She's at it again.
I'm all right now.
Once we finish getting ready, let's leave right away.
What about Ti?
I'm glad we've got a buggy.
Kino's Journey
I can see it.
Looks like we won't have to make dinner ourselves.
Country of Radio Waves
Now, I'd like you to know something.
Our goal isn't to go around seeing different countries.
In other words, we're not traveling for the sake of pleasure.
I'm searching for a country where I can settle down and live quietly.
I'd like to be of use to others in my own way.
I don't know what this country is like yet.
But I plan to learn.
For now, it doesn't seem like a bad place.
The food is good, too.
Our shopping took the whole day, though.
Starting tomorrow, I'd like to look around this country
without any presumptions or prejudices.
If anything sticks out to you, please tell me.
While we should remain vigilant,
for now we're just guests staying in this land.
So be mindful of your behavior.
You have to refrain from suddenly doing anything that might hurt someone.
Understand?
Uh-huh.
Excuse me.
What's the matter?
Is this the road into the city?
It sure is. You a traveler?
Yes. I arrived just yesterday.
Here you go.
Right off the vine.
Thank you very much.
How'd it go?
The people in the office were kind enough to explain things.
This country's representative is chosen through impartial election,
and their economy's stable.
Is that so?
Plus, they're accepting immigrants.
All that matters is that you find a job and pay your taxes.
That's rare.
Yeah, it can cause all kinds of problems, like with public order.
That's why most countries don't accept outsiders.
This is just my impression from today alone...
But this is a pretty normal country.
That's actually impressive, since it takes
so much effort from everyone living in a country to keep it running normally.
You like it, then?
Yeah.
I don't think it'd be bad to try living here for a while.
Let's leave the hotel tomorrow and check out another town.
Hey, Mama!
What is it?
It's cute!
How nice.
Shizu!
S-Somebody call the police! The police!
What are you doing?
Why are you covered in blood and carrying a head?
Shut up. You want to die, too?
Die, all of you.
I'll... kill all of you.
Seems that man worked at an academy nearby.
We believe the remains found at the scene...
belongs to one of his students.
Yes.
We're heading to the academy for confirmation.
Everyone's dead.
We're grateful for your cooperation, traveler.
If you hadn't stopped that man,
there would have been even more victims.
Incidents like this occur once every few years in this country.
These things happen when many people live together.
No, it's all the fault of those radio waves.
That man will be isolated in the hospital to undergo treatment.
What do you mean?
He won't be tried for his crimes?
This country has a bit of a sad history.
It was formed long ago, when a great number of slaves were brought together.
The rulers implanted tiny machines into the slaves' heads to control them.
Machines?
Radio waves were transmitted to the machines,
which received them like radios and controlled the people.
We have records of this.
Then, a few centuries ago, for reasons still unknown,
the slaves were suddenly freed, and that brings us to today.
How does this relate to the current incident?
This was all because of those machines and their radio waves.
The radio outposts still remain, randomly sending out bad signals.
Those unlucky enough to receive the transmissions
cause such incidents against their will.
That man is a victim, as well.
We cannot punish him for that.
But are these machines, or their functions, passed down to the next generation?
Are you a biologist or something?
A doctor? A physicist?
I'm none of those.
Then your question is a bit off the mark.
It's just historical fact.
Then wouldn't the problem be resolved if you destroyed the radio outposts?
That's impossible.
The waves just grow stronger the closer you get, until it drives you mad.
All we're able to do is permanently seal off the area and prohibit entry.
I see.
Then allow me to take on that job for you.
Shizu?
What?
Why did you propose destroying the radio outposts?
You don't believe in these radio waves, right?
It would be one thing if the machines were in their heads,
but for it to continue multiple generations later...
However, it is possible the outposts are still operating on generators.
If we destroy them completely and take photographic evidence,
that should be a relief to the people of this nation.
They'll commend us, too.
That'll be advantageous later.
Well, that, too.
This must be the place.
Thank you, that's enough.
This should be plenty of evidence.
Shizu, will you blow it up?
That'd be a waste of explosives.
Kino's Journey
Traveler!
Were you able to destroy the radio outpost?
Could you tell us what the forbidden region was like?
Why did you decide to fight against the radio waves?
How was the radio outpost?
There was indeed a radio outpost there.
Oh! And?
It was completely broken down.
It hasn't been functional for several decades, possibly longer.
Th-That's impossible!
So this idea that the country's citizens are being manipulated by radio waves
is absolutely false.
Unfortunately, all the incidents you've witnessed have been criminal acts
caused by people themselves.
Why?
No...
That can't be...
No, it can't be!
Now you all can rest easy—
That's impossible!
You're saying those terrible incidents weren't caused by radio wave influence?!
Don't lie to us!
But you can see the current condition of the outpost yourself.
I get it!
These are all forgeries!
That means you... You've been influenced by the radio waves?!
I am under no such influence.
Just think about—
Don't lie!
He's dangerous!
He's been possessed by the radio waves!
Capture both of them and their pet!
We need to get them to the hospital and isolate them quickly!
I haven't been influenced by the radio waves.
Ti?
What are you doing?!
Stop it! Give him back!
What? What's going on?!
Give me back my baby!
Wait!
Someone stop her!
Give him back!
What are you doing?!
The safety pin's pulled out!
No! Please, don't!
Not my baby!
We will not allow anyone to get in our way.
Ti, you shouldn't be doing things like this.
Give me back my boy!
Look! That girl's been influenced by the radio waves!
I don't care.
Don't get in our way.
Chief, this is it for us.
We're about to lose our minds from the radio waves.
Wh-What?!
If we stay here any longer, there's no telling what we'll do.
Maybe something even more terrible than what that man did!
So we're leaving the country.
Please don't stop us.
Wait!
That doesn't mean you need to take a baby hostage!
In that case...
We'll take you in exchange.
Huh?
Thank goodness.
Ti, could you hand me that?
Where's the safety pin for this one?
I threw it away.
Don't you ever come back to our country.
Don't come near us.
I understand.
Let me say one last thing.
What?
About that radio outpost...
The broken one in our pictures was the old outpost,
but the new outpost is operating perfectly.
I knew it!
We were right!
Also, we set the radio wave output of the new outpost to maximum.
Your people should feel its influence by tomorrow or so.
You, your friends, and every last citizen of this country will all go crazy.
We lied to you, planning to take over this country in the confusion, but we've failed.
Farewell.
How do think the chief took those parting words, Shizu?
Assuming nothing happens from tomorrow on,
do you think he'll believe that there really are no more radio waves influencing people?
Who knows?
If only everything were transmitted as easily as radio waves.
Country of Radio Waves
Take care of things for me.
Right.
The crime rate is high in this country,
so let's leave quickly once I finish my work.
Yeah.
Make sure you're careful.
Right.
Good morning.
Uh, Shizu is out earning money.
I'll be spending the day with you instead.
Do you understand?
Wha...
...ning.
Mor... ning?
Ti's Day
You shouldn't eat it like that.
Poison?
No, it's not that.
It just tastes good when you eat it with that croissant over there.
Heading out.
Let's leave those behind, Ti.
Where shall we go?
Done.
What's done?
Don't tell me... you came all the way out here just to step on your own shadow?
Yeah.
Shadow. Black.
Well, yes, they are...
All gone.
Well, yes, that's true...
But I'm fine.
Yeah, I guess?
I'm fine now.
I'm fine.
Thank you very much.
She was talkative today, relatively speaking.
Granted, I couldn't understand most of the things she said.
Oh?
Interesting.
I guess this was the first time you spent a whole day with Ti on your own.
Yes.
I think Ti probably felt like she had to be on top of things because of that.
I think Ti thinks about a lot more than we assume she does.
Is that so?
For example...
Maybe she was stepping on shadows until she couldn't see any more
to reconfirm that all the black figures from her country were gone.
She made sure she was on top of it.
That she was fine.
Huh...
And at dinner, wasn't Ti just making sure she shared her food with her friends?
Friends, you say?
Shizu.
What is it, Riku?
Back then, I would've prioritized your life, even if it meant killing Ti.
When we departed, too.
Don't worry about that.
In the end, we avoided the worst outcome.
Still, I think the two of you have managed to grow closer after today.
Well, shall we go?
Uh-huh.
Let's go.
Uh-huh. Let's go together.
Riku's a friend.
Various Countries
Various Countries.