Spirit Girlfriend c3

Chapter 3: Akane Akabane is not a Witch

<From Akane’s Perspective>

My grandmother is a very famous Mage.

She was the former Imperial Court Mage who served the former Emperor of Japan.

Out of the 13 ruling levels in Japan, she was part of the 12th noble family.

ーーThe Sealer of Demons, the Akabane Family.

My particular family is just one of the many offshoot branches of that family line.

For many generations, we have had many mages scattered throughout our family tree, and even among them, my grandma was one of the elites.

But Grandma didn’t want any of my family members to become a mage like her.

So when she found out that I had the potential, she was very conflicted by the news.

I don’t know the details.

The Akabane family specializes in lifting [Cursed Hauntings] and guiding away [Spirits of the Dead].

It was a dangerous career, and my grandmother suffered greatly because of it.

Plus, it was the duty of mages to report to the country if they discovered any with the potential for magic.

It was illegal to conceal the fact that someone can use magic.

Therefore, the fact that I am a mage has already been reported to the government.

Normally, mages must attend a special [Magic Curriculum] course at a special school.

But my grandma said, “Going to a place like that will twist and corrupt Akane’s personality,” and utilized all her connections to send me to a regular school.

In exchange, I am a formal disciple of my grandma who is already a Mage, and I’m learning Magic from her.

There is a [National Exam] for Mages which if you pass, you get an official license from the country.

You are then recognized as a fully capable Mage.

And if you fail the exam and use Magic without a [license], you can be arrested.

Japan is a country strictly ruled by laws, so there are very few (if any) exceptions.

If you become a Mage, you are promised a [high salary].

But that is still all in the future.

Right now, I’m just a Mage-in-learning, an egg that’s still incubating.

In short, I’m just a regular person.

The only difference between myself and others is that I can [see] the other side.

I can see those who are [no longer a part of this world].

Yes, I can see ghosts.

I could see them since birth.

This is not unusual in the Akabane family.

There are those who can see the dead when they are little, and lost the sight as they grew up (like my mother).

But my [sight] was extremely strong, and they said it was as strong as my grandmother’s eyes.

So seeing ghosts is an everyday occurrence for me.

If a ghost is about to turn into a Cursed or Evil Spirit, I have to let my grandma know.

There is a Mage assigned to the Musashino City District where I live, but my grandma is far more skilled than them.

If it was grandma, she would be able to take care of the problem right away with ease.

So up until now, I just had to tell her about any concerning ghosts or spirits, and that was all.

ーーThat was until today. The day I saw that the ghost of my best friend was possessing one of my classmates.

<<<<>>>>

Alabe: (No no no no….! What should I do?! WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!)

Last December, my best friend, Yukina, died from a car accident.

We have known each other since Kinder.

I couldn’t believe it.

I cried and cried and cried.

But no matter how much I cried, more tears just came pouring out.

Without really being able to process the grief properly, I trudged heavy footed to school at the start of the 3rd Semester. But running into Yukina’s boyfriend, Souta, all my grief instantly blew away.

Akane: (YーYukina’s possessing Souta?!)

Above Souta’s right shoulder, Yukina was gently floating above it.

She was mostly transparent, and no one else could see her other than me.

She was unmistakably a ghost.

I was shocked to see Yukina as a ghost, but it was more shocking to see her possessing her boyfriend.

Akane: (This is bad, this is bad, this is bad….!!)

At a glance, Yukina is not an Evil, Cursed, or Haunting Spirit.

But she was <POSSESSING> him.

I remembered grandma’s words just then.

<<<<>>>>

Grandma: “Listen carefully. You just tell me immediately if you see a ghost possessing a person. Being possessed by a ghost means that that person is slowly getting their [life force] drained from them. You’ll see symptoms where their health deteriorates and unfortunate accidents will start occurring around them. And the longer the possession lasts, the ghost will eventually turn evil. This is because the ghost is envious of the human they’re possessing. They became a ghost because of some past [regrets]. And the possessed person will slowly be dragged down to the world of death. Do you understand?”

Akane: “I understand, Grandma!”

Grandma: “You’re a good girl, Akane. No matter how wicked or cruel the ghost is, I will send that ghost to the other side with a flick of my wrist, so don’t you ever worry.”

The smile of her grandma was warm and sincere.

<<<<>>>>

Akane: (Yukina is going to be exorcised!!)

What should I do?!

I can’t tell my grandma.

But if I leave things the way they are, Souta’s life will be in danger.

Should I tell my grandma then……?

I remember one particular incident where I watched my grandma perform an exorcism on an [Evil Spirit].

………..help me…….help me…..

……….i don't want to die……

……..why…….why me……

……...i hate them…...i hate them all…...

They were l crying tears of blood, looking down, and despairing.

And my grandma shouted, “DIE〜!!” and stabbed them with a black iron spike.

They screamed in agony, and the Evil Spirits crumbled into pieces and disappeared.

Akane: (No no no no no no...I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I can’t, I CAN’T!!!)

I could never watch Yukina go through anything like that!!

Grandma: “Akane, guiding Spirits back to the Spirit world sounds good on paper, but in reality, all we are doing is [killing ghosts once more who do not realize that they already died]. That’s all we really do.”

My grandma smiled and said that cheerfully as she stabbed and murdered Evil Spirits like a true heroine.

She was called an Ogre in the Industry, and judging from her work ethic and brutal efficiency, her title was very fitting.

But she did scare me a little.

And now…..........she utterly and completely terrifies me.

Akane: (I can’t do it…..I can’t ask grandma for help….).

Right now, Yukina is <not an Evil Spirit> by any stretch of the imagination.

I only know the basics, but even a novice like me can tell.

I sense zero malice or evil around Yukina.

Right now, she’s simply possessing her boyfriend, Souta.

Akane: (Yukina will have to move on on her own, or…..I’ll have to do it myself…)

Helping ghosts move on to the afterlife really isn’t that big of a deal.

The Highest Government Certified and Appointed Mages like my grandma will always be tasked to take care of [Evil Spirits].

Because they are dangerous opponents, it’s my grandma who has to go take care of these Spirits.

But regular ghosts can be handled by the District’s Mage.

Regular ghosts just need assistance resolving their [regrets], and they will pass on to the afterlife smoothly.

I have studied how to do this.

……..but should I?

I have studied the basics and fundamentals of magic since the age of 6.

I have learned the Akabane Family’s Demon Sealing Magical Arts.

The fundamentals of Demon Sealing is to perform the Japanese “Harai” (the cleansing ritual).

It is not to fight.

The dangers……..are fewer.

But there is still one, BIG problem.

Without a Mage’s [License], using Magic without it is <ILLEGAL>.

In other words, I’m committing a [crime].

The Illegal Magic Userーーa.k.a. [The Witch].

Once you are determined as a Witch, you cannot live a normal life.

I would also bring disgrace to grandma’s reputation.

……...but even so…

Akane: (I want Yukina to be happy…...at the very least, I don’t want her to suffer at the end.)

I know this is selfish.

But I already made up my mind.

I’m going to cleanse and save Yukina with my own two hands.

Even if it means becoming a [Witch].

This is my choice and my path.

<<<<>>>>

Harai (祓、祓い) - Japanese Shinto Ritual of “cleansing.” Popular “harai” is to safeguard against natural disasters, and I’ve seen Shinto Priests in anime “cleanse” evil spirits (but this may be something equivalent to the Catholic Exorcists where the general religion is not focused on that one aspect). There is a mixing of Shinto beliefs and “magic” in this WN’s universe.

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CREDITS

Spirit Girlfriend ~ Seems Like I Am the Only One Who Doesn’t Realize That I Have Been Possessed by My Dead Girlfriend~

Written by: Isle Osaki (Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isle_Osaki)

Translated by: ChonkyTranslator

Japanese Title:

ユーレイな彼女　～どうやら死んだ恋人が取り憑いてることに、俺だけ気付いてないらしい～

作者: 大崎 アイル (オオサキ アイル)

Original Source Link:

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4912fy/3/

Novel Updates Info Page:

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/spirit-girlfriend-seems-like-i-am-the-only-one-who-doesnt-realize-that-i-have-been-possessed-by-my-dead-girlfriend/