Memory - Day Three of “Land of Permitted Murder” — Jungle’s Rule —
Description: It's once again the Country of Permitted Murder, and Kino is preparing to leave when the man they met along the way to the country shows up and threatens Kino's life, demanding their supplies so he can sell them and live in this country now that he's immigrated. The people of the country retreat to their homes and, noting this, Kino stalls the man with some flat retorts before gracefully spinning and taking cover behind Hermes. As the man takes aim to fire, he is struck in the arm with an arrow, and soon finds himself surrounded by the residents of the country, all armed with various weapons. Their leader, an elderly man with a cane, explains that killing is not against the law - but the people don't allow for murder. Those who try to kill others in this country are simply killed instead.
When the man demands to know why the old man seems to be leader, the old man draws a sword from his cane and says he isn't anyone special, simply a man named Legal. He then kills the man and goes to tell Kino to take care as the other residents make arrangements to clean up the body and bury it in the national cemetery.
Kino then leaves the country and comes across another traveler some ways away traveling by horse. The man stops them and asks if the country ahead is as he heard - a safe, pleasant, gentlemanly place. He's from a country where he had to steal and murder to survive, and wants nothing more than a country where he can live a normal life. Kino agrees that the country is exactly as he heard, and recommends he tells his tales to Legal, who will surely have interesting tales for him in return. The man seems to want to ask about one more thing, but instead decides against it, as it seems too strange. The two travelers say their goodbyes and Kino departs.
Note: the original Japanese does not particularly gender Kino, and by default most people tend to assume Kino is male upon sight, so assume cases of "Miss" etc. are just some polite referral to Kino (one official translation uses Mx.) unless otherwise noted.
Day 374
Description: It's once again the Country of Permitted Murder, and Kino is preparing to leave when the man they met along the way to the country shows up and threatens Kino's life, demanding their supplies so he can sell them and live in this country now that he's immigrated. The people of the country retreat to their homes and, noting this, Kino stalls the man with some flat retorts before gracefully spinning and taking cover behind Hermes. As the man takes aim to fire, he is struck in the arm with an arrow, and soon finds himself surrounded by the residents of the country, all armed with various weapons. Their leader, an elderly man with a cane, explains that killing is not against the law - but the people don't allow for murder. Those who try to kill others in this country are simply killed instead.
When the man demands to know why the old man seems to be leader, the old man draws a sword from his cane and says he isn't anyone special, simply a man named Legal. He then kills the man and goes to tell Kino to take care as the other residents make arrangements to clean up the body and bury it in the national cemetery.
Kino then leaves the country and comes across another traveler some ways away traveling by horse. The man stops them and asks if the country ahead is as he heard - a safe, pleasant, gentlemanly place. He's from a country where he had to steal and murder to survive, and wants nothing more than a country where he can live a normal life. Kino agrees that the country is exactly as he heard, and recommends he tells his tales to Legal, who will surely have interesting tales for him in return. The man seems to want to ask about one more thing, but instead decides against it, as it seems too strange. The two travelers say their goodbyes and Kino departs.
Note: the original Japanese does not particularly gender Kino, and by default most people tend to assume Kino is male upon sight, so assume cases of "Miss" etc. are just some polite referral to Kino (one official translation uses Mx.) unless otherwise noted.