think."
There was a bit of distance between Holo and Lawrence.
As expected, Holo was not foolish enough to snuggle up against him here.
However, Lawrence thought nothing of such a distance.
Holo, in a place but a few footsteps away from Lawrence, slowly turned her head to him, and said this.
"And since I had a lot of time to think as I ran, I thought of it."
"Thought of it?"
Of what?
Faster than Lawrence could ask, Holo resumed speaking, as if unable to contain herself.
"The name of your store."
"Eh?"
It was that instant, as his eyes widened and as he moved to take a step toward Holo to grasp her shoulders.
An incredible roar reverberated, seeming like it would split the very ground.
It sounded just as if trees were being felled. That was Lawrence's first thought, but then he realized he was mistaken, for trees truly were being felled.
"Avalanche!" someone shouted.
If one looked over the battlefield, all the soldiers with weapons in hand trying to cut at their opponents froze in place as they absorbed the news. They all turned their heads in the same direction.


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

Input:
"Who knows? At the very least, you would never be able to keep up to their fine work as you are now. Perhaps you would have died before ever meeting me?"
That was a rather frank and realistic opinion. Even more so, it sounded convincing.
However, Lawrence pictured it anyway: him, burlier and sturdier than he was now, accustomed to wielding a sword or an ax, perhaps using one of them to earn his supper as a mercenary.
And then, one day meeting Holo and heading to Yoitsu. Of course, being a mercenary, he would have tried to deal with this and that on their journey to cut open a path with force of arms and intellect.
At such times, Holo would be standing at his side. Certainly, this was Holo, but since he would be a professional mercenary blazing a trail with his blade, Holo would not have to do anything excessive. If her form as a wolf was exposed, he would stand right by her side, sword in hand.
If she spotted an enemy, like just below this hill, Holo would counter sword with fang all on her own.
Himself, perhaps called a wolf of the battlefield, beside Holo, giant wolf fangs bared?
Surely no young man could fail to quiver at such a sight?
"But," said Holo.
Lawrence felt embarrassed at having peered at such an idiotic fantasy, but Holo's narrowed eyes gazed across the wide-ranging battlefield when she said this:
"Since 'twould be you, it might have been fun whatever happened."
And she looked toward Lawrence, making an embarrassed-looking smile. With such a smiling face before him, Lawrence could not right himself with any elegance. If he was a valiant man, devoting himself to professional mercenary work, not batting an eyebrow at putting his life on the line, that would surely have its very own charm.
Unfortunately, however, he was simply a pathetic man in practice.
Lawrence could not help but think so, but Holo did not seem to think it herself. She pulled her head back, smiled with an amused look, and looked over the battlefield once more. As she breathed in and out, there was a white shade to her lips, natural as that might be.
"There's such a thing as fate. 'Tis what I believe."
Lawrence did not think those words came to her all of a sudden.
Meeting Holo was by coincidence, and having come this far involved a number of very large coincidences as well. All of them could have ended up differently; that was why, had he met her as a mercenary, it was quite possible he would have bid her farewell by dying on some battlefield somewhere.
"I am tired of grieving. I am tired of worry and hesitation. Hungry, all four paws hurting from the cold, frantically running on the snow-covered roads—even so, I thought about it. Until even a very short time ago, I never imagined she called the Wisewolf of Yoitsu would end up doing this sort of thing. However, if 'tis fate, 'tis not a poor one, I think."
There was a bit of distance between Holo and Lawrence.
As expected, Holo was not foolish enough to snuggle up against him here.
However, Lawrence thought nothing of such a distance.
Holo, in a place but a few footsteps away from Lawrence, slowly turned her head to him, and said this.
"And since I had a lot of time to think as I ran, I thought of it."
"Thought of it?"
Of what?
Faster than Lawrence could ask, Holo resumed speaking, as if unable to contain herself.
"The name of your store."
"Eh?"
It was that instant, as his eyes widened and as he moved to take a step toward Holo to grasp her shoulders.
An incredible roar reverberated, seeming like it would split the very ground.
It sounded just as if trees were being felled. That was Lawrence's first thought, but then he realized he was mistaken, for trees truly were being felled.
"Avalanche!" someone shouted.
If one looked over the battlefield, all the soldiers with weapons in hand trying to cut at their opponents froze in place as they absorbed the news. They all turned their heads in the same direction.

Output:
The snow plunged into the valley all at once.
"Retreat! Retreaaat!"
Luward was yelling, and Rebonato on top of the hill on the opposite side also yelled, but their voices no longer reached.
In the midst of the roar that seemed to shake their very bodies, the soldiers scattered in every direction like ants being chased by water. The mass of snow relentlessly poured into the valley, crushing everything in its path, before finally enveloping it with a thick, rising spray of snow.
In an instant, it was all over.
However, everything had changed.
For this was how the curtain was being yanked down over the battle.
"Gather the wounded! Retreat! It's an act of God!"
Luward's command flew first over the battlefield now returned to silence.
On the other side of the valley, Rebonato seemed taken aback at the cowardice of the Debau Company's overseer, but the Myuri Mercenary Company paid no heed. They pulled as many of their comrades out of the snow that they could, ran up the hill, and kept running. As Lawrence and Holo fortuitously fled like hares as well, Rebonato finally regained his senses.
"Running away, cowards?!"
And he hurled his ax in anger. The ax flew an unbelievable distance, thrusting into the camp on their side, but of course it struck no one. As Rebonato looked over the camp, empty as a hollow shell, he shouted, "Damn it all!" in a voice filled with such anger, one would not think it was an act.
When Lawrence and the others advanced all the way to where the sleds had arrived, hot soup was waiting for them.
The comedy had ended in suitable fashion, but Lawrence, who knew it was all a trick, had not thought it would be so incredible. He wondered if those who had been caught up in the avalanche were all right.
Thinking about such things as he ate his soup, his concern might have shown on his face.
When the roll call was finished, confirming that fifteen people had been left on the battlefield exactly as planned, Moizi, having finished his report to Luward, said this to him.
"The ones caught up in the avalanche were pikemen. Well, I'm sure they're all right."
So that's it, thought Lawrence.
"Also, it was all snow spray, not nearly as bad as the real thing. None of our men would die from the likes of that."
He grinned widely at that.
"Once things settle down a little, they will no doubt be in touch with us. What should concern us is what comes next."
Lawrence meekly nodded at Moizi's words.
Certainly it was true. So far, everything had been between mercenaries in on it, but it would not be so from here on.
For once they entered Svernel, their opponent would be the Debau Company itself.
Meanwhile, Luward was going around looking over the wounded, checking on the condition of the prisoners, and thanking those who had pushed into the mountains and built a device to deliver a splendid avalanche for their labors.
No doubt those who made use of men could only do so because they were considerate at times like these, even if they looked imperious and heavy-handed at times.
"Everyone, well done."
And once everything settled down back to normal, Luward spoke.
"Compared to the large-scale, much-reputed Hugo Mercenary Company, your fine work was as good or better. Unfortunately we didn't win the match, but that'll make it more fun next time we spar with them."
Knowing full well there had never been such a thing and never would be again, everyone made lighthearted laughs.
Hilde, the de facto employer of the mercenaries, must have made a strained smile inside the wicker cage.
"Well, then, I'd like to say get some rest for what's left of the day, but unfortunately it's still a ways until we can sleep under a roof. On top of that, we have to be the mercenary company that used a sudden avalanche to barely escape. So because of that, I want to advance with all speed. Anyone want to complain?"
Luward looked all around, but of course no one did.
Everyone was smiling, pleased with their own roles.
"All right, after a few preparations, we advance!"