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 kill 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?
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 gang 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 killed 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 kill 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."
Subtitle translation by: Kiko Morita