Volume 1 Chapter 4 (2/2)
”Welcome back, Kino Good to see you safe What's that, by the way? You lost and got a participation award or so?”
While carefully lowering the paper bag onto the bed, Kino said,
”Nope These are the things I need for tomorrow”
”Oh dear”
Froreen fluid It was the sa Then, a small cardboard box was taken out It contained 44 caliber bullets They had hollow-pointed tips, gouged in quite like a volcano's caldera
Froe, Kino produced a small portable stove, put in several chunks of solid fuel, and lit a fire Then, after washi+ng a cup usually used and for drinking tea, Kino poured some liquid propellant into it put it over the flame
”What're you doing there, Kino?”
Kino, carefully handing the process, answered Her around,
”Concentrating the propellant”
”Playing with fire? That's dangerous What for?”
When the cup's contents started to thicken, Kino removed it from the fire, poured in even more liquid propellant, then put it back over the flame
”Doing thisthe power of its explosion The bullet's initial velocity, too”
As Kino gently stirred the contents of the cup, the liquid propellant started to boil down until it was dense as starch syrup The washstand was then filled ater, and the cup's bottom was put in it to cool down The propellant's viscosity and dullness of color further increased, turning into an alreen paint
Then, Kino reached for a bullet One of hollow-point type, which prioritized destructive power over pure penetration For that purpose, the bullet would burst apart and expand as it hit its target Because it had a hole in the middle, its rims were thin
Kino took only one bullet, carefully filling up the hole at its tip with concentrated liquid propellant Leaving soular liquid propellant and topped it with a percussion cap
Next, Kino took out soe to Hermes' parts, such as screw heads and bolt holes, and it would possess a fair level of solidity when dried and hardened
Kinocare to keep theently applied to the tip of the bullet, over the percussion cap which had just been placed on
The tip of the bullet, formerly a caldera, was now beautifullyit into a stratovolcano Kino incised it with a deep cross with a knife Soon after, the putty dried
”Done!”
Kino raised up the handmade bullet, happy as a child
By this time, Hermes was already sound asleep
===
On theof the third day in this country, Kino woke at the break of dawn
First things first, the Woodsman was dismantled, cleaned, and reloaded, then it was practice, as always
After having only an adequate aned to the roo information on the country's history and laws
”Here y'go”
Brought a book by the soldier, Kino read it in all its minute details
===
Regarding seven years prior
The previous king, loved dearly for his strict policies, had been assassinated by his son, or in other words, the current king With a particularly brutal method
It see time his father and the strictness of his ways On a particular occasion, the frustration he had bottled up for many years finally erupted He eliminated all who opposed his actions It was a massacre which had taken 's blood Brothers and sisters, uncle and aunts, the whole household, all slaughtered
He had not killed his oife, but she was overcorief and committed suicide Both his children were exiled, their whereabouts unknown A theory has it that they had been killed, and a ruround to this day
He then crowned hi to lead a life of debauchery and i arbitrary laws onto this naturally bountiful and blessed country He encouraged the citizens, who had lived diligent and sie their ways
There see thelifestyle, however, and before long,dearly What half-hearted creatures
And now, back to the present
===
By the time Hermes woke up, which was almost noon, Kino was summoned to the final round
Kino fitted Canon with an empty cylinder and loaded one of the cha in twice the usual a, Kino loaded in the handht
Using an ee, Kino pushed the ri it into the cylinder
Then, to the chamber opposite to the one that was loaded, only several sheets of padding were applied, pushed in with the plunger
A single percussion cap was fixed to the cha the bullet
”What do you think you're doing, Kino? With how you set it up, you can only fire once”
Kino s ”It's fine this way,” then rotated the one-shot cylinder and put Canon into its holster
Next, Kino loaded all of the luggage onto Her the coat on top
”Alright, let's go I'd like you to watch this round closely, Hermes”
Her as Kino left the room
”Why?”
”So that we can leave this no-shower country right when it's all over”
Kino said, seehted
===
Amid the roar of applause, Kino strode to the center of the colosseuer, could be seen left standing at the field's entranceway Above the motorrad was the tiered platforht in front, the king could be seen sipping alcohol while seated in an arrogant manner
When Kino had reached the center, the final opponent eed from the opposite side Kino carefully observed the
Theone, likely in his early twenties He was of tall stature, his build well-proportioned His hair was of the sareen sweater with cloth padding on the shoulders and elbows
Kino's eyes met with the man's His expression was completely different froh he was about to take part in a battle, he was so off an air of kindness-- As if he was a allows
His only weapon was the katana on his waist, its scabbard tucked in his belt
===
”'Scuse me, mister”
Her there at the entranceway
”What?”
”That friendly-looking katana guy is the final opponent?”
”Yeah, that's right He'd flawlessly won all his fights up 'till now Anyone can see that he's one tough custoet dangerous this time”
Hermes, not particularly surprised, said,
”Hm~m”
”That's it? Just a 'hm~m'? You're not even worried about your partner or what?”
The soldier posed the question reflexively
”Worry? Worrying won't er”
”You're a cold one, you know that?”
”Now, it'll probably be fine But more i up souess”
”What?”
At the ti
===
”I am called shi+zu”
The man with the katana confronted Kino and declared his name His tone was polite, with beautiful pronunciation to boot
”I'm Kino”
Kino replied
”Kino, I see I have a request to make, if you don't mind”
”What ht that be?”
shi+zu said the same words Kino had said four times before
”I'd like you to surrender; right here, right noill accept, of course”
Kino, mildly surprised, asked,
”You want to become a citizen, shi+zu?”
”Yes I want to be”
”Of this stinking country?”
This time it was shi+zu as taken by surprise; he stood there staring at Kino for a short while Although he had a piercing look in his eyes, it was not to the degree of being a glare
”Now this is surprising You know that, yet you still participated this joke of a contest? Not toall the way to the final round It's not for the sake of beco a citizen, is it?”
”Yes But what about you? What's your story?”
shi+zu averted his gaze, thought about sos for a moment, then looked back at Kino in the eyes He then calmly spoke up,
”There is so I absolutely have to do, and for that, I have to becoain, I'd like you to surrender”
”I don't really get where you're co from, but I refuse”
Kino said, decisively
”Why? You don't even want to becoht?”
shi+zu asked, his expression suggesting that he couldn't comprehend the response he received
”The answer is siht now That is why”
Kino said, lightly tapping Canon in its right thigh holster
As if giving up, shi+zu shook his head, then looked back for a moment at the entrancehere he came out of
With the thumb of his left hand, he soundlessly extracted his katana froripped the hilt, then unsheathed
The silver blade revealed its forripped its hilt with both hands
PUU~~UN!
Trumpets resounded
Kino slowly drew out the Woodsman, unlocked the safety, then locked the aim on shi+zu But the shot was not fired
shi+zu held his ground He held up his katana at entleness he’d seemed to possess mere moments before had vanished Tension filled the air around hile weapon
shi+zu took one step toward Kino Then another
Kino fired one shot with the Woodsman The bullet passed well to the side of shi+zu’s head Without so much as a flinch, shi+zu let it pass, then took another step
Kino fired again, this ti just barely to the side of shi+zu's head Still unfazed, shi+zu let the bullet get a close shave on his ear, then took another step
Kino let out a brief sigh, then aiht shoulder shi+zu i it with Kino's line of aim
”!”
Kino, taken by surprise, pulled the trigger The bullet struck the blade and was thrown off course, slanting to the back
”Whoa”
As if it was so ad off several s
shi+zu handled his blade swiftly and s each of the bullets away to his sides
Then, he took another step
===
”Y'see that, motorrad? That's hoesome he is”
Thefor the man
”Huh Swiping bullets with a katana is pretty awesome, yeah Is he able to tell when Kino's about to shoot or so?”
”He's probably looking at his opponents' aiers Also beat persuader users like that in the last two rounds”
”Cool I've always questioned whether or not this world is beautiful, but it's vast one, that's for sure”
Her surprised The soldier assu,
”You could say that he's the kind of guy who doesn't respond to persuasions”
”You a poet or what, mister?”
”Heh heh,” the ed soldier let out an aard chuckle back at Hermes' snark, then continued,
”But really, I wonder why he hasn't killed anybody”
”Coain?”
”He hasn't killed anybody Handed out wounds without restraint though Like your partner, now that I mention it Fired shots, but never killed It's unheard of, having both participants co anybody What are they even thinking?”
The soldier spoke in a tone indistinguishable between adust
”What are they even thinking, indeed”
As Hermes muttered so, several roars of persuader shot echoed
===
Kino had now fired eight shots without hitting shi+zu once The Woods in it, was dropped off, and a new one with ten was loaded in
shi+zu was now standing right before Kino
”Could you please surrender?”
shi+zu said cal up his katana at middle stance
”I would rather not”
Kino answered, aim locked onto shi+zu's blade This wasn't done deliberately, but rather because the blade folloherever Kino's aim went
Kino fired a shot The bullet was deflected
Right then, shi+zu rushed forward, closing the gap between them in an instant
”Hah--!”
Wielding the katana in only his right hand, shi+zu sliced diagonally upward from his bottom left with tremendous speed The top of the blade struck the Woods it from Kino's left hand
With his left hand, shi+zu immediately reached up for the katana's hilt, then soundlessly reversed the blade Now gripping the hilt with both hands, he swept doard, ai for Kino's left shoulder
Right when the Woodshtly bending down the left knee, uard with both arms overhead, then took one step toward shi+zu
CLANK!
Kino held the cross guard up high, catching the blunt-edged overhead slash at the spot the blade met its hilt Sparks scattered upon impact
”What the--?”
Just as shi+zu blurted out a short reaction, Kino shoved his blade aside with a swing of the left ar on the momentuht palm
While staggering to his right side froht hand to swing his katana at Kino's side There was notKino to cast it aside with a swing of the left ar upon impact
shi+zu took two steps back, proain at middle stance
Kino poised for defense, assu back and ar both sides
Kino then briefly loosened up, shaking both arone to sleep
Afro had been put under its sleeves
”You're good I can see that you know all sorts of persuasion methods That's a surprise”
shi+zu reversed his katana, turning its sharp edge in Kino's direction
”But I would really prefer that you surrender soon”
shi+zu said without even a slighthis katana firmly
Kino stood still and lowered both arms naturally, then replied,
”I refuse”
When I become a citizen, I could make a law that makes you a citizen, too”
”I would rather you not do that I have no interest in beco a citizen, after all”
”Ah, right But if we keep going, you'll die”
While his eyes were glaring at Kino, shi+zu spoke to the traveler with a gentle tone
In opposition, Kino spoke in jest,
”Truth be told In this country, I haven't killed anyone up till now”
shi+zu pulled a wry face
”Huh So what?”
”So you see”
Kino produced a smile, then continued in a tone of amusement,
”I figured I'd kill at least one person-- To end it all with a bang”
””
shi+zu did not answer Instead, he stared at Kino, with the look in his eyes see to show sympathy
Kino looked back at shi+zu, with the look in those eyes suggesting enjoy-awaited individual a crowd
shi+zu suddenlythe distance between them in an instant, he brandished his weapon overhead Kino s for Canon and drawing it out
In an instant, both sides froze all movement
Kino had pointed Canon at shi+zu just before he could bring down his katana
Seeing that the persuader's hammer had already been raised, shi+zu knew full well that a light pull on the trigger would blow a large hole in his chin The man whispered,
”You're quick”
”I just have to cal fro aimed at After that, I only have to be quicker on the draw”
””
”You're too obsessed inning It ht be imprudent offun Not for the purpose of killing”
While fixated on shi+zu's expression, Kino said, as if adth faded fro to the cal
shi+zu, keeping his upper stance, spoke up,
”It's over I've lost So what now? Will you accept my surrender? Or am I to die here?”
”Neither of those”
Receiving an immediate reply, shi+zu noticed that Kino's expression had changed abruptly Kino's lips was still locked in a sether with it
Kino's left hand reached under Canon's barrel and pulled down the loading lever, folding the s had been crammed into the chamber's bottommost chamber As if to squash them, Kino folded the mechanism hard
At the saht hand pushed Canon froht, the persuader was held perfectly still between both of Kino's hands
”What are you doing?”
Just as shi+zu asked that, a shout cas, ”THAT'S ENOUGH! KILL HIM!” And before long,into a chorus,
KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL!
Expression unchanged, Kino approached shi+zu while still keeping aihtly to the left
”What are you waiting for If you're going to kill me, then”
Kino shi+fted the ai for impact As their eyesout a child's riddle,
”Who's there behind you?”
”What? Eh--? Ah--! You No way”
Kino shouted,
”Get down!”
”!”
shi+zu folded down on his knees, and Kino pulled Canon's trigger
The hammer struck the percussion cap The liquid propellant, with explosive power raised asthe bullet off to squeeze its way forward The bullet leapt froh the hoop between shi+zu's arht at shi+zu's face The impact knocked him backward in a somersault
Kino, was thrown backward as well, both shoulders aching from the recoil
The bullet headed straight for the royal box seat in the center of the tiered platforms, just as Kino had intended it to Spearheaded with putty, the bullet hit the glass, which was not all that thick, and pierced right through The glass shattered to pieces, its countless frag down like a waterfall
The force of impact broke the bullet's pointed tip apart into four pieces, just according to hoas incised
The remainder of the bullet continued toward the man seated in thehishis upper jaw
It pierced his skin, pulverized his bones, tore through his flesh, and entered his head
The bullet's rim crunched, as if turned inside-out The shock then reached the percussion cap A s the concentrated liquid propellant
The king's head exploded
His face spread forth, scattering into countless bits of flesh
Froion, a ushed out The scalp of the back of his head ruptured, hair and all, blowing his crown backward
Blood, brain n on the dresses of those sitting near him
Everything fro only what one would identify as his tongue and the row of teeth on his lower jaw
===
Sent tu back by the shockwave, shi+zu witnessed an inverted scene of the king's head rupturing behind the downpour of glass shards What he saw next was a sphere of deep red instantly engulfing on the whole royal box Then, his head and back landed heavily on the floor
As the redof this country had been murdered by the bullet that Kino fired; he knew before anyone else did, Kino included
”My goodness”
shi+zu whispered He felt a sharp pain run through his head, suffering a spell of dizziness
And so he kept still, pretending to be unconscious
===
The spectators silenced their chorus after Kino had fired the shot; they needed some time to process what had just happened Some of them heard a shriek from the royal box, fro out of while vo
Before long, the realization of the king's death swept across the spectator platforame of Telephone
Meanwhile, Kino put the clattering Canon into its holster and picked up the Woodsed, it was then holstered as well
Clueless as to what they should be doing, all of the spectators si themselves
Kino looked around once at the whole spectating crowd, spread both arms out wide, and proceeded to declare,
”Everyone! It is regrettable, but the king has passed away from a stray bullet! I offer my condolences! That said, I have won the contest! I have becoe of a victor, I shall declare , this country will have no order! Therefore, I see that it is necessary to decide on a new king! Starting now, everyone in this country shall participate in a country-wide contest! The last one left standing will be the new king! Those who do not fight will be stripped of their citizenshi+p the moment they leave the country! This is the ne!”
For a brief moment, the whole colosseum fell dead silent
A very brief moment indeed
===
Kino walked to the entrancehere Herround, and Kino kicked his shoulder while on the way
”That hurt”
”I beg your pardon I'll be leaving the country now, so if you want to be a citizen, do feel free”
The colosseum was norapped up in roars and screams Persuader shots could be heard all over
As Kino reached where Hermes was,
”I knew you were up to so Anyelcome back”
The ed soldier, as next to Hermes, turned to Kino and spoke up,
”Y-you-- you're a great fighter, you know that? H-how-- how about join up withAnd I'll be the minister!”
While putting on the coat, Kino spoke back nonchalantly,
”I would rather not We're leaving this country right now, after all”
”Hey, ht now if you don't want to die”
Kino started HerineThe rumble echoed from the concrete walls
The soldier looked as if he was about to say so
”Later, mister”
But Hermes cut him off Kino took off on the motorrad
They ran off, and were gone in a blink of an eye
===
shi+zu cli on slowly His expression was, for some reason, completely blank
All over the place, brawls-- technically one-sided slaughters-- had broken out, without an end in sight Aand walked on absent-mindedly,
”You've got ether as partners, we'll have a great time, I'm sure! How about it?”
The ive the stranger a glance
”Hey, get'im, boys!”
As theaxes andat shi+zu from both sides
shi+zu turned to his right and silently unsheathed his katana He stabbed the man behind hi, cleaved the head of the man in front of him
He ignored those who ran away Still holding his sword, shi+zu kept cli on the field of shattered glass
As he set foot into the royal box, squishes could be heard as shreds of brain matter were trampled on
shi+zu regarded the king, still slumped in his chair, a head shorter than he used to be
The king's loose tongue listlessly hung down, as if he was sticking his tongue out in a taunt
shi+zu smiled, albeit only faintly
He let out a long, slow sigh
And so he muttered,
”It has been a long time”
===
Kino rode Hermes down a path in the forest
When they caht Hermes to a stop
Getting down frorass near the shore
”It's beautiful”
Her at the serene waters Its surface reflected the lush green forest and the blue sky Kino threw a pebble, landing it in the water with a plop Ripples spread out across the surface, ceasing shortly thereafter
”Say, Kino”
”What's up, Hermes?”
Hermes did not answer immediately For a while, they let the of birds
Then, Hermes finally went on,
”A while ago-- well, a pretty long while ago We e, didn't we?”
”Yeah”
Kino tossed another pebble
”As I reccall, they said there was a wonderful country in the vast forest to the west And that they were headed there”
”That's what they said, yeah”
”Then later, we ain somewhere, didn't we? Just the wife, alone”
”Yeah”
”If I', the woman smiled at you and said, 'It was truly a wonderful country You should make sure to visit it, Kino,' dind't she?”
”Yeah That's right”
From somewhere nearby, Kino picked up a rock the size of a baby’s head and hurled it
With a great splash, it sent inelegant ripples spreading across the lake surface, swaying and distorting the mirrored world
Kino watched it
But it didn't last forever; before long, the lake surface was back to how it once was-- back to being a tranquil mirror
”Alright then”
Kino stood up, dusted pants, and stared at the lake for another moment
The reflection was of a thin face with unkempt black hair
===
When Kino was about to get back on Herine could be heard from afar
”It's a Chenowth buggy Just one”
Herine sound
Suddenly, a low-riding dune buggy e to a stop in front of Kino and Her in the driver's seat was shi+zu In the seat next to hi with thick, white fur It was an adorable one indeed, with large, almond-shaped eye and a face that seemed to be locked in a smile
”Hey there, Kino”
With a smile, shi+zu called out from the driver's seat
”hello”
shi+zu cut his buggy's engine, took off his goggles, and got down fro his katana on his seat He stood before Kino
”I was hoping I'd see you again”
”Is that so It's too bad you couldn't become a citizen”
”No, it's fine That aside, I wanted to thank you”
”Thank me?”
Kino produced a dubious expression
”Yes, that's right”
Having said that, shi+zu then bowed deeply,
”You did in my stead what I'd wanted to do when I becaratitude”
Then, while looking at Kino right in the eye,
”Thank you”
””
Kino said nothing Instead,
”You're a prince!?”
Hermes exclaimed
”Was Not any awarded ht on the spot For seven years, too And thanks to you, Kino, I've got free time on my hands”
shi+zu smiled aardly
Kino said quietly,
”Revenge It's so lidicrous”
shi+zu nodded lightly, still s
”Yes, so ludicrous indeed”
Both of them fell silent for a time
===
”What will you be doing from now on?”
Kino asked shi+zu, as already back in his driver's seat
”Fro around until I find so north, I guess All we've been to until noere cold places, you see Isn't that right, Riku?”
He said, patting the dog sitting in the passenger's seat It seemed to named Riku
”If you say so, Master shi+zu”
Riku said And right that moment,
”No way--!!”
Hermes exclaimed
”The dog spoke! How!?”
Riku thereupon rose up in a conspicuous fit of the sulks, then retorted in a brusque expression,
”What was that? What's wrong with a talking dog? Pretty damn uppity for just a motorrad, aren't you?”
”Wh--? What'd you just say?”
”Hmph You're just a vehicle that can't even run on your own If you've got a proble me yourself?”
Riku, still keeping up the cute face, threw out word after scathing word
”Y-you're one to talk-- You can't even live without staying in a pack! Worse, you're born sick in the head, obsessed with trying to be leader! If you're got a problem, then bite me! Got the teeth to do it?”
Her it all too seriously, launched a counteroffense
”What's that, huh!?”
”Wanna go?”
”Stop it, Riku” ”Enought already, Hermes”
shi+zu and Kino spoke up siht down and gave Kino a look of respect
”I am called Riku, loyal servant of Master shi+zu I was honored to spectate your perfor that ourkilled Thank you very much”
Kino s,
”You're welcome”
Then turned to shi+zu and asked,
”It's cute May I pet it?”
The o-ahead
Kino crouched to hug the dog, running both hands through its thick fur In turn, Riku licked Kino's mouth and cheek
Watching Riku enjoying Kino's hug, Herrumbled, albeit too quietly for anyone else to hear,
”H”
Kino petted Riku for aaround carelessly under the passenger's seat
”Excuse me”
Kino reached to pick it up It was the croorn by the king just a short while ago
”Oh, that It's a ht it with me”
shi+zu whispered Kino stroked Riku's fur one last time, then turned to shi+zu,
”Well, I don't knohether or not I' to beco?”
”I'm not”
”Why not?”
”A ht to be king”
”You think so?”
Holding the crown in both hands, Kino silently- and gently- placed it on the young man's head
”Doesn't fit me, does it?”
Kino gazed at him for a moment, then spoke up nonchalantly,
”Probably doesn't, yes”
===
Kino ine, tucked in the coat's excess length, and put on goggles
”Kino If you don't mind, how about come with us to the town to the north? I know the way”
shi+zu called out froy's driver seat The croas still on his head
”No, I would rather not There's another place I have to go to Besides,”
”Besides?”
”I was told not to carelessly go along with men I don't know”
As confusion showed on shi+zu's face, Riku whispered so e a feords with the dog He then looked back at Kino again, shtly shook his head
”Ah, so that's it I understand This will be where we part ways, then It would be nice if ere to ain somewhere, Kino, Hermes”
”Yes Do take care You too, Riku”
”Thank you very much”
Riku replied, and Hermes wasted not a second to poke fun at it
”Later, pervy dog”
”See ya, rustbucket”
”Hmph”
shi+zu and Riku watched the ht
===
shi+zu, down froe of the lake As he looked down, a reflection of the youngthe same crown as that man, looked back at him
Before he could decide whether or not it suited hian to lap the surface of the water at his feet Tiny waves swayed and distorted shi+zu's e
shi+zu turned around, looking past his buggy at the vast forest He could not see beyond it-- He could no longer see the country in which he was born He then looked at the driver's seat-- At his katana, which he had placed at its side
Before he realized it, Riku was sitting at his side, giving him a look of respect
”What do you think I should do, Riku?”
shi+zua question to his loyal companion
”Try as I may, I could never lead your way, Master shi+zu”
Riku resolutely declared
shi+zu, with a calm expresion on his face, muttered,
”You're right”
Then, for one last time, he looked back toward the country-- one shrouded away by the forest