Chapter 6: Land of Fakes -Trade Make-

This is a tale about a certain day.

Kino and Hermes drove through a vast, empty field of grass, heading for a country. Its walls were already in sight, and they rapidly closed the distance.

“There’s something I want to buy in that country,” Kino said.

“Oh? What?” Hermes asked.

“The medium-sized knife I use for skinning animals and preparing food has gotten dull. It’s a really good knife, but blade’s become thin because of how much I’ve sharpened it. It’s a Toren brand knife, and for a long time now, most travellers have considered it the best of its kind. I got this one from Shisho. Because of how popular it is, you can find merchants selling them no matter where you are.”

“I see. I hope you find one in that country.”

“Yeah. Honestly, even if I don’t find a Toren, I’d settle for a knife of similar quality.”

Kino and Hermes made their way into the country. As always, they requested permission to stay for three days.

They drove around until they found a metalsmithing shop.

The shopkeeper greeted them. “Welcome, traveller! You’re looking for a knife? In that case, what about the famous Toren knife? It’s not domestically made, but merchants from afar bring them here. You might find it expensive, but this knife is well worth its weight in gold! An experienced traveller like you will most certainly understand its value!”

He showed Kino the knife with the Toren logo neatly branded on it, which-

Kino didn’t buy.

Kino lay in the hotel bed, and Hermes stood nearby. 

“Yeah, I give up.”

“Guess that’s that.”

A gloomy atmosphere hung over the two.

“Who would’ve thought that all the Toren knives in this country-“

“Are all fakes! And somehow, every single person here is convinced that they’re the real thing! They’ve all been properly tricked!”

“I figured that a famous brand like Toren would have a fair number of imitations, so I wouldn’t have minded a well-made fake, but-“

“They all sucked! How dare they sell such awful knives at such high prices!”

“Yeah, I give up.”

“Guess that’s that.

The next day, Kino and Hermes continued to visit various shops, but the result was equally as depressing as the previous day.

“There’s nothing but Toren ripoffs… not a single real one!”

“Should we just call it a day? I don’t think you’ll find what you’re looking for here.”

Kino and Hermes conversed in hushed voices in front of a shelf where lots of knives were arranged on display.

Eventually, the owner of the shopkeeper appeared. Assuming that the traveller couldn’t afford the knife, he took pity and approached them.

“Must be tough. Just for you, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Make sure you don’t tell anyone else. Try this address.”

Saying that, he handed Kino a small note.

The next day, before they departed the country, Kino and Hermes headed to the address.

The note led them to a single home in a secluded wood, where a single young man was busy making a knife.

The man was taken aback at the sight of Kino and Hermes, but relaxed slightly when Kino told him that they were looking to buy a knife.

“I guess a traveller who’s going to leave the country soon won’t be a problem… Alright.”

The man showed them several particular knives he had made. 

In every single aspect, they were the spitting image of the ‘Toren knives’ sold in this country, but they weren’t ‘Toren knives.'”

Hermes exclaimed delightedly. “These are all fakes of the ‘Toren’s’ that are so popular in this country, aren’t they! I see! Mister, you make and sell fakes, don’t you! You’re like one of those shady characters lurking in back alleys telling people that you’ll sell them authentic goods for cheap!”

“I am, but please don’t tell anyone in this country. I put my heart and soul into these fakes, and they’re in no way inferior to the real thing.”

Kino took one and held it, before declaring to the man that he would buy it.

Kino and Hermes drove swifty across the grassy plain, leaving a single country behind. The country walls rapidly receded into the distance.

Once they were entirely out of view, Kino stopped.

She took out a paper bag from the box fastened above Hermes’s back wheel, and removed the contents. It was the fake she’d bought from the man.

“Honestly, that really surprised me.” Kino unsheathed the blade, examining it closely. “This ‘fake of a fake’ is equally as good as the original, maybe even better… That man is a true craftsman.”

“Good for you, Kino! You got it for cheap!”

Kino sheathed the blade, returning it to an accessible position in the box. 

“I wonder if I should’ve told the people in that country…?” Kino mumbled. 

Immediately, Hermes interjected. “Tell them what?”

“…Nah, never mind. Instead-“

“Instead?

A few days later, Kino met a merchant driving a truck.

He was carrying a massive stock of Toren fakes with the intention of selling them at the country. Naturally, he was well aware that he was selling fakes.

“I know someone who can make Toren fakes much better than whatever you’re carrying.”

Showing the merchant the knife, Kino sold him the information.

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