View source for Ghost Hunt:Volume 6 Chapter 6

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Helping Bou-san and Yasuhara-san, who were close to sinking to the ground, we went through the rocky stretch and returned to the coast. The tide had gradually risen and the stone path had become submerged to ankle depth. While staggering, we returned to the coast and sat down in the shade where it was dry and the waves could not reach. The pebbles on the beach were warm and I felt extremely relieved when I touched them.

“Bou-san, are you okay?”

I nudged Bou-san, who was exhausted.

“...I’m dying.”

“Pull yourself together.”

“...sleep.”

Yeah, yeah. Yasuhara-san was also crouched. His face had become ghastly pale.

“What about you, Yasuhara-san? Are you okay?”

“Well… it seems like I hit something hard...”

“Is it painful?”

Yasuhara-san looked directly at me.

“It’s terribly painful.”

Uh-oh. Was he joking or was he serious? Either way, immediate action was necessary.

Just as I thought something like that and attempted to stand up, Ayako suddenly cried out.

“Naru!”

When I looked back at her scream, Naru was lying on the beach.

Everyone rushed over. The one who leaped at him first was Lin-san.

...is—is it anemia again?

“Naru!?”

Attempting to lift Naru, Lin-san’s body suddenly stiffened. He immediately laid his face on top of Naru’s chest.

Naru’s face was pale. A faint shadow had visibly formed on his tightly closed eyelids.

“Hey, is he okay!?”

Ignoring Ayako’s screamed question, Lin-san straightened. He placed both his hands on Naru’s chest, applied his body weight, and pushed with all his strength.

If—if you do such a thing, Naru’s whole body will break!

Lin-san pressed his chest a few times in that way, then impatiently withdrew his hands. He grabbed Naru’s collar and swung up one hand.

...Wa—wait, Lin-san!!

Before I could stop him, there was a violent smacking noise. He slapped him mercilessly.

“Naru! Breathe!!”

…what did you just say?

John broke into a run.

“I’ll call an ambulance!”

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Naru was taken to a nearby emergency hospital and, to our absolute terror, immediately taken to the intensive care unit.

We were forced out of the hospital room and stood dumbfounded in the corridor. Yasuhara-san, who was crouched over, was taken for treatment along with John and Bou-san. The door to the hospital room did not open for a while. Ayako went off somewhere saying she was going to check everyone’s conditions, and in the end, Masako, Lin-san and I stood there quietly waiting.

If I remain silent, I’ll only think about bad things. Just as I was getting sick of my dark thoughts, a doctor at last came out. 

“Is someone his proxy?”

That being said, Lin-san went forward.

“It appears to be shock. His pulse is weak, and a considerable arrhythmia is present. His blood pressure is also very low. It resembles a heart attack, but judging from his electrocardiogram, it seems it’s not a heart attack. Has he ever had a similar attack before?”

“If it was light, several times. So far, it was the first time it was severe.”

“During his illness, was there any fever?”

“There was none.”

“Then, does he have allergies? Was he taking any medicine?”

“No.”

“What about an angina attack?”

“There was none.”

The doctor hmmed.

“Once the blood pressure elevation medicine is administered, his blood pressure will gradually return to normal. We can assume he is recovering from shock. Since there’s concern that complications will occur following this, he’ll be hospitalized for the time being and we will watch his progress.”

Masako covered her face and crouched on the spot. Seeing that, Lin-san bowed his head to the doctor.

“...Thank you in advance.”

“The nurse has an explanation of everything.”

After he saw off the doctor, who bowed and left, I pulled on Lin-san’s sleeve.

“Is something wrong with Naru?”

“No. There is no specific illness in particular.”

“Then… Naru used Qigong, didn’t he? Is that the cause?”

Lin-san’s eyes widened in surprise.

“He fainted before, too. You said it was anemia, but that wasn’t really the case, was it?”

My mother had died in an accident. The cause of death was shock from blood loss. Shock, I know, is a truly terrible condition. 

“Did you stop Naru because you knew this would happen?”

Lin-san lightly exhaled.

“...That’s right.”

“Is Qigong such a dangerous technique? You can also cure illness with the technique, right? And yet, why does Naru get like this when he uses it?”

Lin-san patted my shoulders to calm me down.

“Everyone releases ch’i. That is what is known as presence. Usually, it is only released and cannot be used for anything. Qigong is a technique that successfully amplifies that and controls it for a certain purpose. It’s the same as any sport and with enough training, anyone can to do it to a certain extent. However, in Naru’s case, nothing can compare.”

...nothing can compare.

“It’s an innate ability. Naru used to cause poltergeists when he was a child.”

...ah.

“I taught him Qigong for the purpose of controlling the emission of ch’i that was uncontrollable by his own consciousness. Therefore, his style is quite similar to Qigong. However, it’s on a completely different level.”

“Is...that so?”

“Yes. Nevertheless, Naru’s power is too great for a human being. Therefore, if he uses it, his body is unable to keep up.”

“...It’s my fault.”

Tears spilled. However, I think crying at this point is a cowardly thing.

“It’s because I said things in order to provoke him.”

“It was his fault for taking the provocation.”

“But...”

Lin-san laughed slightly.

“Naru knew what would happen. If he was cool-headed, then he would not have taken the provocation like he did. In the first place, he’s not the kind of person to lose his composure. He will be extremely angry with his blunder. The loss of restraint will damage his self-esteem, since his pride is ridiculously high.”

...that’s true, but…

“It’s a foolish thing to risk your life for the sake of pride. When he wakes up, he will realize that. It’s good medicine. —Although, he will probably be in a bad mood for a while.”

“...maybe.”

“Being upset caused him to blunder and draw a sword that should not be drawn. He will be difficult for a while and lose his temper because of his so-called double blunder. If he had also failed in the exorcism, he would have died from indignation.”

I laughed a little.

“...You’re right. —Will he heal properly?”

Lin-san gave me a small smile.

“Of course.”

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