Chapter 347: A Healthy State of Mind (44K, please subscribe)

Liukaliya has a great many complaints she wants to spit out.

The holy knight youth in front of the mirror—well, let's just provisionally assume he's a holy knight for now…my friend, what the hell are you doing?

Liukaliya really wants to ask Herbert.

What on earth are you doing?

Take a look at your current outfit—does it even match your own status?

Herbert looked at the speechless expression and eyes of the person in the mirror; without her even opening her mouth, he could know what she wanted to ask.

You little mirror spirit down there, after seeing me, you've also been moved by mortal feelings, haven't you!

Am I right or not!

No need to hide it—you obviously want to know all my details, don't you!?

As for what to ask, it's nothing but those old, oft-repeated questions—height, weight, age, hobbies, and the like…

As for the answers, Herbert has a set of universal templates here that can be applied to the vast majority of people.

Height under two-four meters, weight under three hundred jin, age…just~turned~eigh~teen~, hobbies are traveling, making scrapbooks, and other petit-bourgeois activities.

However, Herbert has more advantages than the average brother or sister.

Back home there's a car and a house, the family has money and power, there's no vicious old mother-in-law, and he's still an only child (acquired).

Moreover, he's not forever stuck in the superposition state of "currently preparing for graduate and civil-service exams"—he's already passed on his own merits and landed a special establishment post.

Three of them, at the same time!

Holding posts in three departments of one place, he can draw pay from two empty positions!

Sometimes, a servant of three surnames is a disgrace, despised by everyone.

But more often, it means the person in question is extremely capable, able to withstand pressure from multiple sides simultaneously and handle every kind of toil.

That's no easy feat, you know!

Do you know what it feels like to be a connecting vessel across three departments?

Putting on an inner show, Herbert looked at Liukaliya and gave a contemptuous snort.

"Hmph!"

Heh, woman.

You don't know!

You don't care, either!

That's right—you've always only ever cared about yourself!

And faced with Herbert's inner-drama-queen antics, the epic mirror spirit expressed utter bewilderment.

"…Hmm?"

Liukaliya had never been this confused before.

What the heck?

I haven't even said anything yet—why did you suddenly snort?

What kind of stunt are you pulling?

"…Ahem!"

After a period of silence, Liukaliya decided to stop dragging things out like this.

So, after an awkward stare-down for a while, she took the initiative to ask: "Um, what on earth are you doing?"

Faced with the question, Herbert shrugged and laughed easily: "Me? Can't you see? Haven't I been chanting the summoning incantation for the Mirror Fairy this whole time?"

Herbert's current outfit isn't just for cosplay to satisfy his own perverse tastes—it has a serious, proper use..

Although in most beings' impressions, mirror spirits are mischievous by nature, fond of playing overly "prankish" tricks, and most people keep their distance.

But the world is full of diversity, and all kinds of people exist.

There are always some people who become interested in mirror spirits and take the initiative to establish contact with them.

Some even specifically let a mirror spirit replace them, hiding inside the mirror world to watch the outside-world mirror spirit live life under their identity.

These people, in order to summon the Mirror Fairy, have summarized a complete set of summoning procedures.

They will specially construct the corresponding summoning ritual, supplemented with special materials, to pique the mirror spirit's curiosity.

Common ritual materials include broken mirror shards, sparkly sand and gravel, burning candles, and the like.

Herbert's outfit may not look like it belongs to a good person, but this is a proper, bona fide secret-art robe—he specially borrowed it from Sifanni.

It doesn't look pretty, but the effect is outstanding!

If he were outside, especially in a city like Frost Crystal, Herbert would probably have already summoned every mirror spirit in the entire city before his eyes, for him to pick from.

But right now, being inside this prison called the Third Commandment Hall, cut off from the outside world, Herbert's summoning can only flow toward one single existence—Liukaliya!

It looks like a random gacha pull, but in fact a directed summoning has long been arranged behind the scenes—it's nothing short of blatant rigging.

As for the muttering incantation Herbert is chanting…that's purely him being bored and wanting to be a little pest, to annoy the mirror spirit.

After all, there's only one creature in the gacha pool—no matter how he pulls, no matter what method he uses, the final result won't change.

Of course, the truth of the matter isn't convenient to reveal; after smiling, Herbert narrowed his eyes and admired the "himself" in the mirror.

He turned his head, admired his own flawless beauty from every angle, and chuckled lightly: "And, looking at it now, I've succeeded perfectly!"

"Haha, I really am a genius at this!"

Herbert ignored the speechless gaze of the person in the mirror and nodded to himself: "Next time I'll try summoning something else."

The mirror spirit looked at Herbert, who was "deeply into his act," wanting to speak but hesitating, the whole person awkwardly frozen there.

After a while, she forced herself to perk up and asked: "Ahem! Um, I don't mean your outfit and the surrounding setup—I mean…you summoned me here, is there something you need?"

What do you want with me?

"You're asking me the reason for doing this?"

Herbert's brow twitched imperceptibly, his expression turning solemn as he said seriously:

"First of all, I am the Warden of the Third Commandment Hall, and you are the prisoner held here."

"Even if I really were as idle as you claim, I would still be fully qualified to inquire into the situation of prisoners like you."

His face calm, he spoke as a matter of course: "Caring for every prisoner's condition and ensuring you suffer no mishap — that is my duty as Warden."

"Do you understand this?"

"If you don't understand, I can certainly help you recall it properly."

Saying so, Herbert gave a light snap of his fingers.

At the same moment, a subtle change occurred within the Mirror Space — the Sealing Technique array took effect!

Herbert's authority within the Commandment Hall was not low, sufficient to mobilize this power to punish those disobedient prisoners who intended to resist.

And manifested within the Mirror Space, it caused a single crack to appear simultaneously on all those infinitely spreading mirror surfaces.

Crack!

The figure within the mirror's expression shifted, suddenly realizing where the Warden's confidence came from.

He can actually hurt me!!?

But just as Lucalia prepared to defend herself, that power invading the Mirror Space voluntarily withdrew, abandoning its alteration of the space.

It retreated on its own?

"Hmm?"

The Mirror Demon looked at Herbert in puzzlement, noticing the slight upward curl at the corner of his mouth.

"Surprised? Has it been so long since you met a proper Warden that you've forgotten what status you hold?"

Herbert looked at the now-silent Mirror Demon and nodded playfully: "Looks like you've remembered now? Heh heh."

"That's right — here, you are the inferior one."

A prisoner being subject to the Warden is simply the natural order of things.

If a Warden had no means of restraining prisoners, how would he manage a prison?

Lucille's position was special — she herself carried the identity of a half-administrator, which was why Herbert could not suppress her with conventional means.

But the other monster girls… which of them has truly escaped the suppression of the Sealing Technique array?

It was only that Herbert had always been unwilling to use such means to punish them — not that he couldn't.

Legends are suppressed.

Epics — can they truly escape?

The answer is — no.

Lucalia remains under the suppression of the Sealing Technique array!

The reason Herbert did not actively Control the Seal when passively entering the Mirror Space earlier was that Valentina's life and death were unknown at the time, and he did not want to alert Lucalia and cause mishap to Miss Hungry Dragon.

At the same time, Herbert also wanted to take the opportunity to observe Lucalia's temperament, so as to decide on his approach for dealing with her later.

And after that probe, Herbert roughly understood the other's temperament — the type who liked playing wicked pranks, but not the sort who would strike from behind with killing intent.

And this type… he had always been quite adept at handling.

"But you needn't be nervous — I don't intend to use this as a means to threaten you."

Herbert voluntarily withdrew his power from the Mirror Space, shrugged at the reflection in the mirror, and said lightly: "What just now was merely a formal greeting."

"You'd best rein in those presumptuous thoughts of yours."

For Lucalia, Herbert's consistent policy remained unchanged.

Since Lucalia was largely the same as all the previous monster girls — not truly evil — there was no need to treat her in the cruelest manner.

Compared to treating them with cold-blooded cruelty, he was more adept at building new relationships with the monster girls through other means.

"…"

While Herbert spoke, Lucalia remained very quiet, never interrupting, silently watching his expression.

Although the crack that appeared on the mirror surface lasted only an instant before restoring as before, it did not truly injure Lucalia who was hiding within the mirror.

But the significance this action of Herbert's represented was quite significant and… crystal clear.

This was a warning.

A bare-faced rebuke.

Don't think you can run wild in the Commandment Hall!

As Warden, I still have ways to punish you!

Faced with the Warden's warning and rebuke, the Mirror Demon did not dismissively ignore it.

She furrowed her brow, gazing intently at the expressionless youth, trying to find more details.

"…"

There was a faint arrogance about the holy knight youth, but it was not the sense of superiority born from commanding the Sealing Technique array.

Perhaps, just as he himself had said, he would not truly use the Sealing Technique wantonly.

Then the question arose… what was the true source, the real confidence, of his arrogance?

Moreover, although Herbert's words were well-reasoned and his reasons perfectly sensible, Lucalia somehow felt this was not the real reason.

As an Epic Mirror Demon, Lucalia was no naive little girl; over a thousand years, she had seen far, far too many living beings.

She imitated their every gesture, guessed at the thoughts in their hearts, and experienced their lives.

Although due to her special constitution, she had not been much influenced by them, always maintaining her true heart.

But her experience and insight — who knew how many times greater than Valentina's.

A thousand people, a thousand faces; a thousand people, ten thousand hearts.

The thoughts of living beings are truly very complex.

Lykalia furrowed her brow and asked Herbert about his clearly unfinished reason: "What's the second reason?"

Upon mentioning this, Herbert's expression relaxed noticeably, and he smiled: "Secondly, I wasn't summoning you—I was responding to you."

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you, 'What do you want?'"

"Aren't you the one who's always been looking for me?"

Herbert raised both eyebrows, studying the figure in the mirror with a peculiar tone: "I heard you've been searching for me lately."

"Now that I've come to you on my own, why are you asking me? Tell me—what do you want from me?"

What do I want?

Lykalia looked at Herbert, her lips twitching—could I really say I just wanted to talk to you to kill time?

Isn't that reason a bit too forward?

The Young Lady of the Mirror quickly thought it over and decided to stay silent.

Since the truth wouldn't serve any purpose, there was no need to speak it.

Nor was there any need to lie outright—lies always get exposed eventually.

Silence is also a form of response—and a wiser one.

"... Not saying anything? Hmph, what are you afraid of?"

He glanced at the silent figure in the mirror, pursed his lips, and shook his head with a sigh: "Really, you had your chance and blew it."

Still, though the Young Lady of the Mirror didn't answer, Herbert could probably guess the gist.

Boredom—she wanted something to do.

How to put it?

What an odd one.

Compared to other monster girls, who all had at least some trace of bitterness, this one's mindset was truly remarkably... healthy.

A heart full of grievance?

No, no.

A longing for freedom?

No, no.

She was simply a spoiled child who'd lain idle too long and now wanted someone to play with.

This difference might stem from the Young Lady of the Mirror's own racial traits.

These fairies, who sleep for years within mirrors, had long grown accustomed to endless silence—until they simply couldn't bear it anymore and ventured out to find targets for mischief.

"..."

After a moment of thought, Lykalia exhaled slowly and asked: "So, all this talk—your goal is to make me lower my guard against you?"

"Hah! I've said what I wanted to say. What you think is your own business."

Herbert shrugged indifferently, smiling warmly: "Anyway, today I mainly just wanted to say one thing I've told many others—let's get along well!"

Here, Herbert seemed to remember something important; his expression turned serious, and he said gravely: "By the way, please don't spy on my private life."

"That's a very bad habit—stop it! If you really want to look, I can sneak you some picture books..."

!!?

Lykalia had been about to respond to Herbert's friendliness, but at this moment she couldn't hold her expression any longer and shouted angrily: "I didn't!!!"

"I didn't see anything!"

"Didn't!!!"

In response to her furious shouts, Herbert simply murmured: "Are you sure you want to keep lying in front of a Holy Knight?"

The mirror fell silent.

Meeting Herbert's skeptical gaze, Lykalia hesitated, then spoke slowly: "I... didn't see much, uh, really didn't see much."

"Just a little... cough cough!"

Looking at Herbert's smiling face, Lykalia, for reasons unknown, blurted out: "Hmm, you're in pretty good shape."

"Uh! That's not what I meant... cough cough!"

Herbert blinked rapidly, momentarily at a loss for words.

Is your mental state really that healthy?

How did your thoughts jump here?!

Is this... even right?

"No!"

"Where is he?"

In the underground sanctuary, the Grand Archbishop opened his eyes in confusion, calculated the time, and frowned slightly.

"What is that child doing?"

How long has it been?

Herbert, where are you?

"..."

After a long silence, the Grand Archbishop stroked his beard and sighed slowly, like a lonely old man muttering to himself: "Why doesn't he come talk to me yet..."

"If he doesn't come, how will I get the chance to tell him about my heroic deeds of the past?"

"Sigh!"

(End of Chapter)