SHC_C67_ARCHIVE_CHAPTER 67. Is the White Pig in the box asleep or awake?

 

 67. Is the White Pig in the box asleep or awake?

 

In the end, the magic called Phantasmagoria turned out to be nothing more than a spell that could project vivid images onto a surface, much like a screen. The one remarkable feature? It could even be cast onto three-dimensional objects, almost like projection mapping.

But that was it.

It was purely a spell for entertainment, with no real harm or benefit.

"Sometimes, mages invent new spells, but is there one that emphasizes fun this much? Talk about staying true to yourself."

That didn’t sound like a compliment. That certainly didn't sound like a compliment.

Seeing me pout, Lara offered a cheerful smile.

"But I really like this neck warmer." Isn’t it stylish? Just channel a little mana into it, and pretty flowers appear and fade. It requires very little magic, making it unsuitable for battle; however, it is perfect for everyday wear. It’s a lovely, refreshing touch."

"I agree! I want that spell on my poncho!"

"That's not fair! I want it on my cloak, too!"

So everyone’s secretly into it, huh?

Well, considering it only takes a tiny bit of magic and the patterns change so easily, I guess it's a fun bonus for those with plenty of mana.

Maybe Effet Papillon could use it as a selling point.

Today officially marks the launch of Effet Papillon’s products.

Right now, our offerings were just “tsumami zaiku” (ornamental hairpins), accessories for adventurers, and curry powder—but the butterfly had finally fluttered its wings. (Eun: I think this part is also a play with words, since Effet Papillon means Butterfly Effect and it talks about how Ageha's brand/business has already launched so there's no turning back)

To celebrate, the head chef had prepared a feast using vegetables from our garden, plus duck, mushrooms, and fish that Romanov-sensei, Viktor-san, and Lara-san had gathered just for the occasion. All the staff and even Kanade-kun, who was now an apprentice at Effet Papillon, joined in for a small party.

After a relaxing bath and getting ready for bed, something odd happened. An out-of-season firefly floated in through the window, flared brightly, and then transformed into a human figure.

“You came,” I greeted.

“Yes. I’ve arrived.”

 

It was Hyorin-sama, making her second visit today. That ever-shifting hair color and mysterious aura seemed to amuse her, as a rare smile touched her elegant features.

“Your fever has completely subsided, I see.”

 

“Yes, thanks to you.”

 

“And it seems you’ve avoided misfortune as well.”

 

“Misfortune?”

“You weren’t dragged into that factional conflict, were you?”

 

…How did she know that?

 

Could it be that gods can see the future?

Alarmed, I looked up at Hyorin-sama, who calmly shook her head.

“No, the future is not mine to see.”

“Then how…”

“This morning, your life’s candle was shrouded in a dark mist. Hyakka instructed me to protect you from calamity, even if I chose to meddle on my own.”

Ah. So the Princess really is looking out for me.

 

Even though the warding makeup she gave me lingered visibly on my forehead and Regulus’s—proof it hadn’t yet worn off—she’d gone even further to ensure my safety.

As I mused, Hyorin-sama silently reached out and touched my forehead, where a small red hana kanzashi was still visible.

“Hyakka’s wards are strong enough to repel most threats. You managed to avoid the worst of the mist clouding your path. But in exchange, you caught a cold. Her wards can’t block every minor misfortune. If her blessing were perfect, you wouldn’t have gotten sick in the first place. Therefore, I visited again to ensure that you remained indoors.

“I see…”

But even that cold had been quickly cured thanks to Hyorin-sama and Lara-san.

Wait a second… Didn’t she say she couldn’t see the future? But she can see life’s candles?

Doesn’t that mean she can at least estimate how long someone will live?

I asked her outright, and she gently denied it again.

“Every human has a life candle of equal length at the start. What changes is its shape—its thickness and length vary based on the soul’s actions. It’s not about good or evil deeds. Rather, it reflects how much one refines or tarnishes their soul.”

So when someone betters themselves, their candle becomes thick and long. When they betray their soul, it grows thin and short. It’s not about morality; it’s about the condition of one’s soul.

Apparently, my candle had been wildly unstable lately—once dangerously short, then rapidly long, then short and thick again. Particularly during my episode of soul separation illness, Hyorin-sama believed she might need to assist me in transitioning to the afterlife. But to her surprise, my candle had grown unusually thick and long at times.

It had grown significantly since this time last year—apparently, that kind of fluctuation isn’t normal.

“You’ve shown remarkable growth in the past few months. Candles of children your age don’t usually shift this much. You’ve been using your wisdom and achieving quite a lot.”

Wisdom? That’s rich. It’s just leftover knowledge from my past life—basically cheat codes that let me skip the hard work.

There’s nothing to be proud of.

Ashamed, I lowered my head—only for Hyorin-sama to flick my forehead and grin wickedly.

“Take the compliment,” she said. “That’s what Hyakka would tell you.”

“…But—”

“There will come a time when you must smile even when praise doesn’t make you happy. You’ll be dealing with people in positions where that’s expected. Think of this as practice.”

Oof. That somehow sounds worse.

As I groaned to myself, Hyorin-sama laughed even more.

Unfair.

____________

Eun: this one's pretty short but it took me some time cause I had to edit c65 and I think it was c61. I added some snippets from the manga. I hope we can all soon catch up with the manga. >u< 

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