Kino no Tabi:Volume5 Chapter5

“Land of Heroes” — Seven Heroes —

The sun has only risen halfway through when a traveler arrived at the gate. The sky was clear and sunny and the wind was cold.

The traveler came riding a motorrad (Note: A two-wheeled vehicle. Only to note that it cannot fly). Boxes were mounted on both sides of the rear wheel, while a big bag was strapped on top of it.

The rider was wearing a brown coat, the long hem of which was rolled up to her thighs. She was wearing a hat with flaps covering her ears, eye goggles, and a bandana wrapped around her face for protection from the cold.

In the guard post outside the gates, the traveler introduced herself.

“Hello. I am Kino. This is my partner, Hermes. We hope to stay for three days.”

The guard politely asked some questions, and then issued an entry permit to the traveler who identified herself as Kino and to the motorrad called Hermes.

The guard asked if she has something like a persuader (Note: A gun), and Kino replied with a nod.

“Are persuaders not allowed?” asked Kino.

“Not at all. It’s the other way around,” the guard answered with a smile.

—

Kino finally entered the country after passing through the white walls.

The interior of the country was flat and spacious. As a result, the roads and building sites were also wide, and there were many one-storey buildings. There were also numerous new buildings.

While waiting and reading the map she got, a guide came riding a small car. It was a kind-looking elderly man.

For a while, Kino had to listen to some welcoming remarks while she was led to a hotel by car. They passed through a wide and crowded street, and headed towards the central part of the country.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the guide talked more about the country.

This country grew from the merger of two countries 17 years ago. Until then, the land here now was just a territory of a tiny kingdom. On the other hand, far beyond the mountains, there was a democratic country with a very high population density.

One day the king lost his mind, and as a small country all they could possibly do was to seek help and cooperate with the other country. The other country, which was having trouble with their small land, accepted the offer. By becoming a democratic country, everyone was given the right to equality, and the two countries peacefully integrated. The king was sent to stay in a hospital.

In this country, all people between ages 18-50 were required to be registered as soldiers. They were being trained on a regular basis, and weapons were stored in every house in case they were summoned to fight in times of war. For that reason, shooting has become a very popular national sport in this country.

“I see,” Kino muttered as she recalled the words of the guard.

—

From noon, Kino and Hermes went around the country.

Kino acquired supplies for Hermes’ maintenance, and shopped some more for the things she needed.

Near the walls, there was a sign saying ‘Public Shooting Range’. Upon looking closely, an immense ground was laid out for it. The manager who came out told them that the facility was closed just for the day due to maintenance.

Kino introduced herself, and asked if she can practice shooting.

“Then, by all means please come tomorrow. You are free to use the facility as much as you want, and if it’s not too much trouble, please do teach us some things,” the manager answered with glittering eyes.

—

The second day.

As usual, Kino got up at the crack of dawn.

As always, she performed her light body exercises and practiced drawing out her persuaders.

“……”

She thought for a bit, and then continued.

After eating, Kino slapped Hermes awake, and headed to the shooting range.

In the shooting range, a lot of people had gathered early in the morning, from commoners to groups of people wearing military uniforms.

When Kino came, the manager she met the day before delightfully introduced her to everyone. When they were informed that she travels while protecting herself with her persuader, everyone thought this amazing and excitedly asked her to teach them various things.

“If you’re bad at this, you shouldn’t show off at all,” said Hermes.

—

In the shooting range, various shooting equipment, from point-blank to ultra-long-distance ones were available. For each one a convenient device was attached — an automatically moving target and a screen that can show where a distant target was hit.

In the annex of the facility, target dolls, women holding babies, and children with knives could be seen coming out from the windows and side corridors.

While a large number of people were observing, Kino borrowed some of the facilities. She carried out her shooting practice with ‘Canon’ and her other automatic-style hand persuader ‘Woodsman’.

Kino was applauded every time she hit something.

“Well, it’s not that easy…,” she murmured

“Master told you, hasn’t she? Keep your presence of mind in any kind of situation,” said Hermes.

—

“Miss Kino, don’t you have a rifle with you?” The manager asked Kino while she was having lunch in the cafeteria. Kino shook her head.

“Aren’t you worried that you don’t have a long-ranged weapon?”

Kino replied that surely, there were times when she felt like having one, but the thought of carrying a long rifle on Hermes was completely unreasonable.

Upon hearing this,

“I have exactly what you are looking for,” the manager said gleefully, sounding like a salesman.

—

“Thank you for waiting. Here it is.”

After the meal, the manager put on top of the table a box containing a rifle.

The rifle was divided into two portions. The first half consists of a black metal frame with a prominently long cylinder attached on its side. The second half includes a wooden stock and a sniper’s scope.

“It is a silencing, automatic-type rifle that can be disassembled for easy transportation. It was the latest weapon developed in our country, and cleared problems in accuracy and strength. The provisions for our military has just started.”

The manager advised Kino to try it out. Kino assembled the rifle according to an illustrated manual beside her.

“How is it? What do you think?”

Kino said that the handling wasn’t bad and it seemed very easy to use.

“Won’t you try shooting? Try it and please tell us what you think,” the manager said.

Kino headed to the shooting range, and tried shooting with the borrowed rifle. She tried aiming on a far target using the scope placed on the cushion on top of the desk.

Each time a shot hits the black center of the target, the crowd behind her breaks into applause.

“Are you used to it yet?”

“I’m already familiar with it.”

Hermes asked, and Kino answered with a shot. Cheers arose.

After several shots, she was met with a barrage of questions.

To a person who asked her who taught her how to shoot,

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you that,” Kino answered.

To another person who asked her what kind of excellent facilities she practiced in,

“In the forest…,” Kino answered.

To yet another person who asked her to at least tell him how she attained such a level,

“…. But I don’t like recollecting painful experiences…” Kino answered.

—

Halfway through the afternoon.

Kino, Hermes and the manager were around a table in the dining room while having dessert.

“Wow, Miss Kino is so wonderful. Everyone was surprised. All of a sudden everyone is so motivated.”

“Well, she has to live up to her reputation. It’s nice to see Kino get praised once in a while,” Hermes said.

“The more we train our shooting skills, the more we strengthen our country’s defense. And as a result we can better protect our peace and safety.”

“Does this country have potential enemies?” Kino asked. The manager answered looking slightly embarrassed.

“That is… The truth is this country, and the two separate countries before the merger, has never been at war. Apparently, there are no offensive countries nearby. Even though all of the citizens are drafted as soldiers, none of them have shot anything other than paper and dolls. And so, I have no idea how long we would last in an actual battle. We never miss practice, and I can brag that each one of us is competent, but…”

Kino spoke. “Peace is a very good thing to have. I think that in times of emergency, we will see the result of your training. I’m sure everyone can fight better than they think they can.”

“Oh. I’m glad to hear those words. From here on, we will work even harder in our training.”

“That’s the spirit. As they say, ‘If you are prepared, you don’t need ukulele,’” said Hermes.

“Huh?” The manager gave them a puzzled look.

“Hermes… are you doing that on purpose?”

“Doing what?”

—

Evening.

The manager told Kino that if she wanted to, and if it will not interfere with her journey, he wouldn’t mind her having the rifle. They wanted their country’s excellent persuader to be of use in her journey.

Kino gave it a little thought, and politely expressed her gratitude upon accepting the offer. Kino asked for the name of the rifle.

“Name… Oh, nothing in particular. We call it by its abbreviation, ‘National Disassembly-Type Rifle No. 52.”

“That’s long.”

“Later, I will think of some name for it,” said Kino.

—

The third day.

During the morning, Kino went sightseeing around the country.

In the center, a palace from the times when the country was still a kingdom was still left standing. Its surroundings have been turned into a public park.

Upon being asked by Kino of his thoughts about the building,

“Not bad. It’s like this all the time, anywhere. The king must have been scowled by the public for using tremendous amount of money to build such a luxurious palace. And after he was removed from his position, it was made into a park. ‘Preserving a splendid building’, like they say. But during the king’s reign, they didn’t praise it the least bit,” Hermes said sarcastically.

In one corner of the park, there was a big black stone. The stone was like a wall.

Kino passed in front of it. Human figures were engraved on the stone. Young men, smiling, lined-up side by side.

“Excuse me. Is this a monument of some sort?” Kino asked a person who happened to pass by.

The man of about fifty years gave a big nod. “Oh, yes it is. This is a monument for heroes.”

“Heroes, is it?”

“Ah. For people like me who came here from the country beyond, it was an unforgettable event. Long before the merger, that was about thirty years ago. In the country where I was born, the population has grown too much that it was so cramped. But the walls couldn’t be extended further, and so we thought of sending out an expedition to look for new settlements. Twelve groups in every direction.”

“Uh-huh. And then?”

“And then, we recruited young men and formed teams with seven men in each. They were supposed to come back after half a year, whether they succeed or fail in finding a good land. Eleven of the teams returned.”

“I see. Then, these people are?”

“These seven, not a single one came back even after 10 years. It was the team that proceeded to the most dangerous mountain route. Probably, they met with some sort of accident…. In the country, we felt sorry for them, and erected a monument for them. Engraved on it was their appearance at the time of their departure. ——And then, a long time has passed. After the merger with this country has been made, we left most of the buildings in our country as is after moving; only this stone was painstakingly transferred here, so that we will never forget their heroic deeds. This story is even written in our school textbooks.”

Kino looked at the monument again. They were young and brawny men, with carefree smiles. They were carrying old-fashioned rifles, and hanging above their chests were pendants with the same design.

It was a small round pendant, with a star design.

The man spoke. “That’s right. I think you should visit our old country. To the west, just beyond two big mountain ranges, there is a basin. Even now, the country should still be there. The walls, the buildings were left just as they were. We can never go back there again because this place is our country now, you see. But miss traveler, if you somehow come to visit the apartments, you might find the old buildings where many people once lived interesting. Identical buildings are aligned side by side; the inner courtyard was always filled with many people, and as a child I played there often. It’s so nostalgic.”

“Is that so? I think I’ll go there and see.”

She thanked the man and after he left, Kino looked at the characters carved in the monument.

Underneath their smiles, there was an inscription.

‘——Even if our heroes do not come back, they will always be alive in our hearts——’

Translator’s Notes

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