The Tower Country -Freelance-

' (Japanese: 塔の国', translated to Tō no Kuni) is an extra OVA episode released for the original 2003 Kino's Journey -the Beautiful World- anime series. The episode was released on October 19, 2005 as part of the series' DVD release.

Synopsis
Kino and Hermes arrive at a city built around an incredibly tall tower that reaches the skies. As the sun sets, the two discuss about the tower's purpose, and resolve to ask the city's population about it.

The next day, Kino begins asking the city's residents about the tower and its history. However, no one has an answer as to why they built the tower, with one woman even admitting they build the tower solely because it's their job. Despite that, Kino does find out that the tower is over 230 years old.

Due to the city having no inns, Kino and Hermes take resident in a small, dusty room. Late at night, the two are encountered by a boy, who reveals of the city's obsession with the tower and his desires to travel with Kino so he won't live the rest of his life working to further the tower. Kino declines the boy's offer to join her, stating that her only companion is Hermes.

The next day, as she is about to leave the city, Kino witnesses as the tower crumbles and reduces to dirt, much to the joy of the city's residents as they can now start building the tower again. Before departing, Kino encounters the boy again, who offers him advice in the form of coloring bricks and making engravings unto them so he will do something different other than building the same tower again.

Characters

 * Kino
 * Hermes
 * Boy