# E22 - Church Teachings and Memories of Father
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GJWU2W800/church-teachings-and-memories-of-father)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:06] Lawrence**
I apologize for the other day.
**[00:09] Elsa**
What business do you have here?
**[00:11] Lawrence**
I heard from Mr. Evan that you were facing
**[00:13] Lawrence**
a really difficult situation
of some kind at the time.
**[00:17] Elsa**
Are you here to ask about the abbey again?
**[00:18] Lawrence**
Not at all.
**[00:19] Lawrence**
The village head didn't know anything either,
**[00:22] Lawrence**
so it looks like I had come
on a wild goose chase.
**[00:24] Elsa**
Is that so?
**[00:25] Lawrence**
So, we've decided to continue on our journey,
**[00:28] Lawrence**
and we've come to the church
to pray for safe travels.
***SIGN*** Spice and Wolf
**[02:04] Elsa**
This way.
***SIGN*** Episode 22
Church Teachings and
Memories of Father
**[02:09] Elsa**
Then, a prayer...
**[02:11] Lawrence**
Father Franz.
**[02:12] Elsa**
Huh?
**[02:12] Lawrence**
He must have been a man of great faith.
**[02:16] Elsa**
Oh.
**[02:18] Elsa**
Yes, he was.
**[02:21] Elsa**
Just...
**[02:22] Elsa**
I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out.
**[02:27] Elsa**
Now, let us pray.
**[02:29] Lawrence**
Oh, before that, I'd like to make a confession.
**[02:31] Elsa**
I see.
**[02:34] Elsa**
Then let us go into a different room...
**[02:36] Lawrence**
No, I'd like to do it here.
**[02:37] Lawrence**
Before God, if possible.
**[02:40] Elsa**
I understand.
**[02:44] Elsa**
Let God hear your confession, for He...
**[02:53] Elsa**
is gracious to those who are honest with Him.
**[02:57] Lawrence**
I have lied.
**[02:59] Lawrence**
I have fooled another for my own gain.
**[03:02] Elsa**
Do you have the courage
to confess the truth before God?
**[03:06] Lawrence**
I do.
**[03:07] Elsa**
There is no need to be afraid.
**[03:09] Elsa**
God is merciful to those who are faithful.
**[03:13] Lawrence**
I lied today.
**[03:15] Lawrence**
I spoke falsely to trick another.
**[03:19] Elsa**
For what reason?
**[03:20] Lawrence**
There was something I needed to know.
**[03:22] Lawrence**
I lied in order to get close
to the other person.
**[03:25] Elsa**
Who did you lie to?
**[03:28] Lawrence**
You, Ms. Elsa.
**[03:30] Lawrence**
I have confessed my lies before God.
**[03:35] Lawrence**
And now, I shall speak the truth.
**[03:37] Lawrence**
I have come to ask about
the location of Diendran Abbey.
**[03:42] Lawrence**
No, I have lied again.
**[03:45] Lawrence**
I have not come to ask for the location.
**[03:47] Elsa**
Huh?
**[03:48] Lawrence**
Ms. Elsa, I came to confirm that
this place is Diendran Abbey.
**[03:53] Lawrence**
And, Father Franz is also known as
the managing abbot, Louis Lana Schtinghilt.
**[03:59] Lawrence**
Am I wrong?
**[04:00] Lawrence**
You are before God.
**[04:03] Lawrence**
You must not lie before Him.
**[04:05] Lawrence**
We have come to ask about the stories
of pagan gods he had collected.
**[04:11] Lawrence**
You are worried about the town of Enberch
discovering the actions of Father Franz, right?
**[04:17] Elsa**
Wh-Who in the world are you two?!
**[04:21] Holo**
It is difficult to give you a satisfying
answer to that question.
**[04:27] Elsa**
D-Difficult?
**[04:28] Holo**
This is the reason.
**[04:35] Holo**
Do you wish to touch them?
**[04:44] Holo**
She is much more timid than I expected.
**[04:47] Lawrence**
I wonder about that.
**[04:48] Lawrence**
That letter was from a lord of another area
stating he would support this church.
**[04:54] Lawrence**
She must've been busy
every night until its arrival.
**[04:57] Lawrence**
It seems that things are a lot more
dire here than I imagined.
**[05:05] Lawrence**
Are you all right?
**[05:09] Elsa**
So, it wasn't a dream.
**[05:12] Holo**
Though it would be better
for you to think as such.
**[05:15] Elsa**
They say devils fool humans in their dreams.
**[05:20] Lawrence**
Once we finish what we came here for,
we will disappear like a dream.
**[05:25] Lawrence**
There should be records of
the stories Father Franz collected.
**[05:29] Elsa**
Why are you looking for such a thing?
**[05:31] Holo**
I wish to return home.
**[05:33] Elsa**
Home?
**[05:34] Holo**
I left my hometown ages ago.
**[05:37] Holo**
I have forgotten my way back and do not
know if my friends are still doing well.
**[05:42] Holo**
Moreover, I am not even sure
whether my hometown still exists.
**[05:46] Holo**
What would you do?
**[05:48] Holo**
If you knew there was someone
who may know about your home, long lost?
**[05:57] Elsa**
I am a servant of God.
**[06:01] Elsa**
At the same time, I am someone who
wishes to follow Father Franz's footsteps.
**[06:05] Elsa**
I do not believe you have been
possessed by the devil.
**[06:08] Elsa**
Father Franz always said there is
no such thing as being possessed by the devil.
**[06:14] Elsa**
Please follow me.
**[06:36] Lawrence**
What is this place?
**[06:38] Elsa**
Precious things are always
hidden behind the prayer room.
**[06:43] Elsa**
May God forgive us.
**[06:52] Elsa**
In his will, Father Franz wrote that the
statue could then be removed from its place...
**[06:57] Lawrence**
I understand.
**[07:00] Lawrence**
There we go.
**[07:06] Lawrence**
May we enter?
**[07:08] Elsa**
I will go first.
**[07:17] Lawrence**
Be careful.
**[07:24] Lawrence**
She's not going to set fire to
the basement, is she?
**[07:26] Holo**
You are much more suspicious than I.
**[07:34] Elsa**
Thank you for waiting.
**[07:36] Lawrence**
Not at all.
**[07:37] Lawrence**
What are those?
**[07:38] Elsa**
Letters.
**[07:40] Elsa**
To me.
**[07:41] Elsa**
There are books in the basement.
**[07:43] Elsa**
I believe they are what you are looking for.
**[07:46] Lawrence**
May we take them out and read them?
**[07:48] Elsa**
Please read them within the church.
**[07:55] Lawrence**
I know we forced you to do this.
**[07:57] Lawrence**
I'd like to thank you, as well as apologize.
**[08:00] Elsa**
Yes, you did indeed force me.
**[08:03] Elsa**
However...
**[08:05] Elsa**
I'm sure Father Franz would have been happy.
**[08:08] Elsa**
He always said that the stories
he collected were not mere fairy tales...
**[08:15] Elsa**
It's just, I did not expect so many books...
**[08:17] Elsa**
You may need to talk with the inn about
staying a few more days to read them all.
**[08:21] Lawrence**
But you might call for help in that time.
**[08:25] Elsa**
I have spent my life embracing the true faith.
**[08:28] Elsa**
I would never lay a trap for others.
**[08:30] Elsa**
Even in the prayer room, I did not lie.
**[08:34] Lawrence**
Yes, I was the one who laid a trap for you.
**[08:39] Elsa**
I'll remember that you should never
let your guard down around a merchant.
**[08:46] Holo**
Hey...
**[08:50] Holo**
May I read these here?
**[08:52] Elsa**
You may, but remember to extinguish
the candles when you're finished.
**[08:55] Elsa**
This is not a wealthy church.
**[08:58] Holo**
Very well.
**[09:04] Lawrence**
If a merchant wishes to ascend to heaven,
I heard that he needs to lighten his purse.
**[09:11] Elsa**
Thank you.
**[09:14] Elsa**
May God's blessing be with you.
**[09:18] Lawrence**
You don't need to watch over us?
**[09:20] Elsa**
As you don't plan to bring disaster upon
our village, I have no reason to make a fuss.
**[09:24] Elsa**
True, your companion is a being
that should not be in this church.
**[09:29] Elsa**
However...
**[09:30] Lawrence**
Your suspicion is completely understandable.
**[09:33] Elsa**
Huh?
**[09:34] Elsa**
Well, if you ask me whether
I have any suspicions or not, I do.
**[09:40] Elsa**
However...
**[09:41] Elsa**
I have a much bigger problem...
**[09:43] Lawrence**
While I can't take confessions,
**[09:46] Lawrence**
I can be helpful in giving advice.
**[09:50] Lawrence**
However...
**[09:52] Lawrence**
I can only give sincere advice when it
doesn't revolve around making money.
**[09:58] Elsa**
No, you're right. It may be better to
ask someone like you in this situation.
**[10:04] Elsa**
May I ask?
**[10:06] Lawrence**
Though, I'm not sure if I can
give you a satisfactory answer.
**[10:11] Elsa**
If...
**[10:13] Elsa**
If the stories collected
in that basement are true, then...
**[10:17] Lawrence**
Then?
**[10:18] Elsa**
Does that mean the God we believe in is false?
**[10:21] Elsa**
My father... Father Franz collected
stories about the northern gods.
**[10:26] Elsa**
He was suspected of heresy
more than once or twice.
**[10:31] Elsa**
Yet, he was a commendable priest
who never missed a single day of prayer.
**[10:35] Elsa**
However, if your companion is truly
a pagan god, it would mean our God is false.
**[10:43] Elsa**
I don't know.
**[10:44] Elsa**
I do not have the courage to judge you
with holy water and bible in hand.
**[10:49] Elsa**
I can't even tell if my hesitation
is good or bad thing...
**[10:52] Lawrence**
I am a mere traveling merchant,
so I'm not well versed in the teachings of God.
**[10:57] Lawrence**
I can't really tell you what's right or wrong.
**[11:02] Lawrence**
However, I don't think Father Franz was wrong.
**[11:07] Elsa**
Why...
**[11:08] Elsa**
Why do you believe that?!
**[11:12] Elsa**
That knock must be from elder Sem.
**[11:15] Elsa**
He is probably here to speak to me about you.
**[11:18] Elsa**
I will tell him that I've been asking you about
the churches in other countries and towns.
**[11:25] Elsa**
This isn't really a lie because...
**[11:27] Lawrence**
Yes, I understand.
**[11:29] Lawrence**
I would love to tell you about my experiences.
**[11:38] Holo**
You seemed quite compassionate.
**[11:39] Lawrence**
Merchants are always compassionate
to those they do business with.
**[11:44] Lawrence**
Can you hear their conversation?
**[11:46] Holo**
She is speaking with him
like she said she would.
**[11:49] Holo**
It seems the one named Sem
is just about to leave.
**[11:51] Lawrence**
Our main problem is time.
**[11:53] Lawrence**
If we take too long,
the snow will stop our travels.
**[11:57] Holo**
Yet, I do not know if we will
get through all of this.
**[11:59] Lawrence**
I'm sure we'll be able to get through them
if the two of us skim through quickly.
**[12:07] Holo**
Yes.
**[12:09] Lawrence**
What's wrong?
**[12:10] Holo**
I have told you that I am tired of being alone.
**[12:31] Elsa**
The elder has returned home.
About what we spoke of earlier...
**[12:41] Elsa**
Then, let us speak again later.
**[12:50] Lawrence**
Hey, now.
**[12:56] Lawrence**
Did someone come to the church?
**[12:59] Lawrence**
I got it. It must be Evan.
**[13:03] Holo**
I have grown hungry.
**[13:05] Lawrence**
Well, let's take a break.
**[13:09] Lawrence**
Let's keep you a secret from Evan.
**[13:12] Holo**
Though that girl may tell him.
**[13:14] Lawrence**
She tells Evan how many times
she sneezes in a day,
**[13:18] Lawrence**
but didn't tell him about
when we first visited the church.
**[13:22] Holo**
I am still uneasy.
**[13:25] Lawrence**
We've also made a donation,
I'm sure she understands what we mean.
**[13:29] Lawrence**
Most importantly, even if we
can't trust the existence of god,
**[13:31] Lawrence**
we can trust those who are faithful to him.
**[13:34] Holo**
Yet, that girl seems quite troubled.
**[13:38] Holo**
Who knows what action she will take
once she makes her decision?
**[13:42] Lawrence**
About God?
**[13:44] Holo**
Incidentally, how were you planning to reply?
**[13:47] Lawrence**
Oh...
**[13:48] Lawrence**
I think Father Franz started collecting
stories about pagan gods
**[13:52] Lawrence**
to prove the existence of God.
**[13:56] Lawrence**
He prayed day after day,
but never saw a hint of Him.
**[13:59] Lawrence**
It makes one want to question
God's existence, doesn't it?
**[14:03] Lawrence**
Isn't that why he grew interested
in the gods of others?
**[14:07] Lawrence**
If pagan gods truly exist...
**[14:09] Lawrence**
Then, there is no way God himself doesn't.
**[14:12] Holo**
God does not exist.
**[14:14] Holo**
After all, the Church believes that
**[14:16] Holo**
God created this world and that humans
are merely borrowing it, correct?
**[14:21] Lawrence**
Yeah.
**[14:22] Lawrence**
Even so, I'm sure he wanted
to feel His existence.
**[14:28] Elsa**
Come, don't spill.
**[14:30] Elsa**
And tear the bread before eating it.
**[14:32] Evan**
Yeah, I know.
**[14:34] Evan**
More importantly,
please continue, Mr. Lawrence.
**[14:37] Lawrence**
Where was I?
**[14:39] Evan**
You just got on a large ship.
**[14:40] Lawrence**
Oh, that's right.
**[14:42] Lawrence**
The thing that surprised me
most on the ship was the food.
**[14:45] Evan**
The food?
**[14:46] Holo**
Oh?
**[14:47] Lawrence**
There were merchants
from many different regions.
**[14:50] Lawrence**
For instance, the bread of a merchant
from the Ebgod region was incredibly salty.
**[14:55] Evan**
Salty bread? Can you believe it?
**[14:58] Elsa**
Well...
**[14:59] Lawrence**
There was also completely flat bread.
**[15:01] Lawrence**
Flour and water were kneaded and baked before
being blessed by the bread-leaving spirits.
**[15:05] Lawrence**
This one had honey in it and was really good.
**[15:11] Evan**
There are a lot of things I don't know
about outside the village.
**[15:15] Lawrence**
Thank you very much for
preparing such a feast today.
**[15:19] Elsa**
No, you gave quite a generous donation.
This is the least I can do.
**[15:24] Lawrence**
So, after this...
**[15:26] Elsa**
You may read the books at night as well.
**[15:28] Lawrence**
Thank you.
**[15:29] Evan**
Then, Mr. Lawrence, tell me more
about the outside world later!
**[15:33] Elsa**
Evan, you need to practice writing.
**[15:35] Evan**
What?!
**[15:37] Lawrence**
Oh, that's right.
**[15:39] Lawrence**
About your question this afternoon...
**[15:40] Elsa**
I will consider the answer on my own.
**[15:42] Elsa**
Father Franz always said, think before asking.
**[15:49] Evan**
What are you talking about?
**[15:50] Elsa**
It's nothing.
**[15:51] Elsa**
Come on. Help me clean up.
**[15:54] Evan**
Sure thing.
**[15:58] Elsa**
Not just the plates. Clean up the breadcrumbs.
**[16:00] Evan**
Yeah. Yeah. I got it.
**[16:02] Elsa**
It's bad manners, so don't eat them.
**[16:04] Evan**
You don't have to tell me that.
**[16:06] Elsa**
I wonder. You always seem so hungry, Evan.
**[16:11] Lawrence**
Those two...
**[16:13] Holo**
Yes?
**[16:13] Lawrence**
They get along really well.
**[16:19] Lawrence**
Huh? Did I same something odd?
**[16:22] Holo**
Well, you know...
**[16:24] Holo**
For the most part...
**[16:28] Holo**
I know my own good and bad points.
**[16:32] Lawrence**
Y-Yeah?
**[16:33] Holo**
So, you know...
**[16:34] Lawrence**
What's the matter?
**[16:35] Holo**
I wish you would not speak
so enviously of them.
**[16:39] Holo**
I, too...
**[16:41] Holo**
No, I understand.
**[16:43] Holo**
I understand, but...
**[16:44] Holo**
We must look like quite the fools ourselves.
**[16:48] Holo**
I do not know why I feel
so embarrassed about this.
**[16:52] Holo**
But you enviously say
they get along well, yet we...
**[16:58] Lawrence**
No.
**[17:00] Lawrence**
No, well, you're right, but, I mean...
**[17:06] Lawrence**
No, I understand.
**[17:09] Lawrence**
I already knew.
**[17:11] Lawrence**
I just didn't want to put it into words.
**[17:14] Lawrence**
It's true that I'm envious,
but not about their relationship.
**[17:20] Lawrence**
Those two will continue living in this church.
**[17:25] Lawrence**
But what about us?
**[17:27] Lawrence**
You found a clue about your hometown.
**[17:29] Lawrence**
And I'm helping you follow that clue.
**[17:32] Lawrence**
However,
**[17:34] Lawrence**
I'm a traveling merchant without any roots.
**[17:37] Holo**
You...
**[17:38] Lawrence**
So...
**[17:40] Lawrence**
What will you do once you return home?
**[17:51] Holo**
I do not know.
**[17:53] Lawrence**
A quick look at your hometown
won't satisfying you, will it?
**[17:58] Lawrence**
No, let's not.
**[18:00] Lawrence**
I'm sorry.
**[18:01] Holo**
I am Wise Wolf Holo.
**[18:04] Holo**
I am Wise Wolf Holo of Yoitsu.
**[18:08] Holo**
I am Wise Wolf Holo of Yoitsu.
**[18:16] Lawrence**
What?
**[18:18] Lawrence**
Ho...
**[18:22] Holo**
Is there a problem?
**[18:24] Lawrence**
No, no problem...
**[18:32] Holo**
I shall sleep for a bit.
**[18:33] Holo**
Will you look through the books for me?
**[18:39] Lawrence**
All right.
**[18:57] Lawrence**
"I do not wish to regard the tale of this
bear god as more special than others."
**[19:01] Lawrence**
"This god seems to be
represented in various stories."
**[19:06] Franz**
* However, I believe this god is*
* the only one I have been able*
**[19:10] Franz**
*to connect with others so thoroughly.*
**[19:12] (Flashback) Franz**
Does the Pope know of this?
**[19:15] (Flashback) Franz**
If my assumptions are correct,
our God has triumphed without a fight.
**[19:21] (Flashback) Franz**
I cannot possibly remain calm if this is true.
**[19:24] (Flashback) Franz**
I could not help feeling strongly
the existence of God as I assembled this book.
**[19:30] Lawrence**
"I hope that this will not be judged by
narrow-minded worshipers of God,"
**[19:35] Lawrence**
"but those with open hearts whose love of
God is like a gentle breeze in a vast field."
**[19:49] Lawrence**
I found a book about the Moon-Hunting Bear.
**[19:53] Holo**
Did something happen?
**[19:55] Lawrence**
There's a good chance.
**[19:59] Lawrence**
I don't know what you want
to do after reading this.
**[20:03] Lawrence**
But I'd like you to be honest with me
and tell me your thoughts.
**[20:09] Holo**
I understand.
**[20:11] Holo**
I promise.
**[20:25] Lawrence**
According to the letter on your desk,
**[20:28] Lawrence**
I thought Enberch wouldn't lay
their hands on this village.
**[20:30] Elsa**
The keen eyes of a merchant
are truly impressive.
**[20:34] Elsa**
That is what I thought myself...
**[20:36] Lawrence**
I'm a traveler. I can easily fall into
danger when something happens.
**[20:41] Elsa**
I will not allow anything like that
to happen while I'm here.
**[20:44] Elsa**
Please close up the basement.
**[20:46] Elsa**
The elder will be sure to visit if this
has something to do with Enberch.
**[20:50] Lawrence**
We stayed late into the night here
after having a religious discussion.
**[20:54] Lawrence**
Since my companion is a nun,
the situation is plausible.
**[20:58] Elsa**
Take a blanket with you to the prayer room.
**[21:19] Sem**
However, as the village head...
**[21:29] Sem**
I apologize for disturbing you
so late at night.
**[21:34] Lawrence**
Did something happen?
**[21:35] Sem**
Please bear with the inconvenience for now.
**[21:40] Lawrence**
I am a part of the Rowen Merchant Association.
**[21:44] Lawrence**
Many people in the Kumerson branch
know that I am currently in this village.
**[21:49] Sem**
I understand.
**[21:51] Sem**
We have not appeared before you
because we have ill intentions.
**[22:00] Sem**
Someone in Enberch has died
eating the wheat from our village.
***SIGN*** Episode 23
***SIGN*** Orchestrated Catastrophe and
Appropriate Retribution
**[23:45] Holo**
Next Episode: Orchestrated Catastrophe
and Appropriate Retribution