I apologize about the other day.
What brings you here?
I had heard from Mr. Evan
that you were experiencing some trouble.
-You're here to ask about the abbey again? -No.
The village elder didn't know about it either,
so I was probably given incorrect information.
I see.
And so, we've decided to leave already.
But we wanted to come by this church and pray for a safe journey.
ORIGINAL STORY BY ISUNA HASEKURA
This way.
Well then, let's pray.
-Father Franz... -Huh?
He must have been very faithful.
Oh...
Yes, he was. But...
I never noticed that until you pointed it out.
-Let's pray now. -Before that.
-I'd like to make my confession. -I see.
Well then, let's move to another room.
No, we can do it here. I'd like to do it before God.
Understood.
Tell me your sins.
God is...
merciful toward those who are honest.
I lied.
I deceived a person for my own benefit.
Do you have the courage to confess?
-To say the truth in front of God? -I do.
Do not be afraid.
God always shows mercy to those who
have awakened their true faith.
I told a lie today.
I deceived someone by stating a false motive.
For what reason?
There was something I needed to know.
So I approached that person by lying.
Whom?
You.
Ms. Elsa.
I confessed about lying to you in front of God.
Now I'll tell you the truth.
I came to ask you about the location of Diendran Abbey.
Actually, I lied again.
I didn't come to ask you where it is.
-What? -Ms. Els.
This is Diendran Abbey, isn't it?
And Father Franz
is Abbot Louis Lana Schtinghilt.
Isn't that right?
We are before God.
You must speak the truth.
We're interested in the stories about
pagan gods which Father Franz collected.
You are worried
about Enberch finding out about what Father Franz did.
Right?
Wh... Who in the world
are you people?
"Who are we?"
It is very difficult to give an answer to that question.
Difficult?
This is what I mean.
Do you want to touch them?
I guess she was a lot more faint-hearted than I thought.
I don't know about that.
In that letter, it said that
a lord of another land agreed to back up this church.
She must have been busy every night, waiting for this letter.
Her situation may have been a lot more stressful than we thought.
Are you all right?
So it wasn't a dream, huh?
It would be better for us if you keep thinking it's a dream.
They say the devil uses dreams to deceive people.
Once we fulfill our purpose here, we will leave
as if it was all a dream.
Father Franz's collection of records should be here.
-Why do you want that? -I want to return to my homeland.
Homeland?
I left my homeland a very long time ago.
I've forgotten the way
and don't even know if everyone back home is doing well.
Not just that,
I don't know whether or not my homeland even exists anymore.
How would you feel?
If someone right in front of you might have
information on your homeland?
I am a servant of God.
But at the same time, I am Father Franz's successor.
I will not suspect that you are possessed by a demon.
Father Franz always used to say that there is no such thing.
Follow me, please.
This is...
It's customary to hide important things behind the oratory.
May God forgive us.
According to his will,
this should make the floor move along with the entire statue.
All right.
May we go inside?
I will go in first.
Be careful.
She won't set the basement on fire or anything, right?
You are a lot more untrusting than me, aren't you?
Sorry to make you wait.
No worries. What is that?
It's a letter addressed to me.
There were books in the basement.
I believe they are what you're looking for.
May we bring them out to read them?
I ask that you keep them inside the church, though.
I know we're asking a lot from you.
I am grateful and sorry.
You were, indeed, very forceful.
However...
However, I'm sure Father Franz is happy about this.
He used to always say, "The stories I've collected
are not just made-up tales."
But I didn't know he had that many.
If you're planning on reading them all,
you might have to book more nights at the inn.
But you might call people over while I do that.
I live a life based on true faith.
I wouldn't do anything to trick you.
Even when we were in the oratory,
I did not tell a lie.
I know. I am the one who tricked you.
I will remember to never let my guard down around merchants.
Hey...
Can I read them here?
I don't mind. But please blow out the candle.
This church isn't wealthy, after all.
I see.
I've heard that merchants must lighten the load
of their coin purses to get into the kingdom of heaven.
Thank you.
God bless you.
You don't need to keep guard?
I'm not going to make a big deal if you aren't
planning on bringing calamity to the village.
It is true that your companion is not the type of being
that should be allowed in this church.
-But... -You have every right.
-You should be suspicious of us. -Huh?
Well, if you're asking me whether or not I'm suspicious,
I'd say, "I am."
However,
the issue is much bigger than that.
I may not be able to accept your confessions,
but I can at least give you some advice.
However...
I can only be sincere about topics
that aren't related to business.
Well, considering the kind of questions that I have,
someone like you might be the best person to ask.
Will you lend me your ear?
I can't promise that I'll give you a satisfactory answer, though.
If...
The stories that are collected in that basement.
-If they are not lies... -Yes?
Is the God we believe in a lie?
My father, Father Franz,
was collecting stories about gods from the northern lands.
He was accused of heresy
more than a few times, apparently.
Despite that, he was a fine clergyman
who never went a day without praying.
But if your companion is really a pagan god,
that means our God is a lie.
I just don't know.
I don't have the courage to reproach
you two with holy water and scriptures.
I don't even know if that is
a good thing or bad thing.
I am a lowly traveling merchant,
so I'm no expert in God's teachings.
I cannot say what is right and what is wrong.
However,
I don't think Father Franz was wrong.
What...
What makes you say that?
That knock is Elder Sem.
I'm sure it's about you two.
I will tell him
that I am just listening to your stories about churches from
other nations and towns.
It's not exactly a lie...
Okay, understood.
I can tell you about my experiences, if you'd like.
You were quite kind to her.
Merchants are always kind to people they make deals with.
Can you hear her conversation with the elder?
She acted according to plan.
That Sem or whatever is leaving now.
Our only issue now is time.
If we take too long,
it'll start snowing and we'll get stuck on the road.
But I don't know if I can read this all.
If we just skim through them,
I'm sure the two of us can get it done.
-Hey. -Huh?
What's wrong?
Didn't I tell you, "I'm tired of being alone"?
Huh? Oh no!
-You idiot! -Elder Sem went home.
About our previous...
I'll see you later.
Jeez...
Did someone come to the church?
Let me guess, it's Evan?
I'm hungry.
All right. Let's take a break.
Let's keep your identity hidden from Evan.
For all we know, that girl might tell him.
She tells Evan how many times she sneezed in a day,
and yet she didn't tell him about the time
we visited the church the first time.
That may be so, but I'm still worried.
She even accepted my donation.
I'm sure she understood the intent behind that.
And above all else, even if you can't trust God,
you can trust those who trust in God.
But that girl seemed to be troubled over something interesting.
Depending on the conclusion she comes to, she may act differently.
Her question about God, right?
By the way, what were you planning on telling her?
Well,
my guess is that Father Franz was collecting stories about
pagan gods in order to reaffirm the existence of God.
If you can't even see God even after
praying relentlessly, day after day,
it's only natural to start doubting God's existence.
And so,
I'm thinking he became curious about other religions.
He thought, if pagan gods really did exist,
the God the church believes in must be real too.
There is no god.
They say that the church's God created
this world and humans are merely borrowing it,
but they just made that story up themselves.
Either way, he probably just wanted to
feel God's presence.
Come on, you're dropping food everywhere.
Tear the bread before you eat it.
All right, all right.
More importantly, Mr. Lawrence,
go on with your story!
Where did we stop?
When you got on that big ship.
Oh, that's right.
Well, what shocked me the most on the ship was the food.
-The food? -What?
Merchants from various regions were on the ship, after all.
For example, a merchant from a region called Ebgod brought bread
that was extremely salty.
Yuck, salty bread?
-That's kind of... -Yeah...
There was also completely flat bread.
They knead flour and water and bake it before it can leaven.
That bread had honey in it, so it was sweet.
-It was delicious. -Wow.
There really are so many different things out there in the world.
Thank you for going out of your way to prepare a feast for us as well.
It's nothing. After all, you did donate generously.
This is the least I can do.
All right, well, after this...
Feel free to keep reading the books at night.
That would be great.
Well then, Mr. Lawrence,
tell me more about the outside world later on.
Evan, you have to practice your letters.
What!
-Jeez... -That reminds me.
About your question this afternoon...
I'll think about it on my own.
"Think before asking."
That's what Father Franz always said.
-What are you talking about? -It's nothing.
Never mind that. Come on, help me clean up.
All right.
Pick up your bread crumbs too, not just the plates.
Yes, yes, I know.
It's bad manners, so don't eat them.
I wasn't going to eat them.
Really now?
You're always so hungry.
-Those two... -Yes?
They seemed so close.
What? Did I say something that strange?
Uh, you know...
I know I'm also...
I am aware of my strengths and weaknesses.
-Right... -So, you know...
-What? -I wish you wouldn't say things like that.
And sound envious.
I also...
No, I understand. I understand, but...
We act like quite the fools too, don't we?
I don't even know
why I feel so embarrassed saying this.
But when you say,
"They look so close..."
-Then what am I to... -No.
I get what you're saying, but...
How do I put this...?
All right, all right.
I've been aware of it.
I just didn't want to put it into words.
It's true that I felt envious.
But not of their relationship itself.
I'm sure they'll keep living in this church together.
But what about us?
You've found information leading to your homeland.
And I am lending you a hand. However...
I am a traveling merchant with no home.
-You... -So...
What are you going to do after you return to your homeland?
I don't know.
You're not going to be satisfied with just seeing your homeland.
Let's not get into this.
I'm sorry.
I am Holo the Wisewolf.
I am Holo the Wisewolf of Yoitsu.
What?
Ho...
Do you have a problem?
No... I don't.
I'll get some rest.
Skim through the books for me, will you?
As you wish.
"I don't intend to attach any special
importance to this story of the bear deity."
"There have been several other deities that appear in multiple stories."
However, I do believe this is
the only deity whose stories
all follow such a specific pattern.
I wonder if the Pope knows about this?
If my guess is correct,
this means that the God we worship won without a fight.
Knowing this, I cannot remain calm.
As I was composing this book,
I felt the presence of a god like never before.
"If possible,
I would like to leave this to the judgement
of someone who does not worship
our God with a narrow mind,
but rather someone who loves god with a heart that's as open
as a pleasant breeze blowing through a meadow."
I found a book on the moon-hunting bear.
Did something happen?
Most likely.
I don't know what you want to do by reading this book.
But I want you to be honest and tell me about
whatever thoughts you have.
Okay.
I promise that I will.
Judging from the papers on your desk,
I thought Enberch couldn't meddle with this village?
Well, well, merchants sure are observant.
Anyway, that was my understanding too.
I am just a traveler.
That puts me in a dangerous position if any problem should arise.
As long as I am here, I will not allow any lawless behavior.
Please close up the basement.
If this is about Enberch, the elder will definitely come.
We will tell them that we were here at night
because we were listening to your sermon.
My companion is a nun, so it will make sense.
Take a blanket and stay in the oratory.
Pardon the intrusion.
May I help you?
Sorry for the inconvenience, but please bear with us.
I am associated with the Rowen Trade Guild.
There are multiple people at
the Kumersun branch who know that I am here.
I understand.
However, we are not doing this out of malicious intent.
Someone in Enberch
ate wheat from our village and died.
Next time, "The Staged Disaster and Appropriate Payoff."
Subtitle translation by: Kiko Morita