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

Input:
But naturally, once a village had secured a source of money, it would be able to again resist the town's influence, putting the town in a bad place. At that point, the arguments would become constant, endlessly repeated over this or that privilege—yet Tereo seemed free from any such fighting.
While he didn't know how Tereo had avoided such a situation, Lawrence did have a sense of the problems and risks it faced as a result.
After buying some dried figs at a stand with a master who seemed to think that merely being open was enough, Lawrence returned to the inn.
When he got there, Holo was asleep on the bed, entirely free from the cares of the world. Lawrence laughed soundlessly.
She opened her eyes eventually as Lawrence rustled about in the room. Once her face finally emerged from underneath the blankets, the first word out of her mouth was "Food."
Since he hadn't been certain how long it would take them to get this far, Lawrence had been extremely thrifty with their provisions while they traveled. He decided they should finish off these first.
"There was this much cheese left? I only restrained myself because you said it wouldn't last," said Holo.
"Who said you could eat all of it? Half of that is mine."
As soon as he picked up the cheese and cut it in half with a knife, Holo glared at him, her grudge obvious. "Did you not make a tidy profit in the last town?"
"Did I not explain to you that we've used it all already?"
In point of fact, he'd paid off his remaining liabilities in Kumersun as well as a town nearby in one fell swoop.
He did this partially as a precaution against their search for Yoitsu taking too much time—which could cause him to miss a payment deadline—and also because carrying too much cash was simply foolhardy.
Some money still remained after that, which he'd left with a trading company. A company's power lay in its cash reserves. Of course, Lawrence was earning interest on that balance, but Holo didn't need to know that.
"You only need to tell me once—I understand that. What I mean is, you made money, but I received nothing."
It pained Lawrence to hear this.
The business in Kumersun got out of hand because of Lawrence's misunderstanding, but Holo had received nothing for her trouble.
However, if he showed weakness now, the wolf's grip would only tighten.
"How can you say something so shameless after eating and drinking so much?"
"In that case, shall we do a careful comparison of the coin you made and how much I've cost?"
Hit where it hurt, Lawrence looked away.
"You made quite a tidy sum with the rocks I bought from that bird woman, you did. Not to mention—"
"Fine, fine!"
With her ears able to discern any lie, Holo was worse than any tax collector.
If Lawrence struggled any further, it would only deepen the wound.
He gave up, thrusting the entirety of the cheese at Holo.
She chuckled. "Why, thank you."
"You're welcome."
It was surely rare to be thanked yet to remain as annoyed as Lawrence was.
"Ah, so are your inquiries proceeding?" asked Holo.
"More or less."
"More or less? So you've found half the directions we need?"
Lawrence smiled. What he'd said could be interpreted that way, he had to admit. He thought for a moment, then replied, "If I'd gone to the church, I thought I'd get the same cold shoulder we got yesterday. So I went to see Evan at the millhouse."
"Ah, going after the person whose relationship with the girl is not uncomplicated. 'Tis wiser than I'd expect from you."
"...Yes, well." Lawrence cleared his throat and got to the point. "Would you give up going to the abbey?"
Holo froze. "...And the reason would be?"
"There's something strange about this village. It feels dangerous to me."
Holo was expressionless. She chewed a piece of rye bread on which she'd spread some cheese. "So you're not willing to risk danger to look for my home, then?"
So that's how it's going to be, Lawrence thought, clenching his jaw. "That's not—wait, you're doing that on purpose."

Output:
It was hard to know how many words she'd swallowed along with the bread, but her face made her displeasure clear enough.
Lawrence essentially understood her desire to reach the abbey and ask her questions as quickly as she could, but perhaps those desires were stronger than he realized.
But what little information he'd gathered in the village, along with the experience he had accrued as a merchant who had seen many other towns and villages, led him to believe that it would be dangerous to keep searching for the abbey's location while in Tereo.
After all—
"If I'm right, I think the abbey we're looking for is Tereo's church."
There was no change in Holo's expression, save for the tufts of her ears standing up bottlebrush straight.
"I'm going to go through my reasoning point by point. Are you ready?"
Holo fingered an ear tuft, then nodded slightly.
"First, Elsa obviously knows where the abbey is but is pretending ignorance. If she's hiding that information, it means that for whatever reason, she can't talk about Church affairs. Also, when I went to the elder's house yesterday asking the same question, he also seemed to know—and also pretended not to."
Holo closed her eyes and nodded.
"Next, of all the buildings in the village, only the village elder's house is grander than the church. Yet if you'll think back to the conversations in the tavern yesterday, you'll see that the Church doesn't command much respect here. The villagers worship the local snake spirit that's protected them for ages—not the God of the Church."
"Still," said Holo, "did they not speak of Father Franz as someone who'd done the village good?"
"They did. The elder said the same thing. So it's clear that Father Franz did something to benefit the village—but it wasn't saving them by preaching the word of God, which means he did something that materially benefited them. And I found out what that was just a while ago, talking to Evan."
Holo was prodding a piece of bread with her finger. She cocked her head.
"Essentially, he created a contract between Tereo and Enberch that is disproportionately favorable to Tereo. That's why everybody in the village can be so idle now that the wheat harvest is over. They don't have any financial worries. And it was none other than Father Franz who made their lives what they are by negotiating a frankly unbelievably favorable contract with Enberch."
"Mm."
"So the dispute between Tereo and the Church in Enberch that Evan mentioned when we were first coming into town must be about this. Generally, internal Church disputes happen over who will take over vacated priesthood or bishop posts, trouble with the donation of lands, or arguments over religious doctrine. At first I assumed that the trouble was over Elsa—being so young and a woman—taking charge of the church. But even if that's the reason on the face of it, the true cause is something else."
Elsa wished above all else to inherit Father Franz's position, a man in traveling clothes had appeared at the elder's house while Lawrence was visiting, and Evan said that Elsa's troubles had lifted the previous day.
Based on the map of relationships that Lawrence knew all too well, he came to understand the situation quickly.
"Enberch would want to destroy the relationship that currently exists between itself and Tereo. I don't know how or when Father Franz managed to execute the contract, but I'm sure that Enberch wants it as dead as Father Franz is now. The fastest way would be by sheer force of arms, but unfortunately Tereo also has a church. We can assume that the reason Enberch didn't resort to force long ago is because Tereo's church has supporters. So what to do? They need the village's church to disappear."
The messenger that had arrived at the elder's house the previous day might have brought a document from some distant church that recognized Elsa as Father Franz's successor or a letter from some nobleman promising support.


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

Input:
It was hard to know how many words she'd swallowed along with the bread, but her face made her displeasure clear enough.
Lawrence essentially understood her desire to reach the abbey and ask her questions as quickly as she could, but perhaps those desires were stronger than he realized.
But what little information he'd gathered in the village, along with the experience he had accrued as a merchant who had seen many other towns and villages, led him to believe that it would be dangerous to keep searching for the abbey's location while in Tereo.
After all—
"If I'm right, I think the abbey we're looking for is Tereo's church."
There was no change in Holo's expression, save for the tufts of her ears standing up bottlebrush straight.
"I'm going to go through my reasoning point by point. Are you ready?"
Holo fingered an ear tuft, then nodded slightly.
"First, Elsa obviously knows where the abbey is but is pretending ignorance. If she's hiding that information, it means that for whatever reason, she can't talk about Church affairs. Also, when I went to the elder's house yesterday asking the same question, he also seemed to know—and also pretended not to."
Holo closed her eyes and nodded.
"Next, of all the buildings in the village, only the village elder's house is grander than the church. Yet if you'll think back to the conversations in the tavern yesterday, you'll see that the Church doesn't command much respect here. The villagers worship the local snake spirit that's protected them for ages—not the God of the Church."
"Still," said Holo, "did they not speak of Father Franz as someone who'd done the village good?"
"They did. The elder said the same thing. So it's clear that Father Franz did something to benefit the village—but it wasn't saving them by preaching the word of God, which means he did something that materially benefited them. And I found out what that was just a while ago, talking to Evan."
Holo was prodding a piece of bread with her finger. She cocked her head.
"Essentially, he created a contract between Tereo and Enberch that is disproportionately favorable to Tereo. That's why everybody in the village can be so idle now that the wheat harvest is over. They don't have any financial worries. And it was none other than Father Franz who made their lives what they are by negotiating a frankly unbelievably favorable contract with Enberch."
"Mm."
"So the dispute between Tereo and the Church in Enberch that Evan mentioned when we were first coming into town must be about this. Generally, internal Church disputes happen over who will take over vacated priesthood or bishop posts, trouble with the donation of lands, or arguments over religious doctrine. At first I assumed that the trouble was over Elsa—being so young and a woman—taking charge of the church. But even if that's the reason on the face of it, the true cause is something else."
Elsa wished above all else to inherit Father Franz's position, a man in traveling clothes had appeared at the elder's house while Lawrence was visiting, and Evan said that Elsa's troubles had lifted the previous day.
Based on the map of relationships that Lawrence knew all too well, he came to understand the situation quickly.
"Enberch would want to destroy the relationship that currently exists between itself and Tereo. I don't know how or when Father Franz managed to execute the contract, but I'm sure that Enberch wants it as dead as Father Franz is now. The fastest way would be by sheer force of arms, but unfortunately Tereo also has a church. We can assume that the reason Enberch didn't resort to force long ago is because Tereo's church has supporters. So what to do? They need the village's church to disappear."
The messenger that had arrived at the elder's house the previous day might have brought a document from some distant church that recognized Elsa as Father Franz's successor or a letter from some nobleman promising support.

Output:
"The villagers here make no secret that they worship a pagan spirit. If it was to be recognized as a pagan village proper, Enberch would have the excuse it needs to attack."
"If it was so simple as knowing how to get to the abbey, there'd be no need to lie about it," said Holo. "But if the abbey is in the village, they must hide it."
Lawrence nodded and made his suggestion again. "So can we not abandon this? Given the situation, the abbey's existence would be a perfect excuse for Enberch to attack, which means the people of Tereo will continue to hide it from us. And if, as I suspect, the abbey is the church, then the monk we've been looking for is Father Franz. His knowledge of the old pagan tales may have been buried with him. There's no point in stirring up trouble when there's nothing to be gained from it."
Additionally, Lawrence and Holo had no way of proving they were unconnected to Enberch.
Most theologians were unwilling to accept the statement "I am not a demon" as proof that one was not, in fact, a demon.
"What's more, this involves pagan spirits. If this goes badly, we could be branded as heretics, and we would be in real trouble."
Holo sighed, scratching at the base of her ears. It seemed like she was having difficulty reaching the place that itched.
She appeared to understand that the situation facing them was grave, but she was unwilling to give up so easily.
Lawrence cleared his throat and tried again. "I understand that you want to gather information about your home, but I think there's danger here that we should avoid. As far as the location of Yoitsu goes, the information we gathered in Kumersun should be more than enough. And it's not as though you've lost your memory. We won't have to go far to—"
"Listen, you—," Holo interrupted suddenly, then snapped her mouth shut as if she'd forgotten what to say.
"Holo, hear me out."
Hearing Lawrence call her name, Holo's lip twisted slightly.
"So I don't misunderstand again, I want you to tell me clearly. Just what are you hoping to learn from these pagan tales?"
Holo looked away.
Lawrence didn't want his questions to sound like an interrogation, so he carefully modulated his tone as he spoke. "Do you want to know more about the bear spirit that...er, destroyed your home?"
Still looking askance, Holo did not respond.
"Or is it...something to do with your friends?"
These were the only possibilities Lawrence could think of.
For Holo to be so stubborn, it had to be one of those two things.
Maybe it was both.
"And if it is, what would you do?" Holo's eyes were piercing and cold.
They were not the eyes of the proud wolf stalking its prey.
They were the eyes of a cornered animal that would attack all who dared approach.
Lawrence chose his words carefully. They came to him with surprising speed.
"Depending on circumstances, there are some risks I will take."
In other words, the potential gain had to balance out the risk.
If Holo truly needed information about the hated bear spirit that had destroyed her home or about the fates of her old friends, Lawrence would not be unwilling to help.
Despite her youthful appearance, Holo was no child, and Lawrence expected that she could evaluate her own emotions and make logical decisions. If she did so and still asked for Lawrence's help, he was prepared to respect her decision and to take the risks that she asked.
Holo suddenly relaxed her tensed shoulders and uncrossed her legs. "Fine, then." She continued. "It is fine. You hardly need prepare yourself for an outburst from me."
Of course, Lawrence knew better than to take Holo's words at their face value.
"Hark now—given my way, I would want to slap that insolent girl in the face and make her tell me everything, given what you've said. Also, I simply wish to know all I can about Yoitsu. Would you not likewise want to hear tell of your home?"
Lawrence nodded his agreement. Holo returned his nod, looking satisfied.


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

Input:
"The villagers here make no secret that they worship a pagan spirit. If it was to be recognized as a pagan village proper, Enberch would have the excuse it needs to attack."
"If it was so simple as knowing how to get to the abbey, there'd be no need to lie about it," said Holo. "But if the abbey is in the village, they must hide it."
Lawrence nodded and made his suggestion again. "So can we not abandon this? Given the situation, the abbey's existence would be a perfect excuse for Enberch to attack, which means the people of Tereo will continue to hide it from us. And if, as I suspect, the abbey is the church, then the monk we've been looking for is Father Franz. His knowledge of the old pagan tales may have been buried with him. There's no point in stirring up trouble when there's nothing to be gained from it."
Additionally, Lawrence and Holo had no way of proving they were unconnected to Enberch.
Most theologians were unwilling to accept the statement "I am not a demon" as proof that one was not, in fact, a demon.
"What's more, this involves pagan spirits. If this goes badly, we could be branded as heretics, and we would be in real trouble."
Holo sighed, scratching at the base of her ears. It seemed like she was having difficulty reaching the place that itched.
She appeared to understand that the situation facing them was grave, but she was unwilling to give up so easily.
Lawrence cleared his throat and tried again. "I understand that you want to gather information about your home, but I think there's danger here that we should avoid. As far as the location of Yoitsu goes, the information we gathered in Kumersun should be more than enough. And it's not as though you've lost your memory. We won't have to go far to—"
"Listen, you—," Holo interrupted suddenly, then snapped her mouth shut as if she'd forgotten what to say.
"Holo, hear me out."
Hearing Lawrence call her name, Holo's lip twisted slightly.
"So I don't misunderstand again, I want you to tell me clearly. Just what are you hoping to learn from these pagan tales?"
Holo looked away.
Lawrence didn't want his questions to sound like an interrogation, so he carefully modulated his tone as he spoke. "Do you want to know more about the bear spirit that...er, destroyed your home?"
Still looking askance, Holo did not respond.
"Or is it...something to do with your friends?"
These were the only possibilities Lawrence could think of.
For Holo to be so stubborn, it had to be one of those two things.
Maybe it was both.
"And if it is, what would you do?" Holo's eyes were piercing and cold.
They were not the eyes of the proud wolf stalking its prey.
They were the eyes of a cornered animal that would attack all who dared approach.
Lawrence chose his words carefully. They came to him with surprising speed.
"Depending on circumstances, there are some risks I will take."
In other words, the potential gain had to balance out the risk.
If Holo truly needed information about the hated bear spirit that had destroyed her home or about the fates of her old friends, Lawrence would not be unwilling to help.
Despite her youthful appearance, Holo was no child, and Lawrence expected that she could evaluate her own emotions and make logical decisions. If she did so and still asked for Lawrence's help, he was prepared to respect her decision and to take the risks that she asked.
Holo suddenly relaxed her tensed shoulders and uncrossed her legs. "Fine, then." She continued. "It is fine. You hardly need prepare yourself for an outburst from me."
Of course, Lawrence knew better than to take Holo's words at their face value.
"Hark now—given my way, I would want to slap that insolent girl in the face and make her tell me everything, given what you've said. Also, I simply wish to know all I can about Yoitsu. Would you not likewise want to hear tell of your home?"
Lawrence nodded his agreement. Holo returned his nod, looking satisfied.

Output:
"Ah, yes."
"Then we need not risk this."
Despite Holo's statement, Lawrence remained uneasy.
While he had been the one that suggested abandoning their inquiries, he was willing to support her decision.
Hearing her accede so readily made him wonder if she was lying.
He said nothing as he thought about this. Holo sat on the edge of the bed, placing her feet on the floor.
"Why do you suppose I do not speak of my hometown to you?" she asked.
Lawrence couldn't help showing his surprise at the question.
Holo smiled faintly, though it did not seem as if she was making fun of him. "Now and again I remember things about my hometown, things I wish to boast of. Memories I wish to tell you. But I do not, because you are always so considerate—as you are being just now. I know that to complain that you are too kind is the height of selfishness. But it is a bit difficult for me." As she spoke, she plucked at the fur of her tail. "Honestly, if you were simply a more perceptive male, I would not have to say such embarrassing things."
"I'm...I'm sorry."
Holo giggled. "Still, being softhearted is one of your few good points...It's just a bit frightening for me."
She stood up from the bed, turning her back to Lawrence.
Her tail, thick with its winter fur, swept back and forth quietly. She hugged herself, arms around her shoulders, then looked back at Lawrence. "Here I am, lonely and helpless, yet you do not leap to devour me. Truly you are a frightening male."
Lawrence shrugged slightly under Holo's gaze, which seemed to challenge him. "One must be careful. Some fruits are more sour than they look."
Holo's arms dropped to her sides, and she turned back around to face Lawrence, smiling. "Ah, 'tis true, they can be unbearably sour. But," she said, slowly approaching him, her smile unwavering, "are you saying I'm not sweet?"
What's sweet about someone who does things like this? Lawrence thought to himself. He nodded immediately, as if to say, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"Oh, ho, you've some nerve." Holo grinned.
"Some things need to be bitter to be tasty—ale, say," Lawrence quickly added.
Holo's eyes widened in apparent surprise before she quickly closed them, as if she'd slipped up and made a mistake. Her tail wagged as she said, "Hmph. Children shouldn't drink liquor."
"Oh, indeed—we can't have them getting hungover."
Holo pouted intentionally and thumped her fist against Lawrence's chest.
Leaving her hand there, she lowered her gaze.
It felt somehow like they were acting in some kind of silly play.
Lawrence took her hand gently. "Will you really give this up?" he asked slowly.
Anyone with a mind as keen as Holo's would have already quickly separated what was reasonable from what was not.
But just as the spirits could not be understood through reason alone, emotions were not easily controlled.
It was several moments before Holo replied.
"Asking me in such a way...is hardly fair," she said quietly, gripping Lawrence's shirt. "If I can learn anything about Yoitsu, my friends, or that awful bear spirit, then I want to know it. What we learned from the bird woman in Kumersun was far from enough. It was like feeling thirst yet having but a few drops of water to quench it," murmured Holo weakly.
Being very careful now that he had understood the true nature of this conversation, Lawrence replied, "What do you want to do?"
Holo nodded once. "Might I...ask this of you?"
Her words gave off the sense that if he was to embrace her, her body would be soft and yielding.
Lawrence took a deep breath and replied, "Leave it to me."
Holo was still looking down. Her tail wagged a single time.
Though he was not sure how much of her current state was genuine, it was still enough to make him think the risk was worth the potential gain. He couldn't help wondering if he was drunk.
Suddenly Holo looked up to reveal a dauntless smile. "Actually, I've got an idea."
"Oh? Do tell."
"Well, about that..."


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

Input:
"Ah, yes."
"Then we need not risk this."
Despite Holo's statement, Lawrence remained uneasy.
While he had been the one that suggested abandoning their inquiries, he was willing to support her decision.
Hearing her accede so readily made him wonder if she was lying.
He said nothing as he thought about this. Holo sat on the edge of the bed, placing her feet on the floor.
"Why do you suppose I do not speak of my hometown to you?" she asked.
Lawrence couldn't help showing his surprise at the question.
Holo smiled faintly, though it did not seem as if she was making fun of him. "Now and again I remember things about my hometown, things I wish to boast of. Memories I wish to tell you. But I do not, because you are always so considerate—as you are being just now. I know that to complain that you are too kind is the height of selfishness. But it is a bit difficult for me." As she spoke, she plucked at the fur of her tail. "Honestly, if you were simply a more perceptive male, I would not have to say such embarrassing things."
"I'm...I'm sorry."
Holo giggled. "Still, being softhearted is one of your few good points...It's just a bit frightening for me."
She stood up from the bed, turning her back to Lawrence.
Her tail, thick with its winter fur, swept back and forth quietly. She hugged herself, arms around her shoulders, then looked back at Lawrence. "Here I am, lonely and helpless, yet you do not leap to devour me. Truly you are a frightening male."
Lawrence shrugged slightly under Holo's gaze, which seemed to challenge him. "One must be careful. Some fruits are more sour than they look."
Holo's arms dropped to her sides, and she turned back around to face Lawrence, smiling. "Ah, 'tis true, they can be unbearably sour. But," she said, slowly approaching him, her smile unwavering, "are you saying I'm not sweet?"
What's sweet about someone who does things like this? Lawrence thought to himself. He nodded immediately, as if to say, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"Oh, ho, you've some nerve." Holo grinned.
"Some things need to be bitter to be tasty—ale, say," Lawrence quickly added.
Holo's eyes widened in apparent surprise before she quickly closed them, as if she'd slipped up and made a mistake. Her tail wagged as she said, "Hmph. Children shouldn't drink liquor."
"Oh, indeed—we can't have them getting hungover."
Holo pouted intentionally and thumped her fist against Lawrence's chest.
Leaving her hand there, she lowered her gaze.
It felt somehow like they were acting in some kind of silly play.
Lawrence took her hand gently. "Will you really give this up?" he asked slowly.
Anyone with a mind as keen as Holo's would have already quickly separated what was reasonable from what was not.
But just as the spirits could not be understood through reason alone, emotions were not easily controlled.
It was several moments before Holo replied.
"Asking me in such a way...is hardly fair," she said quietly, gripping Lawrence's shirt. "If I can learn anything about Yoitsu, my friends, or that awful bear spirit, then I want to know it. What we learned from the bird woman in Kumersun was far from enough. It was like feeling thirst yet having but a few drops of water to quench it," murmured Holo weakly.
Being very careful now that he had understood the true nature of this conversation, Lawrence replied, "What do you want to do?"
Holo nodded once. "Might I...ask this of you?"
Her words gave off the sense that if he was to embrace her, her body would be soft and yielding.
Lawrence took a deep breath and replied, "Leave it to me."
Holo was still looking down. Her tail wagged a single time.
Though he was not sure how much of her current state was genuine, it was still enough to make him think the risk was worth the potential gain. He couldn't help wondering if he was drunk.
Suddenly Holo looked up to reveal a dauntless smile. "Actually, I've got an idea."
"Oh? Do tell."
"Well, about that..."

Output:
"We won't get anywhere being circumspect. And did I not just now ask if I could ask this of you? Did I not just ask if you would take a risk for me?"
"Still—"
Holo grinned, baring her fangs slightly. "'Leave it to me,' you said. It made me very happy."
Written contracts were composed with detailed descriptions so there was no room for interpretation.
But verbal contracts were dangerous because not only could there be arguments over what had or had not been said, but also it was hard to tell whether or not one had left room for interpretation.
Not to mention that Lawrence's opponent here was a centuries-old, self-proclaimed wisewolf.
He had utterly let his guard down, all along believing that he held the initiative.
"I have to grab your reins every once in a while, after all," said Holo, amused.
He had only answered so gallantly because it seemed like she was depending on him.
Lawrence felt pathetic for having even dreamed such a situation existed.
"Of course, if it doesn't go well, I'll leave things to you. So—," she said, smoothly taking his hand. "Right now I wish only to grab your hand."
Lawrence slumped.
He couldn't have brushed her hand away even if he'd wanted to.
"Right, then! Let us eat and go forth!"
Lawrence's reply was brief but entirely unambiguous.
***
In truth, if Father Franz had also been Louis Lana Schtinghilt, the abbot that Lawrence and Holo were seeking, then there was a good possibility that volumes and papers containing stories of the pagan gods were still in the church.
Naturally, if the situation was as Lawrence surmised, it was likely that Elsa would not take even the slightest risk and would disclose nothing about the abbey.
But the more important something was, the more likely it had been recorded, and the harder someone worked on something, the more difficult it would be to simply burn that work to ash.
In all likelihood, the documentation of the pagan gods remained within the church.
The problem was getting to this work.
"Pardon, is anyone there?" Just like they had the previous day, Lawrence and Holo called at the church's front door.
However, unlike the previous day, they had not come unprepared.
"...What business have you?"
It had been but a day, so Lawrence did not know whether Elsa would be willing to open the door, but that at least seemed not to be a problem.
Yesterday she had been palpably irritated. Today her face was dark and cloudy with displeasure.
Seeing how much Elsa seemed to hate them, Lawrence found himself paradoxically fond of her.
Lawrence gave an easy smile. "My apologies for yesterday. I heard from Mr. Evan that you've been facing a difficult situation."
She seemed to perk up a bit at the mention of Evan's name, glancing through the only slightly open door at Lawrence, then Holo, then the travel-ready wagon behind them before looking back at Lawrence.
He noticed that the displeasure on her face had lessened.
"...I gather you've come to ask about the abbey again?"
"No, no. As far as that goes, I've already inquired with the elder, who also said he knew nothing of it. It is possible that the information I got in Kumersun was mistaken. The source was a bit eccentric, truth be told."
"I see."
Though Elsa may have thought she had succeeded in her deception, a merchant's eyes were keener than that.
"Thus, though it be a bit earlier than we expected, we'll be moving on to the next town. As such, we've come to pray for safe travels."
"...If that is the case..." Though she seemed suspicious yet, Elsa slowly opened the door. "Come in," she said, inviting them to enter.
The door closed with a thud once Holo followed Lawrence into the church. They were both dressed in traveling clothes with Lawrence even carrying a knapsack over his shoulder.


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

Input:
"We won't get anywhere being circumspect. And did I not just now ask if I could ask this of you? Did I not just ask if you would take a risk for me?"
"Still—"
Holo grinned, baring her fangs slightly. "'Leave it to me,' you said. It made me very happy."
Written contracts were composed with detailed descriptions so there was no room for interpretation.
But verbal contracts were dangerous because not only could there be arguments over what had or had not been said, but also it was hard to tell whether or not one had left room for interpretation.
Not to mention that Lawrence's opponent here was a centuries-old, self-proclaimed wisewolf.
He had utterly let his guard down, all along believing that he held the initiative.
"I have to grab your reins every once in a while, after all," said Holo, amused.
He had only answered so gallantly because it seemed like she was depending on him.
Lawrence felt pathetic for having even dreamed such a situation existed.
"Of course, if it doesn't go well, I'll leave things to you. So—," she said, smoothly taking his hand. "Right now I wish only to grab your hand."
Lawrence slumped.
He couldn't have brushed her hand away even if he'd wanted to.
"Right, then! Let us eat and go forth!"
Lawrence's reply was brief but entirely unambiguous.
***
In truth, if Father Franz had also been Louis Lana Schtinghilt, the abbot that Lawrence and Holo were seeking, then there was a good possibility that volumes and papers containing stories of the pagan gods were still in the church.
Naturally, if the situation was as Lawrence surmised, it was likely that Elsa would not take even the slightest risk and would disclose nothing about the abbey.
But the more important something was, the more likely it had been recorded, and the harder someone worked on something, the more difficult it would be to simply burn that work to ash.
In all likelihood, the documentation of the pagan gods remained within the church.
The problem was getting to this work.
"Pardon, is anyone there?" Just like they had the previous day, Lawrence and Holo called at the church's front door.
However, unlike the previous day, they had not come unprepared.
"...What business have you?"
It had been but a day, so Lawrence did not know whether Elsa would be willing to open the door, but that at least seemed not to be a problem.
Yesterday she had been palpably irritated. Today her face was dark and cloudy with displeasure.
Seeing how much Elsa seemed to hate them, Lawrence found himself paradoxically fond of her.
Lawrence gave an easy smile. "My apologies for yesterday. I heard from Mr. Evan that you've been facing a difficult situation."
She seemed to perk up a bit at the mention of Evan's name, glancing through the only slightly open door at Lawrence, then Holo, then the travel-ready wagon behind them before looking back at Lawrence.
He noticed that the displeasure on her face had lessened.
"...I gather you've come to ask about the abbey again?"
"No, no. As far as that goes, I've already inquired with the elder, who also said he knew nothing of it. It is possible that the information I got in Kumersun was mistaken. The source was a bit eccentric, truth be told."
"I see."
Though Elsa may have thought she had succeeded in her deception, a merchant's eyes were keener than that.
"Thus, though it be a bit earlier than we expected, we'll be moving on to the next town. As such, we've come to pray for safe travels."
"...If that is the case..." Though she seemed suspicious yet, Elsa slowly opened the door. "Come in," she said, inviting them to enter.
The door closed with a thud once Holo followed Lawrence into the church. They were both dressed in traveling clothes with Lawrence even carrying a knapsack over his shoulder.

Output:
Elsa pulled up her cassock and walked around the two, opening the door to the sanctuary. "This way, please."
Upon entering, Holo and Lawrence found the sanctuary to have considerable grandeur.
At the front stood an altar and an image of the Holy Mother with light shining down from windows installed at the level of the second floor.
The high ceiling and lack of any chairs added to the feeling of spaciousness.
The stones of the floor were tightly joined. Even the greediest merchant would have had trouble prying them free to sell off.
The floor leading from the sanctuary door to the altar was slightly discolored from the feet that had treaded that path so often.
Lawrence followed Elsa as they made their way in and saw that the floor directly in front of the altar had been slightly worn down.
"Father Franz—," Lawrence started.
"Hm?"
"He must have been a man of great faith."
Elsa was momentarily surprised, but then she noticed where Lawrence was looking.
"Ah...yes, you're right. I'd...I'd never noticed until you pointed it out."
This was the first smile from Elsa that Lawrence had ever seen, and though it was small, it had a tenderness to it that seemed to suit a girl of the Church.
It struck Lawrence all the more, given how severe she had been at their first meeting.
The fact that he would soon cause that smile to disappear filled him with regret, as though he was extinguishing a flame that had been difficult to light.
"Then let us pray. Are you prepared?"
"Ah, before we start," said Lawrence, putting down his knapsack, removing his coat, and taking a step toward Elsa. "I must give my confession."
The unexpected request gave Elsa pause, but after a moment, she answered, "Er, well, in that case, there's another room—"
"No, I will give it here, before God."
Lawrence was adamant as he approached Elsa, and she did not quail, merely nodding. "Very well," she said with a quiet incline of her head, every inch the devout priest.
It seemed that Elsa's desire to inherit Father Franz's position was not solely for the village's benefit.
She saw Holo quietly retreat to the rear of the sanctuary, and then putting her hands together and bowing her head, she recited a prayer.
When she lifted her face again, she was a loyal servant of God.
"Confess your sins, for God is always forgiving to those who are honest."
Lawrence took a deep breath. He was just as likely to mock God as he was to pray, but here in the middle of the sanctuary, he couldn't help but feel a certain trepidation.
He exhaled slowly, then knelt down on the floor. "I have told a lie."
"What kind of lie?"
"I have been deceptive for my own gain."
"You have confessed your sin before God. Now have you the courage to tell the truth?"
Lawrence raised his head. "I have."
"Though God knows all, he still wishes to hear you speak your transgressions. Do not be afraid. God is always merciful to those whose faith is good."
Lawrence closed his eyes. "I lied today."
"In what way?"
"I tricked someone using a false pretense."
Elsa paused for a moment, then spoke. "For what reason?"
"There was something I had to know, and in order to learn it, I lied to get close to the source of that knowledge."
"...To whom did you lie...?"
Lawrence looked up and answered, "To you, Miss Elsa."
She was obviously stunned.
"I have now confessed my lie before God, and I have told the truth." Lawrence stood. He was a full head taller than Elsa. "I am seeking Diendran Abbey, and I have come to ask you its location."
Elsa bit her lip. Though her eyes were filled with hatred, she lacked the resolve of their first encounter, the strength to turn away any request.
There was a reason Lawrence had delivered his confession here.
He had to trap Elsa, whose faith was plainly deep, here—here before God.
"No," Lawrence corrected himself. "I have lied again. I have not come here to ask the location."
Confusion spread over Elsa's face like oil over water.
"I have come to ask whether this is Diendran Abbey."
***


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

Input:
Elsa pulled up her cassock and walked around the two, opening the door to the sanctuary. "This way, please."
Upon entering, Holo and Lawrence found the sanctuary to have considerable grandeur.
At the front stood an altar and an image of the Holy Mother with light shining down from windows installed at the level of the second floor.
The high ceiling and lack of any chairs added to the feeling of spaciousness.
The stones of the floor were tightly joined. Even the greediest merchant would have had trouble prying them free to sell off.
The floor leading from the sanctuary door to the altar was slightly discolored from the feet that had treaded that path so often.
Lawrence followed Elsa as they made their way in and saw that the floor directly in front of the altar had been slightly worn down.
"Father Franz—," Lawrence started.
"Hm?"
"He must have been a man of great faith."
Elsa was momentarily surprised, but then she noticed where Lawrence was looking.
"Ah...yes, you're right. I'd...I'd never noticed until you pointed it out."
This was the first smile from Elsa that Lawrence had ever seen, and though it was small, it had a tenderness to it that seemed to suit a girl of the Church.
It struck Lawrence all the more, given how severe she had been at their first meeting.
The fact that he would soon cause that smile to disappear filled him with regret, as though he was extinguishing a flame that had been difficult to light.
"Then let us pray. Are you prepared?"
"Ah, before we start," said Lawrence, putting down his knapsack, removing his coat, and taking a step toward Elsa. "I must give my confession."
The unexpected request gave Elsa pause, but after a moment, she answered, "Er, well, in that case, there's another room—"
"No, I will give it here, before God."
Lawrence was adamant as he approached Elsa, and she did not quail, merely nodding. "Very well," she said with a quiet incline of her head, every inch the devout priest.
It seemed that Elsa's desire to inherit Father Franz's position was not solely for the village's benefit.
She saw Holo quietly retreat to the rear of the sanctuary, and then putting her hands together and bowing her head, she recited a prayer.
When she lifted her face again, she was a loyal servant of God.
"Confess your sins, for God is always forgiving to those who are honest."
Lawrence took a deep breath. He was just as likely to mock God as he was to pray, but here in the middle of the sanctuary, he couldn't help but feel a certain trepidation.
He exhaled slowly, then knelt down on the floor. "I have told a lie."
"What kind of lie?"
"I have been deceptive for my own gain."
"You have confessed your sin before God. Now have you the courage to tell the truth?"
Lawrence raised his head. "I have."
"Though God knows all, he still wishes to hear you speak your transgressions. Do not be afraid. God is always merciful to those whose faith is good."
Lawrence closed his eyes. "I lied today."
"In what way?"
"I tricked someone using a false pretense."
Elsa paused for a moment, then spoke. "For what reason?"
"There was something I had to know, and in order to learn it, I lied to get close to the source of that knowledge."
"...To whom did you lie...?"
Lawrence looked up and answered, "To you, Miss Elsa."
She was obviously stunned.
"I have now confessed my lie before God, and I have told the truth." Lawrence stood. He was a full head taller than Elsa. "I am seeking Diendran Abbey, and I have come to ask you its location."
Elsa bit her lip. Though her eyes were filled with hatred, she lacked the resolve of their first encounter, the strength to turn away any request.
There was a reason Lawrence had delivered his confession here.
He had to trap Elsa, whose faith was plainly deep, here—here before God.
"No," Lawrence corrected himself. "I have lied again. I have not come here to ask the location."
Confusion spread over Elsa's face like oil over water.
"I have come to ask whether this is Diendran Abbey."
***

Output:
She stood before God.
Here, of all places, she could not lie.
"Miss Elsa, this is Diendran Abbey, and Father Franz was also Louis Lana Schtinghilt. Do I not speak the truth?"
On the verge of tears, Elsa looked away, as though she childishly believed that as long as she did not shake her head, her response was not a lie.
But her reaction was as good as a confirmation.
"Miss Elsa, we simply wish to know the contents of the pagan tales that Father Franz collected. It is not for business and certainly has nothing to do with Enberch."
Elsa gave a short gasp, then snapped her mouth shut so as not to let anything escape.
"Am I wrong in thinking that the reason you wish to keep the fact that this is Diendran Abbey a secret is because Father Franz's collected records are here?"
A drop of sweat trickled down slowly from Elsa's temple.
It was as good as an admission.
Lawrence casually closed his fist, signaling Holo.
"What you're worried about, Miss Elsa, is Enberch learning of Father Franz's activities, correct? All we want is to see his writings. We want to see them badly enough that we're willing to employ these upsetting methods."
Elsa opened her mouth almost involuntarily. "Wh-who...who are you?"
Lawrence did not answer immediately, simply looking at Elsa.
Elsa, who planned to bear the burdens of the church upon her slender frame, looked back at him uncertainly.
And then—
"Who are we? That is a question to which it is difficult to give a satisfying answer," interjected Holo.
Elsa suddenly looked over at Holo, as if only just realizing that she was present.
"There is a reason, though, why we—no, why I am forcing this issue."
"...What...what reason?" managed Elsa, her voice choked as she seemed on the verge of breaking into tears.
Holo nodded. "This reason."
Proving that they were not lackeys sent from Enberch was as difficult as trying to prove they were not demons.
But just as an angel might show its wings to prove that it was, at least, not a demon, there was a way for Holo and Lawrence to prove that whoever they were, they were not from Enberch.
Holo pulled her hood off, revealing her ears and tail.
"They are quite real. Would you care to touch them?"
Elsa's head drooped forward. For a moment, Lawrence thought she was nodding, her hands clutched to her heart.
"Ugh—"
But then with a strange groan, Elsa fainted dead away.
After placing Elsa on the simple bed, Lawrence sighed.
He had thought that being moderately threatening would be effective, but evidently they'd gone too far.
Elsa had fainted but would probably awaken soon.
Lawrence found his eyes wandering around the room.
Though the Church certainly extolled the virtues of frugality, this room was so bare and empty that Lawrence found himself wondering if Elsa truly lived in it.
Turning right upon entering the church led to a living room with a fireplace. At the far corner of the room was a hall that ran parallel to the sanctuary, leading up to a staircase to the second floor.
The bed was on the second floor, and Lawrence had carried her up the stairs and laid her on the bed. The only other objects in the room were a desk and a chair, an open book of scripture and exegesis, and a few letters. The only decoration was a loop of braided straw on one wall.
There were two second-floor rooms; the other bedroom seemed to be used for storage.
Though he was not intentionally looking around, Lawrence could tell at a glance that the room did not contain any of Father Franz's writings.
The storeroom contained various items used by the church throughout the year—fabric with ceremonial embroidery, candlesticks, swords, and shields. They were all covered in dust, as though they had not been used in a very long time.
Lawrence closed the storeroom's door. He heard the sound of light footsteps coming up the stairs, and when he turned to look, he saw it was Holo.


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

Input:
She stood before God.
Here, of all places, she could not lie.
"Miss Elsa, this is Diendran Abbey, and Father Franz was also Louis Lana Schtinghilt. Do I not speak the truth?"
On the verge of tears, Elsa looked away, as though she childishly believed that as long as she did not shake her head, her response was not a lie.
But her reaction was as good as a confirmation.
"Miss Elsa, we simply wish to know the contents of the pagan tales that Father Franz collected. It is not for business and certainly has nothing to do with Enberch."
Elsa gave a short gasp, then snapped her mouth shut so as not to let anything escape.
"Am I wrong in thinking that the reason you wish to keep the fact that this is Diendran Abbey a secret is because Father Franz's collected records are here?"
A drop of sweat trickled down slowly from Elsa's temple.
It was as good as an admission.
Lawrence casually closed his fist, signaling Holo.
"What you're worried about, Miss Elsa, is Enberch learning of Father Franz's activities, correct? All we want is to see his writings. We want to see them badly enough that we're willing to employ these upsetting methods."
Elsa opened her mouth almost involuntarily. "Wh-who...who are you?"
Lawrence did not answer immediately, simply looking at Elsa.
Elsa, who planned to bear the burdens of the church upon her slender frame, looked back at him uncertainly.
And then—
"Who are we? That is a question to which it is difficult to give a satisfying answer," interjected Holo.
Elsa suddenly looked over at Holo, as if only just realizing that she was present.
"There is a reason, though, why we—no, why I am forcing this issue."
"...What...what reason?" managed Elsa, her voice choked as she seemed on the verge of breaking into tears.
Holo nodded. "This reason."
Proving that they were not lackeys sent from Enberch was as difficult as trying to prove they were not demons.
But just as an angel might show its wings to prove that it was, at least, not a demon, there was a way for Holo and Lawrence to prove that whoever they were, they were not from Enberch.
Holo pulled her hood off, revealing her ears and tail.
"They are quite real. Would you care to touch them?"
Elsa's head drooped forward. For a moment, Lawrence thought she was nodding, her hands clutched to her heart.
"Ugh—"
But then with a strange groan, Elsa fainted dead away.
After placing Elsa on the simple bed, Lawrence sighed.
He had thought that being moderately threatening would be effective, but evidently they'd gone too far.
Elsa had fainted but would probably awaken soon.
Lawrence found his eyes wandering around the room.
Though the Church certainly extolled the virtues of frugality, this room was so bare and empty that Lawrence found himself wondering if Elsa truly lived in it.
Turning right upon entering the church led to a living room with a fireplace. At the far corner of the room was a hall that ran parallel to the sanctuary, leading up to a staircase to the second floor.
The bed was on the second floor, and Lawrence had carried her up the stairs and laid her on the bed. The only other objects in the room were a desk and a chair, an open book of scripture and exegesis, and a few letters. The only decoration was a loop of braided straw on one wall.
There were two second-floor rooms; the other bedroom seemed to be used for storage.
Though he was not intentionally looking around, Lawrence could tell at a glance that the room did not contain any of Father Franz's writings.
The storeroom contained various items used by the church throughout the year—fabric with ceremonial embroidery, candlesticks, swords, and shields. They were all covered in dust, as though they had not been used in a very long time.
Lawrence closed the storeroom's door. He heard the sound of light footsteps coming up the stairs, and when he turned to look, he saw it was Holo.

Output:
The vague displeasure on her face was probably not overconcern for the still-unconscious Elsa, but rather because she had failed to find any of Father Franz's writings.
"I suppose it will be quickest to ask, after all. If they are hidden, we'll never find them," she admitted.
"You can't sniff them out?" said Lawrence without thinking, but Holo only smiled at him, and he hastily added, "Sorry!"
"So, is she yet asleep? I hardly expected her to be so frail."
"I don't know if that's it. I'm starting to wonder if her circumstances are more difficult than I'd imagined."
He knew he shouldn't, but Lawrence couldn't help reading the letters that were on her desk. Once he finished, he had a much better understanding of the things Elsa had done to stave off Enberch's intervention.
She had claimed to other churches that like Enberch, Tereo followed the orthodox faith and had sought the support of a nearby feudal lord in order to prevent Enberch from attacking.
But looking at the lord's response, Lawrence noticed that he seemed to give his support more out of a debt to Father Franz than out of any trust Elsa had won on her own.
There were also letters from large dioceses that even Lawrence had heard of.
On the whole, everything was as Lawrence had guessed.
It was not hard to imagine the days when Elsa would have been frantically anticipating the letter's arrival. Even Lawrence, an outsider, could imagine the awful suspense she must have felt.
Nonetheless, he had to guess that her greatest hardship lay somewhere else entirely.
The dust-covered artifacts in the storeroom told a tale all too clear.
Though she was holding off Enberch—with the elder's assistance—it seemed doubtful that any of the villagers felt any gratitude.
It was certainly true that they regarded the church with a measure of disdain.
"...Mm."
As Lawrence was thinking on it, he heard a small sound coming from the bed.
It seemed Elsa was awake.
Lawrence raised his hand to stop Holo, who looked ready to pounce like a wolf that has heard a hare's footsteps. He cleared his throat softly. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Elsa did not jerk herself upright, but simply opened her eyes slowly. Her expression was complicated, as though she was unsure whether to feel surprised, frightened, or angry. She seemed to settle on a vaguely troubled look.
She nodded her head slightly. "Are you not going to tie me up?"
They were bold words.
"If it seemed like you were going to call for someone, I was prepared for that. I have rope in my knapsack."
"And if I should call out now?"
Elsa looked away from Lawrence to Holo—Holo whose wish to know the location of the old tales had brought them here.
"That would benefit neither you nor us," said Lawrence.
Elsa looked back at Lawrence, closing her eyes. He noticed her long eyelashes.
Despite her stoicism, she was still a young woman.
"What I saw...," she began, trying to sit up. Lawrence extended his hand to help her, but she waved it off. "I'm fine."
She looked at Holo with neither malice nor fear, as though looking at heavy clouds that were finally beginning to shed rain. "What I saw was not a dream, was it?"
"'Twould be better for us if you were to think of it as such," said Holo.
"It is said that demons trick humans through dreams."
Though he could tell that Holo was not being entirely serious, Lawrence was less sure about Elsa.
He looked at Holo; her annoyed expression suggested that she was at least partly in earnest.
The tension between the two had more to do with conflicting personalities, Lawrence guessed, than it did with the fact that one was a devout member of the Church while the other was a spirit of the harvest.
"So long as we reach our goal, we will disappear like a dream and trouble you no further. I ask you again: Will you show us the writings of Father Franz?" asked Lawrence, coming between the two.
"I...I still cannot be sure that you were not sent from Enberch. But if that is indeed the case...what is your goal?"


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

Input:
The vague displeasure on her face was probably not overconcern for the still-unconscious Elsa, but rather because she had failed to find any of Father Franz's writings.
"I suppose it will be quickest to ask, after all. If they are hidden, we'll never find them," she admitted.
"You can't sniff them out?" said Lawrence without thinking, but Holo only smiled at him, and he hastily added, "Sorry!"
"So, is she yet asleep? I hardly expected her to be so frail."
"I don't know if that's it. I'm starting to wonder if her circumstances are more difficult than I'd imagined."
He knew he shouldn't, but Lawrence couldn't help reading the letters that were on her desk. Once he finished, he had a much better understanding of the things Elsa had done to stave off Enberch's intervention.
She had claimed to other churches that like Enberch, Tereo followed the orthodox faith and had sought the support of a nearby feudal lord in order to prevent Enberch from attacking.
But looking at the lord's response, Lawrence noticed that he seemed to give his support more out of a debt to Father Franz than out of any trust Elsa had won on her own.
There were also letters from large dioceses that even Lawrence had heard of.
On the whole, everything was as Lawrence had guessed.
It was not hard to imagine the days when Elsa would have been frantically anticipating the letter's arrival. Even Lawrence, an outsider, could imagine the awful suspense she must have felt.
Nonetheless, he had to guess that her greatest hardship lay somewhere else entirely.
The dust-covered artifacts in the storeroom told a tale all too clear.
Though she was holding off Enberch—with the elder's assistance—it seemed doubtful that any of the villagers felt any gratitude.
It was certainly true that they regarded the church with a measure of disdain.
"...Mm."
As Lawrence was thinking on it, he heard a small sound coming from the bed.
It seemed Elsa was awake.
Lawrence raised his hand to stop Holo, who looked ready to pounce like a wolf that has heard a hare's footsteps. He cleared his throat softly. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Elsa did not jerk herself upright, but simply opened her eyes slowly. Her expression was complicated, as though she was unsure whether to feel surprised, frightened, or angry. She seemed to settle on a vaguely troubled look.
She nodded her head slightly. "Are you not going to tie me up?"
They were bold words.
"If it seemed like you were going to call for someone, I was prepared for that. I have rope in my knapsack."
"And if I should call out now?"
Elsa looked away from Lawrence to Holo—Holo whose wish to know the location of the old tales had brought them here.
"That would benefit neither you nor us," said Lawrence.
Elsa looked back at Lawrence, closing her eyes. He noticed her long eyelashes.
Despite her stoicism, she was still a young woman.
"What I saw...," she began, trying to sit up. Lawrence extended his hand to help her, but she waved it off. "I'm fine."
She looked at Holo with neither malice nor fear, as though looking at heavy clouds that were finally beginning to shed rain. "What I saw was not a dream, was it?"
"'Twould be better for us if you were to think of it as such," said Holo.
"It is said that demons trick humans through dreams."
Though he could tell that Holo was not being entirely serious, Lawrence was less sure about Elsa.
He looked at Holo; her annoyed expression suggested that she was at least partly in earnest.
The tension between the two had more to do with conflicting personalities, Lawrence guessed, than it did with the fact that one was a devout member of the Church while the other was a spirit of the harvest.
"So long as we reach our goal, we will disappear like a dream and trouble you no further. I ask you again: Will you show us the writings of Father Franz?" asked Lawrence, coming between the two.
"I...I still cannot be sure that you were not sent from Enberch. But if that is indeed the case...what is your goal?"

Output:
"I wish to return to my home," she said.
"Your home...?"
"But ages have passed since I was there. I have forgotten the way, and I know not if my old friends are well. Indeed, I cannot even be sure it still exists," explained Holo plainly. "What would you do if you learned there might be someone who knew something of your home?"
Even someone who had spent a lifetime in the same village would want to know how that village was viewed by others.
It was all the more true for people who had left their homes.
Elsa was silent for some time, and Holo did not press her.
Her downcast eyes made it clear that she was deep in thought.
Despite her youth, it was obvious that she was no maiden who blithely floated through life, picking flowers and singing songs.
When Lawrence had claimed to want to confess his sins, he could tell that her solemnity was no affectation.
Though she may have fainted upon first seeing Holo's inhuman nature, Lawrence felt she was smart enough to make the best decision given the situation.
Elsa put her hand to her chest and recited a prayer, then looked up. "I am a servant of God," she said, continuing before Lawrence or Holo could interrupt. "But at the same time, I am Father Franz's successor." She got off the bed, smoothing the wrinkles in her cassock, then clearing her throat. "I do not believe that you have been possessed by a demon, because Father Franz always said there was no such thing."
Lawrence was more than a little surprised at Elsa's statement, but Holo's expression seemed to say that as long as she could see the records, all was well.
Eventually Holo seemed to become aware of Elsa's willingness to give in, and though her face remained serious, the tip of her tail wagged restlessly.
"Please come with me. I will show you."
For a moment Lawrence wondered if she had only said this to escape, but Holo followed without question, so evidently there was no need to worry.
Once they came to the living room on the first floor, Elsa lightly touched the brick wall next to the fireplace with her fingers.
Then coming to a particular stone, she slowly pulled it free.
Having pulled it out like a drawer, Elsa turned the brick over, and a slender golden key fell into her hand.
From behind, her form was every bit the stoic girl she was.
She lit a candle and put it on a stand, then turned to Lawrence and Holo.
"Let us go," she said quietly, then walked down the hallway that continued deeper into the church.
The church was deeper than Lawrence had guessed.
Unlike the sanctuary, clean and well used thanks to constant prayer, the state of the hallway could hardly be complimented.
The candlesticks on the walls were covered with cobwebs, and little pieces of stone that had crumbled off from the walls crunched constantly underfoot.
"Here we are," said Elsa, stopping. The direction she pointed in was probably directly behind the sanctuary.
There on a pedestal was a statue of the Holy Mother roughly as large as a young child. The Holy Mother held her hands together in prayer and faced the entrance to the church.
The space behind the sanctuary was the holiest place in the church.
Saintly remains or bones—so-called "holy relics"—and other items important to the Church were stored here.
It was the standard place for the Church to keep precious things, and so to use it to store writings on pagan stories took a good deal of nerve.
"May God forgive us," murmured Elsa. She took the brass key in her hand and inserted it into a small hole at the base of the statue.
The tiny keyhole was not easy to spot in the gloom. Elsa turned the key with some force, and from within the statue came the distinct sound of something unlocking.
"In his will, Father Franz said that the statue could be removed from the pedestal...but I have never seen it opened."
"Understood," said Lawrence with a nod.
As soon as he approached the statue, Elsa backed away, worry in her eyes.


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

Input:
"I wish to return to my home," she said.
"Your home...?"
"But ages have passed since I was there. I have forgotten the way, and I know not if my old friends are well. Indeed, I cannot even be sure it still exists," explained Holo plainly. "What would you do if you learned there might be someone who knew something of your home?"
Even someone who had spent a lifetime in the same village would want to know how that village was viewed by others.
It was all the more true for people who had left their homes.
Elsa was silent for some time, and Holo did not press her.
Her downcast eyes made it clear that she was deep in thought.
Despite her youth, it was obvious that she was no maiden who blithely floated through life, picking flowers and singing songs.
When Lawrence had claimed to want to confess his sins, he could tell that her solemnity was no affectation.
Though she may have fainted upon first seeing Holo's inhuman nature, Lawrence felt she was smart enough to make the best decision given the situation.
Elsa put her hand to her chest and recited a prayer, then looked up. "I am a servant of God," she said, continuing before Lawrence or Holo could interrupt. "But at the same time, I am Father Franz's successor." She got off the bed, smoothing the wrinkles in her cassock, then clearing her throat. "I do not believe that you have been possessed by a demon, because Father Franz always said there was no such thing."
Lawrence was more than a little surprised at Elsa's statement, but Holo's expression seemed to say that as long as she could see the records, all was well.
Eventually Holo seemed to become aware of Elsa's willingness to give in, and though her face remained serious, the tip of her tail wagged restlessly.
"Please come with me. I will show you."
For a moment Lawrence wondered if she had only said this to escape, but Holo followed without question, so evidently there was no need to worry.
Once they came to the living room on the first floor, Elsa lightly touched the brick wall next to the fireplace with her fingers.
Then coming to a particular stone, she slowly pulled it free.
Having pulled it out like a drawer, Elsa turned the brick over, and a slender golden key fell into her hand.
From behind, her form was every bit the stoic girl she was.
She lit a candle and put it on a stand, then turned to Lawrence and Holo.
"Let us go," she said quietly, then walked down the hallway that continued deeper into the church.
The church was deeper than Lawrence had guessed.
Unlike the sanctuary, clean and well used thanks to constant prayer, the state of the hallway could hardly be complimented.
The candlesticks on the walls were covered with cobwebs, and little pieces of stone that had crumbled off from the walls crunched constantly underfoot.
"Here we are," said Elsa, stopping. The direction she pointed in was probably directly behind the sanctuary.
There on a pedestal was a statue of the Holy Mother roughly as large as a young child. The Holy Mother held her hands together in prayer and faced the entrance to the church.
The space behind the sanctuary was the holiest place in the church.
Saintly remains or bones—so-called "holy relics"—and other items important to the Church were stored here.
It was the standard place for the Church to keep precious things, and so to use it to store writings on pagan stories took a good deal of nerve.
"May God forgive us," murmured Elsa. She took the brass key in her hand and inserted it into a small hole at the base of the statue.
The tiny keyhole was not easy to spot in the gloom. Elsa turned the key with some force, and from within the statue came the distinct sound of something unlocking.
"In his will, Father Franz said that the statue could be removed from the pedestal...but I have never seen it opened."
"Understood," said Lawrence with a nod.
As soon as he approached the statue, Elsa backed away, worry in her eyes.

Output:
Evidently it was hollow.
"Oof!...There." Lawrence set the statue down beside the wall, taking care that it didn't fall over.
Elsa looked at the space left by the statue, hesitating for a moment, but under Holo's insistent gaze, she approached it again.
She turned the key in the opposite direction and removed it, this time inserting it into a small hole in the floor some distance away from the pedestal and turning it twice clockwise.
"Now...we should be able to lift the pedestal and stone free from the floor," Elsa said, still crouching. Holo looked at Lawrence.
Offering any opposition now would bring her sincere ire down upon him, so he sighed and prepared himself. But at that moment, he glimpsed her making an uneasy expression.
She had made a similar expression before, only to then tease Lawrence by saying, "So you like to see me this way?" Thus he could not be sure whether or not she was truly concerned, but the possibility of it was enough to give him renewed vigor.
"It seems like the only place to take hold of it...is the pedestal. Something like this—"
Not knowing exactly how to open the floor, Lawrence looked it over, then planted his feet and took hold of the pedestal. Given the way the seams of the floor stones went, it appeared that the stone nearest the church entrance would lift.
"Hng!" Lawrence braced himself and pulled up. There was an unpleasant grinding sound, like sand in a millstone—but sure enough, the pedestal lifted, along with the floor stones.
Keeping his position, he shifted his grip and lifted with all his might.
Stone ground against stone, and rusted metal creaked as the floor lifted up, revealing a dark cellar.
It did not appear to be very deep; at the foot of the stone stairs was something that looked like a bookcase.
"Shall we go in?"
"...I will go first," said Elsa.
It seemed that at the very least, Elsa had no intention of letting Lawrence and Holo enter first and then closing the door behind them.
And in any case, having come this far, there was no point in hesitation.
"Understood. The air seems a bit stale, so be careful," said Lawrence.
Elsa nodded, and then holding the candle in one hand, she made her way carefully down the steep steps.
Two or three steps past the point where her head was just beneath the floor, Elsa stopped to place the candle in a hollow carved in the wall. She then proceeded.
Lawrence had worried that she planned to set fire to the contents of the room, but apparently he could relax on that count.
"You seem still more suspicious than I," said Holo, perhaps having noticed his concern.
Elsa returned shortly.
In her hands she carried a sealed letter along with a bundle of parchment.
She was half crawling back up the steps, so Lawrence extended a hand to help her.
"...Thank you. I apologize for the wait."
"Not at all. Are those...?" asked Lawrence.
"Letters," answered Elsa briefly. "The books within are what you seek, I believe."
"May we take them out to read them?" asked Lawrence.
"I would ask you to read them within the church." It was a reasonable answer.
"I shall enter, then," said Holo, quickly descending the stairs and entering the cellar. She was soon out of sight.
Though he didn't follow Holo down, it wasn't because Lawrence wanted to watch over Elsa.
"I know it's late to be saying this, but I know that we forced you into this. I thank you and offer my apologies," said Lawrence to Elsa, who stared vaguely down into the cellar entrance.
"Yes, you did indeed force me," said Elsa.
Lawrence had no words in the face of her glare.
"Still...still, I think Father Franz would have been pleased."
"Eh?"
"He was fond of saying, 'The stories I collect are no mere fairy tales.'" Elsa's grip on the letter she held tightened.
Those letters had probably been left behind by the late Father.
"This is my first time entering this cellar as well. I did not expect there to be so many books. If you plan to read them all, you may wish to make new arrangements at the inn."


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

Input:
Evidently it was hollow.
"Oof!...There." Lawrence set the statue down beside the wall, taking care that it didn't fall over.
Elsa looked at the space left by the statue, hesitating for a moment, but under Holo's insistent gaze, she approached it again.
She turned the key in the opposite direction and removed it, this time inserting it into a small hole in the floor some distance away from the pedestal and turning it twice clockwise.
"Now...we should be able to lift the pedestal and stone free from the floor," Elsa said, still crouching. Holo looked at Lawrence.
Offering any opposition now would bring her sincere ire down upon him, so he sighed and prepared himself. But at that moment, he glimpsed her making an uneasy expression.
She had made a similar expression before, only to then tease Lawrence by saying, "So you like to see me this way?" Thus he could not be sure whether or not she was truly concerned, but the possibility of it was enough to give him renewed vigor.
"It seems like the only place to take hold of it...is the pedestal. Something like this—"
Not knowing exactly how to open the floor, Lawrence looked it over, then planted his feet and took hold of the pedestal. Given the way the seams of the floor stones went, it appeared that the stone nearest the church entrance would lift.
"Hng!" Lawrence braced himself and pulled up. There was an unpleasant grinding sound, like sand in a millstone—but sure enough, the pedestal lifted, along with the floor stones.
Keeping his position, he shifted his grip and lifted with all his might.
Stone ground against stone, and rusted metal creaked as the floor lifted up, revealing a dark cellar.
It did not appear to be very deep; at the foot of the stone stairs was something that looked like a bookcase.
"Shall we go in?"
"...I will go first," said Elsa.
It seemed that at the very least, Elsa had no intention of letting Lawrence and Holo enter first and then closing the door behind them.
And in any case, having come this far, there was no point in hesitation.
"Understood. The air seems a bit stale, so be careful," said Lawrence.
Elsa nodded, and then holding the candle in one hand, she made her way carefully down the steep steps.
Two or three steps past the point where her head was just beneath the floor, Elsa stopped to place the candle in a hollow carved in the wall. She then proceeded.
Lawrence had worried that she planned to set fire to the contents of the room, but apparently he could relax on that count.
"You seem still more suspicious than I," said Holo, perhaps having noticed his concern.
Elsa returned shortly.
In her hands she carried a sealed letter along with a bundle of parchment.
She was half crawling back up the steps, so Lawrence extended a hand to help her.
"...Thank you. I apologize for the wait."
"Not at all. Are those...?" asked Lawrence.
"Letters," answered Elsa briefly. "The books within are what you seek, I believe."
"May we take them out to read them?" asked Lawrence.
"I would ask you to read them within the church." It was a reasonable answer.
"I shall enter, then," said Holo, quickly descending the stairs and entering the cellar. She was soon out of sight.
Though he didn't follow Holo down, it wasn't because Lawrence wanted to watch over Elsa.
"I know it's late to be saying this, but I know that we forced you into this. I thank you and offer my apologies," said Lawrence to Elsa, who stared vaguely down into the cellar entrance.
"Yes, you did indeed force me," said Elsa.
Lawrence had no words in the face of her glare.
"Still...still, I think Father Franz would have been pleased."
"Eh?"
"He was fond of saying, 'The stories I collect are no mere fairy tales.'" Elsa's grip on the letter she held tightened.
Those letters had probably been left behind by the late Father.
"This is my first time entering this cellar as well. I did not expect there to be so many books. If you plan to read them all, you may wish to make new arrangements at the inn."

Output:
They had of course also settled their account with the inn.
"Ah, but you might call someone else while we go," said Lawrence.
He hadn't been entirely joking, but Elsa in any case seemed unamused. "I serve this church. It is my intention to embrace the true faith. I would never lay such a trap," she said, smoothing her tightly bound hair and shooting Lawrence a stern glance, even sharper than the ones he had received upon first meeting her. "Even in the sanctuary, I did not tell a lie."
It was true that her silence then did not constitute a lie.
Yet in spite of her resolve and the keenness of her gaze, her childlike insistence on this point reminded Lawrence of a certain someone else he knew.
So he merely nodded and agreed. "I was the one who set a trap. However, had I not done so, you would never have agreed to my request."
"I shall remember never to let my guard down around a merchant," said Elsa with a sigh.
Holo came staggering back up the stairs, carrying a heavy volume with her. "Hey—you—"
Lawrence hurried to help Holo, who seemed unable to bear the weight of the book and looked as though she might topple over backward. He grabbed her arms, helping her support the book.
The magnificent tome was bound in leather and reinforced at the corners with iron.
"Whew. This is certainly not something one simply wanders about with. May I read it here?" asked Holo.
"I do not mind, but please extinguish the candle when you are finished. This church is not wealthy, after all."
"Hmph," said Holo, looking at Lawrence.
Since none of the villagers attended services, there were no tithes.
It was easy to assume that Elsa spoke not out of malice or spite but simply because that was the truth.
Lawrence opened his coin purse, taking out some money—his thanks for having his confession heard and for having troubled her so.
"I have heard that if a merchant wishes to rise to the kingdom of heaven, he must lighten his coin purse," he said.
***
He offered three silver coins.
They would be enough to buy a roomful of candles.
"God's blessing be on you," said Elsa, taking the coins, then turning and walking away.
Lawrence guessed that if she was willing to accept the coins, she must not consider them tainted.
"So what do you think? Can you read it yourself?" he asked Holo.
"I can. I am lucky on that count. I owe it to my exemplary conduct."
She had gall to make jokes like that in a church.
"And which god is it that blesses people with luck according to their righteousness?"
"If you want to know, you'd best get me an offering."
Lawrence felt sure that if he was to turn and look at the statue of the Holy Mother leaning against the wall, a bitter smile would have been on her face.
Once they returned to the inn and secured their room again—after enduring some teasing from the laughing innkeeper—Lawrence pondered what he would do next.
They had gotten Elsa to reveal her secret and discovered Father Franz's books. So far, so good.
Though Holo had revealed her ears and tail, as long as Enberch continued to watch for a chance to strike, Elsa could not reveal the truth.
Lawrence admitted to himself that it was possible Elsa would tell the truth of Holo's nature to the villagers in order to goad them into action, saying she was a servant of evil come to bring calamity upon the village.
But as to the question of whether she had anything to gain from such an action, the answer was an obvious "no."
Though Elsa had fainted upon first seeing Holo's ears, ever since she'd awoken, she had regarded Holo with neither fear nor loathing.
Truthfully she probably saved her loathing for Lawrence.
All that being the case, the next problem would be the people surrounding Elsa—Sem the village elder and Evan. If they were to learn of Holo's nature, there was no telling what would happen.
There were a considerable number of books to read in the cellar. Holo and Lawrence would need some time to go through all of them.


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

Input:
They had of course also settled their account with the inn.
"Ah, but you might call someone else while we go," said Lawrence.
He hadn't been entirely joking, but Elsa in any case seemed unamused. "I serve this church. It is my intention to embrace the true faith. I would never lay such a trap," she said, smoothing her tightly bound hair and shooting Lawrence a stern glance, even sharper than the ones he had received upon first meeting her. "Even in the sanctuary, I did not tell a lie."
It was true that her silence then did not constitute a lie.
Yet in spite of her resolve and the keenness of her gaze, her childlike insistence on this point reminded Lawrence of a certain someone else he knew.
So he merely nodded and agreed. "I was the one who set a trap. However, had I not done so, you would never have agreed to my request."
"I shall remember never to let my guard down around a merchant," said Elsa with a sigh.
Holo came staggering back up the stairs, carrying a heavy volume with her. "Hey—you—"
Lawrence hurried to help Holo, who seemed unable to bear the weight of the book and looked as though she might topple over backward. He grabbed her arms, helping her support the book.
The magnificent tome was bound in leather and reinforced at the corners with iron.
"Whew. This is certainly not something one simply wanders about with. May I read it here?" asked Holo.
"I do not mind, but please extinguish the candle when you are finished. This church is not wealthy, after all."
"Hmph," said Holo, looking at Lawrence.
Since none of the villagers attended services, there were no tithes.
It was easy to assume that Elsa spoke not out of malice or spite but simply because that was the truth.
Lawrence opened his coin purse, taking out some money—his thanks for having his confession heard and for having troubled her so.
"I have heard that if a merchant wishes to rise to the kingdom of heaven, he must lighten his coin purse," he said.
***
He offered three silver coins.
They would be enough to buy a roomful of candles.
"God's blessing be on you," said Elsa, taking the coins, then turning and walking away.
Lawrence guessed that if she was willing to accept the coins, she must not consider them tainted.
"So what do you think? Can you read it yourself?" he asked Holo.
"I can. I am lucky on that count. I owe it to my exemplary conduct."
She had gall to make jokes like that in a church.
"And which god is it that blesses people with luck according to their righteousness?"
"If you want to know, you'd best get me an offering."
Lawrence felt sure that if he was to turn and look at the statue of the Holy Mother leaning against the wall, a bitter smile would have been on her face.
Once they returned to the inn and secured their room again—after enduring some teasing from the laughing innkeeper—Lawrence pondered what he would do next.
They had gotten Elsa to reveal her secret and discovered Father Franz's books. So far, so good.
Though Holo had revealed her ears and tail, as long as Enberch continued to watch for a chance to strike, Elsa could not reveal the truth.
Lawrence admitted to himself that it was possible Elsa would tell the truth of Holo's nature to the villagers in order to goad them into action, saying she was a servant of evil come to bring calamity upon the village.
But as to the question of whether she had anything to gain from such an action, the answer was an obvious "no."
Though Elsa had fainted upon first seeing Holo's ears, ever since she'd awoken, she had regarded Holo with neither fear nor loathing.
Truthfully she probably saved her loathing for Lawrence.
All that being the case, the next problem would be the people surrounding Elsa—Sem the village elder and Evan. If they were to learn of Holo's nature, there was no telling what would happen.
There were a considerable number of books to read in the cellar. Holo and Lawrence would need some time to go through all of them.

Output:
Though she had accused him of being paranoid, he felt that he had not been suspicious enough.
But there was no guarantee that taking this or that action wouldn't rouse a sleeping snake, so to speak.
He returned to the church, thinking that in any case they needed to come up with some kind of pretense for why they were spending time there.
He found Elsa reading letters at a desk that looked far too big for her in the living room, which was every bit as painfully simple as her bedroom. She did not look as though she had secretly informed the villagers and was merely waiting for his return to spring the trap.
When he had knocked on the church's front door, there'd been no response, so he took the liberty of coming in. There was little reaction from her when he entered the living room.
Elsa merely glanced at Lawrence, saying nothing.
He couldn't very well just walk by her into the back of the church without saying anything.
"Are you sure you don't want to keep an eye on us? We might steal the books, you know," he said jokingly.
"If you planned to do that, there would be no reason not to tie me up," she shot back correctly.
Evidently Holo was not the only tough girl in the world.
"And if you were from Enberch, you'd already be speeding back to the town on a fast horse."
"Ah, but is that really true? There's nothing to say you wouldn't set fire to the books in the cellar. If the books were ash within the time it takes to get to Enberch and back, there'd be no proof."
The exchange was both light banter and irritated conversation.
Elsa sighed and looked at Lawrence. "So long as you do not plan to bring calamity upon the village, I have not the slightest intention of raising a fuss. Though it's true that your companion has no business being in a church, I..."
She trailed off, closing her eyes as if not wanting to see a question that had no answer.
"All we wish to do is learn more of the northlands. Your suspicion is completely understandable."
"No," said Elsa, her voice unexpectedly firm.
Having done so, she seemed to realize she hadn't prepared for words that would follow this denial.
It was only after letting out a deep sigh that she was able to continue. "No...if the question is whether I feel suspicion, I admit I do. If it were possible, I wish that I could consult with someone else. But...my problem is of a larger..."
"You wish to know if my companion is truly what she claims to be?"
Elsa's face froze as though she had swallowed a needle. "There is that as well, yes..."
She looked down, the only remaining hint of her steadfast nature being her ramrod-straight spine.
She seemed unable to continue.
Lawrence then asked, "And what else?"
Elsa did not reply.
Lawrence's livelihood was negotiating with people.
When a person withdrew, he knew when to pursue and when to wait for that person to open up again.
This was undoubtedly the former.
"I cannot take your confession, but I may be able to give you some advice. However..."
Elsa peered at him as though from within a deep cave.
"...However, you will only be able to get sincere answers on things outside of business," Lawrence finished with a smile. He felt that just for a moment, Elsa also smiled.
"No," she said, "the question I have may well be best asked of a person like you. Might I ask you, then?"
When asking a favor, it is a very difficult thing to avoid seeming servile and to also preserve one's dignity without appearing high-handed.
Yet Elsa managed it.
She was the image of the clergy.
"I cannot guarantee that any answer I give will be satisfying."
Elsa nodded and spoke slowly, as if to be sure of every word she said. "If...if the stories collected in the books in the cellar are not false..."
"Yes...?"
"Does that mean the God we believe in is false?"
***
It was a simple question but an extremely serious one at the same time.
The God of the Church was omnipotent, omniscient; there were none but him.
His existence was incompatible with the many gods of the pagan tradition.


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

Input:
Though she had accused him of being paranoid, he felt that he had not been suspicious enough.
But there was no guarantee that taking this or that action wouldn't rouse a sleeping snake, so to speak.
He returned to the church, thinking that in any case they needed to come up with some kind of pretense for why they were spending time there.
He found Elsa reading letters at a desk that looked far too big for her in the living room, which was every bit as painfully simple as her bedroom. She did not look as though she had secretly informed the villagers and was merely waiting for his return to spring the trap.
When he had knocked on the church's front door, there'd been no response, so he took the liberty of coming in. There was little reaction from her when he entered the living room.
Elsa merely glanced at Lawrence, saying nothing.
He couldn't very well just walk by her into the back of the church without saying anything.
"Are you sure you don't want to keep an eye on us? We might steal the books, you know," he said jokingly.
"If you planned to do that, there would be no reason not to tie me up," she shot back correctly.
Evidently Holo was not the only tough girl in the world.
"And if you were from Enberch, you'd already be speeding back to the town on a fast horse."
"Ah, but is that really true? There's nothing to say you wouldn't set fire to the books in the cellar. If the books were ash within the time it takes to get to Enberch and back, there'd be no proof."
The exchange was both light banter and irritated conversation.
Elsa sighed and looked at Lawrence. "So long as you do not plan to bring calamity upon the village, I have not the slightest intention of raising a fuss. Though it's true that your companion has no business being in a church, I..."
She trailed off, closing her eyes as if not wanting to see a question that had no answer.
"All we wish to do is learn more of the northlands. Your suspicion is completely understandable."
"No," said Elsa, her voice unexpectedly firm.
Having done so, she seemed to realize she hadn't prepared for words that would follow this denial.
It was only after letting out a deep sigh that she was able to continue. "No...if the question is whether I feel suspicion, I admit I do. If it were possible, I wish that I could consult with someone else. But...my problem is of a larger..."
"You wish to know if my companion is truly what she claims to be?"
Elsa's face froze as though she had swallowed a needle. "There is that as well, yes..."
She looked down, the only remaining hint of her steadfast nature being her ramrod-straight spine.
She seemed unable to continue.
Lawrence then asked, "And what else?"
Elsa did not reply.
Lawrence's livelihood was negotiating with people.
When a person withdrew, he knew when to pursue and when to wait for that person to open up again.
This was undoubtedly the former.
"I cannot take your confession, but I may be able to give you some advice. However..."
Elsa peered at him as though from within a deep cave.
"...However, you will only be able to get sincere answers on things outside of business," Lawrence finished with a smile. He felt that just for a moment, Elsa also smiled.
"No," she said, "the question I have may well be best asked of a person like you. Might I ask you, then?"
When asking a favor, it is a very difficult thing to avoid seeming servile and to also preserve one's dignity without appearing high-handed.
Yet Elsa managed it.
She was the image of the clergy.
"I cannot guarantee that any answer I give will be satisfying."
Elsa nodded and spoke slowly, as if to be sure of every word she said. "If...if the stories collected in the books in the cellar are not false..."
"Yes...?"
"Does that mean the God we believe in is false?"
***
It was a simple question but an extremely serious one at the same time.
The God of the Church was omnipotent, omniscient; there were none but him.
His existence was incompatible with the many gods of the pagan tradition.

Output:
If so, her tragic worries were not hard to understand.
It seemed the adoptive father she'd loved and respected so had not spoken to her about a great many things.
Perhaps he had thought they were not relevant to Elsa, that such matters didn't concern her—or perhaps he'd meant her to ponder them on her own. There was no way to know.
But to Elsa, who had no one with whom she could discuss her worries, they were a heavy burden indeed.
No matter how heavy the load, it could be carried as long as it was placed firmly on one's back. However, all it took was a small disturbance for the whole load to come falling apart.
As soon as Elsa began to speak, her words became rapid, as though she could not hold them back if she wanted to.
"Is it because my faith is lacking? I know not. I have not the courage to rebuke the two of you, scriptures and holy water in hand. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing—no, what it is at all, I do not—"
"My companion—," Lawrence interjected before Elsa could corner herself with her own words. "My companion, though her true form is a giant wolf, does not wish to be called a god nor worshipped as one."
Elsa listened quietly, desperately, a lost soul hoping for salvation.
"I am, as you see, nothing more than a merchant of no special birth. I know little of the teachings of God. I cannot tell you what is right and what is wrong," said Lawrence, very much aware that Holo was probably eavesdropping on the conversation. "But I do not believe that Father Franz was mistaken."
"Why...why do you believe that?"
Lawrence nodded thoughtfully, taking a moment to prepare his opinions.
It was possible that he was totally off the mark. Indeed, that possibility might have been the larger one.
But he felt a strange certainty that he understood Father Franz's point of view.
Just as he was about to speak again, Lawrence was interrupted by the sound of a knock at the church's door.
"...That will be Elder Sem. I imagine he is here to ask about you and your companion." She seemed to be able to tell who was at the door by the sound of the knocking; perhaps this came from a need to tell whether the noise was someone from Enberch.
Wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, she stood, then glanced toward the interior of the church. "If you find yourself unable to trust me, you can get out there through an exit near the stove by the hallway. If you trust me—"
"I trust you. I don't know whether I can trust Sem."
Elsa neither shook her head nor nodded. "Then please stay in the back of the church," she said. "I will explain that I've been asking you about the news from the churches of other lands. It is not really a lie..."
"I understand. I'll be happy to share my experiences," answered Lawrence with a smile. He was about to do as he was told and hide away in the back of the church when he noticed that Elsa had returned to her usual stoic self.
He asked himself in that moment if she would betray him. The answer came, No, she would not.
Though Lawrence did not trust in God, he did trust in those who did.
He decided he did not mind such ironies.
Lawrence walked down the dimly lit hallway. Eventually he saw the vague flicker of candlelight from around a corner.
There was no way Holo had not overheard his exchange with Elsa, so he prepared himself for whatever expression might await him as he rounded the corner.
There was Holo sitting cross-legged with an open book in her lap. She lifted her face to him, displeasure written all over it.
"Am I so very malicious, then?"
"...You're inventing cause for offense," said Lawrence, shrugging.
Holo snorted. "Your trepidation was plain as day; I could hear it in your footsteps."
"Merchants only read minds, not feet."
"...That was awful," Holo pronounced of Lawrence's joke. "Still, you were quite considerate to the girl."
Lawrence both expected and did not expect this subject to come up.