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

Input:
Lawrence understood the reaction, because if a priest saw someone drinking during the day, they would certainly give them a scolding. They ducked their heads down to shrink themselves, and with a small sigh, Elsa simply said, "Be careful not to drink too much," and continued past them.
But the reaction of those who saw her was noticeably strange. The inside of the tavern also suddenly went still, and a hard silence fell over the place. It seemed like people might even hesitate to cough.
When Holo and Lawrence saw the scene while still seated on the cart outside, they turned to look at each other.
"You were joking when you said her face was scary, right?"
"...You fool."
Holo had been the one who made the joke earlier but even she seemed bewildered by all this.
They circled around to the back of the inn to drop off the cart before entering the building, only to find the merchants inside whispering quietly to one another. At the very back, Elsa was surrounded by several people.
"Miss Elsa," Lawrence called, and everyone surrounding her turned to look at him.
There were three men dressed in plain clothes who seemed to be members of the clergy, while the other two were dressed in well-tailored outfits, but the lack of refinement made it clear they had come to the city as village representatives. All of them were a couple of decades older than Lawrence.
"Who are these gentlemen?"
"These are old acquaintances of mine, Mr. Lawrence and Miss Holo."
"Nice to meet you."
Each one accepted Lawrence's extended hand with caution. One of them named himself the village's head priest. He had forgotten after dealing with familiar guests all the time at the bathhouse, but whenever he traveled somewhere new in the past, this was the norm.
"First, let us guide you to the room."
They headed up the stairs and ran into two of the younger villagers, perhaps left behind to watch the group's belongings, though they were currently sitting in the hall outside of the room playing cards. They hurriedly put away their cards and led them through a large suite of rooms.
"The mood is not all that pleasant," Elsa remarked, and the faces of all the elders clouded over in shame.
"Several of the villagers are on duty at the Laud Company, but it's hard to say that the situation seems favorable in any way..."
"The entire city is full of life, but it only seems peaceful on the outside. Lady Elsa, did anyone say anything to you when you came into the city dressed like that?"
Lawrence was rather surprised to hear one of the clergymen use an honorific title with Elsa. Elsa often took up jobs she was requested to do, which was how she ended up in the Vallan Bishopric, so perhaps she had made an acquaintance in a high place along the way. The Church had its own unique hierarchy, so even though she was only a temporary priest, perhaps she had earned a fine name for herself as a woman of the cloth.
"Not particularly...But, well..." Elsa signaled to Lawrence with a glance so he took over for her.
"Everyone seemed very surprised to see her in priest's garb."
One of the clergymen responded, "I thought as much. Someone got thrown in jail just the other day."
"What?"
It was not just Elsa who was shocked but Lawrence, too. Even Holo, who had been lazily gazing out the window, was paying attention now.
"If they are so cautious of clerical robes then...was it an inquisitor?"
Holo finally seemed interested when Lawrence asked his question. To a nonhuman, inquisitors were their natural enemies.
"No, the one caught was a merchant. It's someone we know well, someone who always conducted trade in good faith..."
"There were rumors a little while ago that it might end up like this, but because of that now, if you peel a layer back, you'll see that all the city folk are on edge, like a wolf who's been separated from the pack."

Output:
He looked to Elsa, and the female priest, who was both knowledgeable in problems of faith and full of worldly wisdom, asked, "Was it debt?"
Not paying back a debt amounted to nothing more than betraying the trust of the person whom one owed.
It could even be considered a sin.
"Despite how lively the city is, everyone is working themselves to the bone because they cannot pay back their debts. Some even say that the reason so many people are carousing in the streets is because they're watching to make sure the people they lent money to don't run off."
Or perhaps there were so many people at the end of their rope that the rumor was spreading as though it were true.
"Even though all the product we brought from the village has already been sold, the Laud Company still will not pay us for it. About five of us—including the bishop, the mayor, and their helpers—are stationed at the company's building in order to pressure them, but we haven't gotten them to budge."
"There are groups from other villages who are apparently in a similar position, so they're probably arguing over who will get paid first."
"We have some stores back in the village, but we may be in for a very hungry winter at this rate. How have things turned out for you, Lady Elsa? How much in terms of assets did the church have?"
Elsa had been left in charge of managing the bishopric's assets.
The woman kept her expression and retrieved the money order from her breast pocket.
"We have managed to sell the cursed mountain off to the Debau Company."
"Ohhh!"
"What?!"
Everyone grew excited, but Elsa calmed them down by clearing her throat.
"It was Mr. Lawrence and Miss Holo here who solved the secret of the mountain and introduced me to the Debau Company."
When Elsa said that, their earlier aloofness vanished in an instant. They clasped both Lawrence and Holo's hands so hard it was painful and pulled them into ecstatic hugs.
"How wonderful! We may buy plenty of goods to last the winter with the money. I wondered how things might end up for a moment there, but I'm certain this news will also give the bishop and the mayor some peace of mind. Let's call everyone back right away and hit the stores."
Elsa stood before the men as they voiced relief about how they were glad this matter was settled to one another, and she quickly put the money order away back into her pocket before saying, "It sounds like the Laud Company is in greater trouble than I'd expected."
"What?"
Elsa looked at the bewildered villagers with eyes that were almost cold.
Holo looked among them, excited that something was about to happen.
"I've heard that the Laud Company has worked very hard for the Vallan Bishopric for a long time...Don't tell me you think everything is perfectly fine as long as we can get by with the money from the sale of the mountain."
The people of the bishopric were clearly distressed.
"B-but, Lady Elsa, things might turn out badly if you aren't careful and get needlessly involved in their problems. Are you planning on saving the Laud Company with the money order? The same company that hasn't paid us yet?"
"If we are able to assist the Laud Company, then it would not be only them that we would be helping."
"What...do you...?"
Elsa lightly cleared her throat.
"The reason they have not paid you is because they themselves have not yet received payment for the crops that the villagers worked so hard to harvest. By helping them, we will also recover the proceeds for the harvest. Leaving them to their fate would not only be a loss for the bishopric but would also be an insult to the villagers, the lambs of God, who have given their all. Do you really think that as long as we have covered our losses, then all is well? Your way of thinking completely disregards the efforts of those who have worked so hard!"
All the men were taken aback at Elsa's steadfast moral argument. Lawrence was no exception.


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

Input:
He looked to Elsa, and the female priest, who was both knowledgeable in problems of faith and full of worldly wisdom, asked, "Was it debt?"
Not paying back a debt amounted to nothing more than betraying the trust of the person whom one owed.
It could even be considered a sin.
"Despite how lively the city is, everyone is working themselves to the bone because they cannot pay back their debts. Some even say that the reason so many people are carousing in the streets is because they're watching to make sure the people they lent money to don't run off."
Or perhaps there were so many people at the end of their rope that the rumor was spreading as though it were true.
"Even though all the product we brought from the village has already been sold, the Laud Company still will not pay us for it. About five of us—including the bishop, the mayor, and their helpers—are stationed at the company's building in order to pressure them, but we haven't gotten them to budge."
"There are groups from other villages who are apparently in a similar position, so they're probably arguing over who will get paid first."
"We have some stores back in the village, but we may be in for a very hungry winter at this rate. How have things turned out for you, Lady Elsa? How much in terms of assets did the church have?"
Elsa had been left in charge of managing the bishopric's assets.
The woman kept her expression and retrieved the money order from her breast pocket.
"We have managed to sell the cursed mountain off to the Debau Company."
"Ohhh!"
"What?!"
Everyone grew excited, but Elsa calmed them down by clearing her throat.
"It was Mr. Lawrence and Miss Holo here who solved the secret of the mountain and introduced me to the Debau Company."
When Elsa said that, their earlier aloofness vanished in an instant. They clasped both Lawrence and Holo's hands so hard it was painful and pulled them into ecstatic hugs.
"How wonderful! We may buy plenty of goods to last the winter with the money. I wondered how things might end up for a moment there, but I'm certain this news will also give the bishop and the mayor some peace of mind. Let's call everyone back right away and hit the stores."
Elsa stood before the men as they voiced relief about how they were glad this matter was settled to one another, and she quickly put the money order away back into her pocket before saying, "It sounds like the Laud Company is in greater trouble than I'd expected."
"What?"
Elsa looked at the bewildered villagers with eyes that were almost cold.
Holo looked among them, excited that something was about to happen.
"I've heard that the Laud Company has worked very hard for the Vallan Bishopric for a long time...Don't tell me you think everything is perfectly fine as long as we can get by with the money from the sale of the mountain."
The people of the bishopric were clearly distressed.
"B-but, Lady Elsa, things might turn out badly if you aren't careful and get needlessly involved in their problems. Are you planning on saving the Laud Company with the money order? The same company that hasn't paid us yet?"
"If we are able to assist the Laud Company, then it would not be only them that we would be helping."
"What...do you...?"
Elsa lightly cleared her throat.
"The reason they have not paid you is because they themselves have not yet received payment for the crops that the villagers worked so hard to harvest. By helping them, we will also recover the proceeds for the harvest. Leaving them to their fate would not only be a loss for the bishopric but would also be an insult to the villagers, the lambs of God, who have given their all. Do you really think that as long as we have covered our losses, then all is well? Your way of thinking completely disregards the efforts of those who have worked so hard!"
All the men were taken aback at Elsa's steadfast moral argument. Lawrence was no exception.

Output:
However, the first thought that came to Lawrence was the possibility that it might cost more to save the company than whatever the village had earned from the sale of the harvest. In that case, there was ultimately no point, at least financially speaking...The priests seemed to have the same idea. Right as it seemed like they were beginning to suspect Elsa was not looking at reality—
"I looked through all the account books."
***
Elsa glared at the men and, like an arrow, thrust a finger at them.
"You clearly have no grasp of how to handle money! Waste, unaccounted expenditures, mistakes in calculation—it's all a mess! What do you even think income and expenditures are?! Perhaps this sloppy accounting was tolerable when the bishopric was thriving, but that does not mean that such behavior is acceptable for servants of God! Is it only at times like these do you think about profits and losses?! What on earth for?!"
They bowed their heads at Elsa's reprimanding, shrinking in on themselves.
It seemed as though the Vallan Bishopric was not strapped for cash because there was no more rock salt to be found or because the ore mines had dried up. As a holdover from their days of plenty, no one managed expenses properly, and that attitude had been passed along as new hands came to hold the reins. Everyone in charge had been complicit and careless.
But it was not just the village men who reflected as Elsa scolded them; Lawrence did the same.
People from every walk of life put a price on the results of their labor and had to live off that price. While it would be difficult to survive if the gains were not higher than the costs, Elsa tacked on the question of What for?
Lawrence realized he had unconsciously glanced at Holo.
There was little doubt that he loved making money, but there was no question that there was another standard of value. There were times when he would cast aside gains and voluntarily take on losses for this other standard, and it was none other than an act to improve the value of his life.
Elsa was an unparalleled member of the clergy.
Lawrence genuinely thought that.
"That is why I will not allow you to rely on this money order so easily! Take the appropriate measures—ask Mr. Lawrence here to teach you his ways and look into the situation at the Laud Company this instant! This is all to pay back the villagers for their labor, and it is in accordance with God's will!"
Several full-grown men stood perfectly straight after enduring the scathing lecture of a woman who was both two sizes smaller and two decades younger. Though Elsa had likely come to the Vallan Bishopric as a mediator for a higher-ranking priest, that was not the only reason these men would never be any match for her.
"That is all! May God show you the way!"
Elsa's lecture finally came to an end, and the thoroughly cowed men timidly approached Lawrence.
The Laud Company was reportedly founded by a family from the south in order to make a name for themselves right when the city of Salonia was starting to develop. The current one in charge was the fourth-generation owner, and in the preceding years, the business had grown to become a midsize company with a fairly good reputation.
Though they fundamentally dealt in every sort of good, their staple was unquestionably wine—typical for companies of a certain size. It was normal for only a very limited number of companies to be issued permits for types of alcohol that would never fall in demand. Because of that, Lawrence could tell that the Laud Company was not in terrible standing within the city.
"They haven't been dabbling in odd speculations, either, have they?"
The wine the young villagers who had been playing cards outside of the room had prepared for them was likely the kind the Laud Company dealt in. That was the first thing Lawrence asked as he sipped on his slightly sour wine.


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

Input:
However, the first thought that came to Lawrence was the possibility that it might cost more to save the company than whatever the village had earned from the sale of the harvest. In that case, there was ultimately no point, at least financially speaking...The priests seemed to have the same idea. Right as it seemed like they were beginning to suspect Elsa was not looking at reality—
"I looked through all the account books."
***
Elsa glared at the men and, like an arrow, thrust a finger at them.
"You clearly have no grasp of how to handle money! Waste, unaccounted expenditures, mistakes in calculation—it's all a mess! What do you even think income and expenditures are?! Perhaps this sloppy accounting was tolerable when the bishopric was thriving, but that does not mean that such behavior is acceptable for servants of God! Is it only at times like these do you think about profits and losses?! What on earth for?!"
They bowed their heads at Elsa's reprimanding, shrinking in on themselves.
It seemed as though the Vallan Bishopric was not strapped for cash because there was no more rock salt to be found or because the ore mines had dried up. As a holdover from their days of plenty, no one managed expenses properly, and that attitude had been passed along as new hands came to hold the reins. Everyone in charge had been complicit and careless.
But it was not just the village men who reflected as Elsa scolded them; Lawrence did the same.
People from every walk of life put a price on the results of their labor and had to live off that price. While it would be difficult to survive if the gains were not higher than the costs, Elsa tacked on the question of What for?
Lawrence realized he had unconsciously glanced at Holo.
There was little doubt that he loved making money, but there was no question that there was another standard of value. There were times when he would cast aside gains and voluntarily take on losses for this other standard, and it was none other than an act to improve the value of his life.
Elsa was an unparalleled member of the clergy.
Lawrence genuinely thought that.
"That is why I will not allow you to rely on this money order so easily! Take the appropriate measures—ask Mr. Lawrence here to teach you his ways and look into the situation at the Laud Company this instant! This is all to pay back the villagers for their labor, and it is in accordance with God's will!"
Several full-grown men stood perfectly straight after enduring the scathing lecture of a woman who was both two sizes smaller and two decades younger. Though Elsa had likely come to the Vallan Bishopric as a mediator for a higher-ranking priest, that was not the only reason these men would never be any match for her.
"That is all! May God show you the way!"
Elsa's lecture finally came to an end, and the thoroughly cowed men timidly approached Lawrence.
The Laud Company was reportedly founded by a family from the south in order to make a name for themselves right when the city of Salonia was starting to develop. The current one in charge was the fourth-generation owner, and in the preceding years, the business had grown to become a midsize company with a fairly good reputation.
Though they fundamentally dealt in every sort of good, their staple was unquestionably wine—typical for companies of a certain size. It was normal for only a very limited number of companies to be issued permits for types of alcohol that would never fall in demand. Because of that, Lawrence could tell that the Laud Company was not in terrible standing within the city.
"They haven't been dabbling in odd speculations, either, have they?"
The wine the young villagers who had been playing cards outside of the room had prepared for them was likely the kind the Laud Company dealt in. That was the first thing Lawrence asked as he sipped on his slightly sour wine.

Output:
Speculating on the futures of next year's wheat harvest, for example, could either make one rich or rob one of all their money. Lawrence, too, came very close to a dreadful experience in the herring egg trade not too long ago.
"Then did it seem like the company was making money?" he asked, and the priest and villager who were offering the explanations glanced at each other.
"I will not blame you if you are wrong."
Relieved by Elsa's reassurance, the villager opened his mouth.
"We didn't take them at their word...but the owner of the Laud Company insisted that they were doing fine."
That was entirely possible. Lawrence nodded knowingly, and that was apparently unexpected to someone who was not familiar with the world of trade.
"B-but if they are doing well, then why are they refusing to pay us? How can they be making money and still be in dire straits? It feels like something doesn't add up."
Lawrence glanced briefly at Holo, who had settled by the window and was gazing out at the city, enjoying the autumn breeze as she sipped her wine. Then he promptly gave them the same explanation he had given to her, explaining how it was entirely possible for a company making money to still go under. It was a problem that was born from the difference in the calculations in the account books and what actually existed within the cash boxes.
They looked like they had been shown an optical illusion, but what bothered Lawrence was the worrying bonus that usually came with talk of trade.
"There's something I want to check before I head over to the Laud Company—could you tell me more about the merchant that the Church here threw in jail? The reason for their imprisonment and the general feel of the situation, too, if you can. Basically, I want to know if that's something the locals here expect of the Church or if it was a big surprise to everyone."
Holo, whose bangs tickled her forehead while her eyes drooped in content, realized there was nothing in her mug and confirmed it by turning it upside down and shaking it. Only then did she finally turn her attention to the buzz of conversation in the room.
Holo's ears could hear the lies that people told.
Though they could trust Elsa, it was uncertain if they could trust the rest of the people who hailed from the Vallan Bishopric.
Just as Elsa had been graciously tasked with a touchy decision, there were times when outside merchants were essentially made scapegoats. It was not a good sign if they tried to hide something from Lawrence or even trick him.
That was because if he casually tried to stick his nose into this predicament, it wasn't out of the question that he could be accused of some crime tomorrow.
Luckily, there was no one who could deceive Holo's eyes and ears when it came to secretive battles in the forest.
"I-if you're okay with just hearing what little we know..."
Perhaps pressured by Holo and Lawrence's stares, the man who apparently worked as the head priest at the Vallan Bishopric's church explained everything to them.
Moneylending was said to be a great sin that could earn the perpetrators a spot in the deepest parts of hell, but as long as interest rates did not exceed what was appropriate, it wasn't necessarily a terrible crime. For that reason, the Church did not completely outlaw the borrowing and lending of money.
It would be best to share what one had with those who were in trouble; lending a traveler a blanket for one night, for example, was laudable, and offering thanks when paying back what one owed was also in accordance with the teachings of the faith.
"That is why there should technically be no problem, from a canon law point of view, with giving a moderate loan. That's why it wasn't just the city merchants who were surprised, but we were as well..."
"And the ecclesiastical chapter here has always had a reputation of being lenient on trade, which makes it even more so."


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

Input:
Speculating on the futures of next year's wheat harvest, for example, could either make one rich or rob one of all their money. Lawrence, too, came very close to a dreadful experience in the herring egg trade not too long ago.
"Then did it seem like the company was making money?" he asked, and the priest and villager who were offering the explanations glanced at each other.
"I will not blame you if you are wrong."
Relieved by Elsa's reassurance, the villager opened his mouth.
"We didn't take them at their word...but the owner of the Laud Company insisted that they were doing fine."
That was entirely possible. Lawrence nodded knowingly, and that was apparently unexpected to someone who was not familiar with the world of trade.
"B-but if they are doing well, then why are they refusing to pay us? How can they be making money and still be in dire straits? It feels like something doesn't add up."
Lawrence glanced briefly at Holo, who had settled by the window and was gazing out at the city, enjoying the autumn breeze as she sipped her wine. Then he promptly gave them the same explanation he had given to her, explaining how it was entirely possible for a company making money to still go under. It was a problem that was born from the difference in the calculations in the account books and what actually existed within the cash boxes.
They looked like they had been shown an optical illusion, but what bothered Lawrence was the worrying bonus that usually came with talk of trade.
"There's something I want to check before I head over to the Laud Company—could you tell me more about the merchant that the Church here threw in jail? The reason for their imprisonment and the general feel of the situation, too, if you can. Basically, I want to know if that's something the locals here expect of the Church or if it was a big surprise to everyone."
Holo, whose bangs tickled her forehead while her eyes drooped in content, realized there was nothing in her mug and confirmed it by turning it upside down and shaking it. Only then did she finally turn her attention to the buzz of conversation in the room.
Holo's ears could hear the lies that people told.
Though they could trust Elsa, it was uncertain if they could trust the rest of the people who hailed from the Vallan Bishopric.
Just as Elsa had been graciously tasked with a touchy decision, there were times when outside merchants were essentially made scapegoats. It was not a good sign if they tried to hide something from Lawrence or even trick him.
That was because if he casually tried to stick his nose into this predicament, it wasn't out of the question that he could be accused of some crime tomorrow.
Luckily, there was no one who could deceive Holo's eyes and ears when it came to secretive battles in the forest.
"I-if you're okay with just hearing what little we know..."
Perhaps pressured by Holo and Lawrence's stares, the man who apparently worked as the head priest at the Vallan Bishopric's church explained everything to them.
Moneylending was said to be a great sin that could earn the perpetrators a spot in the deepest parts of hell, but as long as interest rates did not exceed what was appropriate, it wasn't necessarily a terrible crime. For that reason, the Church did not completely outlaw the borrowing and lending of money.
It would be best to share what one had with those who were in trouble; lending a traveler a blanket for one night, for example, was laudable, and offering thanks when paying back what one owed was also in accordance with the teachings of the faith.
"That is why there should technically be no problem, from a canon law point of view, with giving a moderate loan. That's why it wasn't just the city merchants who were surprised, but we were as well..."
"And the ecclesiastical chapter here has always had a reputation of being lenient on trade, which makes it even more so."

Output:
Elsa, however, showed no particular interest and silently waited for him to continue.
"Is there a reason they're so charitable with traders and merchants? Say...for example, do they get a great deal of donations?"
The head priest and all the others shook their heads in hesitation at Lawrence's roundabout questioning.
"I cannot say with confidence that they do not, but...I believe their donations fall within what's expected."
"Given historical events, I think it's only natural that the city is so lenient on trade."
Both Holo and Elsa seemed to have their interests piqued by that statement.
The priests glanced at one another, signaling to each other, and in the end, it was the elder head priest who elaborated.
"For the origin of the Salonia church, we must harken back to when this area was nothing but a featureless field that extended to the horizon in every direction. A small church was built on the spot that hosted an irregular market for surrounding farming villages to barter and for them to sell their harvests to visiting merchants. It is said that a wandering missionary priest settling down here was the starting point of the city."
If Lawrence's experiences were correct, then wandering priests who settled down in lively places that belonged to nobody were at best those who had been kicked out and tended to be persuasive men who had little to do with the pious life.
"The priests who came after him worked hard. They even built inns for the merchants who frequented this irregular market. Before long, ever greater numbers of people began to gather, and it started to look more like a town. Eventually, this was declared an official diocese right at the same time the grand market was formally established. As you can see, the history of the Salonia church is one that developed side by side with merchants."
"In that case, do you think that current events are what led to the sudden arrest of a merchant for the sin of moneylending?"
When Lawrence asked, Holo shrank back slightly.
The world was currently roiling over the question of what shape faith should take. It was by and large the Church's own doing, since they had long simply done as they pleased, but the ones who stood at the center stirring the pot were none other than their inexperienced daughter, Myuri, and Col, so Lawrence and his wife could not exactly pretend like they were totally uninvolved. They were both proud and terrified that the children they had raised themselves had gone out into the world and were making such big waves. And like anyone would know if they moved a big crate that had been sitting untouched in storage for a long time, even the slightest shift would kick up a lot of dust.
Col and Myuri's adventure was bringing a wave of change, and they knew that was not always a good thing. When he got right down to it, this commotion was the main reason Lawrence had traveled all the way to the Vallan Bishopric where they ran into Elsa.
That being said, there was no way for the gravely nodding head priest to know that the flagbearer of the Church's reformations sweeping the world was essentially Lawrence's son.
"That is exactly why...I cannot say it's a bother for the Twilight Cardinal, though..."
As a clergyman who worked in a church, he heaved a heavy sigh. Holo, who seemed ill-mannered yet was surprisingly conscious of how others saw her, looked away like a cat when she saw his troubled face.
"Our bishopric received a notice from the archdiocese as well: Adjust your assets to a reasonable level so that they are in accordance with God's will. That is why we received Lady Elsa's help. And...actually, the reason all of us including the bishop are here is related to this problem. We have been hearing disquieting rumors for a while now."
"Disquieting rumors?" Lawrence asked in return, and Elsa spoke up.


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

Input:
Elsa, however, showed no particular interest and silently waited for him to continue.
"Is there a reason they're so charitable with traders and merchants? Say...for example, do they get a great deal of donations?"
The head priest and all the others shook their heads in hesitation at Lawrence's roundabout questioning.
"I cannot say with confidence that they do not, but...I believe their donations fall within what's expected."
"Given historical events, I think it's only natural that the city is so lenient on trade."
Both Holo and Elsa seemed to have their interests piqued by that statement.
The priests glanced at one another, signaling to each other, and in the end, it was the elder head priest who elaborated.
"For the origin of the Salonia church, we must harken back to when this area was nothing but a featureless field that extended to the horizon in every direction. A small church was built on the spot that hosted an irregular market for surrounding farming villages to barter and for them to sell their harvests to visiting merchants. It is said that a wandering missionary priest settling down here was the starting point of the city."
If Lawrence's experiences were correct, then wandering priests who settled down in lively places that belonged to nobody were at best those who had been kicked out and tended to be persuasive men who had little to do with the pious life.
"The priests who came after him worked hard. They even built inns for the merchants who frequented this irregular market. Before long, ever greater numbers of people began to gather, and it started to look more like a town. Eventually, this was declared an official diocese right at the same time the grand market was formally established. As you can see, the history of the Salonia church is one that developed side by side with merchants."
"In that case, do you think that current events are what led to the sudden arrest of a merchant for the sin of moneylending?"
When Lawrence asked, Holo shrank back slightly.
The world was currently roiling over the question of what shape faith should take. It was by and large the Church's own doing, since they had long simply done as they pleased, but the ones who stood at the center stirring the pot were none other than their inexperienced daughter, Myuri, and Col, so Lawrence and his wife could not exactly pretend like they were totally uninvolved. They were both proud and terrified that the children they had raised themselves had gone out into the world and were making such big waves. And like anyone would know if they moved a big crate that had been sitting untouched in storage for a long time, even the slightest shift would kick up a lot of dust.
Col and Myuri's adventure was bringing a wave of change, and they knew that was not always a good thing. When he got right down to it, this commotion was the main reason Lawrence had traveled all the way to the Vallan Bishopric where they ran into Elsa.
That being said, there was no way for the gravely nodding head priest to know that the flagbearer of the Church's reformations sweeping the world was essentially Lawrence's son.
"That is exactly why...I cannot say it's a bother for the Twilight Cardinal, though..."
As a clergyman who worked in a church, he heaved a heavy sigh. Holo, who seemed ill-mannered yet was surprisingly conscious of how others saw her, looked away like a cat when she saw his troubled face.
"Our bishopric received a notice from the archdiocese as well: Adjust your assets to a reasonable level so that they are in accordance with God's will. That is why we received Lady Elsa's help. And...actually, the reason all of us including the bishop are here is related to this problem. We have been hearing disquieting rumors for a while now."
"Disquieting rumors?" Lawrence asked in return, and Elsa spoke up.

Output:
He had told Elsa about the herring egg trade in Atiph.
Lawrence hummed. "So that means the futures market for wheat and farm produce might be regarded as gambling and subsequently banned."
"That's right. We buy all sorts of goods in order to get us through the winter, but we never buy what we see in the shopwindows. It's normal practice to reserve wheat, oil, and meat for the future. That is suspected as a form of gambling every now and then."
Many forms of trade were born out of necessity. Lawrence did not feel the need to comment on it and simply nodded.
"On the slim chance that all futures trading was banned, there would be chaos. And so when we came here to make sure that wouldn't happen, another problem cropped up."
"Yes, we could see that there would be a big commotion if so much trade was stopped. The bishop here in this town understands that as well. However, not doing anything at all invites suspicion of vices and corruption."
"And so the bishop of Salonia came up with a plan...Surprisingly, he thought it would be for the best to throw a merchant in jail, all for the sake of protecting trade."
That was an unexpected reason.
"That was the best option? To put a merchant behind bars?"
"Yes. Everyone in this city right now is riddled with various debts, so people are finding it harder and harder to conduct business. Even though there is so much trade occurring—it's all quite strange. Eventually, the bishop decided he had had enough and used the authority of God to shock the market back into normalcy."
Everyone was suffering from debts piling up because no one was paying what they owed, which simply exacerbated the situation. By warning them that not paying back debts had consequences, payments would in theory begin flowing again.
Though Lawrence could somewhat understand the logic, he couldn't help the bitter expression that crept onto his face.
"Did it not have the exact opposite effect, though?"
The head priest and the villagers glanced at one another again, then hung their heads as though it had been their own mistake.
"That's exactly right. Even we're terrified that we might also be thrown in jail at this rate, and while the amount of coins circulating is scarcer than ever, the collection of debts has become even more relentless. We've heard that the biggest company owners are locking horns in heated talks and that has somehow kept transactions going in the meanwhile. But we've also heard that they're refusing any resolution that involves handing over even a single silver coin to other companies."
What would happen if someone came along and tugged on both ends of a tangled thread without thinking?
Any remaining breathing room would vanish, and the thread would become even more tightly knotted.
"Why have things come to this?" the head priest asked in a fit of despair. "The city is practically overflowing with trade."
The nearby open window offered them a good look at the bustling city.
The crossroads were almost unimaginably busy, and the inns and taverns were brimming with customers.
"There are times when we even wondered if there's a demon hiding in this city," the man beside the head priest muttered weakly. Elsa raised an eyebrow, and the head priest was startled when he heard him say that.
The lively city of Salonia, falling into chaos for apparently no reason because a demon had slipped into the throngs of the markets and was secretly causing problems.
It was a relatively common suspicion, but Elsa's eyes were surprisingly stern.
"Were you being serious when you said that?" Elsa asked, and the head priest frantically spoke up.
"Everyone, including the bishop of Salonia, lives in proper faith. That is an entirely groundless rumor...Any talk of a demon is certainly not..."


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

Input:
He had told Elsa about the herring egg trade in Atiph.
Lawrence hummed. "So that means the futures market for wheat and farm produce might be regarded as gambling and subsequently banned."
"That's right. We buy all sorts of goods in order to get us through the winter, but we never buy what we see in the shopwindows. It's normal practice to reserve wheat, oil, and meat for the future. That is suspected as a form of gambling every now and then."
Many forms of trade were born out of necessity. Lawrence did not feel the need to comment on it and simply nodded.
"On the slim chance that all futures trading was banned, there would be chaos. And so when we came here to make sure that wouldn't happen, another problem cropped up."
"Yes, we could see that there would be a big commotion if so much trade was stopped. The bishop here in this town understands that as well. However, not doing anything at all invites suspicion of vices and corruption."
"And so the bishop of Salonia came up with a plan...Surprisingly, he thought it would be for the best to throw a merchant in jail, all for the sake of protecting trade."
That was an unexpected reason.
"That was the best option? To put a merchant behind bars?"
"Yes. Everyone in this city right now is riddled with various debts, so people are finding it harder and harder to conduct business. Even though there is so much trade occurring—it's all quite strange. Eventually, the bishop decided he had had enough and used the authority of God to shock the market back into normalcy."
Everyone was suffering from debts piling up because no one was paying what they owed, which simply exacerbated the situation. By warning them that not paying back debts had consequences, payments would in theory begin flowing again.
Though Lawrence could somewhat understand the logic, he couldn't help the bitter expression that crept onto his face.
"Did it not have the exact opposite effect, though?"
The head priest and the villagers glanced at one another again, then hung their heads as though it had been their own mistake.
"That's exactly right. Even we're terrified that we might also be thrown in jail at this rate, and while the amount of coins circulating is scarcer than ever, the collection of debts has become even more relentless. We've heard that the biggest company owners are locking horns in heated talks and that has somehow kept transactions going in the meanwhile. But we've also heard that they're refusing any resolution that involves handing over even a single silver coin to other companies."
What would happen if someone came along and tugged on both ends of a tangled thread without thinking?
Any remaining breathing room would vanish, and the thread would become even more tightly knotted.
"Why have things come to this?" the head priest asked in a fit of despair. "The city is practically overflowing with trade."
The nearby open window offered them a good look at the bustling city.
The crossroads were almost unimaginably busy, and the inns and taverns were brimming with customers.
"There are times when we even wondered if there's a demon hiding in this city," the man beside the head priest muttered weakly. Elsa raised an eyebrow, and the head priest was startled when he heard him say that.
The lively city of Salonia, falling into chaos for apparently no reason because a demon had slipped into the throngs of the markets and was secretly causing problems.
It was a relatively common suspicion, but Elsa's eyes were surprisingly stern.
"Were you being serious when you said that?" Elsa asked, and the head priest frantically spoke up.
"Everyone, including the bishop of Salonia, lives in proper faith. That is an entirely groundless rumor...Any talk of a demon is certainly not..."

Output:
Their worries were unfounded, though, since it seemed that Elsa's question had less to do with faith and more to do with Holo. Perhaps a nonhuman like Holo had slipped into town and was making use of some mysterious power.
Elsa turned to Holo, whose lips upturned slightly as though saying "You blithering fool," and looked away in a huff.
Watching their exchange, Lawrence slowly took a deep breath.
He had a feeling this was all the information they were going to get here and now, and he had a general idea of the current situation.
It was obvious what an ex–traveling merchant should do.
"Well then, why don't we go searching for this demon?"
After all, business couldn't be done while standing still.
Naturally, everyone's attention turned to Lawrence.
Clerical robes garnered far too much attention, so Elsa changed into everyday wear before their group set off for the Laud Company. They saw all sorts of farm produce being bought and sold on the street corners, food stalls packed close together, and a dense crowd gathering before a theater troupe.
On the surface, it looked like the city was just happily enjoying its biannual market, but the fear there was a demon lurking around was understandable considering how tense things were behind the scenes.
While Elsa, the head priest, and the others walked at the front, Lawrence and Holo took up the rear.
"Have you any clue what is happening in this city?"
Even as she took in the sights of the long-awaited grand market, Holo lowered her voice and posed the question to Lawrence.
"You mean whether or not there's a demon?"
Holo's face turned slightly sour, perhaps because she recalled the way Elsa had glanced at her.
"That fool must have thought it was one of us."
"You'll hear a lot of the same during the outbreak of plagues. People are prone to that kind of superstition. Depending on the town, some will even give a name to the plague, create a doll, and push it over a cliff every year. You know a couple of festivals with traditions like that, don't you?"
It was not that the ex-merchant Lawrence did not believe in holy miracles and the presence of demons. But he had plenty of experience as an outsider being saddled with the role of the devil, so he approached those stories with a cold look.
"That's why we need to be careful not to let ourselves be falsely accused and thrown off a cliff, but..."
Holo knew that much. Despite how she had been revered as a god, she had been besmirched, alienated, and chased out by human whim.
"On the other hand, Miss Elsa has the very powerful silver stake that is the money order in her hand. If there really is an evildoer out there, we might be able to bring them down."
Holo widened her eyes in slight surprise.
"Did that rabbit really give us something so incredible?"
"Incredible...? I'd say the incredible part is just the amount on it. It's only to be expected, since it represents the value of not just any old mountain, but one that will be very productive. That means the amount written on that money order is quite literally a mountain's worth of gold. If we were dealing with purely a lack of coin, then we could fight against even the royalty and nobility with that one sheet of paper alone."
Lawrence, who had scarcely ever seen money of that amount, was excited like a child who had seen a legendary sword. In his eyes, the way Hilde of the Debau Company had moved such a grand amount of money for a single decision matched the deed of any fairy-tale hero, and the thought alone set his heart ablaze.
"So would you be able to find the evildoer?" Holo said coolly to the giddy Lawrence.
Though Lawrence was the one to take care of and admonish Holo for her indolence and heavy drinking when they were at the inn, she was the careful one when they ventured out into the harsh world.


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

Input:
Their worries were unfounded, though, since it seemed that Elsa's question had less to do with faith and more to do with Holo. Perhaps a nonhuman like Holo had slipped into town and was making use of some mysterious power.
Elsa turned to Holo, whose lips upturned slightly as though saying "You blithering fool," and looked away in a huff.
Watching their exchange, Lawrence slowly took a deep breath.
He had a feeling this was all the information they were going to get here and now, and he had a general idea of the current situation.
It was obvious what an ex–traveling merchant should do.
"Well then, why don't we go searching for this demon?"
After all, business couldn't be done while standing still.
Naturally, everyone's attention turned to Lawrence.
Clerical robes garnered far too much attention, so Elsa changed into everyday wear before their group set off for the Laud Company. They saw all sorts of farm produce being bought and sold on the street corners, food stalls packed close together, and a dense crowd gathering before a theater troupe.
On the surface, it looked like the city was just happily enjoying its biannual market, but the fear there was a demon lurking around was understandable considering how tense things were behind the scenes.
While Elsa, the head priest, and the others walked at the front, Lawrence and Holo took up the rear.
"Have you any clue what is happening in this city?"
Even as she took in the sights of the long-awaited grand market, Holo lowered her voice and posed the question to Lawrence.
"You mean whether or not there's a demon?"
Holo's face turned slightly sour, perhaps because she recalled the way Elsa had glanced at her.
"That fool must have thought it was one of us."
"You'll hear a lot of the same during the outbreak of plagues. People are prone to that kind of superstition. Depending on the town, some will even give a name to the plague, create a doll, and push it over a cliff every year. You know a couple of festivals with traditions like that, don't you?"
It was not that the ex-merchant Lawrence did not believe in holy miracles and the presence of demons. But he had plenty of experience as an outsider being saddled with the role of the devil, so he approached those stories with a cold look.
"That's why we need to be careful not to let ourselves be falsely accused and thrown off a cliff, but..."
Holo knew that much. Despite how she had been revered as a god, she had been besmirched, alienated, and chased out by human whim.
"On the other hand, Miss Elsa has the very powerful silver stake that is the money order in her hand. If there really is an evildoer out there, we might be able to bring them down."
Holo widened her eyes in slight surprise.
"Did that rabbit really give us something so incredible?"
"Incredible...? I'd say the incredible part is just the amount on it. It's only to be expected, since it represents the value of not just any old mountain, but one that will be very productive. That means the amount written on that money order is quite literally a mountain's worth of gold. If we were dealing with purely a lack of coin, then we could fight against even the royalty and nobility with that one sheet of paper alone."
Lawrence, who had scarcely ever seen money of that amount, was excited like a child who had seen a legendary sword. In his eyes, the way Hilde of the Debau Company had moved such a grand amount of money for a single decision matched the deed of any fairy-tale hero, and the thought alone set his heart ablaze.
"So would you be able to find the evildoer?" Holo said coolly to the giddy Lawrence.
Though Lawrence was the one to take care of and admonish Holo for her indolence and heavy drinking when they were at the inn, she was the careful one when they ventured out into the harsh world.

Output:
"Hmm...? Do your kind not enjoy your secrets from time to time? And would someone from the city not have already checked that to begin with?"
Holo had a point, but when it came to the people of this city, Lawrence felt confident he was right.
They likely had not looked into it. Perhaps it was more apt to say that they could not. But Lawrence could see them owning up if he said he wanted to do just that.
Holo was skeptical when he mentioned that, but Lawrence simply saw this as a chance to show his skills as an ex–traveling merchant.
And so they arrived at the Laud Company, and his conjecture quickly changed into conviction.
"We ain't gonna pay what we can't pay, no matter who ya are!"
That was because when Elsa and the others asked for an audience with the owner of the Laud Company, they were suddenly met with an angry shout.
"I ain't sayin' we ain't payin' because we're stingy or greedy! I'm saying it's 'cause we got nothin' to pay with!"
The one yelling, his face bright red, was the elderly owner sporting a bald head and a white beard—Laud himself.
There were several other company executives in the office, but they did not look up from the mountain of account books on the long table. They were too busy trying to squeeze out even a drop of gold from somewhere. It seemed like his yelling was an everyday occurrence at the office; their total lack of reaction almost made it seem like they could not hear Laud yelling at all.
"But you are paying some people, no?"
The moment Elsa made that assertion, Laud's face went an even brighter red, almost as if the veins bulging in his forehead would burst.
"Of course! Don't talk as if you know the first thing about trade! We're doin' everything we can to make sure we don't go under, all for you people!"
Elsa's face seemed to say, "Selfish merchants would never do anything purely out of consideration for anyone else," but Lawrence perhaps thought that because Elsa's faces were scary to begin with.
She turned to look at Lawrence over her shoulder for genuine confirmation.
"It might be hard to believe, but there are no merchants who are not bothered by delaying payments to others. If there were, they would be simply swindlers."
"Exactly!"
Laud's voice was as loud as always, but it seemed that he recognized Lawrence, who had been introduced as a merchant, as someone who understood what was going on. His shoulders heaved as he breathed, calming down a tad.
"Then is it just to prioritize some payments over others?"
Once again, veins appeared on Laud's forehead in sharp relief, so Lawrence forestalled his imminent tirade with a signal of his hand.
"It might seem unfair, but in reality, there are payments that can wait and those that cannot. If everyone can get supplies before winter arrives, then things will still work out. Taken a step further, even if your payment comes with interest nearer to spring, then the net value will work out somehow, will it not?"
It was the people of the Vallan Bishopric behind Elsa who Lawrence spoke to.
"Well, that's..."
"We could provide the poorer families with the stores from the church..."
"Then what would be a payment that can't wait?" Elsa asked boldly, trying to clarify the thread of logic, but Laud's face did not go red this time. Of course, he was an elderly merchant from a large company, or perhaps he had finally gotten a grasp on Elsa's personality.
"Payments that can't wait are transactions that cannot be halted or delayed. For that, it's also important to order 'em from largest to smallest," Laud said as he snatched a cloth that sat on his desk and furiously rubbed his bald head.
Holo blinked, perhaps finding the action funny.


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

Input:
"Hmm...? Do your kind not enjoy your secrets from time to time? And would someone from the city not have already checked that to begin with?"
Holo had a point, but when it came to the people of this city, Lawrence felt confident he was right.
They likely had not looked into it. Perhaps it was more apt to say that they could not. But Lawrence could see them owning up if he said he wanted to do just that.
Holo was skeptical when he mentioned that, but Lawrence simply saw this as a chance to show his skills as an ex–traveling merchant.
And so they arrived at the Laud Company, and his conjecture quickly changed into conviction.
"We ain't gonna pay what we can't pay, no matter who ya are!"
That was because when Elsa and the others asked for an audience with the owner of the Laud Company, they were suddenly met with an angry shout.
"I ain't sayin' we ain't payin' because we're stingy or greedy! I'm saying it's 'cause we got nothin' to pay with!"
The one yelling, his face bright red, was the elderly owner sporting a bald head and a white beard—Laud himself.
There were several other company executives in the office, but they did not look up from the mountain of account books on the long table. They were too busy trying to squeeze out even a drop of gold from somewhere. It seemed like his yelling was an everyday occurrence at the office; their total lack of reaction almost made it seem like they could not hear Laud yelling at all.
"But you are paying some people, no?"
The moment Elsa made that assertion, Laud's face went an even brighter red, almost as if the veins bulging in his forehead would burst.
"Of course! Don't talk as if you know the first thing about trade! We're doin' everything we can to make sure we don't go under, all for you people!"
Elsa's face seemed to say, "Selfish merchants would never do anything purely out of consideration for anyone else," but Lawrence perhaps thought that because Elsa's faces were scary to begin with.
She turned to look at Lawrence over her shoulder for genuine confirmation.
"It might be hard to believe, but there are no merchants who are not bothered by delaying payments to others. If there were, they would be simply swindlers."
"Exactly!"
Laud's voice was as loud as always, but it seemed that he recognized Lawrence, who had been introduced as a merchant, as someone who understood what was going on. His shoulders heaved as he breathed, calming down a tad.
"Then is it just to prioritize some payments over others?"
Once again, veins appeared on Laud's forehead in sharp relief, so Lawrence forestalled his imminent tirade with a signal of his hand.
"It might seem unfair, but in reality, there are payments that can wait and those that cannot. If everyone can get supplies before winter arrives, then things will still work out. Taken a step further, even if your payment comes with interest nearer to spring, then the net value will work out somehow, will it not?"
It was the people of the Vallan Bishopric behind Elsa who Lawrence spoke to.
"Well, that's..."
"We could provide the poorer families with the stores from the church..."
"Then what would be a payment that can't wait?" Elsa asked boldly, trying to clarify the thread of logic, but Laud's face did not go red this time. Of course, he was an elderly merchant from a large company, or perhaps he had finally gotten a grasp on Elsa's personality.
"Payments that can't wait are transactions that cannot be halted or delayed. For that, it's also important to order 'em from largest to smallest," Laud said as he snatched a cloth that sat on his desk and furiously rubbed his bald head.
Holo blinked, perhaps finding the action funny.

Output:
"The problem in this town is that since everyone knows one another, they can consult and compromise with each other. But if they're negotiating with someone based in a faraway town, then they don't know and most likely don't care about the circumstances here. They would act much more cautiously—lest they be scammed or taken advantage of. Even with such worries, there are plenty of market towns throughout the world. Clients and patrons from far-off places might just take their business elsewhere. The only way to keep their trust is to pay them."
Elsa nodded quietly at Lawrence's explanation. "And so to pay these people, the city's trade is suffering?" she asked, and Laud furrowed his brow, but Lawrence wasn't quite certain on that point, either.
"Anyone would suffer if they could only ever breathe out."
That was all Holo had to say for Lawrence to finally understand.
If the people of the city only ever paid out but had no money coming in, then logically, they would only get poorer and poorer.
"There may be other circumstances at play. I doubt the merchants who have come to the city will go home empty-handed..."
This time it was Lawrence who gave Laud a questioning look. He would have a grasp on the trade in the city.
"That's right. For example, if we pay for the wine we import without any delay, they will trust that we can be relied on for doing business next year as per usual. Then another merchant comes along to reserve wheat with our company for next year, then goes home. The following year brings our wine, we take in wheat, and then he buys his wheat for the next year and goes home. That's how trade flows, like breathing."
"And for some reason, that flow is about to stagnate. Is that right?"
Lawrence tried to draw the story out of Laud, and Laud gave a big sigh.
"The cause is clear as day to us," the disheartened Laud spat. "It's the inns association. They're clogging up the waterways of trade."
"The inns association?"
Lawrence thought it might have been another rival company in trade, so he found it unexpected when Elsa spoke.
"Is that demon or whatnot of the rumors in this city a part of this inns association?"
Laud was practically astonished by Elsa's almost innocent question.
"Sheesh, you religious types are always on about that stuff. A demon, eh...? I guess you could call 'em that. They put in a huge order of wine but haven't paid us a single silver for it. They have all those guests crowded into their inns but have no money to pay us back? What are they playing at?"
It was obvious that business was booming at the inns.
"What is their reason for being unable to pay?"
"They just refuse to pay what they can't pay. Sheesh, the people at the inns association have been notorious for being stingy since my granddaddy's days. The lot of 'em shouldn't be allowed to do business here in Salonia. Do they even know how much companies like ours have suffered because of them...?"
His tone suggested he had no idea how to vent his pent-up anger; it sounded like years of resentment had built up.
Lawrence thought this was the reason that no one in the city had ever properly looked into the confusion here. He was correct that even if someone had a mind to, they had no way to follow through.
Cities often had guilds that were divided by occupation, and they often had quarrels that went back generations. It was practically fate for bakers' and butchers' guilds to bicker to the point that this often served as the topic of plays. It was not unusual for feuds over honor and profit to devolve into bloodshed.
And so because they were natives of the city who had known one another since birth and had been fighting since the time of their ancestors, they found it impossible to open up and explain their situations.
As those thoughts churned in Lawrence's head, Laud suddenly spoke.
"Ah yeah, on that note, I have a favor to ask."
Lawrence looked up to see Laud leaning over his desk.


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

Input:
"The problem in this town is that since everyone knows one another, they can consult and compromise with each other. But if they're negotiating with someone based in a faraway town, then they don't know and most likely don't care about the circumstances here. They would act much more cautiously—lest they be scammed or taken advantage of. Even with such worries, there are plenty of market towns throughout the world. Clients and patrons from far-off places might just take their business elsewhere. The only way to keep their trust is to pay them."
Elsa nodded quietly at Lawrence's explanation. "And so to pay these people, the city's trade is suffering?" she asked, and Laud furrowed his brow, but Lawrence wasn't quite certain on that point, either.
"Anyone would suffer if they could only ever breathe out."
That was all Holo had to say for Lawrence to finally understand.
If the people of the city only ever paid out but had no money coming in, then logically, they would only get poorer and poorer.
"There may be other circumstances at play. I doubt the merchants who have come to the city will go home empty-handed..."
This time it was Lawrence who gave Laud a questioning look. He would have a grasp on the trade in the city.
"That's right. For example, if we pay for the wine we import without any delay, they will trust that we can be relied on for doing business next year as per usual. Then another merchant comes along to reserve wheat with our company for next year, then goes home. The following year brings our wine, we take in wheat, and then he buys his wheat for the next year and goes home. That's how trade flows, like breathing."
"And for some reason, that flow is about to stagnate. Is that right?"
Lawrence tried to draw the story out of Laud, and Laud gave a big sigh.
"The cause is clear as day to us," the disheartened Laud spat. "It's the inns association. They're clogging up the waterways of trade."
"The inns association?"
Lawrence thought it might have been another rival company in trade, so he found it unexpected when Elsa spoke.
"Is that demon or whatnot of the rumors in this city a part of this inns association?"
Laud was practically astonished by Elsa's almost innocent question.
"Sheesh, you religious types are always on about that stuff. A demon, eh...? I guess you could call 'em that. They put in a huge order of wine but haven't paid us a single silver for it. They have all those guests crowded into their inns but have no money to pay us back? What are they playing at?"
It was obvious that business was booming at the inns.
"What is their reason for being unable to pay?"
"They just refuse to pay what they can't pay. Sheesh, the people at the inns association have been notorious for being stingy since my granddaddy's days. The lot of 'em shouldn't be allowed to do business here in Salonia. Do they even know how much companies like ours have suffered because of them...?"
His tone suggested he had no idea how to vent his pent-up anger; it sounded like years of resentment had built up.
Lawrence thought this was the reason that no one in the city had ever properly looked into the confusion here. He was correct that even if someone had a mind to, they had no way to follow through.
Cities often had guilds that were divided by occupation, and they often had quarrels that went back generations. It was practically fate for bakers' and butchers' guilds to bicker to the point that this often served as the topic of plays. It was not unusual for feuds over honor and profit to devolve into bloodshed.
And so because they were natives of the city who had known one another since birth and had been fighting since the time of their ancestors, they found it impossible to open up and explain their situations.
As those thoughts churned in Lawrence's head, Laud suddenly spoke.
"Ah yeah, on that note, I have a favor to ask."
Lawrence looked up to see Laud leaning over his desk.

Output:
"What?"
Laud, almost as though he had not heard Elsa's bewildered response, quickly grasped her hand with a smile.
"Yes, that's it! You said you're the priest who came to help outside the city, at Vallan, right? Those people at the inns association even detest the tails of dogs associated with us. We can't even hold a proper conversation because of that, and they never listen to anythin' we have to say—but they might listen to you!"
The reason Holo stirred was likely because of the sudden mention of a dog's tail.
"I don't even care if you use your authority to throw 'em all in jail! You could, in a sense, even force 'em to pay you, and that'd be getting two birds with one stone! Yeah, let's do that!"
"Er, wait, um—"
"Hans! Give these people our collection bond! We'll have 'em pluck every last hair off their asses!"
Even Elsa was being tossed about by Laud's whirlwind of one-sided exclamations, and not a moment later, the man named Hans, who looked like a company executive, thrust a bundle of parchment into her arms.
She had been unable to turn it down likely because she had been shocked by the dead look in Hans's eyes. Had she rejected the sheaf of papers, it seemed like Hans's heart would shatter from the weight of it.
"Now, that settles that with the Vallan Bishopric! Glory be to God!"
It would seem the Laud Company, which primarily traded wine in Salonia, was full of crafty folks.
Elsa, after having the bond thrust upon her before being politely sent packing, was still dumbstruck when they left the Laud Company.
"'Tis quite surprising for you to be cornered in such a way."
Even Holo, who had often been talked in circles by Elsa, found it strange. Lawrence—who was henpecked by Holo, often talked down to by Elsa, and who had been cornered in an argument by Laud—could not help but smile a little.
"It's almost like the mouse's wedding."
"Hrm?"
"There were a mouse mother and father, and they said they wanted someone strong to be their daughter's groom."
When Lawrence said that, Elsa, puzzled by the parchment in her hand, also looked up.
"So then when they asked a cat if he wouldn't marry their daughter, he said that the youngest son in the manor who always pulled his tail was much stronger."
"Mm-hmm."
"And so when the mouse parents went to the youngest son, taking a break from chopping firewood, and asked him if he would marry their daughter, he said that the master of the house was far stronger. So when they brought their proposal to the master of the manor, who had just come back from hunting, he yelled, What are you talking about?! Do you even know how much you've done my head in with all the damage you've caused? Give me a break!"
"Oh ho."
Elsa, who regained her composure, said to Holo, who was enjoying the story, "And so the mice returned to their nest and ultimately chose a mouse to be their daughter's groom. My children love this story."
Holo chuckled, then patted around her chest and waist and remembered that she had left her paper and quill back at the inn.
"Tell it to me again later."
While Lawrence shrugged, he was satisfied that Holo was happy.
"The human world is connected in a great circle...But after being put to work at the whim of someone else, I am not sure if those words provide me any comfort." Having been saddled with the parchment by Laud, Elsa spoke resentfully.
"But if you manage to get it all back, then that does solve several problems."
She let him take a look at the parchment, and there was a big number written on it.
"It's not quite enough to cover their payment to us...Would they consider their debts paid with this?"
"Well...That would be true if we called this a replacement for physical coin. The problem is that we can't simply buy wheat and meat with this bond."
"Then there's no point," Elsa responded and stared off into the distance in silent thought for a moment. Around her stood the priests and the mayor, as well as the head priest, their arms folded, wondering what to do.


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

Input:
"What?"
Laud, almost as though he had not heard Elsa's bewildered response, quickly grasped her hand with a smile.
"Yes, that's it! You said you're the priest who came to help outside the city, at Vallan, right? Those people at the inns association even detest the tails of dogs associated with us. We can't even hold a proper conversation because of that, and they never listen to anythin' we have to say—but they might listen to you!"
The reason Holo stirred was likely because of the sudden mention of a dog's tail.
"I don't even care if you use your authority to throw 'em all in jail! You could, in a sense, even force 'em to pay you, and that'd be getting two birds with one stone! Yeah, let's do that!"
"Er, wait, um—"
"Hans! Give these people our collection bond! We'll have 'em pluck every last hair off their asses!"
Even Elsa was being tossed about by Laud's whirlwind of one-sided exclamations, and not a moment later, the man named Hans, who looked like a company executive, thrust a bundle of parchment into her arms.
She had been unable to turn it down likely because she had been shocked by the dead look in Hans's eyes. Had she rejected the sheaf of papers, it seemed like Hans's heart would shatter from the weight of it.
"Now, that settles that with the Vallan Bishopric! Glory be to God!"
It would seem the Laud Company, which primarily traded wine in Salonia, was full of crafty folks.
Elsa, after having the bond thrust upon her before being politely sent packing, was still dumbstruck when they left the Laud Company.
"'Tis quite surprising for you to be cornered in such a way."
Even Holo, who had often been talked in circles by Elsa, found it strange. Lawrence—who was henpecked by Holo, often talked down to by Elsa, and who had been cornered in an argument by Laud—could not help but smile a little.
"It's almost like the mouse's wedding."
"Hrm?"
"There were a mouse mother and father, and they said they wanted someone strong to be their daughter's groom."
When Lawrence said that, Elsa, puzzled by the parchment in her hand, also looked up.
"So then when they asked a cat if he wouldn't marry their daughter, he said that the youngest son in the manor who always pulled his tail was much stronger."
"Mm-hmm."
"And so when the mouse parents went to the youngest son, taking a break from chopping firewood, and asked him if he would marry their daughter, he said that the master of the house was far stronger. So when they brought their proposal to the master of the manor, who had just come back from hunting, he yelled, What are you talking about?! Do you even know how much you've done my head in with all the damage you've caused? Give me a break!"
"Oh ho."
Elsa, who regained her composure, said to Holo, who was enjoying the story, "And so the mice returned to their nest and ultimately chose a mouse to be their daughter's groom. My children love this story."
Holo chuckled, then patted around her chest and waist and remembered that she had left her paper and quill back at the inn.
"Tell it to me again later."
While Lawrence shrugged, he was satisfied that Holo was happy.
"The human world is connected in a great circle...But after being put to work at the whim of someone else, I am not sure if those words provide me any comfort." Having been saddled with the parchment by Laud, Elsa spoke resentfully.
"But if you manage to get it all back, then that does solve several problems."
She let him take a look at the parchment, and there was a big number written on it.
"It's not quite enough to cover their payment to us...Would they consider their debts paid with this?"
"Well...That would be true if we called this a replacement for physical coin. The problem is that we can't simply buy wheat and meat with this bond."
"Then there's no point," Elsa responded and stared off into the distance in silent thought for a moment. Around her stood the priests and the mayor, as well as the head priest, their arms folded, wondering what to do.

Output:
"I don't mind collecting, but...you're going to the church?"
The serious, honest, and embodiment of faith that was Elsa passed the parchment to Lawrence, then shrugged like a flippant girl.
"While it does seem true that the Laud Company is in trouble...something does not quite sit right with me."
Those who sought help in the scripture always knelt and begged sincerely.
She was not the kind of person to put a contract in someone's hand and then chase them out before they had time to respond.
"I am going to ask someone at the church here about the town and about the merchant who was thrown in jail."
It seemed the Laud Company had awoken doubts in the wrong person. Elsa was not moved by loss and profit but rule and principle.
"Please consult with me as a merchant before you make any decisions."
Lawrence knew right away why Elsa knitted her eyebrows.
"I am not an overzealous inquisitor."
It seemed as though she did understand that there would be a terrible uproar throughout the city if she extorted the owner of the Laud Company in the name of the Church.
"Very well. Then I will attempt regular tactics first."
"Please do. All the happenings in this town are like an odd optical illusion, after all," Elsa said with a fed-up tone.
Lawrence admired the parchment in his hand, and his mouth curled into a small smile at the dusty scent.
One tall, middle-aged villager from the Vallan Bishopric came along with them.
He was likely keeping an eye on Lawrence to make sure he did not simply run off, since Lawrence held the bond that Laud had thrust onto them. The inns association knew who the mayor and the others were, so someone who typically only helped with shipping goods and did not often come to Salonia had been chosen.
"What should I do?"
"Let's see...Pretend to be a bodyguard, if you can."
He likely wielded a plow and carried bales of hay back at the village. If he stayed silent, his tanned, masculine face and muscly shoulders could be passed off as the features of someone who had just washed his hands of a lifetime in the mercenary business.
"I just have to stay quiet and still, right? I know my farming, but I don't know anything about fighting."
"That's perfectly fine. Frown if you can," Lawrence said, and the man, rubbing his stubble, hummed.
On the way to the inns association, Holo kept glancing back at the man who followed behind them and whispered to Lawrence, "He smells of rather good wheat."
That seemed to be enough to put her in a good mood, and as Lawrence was thinking about how he might let her have a sniff of some ears of wheat the next time she was cross, they arrived at the inns association.
"These are your people now," Holo remarked.
The symbol of the Salonia inns association was a tankard and a knife—these two items were laid across each other on the metal sign that hung from the eaves.
"I still see myself as a merchant, and if I had to describe it, the bathhouse in Nyohhira is a company."
"Oh? You sound like an old man insisting he is still young."
Lawrence shrugged when Holo teased him, but his eyes widened at what she said next.
"But it might perhaps be best if I am not with you."
Lawrence tilted his head, and Holo gave him an exasperated look.
"Fool. Have you forgotten what happened before?"
"When?" he asked in return, and Holo frowned in displeasure.
"When you took heavy losses and went around searching for a place that would lend you money."
Not long after he met Holo, he got caught in an arms deal that proved to be a trap and put his finances in very dire straits indeed.
Then he had gone around to different shops, asking if he might perhaps borrow just a bit of money. He had no energy to pay attention to his surroundings and ran about with Holo in tow. Naturally, everyone he came across yelled at him, asking him if he intended to make fools of them by begging for money with a woman at his side.
"I have not forgotten how much it hurt when you slapped away my hand back then."


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

Input:
"I don't mind collecting, but...you're going to the church?"
The serious, honest, and embodiment of faith that was Elsa passed the parchment to Lawrence, then shrugged like a flippant girl.
"While it does seem true that the Laud Company is in trouble...something does not quite sit right with me."
Those who sought help in the scripture always knelt and begged sincerely.
She was not the kind of person to put a contract in someone's hand and then chase them out before they had time to respond.
"I am going to ask someone at the church here about the town and about the merchant who was thrown in jail."
It seemed the Laud Company had awoken doubts in the wrong person. Elsa was not moved by loss and profit but rule and principle.
"Please consult with me as a merchant before you make any decisions."
Lawrence knew right away why Elsa knitted her eyebrows.
"I am not an overzealous inquisitor."
It seemed as though she did understand that there would be a terrible uproar throughout the city if she extorted the owner of the Laud Company in the name of the Church.
"Very well. Then I will attempt regular tactics first."
"Please do. All the happenings in this town are like an odd optical illusion, after all," Elsa said with a fed-up tone.
Lawrence admired the parchment in his hand, and his mouth curled into a small smile at the dusty scent.
One tall, middle-aged villager from the Vallan Bishopric came along with them.
He was likely keeping an eye on Lawrence to make sure he did not simply run off, since Lawrence held the bond that Laud had thrust onto them. The inns association knew who the mayor and the others were, so someone who typically only helped with shipping goods and did not often come to Salonia had been chosen.
"What should I do?"
"Let's see...Pretend to be a bodyguard, if you can."
He likely wielded a plow and carried bales of hay back at the village. If he stayed silent, his tanned, masculine face and muscly shoulders could be passed off as the features of someone who had just washed his hands of a lifetime in the mercenary business.
"I just have to stay quiet and still, right? I know my farming, but I don't know anything about fighting."
"That's perfectly fine. Frown if you can," Lawrence said, and the man, rubbing his stubble, hummed.
On the way to the inns association, Holo kept glancing back at the man who followed behind them and whispered to Lawrence, "He smells of rather good wheat."
That seemed to be enough to put her in a good mood, and as Lawrence was thinking about how he might let her have a sniff of some ears of wheat the next time she was cross, they arrived at the inns association.
"These are your people now," Holo remarked.
The symbol of the Salonia inns association was a tankard and a knife—these two items were laid across each other on the metal sign that hung from the eaves.
"I still see myself as a merchant, and if I had to describe it, the bathhouse in Nyohhira is a company."
"Oh? You sound like an old man insisting he is still young."
Lawrence shrugged when Holo teased him, but his eyes widened at what she said next.
"But it might perhaps be best if I am not with you."
Lawrence tilted his head, and Holo gave him an exasperated look.
"Fool. Have you forgotten what happened before?"
"When?" he asked in return, and Holo frowned in displeasure.
"When you took heavy losses and went around searching for a place that would lend you money."
Not long after he met Holo, he got caught in an arms deal that proved to be a trap and put his finances in very dire straits indeed.
Then he had gone around to different shops, asking if he might perhaps borrow just a bit of money. He had no energy to pay attention to his surroundings and ran about with Holo in tow. Naturally, everyone he came across yelled at him, asking him if he intended to make fools of them by begging for money with a woman at his side.
"I have not forgotten how much it hurt when you slapped away my hand back then."

Output:
Holo looked up at Lawrence, reproach in her reddish-amber eyes.
It was a bitter past he did not want to remember if he could help it.
"I get an awful sweat on my back even now when I think back on that, but I'm not the same as I was then. Well, just watch."
Holo looked doubtfully at him when he said that, but she just shrugged and held her tongue.
Lawrence took a deep breath and braced himself before opening the door to the inns association.
The first floor felt somewhat like a tavern, where association members gathered for meetings and to eat and drink.
There were people sitting here and there at the tables, glum looks on all their faces.
"My name is Kraft Lawrence, and I am a merchant. Is the association president in?"
Lawrence introduced himself, and everyone in the room looked at him like he was a shady fellow, but in the back, a man with a potbelly stood up.
"I am the president. What do you need?"
"Well, well." Lawrence bowed courteously in an almost theatrical manner, cleared his throat, then said, "I am sorry to bother you while you are so busy, but I have come with a bond from the Laud Company."
He could feel Holo's uncertain gaze from somewhere behind him, and the atmosphere in the whole room hardened all at once.
This did not cause Lawrence to shrink, however; he looked back at the president with a smile still on his face.
The sudden silence continued, and a dry smile finally broke across the president's face.
"Well, you're not a very bright merchant, are you? That old snake duped you, didn't he?"
"Perhaps."
Lawrence remained composed, so the president's smile vanished, and he looked disappointed.
"I won't say anything bad. Take that bond of yours and go home. I don't know what the people at the Laud Company told you, though."
Lawrence brushed off Holo's gaze that asked him, "What are you planning by making things feel so grim?" and said, "No, that is exactly how things have gone."
"Hrm?"
"I was forced to take this bond. They did it so skillfully. That is why...I want an excuse to bring it back to them."
He gave a bootlicking smile, and after the association president blinked, he glanced at the other fellows in the room.
"Hoh-hoh...is that so?"
"Yes. It seemed like the accounts collectible for our farm produce might end up irrecoverable, so we marched into the Laud Company, but after having this pushed on me, they chased us out."
There was still a hint of doubt left in the president's eyes, but he jerked his chin at one of the association members near Lawrence, so the man stood from his chair and grabbed at the parchment in Lawrence's hand.
"...This is a bond from the Laud Company all right. That greedy old man; what a pain in my rear."
With a curse, he violently shoved the bond back into Lawrence's chest.
The villager pretending to be a bodyguard standing behind him stirred, and Holo, beside him, clenched her fangs together, but Lawrence had no intention of getting angry over every little slight.
"Well, how about it? Why don't you tell me, in your own words, why the inns association can't pay?"
There were not that many people who were okay with being unable to keep their promises, and an outsider suddenly asking why they were unable to make good on what they owed would typically earn them a swift exit from the premises.
Lawrence, however, had come at them boldly and been unwavering direct.
The president, who protected the association's honor and profits, placed a hand on a table and sighed, then said, "If I tell you the reason, will you take that bond back to the Laud Company?"
"That would depend on the reason."
The association members immediately drew up their eyebrows and several of them stood. The president stopped them with a motion of his hand.
"Stop. He's waltzed right in here with a woman. We have our own principles, yeah?"


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

Input:
Holo looked up at Lawrence, reproach in her reddish-amber eyes.
It was a bitter past he did not want to remember if he could help it.
"I get an awful sweat on my back even now when I think back on that, but I'm not the same as I was then. Well, just watch."
Holo looked doubtfully at him when he said that, but she just shrugged and held her tongue.
Lawrence took a deep breath and braced himself before opening the door to the inns association.
The first floor felt somewhat like a tavern, where association members gathered for meetings and to eat and drink.
There were people sitting here and there at the tables, glum looks on all their faces.
"My name is Kraft Lawrence, and I am a merchant. Is the association president in?"
Lawrence introduced himself, and everyone in the room looked at him like he was a shady fellow, but in the back, a man with a potbelly stood up.
"I am the president. What do you need?"
"Well, well." Lawrence bowed courteously in an almost theatrical manner, cleared his throat, then said, "I am sorry to bother you while you are so busy, but I have come with a bond from the Laud Company."
He could feel Holo's uncertain gaze from somewhere behind him, and the atmosphere in the whole room hardened all at once.
This did not cause Lawrence to shrink, however; he looked back at the president with a smile still on his face.
The sudden silence continued, and a dry smile finally broke across the president's face.
"Well, you're not a very bright merchant, are you? That old snake duped you, didn't he?"
"Perhaps."
Lawrence remained composed, so the president's smile vanished, and he looked disappointed.
"I won't say anything bad. Take that bond of yours and go home. I don't know what the people at the Laud Company told you, though."
Lawrence brushed off Holo's gaze that asked him, "What are you planning by making things feel so grim?" and said, "No, that is exactly how things have gone."
"Hrm?"
"I was forced to take this bond. They did it so skillfully. That is why...I want an excuse to bring it back to them."
He gave a bootlicking smile, and after the association president blinked, he glanced at the other fellows in the room.
"Hoh-hoh...is that so?"
"Yes. It seemed like the accounts collectible for our farm produce might end up irrecoverable, so we marched into the Laud Company, but after having this pushed on me, they chased us out."
There was still a hint of doubt left in the president's eyes, but he jerked his chin at one of the association members near Lawrence, so the man stood from his chair and grabbed at the parchment in Lawrence's hand.
"...This is a bond from the Laud Company all right. That greedy old man; what a pain in my rear."
With a curse, he violently shoved the bond back into Lawrence's chest.
The villager pretending to be a bodyguard standing behind him stirred, and Holo, beside him, clenched her fangs together, but Lawrence had no intention of getting angry over every little slight.
"Well, how about it? Why don't you tell me, in your own words, why the inns association can't pay?"
There were not that many people who were okay with being unable to keep their promises, and an outsider suddenly asking why they were unable to make good on what they owed would typically earn them a swift exit from the premises.
Lawrence, however, had come at them boldly and been unwavering direct.
The president, who protected the association's honor and profits, placed a hand on a table and sighed, then said, "If I tell you the reason, will you take that bond back to the Laud Company?"
"That would depend on the reason."
The association members immediately drew up their eyebrows and several of them stood. The president stopped them with a motion of his hand.
"Stop. He's waltzed right in here with a woman. We have our own principles, yeah?"

Output:
"We've of course explained to the Laud Company, but we've told other companies, too...We can't pay."
"Could you show me any proof?"
"Hey!" some of the others shouted, but the association president twisted his lips before walking over to the accounting desk and pulling out a thick bundle of paper.
"The way our association works is that orders come in internally; then we send out those orders to the companies as an association. Make sense?"
"I've been to other cities before. I understand."
If left alone, places with financial muscle might buy up all the food and whatnot to serve at their inn for themselves. Even with nice, clean beds, an inn would get no guests without wine or meat or bread, so the association took charge of orders to reduce unnecessary competition among inns.
And at the same time, the association could amass leverage when dealing with the places they ordered from by consolidating orders.
"Our payment to the Laud Company is...well, as you can see, it matches up with that bond you got there."
"It does, yes."
"And...here's a list of all the people who're late on paying."
"S-sir!" some unintentionally burst out. There was a whole series of inn names listed on the paper, and there was a dense wall of numbers in record. These were the businesses who had outstanding payments due, regardless of how they had placed their orders through the association.
"If they put off payment out of temporary embarrassment, then they deserve to be embarrassed. Or do you want to see this merchant here run off to the church with this bond in hand?"
Laud was a company that did business in the same city as them, but Lawrence was clearly an outsider. Though they feuded with the company, with whom they have had ties since their grandfathers' time, there was one final line that they would never cross as people from the same city.
An outsider, though, could conceivably rely on whatever authorities they could without thinking of the consequences.
And the same logic made it possible for them to reveal shameful details and discuss their long-standing feud with an outsider in a way that they never would with Laud.
"...That is quite an amount, but do you mind if I ask you why these people have put off paying? It seems quite obvious that all the inns have been flooded with business."
The president shut the account book with a thud and said with a bothered tone, "You said you're a traveling merchant, yeah? You might not know this, since you're on the guest side of things, but running an inn is real hard work."
Lawrence didn't think this was the time to mention that he ran a bathhouse in Nyohhira, so he simply nodded meekly.
"In cities like these, most of our guests are merchants who are frequent patrons. They stay for a long time to settle accounts from the last grand market and to make purchases, and they drink and eat a lot in order to gather information from their buddies. So they're good customers who steadily fill up the rooms, but it's because they're good customers that consequently makes them a burden."
"Is it deferred payment?"
When Lawrence spoke, the association president shrugged his shoulders.
"That's exactly right. They drink and drink and eat and eat, but it all goes on their tab. That said, if everything went on a tab, nothing would get done, so it's the custom here for most people to settle their accounts once at the midpoint of the market."
When he said that much, Lawrence knew what he was trying to say.
"All those payments are being delayed?"
"Yeah. Things are particularly slow this year, and they say the reason they can't pay is..."
"...Is because someone else hasn't paid them."
The president nodded; then several of the association members—inn owners, essentially—started to gather around Lawrence.