Kino no Tabi:Volume4 Chapter5

“A Land Without the Need for Work” —Workable—

“What a nice-looking country.”

A traveler who has finished passing through the gate said this as she looked at the scenery.

The traveler was around mid-teens. She had short black hair, and was wearing a long brown coat.

“You bet. It has been quite some time since we arrived in a modern and organized country. The immigration inspection was fully automated too,” answered a motorrad (Note: A two-wheeled vehicle. Only to note that it cannot fly) being pushed along by the traveler. The motorrad was loaded with traveling luggage on top and on both sides of its rear wheel.

The perfect townscape spread before the traveler and the motorrad. A number of wide, orderly roads were lined up. Here and there were parks abundant with greenery. The buildings lined up at the center of the country where beautifully designed, both in outward appearance and in arrangement.

The evening sun shined on this image of functionality and beauty merged into one.

“Now, what are we going to do, Kino?” the motorrad asked. The traveler called Kino answered,

“For today, let’s look for a place to stay the night. We’ll take a walk tomorrow.”

“Roger”

As the motorrad said this, a car stopped right in front of Kino and Hermes. Nobody was aboard the loading platform of the car.

‘Please hop aboard, I will accompany you to your place of destination,’ a machine in the vehicle informed them.

Kino asked for the price, and a reply came, telling them that they need not pay for anything.

“What do we do, Hermes? Is it okay with you to ride this thing?”

“I don’t mind. It’s probably faster than looking for a hotel by ourselves.”

“Okay.”

As Kino proceeded to push Hermes into the loading platform, a crane automatically extended for Hermes to board. Afterwards, a belt and wheel stopper came out and fixed him in place.

“How nifty,” Hermes said admiringly.

Kino climbed up and sat down. As expected, a belt automatically fastened itself on her, and the car set off.

The other cars running on the wide road were evenly spaced from each other. The cars were picking up passengers. In the park, they saw children who were apparently finished playing crowding up in the cars.

And then the car went towards the center of the country which was lined up with buildings.

They arrived in a splendid hotel. A machine by the entrance welcomed them. They were not charged a single cent.

Kino and Hermes were ushered into a tiny car, and guided to a splendid room while they were in their seats.

After the machine finished its duty as a hotel boy, it expressed thanks and left the room.

“What a relaxed country,” Kino said while hanging her coat on a chair. She was wearing a black coat underneath.

A high-caliber hand persuader (Note: A persuader is a gun. In this case, a pistol) was suspended from her right thigh. Another automatic-type was attached behind her waist.

“It’s nice not to have to do anything, huh?” said Hermes. Kino spoke While taking down the luggage.

“A while ago, I heard this rumor among travelers. The machines here were so developed that there was almost nothing else for humans to do. It seems that the citizens here don’t have to work.”

“Ohh. Then, what do the people of this country do everyday? Sing or dance, perhaps?”

To Hermes’ question, Kino only tilted her head and said that she had no idea.

“They might be doing something that we haven’t encountered before. Let’s go and look for it tomorrow. It will be fun.”

“If you like what you see, will you immigrate?” Hermes asked.

—

The next day. Kino woke up at dawn.

As usual, Kino performed her exercises as well as training and maintenance of her 0persuaders. She ate her breakfast after taking a shower and tapped Hermes awake a bit earlier than usual. Hermes complained that it was too early.

In front of the hotel, Kino was about to turn Hermes’ engine on, when an empty car came again.

“Really, we don’t have to do anything at all, eh? If I keep on taking it easy, my engine will get rusty,” Hermes spat in a tone which was either that of admiration or complaint.

When the car asked for their destination, Kino replied that she wanted to go to a place where people gathered. The machine told her that she has to be more specific.

Kino thought for a bit, and spoke. “A place where many of the citizens of this country go to in the morning, perhaps.”

‘Roger. I’ll take you to the office block in the central district,’ the car said and set off.

The car went through the wide road. As they approached the beautiful towering building, the number of cars running in the street increased. Upon closer inspection, men and women wearing neat suits with neckties were riding on the cars. None of them looked too cheerful.

Eventually, the cars stopped and lined up in a queue in front of the building. Kino and Hermes got off. In the vicinity, other people were also getting off from their cars. They disappeared into the building with quick strides. The empty cars left and the people rode in different cars.

“……”

Kino gazed at this scenery for a while.

“What do you think?” she asked Hermes.

“People heading for work. No matter what country it is, the usual morning scenery involves people going to work,” Hermes answered honestly.

“It sure looks that way…,” Kino said uncertainly.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a country where people don’t need to work?”

“That was supposed to be the case…”

Kino looked around and called out to a middle-aged man who got out of a car which happened to stop nearby. However,

“I’m in a hurry,” the man bluntly declared, and disappeared into the building.

“He sure is busy,” Hermes said.

Kino tried to get into the building to ask somebody. However, a machine by the entrance rejected them politely, and told them that unauthorized people are not allowed to enter.

Eventually, there were no more people who were ‘going to work’.

Only Kino and Hermes were left standing in the road in front of the office block.

“What now?” Hermes asked.

Kino thought for a while, and when she was about to say something, a car stopped nearby. The door opened, and a young man came out in a flurry.

The man tried to enter the building but was not allowed. He dropped his shoulders and walked, tottering along the sidewalk.

“Perfect. Let’s ask that guy,” Kino said.

—

“I see, so you’re a traveler, eh?” the young man said in a lifeless tone. He was wearing a business suit and necktie, and was around his early twenties.

Kino, Hermes and the man were in a park in one corner of the office block. They were sitting on a bench in front of a fountain. There was nobody around. When Kino tried to talk with him, he invited them out to walk a small distance to this place, where they could settle down and chat.

The man summoned a machine going around the area and ordered drinks. ‘This is our currency,’ he said, and passed a card through the machine. Tea in a paper cup came out. Kino received her share for free.

“You want to know what we’re doing in that building?” the man said after downing half of his tea.

“Yes”

“We ‘work’ there. Everyday,” the man said.

“Work?”

“Yeah. I overslept and came in late so I couldn’t enter the company building. What a mistake! I was careless…,” the man said and then continued with a cheerful tone.

“Well, it’s too late to do anything about it. From now on, I’ll make sure not to do the same mistake ever again.”

“But wasn’t this country supposed to have machines that do everything so humans don’t have to work anymore?” Hermes asked. ‘That’s right,’ the man said simply, and continued.

“We don’t have to do any labor, but we have to [work].’”

“?” “?”

The man continued upon seeing Kino’s puzzled face.

“Oh, right——. Hmm, I think the [work] I’m referring to must be different from your idea of work.”

Kino asked, “In other words, the [work] you’re talking about does not involve laboring or doing something for others, making something, selling something, or being of service to people?”

“That’s right. What you said just now is an old definition in this country, miss traveler. We don’t have to do that sort of stuff anymore because the machines do everything already. Well, with the exception of some people who have special abilities like painting and music, most of the people like me have to [work] as company employees.”

Kino nodded. “I see. I understand up to that part. Then, what is this [work] you and everybody else do everyday? And that said, why do you do it?”

The man made a few small nods while listening to the question. And then he answered.

“First, as to why, we have to earn money. It is something it has in common with the old definition. In this country, the citizens are guaranteed minimal living necessities, so money is not really necessary. We can live in a government-owned facility where food and clothing are provided until we die. But no one wanted to live a life like that of a prisoner. If we have money, we can live in a nice place, buy nice things, and eat delicious food. The more we [work], the more money we get. After all, it is necessary to earn money in order to live.”

“Uh-huh” “I see.”

“And, as to what we’re doing.”

“Yes”

“We receive stress.”

“Eh?” Kino replied.

“We receive stress. To undergo physical, and more importantly, mental stimuli which are by no means pleasurable —— that is this country’s definition of [work].”

The man put his empty cup beside the bench, and it was immediately picked up by a cleaning machine. The man continued.

“As to what we do exactly, I’ll give you an example of my [work] assignment. Since almost all citizens in this country are company employees, I believe it is the same for everybody. ——First, we dress up in neat clothes and go to office. We go to the company first thing in the morning and listen to the company president’s long and winding speech during the morning assembly. The speech is just made up of sentences with no particular meaning, but in any case, standing in attention and listening to it is really a pain. You could say that the way it was being delivered is a pain in itself. After that, I will be severely scolded by my boss. The reason for the reprimand will be randomly decided on by a machine. Yesterday, I was scolded for having a good time during the weekends. After that, there are various stuff…. Correcting errors in documents; making calculations without any real meaning; earnestly requesting something from a person whose [work] is to refuse people; understanding the bad results of our personality assessment; exchanging mutual insults with a co-worker regarding choice of clothes; bowing in shame to a person disguised as a customer…”

“……” “……”

“…Fetching unnecessary stuff from storehouses and taking a long time on purpose; putting them back in place and taking a long time again; and then coming back and being shouted at by your boss with words like ‘you idiot’, ‘imbecile’, ‘moron’, ‘trash,’ and so on; walking and visiting from house to house with no real purpose; riding in a bus meant for ten but contains twenty people to experience the unpleasant feeling of crowding together; playing a sport you’re bad at with your boss, and praising him even though he’s just as bad as you are; insulting female employees to the verge of sexual harassment; consuming bitter tea; photocopying once a day. In any case, there are various things. ——The salary you will receive will vary depending on the amount of stress you experience. The intensity of [work] and the salary of a full-time employee which toils from morning to night during weekdays is different from that of a part-timer which works only half the day. Of course, jobs will be decided based on a person’s age and experience. Experienced people receive more stress, and their tasks revolve around more important [work]. As for me, I’m still a freshman employee, so the way I’m treated is no big deal. I want to become more experienced so that I can earn more soon.”

Kino asked the man, “Uhm, since when did this [work] system started?”

“As to when it started…, it was there long before I was born. I don’t really know when.”

“Doesn’t the condition of your bodies diminish with this kind of [work]?”

“Of course, there’s that factor. Because it’s still stress one way or the other, once it accumulates, there’s nothing we can do about it. There are people who were hospitalized due to ulcers, extreme hair loss, insomnia, hallucination, ruined skin, overeating, and so on. Some commit murder or suicide. But most of the people don’t have problems, I think. Our free time is used cleverly, in letting our feelings out. During weekdays, upon getting home from [work], we drink with our buddies. No one ever complains, and everyone steadily performs their tasks everyday.”

“Why stress out yourselves just to earn money, to begin with?” Hermes asked.

The man shrugged, “Who knows? I don’t really know who or when someone came up with it but,” and continued,

“I think it’s such a wonderful idea.”

“Really?”

“Yup. Humans can’t live in comfort all their lives. If humans don’t experience some form of hardship each day, they will become lazy and useless. It is important to have something to do in one’s life. In old times, that is equivalent to working everyday in order to live, but now it is [work]. I feel that people long ago created this system because they understand this. If machines do everything for us, humans will live only a life of lethargy, and someday this country will be in ruins. The citizens are given their everyday stress, and they are given money for their efforts. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”

“Are you pleased with your life in this country? Don’t you find this [work] unpleasant?”

“Yes, I like it. The [work] is unpleasant at times. But, as a social responsibility, receiving stress precisely each day is a very good thing to fulfill our duties as adults. Last year, I was still a minor, relaxing and doing stupid things, thinking ‘Ah, starting next year, I too will [work] everyday…, wear a suit and necktie each morning and go to [work]…’ It felt like something I don’t want to do. But now, everyday I get to look dignified, or rather pressured, but have this feeling of contentment at the same time. When I started, it felt as if I’m already a full-grown man. Now that I think about it, I couldn’t forget the smile on my parents’ faces when I received my first salary. My father told me, ‘With this, you are now also a fine adult. It was worthwhile bringing you up.’ That time I was really so happy…”

“Uh-huh,” Hermes interjected.

“There’s this saying that I really like. ‘Weariness from [work] is not the same as that from play. A night after [work] is more refreshing than a night after play.’ ——In my life, I wish to have much more nights after [work] than nights after play. Than getting tired everyday from play, I’d rather experience pleasant fatigue everyday from [work]. That way, I get to truly enjoy my precious leisure time. Someday, I’ll get older and eventually have a family of my own. When that time comes, I will [work] with my whole energy not just for my own but for my beloved family as well. Once my family greets me with a smile, each day’s weariness will be blown away all at once. And I’ll serve until retirement age. Until that time, I will do what I can above my limits. From the lowest, I’ll be a department head; if I can I’ll aim to be a manager, and if I feel like it, maybe I can be the company president too. That is my life’s dream. This country is a really good place because you can achieve your dreams with your own efforts — because it gives each citizen a goal, something to live for.”

The man looked up at the blue sky, and said this with a fresh smile. He faced Kino.

”Miss traveler, if in case, you are thinking of immigration, this country is a good choice. I am recommending it to you. There is [work] for everyone. As a middle-class citizen, your lifestyle will depend on your efforts. Immigrants are always welcome. ——Think about it.”

“Yes. Thank you very much,” Kino said with a smile.

“Do you have something else you would like to ask?”

Kino thought for a while.

“Just one thing. It has nothing to do with the [work] we were talking about earlier. Yesterday, my hotel and meal expenses were free, but I’m about to leave the country. When I go shopping, how will I pay for stuff that I need for traveling?”

“Ah—, I wonder…. Indeed, if it’s only a few days, guests are not charged anything. Not many stay for too long. Since you do not have a card, it will be hard to trade in this country’s marketplace. If you go and ask the machine in a shop, I think it will be able to tell you more details.”

“I see. Thank you very much. It’s only because I have a few things that I need.”

“I see. Well, it’s about time for me to go home. I’ll have to try my best again tomorrow. For today, I guess I’ll just read a self-improvement book in my room. Ah, if you are going to buy things, the shopping center at the center of the country would be good.”

Kino thanked him once more, and the man left.

—

In the bench, Kino requested one more cup of tea. She drank the tea leisurely while looking at the scenery of the towering building and the empty park.

“What are we going to do after this, Kino? Are we going around the country?” Hermes asked. While gazing straight ahead, Kino answered.

“Hermes, I… heard something very good…”

“Huh?”

“That person before. I heard something very good from him. I heard something valuable from his story. I feel like I just realized what I should do from now on…”

Surprised with Kino’s serious face and tone, Hermes asked.

“Huh? Wait, what are you planning to do? …Don’t tell me you like to live in this country, Kino.”

Kino looked at Hermes, and spoke as if he just said something ridiculous.

“That’s not it,” and then she continued,

“We should go shopping.”

“Huh?”

“Well, it’s all free right? Ammunition, food, fuel, clothes… other things that can be exchanged for high value in other countries. This is a rare chance. Let’s use today and tomorrow to grab everything we can before we leave.”

“……”

Kino stood up. And then she politely handed the empty paper cup to the cleaning machine.

“Let’s go, Hermes. Humans should relax whenever they can. Today is certainly the time for that,” Kino said energetically when she came back.

“Like teacher, like student.”

Hermes whispered with deep emotion.

“Hmm? Did you say something?” Kino asked as she pushed Hermes along.

Hermes answered with his usual tone.

“Nothing.”

Translator’s Notes

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