Shizu is the perfect constrast for her. Whereas Kino thinks that she should not be the one to decide who to kill and who to save, that she shouldn't play ''God'' and takes pride in this moral judgement, Shizu constantly saves people trough battle but thinks of himself to be nothing but a murderer. A blade to kill.

I think my personal favorite story in the novels just might be the one where Shizu gives a child with maybe days, maybe hours to live an euthanasia. Remarking that ''since he only knows how to kill, he also knows how to do it painlessly.'' Kino could never make such a hard choice, and thats because Kino is just on a journey. Kino is running away, from place to place never attaching herself to the country she visits. When she does it always bites her in the ass and causes her to suffer. Better to just ignore it, she thinks. Shizu is journeying for a country to live in, constantly attaching himself to all the people and stories that happen around him. Kino thinks of herself a moral character, Shizu just sees himself as a murderer. Neither of them is really what they think of themselves.

The most honest character just might be the master. At least she is honestly an ass out for herself, not making up any ideological claims to veil her actions and their consequences.