Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets The Wise Wolf – Season 1 Episode 4 Recap & Review

Romantic Merchant and Moonlit Farewell

Episode 4 of Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets The Wise Wolf starts during Lawrence’s discussion with Zheren. During this chat, Holo notices a blond-haired man behind Zheren drinking a beverage. The man turns around and spots Holo looking at him. Holo continues drinking her beverage and doesn’t give the individual more attention.

After Lawrence and Holo bid farewell to Zheren, we cut to Lawrence and Holo speaking with the gentleman Holo spotted at the bar. It appears Lawrence asked him to look into Zheren for him. The man says he’s informed his people about Zheren and that they plan to investigate him. The man says he was hesitant about matters initially. 

Lawrence delves into detail about Zheren’s wrongdoings and lies regarding the silver coins. The man believes the mastermind will make much money off the foolish merchants. Lawrence piggybacks off the gentleman’s statements. He argues the foolish merchants won’t say anything because it’d hurt their reputation. Also, the gentleman wonders what the mastermind plans to do with the silver coins. 

He promises Lawrence he’ll inform his trading company superiors about this. At the inn, Holo asks Lawrence if the Milone Trading Company will act swiftly. She says they won’t benefit from this if they don’t. Lawrence thinks otherwise and mentions how this company is one of the top-notch ones at seizing opportunities. Then, Holo laughs and informs Lawrence about a man she met in the past who wasn’t shocked by her wolf form. 

Holo confirms it’s the same man from Pasloe Village who asked her to bring bountiful wheat harvests. Holo acknowledges this person as being her first friend. Then, Holo tries asking Lawrence something, but revokes her question seconds later, because she doesn’t remember what she wanted to ask him. Lawrence tells Holo that she may remember it eventually.

Then, the two meet with a branch manager named Richten Marlheit. Richten says he’ll take the deal and confirms that Medio Trading is backing Zheren. Lawrence states Medio Trading is a leading crop dealer in Pazzio and recalls them having many shipping vessels. Richten says he believes there’s a noble behind Medio Trading. He says it won’t take them too long to identify this noble as long as they make the first move. 

With matters settled, Lawrence and Richten discuss shares. Then, we cut to Lawrence and Holo walking somewhere. Lawrence is filled with glee due to the amount of Trenni silver coins that may head his way soon. Holo tells Lawrence that she’s happy to see him in a joyous mood. Then, Lawrence realizes Holo is in a dire state. Lawrence reveals he told Holo to stay at the inn.

Yet, Holo says she chose to leave the Inn because she feared someone would take advantage of Lawrence. They visit the Inn. While Holo is resting, Lawrence works on a portrait of his dream shop. Holo wakes up seconds later and asks Lawrence what he’s working on. Lawrence confirms he’s working on a mock-up of his dream shop. He argues if this Milone Trading Company deal works out, he’ll achieve his store-opening dream. 

Holo questions Lawrence about his dream. Lawrence says most traveling merchants spend time visiting different locations. For himself, he likes spending most years living in his carriage, which makes it challenging for him to develop close relations with others. Lawrence argues opening a store will make him feel like a member of that ideal town. Also, it’ll make things easier for him on the friendship and marriage front.

Holo argues she’ll be at a loss if Lawrence achieves his dream. Also, she says if Lawrence opens a store, it’ll lower his motivation to travel. Moreover, Holo says she’ll have to find a new traveling buddy. Lawrence feels Holo shouldn’t worry about that since she has the money from the marten furs so she shouldn’t be worried about traveling alone. 

Holo says she doesn’t love living alone. Lawrence notices Holo’s upset and offers to travel with her until she reaches her homeland. Also, Lawrence says even if he obtains money, he won’t be able to own a store immediately. Lawrence notices Holo’s upset still and comforts her. Holo opens up to Lawrence about a recurring dream she’s been having. 

In it, she’s completely alone. Holo name-drops several individuals and says they’re nowhere to be found. She says this is why she travels. Holo believes she’ll see her friends again but fears she won’t. Ultimately, Holo doesn’t want to wake up and be alone anymore. Lawrence says traveling merchants have similar fears. He notices Holo’s all sticky because of her tears. 

He crumbles up his drawing and asks Holo to use the drawing to clean herself up. Holo questions why Lawrence would do something like that. Lawrence says he always draws mock-ups of his dream store and tosses them away. Also, he reminds Holo that his deal hasn’t succeeded yet. Before Lawrence heads to sleep, Holo grabs him. The two hide underneath the sheets. 

Lawrence questions what Holo’s doing. Holo tells Lawrence that she remembers what she needed to tell him. She tells Lawrence there are three people by their door who may be working for Medio Trading. She hands Lawrence his gear and says they should leave immediately. Lawrence and Holo escape via the Inn’s window. Holo tells Lawrence to abandon his carriage. She argues Medio Trading has nothing to gain from damaging or using his carriage. Also, she says they can retrieve it when things calm down.

While fleeing from the men, Holo gives Lawrence wheat and tells him to hold on to it. While running, Lawrence asks Holo to go shopping with him after this is done. He wants to get her some attire. Holo and Lawrence stop at a wall to plan. Holo tells Lawrence to head for the Milone Trading Company. 

Meanwhile, she plans to distract the men chasing them. Holo tells Lawrence why this is the best course of action. Also, she argues that she can hide her appearance from the men for a day or two so she’s not worried about getting caught. Holo tells Lawrence that he only needs to save her on time. She feels Lawrence will rescue her no matter what. 

Lawrence and Holo enact the plan. Lawrence arrives at the Milone Trading Company and yells for someone to save him from the people chasing him. The men arrive and confront Lawrence. Fortunately, several men grab Lawrence and take him inside. Additionally, these men scare off the people chasing Lawrence. Lawrence thanks the men for saving him and apologizes. 

Lawrence informs the men and a few others of who those other men are. The blond-haired man from earlier believes those enemy men were from Medio Trading. Lawrence argues those men chased after him and Holo because of the deal he forged with the blond-haired man. The blond-haired man confirms someone captured a young girl. Lawrence argues this is Holo and he asks the blond-haired man to help him save her.

The blond-haired man asks Lawrence to calm down. Also, he questions how bizarre Medio Trading’s vile methods are. Ultimately, the blond-haired man says he’d rather choose his company’s profits over saving Lawrence or Holo. Before Lawrence departs, the blond-haired man stops him. The long-haired man understands Lawrence’s frustrations but finds it odd they’d target Lawrence. 

He has a hunch Lawrence has some leverage against the Milone Trading Company. Lawrence has an idea of what it could be. Before he can tell the blond-haired man what that is, someone knocks on the blond-haired man’s door. The man who saved Lawrence’s life arrives with a letter. Lawrence asks the blond-haired man to let him read the letter. 

Lawrence learns that Medio Trading has Holo and may have brought her to the Church as Lawrence feared. Lawrence tells the blond-haired man and his ally the truth about Holo and her powers, surprising the blond-haired man. Then, we cut to Holo baring her fangs and frizzing her tail at some men. Then, someone appears and the episode closes with Holo recognizing this individual. 

The Episode Review

Compared to previous chapters, this one took a darker turn. Moreover, it delved into Holo’s inner fears of loneliness and Lawrence’s pipe dream about opening a dream store. Both matters feel genuine and understandable based on what we know of our protagonists (so far). On that note, it was lovely seeing Lawrence comfort Holo about her loneliness. 

Many fans will appreciate him holding off on his dream to ensure Holo achieves one of hers. Although the two have clashed heads briefly in the previous chapters, this instance shows that Lawrence has a heart and is willing to see things through for people who deserve it. At the same time, one can say that Lawrence suffers from loneliness himself too. 

During his shop opening spiel, he states that he wants to open a shop to feel like an integral member of this dream shop’s society. Based on where the story’s heading, it’s safe to assume he and Holo will free themselves from their lonely shackles. However, long-time fans know they’ll obtain this freedom in ways they didn’t anticipate. On top of having more informative and tense economic chatter and chase sequences, this was a satisfying chapter of Spice and Wolf: Mercant Meets The Wise Wolf.