Kino no Tabi:Volume9 Chapter10

“Tales From the Past” —Tea Talks—

“A Land That Wants the Man”

A long, long time ago, there were two people and one animal on a journey.

One of the two was a young man who always wore a green sweater. He was a strong and kind person who had lost his homeland due to tragic circumstances.

The other one was a white-haired, green-eyed girl who was constantly silent. At those times, she didn’t like the world that much.

The animal was a big dog covered with white, fluffy fur; a clever creature who could use the human language.

Having met in strange circumstances, the two humans and the animal began their journey together. Setting off from a nameless beach, they started their aimless journey in search of a place to settle in, aboard a buggy, riding across a vast, vast land.

And one day, they arrived at a certain country.

—

“We beg you, traveler! Please live in this country! Please!”

The citizens of the country beseeched the male traveler with all their might.

The traveler was very surprised. That’s because every single person he saw and met in the country were all female.

“Please stay in this country!”

Upon hearing their story, he understood why. For a long time, male babies weren’t being been born in their country. As a result, the number of males have dropped, and now they are in big trouble.

The male traveler pondered for a moment. He was yet to decide as to what kind of country he liked to live in. However,

‘The place that I wish to be in is a place that wishes for me to be there.’

Having that in mind, he began to think that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to be of use to the people living in this country. —At least until the citizens said this:

“We no longer need any more females in this country. It’s regretful, but we can’t allow that girl with you to stay here.”

And after that, a great clamour ensued.

The male traveler asked them to let the girl stay because he took on a duty to protect this girl. The citizens would absolutely not allow it, as they couldn’t stand increasing the number of females any more.

Things soon came to a head. Terrifying thoughts occurred to them: It would be fine if they could seize the girl and chase her out of the country, or, they might as well kill her.

Several women took hold of kitchen knives and rolling pins, and began to attack the girl.

But the girl refused to stay quiet. Well, actually, she didn’t say anything—but as a counter-attack, she hurled lots of deafening and blinding grenades all over the town.

The male traveler, in giving his all to make sure that no one got hurt, became the one who got hurt the most.

The two humans and the animal escaped away from the country aboard the buggy.

“Ow,” the male traveler muttered as he drove. A bit of blood was coming out from his mouth, there were bruises on his forehead, and his sweater was torn in places.

The girl who only gazed at his state from the side, with a very tiny voice, and with all honesty, whispered,

“Thank you.”

But because of the sound of the wind, it seems that the man failed to hear her.

“A Land That Wants the Girl”

The next place that awaited the two humans and the animal was a very tiny kingdom in a valley.

The male traveler asked if he could stay there for a while, as he was willing to work. Unfortunately, because of the country’s policy, he was told that he can’t become a citizen. In the end, he was given permission to stay for only three days to rest and shop for supplies.

As it was very rare for travelers to come to this country, the king accepted them as the country’s special guests. Not only were they given a place to stay, they were also invited to a lunch just before their departure. Before the lunch started, the male traveler seated at the end of a big table looked around restlessly.

When the white dog asked what he was doing, the male traveler answered that he was wondering whether only the king lived a luxurious life while the rest of the citizens suffered.

“Well, what do you think?” the dog asked.

The man answered that from what he has seen, it seems that it was not the case, and that the king was trusted by the citizens. “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” said the dog.

Soon, the king, the queen and the prince entered, and the lunch began.

The traveler was introduced, and the man greeted them with flawless grace, that the people around us, who thought that all travelers were more or less rude, were surprised.

The prince of this country was a boy around ten years of age. Perhaps because of boredom as the banquet progressed, he took a butler along with him and walked around the room. Upon doing so, he set eyes on the girl.

“Good day. I am this country’s prince.”

“…”

“When I grow up, I’ll work hard and govern this country with all that I can.”

“…”

“I believe this country is really wonderful. I have a very important duty.”

“…”

The girl’s reply each time was only to silently stare at the prince, but the prince was having fun. The king who was observing them somehow gained interest on the girl. He asked the male traveler about her. The man truthfully answered that she was ‘abandoned by her parents, and having lost a home, travels together with him in search for a place to settle in.’

“In that case!” The king said in delight. “In that case, then I would like to have her as my son’s queen,” he said.

The male traveler was a bit surprised, but having immense perceptiveness, he knew deep inside that this was for the girl’s sake.

And so, the male traveler spoke to the girl who only stared at the prince, “What do you think? I don’t think it’s a bad deal at all.”

The girl’s response was a punch.

The girl clenched her right fist tightly, and hit the male traveler squarely at the jaw.

The girl ignored the astonished male traveler and the dumbfounded guests, and turned back to the prince. Then she waved her tiny white hands, and only said,

“Bye bye.”

“Sure. If we get a chance, let’s meet again,” the prince said.

The girl dragged the confounded man who was still pressing on his chin, and together with the white dog, left the banquet.

The two humans and the animal soon left the country

“A Land That Wants the Dog”

After that, the two humans and the dog found a moderately-sized country by a lake.

From the outside, it looked like a perfectly normal country. The male traveler knocked on the door of the guardpost beside the gates. When he was about to ask permission to enter from the sentry who just came out,

“Whoa!”

Suddenly, the guard exlaimed as if there was something wrong with his hearing, that the two humans and the animal were stunned.

The sentry pushed some sort of switch on the wall, and a shrill alarm rang along with the opening of the heavy-looking gates.

And then the sentry knelt down right where he stood,

“Your Dogship!”

And bowed to the white dog at the feet of the traveler.

Soon after, the astounded pair were almost driven off by the wave of people coming from behind. They came rushing from the country, shouting things like, ‘It’s His Dogship!’ ‘Our Majestic Dog!’ ‘My, Your Dogship!’

“Welcome! Welcome! Please come in!”

Welcomed by a lot of people, the white dog passed through the completely opened gates. Having no other choice, the pair of humans left the buggy outside the walls and walked along.

On the other side of the gates was a big plaza were more people have gathered. The crowd was still growing.

There were too many people that the ground beneath them could no longer be seen. When the white dog came into full view, having been urged to climb a pedestal, the masses’ cheers made the ground rumble. Everyone knelt and bowed their heads.

A citizen spoke to the clueless male traveler and the silent girl beside the pedestal.

“Thank you very much for accompanying His Dogship to us!”

The male traveler asked him what’s going on.

“You didn’t know? —If you have come here without knowing anything, then this must be fate! How wonderful!”

The man asked once more for an explanation and finally received an answer. This country had revered dogs for a long time. But several years ago, a disease drove all dogs in the country to extinction, and the citizens were terribly distraught by it.

“You’ll stay in this country from here on, won’t you? Your Dogship!”

“Now, what shall I do?” the dog asked.

The male traveler answered casually, “Do as you like.”

“You! How dare you utter such disrespectful words to His Dogship!”

The man was seized. Two burly men surrounded him and grabbed both of his arms. In reality, the male traveler could have struggled and escaped, but he didn’t put up any resistance.

“…”

The girl silently approached the white dog on the pedestal, then pointed toward the arrested traveler, as if to say, ‘Do something.’

“Your dogship! Please allow us to put this ill-mannered man to death!” a citizen said.

“Wait,” the dog haughtily answered. “An execution is a waste of time. Throw him out of the country.”

“Y-yes!” The citizens bowed their heads once more.

“…”

*Smack*. The girl hit the head of the white dog.

“How dare you do such a thing to His Dogship!”

And so, the girl was also seized.

“What shall we do with them?”

When the white dog was asked such, he declared, “Deport them together.”

The two travelers were lifted and carried away to the gates where they had passed through but moments earlier. And then they were thrown outside.

“You two better be grateful for His Dogship’s benevolence!”

The gates started to close with a clatter. Then, just before it completely closed off, the white dog suddenly jumped off the pedestal, ran through the spaces between the people’s legs, and passed through the tiny opening of the gates to the outside. And right before the dazed crowd, the heavy gates closed up.

The male traveler and the girl were aboard the buggy.

“Is this really all right, Riku?” the traveler on the driver’s seat asked the white dog in an amused tone.

“…”

The girl beckoned silently from the passenger seat.

The white dog ran to the buggy and settled between the girl’s legs, then spoke with a dignified air,

“We may go now.”

*Smack*. The girl hit the head of the white dog. Then she placed her chin on top of it in an embrace.

“You’re heavy,” the dog answered.

“…”

The girl only silently hugged the fluffy white dog. With a laugh, the male traveler started the engine and launched the buggy off.

“Open it quick!”

“What are you doing?!”

“Ah! His Dogship!”

They quickly rode away from the clamoring citizens beyond the walls.

—

“—The end.”

“Eh, that’s it?!”

“Tell us more about the traveler, the girl and the white dog!”

“That’s all for today. There are lots more stories about the two people and the dog, but it wouldn’t be interesting if I tell them all at once. We’ve drunk up all the tea, too.”

“Aw.”

“Hmph.”

“Another time, okay? Next time, I will tell you more exciting stories.”

“It’s a promise!”

“It’s settled then!”

“I know. It’s a promise.”

“Then we’ll come again!”

“Again!”

“You’re welcome anytime. Be careful on your way home.”

“Yup!”

“Bye!”

“Goodbye. See you again.”

“—Grandma.”

“Oh, did you forget something?”

“No, there’s a guest for you at the entrance who wants to know about routes and countries; a traveler who came to this country by motorrad.”

“Dear me, how rare. Let’s get to know this fellow then. I wonder what kind of person it is?”

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