Aak was a quack.
He merely stood there, never forcing anyone to come to him for treatment. When they did, he diagnosed them calmly and prescribed medicine. The entire process was perfectly proper.
The problem was that his medicine might have side effects.
Unexpected side effects.
A rough man who only bathed once a week might take Aak's medicine and immediately smell like fruit all over, making anyone who caught a whiff want to take a bite.
A child who took Aak's medicine might grow four or five centimeters taller overnight—and develop osteoporosis.
There were also some alarmist examples, such as a beautiful young lady growing a goatee, an old person's hair turning black, or a man becoming fair-skinned with a soft, feminine voice...
"They're all jokes."
Aak explained with remarkable composure.
"If there really were that many side effects, the Lungmen gangs would have sunk me in the river long ago. How could I still be standing here, safe and sound, talking?"
Texas shook her head.
She did not believe him.
Since the shrine maiden had already agreed, there was no point trying to persuade her further. Texas could only leave it out of sight and out of mind. Going against the stream of visitors coming to see Father, she left the shrine, passed down flights of steps and through vermilion torii gates, and returned to Exusiai, who had long since grown impatient.
"What are you doing on your day off?"
"Getting my driver's license!"
Exusiai's answer displeased Texas somewhat. Sure enough, she still wanted to drive a Gundam.
"And then?"
"First I'll get a driver's license, then a large-vehicle license, then a diving license..." Exusiai counted on her fingers. "Oh, Texas, do you know where I can learn to drive a mobile city?"
"..."
She was truly speechless.