Chapter 4 Act II - 2

Despite his appearance, Bartos was neither stubborn nor eccentric, and the words that came out of his mouth gave off a soft feeling like a gentle priest. "I heard that many people are traveling around the world like Mr. Lawrence recently. I always go back and forth to the same places and sell the same products, and I'm getting tired of it." "If you say that, the retailers and craftsmen in the city will scold you." "Hahahahaha, you will definitely be scolded. After all, you can see merchants who have been selling leather ropes for 50 years everywhere. If you say you are bored casually, you will definitely be scolded."

Bartos said with a smile.He was a traveling merchant of precious metals, who traveled the mines of Hiram, and was said to have been traveling between the Steep Mountains and Camelson for nearly twenty years. On the precipitous mountain of Hiram, where the strong wind blows and even the trees cannot grow, it is not possible for ordinary people to carry heavy luggage for decades. The reason why Bartos stayed in Camelson for a week before and after the Grand Bazaar was probably because he needed a good rest. "However, Mr. Lawrence, your interests are quite special." "what?"

"I heard that you are looking for a chronicler because you want to hear some ancient northern legends. Or are you looking for some business?" "No, it's not like that, it should be that I'm very curious." "Hahahaha. You are still so young, but you have cultivated a good interest. Like me, I became interested in ancient legends only recently. I originally wanted to do it as a business, but I didn't expect to be fascinated by it." The idea of ​​doing business with ancient legends never came to Lawrence's mind. However, because he found Bartos's topic interesting, Lawrence listened to him quietly.

"For decades, I have been going back and forth to the same places. One day, it occurred to me that the world I know is an extremely small world. However, even the places I travel to and from have been traveled by people hundreds of years ago, and Of course I didn't know the situation at the time." Lawrence felt as if he understood what Bartos meant. The more areas you travel, the more you feel that the world is constantly expanding before your eyes. If the world felt by Lawrence can be compared to the width of a pond, then the world felt by Bartos will be the depth of the pond.

"I'm getting old, and I don't have the energy to go far away, and I can't turn back time. So, even if it's a legend, I want to understand the world I haven't seen, and I can't because of God's bad intentions. Going back to the ancient past. When I was young, I only cared about the interests in front of me, so I didn’t think about these things at all. If I had the energy to think about these things at that time, maybe my life would be different... So, seeing you I feel a little envious of being interested in these things at this age. Haha, I really sound like an old man when I talk like this.”

Although Bartos smiled self-deprecatingly, his words more or less made Lawrence feel deeply. After being told by Bartos, it was discovered that through ancient legends or myths, people can learn about the past that they can never experience themselves, and this is indeed quite attractive. Now I feel as if I understand how heavy the words she said nonchalantly when I met Holo not long ago. The world you live in is very different from ours. All the people who lived in the same era as Holo are long gone; and most of the time Holo traveled along the way was such an unknown time. Besides, Holo was a wolf, not a human.

Thinking about it this way, I feel that Holo's existence is special in different meanings. Holo has traveled all the way so far, what has she seen and heard? When you get back to the hotel later, be sure to ask Holo what kind of travel he's had along the way. "But to the church, ancient legends or myths are nothing more than superstition and pagan stories. As long as they are monitored by the church, it is difficult to collect all the stories. Because the Hiram region is a mountainous area, there are many interesting stories. It’s just a story. It’s just that that area is being monitored by the church. As far as Xibai is concerned, Camelson doesn’t have such concerns.”

Precisely because Proiani is a country where pagans and Orthodox Christians coexist, some areas or towns where the church holds power often set strict regulations. On the other hand, the pagan towns, which tried their best to exclude the power of the church, were always on the alert for war.Among Proyani, Camelson, who can draw a peaceful line with these problems, may be a very special existence. Yet what if one were to ask whether such a town would be free from opposition?Not really. Lawrence and Bartos came to the area at the northern end of Camelson in order to meet the chronicler. Camelson was built on the premise of widening, so the city walls were constructed with easily dismantled wooden frames: roads and buildings can be built very spacious.

In Camelson City, which has such a town plan, there is a stone wall higher than a human head. This stone wall was used to demarcate the area inhabited by people who fled here from the south or from other towns in Proiani because they were chased by the Church. The reason why the stone wall is used to distinguish this place is that the residents of the city think that the people who live here are iron proof of the existence of trouble.Although these people are not criminals in Camelsen, they are criminals who need to be beheaded immediately in Rubenhagen, for example.They are rightly seen as troublesome.

However, Lawrence immediately changed his mind. Lawrence thought to himself, the stone walls didn't exist purely to isolate them, they should be forced to exist. "Is this... the smell of sulfur?" "Haha, do you also sell medicine stones?" The Hiram area has several mines with impressive mining volumes and various ores.Bartos, who was walking in this area, might have been used to smelling sulfur, but Lawrence couldn't help scrunching his face when he smelled the unique stench. As soon as he walked through the door set on the stone wall, the stench that came to his nostrils made Lawrence instantly understand what kind of people lived in this area.

They are the church's worst enemies - the alchemists. "No... just know some knowledge." "Knowledge is the weapon of a merchant, and you are a good merchant." "...I dare not take it." Once through the gate set in the stone wall, the ground in this area is found to be much lower than the rest of the city. The intervals between the buildings are also narrow. Although the scenery is reminiscent of the familiar small alleys of the town, there is something strange about it. First of all, when walking on the path, the feathers of birds will come into view from time to time. "After all, when the poisonous wind blows, it doesn't necessarily have a bad smell, so they raise birds. If the birds die suddenly, they know that they should pay attention." Although Lawrence had heard that such safety measures would be taken in mines and other areas, once he came to a place where such safety measures were really taken, he still couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine. Although "poisonous wind" is a good description, Lawrence still thinks it is more appropriate to express it with the "Hand of Death" that the church likes to use - only to feel that the wind blowing is particularly cold, and he finds that his body seems to be frozen. Not being able to move - it is said that this is the feeling that was described as "the hand of death". Are kittens, which can be seen everywhere in small alleys, also raised for the same reason as raising birds?Or do kittens gather to hunt birds? Whether it was the former or the latter, it would only make Lawrence feel uncomfortable. "Mr. Bartos." Lawrence hadn't found it painful to walk quietly on the road for a long time. From time to time, cats meowing, birds flapping their wings, and eerie metallic sounds could be heard in the dark alley, and the pungent sulfur smell permeated the nostrils.Lawrence couldn't bear such an atmosphere, so he spoke to Bartos who was walking in front. "How many alchemists live in this area?" "Well... plus the apprentices, there are about twenty people. However, after all, accidents often happen here, and I don't know the correct number." What Bartos meant was that people often die here. Lawrence regretted that he shouldn't have asked such a question. Instead, he asked a question that a businessman would ask: "Is it profitable to do business with an alchemist? It feels like it will be accompanied by a lot of danger." "Ok……" Bartos avoided the bucket with unknown contents inside and surrounded by green unidentified objects that made people feel drowsy after looking at it, and replied leisurely: "If the other party is an alchemist backed by nobles, The profits will be very good. Because not only gold, silver, copper, they will also buy a lot of iron, lead, tin, mercury, sulfur, phosphorus, etc.” Lawrence was surprised that the goods Bartos mentioned were unexpectedly ordinary. Lawrence thought he would hear weirder products, such as five-legged frogs. "Hahaha, is it surprising? Even those who trade in the north, most of them think that alchemists are magicians. In fact, they are no different from blacksmiths. They only heat metals or use strong acids to dissolve metals." work." The two turned right at the narrow intersection. "It's true that some of them are studying magic." Bartos turned his head and said, and raised the corners of his mouth to show a canine smile. Lawrence stopped in fright.Seeing this, Bartos immediately smiled and said as if apologizing for his prank: "However, I have only heard such rumors. Moreover, I heard that the alchemists who live in this area have never seen People who are good at magic. By the way, everyone who lives in this area is a good person.” It was the first time Lawrence heard someone describe an alchemist who spent his days and nights on acts against the gods as a "good guy". Whenever the topic of alchemists is brought up, people always have an indescribable sense of immorality mixed with fear and curiosity. "How should I say, after all, they are my food and clothing parents, you can't say they are bad people even if you kill them?" Hearing Bartos say what a businessman would have said, Lawrence smiled with some relief. After less than a second, Bartos stopped in front of a house. There are several black puddles on the pothole-ridden road that does not get sunlight. There was a cracked wooden window on the wall facing the narrow alley.Suspicious, perhaps, but the two-story building seemed to lean on one side. The exterior of the building looks like a corner of a slum that can be seen in any town.However, there is a key difference here. That is, there is silence here, and the children's play is not heard at all. "You don't need to be so nervous, the other party is a very easy to get along with." Although Bartos comforted Lawrence like this several times, Lawrence could only smile vaguely after hearing this. It would be difficult for Lawrence not to be nervous. Because this is the place where people who are branded felons by the most undefeatable institution in the world live. "Is anyone here?" Even so, Bartos still knocked on the door without fear, and said in a relaxed tone. However, the dry door looks like it hasn't even been opened in years. From nowhere came a faint meowing. A monk who was chased by the monastery because he was considered a heretic. The figure of an old man in tattered robes, resembling a shriveled frog, appeared in Lawrence's mind and then disappeared. That's a world that the average traveling businessman won't set foot in. At this time, the door slowly opened. "Huh? Isn't this Mr. Bartos?" The moment he heard these words, Lawrence couldn't help feeling disappointed, and his knees seemed to lose strength. "Long time no see. It's great that you seem to be in good spirits." "Why did you steal my words? You came and went between the mountains of Hiram, and you were able to be safe and sound. It shows that God loves you very much." After the thin wooden door opened, a tall woman with blue eyes appeared at the door.The woman was wearing a long gown, she should be a few years older than Lawrence, and the loosely cut long gown looked even more charming on the woman. The woman's tone was brisk, and she was an undeniable beauty. However, Lawrence suddenly remembered the legend of the alchemist looking for the magic of immortality. witch. When the word appeared in Lawrence's mind, the woman's eyes turned to him. "Hey, he's a handsome guy. However, he looks like he thinks I'm a witch." "In that case, let me introduce you like this." "Come on, this place is depressing enough. What's more, how can a witch be as beautiful as me?" "I heard that there are many ladies who are said to be witches because of their beautiful looks." "You are still the same, Mr. Bartos. You must have quite a few golden houses in Hiram, right?" Although Lawrence didn't understand what was going on at all, he didn't insist on grasping the status quo, and only wanted to calm down his mood. Lawrence took a deep breath and a half. Then, he straightened his back and returned to the expression of Lawrence the traveling merchant. "Elder Sister, it's not me, but this Mr. Lawrence who is looking for you today." Bartos may have sensed that Lawrence had regained his composure. Under his introduction at the right time, Lawrence took a step forward and greeted him with a smile: "Please forgive my gaffe. I am a traveling merchant. Clover Rotheus. I came to visit Dean Rubens today. Is the sir at home?" Lawrence spoke with words that were rarely used and could not be more polite. However, the woman who was still holding the wooden door with her hands was stunned at first, and then immediately smiled happily and said, "What, Bartos didn't tell you?" "what!" After Bartos patted his forehead with a look that he blamed himself for not noticing, he looked at Lawrence with deep guilt and said, "Mr. Lawrence, this is Dean Rubens Miss." "I'm Dean Rubens. A masculine name, right? Please call me Diana." The woman changed her previous attitude and said with a graceful smile.Her manner was enough to suggest that she had been in a rather noble abbey. "I see, let's not stand at the door and talk inside. I won't eat you." Diana pushed the door open to the end, and said mischievously while pointing into the house. The appearance of Diana's house was the same as that of the building, rather dilapidated, perhaps it could be described as the captain's cabin of a shipwrecked ship in a storm. In the corner of the room, there are wooden boxes reminiscent of pirate treasure boxes. The top of the box is reinforced with iron sheets, and the lid of the box is lifted casually.There are also sturdy chairs that seem to be expensive, but also become the bottom of clothes and books. In addition, it is impossible to imagine what kind of bird it came from. A large number of pure white quills are scattered throughout the room, as if a huge bird has preened its feathers in the house. In this room, which is very suitable to be described as messy and disorderly, the only places that can be called slightly organized are the bookcases and around the large desk where Diana works. "So, what do you want from me?" The sun shone miraculously on the desk. Diana didn't ask Lawrence to sit down, nor did she serve hot tea to them. She pulled out the chair from the desk and sat down while talking. Regardless of the hot tea, Lawrence, who couldn't even find a chair, was worrying about what to do, Bartos seemed to be used to it, and moved the objects piled up on the chair at will, clearing out some things for Lawrence. Here comes a chair. Lawrence thought to himself, even a proud nobleman knows how to invite guests to sit down. However, he found that Diana's unconventional character was not disgusting, which was also considered her cuteness. "I took the liberty to come to visit, please allow me to apologize to you." Even after hearing such common sense and polite words, Diana just smiled and nodded slightly. After Lawrence coughed lightly, he continued, "That's right, I heard that Miss Rubens—" "Diana." Diana made a correction on the spot, her eyes were serious. Lawrence barely concealed the wavering in his heart, and after saying "Sorry", a soft smile appeared on Diana's face again. "Uh—that's how it is. I heard that Miss Diana has a lot of research on ancient northern legends. So I was wondering if it's convenient for me to ask you something?" "northern?" "yes." While thinking, Diana shifted her gaze to Bartos and said, "I thought they were here to discuss business." "Don't be joking. If you came to discuss business, you will definitely be kicked out, right?" Although Diana responded to Bartos with a smile, Lawrence felt that Diana would really do this. "But, I'm not sure if I know the story you're looking for." "That means I might have heard a story that was purely fabricated." "Oh, if that's the case, then treat it as a new story and let me listen to you instead." Seeing Diana's gentle smiling face, Lawrence couldn't help but look away and coughed. Lawrence thought to himself: It's a good thing Holo isn't around. "Then, I want to ask about the ancient legend about the town of Yoiz." "Oh, you mean the town that was destroyed by the moon bear?" Diana seemed to have opened the memory drawer on the spot. Lawrence thought to himself, since the topic of Yoiz's destruction was brought up just like that, it was indeed the right choice not to bring Holo.I'm afraid Joyz is really ruined.Just thinking about how to tell Holo this gave Lawrence a headache. While Lawrence was thinking about these things, Diana stood up slowly, approached the bookcase in this room that maintained a strange order, and took out a book from the large books arranged in an orderly manner, saying: "I remember it was near here... I found it, I found it. Moonhunting bear, it should be pronounced "Irawa Will Muheidhende".The town of Yoiz destroyed by the moon bear.If it is about this hunting moon bear, there are several legends.But it's all old. " While flipping through the pages of the book, Diana talked non-stop. The calluses on her index finger from long-term writing were red and swollen, which made people feel distressed.Perhaps all the books that lined the bookcases were written by Diana herself. How many pagan stories and superstitions are condensed in it? Thinking of this, Lawrence suddenly noticed something.Bartos mentioned that he wanted to do business with ancient legends or myths, probably because he wanted to sell the books written by Diana to the church. If you have the books here, the church will be able to see at a glance what kind of missionary mistakes have been made in which area.Therefore, those involved in the church must be extremely eager to have these books. "It's not the story of the bear that I want to know, but the town of Joyz." "town?" "Yes. For some reason, I am looking for the location of Joyz. I wonder if there is a way to find the location from ancient legends or myths?" Most people are confused when they hear someone ask where an ancient legend is located, rather than where a certain product was made. Of course, Diana was no exception. She first showed a somewhat unexpected expression, then put the book on the desk, and began to think. "The location...the location, the location..." "Is there a way?" Lawrence asked again.After hearing this, Diana touched her forehead with one hand as if feeling a headache, and gestured for Lawrence to wait with the other hand. Although Diana kept silent, no one would doubt that she was the abbot of a noble convent; but looking at her current appearance, Lawrence couldn't help feeling that she had a humorous nature. Diana closed her eyes tightly, and after moaning for a while, she finally raised her head, with a happy smile on her face like a girl who successfully threaded a needle for the first time. "I remembered. There is a Roma River in the north of Projani. There is a town called Reynolds at the source of this river. There is such an ancient legend there." Facing Diana suddenly speaking to himself as if she was speaking to Bartos, Lawrence couldn't help but feel astonished. Lawrence thought that Diana seemed to lose herself at the mere mention of ancient legends. With such a personality, Diana cleared her throat, closed her eyes, and recited the ancient text: "In the distant past, a giant wolf appeared in the village. The wolf called itself Hero of Yuiz, and its stature was so tall that one had to look up at it. Shocked, the villagers regarded this as a punishment from the heavens. He Luo said that he came from the deep mountain forest in the east and wanted to go to the south. He Luo was addicted to alcohol, and sometimes he turned into a girl and danced with the village women. He was beautiful and young. , but it is not a human tail. After playing in the village for a long time, he promised the village a good harvest, and then went south. Since then, the village has had a good harvest all year round, and people call the wolf Heluo of the wheat beam tail." What surprised Lawrence was not only Diana, who was reciting ancient prose eloquently, but also the sudden appearance of Holo's name. Although the pronunciation was slightly different, it was referring to Holo.The description of the promised harvest proves to be Holo's work, and the incarnation of the girl with the tail fits Holo's appearance. but.The feeling of surprise was nothing compared to what Diana recited. Reynolds, at the headwaters of the Romme, is a town that still exists today.As long as you know that Holo is from the eastern forest of Reynolds, you can draw a line from Newhira to the southwest, and then draw a line from Reynolds to the east, and the intersection of the two lines will be the town of Joyz. "Does this legend help?" "Yes, because the range of mountains and forests east of Reynolds is limited, this is enough to constitute a clue." "That would be great." "I will definitely thank you in the near future—" Diana gestured to stop Lawrence from continuing. "You should understand that I am like this. Even though I was hunted down by the church, I still love the ancient legends of pagan lands. Moreover, I only like to listen to the ancient legends that tell the content of the narration, not because of the existence of the church. , and a story that distorts the content. It seems that Mr. Lawrence is a traveling merchant, you should have heard some interesting stories? As long as you can share a story with me, it will be considered as a thank you." Those who are responsible for writing history in the church write to maintain the majesty of the church; while those who are employed by the nobles write history to praise their employers, that is, for the nobles.There seems to be nothing wrong with saying that this is a matter of course. The ecclesiastical city of Reubenhagen was named after the saint Reubenhagen, and the legends about this saint that circulated in the city were far from Holo's description.Presumably those legends deliberately falsified history in order to maintain the majesty of the church and make the church more authoritative. Diana, who lived in a slum in Camelson, a town where religion and economy are free, must have been unable to forgive such behavior because of her deep love for ancient legends. Hearing that Diana was being chased by the monastery as a heretic, she thought she would be an extremely dangerous person, but it turned out that she was just a fanatic who loved her interests enough to risk her life. After Lawrence replied "I see", he told a rare story. It was a story describing a large wheat producing area. It is a story about a wolf controlling the wheat harvest. Later, because they drank some wine more or less, Lawrence, Diana, and Bartos talked enthusiastically about various ancient legends and myths circulating in various places. When the sun began to slant westward, Lawrence finally came back to his senses.He politely declined Diana's offer to stay, and left with Bartos. The lively conversation in Ren Diana's residence made Lawrence and Bartos laugh when they thought of the topic just now as they walked in the narrow alley. At Lawrence's current age, if he heard stories about legendary dragons or the Golden City, he would think it was a fantasy. He hadn't talked about such stories so happily for a long time. Even after Lawrence accepted the master of the traveling merchant as his teacher, he still dreamed of becoming a traveling knight holding a long sword and traveling all over the world for a long time.The stories he heard during the business trip with Master, such as fire-breathing dragons, birds that spread their wings to cover the sky, or magicians who can move mountains freely, also made Lawrence secretly moved. However, at some point, Lawrence realized that these were fabricated stories. Lawrence thought, the reason why he finds such stories so interesting today is probably because he met Holo. There are many legends or myths that are not fabricated stories, and traveling merchants who travel around the world can have the same opportunities for great adventure as traveling knights. Just being aware of this fact was enough to make Lawrence's long-forgotten sense of comfort spread in his heart. However, when Lawrence recalled the incident on the way to smuggle gold to Reubenhagen, this feeling of intoxication also turned into a wry smile. Although he didn't see the real face of the other party, Lawrence believed that there must be a wolf like Holo living in the spooky and eerie forest near Rubenhagen, which was constantly rumored.However, at that time, Lawrence was not the protagonist of an adventure hero drama that made people watch happily, but a supporting role that could only go with the flow. A businessman is indeed more suitable to live like a businessman. While Lawrence was thinking about these things, he walked to the street leading to the hotel, so Lawrence said goodbye to Bartos at the intersection. When Lawrence thanked Bartos for the introduction, he got this answer from Bartos: two people going to the elder sister's place will attract criticism from many parties, so this is just a good excuse. " Indeed, Diana was so easy-going and beautiful, plus she lived in an area where alchemists gathered.If you go to visit her alone, you don't know how many curious eyes you will attract from the people around you. After all, people in foreign firms like to talk about this kind of topic the most. "Please be sure to invite me again." The words Bartos said did not feel like polite words, but the truth from his heart.Of course, Lawrence also had a good time, so he nodded cordially in response. The setting sun is about to disappear on the other side of the roofs of every household.On the streets of the city, you can see craftsmen finishing their work, merchants finishing their negotiations, and farmers who have sold out their crops and livestock from the village and are about to set off on their way home. Go south along the street and come to a place close to the downtown area. There are many drunks and children on the street.Usually in the evening, the figure of the girl who would suddenly decrease can be seen everywhere, and the street seems to be full of the atmosphere of the eve festival.Several places on the street were surrounded by human walls, and the fortune tellers in the human walls just gathered the crowd and started doing business openly. Lawrence walked through the wall without going into the hotel on the street, and walked all the way to the market in Camelson. Because what Diana said gave Lawrence a certain degree of control over Joyz's position, so he decided not to set Nushira as the destination, but to target Reynolds first. One of the reasons why Lawrence chose Reynolds was not only the short distance, but also the well-organized roads.In addition, he also looked forward to finding a more detailed record of Holo's legend after arriving in Reynolds. Because the destination changed, Lawrence came to Mark's vendor again in order to collect the information needed for the trip. "Yo, handsome guy." However, when Lawrence came to the vendor, he found Mark holding a glass of wine in one hand, with a relaxed look; while the young man who helped run errands and contacted was inside the vendor, sleeping with his head flushed. Instead of these two drunken men, it was Mark's wife, Adele, who was busy preparing to close the pile of products with a dew-proof cloth awning. As soon as Adele found out that Lawrence was visiting, she nodded lightly to Lawrence, and then pointed her finger at her husband Mark with a wry smile. "What's the matter? Hey, let's have a drink first." "Well, the information I asked you to collect this morning... Hey! It's too much. The wine in the coffee-colored pottery jug was poured into the wooden cup by Mark. Although Lawrence stopped him, Mark turned a deaf ear. Mark had an expression on his face that if Lawrence didn't reach out to pick up the wine glass that was almost overflowing, he wouldn't answer. "Really." Lawrence raised his glass with an expression of being unable to stand Mark and took a sip, and found that the glass contained quite good wine.This made him want to eat some salty jerky to go with the wine. "Then, what did you want to say just now? Could it be that you want to change your destination?" "Yes, that's right. Isn't there a town called Reynolds at the source of the Roma River? I remember that it is famous for its wood and furs? I want to go there." "What, the place you changed is really far away. It caused me to collect some information on the vicinity of Nyushira for nothing." Even if you are drunk, you have to keep some part of your mind clear, otherwise you can't be called a businessman. "Sorry, things have changed a little bit." "Oh?" Mark said with a smile, and drank the wine like water. Then, Mark looked at Lawrence with extremely happy eyes and said, "So it's true that you and your partner fell out of harmony?" After a pause of several seconds, Lawrence asked back, "What did you say?" "Hahahahaha. I have investigated very clearly, handsome guy. Everyone knows that you stay in a high-end hotel with a beautiful nun. Really, the so-called act against the gods refers to your behavior." Camelson, Tongguan is a fairly small town.After all, Yi is not as good as Reubenhagen.As long as you ask friends of friends, you can almost hear the news of all town merchants.The horizontal relationship of town merchants is so deep.Someone must have seen Lawrence and Holo, that's why the rumors spread by word of mouth. Even Mark, who runs a street vendor in the market, knows about Holo's existence, which means that the people in the foreign firm must also know about it.Lawrence couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief when he thought that it was lucky that he didn't go back to the foreign firm with Bartos. However, Lawrence doesn't understand why Mark brings up the estrangement. "The relationship between me and my partner is not the kind of relationship that can be used as a topic of entertainment at the banquet. But what do you mean by emotional estrangement?" "Hehehe, it turns out that the handsome guy's ability to pretend to be stupid is also top-notch. However, if someone says that you have lost your relationship, your inner wavering will still be written on your face after all." "After all, my partner is indeed a beautiful woman. If the relationship fails, then I will lose a lot?" Thanks to the usual interaction with Holo, Lawrence was able to react calmly, even Lawrence himself was a little surprised. But Lawrence thought to himself, if possible, he would rather improve his negotiation skills than deal with it. "Hi, no, I just heard the news. The young boy in our guild is walking on the street with your partner. I heard that the two seem to have a good relationship." "Oh. You mean Amati... sir." Although Amati was younger than Lawrence, Lawrence thought it would be impolite to call her by his first name, so he added the word Mr.But after speaking, he felt a little humble. "What, have you given up already?" "Unfortunately, things are not what you think. I have something to do all day and I can't accompany my partner, and Mr. Amati has time to take us for a walk on the street, but these two things happen to coincide. " "Oh……" "Do you have any dissatisfaction?" Lawrence thought that Mark would definitely show a bored expression, but Mark suddenly showed a worried look, which made him feel a bit astonished. "Because I used to be a traveling merchant like you, I'm giving you some advice. That guy Amati looks weak on the outside, but he's actually quite difficult to deal with." "……what do you mean?" "I mean, if you're still so careless, be careful that your partner will really be snatched away. Once a guy of Amati's age is obsessed, he will dare to do anything ridiculous. Also, you know Amati is young Light, but how big is his fish business? Moreover, that guy comes from a prestigious family in the southern country, because he is a young man, and he knows that he must not be able to display his expertise under his elder brother. So, About three years ago, he ran away from home by himself and ended up here and started a business. Pretty cool, right?" Although judging from the appearance of the slender Amati, this is indeed something unbelievable.However, Lawrence witnessed Amati hiring people to transport three wagons of fresh fish. Moreover, although it was said that Amati was the trade partner for selling fish, he easily arranged a hotel room facing the street.Not an easy task at a time when the city is packed with tourists. A sense of crisis surged into Lawrence's heart bit by bit, but at the same time he thought that it was impossible for Holo to fall in love with Amati so easily. Lawrence recalled all the past after meeting Holo, and his idea that Holo would not have a relationship became more and more determined. "It's nothing to worry about, my partner is not such a casual guy." "Hahaha, you are really confident. If I hear that guy Adele and Amati walking together, I will definitely admit defeat." "What do you think about me and Mr. Amati?" At some point, Adele, who took over the booth for her drunken husband, was already standing behind Mark, she said with a terrifying smile on her face. Four years ago, Adele met and fell in love with Mark who came to Camelson as a businessman. Their love story was quite famous in Camelson.After going through this period of love that even third-rate bards find unbelievable, she and Mark stepped into the auditorium.如今的雅黛儿似乎越来越有身为小麦商人妻子的威严。 罗伦斯第一次见到雅黛儿时，她的身材相当瘦弱，但现在的她却比马克更壮。 雅黛儿在两年前生了小孩，或许母亲都是这么坚强的吧。 「我说，如果知道妳和阿玛堤走在一起，爱妳入骨的我会被嫉妒之火烧得全身是伤。」 「无所谓，就尽情地烧吧。等到你被烧成炭之后，我会拿来生火，然后烤出好吃的面包请阿玛堤先生品尝。」 雅黛儿尖酸刻薄的话语使得马克哑口无言，只能够以喝酒来逃避。 罗伦斯心想，或许家家都是女人比较强悍吧。 「我说罗伦斯先生，在这种地方陪这个醉鬼喝酒，就是好酒也会变得难喝吧？我们已经可以收摊了，不如到家里来，让我做几样好吃的料理招待你。不过，小孩子可能会有点吵就是了。」 一听到是马克的小孩，就教人无法想像那孩子会有多么顽皮。 虽然光是这个理由就足以让不懂应付小孩的罗伦斯打退堂鼓，但是罗伦斯是因为其他原因而拒绝邀约。 「我还有工作还没完成，所以不打扰了。」 This is of course a lie.不过，雅黛儿并没有露出怀疑的神情，只是一脸的遗憾。 然而，马克却是一副看透罗伦斯内心的模样轻轻笑着说：「毕竟这个没完成的工作太重要了，好好加油吧。」 马克果然是看透了罗伦斯的内心，罗伦斯只好回他一个苦笑。 「啊，对了。换目的地的事，我了解了。祭典举办期间我也会开店，所以应该收集得到再准确不过的情报吧。」 「谢啦。」 罗伦斯饮尽杯中的酒，并再次道谢后，便向马克夫妇告辞。 独自走在夜里活力充沛的喧嚣市场里，罗伦斯察觉到自己的脚步很自然地加快，只能苦笑。 竟然会拿「还有工作还没完成」当藉口扯了个大谎，罗伦斯不禁暗暗自嘲。 事实上，罗伦斯是因为看见马克与雅黛儿的互动，而变得想回到旅馆去。 至于想回到旅馆的理由，就算罗伦斯心知肚明，也不愿意在自己心中提起，当然更不用说是在他人面前说出口了。 赫萝与阿玛堤开心地走在一起的画面，在罗伦斯的脑海里浮现又随即消失。 虽然觉得不甘心，但是罗伦斯好几次都察觉到自己的脚步不停加快。 随着夜色加深，木窗外传来的喧嚣声越来越响亮。罗伦斯一边听着喧嚣声，一边用着跟旅馆借来的笔和墨水写下未来的行商计画。就在这时，赫萝回来了。 刚刚有些慌张地回到旅馆来，才发现赫萝根本还没回来。虽然这让人有期待落空的感觉，但是幸好没被赫萝瞧见慌张的模样，也教人松口气。 赫萝说阿玛堤送她到旅馆前面，所以只有她自己上楼来。不过，看赫萝围在脖子上的狐狸皮草围巾，就不难看出阿玛堤被赫萝耍得团团转。照这情形看来，阿玛堤肯定还买了很多其他东西给赫萝。 比起赫萝平安回来的安心与喜悦，一想到该怎么答谢阿玛堤这件事，就让罗伦斯更是头痛。 「呜……好难过。唔……汝啊……帮咱一下。」 不知道赫萝到底吃吃喝喝了多少，她似乎没办法自己解开丝腰带。 罗伦斯虽然觉得难以置信，但还是一副拿赫萝没辄的模样从椅子上站起来，帮正在床边苦战恶斗的赫萝解开腰带，并帮她脱下当成裙子绑在腰上的长袍。 「喂，妳要躺下来也先脱掉围巾和披肩啊，不然会弄皱的。」 罗伦斯的提醒只得到了赫萝含糊不清的回应。 他好不容易阻止了坐在床上的赫萝就这么躺下，替赫萝取下了围巾、兔皮做成的披肩，还有绑在头上的三角头巾。 赫萝早在任凭罗伦斯取下衣物时打起盹来。她之所以会在旅馆前面就向阿玛堤道别，想必是她一路故作镇静到旅馆前面，已经到极限了吧。 罗伦斯好不容易帮这样的赫萝取下围巾、披肩和三角头巾后，让她直接倒卧在床上。 看着如此无忧无虑的赫萝，罗伦斯的脸上不由得浮现苦笑。然而，再看到手上狐狸皮草围巾的毛发光泽。又不禁轻轻叹了口气。罗伦斯心想，这般优质商品如果拿来转卖，那还没话说，伹如果拿来送人，实在教他难以想像。 「喂，妳先别睡啊。妳有没有跟人家讨了其他什么东西？」 照这情形看来，或许赫萝真的向阿玛堤讨了其他更昂贵的东西。 然而，赫萝甚至没有力气把双脚抬到床上，她保持奇怪的姿势打着鼾睡觉。对于罗伦斯说的话，就连赫萝引以为傲的耳朵也毫无反应，已经彻底陷入熟睡之中。 罗伦斯露出一副「真是搞不过」的模样帮赫萝把脚抬到床上放好。即便如此，赫萝还是没有醒过来。 赫萝会如此无防备是因为信任我呢？遗是她根本瞧不起我？ 罗伦斯忍不住自问。但是他心想思考这些只是自找麻烦，于是决定把这些疑问抛诸脑后。罗伦斯把围巾和披肩放在书桌上后，准备折叠长袍。 就在这时，有样东西从长袍掉了出来，发出咕咚一声。 罗伦斯捡起一看，发现是一块美丽的立体方形金属。 「铁……？不，不对。」 立体方形金属有着使用磨刀仔细研磨过的垂直四角，以及就算只在微弱的月光照射下，也清楚可见、值得赞叹的平滑表面。依这般细工看来，就算是铁块，也具有颇高的价值。然而，罗伦斯心想，如果为了问出金属种类而叫醒赫萝，不知道赫萝会发多大的脾气。 罗伦斯决定等赫萝明天醒来再询问，便把方形金属放在书桌上。 他把长袍挂在椅背上，折好三角头巾后，先抚平腰带的皱褶，再重新卷起腰带。 罗伦斯暗自埋怨着为什么自己非得做这种男仆工作。然而，当他看见早早就发出少根筋鼾声熟睡着的赫萝，不平的情绪一下子就消失了。 看赫萝完全没有想要动身的意思，于是罗伦斯走近床边为赫萝盖上棉被，再次露出苦笑。 然后，罗伦斯走回书桌，让思绪重新回到行商计画上。 既然原本的行商路线无法一边寻找约伊兹，一边长期停留北方，那就以在北方地区行商为前提，变更行商路线便可。姑且不论是否真的要变更行商路线，至少先想好行商计画，也不会有任何损失。 而且，好久不曾在纸上写下各地城镇和行商路线，再一一举出各地特产或获利率较高的商品，从各种角度思考行商路线了。 想起那段宁愿牺牲睡眠，也要拟定计画的过去，就令人感到怀念。 不过，过去和现在有一个关键性的不同。 这计画是为了自己，还是为了某人而想？ 罗伦斯一边听着少根筋的鼾声，一边振笔疾书直到动物油做成的蜡烛烧尽为止。 「食物、酒和围巾，还有这颗骰子。」 "Any more?" 「就这些呗。还有，咱收到了一大堆甜言蜜语。」 赫萝一边轻轻咬着梳理尾巴的梳子，一边说道。罗伦斯听了，露出疲惫神情看向她。 罗伦斯看赫萝醒来幸好没有宿醉，于是盘问起她昨晚的事。在充足的光线下一看，罗伦斯更笃定了赫萝收到的礼物都是相当昂贵的东西。 「我看妳昨天吃吃喝喝得很尽兴嘛，还有这围巾是怎么回事啊？妳竟然收下这样的礼物……」 「这皮草口叩质很好呗？不过，输给咱的尾巴就是了。」 「这是妳向人家讨来的吗？」 「咱才没有那么不知羞耻，是对方硬要买给咱的。不过，送围巾当礼物真是别出心裁呐。」 赫萝一发现罗伦斯把视线从狐狸皮草的围巾栘向自己，便满心欢喜地说：「想把咱圈住不放。」 「谁要听妳搞笑啊。收下这么昂贵的东西，总不能不做任何回应吧？真是的，本来想说可以靠别人讨妳欢心的，这下亏大了。」 「呵呵呵，汝果然打着这种如意算盘。哎，咱就知道是这么回事。」 「这围巾的回礼我会从参观祭典的经费里面扣除喔。」 赫萝听了，瞬间露出不满的眼神看向罗伦斯，但一发现罗伦斯反瞪着她，便假装没看见的样子别过脸去。 「……真是的，妳该不会也露出耳朵和尾巴了吧？」 「这倒不用担心，咱可没那么笨。」 虽然罗伦斯一想到赫萝昨晚回来时的模样，就不禁感到怀疑，但是他又觉得赫萝应该不至于没注意这方面的事。 「阿玛堤有没有问起我们的关系？」 「咱倒想先知道汝为何会这样问。」 「如果没有事先套好话，会惹来很多的猜测吧。」 「嗯。汝说对了，咱已经被追问了很多事情。咱回答说，咱是巡礼修女，就在坏人打算卖了咱时，汝出面救了咱。」 罗伦斯心想，除了赫萝是修女的说法之外，其他内容算是与事实相符。 「然后呐，咱虽然被汝救了，却因此欠了汝一大笔债。因为咱根本还不起，所以就为汝祈祷旅途平安来还债，是个命运坎坷的女子……哼哼，咱还特地用哀怨的语气说话呐。如何？咱这故事编得很好呗？」 虽然罗伦斯觉得这故事内容像是把他形容成了坏人，但是又不得不认同这算是能够说服对方的说法。 「一听到咱这么说，那小伙子就突然买了围巾给咱。」 假巡礼修女露出小恶魔般的笑容说道。 「这样说还算过得去。那，这骰子是怎样啊？为什么要买这种东西回来？」 昨晚罗伦斯在月光下没能够看清楚颜色，他现在一看，发现这颗看似出自一流打铁师之手的立体方形金属骰子，是呈现黄色的矿物。 乍看之下，金属骰子就像未经过抛光的黄金。 不过，罗伦斯曾看过这种如黄金般的矿物。 这是未经过人工处理的天然矿物。 「那个啊，那是算命师在用的东西，据说是看得见命运的骰子。形状很漂亮呗？能够做出这么漂亮的东西，还真教人佩服。肯定可以卖得高价呗。」 「大笨驴，妳想这种东西卖得出去吗？」 罗伦斯故意学赫萝的语气骂人。赫萝听了，像弹开爪子似地挺起耳朵。 「这不是什么骰子，这是称为黄铁矿的矿物。还有，这不是人类做出来的。」 或许是罗伦斯的话让赫萝感到意外，她露出讶异的表情。但罗伦斯无视于她的反应，用手抓起书桌上的黄铁矿结晶丢向她说：「原来掌控丰收的贤狼对石头并不是那么了解的样子。那颗骰子被挖掘出来时，就长得像颗骰子了。」 赫萝一副「怎么可能」的表情笑笑，把玩着手中的黄铁矿。 "You should know I'm not lying, right?" 赫萝轻声呻吟了一下，并甩手指抓住黄铁矿。 「这种东西没什么特殊用途，经常被当成名产兜售。还有啊，因为外观很像黄金，所以也会被用来诈欺。妳有看到其他人买这东西吗？」 「很多人买啊。用这骰子算命的算命师算得很准，就连咱都啧啧称奇。而且，算命师瞎说只要拥有这骰子，任何人都能够预测自己的命运，所以有很多人争相购买算命师卖的骰子。算命师还用了其他各种理由推销。」 「这种东西会有那么多人想买？」 「嗯。就是形状没有这颗骰子这么漂亮平整的骰子，算命师也说能够治病或驱邪什么的。」 罗伦斯不禁佩服起算命师能够想到这么好赚的生意。举办祭典或大市集时，时而会有奇怪的东西造成流行。 罗伦斯心想，这正是打算趁祭典的热闹气氛捞一笔的生意吧，真亏算命师想得到利用黄铁矿做生意。 「那骰子还是阿玛堤标来的。」 然而，这回罗伦斯听了，当真吃了一惊。 「标来的？」 「当时大家的反应都相当热烈。咱第一次看到人们竞标，真是吓倒咱了。所以呐，应该可以卖得高价。」 赫萝的话让罗伦斯记起了在海拉姆地区的矿山地带四处行走的巴托斯。 巴托斯知道这事情吗？如果巴托斯有黄铁矿的库存，或者他有门路可以调来黄铁矿，或许这生意能够大赚一笔。 就在罗伦斯想到这里时，传来了敲门声。 罗伦斯霎时以为有可能是阿玛堤早发现了赫萝的耳朵和尾巴，但是他又想到如果真是如此，直觉敏锐的赫萝一定察觉得到。 罗伦斯把视线从房门栘向赫萝，发现赫萝缓缓拉高棉被从头部盖住身子。看来，这次似乎不像在河口城镇帕兹欧时那样来了危险的访客。 罗伦斯走近门边，毫不迟疑地打开房门。 站在门外的是马克店里的小伙子。 「很抱歉一大早就来叨扰，主人要我来传话。」 现在的时刻也不算是一大早，但是在这个市场差不多要开放的时刻，罗伦斯想不出有什么重要事情非得特地派出小伙子来传达。 罗伦斯霎时以为是马克得了重病，但是他想到如果是这样，就不会说是主人要传话了吧。 赫萝也动了一下，她只探出脸来。 小伙子因此发现了赫萝的存在，并把视线栘向赫萝。看见用棉被从头部盖住身子的少女，小伙子似乎做了不该有的想像，他瞬间面红耳赤地别过脸去。 「那么，传话内容是？」 「啊，是、是的。主人要我马上通知您，所以我一路跑来。事情是……」 听到令人难以置信的传话内容后，罗伦斯也跟着在卡梅尔森的街上跑了起来。