Kino no Tabi:Volume17 Chapter13

“A Land without God” —Let’s Get Hermes!—

Kino was inside a forest.

It was the middle of the night, and the forest was like spilled ink in its darkness. The sky visible beyond the leaves and branches of the trees was cloudy, barring the view of the stars and the moon.

Kino, wearing the usual vest on top of a dark green shirt, lay prostrate on the forest floor.

From the same vantage point as the short grass growing on the ground, Kino viewed the world beyond the scope of ‘Flute’.

Three hundred meters away was an area where the forest was cleared to give way to an open space.

Over there, a number of bonfires were ablaze, their smokes carried aloft and swayed by the breeze. The dull orange glow illuminated ‘them’ under its flickering light.

‘They’ were a group of about a hundred adults; men and women in roughly equal numbers, plenty in their twenties, and even more in their thirties. There was a clear bias towards this age range, with very few middle-aged people to be seen. Everyone was dressed in the same simple T-shirts and short pants.

And they were at the height of ecstasy.

They waved their heads about, dancing a dance that defies the definition of the word. Although dressed rather lightly already, some removed what little clothing they wore and wrapped each other in immodest embraces.

No sanity could be perceived from their eyes that reflected the orange glow of the bonfires. From time to time a senseless cry, audible even to Kino who watched from three hundred meters away, would come out from their mouths that frothed with drool.

They were drinking a liquid contained in buckets.

It was not possible to tell from afar what it was with only its dark brown color as a clue. With cups, they scooped and then drank the liquid that obviously served as more than a drink to moisten their throats. Then they carried on with their mad dance.

“…”

Kino gazed wordlessly at this scenery for a while, but soon the round lens of the scope settled on a view of one man.

A young man, who looked composed amidst the frenzy that surrounded him.

He was dressed like everybody else, but his shirt was not stained dark brown. And a band—a red cloth with incomprehensible characters written on it—was wrapped around his left arm.

He was holding a long staff.

And with it, he violently shoved down another man who wobbled his way to him. The man collapsed onto another person, and without any protest, the two squirmed about with one still on top of the other.

The crosshairs of the scope overlapped with the head of the man with the staff.

Flute stood on its bipod with a cylindrical suppressor attached to its tip.

Kino’s outstretched right forefinger touched Flute’s trigger.

A mouthful of air in, followed by an exhale abruptly cut short—and the trigger was silently squeezed.

Flute trembled slightly and softly. No bullet casing got ejected from it.

Accompanied by a feeble stir, the bullet flied out and cleared the three hundred meter distance in a second. In short, it reached its target at the speed of sound—

And it hit the man’s head.

The man fell down as blood spurted out of his head. The sound he made as he hit the ground went unnoticed, drowned by the senseless shouting around him.

Three seconds later, a woman came tottering, then tripped and ostentatiously fell over the motionless body of the man.

Now coated with dust all over, the woman stood up as if nothing happened and continued to walk unsteadily, her empty eyes seeing nothing.

“…”

Kino pulled Flute’s bolt, ejecting the empty casing manually, and then pushed the bolt back, sending the next bullet to the chamber.

“How many more left…”

Kino moved the scope and aimed at another man carrying a staff.

——

Two days before.

“You know, if you don’t have my oil, chain, and sprocket changed now, it will cause us trouble later on!”

“Fine, fine. I got it, Hermes.”

Kino and Hermes were running on a road inside a forest.

Kino was wearing the usual black jacket, with ‘Canon’ and ‘Woodsman’ installed in their respective holsters.

It was a morning in the beginning of summer. The sky was clear and the air was refreshing.

It was well beyond the season for young leaves, so the green of the forest has taken on a dark hue. The land was flat in all directions, and the road was perfectly level.

The path cut through the forest in a perfectly straight line, baring the earth’s reddish brown color. It was muddy in places due to the rain that fell the previous day. Kino ran Hermes at a prudent speed, careful not to get any mud on his wheels.

“And as much as possible, get a skilled mechanic, okay? One with the parts we need, too.”

“Understood. It’s only rumors, but it seems the next country has automobiles, so the parts probably won’t be a problem. I can’t answer for the skill of the mechanics, though.”

“Well, while there are nice people with terrible skills, there are also gifted individuals with questionable character, after all.”

“And if you were to choose between the two?”

“I’ll go with the latter of course! To a machine, to always be in perfect running condition—getting ‘fixed’ in short—takes precedence above all. That’s how it is regardless of time or place, a ‘truth of this world’, so to speak.”

“A ‘truth of this world’ huh…? You sure know everything, Hermes.”

“I must say!”

“So, what time will you be waking up tomorrow then?”

“Who knows?”

The moment Hermes answered, they spotted the walls ahead of the road.

—

Upon entering, Kino and Hermes gazed at the map they borrowed as they left the walls behind.

It was a rather large country, and both the map and the actual view showed them a forest encompassing the area near the western gates.

It was clear that they could afford to preserve a forest within their walls because they have more than enough land for growing food. And a populace with enough to eat is evidence of a developed country.

After confirming their route, Kino drove Hermes towards the country’s capital.

The forest went on, almost as if they have not entered a country at all. Eventually they saw fields and livestock, and arrived at their destination a little before noon.

The center with its rows of ten-storey buildings also has vehicles running around, just as the rumors suggested.

“Setting character aside, is there a good mechanic around here?”

Kino and Hermes asked the people walking down the road, and eventually received word of a certain mechanic.

After leaving their luggage in a nearby hotel, Kino and Hermes headed to the repair shop they were introduced to.

And there they found its shopkeeper, a man who looked to be around his late forties. He was unshaven and wore oil-stained overalls.

“Hey, that’s one filthy motorrad you’ve got there,” the man declared bluntly and grumpily upon taking a single glimpse of Hermes, and went on, “First the chain, sprocket and oil. You’d better have the accelerator cable changed too. You may not notice it, but the bolts of the rear carrier and the center stand might have loosened up. The spokes of the front tires too, for that matter.”

—

Kino went back to the hotel after leaving Hermes in the shop with a promise to return noon the next day, then went to a neighboring restaurant to grab a late lunch.

At the center of the roomy restaurant, there was a table with a hollow center filled with buckets of smoldering charcoal topped with wire grills, where the customers could barbecue ingredients of their choice from the assortment of meat and vegetables inside the refrigerators.

“It’s like a dream come true…”

Kino picked pork, beef, lamb, and chicken along with several vegetables.

“About that, ——has increased…”

While enjoying the meal, Kino overheard the intermittent dialogue two men were having over tea, a few tables away. They wore suits, and looked to be around their forties or fifties. There were no other customers.

There was a hint of distaste in their conversation.

“Maybe—— It’s about time they do something…——Beyond control…”

“If they can, ——probably do it.”

“——think they can handle it…?”

“The evidence was weak. ——but, beyond that they could guarantee——”

They were obviously talking about some unwelcome circumstance. They talked ambiguously, using vague terms and leaving out specific details.

Not long after, they finished their meal much earlier than Kino who was eating more enthusiastically than usual because of the all-you-can-eat offer. They collected their bill and left.

The waiter who came to pick up their cups passed by Kino, “Tsk, this trash of a traveler is still eating…,” and muttered audibly, with a face showing outright disgust.

Kino pretended to hear nothing, and stood up to get another piece of meat.

—

“…. That was the traveler who entered this morning, right?”

It was one of the men who were eating in the restaurant earlier, commenting as he looked at Kino beyond the windows.

“Huh? Oh yeah, the one with the motorrad, right? I heard the news. The motorrad’s not around probably because it’s in for repairs somewhere. Seems they’ve been asking around for a repair shop. But to think it’s a brat like that,” the other man replied as he fumbled in his breast pocket for the key of the car in front of them.

And as he was about to insert the key into the keyhole,

“Do you think… this one will do?”

His hands stopped as his companion whispered behind him, then answered,

“Get in!”

The two men hurriedly climbed into the car’s driver and passenger seats.

That moment, one of the men’s suits flapped open, revealing a hand persuader slung from his shoulders.

——

The next day.

Kino woke up at dawn.

The sky was clear outside the windows, but the wind was much stronger than the previous day’s, carrying with it the scattered clouds from afar.

All alone in the room, being that Hermes was not around, Kino practiced quick draw with ‘Canon’ and ‘Woodsman’, and performed light exercises.

After this, Woodsman was emptied of bullets, and fed with the empty magazine. If the bullets are left to sit inside the magazine all the time, its spring will loosen, so it has to be allowed to rest occassionally by alternating full and empty magazines.

‘Flute’ was taken out next, and its front and rear parts assembled together. After checking its operation several times, Kino practiced aiming with its scope, targeting something far outside the window through the curtains that were parted very slightly so that the aim would go unnoticed.

The rifle was also examined for the number of bullets left inside, as well as the condition of its magazine. Only then was it disassembled and returned once more into the bag.

After breakfast, Kino spent the rest of the morning leisurely, washing clothes and checking and polishing camping tools.

Having nothing left to do after finishing these chores, Kino turned on the television inside the room.

A black and white drama show accompanied with a dull jarring sound appeared on the screen.

A beautiful farmer’s daughter and a handsome man from the city were having an argument about their future. At this point, a burly man from another farming family cut in. Soon an argument flared up.

Kino watched absently as the two men began to exchange fists amidst a sudden, heavy downpour.

And as the woman who had jumped to stop the fight ate the punch from the farmer and collapsed in slow motion, the screen faded into a ‘To Be Continued!’ message, marking the end of the program.

“Maybe I should ask Hermes what’s going to happen in this story…,” Kino muttered, knowing that the continuation will be aired the next week, long after they had gone.

Then the commercials began.

Kino reached for a cup of tea, prepared not long ago.

First was a whisky commercial.

The actor who was in a farmer’s getup only moments ago now looked dandy with a stylish suit, saying stuff like how a man’s drink should be this-and-that. This lasted for thirty seconds.

The next was an advertisement for a restaurant.

The locations of the restaurant where a mother, father, and son were enjoying their hamburgers were pinpointed all over the country’s map, revealing its numerous branches. Then the restaurant’s name was sung along with a catchy tune. It was over in fifteen seconds.

And then, the next commercial.

[Won’t you become a new you?]

A man’s serene voice narrated while the solemn faces of young men and women flashed on the screen.

[Won’t you become a new you?]

[Won’t you become a new you?]

[Won’t you become a new you?]

[Won’t you become a new you?]

[Won’t you become a new you?]

The strange commercial went on, with the narration being repeated like this over and over again.

“Huh?”

The commercial suddenly caught the attention of Kino, who stopped sipping the tea.

[Won’t you become a new you?]

With each narration, a pair of a man and a woman would transform their expressions into broad smiles.

[Won’t you become a new you?]

The same thing, again and again, the meaning becoming even more dubious with each repetition. And after all pairs have changed their expressions into refreshing smiles,

[We will!]

They cried out all together, and the screen changed to one displaying what seemed to be a contact address and phone number. Then another narration,

[Yes you will! Together with us! —“Houden’s Enlightened Society”]

The commercial that went on for a solid thirty seconds ended there.

Soon the opening track of another drama played, and Kino switched the television off.

“What’s with that last commercial?” Kino muttered to no one in particular.

—

Around noon, Kino headed out on foot.

As it would be too hot to walk in, Kino turned the black jacket into a vest by removing its sleeves, then fixed Canon and Woodsman into their holsters, stuffed the hat, goggles, and gloves into a shoulder bag, and finally proceeded to the repair shop to claim Hermes back.

“Even such a small distance is so much trouble without Hermes…,” Kino muttered, trudging along underneath the sky that has become even cloudier.

Soon the shop came into view,

“Hm?”

And Kino immediately noticed that something fishy was going on.

There were several cars parked in front of the shop, which only yesterday had been empty except for vehicles in the middle of repair.

Most of the cars were painted white and blue, with red lights on their roofs.

Kino approached the shop surrounded by none other than police cars, and upon arriving, was immediately called out by a young police officer wearing a blue uniform.

“Ah! You’re the motorrad’s owner, right?”

Kino affirmed, and was guided into the shop. Inside were the shopkeeper and several police officers.

The shopkeeper looked at Kino with his stern expression.

“…”

But said nothing and only averted his gaze.

A police officer who looked to be around fifty, and the one who seemed to be the most senior among the group, addressed Kino.

“You must be Kino? I’m the deputy chief of the 3rd district in the south.”

Kino nodded in acknowledgement of the deputy chief’s self-introduction.

“Let me explain what happened. It’s a bit complicated, I’m afraid,” the deputy chief said, pointing to a chair beside the workshop. Kino sat, facing the officer and the shopkeeper.

“Please, go on,” Kino said neutrally. The deputy chief began.

“Then, I’ll relay the events in order. —Early this morning, this shopkeeper over here has taken out the motorrad—Hermes he’s called, I believe—for a test drive, after he had finished the repairs.”

“I see. And then?”

“When they returned here, a truck that had been tailing them parked nearby. Ten men stepped out, and lifted Hermes, who had been parked outside, and… carried him off with them.”

“…. And?”

“Of course the shopkeeper attempted to resist. He picked up a steel pipe and yelled at them. But—”

“But?”

“Unfortunately, they were affiliated with a religious group.”

“What?” Kino reacted with a tilt of the head.

“Oh, I guess this needs some explanation,” the deputy chief said, whose face was taken over by a grim look, and avoided Kino's gaze for a moment. “You may not believe it— On second thought, it’s precisely because you are a traveler that you understand how countries have their own rules…”

With a dour face, the shopkeeper continued the words of the deputy chief who could barely let the words out. “In this country, religious groups are under the protection of the government!”

“Protection?”

Then the deputy chief continued as the shopkeeper turned away in disgust after his outburst. “Yes. This country is a multi-religious nation. Out of holding religious freedom in high esteem, religious groups are accorded with all sorts of benefits. To avoid favoring one religion over another, all organizations registered as a religious group are given these. To start with, there are tax exemptions of every kind, exclusion from military service for the leader, priority use of public facilities, and—” The deputy chief sighed, and continued. “Overlooking minor crimes.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“Basically… in cases of crimes that can be settled by a fine, they can avoid arrest and prosecution. And that applies to cases of robbery, like what we have now—even if the shopkeeper fought back and got himself hurt. It’s a good thing he didn’t go through with it.”

“Oh…,” was all Kino could say upon hearing the officer’s words.

“It’s strange no matter how you think of it! Who could have been stupid enough to make up such a rule?!” The shopkeeper’s eyes widened, shouting out in exasperation in Kino’s stead.

And the deputy chief anxiously turned to Kino and explained, as if guilty of the crime.

“It’s an old law in place way back when this country was founded. You see, religion serves to support the human spirit. And the notion was, it is harder for people to overlook certain transgressions when they are united. That said, there were no groups who openly committed crimes like this in the past, so it’s not something we ever had to enforce.”

“But now there is.”

“You’re right…. This time, the one who took Hermes away are members of the newest religion in this country. They call themselves ‘Houden’s Enlightened Society’.”

The name sounded familiar to Kino.

“Uh, the one airing that weird commercial?”

“That’s correct. You’ve seen it?”

“Yes. What kind of religion is it?”

The deputy chief considered the question for a couple of seconds before coming up with an answer.

“It was a new religion formed by the Houdens, an immigrant family who came here a year ago. Even among the religions we have here, their teachings were quite different. They worship no particular supreme being, and according to the members, their goal is to find ‘a new self through interaction with others’.”

“Just say it outright! They’re nothing but a bunch of shady fellows with more than a few loose screws!” the shopkeeper interjected.

“To put it frankly, yes. At least to everybody else except for their followers.”

After listening to the explanations of the deputy chief and the shopkeeper, Kino asked further, “Do they have many followers?”

The deputy chief replied. “Right now, they have around two hundred members. That may seem small, but until two months ago, they only had around ten. That’s a really odd development. The commercial started airing around that time too.”

“What kind of people convert into this religion?”

“Mostly young folk. Of course, in every era, there are youth who are unsure of their future. That insecurity leads to doubt and fear. And so—”

“They end up getting convinced by that commercial.”

“Well, yes. Others were recruited from university after agreeing to attend a conference to ‘discover themselves’. Those who have troubles are eventually suckered in by the friendly atmosphere. Even though they didn’t have any intention to get deeply involved, knowing full well that it was a religious group trying to recruit members, many still end up joining after experiencing how ‘nice’ it was there. It usually follows this pattern. This goes without saying, but there are no regulations against this kind of recruitment.”

“I get that,” Kino said, then asked. “So long story short, you are saying that this ‘Houden’s Enlightened Society’ took Hermes with them?”

“Yes. That’s too long, so let’s just call it ‘Houden Society’.”

“But what for? I don’t think he’d fetch much…”

“Those fellows claimed that they wanted to learn the ‘truth of this world’ from that motorrad,” the shopkeeper declared with undisguised disgust, and added, “And I just finished his tune-up too!”

“Learn the truth…? From Hermes? O…kay…?” Kino murmured with a tone in between shock and amazement. “So, where is this ‘Houden Society’? Can you take me there?”

“What are you planning to do by getting there?” the deputy chief asked.

“I’ll take Hermes back with me.”

“Do you think they’d give him back to you just like that?”

“I don’t, but it’s a step forward.”

“…”

The deputy chief, detecting a hint of a glare from Kino’s expression went on.

“Fine. I’ll take you there with the patrol car.”

—

Parting briefly with the shopkeeper, Kino got on the back seat of the patrol car.

Because it would be inconvenient to wear a persuader behind one’s waist while seated inside a car, Kino temporarily removed Woodsman and its holster out of the way.

Seeing Kino transfer Woodsman from waist to left hip, the deputy chief inquired with an oddly pleased look, “You sure seem comfortable using that from both positions. Plenty of combat experience, I suppose?”

“It’s nothing to boast about,” Kino answered.

The patrol car rushed off with a young police officer taking charge of the wheel.

—

The patrol car ran through the city and across the fields.

They took a momentary break in a gasoline stand, and entered the forest not long after.

While inside the vehicle, Kino heard more than one would care to know about the Houden Society and its founders.

Roughly one year ago, a couple by the name of Bob and May came to the country together with their eleven year old son, Gene.

The Houdens claimed to have abandoned their home country to spread their faith. They asked for permission to perform missionary work in the country.

And by the country’s laws, they could not refuse the couple’s request.

“We’ve found a new world!”

The Houdens tearfully proclaimed, and began to proudly, and enthusiastically propagate their religion.

At the beginning, nobody paid them any attention.

Even for the citizens of a country with so many religions, what the new faith was preaching was at best novel, and at worst, cryptic and disturbing. But recently, their organization experienced a sudden surge in membership with all the young recruits.

What was particularly notable about them was their secretive nature; most of their ardent believers live as one community in the facility that they were about to head to.

They bought an abandoned school and turned the building into a residential establishment and cultivated the land that surrounded it.

And there, they began to live a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Furthermore, no one except for members was allowed inside this facility, so details of their lives within were all but unknown. This was the first time a religious group has gone so far to keep their activities a secret.

The young recruits donate all the money they have upon joining the group, and would not come back home. They would not return even if their families come to take them back, and in some cases they would even refuse to see anyone.

The parents come to plead their case, but because of the guarantee of religious freedom, and also because citizens over eighteen years of age are considered old enough to think on their own, the police cannot step in.

“That’s about everything you need to know,” the deputy chief said with a cold tone, almost as if to disavow any involvement, and,

“Truth be told, the police do not wish to get tangled in anything concerning religious groups. Especially this one. It’s nothing but trouble,” the deputy chief admitted.

—

The patrol car proceeded a little bit further into the forest, and soon entered a deserted village.

The dilapidated buildings lined up both sides of the road going through the village, which was apparently abandoned because of its distance from the town. There was not a soul in sight. Only the electric cables hanging from the poles stretched across the road.

And when they proceeded deeper into the forest, they finally caught sight of the aforementioned establishment.

They could see the school building, a long, three-storey structure. It was old, as evidenced by the cracks in its glass windows and its broken passageways sloppily repaired with wooden planks.

There were no other structures except for this school building, with a number of old trucks and buses that lay neglected right beside it. The bodies of the vehicles were rusted, and the tires have sunk into the ground.

The wide, adjoining playing field was left abandoned, and scattered with traces of bonfires all over.

Freshly tilled fields encircled the vast space around the school. And working the fields were plenty of young men and women.

They were mostly in their twenties, all humbly garbed in identical T-shirts and short pants. They were silently harvesting the green leaves of plants that grew up to their waists.

There were quite a number of them, perhaps because the work relied heavily on manual labor. One field alone has fifteen to twenty people working on it. And as there were seven fields, there can be no less than a hundred of them at work.

They gazed at the approaching patrol car with blank eyes,

“…”

And continued on their work, as if they had not seen anything.

“All their members are like that, living and working in this facility. The Houden couple had brought in the seeds of that grass, which all of them brew into tea and drink. Apparently they were planning to sell it in the future, but it’s doubtful how they’re planning to make a living out of it when our country has its own traditional tea,” the deputy chief explained.

“I see…. Well… I didn’t come here for the tea…”

“Do you see those fellows wearing red armbands?” the deputy chief asked.

“Yes,” Kino answered.

Indeed among the group, a few were wearing red bands around their arms. They held long staffs, apparently for supervising the tea-harvesting.

“It seems that those are ‘senior followers’. They joined relatively earlier than the others, and have advanced well up the ladder of their organization.

“I see. Well, that has got nothing to do with me either.” As Kino declared bluntly, the patrol car stopped.

At the very center of the school building was its biggest entrance, from which several followers wearing armbands came out. Then they stood a few meters from the car without surrounding it, and waited for its passengers to alight.

“See, they aren’t foolish enough to get in trouble with the police, either.”

The deputy chief said to Kino and came out of the patrol car after instructing its driver to remain inside. Kino also stepped out from the other side.

“Good day! This traveler and I would like to have a word with the Houdens. If I may be so rude, I’d like to have someone relay this message to them immediately.”

It was a friendly tone, but forceful enough not to warrant a mere ‘yes or no’ response. The followers, as expressionless as before, told them to wait for a moment, and two of them vanished inside the building.

While waiting, Kino observed the school’s surroundings.

It was a rather old school building made of horizontal planks fitted together. From among the unbroken windows, there were several faces staring down at them.

The door of the school building opened.

“My, oh my, if it isn’t the deputy chief!”

A man appeared with this cheerful greeting.

He was a rather stocky man who looked to be around his forties. Both his face and his belly were so round to the point of bursting, it seems he would roll quite a distance if he happened to fall.

He was dressed in the same shirt and pants that the others wore, but the hem was too short to accommodate his bulging middle. He had short blonde hair, a generous beard, and a good-humored smile.

“I am Bob Houden. I am this organization’s representative, and the one responsible for all of its actions. May your soul be enlightened!” The man with features like that of a good-natured peasant said as he approached the deputy chief and Kino.

He turned to Kino and introduced himself with a big smile. “So how may I be of help to you? Do you wish to join us? We welcome you with open arms!”

The deputy chief answered Bob’s question.

“I heard there was a motorrad called Hermes brought in here. Is that true?”

Bob answered immediately.

“Of course, of course! We bought him!”

“Bought?”

“Why yes. Not too long ago, some people—well, we don’t really know who they are—came here to sell us the motorrad. To us, this is the perfect opportunity to gain experience and knowledge from the point of view of something which is not human. So we decided to buy him. It’s a step to paving our path to the truth.”

“…”

From beside the deputy chief who was now making a bitter face, Kino spoke.

“Hermes is my partner. I heard he was taken from the repair shop by some of your followers.”

“Goodness! Are you telling me that there are among my brethren here capable of such a vile act? Unbelievable! But even if that were indeed the case, from our point of view, he was legally purchased without knowledge of such a thing—”

In the middle of Bob’s explanation, several young followers came up from behind him.

“Yo, Kino!”

They were pushing Hermes along.

“Um, looks like I got kidnapped while I was sleeping. Know where this is?”

As Hermes said in his usual tension-free manner, he was put on his stand beside the concerned parties. The young followers stepped back, and a woman holding a child’s hand appeared.

The woman in her forties wore the same, simple clothes and held a peaceful expression, while the dainty boy clinging to her had flawless, adorable eyes and clothes that fit him perfectly.

“This is my wife, May, and my son, Gene.”

With Bob’s introduction, May gave a small bow, while Gene hid behind his mother without saying a word.

“May and Gene take pleasure in their conversations with the motorrad. But before everything else, we have to baptize him. I am planning on letting my son Gene think of a name for him, you know, to foster his sense of independence.”

Kino turned to the overly ecstatic Bob.

“I would like to ask you to return Hermes,” Kino declared coolly.

Bob tilted his head exaggeratedly.

“Oh my, it seems there is some misunderstanding here, traveler. We bought him without knowing that he was stolen, so we don’t have any obligation to return him to you. Isn’t that right, officer?”

“That’s true…,” the deputy chief admitted. Without a moments delay, Hermes chimed in.

“Oh! Like an ‘electrified worshiper’!”

“…. You mean a ‘bona fide purchaser’?” the deputy chief corrected.

“Yes that’s it!” Hermes said, and fell silent.

Kino, whose hands were noticeably lowered down where Canon and Woodsman were, almost touching their grips, sighed and muttered audibly.

“That would be a problem.”

At that moment, Bob trembled exaggeratedly.

“Aaaaah! Eeeeek! What is that? Are you threatening me with your persuader?”

“Eek!”

May also shrieked in surprise, then crouched to embrace Gene in a protective gesture. Bob leaped to her side and continued to scream.

“Aah! Ghastly! Police officer, this is horrifying! Is this traveler a homicidal freak? Is this fiend planning to kill us with those persuaders? Terrifying! Dreadful! Barbaric!”

Behind them,

“How terrifying!”

“How dreadful!”

“How barbaric!”

“How easy it is for humans to turn into demons!”

The followers echoed their leader’s words while they run about in panic.

“…”

Retaining a stony expression, Kino removed both hands away from the persuaders.

“Please rest assured. The police will not let that happen. Any traveler who harms an innocent citizen within the walls will not be allowed to take a single step back to this country.”

“Oh! Is that so! I am so relieved! You hear that? We will be protected by this police officer!”

Bob said to his wife and child, then grabbed the hands of the deputy chief and shook it up and down.

“Oh my! Thank you! Thank you very much! I was oppressed by the police in my homeland, so I am really glad to be able to live here in peace! Hooray for this heaven on earth! Hooray for religious freedom!”

The deputy chief gently removed Bob's hands, and turned towards Kino.

“This is really a problem, Kino. But, since we already know that Hermes is here and that they wouldn’t be selling him off anytime soon, maybe we should leave this place for the meantime? We’ll find the sneaks who took him. But first, why don’t we have a talk at the police station?”

Kino answered.

“Fine with me.”

—

As they gazed at the patrol car speeding out of sight,

“Hah! What a cinch!”

Completely opposite his charming attitude a moment earlier, Bob sneered.

“You can say that again. Is this country full of nothing but idiots?”

May also transformed into an entirely different person.

“…”

Gene, who was still wrapped around her legs, suddenly squeezed hard with his arms. May hastily crouched and stroked his little head.

“Ah, I’m sorry. It will be fine. We will make sure everything works out. So don’t worry, okay?”

While wrapped in May’s embrace, Gene whispered something to her ear.

“Yes of course, I know that…. Now, why don’t we get some tea?” May assured him. Then she carried the tiny twelve-year old up in her arms, and returned into the schoolhouse.

Bob followed, and as soon as he entered the building, he ordered the followers who converged by his side,

“I feel wonderful! I know it’s been a long time, but rejoice! Tonight your efforts will be rewarded. Prepare for the party!”

—

Halfway through the afternoon, the sky became completely dim. It was mottled by the eerie black clouds that came riding the wind.

The patrol car rode beneath such an ominous slooking sky.

“Now… what should be done?” The deputy chief said, looking not at Kino but at the scenery beyond the left window.

Meanwhile, Kino was looking at the opposite direction.

“This is really getting worrisome…. I think this is the first time I’ve encountered this kind of setback ever since I’ve begun traveling.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I share your frustration. But even if you feel terrible at the moment, I still have to tell you something…”

“What is it?”

The two continued their conversation without looking at each other.

“They have the guts to say that because they know my presence there doesn’t mean the police will get in their way.”

“Knew it.”

“The police can only move once there is evidence of an illegal activity.”

“I understand.”

“We don’t have a police station anywhere near that facility of theirs, so we don’t even patrol the area. And it shouldn’t be surprising, because there’s nobody living in that place except for them.”

“I see.”

“Kino, you’re leaving by tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“I believe it’s possible to extend your stay if you request for it. But I’m sure you know that as matters are, hanging around here would make no difference.”

“I guess so.”

“I’m sorry for changing topics all of a sudden— but can you drive a manual four-wheel-drive?”

“I’ve tried it once.”

“You know, at the back of the police station, there’s a small farm vehicle that we confiscated a long time ago. The owner has abandoned it, and since nobody’s interested, we were planning to scrap it soon. Its key was left in its ignition switch, and still has plenty of fuel left.”

“That’s rather careless of you. If somebody noticed that, stealing it would be a piece of cake.”

“It’s no big deal. After all, it’s bound to get disposed in, say, somewhere in this bleak forest?”

“I see.”

The two paid no notice to the young driver, whose face stiffened upon hearing the direction their conversation is going, and whose feet loosened its grip on the accelerator pedal to avoid an accident.

The deputy chief went on. “Let’s talk about something else— You know, there’s this shop near the station that supplies us with bullets, wholesale.”

“I’m sure business must be booming for that shop.”

“Well, we are loyal customers after all. How would you like to see the place? They handle all kinds of ammunition there. I’m sure you’ll find the kind you need for traveling.”

“That’s a great idea. You’ve saved me the trouble.”

The young police officer’s arms shivered, causing the patrol car to wiggle off its path a bit. The deputy chief addressed the driver.

“Officer, will you please drive more steadily? We are in no hurry.”

“Y-yes, deputy…. I’m really sorry. M-my duty right now is to drive, so I’ll keep my attention to driving and nothing else!”

The young officer complied, and the deputy chief acknowledged it. “Of course. That’s a good decision.”

Then the deputy chief turned to Kino again and smiled,

“If you like, we can go there right now. If you are with me, you’ll get a discount.”

Kino looked back and answered,

“That would be very helpful. —While we’re at it, can you tell me where I can buy a green shirt?”

——

And that evening.

“Fourteen.”

Kino has pulled the bolt for the fourteenth time, ejecting another bullet casing.

A pile of empty cartridges has collected beside Flute. The rifle itself has become feverish to the touch, with smoke rising up from its suppressor and barrel.

Kino had been firing non-stop for nearly ten minutes.

“Fifteen.”

One more shot, and a fifteenth life was snuffed out that night.

The senior followers downed by the mute shots, now with holes in their heads or chests, lay lifeless on the floor of what was previously the school’s playing field.

The rest, the ‘average’ followers, were mostly sprawled on the ground, asleep.

Others were raising up a fuss as they drank the mysterious liquid. They screamed and danced, oblivious of the fact that the senior members who had been observing them have lost their lives.

There were even those who forced the liquid down the throats of the dead, and licked the liquid—now mixed with the blood—that overflowed from the heads of the corpses.

“So it’s drugs after all…,” Kino muttered.

Kino would occasionally cease all movement and listen closely for any sound, then would cram bullets inside the magazines while constantly being on the lookout for anyone or anything approaching.

Nearby was Kino’s rucksack, which contained stacks of boxes of 7.7mm bullets. Only half has been used up.

These are subsonic rounds—bullets that don’t go beyond the speed of sound.

In exchange for the lack of shockwave, and consequently, a quieter sound compared to a normal bullet, it can’t be fired in automatic, and the rifle has to be manually cocked with each shot.

“Sixteen…”

After the sixteenth shot, not a single one of the supervisors with staffs were left.

Kino replaced Flute’s bullets with normal rounds.

Even if there were plenty of bullets, the number of magazines is limited, so Kino had to quickly refill the empty ones.

At the bottom of the rucksack, there were four mini pressure-cookers.

But there were cables sticking out of their tightly closed lids, which were then connected to tiny battery-powered alarm clocks.

After setting the hands of the clocks and inserting batteries inside, Kino hid one under a tree, and left the other three to different spots, a little bit apart from each other.

Then Kino shouldered the rucksack that contained several magazines inside.

“Now then…”

With Flute on the ready, Kino slowly walked inside the nearly pitch black forest.

—

Making sure that there were no traps around, Kino carefully proceeded among the trees, and took a detour soon after reaching the school yard where there were still several people in uproar. Kino went to the opposite side of the school building and found a place where there was a clear view of its entrance.

Ahead, there were no longer any trees to hide in. There was only field upon field of the plant that was the source of the drugs, split by a single road that led to the school building a hundred meters away.

Kino hid beside the big trunk of a tree, and peeked at the dark school building through Flute’s scope. Not a single light was lit among its numerous rooms. The building appeared like a single black mass.

And there, Kino waited.

—

A few minutes later, the hands of the first alarm clock overlapped with the designated time.

A thunderous blast resounded through the forest.

The improvised pressure cooker bomb exploded, scattering fumes and shockwave together with a momentary blaze.

The explosion rocked the trees, and the birds in the middle of their sleep flew up all at once. Several windows facing the school yard shattered in a rain of broken glass.

Six seconds later. The lights in the building went to life.

The lamps lighting the third floor lit up, one after the other from left to right. Amidst this were the silhouettes of the people inside, clearly in a panic.

The people, now more visible, became the new targets of the scope.

“…”

And Kino fired.

A much louder sound than before, but still largely suppressed by the silencer, echoed. The golden casings fell to the right side while the bullet flied ahead to its target.

The bullet, now accompanied with several times more shockwave than before, rotated clockwise in the air as it flew, then hit the glass of a window and consecutively pierced the heart and lungs of the person behind.

As casually as plucking weeds, Kino took out eight people before changing Flute’s magazine.

And still ever so vigilant, Kino changed locations, and lay beside of another tree while spying on the school building.

The lights of the building were on, but the signs of movement from inside has completely vanished.

Three full minutes devoid of any sound passed. During this time, Kino waited without making the slightest motion.

Eventually there was movement by the entrance.

There were two men and three women.

“Stop this!” “Stop!” “Please stop!”

They shouted as they emerged from the entrance. All of them wore white aprons.

The five spread out in a fan-shaped formation, and dashed away. One headed straight towards the direction where Kino was hiding.

“Please don’t shoot! We don’t know anything about this! You can take your motorrad!”

Kino fired at the woman who approached with these words. She fell right where she stood, and exploded.

The bomb she was concealing detonated, blowing to bits not only her arms and legs, but her entire body. Blood and flesh scattered along the road, and melded with the surroundings.

Among the remaining four, the two nearest to the woman fell down from the blast. The momentum of their fall activated a switch or pulled a string, and set off the bombs they were carrying.

The man and woman at the farthest edge of the formation stopped as they were rained on by red drops.

Perhaps this brought them to their senses, as the two suddenly stripped off and threw away the shoulder bags hidden underneath their clothes, and ran as fast as their legs could carry them.

“I wonder if it’s about time…,” Kino muttered and stood up, removing and putting away Flute’s silencer.

Then Kino fired Flute away, not aiming at anyone or anything in particular, only squeezing the trigger as fast as possible, and only taking care that the bullets hit the school building.

The high-pitched shots rang, echoing in between the forest and the school building. The bullets drilled through its thin plank walls and shattered its glass windows.

Kino fired, replaced the empty magazine, then fired some more. Ten shots in, the second and the third bombs exploded within five seconds of each other.

The consecutive loud roars and the shaking of the school building from the attacks soon made the ones trying to hide inside it realize the futility of their situation. And they moved just as Kino had anticipated.

In short, they began to flee, leaving the building from all possible directions and out of any conceivable exit it has.

First there was only a couple, but it increased to ten, and soon dozens were trying to get out. The people in the school yard who were woken up by the commotion also moved about in confusion, and wobbled their way into the forest.

Kino pounded away, taking care to aim so that the bullet would pass just over their heads, or hit the ground under their feet.

And finally the last bomb detonated. The surroundings trembled along with another thunderous roar.

Consecutive explosions and incessant persuader fire—

These engulfed the people in terror not even the drug could negate. Soon there was chaos. With shrieks and screams, they vanished into the forest like baby spiders scurrying away from their disturbed nests—

And not a single one came back.

Amidst the world that suddenly turned silent,

“I should have come up with this strategy earlier…,” Kino murmured while putting down Flute. The rifle was so hot that a careless touch would have given one a particularly painful blister.

—

Leaving Flute and all of its ammunition behind, Kino slowly approached.

Kino proceeded in between the fields of the narcotic grass, extracting ‘Woodsman’ from its holster along the way. A harmonica-shaped silencer was attached to the tip of its barrel.

After crossing the fields, Kino made a dash for the building.

The stench of the scattered blood and bowels of the corpses on top of the road drifted about, attracting the flies, which were indeed beginning to gather in the air. Kino took care not to step on these, and passed through to the side of the school building.

Kino tried to sense for any indication of life before swiftly entering through the wide-open doors,

And while keeping Woodsman’s aim at eye level, Kino walked through the deserted corridor. There was no other sound that could be heard except for Kino’s own footfalls.

Taking a peek into one classroom, Kino only saw cluttered blankets and scattered cups and buckets that contained the same dark brown liquid, or at least, what remained of it. There was nothing resembling furniture; only the wooden boards on the floor and the thin blankets adorned the room.

Kino went up to the end of the first floor and jogged up the stairs, climbing all the way up to the third floor.

Still finding nothing there, Kino proceeded to the stairs on the opposite side of the building and went down to the second floor and checked all its rooms, but found only the bodies of the senior members and nobody else.

“…”

Kino returned to the first floor, and began to search its remaining half.

There was a relatively large room that must have been used as a faculty room in the past.

Seeing that it was furnished with tables, cabinets, and other useful furniture, it likely belonged to the founders, the Houden couple.

But there was nobody inside. And Hermes was nowhere to be seen either.

“…”

Trying to detect any trace of warmth, Kino stroked the mattresses and the blankets, but found nothing.

And upon exiting the school building, now silent enough to be called a haunted mansion, Kino looked left and right, searching the surroundings—the road, the fields, and the forest that was being illuminated by the lights through the windows—and finally caught sight of the abandoned trucks and buses artlessly discarded in one area.

“…”

The graveyard of vehicles was roughly fifty meters away. Quietly and with no hesitation, Kino kept a firm grip on Woodsman and proceeded there with only legs in motion.

There was only three meters left. Kino pushed the tiny switch on one side of Woodsman’s grip.

Kino pointed the red laser sight that emerged from underneath the barrel towards the platform of a windowless truck, the biggest among the vehicles.

And almost at the same time, a roar that did not belong to a persuader was heard. It was a sound that Kino knew well—Hermes’ engine, its slightly muffled sound echoing through the quiet night.

Kino realized where the sound was coming from, and continued forward while keeping a steady aim. At the same time, the door of the truck’s platform suddenly opened outwards.

“YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

With the amplified sound of Hermes’ engine was Bob’s scream, loud enough to compete with the motorrad’s.

And Bob appeared, his fat body on top of Hermes, screaming as he launched forward.

He rushed from within the truck, jumped off its platform, and speeded as he landed on the road.

“I’ll CRUSH YOUUUUUUUU!”

Hoping to ram into Kino, Bob charged forward at a fierce speed, his flabby cheeks flapping with the wind.

“WHOAAAAAAAAA!”

Hermes hollered at the same time, though it was up to debate whether he was doing so out of surprise or excitement.

“…”

Kino trained Woodsman’s laser sight onto Bob’s chest and waited, not moving a single step away.

Hermes and Bob closed in.

“TAKE THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!”

With the gears still on high, Bob curled his body and closed his eyes just before the anticipated clash.

And as if this was a signal, Kino faced the back, took a light step to the right, and used that foot as a pivot to turn counterclockwise—and much like a matador evading a bull’s horns, dodged Hermes’ handles that was milliseconds away from collision.

Meanwhile, with left arm outstretched, Kino fired Woodsman.

Three consecutive silenced rounds accompanied by three soft whiffs—so close together that it almost sounded like a single bang—and three tiny bullet casings took to air.

The tiny .22 caliber bullets pierced Bob’s left arm,

“Gyaah!”

Making him cry out from the intense pain.

With his left hand now useless, Bob could no longer control Hermes.

And because his accelerator was in full throttle, Hermes’ rear wheels continued to spin madly as he slanted violently to the left. In a moment his balance gave way, and he crashed down, generating sparks from his handle and step.

And as Bob’s body was flung off from him,

“KINOOOOOOOOOOOO! THAT WAS MEAAAAAAAAAAAAN!”

Hermes screamed away in reproach, and skidded sideways for a few meters more, his frame grinding with the surface.

“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Bob fell on the side, his curled body rolling like a ball.

While dodging nimbly, Kino’s right hand was busy extracting Canon and raising its hammer. And right after firing Woodsman to the left, Kino immediately turned to the right,

“DIEEEEEEE!”

And saw May, plunging forward while swinging a tiny axe overhead.

There was a single shot.

In an instant, white smoke characteristic of liquid propellant unfurled, then disappeared as swiftly as it had appeared.

The .44 caliber round from Canon hit the handle of the axe, fracturing three or so of May’s fingers and forcibly tearing it off her tight grip.

The axe danced in the air, and it spun, making its way down towards May who was slumped on the ground. It was about to fall on her head.

“Guh!”

A groan accompanied the dull thud the axe made when its blunt end hit the back of her head. May became absolutely still, with froth coming out of her mouth.

“…”

Kino stood there for several more seconds, still gripping both persuaders firmly, on the ready for anything that could happen.

To the left, Bob lay face up, and on the opposite side, May was hunched over. And both of them lay there, unmoving.

Meanwhile Hermes was still on the ground, lying on his left side, voicing out his grievances.

“I know Master taught you to keep your wits about you after a battle. To remain on your guard, so to speak. But don’t you know how a motorrad collapsed on the ground feels? It’s terrible, like a person held upside down! I told you that before haven’t I? So will you do me a favor and raise me back up right now? I mean right now? And since we’re at it, won’t you rush over with arms wide open, crying out ‘Oh Hermes, are you all right?’ while lifting me up without a moments’ delay? Pretty please?”

—

“Hey!”

Returning Canon to its holster, Kino ignored Hermes’ plea, and instead, with Woodsman still in hand, walked towards the opposite direction—that is, towards the truck where the couple had been hiding—and stood in front of it.

“Come out,” Kino said while flashing Woodsman’s laser into the dim platform.

“Eek!”

There was a tiny shriek, and eventually, a tiny form emerged from the darkness.

With a completely terrified expression, Gene came up to the edge of the truck’s platform with both hands held at shoulder-height.

“I-I’m scared of c-climbing off so… c-can I put my hands down…?”

When Kino nodded, Gene held on the edge and gingerly made his way down the truck. He stood with his bare feet on the rough pavement.

“D-did you… kill m-mommy and daddy?” Gene asked Kino, his tiny eyes so big, they couldn’t possibly get any wider.

While shining Woodsman’s laser slightly above the space between his eyes—that is, right on his forehead,

“No, they’re still alive. Even if I leave them as is, the police will come and get them tomorrow.”

“W-will I die here?”

Before Kino could answer the question,

“Kino!” Don’t kill that one!” Hermes shouted from the back.

“I know!”

Kino answered aloud without turning to where Hermes was.

“Hey what’s up with that? This is no fun!”

Gene said with a grin.

—

The frightened expression has completely disappeared from Gene’s face.

In its place was a genuinely innocent, childish smile.

“…”

With Kino’s aim still trained on his forehead,

“Fine, kill me. I’m sick of being alive anyway. Go on, shoot. You haven’t killed that much yet, right? That can’t be enough for a murderer like you!” Gene declared, as if trying to provoke Kino.

“So you’re the ringleader after all.”

Kino said, raising Woodsman’s aim up. The laser moved from his forehead and disappeared into the sky.

“‘After all’? Come on, I was looking forward to see your jaw drop, what’s with that cool attitude? What a letdown, you’re hurting my feelings here. —But when did you realize, traveler?” Gene asked, pointing his finger straight out. Kino answered,

“Just a while ago, really. Do you think a leader who would go so far as to use his followers as a shield would go about doing something as dangerous as ramming a motorrad into somebody?”

Gene stood there laughing, arms all akimbo.

“Hahaha! I see! That makes sense! Ahahaha!”

“I also considered the wife… but that option also disappeared. To challenge someone with no chance of winning—it’s either you’ve gone mad or someone you dread has given you a command that you can’t possibly defy.”

“Ahaha! You got it!”

“I like to ask you something.”

“What?”

“How old are you?”

“Er, twelve?”

“You don’t look it.”

“Hold it, I am physically twelve! —But indeed. I’ve lived ninety-three years already.”

“I knew it… Next question. How?”

Gene shrugged.

“Dunno really. I wanna know the answer myself. Growing up normally until twelve, then suddenly ceasing to age altogether. Have you ever seen anyone like that in your journey?”

“No. You’re the first one I’ve met. Honestly… I was surprised. The world’s really such a big place,” Kino replied with a shake of the head and almost no change in expression. A look of disappointment swept through Gene.

“I see…. No matter, I’ve given up on maturing physically a long time ago. If you look like a kid, there are all sorts of things you can do that only a kid can pull off. Like fooling people, for one.”

“Where did you come from?”

“It’s incredibly far from here. Maybe it still exists, I don’t really know.”

“What kind of country was it?”

Gene knitted his eyebrows together.

“You’re asking some strange questions. —Let’s see… it’s an ordinary country. But I’m not really sure what it is exactly that makes it ‘ordinary’. It’s stable and peaceful, and generally a nice place to live in. I lived there with my parents until I was sixteen.”

“…”

“With me like this, my parents covered up for me. They tried their best to protect me, but people are bound to notice. When they could no longer stand it, they were forced to take me with them to a journey… But it was not something they’re used to, and soon they died. I was left all alone ever since.”

“I see…. I think that’s enough stories for me. Thanks.”

With a word of gratitude, Kino bowed a little and proceeded to stow away Woodsman’s silencer into one pouch, then installed Woodsman back to its holster.

“Kino, what are you gonna do?” Hermes asked.

“Lifting you up right away.”

“Sweet! —Then, what’s next?”

“Let’s wrap things up. If you’re not broken anywhere, let’s get out of here immediately.”

“I’m fine, I think.”

“Let’s get the luggage I hid along the way, and make a run for the walls. Then we leave.”

“Understood!”

Gene interrupted the conversation.

“Hey, I’ve got one—”

“I refuse,” Kino answered without even hearing the end of his sentence.

“I’m not even finished yet!”

“I know. You’re going to ask if I could let you ride with me, right? I refuse.”

“Wha—! You won’t kill me and you won’t take me with you either! What a demon!”

“I don’t really get why, but let’s leave it at that.”

Kino turned away from Gene and walked towards Hermes.

Gene followed, and asked Kino from behind.

“Did you know that the police used you?”

“I imagine so.”

“Otherwise, there’s no way they could have allowed you to walk freely with that much ammunition and explosives. And you need to have some form of transportation to get here.”

“That may be true.”

“But do you know? —Part of our group’s earnings go to that office in the form of a bribe.”

“Really? —Hm, that sounds plausible.”

“Then how about this? The mechanic of that repair shop voluntarily handed out Hermes to our members. They wanted to make it look as if he was stolen, but the truth is a thick wad of cash has found its way to his breast pocket.”

“Is that so? —Well, that does seem likely. But now that I got Hermes back, and in perfect condition no less, it doesn’t really matter anymore.”

“Hmph! What a bore!”

Kino turned over May’s unconscious body, and tied together her thumbs light enough so as not to restrict the blood flow.

And Bob, whose bleeding was not so serious, had only his feet tied up.

“Once news of these ‘mystery’ corpses comes out, the police will come up with some explanation or another pinning it to the group. It’s all over. Well, these two have been quite useful while it lasted.”

After hearing Gene’s somewhat downcast remark, Hermes, who was finally stood upright by Kino, asked. “Hey founder, how long have you been sticking around with these two?”

“Maybe two years or so?”

“What started it?”

“That time, I was pretty loaded, so these crooks thought they could con their way to my money. They were traveling swindlers from the very beginning, you see. But instead I was the one who convinced them. If they worked with a mere child, they thought they could profit more. I’ve been in this country many times before, so I know a lot about it. In the end, we came to this country with the seeds of that narcotic grass.”

“And did you make money after all?”

“The donations of our followers were a big sum you know? But later on, we got the proceeds from selling the drugs. Bob, May, and I were planning to run off with it all after earning a certain amount. It was hidden all over but—I know! You wait! There’s cash and gold and silver too!”

“Wow! Kino! You just grabbed mullet in the highlands!” Hermes cried out happily, while Kino, who was stooped over checking Hermes, replied with a shake of the head.

“‘Millet in wet hands’? —No, I’m not really interested.”

“Oh.” “Oh.”

Hermes and Gene said together.

And then Hermes alone added, “Yes, that’s it!” then fell silent.

“My only goal was to get Hermes back. Not the money.”

“Good grief. Then that money will immediately get confiscated by the police. But half will end up in the pockets of that deputy chief and his cronies. Not only that, but they also got rid of our group. They definitely hit two birds with one stone,” Gene said.

“I guess that’s true.”

“What’s with you! You’ve known from the start and just let everyone get away? I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but that shopkeeper, the police, that couple—every single one in this country is a bad person!”

“Yes. And the same goes for you, and me.”

“That’s a blunt way of saying it. —But you can’t be that bad, right? You killed only because you wanted your motorrad back.”

After confirming that Hermes was not damaged or out of shape, Kino stood up, faced Gene and approached him.

“No,” Kino said, crouching to meet Gene’s eyes at the same level. “I am a very bad person.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and as proof—”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll silence you, who knew everything that happened here. —And I’ll leave you behind. You’re free to do whatever you want from here on.”

Kino landed a fist on Gene’s gut.

Gene collapsed with a groan.

But a pleasant smile lingered on his face.

——

Kino and Hermes departed as soon as they arrived at the gates early in the morning.

They rode slowly inside the forest under the sun that was beginning to show itself in a sky that was clear of clouds.

“Dear, dear. That was quite a pinch you’ve got yourself into,” Hermes said, as if it had nothing to do with him.

“Well everything turned out all right in the end. You got fixed too, Hermes.”

“All’s well that ends well! That mechanic was a pretty great guy too!”

“If we set aside his character.”

Kino went on while straddling atop Hermes, whose left handlebar is now filled with scratches.

“Even so—” Kino chuckled. “For you to talk about the ‘truth’ of this world…”

“Why of course! I’ll talk about anything if you ask!”

“Well let’s hear it then. What will become of Gene from now on?”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Hermes replied readily.

“Oh?”

“Until the day he dies, he’ll remain like that physically, and also keep on living the way he had. Gene, like that country, will stay the same.”

“I see… I’m glad to hear that one ‘truth’.”

“So why not show some more spirit, Kino?”

Kino grinned and replied, “I am spirited. —Now, I wonder what kind of country’s next?”

“Who knows?”

Kino and Hermes rode through the forest.

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