Kino's Journey - Volume 1, Chapter 1

The Country Where One Perceives Others' Pain -I See You.-

A brown line stretched through the sea of green.

It was a path of simple packed dirt, running straight eastward. All around it was knee-high grass as far as the eye can see, swaying gently as if to show passage of the wind. Near or far, not a single tree to be seen.

In the middle of the road, a single motorrad (Note: Two-wheeled vehicle. Refers to only ones that cannot fly) was running. A slightly dirty bag was fastened to the carrier on its rear.

The motorrad roared in engine sound as it ran with considerable speed, but occasionally it would wane to the left or right. Each time, the rider would steer the handle in a panic, with body slanted, straightening it back to the path.

The rider had a slender figure. Wearing a black jacket, waist wrapped in a thick belt. Strapped to the belt were multiple pouches, and on its backside was a hand persuader holster (Note: Persuaders are firearms. In this case, a handgun). Inside it was an automatic-type persuader, grip pointed upwards.

On the rider's right thigh was another holster; inserted in it was a revolver-type hand persuader. So as to not have it slide out, its hammer was tied down by the short string that extended from the holster.

The rider's hat was similar to that of an aviator's, brimmed only on its front and attached with ear flaps on its sides for protection against cold. They were held down by the band of the goggles, with the parts sticking out fluttering violently in the wind. But on the contrary, the hat itself was protected from being blown away by wind pressure.

Under the goggles was a youthful face. Large eyes and features gave a tough impression, but right now that face was wearing an expression of fatigue.

The motorrad spoke to its rider.

"Seriously, I don't know what you're thinking right now, Kino. You have food, so you should just eat."

The rider, one who was referred to as Kino, replied.

"With a country already in sight, I just can't bring myself to eat portable rations."

Beyond the road they were proceeding down, a vague image of a town's outer wall could be seen.

"Besides, survival foods are things for eating as a last resort."

At that moment, the front wheel hit a bump in the road, throwing the motorrad off-balance once more. Kino corrected it in a panic.

"Uwah!"

"Sorry, Hermes."

Kino throttled down slightly. The motorrad, referred to as Hermes, grumbled.

"Jeez. We don't even know if that country is going to have food or not. What do you plan to do if it's deserted?"

"Let's see, when that time comes..."

"When that time comes?"

"Then that time comes."

===

Reaching the outer wall, Kino brought Hermes to a standstill. In front of the rampart was a moat, with a drawbridge extending across.

Noticing a small building just before the bridge, Kino dismounted. Hermes staggered immediately, making Kino realize that the kickstand had yet to be dropped down. Unable to hold Hermes up due to lack of energy, both of them collapsed to the left side just like that.

"Oh, the horror! To think the mighty Kino has fallen over. Now, hurry and get me up, c'mon!"

Hermes, now lying down to the side, spoke in a genuinely astounded tone. Kino immediately raised Hermes up, but stopped in the middle of the movement.

"What's up?"

Hermes asked. Kino answered in a thin voice.

"Hungry, no energy..."

"And that's why I told you to eat when you're supposed to... Listen up, Kino, I already told you many times that riding motorrads is a sport. Not on the level of bicycles, but quite a lot of your energy will be drained just by riding along. You'll run out of strength before you know it, and your mind will go all numb. When that happens, you won't even be able to do normally mundane tasks. As a result, you'll easily make mistakes which leads to accidents... Hello? Kino, you listening?"

===

There was nobody in the building.

Instead, a large vending machine-like apparatus was there. It activated the moment Kino entered, asking several simple questions then almost immediately granting clearance to enter the country. The drawbridge lowered.

"Now that was quick."

Hermes, leaned on the kickstand, said as Kino returned.

"It's strange."

Kino mounted and started the engine.

"What is?"

"There wasn't a single person in there. Just a machine."

Kino took off with Hermes, crossing the bridge.

"Maybe we won't be seeing anyone when we get into town either."

Hermes said jokingly.

And those words proved to be true.

===

"You ate?"

"I ate."

Kino answered with satisfaction, returning to Hermes who had been parked in front of the building.

"Anyone in there?"

"No one."

Kino gave a short response, mounted Hermes, then looked around.

There was a single paved road, with several one-story buildings erected on both sides. The building Kino just came out from had a sign saying "restaurant".

Along the roadside were spacious walkways, with streetlights and trees lined uniformly. Slightly ahead is a crossroad, complete with traffic lights. The path ran straight. Beyond it is a forest. The was nothing but green to be seen.

To their backs was the country's wall they had just passed through, its ends in either direction unseen. Even by looking from here, one would know that the town was extremely large and flat.

"No one was in there, but food was served?"

"Yeah. The machines took care of everything. Delicious stuff."

"Strange town."

===

A short time before, when Kino and Hermes first entered the country, there was no one there. The town was elegant, its roads well-maintained. However, humans were nowhere to be seen.

It was then that a car approached, stopping in front of Kino and Hermes. The door opened, but no one came out of it. Instead, another machine appeared, and after saying its welcomes to the town's visitors, presented them with a map of the country. As Kino accepted it, the car closed its door and drove off.

First of all, Kino looked for a place to get food. Spotting a restaurant nearby, Kino entered alone and found no one in there either. But the interior was spacious and kept thoroughly clean.

What came to Kino's reception was a machine comprising of a computer with an arm attached, placed on a wheelchair; it also took the orders. Kino ordered a menu that resembled spaghetti, a steak of some unknown meat, and some fruit with a never before seen color. After a while, a machine brought out the food, and so Kino ate. The money was then paid to another machine.

The price was ridiculously cheap.

Then, while exiting, a machine also came to see its customer off.

===

Looking at an information board nearby, Kino searched for a place to refuel Hermes. As ever, they saw no one. Although they did come across another vehicle on the way, when they caught up, it turned out to be an unmanned garbage truck. At a deserted gas station, Kino filled Hermes' tank. It cost next to nothing.

They then searched for a hotel. When they got to one, no one was there either.

The hotel was extravagant, kept thoroughly clean both in and out, its marble hall shining brilliantly. The machine enshrined on the front desk handled all businesses briskly. The price was also cheap here.

Kino pushed Hermes into their room. Never before had Kino ever seen a room this magnificent. Kino asked the guide machine if this was the right room, whether or not there was a mistake in rank, if it knew that its customer wasn't a king, and had it acknowledge that the price won't be paid if they were to demand a large sum of payment later, confirming the answers over and over again.

"Damn cheapskate."

Hermes said, absent-mindedly.

Kino took a shower in the unnecessarily spacious bathroom, then got a change of underwear and shirt. Initially intending to do laundry, Kino then noticed that the hotel also had a washing service and decided to try them out. As expected, a machine came to take the clothes and said it will be done by tomorrow morning before leaving.

Kino and Hermes then took the map they had received earlier and spread it out on the carpet.

The hotel they're currently in is located in the area designated as [East Gate: Shopping District], which is the closest to the country's gate they came in from. The country was circular, and boasted a size so large that they had previously rode through only a fraction of it.

In the country's center was a circular area colored thinly in red, designated as [Center: Governmental Area]. To the south was a fairly large lake, colored in light blue. To the country's northern outskirts was an area colored in light brown, designated as [Factories and Research Institutes].

Everything else was the [Residential Area], colored in light green. It covered no less than half of the country's area.

"Hey, people do live here."

"All these machines were created, and everything is still in perfect working order. Of course there are people here. At least it probably won't be like that place earlier, where there was only one person remaining."

"Then, why do you think we haven't seen anyone?"

"Let's see, some plausible reasons are... Like, they can't come outside because of some religious reasons, it's a holiday, or it's their afternoon nap time. Or it might be that they just don't live around here."

"Meaning... They're all in the residential area?"

"Probably."

"Alright! Let's go check it out, Kino!"

Hermes' voice was raised in excitement, but Kino refused with a shake of the head,

"No, not today. If we go now, we won't get back before sunset. I don't want to ride at night, even while in town. Besides,"

"Besides?"

"I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep."

"What? Normally you'd still be up around this time."

While Hermes was saying that, Kino unholstered the persuaders, held them and the jacket in hand, and walked unsteadily toward the bed.

"I normally am, sure... But you see, Hermes, when I see a clean bed, I just can't help but want to lay down. That, and I'm also starting to feel sleepy..."

Saying just that, Kino draped the jacket across the bed's foot, and tucked the persuaders under the pillow. Crashing onto the fluffy comforter, Kino muttered "Such bliss," and immediately fell asleep.

"Damn cheapskate."

Hermes said, absent-mindedly.

===

The next day, Kino woke at the break of dawn.

In the room's mailbox was the laundry that had been sent off yesterday. All of them were as good as new.

Kino then started the maintenance of both hand persuaders.

The semi-automatic persuader holstered to the hip belt's backside, Kino called it 'Woodsman'. Utilizing .22 LR bullets, it was a persuader of thin silhouette. The bullets may not hold significant destructive force, but the long barrel and moderate weight gave it good aiming precision.

Kino removed the bullets from the Woodsman's magazine, fitted them into another magazine, then reloaded.

The persuader holstered to its owner's thigh, nicknamed 'Canon', was a single-action revolver. By single-action, it meant the hammer had to be cocked with each shot. Ones that are shot by just pulling the trigger were called double-action.

Canon did not use a magazine. Instead, gunpowder and bullets were loaded directly into the cylinder. Therefore, reloading it would have to involve inserting into each chamber the gunpowder, bullets, and placing percussion caps, all by hand. The percussion caps were inserted with a small amount of gunpowder; they were to be placed on the back of the cylinder and would ignite when struck by the hammer.

Kino exchanged the Canon's loaded cylinder for an empty one and practiced quick-draw, again and again.

After that, Kino took a shower.

Going to the restaurant near the lobby, a buffet-style meal had been prepared, laid out on the tables for Kino alone.

A machine prepared its frying pan, stating that it could make any kind of omelette.

Before all else, Kino made sure to confirm whether or not the meal was included in the hotel fee.

After eating as if it was a whole day's filling, Kino returned to the room and rested a while to let the food digest.

Then, when the sun had risen high, Kino knocked Hermes awake. All of the luggage were loaded onto Hermes, and they were checked out of the hotel. Following the map, they headed for the residential area.

===

The 'residential area' was more or less a forest. It was densely packed with thick trees, with several streams running through. Birdsong echoed throughout, and the moderate moisture gave a refreshing feel to the air.

Kino rode Hermes down a narrow, unpaved road.

Every so often, they would come across houses. All were of the same style: a sprawling one-story house; it was as if they had been built to be hidden in the forest. They were uniformly located at a considerable distance from their neighbors.

For a while, Kino and Hermes headed down the forest road to see if they would meet anybody. But they met no one.

Kino then parked Hermes at a spot where the houses could be seen. Abandoned houses would surely have a cold ambience to them, but that was not the case for the ones here. They felt warm and lived-in, just like houses found in any other country.

They kept watch for a while, but no signs of people were seen. As it would be rude to stay there for an extended period of time, Kino and Hermes took off.

Not finding any sign of people in the end, they got out of there and made for the center of town, designated [Center: Governmental Area].

The scene shifted from forest to buildings, the road widened and paved. As ever, they saw no one. Although they went after a moving vehicle, but once again, it turned out to be an unmanned garbage truck.

Kino and Hermes entered one of the tall buildings. They took the elevator up to the top floor, and were brought to an observation deck where one could see all in the country's circumference.

While on the observation deck, kept thoroughly clean and devoid of people, Kino and Hermes surveyed the town. They could see a thin outline of the country's wall in the distance, and greenery spreading far and wide, all according to the map.

The neighboring building also showed no signs of human life in it. Only machines of various shapes and sizes, cleaning diligently.

Kino took out a sniping scope out from the luggage. As the magnification was being adjusted, the houses in the forest were being peeked into.

"Now that's not very admirable."

Hermes grumbled.

After a while,

"Found one. It's a person."

Kino said, eyes still not taken off the scope.

"Really? For real?"

Hermes' voice raised.

"Yeah, one person in front of a house. An ordinary man. Exercising... There's also another person, outside a different house. A middle-aged woman. In the garden... Wonder what she's doing... Ah, she went inside. There's another house with lights on in one of the rooms."

At this point, Kino had stopped peeking and put the scope back in the luggage.

"I told you. There are people here."

"Hm. The houses from before gave that impression, too. But still, how come we didn't find anybody before?"

Kino sat down on the observation deck's bench, then responded to Hermes' question.

"That, I don't know. At first, I thought they just found us travelers to be unusual or scary. But..."

"But?"

"If that were true, then you'd think they'd be meeting up with fellow residents and have fun together. This town shows no signs of them being in any kind of companionship. Absolutely no one goes outside. It's like everyone is shutting themselves away in their homes."

Kino looked out the window once more. The streets were clean and well-maintained. A residential area in the forest, fully in-tune with nature. As a country, this one was by far the best Kino had seen in terms of functionality.

"I wonder why?"

Kino murmured.

After that, Kino and Hermes headed for the [Factories and Research Institutes] area, then had a tour through a fully automated factory. The guide, who gave thorough explanations, was a machine, as expected.

Kino asked the machine why they never met anyone in this country, but it did not give an answer.

In the evening, before it got dark, Kino and Hermes returned to the hotel they had stayed at the previous night. They could have looked for a different hotel, but Kino insisted on returning all the way to the east gate, because the breakfast was delicious.

They met no one on the way.

===

The next morning, Kino ate to the point of being fully stuffed.

After filling up Hermes' tank and stocking up on portable rations, the two made their way through the town, headed west. The intention was to leave the country through its west gate.

The sound of Hermes' engine echoed through the morning forest. Kino didn't want to make too much noise in the residential area, but it simply couldn't be helped. The engine's spinning was kept as quiet as possible as they rode along.

Reaching a gentle slope in the forest, Kino cut Hermes' engine at the top, descending the hill road as it is.

Each time a house was seen, Kino would peer at it to see if there is anyone, but there was never anyone to be seen. They reached the slope's bottom after a while, and Hermes was carried slightly further by the momentum before coming to a stop.

Kino was about to start Hermes' engine up once more. It was then that a clanking sound could be heard, and so Kino looked around.

A short distance away from the road was a neat patch of grass, seemingly part of a house's garden. One man sat there, tinkering with a machine.

As his concentration was on repairing the machine, he hadn't noticed Kino and Hermes. In a whisper, Hermes spoke,

"Ooh. It's the first time we've seen a person here this up close."

As if a rare animal had been discovered.

Kino pushed Hermes along and approached quietly, then called out to the man,

"Good morning."

"Uwaah!"

The man sprang up in surprise, turning around to face Kino and Hermes. He was about thirty years of age and wore black-framed glasses. A bewildered expression appeared on his face, as if he had just seen a ghost. Then, he started speaking,

"Wh-whwhwhwhwhwhwha- Wha-"

The man spoke inarticulately.

"Are you alright? Sorry for startling you."

Kino said.

"Whwhwhw- whwhwho-- Whehehe- Whwhewhen-"

The man's words were unintelligible. And so Hermes said,

"Kino, I think it's a foreign language? Maybe he was formally introducing himself. Sir Whhoo Whehen, was it?"

"No, I don't think it was..."

"Y-y-y-you two..."

As the man was somehow able to say just that, Hermes then said,

"Oh? You were right."

"Y-y-you two don't know what I'm thinking right now?"

The man suddenly exclaimed as he pointed at Kino and Hermes.

"Huh?"

Hermes gave a blunt reply. Kino's head tilted in confusion.

The man then recovered from his panic attack so suddenly. He calmed down instantly, his face showing an expression of tremendous happiness, way beyond what a neutral expression would be. In a loud voice, he asked again to be sure.

"You two! You don't know what I'm thinking right now?"

"No, I don't. I do understand what you are saying though."

Kino said, calmly.

"But of course! I can't 'hear' your thoughts either! ...Ahh, wonderful! Wonderful! So you two are travelers? That's right! That must be it! H-h-h-h-how about we have some tea together! D-don't tell me you're already leaving? Please, I beg of you!"

"We can delay our departure for a bit... If you don't mind, could you please tell us why the people in this country never leave their houses?"

To the question, the man nodded eagerly, then ran up to Kino and shouted.

"Ah- Of course! I'll tell you everything!"

===

A short way down the narrow forest road was the man's house.

Kino and Hermes were led to a spacious, well-lit room. The wooden table and chairs had stylish designs. Beyond the large, curved window was a well-maintained garden in the woods. Flowers of vivid colors and several types of herb-like grasses were arranged neatly.

15 Likes And Ill Post Part 2