01x04 - Romantic Merchant and Moonlit Festival

[bunniefuu]

So you took a liking to this bar?

Well, there are still some drinks here

that I haven't tried yet.

Plus, I had my hands so full

with our business venture last time,

that I didn't even have time to chat

about other moneymaking ideas.

That's great!

For a rookie like me,

that is nothing but a treat.

What regions did you pass through

before we met at that church?

I came down from northern Ruvinheigen.

Once the great northern expedition starts,

that area

will become dangerous, after all.

ORIGINAL STORY BY ISUNA HASEKURA

That was a good chat.

Please call me again anytime!

-See you.

-I'll be waiting!

I saw the man named Zheren.

I will use our people to investigate him.

Thank you.

Hopefully we can find

evidence that backs up your story.

Who would've thought that

we would be doing this

the very next day?

At first, I was doubtful,

but now it seems like more than just

a simple scam.

He tells multiple merchants

that the worth of silver coins will rise

and makes them buy them up.

But in reality,

the silver coins are going to depreciate.

The merchants will try to quickly get rid

of them and he will buy them all.

That is how he plans to make a profit.

The one pulling the strings

will make a huge profit, I'm sure.

The merchants who suffered a loss

will keep their mouths shut,

not wanting to publicize their mistake.

The silver coin fiasco will never surface

and the ones pulling the strings

will acquire

a huge sum of silver coins

without anyone noticing.

What they are going to use those

silver coins for is also very interesting.

I will talk to the higher-ups

of our trading company.

Thank you very much.

Everything is a learning experience.

Just like the aroma of marten pelts.

Will we make it in time though?

Huh?

Even if your prediction is correct,

it'll all go down the drain if

Milone Trading Company doesn't act quick.

Well, I'm sure it'll be fine.

As a trading company

that's doing business in a foreign land,

they must be pros at grabbing chances.

What's wrong?

It's just

I remembered something from long time ago.

I reminded you of something?

Well,

he would do what you are doing right now

and completely fall over.

He was foolish but hopelessly cheerful.

He didn't look the least bit shocked

even when seeing my wolf form.

He was weird for sure, but a good person.

The one from Pasloe Village who

asked you to bless their wheat harvest?

That's right. He was friendly

and didn't treat me differently.

That was my very first friend.

He was such a fool.

I was always at a loss for words.

-What's wrong?

-There was something I needed to tell you.

I think. But I can't remember it.

I have a feeling it was pretty important.

If it's really important,

it'll come to you.

I guess you're right.

A friend, huh?

I am Richten Marlheit,

the branch manager here.

I will accept your offer.

Does that mean you were able

to confirm Zheren's background?

Yes, he was backed up

by the Medio Trading Company.

They are the biggest

dealers of crops in Pazzio, aren't they?

They own quite a few cargo ships.

But they wouldn't be able

to execute your theory by themselves.

I am sure there is some kind of noble

backing them up.

We haven't identified who it is yet,

but if we strike first, as you suggested,

we can make it work.

Well then,

let's talk about how to divide the profit.

Today is the best day of my life.

You sure look happy.

200,000 silver Trenni coins

No, if things go well,

we might be dealing with 400,000 coins.

If the trading company gets 10%,

I get 5% of that.

so 2,000 silver coins!

With that much money,

I can open up a shop in the city!

Well, I'm just glad that

things are working out for you.

I told you to rest at the inn

if you have a hangover.

I was worried that you would be

ripped off if you went alone.

What are you trying to say?

Exactly that

Come on, hang in there.

We're almost at the inn.

Is that a store?

Since when were you awake?

I slept so well my hangover went away.

You're pretty good at drawing.

Not really.

Is that your store?

What town will you open it in?

Nowhere in particular.

This is my ideal store in my ideal town.

It's any traveling merchant's dream

to open up their own store.

I'm no exception.

But if this deal with

Milone Trading Company goes well,

my dream can come true.

Is having your own store that great?

Traveling merchants can't make a profit

unless we go around from town to town.

So for most of the year,

we are on our wagons.

Because of that,

we can't even make friends.

We only get to know

people we do business with.

If we open our own store,

we can become part of that town.

We can make close friends

and it'll be easier to find a wife.

Oh, I'd better let Yarei know too.

I'm sure he will be happy for me.

Maybe I can do business with him again.

That will be a little problematic for me.

Why?

If you open your store,

you won't leave that place, right?

I will have to continue my trip alone

or find another companion.

You are Holo the Wisewolf.

And you have the money

you made from marten pelts.

You'll be fine on your own.

I'm tired of being alone

Well, I don't mind staying with you

until you reach the north.

Besides, it's not like

I can open a store

as soon as I have the money.

Is that true?

Why would I lie?

So

don't look so sad.

You're not acting like yourself.

-I always have the same dream.

-Dream?

I wake up

and nobody is there. Not even Yue, Inti,

Paro, or Myuri. They're nowhere.

I can live for centuries,

and that's why I went on a journey.

I was absolutely confident

that we would meet again.

But everyone is gone.

I don't want to wake up

and find everyone gone anymore.

I'm tired of being alone.

It's cold being alone.

It's lonely being alone.

Traveling merchants also have

similar nightmares.

I'm sorry.

Your whole face is wet.

Wait a second.

But this is

I draw them and throw them away.

And plus,

the deal hasn't even succeeded yet.

I was counting my chickens

before they hatched.

Now I owe you one.

I'm still sleepy. Are you going to sleep?

I'll go to sleep soon.

I don't want to waste the candles.

You think like a merchant.

-What are you

-Don't make me say it out loud.

I can't breathe.

Did your eyes adjust to the darkness?

What do you mean?

I remembered the important thing

I needed to tell you.

We're about to interfere with

a big money-making scheme.

Our enemies must be cautious.

There are three people by the door.

I doubt that they're normal guests.

Don't tell me they're

from Medio Trading Company?

Thankfully, there is nobody outside.

Are you ready?

Take a good look

at my body under the moonlight!

We'll have to give up on the wagon.

k*lling the horse won't do them any good.

We can retrieve it

once things settle down.

Let's run!

Just in case, hold on to some of these.

They're hot.

Because I'm inside that wheat.

They're going to Milone Trading Company!

Catch them!

Holo, let's go shopping

once all this is done.

Why all of a sudden?

I'll buy you combs and hats

and all that stuff!

What are you scheming?

Nothing! I just want to

since your hair is so pretty.

I want a comb for my tail,

more than my hair.

Okay! I'll buy one for you.

-Promise?

-Yes!

Okay, we're almost

at Milone Trading Company.

-They will come around here.

-Don't let them go.

The others are almost here.

-The situation doesn't look very good.

-Search every nook and cranny.

Should we split up?

That's a good idea,

but I have an even better idea.

Like what?

I will go out to the main street

and distract them.

Then you go to Milone Trading Company

Wait, I can't do that.

Listen, if we split up without any plan,

you will end up getting caught.

I am Holo the Wisewolf.

I won't get caught that easily.

But if you're the one who gets caught,

who will negotiate

with Milone Trading Company?

Milone Trading Company

already knows your plan.

You have no choice but to threaten

to switch sides so that they don't

leave us in the dust.

No!

If they see your ears and tail,

Medio Trading Company will

definitely take you to the church.

Not if I don't get caught.

And even if I am caught,

I can hide my ears and tail for a day.

So come save me by then.

-You

-Hey.

Aren't you going to make money

and open a store?

Plus, didn't I just say

that I owe you one?

Or do you want me to become

a dishonorable wolf?

Don't be ridiculous.

If you get caught, you'll die.

You don't owe me your life!

Loneliness is a sickness

that leads to death.

I do owe it to you.

I believe in you.

I know you will come for me.

There she is! On Loyne Road!

One? There should be two!

Find the other one!

There he is!

I'm Lawrence from this afternoon!

Help me! I'm being chased!

He's here!

Wait! Hey!

Hand that guy over to us!

Hey, you!

This is the Milone Trading Company,

which is owned by

the Great Marquis of Milone,

and authorized by the 33rd Grand Duke

of the Duchy of Raondille.

That gate is the Marquis' property

and those within these grounds

are his guests.

And the Marquis' guests

are under

the Grand Duke of Raondille's protection.

Listen up!

If you hit anything here with that stick,

we will view that as you hitting

the throne of His Royal Highness!

Retreat!

That was quite the ruckus.

What in the world happened?

I apologize for that.

And above everything,

thank you for saving me.

Thank the Marquis of Milone,

who lives far from here.

More importantly, who are those guys?

They are more than likely

from Medio Trading Company.

I think so.

They must have found out

that I made a deal with you.

They want to stop us.

Stop, huh?

My companion might have been

captured by them.

Can your company help me to save her?

One of our people who heard the ruckus

and followed those men

reported seeing

a young girl being taken away by force.

That is probably Holo, my companion.

She became a decoy,

so that I could make it here.

I see.

But why did they capture Ms. Holo?

Like I said, it's to stop us

from cooperating with you

and sabotaging the Medio Trading Company.

Isn't that a little strange?

What about it?

Calm down, please.

Something is strange. It just is.

Why?

Think about it.

We are already collecting silver coins.

Even if they take you hostage now,

there is nothing for them to stop.

The fact that we began

collecting silver coins

shows that we're already aware of what is

happening to the silver Trenni coins.

If you had just asked us

to collect silver Trenni coins

without telling us about

the moneymaking aspect behind it,

it would make sense to

take your companion hostage.

But there is no way that our company

will take action that easily.

Don't tell me

Yes, we already have

all the information that we need.

So whatever happens to you two,

doesn't affect us at all.

We have invested

quite a lot of money in this.

If you compare the tremendous profit

that we can make

with the hatred

that we may incur from you

I'm sorry,

but I will prioritize

the company's interests.

-However, this is for the sake of

-Unbelievable

I can't see the reason.

Wait a second!

I can see that you care

about your companion very much.

But if you let those emotions

cloud your thinking, it's meaningless.

Sorry.

No worries.

I don't think I could be calm

if my wife was in the same situation.

But it's just strange.

Medio Trading Company should know that

we would make this kind of decision.

And yet, they still targeted you two.

They must see you two

as a bargaining chip they can use

in their negotiations with us.

Do you have any guesses?

The profit we are dealing with

is tremendous.

-Tell us anything, no matter how small.

-Can it be?

Do you know something, Mr. Lawrence?

-Excuse me.

-What's wrong?

A letter was just thrown inside.

I think it's related to all this.

"To the wolf and the wolf's forest"?

Excuse me,

but can I take a look at that first?

Be my guest.

"The wolf is in our possession.

The door to the church is always open.

Make sure you and your household close

your doors so the wolf doesn't come in."

Holo, the girl who was with me,

is the incarnation of a wolf

that controls abundant harvests.

What?

You are

Next time,

"The Wolf Incarnate and Obedient Lamb."