Chapter 6 Act II - 3

Holo herself might be agonizing over how to deal with this jealousy that comes from possessiveness. Besides, wouldn't Holo also want a way to deal with this mood? If this is really the case, if you think about it from the standpoint of an outsider, the answer will be ready to come out. Lawrence opened his mouth, feeling Holo respond immediately. "My answer is that there's simply no way this feeling can be dealt with." On the quiet surface of the lake, there was a trace of ripples. Another pebble would be needed to restore the luster to Holo's expression. "It's just that it creates self-loathing."

Tit-for-tat, or the other way around, should not be the correct answer. If this question didn't involve me, but on Holo, it would be the most natural thing, but as the object of exclusive desire, I still feel quite happy. Because in the final analysis, the desire for monopoly is the wish that the other party only belongs to oneself. As long as the degree is not too excessive, the person who is invested with this kind of emotion cannot be unhappy. That's why Lawrence chose this answer.Holo had no expression on her face. Even so, Lawrence still didn't look away, because he felt that this should be the last hurdle.

"Hmph. Then, go to the right?" However, when Holo asked him with a smile, he let out a sigh of relief and let go of his heart. "But... hehe." "what?" "Possessiveness and self-loathing. I see." Holo smiled, showing her sharp teeth. At the moment when she felt that this was unnatural, Holo started to walk towards the path on the right, but Lawrence couldn't keep up. "What's wrong?" Holo turned around, still smiling. If Holo could be satisfied with Lawrence's answer, she probably wouldn't show this expression.What Lawrence originally imagined was either a relieved smile, or a black face with no interest at all.

So when does this expression usually appear now? Lawrence felt his face turn red again.If I blushed several times a day like this every day, I am afraid that I will turn into a Guan Gong face in a short time. "Hehehe, did you find out?" Holo smiled and walked back. "At first you were troubled by the difficulty of the question, then you thought about it from a different angle, and finally found the answer, all of which can be seen from your face. However, you will understand after a little thought. When someone When you discuss things with yourself, the answer you think is correct. In fact, it means that you hope that the other party can do that. So that means?"

That's right. That said, Holo wasn't waiting for Lawrence's answer to solve her own troubles. Holo was actually asking Lawrence to ask him what was going on in his head. "While being jealous, you are troubled by it. Do you want us to be like this? And do you intend to play the role of extending a helping hand to such a person? Then we just need to make people cry, hate ourselves, and then cling to you A gentle hand that reaches out will do, right?" "Goo..." The so-called even the heart has been dug out, it should be this feeling. He now understood from the bottom of his heart how the insulted girl wanted to cover her face with her hands.

The wolf with sharp teeth flashed to Lawrence's side lightly. However, Holo didn't mean to tease him from the beginning to the end, which finally made him feel less uncomfortable. At this point, Lawrence finally understood. She says it's true that she's jealous of talking to Eb, and that's her way of getting revenge and letting go. "Hmph. Alright, let's go!" Maybe she could see through what Lawrence was thinking from his face that couldn't hide his expression at all, Holo hurriedly took Lawrence's hand and walked away, as if to stop him from thinking further. .

Now that she has dealt with her like this, Holo should be in a better mood because of this, and she should turn a blind eye to the fact that the two of them are talking and laughing with Eb as a businessman, right? . It's just that I can't say that I don't regret my careless negligence at the beginning. Because Lawrence's wish was dragged naked into the sun. "I said, you—" The road to the right was still the same, dirty and narrow, but wider than before, allowing him and Holo to walk side by side. Therefore, Holo, who was walking beside him as a matter of course, spoke in her usual tone as a matter of course.

"The question we're going to ask next is purely to tease you." Even if she said hello in advance, Lawrence was just a rabbit waiting to be slaughtered. "Want to hear how many people we counted?" Then, with an innocent smile on her face, Holo swung down the butcher knife that could kill a cow. "I realized once again how delicate my heart really is." Lawrence, who was covered with scars, was exhausted just answering this sentence.But that seemed to suit Holo quite well. She hugged Lawrence's arm, with the word satisfaction written all over her face, it seemed that her desire for sadism had been fully satisfied.

"Before your slender heart becomes cold and hard, we must use our claws to scratch you more scars." Lawrence couldn't utter a word, and could only stare down at Holo's face fixedly. Holo's face next to him was smiling in disbelief like that of a girl delighted by a prank. However, no matter what kind of nightmare it is, there will always be a moment of waking up. According to what Ebu told him, the house with a bronze billboard with a three-legged chicken carved on it was their destination.After finding it, Holo finally gave up hunting. "All right--" It was Lawrence who spoke first.There was shame and unwillingness in his voice, and his tone was trembling.

"I heard that he is a difficult person to get along with, so be careful." Before Lawrence let go of his arm, Holo had already run out, nodding with a "hmmm". "The refreshing, dreamlike conversation with you is over, and it's time to return to the boring reality." Her whispered self-talk made Lawrence unable to distinguish the truth from the false, so Lawrence retaliated and said in a low voice: "How about going back to the hotel and getting some sleep?" "Well... that might be a good idea. Of course, it's not the number of sheep that counts before going to bed..."

When it comes to teasing people, Holo is slightly better. But seeing her keep bringing up this topic, Lawrence also went all out and asked: "So, how many people are there?" Although I don't want to know too much in detail, it is a lie to say that I don't want to know. Since Holo kept rambling on the subject, it might have been zero at all. It would be a lie to say that I didn't want this to happen. However, Holo didn't answer his question. She blocked all expressions and remained motionless. Her face at this moment is like a puppet that has never been touched by anyone. When he realized that her face was just acting, Lawrence intuitively felt that he couldn't beat her at all. "It seems that men, especially me, are really stupid creatures." When Lawrence said that, he tilted his head like a resurrected Holo and smiled. The three-legged chicken hanging from the eaves of Rigoro is said to be a statue of a chicken that predicted long, long ago that the Roma River next to the town of Reynolds would flood. The church said it was the messenger of God, but according to the legend, it was predicted by using the positions of the stars, the moon, and the sun, that is, the existing astronomical records at that time. Afterwards, the chicken became a symbol of active use of knowledge. Li Geluo's family has worked as chronicle writers for generations. The reason why this chicken is decorated is probably because they hope that the boring knowledge they have recorded will one day become a signpost pointing the way to the future. Lawrence knocked on the silver-plated handle of the door and coughed softly. Although Abe should have contacted him beforehand, even the sociable Abe said that he was a difficult person to deal with, so Lawrence was naturally very nervous. Holo, who was following him with nothing to do, made him feel a lot more at ease-although he admitted that it was a bit useless. However, the reason why Eb couldn't refute what he said before may be because he would think so every now and then after meeting Holo.Before meeting Holo, of course the only one she could rely on was herself.There is both the spirit that will never lose, and the fear that if you lose, it will be over. A companion who can rely on, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Just as he was thinking this way, the door was opened. Whenever the door opens slowly until the face of the person on the other side can be seen, this period is the most tense. On the other side of the door that gradually opened, there was a man with a beard and a slightly older look... did not appear. "Which one is it?" Although Lawrence was surprised by the unexpected outfit of the person who opened the door, it wasn't the type that would make him nervous. The age should be around twenty years old.The nuns in monastic uniforms had their foreheads neatly covered by a thin cloth, and their black-based attire was very elegant and refined. "We were introduced by Miss Abe Brand." "Ah, waiting for you, please come in." Lawrence purposely didn't report his family background. He didn't know whether it was because the nun was too kind or because of Eb's trusted relationship, but he was brought in like this. Lawrence couldn't judge the reason, so he had to let her lead the way, and walked into the house with Holo. "Please sit here and wait a moment." As soon as you enter the door of the house is the living room, with faded carpets on the wooden floor. The furniture was of the highest quality, though it had been caramel-coloured with age, suggesting that the owner of the house had lived in the neighborhood long ago. Since Lawrence's first encounter with the so-called Chroniclers was Diana of the pagan town of Kemelsen, he had originally imagined a messier room, but the house did. Unexpectedly clean and tidy. There are no books on the shelf next to the wall, but some puppets and embroidery as decorations, and another relatively new shelf has a stone statue of the Virgin that can be easily picked up by women, and garlic and onions hang beside it .The only thing that could indicate that this is a chronicler is the neatly placed quills and ink bottles, and what should be a small box containing sand for drying ink.And the parchment and paper bundles that are very writer-like are quietly placed in a corner that is not very conspicuous. I don't know if Holo felt the same way, but she also looked around the room in surprise. Moreover, for ordinary families, it is impossible to have nuns who are dressed as if they are ready to go out to preach immediately. In terms of the statue of the Virgin Mary and the sign carved with a three-legged rooster, it may be normal for a pious religious family with a lot of money left over. "Just let you wait." Because I heard from Abe that Li Geluo is a very difficult person to get along with, Lawrence thought that he would make things difficult for him and make him wait for a long time, but he did not expect to meet him so easily. The nun led Lawrence and the others with a kind smile and a demeanor as soft as soup, through the corridor connecting the living room to the inner room. Although Holo also looked like a nun, she was fundamentally different from the gentle and graceful demeanor of a real nun.If Holo knew what she was thinking right now, she would definitely be angry—just thinking about it, she kicked her foot. Knowing that she only felt this based on her subtle reactions, Lawrence always felt as if the buttons on his back were unbuttoned, and the thoughts in his heart were directly seen by others. "Mr. Rigoro, we're coming in." Even the tom-tom knock on the door was as sweet as the graceful cracking of an egg. Moreover, it is still unknown what color yolk will emerge from the egg. Lawrence immediately collected his thoughts, and after a muddy response came from the other side of the door, he stretched out his hand and pushed the door open, entering the room. The next second, it was Holo who let out an exclamation. Lawrence was so surprised that he couldn't even make a sound. "Yeah, what a delightful reaction. Look, Merta, they're all surprised!" A young and tense voice echoed in the room, and the nun called Melta let out a crisp laughter like a bell rolling. After opening the door, the room she saw was as messy as Diana's next room. However, this mess is calculated.How should I put it.Just like facing the light-transmitting opening in a cave, when you enter the front, you will see piles of books and materials. A huge wooden bird model hangs from the ceiling, and the wall on the other side is covered with glass. Seeing the lush garden outside with dazzling sunlight. "Hahaha, it's amazing, right? I've thought of many ways to make this a paradise with endless greenery all year round." The one who smiled proudly as he said that was a noble-looking young man with chestnut hair, wearing a shirt with a well-trimmed collar and pants without a single wrinkle. "I've heard it from Flulu. I heard I was asked for a strange favor." "...Well, thank you so much...I'm Lawrence, no, it's Clover Lawrence." Lawrence finally came back to his senses and resumed his usual demeanor, holding Rigolo's outstretched hand, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the magnificent garden. This secret garden surrounded by buildings is absolutely invisible from the road. The description of "Secret Garden" is too trite, but that's the only word that comes to mind. "My name is Rigro Dideri." "Hello." Then, Rigoro's gaze shifted to Holo. "Ah, this is with me..." "Holo." Even if Holo meets a stranger, she will never be nervous or afraid, and she seems to know what to do in an instant to make the other person happy. Hearing her self-introduction put on airs, Rigoro was not only not angry, but happily clapped his hands and asked for a handshake. "Okay, the self-introduction is over, and just praising my proud garden is enough for me. Then, as a thank you gift, what should I do for you?" There are sometimes people among merchants who are surprisingly inconsistent, and Rigreso doesn't seem to be sure if they are that kind of people. However, Melta, who carefully brought two small chairs for Lawrence and the others, smiled slightly. He should be like this usually.Of course, that meant if Melta who nodded slightly and left the room was not a liar. "I think your Excellency may have heard about it from Miss Abe Bran. We are here to see the records of ancient legends circulating in this town." "Hehe. It turns out that this is true...Flulu...Ah, the businessmen call her Ebu, right. Because of her personality, she is more teasing. So when she gets close to people, she will say some nonsense. .” Lawrence smiled, expressing his understanding. "Monsieur de Rigro, that's why you're not a serious hermit with a long beard, isn't it?" "Hahaha, it seems that she is talking nonsense again. However, the so-called hermit she said is not completely unreliable. Because I have tried my best to avoid meeting people recently. This is just like the old man who hates meeting people. .” As he spoke, his voice suddenly became low, and the cold expression under his smiling face also flashed past. After all, he served as the secretary of the fifty-member meeting held by the famous and wealthy people in this town, so it is not surprising that he has such a side. "I'm also a foreign businessman, is it okay to come to see me?" "Well. Now is the right time. Maybe it should be said that it is God's guidance. Look at this dress, doesn't it look like a child walking in front of the funeral procession to guide? I just came to a conclusion at the meeting, so the meeting was closed early gone." If what he said is true, it can indeed be said to be God's guidance.However, the summary of the conclusion of the meeting is really fast.Lawrence thought to himself. According to Arold's calculation, it should be delayed until spring. Did someone make a tough decision? "Heh, I really deserve to be the businessman introduced by that stubborn girl. You really are not careless at all." Have you seen through what you're thinking? - A person who panics and covers up when he thinks about it is definitely a third-rate guy. Standing next to Lawrence was Holo, who could really read people's hearts. Whether the other party's guess is true or false, you can tell at a glance. "what?" So Lawrence pretended to be ignorant and tried to evade it, but Rigoro still had a smile on his face. "It's really not easy to grasp if it's just a confrontation of fiction and reality. The opposite of the opposite is the front." Did he know that he might not be able to see through him, so the tactic of pretending to be deaf and dumb was seen through. Lawrence was very confident that he would not be seen through so easily, but Rigoro's eyes became extremely sharp even though he was smiling. "Because I was the secretary of the fifty-member meeting after all. I can see the changes in the expressions of several people at once. Even if you can't guess Mr. Lawrence's expression, as long as you talk to the person next to you If you think about it together, the answer will emerge naturally." The corner of Lawrence's mouth couldn't help showing a smile.Even if they are not famous businessmen, there will still be such people in this world. "Hahaha. It's similar to Yuxing Festival. If I have malicious intentions, I won't show my hole card. Moreover, even if I see through the other party's true intentions, I can't convey my request to the other party. If that is the case, I will lose my role." Are you qualified as a merchant?" "...I'm really sorry..." "So it's not very popular among women." Indeed, this eloquent skill is a little different from that of a businessman.Lawrence shrugged and smiled. When Li Geluo quips like a poet in and out of the court, his hands also moved, and he took out a tungsten steel key from the drawer of the table. "All the old books are put underground." He flicked the key lightly, made a gesture, and walked to the inner room. Lawrence cast his eyes on Holo beside him before following Rigolo. "He said the opposite of the opposite is the surface." "Unexpectedly, he even noticed our expressions..." "This is the first time I have seen such a technique." Perhaps it was the fact that he had to accurately record all the speeches in a meeting where everyone was talking on their own, so he learned this skill. Because the fastest way to know who said what is to know their expressions. "However, it should be true that there is no malice. He looks like a child. But if there is someone who can master this kind of skill by his side, he can live a leisurely life without having to work hard. " Holo's mischievous gaze cast over. Since Lawrence occasionally quarreled with Holo due to misunderstandings or differences of understanding, her gaze made him feel as uncomfortable as a needle in his chest. "You are full of malice no matter what." Lawrence said.Holo didn't answer, and followed Li Geluo away on her own. The floors and walls on the first floor are made of wood, but the underground warehouse is entirely made of stone. The basement in Treo Village is also made of stone.Perhaps for important places, people always hope that they can be surrounded by stones. However, there is still a big difference between a basement built for hiding and a warehouse for storing things. The ceiling was so low that Lawrence could touch it with the slightest lift of his hand, and it was strewn with bookshelves just high from the floor to the ceiling. Moreover, the books on the shelves are labeled and numbered by age and content. The binding is very simple, and it is completely incomparable with the ones seen in Treo Village, but it seems that a lot of thought has been put into the management, . "Do fires happen often in this town?" "Sometimes. As you can see, the ancestors seem to be very afraid of the fire, so they put them in this kind of place." Melta was already waiting at the entrance with a small candlestick.Those who didn't see her in the room overlooking the garden just now may have heard their conversation, so prepare in advance. Holo was looking for the book she wanted to read under Melta's guidance. Because the fire and smoke from animal fat would spoil the book, Melta was holding expensive beeswax. The sweet-looking lights flickered in the shadows of the bookshelves. "correct--" The two men seemed a little bored waiting, so Riguero stopped talking. "I don't have much patience, so please forgive me. Why are you looking for legends from hundreds of years ago?" He didn't ask about his relationship with Holo.From this, we can see the interest of Li Geluo. "She wants to find her own origin." "origin?" It seems that although he has insight that even a rare businessman can't match, but when it's his turn, he doesn't know how to hide it.He untied his hands wrapped around his chest in great surprise. "For some reason, she's looking for guidance to return to her hometown. That's what she's here for." As long as the facts are omitted, the listener will fill in the gaps according to his free imagination. This will keep the other person's gaze away from the truth without lying. Li Geluo also seems to have fallen into his trap. "So that's how it is... So, you are going to go north?" "Yes. Now we don't know the specific place, she is just looking for the destination based on the legends she knows." Li Geluo nodded very seriously. He should have interpreted Holo as a slave who was captured in the North and sold to the South.It is said that children from the north will grow up stronger and more honest than those from the south.Some nobles who have no children or whose only heir is sick, in order to prevent their family property from falling into the hands of relatives, many would rather buy an adopted son to inherit. "There are often children from the north in this town. It would be the best if we can return to our hometown safe and sound." Lawrence had no doubts, and silently nodded in agreement. Soon after, Holo appeared in the shadows of the bookshelf holding the five books she fancied. "You are really greedy enough." Lawrence said in surprise.Melta smiled instead of Holo and answered: "That's all, I think it's better to take it out at once." "That's how it is. Well, bring some books here, and if you accidentally drop them on the ground, you will be punished without food for three days." Li Geluo couldn't help laughing after hearing this.As a result, Lawrence took all the books in Holo's hands, and carried them back to the first floor. "I originally wanted to say that I hope you can read it here." Li Geluo watched Melta wrap up those books carefully and said. "I trust Fululu a lot, so I also trust you, Mr. Lawrence, whom Fululu trusts. But it's really hard to say whether the people around you are like this..." If businessmen from other places came suddenly, they would definitely be suspected. "Yes, of course I understand that too." "However. If you lose it, burn it, lose it, sell it, you will be fined for three days without food." Even if it was a joke, Lawrence couldn't laugh.Although Lawrence always likes to convert everything into money, he still understands that the value of these books cannot be measured by money. Lawrence nodded and put his hand on the package. Li Geluo's smile was as innocent as a boy's. Is it because of this kind of place that Abu opens the window of his heart? "Then, please return them after you've finished reading them. Even if I'm not here, Melta will be here." "Understood, then I borrowed it." Lawrence saluted with his eyes, Rigoro responded with a smile, and then waved gently to Holo. Perhaps it was this kind of place that made him feel less like a merchant than a court poet. Holo waved her hands contentedly. "If you don't have luggage in your hands, it's easy to shake your hands, right?" From leading the way to picking up the luggage, Lawrence did everything by himself, almost like a servant. Even if this was a little ironic, Holo probably wouldn't take it to heart. Although Lawrence thought so in his heart, Holo quickly refuted: "If you don't want to be dumped by us, you have to pay attention to your tone of voice." After throwing down such a sentence, Holo skipped out on her own.Looking at her back, Lawrence couldn't help feeling a surge of hatred in his heart. However, if the relationship between the two is not good, there will be no dialogue like this at all.Lawrence is still very clear about this kind of thing. The problem is, Holo never compliments Lawrence. "For a pig, you can make it climb up a tree if you encourage it. For a man, if you encourage it, it will make an inch." The protest was simply blocked. Perhaps the inability to completely deny this is the real problem. "It's obvious that you don't have much stomach, but you still get angry." After Lawrence said this, Holo clapped her hands deliberately, and burst out laughing. After putting the book in the hotel, as agreed before, I have to eat something Holo likes for dinner.So the two went into a tavern they picked at random, and Holo ordered a suckling pig. Use an iron skewer to go in through the suckling pig's mouth and out through the anus, put it on the fire and roast it while turning it, occasionally apply a little oil from the fruit on it, put it on it and roast it again, and repeat.While this process is fun, it also takes time. After finally roasting, stuff herbs into the suckling pig's mouth and put the whole thing on a large plate.The suckling pig's right ear has been cut off with a knife, which is said to bring good luck. Usually, this dish is ordered when five or six people get together to celebrate, so when Lawrence ordered, the girl in charge of their table was taken aback, and then when the suckling pig was cooked, When it was served, the men around also let out a mix of exclamation, envy, and jealous "ohhh~". Then, seeing that Holo was the first person to gnaw on the suckling pig, he couldn't help but let out a sympathetic sigh of "ah...". For people who take a beautiful girl on the road, most people will cast a hostile look, but when they know that it will cost a lot of money to raise this girl, they will immediately dispel their jealousy. Since Holo couldn't cut the meat herself, Lawrence had to help her cut it, but he was too lazy to cut his own, so he just cut a little bit of burnt skin and ate it. Although the aroma of the berry oil was very enticing and delicious, Holo had already taken the left ear, which was the most crunchy to bite.The best match with meat is not beer but wine, and of course this is a lot of money. Holo began to feast, her beautiful flaxen hair slipping from the crevice of the hood and getting stained with suckling pig fat, but she didn't care.Maybe this is the real "wolf" gobbling. result.It didn't take long for a suckling pig to become a pile of bones. When Holo finished licking the last thigh bone, there was a burst of applause in the shop. But Holo still didn't care the slightest bit. After licking off the grease sticking to her fingers, she downed the wine and hiccupped exaggeratedly.Seeing her strange demeanor, the drunks in the store couldn't help sighing. Holo, who still didn't care about the surroundings, met Lawrence's eyes across the unrecognizable suckling pig remains, and smiled at Lawrence. What she wanted to say should be thank you for the hospitality.But even though the suckling pig has been dealt with, she still doesn't seem satisfied. No, maybe it's to prepare food for the next time I'm hungry. Seeing her smile reminded Lawrence of the bleeding in his wallet, and his head ached.But forget it this time.He had given up on running from under Holo's teeth.It can only continue to be used as food preparation, as long as she doesn't bury herself in the nest and forget about it. After that, the two rested for a while, and left the tavern after paying the amount that was saved after ten days of earning. Maybe it's because the fur trade is popular in this town, so animal oil is also abundant. When I went back, I found that there were more lights on the roadside at night than in other towns. Unlike during the day, everyone kept their faces close to each other when they spoke, trying to keep their voices down as much as possible, and they were very quiet when they walked, as if a little force would turn off the flickering dim lights. Holo seemed to be very satisfied with eating up a suckling pig, and walked slowly with a smile that seemed to come from a good dream on her face. Of course, in order not to get separated, the two were holding hands tightly. "..." "what?" Holo seemed to have said something, and Lawrence asked back.She just shook her head slightly. "I said, it's a beautiful night." Holo looked at the ground in a daze and said.Of course Lawrence also agrees. "But if nights like this continue...I think I'm going to break." As long as it lasts for a week, the wallet will be emptied, and the contents of the head may be melted. Holo seemed to agree. She laughed softly in her throat. "Because it's salt water." "?" "It's sweet, salty..." Is she drunk, or is she talking about a pun? I wanted to ask what this sentence meant, but the surroundings were very quiet at the moment, as if opening my mouth would destroy the peaceful atmosphere.In the end, Lawrence didn't ask, and just went to the hotel like this. People who live in the town, it is said that no matter how drunk they are, as long as they can walk, they will definitely walk back to their homes, but the homeless people are a little different.No matter how tired my feet are, I will try my best to rush back to the hotel. Holo fell to her knees after opening the hotel door. But Lawrence thought she was faking sleep. "Oh, if it's another hotel, the owner will have a dark face." As soon as Lawrence and the others stepped into the hotel, Abe, who was warming up around the charcoal fire with Arold, said happily in a hoarse voice.Her face was still wrapped under the turban, making it impossible to see clearly. "It's just the first day's reaction. He'd be laughing if it was like this every night." "Heh...do you often go drinking?" "Well, as you can see." Eb laughed silently and took a sip of his wine.