Kino's Journey
This is his memorial hall.
I see.
I personally think it's a bit too modest to display his greatness.
But in life, he hated grandeur, so we chose to express his way of life
by turning the home he retired to into this memorial hall.
He was a great man who saved this country, after all.
Absolutely!
So he was originally a traveler like my myself
who happened upon this country?
He was.
However, it wasn't happenstance!
It was destiny!
Yes.
He was drawn to the beauty of this country and decided to take up residence here.
Afterward, he used his abundant knowledge and experience to help the people,
eventually overthrowing our old, corrupt government,
becoming our first president, and leading this country down the proper path!
I see.
So what kind of things are memorialized here?
That's something to look forward to once we're inside.
Please, take your time and look around.
It's an ordinary house.
Shush.
Is there something over there, too?
Yes!
We've memorialized the items he used when he was a traveler.
That sounds interesting.
This way, please.
First, there's this.
The trowel he used for gardening.
He always kept this hanging from the side of his travel bags.
Why do you think that is?
Uh...
It's because he really loved flowers!
He used this trowel on his travels to plant flower seeds.
You can be certain that's true!
That's for using the bathroom, isn't it?
To dig holes when you have to take a dump.
You don't need to say it.
Isn't this engraved knife beautiful?
He always kept this knife close to him.
Kino, that knife...
It's the cheap souvenir called "The Lucky Knife" that was being sold
It must have been a present from someone dear to him.
in another country we passed through.
Yeah.
Someone actually used one of those?
Maybe it really was lucky.
Hm? What was?
Oh, nothing. Your story's very interesting.
Isn't it?
They're all wonderful items that show
his greatness, benevolence, and abundant wisdom.
And this was his favorite helmet.
Helmet?
He used this when riding his vehicle, right?
Exactly.
Then...
That's right.
We have the motorrad he rode stored in the back room.
What do you think?
He traveled the world on this very motorrad.
Just like you, Kino.
I see.
It's actually my first time seeing another motorrad.
Well, imagine that!
He continued using this to get around every day, even after moving to our country.
After he passed,
the council unanimously decided to preserve this precious motorrad forever.
Our best mechanic performs maintenance on it,
keeping it in condition to drive at any time.
It will forever remain here in this spot as a testament to his greatness.
Does this motorrad speak? Like Hermes?
Yes. It's said that it used to talk frequently, long ago.
However, it must have been saddened by his passing.
It hasn't spoken to anyone since then.
Is that so?
Hey, guide lady, would you mind stepping out for a moment?
It might say something to us.
Oh, that would be exciting!
If it does say anything, please tell me.
Maybe I just can't hear motorrad?
How nice.
It is nice, isn't it?
How nice.
Do you get to run every day?
It is nice. Kino drives me almost every day.
This place... is hell.
I bet.
Motorrads were born to be ridden.
We exist to be ridden.
Not to be on display.
That is hell.
Hey, human...
Please get me out of here.
Ride me.
Drive me.
I can't do that.
Then at least smash me to pieces with your own hands.
I can't do that, either.
If I did, I'd be hated by the people of this country,
and they'd beat me to pieces next.
That would be a problem for me, too.
Kino's planning to leave this country by tomorrow evening.
I see.
I see...
I see.
Hey!
Be safe! And good luck on your travels!
Thank you.
Um, how did you get started traveling?
My reason for starting was rather violent,
but thinking back...
It's probably because I wanted to do it even when no one was ordering me to.
What can I do to become a traveler like you?
Can I become a traveler the same way you did?
My father and mother tell me it's a foolish dream.
That I'm going to inherit our inn.
But I want to go outside!
I want to be a traveler.
I wouldn't know.
But there's more than one way to be one.
You know the first president's motorrad is in the memorial hall, right?
You should try asking that motorrad the same question.
You never know. It might answer you.
It can talk?
Why not give it try?
All right!
Tale of a Traveler
So cool...
Kino's Journey
There's only one gate travelers can use.
When you leave the country, return through here.
Sure.
Hey!
What's this about?
No idea.
Hey, traveler.
Have you seen my lover in any country you've passed through?
Did you hear anything about me from her?
Did she give you a message for me?
I see.
Five years ago, my lover suddenly insisted she had to go on a journey for some reason.
But she promised she would return,
so I've been waiting for her all this time.
You'll catch a cold if you go out dressed like that.
It's already cold out.
Yeah, sorry.
But I thought my lover might have come back.
It wasn't her.
What a shame.
Oh, this is my housekeeper.
She does very good work and helps me out a lot.
Come on, let's head back.
Will it be much longer?
Do you think it'll still be a while before she returns?
I'm sure she'll come home someday.
What a strange country.
Yeah, I've never heard of such a thing.
A country moving on caterpillar tracks, huh?
We rarely get travelers out here.
Is that so?
Traveler, is there anything you'd like to ask us?
We met a man in the woods by the gate.
What's his deal?
He's, well... a man deserving of deep pity.
I should be the one to tell his story.
Yeah, that's best.
Hello, traveler.
Hello.
I've been his friend for over ten years now.
I work for the government now.
Five years ago, there was a revolution in this country.
Before that, it was ruled by a tyrannical king.
At the time, that man was a policeman like I was.
He was one of the leaders of the revolution.
He led the squad in charge of raiding the palace and eliminating the royal family.
I joined under him.
He had a lover back then.
A farmer's daughter from the outskirts of the country
that he met while she was selling vegetables in the city.
That was one year before the revolution.
She was a beautiful woman with long hair.
They got along quite well, and I was certain they would marry.
But...
But the revolution was nigh.
I learned they parted right after the operation date was determined.
He might have died, and he couldn't tell her what he was doing.
Apparently he forced their parting a bit.
He told me, "I lied to her."
I see.
So then the revolution succeeded.
Yes, it did.
We stormed the palace.
The king was trying to escape with his family by car.
He hurled a grenade at them and blasted the whole car away.
He was an incredibly brave man.
And the revolution succeeded.
But we saw it.
There in the car was...
The princess in her dress...
It was his lover.
What?
She was the princess.
She'd been sneaking out into the city.
So that man's lover is no longer in this world?
He couldn't handle the fact that he loved the princess he should've hated,
or that he killed her with his own hands.
He completely lost his mind after that.
He should have become a key figure in the new government as one of our heroes...
But he suddenly came around asking, "Where did she go?"
Unable to bear it, a doctor told him,
"Your lover has left on a journey, but she'll return to you one day, so wait for her."
He lied.
In this country, the average citizen isn't allowed outside the walls.
But he even forgot this long-accepted rule
and started living in the woods, saying he'd wait for her.
And that's how it's been for the past five years.
The new government built him a home
and hired someone to take care of him.
But few have been able to last long with him.
Most pity him too much to keep up the lie.
What about the current one?
She was a traveler.
We found her on the verge of collapse three years ago.
As an outsider who didn't know much about it,
we thought she was a perfect fit and hired her.
I see.
Since then, she's done her job well.
However, he hasn't shown any signs of improvement.
He likely never will.
Maybe that's best for him.
That's why we lie to him, our hero,
and why we'll keep lying to him.
He'll wait until the day he dies for a lover who'll never return.
Kino, your turn.
Oh, well.
I'll get dirty at some point anyway.
Hup!
Good work, Kino.
I truly thank you.
It's okay.
Hey, you were a traveler too, right?
How do you...
A man in town told us yesterday.
I see.
Well, we'll be on our way.
Later.
Wait!
May I offer you some tea as my thanks?
What an interesting aroma.
What is this tea?
I don't know for sure, but it's good tea.
It's delicious.
It is good.
Hey, traveler, you'll be going to all kinds of places, right?
If you happen to meet my lover...
Yes, I'll be sure to tell her
that you're waiting.
Please, and thank you.
Oh, I wonder if there's someone at the gate.
I thought I heard an engine running.
I-It might be my lover!
I'm heading over!
Please put on your jacket!
I'll be fine!
Are you sure about that?
I didn't hear any engine noise.
Yes. I couldn't take my time talking to you two while he was around.
Now he'll be gone for a while.
I'm happy with this.
My siblings safely escaped to a neighboring country,
and are living happy, leisurely lives.
And I get to live alongside the man I love.
Are you the former princess of this country?
I get it. That is nice.
Go on, please.
I was born the princess of this country.
One day our spies reported news of a coming revolution,
and I made contact with that man.
I gave my father all the trustworthy information I heard
so we could escape with our assets before the revolution.
Uh-huh.
But at some point, I came to love that man who loved me as a mere farmer's daughter.
But that came to an end, as well.
That man brought me the decisive information.
The moment he parted with you without saying why, right?
You learned the revolution was nigh.
Yes.
Our doubles fulfilled their duty, and all went according to plan.
I tried to force myself to forget about that man.
But you returned.
I learned many things from our spies in the neighboring country.
I learned that man had killed "me" and taken ill.
I also learned they needed someone to take care of him.
I debated it for a long time, and this was the answer I came to.
I see.
But I worked very hard to be here.
I had to persuade my parents, become a traveler...
And once I entered this country, I had to arrange it so I'd be hired as his housekeeper.
What did he say when you were reunited?
He told me this:
"Yes, I'm happy to have you until she returns to me."
I was very happy.
Really?
Yes.
I still love that man, and he's still waiting for me.
Plus, I get to be by his side this way.
I've been lying to that man since the first time I met him.
And I'll probably live out my life with the man I love, still lying to him.
I'm...
happy.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Yeah, thanks.
It wasn't her.
It was just the generator running at the gate.
No one came.
Is that so?
When? When will she come back to me?
I don't know when,
but I'm sure she'll come home someday.
I'm scared.
Could it be she's forgotten all about me?
No, she would never forget you. Never.
They're leaving.
Do you think they'll pass my message on to her?
I'm sure it'll be fine.
I hear an engine!
Someone's here again!
That's probably just Hermes—
Well, what should I make for lunch?
Country of Liars
Kino, hold up. Behind us.
Let go of me!
Hey!
Traveler! Please wait!
There's something I'd like to tell you.
A message for your lover?
No, I wanted you two to know something else before you left.
I want it to be this way.
I'm happy.
I don't want to ruin anything anymore.
Not my friend's way of life as a spy for the royal family...
Not the feelings of those kind people who don't know anything.
Not the new system we created for this country after the revolution.
And... not my life with my lover who really wasn't just using me.
I don't want to ruin any of that.
I want it this way.
You...
You're a liar.
Everyone in this country is a liar.
Well then, goodbye.
I'm heading back.
Goodbye.
May you both fare well.
Later, hero.
Give our regards to your housekeeper.
Ready to go?
Yeah.
Country of Liars
In the Clouds
In the Clouds.