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「旅人が刻む壁 / ぶどう踏みの少女」 (Tabibito ga Kizamu Kabe / Budou Fumi no Shoujo)
“The Wall Etched by Travelers / The Grape-Stomping Girl”
Last week, when I said this week’s episode could be really good, I’ve been told that C2C have skipped out on adapting that specific part of Volume 2. So we have no idea whether they will look to eventually cover it in this adaptation. Instead, we get to enjoy two quirky and lighthearted stories with a common theme – love triumphing as people with conflicting ideologies overcome their differences to unite as one.
Beyond the Boundary
Our first story presents a situation similar to the Berlin Wall – a town divided by a wall, with each side claiming to be better than the other. Elaina reminisces reading about this town with her mother during her childhood. At this point, I think we can safely say that Nike is almost certainly Elaina’s mother. The witch who started the tradition in the flashback looks exactly like Elaina. And the townmaster even mistook Elaina for that witch.
But when Elaina reaches this town, there’s no tradition of scratching messages on walls anymore. In fact, the wall itself has been completely torn down. Prior to her arrival, Saya accidentally upturned the tradition by suggesting that instead of only permitting tourists to etch messages onto the wall, the townspeople should be allowed to as well. Though it starts off mostly innocent and fun, the wall is eventually destroyed when people attempted to scratch off embarrassing rumours that other people wrote about them – eventually eroding the wall down to nothingness. Which reunites both halves of the town after decades of separation.
Perhaps some socio-political commentary can be made here about overcoming differences. Especially in light of the recent US elections. But to quote Obi-Wan, I don’t think I’m brave enough for politics. Not to mention my post could double in length. So I will leave it at that.
The Foot Wine Fetishists
Our second story was an affirmation of the old adage – sex sells. I think the anime and manga industry has already proven this time and time again. So it was amusing to see that level of self awareness coming through the writing. That slapping a buxom woman onto a wine bottle and claiming that the liquor was created from said lady stamping juices out of the grapes will make it sell better. That’s already checkmate for ginger, boob and foot fetishists. And a total KO if you’re into all three things, like the village chief.
Too bad it turned out to be a scam – with Rosemary merely being used for advertising purposes, when the liquor was really created by a troupe of men. A drunk and vindictive Elaina ends up using magic to obliterate the townfolk by shooting grapes like a gatling gun, though no one was seriously harmed. And like her mother before with the Berlin Wall, Elaina’s antics spawn an annual festival where the people in both halves of the town put aside their differences to throw grapes at each other for fun.
But I tell you what. For all his open declarations of fetishism and outright simping that you think would put off a girl, that old village chief sure has game. In the end, he’s the one that marries the young, beautiful Rosemary. And village chief even has a kid with her. He’s got to be the biggest winner I’ve seen so far in this series. I don’t think anyone else can top that sort of outcome.
Anyway, that’s about everything I wanted to discuss. As always, thanks for reading this post and see you all next week!
https://randomc.net/image/Majo%20no%20Tabitabi/Majo%20no%20Tabitabi%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2023.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Majo%20no%20Tabitabi/Majo%20no%20Tabitabi%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2029.jpg
i like these casual time skips back and forth in the story, transition is so smooth, one chapter it’s young Elaina’s mother, and other it’s way in the future where Elaina is as old as her mother was when she left for travels, and most likely has children of her own, i wonder if we will ever get a glimpse of her future, not just future of towns she travels to
forgot to add, “In the end, he’s the one that marries the young, beautiful Rosemary. And village chief even has a kid with her.” this is a bit incorrect since child calls his “grandpa”, so this is clearly 35+ years after Elaina’s visit.
Further confirming that Nike is Elaina’s mother, they are voiced by the same seiyuu, Ito Shizuka, as confirmed by the end credits of Episode 1 and Episode 7.
https://i.imgur.com/GLzXkJs.png
Thank you very much for that insight!
hmmm https://i.imgur.com/Sg1XpxK.jpg
Funny drunk Elaina. 😉
I thought that was drunk Saya?
Sorry I meant drunk Nike
Yes, but only if you’re into that sorta thing… 😈😈
I kinda liked the whole wholesomeness of this episode; beauty over vulgarity.
While Rosemary appears to be conceited about her appearance, she’s really
just the product of her environment and is simply playing her strength to live
and is romantically approachable just as any other maiden in her village.
As for the wall part of the episode, it was more of a filler in the episode as you
could easily see what the outcome would be when the wall came down and
both sides met (and the general tone of the characters ensured that their
meeting would be non-violent).
Elaina also invented the sport of weaponless paintball!
Fun episode, can’t wait for the next!
What if… Fran-sensei is like what Saya is to Elaina?
I mean the relationship between Fran and Nike was like how Saya is to Elaina now?