Spice & Wolf Omnibus

by Isuna Hasekura

  This made Lawrence think of the choices that remained.

  Assassination. Flight. Surrender.

  All the options he could think of were extreme and likely none of them would bring any good result.

  Therefore, since Lawrence was so concerned, he could not help himself but ask, “Do you have a plan?”

  Hilde, who surely knew the gist of what he had promised Holo, raised his face and made a listless smile.

  No doubt, what he wanted to say was, What are you doing, trying to make me say no?

  They knew that Lawrence was not the kind of human who ran away just because the going got tough.

  But Hilde said, “I do.”

  A great merchant of a great company was far worse at giving up than any traveling merchant.

  “I am, despite it all, the former treasurer of the Debau Company. I have a grasp of what the company needs and lacks to continue operating. If we can assemble and organize the humans of this town and get them to close the gates, it should be enough to force the company to the negotiating table.”

  However, mercenaries specializing in siege warfare were apparently pressing near Svernel.

  Lawrence did not think the walls would hold against such a force.

  “They should no longer have the funds to fight a siege.”

  The Debau Company, its arms full of mines that gushed profits like spring water, lacked the funds to fight?

  Lawrence did not think so.

  “Just as we were doing, they are using the profits from issuing new currency to bind together the lords, the mercenaries, and the townspeople. However, there is an overwhelming lack of base metal with which to issue the currency; it shall take some time until they can issue it. They need to melt down lower quality silver coins and reforge them at a higher purity level. Then, what do you think will happen if they must continue to pay lords and mercenaries in new, freshly minted, high-value currency for the sake of war? What will happen if the currency is not distributed to the travelers and peasants of the northlands that want it?”

  People giving up on getting their hands on the new currency would no doubt return to their homes with silver trenni and other runners-up in hand. If that happened, the speculation fever would abate, and the lords would be enraged that the value of the payments promised to them in the new currency had plummeted.

  Lawrence gazed in astonishment at Hilde’s calm judgment.

  “Based on my memory of all the company’s accounts, I have deduced that the betrayal of the Hugo Mercenary Company and the dispatch of the captain of a thousand have now placed them in a very difficult situation, at the very limit of their ability to raise funds.”

  The size of those business dealings were far out of the league of any traveling merchant.

  Lawrence could not even begin to grasp the vastness of the dealings of something on the Debau Company’s level.

  But just as Lawrence remembered every deal he had made on his trade route, Hilde might well remember the vast majority of his own deals.

  “That, therefore, is why they are creating the conditions for immediate surrender. And if we surrender without a fight, the Debau Company saves itself a vast amount of war expenditures, and they can behave as if their funds are unlimited in the future as well. This is far too outlandish a scheme for the sake of a single wounded treasurer and a small mercenary company, even an elite one. In a manner of speaking, it is the same technique of defeating one’s foe with a paper tower that Debau and I used ourselves.”

  No matter what the situation, he forgot no weapon at his disposal, overlooking nothing.

  But if it was so, the problem boiled down to a single issue.

  “Therefore, it is a matter of whether we can get the town gates closed or not. If we can get them closed, we force them to the table. If we surrender without a fight, we play right into their hands.”

  Surely Millike had foreseen that far himself?

  It was possible that, precisely to avoid such a situation, a messenger from the Debau Company had simply delivered a letter requesting the gates not be closed under any circumstances.

  Then there was the matter of what if Hilde could not implement his plan? And even more so, there was the matter that even if things went according to the degenerate way of thinking Hilde had sarcastically referred to as poetry, liberating this one town from the Debau Company did not amount to any great thing.

  But Lawrence did not think that the people at the Debau Company were underestimating Hilde at all. Surely, they realized Hilde would remember all of the accounts and perceive that their funds were in a precarious state.

  In other words, this was a gamble testing the intellect and courage of Hilde, Millike, and the Debau Company.

  Whose plan was the softest, the weakest? Whose liver was the most delicate, most frail?

  Lawrence knew that there was no place for him in such a thunderous dispute.

  “From a certain merchant, I have heard the words trade war.” Lawrence spoke to Hilde, seemingly in admiration. “What I do as a traveling merchant is trade. There is no place for me here.”

  Holo made a sigh of relief as Hilde gently smiled. It was a smile like one made to praise a child who had realized that a man could not move a mountain.

  Soon after, there was a clamor outside as Millike’s voice commanded those around the inn to withdraw.

  As their footsteps became distant, heavy footsteps approached from the corridor in long strides.

  It was Moizi who entered the room.

  “It seems you had a conversation?”

  Hilde did not lift his head right away. Perhaps it was simply difficult to put into words to explain.

  Of course, it was not something that could be shown with one sentence.

  “He said, if you can do it, do it.”

  But he gave no indication that anything more had taken place.

  Hilde shifted his gaze to Holo. “Are you going to laugh?”

  Holo sounded unamused as she replied, “I shall not. I am somewhat envious, however.”

  Holo had lost all of her confidence that the world could be changed.

  As Holo said that, she put a hand on Lawrence’s forehead. It was as if she was saying, There’s but a single human I can rest my hands upon.

  And as she got up, she beckoned for Lawrence to get up as well.

  “Mr. Lawrence.”

  Hilde spoke toward Lawrence.

  Holo did not seem of a mind to linger, but Lawrence, borrowing Holo’s shoulder, turned around.

  “What is it?”

  “The words you spoke to Master Millike were marvelous. I shall never forget them. Having realized this truth, I am sure your store shall be a most prosperous one.”

  “… Thank you very much.”

  It was nothing to be delighted at.

  But he properly said his thanks.

  Then, Lawrence and Holo left the room. It was not a bad way for a traveling merchant’s dream to come to an end.

  Chapter 11

  It was Lawrence’s job to do nothing but sleep and recover his physical strength.

  As a result, the next day he found himself struggling with Holo as he ate toast for breakfast.

  It seemed the town baker had expressly baked bread for Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company lodged at that inn.

  Hilde had certainly not underestimated the situation. The town and many of its townspeople were fearful of the Debau Company’s clear and present tyranny. Hilde had apparently succeeded in having himself recognized as the great merchant who would correct the Debau Company’s tyranny. From his room, looking down the stairs, Lawrence caught sight of a parade of well-dressed gentlemen coming and going.

  No doubt hunters, farmers, merchants, and craftsmen were all fearful of sudden changes to their way of life should the Debau Company start a war. As Hilde truly was their ally, that was enough, even without his great skill in speech as a merchant.

  People may laugh at a man’s ideals, but a dream truly and honestly
held by a man will always resonate with others.

  But at the same time, Lawrence saw a number of soldiers bearing identical suits of armors and spears standing watch at the curve of the road leading into the district containing the inn.

  From the beginning, Millike had not made the merchants’ council stand in the Debau Company’s way.

  First, if it did come to battle, it was a certainty something dreadful would occur; second, there was the issue that even if Millike rolled out the red carpet for the Debau Company’s army, the company would destroy itself on its own. Viewed in light of the historical fact no one had ever succeeded in subduing the northlands, this was most certainly not blind optimism.

  Besides, Millike held a grudge against the world’s providence that frightened even Holo. There was no doubt something had happened that made him so confident the world absolutely would not change and could not be changed.

  But at the moment Hilde and the others were doing well for themselves. After all, in the eyes of the watchmen sent by the merchants’ council and the townspeople themselves, sending them bread straight from the oven was not all that favorable a thing.

  One might say Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company had established themselves as generous thieves.

  “Lawrence.”

  Lawrence was sitting in a chair by the inn’s window and gazing outside after his meal when Holo gently called out to him.

  “What is it?”

  “Grab onto me for a moment.”

  As she said that, Holo rolled up the sleeve of her robe, offering her slender arm.

  Lawrence considered asking her why, but he grabbed her arm as he was told.

  “Now grip as hard as you can.”

  “Hard?”

  As he wondered, What’s all this about? he gripped as he was told, putting his strength into it.

  It seemed as if he was gripping hard enough to break Holo’s delicate arm. Though he did not actually have the strength to do any such thing.

  As he steadily increased the pressure, he was ready to let go if Holo showed any sign of pain, but in the end, she made no move to stop him even when he was gripping fairly seriously.

  When Lawrence pulled his hand back, it left an imprint behind on Holo’s white, slender forearm.

  Holo seemed a bit pleased as she looked over the mark while Lawrence had a somewhat guilty feeling about it.

  “You should be all right, then.”

  “Ah, er?” Lawrence asked back, flustered as he kept thinking odd thoughts about how he had put a mark on Holo’s body and so forth.

  “If you can grip this strongly, ’tis enough. If you stay properly rested, there shall be no problems.”

  Lawrence finally realized this was a test to see if he was ready to set off.

  “We’re leaving…?”

  He had almost tripped up and said, We’re leaving already? but Holo was not one to miss the implication.

  Holo lifted the corner of her lip in a strained smile and tugged on Lawrence’s beard.

  “Aye. We’re leaving.”

  Leaving Hilde and the Myuri Mercenary Company in this town was probably something he would never forget in his lifetime. The only thing he could wish for was hearing someday, in a town far away, that in spite of many hardships they were still well.

  Lawrence had been forced to abandon fellow traveling merchants midway many times; as time had passed, Holo had no doubt seen many people and things swallowed by the passage of time. Compared to that, they were in a far better position. They were still standing, still bore weapons.

  They had no option but to accept it.

  Therefore, Lawrence purposefully spoke with good cheer.

  “Yes. First, perhaps a return to Lenos?”

  “That town again…? Aren’t there any other lively towns?”

  “If we go south, there are many. On the trade route I was on before meeting you, there are plenty of towns as large as Ruvinheigen. The season will improve from here; it’ll be a pleasant trip.”

  When winter ended and spring and summer came, traveling was a marvelous thing.

  Sometimes one came across a spring on a warm day; sometimes a person fell asleep on a grassy plain so verdant they could choke on it.

  And since they would look for a store at any town they might come across, it certainly would be a pleasant journey.

  In other words, unlike what they had done until now, there would be no glint of adventure in their eyes here.

  No great gamble would be necessary to set up a store; there would be no push himself to keep Holo close.

  He knew what was precious to him; he knew what he needed to do.

  There would no doubt be spats and arguments.

  However, what he did know for certain is that they would no longer stray from the path.

  He had gained Holo’s hand.

  Therefore, he needed to take that responsibility.

  “Well, I had best go arrange the luggage and food.”

  As Holo spoke, she slowly brought up her right palm.

  Lawrence, thrown off, spoke as he took Holo’s hand. “Mm? Ah, ahh, please do.”

  As he did so, Holo stared blankly, and then, as her tail made a large swish, she broke up laughing.

  “I have had quite enough of your hand. Coin, coin!”

  Lawrence finally realized, So that was it.

  He unfastened the coin purse he always carried on his hip and handed it to Holo.

  Amid all their travels, he had never entrusted Holo with the entire purse.

  Now he did, but not because his leg was wounded. Rather because he could hand it to Holo without hesitation.

  A merchant could entrust even his life to Holo.

  She made a small chuckle. “Now, then, what shall I buy?”

  “Don’t spend too much.”

  Holo, who seemed to have been waiting for him to say it, stuck out her tongue and turned about.

  Though he was a little concerned at the happy swaying of her ears and tail, he was confident it would be all right.

  After watching Holo leave the room, Lawrence shifted his gaze out the window once more.

  He gazed at the state of the town as he always did, no matter at which town in the northlands he had ended up. He thought he might see a happy Holo heading out before long, but then recalled that the inn had a back door.

  Knowing Lawrence was watching, Holo might well use the back door on purpose just to tease him.

  As he laughed to himself at the thought, a single bird flying in pretty curves suddenly swooped down below Lawrence’s room. It was Luis the bird. Though Lawrence had seen him come and go many times before, it oddly rubbed him the wrong way for some reason.

  As Lawrence looked down, he realized Holo was standing by a nearby intersection. From the way she laughed when she saw Lawrence staring at her, Lawrence immediately understood.

  She really had taken the rear exit, no doubt standing around and going, Does he see me now? Now…?

  Holo the wisewolf.

  Lawrence gently murmured her name as he laughed.

  Holo and Lawrence went to pay Luward one final visit.

  His head had been struck, his palm and leg stabbed, and his leg broken on top of that.

  Though he could be fairly said to be wounded from head to toe, and slept soundly even now, his face gave off the air of a beast devoting all of its strength to recovery.

  Without a word, Holo lightly pressed her forehead against Luward’s as he slept.

  “This is how wolves do it.”

  That was all she said before she and Lawrence left the room.

  Though Holo’s face did not look any different from the norm, somehow Lawrence understood.

  If he poked her, she would pop like a soap bubble.

  From there, they went to greet Hilde and Moizi. Moizi was absent, out stirring up support in town.

  Perhaps he had ensured he was absent on purpose.

  But the number of those in the entrance of the inn had clearly incr
eased; it felt certain they were poised for their chance to strike back.

  A man originally a merchant excellent at making use of others and a strategist of a mercenary company excelling at encouraging those facing danger were both on the case, so that might have been a natural reaction.

  With those two, they might well be able to organize the people of Svernel, hold back the merchants’ council, and get the town gates closed.

  If they could do that, the Debau Company’s side would be compelled to negotiate.

  A captain of a thousand was powerful, but as Hilde had said, a great expense was required.

  Every day the war lengthened, enough money would be exhausted to make one’s eyes spin.

  Furthermore, if they wished to use the town as a beachhead for invasion after the fact, if they did not take it as undamaged as possible, the repair costs would be excessive in themselves. Even more so, carelessly doing harm to the people would create resentment that would be troublesome later.

  On the surface, Hilde and the others should not have been at a disadvantage.

  Just, of course, what Jean Millike, aka Havlish the Third, had said was on his mind.

  Even so, they had to manage. They could not be deterred by what-ifs.

  When Lawrence shook Hilde’s hand, he was half-serious about such thoughts.

  “Well, then, here are the gold coins you entrusted to us.”

  They were finally able to hand over to Hilde the gold coins they had not found a suitable time to return before now.

  Lawrence was unlikely to see such an amount of gold for the rest of his life.

  As he thought about that, he felt some sense of loss, but part of him also felt relieved.

  “Also, the forbidden book.”

  Hilde nodded, retrieving both the pouch with the gold coins and the book from the hemp sack. “Thank you very much. Concerning the book…”

  As Hilde directed his words at Holo, Holo replied as if it was all a bother, “Do as you like. I shall do as I please.”

  Even if Hilde lost, a single forbidden book would not be difficult for Holo to seize back.

  “Understood. Then… hmm?”

  Right then, Hilde realized that there was still something else in the hemp sack that Lawrence and Holo were returning to him.