Chapter 57: The Marvelous Use of the Mirror Dimension

Xiwen watched the ghosts’ chaotic revelry in silence, his expression caught between laughter and tears. Helena, worldly as ever, stood quietly by his side, letting out a light chuckle. “After all, they’ve spent so many years in numb, unfeeling existence. Suddenly regaining their senses, it’s only natural to indulge a little. Let them finally vent the emotions that have been suppressed deep within since becoming ghosts!”

“You know, when I first encountered this marvelous magic, I was stunned for a long time too!” Her laughter arched her brows.

Xiwen smiled knowingly.

Watching the ghosts frolic and jest, he felt a rare sense of peacefulness settle within.

…

The reliable and kind-hearted fat friar soon recovered from his shock and began helping Xiwen and Helena tidy the mirror space.

Xiwen also summoned the house-elves assigned by Hogwarts to serve the ghosts, asking them to dispose of the moldy, rotten food. He used the same trick as before, inventing reasons to forcibly improve their working conditions.

His kindness toward the house-elves made Helena click her tongue in wonder.

“Stephen, have you noticed how kind you are?” Helena gazed at Xiwen with gentle eyes, her voice soft.

Xiwen smiled and shook his head. “I don’t think I’m particularly kind—perhaps just a little more attentive than most.”

He reflected on his own experiences, reasoning that perhaps his behavior differed because he came from another world, where the worldview and values were not the same. It was only natural his actions would diverge from others’.

Just as a modern person raised with good manners would find it difficult to adopt the old nobility’s disdainful attitude toward common folk, even if transplanted back in time as an aristocrat. If someone changed their outlook entirely just because their class changed, then surely they weren’t strong-minded to begin with!

Helena shook her head and said, “That itself is kindness. As Professor Dumbledore said, the unique charm you possess may stem from your unusual behavior, not from any suspicion he holds against you.”

Thinking of Dumbledore’s meaningful and sharp gaze, Xiwen nodded.

“I hope so,” he said.

…

As time passed, the ghosts gradually calmed down, turning their curiosity to this unheard-of mirror world.

The house-elves worked swiftly, clearing away the spoiled food and helping the ghosts open the hall’s bronze doors to drive out the unpleasant odors.

Xiwen closed his eyes, focusing his thoughts on the four long tables. Then, a miraculous sight unfolded—an array of food appeared out of thin air on the tabletops, dazzling the ghosts with its variety.

With the spell cast, Xiwen let out a weary breath.

Altering objects on such a scale in the mirror world was still somewhat difficult for him, even if the food was only half-finished.

“Don’t overexert yourself,” Helena chided.

“It’s fine, I know my limits,” Xiwen replied with a satisfied smile.

Helena, unable to suppress her curiosity, leaned in. “Is this real food? I’ve never heard of ghosts being able to consume food.”

Xiwen adopted an enigmatic expression, took Helena’s hand, and led her to one of the long tables. With exaggerated mystery, he said, “Why not try it for yourself?”

Helena, half doubtful, sat down awkwardly and picked up a fork, poking at a small piece of beef on her plate.

But when she lifted the fork, the beef slipped back onto the plate.

“Why can’t I pick it up?” Helena complained in frustration.

Xiwen couldn’t help but laugh; she looked rather adorable in this state.

He sat beside Helena, took the fork from her hand, and jabbed it into the same piece of beef.

“Watch—this is how you use the cutlery!” he said, smiling.

He guided the fork and beef to the edge of the plate, pressed down at the indentation, then flipped the fork so its tines pointed up, handle down. Thus, the slice of beef was securely skewered on the fork’s point.

“Oh, so that’s how it’s done.” Helena nodded in confusion, reaching for the fork.

But Xiwen, suddenly playful, dodged her hand.

“What are you doing?” Helena looked at Xiwen, puzzled.

Xiwen’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Open your mouth!”

“Ah?” Helena’s expression instantly became half-shy, half-annoyed, and she turned to escape.

But Xiwen was quick, wrapping his arm around her slender waist and firmly seating her back in the chair.

Helena, unable to resist, gave him a fierce glare, then closed her eyes and reluctantly parted her rosy lips.

Xiwen saw the seemingly unwilling expression, but noticed the slight upward curve at her lips, and couldn’t help but chuckle. He gently brought the fork to her mouth.

Helena, eyes closed, elegantly and delicately chewed the beef, but as she tried to swallow, she felt the beef dissolve like air in her mouth.

She opened her eyes wide, looking at the still smiling Xiwen.

“I just realized—the properties of ghosts can be simulated using the rules of the mirror world,” Xiwen explained with a smile. “The mirror space is a special dimension with no limits. Here, I can replicate any real object and even alter the nature of materials into other forms.”

“But I tested it—the basic laws of transfiguration still apply to ghosts, so I can’t guarantee what would happen if they ate real food. So it’s better to transform real food into something unique for ghosts, letting them taste it without needing to absorb nutrition.”

A sudden burst of applause echoed around them—it was the other ghosts, who had quietly gathered, moved by Xiwen’s ingenuity and his efforts on behalf of their kind.

“Mr. Strangeworth, from now on you’re my big brother! If you tell me to go east, I’ll never go west!” The ghostly chubby Grubb exaggeratedly dove before Xiwen, prostrating himself in worship. Xiwen seriously wondered how he managed such a difficult feat with his belly.

It was only now Xiwen realized he’d been so absorbed—and the little scene between him and Helena had probably been witnessed by all these ghosts…

“Ahem, perhaps we should start eating,” Xiwen said, embarrassed by the gathering crowd.

The ghosts, already impatient, hurried to find seats and began feasting with delight.

When all the ghosts had dispersed, the thoroughly shy Helena finally peeked out from behind Xiwen, breathing a sigh of relief.

“By the way, how did you manage to replicate these dishes so quickly? Surely you haven’t memorized every detail?” Helena asked, curious.

“I suppose…” Xiwen laughed awkwardly, quickly searching for a new topic to shift to.

…

Meanwhile, the young wizard Xiwen sitting in the Great Hall was barely eating, merely memorizing the details of every dish laid out before him.

He felt utterly exhausted…

…

…