Tale of Bandits
Oh, elder!
A car is coming!
Yeah.
Observe and report.
You got it!
Let's see... It's a buggy.
There's a young man with a sword, a little girl, and a dog.
Now then, is that group suitable to become our prey or not?
Yes! I think they are.
Your reason?
Well...
Their buggy has an unusual design, and looks like it'd sell high.
The man looks skilled, but a sword can't beat a bullet.
We can ignore the girl and the dog—
Forty points.
Why's that, elder?
Take a good look at the girl.
Oh, there's something in her hand.
She's holding something black and round.
Is it a doll?
No, it's a hand grenade.
A hand grenade?!
That man looks like quite an impressive fighter, too.
Plus, dogs have keen noses.
He'd easily sniff out our ambush.
That's a target we'd best not attack.
Elder!
There's a motorrad coming.
Yes, I see it, too.
Report.
Right. The person riding the motorrad is a boy... No, that's a girl!
It's a very cute girl!
She's really cute...
Now then, is that rider suitable to become our prey or not?
That's easy!
We should definitely attack her!
It's just a single girl, after all!
No good. Zero points.
Don't be fooled by appearances.
The fact that she's traveling alone
means she's capable of traveling alone.
Despite how she looks,
that girl is likely a highly skilled fighter who's seen her share of battles.
The people we should target are those
who carelessly go after people stronger than themselves.
Just like yourself.
Now, don't be discouraged.
You're still young.
You can keep learning.
Right.
By the way, I heard it was your idea to a post a lookout like this.
That's right.
It happened long ago.
We all ganged up together and attacked a passing pair of travelers.
They were in a worn-down, yellow car.
It was driven by a frivolous young man and a black-haired beauty.
But they were really... terrifying devils! Devils!
E-Everyone, run!
E-Elder?
Elder?!
Kino's Journey
Country of Accruing Virtue
Have you already heard, traveler?
About this country's unique virtue points system?
What's that about?
It's my first time hearing of it.
Here in this country, you earn virtue points
by performing wonderful deeds.
Wow.
But how do you measure that?
Yeah, yeah.
It varies, but the easiest to understand is...
Please donate the rest to children's charity.
Yes!
Donations like that.
The money you donate earns virtue points based on
its proportion of your annual income.
Uh-huh.
Only the rich would gain virtue if it was based solely on the amount,
so they measure it proportionately.
I see.
In addition, if you make great contributions to the lives of others,
you'll be awarded points.
People like national singers,
or doctors who save patients with incurable illnesses...
Of course, people also receive them for doing little things,
like giving up your seat for the elderly on the bus.
If someone witnesses it, they can submit an application for them.
Of course, the one submitting the application receives some points, too.
Your points are recorded in your resident registration data
and as a number on your personal identification documents.
So you can quickly and easily tell how much someone has contributed to society.
Then what happens if you bother other people or commit a crime?
Do you lose points?
That's right.
You lose a little for minor offenses,
and a significant sum for large felonies.
When your points become negative, you serve time in prison.
Then if someone who's already done several useful deeds
and accrued a great number of points does something wrong,
what happens to them?
Well, the points offset each other.
As long as the total doesn't go negative, they're deemed innocent.
Figures.
It's a fair system.
You often hear stories like this, right?
When someone who's never done anything wrong in their life suddenly does something bad,
they're judged as a terrible person.
Yes.
On the other hand,
when someone who's always done bad things happens to do something good,
they're believed to be a good person.
That's true.
But that's a delusion.
People mustn't be led astray by those delusions.
That's what this system is for.
Of course, even if someone is deemed innocent, losing points hurts.
There's hardly anyone who believes it's all right to indulge in a little crime
just because they've built up points.
Well, that makes sense.
And I'm debating it myself.
What?
You see, up until now, I've devoted my life to the people of this nation.
As an inventor.
As a proprietor.
And until last month, I served as our president.
I believe I've brought prosperity to many people's lives.
That's incredible!
Then you must have a whole lot of points built up, huh?
Indeed, I do.
A great wealth of them.
How many?
Enough to kill a single man.
Wow!
That's impressive.
Right now I could murder someone without reason
and negate the crime with my existing points.
It's the first time anyone's ever accrued this many.
So you're debating what to do about that?
Yes, that's right.
I am.
I've managed to accrue all these points,
and I can't think of a single person to kill.
I've accrued all these points...
Yet no matter how much I think about it,
no amount of thinking helps.
I don't have much time left!
It won't be long before this disease kills me!
But there's no need to force yourself to kill someone, is there?
It's not like that!
You see, I've built up all these points because I want to kill someone!
I pushed myself hard to get this far!
So I can't just waste them now.
I want to kill someone!
I've always wanted to!
Ever since I learned as a child what the point system meant,
I've dreamed of saving up enough points to kill someone!
Yes, killing... killing someone...
I see.
I understand now.
That's why, at first, I—
Approached me with the intent of killing me?
Yes.
I'm impressed.
You already know I'm hiding a knife under my clothes, don't you?
Yes.
That's why your right hand hasn't left the revolver at your side, isn't it?
Yes.
Oh, President!
President, would you stroke my child's forehead?
Please grant him your blessing so he can grow up to be a great man like you.
I see.
Perhaps a child like this...
Let me see him. I'll hold him.
Oh! I'm so grateful!
Child who knows nothing of life,
grow up to be happy.
Don't become like me.
Don't become a man who failed at life like me.
Kino's Journey
Country of Cooking
Now then, I'd like to begin our regular meeting of restaurant owners.
Have you all heard the rumors about the wandering chef?!
Yeah! They say he'll make exquisite meals no matter what ingredients he uses, right?!
And if it's to his satisfaction, he'll leave the recipe behind!
Yeah! I hear he keeps his identity hidden so people won't make a fuss over him!
Listen and be shocked!
That chef is coming to our country, too!
Let's have him create a special meal for our country!
Agreed!
All the restaurants in our country will prosper!
Yeah!
But if he keeps his identity hidden, do you think he'll listen to our request?
We'll force the issue!
Do you know who this chef is?
Don't worry, everyone!
I've picked up a good tip.
What is it?
The wandering chef is...
A traveler in a coat the color of fallen leaves?!
Traveler!
Please cook something for us!
What?
Huh?
We're interested in your cooking, traveler!
Once you make it, we can eat it!
Huh?
In that case...
Huh?
What?!
This way, this way!
People of this country... Run away!
All right!
"Kino's fried chicken," coming up!
Wow, it's...
Colorful, isn't it?
Are these chili peppers?
Yeah! The recipe calls for them in equal measure to the chicken!
It also uses a whole cup of vinegar!
No scrimping on the sansho peppers, either!
How is it?
See that?! Some impact, right?!
It's a specialty you'll only find in our country!
Well, this is certainly...
The wandering chef taught us this recipe!
Hey, Kino.
What is it, Hermes?
How do you think the people of that country are faring?
Which one?
The terrifying one that had you cook for them.
Oh. Terrifying?
Even Master nearly died from your cooking.
They all gobbled it down, though.
But did you see the looks on their faces?
Well, that's true.
Talk about impact!
Maybe it was a bit too spicy.
A bit?
Well, I thought it was the right level of heat,
and it wasn't inedible when I ate it.
Right.
Maybe they were all just really enjoying it.
Yeah, I bet they were!
Sometimes even I—
Yeah, there's no chance of that.
Either way, that was a fun country.
Either way, that was a weird country.
The reason I've gathered you all here so urgently is none other than
Kino's fried chicken, left to us by the wandering chef.
Kino's fried chicken has become our country's specialty,
and now it's popular with our citizens, too.
However!
Another traveler has put a twist on the dish and left us the recipe!
This is a reproduction of that recipe!
At first I was upset at the thought of having a knockoff of our own specialty, but...
This isn't bad.
Though it can't compare with the impact of our Kino's fried chicken.
He's wrapped it in a paste of mashed fruits and vegetables!
It really tones down the spice!
This one's probably easier for kids and the elderly to eat.
That's why I propose this!
Welcome! Are you a traveler?
Yes.
We have two specialty dishes here in this country.
Oh? What kind of dishes are they?
Here they are! We have Kino's original fried chicken and Kino's mild fried chicken.
Huh?
Kino?
Ti's Wish
"May I get a raise at work."
"May my love become mutual."
Looks like people are writing their wishes here.
Oh, a traveler?
Here, have one.
They say that if you write your wish down and hang it up,
it'll come true.
You should write something, Ti.
I'll go ask about immigration.
Shizu, why don't you just write,
"May we find a country that accepts immigrants"?
Because I'd rather act than wish.
Oh? Have you written down your wish?
Then I'll hang it up for you.
Oh, how wonderful!
"May everyone's wishes here come true."
What a lovely wish that is!
From a little girl like this?
What a good girl!
That's a very kind, wonderful wish,
but why did you wish for that?
Because it's not as if any of this does any good.
Ti, Riku, sorry for the wait.
Welcome back, Shizu.
Immigration's out.
You seem happy, Kino.
I am. That country up ahead is one I remember especially well
from Master's stories of her travels.
I could never forget it.
Oh? It's a bit unusual for you to say that.
Is it?
So, what kind of country was it?
She wouldn't tell me.
What?
She wouldn't tell me anything about it.
All she said was,
"Of all the countries I traveled through, that was one I could never manage to forget."
Sorry.
Well, I wonder what it'll be like.
When we get inside, don't forget to clean me off.
I know, Hermes.
Country of Beautiful Memories
Huh?
Hey, Hermes...
What is it, Kino?
I thought I was just about to enter that country. Am I wrong?
No, you're not wrong.
Then why are we on the other side now?
Easy, now. I'll explain.
For now, get off for a bit.
All right.
Well, to put it simply,
you entered the country, enjoyed it, and then left.
The end.
Wha... What?
Like I said, you entered that country through their east gate
in the early afternoon two days ago.
You stayed your usual three days until this afternoon.
Then we left, and now we're here.
Huh? But wait...
I don't have any memory of that!
Well, of course not.
Huh?
Well, Kino, there should be an envelope in the box on the left side, so grab that.
I don't remember putting it here...
"To me. In other words, from Kino to Kino."
What is this?!
This country demanded one condition upon my entry.
It was that I consent to have my memories of my stay here
erased with a drug upon my departure.
This country doesn't want what happens here to reach anyone outside.
However, they want travelers to enjoy a pleasant stay,
so they've used this measure to resolve that conflict for a few centuries now.
I consented to the treatments and entered the country to stay for three days.
From the traveler Kino.
I don't remember that! I don't remember any of this!
Of course not. That was the point.
H-Hold on!
Why do you remember all this, Hermes?
Huh? That's easy!
Motorrads aren't human.
The end. Explanation over.
You're saying...
Yeah?
You remember everything?
Naturally.
Then—
But I can't.
I made a promise with that country.
Hermes...
I won't tell you even if you disassemble me.
Motorrads keep their promises.
But rest assured. You were no different than usual.
In fact, you enjoyed your stay there more than any country we've been to.
As proof of that, take out the envelope in the right box.
Huh?
It's me!
They said a drawing was fine.
Everyone was so kind!
Man, it really was a wonderful country!
But I don't remember it...
No helping that.
I don't remember anything!
So Master didn't tell me about it because she wasn't able to.
Yeah.
And that's the second time you realized that.
You said the exact same thing, syllable for syllable, when we entered the country.
Hermes, how's your fuel?
Full tank.
We stocked up on food and water, too.
Even my tires are brand new.
All right.
Let's go, Hermes.
Let's go, Kino.
Various Countries
Good evening, all of you watching Kino's Journey -the Beautiful World- the Animated Series! That's right, I'm the original author, Keiichi Sigsawa! Thank you very much for watching this anime! And yes, this is my anime afterword!
Hey, Kino, is there really a country out here?
Who knows?
Who knows, huh?
It was 2003 when I wrote in Kino's Journey 7, "My dream is to have an animated afterword!"
And yes! That was the book coming out when the first anime was broadcast!
To be honest, I don't really know why I'm driving through here, either.
And now, after fourteen years, my afterword's appearing in a TV anime!
You should always be open about your dreams! Everyone, don't give up on your dreams!
Figures.
Don't give up on your dreams! It's important, so I said it twice!
Everyone! If you have dreams, let them be known!
Tell others, say them out loud, put them into words, and make continued effort
Hey, Kino.
wherever you can to realize them! Someday, somewhere, in front of many people,
Where are you heading?
those dreams can come true! What you're all seeing right now
is proof of that!
Who knows?
And with that
good, inspirational comment,
my anime afterword
is at its end.
Thank you very much for reading.
Country of Anime Afterword
Winter 2017, Keiichi Sigsawa
Kind Country
Kind Country.