The knight in shining armor is here!
Make way for him!
I declare
to pay off the debt that is weighing down on
the frail shoulders of the traveling nun.
And once she is set free,
I will manifest my sincere love
for Holo, the traveling nun,
and ask for her hand in marriage!
Ms. Holo has told me about her plight
and how she is being treated.
I wish to use my status and assets
to give her back her wings of freedom.
Even if you settle her debt, there's no guarantee
that she is going to quit traveling with me.
Of course.
But I have confidence.
She may not seem it, but Holo is still a traveling nun.
-Marriage is... -I already know.
Ms. Holo is not affiliated with any religious order.
That means she is not forbidden from getting married.
I see.
According to Kumersun's law,
when a woman has a debt,
her creditor is considered her guardian.
You will accept this contract knife, won't you?
Mr. Lawrence.
I am not careless enough to enter into a contract without reading it.
You have a point.
A thousand silver Trenni coins?
That is the correct amount for Ms. Holo's debt, right?
The deadline will be sunset tomorrow.
I promise to have it ready by then.
A thousand silver Trenni coins in cash.
I will not accept any kind of negotiation for prices or installments.
-Understood? -That is fine.
I accept.
We shall meet again here, tomorrow.
Sorry for the commotion.
Well, I'm sure my companion will not be swayed just because
he paid off her debt.
The odds are 2.00 for Lawrence and 4.00 for Amati.
Place your bets!
Ten Ireid coins on Lawrence!
-I'll bet on Lawrence too! -Me too!
Twenty on Lawrence!
ORIGINAL STORY BY ISUNA HASEKURA
I see you've found yourself in a predicament.
Mr. Batos.
I'm sorry you had to witness that.
I'm pretty sure Mr. Amati has a way of collecting the funds.
It doesn't seem to be a very admirable method though.
I won't go into detail.
After all, I'd feel bad for Mr. Amati
if I took your side too much.
-I just wanted to give you a heads up. -Why?
No matter what the reason is,
it's nice to have someone to travel with.
As a traveling merchant, having that taken away from you would be just too cruel.
And so, you agreed to that contract?
Yeah.
-You know... -What?
What are you going to do if that boy gives you 1,000 silver coins?
Let's see...
After I use it to settle your account,
-I'll give the rest to you. -Don't test me.
It'd be unfair if I was the only one being tested all the time.
If Amati fulfills his side of the contract,
I will do so too.
Of course, that means you will be free.
You can do what you want.
You sure have confidence.
It's not confidence.
I just trust in you, that's all.
Jeez!
You're much cuter when you're flustered.
I, myself, can tell how much I've matured.
You think you're an adult just by acting calm?
Am I wrong?
If you're only calm because you know it's a gamble you can win,
that just makes you a smart alec.
That doesn't make you an adult.
For example,
not accepting Amati's contract would have been a commendable alternative.
No, that...
I bet you just looked around the room
and chose not to humiliate yourself.
Imagine that our roles were reversed.
I would
never even think about accepting such a contract.
I want to be with Lawrence forever.
Even something like a debt
is a bond that connects us together.
I can't possibly sever that bond.
Even if I were to be humiliated here,
I could never sign that contract!
You see? How was that?
If someone said that to me,
my heart would be overflowing with joy.
Yes, that may have been a manly thing to do.
But being manly and being an adult is different.
That's true. It may be a little too reckless and youthful.
I'd be happy to hear such words, but it might be a little too much.
You see?
If you think about it, being a good male and being a good adult
may be two conflicting ideas.
Good males are rather childish.
Good adults are cowardly.
What will Holo the Wisewolf,
who is a good woman and a good adult, do then?
Naturally, I'd accept it with a smile.
And of course, I'd return to the inn after signing the contract
and walk over to you, without saying a word...
and hang my head.
Well, you are a somewhat capable merchant.
I'm sure you will
discreetly pull strings and ensure that everything goes well.
You want me to take you to the festival?
You're a merchant who would willingly use bribes to
win a contract, aren't you?
Are you okay to walk around with the beauty in question?
If I keep her locked up in the inn,
it'll seem like I really am oppressing her with debt.
Well, that's Lawrence's side of the story. What is the truth?
What do you mean by "truth"?
I am chained down by an enormous debt.
With these chains, I have no future.
They are so heavy, I cannot escape from them.
If you remove these chains for me,
I will willingly work for you and become covered in wheat flour.
I can see why Amati fell for you.
By the looks of it, the one who is chained is probably Lawrence.
I'm done investigating!
Good work. How was it?
Yes, um...
So, how was it?
Right! According to his tax ledger, he paid 200 Ireid in taxes.
Which means, Amati's assets must amount to about 800 silver Trenni coins.
I'm sure he has some hidden assets and accounts receivable too though.
What do people gamble on here?
Cards, dice, rabbit chasing... That's about it.
And there's an upper limit for betting.
Gambling isn't an option, then.
Oh, that reminds me.
People are betting on the outcome of your contract with Amati
as well as what'll happen afterwards.
"Afterwards"?
In the event that Amati fulfills the contract,
what will happen after that?
For now, you've got the advantage. But the odds are 1.2.
It's a close game.
I'd better demand a cut from the bookmaker.
So, honestly, what's the deal?
In this world, there are many questions that
cannot be answered so easily, even if you do know the answer.
Like questions about your wheat flour mixture, for example.
Do you still want to ask me about what I will do once
my debt is paid off?
Oh, no! Of course not!
I guess we have no choice but to monitor his movements.
What an underhanded tactic.
Call it a battle behind the scenes.
I'm sure he has someone taking note of my every move as well.
Well, I don't know about that.
Amati looks down on the use of connections between merchants
and views it as a cowardly move.
Really?
He was born into a wealthy family in the south,
but he ran away from home because he didn't want to be his brothers' pawn.
From there, he rose through the ranks and now earns as much as he does.
So he has a strong ego.
I see. On top of that, he's young.
That's right. The only thing he trusts is his good judgement of fish,
his way with words,
and God's blessing.
But I have absolutely no hesitation in using my connections with merchants.
It's not like we're knights.
In a battle between merchants, there is no room for complaints.
I agree with you on that.
Once in a while, I'd like to see you use a straightforward approach.
A horn?
Did you just hear the sound of a shepherd?
I did.
If you thought so too, that must really have been a horn.
What if that shepherd girl is here?
Even if she was, she wouldn't be blowing her horn anymore.
She'd be a tailor by now.
When you keep your calm, it makes it seem like I'm just trying to test you.
I'm delighted to hear that.
So delighted, that it's scary.
It's the best when it's freshly fried.
I see.
That horn signaled the start of the festival.
Shall we go?
Doing nothing but eating would be boring.
I can't see!
Holo, come this way.
Wow! What a great view!
We can thank Amati for this, at least.
What's coming next?
Ready...
There!
All right, get in line!
Let's go dance too.
All right.
All you have to do is focus on not stepping on my feet.
I'll try my best.
Where are we?
Where is my drink?
Go to sleep so you can drink tomorrow.
Here is a letter for you.
Also, Mark wants you to go to his shop as soon as possible.
-As soon as possible? -That's all.
From Ms. Diana?
Sorry, I have to go out for a bit.
With a letter that smells like a female tucked in by your chest, huh?
And she's beautiful!
-Does it bother you? -You fool.
Yesterday, I met up with someone who is knowledgeable in
northern folktales and legends. I heard stories about you too.
-About me? -A town called Lenos has a legend.
"Wheat-tailed Holou" is you, isn't it?
-I don't know about that. -She had information on Yoitsu too.
There was a record of which direction you came from.
Is that true?
You came from the forest east of Lenos.
So Yoitsu is southwest of Nyohhira and east of Lenos.
This letter must have additional information.
At this rate, we might be able to reach our destination easier than I thought.
It shouldn't take more than half a year if we search for it by wagon.
Well then, I'm going to Mark's place now.
With a letter that smells like a female tucked in by your chest?
Fine, I'll leave it.
You said she's beautiful, huh?
If you want to read it, you can open it up without me.
If you can read, that is.
Jeez!
I'm doing all the work while you're off having fun.
Sorry about that.
Well, I'm making a profit out of it too, I guess.
I'll let you off the hook this time.
You took advantage of Amati's scheme?
Yup. It was an easy profit.
I did some research based on the information that Mr. Batos alluded to
-and I found the answer right away. -Is he selling gems?
Close, but no.
It can hardly be called a gem.
Pyrite?
-You heard about it already? -No.
I was just thinking that it might be a good business idea.
-It's the fortuneteller, right? -Apparently.
I've heard the fortuneteller already left town though.
Oh yeah?
The official reason
seems to be because the fortuneteller was too good and it caught the attention
of the church's inquisitor. But who knows if it's true.
I doubt it.
First of all, if an inquisitor came here, it would cause a frenzy.
And I feel like the amount of pyrite in circulation is a bit excessive.
I'm guessing the fortuneteller bought it from another town,
sold them here, and left town once they were all sold.
Guess how much they go for?
Normally, they'd be about ten Ireid.
But let me see...
-100. -270.
Huh? No way!
Once the market opens up tomorrow, it'll rise even more.
All the women in town are trying to buy this right now.
Even still... 270 for something like this?
The women seem to be enticing rich merchants and farmers
into buying them this miracle rock
and competing over who got the most.
So, each time a woman asks sweetly, the price goes up.
This is more than just profiting a certain percentage.
Profits are multiplying by ten.
I just dabbled in it a little bit,
and I already made 300 Ireid.
How far has this news spread?
It had spread through the whole market by this morning.
By the time you were dancing with the princess,
people were swarming round the stone seller's stall.
I can't believe I missed such a great opportunity.
How can I call myself a merchant?
It's still not too late.
Merchants are running around, trying to get them on resale.
The price is going up even more.
-Then I can still make it. -That's the spirit.
Plus, you will need money to buy a new princess,
if things go wrong.
Well then, maybe I will take this pyrite as payment
for the nails that you purchased?
Enough joking.
I hear that Amati is raking in money too.
He will have 1,000 silver Trenni coins prepared as promised, I'm sure.
Will your princess be okay?
I told you, there's nothing to worry about.
Amati doesn't know,
but there's a purpose to Holo's journey.
And I have been helping her with that.
So I will turn both
the 1,000 silver coins and profit from pyrite into our travel expenses.
You... read it?
Hey... what should I do?
I won't have anywhere to return to.
-What should I do...? -It's nothing but a folktale.
There are many inaccurate legends.
-Inaccurate? -That's right.
When new kings or tribes conquer lands,
they make up these kinds of stories.
Then why didn't you tell me about this?
I was going to find the right time to say it.
It's a very sensitive subject.
That's why...
It must have been hilarious, seeing me get all excited
without knowing any of this.
Holo, calm down.
I am calm.
You knew about Yoitsu from before, didn't you?
Of course you did.
You must have known.
Everything makes sense now.
You like pitiful and hopeless lambs, after all.
Did you like seeing me talk about returning to my homeland
that has long been destroyed?
I was so foolish and cute, wasn't I?
I was pitiful and lovable, wasn't I?
It moved you to listen to my demands and be nice to me, right?
Holo...
You told me to go alone from Nyohhira because you got tired of me, didn't you?
Do you seriously think that?
I do!
I'm all alone now.
What am I supposed to do?
There is nobody waiting for my return anymore.
Nobody at all.
I am all alone now.
You have me.
What are you to me?
No, what am I to you?
No... I don't want to be alone anymore.
Hey...
Would you lie with me?
Look, I am now in the form of a human.
It's not impossible to do it with you.
I am all alone now.
But if I have a child, we will have each other. Come on!
Don't say anymore. Please.
Of course!
You are a softy, after all. I didn't expect anything from you anyway.
But that doesn't matter. I remembered...
There is... That's right...
There is someone who loves me.
So this is the reason why you were so calm about this ordeal.
You didn't mind giving me up for 1,000 silver coins.
Holo!
I'm sorry...
Next time,
"The Traveling Merchant's Shallow Thinking and Town Merchant's Name."
Subtitle translation by: Kiko Morita