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

Input:
"You are the only one moving ahead, bit by bit." She was speaking like a child, he thought; actually, her words were that of a child. "I am just like those who carried Myuri's claw—the side left behind."
Within the town, amid the clamor the Debau Company had stirred, where some were happy, others were not.
In the world of man, there were those who fierce changes left behind.
Holo knew that even after reaching Yoitsu, this would be a dismaying, inescapable fact.
"And yet until a short time ago, you were the one chasing me."
In truth, back in Lenos he had been frantically running around the town in his desperation to find a way to go with Holo.
Thinking about it, he realized that over the course of a mere few days, he had become liberal in a very bold way. He did not think he had ever been more proud of being a merchant than he was now.
As fellow merchants, the Debau Company had accomplished a great enterprise that surely any merchant had wished for in vain.
Merchants were certainly not minor players in the world.
Merchants would sweep across the world to come.
This town had an atmosphere that permitted such grandiose aspirations.
Lawrence looked at Holo.
Holo stared at him like a spiteful cat, her hands pressed on top of her tankard as if using it as a heater.
Such small, delicate hands.
But it was those hands that had pulled Lawrence through many hardships.
"It's because I worked so desperately to catch up. Won't you praise that?"
Holo lowered her eyes and, seemingly unable to hold out any longer, laughed.
She was surely thinking something like, A little success and this male gets carried away.
Even so, after laughing for a while, she made a soft sigh and lifted her face, a smile left behind as she stopped. "That's right. You have worked hard." She took her hands off her tankard. "You have fulfilled your promise to me. So, as for what comes after..."
Holo spoke that far before she closed her glistening lips, glazed with chicken fat.
She did not need to say what came after that, after all, and she could not speak it from her own lips.
Having undertaken the fairy-tale-like journey to Yoitsu with Holo, Lawrence would return to the trade route called reality. He had a job he had to do, things he had to see through.
But what came after that was settled.
It was not an unreasonable stretch, nor some wild delusion. Even with a beast's ears and tail, the very incarnation of the wild wolf, Holo being right by his side was enough for him to forget all about such things.
Therefore, Lawrence should take Holo's hand in his. It was perfectly obvious.
Is it not? Holo expressed wordlessly, a shy, slender smile forming on her lips as she gazed at him. It is. Lawrence pointedly moved the fingers of the hand he had laid atop the table. If he ever looked back later on in life, he was certain this was the moment he would remember.
Even though he expected Holo's hands to be far hotter than his own and prepared for it, her narrow shoulders shrank further.
A carnival atmosphere had taken hold of the town of Lesko.
That's why he thought for a moment, Well, these things happen.
A bag fell onto the table with a thud.
It was cheap and seemed to have very little in it. Even without raising his face, he could imagine what the owner looked like well enough.
No money, living on the road, taking with him only what he could carry securely. He knew not if the person was in the middle of trying to do something or had spent his entire life like that. Either way, he imagined the fellow had probably gotten carried away amid the tumult, drinking himself into a stupor and carelessly dropping his bag along the way.
Lawrence stopped moving to take Holo's hand in his and picked the sack up from the table. Oh, foolish drunk, tonight at least such behavior can be forgiven. Thinking this, he lifted his face. Though all was already settled in his mind, something seemed to tug at him and he looked down at the sack again. That moment—
"Kraft Lawrence."

Output:
Across the table, Holo opened her eyes in shock.
What had been placed on the table had not been carelessly dropped, for it was the possession of someone they knew well, someone who should have been far away from the town.
"Holo the Wisewolf." The person who had tossed Col's sack onto the table, hooded robe pulled over the eyes, spoke a second name.
In this world, many characters walk onto the stage.
And all of them plunge forward toward their many objectives, be they comedies or tragedies.
To Be Continued
***
Hi, Isuna Hasekura here. It's been a while. It's taken quite some time, but this is volume fifteen. Finally within shooting distance of Yoitsu, I think we can safely call this the final chapter.
And another two-part set of volumes. I wanted to write this and write that, and after cramming in so much plot, I ended up with quite an amount of text. I think you will enjoy the ride. I rather like the subtitle this time around. It's like the subtitle for a treasure hunt action movie. Well, it's not a precise fit, but...
By the way, I've done a lot of diving lately. I've already done it about twenty-five times this year. Every time I go to the sea I dive three times a day, so it adds up pretty quickly.
I like seeing many kinds of fish, but if I was to pick a favorite, I like the little, delicate fish, so I grab my camera and go looking all around the rocky and sandy areas. When I do, Instructor-san a short ways away blows his whistle and draws everyone's attention and points in the direction of a manta...well, it happens a lot. Honestly, mantas feel pretty flat to me...On the other hand, I just can't get enough of how itty-bitty gobies and clown fish are.
In particular, even though gobies are so tiny, there's over two thousand species of them and probably a mountain of new, unclassified species besides. I like clown fish because you can take really pretty pictures even if you're bad at photography. After that, lionfish, perhaps?
One odd and interesting species is the electric ray. If you touch the electric organs on its body, you'll get a jolt, even with gloves on. Also, with all electric rays, you can lean on them, rub them, prod them, and they'll never run away; I wonder why. Since a lot of them burrow into sand, maybe they still think they're hidden, even when you're rubbing them. Maybe it's like an author making excuses about everything going well. It's all right! The manuscript's getting there! I'm not talking about me, of course.
Last, an interesting story about an octopus. When I saw Instructor-san catch one, it got away and rushed right toward me, incredibly lively. When it was about to slip between my feet, I closed my thighs and caught it right between them. It was wriggling right between my thighs. Perverse. Finally it spewed out a huge amount of ink and got away.
I'm working hard writing Part II so that it doesn't spew out ink and get away.
See you next volume.
—Isuna Hasekura
***
The sack tossed on top of the table stole their attention, for it belonged to Col, who should have been headed far away from there to the town of Kieschen.
The words highwayman, thief, and bandit immediately raced through Lawrence's head. No matter how mighty Col's spirit, it would have been useless before ruthless physical force.
But it was still odd. He could not piece things together in his head.
As Lawrence lifted his face, there was a slender man beside the table wearing a hood low over his eyes. Lawrence instantly searched his own memory, but the man's silhouette did not fit any person Lawrence could recall. Moreover, Lawrence was confused at the lack of a malicious aura. If anything, the man somehow had a refined air about him.
Then, the mysterious person wandered on his way, as silent as a ghost. It did not even occur to Lawrence to give chase as the man slipped away from the table.
He regained his senses when Holo grabbed the sack on top of the table and rose from her seat.
He somehow managed to get one word in.
"...Wait."


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

Input:
Across the table, Holo opened her eyes in shock.
What had been placed on the table had not been carelessly dropped, for it was the possession of someone they knew well, someone who should have been far away from the town.
"Holo the Wisewolf." The person who had tossed Col's sack onto the table, hooded robe pulled over the eyes, spoke a second name.
In this world, many characters walk onto the stage.
And all of them plunge forward toward their many objectives, be they comedies or tragedies.
To Be Continued
***
Hi, Isuna Hasekura here. It's been a while. It's taken quite some time, but this is volume fifteen. Finally within shooting distance of Yoitsu, I think we can safely call this the final chapter.
And another two-part set of volumes. I wanted to write this and write that, and after cramming in so much plot, I ended up with quite an amount of text. I think you will enjoy the ride. I rather like the subtitle this time around. It's like the subtitle for a treasure hunt action movie. Well, it's not a precise fit, but...
By the way, I've done a lot of diving lately. I've already done it about twenty-five times this year. Every time I go to the sea I dive three times a day, so it adds up pretty quickly.
I like seeing many kinds of fish, but if I was to pick a favorite, I like the little, delicate fish, so I grab my camera and go looking all around the rocky and sandy areas. When I do, Instructor-san a short ways away blows his whistle and draws everyone's attention and points in the direction of a manta...well, it happens a lot. Honestly, mantas feel pretty flat to me...On the other hand, I just can't get enough of how itty-bitty gobies and clown fish are.
In particular, even though gobies are so tiny, there's over two thousand species of them and probably a mountain of new, unclassified species besides. I like clown fish because you can take really pretty pictures even if you're bad at photography. After that, lionfish, perhaps?
One odd and interesting species is the electric ray. If you touch the electric organs on its body, you'll get a jolt, even with gloves on. Also, with all electric rays, you can lean on them, rub them, prod them, and they'll never run away; I wonder why. Since a lot of them burrow into sand, maybe they still think they're hidden, even when you're rubbing them. Maybe it's like an author making excuses about everything going well. It's all right! The manuscript's getting there! I'm not talking about me, of course.
Last, an interesting story about an octopus. When I saw Instructor-san catch one, it got away and rushed right toward me, incredibly lively. When it was about to slip between my feet, I closed my thighs and caught it right between them. It was wriggling right between my thighs. Perverse. Finally it spewed out a huge amount of ink and got away.
I'm working hard writing Part II so that it doesn't spew out ink and get away.
See you next volume.
—Isuna Hasekura
***
The sack tossed on top of the table stole their attention, for it belonged to Col, who should have been headed far away from there to the town of Kieschen.
The words highwayman, thief, and bandit immediately raced through Lawrence's head. No matter how mighty Col's spirit, it would have been useless before ruthless physical force.
But it was still odd. He could not piece things together in his head.
As Lawrence lifted his face, there was a slender man beside the table wearing a hood low over his eyes. Lawrence instantly searched his own memory, but the man's silhouette did not fit any person Lawrence could recall. Moreover, Lawrence was confused at the lack of a malicious aura. If anything, the man somehow had a refined air about him.
Then, the mysterious person wandered on his way, as silent as a ghost. It did not even occur to Lawrence to give chase as the man slipped away from the table.
He regained his senses when Holo grabbed the sack on top of the table and rose from her seat.
He somehow managed to get one word in.
"...Wait."

Output:
Stopping me now makes you as much of an enemy as he is, her anger told him.
"He shouldn't have been alone. Where are the others?" said Holo.
She stared straight at Lawrence.
Her eyes seemed so full of anger there was no room for sympathy in them.
As Lawrence continued to squarely meet her gaze, Holo's breaths grew progressively heavier. Her blood had rushed to her head; even she could not control herself very well. Her slender shoulders made great movements, as if she was feverish—but somehow she kept herself from exploding altogether.
She looked like a furnace, fed air with a bellows.
Reason finally returned to her eyes.
"Others?"
As he asked once more, Holo put a hand to her eyes, as if dizzy from waking up too quickly, and taking a deep breath, she looked around the area.
"I do not know. Gone most likely. Still." Holo's fangs shone under her lips. "It would not matter how many there are."
Convincing her otherwise was impossible. Having instantly judged it to be so, Lawrence nodded.
He put what they owed the shopkeeper on top of the table, rose, and came alongside Holo as she walked.
"Let's be certain. Is this really Col's?"
At Lawrence's question, Holo rustled the sack.
It was a familiar object, and indeed when Holo disturbed the sack, it smelled faintly of Col.
Holo's nose would not mistake the scent surely.
Also, when he looked into the cord-drawn sack, he recognized the contents within: a few scraps of wrapped cloth, the deeds that had been used to swindle Col out of everything he owned, and a small amount of coin.
This was clearly no simple robbery, for there was no profit whatsoever in taking these things.
And whoever had taken Col knew about Holo.
"Can you follow them?"
Lawrence's question actually brought a smile to Holo's face.
"Had the land no end I'd still not let them escape."
Holo walked down the busy street, full of confidence, as if making for a landmark. Though it was the dead of night, the town's bustle remained in force.
However, the atmosphere had changed from good cheer to something sticky and lingering. Those wandering about were slurred in their speech, swaying as they laughed, swilling liquor that was hard to tell from horse piss.
Lawrence recalled the contents of a book written by a clergyman led on a visit to hell by an ancient saint. The people on the road leading to hell had given themselves over to the seven deadly sins as they sung the praises of this world's false springtime. There were flowers of lava blooming, with prostitutes' bodies as ripe as the fruit of the pomegranate, not even aware that they had died.
Lesko, the town governed by the Debau Company, had no nosy guilds spreading their regulations about. Anywhere else, the echoes of degenerate laughter and singing in this and that corner of the streets would have been considered criminal.
Now, even the stars and moon of the winter sky, once beautiful enough to make one's breath catch, were concealed.
No doubt, someone looking down at the town from a distance would see it as though at the bottom of a boiling cauldron of crimson flames. Though the town had seemed full of hope and ambition just a short time ago, to Lawrence's eyes, the atmosphere had now taken a turn. It was as if the tossing of Col's sack onto the table had broken the spell.
Lawrence grasped Holo's hand, walking past the drunks as if threading a needle.
The Debau Company had constructed this town with meticulous preparation, bottomless courage, and peerless sagacity and wit. The splendor of it had filled Lawrence with a feeling of pride as a fellow merchant. But this was plainly a constructed town. Picturing what was happening behind the scenes of such a great monolith, the employment of such vast amounts of financial profit and privilege, frightened him.
Holo gave a snort as she stopped in front of an alley.
They could see nothing, even as they peered in, for the bonfires made the alley's darkness thicker than usual. It was an ideal place to set a trap.


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

Input:
Stopping me now makes you as much of an enemy as he is, her anger told him.
"He shouldn't have been alone. Where are the others?" said Holo.
She stared straight at Lawrence.
Her eyes seemed so full of anger there was no room for sympathy in them.
As Lawrence continued to squarely meet her gaze, Holo's breaths grew progressively heavier. Her blood had rushed to her head; even she could not control herself very well. Her slender shoulders made great movements, as if she was feverish—but somehow she kept herself from exploding altogether.
She looked like a furnace, fed air with a bellows.
Reason finally returned to her eyes.
"Others?"
As he asked once more, Holo put a hand to her eyes, as if dizzy from waking up too quickly, and taking a deep breath, she looked around the area.
"I do not know. Gone most likely. Still." Holo's fangs shone under her lips. "It would not matter how many there are."
Convincing her otherwise was impossible. Having instantly judged it to be so, Lawrence nodded.
He put what they owed the shopkeeper on top of the table, rose, and came alongside Holo as she walked.
"Let's be certain. Is this really Col's?"
At Lawrence's question, Holo rustled the sack.
It was a familiar object, and indeed when Holo disturbed the sack, it smelled faintly of Col.
Holo's nose would not mistake the scent surely.
Also, when he looked into the cord-drawn sack, he recognized the contents within: a few scraps of wrapped cloth, the deeds that had been used to swindle Col out of everything he owned, and a small amount of coin.
This was clearly no simple robbery, for there was no profit whatsoever in taking these things.
And whoever had taken Col knew about Holo.
"Can you follow them?"
Lawrence's question actually brought a smile to Holo's face.
"Had the land no end I'd still not let them escape."
Holo walked down the busy street, full of confidence, as if making for a landmark. Though it was the dead of night, the town's bustle remained in force.
However, the atmosphere had changed from good cheer to something sticky and lingering. Those wandering about were slurred in their speech, swaying as they laughed, swilling liquor that was hard to tell from horse piss.
Lawrence recalled the contents of a book written by a clergyman led on a visit to hell by an ancient saint. The people on the road leading to hell had given themselves over to the seven deadly sins as they sung the praises of this world's false springtime. There were flowers of lava blooming, with prostitutes' bodies as ripe as the fruit of the pomegranate, not even aware that they had died.
Lesko, the town governed by the Debau Company, had no nosy guilds spreading their regulations about. Anywhere else, the echoes of degenerate laughter and singing in this and that corner of the streets would have been considered criminal.
Now, even the stars and moon of the winter sky, once beautiful enough to make one's breath catch, were concealed.
No doubt, someone looking down at the town from a distance would see it as though at the bottom of a boiling cauldron of crimson flames. Though the town had seemed full of hope and ambition just a short time ago, to Lawrence's eyes, the atmosphere had now taken a turn. It was as if the tossing of Col's sack onto the table had broken the spell.
Lawrence grasped Holo's hand, walking past the drunks as if threading a needle.
The Debau Company had constructed this town with meticulous preparation, bottomless courage, and peerless sagacity and wit. The splendor of it had filled Lawrence with a feeling of pride as a fellow merchant. But this was plainly a constructed town. Picturing what was happening behind the scenes of such a great monolith, the employment of such vast amounts of financial profit and privilege, frightened him.
Holo gave a snort as she stopped in front of an alley.
They could see nothing, even as they peered in, for the bonfires made the alley's darkness thicker than usual. It was an ideal place to set a trap.

Output:
Lawrence could only go along with her. He followed after Holo, carrying Col's bag over his shoulder.
The alley demonstrated the growth of the town very clearly in that moment. Lacking even footpaths, the street had half-constructed houses on both sides, with construction materials piled up, apparently having been used for work until a short time earlier but now left exposed to the elements.
If viewed in the light of day, no doubt Lawrence would have thought this was the foundation of the town's lively sense of hope.
However, viewing the scene in the dead of night, with snow remaining in various places, he felt like he was being shown the truth behind the curtains of that dazzling world.
As Lawrence held his breath, he went with Holo, who had no trouble walking in darkness. The street emptied into a small square. The square was surrounded by buildings with a well in the center. If the buildings had been sold and occupied, it would surely have been a very relaxing place in broad daylight.
However, right now, the piles of building materials and half-finished houses looked like the aftermath of a war.
And there was something unexpected on the lid of the well: a lone hare.
For a moment, Lawrence thought it must have escaped from a store somewhere, but the hare made no effort to run or hide.
Lawrence finally realized the hare's eyes were filled with a look of intelligence, fully suited to comprehending human speech.
Holo took a very deep breath, barely managing to keep herself from flying at it in a rage.
"I apologize for saddening the bag's owner." So spoke the hare. In accordance with Lawrence's initial impression, its speech was refined and articulate. "However, I have done him no harm. I would very much like to avoid such a circumstance."
It would be better to let Holo judge the truth or falsity of that statement. What Lawrence needed to do was to remain as calm as possible and observe the entire situation.
"What is your objective?" Lawrence asked.
This could not be a simple play for money.
The other party was a talking hare, after all, and he knew about Holo.
"My comrades saw you prowling about Lenos. I had them discover what the intentions were of such a strange pair as a merchant and a wolf."
"And what have you learned?"
At Lawrence's courteous question, the hare's ears immediately pricked. "We have need of a forbidden book—a technological manual."
The wind of surprise only lightly patted his cheek. With the hare having gone out of his way to show Col's bag to Lawrence and Holo, and their activities in Lenos having been observed, this declaration was entirely understandable.
"...For what purpose?"
"Not for any purpose hostile to the two of you, at the very least."
Though that was no answer to Lawrence's question and the words may have been meant to hold Holo at bay.
Holo seemed ready to pounce on the hare at the slightest provocation. Her small hand continued to clench the wheat pouch at her breast.
The hare gazed at Lawrence and Holo and spoke. "The northlands are in unprecedented peril."
Lawrence took a sharp breath.
If his own judgment was correct, the forbidden book's existence could be the spark to plunge the northlands into upheaval; he thought it highly unlikely it could save the land from peril.
"If we have the forbidden book, we may be able to avert this peril."
The hare's manner of speaking was logical. His pronunciation was correct and seemed appropriate to an individual of distinction.
However, the drawstring of Col's sack had been sliced open. Lawrence did not think this was a conversation or a negotiation. It was intimidation, as if to say, What you may find atop the next table might well be his head.
"Just who are you?" Lawrence asked.
The words coming out of the hare's mouth made Lawrence unwittingly lift his chin.
"Hilde Schnau. Treasurer of the Debau Company."


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

Input:
Lawrence could only go along with her. He followed after Holo, carrying Col's bag over his shoulder.
The alley demonstrated the growth of the town very clearly in that moment. Lacking even footpaths, the street had half-constructed houses on both sides, with construction materials piled up, apparently having been used for work until a short time earlier but now left exposed to the elements.
If viewed in the light of day, no doubt Lawrence would have thought this was the foundation of the town's lively sense of hope.
However, viewing the scene in the dead of night, with snow remaining in various places, he felt like he was being shown the truth behind the curtains of that dazzling world.
As Lawrence held his breath, he went with Holo, who had no trouble walking in darkness. The street emptied into a small square. The square was surrounded by buildings with a well in the center. If the buildings had been sold and occupied, it would surely have been a very relaxing place in broad daylight.
However, right now, the piles of building materials and half-finished houses looked like the aftermath of a war.
And there was something unexpected on the lid of the well: a lone hare.
For a moment, Lawrence thought it must have escaped from a store somewhere, but the hare made no effort to run or hide.
Lawrence finally realized the hare's eyes were filled with a look of intelligence, fully suited to comprehending human speech.
Holo took a very deep breath, barely managing to keep herself from flying at it in a rage.
"I apologize for saddening the bag's owner." So spoke the hare. In accordance with Lawrence's initial impression, its speech was refined and articulate. "However, I have done him no harm. I would very much like to avoid such a circumstance."
It would be better to let Holo judge the truth or falsity of that statement. What Lawrence needed to do was to remain as calm as possible and observe the entire situation.
"What is your objective?" Lawrence asked.
This could not be a simple play for money.
The other party was a talking hare, after all, and he knew about Holo.
"My comrades saw you prowling about Lenos. I had them discover what the intentions were of such a strange pair as a merchant and a wolf."
"And what have you learned?"
At Lawrence's courteous question, the hare's ears immediately pricked. "We have need of a forbidden book—a technological manual."
The wind of surprise only lightly patted his cheek. With the hare having gone out of his way to show Col's bag to Lawrence and Holo, and their activities in Lenos having been observed, this declaration was entirely understandable.
"...For what purpose?"
"Not for any purpose hostile to the two of you, at the very least."
Though that was no answer to Lawrence's question and the words may have been meant to hold Holo at bay.
Holo seemed ready to pounce on the hare at the slightest provocation. Her small hand continued to clench the wheat pouch at her breast.
The hare gazed at Lawrence and Holo and spoke. "The northlands are in unprecedented peril."
Lawrence took a sharp breath.
If his own judgment was correct, the forbidden book's existence could be the spark to plunge the northlands into upheaval; he thought it highly unlikely it could save the land from peril.
"If we have the forbidden book, we may be able to avert this peril."
The hare's manner of speaking was logical. His pronunciation was correct and seemed appropriate to an individual of distinction.
However, the drawstring of Col's sack had been sliced open. Lawrence did not think this was a conversation or a negotiation. It was intimidation, as if to say, What you may find atop the next table might well be his head.
"Just who are you?" Lawrence asked.
The words coming out of the hare's mouth made Lawrence unwittingly lift his chin.
"Hilde Schnau. Treasurer of the Debau Company."

Output:
In other words, he was the right-hand man of a king.
Or was it all a lie?
As Lawrence shifted his gaze to Holo, Holo stood still right where she was.
It seemed that the hare calling himself Hilde spoke truly.
Lawrence swallowed his saliva a little. He then deliberately took three breaths.
One, two, three.
The contents of his head switched completely over to business.
"And why does Mr. Hilde require the forbidden book?"
"It is natural that you have suspicions. We are not ignorant of your objective, after all."
If they had cast their net over Lenos, they may well have discovered that much. In particular, the Debau Company had dealings with numerous mercenaries. If mercenaries associated with the company were trailing Lawrence and Holo in the town of Lenos, it was far from unthinkable.
"However, having considered the various possibilities, the tale of the forbidden book is all that we have left to cling to."
Lawrence did not know if a merchant of Hilde's caliber, and the treasurer of the Debau Company no less, speaking in such a serious, urgent manner made his words worthier of trust.
But he did not think the hare's words were a complete lie.
After all, Hilde was not asking Lawrence to lend his abilities as a traveling merchant, let alone asking Holo to lend her fangs. He merely needed a forbidden book.
Furthermore, bringing Col's bag out before Holo meant he was prepared to stare death in the face.
The life of the Debau Company's treasurer was too weighty to risk on a roll of the dice.
Perhaps they really had exhausted every other option before coming to this point.
So Lawrence asked one more question.
"May I ask what is going on?"
For a moment, Hilde held his breath, as if not wanting to speak of unpalatable truths, but then spoke. "Currently, the Debau Company is internally split in two parts. And my part is in the worse position."
"...And?" Lawrence asked back as instantly as he could manage, but he could not hide his shock.
The Debau Company split.
That was not good news.
"I presume you know of our deciding to issue currency?"
"Yes, I thought it a marvelous thing. By that I also mean the profit from minting it, of course."
"It is indeed as you say."
Of course, the tumult on the main streets did not reach this place deep in the alleyways, However, when Lawrence lifted his face, he could see the flickering red sparks of the fires against the pitch-black sky.
"However, to put it bluntly, we profited too much."
Profited too much—said the treasurer of the Debau Company.
Lawrence repeated the words as if they were the only ones he knew.
"Profited too much...?"
"Yes. The moment we decided to issue the currency, the profit was vast. In addition, the money changers have already driven up the price of the new currency."
So they had already begun speculating in a currency yet to exist.
Most people believed that it would indeed have an unbelievably high purity level and would maintain that level thereafter.
Even if the price went up somewhat, there would surely be many people who would want to take some home; taking advantage of that, there were surely many money changers speculating that the price would rise.
"Originally, the rise in the currency's price made us very pleased as well. However, it seems that there is little that has a good influence on people when in excess—in particular, nobles dividing the new currency between themselves in advance. This is a windfall surpassing any seen in the history of their houses. When they realized this, what they suggested was exceedingly simple."
"To issue even more currency?"
The hare nodded and made what seemed like an exasperated sigh.
"Increasing the currency issued increases the issuance fee, which in turn increases the profit."
"But why does this mean unprecedented peril for the northlands?"
As Lawrence pressed his question, Hilde momentarily averted his eyes.


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

Input:
In other words, he was the right-hand man of a king.
Or was it all a lie?
As Lawrence shifted his gaze to Holo, Holo stood still right where she was.
It seemed that the hare calling himself Hilde spoke truly.
Lawrence swallowed his saliva a little. He then deliberately took three breaths.
One, two, three.
The contents of his head switched completely over to business.
"And why does Mr. Hilde require the forbidden book?"
"It is natural that you have suspicions. We are not ignorant of your objective, after all."
If they had cast their net over Lenos, they may well have discovered that much. In particular, the Debau Company had dealings with numerous mercenaries. If mercenaries associated with the company were trailing Lawrence and Holo in the town of Lenos, it was far from unthinkable.
"However, having considered the various possibilities, the tale of the forbidden book is all that we have left to cling to."
Lawrence did not know if a merchant of Hilde's caliber, and the treasurer of the Debau Company no less, speaking in such a serious, urgent manner made his words worthier of trust.
But he did not think the hare's words were a complete lie.
After all, Hilde was not asking Lawrence to lend his abilities as a traveling merchant, let alone asking Holo to lend her fangs. He merely needed a forbidden book.
Furthermore, bringing Col's bag out before Holo meant he was prepared to stare death in the face.
The life of the Debau Company's treasurer was too weighty to risk on a roll of the dice.
Perhaps they really had exhausted every other option before coming to this point.
So Lawrence asked one more question.
"May I ask what is going on?"
For a moment, Hilde held his breath, as if not wanting to speak of unpalatable truths, but then spoke. "Currently, the Debau Company is internally split in two parts. And my part is in the worse position."
"...And?" Lawrence asked back as instantly as he could manage, but he could not hide his shock.
The Debau Company split.
That was not good news.
"I presume you know of our deciding to issue currency?"
"Yes, I thought it a marvelous thing. By that I also mean the profit from minting it, of course."
"It is indeed as you say."
Of course, the tumult on the main streets did not reach this place deep in the alleyways, However, when Lawrence lifted his face, he could see the flickering red sparks of the fires against the pitch-black sky.
"However, to put it bluntly, we profited too much."
Profited too much—said the treasurer of the Debau Company.
Lawrence repeated the words as if they were the only ones he knew.
"Profited too much...?"
"Yes. The moment we decided to issue the currency, the profit was vast. In addition, the money changers have already driven up the price of the new currency."
So they had already begun speculating in a currency yet to exist.
Most people believed that it would indeed have an unbelievably high purity level and would maintain that level thereafter.
Even if the price went up somewhat, there would surely be many people who would want to take some home; taking advantage of that, there were surely many money changers speculating that the price would rise.
"Originally, the rise in the currency's price made us very pleased as well. However, it seems that there is little that has a good influence on people when in excess—in particular, nobles dividing the new currency between themselves in advance. This is a windfall surpassing any seen in the history of their houses. When they realized this, what they suggested was exceedingly simple."
"To issue even more currency?"
The hare nodded and made what seemed like an exasperated sigh.
"Increasing the currency issued increases the issuance fee, which in turn increases the profit."
"But why does this mean unprecedented peril for the northlands?"
As Lawrence pressed his question, Hilde momentarily averted his eyes.

Output:
Hilde's gaze returned to Lawrence. If it was an act, Lawrence was well and truly fooled.
"Issuing currency requires raw metal. The current orders from the money changers are for such an amount that our reserves are already stretched to their limit. We cannot issue any more right away. However, as selling when the opportunity exists is a fundamental of trade, you are aware of a simple method of resolving the problem, are you not?"
A disagreeable taste spread throughout Lawrence's mouth. He saw where this was heading.
"Plunder the raw metal or coins of other currencies to melt down for the new."
"That is correct. Even in the northlands where trade is meager, there are still places rich in supplies. Those with covetous eyes are now fervently urging that we attack these supply-rich places. In fact, there are a number of rulers and towns that have closed their gates in opposition to our plans. On our side, rulers that covet those very territories are advocating that as well."
Hilde surely spoke in a scornful tone because he was indeed scornful.
Such overly simplistic urgings did not suit the Debau Company's image. Surely what got under his skin was the rulers acting as parasites on the Debau Company, scheming as if to leech away the profits for themselves.
However, Lawrence did not think that just because the rulers advocated something in no way meant that the men of the Debau Company had to grudgingly obey. After all, the Debau Company had made it this far by using such men as their marionettes.
There was only one possibility he could think of.
"So there are people within the Debau Company itself that support these barbaric notions?"
"Yes. And to diminish their fervor, we require the forbidden book that contains techniques for excavating mines."
The feeling that swirled about Lawrence's head was much like nausea.
The story itself was not complicated. However, that the virtues and drawbacks were so artistically combined he could only think of this as some sort of divine prank.
Hilde spoke quietly, as if watching a festival of demons. "Those urging aggression are thinking rationally, in a sense. They are not simply advocating taking that which they lack. They are hedging against the possibility of our current mines running dry."
Rationalization was a merchant's best friend.
"In other words, given the possibility of mines running dry in the near future, they seek to delay the day of reckoning as long as possible, either by mining more slowly or by developing new mines. And even in normal times, developing a mine is a difficult political problem. However, with so much vigor behind the company right now, why not simply obtain lands rich in ore deposits? Is it not logical to obtain them right now while we still can? And does not robbing the treasure chests of the towns and rulers we bring down kill two birds with one stone? Or so they advocate."
Raging avarice, desire for profits, and the obstacles to eliminate to get them were all lined up in a row. Lawrence did not think anyone could oppose the Debau Company in the present circumstances. Luward had declared they should be able to invade and crush any territory they wanted to.
After all, the Debau Company had money, and in the end, war is a contest of coin.
Furthermore, if the Debau Company won, it would obtain the rich ore deposits in that land, and also, by restricting the use of currency and issuing a great deal of its own, it would reap even greater profits.
The more enemies it attacked and absorbed, the stronger it would become, like a wild snake god out of ancient mythology
Would it perish in the end, just like the snake in that myth?
The snake god's stomach had a limit, but the number of coins one could issue was effectively unlimited.


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

Input:
Hilde's gaze returned to Lawrence. If it was an act, Lawrence was well and truly fooled.
"Issuing currency requires raw metal. The current orders from the money changers are for such an amount that our reserves are already stretched to their limit. We cannot issue any more right away. However, as selling when the opportunity exists is a fundamental of trade, you are aware of a simple method of resolving the problem, are you not?"
A disagreeable taste spread throughout Lawrence's mouth. He saw where this was heading.
"Plunder the raw metal or coins of other currencies to melt down for the new."
"That is correct. Even in the northlands where trade is meager, there are still places rich in supplies. Those with covetous eyes are now fervently urging that we attack these supply-rich places. In fact, there are a number of rulers and towns that have closed their gates in opposition to our plans. On our side, rulers that covet those very territories are advocating that as well."
Hilde surely spoke in a scornful tone because he was indeed scornful.
Such overly simplistic urgings did not suit the Debau Company's image. Surely what got under his skin was the rulers acting as parasites on the Debau Company, scheming as if to leech away the profits for themselves.
However, Lawrence did not think that just because the rulers advocated something in no way meant that the men of the Debau Company had to grudgingly obey. After all, the Debau Company had made it this far by using such men as their marionettes.
There was only one possibility he could think of.
"So there are people within the Debau Company itself that support these barbaric notions?"
"Yes. And to diminish their fervor, we require the forbidden book that contains techniques for excavating mines."
The feeling that swirled about Lawrence's head was much like nausea.
The story itself was not complicated. However, that the virtues and drawbacks were so artistically combined he could only think of this as some sort of divine prank.
Hilde spoke quietly, as if watching a festival of demons. "Those urging aggression are thinking rationally, in a sense. They are not simply advocating taking that which they lack. They are hedging against the possibility of our current mines running dry."
Rationalization was a merchant's best friend.
"In other words, given the possibility of mines running dry in the near future, they seek to delay the day of reckoning as long as possible, either by mining more slowly or by developing new mines. And even in normal times, developing a mine is a difficult political problem. However, with so much vigor behind the company right now, why not simply obtain lands rich in ore deposits? Is it not logical to obtain them right now while we still can? And does not robbing the treasure chests of the towns and rulers we bring down kill two birds with one stone? Or so they advocate."
Raging avarice, desire for profits, and the obstacles to eliminate to get them were all lined up in a row. Lawrence did not think anyone could oppose the Debau Company in the present circumstances. Luward had declared they should be able to invade and crush any territory they wanted to.
After all, the Debau Company had money, and in the end, war is a contest of coin.
Furthermore, if the Debau Company won, it would obtain the rich ore deposits in that land, and also, by restricting the use of currency and issuing a great deal of its own, it would reap even greater profits.
The more enemies it attacked and absorbed, the stronger it would become, like a wild snake god out of ancient mythology
Would it perish in the end, just like the snake in that myth?
The snake god's stomach had a limit, but the number of coins one could issue was effectively unlimited.

Output:
As mining techniques advanced, many mines once thought depleted had been reopened. That meant reducing, even by a little, the need for new land. Beyond that, if obtaining it was something that could be resolved with money, there was no concern about sparking a war.
To Lawrence and Holo, there was no need to even ask what meaning this held.
"We are able to resolve many things through money; we believe many more should be. We must end the age of swinging swords and shedding blood. Surely the Moon-Hunting Bear showed us centuries ago that the age of size and power is coming to an end!"
Hilde's body leaned forward as he spoke; when he closed his mouth, he held his breath.
Holo stared at him.
In her place, Lawrence asked the most important question. "Are you the only one advocating for this?"
Was this small hare fighting a battle within the Debau Company all alone? If that was the case, entrusting the forbidden book to him would be like pouring oil onto an open flame. As a logical merchant, Lawrence could only advise against such a risky course of action.
However, Hilde firmly replied, "I am not. Our company owner, Hilbert Von Debau, shares the same thoughts."
He might have been the Debau Company's owner, but his position in his own company was imperiled.
Though it sounded absurd, Lawrence was not so surprised. A huge company was impossible to administer single-handedly; authority had to be delegated left and right. One often heard of owners forced out by empowered subordinates. For the same reason, one sometimes heard of even the owner of a large company behaving in a pompous manner having been removed out of necessity.
And that meant the Debau Company itself might be reborn into something else now that it had fanned the flames of avarice.
"I beg you. If we do not break the rebels here and now, the Debau Company will decay into a mere invader. If money and military might become one, even the Church will join in. If that occurs, the flames of war shall spread like a wildfire. We do not want the Debau Company to become the gateway to hell. Were the dreams and hopes of this town not attractive to you? That is our owner Debau's dream. At this rate, Debau's dream shall collapse!"
Hilde's pained shout was swallowed by the red-dabbed night sky.
The humans of this world were bound by countless threads, reeled together and woven into countless cloths. It was true that Lawrence had regarded the miraculous cloth woven by the Debau Company with pride, as if it was his own banner.
Worldly domination had passed from ancient beings such as Holo to human beings, and finally, merchants had outwitted the kings and nobles, the conquerors of the human world, to reach the summit themselves.
For a single moment, he had beheld a daydream more fantastic than any fairy tale.
That was the scale of what the Debau Company had accomplished.
"As you can see, I am a hare, yet I sympathize with Debau's dream. He said he wanted to build a free country on this soil, a place where people are bound to no one, led only by their intellect and effort, and to bring peace to this fractured, quarrelsome land. I believe it is a dream worthy of sacrificing my life. That is why I have raised a hand against a wolf pack."
He gazed squarely at Holo as he spoke.
"For I have my back against the wall."
No doubt he had never had any intention of killing Col. Perhaps he could not kill in the first place. If he had fangs and claws, he could have threatened Le Roi, twisting his arms until he surrendered the location of the forbidden book.
But even so, he had taken Col hostage knowing Holo might kill him for it.
Something like that?
Everyone had their own reasons.
Hilde's ears suddenly twitched. His face turned in various directions, then silently regarded Holo.
"In the event this all goes well, I shall of course pay you in thanks. You two have purchased a shop and are settling down in this town. And I am the treasurer of the Debau Company, always supporting Debau from the side."


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

Input:
As mining techniques advanced, many mines once thought depleted had been reopened. That meant reducing, even by a little, the need for new land. Beyond that, if obtaining it was something that could be resolved with money, there was no concern about sparking a war.
To Lawrence and Holo, there was no need to even ask what meaning this held.
"We are able to resolve many things through money; we believe many more should be. We must end the age of swinging swords and shedding blood. Surely the Moon-Hunting Bear showed us centuries ago that the age of size and power is coming to an end!"
Hilde's body leaned forward as he spoke; when he closed his mouth, he held his breath.
Holo stared at him.
In her place, Lawrence asked the most important question. "Are you the only one advocating for this?"
Was this small hare fighting a battle within the Debau Company all alone? If that was the case, entrusting the forbidden book to him would be like pouring oil onto an open flame. As a logical merchant, Lawrence could only advise against such a risky course of action.
However, Hilde firmly replied, "I am not. Our company owner, Hilbert Von Debau, shares the same thoughts."
He might have been the Debau Company's owner, but his position in his own company was imperiled.
Though it sounded absurd, Lawrence was not so surprised. A huge company was impossible to administer single-handedly; authority had to be delegated left and right. One often heard of owners forced out by empowered subordinates. For the same reason, one sometimes heard of even the owner of a large company behaving in a pompous manner having been removed out of necessity.
And that meant the Debau Company itself might be reborn into something else now that it had fanned the flames of avarice.
"I beg you. If we do not break the rebels here and now, the Debau Company will decay into a mere invader. If money and military might become one, even the Church will join in. If that occurs, the flames of war shall spread like a wildfire. We do not want the Debau Company to become the gateway to hell. Were the dreams and hopes of this town not attractive to you? That is our owner Debau's dream. At this rate, Debau's dream shall collapse!"
Hilde's pained shout was swallowed by the red-dabbed night sky.
The humans of this world were bound by countless threads, reeled together and woven into countless cloths. It was true that Lawrence had regarded the miraculous cloth woven by the Debau Company with pride, as if it was his own banner.
Worldly domination had passed from ancient beings such as Holo to human beings, and finally, merchants had outwitted the kings and nobles, the conquerors of the human world, to reach the summit themselves.
For a single moment, he had beheld a daydream more fantastic than any fairy tale.
That was the scale of what the Debau Company had accomplished.
"As you can see, I am a hare, yet I sympathize with Debau's dream. He said he wanted to build a free country on this soil, a place where people are bound to no one, led only by their intellect and effort, and to bring peace to this fractured, quarrelsome land. I believe it is a dream worthy of sacrificing my life. That is why I have raised a hand against a wolf pack."
He gazed squarely at Holo as he spoke.
"For I have my back against the wall."
No doubt he had never had any intention of killing Col. Perhaps he could not kill in the first place. If he had fangs and claws, he could have threatened Le Roi, twisting his arms until he surrendered the location of the forbidden book.
But even so, he had taken Col hostage knowing Holo might kill him for it.
Something like that?
Everyone had their own reasons.
Hilde's ears suddenly twitched. His face turned in various directions, then silently regarded Holo.
"In the event this all goes well, I shall of course pay you in thanks. You two have purchased a shop and are settling down in this town. And I am the treasurer of the Debau Company, always supporting Debau from the side."

Output:
"The situation is grave. All those involved in the Debau Company have spent most of their lives at the gambling table. They are people who understand that one must strike while the iron is hot. Beginning with our leader Debau himself, our faction has been shut inside the company's walls. I am the only one who somehow managed to make it out."
Hilde hopped down from the lid of the well and, like a hare out of a fairy tale, lifted up folded clothing with his front paws.
"I do not want to be locked in a shed while I still possess a key. Please think carefully about it. Surely our interests perfectly coincide. I will visit the inn tomorrow evening to hear your decision."
And then, Hilde hopped along, pushed his body through the gap between two houses under construction, and vanished. Unusually, it was Holo who stopped Lawrence from trying to pursue, and right after, a red light appeared on the opposite side of the alley.
"Mm? What, having some fun in an out-of-the-way place?"
A group of three men bearing spears over their shoulders slowly emerged.
From their attire, they were town vigilantes.
"We've got enough work dealin' with the drunks. Go do that at an inn."
The man shooed them off like chasing away a dog or cat. Of course, Lawrence did not oppose them, putting his arms around Holo's shoulders as if supporting her as they headed back through the alley they came. The men watched them for a little while, but they finally disappeared down another alleyway as they continued their rounds.
As they did so, the surroundings suddenly became dark and silent. Because Lawrence had lamplight in his eyes, he could not see Holo properly, though she was right beside him. His eyes were filled only with the night sky and the flickering light.
Holo then directed words at him. "What will we do?"
Until Lawrence's eyes adjusted to the darkness, they could not guide him down this street, which was filled with supplies and garbage. He was about to say, Let's wait a bit longer, when Holo did something unexpected. She clung to Lawrence's arm more strongly.
"Those words did not feel like a lie," she said. He realized she was speaking about the forbidden book. "The merits and risks are clear. That hare called himself Hilde. It's as he said."
The people within the Debau Company yearning for even greater profits for themselves were thinking of beginning a war. The possibility of their mines running dry provided the righteousness for their cause.
Therefore, Hilde was thinking that the existence of the forbidden book, leading to greater mine production, would cripple their scheme.
"What do you think...?"
"I..." Lawrence began to reply but held his words.
His thoughts arrived at a single piece of reasoning.
"I think, from our own perspective, we should proceed with Hilde's plan. We do sympathize with Debau's dream, and war does not bring profits forever. The profit is for an instant alone. It's like setting a bushfire for warmth. Certainly it's warm, but nothing is left afterward."
Furthermore, Luward had judged this town unsuited to war. Lawrence agreed.
That was fine if one was on the offensive, but what would it do if it was being invaded instead? The town had no walls.
Even so, he imagined that people would remain in the town, or at least, that they had no intention of running.
"Also, handing over the book carries no danger by itself."
"If that is what you say, 'tis well." Holo spoke with a mumble.
Lawrence, taken back a little, replied, "Er...Shouldn't you be the one to make this decision? The northlands ride on this. Do you not agree with Hilde's plan?"
From the way Holo had spoken, it seemed as though she could not decide which path to take. Or else whatever his answer, she would tilt in the opposite direction.
Even so, Holo did not answer Lawrence's question.


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

Input:
"The situation is grave. All those involved in the Debau Company have spent most of their lives at the gambling table. They are people who understand that one must strike while the iron is hot. Beginning with our leader Debau himself, our faction has been shut inside the company's walls. I am the only one who somehow managed to make it out."
Hilde hopped down from the lid of the well and, like a hare out of a fairy tale, lifted up folded clothing with his front paws.
"I do not want to be locked in a shed while I still possess a key. Please think carefully about it. Surely our interests perfectly coincide. I will visit the inn tomorrow evening to hear your decision."
And then, Hilde hopped along, pushed his body through the gap between two houses under construction, and vanished. Unusually, it was Holo who stopped Lawrence from trying to pursue, and right after, a red light appeared on the opposite side of the alley.
"Mm? What, having some fun in an out-of-the-way place?"
A group of three men bearing spears over their shoulders slowly emerged.
From their attire, they were town vigilantes.
"We've got enough work dealin' with the drunks. Go do that at an inn."
The man shooed them off like chasing away a dog or cat. Of course, Lawrence did not oppose them, putting his arms around Holo's shoulders as if supporting her as they headed back through the alley they came. The men watched them for a little while, but they finally disappeared down another alleyway as they continued their rounds.
As they did so, the surroundings suddenly became dark and silent. Because Lawrence had lamplight in his eyes, he could not see Holo properly, though she was right beside him. His eyes were filled only with the night sky and the flickering light.
Holo then directed words at him. "What will we do?"
Until Lawrence's eyes adjusted to the darkness, they could not guide him down this street, which was filled with supplies and garbage. He was about to say, Let's wait a bit longer, when Holo did something unexpected. She clung to Lawrence's arm more strongly.
"Those words did not feel like a lie," she said. He realized she was speaking about the forbidden book. "The merits and risks are clear. That hare called himself Hilde. It's as he said."
The people within the Debau Company yearning for even greater profits for themselves were thinking of beginning a war. The possibility of their mines running dry provided the righteousness for their cause.
Therefore, Hilde was thinking that the existence of the forbidden book, leading to greater mine production, would cripple their scheme.
"What do you think...?"
"I..." Lawrence began to reply but held his words.
His thoughts arrived at a single piece of reasoning.
"I think, from our own perspective, we should proceed with Hilde's plan. We do sympathize with Debau's dream, and war does not bring profits forever. The profit is for an instant alone. It's like setting a bushfire for warmth. Certainly it's warm, but nothing is left afterward."
Furthermore, Luward had judged this town unsuited to war. Lawrence agreed.
That was fine if one was on the offensive, but what would it do if it was being invaded instead? The town had no walls.
Even so, he imagined that people would remain in the town, or at least, that they had no intention of running.
"Also, handing over the book carries no danger by itself."
"If that is what you say, 'tis well." Holo spoke with a mumble.
Lawrence, taken back a little, replied, "Er...Shouldn't you be the one to make this decision? The northlands ride on this. Do you not agree with Hilde's plan?"
From the way Holo had spoken, it seemed as though she could not decide which path to take. Or else whatever his answer, she would tilt in the opposite direction.
Even so, Holo did not answer Lawrence's question.

Output:
If that was so, he felt that handing the forbidden book to Hilde was the logical decision. At the very least, if they did not hand it over, he could not see how the situation could be reversed.
If failure to reverse the situation and not surrendering the book over achieved the same result, they should opt for the choice that presented the possibility of better results.
No doubt Holo's head was more than capable of making such a calculation.
So, of the possibilities he could think of, this was it.
"Do you have some reason for not wanting to hand it over?"
At Lawrence's question, Holo's body quivered in surprise. There was no way Holo would just pass such an important decision on to Lawrence. Doing so could only mean she had turned desperate, or there was something she did not want to think about.
But if so, what?
"...Can you not trust Hilde? Certainly, he looks like an unreliable hare but...he seems well informed about what is going on. The treasurer of an organization like the Debau Company has to be a rather sharp thinker. I don't think we need worry on that count."
That was just what Lawrence thought without elaboration or embellishment.
There was no proof Hilde would be able to convince the opposing party, but he felt now was not the time to say that.
"Or don't you trust Debau, even so? Certainly it might be difficult to trust someone we've never seen...Also, there are still the rumors of unrest that the Debau Company spread that are still in the air."
This was not a simple argument concerning impressions. Until a very short time ago, Lawrence and Holo had been chasing after those very rumors of unrest.
However, Holo said nothing in either direction.
She continued to stand there, head down, clinging to Lawrence's arm.
Lawrence desperately held back the sigh he wanted to make.
Was there something more beyond this? Was there something he was not seeing? More than that, why was Holo not talking to him about it?
Little by little, those doubts changed into irritation toward the unspeaking Holo.
Was there indeed a reason beyond those that she did not want to hand over the forbidden book?
If there was, there really could not be many left.
"Or are you concerned for the possibility they might do harm to Col?"
After all, they had Col's sack then and there, with its meager contents as if to display Col's helplessness.
But Hilde had said he had no intention of bringing harm to Col.
Holo clearly thought those words were not false; if she had been concerned, she would have put Hilde's small body between her giant fang-filled jaws then and there.
And Holo had desperately held her reactions in check.
That led to the conclusion that Holo trusted Hilde's words—essentially, that Hilde truly did not intend to bring harm to Col. This was likely true even if they refused to hand over the forbidden book.
Hilde had a creed.
Lawrence did not think that creed included meaninglessly killing anyone.
"Or is there something I'm just not seeing here?"
Lawrence asked that, unable to restrain himself any longer.
There was no mistaking that going with Hilde's plan was in Holo's interests. There was no room for such a misunderstanding on Lawrence's part. On top of that, it was an opportunity for exceptional profit.
The dawn of success would surely bring an exceptional amount of goodwill in the town. His cheaply setting up a store would take on an even more special meaning. Goodwill from the people who ruled the town was no different from having the goddess of fortune smiling right by your side. With Holo beside him as he traded in the store, he felt like he might even be able to catch Eve's tail.
Lawrence looked squarely at Holo, as if waiting for an unreasonable child to calm down.
Holo was no child. If she had something to say, without fail, there was reason behind the movements of her lips.
Finally, Holo's mouth twitched several times, and then finally the words came.


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

Input:
If that was so, he felt that handing the forbidden book to Hilde was the logical decision. At the very least, if they did not hand it over, he could not see how the situation could be reversed.
If failure to reverse the situation and not surrendering the book over achieved the same result, they should opt for the choice that presented the possibility of better results.
No doubt Holo's head was more than capable of making such a calculation.
So, of the possibilities he could think of, this was it.
"Do you have some reason for not wanting to hand it over?"
At Lawrence's question, Holo's body quivered in surprise. There was no way Holo would just pass such an important decision on to Lawrence. Doing so could only mean she had turned desperate, or there was something she did not want to think about.
But if so, what?
"...Can you not trust Hilde? Certainly, he looks like an unreliable hare but...he seems well informed about what is going on. The treasurer of an organization like the Debau Company has to be a rather sharp thinker. I don't think we need worry on that count."
That was just what Lawrence thought without elaboration or embellishment.
There was no proof Hilde would be able to convince the opposing party, but he felt now was not the time to say that.
"Or don't you trust Debau, even so? Certainly it might be difficult to trust someone we've never seen...Also, there are still the rumors of unrest that the Debau Company spread that are still in the air."
This was not a simple argument concerning impressions. Until a very short time ago, Lawrence and Holo had been chasing after those very rumors of unrest.
However, Holo said nothing in either direction.
She continued to stand there, head down, clinging to Lawrence's arm.
Lawrence desperately held back the sigh he wanted to make.
Was there something more beyond this? Was there something he was not seeing? More than that, why was Holo not talking to him about it?
Little by little, those doubts changed into irritation toward the unspeaking Holo.
Was there indeed a reason beyond those that she did not want to hand over the forbidden book?
If there was, there really could not be many left.
"Or are you concerned for the possibility they might do harm to Col?"
After all, they had Col's sack then and there, with its meager contents as if to display Col's helplessness.
But Hilde had said he had no intention of bringing harm to Col.
Holo clearly thought those words were not false; if she had been concerned, she would have put Hilde's small body between her giant fang-filled jaws then and there.
And Holo had desperately held her reactions in check.
That led to the conclusion that Holo trusted Hilde's words—essentially, that Hilde truly did not intend to bring harm to Col. This was likely true even if they refused to hand over the forbidden book.
Hilde had a creed.
Lawrence did not think that creed included meaninglessly killing anyone.
"Or is there something I'm just not seeing here?"
Lawrence asked that, unable to restrain himself any longer.
There was no mistaking that going with Hilde's plan was in Holo's interests. There was no room for such a misunderstanding on Lawrence's part. On top of that, it was an opportunity for exceptional profit.
The dawn of success would surely bring an exceptional amount of goodwill in the town. His cheaply setting up a store would take on an even more special meaning. Goodwill from the people who ruled the town was no different from having the goddess of fortune smiling right by your side. With Holo beside him as he traded in the store, he felt like he might even be able to catch Eve's tail.
Lawrence looked squarely at Holo, as if waiting for an unreasonable child to calm down.
Holo was no child. If she had something to say, without fail, there was reason behind the movements of her lips.
Finally, Holo's mouth twitched several times, and then finally the words came.

Output:
Lawrence felt like his field of vision had just doubled in breadth.
What surprised him was that he did not expect Holo's reasoning to be that shallow.
"It's true...that possibility does exist. But the new technology will enable the revival of some mines already closed. If that happens, the need to clear new land will be noticeably reduced. After all, it will be easier to develop land already cleared for mining. Furthermore, just as Hilde said, there will be many cases where everything can be resolved with money. In the course of my own travels, I've heard that there actually are specialists who profit from reviving depleted mines. Therefore..."
Lawrence cut his words off there.
Still Holo did not reply.
"Therefore, I think what must be done right now is to eliminate the reason for the hard-liners within the Debau Company to invade the northlands. Or more precisely, I think we should support the revival of the dream held by the people who built this town. Of course, I understand you have concerns. The forbidden book probably really does contain amazing techniques. And if we hand that to the Debau Company, that technology might stoke the flame of ambition for further development. However..."
Lawrence realized that at some point, he had switched to trying to preach to Holo.
He had paid the deposit for buying a store in this town, so there was that as well. But the foremost reason was because, having seen what the Debau Company had set out to accomplish, he was moved and excited by it.
If merchants governed the world, surely the mountain of foolish and irrational things in that world would be swept away. When one got down to it, merchants made towns grow, and the only way they could do business was by making people happy. Unlike kings and nobles, few merchants were swayed by stupidities like renown or avarice. There was a popular misconception founded in ignorance that the great merchants were despots living in the lap of luxury. Any merchant doing that would soon have his business stolen by another merchant.
More crucially, a king or noble could dominate others without a single coin in his treasury, but no merchant with an empty treasury could dominate anything. Since they had no choice but to work hard, Lawrence felt it was obvious who ought to govern and who ought to be governed.
Besides, in his experience as a traveling merchant, places where trade was vigorous were full of life and happiness. That was why Lawrence wanted to support Debau.
Handing over the forbidden book might well lead to greater exploitation of the land, but Lawrence felt that casting away all hope out of fear of that possibility was a foolish thing.
He had something else he wanted to say to Holo.
"Why do you say that now of all times? You said whatever the Debau Company was doing in the northlands didn't bother you, didn't you? Isn't that why you supported my buying a store here?"
This time, Holo's body did not even twitch.
"And yet, to not hand over the book..."
"Wrong."
Holo spoke.
"Wrong. 'Tis not like that at all." Holo clutched Lawrence's arm hard enough that it hurt, repeating "wrong, wrong," over and over.
She looked like a spoiled child unable to get her way. Perhaps that was indeed the truth of it.
As Holo repeated "wrong," her voice became more and more tearful. Holo slackened her grip on Lawrence's arm, finally letting both of her arms hang down.
Her shoulders shook like those of a weeping child thrown out of the house on a rainy day.
"How am I wrong? The damage might well be somewhat excessive. It might be a forbidden book, but it's no book of magic. Certainly it might promote more mine excavation but...even so, I don't think it'll be some sudden tragedy leaving the northlands stripped bare."
Holo looked up at Lawrence from under her hood.
The gloom he saw on her face was the despair of a merchant in a caravan under attack by wolves, desperately wondering what to do.


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

Input:
Lawrence felt like his field of vision had just doubled in breadth.
What surprised him was that he did not expect Holo's reasoning to be that shallow.
"It's true...that possibility does exist. But the new technology will enable the revival of some mines already closed. If that happens, the need to clear new land will be noticeably reduced. After all, it will be easier to develop land already cleared for mining. Furthermore, just as Hilde said, there will be many cases where everything can be resolved with money. In the course of my own travels, I've heard that there actually are specialists who profit from reviving depleted mines. Therefore..."
Lawrence cut his words off there.
Still Holo did not reply.
"Therefore, I think what must be done right now is to eliminate the reason for the hard-liners within the Debau Company to invade the northlands. Or more precisely, I think we should support the revival of the dream held by the people who built this town. Of course, I understand you have concerns. The forbidden book probably really does contain amazing techniques. And if we hand that to the Debau Company, that technology might stoke the flame of ambition for further development. However..."
Lawrence realized that at some point, he had switched to trying to preach to Holo.
He had paid the deposit for buying a store in this town, so there was that as well. But the foremost reason was because, having seen what the Debau Company had set out to accomplish, he was moved and excited by it.
If merchants governed the world, surely the mountain of foolish and irrational things in that world would be swept away. When one got down to it, merchants made towns grow, and the only way they could do business was by making people happy. Unlike kings and nobles, few merchants were swayed by stupidities like renown or avarice. There was a popular misconception founded in ignorance that the great merchants were despots living in the lap of luxury. Any merchant doing that would soon have his business stolen by another merchant.
More crucially, a king or noble could dominate others without a single coin in his treasury, but no merchant with an empty treasury could dominate anything. Since they had no choice but to work hard, Lawrence felt it was obvious who ought to govern and who ought to be governed.
Besides, in his experience as a traveling merchant, places where trade was vigorous were full of life and happiness. That was why Lawrence wanted to support Debau.
Handing over the forbidden book might well lead to greater exploitation of the land, but Lawrence felt that casting away all hope out of fear of that possibility was a foolish thing.
He had something else he wanted to say to Holo.
"Why do you say that now of all times? You said whatever the Debau Company was doing in the northlands didn't bother you, didn't you? Isn't that why you supported my buying a store here?"
This time, Holo's body did not even twitch.
"And yet, to not hand over the book..."
"Wrong."
Holo spoke.
"Wrong. 'Tis not like that at all." Holo clutched Lawrence's arm hard enough that it hurt, repeating "wrong, wrong," over and over.
She looked like a spoiled child unable to get her way. Perhaps that was indeed the truth of it.
As Holo repeated "wrong," her voice became more and more tearful. Holo slackened her grip on Lawrence's arm, finally letting both of her arms hang down.
Her shoulders shook like those of a weeping child thrown out of the house on a rainy day.
"How am I wrong? The damage might well be somewhat excessive. It might be a forbidden book, but it's no book of magic. Certainly it might promote more mine excavation but...even so, I don't think it'll be some sudden tragedy leaving the northlands stripped bare."
Holo looked up at Lawrence from under her hood.
The gloom he saw on her face was the despair of a merchant in a caravan under attack by wolves, desperately wondering what to do.

Output:
Holo gave a heavy sigh at those words.
She looked like she wanted to scream; she also looked like she was holding back words that would be a little too frightening. He realized it was probably both when tears began to pour from Holo.
"There is...a point..."
"...Ah?"
Lawrence, thrown off by the thick gloom that had brought Holo even to tears, could not wrap his mind around it.
But even if he later arrived at an understanding on his own of the words Holo had spoken, he did not think that changed what he had to do.
The reason was that this was the way of the world—an eternal fact that lay between Holo and Lawrence.
"There is a point...I live a long time. You will not be by my side forever. Why, why must I watch alone as forests are mowed down because of my decision? Why must I watch mountains stripped bare? Come, now...why do you say I must decide? Do you want this to be my fault? Is it because you will die in no time, and after you die, it matters not either way? You, you..."
Holo clenched her hands into fists and pounded Lawrence's arms.
He had been struck by Holo's fists in earnest several times now. It was obvious she was not putting her whole strength into it; if he tried, he could stop her anytime.
But Holo's state in that moment was a more painful blow than any that had come before it.
Holo's fists trembled as tears covered her desolate face, as if to expose how even she was powerless before a fate she could not defy.
She pounded Lawrence's chest over and over as if she was divining the moment when he would never again awaken.
"I can bear it because you are here...But I—I..."
She sniffed up her sobs, looking up at Lawrence with her tear-drenched face, seeming to desperately cling to him as she spoke.
"I am not so strong."
As if the fists that had powerlessly struck Lawrence's arms had finally exhausted the last of their strength, she grabbed hold of the sleeve of Lawrence's clothing. Holo was crying as she grasped Lawrence's sleeve, as if pleading with him not to abandon her.
When Holo had been drawing a picture of the store of Lawrence's dreams, she declared, "Is there no place for me in your store, I wonder?" That had not been in the slightest jest.
Holo truly wanted a place of her own; that was why she had resolved to shut her eyes to disagreeable things so that she could obtain such a place.
However, if she resolved to hand over the forbidden book, she would have to bear all of the responsibility for mine development continuing centuries into the future. Lawrence had no doubt Holo would think so, never questioning whether that was a fact or not.
Also, Lawrence would not be there by then. If he was fortunate, he might live for another fifty years or so.
If he came down with a grave illness, he might not last the week.
Human life was very short. A poet might say, If you are afraid of losing something, why not find someone to fall in love with?
Holo had to have been resigned to that from the start; surely she had experienced it a number of times. In all honesty, for Holo to be this much at a loss even so made Lawrence think, as a man, he was proud to have come this far in his life.
His gaze fell to Holo's hand; he slowly shifted his gaze to Holo once more. Holo continued to stare at Lawrence, sobbing and sniffling all the while, having wholly cast aside her vanity as the self-proclaimed wisewolf.
Lawrence took her hand.
Holo was still crying.
This wisewolf knew from the start what Lawrence would say.
"Then, it's fine if you don't decide."
Lawrence spoke while bringing Holo's small body into both of his arms.
"You knew from the beginning that we should hand the book over to Hilde, didn't you?"
Lawrence felt largely the same way that Holo did.
The pros and cons were quite clear, all the more so when the conditions were so clear.
Even so, Lawrence had tried to somehow win one against Holo. He was bad at giving in—a common trait among merchants.
And Holo must have anticipated what Lawrence would say in the end.


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

Input:
Holo gave a heavy sigh at those words.
She looked like she wanted to scream; she also looked like she was holding back words that would be a little too frightening. He realized it was probably both when tears began to pour from Holo.
"There is...a point..."
"...Ah?"
Lawrence, thrown off by the thick gloom that had brought Holo even to tears, could not wrap his mind around it.
But even if he later arrived at an understanding on his own of the words Holo had spoken, he did not think that changed what he had to do.
The reason was that this was the way of the world—an eternal fact that lay between Holo and Lawrence.
"There is a point...I live a long time. You will not be by my side forever. Why, why must I watch alone as forests are mowed down because of my decision? Why must I watch mountains stripped bare? Come, now...why do you say I must decide? Do you want this to be my fault? Is it because you will die in no time, and after you die, it matters not either way? You, you..."
Holo clenched her hands into fists and pounded Lawrence's arms.
He had been struck by Holo's fists in earnest several times now. It was obvious she was not putting her whole strength into it; if he tried, he could stop her anytime.
But Holo's state in that moment was a more painful blow than any that had come before it.
Holo's fists trembled as tears covered her desolate face, as if to expose how even she was powerless before a fate she could not defy.
She pounded Lawrence's chest over and over as if she was divining the moment when he would never again awaken.
"I can bear it because you are here...But I—I..."
She sniffed up her sobs, looking up at Lawrence with her tear-drenched face, seeming to desperately cling to him as she spoke.
"I am not so strong."
As if the fists that had powerlessly struck Lawrence's arms had finally exhausted the last of their strength, she grabbed hold of the sleeve of Lawrence's clothing. Holo was crying as she grasped Lawrence's sleeve, as if pleading with him not to abandon her.
When Holo had been drawing a picture of the store of Lawrence's dreams, she declared, "Is there no place for me in your store, I wonder?" That had not been in the slightest jest.
Holo truly wanted a place of her own; that was why she had resolved to shut her eyes to disagreeable things so that she could obtain such a place.
However, if she resolved to hand over the forbidden book, she would have to bear all of the responsibility for mine development continuing centuries into the future. Lawrence had no doubt Holo would think so, never questioning whether that was a fact or not.
Also, Lawrence would not be there by then. If he was fortunate, he might live for another fifty years or so.
If he came down with a grave illness, he might not last the week.
Human life was very short. A poet might say, If you are afraid of losing something, why not find someone to fall in love with?
Holo had to have been resigned to that from the start; surely she had experienced it a number of times. In all honesty, for Holo to be this much at a loss even so made Lawrence think, as a man, he was proud to have come this far in his life.
His gaze fell to Holo's hand; he slowly shifted his gaze to Holo once more. Holo continued to stare at Lawrence, sobbing and sniffling all the while, having wholly cast aside her vanity as the self-proclaimed wisewolf.
Lawrence took her hand.
Holo was still crying.
This wisewolf knew from the start what Lawrence would say.
"Then, it's fine if you don't decide."
Lawrence spoke while bringing Holo's small body into both of his arms.
"You knew from the beginning that we should hand the book over to Hilde, didn't you?"
Lawrence felt largely the same way that Holo did.
The pros and cons were quite clear, all the more so when the conditions were so clear.
Even so, Lawrence had tried to somehow win one against Holo. He was bad at giving in—a common trait among merchants.
And Holo must have anticipated what Lawrence would say in the end.

Output:
She must have been ashamed at how she was weeping, capable only of waiting for the words she desired.
However, if the most precious person to him in the whole world was waiting for her own words, Lawrence would proudly deliver the words she was waiting for.
"I will follow what is profitable for me and hand the forbidden book to Hilde. You objected. You objected for a variety of reasons. I'll take responsibility. I'm not sure how I'll take responsibility yet, but I'll take it. I will take it. Is there any deceit in my words?"
Holo weakly shook her head side to side.
"Sorry," she said in apology several times.
"It's settled, then. I'll hand the forbidden book to Hilde. Lift up your face and look at me."
Lawrence grasped Holo's slender shoulders, pushing her away a short distance to the point it was a little rough.
Holo was still crying.
One would not think she was a wisewolf at all. But really, she wasn't.
The name wisewolf was Holo's false form that was worshipped by the villagers of Yoitsu.
"We've managed this far. We'll manage this time, too."
Even logic like this was something Holo required to endure the loneliness nipping at her heels.
"So, don't cry anymore."
Lawrence forcefully wiped Holo's eyes with the nub of his finger.
As he did so, tears fell again where Lawrence's finger had pressed. He wiped those away, too.
"If you cry too much, you'll give me odd ideas again."
He lightly slapped her cheek and laughed. Holo laughed as if coughing from a joke that was just too awful, then, on cue, cried again just a little.
However, he had said all he had wanted to say.
Holo wiped her face with her own hand, wiping further with her sleeve in rough motions. There was no more for Lawrence to do. Finally, Lawrence offered his hand to Holo.
"Let's go back to the inn."
Holo took his hand and nodded firmly.
The next day, Lawrence awoke before Holo.
Even now, Holo's face looked like she had cried herself to sleep; her breaths seemed labored as she slept. As she usually slept curled up like a beast, the fact that her face was poking out from the futon was yet another reminder that things were not normal.
Lawrence had been by her side ever since the night before.
To Holo, Lawrence would die in but a very short time. Even if she had been overwhelmed by her feelings in that moment, the fact that the words had come out of her own mouth had frightened her.
Lawrence was not the one who would see her off.
He thought that as he remembered seeing Col off from Lenos.
The face Holo made while watching him go was a very tired one. As she desperately tried to do so with a smile, the fact that whomever one saw off did not return exhausted her under the surface.
It would be nice if at least one person you saw off returned.
She looked too exhausted even to entertain such absurd impossibilities.
Even if there were countless great men who could perform miraculous resuscitations, there were none who could defy the passage of time.
Holo was always the one to watch others go. She always had been and always would be.
Lawrence stroked Holo's cheek and got down from the bed. He opened the wooden shutters a crack; it was once again cold but rather bright. It was lively outside; there was not a shred of any sense of the Debau Company being internally split in two or of a war breaking out in the air at all.
Tragedy always came suddenly; then all was revealed.
All Lawrence could do was to keep his feet moving at all costs, even within the raging storm.
Moving forward was all he could do for Holo.
Losing battles were always depressing stories; by that measure, Holo's life had been one prolonged losing battle against fate and providence.
Lawrence tidied himself and left the room.
He thought it a little cold, but as if to show he would soon return, he left his coat behind.
"Business with the young master, you say?"


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

Input:
She must have been ashamed at how she was weeping, capable only of waiting for the words she desired.
However, if the most precious person to him in the whole world was waiting for her own words, Lawrence would proudly deliver the words she was waiting for.
"I will follow what is profitable for me and hand the forbidden book to Hilde. You objected. You objected for a variety of reasons. I'll take responsibility. I'm not sure how I'll take responsibility yet, but I'll take it. I will take it. Is there any deceit in my words?"
Holo weakly shook her head side to side.
"Sorry," she said in apology several times.
"It's settled, then. I'll hand the forbidden book to Hilde. Lift up your face and look at me."
Lawrence grasped Holo's slender shoulders, pushing her away a short distance to the point it was a little rough.
Holo was still crying.
One would not think she was a wisewolf at all. But really, she wasn't.
The name wisewolf was Holo's false form that was worshipped by the villagers of Yoitsu.
"We've managed this far. We'll manage this time, too."
Even logic like this was something Holo required to endure the loneliness nipping at her heels.
"So, don't cry anymore."
Lawrence forcefully wiped Holo's eyes with the nub of his finger.
As he did so, tears fell again where Lawrence's finger had pressed. He wiped those away, too.
"If you cry too much, you'll give me odd ideas again."
He lightly slapped her cheek and laughed. Holo laughed as if coughing from a joke that was just too awful, then, on cue, cried again just a little.
However, he had said all he had wanted to say.
Holo wiped her face with her own hand, wiping further with her sleeve in rough motions. There was no more for Lawrence to do. Finally, Lawrence offered his hand to Holo.
"Let's go back to the inn."
Holo took his hand and nodded firmly.
The next day, Lawrence awoke before Holo.
Even now, Holo's face looked like she had cried herself to sleep; her breaths seemed labored as she slept. As she usually slept curled up like a beast, the fact that her face was poking out from the futon was yet another reminder that things were not normal.
Lawrence had been by her side ever since the night before.
To Holo, Lawrence would die in but a very short time. Even if she had been overwhelmed by her feelings in that moment, the fact that the words had come out of her own mouth had frightened her.
Lawrence was not the one who would see her off.
He thought that as he remembered seeing Col off from Lenos.
The face Holo made while watching him go was a very tired one. As she desperately tried to do so with a smile, the fact that whomever one saw off did not return exhausted her under the surface.
It would be nice if at least one person you saw off returned.
She looked too exhausted even to entertain such absurd impossibilities.
Even if there were countless great men who could perform miraculous resuscitations, there were none who could defy the passage of time.
Holo was always the one to watch others go. She always had been and always would be.
Lawrence stroked Holo's cheek and got down from the bed. He opened the wooden shutters a crack; it was once again cold but rather bright. It was lively outside; there was not a shred of any sense of the Debau Company being internally split in two or of a war breaking out in the air at all.
Tragedy always came suddenly; then all was revealed.
All Lawrence could do was to keep his feet moving at all costs, even within the raging storm.
Moving forward was all he could do for Holo.
Losing battles were always depressing stories; by that measure, Holo's life had been one prolonged losing battle against fate and providence.
Lawrence tidied himself and left the room.
He thought it a little cold, but as if to show he would soon return, he left his coat behind.
"Business with the young master, you say?"

Output:
"Yes. I have a bit to discuss."
"Mm...if he is not in his room...and he's not. Pardon me for a moment."
Opening the door, Moizi urged Lawrence inside; in short order, Moizi came back into the room with a water jug in his hand.
And even though he was in front of the desk, he poured the water down atop his own head, shaking his head like a dog.
"Whew! My goodness. I don't want to get any older if that's all it takes to get me drunk."
"It seems to have been quite the celebration."
"Ha-ha. How embarrassing. I do have the excuse that one knows not when one will perish, so one must drink to the fullest."
So enjoy every drink as if it is one's last.
Certainly that was an excuse anywhere on earth for warding off admonitions against heavy drinking.
"Now, then, the young master."
When he combed his hand back along his head, his silver hair stuck up like needles.
Such vigor at his age—no doubt, when he was younger, he had truly been a wolf or a bear of a mercenary.
"Yes. Do you know where he might be?"
"He's probably with Rebonato...Ah, that's the name of the head of the Hugo Mercenary Company. I think he's probably there, but...the young master and other heads of companies travel in different circles than the membership. I don't know what liquor he was invited to drink or where he got himself drunk."
As befitted a frank, forthright mercenary, he left it at that. Besides, it seemed those that managed groups indeed traveled in their own special circles.
"As it seems you are in a hurry, I can get the youngster moving, but..."
Moizi's words silenced Lawrence for several seconds.
Sensing his hesitation, Moizi slipped out of words suited to a man of battle and into others. "Perhaps I can be of assistance?" This was the old, practical strategist managing a mercenary company. Normally, for Moizi to send for the head of the company, there had to be a rather good reason.
"Of course, it's no problem at all. I am merely a little concerned that he will feel responsible for being drunk and asleep at a critical time if I speak of this to you first."
Perhaps it was too harsh a thing to say to Moizi, who seemed to still have liquor left in him.
That concern flew out the window in an instant.
"I'll send the youngster running. It won't be long."
Moizi strode past Lawrence into the corridor.
He yelled "Messenger!" in a great voice that seemingly threatened to bring the whole building down.
Blessed by an omniscient and omnipotent God, lords ruled their lands by divine right, and knights swore fealty to those lords. It was God that determined what the lord, his earthly representative, did and desired for his lands. And so, at times, even forests that had stood unmolested until now and vast steppes across the land suddenly cried out as they became charred, barren wastes.
The fate of this town was in the grasp of the Debau Company, a lord without a face.
A faction holding contrary views, having launched an internal rebellion and succeeded, was an exceedingly serious matter to those mercenaries entrusting their very lives to the company.
"My word." Luward had wobbled back to the inn, pulled along by the hands of two youngsters, as if a pair of younger brothers were pulling their beloved older brother along. He washed and wiped his face with a hand towel and lifted up his face. "How certain is this information?"
Like the cog of a waterwheel, the direction Luward's troop would advance shifted depending on the information they obtained. At that moment, they so feared being led astray by a mistaken report.
Lawrence and Holo might skirt by with moderate damage, but for Luward and his men, their fates quite literally depended on it.
"Does the name Hilde Schnau ring a bell?"
As Lawrence spoke, Luward looked at Moizi.
Moizi replied in his place. "The treasurer of the Debau Company. He is said to be the owner's right-hand man."
"If Holo's ears are correct, he is, as he claimed to be, this Hilde Schnau."