Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf Episode 25 is the final episode of the season, and I loved it. Let's recap what happened in episode 25.
Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf Episode 24 Summary
In this episode, Lawrence, Holo, Evan, and Elsa decide to flee their village, fearing they will be falsely accused of a crime they did not commit. They sneak out through a hidden door in the church, which leads to the cave of the pagan god Tereyo. This escape is clever, as the villagers would never suspect that the secret door of the church connects to the shrine of their god.
The group rushes towards a stream but quickly realizes that running barefoot is impractical. Holo steps in to help and transforms into her majestic wolf form. However, before offering her help, she teases the others. Despite her harsh words, Holo shows her softer side by letting Evan and Elsa lean on her, treating them gently as if they were her own children.
Their plans suddenly change when they spot a large group of soldiers from Enberch heading towards Tereo. Lawrence quickly understands the situation—the Church of Enberch is taking the opportunity to accuse Tereo of heresy due to their belief in pagan gods, allowing them to impose harsh conditions and take control of the village. Faced with this grim reality, Elsa must make a difficult choice: return to the village and take things into her own hands.
Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf Episode 25 Review and Recap
Today’s episode was a great one, as it elegantly wrapped up the first season without giving away or missing too much. The episode starts with Lawrence, Holo, Evan, and Elsa entering the church through a secret entrance. They then see the plight of the villagers in front of the Church of Enberch, who have clearly come to disrupt the peace. They also openly insult the pagan god Truyeo and his idol, declaring Truyeo to be an evil entity. The villagers are also shunned and told to believe and worship the church and nothing else.
In order to control the damage, Elsa finally shows up and starts to strategically defuse the situation. She maintains that her god is real but also wisely doesn't deny Truyeo's power. Here, Holo plays a huge role in saving the village from being labeled a place for heretics. Holo performs a magical task that Elsa uses to convince Bishop that the village is truly innocent and blessed by God.
Not only that, Lawrence used his business acumen and came up with a plan that could save the village from bankruptcy. He also provided them with a way out of their dependence on wheat and made a significant profit from trading.
In this episode, Elsa finally comes to a deeper understanding of her faith. She learns to accept and come to terms with the fact that other gods can exist just like her God. There is no reason for one to fight another to establish the legitimacy of their gods when they can all live happily. Thus, Holo and Lawrence's journey to Tereo ends and they move on with smiles and goodbyes.
Verdict
This episode made me happy but also sad that it was over. We saw Holo promise to return and I hope that happens sooner rather than later because this is a journey I would love to continue.
Also read: Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets Review Wise Wolf Episode 24: A Troubled Heart