Edogawa Nishiguchi Ayakashi Clinic - Chapter 16
As she said this, smoke came out of nowhere and surrounded Sara.
Rather, she was suddenly covered in a thick fog.
I was speechless after the fog cleared up.
“!?”
Fluffy tails emerged from the back of Sara’s flipped up skirt!
It’s moving, it’s moving a lot!
1, 2, 3… 9 tails!?
Haaaah!?
Is this an illusion!?
Or is this some sort of CG from those popular VR games?
“Nanakida, do you believe in ayakashi now?”
After that, my mind went completely blank again.
Sara, who had suddenly grown 9 tails and made them disappear in an instant, went back to her table as if nothing happened.
It is said that the human brain restarts at a very fast pace after an emergency shutdown.
The patient with the growing nose.
The patient with the huge mouth who laughed loudly.
The idol who grew 9 tails and made them disappear again.
The mystery of how I blurted out “Ayakashi” despite thinking otherwise.
Me getting a job at a place called “Ayakashi” Clinic.
A-ya-ka-shi — Ayakashi.
So what if I could read it?
What of my self-awareness?
Everything is too suspicious!
No, this has to be a lie!
This situation is just too unrealistic!
“Nanakida?”
I could hear Dr. Tengo speaking, but they just don’t reach me.
I mean, he’s the head doctor of that “Ayakashi” Clinic, you know?
Just as I was thinking that, my thoughts flowed in another direction.
“No way…”
This man is 45 years old? With that face?
This has to be some sort of bad joke.
Although he graduated from T University, studied abroad, worked as an assistant professor and later on quit after becoming a professor in TK University, why would he work in a clinic in downtown Tokyo? Isn’t that strange!?
“Hey, Akatsuki-chan. Let’s drink some water first and then listen to what we have to say, okay?”
And this board chairman. What is he even saying?
Even though he carelessly put up a clinic and pharmacy downtown, how is he able to afford being a member in such an ultra-high class club like this?
With a handsome host-like face like his, there’s probably a rich madame somewhere that’s paying all of this for him.
But it’s still strange! Even that line of reasoning couldn’t convince me!
“A-chan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know anything about your situation.”
And there it is again, another hottie.
Why did this guy become a pharmacist and not sign up as an idol with that super strict talent agency? How old is he really? Isn’t he underage!?
A handsome doctor, a handsome board chairman, and even a handsome pharmacist.
Hot guys, ayakashi, hot guys, ayakashi.
“I’ve had enough! This isn’t even Gegege or DS!” [1]
What cooled down my completely agitated mind was the sudden touch of a soft hand.
“Nanakida.”
“Please let go… I don’t want this anymore, I don’t understand anything…”
My tears won’t stop falling again.
“Ayakashi are shadows of humanity.”
While holding my hands, Dr. Tengo took out a handkerchief and slowly continued as he wiped my tears away.
“In the past, incestuous marriages were common in small village communities. Even physical and mental illnesses that could now be explained by modern medicine were regarded as ayakashi. Are you listening?”
“…yes.”
“Back then, humans were convinced that everything they couldn’t explain was the doing of ayakashi. Thunder, river floods, and even sinking ships. They even used ayakashi to scare people into not getting into trouble in the mountains or teaching them not to touch burned out hearths to avoid getting burned.”
I calmed down a little after listening to what he had to say, but that didn’t explain what I’ve seen so far. It didn’t even explain the nose growing, the huge mouth and non-stop laughing, and even the 9 tails appearing and disappearing.
Translator’s Notes:
[1] Gegege or DS – Azuki is referring to 2 anime titles, namely Gegege no Kitaro and Demon Slayer which feature ghosts, yokai, and in Demon Slayer’s case, demons.
