Spice and Wolf, Vol. 3

by Isuna Hasekura

  Mark removed his hand from the boy's mouth, and reached directly for the liquor-filled mug. He then said cheerfully: "Even I would refuse to help you for the sake of upholding my reputation, so I'm assuming the same applies to the other guys. But even I have bought some of that product with the idea of making some side profits, and so of course, the same goes for everyone else. However, the reason I'm able to keep it at the scale of simply making some small side profits is that I don't have any cash on hand. Theoretically, the value of wheat should be dropping because the people purchasing goods for their return trips haven't been buying wheat. Even with the price dropping, those who've come to peddle wheat are still doing so without any hesitation, which is why I've already spent all the cash I had on hand. That being the case….”

  Mark gulped down some liquor, belched in a seemingly comfortable manner, and at the same time continued: "That being the case, what would those who do have cash on hand do? I simply can't believe they'd be able resist the urge to make a move. Most likely, they have been buying large quantities quietly, while remaining in the shadows. But to talk about this, I need to bring up the reason I mentioned to you before for not being able to help you. These people are not loners like traveling merchants. Each is a merchant with his own standpoint and bearing on his back the reputation of his store. Naturally, they would've been happy about successfully purchasing the merchandise, but now that the price has grown way too high, they're frustrated over wanting to yet not being able to get rid of the merchandise. Even if they are to sell off a very slight quantity, it would bring a startling amount of profit. To the particularly nervous type, this would probably be even more a matter of concern. I'm sure you who are so intelligent can easily figure out what would follow after that?”

  Mark threw out such a question at the end. It wasn't until a few moments later that Lawrence nodded his head.

  Mark must have had the boy run all over the place, spreading the rumor.

  "There's a traveling merchant obsessed with making money who said he was willing to purchase pyrite with cash. What do you think? Why not take advantage of the moment to help him get rid of the pyrite whose price has risen too high and which he has trouble now getting rid of himself," Mark proposed.

  Anyone who heard such a suggestion would undoubtedly consider it a timely rain.

  Of course, it was without a doubt that Mark had signed a contract with these people promising a service charge paid to him during a subtle exchange of cash for pyrite.

  Making an exchange for pyrite under the pretext of doing the other party a favor, it was the ideal plan. Yet, to have been able to purchase a quantity worth 370 silver coins using this trick, this meant that there existed within the market a considerably large pressure to sell.

  "That's the way it is. If you're willing, I'll send the boy off to take care of it right away," Mark concluded. Lawrence had no reason to refuse.

  He immediately untied the gunnysack he had been carrying on his back. "But…”

  Lawrence suddenly ceased the movement of his hands. Mark looked toward Lawrence with a surprised expression.

  Lawrence shifted back to reality, and quickly took out a bag of silver coins from the gunnysack, placing it upon the table.

  Then, he murmured: "Sorry.”

  Hearing this, Mark sighed with an expression that seemed to say he didn't know what to do with Lawrence, and said: "You should be thanking me at such a time, right?” “Huh? Ah, right. Sor…no.”

  Lawrence felt as if he was speaking to Horo. He opened his mouth once more to speak: "Thank you.”

  "Gahahahaha, I didn't think you were such an interesting guy. Hmm? No, that's not it.”

  Mark received the bag of silver coins from Lawrence's hands. After confirming the contents with his own eyes, he unfastened the string and passed the bag to the boy. The boy stacked up the coins swiftly, and began counting them.

  "I believe you've changed," said Mark. "…Really?”

  "Aye. Rather than being an exceptional merchant, it would probably be more appropriate to say you used to be a totally transparent merchant. Tell the truth, you never did consider me a friend did you?”

  Because Mark had successfully read his mind, Lawrence was for a moment completely unable to speak. Yet, Mark simply laughed cheerfully and continued: "What about now? In your heart, am I still just a target for a deal, a merchant who's easy to communicate with?”

  Faced with such a direct inquiry from Mark, there was no way Lawrence could nod his head.

  Even so, Lawrence felt as if he had been caught within an amazing illusion. He shook his head in such a state of emotion.

  "This is precisely the reason why I just can't quite get used to the life of a town merchant after having spent so much time as a traveling merchant. But there's one other thing that's even more interesting.”

  Lawrence was uncertain whether it was because he had been drinking or some other reason, but Mark truly appeared to be very happy.

  Even though Mark, who was still talking, had trimmed his facial hair into a rectangular shape, his face at that moment appeared as round as a chestnut.

  "Let me ask you something. If you were faced with the possibility of having to part with me, would you be running about Kumerson so frantically?" said Mark.

  The boy, who lived daily under the power and influence of his master Mark, lifted his head and looked towards the two men one at a time.

  Lawrence thought it completely amazing.

  Although he already viewed Mark as a friend, if he were to be completely honest in answering the question, he simply could not respond with a nod.

  "Hahahaha. That's alright, I can still hope on the future. Although." Mark paused suddenly mid-sentence, then said in a steady tone: "You're putting in so much effort for the sake of your companion.”

  The instant he heard this, Lawrence felt a burning sensation pass through his throat and slide down into his stomach.

  Mark shifted his gaze toward the boy, and said in a somewhat mocking tone: "This is what a man who's completely infatuated with a woman looks like. But then again, a branch that's not flexible enough would not be able to withstand strong winds.”

  A year passed alone was not as long as two people passing half a year together (note: I don't quite agree, but then again I'm just translating what the book says…xD).

  That being the case, just how much older was Mark compared to Lawrence?

  "You and I are the same. You must be under the traveling merchant's curse," said Mark. "Cu…curse?”

  "The fact that you've become such an interesting person is probably because the curse is almost broken. Don't you understand? Did you not end up traveling with your companion out of sheer luck?”

  Driving a horse-drawn cart carrying wheat while passing through a village, Horo had hidden herself within that same wheat by chance.

  Lawrence felt that his being able to become so close with Horo was nothing less than a fortunate gift from heaven.

  "Huhahahaha, I seem to be looking at myself when I first met Adele. You're under the curse alright, the traveling merchant's curse.”

  Lawrence felt like he finally understood.

  Although he felt that Horo was an important existence, he had always tried coolly to maintain a certain distance.

  Moreover, as a result of this, Lawrence had ended up not realizing just how much he had become blind to his surroundings because of Horo.

  Such a condition was way too disharmonious. Lawrence had at last discovered the reason.

  "The curse you're referring to is…the infamous 'traveling merchant's complaint' right?" he said.

  Mark laughed even harder. Knocking on the head of the boy, who had stopped what he was doing, he said: "The poet says that money cannot buy love, and the missionary says that there are things more important than money in this world. In that case, why do you suppose that after working our asses off making money, we're still able to obtain something more important than money?”

  The rea
son Lawrence had sunk into contemplation as he thought about what kind of existence Horo was to him was because she had always been beside him seemingly as a matter of course.

  If it were something that Lawrence had obtained after extensive effort and hardship, he would surely not feel so irresolute.

  Moreover, Lawrence had always thought that anything "important" must necessarily be obtained through such a difficult process.

  What am I to you? Lawrence felt that he could answer that question now.

  "Mm, I haven't said something so moving in a long time. Plus helping you gather information on the northern regions, only collecting ten Rumione from you seems too little," said Mark.

  "If all you just said had been made up on the spot, that would be nothing less than an extortionate profit." Hearing Lawrence utter this in an indignant manner, Mark opened his mouth in a silent, tooth-revealing grin.

  Lawrence responded with a smile.

  "I just hope your plan will be able to succeed.”

  Lawrence nodded his head. His mood at that moment seemed as clear as a cloudless night sky. "Although, whoever turns out victorious, how things actually end up will still ultimately depend on your performance.," Mark added. "Huh?”

  "Nothing,” said Mark, shaking his head. He gave a signal to the boy, who had finished counting the coins and, like a loyal, model servant, the boy went swiftly to making preparations. Within a few seconds, the boy was already set to leave.

  "Alright! Go now.”

  Sending off the boy in this manner, Mark turned back to Lawrence and spoke: "So, where do you plan to sleep tonight?”

  "I haven't decided yet.”

  "In that case…”

  "No, I've decided. May I sleep here tonight?”

  His face full of amazement, Mark asked in return: "Sleep here?”

  "Aye. You have gunnysacks for carrying wheat here right? Lend me some.”

  "Of course, I can lend you as many as you need. But..come over to my house, I won't charge you any money.”

  "It may bring good luck to do this.”

  This was something that many traveling merchants did.

  Hearing this, Mark seemed to give up on continuing his invitation. "Then, I'll see you here tomorrow at daybreak.”

  Lawrence nodded in response, and Mark raised his mug to say: "How about toasting a prayer for a dream come true?”

  Of course, Lawrence had no reason to refuse.

  Chapter 5

  Lawrence let out a big sneeze.

  Of course it didn't make a difference when he was traveling alone, but lately Lawrence had always been traveling with a nitpicky and arrogant companion, so he was continuously cautious. Yet even so, he could not suppress a loud sneeze.

  Lawrence felt particularly cold as he frantically checked to see if his traveling companion, who shared a bed with him, had been awoken.

  Then, he finally realized that he was sleeping alone next to Mark's vending stand. "…”

  Although Lawrence had intentionally chosen to sleep alone, having long since prepared his heart, he still felt a great sense of loss upon awakening.

  Always having someone by your side when you woke up.

  Such things were always easy to get used to. Yet it was never until they were lost that one truly realized their value.

  Lawrence decided not to continue clinging to the covers and be reluctant to part with the warmth they provided. He stood up resolutely.

  As soon as he did so, the freezing air swiftly enveloped Lawrence's entire body.

  At this hour when the sky still appeared dim, the boy was already out of bed and sweeping the ground in front of the vending stand.

  "Ah, good morning.” “Oh, morning.”

  The boy seemed to wake up at this hour as a habit, in order to make preparations for opening up shop. From the looks of it, he did not seem to be intentionally putting on such behavior because Lawrence, a friend of his master was present. The boy casually greeted a few other boys who were passing by the stand.

  He was an apprentice whose behavior was worthy of praise.

  This was probably not a result of Mark's training, but because the boy was quite exceptional to begin with. "Oh yes.”

  Hearing Lawrence address him so, the boy turned his head sharply. "Did Mark explain to you what needs to be done today?”

  "No, the master did not say anything..uhm, is it to help you push the unrighteous villain into a trap?”

  The boy said in an exaggerated manner, changing his expression and lowering his voice. Lawrence could not help feeling a bit surprised at hearing this. However, he immediately pulled out his merchant's ability, nodding with a grave expression and saying: "I can't tell you the details, but that's about right. It's possible I'll even need to have you take on a difficult task.”

  The boy pressed the wheat-made broom close to his waist like a long sword and swallowed once. Watching the boy's appearance, Lawrence could be sure of one thing.

  And that was that despite working responsibly as an errand boy for the wheat store, deep down inside the boy still retained a sense of longing for the life of a knight or soldier.

  Terms like "unrighteous villain" only appeared in tales.

  As if he had seen his former self, Lawrence could not help feeling a wave of itching in his heart that was difficult to bear.

  "What's your name?" he asked. "Huh? Ah, uhm…”

  When a merchant asked a person for his name, it represented an acknowledgment of the latter's abilities. The boy had most likely never been asked his name before.

  Although Lawrence could easily discern this fact from the boy's flustered manner, he decided that the boy was exceptional after all.

  Because the boy quickly replied in a steady tone: "Lande. My name is Ewell (pronounced similar to "Ell" with a "w" sound inserted. Sorry, I'm no good at translating names, so this is the best I can do.) Lande.”

  "Were you born in a region farther north than this place?” “Yes, I came from a village frozen in snow and frost.”

  Lawrence immediately understood that the boy's use of such a description was not because it was easier to convey the appearance of the village that way, but because that was how it had really appeared when he looked back at it for the last time.

  That was the so-called "North.”

  "I see. Lande, I'm counting on you today.”

  Seeing Lawrence reach out his right hand, Lande quickly wiped his palm with a corner of his clothes and grasped Lawrence's hand.

  Although Lande's palm was rough and filled with calluses, it nevertheless belonged to a pair of hands that held the potential to grasp any kind of bright future.

  How could he lose to him?

  Lawrence held such a thought as he loosened his hand and spoke: "Anyway, I want to fill my stomach first. Is there any place that's already begun selling food at this hour?” “There's a vending stand that specially sells dry bread to travelers. Would you like me to go buy you some?” “I'll leave it to you then.”

  Having said this, Lawrence took out two Iredo silver coins with color as dark as copper, and handed them to Lande.

  "Uhm, you can buy plenty with just one of these," said Lande.

  "The other one is a reward paid in advance. Don't worry, I'll pay you a formal reward as well of course." Seeing a stunned Lande, Lawrence smiled as he added: "If you keep dragging around, Mark's gonna be here. He's bound to say what a waste it is to eat breakfast, right?”

  Hearing this, Lande gave a quick nod and hurried off.

  After watching Lande's departure for a while, Lawrence turned his gaze toward the passages between individual vending stands on the opposite side of the street.

  "Don't you go spoiling that boy of ours.”

  "You could've simply said something to stop me.”

  Mark emerged from a gap between the merchandise. His face was distorted into a sour expression, and he said with a sigh: "It's been pretty cold lately after all. If he gets a cold because I let him go hungry, it would be
quite troublesome for me.”

  Through his words, it was apparent that Mark actually held quite a bit of love for the boy.

  However, allowing Lande to eat breakfast was not merely an act of kindness, but because he truly played an important role within Lawrence's plan.

  Merchants were not Church clergymen. When merchants took action, they always had ulterior motives. "Looks like the weather will be nice today as well. Business is going to be very good.”

  Lawrence nodded in response to Mark, and took a deep breath. The cold, morning air was greatly refreshing.

  Moreover, when he exhaled, all of his unnecessary thoughts seemed to be expelled along with the air. All that needed to be done next was to think about how to make his plan succeed.

  It would not be too late to stop and ponder other things once he had already succeeded. "Alright, let me fill my stomach first,”

  Lawrence said with spirit as he watched a panting Lande running back.

  The place was suffused with a completely different atmosphere.

  This was the first thing that entered Lawrence's mind upon arriving here.

  What appeared at a glance to be as serene as a lake's surface was in fact as hot as boiling water when one reached out a hand to touch it.

  Since the rising of the sun in the East at dawn, only at one corner of this place could be found an unusually-dense crowd. Every person's sight was directed toward the same vending stand.

  That was the only vending stand in Kumerson that specialized in the buying and selling of minerals and precious stones. Everyone's gaze was focused on the impromptu price board placed at the front of the stand.

  On the price board were lines of writing describing the shape and weight of the pyrite pieces, and beside each line was suspended a wooden plate on which the price and number of people in line to purchase were written.

  Although a space for the number of people in line to sell had not been omitted on the price board, that space would most likely not have a chance to have any wooden plates suspending in it.

  "The average price is…eight hundred Iredo huh.”