Chapter 111: Shikigami Becomes Human

When Minamoto Kiyomoto was eating breakfast, he searched for a curse in the Xiangye Crown that could turn a shikigami into a human.

He actually found it.

“Can a shikigami become a real person?” Himemiya Izayoi asked curiously.

“If the record is not wrong,” Minamoto Kiyomoto wrote down one of the curses.

There were many related curses, and the source was also written at the back: a love between a human and a yokai, a certain Taoist or monk took action to “turn the shikigami into a human.”

However, most of them had a huge price. The shikigami could only live for one or two years, and it would absorb the human’s capacity.

The one Minamoto Kiyomoto chose was a failed product of the Jiajing Emperor’s research on the longevity curse. It didn’t even have a name and was classified by the Jiajing Emperor in the “Miscellaneous Tricks Chapter.”

After getting the ‘Xiangye Crown,’ Minamoto Kiyomoto, according to his own habits, reclassified one book after another. He didn’t touch this curse and still put it in the “Miscellaneous Tricks Chapter.”

He couldn’t think of the meaning of turning a shikigami into a human at all.

Even if one was overcome with lust and wanted to do something to the strange shikigami, as a cultivator, one could already see and touch them. There was no need to materialize the other party.

Then what was this if not a miscellaneous trick?
“With the help of the spiritual energy of the Jianmu, a shikigami can become a real person for a day,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“Only for one day?” Noi asked.

“Every three days, it can become a real person for one day.”

“Does the Xiangye Crown need to replenish its spiritual power?” Kamibayashi Miko was also a little interested in this curse.

“It’s not a problem with the Xiangye Crown, it’s because of the shikigami,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied with a smile. “If it’s exposed to the breath of the Jianmu for a long time, the shikigami’s body will become heavier and heavier, until it finally turns into a tree.”

“The person who studied this curse must have killed a lot of shikigami,” Shirako said angrily, and then looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto with expectant eyes.

Minamoto Kiyomoto pretended not to hear or see, and continued:

“With this curse, Noi can go out for a walk by herself once every three days and see the world. I don’t have to go to a women’s clothing store every once in a while to buy you clothes.”

“Is there any damage to the Xiangye Crown?” Kamibayashi Miko asked again.

“No. It’s just a little spiritual power, just like wood is made into paper, paper is made into books, paper is used for writing, and books are used for reading. But there’s no problem using it as a fan.”

“Piggy, I want it too,” Shirako shouted.

“What did you call me?” Minamoto Kiyomoto leisurely picked up a fried egg with his chopsticks and took a slow bite.

Shirako pouted, “Minamoto Kiyomoto.”

“Think again.”

“Lady Miko,” Shirako looked at Kamibayashi Miko.

“You’re asking for help so quickly. Can’t you use your own head, or have some perseverance!” Minamoto Kiyomoto was heartbroken.

Shirako ignored him and said to Kamibayashi Miko with pleading eyes, “Lady Miko, I want to try it too.”

“You ask him,” if she directly asked Minamoto Kiyomoto for help, it would seem intimate, and Kamibayashi Miko didn’t want that.

“No!” Shirako immediately refused. “This guy definitely wants me to call him ‘Kamibayashi Kiyomoto.’ It’s a pipe dream, it’s impossible!”

“Kamibayashi Kiyomoto?” Minamoto Kiyomoto repeated.

Kamibayashi Miko couldn’t help but smile. She thought the name was very funny.

“I’m going to marry two. How can I change my name? No, no,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s position was firm. “I can’t be Himemiya Kiyomoto for a while, and Kamibayashi Kiyomoto for a while, right? I think you should still take my surname, Minamoto Miko, Minamoto Izayoi… hmm—why does it sound like Minamoto Shizuka from ‘Doraemon’? It’s so tacky.”

“It doesn’t matter if it sounds good or not. You want me to take the surname ‘Minamoto’?” Himemiya Izayoi confirmed.

The dignified “Lord of Kyoto” actually had to take the surname of a branch family. Impossible.

“Then don’t take a surname. I’ll call you ‘Izayoi,’ ‘Miko,’ and you’ll call me ‘Kiyomoto.’ As for others, Divine Miko, whatever, the most handsome man in the world, it’s all fine.”

“Who praises themselves as a handsome man?” Himemiya Izayoi couldn’t stop laughing.

“No,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her and said with a smile, “but I’ve seen someone praise themselves as a beauty.”

“Who?” Himemiya Izayoi asked innocently.

“Who?”

“Piggy!”

“I praised myself as a beauty? You guessed wrong, you guessed wrong. Continue.”

“I’m… talking… about… the… matter… just… now,” Shirako put down her chopsticks and clenched her fists.

“Miss Kamibayashi, can you control her?” Minamoto Kiyomoto also didn’t want to use his head and directly called for help.

“Let Shirako go out and play,” Kamibayashi Miko ordered.

Shirako immediately assumed the posture of a victor, and with a “hmmmph,” she was quite proud.

“You’re not even willing to call me Kiyomoto,” Minamoto Kiyomoto took a sip of milk as if he were drinking wine.

“There will be that day, piggy.”

The three of them and one shikigami were arguing.

The little butterfly buried her head in eating various fruits. Her little head could only think about eating melons or apples after finishing the grapes.

The golden-haired princess, Noi, while enjoying an exotic breakfast, observed them.

Her servant wanted to pursue the two women in front of her, but neither of them seemed to want to be with him.

“Miss Noi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto remembered something and said to the golden-haired princess, “although you are my shikigami, we are equals.”

“Yes,” Noi nodded.

“Since we are equals, if you live here, you need to pay rent, or be responsible for a certain amount of labor—after dinner, you and Shirako will wash the dishes together.”

“I’ll promote you to be my direct knight.”

“…You pay me the salary for being your knight for half a month first. Wait!” Minamoto Kiyomoto turned to look at the two miko. “The money for her clothes in the future, will I have to pay for it?”

“What else?” Himemiya Izayoi ate the blueberries one by one like she was cracking sunflower seeds.

“Not just clothes,” Kamibayashi Miko peeled a banana.

The two of them started eating fruit, which meant that breakfast was coming to an end.

When washing the dishes, Noi followed him into the kitchen, but seeing her hands elegantly behind her back, it was more like she was inspecting the work than learning to wash the dishes.

Coming out of the kitchen, Minamoto Kiyomoto began to cast a curse.

The ‘Xiangye Crown’ spun in his right palm, and wisps of black divine power overflowed, rolling up Noi and Shirako.

Three minutes later, the two of them fell from the air.

“Why is there no change?” Shirako touched her face.

“Of course there’s no change in our eyes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s fingertips hooked the Xiangye Crown and spun it like a keychain.

“It’s not useless, is it?” Shirako asked doubtfully.

“Instead of doubting here, you might as well hurry up and change your clothes and go outside to try it out.”

“Change clothes?”

“Shirako,” Minamoto Kiyomoto stopped the Xiangye Crown, his face heavy. “There’s something I’ve never told you. This outfit of yours, once you go outside, you’ll be treated as an idol.”

“An idol?” Shirako’s face was full of confusion.

“They will line up to shake your hand, ask you to be face to face with other female idols, and dance for them in a skirt. They will stand under the stage and peek at your underwear.”

Shirako’s delicate little face showed a moment of panic.

“I… I don’t believe it!”

“Miss Kamibayashi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto gestured to Kamibayashi Miko.

“…Shirako, let’s change into some normal clothes,” Kamibayashi Miko hesitated for a moment, and finally said softly.

“…” Shirako looked at her military uniform, then at Himemiya Izayoi, feeling that this woman would not comfort her, and then at Noi.

“It’s very beautiful,” Noi’s impression of the military uniform was not bad.

Shirako finally breathed a sigh of relief, straightened her military cap, and went to change her clothes with her head held high.

When she came back, she had changed into a white dress, white short socks, and small leather shoes. Her golden hair was still in a bun.

Looking at her temperament, she was Kamibayashi Miko’s sister;
Looking at her appearance, she was Noi’s younger sister.

“Not bad,” Minamoto Kiyomoto clapped and said with a smile. “Beautiful.”

“Hmph~~” Shirako arrogantly raised her snow-white, slender neck. “Lady Miko bought this for me. Of course it’s beautiful.”

“I said you’re beautiful.”

“…Hmph! How dare you comment on your superior? Shut your mouth!”

“Let’s go,” Himemiya Izayoi grabbed Minamoto Kiyomoto’s ear and walked out of the shrine.

“It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!”

“You only know that your body hurts. How do you know how much my heart hurts?”

“My heart hurts? Let Dr. Minamoto take a look for you.”

“Go to hell!”

A group of three people and three shikigami—the little butterfly sat on Shirako’s shoulder—walked down the mountain under the late September sun, talking and laughing.

The sunlight passed through the oak trees on both sides of the mountain path, casting beautiful light and shadow on them.

Coming out of the large banyan tree, after about three seconds, the world began to notice them.

It was too dazzling.

The stunningly beautiful Himemiya Izayoi, the beautiful and otherworldly Kamibayashi Miko, the noble and awe-inspiring Noi, and the cute and slender Shirako.

Of course, there was also the handsome and elegant Minamoto Kiyomoto.

The gentle breeze, the fluttering leaves, the dazzling sunlight, it was as if everything was prepared for them, their season.

Shirako walked up to a housewife who was staring at them foolishly.

This housewife should live near the shrine. Minamoto Kiyomoto often saw her walking and praying here.

“Hey!” Shirako greeted without any politeness.

“Ah, yes, what, I’m sorry, is there something?” the housewife came back to her senses.

“I will bless you.”

Shirako turned and left, leaving the even more dazed housewife.

Confirming that humans could see her, Shirako’s skirt fluttered as she walked.

“Where are we going?” she asked excitedly.

“Shinjuku,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

Don’t look at him and Kamibayashi Miko not being able to afford a 298 yen tomato, but their clothes were all luxury goods—Kamibayashi Miko only allowed money to be spent on these things.

Himemiya Izayoi’s clothes were mostly bought together, except for her kimono. Every piece of her kimono, which could buy a house in Tokyo, was specially sent from Kyoto.

Near Hakusan Shrine, although it was in Tokyo, it was as quiet as a small town.

Walking through the deserted alleys, occasionally, children who were out to play on the weekend would run past with baseball gloves or soccer balls.

Above the alley, there were dense wires. The sun cast the shadows of the utility poles and wires on the ground.

On the street, the manhole covers were polished bright by the pedestrians coming and going, like a large coin pressed in the middle of the road.

Leaving the vicinity of Hakusan Shrine and coming to the main road, it was as if they had traveled through time and space. The surroundings suddenly became lively.

“Are we taking a taxi?” Shirako asked again. “I’ve taken one before.”

“That depends on whether Sister Izayoi is willing to pay,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Himemiya Izayoi.

“Pay for yourself.”

“Then let’s take the train,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“The train, the train is not bad,” Shirako was almost skipping as she walked. Her small leather shoes made a “pat-a-pat” sound on the ground, very light and cheerful.

She saw that Noi, who was also a golden-haired girl, was looking around, so while holding Kamibayashi Miko’s hand, she enthusiastically explained to her.

The meaning of the color of the traffic lights;
Cars run on four wheels;

The large electronic screen hanging on the tall building, the people inside are fake;
“You guys go and squeeze onto the train. I’ll take a taxi,” Himemiya Izayoi said and walked towards the roadside.

“Where are you going? I still have money on my Suica card,” Minamoto Kiyomoto reached out and grabbed her wrist, half-dragging her away.

“Who let you touch me?” Himemiya Izayoi’s face was sullen, but she let him pull her along.

“You were walking that way. Didn’t you want me to pull you?”

“Young Master Kiyoshi, you know,” Himemiya Izayoi moved closer to him and whispered in his ear, blowing hot air, “what’s the consequence of guessing the ‘Lord of Kyoto’s’ mind?”

“I don’t know,” Minamoto Kiyomoto also whispered back. “Tell me tonight?”

“Alright,” Himemiya Izayoi replied.

The two of them looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

Taking the train to Shinjuku, there was a small accident at the beginning.

“I want this,” Noi pointed at the display cabinet.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the ‘gorgeous to the point of needing someone to help hold the train’ wedding dress.

“Miss, you have a very good figure and a noble temperament. This wedding dress suits you very well,” the shop assistant walked out of the shop, and the praises from her mouth came out like she was reciting a menu.

“Did you hear that? This is a wedding dress,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said to the golden-haired girl.

“A wedding dress is also a dress,” Noi said.

“That’s true, but it’s troublesome to wear this kind of dress, troublesome to walk, and even more troublesome to wash.”

Noi looked at the wedding dress and found that it was indeed troublesome to walk. So she pointed to another shop.

“Then I want this one.”

On the model that her slender finger was pointing at was a high-end formal dress with a ‘black tube top and white gauze skirt’.

In terms of the trouble of walking, it was lower than a wedding dress with a three or four-meter-long train, but who would wear a formal dress in daily life?

Even a queen had casual clothes. The evidence was that he had seen the “Lord of Kyoto” wearing a short-sleeved shirt with his own eyes!

“Noi,” he said, “I don’t want to say reasons, common sense, or anything. In short, this kind of dress is not okay.”

“You don’t have money?” Noi turned her head and asked.

“This is not a matter of money or not. In short, it’s not okay. When the time comes for a formal occasion, I will definitely buy it for you.”

“Occasion? I usually wear this kind of clothes.”

“When you’re here, your ‘usually’ is not usually.”

The two miko and Shirako and the little butterfly stood on the side, watching Minamoto Kiyomoto ‘like persuading a child who insisted on buying a fifteen-meter-tall Gundam robot’ persuade Noi.

Finally, Noi gave up the idea of wearing a formal dress as daily wear.

Next, they finally entered the normal shopping process.

Shopping with them was like attending a top-level model show. In the entire mall, there was no clothes that didn’t look good on them.

If it weren’t for the shop assistants not allowing it, Minamoto Kiyomoto really wanted to take a photo of them every time they tried on a piece of clothes and make a photo album to look at secretly at night.

So far, his lock screen wallpaper was still the photo of Kamibayashi Miko by the window on Shodoshima, and his home screen was a photo of Himemiya Izayoi and a Starbucks coffee.

When he looked at the time, he would glance at it, and the more he looked, the more beautiful it became.

Minamoto Kiyomoto had originally planned to go to Chiba in the afternoon, but Shirako was jumping around all day, so he had to go after class tomorrow.

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(End of Chapter)