Spice & Wolf Omnibus

by Isuna Hasekura

  “But we must think of what comes after handing it over, especially if ’tis not in a place touched by human eyes.”

  “True… but how big is it? There’s a bunch of things rattling around in the sack, but…”

  Holo gave Lawrence what seemed to be a reproachful look, but he did not particularly intend to pry.

  As if to indicate that, he pulled back a bit. Holo made a bit of a sigh.

  “About this much. ’Tis wrapped in a cloth.”

  Holo indicated the rough size with both her thumbs. It was like a short stick, making Lawrence immediately think of some kind of dagger. In truly important business deals, both sides exchanged a ceremonial knife as proof they were both putting their lives on the line. If that was indeed the case, he really was entrusting the Debau Company’s life.

  “Not something you can just hide with a little effort.”

  “Aye. Especially for a hare.”

  Prying aside, that was a quite practical consideration.

  Lawrence thought about it for a while, unable to avoid the safest conclusion.

  “If we go to Svernel, there’ll be plenty of opportunities once things settle down. Also, if he’s going to negotiate with the Debau Company, he can’t stay as a hare forever.”

  Holo made a slow nod at Lawrence’s words.

  And she started to say something but stopped.

  Lawrence, too, noticed something move in his field of vision.

  When he looked, it was Moizi.

  “Are you free?”

  “Yes.”

  “We need to discuss what will happen from here on.”

  Lawrence looked at Holo.

  After they nodded to each other, he replied, “Yes.”

  Lawrence and Holo walked at the vanguard of the unit, drawing gazes that asked, “Who the hell are those people?”

  Luward walked a fair distance apart from the others, a young man at his side carrying Hilde within his cage.

  “I’ve brought them back.”

  As Moizi spoke, Luward made a wave toward the youngster. Lawrence, imagining Holo was making ugly thoughts the whole while, politely received the cage with Hilde within.

  “Now, then, the rest is a battle without a script.” Luward spoke with a change in the tenor of his voice compared to just a bit before. “Miss Holo was able to safely rendezvous with us. Furthermore, I have heard she carries some kind of book with her.”

  Holo seemed to have given up trying to deter the “Miss” part. She nodded without it seeming to mean anything in particular.

  “He shall provide you with the details.” Holo quickly handed the conversation over to Lawrence.

  “Within the text is recorded technology for mine development.”

  “I heard it was a ‘forbidden book.’”

  “Yes. I think Mr. Hilde might be able to explain more about it, but…”

  Hilde who had kept his eyes shut the entire time, until that moment, opened them at Lawrence’s words.

  “… we looked into it in the past ourselves. We have settled that the writer was indeed executed, but as for the contents, only experts could say, and we are not.”

  “So is it the real thing?” Luward pressed a very legitimate question.

  “According to the book merchant, it is authentic. However, as it is written in words of the desert regions, I can’t read a single word of it.”

  “I see. So as a fellow man of the Debau Company, what do you think? Is it trustworthy enough to use as a bargaining chip?”

  It was a difficult question, but Hilde showed no particular hesitation as he replied.

  “That depends on how much we can make them believe it is the real thing, I would think.”

  Lawrence thought he heard the sound of Holo’s tail puffing up.

  “Ha-ha. That’s certainly a true negotiator talking. How promising.”

  “The practical problems are the difficulty in finding a person who can translate it and, having done so, the question of if the translator can be trusted. There are always uncertainties in business.”

  Those were weighty words. Moizi, standing guard a short distance away to ensure others could not listen in on the conversation, made what seemed to be a heartfelt nod.

  “All the conditions are met, then: first, we of the Myuri Mercenary Company; second, the forbidden book; and third, Miss Holo,” said Luward.

  These were the three tools for Hilde to fight the Debau Company with. No matter the situation, in the hands of a master, a dull blade would defeat a masterpiece every time. On this point, Hilde and Luward’s ingenuity came guaranteed.

  But Holo, catching the scent of being counted among them, seemed somewhat unamused.

  “Also, the scouts we sent to Svernel have returned with favorable replies. At the very least, the Svernel town council will welcome us.”

  With that, there would be no arguments outside the city walls or threat of being shot by arrows while trying to pass through them.

  “That doesn’t mean there aren’t problems.”

  Luward said it like when stirring up unease before he announced the identity of their pursuers.

  When Lawrence thought about it, nothing good would come from a more straightforward telling.

  “It’s true that those who oppose the Debau Company have gathered at Svernel. But we don’t know if that makes all of them our allies.”

  So a mob; failing that, a mishmash of people assembled with conflicting interests.

  When Lawrence thought about it, either was highly plausible.

  “They do appear to have opposing the Debau Company in common. But they’ll naturally have different approaches, some resisting so they can kill it, others resisting who aren’t thinking beyond slowing it down.”

  As Luward spoke thusly, Lawrence looked down to his hands at Hilde.

  “In other words, they are saying they will not work with us unless I can prove my identity?”

  “Yeah. In particular, Hilde Schnau’s ingenuity is the bandwagon we want to ride on, so we don’t have any intention of taking orders from anyone else. Since that’s the case, you have to take the reins in negotiations.”

  Hilde’s retaking of the Debau Company and aiming for further mine development left no room for doubt.

  That being the case, getting everyone in Svernel on the same page presented a delicate problem. Many might answer that either side winning would be a tragedy.

  However, Hilde, covered more by white dressings than fur as he poked his head out of the wicker cage, showed not the slightest shred of fear as he spoke.

  “It is written in scripture that without fail what one conceals will go awry. I will have no choice but to reveal myself.”

  “On top of that, can you get everyone with disagreements on board?”

  Luward’s sharp, relentless gaze seemed to shoot through Hilde ever so slightly. Entering the town walls together meant that their fates were as good as one and the same. If he could not trust Hilde, there was no doubt he could pick another option.

  But Hilde had no evidence whatsoever with which to back a firm promise. After all, these were people who saw the Debau Company’s might as at its zenith, yet were opposing it all the same. Lawrence did not think they were halfhearted about this at all.

  However, Hilde said this, not wavering whatsoever.

  “It is my job to do so. You may leave that task to me.”

  It was not a request.

  Luward and Hilde stared at each other for a while until finally Luward relented.

  Luward pulled one foot back, placed his right hand on his breast, and lightly bent his hips.

  Then and there, he displayed who was the master of whom.

  “We are your shield and your sword. Let our banner be bathed with your blood; let our banner be the shroud for your corpse.”

  “And in the event of victory, may your banner be the one that flutters.”

  At Hilde’s words, Luward closed his eyes, as if drinking wine of the finest caliber.

>   Hilde knew to a detestable degree what words were most effective with a given person.

  “When I was a boy, I wanted to be a merchant, but maybe who I wanted to be was you.” Luward left it at that.

  In his basket within Lawrence’s arms, Hilde did not stir.

  The night had grown late when messengers from the Hugo Mercenary Company arrived.

  This was no backstage visit: These official envoys rode in on horseback with one bearing a flag.

  For its part, the Myuri Mercenary Company lit signal fires, defended its camp with spear and sword, and welcomed them in under heavy guard.

  Luward gave the envoys’ verbal message a one-word response. “Fine.”

  They were behaving with utmost seriousness, as if the merchant overseer was watching them within the darkness that very moment.

  God is always with you, it is said.

  And the Myuri Mercenary Company always waved its banner.

  “Well, then, the Hugo Mercenary Company will await you at the appointed place,” said the envoys with all due formality before leaving leaving the Myuri Mercenary Company’s encampment.

  All that remained was silence. Even though they knew what was to happen from here, there was tension.

  “Moizi, make preparations.”

  “Sir.”

  After Luward broke the silence, Moizi exchanged looks with a youngster on logistics duty beside the sleds.

  Then, in a well-practiced manner, the youngster retrieved a fur-rimmed overcoat from the baggage train. Rimming with fur was not simply proof of a person’s affluence, but a display of the wearer’s high social status.

  After putting on the heavy coat, which nonetheless did not appear warm in the slightest, he put a jeweled sword on his hip.

  “I never know if I’m nervous or if the gear’s just so damned heavy.” Luward acted disinterested as he made the joke. He was probably still nervous, too. “Now, Mr. Lawrence, how’s your end?”

  Lawrence nodded when called.

  They had hammered out before eating that Lawrence would proceed with him to the negotiations. Hilde was injured, after all, and there was nothing to be gained whatsoever from disclosing his location.

  If everything went as planned, however, all he would be doing was carrying a few things; nothing difficult whatsoever compared to his business dealings as a traveling merchant. As a result, he kept telling himself it would be all right, but he could not hide his tension.

  Perhaps seeing Lawrence like that was why Holo whacked him close to the hip without a word.

  “Make preparations for departure just in case.”

  Luward issued such an order to his subordinates. Moizi made a stern face, but the men laughed in response. Lawrence thought of saying some kind of joke to Holo, but Holo was yawning and sipping on her liquor without even glancing toward him.

  It seemed a bit mysterious, but maybe she was trying to tell him not to be so nervous.

  After that, Luward took the lead with Lawrence, Moizi, and two others serving as bodyguards, their party advancing along the nighttime snowy road. It was a cloudy night with the moon coming out and then hiding again; the temperature was frighteningly low. It was bad enough it seemed like any words spoken would freeze over then and there. Lawrence sometimes felt like snow was falling, but that was no doubt the fault of the bitterly cold wind.

  As they listened to the sound of a horse plodding over snow, Lawrence and the others finally arrived at the valley where the avalanche had been triggered during the day. The Hugo Mercenary Company was already in the bottom of the valley, projecting a winner’s confidence that was obvious at a glance.

  However, Luward and Moizi seemed fairly surprised while looking at them. Lawrence realized that Rebonato, the head of the Hugo Mercenary Company, was covered in an ordinary, heavy overcoat. It was by no means of poor quality, but was heavily mismatched with the ceremonial fur coat and jeweled sword Luward was dressed in.

  Or perhaps a calculated show of disrespect was required because this was not a negotiation between equals.

  That was Lawrence’s thinking, and Luward and Moizi seemed to have decided as much.

  “Well, let’s go.”

  This said, Luward took the initiative by spurring his horse, deftly moving down the sloping road. Lawrence handled his reins and somehow managed to go down the unfamiliar sloped road. The snow at the bottom of the valley was heavily packed; hooves did not sink into it at all. The head of the Hugo Mercenary Company stood with the young Debau Company merchant overseer beside him, and behind them stood two bodyguards, equal to their own side.

  Moizi looked all about out of habit, but of course there were no troops in ambush.

  Moizi sent Luward a quick glance, Luward nodded, and they finally closed the distance.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting.” That was the first thing Luward said when dismounting. “I believe you received my message…”

  The Hugo Mercenary Company’s Rebonato spoke without replying.

  “Let me repeat. This is not a negotiation. This is a declaration.”

  Unlike the clothing Luward wore to espouse dignity, Rebonato’s heavy coat was completely devoted to practicality.

  With Rebonato speaking frankly, looking like that, anyone listening would think he was delivering a merciless final warning.

  “I don’t mind. I’m handy with a sword, but not so with words,” Luward replied with a show of vanity.

  Standing beside Rebonato, the young merchant scowled with his eyebrows, looking uncomfortable. Rebonato’s visage, sterner even than Moizi’s own, seemed frozen and expressionless as he continued to speak.

  “We have taken fifteen captive. For your part, you have only four of our men captive. These are clear facts not up for debate. But we are well aware of the honor of the Myuri Mercenary Company’s flag until now. Therefore, we find no reason to continue to turn our swords upon you.”

  He seemed very fond of exaggerated words.

  However, if fifteen men were genuine captives, they would be on the verge of annihilation.

  There was no mistaking that Rebonato would be delivering the same lines even if this was not all an act.

  “We will not ask where you are headed. We will, however, inform you of our conclusion.”

  Rebonato was not requesting a dialogue.

  His behavior was fitting in this cold, dark valley.

  And taking in those words, the uncomfortable-looking, scowling merchant beside Rebonato finally allowed a little happiness to show on his face at the prospect of delivering the finishing blow.

  “My name is Raji Glem. I am a merchant of the Debau Company. I want you to think of my voice, my orders, as speaking for the Debau Company.”

  When he finished speaking, he sent a defiant glare toward Luward.

  It was as if he expected invoking the Debau Company would bring everyone to their knees.

  In practice, Luward was neither frightened of such talk, nor did he even give Glem a glance, making him seethe audibly.

  Perhaps the especially cold air was a blessing, for he breathed deeply and cooled his anger. After that, he pulled out two documents from his breast to finish off these obstinate people who refused to submit, even after a decisive defeat.

  “We have two demands. The first, you will pay ransom for our captives. The second, you will halt your advance.”

  The contents were just as they had been told beforehand.

  And Glem the overseer was apparently even more conceited than the report beforehand had claimed.

  “No response?” he asked in an overbearing manner.

  Rebonato looked at Glem from the side, but the defiant behavior did not cease.

  Luward averted his gaze as if he was dealing with a child as he spoke.

  “Ransom? You at least know the price, I take it?”

  Glem’s face turned beet red to a pathetic degree at the transparent taunt.

  Lawrence was aghast at how petty the other side’s fellow merchant was. Perhaps i
t was that not having to work hard, at a company that had continued to succeed time after time, made this inevitable.

  He was just like the spoiled third son of an aristocrat.

  As Glem continued to glare at Luward, he nearly shouted as he spoke.

  “Ten gold lumione a head! You will pay immediately!”

  For fifteen people, that would be in excess of five thousand silver trenni.

  Lawrence did not know the going rate for ransoms, but even he immediately understood this was exceptional.

  Rebonato acted surprised as he urgently raised his voice to the indignant Glem beside him.

  “Wh-why are you deciding th–”

  “Ha! That’s a high enough price for a pack of beaten dogs!”

  Certainly, Rebonato had said this was not a negotiation, but this was nothing short of an ultimatum.

  The more worked up Glem became, the cooler Luward’s attitude became in turn.

  “This won’t do, Captain Rebonato. This relates to your reputation.”

  Rebonato, to whom Luward’s statement was addressed, swallowed his words.

  Glem paid not the slightest attention to Rebonato’s reaction, waving a sheet of paper in his hand as he shouted in anger.

  “You whelp! This is not a negotiation! It’s a declaration! Don’t you see that?!”

  Luward finally returned his gaze to Glem with an afflicted look.

  Glem, making labored breaths, seemed so worked up that his head might emit steam.

  Normally, the one who did this lost the negotiation.

  However, Luward looked at the paper in Glem’s hand and reeled in shock.

  “What the…?”

  “… Ha, ha-ha, ha-ha-ha! How about this, whelp! Yes, this is a contract! A pledge for you to pay this amount of money in thanks for our sparing the lives of the subordinates you abandoned. It is even sealed with blood! Do you know what this means! If you defy this, we can bring you to heel as contract violators at any time of our choosing!”

  Though Lawrence could not see the contract very well, such was the norm when there was a seal in blood.

  For that was the nature of contracts and what contracts should be.

  “Ugh… but who’ll believe that’s real…?”

  “Take a good look! This is the contract that binds you!”