Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF

Good thing it wasn't locked.

Do you sense anyone there?

No. It's empty.

I will go look for the equipment we need.

If everything goes well, we can take our time to read those.

That's true.

ORIGINAL STORY BY ISUNA HASEKURA

Mr. Lawrence!

Here!

Now we just have to wait for the best time.

How is it going?

What are they talking about?

They are demanding money.

Oh!

He must be the one who came up with the idea to frame us.

Hey! What are you doing?!

That is...

He's the baker. He's the nastiest toward me.

This is the end.

They are being given an ultimatum.

How could you?!

If they set it on fire

and accept the correct teachings, all will be well.

Otherwise, the village will be indicted for heresy.

In times of need, humans always rely on others.

But even I rely on others too sometimes.

So, what will you do?

As a servant of the truth,

I cannot abandon the village.

Okay, let's go.

-Hey, that's Evan. -Elsa!

Elsa, why?!

I'm sorry, Ms. Iima.

Well, look who's here. It's Ms. Elsa, Father Franz's successor.

Good to see you again, Bishop Mendes.

I had heard that you ran away.

Was the feeling of guilt too unbearable for you?

God is always merciful toward those who have sinned.

The faithful people of Enberch

are suffering from the curse,

while not a single person in Tereo is in pain.

There is no doubt

that this is because you are protected by an evil pagan god.

We will rebuild a brand-new

holy church on this land, which will uphold true teachings.

And as for you, who was disguised

as a sheep but in reality, was nothing but

a coiling snake serving a false, wicked god...

You will rightfully face God's judgement.

There is no need for that.

It is true that my faith was misdirected.

However, my merciful God

has shown me the path of righteousness.

A messenger of God appeared before me!

-What! -She met one?

No way!

What...

Claiming to have met a messenger of God

so carelessly is a sign of a heretic!

If you wish to prove yourself innocent, show us evidence now!

If you cannot believe me, I shall show you.

Let them through.

Father Franz was a capable man.

He was an admirable servant of God.

The problem is, he should have acted according to the will of the church.

And it seems as though he failed at raising his successor too.

Indeed, it was wrong to worship the snake deity, Truyeo.

However, our wrongdoing was not a fundamental mistake.

I believe that the very existence of Truyeo...

is a miracle of God!

What?!

She is neither denying nor approving of Truyeo.

What a good way to put it.

The words of people are not always trustworthy.

How will you prove that the devil didn't just whisper lies to you?

The messenger of God promised me that it would

shine a light that would guide us lost sheep

toward the right path.

As if God would do something like that for you...

The wheat!

Hey!

Look at that!

Our God!

-It's God's miracle! -It's God!

What is that? Look!

The wheat in that wagon!

That's the only one not bearing any fruit!

God has shown us the right path.

This is impossible... No way...

Bishop Mendes,

I would like for you to confirm that

this is not the work of the devil.

H... How?

With this.

Please consecrate this chalice.

Once that is done, Evan, who mills this village's wheat,

will prove the truth of God's teachings.

What are you planning to do with this?

Even the poor are allowed to be baptized, are they not?

Please sanctify

this chalice with your own hands, Bishop Mendes.

Go on.

Bishop Mendes has poured into the chalice,

making it a holy chalice.

Now, hand that holy chalice to him.

Please, watch closely.

He has collected flour from

all of the wagons, excluding just one.

This is the fulfillment of the miracle that the messenger of God

showed us.

If this miracle was false,

you should be able to show us a true miracle.

Bishop Mendes,

if you insist that we are wrong,

it is your turn to prove yourself.

You can drink this water, can you not?

F... Fine.

It was a miracle. It was a true miracle.

Well then, what about the village church?

It's proper... It is a proper church.

I will need that in writing.

Thank you, Father.

You look envious.

Yes, I am envious.

This time, I only had a role behind the scenes.

But they haven't settled anything regarding the money.

Isn't that your job?

Well, yeah.

My goodness, though. Who knew the tables would turn like this?

It might be worth a try.

-What's wrong? -Are you sure you're not actually a wolf?

What?

-Mr. Riendott! -Huh?

May I have a moment with you?

What?

Those people have to discuss god,

but I believe we have things to discuss regarding money.

-Well then, Mr. Riendott. -Y... Yes?

I was asked to take care of the financial negotiations.

Do all the villagers here consent to that?

We have no choice, if the elder agreed to it.

There you have it.

Let me start off with my biggest demand.

I want you to cancel the return of the wheat.

Th... Tha...

That's not possible!

Why not?

Why, somebody died, you know?!

Because of that, the reputation of my wheat is completely damaged too!

And! Plus,

our contract with Father Franz states that we can return

all of the wheat if we find Ridelius' Hellfire in it!

Okay.

Well then, how much money will you ask for if we accept the returned wheat?

Two hundred...

Don't be ridiculous!

Huh?

That's exactly how much you bought it for!

F... Fine! One hundred...

and 90...

You have some nerve!

Now, now...

Mr. Riendott, if a miracle was to happen one more time,

it would be inconvenient for you, wouldn't it?

Huh?

That whole ordeal about the poisonous wheat.

-It was in truth... -All right! I get it!

I get it!

One... 160... I mean...

50...

40?

Okay, that will do.

Everyone here will be our witness.

By the way, Mr. Riendott,

what do you think about repurchasing the wheat that you returned?

I thought so.

However, this village does not have enough money to buy back the returned wheat.

Even the bargained price is too much for them.

That's right.