The Chiropractor, the Monk, and the Scarecrow - Episode 17

A profile emerges, illuminated by the full moon.
It would be fine if it were a romantic situation, but nine times out of ten, it isn't.
I opened the restroom window and stared for a moment, trying to identify the figure.

“It’s Dr. Inumaru and Misono.”
He has a perm, black hair slicked back, and an undercut on the sides.
The other person is looking down, so I can't see clearly, but it must be the brown-haired bob.
Both are wearing FBG chiropractic white coats, so they must have been talking somewhere until now.

“It’s dark, so be careful not to trip.”
The man’s voice is caring as he shines a flashlight on the ground and leads the other person by the hand. Judging by the direction, they seem to be heading toward the waterfall.

“To go all the way to the waterfall together in the middle of the night like this...”
I felt a sense of unease and decided to follow them.
I don’t have a flashlight, so I’ll follow from a distance, relying on the light ahead.

It’s not pitch black, as the moonlight is bright enough to cast shadows.
Watching the two of them walk along the mountain path, it almost felt like they were running away together.

“Tsujita. I’m doing this for your own good. You understand, right?”
“Yes...”
“Aren’t you obedient. That’s good.”
I could hear that exchange.
The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of insects could be heard.

Gradually, the sound of the murmuring stream grew louder, and we approached the waterfall.
I can’t see the whole thing like we did when we all came for waterfall meditation during the day.
But I know it’s right in front of me from the force of the water hitting the basin and the spray.

“Alright, change into this.”
Dr. Inumaru holds out the white ascetic robes he had tucked under his arm.
“I don’t want to. It’s impossible in the dark.”
“It’s fine. I’ll shine the light for you. Come on, hurry up.”
“Please, stop.”
He grabs Misono’s arm, who is resisting, and tries to force her to change.

Listening to their unusual exchange, I remembered my nursing internship.
I once heard Misono complaining about being sexually harassed by a patient, and I gave that person a piece of my mind using the power of the blue light.
Come to think of it, while Misono has a tough, cheeky side, she’s actually timid. She’s serious, but because she looks like a delinquent, she’s an easy target, isn't she?

That’s exactly what Inumaru the bastard’s tactics seemed like.
“I can’t forgive this, I can’t forgive this, I can’t forgive this.”
I got angrier and angrier, repeating it to myself.
Then, the blue broad bean in my head started to glow.
“Whoa, the blue light after all this time.”
Feeling a sense of nostalgia, I found myself chanting the spell like a conditioned reflex.
“Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare.”
Then, the broad bean swelled up more than ever before, increasing its blue radiance.
“Wait, hold on, that should be enough now.”
I tried to suppress it using breathing techniques, but it didn’t work at all.
“Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare.”
Ignoring my own will, I kept chanting the spell in my mouth.
“Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare.”
No. I can’t control it.
Just when I was at my wit's end.

Gogogogogogo
It rumbled in the back of my ears like an earthquake.
Zuzazazazazaaa
I felt something moving vigorously inside my head and breaking through.
My hair stood on end at the strange phenomenon happening to me.
Even so, my curiosity to see the true form of what had broken through me won out.

Isn't there a Yamabushi emitting blue light standing right in front of me?
Looking closely, his feet aren't touching the ground; I should say he is floating.
I’ve seen the 'En no Gyoja statue' built on Mt. Sefuri, which I often climbed when I lived in the countryside.
He wears a small hexagonal hat on his head and holds a long metal staff in his hand. His clothes remind me of a Tengu, but his face is not a Tengu. En no Gyoja is said to be the founder of Shugendo.
In other words, the person in front of me is likely a type of ascetic or Yamabushi.

I instantly gathered my thoughts and narrowed down the answer.
But at the same time, I realized how futile it was.
The blue-glowing Yamabushi is completely independent.
Ignoring my worries, he floats toward the two of them.

“Gyaaa!”
Misono’s face twisted, and she collapsed.
It seems she fainted from sheer terror.

“Whoa, a ghost! Please, have mercy!”
Inumaru trembles and puts his hands together in prayer.

“Ah, it makes me so mad. Bullying the weak like that, you deserve to be tossed around.”
The Yamabushi berates Inumaru with an irritated look, but because of his dialect, I can’t understand half of it.
However, his voice is similar to the other personality that has appeared within me along with the blue light. Surely, that other personality has become independent and turned into a Yamabushi.

“Eiii!”
When the Yamabushi thrusts his metal staff with a shout, a ball of blue light is released.
“Oh, watch out!”
My scream was in vain, and the ball hit Inumaru directly in the abdomen.
“Ugh!”
Inumaru curls up, unable to move.
Hyun hyun hyun
The Yamabushi glows even brighter, and the energy of his anger is making a roaring sound.
“You’re a pathetic coward, acting tough in front of a woman. What are you going to do? I’ll finish you off, you annoying brat. Take this!”
Hyun hyun hyun hyun hyun hyun
He concentrated his energy and raised his metal staff.

“This is bad! If he attacks any more, Inumaru will die!”
But I can’t stop the Yamabushi. What on earth should I do?
Just as the Yamabushi was about to swing his staff down.
“Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare.”
“Huh? Who? Who is chanting the spell?”
When I looked in the direction of the voice, wasn't Zenfu-osho standing right there?
He isn't doing his usual gassho, but is intertwining his fingers like a ninja to form a mudra.
“Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare, Nantaisankatsusare.”
As he continued the spell, Zenfu-osho was also enveloped in blue light, and a Komuso monk jumped out from within it.
He looks similar to the Yamabushi, but his clothes are dark, and he wears a deep straw hat, so I assume he is a Komuso.

“Haa!”
The Komuso stands in front of Inumaru with lightning speed and brushes away the ball of light the Yamabushi released.
There was a thudding impact sound.
Bwoooom
The blue-glowing Komuso hummed with sound. He lifted his straw hat slightly with his left hand and spoke to the Yamabushi.
“Still the same as ever, Kuugaku.”
“Oh. If it isn't Kaien. I’m in the middle of punishing this guy, so stay out of it.”
The Komuso has a Kansai dialect, and the Yamabushi has a dialect from around Fukuoka or Saga in Kyushu.

Kuugaku is the same dharma name as my great-grandfather, whom I heard about from my grandfather, I believe his name was Mayama Chikamatsu.

Kaien spoke to Kuugaku in a casual tone, offering a complaint.
“You’re overdoing it. Don’t you know the meaning of restraint?”
But Kuugaku wouldn't listen.
“Ah, you’re annoying! Then I guess I’ll have to finish you off first.”

I can’t tell if they are friends or enemies; one moment they are talking familiarly, and the next they are bickering strangely.
They both glowed even brighter, so they seem to be quite excited.
I worry about Misono and Inumaru, who are collapsed on the ground, and can only hold my breath, helpless.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. Then I’ll use my shakujo too.”
When the Komuso swung the shakuhachi he held in his right hand, it turned into a metal staff. I thought it was a metal staff, but it seems it’s called a shakujo.
“Here I come.”
“Bring it on!”
Jariin
Gachiin
The two blue-glowing figures collide with tremendous speed and force.
Kankan kankan
Gatsu! Gochi!
Boshu!
Jakiin
Jakiin

Gotsu! Gotsu! Gotsu! Gotsu! Gotsu! Gotsu! Gotsu! Gotsu!

The blue figures remain locked in a stalemate as the exchange continues.
Their glow becomes unstable, sometimes getting stronger and sometimes suddenly fading... and then, at that moment.

“Pama-in-judge-yo.”
That spell echoed from behind me.
When I turned around, Zenfu-osho was shouting and swinging his hand like a sword through the air repeatedly.
“Pama-in-judge-yo, Pama-in-judge-yo.”
The blue light gradually dimmed, and eventually withered away and vanished.

“Zenfu-osho!”
Convinced that the situation had been resolved, I called out, and the monk nodded slowly and deeply.
“We must tend to the two who have collapsed. Now, what should we do?”
The monk is right. In such darkness, and without any tools, there’s no way to help them. That said, I have to do what I can.
I rushed over to Misono first.
“Misono, pull yourself together. You’re safe now, it’s okay, Misono.”
As I held her shoulders and spoke to her, she regained consciousness.
“Mai. I was attacked by a monster... did you save me?”
“Well, let’s talk about that later. Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Yeah, thank you for everything.”
Misono smiled.

Zenfu-osho is calling out to Inumaru. Since they are exchanging words, I think it’s safe to be relieved for now.

“Hey, is anyone there?”
“Mr. Mayama, if you’re there, please answer me!”
A voice that sounded like Dr. Abiru was getting closer.

“Yes! Everyone is somehow safe!”
I shouted back at the top of my lungs.

⇒ To Episode 18

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