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

Input:
What did that mean?
He racked his brains, and a light suddenly flicked on in his head. It was obvious for a flock.
"Hey, Holo."
He called out to her, and she turned. She looked like a little girl on the verge of tears, and in actuality, she really was ready to cry. As Lawrence wiped at the edges of her eyes with his thumb, he explained his thoughts to her. She seemed doubtful but must have decided it was worth trying.
Still holding the staff, she placed a foot onto a wheel and stood at the edge of the wagon bed.
Rising over the flock of unfettered sheep, she bent backward and took a deep breath.
Then she yelled a single word.
"Fools!"
She did not howl because if it reached Horad's ears, he would have returned in a mad rush.
It seemed all the sheep responded the same way. Hearing the roar of a wolf, they all lifted their heads, bustling about in a big tumult. They all wanted to rush to a safe place, but the majority of sheep had no idea where to go, so they jostled one another and baaed incessantly.
It was in one corner of the flock that all the sheep were looking toward.
They were all focusing on one sheep, trying to keep in pace with it.
"I found it! 'Tis you!"
Holo waved the staff and pointed it straight at that sheep. The animal was not particularly large or extraordinary-looking, but with the staff pointed at it, the creature baaed pitifully, and the sheep in its vicinity immediately began to panic.
That sheep was the leader. Be it a flock of birds or sheep, there was a proper hierarchical order to the community, and having the leader under her thumb meant Holo could control them.
Holo drew the staff in an arc to the right, and the sheep under the intense stare of a wolf had no choice but to listen. The lead sheep plodded along, and the others followed. Interestingly enough, the sheep now moved as one.
"Heh."
Completely the opposite from earlier, Holo stood on the wagon bed, smiling proudly. She must have been happy to live up to her reputation as a wolf. Once she understood the trick, it worked in an instant. She directed the sheep with only her chin and was making them endlessly circle the area.
It cheered her up considerably as she stepped down from the wagon to continue controlling the sheep while barely looking at them.
"Sometimes, we simply need to change our perspective."
Lawrence shrugged, and Holo laughed in a slightly self-deprecating way.
"Because for the longest time, I have been gazing at only one sheep. But no matter."
She clung to Lawrence.
"I've got it easy. I only ever need to look at just one wolf."
"I shall not forgive your looking at other wolves."
"Of course not." He patted her head, and after a slow, relieved exhalation, he spoke. "You think you'll be okay with bringing on Selim?"
Still clinging to Lawrence, Holo inhaled deeply, then stopped.
"I'm sure you'll get along."
"You fool." Holo breathed and smiled. "I am not a child."
Lawrence shrugged, agreeing with her, and Holo chuckled as she rubbed her face up against him.
The sheep bleated in annoyance as they kept walking around in circles.
Horad, who had safely dropped off his partner at the charcoal hut, soon returned, allowing them to hand the flock back over to him. Lawrence's back still ached, but they needed to take their leave.
When they could no longer see Horad or his flock, Lawrence sat on the driver's perch and gripped the reins.
"Well then, let's go home."
"Mm."
Holo, sitting next to him, responded in her usual tone.
Not minding one bit that her feet were covered in mud, Holo rested her head on Lawrence's shoulder, happily swishing her tail about.
Winter was almost over.
It was a new season, one of new beginnings.
***
It was a nice day.

Output:
In such weather, she sat on a straw mat by the bath inside the empty bathhouse while she worked.
Resting atop the straw mat was practically a mountain of wild vegetables that had just been gathered from the mountains, bits of frost still stuck here and there. The rounded buds were the only edible parts, so she tossed those into the basket. The rest would be dried in the sunlight and fed to the horses and sheep. The buds would be boiled with chicken bones and ginger to make a light broth. It was popular with those who could eat nothing but salted meat and fish during the winter and thus fell ill.
When she first tried it, she thought it must be a soup meant for rabbits, but after getting used to it, she quickly grew fond of the crunch from the vegetables and the grease from the chicken bones. It was also good for the cold nights after the sun set, since the ginger warmed her. And when she thought about how perfect it was with an accompaniment of hard liquor, she barely stopped herself from drooling.
As she thought about that, she took a plant from the right, broke off the tip, put it in the basket in front, then threw the rest to the left. This went on for quite some time. There was still a mess of other work waiting for her.
It would not be long before the monotonous work and warm sun brought on a drowsiness.
Several times she dozed off, and her head would suddenly droop. Each time she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
It was almost boring how peaceful the calm, early spring weather felt.
"Lady Holo."
Someone suddenly called her name, and Holo's eyes snapped open. She had apparently been dreaming about working. She looked over, and a girl stood beside her. The girl was thin, and her hair was whiter than it was silver, which gave her an evanescence that made it seem she would disappear in the sunlight.
This was the girl recently hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, Selim.
They had originally planned to take her in during the summer, but she had arrived not too long ago instead, already beginning to live and work with them.
"Mm-hmm...I cannot believe you saw that." Holo joked, and Selim blinked with surprise before showing a troubled smile.
"Sir Lawrence said you were surely sleeping and to wake you up..."
"What?"
That fool was what she wanted to say, but it disappeared behind a big yawn.
Her companion never noticed the important things, yet he was only ever sensible about the oddest things.
Holo stretched and sighed in exasperation, causing Selim to jump.
"Hahh...Ahh. Apologies...I shan't grow sleepy in this season."
She closed her eyes and shook her ears and tail as though throwing off a coating of water. She managed to suppress a bit of her sleepiness.
After Holo displayed the extent of her lethargy in an exaggerated manner, Selim wore an honest smile.
She was a rather formal girl, so it would be perfect if she relaxed just a little bit.
"And what is it you need?"
"Yes. It's nearly lunchtime, so I've come to get you."
"Mm. That time already. Tell them I shall be there soon."
"Very well."
She bowed her head gracefully, and Holo suddenly noticed how she was still staring at her.
"Lady Holo, has a leaf or the sort hurt you?"
"Hurt me?"
The wild vegetables were soft and not the kind to cause cuts, nor was she using a knife.
"Ah well, I can smell blood..."
Selim spoke timidly as Holo checked herself and, when she lifted her arm, discovered—
—a round, plump leech dangling from her wrist.
"Oh, this."
She had not noticed at all, thanks to her drowsiness and the chilly morning dew still clinging to the vegetables. It was a gluttonous fellow, and like how Myuri was once she found some delicious food, it would not let go. As she was about to pinch the tenacious leech and rip it off, Selim stopped her.
"Lady Holo, please don't. Please wait a moment. I'll bring some fire," she said, dashing off into the main building. It could easily come off by roasting it with embers.
"...What a fool. The new girl need not go so far."


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

Input:
In such weather, she sat on a straw mat by the bath inside the empty bathhouse while she worked.
Resting atop the straw mat was practically a mountain of wild vegetables that had just been gathered from the mountains, bits of frost still stuck here and there. The rounded buds were the only edible parts, so she tossed those into the basket. The rest would be dried in the sunlight and fed to the horses and sheep. The buds would be boiled with chicken bones and ginger to make a light broth. It was popular with those who could eat nothing but salted meat and fish during the winter and thus fell ill.
When she first tried it, she thought it must be a soup meant for rabbits, but after getting used to it, she quickly grew fond of the crunch from the vegetables and the grease from the chicken bones. It was also good for the cold nights after the sun set, since the ginger warmed her. And when she thought about how perfect it was with an accompaniment of hard liquor, she barely stopped herself from drooling.
As she thought about that, she took a plant from the right, broke off the tip, put it in the basket in front, then threw the rest to the left. This went on for quite some time. There was still a mess of other work waiting for her.
It would not be long before the monotonous work and warm sun brought on a drowsiness.
Several times she dozed off, and her head would suddenly droop. Each time she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
It was almost boring how peaceful the calm, early spring weather felt.
"Lady Holo."
Someone suddenly called her name, and Holo's eyes snapped open. She had apparently been dreaming about working. She looked over, and a girl stood beside her. The girl was thin, and her hair was whiter than it was silver, which gave her an evanescence that made it seem she would disappear in the sunlight.
This was the girl recently hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, Selim.
They had originally planned to take her in during the summer, but she had arrived not too long ago instead, already beginning to live and work with them.
"Mm-hmm...I cannot believe you saw that." Holo joked, and Selim blinked with surprise before showing a troubled smile.
"Sir Lawrence said you were surely sleeping and to wake you up..."
"What?"
That fool was what she wanted to say, but it disappeared behind a big yawn.
Her companion never noticed the important things, yet he was only ever sensible about the oddest things.
Holo stretched and sighed in exasperation, causing Selim to jump.
"Hahh...Ahh. Apologies...I shan't grow sleepy in this season."
She closed her eyes and shook her ears and tail as though throwing off a coating of water. She managed to suppress a bit of her sleepiness.
After Holo displayed the extent of her lethargy in an exaggerated manner, Selim wore an honest smile.
She was a rather formal girl, so it would be perfect if she relaxed just a little bit.
"And what is it you need?"
"Yes. It's nearly lunchtime, so I've come to get you."
"Mm. That time already. Tell them I shall be there soon."
"Very well."
She bowed her head gracefully, and Holo suddenly noticed how she was still staring at her.
"Lady Holo, has a leaf or the sort hurt you?"
"Hurt me?"
The wild vegetables were soft and not the kind to cause cuts, nor was she using a knife.
"Ah well, I can smell blood..."
Selim spoke timidly as Holo checked herself and, when she lifted her arm, discovered—
—a round, plump leech dangling from her wrist.
"Oh, this."
She had not noticed at all, thanks to her drowsiness and the chilly morning dew still clinging to the vegetables. It was a gluttonous fellow, and like how Myuri was once she found some delicious food, it would not let go. As she was about to pinch the tenacious leech and rip it off, Selim stopped her.
"Lady Holo, please don't. Please wait a moment. I'll bring some fire," she said, dashing off into the main building. It could easily come off by roasting it with embers.
"...What a fool. The new girl need not go so far."

Output:
Selim was such a thin and polite girl, Holo worried for a moment that she was the type to faint when she saw the leech, but that did not seem to be the case. In the south, she and her friends had survived daily on an eat-or-be-eaten basis. Since she said they barely scraped by playing mercenary, it was probably safe to assume she was stronger than Holo first expected. And she had a good nose.
Like Holo, Selim was an embodiment of a wolf, and her human form was a temporary guise. As they recently hired her to work in the bathhouse, it was good for Holo to have someone who she did not need to hide her ears or tail from.
However, once they brought her in, Holo was very uneasy regarding hiring someone new. Shameful as it was, she had worried that her spot would be jeopardized.
Luckily, it turned out to be a groundless fear. Instead, Selim had the tendency to hold Holo in too high of a regard.
Before long, Selim returned with dead embers from the kitchen, then proceeded to sear the leech. She caught it the moment it let go, throwing the creature into the wilderness.
"You must eat a lot for lunch to make up for what was drained away."
Selim smiled and gathered up all the stems of the vegetables.
"Well then, I will go ahead and take these to dry."
"Thank you."
The new girl was a hard worker. Lawrence and Holo had been worried about what would happen since they lost two of their young helpers at once, but with Selim's help, there would be no trouble when the guests came.
As she thought about this, Holo stretched expansively one last time and cracked her back.
"Well, 'tis time for lunch."
Her tail puffed out in the early spring sun and swished about.
"How is Miss Selim?"
That night, as Holo's companion wrote some things down, he asked this without bothering to look over.
The question came while she was in the middle of grooming the fur on her tail, thinking about how it was the time of year she should soon be shedding her winter coat.
"She is quite different from what I imagined."
"Hmm?"
He must have just finished a sentence, as he then turned toward her. They had met a little over ten years ago, and though they had changed much over the years, it almost felt like they had not changed at all.
No, he has gained a bit of weight, Holo thought as she looked at the base of her companion's bent neck.
"Do you mean that in a good way? Or a bad way?"
"A good way, mostly."
Smearing the expensive floral oil she had her companion buy for her onto her comb, she gracefully put on the fluffy finishing touches to her tail.
"And the rest, what I had imagined in a bad way was wrong in a good way."
"Wrong in a good...what? What does that mean?"
Her companion made a puzzled face. While he understood a bathhouse that did not hire new people could not carry on with business, he was probably still worried about hiring Selim.
It was not in the way that a shopkeeper would hire a boy and worry about whether or not he would be doing the appropriate work for his level. Rather, it was the awkwardness of boarding a young female under his own roof. However, Selim behaved well and was unobtrusive, and she also had a bit of an unfortunate air about her—the very sort of girl that her companion liked.
And he knew that Holo understood this well. He was also conscious of the fact that should anything happen, it would result in a troublesome uproar, and he had prepared for that.
That being said, Holo did trust her companion. Even if Selim was her companion's type, she was certain that he would not be unfaithful. In exchange, as he always overthought some things, if he worried too much about Selim, it would only trouble him.
And yet, he must have calmed a bit as he aged, since in the past if such a girl merely showed him the faintest of smiles, he would become infatuated with her. Now, he worked efficiently and professionally with her. At the same time, he was also taking good care of her, since she was far from her friends.


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

Input:
Selim was such a thin and polite girl, Holo worried for a moment that she was the type to faint when she saw the leech, but that did not seem to be the case. In the south, she and her friends had survived daily on an eat-or-be-eaten basis. Since she said they barely scraped by playing mercenary, it was probably safe to assume she was stronger than Holo first expected. And she had a good nose.
Like Holo, Selim was an embodiment of a wolf, and her human form was a temporary guise. As they recently hired her to work in the bathhouse, it was good for Holo to have someone who she did not need to hide her ears or tail from.
However, once they brought her in, Holo was very uneasy regarding hiring someone new. Shameful as it was, she had worried that her spot would be jeopardized.
Luckily, it turned out to be a groundless fear. Instead, Selim had the tendency to hold Holo in too high of a regard.
Before long, Selim returned with dead embers from the kitchen, then proceeded to sear the leech. She caught it the moment it let go, throwing the creature into the wilderness.
"You must eat a lot for lunch to make up for what was drained away."
Selim smiled and gathered up all the stems of the vegetables.
"Well then, I will go ahead and take these to dry."
"Thank you."
The new girl was a hard worker. Lawrence and Holo had been worried about what would happen since they lost two of their young helpers at once, but with Selim's help, there would be no trouble when the guests came.
As she thought about this, Holo stretched expansively one last time and cracked her back.
"Well, 'tis time for lunch."
Her tail puffed out in the early spring sun and swished about.
"How is Miss Selim?"
That night, as Holo's companion wrote some things down, he asked this without bothering to look over.
The question came while she was in the middle of grooming the fur on her tail, thinking about how it was the time of year she should soon be shedding her winter coat.
"She is quite different from what I imagined."
"Hmm?"
He must have just finished a sentence, as he then turned toward her. They had met a little over ten years ago, and though they had changed much over the years, it almost felt like they had not changed at all.
No, he has gained a bit of weight, Holo thought as she looked at the base of her companion's bent neck.
"Do you mean that in a good way? Or a bad way?"
"A good way, mostly."
Smearing the expensive floral oil she had her companion buy for her onto her comb, she gracefully put on the fluffy finishing touches to her tail.
"And the rest, what I had imagined in a bad way was wrong in a good way."
"Wrong in a good...what? What does that mean?"
Her companion made a puzzled face. While he understood a bathhouse that did not hire new people could not carry on with business, he was probably still worried about hiring Selim.
It was not in the way that a shopkeeper would hire a boy and worry about whether or not he would be doing the appropriate work for his level. Rather, it was the awkwardness of boarding a young female under his own roof. However, Selim behaved well and was unobtrusive, and she also had a bit of an unfortunate air about her—the very sort of girl that her companion liked.
And he knew that Holo understood this well. He was also conscious of the fact that should anything happen, it would result in a troublesome uproar, and he had prepared for that.
That being said, Holo did trust her companion. Even if Selim was her companion's type, she was certain that he would not be unfaithful. In exchange, as he always overthought some things, if he worried too much about Selim, it would only trouble him.
And yet, he must have calmed a bit as he aged, since in the past if such a girl merely showed him the faintest of smiles, he would become infatuated with her. Now, he worked efficiently and professionally with her. At the same time, he was also taking good care of her, since she was far from her friends.

Output:
In summary, things were going so well now, it was almost a disappointment.
What made it complicated was that things had gone a little differently from how she wanted it to turn out.
"Really, I was expecting a bit more."
Her companion stared at her, trying to feel out what she really meant. He gulped, knowing that everything looked calm on the surface, but wondering if there was some sort of trouble he had not noticed underneath.
Holo almost wanted to smile watching him. What a good male.
That was because it felt like she had been bound by how hard he worked in every little thing.
"That means..."
She slipped off the bed and stood beside her companion. She shooed him with her hand, and hesitatingly, he scooted to the side, giving her space to sit.
There were many letters spread out over the desk, waiting for the ink to dry.
"You are managing this much better than I expected, and I cannot even foresee the Q in quarrel anywhere."
Lawrence's expression was slightly taken aback, and a hint of irritation appeared in relief's stead.
"What...? That means there's no problems now, right?"
"Hmm. I thought that I may be able to be unfriendly with you for the first time in a long time."
She placed her face on his shoulder as her companion developed a clearly vexed, twitching smile.
"Wouldn't you prefer we didn't fight?"
"'Tis much more stimulating to add pepper to meat or drink, no? We lived quietly while Myuri was around, but now she is no longer here."
She rubbed her face on his shoulder and wagged her tail.
"I swear..."
But her companion only sighed and faced the desk again, continuing to write his letters in a bit of a cramped manner.
She was disappointed—had she snuggled up to him like this in the past, that would have been enough to agitate him and it had been quite adorable. The way things were now made it seem like all she thought about was playing.
"Does it seem like we'll be able to open the bathhouse?"
The very competent Col and their only daughter Myuri, who had followed after him, were gone, and they had supported the bathhouse until recently. Without their two young helpers, they simply did not have enough hands.
She was suspicious that her companion was possibly not writing letters to guests thanking them for their patronage, asking them to come in the next season, but rejections, requesting various parties to postpone their visit because they were short on help.
There was no doubt that their particular bathhouse could not easily hire people because she was not human. It would have been a different story if she could easily hide her ears and tail, but she could not, causing them difficulties.
It would be a lie to say she did not feel indebted.
"Miss Selim will do enough work. She can handle it. It'll be much easier, since she's not the mischievous Myuri, who creates double the work after finishing one job."
"That foolish girl truly is nothing but pranks. I know not who she takes after."
She sighed, and her companion stared at her with an indescribable expression.
She half glared back at him, and he immediately looked away, like a sheep.
"But for that, it seems the liveliness in this house will die down. Are you all right with that?"
Her companion's back was to her, and he simply dropped his head lifelessly.
"I'm worried about that, too. We don't have Col, either, who chatted with all the high-ranking clergymen...When I think about that, I can't deny that what once attracted the guests to our bathhouse has disappeared."
"'Tis because you can talk of nothing but trade."
"I wouldn't mind if you started singing and dancing, you know."
Each bathhouse had its own specialty in soothing the tedium for long-stay guests. This bathhouse, Spice and Wolf, had truly been able to tout little Col, who could participate in complex discussions, and Myuri, who was as bright as any dancer.
However, when she imagined herself doing Myuri's job, not to mention little Col's, Holo felt exhausted.


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

Input:
In summary, things were going so well now, it was almost a disappointment.
What made it complicated was that things had gone a little differently from how she wanted it to turn out.
"Really, I was expecting a bit more."
Her companion stared at her, trying to feel out what she really meant. He gulped, knowing that everything looked calm on the surface, but wondering if there was some sort of trouble he had not noticed underneath.
Holo almost wanted to smile watching him. What a good male.
That was because it felt like she had been bound by how hard he worked in every little thing.
"That means..."
She slipped off the bed and stood beside her companion. She shooed him with her hand, and hesitatingly, he scooted to the side, giving her space to sit.
There were many letters spread out over the desk, waiting for the ink to dry.
"You are managing this much better than I expected, and I cannot even foresee the Q in quarrel anywhere."
Lawrence's expression was slightly taken aback, and a hint of irritation appeared in relief's stead.
"What...? That means there's no problems now, right?"
"Hmm. I thought that I may be able to be unfriendly with you for the first time in a long time."
She placed her face on his shoulder as her companion developed a clearly vexed, twitching smile.
"Wouldn't you prefer we didn't fight?"
"'Tis much more stimulating to add pepper to meat or drink, no? We lived quietly while Myuri was around, but now she is no longer here."
She rubbed her face on his shoulder and wagged her tail.
"I swear..."
But her companion only sighed and faced the desk again, continuing to write his letters in a bit of a cramped manner.
She was disappointed—had she snuggled up to him like this in the past, that would have been enough to agitate him and it had been quite adorable. The way things were now made it seem like all she thought about was playing.
"Does it seem like we'll be able to open the bathhouse?"
The very competent Col and their only daughter Myuri, who had followed after him, were gone, and they had supported the bathhouse until recently. Without their two young helpers, they simply did not have enough hands.
She was suspicious that her companion was possibly not writing letters to guests thanking them for their patronage, asking them to come in the next season, but rejections, requesting various parties to postpone their visit because they were short on help.
There was no doubt that their particular bathhouse could not easily hire people because she was not human. It would have been a different story if she could easily hide her ears and tail, but she could not, causing them difficulties.
It would be a lie to say she did not feel indebted.
"Miss Selim will do enough work. She can handle it. It'll be much easier, since she's not the mischievous Myuri, who creates double the work after finishing one job."
"That foolish girl truly is nothing but pranks. I know not who she takes after."
She sighed, and her companion stared at her with an indescribable expression.
She half glared back at him, and he immediately looked away, like a sheep.
"But for that, it seems the liveliness in this house will die down. Are you all right with that?"
Her companion's back was to her, and he simply dropped his head lifelessly.
"I'm worried about that, too. We don't have Col, either, who chatted with all the high-ranking clergymen...When I think about that, I can't deny that what once attracted the guests to our bathhouse has disappeared."
"'Tis because you can talk of nothing but trade."
"I wouldn't mind if you started singing and dancing, you know."
Each bathhouse had its own specialty in soothing the tedium for long-stay guests. This bathhouse, Spice and Wolf, had truly been able to tout little Col, who could participate in complex discussions, and Myuri, who was as bright as any dancer.
However, when she imagined herself doing Myuri's job, not to mention little Col's, Holo felt exhausted.

Output:
She could easily tell he was serious by how bashful his expression was, but this fool truly did not understand anything.
Her human form now was indeed young by human standards. When she thought about Myuri, who was truly young, however, she easily imagined how reckless it would be for herself to dance in her stead.
The image of the patrons looking up at her with confused smiles—This isn't bad, but something's off—easily came to mind.
Even though they appeared to be the same age, the aura around her was completely different compared to a girl who was truly young.
"I may as well stick with being particular about food."
If they stayed on the topic much longer, she felt her dignity as a wisewolf would be on the line, so she immediately changed the subject.
"Food, huh? You do have some opinions about food."
"Hanna may not be so happy to hear she would get more work."
Hanna not only ran the kitchen but she was also not human either, her true identity being the avatar of a bird.
"We lost one person stealing snacks, so maybe you can make up for that."
Talking about it now, Holo was beginning to lose track of whether Myuri, the bathhouse master's only daughter, had helped with the work or merely played as she liked.
It was fine that she was as energetic as she was, but perhaps they had been a little too lax with her.
"But it really is quiet without Myuri around."
Her companion paused his writing hand and looked up contemplatively, his gaze distant. Around this time of day, Myuri would be snoring on her bed in her usual room or playing around in Col's room as he studied by candlelight, accompanied by his angry voice after she bothered him too much with her mischief.
Once it became clear that Myuri had left on the journey as well, Holo's companion had raised such a fuss; she thought he had finally accepted it, but it seemed he was still a bit reluctant about it.
"I hope they haven't gotten in trouble where they are..."
"Had a letter not just recently come?"
"That's true, but..."
She sighed at her unsettled companion and embraced him.
"Have you forgotten who sits by your side?"
Her companion, now so far to the edge of the chair he was about to fall off, planted his foot on the other side and managed to stay up.
Then, he smiled flatly.
"Yeah. You're always by my side."
"Mm. 'Twould be best for your health to forget about your daughter after she has gone off to be wed."
"Sh-she's not getting married!"
The fool, who stubbornly told himself that Myuri and Col were nothing but very close siblings, retorted on reflex. Of course, she knew he did not truly oppose it. He was simply enjoying the role of the father of an only daughter to his heart's content.
And that meant she, too, had to enjoy her role.
"See here. I shan't be going anywhere. However, if you carelessly let go, I may be blown away by the wind."
She spoke while scratching her ears on his sharp shoulders.
The tallow candle had almost burned out, so it was good timing.
"Do you not think so?"
By the wavering candlelight, she narrowed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction.
Her companion would always seem frightened at times like these.
She vaguely remembered that he once said he felt like he was about to fall into the depths of oblivion.
Of course, she understood what he was trying to say.
That was because after they had fallen in love, they had arrived here.
"As you say, madam."
Her companion embraced her in return and stood, picking her up, then carrying her to bed.
Before long, the candle blew out, and the room fell into darkness.
The bathhouse was silent without guests, and she could hear the hoot, hoot of an owl beyond the window.
"Eh-heh."
She twisted in her companion's arms.
"Dear, be gentle with me—"
Just as she said that, there was a thud as he made a misstep. His posture collapsed, and they fell to the floor in the darkness.
Her foolish companion always did this at the most important moments.


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

Input:
She could easily tell he was serious by how bashful his expression was, but this fool truly did not understand anything.
Her human form now was indeed young by human standards. When she thought about Myuri, who was truly young, however, she easily imagined how reckless it would be for herself to dance in her stead.
The image of the patrons looking up at her with confused smiles—This isn't bad, but something's off—easily came to mind.
Even though they appeared to be the same age, the aura around her was completely different compared to a girl who was truly young.
"I may as well stick with being particular about food."
If they stayed on the topic much longer, she felt her dignity as a wisewolf would be on the line, so she immediately changed the subject.
"Food, huh? You do have some opinions about food."
"Hanna may not be so happy to hear she would get more work."
Hanna not only ran the kitchen but she was also not human either, her true identity being the avatar of a bird.
"We lost one person stealing snacks, so maybe you can make up for that."
Talking about it now, Holo was beginning to lose track of whether Myuri, the bathhouse master's only daughter, had helped with the work or merely played as she liked.
It was fine that she was as energetic as she was, but perhaps they had been a little too lax with her.
"But it really is quiet without Myuri around."
Her companion paused his writing hand and looked up contemplatively, his gaze distant. Around this time of day, Myuri would be snoring on her bed in her usual room or playing around in Col's room as he studied by candlelight, accompanied by his angry voice after she bothered him too much with her mischief.
Once it became clear that Myuri had left on the journey as well, Holo's companion had raised such a fuss; she thought he had finally accepted it, but it seemed he was still a bit reluctant about it.
"I hope they haven't gotten in trouble where they are..."
"Had a letter not just recently come?"
"That's true, but..."
She sighed at her unsettled companion and embraced him.
"Have you forgotten who sits by your side?"
Her companion, now so far to the edge of the chair he was about to fall off, planted his foot on the other side and managed to stay up.
Then, he smiled flatly.
"Yeah. You're always by my side."
"Mm. 'Twould be best for your health to forget about your daughter after she has gone off to be wed."
"Sh-she's not getting married!"
The fool, who stubbornly told himself that Myuri and Col were nothing but very close siblings, retorted on reflex. Of course, she knew he did not truly oppose it. He was simply enjoying the role of the father of an only daughter to his heart's content.
And that meant she, too, had to enjoy her role.
"See here. I shan't be going anywhere. However, if you carelessly let go, I may be blown away by the wind."
She spoke while scratching her ears on his sharp shoulders.
The tallow candle had almost burned out, so it was good timing.
"Do you not think so?"
By the wavering candlelight, she narrowed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction.
Her companion would always seem frightened at times like these.
She vaguely remembered that he once said he felt like he was about to fall into the depths of oblivion.
Of course, she understood what he was trying to say.
That was because after they had fallen in love, they had arrived here.
"As you say, madam."
Her companion embraced her in return and stood, picking her up, then carrying her to bed.
Before long, the candle blew out, and the room fell into darkness.
The bathhouse was silent without guests, and she could hear the hoot, hoot of an owl beyond the window.
"Eh-heh."
She twisted in her companion's arms.
"Dear, be gentle with me—"
Just as she said that, there was a thud as he made a misstep. His posture collapsed, and they fell to the floor in the darkness.
Her foolish companion always did this at the most important moments.

Output:
"You...fool......hmm?"
She realized she was lying down on a straw mat.
Before her sat a mountain of wild vegetables, waiting to be taken care of, glistening in the spring sun. There was no one else in the baths, and she could only hear the bubbling sound of flowing water.
"...Hmm...?"
It seemed she had completely fallen asleep in the gentle spring sunlight. She was upset she had woken up during a good moment, but the warm sunlight was comfortable, like she had entered the bath while still wearing clothes, and she almost closed her eyes again.
But she could not allow Selim to see her in such a state.
She managed to pull herself up and yawned, reaching out to the pile of vegetables.
"But...'twas quite a vivid dream I had..."
A strange feeling overcame her as she plucked the buds.
"...No, 'twas not a dream. That happened yesterday for...hmm?"
She murmured, suddenly doubting herself.
How many days had she been plucking the buds from vegetables? There were plenty to gather in the mountains, and bored women and children in the village plucked hundreds in order to earn some pocket change. They also were used as feed for the livestock, so while there were no guests around, every household dried and stored as much as they could, day after day. There was no difference between yesterday and today, and the next day she would be repeating the same all over again.
There was still frozen morning dew on the pile of wild vegetables, and they glistened in the sunlight. The temperature was just starting to rise, and the melted drops bubbled like nectar. Plucking the buds off wild vegetables let her know that spring had come to the village.
But how many times had spring come now? Ten? Twelve? Was it this year that Myuri and little Col had left the bathhouse? Or was that in the past?
In the wheat fields she had once slept in, she could roughly count the years as babies became children, children grew into adults, and adults aged into elders. In a year, she could only mark the dates by the changing seasons and the various festivals that came and went. The rest was simply a thread in the boundless tapestry that was the "every day."
Her memories of regular days were much too vague as to what came before or after what. And that became truer the more distant the memory.
Had it really been the night before that her companion was writing many letters to guests, then carried her to the bed after the candle went out? Had she not been dreaming of a nostalgic memory long past? It was like when she recalled her friends from her home village as she dozed off in the wheat fields.
Suddenly, an unsettling feeling rose in her chest, and she looked up toward the sky. There, the new spring sun silently shone with warmth. But it was too quiet. Was this a dream?
Anxiety bubbled up inside her, to the point she could clearly hear her heartbeat in her chest. If she was dreaming that the bathhouse was this quiet, then she could not imagine how quiet it was outside of her dream.
She was not like her companion and little Col and the rest of the villagers. Their entire lives would be over in the blink of an eye for her. It was not a dream or illusion that she would be the only one left of all her loved ones and that they would one day leave the bathhouse forever. That was a reality lying in wait for her.
***
Tears of anxiety and loneliness welled up in her eyes, and just as she was about to call out her companion's name, regardless of appearances. A flock of birds flew overhead from the direction of the woods, flitting about one another. The wind gusted, shaking the tree branches, and small waves rippled on the bath. There was still a hint of winter on the wind blowing across her cheek. It was all much too vivid to be a dream.
Before she began to cry like a small child, she looked at her left wrist. There, she could see the faint scar where the leech had bit her. When she scratched it, she could feel the pain.


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

Input:
"You...fool......hmm?"
She realized she was lying down on a straw mat.
Before her sat a mountain of wild vegetables, waiting to be taken care of, glistening in the spring sun. There was no one else in the baths, and she could only hear the bubbling sound of flowing water.
"...Hmm...?"
It seemed she had completely fallen asleep in the gentle spring sunlight. She was upset she had woken up during a good moment, but the warm sunlight was comfortable, like she had entered the bath while still wearing clothes, and she almost closed her eyes again.
But she could not allow Selim to see her in such a state.
She managed to pull herself up and yawned, reaching out to the pile of vegetables.
"But...'twas quite a vivid dream I had..."
A strange feeling overcame her as she plucked the buds.
"...No, 'twas not a dream. That happened yesterday for...hmm?"
She murmured, suddenly doubting herself.
How many days had she been plucking the buds from vegetables? There were plenty to gather in the mountains, and bored women and children in the village plucked hundreds in order to earn some pocket change. They also were used as feed for the livestock, so while there were no guests around, every household dried and stored as much as they could, day after day. There was no difference between yesterday and today, and the next day she would be repeating the same all over again.
There was still frozen morning dew on the pile of wild vegetables, and they glistened in the sunlight. The temperature was just starting to rise, and the melted drops bubbled like nectar. Plucking the buds off wild vegetables let her know that spring had come to the village.
But how many times had spring come now? Ten? Twelve? Was it this year that Myuri and little Col had left the bathhouse? Or was that in the past?
In the wheat fields she had once slept in, she could roughly count the years as babies became children, children grew into adults, and adults aged into elders. In a year, she could only mark the dates by the changing seasons and the various festivals that came and went. The rest was simply a thread in the boundless tapestry that was the "every day."
Her memories of regular days were much too vague as to what came before or after what. And that became truer the more distant the memory.
Had it really been the night before that her companion was writing many letters to guests, then carried her to the bed after the candle went out? Had she not been dreaming of a nostalgic memory long past? It was like when she recalled her friends from her home village as she dozed off in the wheat fields.
Suddenly, an unsettling feeling rose in her chest, and she looked up toward the sky. There, the new spring sun silently shone with warmth. But it was too quiet. Was this a dream?
Anxiety bubbled up inside her, to the point she could clearly hear her heartbeat in her chest. If she was dreaming that the bathhouse was this quiet, then she could not imagine how quiet it was outside of her dream.
She was not like her companion and little Col and the rest of the villagers. Their entire lives would be over in the blink of an eye for her. It was not a dream or illusion that she would be the only one left of all her loved ones and that they would one day leave the bathhouse forever. That was a reality lying in wait for her.
***
Tears of anxiety and loneliness welled up in her eyes, and just as she was about to call out her companion's name, regardless of appearances. A flock of birds flew overhead from the direction of the woods, flitting about one another. The wind gusted, shaking the tree branches, and small waves rippled on the bath. There was still a hint of winter on the wind blowing across her cheek. It was all much too vivid to be a dream.
Before she began to cry like a small child, she looked at her left wrist. There, she could see the faint scar where the leech had bit her. When she scratched it, she could feel the pain.

Output:
"...What a fool..."
With relief came a feeling of embarrassment.
Deep in her heart was a well filled with dark things. The weight of her happiness, which was almost too warm for comfort, kept a tight lid on it. She almost always forgot about it, but when she let her guard down, it would come seeping out. The darkness inside had a name—loneliness.
Her happy, daily routine flowed from yesterday to today without any distinction between them. If she was too happy, time would pass by much too quickly.
That was why her words to her companion the night before had not been a lie. There were several things she was expecting from Selim, the new girl.
The first was to simply do her share of work as a helper, so that this bathhouse her companion had spent his blood, sweat, and tears on could mature. And the second was to be a spark that could incite a quarrel between herself and her companion.
Then, her memory of the fight and the consequent reconciliation would emerge as a clear pattern in the tapestry of her every day, become a concrete event in her memory, and keep the lid closed tight on her well of loneliness. The other hundreds and thousands of days without strife would become the same as her naps in the afternoon and would be pushed far away into the depths of her memory.
Time passed much too quickly. Her only choice was to make a mark on herself with her nails so that she would not forget. Like the scar the leech left on her wrist.
Human and animal activity, however, was nothing but the same actions repeated over and over again. So all she could do was simply soothe her anxiety a bit in a way that she would just forget the following day.
Embracing her companion from behind as he worked, drinking hard liquor until she became stupidly drunk, imparting all her knowledge to her only daughter as a bedtime story so she may capture the male she fancied...
That being said, it was like bottling the summer air to save it for winter.
The repetition of daily life wore many things down. So while the days went by smoothly and efficiently, not everything stayed in her memory.
It was not that she hated plucking buds off wild vegetables. It was honest work atop more honest work that kept the bathhouse running, and the better it ran, the happier her companion became. In the end, she considered herself living in luxury. She was like a dog peering into a stream with a piece of meat in its mouth only to greedily attempt to snatch the morsel in the water's reflection.
"What a fool I am."
She murmured to herself and returned to work plucking buds.
Though she was happy, she was sad she could not give names to each and every piece of her happiness.
Holo's work plucking buds was over before noon, thanks to her diligence.
She had Selim dry the parts that would become fodder while she took the edible buds to the kitchen, returning to the main house after. For now, she wanted to find where her companion was and stick close to him. It was like an insect sipping tree sap. He was a bit of a wooden blockhead, so it made sense.
"If you're looking for the master, he's out front."
Hanna, who was parboiling the buds in the kitchen, informed her of his whereabouts. On her way out, Holo pilfered a few slices of jerky from a shelf, and Hanna scolded her.
"We'll be eating lunch soon."
If her companion was out front, that meant he must have been doing some sort of hard labor. Perhaps a traveling merchant delivering goods had come on the now-thawed mountain roads, or maybe it was a boat along the river that had brought cargo.
If he was in the middle of heavy lifting, then she would of course not interfere, but she would be able to accompany him to the baths after he was done.
She thought about this and that as she passed through the corridor and came out the front, where her companion was, with Selim.
"I am sorry..."
"Don't worry about it. It's my fault for not telling you."
As they talked, they were untying the bundles of fodder stacked by the front entrance.


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

Input:
"...What a fool..."
With relief came a feeling of embarrassment.
Deep in her heart was a well filled with dark things. The weight of her happiness, which was almost too warm for comfort, kept a tight lid on it. She almost always forgot about it, but when she let her guard down, it would come seeping out. The darkness inside had a name—loneliness.
Her happy, daily routine flowed from yesterday to today without any distinction between them. If she was too happy, time would pass by much too quickly.
That was why her words to her companion the night before had not been a lie. There were several things she was expecting from Selim, the new girl.
The first was to simply do her share of work as a helper, so that this bathhouse her companion had spent his blood, sweat, and tears on could mature. And the second was to be a spark that could incite a quarrel between herself and her companion.
Then, her memory of the fight and the consequent reconciliation would emerge as a clear pattern in the tapestry of her every day, become a concrete event in her memory, and keep the lid closed tight on her well of loneliness. The other hundreds and thousands of days without strife would become the same as her naps in the afternoon and would be pushed far away into the depths of her memory.
Time passed much too quickly. Her only choice was to make a mark on herself with her nails so that she would not forget. Like the scar the leech left on her wrist.
Human and animal activity, however, was nothing but the same actions repeated over and over again. So all she could do was simply soothe her anxiety a bit in a way that she would just forget the following day.
Embracing her companion from behind as he worked, drinking hard liquor until she became stupidly drunk, imparting all her knowledge to her only daughter as a bedtime story so she may capture the male she fancied...
That being said, it was like bottling the summer air to save it for winter.
The repetition of daily life wore many things down. So while the days went by smoothly and efficiently, not everything stayed in her memory.
It was not that she hated plucking buds off wild vegetables. It was honest work atop more honest work that kept the bathhouse running, and the better it ran, the happier her companion became. In the end, she considered herself living in luxury. She was like a dog peering into a stream with a piece of meat in its mouth only to greedily attempt to snatch the morsel in the water's reflection.
"What a fool I am."
She murmured to herself and returned to work plucking buds.
Though she was happy, she was sad she could not give names to each and every piece of her happiness.
Holo's work plucking buds was over before noon, thanks to her diligence.
She had Selim dry the parts that would become fodder while she took the edible buds to the kitchen, returning to the main house after. For now, she wanted to find where her companion was and stick close to him. It was like an insect sipping tree sap. He was a bit of a wooden blockhead, so it made sense.
"If you're looking for the master, he's out front."
Hanna, who was parboiling the buds in the kitchen, informed her of his whereabouts. On her way out, Holo pilfered a few slices of jerky from a shelf, and Hanna scolded her.
"We'll be eating lunch soon."
If her companion was out front, that meant he must have been doing some sort of hard labor. Perhaps a traveling merchant delivering goods had come on the now-thawed mountain roads, or maybe it was a boat along the river that had brought cargo.
If he was in the middle of heavy lifting, then she would of course not interfere, but she would be able to accompany him to the baths after he was done.
She thought about this and that as she passed through the corridor and came out the front, where her companion was, with Selim.
"I am sorry..."
"Don't worry about it. It's my fault for not telling you."
As they talked, they were untying the bundles of fodder stacked by the front entrance.

Output:
Holo's call prompted the two to look back at her.
"Oh, hey. Perfect timing. Can you help us?"
"Help?"
Beside him, Selim stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, a guilty expression written on her face. Her slender shoulders drooped so low it was like they nearly disappeared.
"I, um...used the wrong string to tie the fodder together..."
Responding quietly, she continued working. It seemed she was taking apart the bundles she had put together.
"Hmm. Should I undo everything?"
"No, just tie it with new string. And there's some three-strand twine mixed in there, too, so take those off as well."
"How bothersome."
She had meant for it to be the lighthearted response she always gave him, but Selim recoiled and shrunk back.
"Oh, mm, 'twas not meant for you. I, too, make this mistake often," she added hurriedly. The girl was nervous being in an unfamiliar pack. Even if she poked fun at her companion as she always did, it sounded harsh to the newcomer's ears. She had to be careful.
She flashed an exceptional smile toward Selim and returned to work.
According to her companion, he had told Selim to use the old string to bundle the withered grasses together, but she had mistaken the new cord for the old. Both the old and new hemp string were in the same place in the shed, so it was undoubtedly complicated.
The task was completed rather quickly with all three of them working together. She told her former traveling-merchant companion that his fussy way of saving material by using the oldest things first made this his fault.
And it was good since Selim had made a modest mistake, as it gave Holo an excuse to ease up on her work. Had she done her work perfectly, it would have been suffocating.
But then again, the next day Selim made another little mistake.
In the spring, the villagers of Nyohhira hold a small, private festival. They worshipped Alzeuri, the patron saint of hot springs or some sort. Selim took the wrong votive candles to use in the festival.
She was supposed to hand over beeswax candles but apparently instead brought a boxful of tallow candles to the meeting hall.
"I'm sorry..."
Selim looked as though she might cry, perhaps in response to her continued mistakes. But it could be quickly resolved by simply switching the candles, and it did not seem like she was slacking in her duties. She worked without complaint and did everything she was told. And so of course, she prepared the correct candles without any scolding and simply carried them to the meeting hall.
By now, Holo had come to know Selim better. She was diligent and hardworking, but there were foolish parts to her. There were times she stumbled or dropped things. The person in question did seem aware of it, so it was admirable how she made sure to overcome her shortcomings. She was very much the kind of girl her companion fancied.
And so, Holo was not that surprised that the girl had mistaken beeswax candles for tallow ones. They were molded in a similar shape, and she may not have ever seen beeswax before in her life.
Because of that, her mistakes only came up once in a while when Holo and her companion talked before going to sleep at night. The problem was that Selim apparently did not see it that way.
Ever since the day she mistook the candles her mood had been awful. She was an honest girl, and she may have been needlessly pressuring herself.
The young wolf was a valuable worker, and it would cause problems for even Holo if she quit. Even without quitting, her mood would most certainly affect the atmosphere in the bathhouse. This was a place that brought people smiles and happiness, and so they could not tolerate anyone stifling that.
But what should they do? Selim did not seem the sort to cheer up with drink. And telling her not to mind appeared to only result in her becoming even more self-conscious.
Though Holo had lived for a long time, this was her first experience with this sort of situation.


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

Input:
Holo's call prompted the two to look back at her.
"Oh, hey. Perfect timing. Can you help us?"
"Help?"
Beside him, Selim stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, a guilty expression written on her face. Her slender shoulders drooped so low it was like they nearly disappeared.
"I, um...used the wrong string to tie the fodder together..."
Responding quietly, she continued working. It seemed she was taking apart the bundles she had put together.
"Hmm. Should I undo everything?"
"No, just tie it with new string. And there's some three-strand twine mixed in there, too, so take those off as well."
"How bothersome."
She had meant for it to be the lighthearted response she always gave him, but Selim recoiled and shrunk back.
"Oh, mm, 'twas not meant for you. I, too, make this mistake often," she added hurriedly. The girl was nervous being in an unfamiliar pack. Even if she poked fun at her companion as she always did, it sounded harsh to the newcomer's ears. She had to be careful.
She flashed an exceptional smile toward Selim and returned to work.
According to her companion, he had told Selim to use the old string to bundle the withered grasses together, but she had mistaken the new cord for the old. Both the old and new hemp string were in the same place in the shed, so it was undoubtedly complicated.
The task was completed rather quickly with all three of them working together. She told her former traveling-merchant companion that his fussy way of saving material by using the oldest things first made this his fault.
And it was good since Selim had made a modest mistake, as it gave Holo an excuse to ease up on her work. Had she done her work perfectly, it would have been suffocating.
But then again, the next day Selim made another little mistake.
In the spring, the villagers of Nyohhira hold a small, private festival. They worshipped Alzeuri, the patron saint of hot springs or some sort. Selim took the wrong votive candles to use in the festival.
She was supposed to hand over beeswax candles but apparently instead brought a boxful of tallow candles to the meeting hall.
"I'm sorry..."
Selim looked as though she might cry, perhaps in response to her continued mistakes. But it could be quickly resolved by simply switching the candles, and it did not seem like she was slacking in her duties. She worked without complaint and did everything she was told. And so of course, she prepared the correct candles without any scolding and simply carried them to the meeting hall.
By now, Holo had come to know Selim better. She was diligent and hardworking, but there were foolish parts to her. There were times she stumbled or dropped things. The person in question did seem aware of it, so it was admirable how she made sure to overcome her shortcomings. She was very much the kind of girl her companion fancied.
And so, Holo was not that surprised that the girl had mistaken beeswax candles for tallow ones. They were molded in a similar shape, and she may not have ever seen beeswax before in her life.
Because of that, her mistakes only came up once in a while when Holo and her companion talked before going to sleep at night. The problem was that Selim apparently did not see it that way.
Ever since the day she mistook the candles her mood had been awful. She was an honest girl, and she may have been needlessly pressuring herself.
The young wolf was a valuable worker, and it would cause problems for even Holo if she quit. Even without quitting, her mood would most certainly affect the atmosphere in the bathhouse. This was a place that brought people smiles and happiness, and so they could not tolerate anyone stifling that.
But what should they do? Selim did not seem the sort to cheer up with drink. And telling her not to mind appeared to only result in her becoming even more self-conscious.
Though Holo had lived for a long time, this was her first experience with this sort of situation.

Output:
"Do you think you could help me with Miss Selim?"
"Help?"
"Can you think of an excuse to take her into the mountains?"
Holo looked back at him, puzzled, wondering what he meant.
"Take her out saying you're going to find new springs or something, and could you bring her to the other side of the mountains while you're at it?"
She finally got the point.
"Have her visit her family, you mean?"
"Yeah."
Selim's older brother and other relatives were building lodgings some two or three mountains away. They were apparently planning to make a fortune by attracting pilgrims, touting their location as a sacred destination where the miracle of a holy woman had transpired. Had the good little boy Col known about this, he would definitely have made an unhappy face, but the one who thought of the scheme was her companion. That was the only plan that they could think of when they were at a loss in Svernel.
The problem was, the one who had played the part of the holy woman was Selim. She was supposed to be buried deep underground, so it would be odd if she were constantly seen around the inn. So accordingly, she was hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, which was in need of helpers, but that meant she was forced to live far, far away from her family.
Of course, she could cross the distance in no time if she ran in her wolf form, so it was not an eternal parting.
Which was why Holo thought her companion's idea would be counterproductive.
"Is the girl not right in the middle of getting used to her new pack? Would having them meet after such a short time not only bring her and her friends' resolution into question?"
Selim and her older brother were especially serious folk. When Selim first came to the house, her expression was steely, as though in preparation for war. The kin of wolves would never stray from a path once they had decided upon it, no matter what.
And so she explained that to her companion.
"Logically, that makes sense."
"Dear, I am serious—"
Holo stopped speaking because of the look in her companion's eyes.
He never gave the impression of having confidence in himself and always seemed to have strange assumptions about things, but he occasionally held such unwavering beliefs that even a wisewolf could not sink her teeth in.
At times like those, though he should have exuded strength, his eyes always seemed somewhat sad.
She easily bent to his will whenever she saw those eyes of his.
Unwittingly, Holo's ears and tail drooped.
"I was once a traveling merchant. I've carried people who lived far away from their family and friends many times. So many people did nothing but complain when they sat in the back of the wagon. 'I don't want to see them,' 'I can't meet them now after all this time,' 'They'll pummel me when they see me,' and on and on."
He flashed a tired smile and knelt down to her eye level.
It was almost as though he were reasoning with a child.
"But when they finally did meet, they were always happy. That's not logical."
Then, he reached out to touch her cheek.
She jumped and recoiled, because it almost felt as though he was going to directly touch the soft parts of her heart.
"You know this."
He was right.
When she wanted to go home but had forgotten the way there and sat at a loss in a field of wheat, she forcefully snuck into her companion's wagon. She did not care what came after. She missed her homeland that much.
And then, facing many dangers, her companion took her where she needed to go. At first, she only thought that he was just a hopelessly good-hearted person, but that was not so. He held true to his own beliefs born from his own experiences.
"And it might be a problem that Miss Selim's brothers are so close."
"...Hmm?"


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

Input:
"Do you think you could help me with Miss Selim?"
"Help?"
"Can you think of an excuse to take her into the mountains?"
Holo looked back at him, puzzled, wondering what he meant.
"Take her out saying you're going to find new springs or something, and could you bring her to the other side of the mountains while you're at it?"
She finally got the point.
"Have her visit her family, you mean?"
"Yeah."
Selim's older brother and other relatives were building lodgings some two or three mountains away. They were apparently planning to make a fortune by attracting pilgrims, touting their location as a sacred destination where the miracle of a holy woman had transpired. Had the good little boy Col known about this, he would definitely have made an unhappy face, but the one who thought of the scheme was her companion. That was the only plan that they could think of when they were at a loss in Svernel.
The problem was, the one who had played the part of the holy woman was Selim. She was supposed to be buried deep underground, so it would be odd if she were constantly seen around the inn. So accordingly, she was hired to work at the bathhouse Spice and Wolf, which was in need of helpers, but that meant she was forced to live far, far away from her family.
Of course, she could cross the distance in no time if she ran in her wolf form, so it was not an eternal parting.
Which was why Holo thought her companion's idea would be counterproductive.
"Is the girl not right in the middle of getting used to her new pack? Would having them meet after such a short time not only bring her and her friends' resolution into question?"
Selim and her older brother were especially serious folk. When Selim first came to the house, her expression was steely, as though in preparation for war. The kin of wolves would never stray from a path once they had decided upon it, no matter what.
And so she explained that to her companion.
"Logically, that makes sense."
"Dear, I am serious—"
Holo stopped speaking because of the look in her companion's eyes.
He never gave the impression of having confidence in himself and always seemed to have strange assumptions about things, but he occasionally held such unwavering beliefs that even a wisewolf could not sink her teeth in.
At times like those, though he should have exuded strength, his eyes always seemed somewhat sad.
She easily bent to his will whenever she saw those eyes of his.
Unwittingly, Holo's ears and tail drooped.
"I was once a traveling merchant. I've carried people who lived far away from their family and friends many times. So many people did nothing but complain when they sat in the back of the wagon. 'I don't want to see them,' 'I can't meet them now after all this time,' 'They'll pummel me when they see me,' and on and on."
He flashed a tired smile and knelt down to her eye level.
It was almost as though he were reasoning with a child.
"But when they finally did meet, they were always happy. That's not logical."
Then, he reached out to touch her cheek.
She jumped and recoiled, because it almost felt as though he was going to directly touch the soft parts of her heart.
"You know this."
He was right.
When she wanted to go home but had forgotten the way there and sat at a loss in a field of wheat, she forcefully snuck into her companion's wagon. She did not care what came after. She missed her homeland that much.
And then, facing many dangers, her companion took her where she needed to go. At first, she only thought that he was just a hopelessly good-hearted person, but that was not so. He held true to his own beliefs born from his own experiences.
"And it might be a problem that Miss Selim's brothers are so close."
"...Hmm?"

Output:
"Mm-hmm...And so...you mean to say...'tis different?"
She looked back at him, and he smiled bitterly.
"I know Miss Selim is trying her best to be a member of this house. But any newcomer will always feel helpless. But on the other hand, do you remember Selim's brother's face when he saw her off? He was practically sick with worry. If you bring her to him, there's no chance he would be cruel to her. He would encourage and comfort her. It would help her a hundred times more than us saying anything. She has someone like that not too far away, so why doesn't she go see him?"
His train of thought was like grasping the ends of a tangled mess of thread, then pulling on them only to find that nothing had been tangled all along.
With both a will and a way, one should act.
She could even call this a very merchantlike way of thinking.
Of course, that included her companion's personal outlook on life and his innate good-heartedness. There were a great many bathhouses that handled their help like tools, and if anything, such treatment was actually expected in the human world to the point where it was often considered that a master who did not punish their workers was already a good one.
But her companion was not that kind of person. Those who rode in the back of his wagon were his friends, and he tried his best to deal with them in a kind manner. It was perhaps similar to a merchant's attachment to their cargo.
When she herself was a part of his cargo, she was distraught with worry about how he would treat other freight, but now she sat beside him on the driver's perch.
And so, as his partner on his journey, she could depend on him for and was even proud of how he treated his cargo so well.
Her companion was so attractive in how he would not be tied down by common sense when it came to his friends, and she almost hated him for it.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Her companion finally noticed her state and was staring at her, puzzled.
Unable to hold back the warm feeling in her heart, she grinned proudly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You are such a fool, such a foolish man."
"Huh?"
He sounded suspicious, but he understood that she was in a good mood by how her ears and tail twitched happily.
He returned the favor by embracing her back, and she managed to calm herself for the moment.
"Hmm...Regarding your idea, I do not mind, but there are still humans about in the mountains during this time of year. Would you mind if we left once night fell?"
"Oh, of course not. We have work during the day anyway."
"You fool. 'Tis not the question."
Her companion seemed puzzled. It seemed he did not understand what she had meant.
"I am asking if you do not feel lonely sleeping alone at night?"
Their daughter Myuri was not around, either.
Then, after a slight moment of surprise, he gave her a small smile.
"What? When you come home, you know how grateful I'll be."
Her companion knew how to treat her well, too.
"Heh-heh. Very well, then."
In the end, unable to control herself, she clung to him again, and her tail swished about happily.
Though it was not a full moon that night, it was just bright enough.
They ate dinner, and around the time they would typically start going to bed, they instead gathered behind the bathhouse.
There was the wisewolf, who could easily swallow anything human-sized in one gulp, and a cute little wolf who one might typically see roaming around the forest. And the wisewolf's shivering companion.
"I wish I had your fur."
Once the sun set, a midwinter chill descended onto the mountains. A puff of white smoke rose from her companion's mouth when he spoke.
"We shall return before dawn."
"Make sure the charcoal makers and whatnot don't get a good look at you."
"Fool."
She bumped him with her nose, and he scratched her around her chin. It was a natural exchange for them, but when she noticed that Selim was beside them watching, she suddenly grew embarrassed.
"...Ahem. Well, shall we be off?"
"Yes."


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

Input:
"Mm-hmm...And so...you mean to say...'tis different?"
She looked back at him, and he smiled bitterly.
"I know Miss Selim is trying her best to be a member of this house. But any newcomer will always feel helpless. But on the other hand, do you remember Selim's brother's face when he saw her off? He was practically sick with worry. If you bring her to him, there's no chance he would be cruel to her. He would encourage and comfort her. It would help her a hundred times more than us saying anything. She has someone like that not too far away, so why doesn't she go see him?"
His train of thought was like grasping the ends of a tangled mess of thread, then pulling on them only to find that nothing had been tangled all along.
With both a will and a way, one should act.
She could even call this a very merchantlike way of thinking.
Of course, that included her companion's personal outlook on life and his innate good-heartedness. There were a great many bathhouses that handled their help like tools, and if anything, such treatment was actually expected in the human world to the point where it was often considered that a master who did not punish their workers was already a good one.
But her companion was not that kind of person. Those who rode in the back of his wagon were his friends, and he tried his best to deal with them in a kind manner. It was perhaps similar to a merchant's attachment to their cargo.
When she herself was a part of his cargo, she was distraught with worry about how he would treat other freight, but now she sat beside him on the driver's perch.
And so, as his partner on his journey, she could depend on him for and was even proud of how he treated his cargo so well.
Her companion was so attractive in how he would not be tied down by common sense when it came to his friends, and she almost hated him for it.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Her companion finally noticed her state and was staring at her, puzzled.
Unable to hold back the warm feeling in her heart, she grinned proudly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You are such a fool, such a foolish man."
"Huh?"
He sounded suspicious, but he understood that she was in a good mood by how her ears and tail twitched happily.
He returned the favor by embracing her back, and she managed to calm herself for the moment.
"Hmm...Regarding your idea, I do not mind, but there are still humans about in the mountains during this time of year. Would you mind if we left once night fell?"
"Oh, of course not. We have work during the day anyway."
"You fool. 'Tis not the question."
Her companion seemed puzzled. It seemed he did not understand what she had meant.
"I am asking if you do not feel lonely sleeping alone at night?"
Their daughter Myuri was not around, either.
Then, after a slight moment of surprise, he gave her a small smile.
"What? When you come home, you know how grateful I'll be."
Her companion knew how to treat her well, too.
"Heh-heh. Very well, then."
In the end, unable to control herself, she clung to him again, and her tail swished about happily.
Though it was not a full moon that night, it was just bright enough.
They ate dinner, and around the time they would typically start going to bed, they instead gathered behind the bathhouse.
There was the wisewolf, who could easily swallow anything human-sized in one gulp, and a cute little wolf who one might typically see roaming around the forest. And the wisewolf's shivering companion.
"I wish I had your fur."
Once the sun set, a midwinter chill descended onto the mountains. A puff of white smoke rose from her companion's mouth when he spoke.
"We shall return before dawn."
"Make sure the charcoal makers and whatnot don't get a good look at you."
"Fool."
She bumped him with her nose, and he scratched her around her chin. It was a natural exchange for them, but when she noticed that Selim was beside them watching, she suddenly grew embarrassed.
"...Ahem. Well, shall we be off?"
"Yes."

Output:
Holo was of course not envious, but she had a fleeting thought that if she could be that size, she and her companion could stay in the same room even in this form.
"Be safe."
She did not know if her companion was aware of her thoughts, but he spoke all the same.
For all intents and purposes, they were supposedly searching for new springs, but it was really for Selim's sake.
They turned away without a response and dashed off. Holo made rounds out in the mountains in this form to make sure that there would be no avalanches once the snow started to soften, but she had not done so lately. She loved the feeling of running in the mountains in this large form, and she could not help her gaining speed.
Once they reached the peak of the mountain behind the bathhouse, she looked back, and Selim was already out of breath.
"Sorry. Am I going too fast?"
"N-no...ah, um, yes..."
She perhaps thought it would cause Holo even more trouble if she could not keep up.
"We shall go slowly. 'Tis the first chance in a long time I have had to run, so I could not help but frolic like a pup."
The truth was, of course, she wished to run at top speed, and she wanted to howl at the moon as loud as she could. But if she did that, however, then it would echo through the entire village of Nyohhira, and there would be an uproar at the clear signal of a wolf. All the villagers would light fires and spend the entire night on watch.
Of course, her companion would know whose fault it was and stand under the torch with a cross expression.
"Well, should you get lost, you shall be able to return by scent, aye?"
Selim's wolf mouth flawlessly curled into a smile at her banter.
Then they roamed about the mountains at the pace of a leisurely stroll. Though Holo had not particularly claimed that this was her territory, dutiful bears and deer looked up at her, wondering what was the matter.
Under the pretense of looking for springs, they inevitably arrived at locations that smelled as though they had potential for that purpose, but Holo had long since found all the noteworthy spots back when they were first opening the bathhouse. So in a casual manner, the two wolves simply went in circles, with Holo's feet steadily aiming toward the other side of the mountains, where Selim's older brother and relatives were constructing lodgings.
But Selim was not a naive or stupid girl. As they were about to cross the second ridge, she spoke, as though having made up her mind.
"Lady Holo."
"Hmm?"
"Um...I'm...sorry..."
Of course, Holo played dumb.
"Why do you apologize? You have followed me this far, have you not?"
She spoke with a faint smile, so Selim did not say any more.
However, though she agreed with her companion's logic, she was still apprehensive in a corner of her heart that they were being too meddlesome. There was no doubting that Selim had made up her mind when she came to the bathhouse. If they gave her special consideration simply because she was feeling down after a few mistakes, then it was entirely possible that treating her like a child would hurt her.
But when it came to thoughtfulness, matters only grew more complicated the more one second guessed them, eventually becoming like the snake that ate its own tail. So her companion's idea that for the time being they should try the first thing that came to mind in hopes of showing their sincerity was refreshing and, most likely, correct.
When Holo herself had gotten stuck on certain points—like how she had once been called the wisewolf, or that she was eternally young, or how she was not human in the first place—it was her companion who had grasped her hand and pulled her along. It went without saying as to how that ended up.
Then, as fate would have it, Selim joined their pack. There would be nothing better than if she enjoyed her time with them.


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

Input:
Holo was of course not envious, but she had a fleeting thought that if she could be that size, she and her companion could stay in the same room even in this form.
"Be safe."
She did not know if her companion was aware of her thoughts, but he spoke all the same.
For all intents and purposes, they were supposedly searching for new springs, but it was really for Selim's sake.
They turned away without a response and dashed off. Holo made rounds out in the mountains in this form to make sure that there would be no avalanches once the snow started to soften, but she had not done so lately. She loved the feeling of running in the mountains in this large form, and she could not help her gaining speed.
Once they reached the peak of the mountain behind the bathhouse, she looked back, and Selim was already out of breath.
"Sorry. Am I going too fast?"
"N-no...ah, um, yes..."
She perhaps thought it would cause Holo even more trouble if she could not keep up.
"We shall go slowly. 'Tis the first chance in a long time I have had to run, so I could not help but frolic like a pup."
The truth was, of course, she wished to run at top speed, and she wanted to howl at the moon as loud as she could. But if she did that, however, then it would echo through the entire village of Nyohhira, and there would be an uproar at the clear signal of a wolf. All the villagers would light fires and spend the entire night on watch.
Of course, her companion would know whose fault it was and stand under the torch with a cross expression.
"Well, should you get lost, you shall be able to return by scent, aye?"
Selim's wolf mouth flawlessly curled into a smile at her banter.
Then they roamed about the mountains at the pace of a leisurely stroll. Though Holo had not particularly claimed that this was her territory, dutiful bears and deer looked up at her, wondering what was the matter.
Under the pretense of looking for springs, they inevitably arrived at locations that smelled as though they had potential for that purpose, but Holo had long since found all the noteworthy spots back when they were first opening the bathhouse. So in a casual manner, the two wolves simply went in circles, with Holo's feet steadily aiming toward the other side of the mountains, where Selim's older brother and relatives were constructing lodgings.
But Selim was not a naive or stupid girl. As they were about to cross the second ridge, she spoke, as though having made up her mind.
"Lady Holo."
"Hmm?"
"Um...I'm...sorry..."
Of course, Holo played dumb.
"Why do you apologize? You have followed me this far, have you not?"
She spoke with a faint smile, so Selim did not say any more.
However, though she agreed with her companion's logic, she was still apprehensive in a corner of her heart that they were being too meddlesome. There was no doubting that Selim had made up her mind when she came to the bathhouse. If they gave her special consideration simply because she was feeling down after a few mistakes, then it was entirely possible that treating her like a child would hurt her.
But when it came to thoughtfulness, matters only grew more complicated the more one second guessed them, eventually becoming like the snake that ate its own tail. So her companion's idea that for the time being they should try the first thing that came to mind in hopes of showing their sincerity was refreshing and, most likely, correct.
When Holo herself had gotten stuck on certain points—like how she had once been called the wisewolf, or that she was eternally young, or how she was not human in the first place—it was her companion who had grasped her hand and pulled her along. It went without saying as to how that ended up.
Then, as fate would have it, Selim joined their pack. There would be nothing better than if she enjoyed her time with them.

Output:
As Holo wondered if her companion was freezing all alone, she saw a figure move at the edge of her vision, behind a cluster of trees.
"How admirable for you to come greet her."
She smiled and murmured, and though it was unlikely they heard, more shadows appeared behind the first. The wind blew down the mountain at this hour, so their scent must have reached them on the wind.
"Look."
Holo tried to encourage Selim, who stood stuck in place beside her, but she did not move. Perhaps it was from fear that her family would blame her for being weak.
But Holo had brought her all this way, and there was no turning back now, not to mention how dejected Selim was at the house.
At the head of the pack was a wolf who had been watching them silently, had the exact same coat color as Selim, and seemed so worried that it was possible he would start howling even now.
She recalled how it was the same expression little Col wore on his face as he loitered around the door whenever Myuri was late coming home from playing in the mountains.
Whether human or wolf, anxious males seemed to all be very similar.
"Do you wish for our kindness to be in vain?"
Holo bumped Selim's neck with her nose, and she finally took a few steps forward.
When Selim glanced back at her, she bared her fangs in a grin.
"I do not know how many times I clung to that companion of mine in tears at times like this."
Selim was clearly surprised, but at the same time, it seemed she understood Holo's feelings.
Her wide-open eyes seemed to grow softer, and she looked at Holo as they glistened.
"Thank you."
"'Tis what you must say to my foolish companion."
Without a word in response or a nod of the head, Selim dashed off, as though she had been set free.
Her older brother waited a moment, too, before dashing toward Selim. Though it was likely he would scold or become irritated with her, there was no way that he did not think dearly of his little sister, with whom he faced many hardships. Her companion's plan had been irritatingly on point.
Holo sighed in relief, but now she did not know what to do. If she hung around, Selim's friends would defer to her and that seemed like it would be annoying. If she stayed by Selim's side, she might hesitate and quickly decide it was time to return.
Getting in their way was inappropriate, so in the end, she decided to search for springs, as per their original goal. Besides, she had long wished for a place where she could relax by herself whenever she was so inclined.
She wandered as her nose led her, and on the way back to the second mountain, she found a place where water bubbled up naturally. It was in a secluded ravine, where even a hunter, relentlessly pursuing their prey, would not come.
"Hmm. 'Tis in a nice spot, but a bit small."
It was shallow, filled with rocks, surrounded by fallen trees and such and was only big enough for a bear to wet its bottom.
The stones cut off the water, struggling to rise. She could certainly fit into the spaces between the rocks if she returned to her human form, but if she were going that far, then the baths at the house were good enough.
"If there is a spring here, then there must be others."
She wandered across the face of the mountain, but the vein of water must have been very far underground as she could not find any more. As a test, she pulled the fallen trees away with her mouth and rolled the smaller stones away with her claws, and it seemed like more water came up. If she cleared all the stones and such, then it may have yet started to look like a proper bath.
"Lady Holo?"
She had stuck her nose in the water, trying to figure out where the water was coming from when someone called her name.
"What is it? Are you finished already?"
"Yes. And, um..."
Selim's ears and tail and head were all drooping, and behind her, her older brother and family were waiting.
Holo sighed in relief, and thinking it too much of a hassle to stop now, she spoke as she returned to searching for the source of the water.


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

Input:
As Holo wondered if her companion was freezing all alone, she saw a figure move at the edge of her vision, behind a cluster of trees.
"How admirable for you to come greet her."
She smiled and murmured, and though it was unlikely they heard, more shadows appeared behind the first. The wind blew down the mountain at this hour, so their scent must have reached them on the wind.
"Look."
Holo tried to encourage Selim, who stood stuck in place beside her, but she did not move. Perhaps it was from fear that her family would blame her for being weak.
But Holo had brought her all this way, and there was no turning back now, not to mention how dejected Selim was at the house.
At the head of the pack was a wolf who had been watching them silently, had the exact same coat color as Selim, and seemed so worried that it was possible he would start howling even now.
She recalled how it was the same expression little Col wore on his face as he loitered around the door whenever Myuri was late coming home from playing in the mountains.
Whether human or wolf, anxious males seemed to all be very similar.
"Do you wish for our kindness to be in vain?"
Holo bumped Selim's neck with her nose, and she finally took a few steps forward.
When Selim glanced back at her, she bared her fangs in a grin.
"I do not know how many times I clung to that companion of mine in tears at times like this."
Selim was clearly surprised, but at the same time, it seemed she understood Holo's feelings.
Her wide-open eyes seemed to grow softer, and she looked at Holo as they glistened.
"Thank you."
"'Tis what you must say to my foolish companion."
Without a word in response or a nod of the head, Selim dashed off, as though she had been set free.
Her older brother waited a moment, too, before dashing toward Selim. Though it was likely he would scold or become irritated with her, there was no way that he did not think dearly of his little sister, with whom he faced many hardships. Her companion's plan had been irritatingly on point.
Holo sighed in relief, but now she did not know what to do. If she hung around, Selim's friends would defer to her and that seemed like it would be annoying. If she stayed by Selim's side, she might hesitate and quickly decide it was time to return.
Getting in their way was inappropriate, so in the end, she decided to search for springs, as per their original goal. Besides, she had long wished for a place where she could relax by herself whenever she was so inclined.
She wandered as her nose led her, and on the way back to the second mountain, she found a place where water bubbled up naturally. It was in a secluded ravine, where even a hunter, relentlessly pursuing their prey, would not come.
"Hmm. 'Tis in a nice spot, but a bit small."
It was shallow, filled with rocks, surrounded by fallen trees and such and was only big enough for a bear to wet its bottom.
The stones cut off the water, struggling to rise. She could certainly fit into the spaces between the rocks if she returned to her human form, but if she were going that far, then the baths at the house were good enough.
"If there is a spring here, then there must be others."
She wandered across the face of the mountain, but the vein of water must have been very far underground as she could not find any more. As a test, she pulled the fallen trees away with her mouth and rolled the smaller stones away with her claws, and it seemed like more water came up. If she cleared all the stones and such, then it may have yet started to look like a proper bath.
"Lady Holo?"
She had stuck her nose in the water, trying to figure out where the water was coming from when someone called her name.
"What is it? Are you finished already?"
"Yes. And, um..."
Selim's ears and tail and head were all drooping, and behind her, her older brother and family were waiting.
Holo sighed in relief, and thinking it too much of a hassle to stop now, she spoke as she returned to searching for the source of the water.

Output:
"I am sorry my sister has caused you such trouble."
Selim's older brother, as the leader of the pack, took one step forward as he spoke. His manner and speech were stiff and formal.
These people were so clumsy that, though they had powers that surpassed any human, they struggled to earn enough to eat as mercenaries. And once, her older brother had said something toward Holo that was much too straightforward, courting her displeasure. Though she knew she was mostly the reason for this, it was hard for him to shake the bad first impression.
"She is not any trouble at all. Selim is a hard worker."
"But she is in your care now. For you to indulge her so—"
"Are you saying this is a point of honor for your bloodline?"
There were six in the pack including Selim, but they were all small. Even if they did surround Holo, a fight with them would be over in a flash.
But that is perhaps why they placed so much emphasis on honor.
"...With all due respect."
Selim's brother awkwardly hung his head.
Holo sighed—what a job he has done.
"On my companion's orders, I am simply here to search for new springs. Since we have come so close to her home, we merely took the opportunity to pay a visit along the way."
"B-but—"
"So we may come to visit occasionally. There is no need for such drastic good-byes. I shan't mind if you take your time when we come."
Due to how honest he was, it seemed he could not argue when faced with such pretext.
He looked back and forth between the ground and his sister several times before he finally faced Holo in defeat.
"...As you wish."
"Good. Then shall we soon call it a day?"
After she finished speaking, Selim came to her side without hesitation. She could tell by the air around her that whatever had been causing her gloom was lifted.
Until recently, these siblings had never been separated, living and growing up as one. Her family may have not been as prepared to send Selim off to work alone at the bathhouse as they thought.
It was not exactly for that reason, but it was because she knew this that they would come again soon. As she and the young white wolf were about to head back to the bathhouse, Holo suddenly stopped.
"Ah, I forgot to mention."
A shock ran among Selim's friends.
"You shall not dig up this spring without my knowing. Let me do as I please."
***
"Or is this water you found?"
"N-no."
"Then I shall be using this for a while."
This time they actually set off, traversing the dark woods at a brisk pace.
Selim followed silently. Holo still felt a bit of stiffness, or perhaps it was fighting spirit, around the younger wolf, but she was getting used to the bathhouse, and once her family's lodgings were settled, she might relax more. Selim was well-behaved, but she had a strong heart that was evident in her profile even now.
And Holo was simply excited to make that spring hers. Once it was finished, she could jump in during the daytime in her wolf form without any hesitation even during the busiest seasons.
She would keep it a secret from her companion for a while.
When she imagined that, she was a bit thrilled for some reason.
"Lady Holo."
Selim spoke again when they finally arrived at the bathhouse.
"Thank you."
Selim gave her thanks quickly, after returning to her human form. Though she was slender, her body was different from that of Holo's daughter, and she quickly covered it with clothes she had prepared beforehand.
It did not seem like she considered Holo's meddling as a bother, so Holo only shrugged.
"I do not mind as I also have found something to look forward to. But you must sleep now or else work tomorrow will be a pain."