Spice and Wolf, Vol. 3

by Isuna Hasekura

  The only weapons he had left were four hundred silver coins' worth of pyrite, along with the rumor Lande had been tasked with spreading.

  Such feeble weapons made Lawrence want to ridicule himself. He could not help having doubts about his own idea of seriously relying on the power of a rumor to attain his goal. Just the previous day, Lawrence had believed that such an idea was truly the product of experience, and a secret trick unknown to others.

  Now, Lawrence could clearly see just how drunk he had been the previous night. He could not help beginning to think pessimistically about a fallback plan.

  If he were to stay put like this without taking action, Lawrence would at least be able to receive a thousand silver coins from Amati. Even if the loss suffered from the selling on credit were subtracted from that, it would still be a decent profit.

  The moment he reminded himself of this, though he felt like a miserable good-for-nothing, Lawrence felt his body grow much lighter.

  You must be thinning that if you should really be able to receive a thousand silver coins, letting go would not be such a big deal, is it not so? Horo's past reproach had hit the truth.

  Lawrence remembered that tucked away within his bosom was the letter from Deanna.

  The information within the letter was a clue to finding Horo's hometown-Yoitsu. Perhaps Lawrence was no longer fit to hold onto this letter.

  I am just a regular merchant after all, Lawrence thought to himself as he searched for the form of Horo.

  All that had taken place within the estuary town of Pattio and the Church city of Rubinhaigen had been a mere dream.

  As this idea emerged in Lawrence's mind, quite incredibly, all of this seemed to really become a dream. Within this crowd of people enveloped by heat and desire, Lawrence gave a strained smile as he surveyed all about. Because he was unable to locate Horo, Lawrence moved to another position and continued his search.

  Quite some time had already passed since the opening of the marketplace. Because the day's festival had not yet begun, crowds of people continued to surge into the marketplace.

  Lawrence was still unable to find Horo.

  Just as Lawrence was silently complaining about not being able to find Horo now of all times, he suddenly remembered.

  After their eyes had met, Horo had walked off, directing herself away from the wall of people. Could Horo have gone off to someplace else just like that?

  If that were true, where could she have gone? Lawrence could not help thinking that perhaps she had determined that he was bound to lose disastrously, and had gone back to the inn early.

  Surely this was simply a matter of course.

  Although such an idea was so pitiful that even Lawrence could barely stand it, he realized that he had long since accepted himself even with the idea.

  A few drinks would be so nice, Lawrence thought to himself. In the next second, he could not help letting out a short exclamation: "Huh?”

  He had been searching within a fairly narrow range after all, so his eyes were bound to catch this existence sooner or later.

  Lawrence let out a surprised and puzzled sound the moment the form of Amati came into his line of sight. That Amati's right hand was pressed against his chest was probably because it held pyrite and cash.

  The point was not Amati's motion, but the fact that he was anxiously searching all around with a fretful expression on his face, just like Lawrence.

  Lawrence began to suspect that this was Amati's acting.

  Yet, the crowd sandwiched between Lawrence and Amati dispersed miraculously, revealing a narrow space between the two. In the few short seconds that this happened, Amati spotted Lawrence as well, and at the same time, revealed an expression of surprise.

  Then, Lawrence caught a glimpse of an expression of relief from Amati. Although Lawrence's vision was quickly obscured by the crowd, he was sure of what he had seen.

  Without even turning his mind, a thought jumped out at Lawrence.

  Amati was looking for Horo. Not only that, but Amati had been relieved to see that Horo was not beside Lawrence.

  Lawrence felt someone's shoulder collide with his back for a brief moment.

  Looking back, he saw a man who appeared to be a merchant conversing fervently with another.

  "That's odd." Just as Lawrence wondered silently to himself, he felt another impact pass from his back to the front of his chest.

  This time he finally realized it.

  The source of the impacts was in fact his own beating heart.

  Amati had been searching for Horo with an anxious expression, and had even thought that Horo could be beside Lawrence.

  This meant that Amati did not trust Horo from the bottom of his heart.

  Which in turn meant that there must have been some kind of reason for doubt. What was it?

  "Could it be?”

  Lawrence could not help saying out loud.

  The fact that Amati was searching for Horo meant that Horo had not told him where she was going. Moreover, this alone was sufficient to cause Amati to appear so flustered, which made it hard to believe that Horo had trusted him enough to be willing to reveal her ears and tail.

  Lawrence could not help abandoning the series of dark and heavy suppositions he had made moments ago, weaving together once more a scenario leading toward a path of light.

  Yet, Lawrence was not confident that he could make a cool judgment concerning whether or not this was simply his own wishful thinking.

  Such an anxious emotion caused a wave of nausea to hit Lawrence.

  At that moment, more cries rang out.

  Lawrence looked quickly in the direction of the vending stand, and discovered that at some unknown time, the wooden plate marking the unusually-high price of the top-valued pyrite had been taken off.

  In other words, the pyrite had been sold at this top value. Moreover, it was not for this reason that the cries had sounded.

  The wooden plates marking the top values of the various kinds of pyrite were all taken off at the same time, and there was a decrease in the number of wooden plates representing the number of waiting buyers.

  This meant that someone had sold off a considerably-large quantity of pyrite.

  Lawrence swallowed the nauseating feeling of anxiety, and desperately sought to find Amati. Amati was not in front of the stand.

  Neither was he anywhere near it.

  Lawrence caught sight of Amati once more amongst the crowd.

  Amati was just then watching the vending stand with an amazed expression. No, it was not Amati who had made the sale.

  Before Lawrence had a chance to feel relieved, new plates for those waiting to purchase were immediately put up one after another, and the sound of cries were heard once more throughout the crowd.

  Most likely, all the people here more or less possessed some pyrite, and were waiting in watch for the best opportunity to buy or sell. The buying and selling of pyrite had begun to show signs of large fluctuation, which would no doubt cause their considerations to enter a new phase.

  Put another way, now was perhaps just the right time to sell.

  If he were to sell off large quantities of pyrite in a planned fashion, perhaps there was some chance for success. The thought of this rekindled the fire of hope within Lawrence's heart, which had been on the verge of giving up.

  "But…" Lawrence immediately changed his thinking like a fearful little rabbit.

  Lawrence could not even say what Horo was thinking and where she had gone, much less easily see through one's heart. To harbor such a complacent thought was far too dangerous.

  Even so, there should still be some hope-Lawrence could not help thinking.

  Expectation, suspicion, supposition and fact were like four talons pulling at Lawrence's thoughts, causing them to be broken up into fragments.

  If the Sage Wolf Horo were beside him right now, what kind of suggestion would she make? Lawrence could not help thinking fecklessly.

  Lawrence felt that even if
Horo were to make a casual suggestion, he would still make a decision based on it. This was because he trusted Horo.

  At the very moment- "Uhm….”

  As the voice reached his ears, Lawrence felt a tug at the corner of his clothes.

  Lawrence spun around as if he had been sprung back by some great force, expecting the form of an arrogant and self-important girl to appear before his eyes.

  Yet, the person standing before him was a youngster, whom he found to be Lande upon taking a closer look. "Uhm, Mr. Lawrence, may I disturb you for a minute?”

  Because Lawrence had spun around at quite an amazing speed, Lande appeared somewhat startled, but he immediately revealed an expression which said that the situation was urgent.

  Lawrence felt a wave of anxiety. After surveying his surroundings, he brought his face close to the much shorter Lande, and nodded his head.

  "A customer has shown up at the shop who has requested to pay for wheat in minerals (note: he says "minerals," but Lande is obviously referring to pyrite)," said Lande.

  Lawrence immediately understood Mark's intention. What he meant was that, if Lawrence were willing to pay for the pyrite in cash, he would accept the customer's request.

  "How much money's worth?" asked Lawrence.

  The fact that Mark had specially sent the boy out to inform Lawrence meant that it was no small sum. Lawrence swallowed once, awaiting Lande's answer. Lande opened his mouth to speak: "250.”

  Faced with this unexpected state of affairs, Lawrence clenched his teeth, holding in the urge to scream out loud.

  Even though Lawrence had suffered the abandonment of the harvest wolf deity, the goddess of fortune had not forsaken him.

  Lawrence immediately stuffed the small gunnysack Amati had handed him into Lande's hands and said: "Do it as quickly as possible!”

  Lande nodded his head like an emissary who had received an order and hurried off. The market value of pyrite continued to fluctuate.

  The number of waiting plates (note: as in, the wooden plates representing the number of people in line to purchase) had gone through a severe change. From this, it was apparent that the price would not continue to rise nonstop.

  It could be told at a glance that the purchases and sales were pushing and competing against each other. With the price as it was, those who felt that it would not hurt to sell would begin selling off the stock they had in hand, whereas those who were hoping for the price to rise even further would purchase more.

  Every now and then, Lawrence would catch a glimpse of Amati at the other end of the crowd. Amati was most likely also secretly watching his actions, Lawrence thought.

  Moreover, the reason Amati was watching the vending stand along with Lawrence's actions was undoubtedly because he was still unable to raise the thousand silver coins.

  "No," Lawrence thought silently to himself.

  Perhaps Amati had long since raised the needed amount, but was considering the possibility that under the fluctuating market value, if he were to sell off the pyrite he held, a slight error may result in a price crash before he had sold off his entire stock.

  Because Amati had signed a selling on credit contract with Lawrence, if Amati were to accidentally trigger a price crash, the contract would cause him to suffer an immense loss.

  Not only that, but there was another important fact.

  The five hundred silver coins' worth of pyrite Amati held existed in the form of a paper certificate. Regardless of the fact that it was a valid certificate able to be bought or sold, he had to wait till evening to get his hands on the actual items.

  At this moment in time when the market value of pyrite was beginning to fluctuate rather than go up in a straight line, and the possibility of a drop began to take a stronger presence, what kind of response would he receive for wishing to sell off such a certificate?

  In a deal involving selling on credit, there was a time gap between the money transaction and the product transaction.

  In a situation where the price could potentially drop, the selling on credit certificate, which requested advance payment and promised to deliver the product at a future date was akin to a joker card on which a seductively-smiling witch was printed.

  If the market value were really to drop, the last person in possession of this joker card would end up on the road to bankruptcy.

  The slow-acting poison on which Lawrence had placed his hopes had taken effect. Amati was looking about desperately.

  He must have been looking for Horo.

  He must have been searching for the Horo who had guessed Lawrence's plan and given Amati advice. Within such an atmosphere which strongly suggested an imminent change in the wind's direction, even the offensive and defensive situation seemed to be in favor of a great reversal.

  If Lawrence did not go on the offensive at that very moment, it would be the same as letting a miracle that only occurred once in a thousand years slip by.

  People rushed before the mineral merchant's vending stand in droves, and the wooden plates on the price board were constantly being replaced.

  Lawrence gripped the pyrite within his bosom tightly, anxiously awaiting Lande's return, which could happen at any moment.

  It did not require much time to go to and back from Mark's vending stand from this place.

  At that moment"Someone's made a purchase!”

  Such a sound was carried throughout the site.

  Someone must have gotten a bit overexcited and cried out.

  In that instant, just like an attempt to re-stabilize a ship that had started rocking due to the effects of the wind, the surrounding air began to blow simultaneously toward the same direction.

  Someone had just purchased a large amount of pyrite, which portended a continued rise in the price. Such an expectation caused the crowd's wavering mood to settle down once more.

  Lande had still not returned.

  As time went by, the atmosphere at the site began to calm back down gradually.

  On the other hand, taking advantage of this opportunity where the number of potential buyers had become less, Lawrence could perhaps sell off a large quantity of the pyrite he had on hand and wipe away such an atmosphere.

  That way, even if it were only for a brief moment, perhaps it would cause the waiting plates to be taken down.

  At that very moment, the action of selling in bulk would probably have an extremely powerful effect. Lawrence took action.

  Cutting through the crowds, he took out the gunnysack from within his bosom and stood before the vending stand.

  "I wish to sell!”

  Under everyone's gaze, Lawrence tossed the gunnysack in front of the stand owner.

  The owner and his helping apprentices appeared stupefied for a brief moment, but immediately proceeded to their task.

  The act of tossing a stone onto the lake surface that was just about to become calm again took effect. After the measuring process was completed in a swift manner, the apprentices who held waiting plates in their hands immediately ran off from the vending stand in order to deliver pyrite to the customers.

  Lawrence immediately received the payment owed him.

  Without taking a careful count of the sum, Lawrence gripped the cash tightly and rushed into the crowd once more.

  As he did so, Lawrence caught a glimpse of Amati's agonized-looking face.

  Lawrence felt no sympathy, nor did he feel that Amati was getting what he deserved. All he had in mind was his own business and goal.

  Lawrence had sold off his entire stock of pyrite, and would need to wait till he was resupplied before being able to continue his offense.

  Why had Lande and Deanna's subordinate still not shown up yet?

  If four hundred coins' worth of pyrite were to arrive from Deanna at this time, the market value would be sure to go through a great reversal.

  This was the crossroad of fate.

  At that moment, a voice reached Lawrence's ears. "Mr. Lawrence.”

  Lande called out to L
awrence from amongst the crowd, his forehead full of sweat. Lawrence immediately rushed toward Lande, and received a bag from his hands.

  The bag contained 250 silver coins' worth of pyrite.

  Lawrence hesitated. He wavered between heading to the vending stand once more to sell off the pyrite he currently had in hand and waiting for Deanna's subordinate to show up first, in order to be absolutely sure.

  At that moment, Lawrence could not help scolding himself.

  Had he not just abandoned the hope that lay with Deanna moments ago?

  The negotiation had already dragged on for so long. Was it not being overly optimistic to still be expecting Deanna to deliver the pyrite according to his wishes?

  That being the case, Lawrence could only go ahead and play his last card. He turned around, and prepared to rush forward.

  Suddenly, the sound of cheering rang out, causing Lawrence to stop in his tracks. "Ohohohohohohoh!”

  The crowd was blocking Lawrence's line of vision, causing him to be unable to get a grasp on what had happened.

  Yet, in the instant that he heard the cheering, Lawrence could feel his merchant's intuition telling him to cry out and run away, and indicating to him that the worst possible scenario had occurred.

  Lawrence pushed past the crowd, and with great effort arrived at a position from which the vending stand's price board was visible.

  He could not help wanting to praise himself for not having dropped to his knees right then and there. The top value on the price board had been renewed.

  The price of pyrite had re-stabilized.

  In the next instant, those who decided that the disturbance a few moments ago had simply been a temporary fluctuation in the market value seemed all at once to place orders to purchase.

  With the vigor of a violent wave, the waiting plates were hung up next to the wooden plate marking the top value.

  With great effort, Lawrence managed to suppress a feeling of nausea. He was forced to make a decision concerning whether or not to sell off the pyrite he held once more.

  Perhaps there was still a chance of success if he took action right then.

  No, the smart thing to do at that moment was to await the results of Deanna's negotiation.

  After all, the quantity of pyrite involved in Deanna's negotiation had been worth four hundred silver coins on the previous night, and could very well have reached over five hundred at the present moment.