Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Epilogue
Translation Team
Written by Hasekura Isuna
Illustrated by Ayakura Jyuu
Translation & Editing by
‘Drunken Wolf Translations’
Ebook version 2.0 (07/25/13)
Prologue
Dawn was breaking across the horizon of the vast, snow-covered plain. It was freezing, to the point where simply breathing could give one a headache. Their only company was the sheep that had already been driven out onto the plain well before dawn.
It was a view that hadn’t changed for centuries. It probably wouldn’t change over the following centuries, either. Just a sunny sky and a flat plain with sheep on the snow. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled. For whatever reason, his eyes always watched the vapor as it was dragged off by the bitter wind.
The person next to him was still quite groggy. She was kneeling over the ground, playing in the snow.
“Perhaps it does not exist anymore.”
He didn’t have an immediate response to her sudden statement, but eventually spoke.
“Well, at least that way you can’t ever lose it again.”
She threw a snowball she had formed while he considered his reply. It landed in the snow on the ground and sank, leaving barely any hole behind.
“Some humans will again lose precious things they have lost.”
Another barely-visible hole appeared in the snow, and another belated response followed.
“I don’t follow you.”
“Everything ends when you die.. that is what you are saying, yes? But that is not what everyone believes. Some believe that they shall be reborn in heaven, and others shall be reborn in hell. Thus, some shall be split apart and lose each other all over again.”
She opted to not form a third snowball. She breathed on her red hands to warm them up.
“Humans have such terrible imaginations.”
“Indeed we do.”
He nodded in reflection until he heard her next sentence.
“It is as though the snowballs disappear when they touch the ground..”
“Then just throw a broader one. The hole will be much more apparent.”
He heard her clothes rustling as she bent her waist to laugh.
“Such terrible imaginations indeed! Only a brash child could come up with that; it would never have crossed my mind.”
She said that despite being two heads shorter than he was. When he was young all adults seemed fierce to him. But now all the women he saw seemed weak and flighty, so he considered the rare tough one to be something worthy of attention.
“And yet, I am quite happy.”
“..happy?”
“Mm. I had lost something, but because I was not there, I could do nothing about it.”
She tread forward step by step, as if trying to make herself heavier than she was. The footprints she left behind on the snow were small, but clearly visible.
“But this time..”
She took off her hood and smiled, back-lit by the sun.
“This time I can be there.. In a way, it is as though I have survived to be reborn.”
Her fangs were poking out from under her smiling lips.
“Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to do anything. You can give up or not give up, it makes no difference. Still, it is better than never knowing.”
There were two kinds of toughness; the kind used to protect things, and the kind that remained when one had nothing more to lose.
“It’s always nice to see you acting tough.”
More vapor spread from his mouth as he told his joke.
“Well, it is because it gives me an excuse. No matter how things turn out, I can be there when they happen. And that is quite comforting.. although ’twould be more comfortable if they also went smoothly.”
Apparently, just being there would ease the pain of losing in the end. But seeing someone aim so low, despite having such strong feelings.. of course they would be compelled to offer her their hand. Because even if it was certain she would lose, it would be difficult for her to lose with grace.
“I still have to survive the cold, long years ahead of me, and sleeping in the cold requires warmth.. that is all I need. Something to dream with, and something to look at when I wake.”
He knew better than to smile, but there was no way he could stop after hearing something like that. Of course, that only made her own smile seem more menacing.. like she was about to rob him of all the treasure he had.
“I can’t be with you forever, and I can only offer to be with you as you walk into danger.. but whatever little warmth I have is yours.”
In response, that two-heads-shorter girl rose and blotted out the sun.
She didn’t need to see their goals achieved in the end; it was enough to just be with him as long as possible. He could say he’d give up everything he had and face any danger for her.. but he knew she wouldn’t take such boasts lightly.
This way, they could just hold hands without ruining the moment with theatrics. Maybe he was starting to get old, but he just wanted there to be happy smiles on their faces when they talked.
“Then, I shall see just how warm you are.”
That was her way of signaling that their bittersweet conversation was over. But she still returned to him and took his hand to rub it for warmth.
“If you eat too much, it might become your last supper.”
It was expensive to keep her belly full, but there was a part of her that was much more vexing - her mind.
“Well, that is because you love me so much that you let me eat as I will, even if my stomach should explode.”
She was like a mental fortress, easily defended and difficult to attack. Finding a spot to attack was like finding a snake hidden in tall grass, so he ultimately surrendered with a shrug.
“I wouldn’t want to see you die like that.”
“Hmm..”
Her reddish-amber eyes seemed to be staring off into the distance behind her eyelids, having just peeked at the snow-covered monastery.
“Agreed. I would rather die in comfort then be killed by your kindness.”
Lawrence couldn’t help but wonder if dawn was the coldest time of day because God wanted them to appreciate the coming warmth.
Chapter 1
“We ought to catch up sometime.”
This wasn’t the kind of pleasantry that a merchant normally took literally. Usually, it just meant “if we’re lucky enough to meet again in the future, we should discuss what’s happened since.” That was the gist of it. But when it came from someone in a huge economic union or from a complicated network of agencies, merchants took it as a sign that it was urgent.
As Lawrence and his companions prepared to cross the channel from the port back to the main continent, they received a letter from the Great Brondel Monastery behind them on those vast snowy plains. They were staying at the same inn as when they first arrived.
Pisky, the author of that letter, had been of great help to them when they were at the monastery. His letter outlined how he planned to save the monastery from its financial problems in one fell swoop. Many great saints had been raised at the monastery, making it the home of many sacred relics, which was why Lawrence’s group had gone there.
The particular relic they were after was supposedly the fore-paw of a pagan God, and was quite likely real. Lawrence had never seen such legends as more than drinking stories back when he was a lone traveling merchant. But now he was somehow here, reading a secret l
etter about a monastery from the Ruvik Alliance, an economic union with many ships and the respect of kings and popes.
It was enough to make him giddy. But then, upon reflection, such alliances were still comprised of individuals despite their size. And if you met an individual who shared similar interests, it was a meeting worthy of a feast no matter if they were in an alliance of merchants or slaves.
People’s destinies were decided by the gods, so everyone should have a couple of amazing meetings in their lives. But if you tried to force something amazing, you’d only be met with spectacular failure. But, most amazing to Lawrence was the spectacular being sitting next to him, who was also keen on the letter.
With her flaxen hair and shapely chin, her amber-red eyes and seductive lips, she looked every bit a noble. Yet under the hood of her cloak she hid a pair of animal ears. She had met him (not a noble) when she (not a human) wished to travel. In reality, she was a tremendous wolf capable of swallowing a man whole.
She had lived in the wheat and governed its harvest, and she had done that since the ancient age of deities. And yet, she had no desire to be viewed as one. In fact, based on the way she kept swatting his calves with her tail so he would give her the letter, the only word that seemed an apt description of her was “endearing.” There was no need for further praise.
“Hey.. give that back to me when you’re done.”
Like a robber, she snatched the letter away from him. The relic they had sought at the Brondel Monastery wasn’t just the bones of a regular wolf, but the bones of a god - though they turned out to be fake. The letter described why the monastery purchased them.
Holo thought the bones might be the remains of one of her friends, so she felt better when she learned they were fake. But the monastery had bought them regardless, meaning such bones might truly exist. Now she held a letter that might hold clues about them.
“It’s interesting that such a huge monastery was swindled.”
Cole - the third partner in Lawrence’s group - spoke as he watched the fire. He was a teenager, yet he looked younger than his age. It might be a consequence of the difficult road he had walked, but it could also be simply because he was exceptionally humble about his intellect.
Lawrence moved next to the fire to warm himself before replying.
“Who would want to buy a rusty sword?”
Lawrence’s master had always asked him sudden questions back when he was an apprentice. Then he would assess the quality of Lawrence’s answer.
“Hmm.. someone.. poor?”
“Maybe. But they aren’t the only ones.”
“Someone who has too much money on their hands?”
Holo seemed to have finished with the letter, even before Cole replied. She seated herself between the two of them, then handed back the letter.
Cole was a young student who had wandered into their lives. Now, he was seeking the truth about the wolf-god’s bones, because he himself believed in the pagan gods of the north.
“Indeed. Those with wealth will spend a great deal on such articles. Even a dull and rusty sword. Such things have value beyond their sharpness.”
“Then, it was fine for the monastery even if the bones weren’t real?”
His excellent answer earned him a pat on the head from Holo. He wasn’t embarrassed by the gesture, but he did beam a wide smile.. the kind that would warm the heart of the one who patted him in the first place.
“It also wouldn’t matter if they’re real or not if they got someone else to look for them.. which is what they basically did.”
Cole resumed reading as Lawrence finished. The letter spoke of the only possibility to save the monastery.
“You mean, they asked a certain company on the continent to find them, then bought them?”
More specifically, D’Jean’s company in Gerube, who had a war fund for the wolf-god’s bones but got swept up in the Narwhale fiasco.
“Whether the bones were real or not, they could just get D’Jean’s to hunt for them, then pretend they knew nothing about it. That way everything would be fine. Shame it didn’t work out that way.”
“Well, it has nothing to do with us.”
Holo, who had been roasting cheese on the end of a wooden stick, suddenly chimed in. She then proceeded to take a huge bite of the cheese, whereupon the ears under her hood perked up.
“True, this is hardly important.”
Hearing Lawrence say so, Cole looked back at the letter. If there was something truly important in the letter it wouldn’t be related to that.. and sometimes it was better to not know something. Even in trade, the value of information wasn’t easy to judge, especially when it was information that no one could corroborate. Misinformation was sometimes leaked in situations where no actual evidence was available.
“It seems these kinds of trades are being made everywhere. I guess the people involved in them probably have insider information. It’s not stable in the north, so may God be with us. Pisky.”
Holo flung her stick into the fire, having eaten the cheese.
“That only proves what Huskins told you, yes?”
It was rare for Holo to call someone by their name. The name she mentioned was, in fact, the real name of the legendary Golden Sheep in the myths surrounding the Brondel Monastery. For her to name him meant something. She was a stubborn Wisewolf, and everyone she didn’t respect, was a “you” or “them” to her.
“Mr. Huskins told me that D’Jean’s company, the ones after the bones, was once a branch of Diva Company. But even though Diva Company owns the mining rights in the north, they aren’t part of the Ruvik Alliance.”
Huskins had secretly built a home base for himself and his friends at the monastery. His compatriots hailed from all over the world, and could thus meet there once in a while to relay distant news. Huskins had mentioned hearing something to Lawrence, something about Holo’s homeland of Yoitsu.
“So then.. the real bones are in the hands of the Diva Company?”
“Probably. If they’re on the market, Diva will sniff them out.”
When Cole handed the letter back, Lawrence slowly tore it.
“Ah!”
Lawrence ignored the surprised boy and tossed the torn letter into the fire.
“Sending only one copy on paper, which is easily burned or dissolved in water, is a sign. Usually, letters are written on parchment so they’ll last, so if one’s written on thin paper it’s meant to be confidential. We can’t let others read it.”
It didn’t take long for the letter to burn, its ashes gently wafting up to the ceiling in the heated air.
“So, what should we do?”
Cole and Holo were watching the ashes float around, but only Cole was focused on them. Holo’s amber-red eyes were focused entirely elsewhere.
“Mr. Pisky’s letter corroborates Huskins’ news of the north, so we have news that two large social networks agree upon. In other words, we can safely assume it’s the truth.”
“So, they did drive people away to open their mines?”
Cole had snapped back to reality.
”They wouldn’t be blindly collecting holy relics without knowing they were real. That’s what Huskins told me. So their goal is obvious. No one’s more capable than the Church when it comes to using violence to solve disputes. Diva’s wants to get on their good side so they can put a good spin on their conquering of the mining areas.”
Suddenly a small wooden stick was heard snapping.
“In other words, a holy war.. claiming back God’s land from the pagans, right?”
Lawrence nodded, but Holo spoke.
“Holy relics belong in a world of beliefs and superstitions, so they were investigating using the bones to promote the Church’s religion. They know it was a holy relic to pagans, so by disrespecting it and showing that they were unpunished, they would disprove the existence of that god, and prove theirs was the real one.”
No matter how strong a creature was alive, it had no way to bite t
hem back when it was nothing but bones. It was easy to imagine the reaction of pagans seeing the Church do this. To Diva, however, it was all about starting a war to win the mining rights in that region. It had nothing to do with faith, only profit potential.
Just as Huskins said, wherever people went to eradicate old forest and river gods, merchants would be seen looming in the background. This time, they weren’t even staying in the background.
“It’s likely many were left in dire straits when the Northern Expedition was canceled. No one likes wars taking place in their country, but when it’s some remote region it’s a different story. Food and goods can be sold at ridiculous prices, and mercenaries will all leave to join the marches. A lucky conqueror might even find treasure, and new settlers will also reap the benefits.”
“It is even better when it is the land of another religion, is it not?”
Holo’s home was destroyed several centuries in the past, but there should at least remain familiar forests, hills and rivers. There should still be gentle hills to lie on under the sun. So in a way, her home would still exist. Not so if it had been mined for metals or gems. Trees would be cleared, hills flattened, rivers filled. In the blink of an eye, the entire area would be unfamiliar.
“Well..”
Cole raised his hand in frustration, almost in tears. He was one of the few brave enough to take action to save people from the Church.
“Can we attack them before they attack us?”
“No. But..”
Lawrence smiled in an effort to comfort the boy.
“We can prepare. The larger such an effort, the more difficult it is for them to hide it. Plus, even if we can’t stop the inevitable, we can still turn their spears from the places we want to protect.”
Cole sadly bit his lower lip and nodded. If this was happening in 20 years, perhaps Cole would have enough influence in the Church to prevent it. But the operative word there was “perhaps.” Holo pinched his face.
“So what shall we need?”
“We’ll need an accurate map of the north. It doesn’t matter what we want to do if we don’t know how to get there. We don’t even know how the war’s spreading. Plus, if we’re lucky, we might also get some news about the bones while we’re at it.”
Spice & Wolf XII (DWT) Page 1
