Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (魔女の旅々)

"The left side and the right side of that country didn't get along,

so they built a wall...

and agreed not to have dealings with each other."

Don't you think this is pointless, Madam Witch?

What do you mean by pointless?

Those on the two sides of the wall really do not get along,

and do not want to see each other.

But the wall itself is pointless.

Huh...

We don't want to lose to the other side.

Even with this pointless wall,

we want to brag that we are better on this side, but...

Do you have any ideas for what we could do, Madam Witch?

Well, I might.

Mr. Official, do you have a knife?

Hm? I do...

What are you planning to do with that?

This...

Hm?

"This side of the country is great.

By the Witch of the Travels."

What is the meaning of this?

This wall represents the separation between the two sides,

but it also represents how this side is wonderful, right?

Huh? Well...

So you should have travelers who visit carve words into the wall like this.

The more words you have on this side,

the clearer it is that this side is wonderful.

But I don't really like doing things that way...

Oh, speaking of which,

on the other side of the wall,

many travelers have already left their marks!

"After that, I went to the other side of the wall..."

Oh, speaking of which,

on the other side of the wall,

many travelers have already left their marks!

What?

"...and told them the same thing.

"By the Witch of the Travels"

"This side of the country is great." "...and told them the same thing.

"By the Witch of the Travels"

"This side of the country is great." Since then, it became custom for all travelers who visit that country

Since then, it became custom for all travelers who visit that country

to etch words into that wall."

"The Wall Etched by Travelers"

What was the point in having travelers carve words into the wall?

Well...

Maybe it was like a popularity contest.

Popularity contest?

They want to brag that they're better

than the people on the other side of the wall.

To be able to say that there are more words on their side praising them.

So then, in the end, which side was better?

Which side of the wall had more words on it?

You'll have to go see with your own eyes.

Yeah!

When I become a witch and travel...

Definitely!

Wow, this is amazing.

"This country's the best!"

"I've never been to such a great country!"

"We'll be getting married soon!"

"Best traveling buds forever."

"Friends forever!"

"This country is as great as our muscles."

Oh, excuse me, but... "This country is as great as our muscles."

Oh, excuse me, but...

You're the witch from the United Magic Association, right?

I'm Saya, the Charcoal Witch.

Nice to meet you!

I've heard about this wall, but it really is amazing, huh?

You can really see how many people have visited this country.

Our request for you is to do something about this wall.

Do something?

It's been more than ten years since a traveling witch

suggested we have visitors etch messages into the wall.

But recently, people have been losing interest,

so we want to do something new.

Something new, huh?

It already seems pretty great to me, though.

The wall etched by travelers, huh?

Hm? Traveler?

Mister! Can I borrow a knife, please?

S-Sure...

...ve Mi... na... lo... Ela...

I ...ove ...iss ...lain... I love Miss Elaina...

Miss Elaina... Miss Elaina... Miss Elaina...

Wh-What are you doing?

This wall isn't a place for you to carve your carnal desires!

What are you saying, Mister?

This is very important!

What's so important about that?

This wall is here for travelers to carve how wonderful this country is!

Oh, about that rule--

Why don't you try changing it starting today?

What?!

Starting today, make it so the people of this country can also carve into it.

They can carve their passionate feelings about the person they like,

or their hopes for the future,

or "I love Miss Elaina!" or something.

What's the reason for doing that?

Hm? I mean, you're the ones who made this wall, right?

So shouldn't it be here for your sakes?

Turn it from a wall for travelers

into a wall that will help you fix your eyes straight ahead.

I see...

Thanks for this.

Well, I'm off then!

Hm? Right...

I've got a job on the other side of the wall, too!

Why was my heart swelling with expectation on that day?

The answer is--

Because I was about to visit the country with words etched into its wall

that appeared in The Adventures of Niké, a book that influenced me greatly.

There's no wall here!

Welcome! Cheap wall pieces for sale!

How about some mementos of your trip?

This isn't just debris!

It's debris from the famous wall!

-No, it is just debris...

--It's rare! Rare! --No, it is just debris...

Oh, you're the traveling witch!

It's been what, more than ten years?

You know who I am?

Your face looks younger than back then...?

It's true.

Looking carefully, your chest is different, too.

It's true.

What, you're not her?

Too bad.

Well, are you two officials in this country?

Or are you just regular wrinkly old men?

We are indeed officials.

But we are also wrinkly old men.

Then, this is perfect.

Will you tell me why you tore down the wall?

This is the explanation I was given--

At the advice of a witch who visited this country a little before I had,

"I love you! Forever!"

At the advice of a witch who visited this country a little before I had,

"I love you! Forever!"

the people of this country started carving whatever they wanted on the wall.

"I hate that guy"

the people of this country started carving whatever they wanted on the wall.

"The king has donkey ears"

the people of this country started carving whatever they wanted on the wall.

At first, they were happy with that,

At first, they were happy with that, "I am a fallen angel appearing from the deepest darkness"

At first, they were happy with that,

but as days and then weeks passed...

What does forever mean, anyway?

We already broke up!

I wrote something crazy when I was drunk!

--What the hell? Who wrote these insults about me?

--People say, "What happens on a trip, stays on a trip." --What the hell? Who wrote these insults about me?

--But the words etched by the people of the country stayed with them, --What is this? It's so embarrassing!

and became embarrassing memories.

And so, they decided to tear down the wall.

Before they knew it,

the resentment they felt toward the people on the other side

didn't matter anymore.

Before, everyone thought they were better than those on the other side of the wall--

But with the embarrassing things they wrote themselves,

they realized that wasn't the case.

In the end, this country didn't need a wall.

We were all the same in every way.

From now on, I suppose we will live peacefully in our ordinary country.

Huh...

Well then, Madam Witch. Please excuse us.

Um--

Before the wall was torn down, which side had more praises etched into it?

Isn't it obvious?

It was the same for both sides.

The same?

We started off as the same country.

And we all worked hard so we wouldn't lose to the other side.

Why didn't you realize

that the same growth was happening on the other side of the wall?

In order to convince ourselves that we were better,

we didn't want to look on the other side of the wall.

Yeah, that went for all of us.