01x06 - Merchant and Unreasonable God

[bunniefuu]

What's wrong?

I can feel a slight tremble in the air.

The ground above us

must be near the market.

That's probably why.

No

It does

Is this water?

The sound of water splashing.

They're after us! Which way?

From ahead. This is bad. Head back!

Is this just one straight path?

It would've been

if we kept going in that direction.

But it's a maze down this way.

Even I can't say

for certain that I won't lose my way here.

Huh? What's wrong?

We can't outrun them.

They released dogs.

They're barking like fools.

All right, close your ears.

What?

I'm craving some apples.

You can eat as much as you want later.

ORIGINAL STORY BY ISUNA HASEKURA

But how did they find us?

They were probably searching underground

and happened to find us.

You think so?

If they came here knowing we were here,

we'd be sandwiched by now.

Milone Trading Company sold you out!

There's no use in running away!

Apparently, we were sold out.

They would've had to pay a hefty amount.

After all, Milone will be at risk

of destruction if you're caught.

I see.

That would be expensive.

I'm sure they're just bluffing.

Let's go.

Wait!

They're here!

Over there! Don't let them go!

You chase after them.

I'll go around the other side.

All right!

-I hear their footsteps over there!

-Catch them!

They're not over here yet.

Block all the side paths.

Do you know your way?

Yeah, don't worry. We'll turn left there.

-Let's hurry.

-Yes.

Lawrence!

Please forgive me of my sins, my God.

Before repenting for your sins,

you'd better repent for

the way you live your life.

Lawrence

Don't worry. I know the route.

-Damn it! Where are they?

-Look here!

-They're completely unconscious.

-Let's go after them.

Lawrence!

Are you okay? Lawrence!

Thank goodness

I kept calling your name,

but you wouldn't move.

I'm fine. I was just a little sleepy.

You've got to hold on. We're almost there.

Almost where?

You didn't hear me?

I said that I can smell

the sunlight, so this must lead outside.

Right

-What's this?

-You

You didn't even notice that?

Almost

We're almost there.

No

I knew you did that. Don't worry.

This way.

If we turn right at the end of that path,

we should be able to go outside.

No way

An old well, huh?

I'm sorry. I didn't realize this was it.

There they are!

Stay back.

What! You can't fight them!

Nonsense

I can still fight.

You're lying! Even someone

without my ears can tell!

Wait.

I knew it sounded familiar

when they described

who they were looking for.

I can't believe it really was you,

Lawrence.

I was surprised as well.

Who knew you'd get involved

in such an ambitious transaction.

You've come a long way, Yarei.

The one backing up Medio Trading Company

is Count Erhendott.

As a major wheat producer,

it's easy to have buyers pay

using coins of your choice.

On top of that,

lifting the tariffs on wheat

would be a godsend for the count,

Medio Trading Company, and the villagers.

You are familiar with the merchants

who come to buy wheat

and the village head

leaves everything to you.

And the majority of

wheat transactions

happen after the harvest festival.

We can catch up later.

We don't have much time now.

Don't be so cold, Yarei.

Didn't you come all the way here to see

the wolf you didn't even believe in?

Who knew she'd become your companion?

The wolf incarnate who resided in

our wheat fields

and freely controlled the success

and failure of the harvest

Hand her over to us.

We are going to turn her over

to the church

and break away from the old days.

If you hand her over,

we can destroy Milone Trading Company.

If we can lift the tariffs as well,

our village's wheat will bring in

an enormous profit.

All the villagers will prosper.

Lawrence,

that also applies to merchants

who buy our wheat.

You bought our wheat

when our village was suffering

from heavy tariffs.

All the villagers are grateful to you.

I can easily give you priority

when it comes to buying our wheat.

Plus, think about our history together.

You'd even be able to fulfill your dream

of opening your own store.

Then the two of us will be

able to take part in

even bigger business deals.

I learned business from you.

This time, I want to help you

succeed in your venture.

Come on, Lawrence.

As a merchant, you should know

which decision is most profitable.

Of course, I know what's more profitable.

Lawrence!

However,

the first rule to becoming a good merchant

is honoring your contract.

By some quirk of fate,

this weird girl I picked up

wishes to return north.

I made a contract with her

and said that I will accompany her.

I can't break that contract.

Then I'll have to follow through

with the contract I made too.

That's too bad.

Our friendship

didn't last very long, did it?

Saying goodbye is part of

being a traveling merchant.

You can k*ll the guy.

But make sure you capture her alive.

Holo?

My sword

That's enough!

It might hurt a little, but bear with me.

She's drinking his blood!

Don't be scared!

She's nothing but a girl

possessed by a demon

Don't look

Run.

God is always like this

Always so unreasonable!

Holo

Stop, Holo!

Wait

Holo!

How expensive do you think

that outfit was that you tore?

I don't care if you're a god.

I'll have you pay for it!

The 70 silver coins you made

are not enough!

Do you know how many years I worked

to save up for each piece?

I'll chase after you to the north forest.

I will chase after you!

Holo!

Holo

You woke up?

How is your wound?

Fine, thank you.

Our mistake put you in a lot of danger.

I am terribly sorry.

Don't be. This all happened because of

my companion anyway.

Fortunately, the church didn't find us.

We were lucky that the commotion

happened underground.

If the townspeople saw her in that form,

our branch and even our headquarters

may have been burned down.

You saw her?

Yes.

I got a report from

my subordinates saying,

"A giant wolf

is protecting Mr. Lawrence

and won't move."

When I got there,

your companion was there.

She was protecting me?

So, where is Holo now?

Well, after she carried you here

she left without telling us

where she was going.

-When?

-It's been one whole day.

I see

So, did the transaction go well?

Yes.

We got the royal family to

grant us the privilege that

Medio Trading Company would want the most.

Your companion will no longer

be reported to the church.

That's good to hear.

The number of silver coins that

we collected was 307,212.

The king is apparently planning to

devalue the silver coin quite a lot.

He paid us with ready money

that was worth about 350,000 coins.

350,000 coins?

According to our contract with you,

we are to give you

5% of the profit that we made.

-Is that correct?

-Yes.

-Please confirm.

-Yes.

This is

120 silver coins.

That is 5% of the profit that we made.

That is all?

The transportation fee

for the coins we collected,

the tariffs imposed on that,

and the contract fee

for the contract itself.

What an absurdly high contract fee.

The king's purveyors must have

given him that idea.

They gave away the privileges

but made up for it by recovering

what they lost from the coin exchange.

The profit we made was 2,400 coins.

The results

were unexpectedly disappointing.

Business is all about

the unexpected, I guess.

However,

sometimes things happen unexpectedly

in a good way too.

Here.

This is

I guess the Medio Trading Company

really wanted those privileges.

Moreover,

they've collected coins that they know

are going to drop in value,

which is the same as being in debt.

So, I guess they were eager to do business

that would positively lead to a profit.

They offered us a price on the spot.

A whole 1,000 coins Are you sure?

Yes, it's nothing.

Would you like to be paid in silver coins?

If you would rather exchange it

for merchandise, I can get that ready.

Black pepper

Do you have black pepper?

It's light and doesn't take up space.

Black pepper?

People will eat more meat

as we approach winter,

and the price of pepper will rise.

What is it?

I'm sorry.

I just remembered

a play that I read recently.

A play?

Yes.

It's a liturgical drama

that the church uses

to teach trading companies to do

business with a sense of morality.

A devil appears in front of

a certain rich merchant and says,

"Bring me the most delicious

human being that's here,

or else I will devour you."

To save his own life, the merchant

offers up his young maids

and stout menservants,

but the devil kept shaking his head "No."

He searches around town for

delicious humans and finally

finds a boy who

smells like milk and honey.

He wastes no time in offering

the boy up to the devil,

but the boy tells the devil,

"The most delicious human

is right in front of you."

"The man who

has been marinating his overweight soul

with an abundance of spices,

day after day."

Excuse me

I couldn't help but

picture you making a profit

off of black pepper.

I can't wait until I can

afford to use that much spice myself.

I have high hopes for you.

After all, it's in our best interest

to maintain a good

relationship with a merchant like you,

Mr. Lawrence.

Thank you.

Well then,

we'll prepare your black pepper.

I'll get back to work now.

Mr. Lawrence,

there is an invoice billed to your name.

140 silver coins?

I don't remember buying these

-Oh!

-Huh?

Where's the loading dock?

Turn left at the end of the hallway

Thank you!

A woman's robe,

a silk belt,

travel shoes, a tortoiseshell comb

Sorry, coming through!

And a bunch of apples!

That will be 140 silver coins.

Holo!

I don't want you coming to

the north forest to collect your money.

I have to pay you back before going home.

That's right!

Spice and wolf, huh?

Next time, "The Scales of God

and Mage of the Grassland."