Chapter 9 Act V - 2

One danced all night, the other was so drunk that he couldn't even remember when he was covered with a blanket, and it was certainly impossible to expect them to know where the luggage was. Holo and Lawrence turned their gazes to Cole, who asked in astonishment, "Don't you all remember?" If Cole had really joined Holo and Lawrence on their journey, something like this might have happened every day. ． "Crack! Crack! Crack! We're both drunk after all. Can you bring it here?" "understood." After speaking, Cole ran away. Lawrence and Holo, who stayed in place, stood side by side, watching his back as he went away.This seems to be very good.

Of course, the premise is that Holo is by his side.Holo seemed to have thought of the same thing, and leaned slightly towards Lawrence. Lawrence thought of a word that could describe the situation. However, such words must not be spoken. "You." "Well?" Holo didn't speak, but shook her head. "do not have much left." "yes." Of course Lawrence knew exactly what Holo was trying to say. However, he still felt that he shouldn't think about such things. "So to say……" "Well?" "Cole's hometown seems to be called Pinu. Have you heard of it?"

In his haste, Cole accidentally stepped on the foot of the boatman who was sleeping on the ground, and he quickly apologized. Holo watched him go away with a smile, injecting strength into Lawrence's hand. "You, what did you say?" The sound is different than usual. Lawrence turned to her and saw a smile in her eyes. "……what?" "……Hey." "Hey, how could we know everything." Indeed, she was right. , but Holo is the kind who knows more important things, the more People who pretend to be ignorant.She will always pretend that nothing happened even when it is a big event.

I know it will be endless if I doubt everything, but so far It's a fact that there's definitely something wrong with making jokes like this during the trip. Perhaps because of stepping on someone else's foot just now, every step of Cole's Be careful.Holo couldn't help laughing seeing him like this.Lawrence gazed at her smiling profile.Holo sighed without looking back. "It's better to be more restrained next time." "...if you can really do that, then I can't thank you enough." Lawrence said.At this time, Cole just came back. "What's wrong?"

"Well, nothing. We're talking about your hometown." "what?" His answer was very cold, maybe even if he didn't feel the coldness of his hometown It is impossible to say that Qingqing Village is interesting, and at least I don’t think it is the kind that will become a joke. The village in question. If you are a person who is a little bit confident in your hometown, you should be able to go two immediately. It's right to have bright eyes. "It's called Pinu, right? Is there any rumor in this village?" "A rumor?" Holo said she was reaching out to pick up the luggage, so Cole asked back and handed it over.

go. "Hmm, one or two, right?" "This..." If someone asks you that suddenly, of course you will feel annoyed.No matter how remote and poor There are many legends or superstitions in the remote areas. "When you talked to me, didn't you say that the church's meddling gave you a headache? That is to say.There should be other gods in this area including Pinu. " Hearing what Lawrence said, Cole seemed to remember something. He nodded and spoke. "Yes, that's right. 'Pinu' is the name of a giant frog god. The elder said he actually saw it."

"Ah……" Holo seemed very interested. So the three of them sat down and handed the bread and cheese to Cole for preparation. "I heard that our village was not where it is now. The place where the village used to be was submerged by the flood from the mountain because of a mudslide a long, long time ago, and sank to the bottom of the lake. After that mudslide, I helped hunting on the mountain. Fox, the elder who was still a child saw the turbid current rushing towards the village along the valley path leading to the village, knocking down trees along the way. A huge frog jumped out and blocked the turbid current.,,

A legend about a god who protects a village from catastrophe.It can be said to be everywhere. Although the church is replacing these legendary protagonists with their own gods one by one.But seeing the usually well-behaved Cole's eyes light up when he narrated this legend, it seems that their attempt may not be successful. Legends about gods or elves are not fantasy. Because now I can fully accept the existence of these. "Then, when God Pinu blocked the muddy current and stopped it from moving forward, the elders hurried down the mountain, ran back to the village, told everyone about it, and saved the villagers' lives."

After Cole finished speaking, it seemed that he finally realized that he was too excited when he spoke. He looked around to see if he had been too loud just now. "Hmph. There are only gods and frogs and such. For example, are there wolves or such?" It seemed that Holo couldn't bear it anymore. When she asked, Cole replied without thinking: "Yes, there are many." Holo heard that she almost dropped the meat she had just taken out of the bag on the ground, but she immediately pretended to be calm and threw the dried meat into her mouth. Her hands were trembling slightly, which Lawrence saw, but of course pretended not to.

"However, there are more such legends in Lupi Village. Didn't I tell Mr. Lawrence before that there are many people who are famous for hunting foxes and owls." "Ah. It's the village that was taken over by the church, right?" Cole nodded with a wry smile.Because the church was stationed in that village, which is why Cole started this journey. "In Lupi Village, there is a legend that the ancestors of the villagers are wolves." The tip of the jerky that Holo held in her mouth shook violently. It's a good thing she didn't let go. but.But it reminded Lawrence of what he had asked a female chronicler named Diana in the pagan town of Camelson.

The legend of man and god becoming slaves. Back then, it was because Holo was afraid of loneliness, but now, the meaning has changed. I hope Holo won't laugh at herself.While Lawrence was still thinking, Cole spoke again. "I heard this later. It is said that those who went to the church in Lupi Village were originally going for the wolf god." "To God?" "Yes. However, there is no god in Lupi village. Because in the legend the god is dead." The more I talked, the more confused I became. If it had died long ago in the legend, then it would be too strange for the people of the church to go after the wolves.It would be understandable if it was easier to preach because the god is dead. Moreover, the group of missionaries who went to Lupi village all retreated probably because the senior missionary who also served as the commander was unwell. I always feel that the cause and effect are not quite right. From the surface, it seems that they are just here to find something. Thinking of this, Lawrence suddenly realized. Just came here purely to find something.For this reason, the people of the church specially came to this small village in the deep mountains, where it is said that the god has died. "The god of Lupi village was injured and came to the village a long time ago, and then died in the village. It's inside.Then said that as a thank you for taking care of him, he left his right forefoot and sperm.that sperm It is passed down from generation to generation by the descendants of Lupi Village, and the right front foot protects the area from epidemics or large-scale natural disasters.It is said that what those people in the church are looking for is the front foot. " When Cole said these words, it was like telling a story he had heard casually, and he didn't seem to believe it from the bottom of his heart. No matter who it is, as long as they embark on a journey, they will understand the vastness of the world, and they begin to feel that the legends in the village that they have never doubted are just some old knowledge.This is often the case. "However, that being said, my village also sank to the bottom of the lake due to mudslides, so it is doubtful whether Lupi's god really left his feet." Cole said with a smile. Once you go out and gain knowledge, it is impossible not to see the difference between the general legend and what actually happened. For Cole, perhaps these insights just shake the reliability of the legends in his own village. Lawrence, however, was just the opposite. Because of Holo's relationship, he knew that the legend in this regard was not purely groundless. In this way, as a businessman, he began to assemble the information collected in his head to see if he could find something. And the memory that has been in a daze has also begun to wake up, That's what I heard Ragusa say before being drunk. He also knew that this was just a random match under random imagination. But even so, it fits perfectly. "So, are you doubting these legends?" Holo seemed to sense the strange atmosphere right away, and the eyes under the hood became a little alert. Cole smiled slightly. "...If I don't fully believe it, I do doubt it. However, I have learned a lot about the existence of gods in school. Therefore, it is very easy to do this. .In other words, Lupi's god's feet, as early as decades ago..." Cole encountered a lot of setbacks in the school in the south and planned to go back to his hometown, so he passed by here. So.What to do in this situation? No matter what, it is normal to collect information about the hometown. So.Even if Cole collected the same information as Lawrence, it wouldn't be surprising. The biggest difference between Cole and Lawrence is whether they believe in such absurd things. Lawrence didn't look in Holo's direction, but held her hand tightly. ··The so-called treasure map is always handed down to the world after the treasure is stolen. " Cole's eyes widened. Then, slowly closing his widened eyes, he smiled a little embarrassedly. As if to say - "I won't be cheated again". "However, it's impossible. How could the god's forefoot be sold?" ． ． ——" Holo couldn't help but gasped. Sure enough, Cole got the same information as Lawrence. Holo's hands, which were holding each other, tightened even more. She didn't make a sound, just shifted her gaze over.But Lawrence didn't look at her. "Well. Because there are fakes everywhere in this world." Liscoe, a small town on the upper reaches of the Roever River.It is said that the town's Chamber of Commerce is looking for the right front foot of the wolf god. Since Ragusa would say something while drinking, it must have been known among the boatmen. And Cole, who was on the journey, also knew that it might have spread in some hotels or restaurants where travelers gathered. No wind, no wave.However, part of the reason is because paganism has always been prevalent in the northern land. In Lawrence's seven years of business, he heard such rumors more than once or twice. The relics of saints, the feathers of angels, the holy grail of miracles, the feathers worn by gods. Either way, it's a ridiculous fake. Seemingly taking Lawrence and Holo's silence as a sign of surprise, Cole hurriedly explained. "Well, of course, I also think it would be better to confirm if it can be confirmed..." As he said that, he showed a lonely smile, like a child who knows that talent is needed to achieve great things. How would he feel if he knew that Holo in front of him was a member of that god? I can't help being interested in my heart. However, he thought that Holo would also want to reveal her true identity.But it doesn't look like that. Instead, she was looking at Cole with very calm eyes. ． "However, if the church is really looking for this forefoot bone, what exactly is their intention?" Although Holo's appearance also made him care, but now that the conversation has reached this point, maybe he can find out something. Anyway, Lawrence continued to ask, so as not to break the topic. "attempt?" "That's right. If the church wants to track down its whereabouts just because the bone is real, then it is tantamount to admitting the existence of pagan gods. Of course they won't do such a thing." Cole was taken aback, and muttered in a low voice, "That's true." "It's really strange for you to say that..." If that was true, it would have been a wolf like Holo, and it must have been of an unusual size. Although the memory is a little fuzzy, Lawrence remembers Ragusa saying something like "the watchdog of hell". If the bones are found, are you going to put this name on it and use it as a tool for missionary work? If it is the bone of a martyr saint, many uses can be thought of. Just as Lawrence was thinking this way, Cole suddenly shouted. "Ah, difficult, could it be—" Lawrence looked at him to see what he was thinking of. At this time, the people who were sitting and drinking around the fire laughed as if they had heard something interesting. Just at this very moment. With a click, there was the sound of something snapping. For a moment.Lawrence became suspicious of Holo, who looked unhappy. Looking over, she found that Holo also had a surprised look on her face. Their eyes met, and she seemed to have discovered Lawrence's thoughts. There was a slap in the shoulder. "Just, was this just now...?" Although I just said that I have doubts about the existence of God, but at this moment Cole is timidly asking in a low voice. Maybe it's because faith doesn't disappear so easily.Holo finally felt better, and a smile appeared on her face. After that, the sound stopped for a while, and the people around the fire sat down again, and some people shrugged their shoulders towards this side. What happened? Just when all the waking people present thought so—— click.Squeak.The sound rang continuously.Suddenly there was another loud crack. on the river. While thinking this way, there was the sound of wooden boards being squeezed, and the sound of a huge bubble surging. Cole stood up. Lawrence knelt on one knee and looked into the river. "Boat!" The people drinking around the fire shouted loudly. Eyes immediately moved to the river. What I saw was a huge ship that looked as if it was about to leave the port under the moonlight. "Hey! Who is it!" Those who sat and drank by the fire stood up and shouted, but no one took action. All of them are merchants or travelers.Lawrence stood up too, and Cole He rushed out without thinking, but after walking three or four steps, he stopped because he didn't know what to do. Knowing that the boat is going down the river and knowing that it must be stopped. However, I don't know what to do. A loud cry sounded at this moment. "Protect the ship!" Because of this sound, the boatmen who were lying on the ground like cow dung jumped up. Perhaps because this had happened more than once or twice, all ran along the bank without hesitation. They were obviously so drunk that they fell to the ground, but their footsteps were so quick and steady. Among them, Ragusa and another crew member were the fastest to reach the boat anchored on the river bank. I saw them clinging to the boat that split the waves and pushing the hull with all their strength. Ragusa was the first to jump on board, and another crew member reluctantly jumped on board. They couldn't board the boat, but those who were fully conscious immediately thought of the next best way. Almost everyone jumped into the river without hesitation and swam towards the boat moored nearby. The boat resting on the wreck began to move slowly along the river. Lawrence and the others had tried to pull up the sunken ship, perhaps because of the relationship that had become fragile due to repeated pulls. The rope snapped under the weight of the boat and broke into several pieces. If the boat was washed away like this, it might be washed up in the shallows where the river turned and ran aground again. Moreover, there should be other boats parked there in the lower reaches of the river. Even children know what will happen if they hit a small boat at that time. However, boatmen like them leaped into the river without hesitation like knights who had experienced battles, probably because of their reputation as boatmen rather than the actual reason.It's hard to imagine how much damage would be done to their reputation if the same ship hit the rocks twice in a row. Cole took two or three steps forward, perhaps attracted by the bravery of Ragusa and the others. Lawrence also swallowed nervously, watching the development of the situation closely. After all, it was originally a big boat that required four or five oarsmen, so it was impossible to stop so easily. However, you can't just sit back and watch like everyone else. Holo stood beside Lawrence and whispered: "You really don't know?" "what?" Is it about the ship? I thought about it for a moment, but it doesn't make sense if it refers to this matter. Then.It suddenly dawned on him that she was referring to the Church's desire to find the bones. "do you know?" At this time, there was a wow sound. Shi Yi took a look and saw that Lhajansa's boat was staggering forward and was rushing forward.Another boatman jumped onto the big boat and started paddling. However, there is still no sign of stopping.Under the moonlight --- wood pulp looks like slender and helpless branches. It seemed to hear Ragusa's staggering sound. "We don't know. Just like you make a living from businessmen, we make a living from people's beliefs." A barbed word is evidence of a bad mood. Don't know why she is angry. However, it is still known that the cause is the church. "The reason why we hate being called gods is because everyone will run away and look at us. They will fear, admire our every move and gesture, and say some words of gratitude. The so-called respect at a distance is what it is .So, you, if you think about it the other way around..." "Too messy!" I don't know who yelled. Ragusa's boat circled to the front of the big ship.If you tried to block the front of the ship head-on to stop it from advancing, you might be overturned and sink. The dull sound of the hulls colliding with each other sounded.All the people watching this situation couldn't help but hold their breath and clenched their fists. Ragusa's boat shook violently.Maybe it's about to capsize.The air on the river bank was tense for a moment, and Lawrence's eyes returned to Holo. He understood exactly what Holo was trying to say. "Could it be, I want to put the bones..." Then, there was a loud crash of a big wave crashing down. In the infinitely long seconds, the speed of the ship dropped significantly, and it almost stopped. In this way, everyone can finally feel a little relieved. The air began to ease, and there were cheers, Ragusa stood on the boat and waved his hands showing off. Lawrence couldn't be happier at the moment. The church's rotten tricks caused the bitterness in his mouth to spread continuously. "That's right. What if they got the real bone and trampled it under their feet? Even our family can't kill people after it's a bone. Only being trampled on. Miracles and nothing. Happened. Then, what will the people who see it think? They should think so—” In the blink of an eye, the boats behind had caught up,' several boatmen jumped and threw up the ropes. Their tacit understanding is amazing, as if to prove to people the spirit of unity developed by working in the same place for many years. If possible, Lawrence also hopes that he can be in it and experience this sudden frenzy. "——What, it turns out that what we have been worshiping as gods is something of this level?" Perhaps this method will be more effective than exhausting words to describe the holiness of the Church's God. The rationality of this idea is really only conceived by the church that has been fighting paganism for hundreds of years. However, Holo and that bone that might be trampled on might be old friends.There might even be a blood relationship. Holo had said once that she understood when it came to buying and selling furs. but.Buying and selling fur and trampling bones are two different things. Her eyelids were trembling slightly, not crying but angry, trembling with anger. "So. What do you think?" Amid the whistling and applause, Ragusa and the others are tying up the boat with skillful movements and carrying out mooring operations. No matter which one, the movements are nimble and quick, as if they have been used to it, and they don't need to think about it at all, and they are doing their homework reasonably. The church will put faith above all else. As long as it is to spread faith, everything can be a prop. "This is really...too, cruel..." "Absolutely stupid." Her foot was stomped hard by Holo. The pain made him realize how angry Holo was. "We didn't ask you about the good or the bad. You're one of the churches anyway—" Having said that, Holo suddenly shut her mouth.Before she could say "I'm sorry", Lawrence stepped on her foot and looked at her sideways with a serious expression. Meaning, I've had my revenge. Holo didn't know whether she was trying to calm herself down or regretting her slip of the tongue just now, maybe it was both, but she bit her lip and continued: "...It's not this, that, they are looking for the whereabouts of the bones, do you think it's true?" "Half and half." Perhaps it was because he answered too quickly, Holo looked at him with a slightly bitter expression. She felt that she had provoked Lawrence in an innocuous way. "No. It's just that I really think it's half and half, that's why I answered so quickly. There are so many things about this subject, just like Cole was cheated in school." He gestured in Cole's direction with his chin. Cole, like everyone else, was watching Rajansa's active scene as intently as anyone else. The innocent back that day.Since she is wearing Holo's cloak, she looks like Holo herself. "In this case, it's not half and half." "I know there is such a thing as you. If this is the case, then the possibility that it is just absurd rumors disappears. In this way, um, it is half and half. If there are such rumors, it should be because there is something wrong with the chamber of commerce. Action, but it is not clear whether it is something from Lupi Village. Although the church has gone to Lupi Village, as long as Cole is not lying, it should be true." Ragusa appears to have done its homework. The boatmen jumped into the boat in Ragusa, and some people jumped into the river and climbed to the bank with arrogance. The remaining wood was thrown into the dying fire, and mulled wine was delivered to the heroes. "I said, you—" "Well?" Holo took Lawrence's hand. Every time she asked Lawrence for something, she would put on a stance like this to entangle her. "Just continue the journey leisurely like this, and say goodbye when you find Yoiz. What do you think?" Hearing what she said, Lawrence couldn't help laughing. Holo seemed annoyed, digging her nails into the flesh. If you joke too much, you will suffer. If she was asked so clearly, it would be unreasonable to cheat. Lawrence took a deep breath, then let it out gently. "Don't ask me this kind of thing. What did I say when I went to pick you up? Holo looked away, but said nothing. It was hard to believe, but she looked as if she was shy. "But maybe it's just a rumor, so there's nothing to worry about. If you're interested, I don't mind." "So if it's true?" The virtuous wolf really deserves to be a virtuous wolf. The word game is quite skillful. Lawrence lowered his voice again and said: If it is true, I am afraid it will not be as simple as just a little burn. " "Because we're going to be angry?" Gently closed his eyes. Then, the moment he opened his eyes again, he saw Cole waving his hands in this direction with an excited expression on his face, as if he had noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two. As if he had seen something he shouldn't have seen, he quickly turned his face away. "There's always been an unbelievably high price for things like this, because most of the time the Church bets its own credit. Which means—" Lawrence looked at Holo beside him. It could be seen that Cole was secretly looking this way. but.This is nothing to worry about. "Different from your beliefs, it is linked to the prestige of the church, and its value as a commodity is also very high. If you sell it, it will not be as simple as being burned." Holo smiled, stretched out her free hand to her chest, and waved it lightly. Cole looked away hastily. Holo's hand came down slowly. "To be more precise, isn't it just to find a bone. You don't have to force yourself to accompany you." This statement is too cunning. She is so cunning that she can let people know what she wants by saying it one by one. Lawrence reached out his free hand to his chest and poked Holo on the forehead. "Unlike you, I want to write thicker." "……real?" It might be considered a good life if he just aged like this and ended his journey by dying of weakness, but to be honest, Lawrence was not very satisfied. If the encounter and the journey after that had been anything but grand, so much the more so. At the end of the year, or after a good harvest, people gather to dance wildly.Let's make a fuss, why? Lawrence felt he finally understood now. "In terms of stories, it's better to have a beginning and an end, isn't it?" "Even in danger?" He shook his head. He is no longer a vigorous young man. Lawrence has a life of her own. "Of course, danger should be avoided carefully." A proud smile appeared on Holo's face. "We're Holo the Wise Wolf." In fact, I also feel that my decision is too absurd. If the chamber of commerce is really looking for bones, and the church is eyeing this, then it is very likely that all of this cannot be stopped by an individual businessman alone. But even so, Lawrence still felt that it was not enough to always choose the safe and best plan for the journey with Holo.The beef is cut into thick slices and topped with a generous handful of rich spices. Holo smiled and stepped forward. Then he lightly poked the head of Cole, who was eavesdropping, and pushed him towards Ragusa and the others. Lawrence followed slowly. A cold moon hangs in the sky, and the refreshingly cold air is swayed by the laughter of the boatmen. As a time in the journey, it might be a good night. Lawrence took a deep breath. In fact, Lawrence was not interested in how things would turn out. Holo would be angry if she found out. There are more important things than that. "..." Finally a reason to move forward.Lawrence couldn't help feeling grateful to the moon.