Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 8 Chapter 12 (section)

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Chuckling, Bou-san looked towards Lin-san, who had been quietly refraining.

“—Any problems with this, Lin?”

Once again, Lin-san smiled a slightly wry smile.

“It doesn’t seem like it.”

“There’s one thing I want to ask. Why was it necessary to set up the office?”

...I also really want to know that.

After Lin-san pondered for a moment,

“There were hardly any clues to search for Gene… Eugene...”

“Gene? A nickname for Eugene?”

“Yes. It was undoubtedly going to take time to look for him. It was impossible to go back and forth from England, so it was necessary to secure a foothold somewhere, but whatever the situation, the issue of funds remained.”

“The cost of living is high in Japan.”

“There’s a limit to personal sojourns. That’s why, as an interim measure while examining all quarters, we decided to establish a branch office under the pretext of investigating the present condition of psychical research and spiritual phenomenon in Japan.”

“I see, no wonder the request fee is cheap. Naturally, there’s no sense for profit. You can’t conduct business in an ‘SPR’ branch office.”

“Exactly.”

“Then, is Naru-bou your boss in the branch office?”

“Yes. More or less, Naru is the division head.”

Really?

“Even though Naru-bou is younger?”

“Age is irrelevant. Naru has performance in his favor, so as a researcher, he has seniority.”

“—While we’re at it, can I ask another question?”

“If I can answer it.”

“Nationality, is it English?”

“Naru? That’s right.”

Bou-san looked towards John for a moment.

“I heard that [[Ghost_Hunt:Volume8_Translator's_Notes#Naru|Naru]] is an American pronunciation.”

“Naru lived in the United States until he was about eight.”

“Then, are both his parents Japanese emigrants?”

“Professor Davis is a natural-born Englishman. Naru and Eugene were originally adopted.”

—Huh?

I looked at Lin-san's expressionless face once again.

“The two were orphans. Professor Davis adopted them.”

...I see. Naru was also an orphan.

Although, unlike me, Naru had an older brother. But still… that older brother is dead…

“Originally, only Eugene used the name Naru.”

I wasn’t the only one who was a little stunned.

“Then, Naru will return to England once he finds his older brother’s remains.”

I murmured so, not expecting a response.　

...Therefore, like Masako said, we won’t meet again…

“I have yet to hear anything regarding the matter.”

“But, he’s going to close the office, right?”

“That was a convenience for the sake of looking for Eugene. It was also used as an explanation for those who were assisting us in our stay.”

“If he finds his older brother, there’s no reason for him to stay in Japan.”

Both his parents live in England and his home is also there.

“I’m very sorry, but I’m unable to—”

For a moment, Lin-san was about to say something, but ultimately closed his mouth. He briefly looked around at us.

“May I ask a favor of you?”

"By all means."

Lin-san bowed slightly at Bou-san’s voice.

“I would like you to please keep this secret.”

Bou-san answered, ‘You got it,’ but Ayako raised her voice in protest.

“Hey, why are you so worried?”

“Because the Japanese media is greedy. They have no integrity or moderation. It would be humorously dramatized and it’s not likely to be pleasant.”

“That’s true, but...”

To that, Lin-san looked at the floor.

“Psychometry is perhaps the most inconvenient of all extrasensory perception abilities. The media will quickly grow bored, but there are some people who will not lose interest.”

“...?”

“Before coming to Japan, do you know how many letters a day were generally sent to Naru?”

...fan mail?

“At least twenty and as many as fifty. All of them were letters seeking aid, wanting him to look for a close relative who disappeared.”

“Oh...”

“It’s not a problem to search if the person is alive, but it’s often someone who’s dead. The people who send the letters are usually desperately hoping their relatives are alive somewhere.”

“That’s probably true...”

He really should try to avoid the media.

“Moreover, Naru is too capable. If the person he’s looking for is dead, it’s fine if he only sees it as mere information. But if the synchronization with the target is intense, he apparently experiences it as if it’s his own personal experience.”

Ayako and Masako looked back at me simultaneously.

“Mai had a dream like that once...”

Is it like that?

“Sometimes, in severe cases, he actually gets injured.”

“Injured?”

‘Yes,’ Lin-san nodded.

“When experiencing a vision, a severe bruise is produced in the same spot where the person he’s synchronizing with was injured and a strong paralysis develops... Therefore, Naru will not use psychometry unless the situation is serious. He sent back all the letters without opening them.”

...Really? That’s dreadful!

“Also...”

Lin-san started to say, then shook his head.

“Anyway, please.”


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