Kino no Tabi:Volume5 Chapter7

“Land of Prophecies” — We NO the Future. —

Inside a forest, there was a single road.

It was a dark forest, dense with tall conifers. The earth was damp and overgrown with ferns.

A path ran perfectly straight from east to west, as if cutting through the forest. It was a wide road. The remains of the stone paving laid out a long time ago stretched on, its gray surface full of cracks.

A single, tiny tree sprout grew out from the gap opened by the cracks.

It was a seed that was transported some way or the other, fell on top of the soil in the crack by chance, and grew.

The tiny bud that sprouted from the seed was illuminated by the bright sunlight that was streaming in, unhindered, in the middle of the road.

On this road ran a lone motorrad (Note: A two-wheeled vehicle. Only to note that it cannot fly).

The motorrad’s front and rear wheels trampled on the tiny sprout.

It passed there in an instant, without leaving any trace.

The motorrad ran westward on the cracked road.

Boxes were attached on both sides of its rear wheel, on top of which was a bag as well as a sleeping bag. A silver cup dangled from the bag, shaking from the minute vibrations of the vehicle.

Its rider was a young person, around mid-teens.

She was wearing a black jacket fastened with a wide belt on the waist. On her right thigh was a holster for a hand persuader (Note: A persuader is a gun. In this case, a pistol) containing a revolver. There was also an automatic-type behind her waist.

On top of her short black hair was a hat. It resembled a pilot’s hat, with a brim at front and ear flaps on both sides. Strapped on it was a pair of silver-framed goggles that was peeled in places.

Eventually, the rider tapped the motorrad’s tank.

“I see it,” the rider said.

—

Inside the forest, there was a green wall.

It was the tall wall surrounding a country. It drew an elegant curve with a smooth upward arc protruding to the outside. Its sides were lined up with pillars placed on equal intervals, and was completely covered with a dense growth of dark green ivy.

The motorrad stopped from a place where the entirety of the wall could be seen.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen walls like this,” the rider said, still straddled on the motorrad.

“Yeah, it’s amazing. Its structure is also unusual,” the motorrad agreed.

After this, the rider silently stared at the wall for a while.

“What’s the matter, Kino?” the motorrad asked.

A light smile lingered underneath the goggles of the rider who was called Kino.

“That I would be able to see such things, that I would come this far… A long time ago… I wouldn’t even dream of it as a child. But saying that after all this time feels a bit…”

“Hmm. Well, no one knows what the future holds. As they say, ‘the lesson ahead is on underworld’.”

“… ‘The road ahead is an unknown world’?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

With this, the motorrad fell silent.

“I wonder if it’s the right thing… or not…,” Kino muttered. “Well, let’s get going, Hermes.”

The motorrad called Hermes answered, “Okay.”

Kino hit the gears, and they slowly rode towards the gates.

—

“The world… is going to end?”

“The world is going to end. At the dawn of the day after tomorrow.” The female immigration examiner answered Kino’s question, and continued, “But if you still want to, we’ll grant you a three-day stay. That is, if you wish to face the end of the world in our country…”

Kino looked at the female examiner’s serious expression.

The calm and collected female examiner in her late twenties sat alone inside the room at the middle of the thick walls.

“You say the world is going to end, but how is that going to happen?”

“We don’t know that.”

“Huh?”

“But everything in this world is going to end, including our lives of course. It can’t be helped. It’s definite. Absolute. Inevitable,” the examiner answered gently.

“Um… How did you know?” Kino asked.

“That’s a very good question,” the female examiner nodded, and answered with confidence,

“Because of the prophecy.”

—

Immediately upon passing through the gates, the town illuminated by the evening sun could be seen with one sweep of the eye.

The blurry haze of the wall at the other end could be seen; a gigantic circular wall inclined towards the gentle slope to the center of the country. Wide roads stretched out radially, with alternating farmlands and residential areas in between. There was much greenery left, orderly lined up with houses made of logs with brick chimneys that stand out. Several big buildings and a lake shining golden from the light could be seen at the center.

“The interior is also nice.”

Hermes agreed to Kino’s remark, and said, “Yeah, those log houses are quite pretty. The arrangement, which made use of the terrain, was also well done. ——However, this will all end on the day after tomorrow. Because of the prophecy.”

“Prophecy, eh…,” Kino muttered.

The female examiner didn’t give any explanation as to what the prophecy was, and who told them about it. With a philosophical air, she repeated and reassured them that the world will be destroyed. There’s nothing that could be done about it, as it was based on a completely accurate prophecy.

And then she started to cry all of a sudden. After that, it was futile to try and ask her about anything, so Kino gave up and passed through the open gates.

“What are we going to do, Kino?”

“For the meantime, maybe we should look for a place to stay. Let’s ask someone,” Kino said as she went astride Hermes. Without starting the engine, she lightly kicked off the ground and descended the slope. Like this, she directed Hermes towards a nearby street.

It was a wide street lined up with shops on both sides. However, none of these shops was open, and there was no hustle and bustle of people. There was not a single vehicle running on the street.

“It reminds me of a country in mourning,” Hermes said.

They noticed an old man seated on top of a wooden box, gaze fixed at the dim sky. They asked where they could find a hotel. The old man said nothing and only pointed at a relatively large building a bit ways off.

When they reached the hotel, they knocked at the closed entrance. After some time, the middle-aged owner came out with surprise painted on his face.

After hearing out Kino, the man spoke, “Oh, so you’re a traveler who came just now…. It’s true that my house is a hotel…” Then he asked until when they planned to stay in the country. When Kino answered his question, “The day after tomorrow…? Ah, so your journey will end in this country, huh? That’s too bad.”

The owner told them the same thing as the immigration examiner.

Kino told him that it didn’t matter, so the owner guided them to an elegant and spacious room. He opened the closed sliding door and wiped off the dust on top of a desk. When Kino asked for the cost of the room,

“There’s no need for that. The world is about to end, so money is useless. Please enjoy your stay,” the owner said and left.

Kino unloaded the luggage from Hermes. Then she took off her own jacket and sprawled herself across the bed.

“The world is going to end the day after tomorrow, they say… What could that ‘prophecy’ be all about?”

By the time Hermes asked, Kino was already fast asleep.

—

The next morning.

Kino woke up at dawn.

She lightly moved her body and performed the maintenance on the revolver she called ‘Canon’ and the automatic she called ‘Woodsman’. She then took a shower after practicing her quick draw several times.

Kino ate her breakfast of portable rations while looking at the sun rising from the walls.

Then she slapped Hermes awake and went out sightseeing. She slowly rode through the town.

At the main street, the dispirited people sat dazedly in chairs in front of the shops. They looked at Kino and Hermes, then averted their gazes disinterestedly.

“What’s the matter with them?” Hermes muttered.

“Everybody’s so lifeless… except for a few.”

Kino suddenly stopped Hermes at the middle of the road. She quickly kicked down his side stand.

“Hmm? Why is th—— Whoa!” Hermes exclaimed as he noticed.

From the side of the road, a young man holding a metal pipe ran towards Hermes. His eyes were bloodshot. The people around looked on in surprise.

Kino stood before the man who brandished his weapon overhead. The man aimed for Kino and swung down the metal pipe.

Kino twisted her body and sent out a low kick. It connected with the man’s legs. The man fell forward, his body hitting the road.

Kino stepped on the collapsed man’s hands and took away the metal pipe. Then she pushed on the man’s back strongly.

The man faced to the side and shouted at Kino.

“Damn it! I’ll kill you! Damn it!”

“What’s his problem——” Hermes muttered.

“Damn… damn…”

The man was sobbing. A middle-aged man among the onlookers spoke to Kino.

“Miss traveler, I’m very sorry. We’ll deal with him and won’t let him do any more foolish things, so can you set free that young man?”

“……”

Kino looked at the apologetic faces of the people around her. Then, she moved away the metal pipe from the young man’s back. As directed by the middle-aged man, the young man, who was still crying, was carried off.

“I’m very sorry. Recently, there were many young ones who started to act violently out of despair…. Your skills really came in handy. We are truly sorry,” the middle-aged man apologized.

“Could it be because of the end of the world?” Kino asked.

The man nodded. “That’s correct. The young ones felt strongly that they have not yet done everything in their lives. They couldn’t accept it…. But it couldn’t be helped. I too have resigned myself to this fate, yet I’m still scared.”

“Hey, what’s that prophecy about, anyway?” Hermes asked. The man slightly taken aback,

“What, so you didn’t know?”

“Yes. If you can, please tell us about it,” Kino said, and the man guided them to a nearby shop.

—

The shop in the dining hall was lined up with tables and chairs made out of logs. The people who had nothing to do and had gathered there looked at Kino and Hermes. As the lights were not turned on, it was dim, and only the quiet rotation of the ceiling fan was noticeable. At the counter, bottles of liquor were placed for everyone to drink whenever they wish.

The man introduced Kino and Hermes. Kino sat in a chair and Hermes was propped beside her on his center stand.

“It seems that miss traveler here doesn’t know the full story behind the prophecy,” the man said. The people around murmured in surprise. They began to speak as though they were having fun.

“If that’s the case, then an accurate explanation is in order.” “Without knowing the reason, you can’t come into terms with the fact that the world is going to end.” “I agree. This person even took the pains to face the end of the world in our country.” “We should also explain to her about our country’s excellent scholar.” “Let me in, too.”

They assembled around, carrying their seats.

“If I may be so bold, I’ll tell you the story,” the man who served as their guide spoke as he faced Kino. Then he told the people around him to point out any mistakes.

“First, let me tell you about our great book of prophecies, and the person who deciphered it — the scholar our country is very proud of,” the man said, and the people around nodded.

“Book of prophecies?”

“What kind of book?”

Kino and Hermes asked.

“It’s a pity, but it is unknown as to who and when it was written. All we know is that it’s a book containing very strange words, and that it was published a long time ago in some country. Its incoherent writing style would make one think that it was a diary made by someone insane. But the truth is… it’s a book of prophecies that accurately predicts the dreadful fate of this world. And the person who saw through it, and was successful in deciphering it, is our country’s great scholar, the priest of the southern district,” the man answered.

“How did you know that it contained prophecies?” Kino asked.

“Forty years ago, the priest investigated that book out of a half-hearted interest, and discovered a dreadful thing. The number of pages and lines correspond to the year and month of a certain incident, which was then described by the text using metaphors and characters rearranged into code. To his dismay, the priest deciphered other pages… and then…,” the man took a big breath.

“And he discovered many, many, many, many, many more similar prophecies…,” the man said seriously as if he had just discovered it himself. The people around him gasped.

Kino looked around, then asked, “What makes it so definite?”

Not only the man, but the people around answered one after another.

“One hundred and ninety-eight years ago, this country was struck by a severe famine. It was written there…”

“It was precisely stated there how our king 122 years ago would suddenly die from a mysterious illness. Even the fact that it was a disease that makes the nose fall off!”

“There was also that enormous chestnut harvest that troubled us 87 years ago! That was also foreseen by the book! How frightening…”

“There’s also that prediction about the queen mother fracturing her foot from falling off a horse 143 years ago.”

“It also accurately described that it will rain on the day of the bloodless revolution that would throw away the monarchy, 54 years ago; as well as the fact that the king would spend the rest of his life as a gardener!”

“Also, about the great flood brought about by heavy rains on the autumn 44 years ago. The water in the lake could not be used for half a year. The number of characters even revealed the water level!”

“That fire in the northern district 25 years ago. Not only did it predict that it will happen, the number of houses burned down was also written. And about the 89-year old grandma living there, too! When I heard about that, it sent shivers down my spine!”

“That on the winter 23 years ago, twelve wanderers would drift by our country, was also magnificently predicted. And it also foretold that the name of the sole immigrant among those vulgar people who would obtain permanent residency would start with ‘te’… It made big news that time.”

“Nineteen years ago, a chemist wearing a blue shirt killed many people by mixing up poison. That was also prophesied, down to the color of the person’s shirt…”

“The hail that fell early in the summer ten years ago that sent a huge blow to farming families; I remember it so well…”

“That’s not all! Even the syrup we make from the sap of the trees——”

For a while, each person would speak, continuing as long as he wished.

“Um… Did the prophecies occur after the priest discovered that they are going to happen?” Kino asked.

The man shook his head matter-of-factly. “No. After they have occurred, the priest would soon discover that it was prophesied.”

“Huh? Then that means he could interpret it as much as he——”

Hermes’ speech was interrupted by Kino’s kick to his engine.

“I see. I understand up to this point. And what about tomorrow’s prophecy?”

The man’s and everybody’s faces clouded once more upon hearing Kino’s question.

“The prophecy for tomorrow… was written as the last sentence of that book. According to the priest, it was written this way: ‘After the night the nineteenth full moon passes through the sky, the world will end at the rising of the sun. There is nothing we could do except to smash the green plate.’ The green plate here refers to our custom of giving a green plate as a birthday present. This means, ‘There will be no more births. There is nothing we could do but mourn.’”

“Then, in that book’s ‘afterword——”

Hermes’ speech was interrupted by Kino’s kick to his frame.

The man spoke. “It was around thirty years ago when this prophecy became evident. It seems the priest hesitated to announce it, but in the end, he decided that he could not deceive us and made it known to the public…”

“It must have been quite a surprise.”

“Ah, everyone spent a month in lamentation. However, there’s no doubt about the accuracy of the prophecy, so we could only resign ourselves to our fate. The priest’s words were ‘to live life to the fullest until that day comes’. But among us, there were some who despised ‘the future’ as a result…,” the man said.

A middle-aged woman drinking behind him spoke. “And that’s already tomorrow…. Time flows so quickly. Soon, the only thing left for us to do is to gather and drown ourselves in alcohol.”

“Don’t say that…,” another person said gloomily.

“Even if we were told ‘to live life to the fullest until that day comes’, it’s not really a simple thing to look for something to live for…. It’s really sad.”

“I see…,” Kino nodded meekly.

“What are you going to do, miss traveler? There’s only a day left though,” the man asked.

“I guess I’ll do some shopping,” Kino answered.

—

“The world is going to end tomorrow, so what are you planning to do with the stuff you got?”

The shopkeeper who came out from the interior of the variety store where Kino was shopping asked.

“Well, just in case the prophecy doesn’t come true, I suppose,” Hermes said. The shopkeeper nodded with a look of comprehension.

“Yeah, I understand what you mean…”

“Really?”

“You still couldn’t believe that the world is going to end. That’s understandable. I was the same a long time ago. But with that much proof, saying ‘I don’t believe’ or ‘It’s unbelievable’ are no longer possible. I have given up, and I have no choice but to spend the remaining time efficiently.”

“I see. Well, I’ll continue shopping then. I don’t have the chance to do this often, you know.”

“Well, that’s also good. I’ll give you a ten percent discount on all items here. Take as much as you want. No, it’s better if you take away everything. I’ll feel more relieved that way.”

“Nope. I’m fine with what I could carry. That knife over there looks nice. Can you show it to me?”

—

“Miss traveler, won’t you join us in prayer? … It may calm you down a bit.”

Kino was invited by a resident as she was taking her dinner in the cafeteria.

Kino politely refused, and went back to the hotel. The owner was praying with his family.

—

The next morning. That is, the third day since Kino entered the country.

Kino woke up at the crack of dawn.

A thin mist wrapped the whole country. However, for some reason, the calm of the morning was missing. Lights shining from the houses, as well as people running through the streets could be seen.

As Kino was about to start her persuader training, Hermes woke up on his own, giving her a surprise.

“Kino, the world is going to end soon. I woke up because I’m looking forward to it.”

Kino answered while wiping Canon with a cloth, “Is that so…? Surprises sure abound just around the corner.”

“Shall we go sightseeing for the last time?” Hermes asked.

“Sure. It’s the end after all,” Kino answered as she returned Canon to its holster. Then with her left hand, she started to practice her quick draw with Woodsman. Hermes remarked,

“The world is going to end soon, so why bother practice?”

—

After working up a sweat, Kino rode Hermes through the town.

The fog has lifted. Amidst the cool air, the sky was bright, blue, and clear.

On the ridge of the lake at center of the country, there was a plaza. Over there, a lot of people have gathered, facing the east, and praying anxiously. They were praying as one.

“It’s about time for the sun to rise,” Hermes said. Some elderly residents nearby trembled.

Along with the amplifying voices in prayer, the tolling of a large bell began to echo. It pealed madly again and again. The rays of the sun began to reach the spire of a tall building.

Soon, the dazzling sun emerged from the walls.

The people shrieked in anguish, and went in an uproar.

Kino spoke. “It’s a nice morning.”

“Yup. Let’s ride today as usual,” Hermes agreed happily.

—

When the sun has completely shown itself, and after about three more minutes, the prayers and lamentation of the residents stopped and turned into unrest, which turned into jeering.

“Nothing happened?” “Has the world ended already?” “Everybody’s still alive!” “The sun has completely risen, too…” “What’s happening——” “How could this be?” “Nothing?” “Damn! Could it be…” “Is it possible…” “——The prophecy… has not come to pass?”

“It’s the priest!” someone shouted.

A black car stopped, and a man wearing stiff clothing headed to the center of the plaza while being surrounded by attendants. It was a middle-aged man with a virtuous expression.

The residents followed him silently with their eyes. Kino and Hermes observed the crowd from behind.

“U-uh, t-to everyone gathered here…”

The tense voice of the priest, whose face looked as if he was having cramps somewhere, came out from a megaphone. The residents who became quiet for a moment simultaneously gave him piercing glances.

“T-the weather today is great, isn’t it——”

“Enough of that! Sir! What has become of the prophecy?!” someone interrupted with a shout.

“A-about that——”

“C-could it be that all of it was a lie?!” another person said.

“N-no. I would never make up a lie…. It was true that those were the last words in the book…”

“Then what’s the meaning of this?! Everyone believed what you said, and thought that the world would end today——” screamed a young woman, who broke down crying right where she stood.

“T-that’s… you know…,” the befuddled priest mixed up his words, as he fumbled for an explanation. Then all of a sudden, “Ah, yes! That’s right! That’s true, everyone! The world has ended! The world has already ended!” the priest bellowed to the top of his voice in the megaphone.

Kino looked at the priest, and at the people, whose eyes were wide in surprise.

The priest, who was speaking to the megaphone held in front of him by his attendant, spread his arms without hesitation, his clothing trailing in the morning wind.

“Everyone, please listen!” He began his passionate speech directed to everyone. “I, as well as everybody here, believed that the world is going to end! That the world will end at the rising of the sun, as was written! Yes! Yes! That’s true! And it was correct! Because! Because! The world we believed to be so! That is, ‘the world that we thought would end because of the prophecy’ has ended indeed! Inside everyone’s hearts, a world has ended! And once again, a new world has begun! Yes! ——The prophecy was right!”

Several seconds of silence passed.

And then, a storm of jeering followed, like a tempest devastating a lake.

—

Kino and Hermes observed the mayhem for a while.

The angry citizens tried to attack the priest, but the attendants as well as the ardent believers stopped them desperately, and in one way or the other, prevented bloodshed.

Even the people who were throwing all sorts of terrible insults towards the priest had relieved expressions on their faces. There were people crying and embracing each other.

The shopkeeper Kino met the day before found her and talked to her.

“Isn’t it great? The world has not yet ended,” Kino said. The shopkeeper laughed awkwardly,

“By the way, about the stuff I sold you yesterday…”

“Yes. I’ll use them with great care. They make great souvenirs from this country,” Kino replied with a smile, and the shopkeeper left with a dry smile on his face.

The priest, whose shoulders were already limp, tried to escape the plaza stealthily with his attendants. As they tried to board the car, the priest suddenly lifted his face.

It was a face distorted in fear.

The priest suddenly moved. He snatched away the megaphone held by a person nearby.

“E-everyone! Please listen!” He shouted with all his might. Everyone looked at the source of the voice, and their faces contorted in disgust.

“E-e-e-e-everyone! I-it’s not today! I noticed it just now! I realized it just now! It’s very important! Please listen! Please listen to me!”

As an attendant tried to stop him, the priest continued to yell out.

“T-the world is going to end! I made a mistake! ‘After the night the nineteenth full moon passes through the sky’! I just realized it last night! It was wrong! It was a mistake! Everyone, don’t you remember?! Four full moons ago, wasn’t there a lunar eclipse?! Didn’t the moon disappear?! It was wrong! We should only count the nights when ‘a full moon crosses the sky’! Ugh! *Cough*!”

The priest choked. He continued desperately, “That’s why! Indeed the world has not ended today! The truth is it will end on the sunrise after the next full moon! At that time, our world will really come to an end! Everyone! You should acknowledge this!” the priest declared boldly. A nearby man quickly snatched away the megaphone,

“Is that so?!” he said to the priest. And continued, “Everyone! We no longer have to believe in these prophecies! No one knows the future! That is the truth!”

There was applause.

The dumbfounded priest was dragged by his attendants, and vanished inside the car. The car drove away and disappeared.

“Well, it’s about time for us to leave,” said Kino.

—

Kino and Hermes departed from the western gate.

She looked one last time at the strange walls, then rode through the path.

Kino and Hermes climbed the gently-sloping mountain. When she looked back once, the country already looked small.

“Three people,” Hermes suddenly spoke while running. Kino nodded silently.

Kino stopped Hermes right in the middle of the road. Without turning off his engine, she propped him on his center stand. There was forest on both sides.

“Who might you be? There’s no need to conceal yourselves,” Kino spoke loudly without removing her hat or goggles.

The presence of people moving inside the forest was felt, and then.

“Well, that was rude of us!”

A voice replied. Two men came out, pushing through ferns. The men who looked around thirty were dressed in clothes like that of a traveler or a woodcutter. One of them spoke with a smile.

“Indeed, hiding ourselves only make us suspicious. Are you a traveler?”

“Yes. Is the other person not among you?” Kino asked.

“… No, he’ll come out soon,” the two answered.

A man resembling the other two came out from the forest. Together, they introduced themselves as citizens of a country across the mountain range.

Hermes asked, “What are you doing in this kind of place? Are you collectors of weird stuff, or something?”

The three looked at each other. And then,

“Miss traveler, mister motorrad, can you keep a secret? We have an interesting story to tell you…”

“No I can’t, so I’ll pass. Bye then.” As Kino was about to ride Hermes, the three stopped her in a panic.

“Well, don’t say that. It’s a really interesting story. It would make a great souvenir for your travels, don’t you think? … The truth is we are a scouting party from a country seven mountains across here. We disguised ourselves as woodcutters, and observe the travelers coming out from that country.”

“Why?” Hermes asked, his engine still turned on. The three grinned,

“Along with the rising of the sun after the descent of the next full moon, we will invade that country and kill everyone.”

“Eh?”

“What do you mean?” Kino asked calmly.

“It’s exactly as you heard. On the next full moon, as soon as the sun rises, we will invade that country and kill every single one of its residents without leaving a single one alive. Then we will destroy it thoroughly. We have to make sure that not a single thing remains of that country.”

“Why why why?” Hermes asked in surprise, then he added, “——because of the prophecy?”

The three were startled at the same time. They exchanged glances, and then,

“Yes! Exactly! Because of the prophecy! … You sure know a lot!”

“What do you mean?” Kino repeated her question.

The three, who suddenly became in the mood to chat, answered, “There was a certain prophecy in our country. A long time ago, a prophet left a book of prophecies. Twenty years ago, a man immigrated in our country and succeeded in deciphering the book. It predicted terrible things. Floods, epidemics, accidents, and disasters up until now, were all guessed correctly. As soon as something happened, that scholar would show it to us and say, ‘See, as I thought it was here. The number of pages and lines correspond to the year and month it occurred.’”

“……”

“……”

“And you know, the very end of that book predicts the end of the world! We were horrified by it, but the sole and flawless way to avoid it was also written there!”

“What is it?” Hermes asked.

“The final chapter of the book says this: ‘After the nineteenth full moon shines in the evening sky, the world will end at the rising of the sun. The one and only road left for us is to smash the green plate.’ This refers to the nineteenth full moon this year; that is, next month’s full moon. At the same time as the rising of the sun after that, the world will end. But—— the other half of the prophecy tells us of a way to avoid it: ‘smashing the green plate’ is the only way.”

“And so, that country…”

The three nodded.

“Yes. You must have seen it yourself, miss traveler. That country had unusual walls and a gentle depression towards the center. It was the green plate. As expected of him, our scholar noticed that. He’s truly brilliant.”

“But isn’t wiping them out going overboard?”

“That’s outrageous, mister motorrad! Destroying that country is necessary to save the world. This is not only our problem. If the world ends, you too will vanish. According to our scholar, since it was not clearly stated how much we should ‘smash the plate’, we should do it thoroughly. I believe so too. In order to save this world, us, who knows the method, have to do what we can. ——The day after the nineteenth full moon. On our astronomer’s judgment, that will be the next full moon, that is, without counting the lunar eclipse. It’s going to happen soon. About this time, our country should be finalizing the preparations.”

“I see…,” Kino muttered. And then, “Thanks for the story. We’ll have to excuse ourselves now.”

At that moment, the three quickly stood in front of Kino as if trying to surround her.

“Say, do you think we can just let you go home upon learning this much? If you return to that country and tell them about this, it will be troublesome. We will not be able to save the world. As a souvenir for your travel to the underworld, please do not forget about the prophecy, and about us.”

The three took out machetes from behind their hips, and attacked instantaneously from three sides.

Kino fell backwards like a plank that lost its support. The three blades cut nothing but air. Kino lay on the road face up, Canon in her right hand and Woodsman in her left.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The dry sounds continued without pause, and the three heavy, loud explosive sounds that followed reverberated in rhythm.

The three, who had tiny holes and big holes opened in their throats, collapsed.

Kino got up.

—

“… That was unexpected.”

While stuffing bullets and liquid gunpowder inside Canon, Kino spoke. “That I would be able to deal with trouble like this, that I would be this good in using persuaders… A long time ago… I wouldn’t have imagined as much when I first met Master. But saying that after all this time feels a bit…”

“No one knows what the future holds. Like they say, ‘the road ahead is an unknown world.’”

“I wonder if it’s right thing… or not…?” Kino tilted her head as she finished loading. Then she returned Canon to its holster.

Kino looked around to check if she has forgotten anything. There was nothing, other than the three machetes, and the three corpses.

“Shall we go then? ——I have no idea what awaits us though,” Kino said as she went astride Hermes.

“Ro-ger,” Hermes answered.

Kino started the engine.

Translator’s Notes

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