Kino's Journey: Country of Illness —For You—

Hey, Kino.

It doesn't look like we're inside a country...

Did we really enter one?

We did.

We just passed the walls, didn't we?

I heard that this country is very developed...

That there's many skyscrapers...

And that it's a very beautiful and clean country.

That's definitely a lie.

You think so?

Sorry, Hermes.

What are you doing?

I'm surprised someone like you let me fall over.

Here we... go.

Here we... go.

Well done.

Kino, one of the primary clutch sprocket's teeth seems to have broken off.

It did.

I guess I got a little too excited from riding so fast for such a long time.

I have to repair it somewhere.

Let's leave this country already.

There's nothing here.

Let's continue down that road a little more.

There may be a town.

See?

I see, so it wasn't a lie after all.

Are you a traveller?

Yes.

I'm Kino.

This is Hermes.

I'd like to stay here for three days.

We welcome you.

Rather than three days, stay here as long as you wish.

Thank you.

I'd like to repair Hermes as well.

My clutch gear is broken.

We'll help you of course.

However, before you enter the city...

We will have to clean you first.

Okay.

Kino!

Whoa, you're really shining now, Hermes!

They've fixed my clutch gear.

And filled me up too!

However, look at my exhaust pipe.

They added that crazy thing.

It's a system that purifies the exhaust gases and a muffler as well.

However, now you can go wherever you want in the city.

It really existed, skyscraper town.

Nearly the entire population of our country lives here.

This serves as a map.

Understood.

Nearly the entire population...

That must mean that people live out in the wild as well.

Are they the people who committed sins?

No, no.

On the contrary. They are the elite and pioneer the wild.

Even though they're able to live in a beautiful place like this?

Exactly because of that.

This is a place isolated from the pathogens in the outside world.

That's exactly why we idolize life on real soil, below the real sun.

The pioneering groups are made up of families with the healthiest bodies and best educations.

We really envy them.

What's wrong?

You're shouting weird things.

It's interesting.

Even though we're outside, your voice echoes.

One person, and one motorcycle.

This hotel will pay for all your expenses, you may ask for anything.

Yes?

That's great!

It's all free?

We did it!

Yes!

What a nice view.

Yeah...

But it's a little awkward.

What is?

I don't really understand, but...

There's a pretty unique smell to this town as well, don't you think?

You think so?

It's really slight.

But it's almost like antiseptic solution.

A really peculiar smell.

Sorry for disturbing you.

Hello there, traveller.

I'm the owner of this place.

And this is my wife.

Ah, hello.

To be honest, we have a request for you.

I wonder if they're gonna ask us to pay for the room after all.

What?

We have a daughter who has been suffering from a disease for a long time.

Could you please,

if you have time, tell her some stories of your travels tomorrow afternoon?

I see...

Please, traveller.

It would really help us.

I'll do it.

Tomorrow afternoon, right?

Our stay here is free of charge, after all.

The end of town, I suppose.

I wonder if small people live here as well?

This just a backdrop.

Backdrop?

They set this up so the people don't feel as if they're living in a confined space.

Yes, come in.

How are you feeling?

Here's the person you've been waiting for.

Hello.

I'm Kino.

This is my buddy, Hermes.

Hello there.

My name is Inasha.

It's nice to meet you, Kino-san, Hermes-san.

I heard about you from my mom and dad.

For coming all the way to my room,

Thank you very much.

When I first thought about a traveller on a motorcycle,

I expected someone wilder.

Looks can be insufficient, as they say.

Looks can be deceiving.

Right, that's what I meant.

So, let's talk about our travels.

Yes, please.

Do you know about my illness?

Yes, the owner told me about it before I entered this room.

That in the past, a certain percentage of the population,

unrelated to gender or age, fell ill.

And that a cure has yet to be found.

But recently, a medicine that can slow the advance of the disease has been found.

A cure will surely be found soon as well, they said.

Yes, I believe so too!

If you get better, will you go to school again?

Yes, I'll try my best so I can go out into the country.

Hm? You want to go there?

Your parents don't know about that, do they?

No.

You want to be a farmer?

That plays a part too, but there's someone I want to meet.

Meet him, and thank him.

What kind of person?

Umm...

Please keep this a secret from mom and dad.

Okay, this story won't leave the room.

Understood!

There's an observation room, right above this one.

Shall we go there?

This is definitely mysterious and dizzying scenery.

I felt the same way at first.

But I've gotten used to it.

This is from a boy named Logue.

He's living with his family in a pioneer village now,

And works the fields.

When did you get to know him?