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The life of a traveling merchant is a lonely one, a fact with which Kraft Lawrence is well acquainted. Wandering from town to town with just his horse, cart, and whatever wares have come his way, the peddler has pretty well settled into his routine-that is, until the night Lawrence finds a wolf goddess asleep in his cart. Taking the form of a fetching girl with wolf ears and a tail, Holo has wearied of tending to harvests in the countryside and strikes up a bargain with the merchant to lend him the cunning of "Holo the Wisewolf" to increase his profits in exchange for taking her along on his travels. What kind of businessman could turn down such an offer? Lawrence soon learns, though, that having an ancient goddess as a traveling companion can be a bit of a mixed blessing. Will this wolf girl turn out to be too wild to tame?

Following his good fortune in Pazzio, Lawrence is confident that he is on the path to realizing his dream of becoming a town merchant. One ill-informed business decision, though, leaves him teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and ruin! With no assets to his name - other than the cunning of his fetching traveling companion, Holo the Wisewolf - Lawrence may need to resort to illicit means to put his affairs in order. With all of the merchant's plans hinging on one beautiful young shepherdess - for whose vocation Holo holds no affection - Lawrence's prospects, both personal and professional, are looking grim!

Having narrowly escaped financial ruin, Lawrence turns his attention to helping Holo find her ancient homeland in the North. But how long can a traveling merchant afford to wander the countryside looking for a village that he suspects may have ceased to exist long ago? When a rival merchant sets his sights on Lawrence's beautiful companion, though, can Lawrence truly be confident that Holo will remain by his side? Has the time come when Lawrence must ask himself whether his relationship with the Wisewolf is business or pleasure?

Continuing their journey north, Lawrence and Holo stop in the village of Tereo in hopes of finding a local abbey where they might uncover more information regarding the fate of Holo's ancient home, Yoitsu. Soon after their arrival, though, the companions are caught up in a local dispute between Tereo and the neighboring town of Enberch that could cost Lawrence and Holo both their fortunes and their lives! With the Wisewolf's help, can Lawrence devise a way to save an entire town from ruin - and his skin and that of his traveling companion in the process?

Arriving in the town of Lenos, Lawrence and Holo take a respite from their travels north - but a true businessman never rests! It isn't long before an opportunity for profit presents itself to Lawrence, one that could fulfill his dreams of owning his own establishment. But as always, the promise of great reward carries great risk - and risk is never greater than when one plans to use a wisewolf as collateral! As Lawrence and Holo feel the ties binding them stretched thin, has the time come for the pair to go their separate ways?

As Holo and Lawrence begin the final leg of their journey, Lawrence decides to accompany Holo to her ancient home of Yoitsu, if only to forestall their parting just a bit longer. Boarding a ship from the port of Lenos (much to the chagrin of the wisewolf, who is none too fond of water!), the pair's fate becomes entangled with that of a boy named Col, whose tale of his circumstances - combined with the gossip of the sailors - leads to a shocking revelation about Holo's homeland!

In a break from Lawrence and Holo's ongoing adventures, author Isuna Hasekura presents "Side Colors," a series of short vignettes focusing on the fans' favorite characters.

Hearing rumors of a "leg bone of the wolf" being used as an artifact of the Church to showcase its power, Lawrence and Holo head to the site to gather more information. Holo can't just turn away from what might be a relic of her own kind, after all. Of course, upon arrival, the travelers find that the town is the center of a giant trade dispute! Seems that Col will be getting a lesson in microeconomics!

The capture of a narwhal and the ensuing power struggle between the northern and southern districts of Kerube has Lawrence caught in the middle! Backed into a corner by his own trade guild, can the merchant find a way to extricate himself from this delicate situation? And what of the wolf bone from Holo's pack? Can the Wisewolf of Yoitsu manage to keep her rage and frustration in check?

After the turmoil in Kerube, Lawrence and his companions make for the Kingdom of Winfiel across the sea. Their destination is the great abbey of Brondel, said to hold the wolf bones they seek. Arriving in the kingdom, they hear tell that the abbey, normally prosperous due to its great wool trade, has fallen into a financial crisis. Worse, the most powerful economic force in the world-the Ruvik Alliance-is entering the kingdom with its eye upon the abbey's land holdings...

As with the first Side Colors volume, Side Colors II departs once more from Lawrence and Holo's travels north, taking the reader off the beaten path to explore three exquisite side stories. Remember, it's not so much about the destination, as it is the journey...

To obtain a map of the northlands, Lawrence and company leave the Kingdom of Winfiel and return to Kerube. Seeking out a silversmith of notorious reputation, they are introduced to the beautiful Fran Vonely who offers to provide what they seek. However, Fran's map comes with a price-in exchange, the party must travel with her to a village where an angel is said to have alighted and discover the truth behind the legend. But what of the rumor that a witch lives in that very same village...?

This collection of short stories from the world of Spice & Wolf features three new vignettes from Lawrence and Holo's journeys, as well as a novella that follows Norah the shepherdess and her faithful sheepdog, Enek, as they put the city of Ruvinheigen behind them and try to forge a new path for themselves...

Having arranged to receive a map of the northlands from the silversmith, Lawrence's pleasure at imagining that he'll be able to travel to Yoitsu with Holo lasts but a moment, for when they revisit the town of Lenos, they immediately become entangled in the schemes that surround a forbidden book. The book is said to contain forbidden arts that might threaten Yoitsu itself, but to get it, Lawrence would have to return to his trading route, leaving insufficient time for him to go with Holo to Yoitsu. Faced with the harsh reality of this decision, what will Lawrence's solution be?!

The Myuri mercenary band--a troop named for one of Holo's old comrades. In order to find them, Lawrence and company make for Lesko, a town dominated by the copper-trading Debau Company. Rumors of the Debau Company's schemes to both open more mines and seize control of the northern lands swirl, along with rumors that they're concentrating military power in the town in preparation. But when Lawrence and Holo arrive in Lesko, they discover a surprisingly cheerful and peaceful place. What is really happening? Find out as the end of Holo the Wisewolf and Lawrence the traveling merchant's long journey draws close to its end!

With the Debau Company's plans to introduce a new currency, the town of Lesko is brimming with hopes and dreams. And with Holo by his side, Lawrence has decided to open a shop. But just before he can, he is confronted by two men who bring him Col's traveling bag. A rift within the Debau Company separates Holo and Lawrence, who find themselves pulled apart yet again. What will become of the merchant and the wolf? The finale of their tale is at hand!

Several years have passed since the incidents surrounding the Coin of the Sun. Having received a letter from Holo, Norah the former shepherdess and Eve the merchant woman travel north--and on the way, they end up in the same wagon as Diana the alchemist! Were Lawrence and Holo able to find happiness for themselves?

In addition to an epilogue covering the days immediately after the events of Volume 16, this final book in the Spice and Wolf series includes three new short stories!

The long-awaited continuation of the tale of Holo the Wise Wolf and the merchant Lawrence! Over ten years after Holo and Lawrence open "Bathhouse Spice and Wolf" in Nyohhira, the two climb up the mountain in order to help at the festival in Sverner. But Lawrence has an additional objective: to find more information about a new hot spring town near Nyohhira...

Blissful days continue for the ex-merchant and the wolf as they pass the days together in their mountain home. Ever since Col and Myuri set off on a journey of their own, the bathhouse has been a little shorthanded so a new hire was brought on. But this newcomer is a wolf, just like Holo and the problems with her joining the staff seem endless...

After a short summer, lively with guests, the bathhouse Spice & Wolf greets the momentary calm that is autumn.

The unusually enthusiastic Holo and an exasperated Lawrence want to have their fill of what the mountain-bound Nyohhira has to offer in autumn.

After a walk in the mountains the two return to the bathhouse with a basket-full of goodies, and there is a crowd of people at the entrance.

"I do not quite know what it might be, but it smells of many beasts."

The reason these sudden, out-of-season guests came to bathhouse is, Spice & Wolf!

For Lawrence, the seed of all his worries is none other than his adorable only daughter, Myuri, who recently left home. Ever since her departure, this worrisome father has become more haggard and anxious with each passing day. Unable to ignore it any longer, his wife, Holo, entrusts the bathhouse to their friends and proposes that they embark on a journey of their own. To visit their daughter, of course. For the first time in over ten years, their cart returns to the road once again, rumbling along slowly, heavily laden with memories, emotions, and promises to fulfill. Though it's been a long time since they last traveled, the loving couple won't have to go far before they begin to hear rumors of Myuri-or rather, Saint Myuri?! What has that wild girl done now?

With the Nyohira bathhouse in good hands, Lawrence and Holo continue their journey, exploring the world anew. Of course, it wouldn't be much of an adventure if they didn't run into some new faces--and some old ones, too. So when their old friend Elsa asks them to investigate a cursed mountain to discover the secret of the wandering alchemists and a fallen angel, of course they accept. It may be some time yet until they catch up with Col and Myuri... who have somehow gotten into a bit of matrimonial trouble of their own?!

Holo and Lawrence earn themselves another spot in the history books after they save Saronia from being swallowed in debt. In return for their help, the two receive an enviable reward--a noble title. While Lawrence is beyond delighted, Holo and Elsa are wary of the generous gift. Perhaps their fears are warranted, because it seems the title comes with a shady plot of land tied to the legend of a giant serpent!

Between more stories of summer adventure and moments of parting with friends new and old, Holo and Lawrence have at least a few more journeys in them.