So that's Ship Country, huh?
It's more like a floating island than a ship.
Ship Country
A bazaar?
Apparently they trade like that as they travel along the coast.
I've decided.
I'm a little worried, but let's cross the ocean.
Okay, Riku?
You don't need my permission, Shizu.
Kino's Journey
Ship Country
We're glad you could join us, traveler.
We are the ones who govern this country: the Tower Clan.
How far will you be going with us?
To the western continent, please.
That's perfect.
This country travels along the coast,
then heads to sea for five days.
We should reach the western continent in about fifteen days.
If you'll work for us,
we'll provide you with food and a room with the same lovely view we have.
What work?
Overseeing the people and maintaining public order.
It's all right if you rough them up a bit.
Lately they've been growing audacious,
making demands and calling them "petitions."
Alternatively, you can join the people and do manual labor.
Which would you prefer?
I'll have the same lifestyle and labor as the common people, then.
What?
I can't believe it.
What's the meaning of this?
That better suits a humble man like me.
Please, eat up.
I hope you like it.
It's very good.
I'm glad to hear it.
I've lived a long life, believe it or not.
I'll be 55 soon,
but I've never met anyone as kind as you.
Most travelers choose the job of strictly overseeing us.
I'll introduce you to your guide sent by the Tower.
This is Tifana. Call her Ti.
Is this my room?
Thank you.
Goodnight, Ti.
It's a decent, quiet room.
Guess it's lights out.
Let's call it a night. Goodnight, Riku.
Goodnight, Shizu.
I hope there's a country we can settle down in on the next continent.
Boy, I'm full!
Well, now we've eaten breakfast.
Time to work hard today.
What do we do now?
I'd like you to show me where there's work to be done.
If there's none, then could you show me as much as you can of the area?
Where are we going?
Why is someone who doesn't talk our guide?
Who knows?
How cute!
Oh, he's smiling!
I was born with this face.
Hello, traveler.
Hello.
Welcome to our home.
Good morning, Ti.
Good morning.
Is there any work today?
Tomorrow, then? I'll help with anything.
This might be more boring than I expected.
Only five days, huh?
Elder, another traveler's come aboard.
This one went to the Tower, though.
What a bother.
It's starting to shake.
What's that?
That sound...
Ti, how is this country... no, how is this ship built?
Is there anywhere I can learn more about that?
It's flooding...
If there are other places like this...
This is...
Ti, I want you to point out in order places that are flooded like that last room,
and then anywhere that's too wrecked to enter.
Can you do that?
This is...
If my count is right, that's 143 locations.
What do you think, Riku?
This country, or rather this ship, has lost the functionality it once had.
They've left the worn and broken parts alone instead of repairing them. So...
Eventually, it'll start to fall apart.
One can assume so.
It's raining...
You like this sound?
Then I'll listen to it with you.
Kino's Journey
Forgive my asking, but are you sure it's all right not to fix the flooded areas?
There's no need to worry, Shizu.
The Tower Clan is aware of everything.
I see.
Then do you have enough food?
It seems like it's difficult to obtain anything other than fish here.
You truly are kind, Shizu.
Do not worry. We're living happy lives. We always have.
And we will from now on, as well.
This is...
It's very pretty.
It certainly is.
Like we're flying through the sky.
Thank you. This is a beautiful sight.
It gave me a wonderful opportunity to relax a bit.
I'd like you to wait in our room today.
There's a chance this may get dangerous.
Now, then...
Traveler, stop right there.
We need to talk.
Do you hear that sound?
This country has structural defects that cannot be overlooked.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this,
as one of those in charge of the lives of the people here.
I have no thoughts on the matter.
This country is governed by us,
so the land and people here are ours.
Whatever happens to anyone is their own fate.
I understand your stance now.
Rest assured. I won't be taking your life.
You're not bad.
I'm surprised.
I'm surprised, too.
You're... Kino?!
Could you please go back?
I refuse.
Kino, why have you stopped fighting?
Are you two friends?
Were you plotting this from the beginning?
No, not exactly...
I have changed the country's course.
We won't reach the continent for a while.
What? Hold on a minute.
You two can live with the people until you die.
Kino, don't take their lives!
Don't worry. I know it wouldn't do to reduce their population...
So they're all rubber bullets.
Kino, when did you enter this country?
About five days ago.
And you... uh...
What was your name again?
It's Shizu.
Oh, right.
And you're Riku, right?
A back route?
Let's go around them.
Please surrender.
Shizu, what do you plan to do after taking this country ashore?
At the very least, I'll be able to save these people from their tragic circumstances.
If this continues, they'll all die.
Are you planning to become this country's king?
If need be.
Very well.
Then you shall be next.
Live together.
What?
Thank you for everything, Ti.
You don't have to follow me anymore.
Shizu!
What in the world is going on?
I could not tolerate the tyrannical ways of the Tower Clan,
so I spoke with them, then fought them.
They all boarded another ship and fled to another country.
They're not part of this country anymore.
From this point on, you can live your lives freely on land.
Let's go back.
It doesn't shake at all here.
It feels weird.
There's no future for you if you return to your old lives.
The ship country is going to sink!
Maybe not right away, but in the next few years—
You can't fool us with such lies!
There's no way our country would sink after it's floated so well all these years!
Yeah!
A traveler could never understand the love we feel for our country!
I see...
Then there's nothing more for me to say.
I failed.
You should return to your country, too.
What's wrong?
If you don't hurry back, they'll leave without y—
I don't have anywhere to return to.
Shizu!
Wait!
That girl is Tifana, right?
Now I get it.
How do you know that?
The black robe in the warehouse told me,
as a favor to a fellow non-human.
He told me about who they really are, and about that girl.
There was once a ship named Tifana.
About 600 years ago, it drifted into this abandoned, deserted country.
The only passengers aboard were a few hundred young children.
Apparently all of the adults had died from some new kind of plague.
So they descended from those children?
Yeah.
And the artificial intelligences on board, the machines controlling Tifana,
transferred themselves to the ship country and became the Tower Clan.
Because something had to govern all those people?
Leave it to a former prince to catch on!
The machines became the elite,
organized the people, and tried to keep them alive.
Then they could've just landed the country on shore.
Apparently they considered that several times.
But the people didn't know how to live on land.
Plus, as machines, the Tower Clan didn't think they could protect them from other countries.
So that's why he said I'd be next...
What about Ti?
That girl isn't part of the original ship country.
A traveling couple gave birth to her there.
Then...
They abandoned her.
The black robes gave the baby the name of their drifting ship,
and raised her with care.
But since she wasn't related to anyone by blood, the people rejected her
and refused to be involved with her.
Ti...
I'm sorry.
Even if I didn't know all that, what I said to you was cruel.
But...
I won't abandon you.
Let's support each other from now on.
Th-Thank you.
You don't need to thank me.
But...
you're welcome.
It's farewell to that country for both of us.
From now on, you... and I... will...
No...
Don't leave me.
No...
She's planning to kill herself with him.
Don't!
Ship Country
A Journey's Beginning and End on the Shore
Kino.
Thank you for everything.
What?
I feel like I haven't had a chance to thank you yet.
So thank you.
You're welcome.
All's well that sends well.
Ends well?
Yeah, that.
Well, may we meet again.
May we meet again.
As long as I continue traveling,
I'm sure I'll visit wherever you settle down someday.
I'll happily welcome you when that time comes.
By the way, Kino...
Hmm?
If we ever see that man again in the future, then...
Yeah, he might be surprised to death.
Country of Liars
Country of Liars.