01x24 - Path of the Snake God and Answer of the Wise Wolf

[bunniefuu]

Hey,

do you think the villagers
will come after us?

I mean, we left the door
to the basement open, after all.

Ms. Iima said that she would
close the door for us.

Huh? But that means...

Yes.

If this doesn't lead anywhere,
that would be a problem.

Hey, is it just me
or does it smell fishy in here?

We're almost outside.

ORIGINAL STORY BY ISUNA HASEKURA

Don't tell me...

-Huh?
-This is...

This is great!

Mr. Lawrence,
do you know what this hole is?

I have no idea.

This is the hole where Lord Truyeo
is said to have

hibernated a long time ago.

Every year, during the harvest season
and sowing season,

the villagers pray right here
and have a celebration.

We rarely take part in that, though.

But why is the church connected to here?

I don't know how it came to be,
but it's a smart idea.

This way, the villagers would
never dare to go inside.

Let's go. We're basically asking people
to find us if we stay out here.

Let's go down by that river for now.

That's true. Come on, Elsa.

Okay.

This is a real snake hole, isn't it?

Even I'm not able to tell
exactly how old it is, though.

That basement was built
in the middle of this giant snake hole,

and the hole continues
in the opposite direction, doesn't it?

What we don't know is whether or not there
is a giant snake coiled up at the end.

When people make a big deal
and worship every hole you dig up,

it must be hard
to even take a nap in peace.

Well,

humans are funny creatures
who like to worship things.

You want to worship me too, don't you?

Let's go!

What?!

Hey!

So, how are we going to escape?

-We'll head toward Enberch first.
-What?!

We came to the village
by passing through that town.

If we're going to escape while hiding,

it's better to take a familiar course.

I see.

Let me tell you this.

If you show fear, I will devour you
right there and then.

Okay!

Face the other way.

Yes.

-Hey...
-Right.

Stop!

Jeez, why does the human form
have to be so cold!

I'm getting cold just looking at you.

Do you want a compliment?

There's really nothing like my fur.

Tell me if you ever feel like selling it.

I didn't have any expectations anyway.

Go ahead.

This is nothing but a dream.

Remember?

Yes, that's right.

So Father Franz wasn't lying.

Hurry up and get on.

It'll be troublesome if we're found.

Right.

If you fall off my back,
I'll carry you in my mouth.

So be prepared.

Well then, let's go.

Hold on tight!

How far have we come?

Halfway.

Are we just taking a break, or...

If I let you die here,
there will be no point.

We'll take a break until morning.

I'm glad to hear that.

We traveled a distance that would
take a much longer time on horseback.

We'll be safe for a while.

Don't fall asleep there.
Sleep on the ground.

I feel like I've become a parent.

Oh...

What's wrong?

Is it safe for me to check it out?

Okay.

Mr. Lawrence!

Are they from Enberch?

Most likely.

I see.

Is Ms. Elsa not feeling well?

I don't know. She didn't look sick,

but it seems like
something is on her mind.

There are quite a lot of people.

After all, they're returning
all of the wheat.

They even have guys with spears.

Hey, Mr. Lawrence...

Is it possible to ask

your god, who gave us a ride here
for a favor?

What kind of favor?

To k*ll every one of those guys.

Let's just say that she does agree
and fulfills your request.

She can make it happen in no time.

However,

Enberch will then send an army to Tereo.

We cannot help you through all that.

That's true.

So, what will happen to us now?

As long as we can get to Kumersun,

we will be safe, at least.

We can think about what to do after that
once we get there.

Okay.

You should think about
what you want to do.

It must've been fate that we met,
so I will help you.

Thank you.

What's that?

That carriage is used by the church,
and by high-ranking members at that.

Why are people from the church coming?

To charge the village for heresy.

Heresy?

Ridelius' Hellfire was found
in Tereo's wheat,

and someone died in Enberch.

But nobody has died in Tereo.

Of course nobody has died!

That poison was never in the wheat
to begin with!

But I'm sure the church is going to say,

"The villagers of Tereo were unharmed
because the devil is protecting them.

Tereo must be a village of heretics."

Let's go back.

Let's travel a little bit further
and eat breakfast.

Elsa?

Holo...

Are you really a god?

I am Holo the Wisewolf of Yoitsu.

But for a long time,
people did refer to me as a "god."

I live inside the wheat,
take the shape of a wolf,

and can transform into a human as well.

People worship me as a god of harvest,

and I am capable
of fulfilling their wishes.

Harvest? So you're...

Then does Truyeo...

You've already answered that question
yourself, haven't you?

Truyeo is Truyeo and you are you.

-Then does that mean...
-The question you're trying to ask...

Huh?

...is something you shouldn't ask me.

Elsa!

I'm fine.

I am Father Franz's successor.

I can say that with confidence right now.

Is that so?

I will return to the village.

What?!

Mr. Lawrence, I'm sorry.

You're going back to the village
to do what?

Even if you return, that village isn't...

-Even then, I must go back.
-Why?!

I am the head of the village church.

Plus...

I can't abandon the villagers.

Evan, become a fine merchant.

Mr. Lawrence...

It seems Ms. Elsa wants you
to become a fine merchant.

Merchants must calmly calculate
what they can gain and lose.

Are you capable of that?

Just because she is brave

and just because she is
absolutely determined,

it doesn't mean that she isn't afraid.

A merchant must calculate
his gains and losses.

What will you gain and what will you lose?

So, what should...

Was I wrong?

Was I wrong?

Who is to say...

whether it was right or wrong?

Nobody.

But I... I...

Fighting for their homeland

despite how hopeless the situation is...

will at least leave them with no regrets.

My claws can crush boulders.

Humans can g*ng up on me
and I will not lose.

You've shown me that.

Nobody in Yoitsu could beat me.

No human, wolf, deer, or boar.

Then what about a bear?

What about the moon-hunting bear?

You wouldn't have won.

But if you had fought
until the bitter end,

you might have had about three pages
dedicated to you in that book.

I can't say whether that is
a good or bad thing.

But this is all
just hypothetical, isn't it?

You're right.

If, right after you left Yoitsu,

you heard that
the moon-hunting bear was coming,

I'm sure you would have rushed back.

But the reality is
that it didn't happen that way.

Calamity came upon them,
unbeknownst to you.

You know that you're getting flustered
over something totally absurd, don't you?

Of course, I...

Of course, I know.

If Elsa and Evan had come back,

what kind of excuse
were you going to make?

An excuse for what?

Murdering me.

Given our situation,

if I was a female human,

you'd have no right to complain
even if I k*lled you.

Well, nobody can complain if they're dead.

Anyway, what do you want to do?

I should be asking you that.

I'll get you back one day.

-Isn't there anything we can do?
-Huh?

There's nothing we can do
about Yoitsu anymore.

But this village is still salvageable.

I'm just a regular merchant, you know?

But I am not just a regular wolf.

Poisonous wheat, was it?

Even if it is mixed in,
I can tell the difference.

I thought about that option too.

But it still won't do any good.

We can't get them to believe me, huh?

Right.

It'll take a miracle.

Miracle?

I have also shown humans
"miracles" just for fun.

You told me that you've
performed miracles, didn't you?

I did. So what?

Would a miracle provide a solution?

Yes. In the past,
there have been cases where people's

heresy charges were dropped
because of miracles.

However, the church has to
approve that a miracle is a miracle.

They won't approve of
anything that's subpar.

So, it has to be something clearly visible
and undeniable, right?

Can you do that?

Hey, where is my wheat?

Oh, I see it.

Get it for me.

Watch closely.

Wh...

Something like this, huh?

Wow...

This is a miracle for sure.

So, what do you think?

The only other thing

that I can do which is clearly visible
is show my wolf form.

No, this should be more than enough.

Now, we just have to see if Elsa
will accept this method.

Also...

There's more?

Even if things go as planned,

I doubt that Enberch will
buy back the wheat.

So we have to somehow

make a profit out of the returned wheat.

I see...

But this is where I have to show
my skill as a merchant.

I'm sure it'll be fine.

Let's go back.

I'm tired of being cold.

You look disappointed.

And you look like you're having fun.

I have an idea.

Holo can perform the miracle
that I just explained to you.

All we have to think about now
is how to show the miracle.

Do you have a plan in mind?

I just know the right timing.

-The timing?
-Yes.

Buying an item at its rock-bottom price
will yield you the biggest profit.

Are you saying that we should wait?

-Until the village is cornered?
-Exactly.

We won't have to wait long.

After all, Bishop Mendes is here as well.

Bishop Mendes?

I will gladly accept your offer.

Thank you for your cooperation.

However, even if we show them a miracle,

I'm sure the villagers
will not abandon Truyeo.

That's true.

I have an idea for the best way
to show the miracle.

I see.

That may work.

What do you think?

This method will make it seem as though

pagan gods are inferior to our God.

Will you still be willing to cooperate?

There's no doubt that
I am much more amazing.

But a truly great wolf

is not concerned about who is number one.

Since I am so generous,

I don't mind playing the role of a clown
if it's necessary for your scheme.

Thank you very much.

Evan, are you okay with this?

Of course...
If I do end up getting poisoned,

you just have to k*ll me

before they find out I died from poison.

Yes.

If that happens,
I will gulp you down in one go.

It won't hurt.

Afterwards, I will leave the financial
negotiations up to you, Mr. Lawrence.

You can count on me.

They're here.

May God be with us.

Next time, "The Miracle's Whereabouts
and Continuing Journey."