Spice and Wolf

The protagonist of Spice and Wolf is Kraft Lawrence, a 25-year-old traveling salesman who makes a living by hawking various items from town to town in a stylized, made-up world with a historical backdrop and inspirations from Europe. His major objective in life is to amass enough cash to open up his own shop, and he has already been on the road for seven years while learning the craft. He discovers a 600-year-old wolf-deity named Holo in his wagon one night while halted in the town of Pasloe. With the exception of a wolf's tail and ears, she assumes the form of a 15-year-old girl. She introduces herself as the town's harvest goddess, who has long been credited with ensuring plentiful wheat harvests. As the villagers turned away from Holo's protection and toward their own means of boosting the harvest, she felt more alone and dejected. She is particularly offended by their disregard for the agreement she and a farmer made when she first moved into the community and by their labeling her a "fickle deity" for having to refill the soil with lower harvests. She believes the people have already abandoned her and that she has maintained her vow to keep the excellent harvests, thus she wishes to return to her native Yoitsu in the north because of these developments. In addition, Holo desires to travel in order to observe how the world has evolved since she last moved. By striking a deal with Lawrence to take her with him, she is able to bargain her way out of the community. Her knowledge boosts his revenue as they travel, but at the same time, the Church is annoyed by her true nature.