“I have the same paws as Myuri. I must stay.”
Even in such a happy town, there could still be sad people. Some humans had the same worry, that time was leaving them behind. But he realized that she knew he would sadden her by parting ways with her when they finally reached Yoitsu.
“Not long ago, you were trying so desperately to chase me down.”
Boy, had he ever. Back in Lenos, he had turned the town upside-down just to stay with her. It felt like mere days ago he had been a different, more daring man. It was like he had never really cared about being a merchant at all.
Diva company were merchants as well, but they had also achieved something that no other merchant had. They weren’t just directing actors, they were directing the world around them. In a town like this, such reckless and grandiose thoughts were perfectly acceptable.
Lawrence glanced at Holo, who returned his gaze like a cat that didn’t want his affection. She held her glass like she was warming her hands over a fire, and he noticed just how small and thin the hands that supported him through all of those problems really were.
“Indeed, I chased after you quite hard. Shouldn’t you let me catch you by now?”
She cast her eyes downward, until she could no longer tolerate it any longer and laughed. She had to be thinking him a fool of a male for being this excited by such a tiny accomplishment, and yet, when she sighed and looked up it was the look of one who had been defeated.
“That is true.. you have been working hard.”
She set her glass down.
“You have fulfilled your promise. So the future..”
She clamped her mouth shut before she finished, but he knew what that greasy mouth was going to say anyhow, so he didn’t force the issue. Soon he would be back to the daily grind of business after taking such a dream-like vacation. He had jobs to do, and problems to solve. And once those things were done, he already knew what he would do.
There was no need for him to act tough, or think of ridiculous schemes. He had the Wisewolf with him. Holo would never forget him, even after his time came. He had to hold the reins tight, and make sure that she was left with something worth holding onto in the end. She smiled and looked at him with embarrassment, as though having divined his thoughts yet again.
That settled it. He slowly shifted his hand over to hers, knowing that no more words were necessary. He needed to burn this scene into his mind, so that in the future when his eyes finally closed for the last time, it was all he could see. She fidgeted as though his hand would scald her, and her small shoulders looked somehow even smaller. Even in this festival-like atmosphere, she still acted this way.
Suddenly a bag crashed down between them, the light kind of bag that one would sling over their shoulder. One that he instantly knew had nothing valuable inside it. In fact, he didn’t have to look at it closely for the image of its owner to fill his mind. It was someone poor, who should be on a journey right now.
That person had few belongings to call his own, and had perhaps been that way for his entire life. Just what was he doing here, carelessly dropping his bag on their table? Lawrence’s hand was no longer en route to Holo’s, but he was still in a good mood. Even if that person was clearly so drunk he carelessly dropped his bag between them. Lawrence could forgive him today.
But the moment he noticed something off about the bag, and studied it more closely, his mind went entirely blank.
“Kraft Lawrence, I presume.”
That wasn’t the voice he should be hearing. Why were Holo’s eyes so round? And why was some random drunk dropping this bag in front of him? This bag should be with its owner, far, far away from here..
“And Holo, the Wisewolf.”
Whoever it was that threw Cole’s bag on the table was wrapped in a cloak and calling their names. If all the world’s a stage, where everyone’s just trying to make it until the curtain finally falls, then there was really no distinction between a comedy and a tragedy.
Translation Team
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Translator: Terrence
Editor: Bashzestampeedo
Proofreaders: MyInnerFred, Integirl
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Spice & Wolf XV (DWT) Page 16