Spice and Wolf (狼と香辛料)

I hate to repeat myself,

but I can't help to think our running into each other

must have been divine intervention.

If it hadn't been for you, Nora,

I wouldn't be wearing this tipsy smile at the moment,

so thank you, I appreciate it.

You're welcome, Lawrence.

And I'm also very grateful to you.

I'm so glad we got to meet.

Me too. But, really, I should...

No, I should...

You shouldn't.

I was the one who asked you to help

me out with that crazy gold smuggling business.

And to be perfectly honest,

I'm still kind of shocked you actually

went through with the whole thing.

I am too.

I never even imagined I could do something like that.

It's funny... I am strange, aren't I?

I had been thinking I would have

to do something radical one day.

I always knew I could not be dependent

on the church forever.

You helped me break away from them,

and that is why I'm so thankful.

I'm not as great as you think I am.

Merchants have a tendency to be egotistical.

So do shepherds, for that matter.

It's true.

You are drinking, aren't you, Holo?

Your presence does not mean I cannot drink alone.

I do wish you would join us in our conversation.

Hold on... Are you already drunk?

Me?

A wise wolf who can consume an entire lake?

'Tis impossible on such a small amount.

All right.

It sounds like our friend

might just prefer to be left alone.

After I drink a bit more,

I shall join your conversation.

So until that time...

Of course. We'll wait.

Now, what were we talking about?

The food is here!

Wow. It looks so good!

Thank you very much.

Do you want some too, Holo?

You said you would leave me alone,

and that is all that I want.

Right. So sorry. Where were we?

Let me see, I think we were debating

who was more thankful.

Right, but what was before that?

Oh! Yes, it was about sheep and rock salt.

Ah, of course, that's it!

Now then, I had no idea that sheep

could find rock salt.

Yes. It's rather surprising

how much they enjoy it, actually...

For example, if you rub salt lightly on a rock,

they will continue to lick it

well after the salt is gone.

Then I wonder if that old story is true.

What story do you mean?

I've heard there's a town east of here

that uses a particular type of torture involving sheep.

I never imagined it could be true before now.

Torture involving sheep?

Yes, it's pretty funny, believe it or not.

Basically, what they do is tie up their criminals

and rub a bunch of salt on the bottoms of their feet.

Rub salt on their feet?

That man will never cease being an idiot.

Oh, excuse me...

What happened after they rubbed them with salt?

Well wouldn't the sheep lick the salt off?

They would.

They say at first, the criminals laugh

uncontrollably because they're being tickled.

No, stop, no, please don't, no, no no.

Yes, it is very unusual.

Especially when you take into account

the sheep won't stop licking once

they taste the salt on the criminal's guilty feet.

What do you think happens then?

Gee, I don't really know.

The criminal would be reformed through laughter

and spread nothing but joy to all of those around him.

They lived happily ever after.

Is that story true?

I might have just made up that last part.

You're so silly.

The first part of it was true, though.

I mean, who knows what must

go on in the minds of sheep?

Well, now that you mention it,

whenever I eat dried meat,

I usually get salt all over my hands.

They're very good sheep, but how do I put this...

They get too carried away sometimes.

It can be frightening.

Luckily, you have an obedient knight

waiting to rescue you.

Yes, but Enek sometimes works so hard,

he forgets who's supposed to be in charge.

I was only joking.

You know, Nora, your Enek is exceptionally well trained.

Which I'm sure is completely due

to you being such an exceptional shepherd.

Oh, you're sweet.

What's wrong?

You are drunk, aren't you?

I am not drunk.

Sure you're not...

What am I gonna do with you?

It is not possible for me to be drunk

on 3 cups of alcohol, is it?

Are you okay?

I cannot help but think of being alone

in the wheat fields for so long

hundreds of years until recently.

The days passed by peacefully.

Yesterday was no different from today.

And, tomorrow was no different

from the day after that.

Time seemed only to move forward a few times a year.

There was the annual harvest festival,

the 2 sowing festivals,

the festival to pray for no rain,

and the festival to pray for no wind.

The remaining time was a cluster of boredom.

Ordinary day after ordinary day with no celebrations.

Once, I even watched a tiny sapling grow into a huge tree.

Compared to that, while travelling,

every day is a new experience.

I feel reborn each morning.

The time spent with my travelling peddler

has only been a few short months,

but it has been the equivalent

of several decades.

We would have a clamorous argument in the morning

but reconcile by lunch where I would

tease him by making him clean

the breadcrumbs from my mouth.

We would have yet another fight over dinner at dusk

and quietly discuss the following day's

affairs in the evening.

I have had several experiences

travelling and living with others.

However, I cannot seem

to remember them for some reason.

I suppose I am too busy

wondering what my partner was doing yesterday.

What he was like last night,

and what he will be like tomorrow.

I used to cry when I was

exhausted and thinking of home.

But now, each day is so full and wonderful...

I do not find myself feeling sad any longer.

I cannot even pretend I am not having a good time.

In fact, I am rather concerned

I might be having too much fun.

Heavy... Why am I at the inn?

Sorry.

No. That cannot have happened.

No. It was just a nightmare.

I refuse to believe it!

I wonder why I...

Of course, I was thrown off guard.

It was his stupid face.

When I do not like things, I get angry.

I laugh when they are funny.

To show him that side of me

is unbecoming of the wise wolf.

How can I live with myself

for behaving in such a ridiculous manner?

This is my preferred form.

I can swiftly respond to enemies' attacks

when I am as a wolf.

He cannot help but expose himself as a fool.

He is as if a silly cat.

Perhaps I should be defenseless

and insensitive like him

in order to survive in this obtuse human world.

Why is he not here?

To think, he is not at my side

at a critical time such as this... useless.

Why am I reacting this way?

Finally, you have come back to me.

Why didn't you tell me

that you weren't feeling well?

Um, well I...

You're not a child.

Don't tell me you didn't notice until you fainted.

Thank god we were here.

What would we have done

if this happened to you while we were travelling?

I know you may find it hard to understand,