Spice and Wolf, Vol. 3

by Isuna Hasekura

  He remembered the gold-like mineral that was brought up during his conversation with Horo.

  "Pyrite?”

  "Oh? You've already heard?" Mark asked in response. It seemed that Lawrence had hit the mark.

  "No, I just thought that maybe it could be a profiting business. Something to do with a fortune teller right?”

  "It seems that way. Although, I heard that the fortune teller himself has already left Kumerson," Mark replied.

  "That so?”

  Hearing a sudden cheer, Lawrence directed his gaze toward the source of the sound, and saw that a group of men in traveling clothes and some town merchants were whooping in jarring tones and embracing one another one after the other, seeming very joyful over the reunion.

  "But, the statement revealed to the public says that he left because his uncannily accurate fortune telling had attracted the attention of a Church official responsible for the interrogation of pagans. Then again, like anyone would seriously believe such a story," Mark continued.

  "Why would you say that?”

  Mark took a sip of wine, and took a small gunnysack from the shelf behind him.

  "That's totally impossible. If someone from the Church really showed up in town, it would be sure to stir up a big commotion. Besides, the amount of pyrite in circulation seems to me a bit too large. My guess is that the fortune teller bought his supply of pyrite from another town and left this place as soon as all of it had been sold out. Also….”

  Mark spilled out the contents of the gunnysack on the discussion table. Under the shining moonlight, the pieces of pyrite rolled about on the table surface, giving off a white radiance. Among these were specimens beautifully shaped like dice, as well as lump-shaped ones that looked like flattened bread.

  "I think the fortune teller was purposely emphasizing the rareness of pyrite. Guess how much this is worth right now.”

  The piece of pyrite Mark held in his hand was dice-shaped, considered the most valuable among pyrite specimens. Going by the original market value, the price should be about ten Iredo, or about one fourth of a Trenni silver coin.

  However, Lawrence remembered Horo had told him that the pyrite piece Amati bought her had come from an auction, so he made a slightly more daring guess.

  "One hundred Iredo.” “It's 270.”

  "Im-”

  Lawrence swallowed the word "possible," and silently cursed himself for not having made a move to seek out and buy the pyrite in stock when Horo first told him about it.

  "To us men, such a price would seem ridiculous even if this were some kind of gemstone. But the price of this thing right now is even more ridiculous. As soon as the marketplace opens tomorrow, the price will most likely rise again. Right now, all the women in town are fighting over the buying of this thing. Whatever the times, fortune telling and secret beauty potions will always remain popular products," said Mark. "Even so, isn't this thing being worth 270 a bit too exaggerated?”

  "Not only the die-shaped ones, pyrite pieces of various other shapes have all risen in price on the basis that each serves a different function. After all, the women are all persuading the merchants or farmers who have come to the town fair with blandishments to take out money from their full money pouches and buy pyrite for them. Also, speaking of this mineral fit to be called a miracle, which has suddenly attracted the attention of every woman, those women are even competing with one another over who has received a larger quantity (note: wow, talk about vain…). Anyway, for this exact reason, each time a woman acts coquettishly, the price of pyrite rises accordingly.”

  To Lawrence, who had bought wine or adornments of considerable value for city girls before, Mark's words were particularly unpleasant to the ears.

  Yet, compared to the discomfort of the ears, the deep sense of regret that came from watching a huge business opportunity slip through his fingers pained Lawrence even more.

  "This is no longer on the level of simply calculating percent profit, but that of several times, or even several tens of times that. In other words, Phillip the Third who is planning to steal your princess is making crazy money as we speak," Mark continued.

  Amati seemed to have come up with the idea of helping Horo clear her debt anticipating that the silver coins in his money pouch would multiply immensely.

  If Amati had already begun dealing in pyrite at the moment when he bought the pyrite piece for Horo, then it was very likely that he had already made a considerable sum. Perhaps it was really possible that Amati would have the thousand silver coins ready by the next day.

  "Even though I've only just started touching this business, I've already made three hundred Iredo. That alone clearly indicates just how abnormal the rate at which the price of pyrite is rising at. Tell me, how could anyone just let this opportunity slip by?”

  "Who else knows about this?" asked Lawrence.

  "The news seems to have already spread throughout the marketplace this morning. I actually came by this information rather late. I should also mention that, while you and the princess were dancing, the front of the ore merchant's stand was already in a big commotion.”

  Despite having long since become sober, Lawrence's face became even redder than that of Mark, who was still drinking.

  His face flushing was not due to being teased about being with Horo, but over the fact that, whereas even a merchant not so skilled in business would know to take advantage of the opportunity that had already spread throughout the marketplace to make money, Lawrence was actually right next to the marketplace, but indulging in dance.

  For a serious merchant, no matter how red his face got, it would be inadequate in expressing his shame. A failed merchant.

  For the first time since his loss of composure in Rubinhaigen, Lawrence wanted once again to hold his head and cry out in agony.

  "Although, if Amati were really involved in some kind of shady business, it would perhaps be possible to come up with some way of hindering him, but as it is, the situation can't really be stopped. Though I sympathize with you, I can't help but say that you're already a fish in the barrel.”

  Lawrence of course understood that Mark meant, "Just wait and be taken care of," but that wasn't what was depressing him. It was the fact that, by spending all his attention on having a good time with Horo, he had allowed the opportunity to make a huge profit to slip right by him.

  "One more thing, I said just now that this money-making topic has already been spread amongst the merchants didn't I? Those merchants who are planning on reselling are going all about looking for more pyrite to buy, which is causing its price to rise even more rapidly. The point is that, at this moment in time when the wind is just starting to get strong, if you forget to raise the sail, you'll regret it for the rest of your life," said Mark.

  "Aye, it certainly wouldn't do to just sit around watching all the ships that have already raised their sails get farther and farther away.”

  "Exactly, exactly. Besides, just in case things go wrong, you'll be in need of some funds to buy a new princess, right?”

  Seeing Mark utter this with a contented smile, Lawrence could not suppress a strained smile, but he also felt that this was a great opportunity to make up for the loss he had suffered in Rubinhaigen.

  "Well then, for now I'll just buy some pyrite from you using the uncollected funds for the nails.”

  Having heard these words from Lawrence, Mark showed an expression of displeasure, as if to say, "I should have known better than to say anything.”

  After paying a price of thirty Trenni silver coins to buy four pieces of pyrite from Mark, Lawrence made his way through the crowds singing and dancing under the illumination of lanterns, and headed in the direction of the inn.

  By this time, the festival seemed to have already entered its second phase, and the sound of violently- beating drums was carried to his ears.

  Because of the immensity of the crowds, Lawrence could only catch a brief glimpse of the state of the festival. The second-phase festival
activity was different from that which occurred during the day, appearing crude and barbaric in comparison. Lawrence could see wheat puppets colliding with one another, as well as people waving around long swords, engaged in sword dancing.

  That the festival would develop into such a state was surprising, since the people were still clinging to one another's shoulders, dancing and drinking before sunset had arrived.

  Of course, to view the developments of the festival, sitting in the top seats provided by the inn room was ideal.

  Thus, Lawrence pushed through the packed crowds hurriedly and headed towards the inn.

  Compared to watching the festival, he actually wanted even more to take some time in contemplation. Although the chances of Amati making the thousand Trenni silver coins and proudly throwing out such a large sum had increased, there was still nothing to worry or be shaken about.

  What was really of concern was how much the value of the pyrite he had in hand could increase, how much profit it could bring, and how to trick Horo so as to buy the pyrite piece she had received from Amati for a low price.

  At times, items that were normally not highly-valued could suddenly turn into gold. Festivals always carried with them a unique atmosphere.

  Upon arriving at the alley deviating somewhat from the noise and light of the main streets, Lawrence found knights and soldiers flirting around with women. Some even had their arms around the women's shoulders, giving not the slightest attention to the gaze of bystanders.

  The women leaning in the bosoms of the somber-eyed, suspicious, thief-like knights did not appear to be prostitutes, but normal city girls. If it were not for such a festival period, these city girls would surely only be willing to talk to men of more seriousness and personal integrity.

  On the other hand, it was precisely because the heat brought about by the festival seemed to have the effect of dosing the people with some kind of suspicious aphrodisiac, blurring their visions, that unusual phenomena such as the rise of pyrite prices would occur. To a merchant, this was of course something to be viewed with optimism.

  As he was thinking about such matters, Lawrence saw a vending stand selling cold melons for those who had burned their throats drinking hard liquor, and bought two as gifts for Horo.

  If he went back empty-handed, he could not imagine what kind of venomous words Horo would throw at him. Seeing himself carry one large cold melon, like an egg laid by a huge bird under an arm and holding the other in his hand, he could not suppress a strained smile.

  The dining hall situated on the first floor of the inn was as lively as the main streets. Lawrence gave a side glance at the lively scene as he made his way up to the second floor.

  Arriving at the second floor, the clamorous scene of the first floor seemed to take on an illusory feel, like watching fire on an opposite shore.

  Listening to the faint din, like the sound of flowing water from a small river, Lawrence opened the door and entered.

  Just as he was puzzling over why it was so bright in the room, he discovered that the wooden window was wide open.

  It must have been to look at the letter that the window was opened, so that light from the outside could enter.

  Lawrence had just thought to this point, when he suddenly detected that something was off. Letter?

  As soon as he walked into the room, his eyes met those of Horo, who held a letter under the light that shone in through the wooden window.

  Horo's eyes appeared frightened. No, that wasn't it.

  Those were the eyes of one who had drifted back to her senses from a state of loss.

  "You…”

  Before Lawrence could even say, "know how to read," the voice within his throat had already grown hoarse.

  Horo's lips quivered in fear, and soon after, her shoulders began trembling as well. Lawrence could tell that Horo was trying hard to gather strength in her slim fingers, which had become completely stiff, but the letter slipped out from between her fingers nevertheless.

  Lawrence did not dare to move, out of fear that Horo, who had become as stiff as a snowman, would shatter into pieces if he were to make any motion.

  The letter Horo had held in her hands was probably the one sent by Deanna.

  If Horo had become like this because of what she read in the letter, then the possibilities were limited. The word "Yoitsu" surfaced in Lawrence's mind.

  "You, what's the matter?”

  The utterance that came out was no different from Horo's usual tone. Despite appearing dangerously like she was on the verge of a breakdown or even on the brink of losing consciousness, a very disharmonious light smile appeared on her face as she spoke, which made Lawrence feel as if he had sunken into a dream.

  "Is there something…stu…stuck to my face?”

  Even though Horo did her best to speak with a smile, in the end, her twitching lips rendered it impossible for her to speak normally.

  Despite Lawrence and Horo being eye to eye with one another, Horo's eyes had long since lost focus. "There's nothing stuck to your face. But, you might be a bit drunk.”

  Lawrence could not continue standing silently before Horo, so he chose to speak without using any words that might upset Horo even further.

  What should be said next? No, he should first figure out what Horo had found out. Just as Lawrence had thought to this point, Horo spoke first: "Yea…yea, I…I am drunk. That is how it is…yea, I must be drunk.”

  Horo said this with a smile, but due to her trembling, her teeth were chattering as well. She walked up to her bed in a very unnatural manner and sat down.

  As Horo moved, Lawrence was finally able to move away from the doorway as well. In order not to let the frightened bird fly away, Lawrence moved very cautiously, and with great effort managed to make his way to the desk.

  Lawrence placed the two cold melons on the desk, and casually directed his gaze toward the letter Horo had dropped.

  Under the moonlight, Deanna's beautiful handwriting appeared.

  Concerning what I mentioned to you yesterday, the town of Yoitsu that has been destroyed since ancient times…

  As this description reached his eyes, Lawrence could not help closing them.

  Surely it was because Horo had planned to surprise Lawrence in the future or play some trick on him that she said she could not read. Horo, who had said this in a mischievous spirit, did not expect her chance to arrive so soon and thus read the letter that Lawrence had left behind.

  But such a mischievous spirit ended up bringing the opposite effect.

  Horo must have been extremely concerned over the content of a letter containing information related to Yoitsu.

  The image of an overjoyed Horo impatiently opening the letter surfaced in Lawrence's mind.

  And then, the words indicating that Yoitsu was already annihilated had suddenly appeared before her eyes. Lawrence simply could not imagine how much of a blow this would have been for Horo.

  Horo was still sitting at the edge of the bed, looking at the floor in a complete state of loss.

  Just as Lawrence was struggling to come up with something to say to her, Horo lifted her face slowly and spoke: "You, what should I do?”

  A stiff smile had surfaced on her lips. "I…no longer have a home to return to…”

  Horo neither blinked, nor choked with sobs. Only a steady stream of tears flowed from her eyes like blood. "What should I do…,”

  Horo kept saying, like a child who had accidentally smashed something important. It made Lawrence's heart ache, to see her this way. People always became like a child when they reminisced on their hometowns.

  Horo was, after all, a sage wolf who had lived for many centuries. Surely she had thought of the possibility that Yoitsu was already buried beneath the river of time.

  Yet, just like a child not comprehending reason, in the face of incredibly strong emotions, reason made little difference.

  "Horo.”

  Hearing Lawrence call her name, Horo recoiled momentarily in surpr
ise before returning to her senses. "This is an old legend after all. A lot of old legends are inaccurate.”

  In order to make his words sound convincing, Lawrence spoke in an admonishing tone. Concerning the possibility of the legend of Yoitsu's destruction being false, it was probably extremely low, because towns that were able to endure many centuries without being destroyed were typically large towns known to everyone.

  Yet, Lawrence simply could not find anything else to say. "In…accurate?”

  "Yes. Like when a new king or clan begins its reign over a region, in order to mark the region as new territory, rumors like this are frequently spread.”

  Lawrence was not lying. He had heard several instances of this.

  Yet, Horo suddenly shook her head, her tears streaming left and right along her cheeks. Within her eyes was brewing the calm before the tempest.

  "If that were the case, why did you hide the truth from me?" she questioned.

  "I was trying to find the right opportunity to tell you. This topic is just too sensitive, so-” “Heh.”

  Horo gave a cough-like laugh.

  Lawrence felt as if Horo had been possessed by some kind of demon.

  "You…you must have been so happy watching me being carefree and having a good time under a state of complete ignorance.”

  In that moment, Lawrence's mind went completely blank. Of course, Lawrence could not possibly have felt that way. He did not understand why Horo would say such a thing, and a sense of anger surged up from within, seizing his throat.

  However, Lawrence managed with great effort to control his temper.

  Because Lawrence realized that Horo just wanted to vent her emotions, whether the target of injury was himself or anything else.

  "Horo, calm down.”

  "I…I am very calm. Is my mind not turning very quickly? You knew about Yoitsu's legend all along, did you not?”

  Having Horo suddenly hit his exact thoughts like this, Lawrence was left speechless. Lawrence of course understood that hiding the truth from Horo was his fatal mistake.

  "Indeed, yes indeed. You already knew the truth when you met me, did you not? If that is so, then it explains a lot of things.”