Dimensional Codex System I m really not a cultist

Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Face the Haunting Presence in Battle!
 

“Damn it! Damn it!! Damn it!!!”

Having returned to her room, Miyo Takano had completely lost the composure and elegance she displayed before others. Her face was twisted with fury, and her eyes were bloodshot like those of an enraged cow. At this moment, her palms were covered in bloody wounds, but she didn’t care about such trivial matters at all.

“How dare he, how dare he mock Grandfather’s research!! Who does he think he is!! A mere bastard!! How dare he look down on Grandfather’s research!!!!”

She tore the paper in front of her to shreds, completely engulfed in rage. All that filled her mind now was Fang Zheng’s smug smile from earlier, and the scornful tone he used when mentioning her grandfather. All of it made Miyo Takano relive the scene from her childhood, when those so-called “experts” mocked her grandfather’s research in his own home.

Back then, her grandfather couldn’t say anything in the face of their mockery. He could only bear it silently… But…

Times have changed now!!

I will make you pay for your careless words!

Thinking this, Miyo Takano bared her teeth, revealing an excited smile.

That’s right… Oyashiro-sama’s curse… let him experience what true divine punishment is!

With that thought, Miyo Takano picked up the telephone beside her and dialed a number.

“Hello, is this Konokig? It’s me, I have a new target for the next phase of the plan…”

The web of fate was shifting.

Fang Zheng raised his head, staring at the pitch-black night sky.

After becoming a Prophet Mage, he vaguely sensed the existence of certain things: fate, the future, everything. Nothing was immutable; one cannot step into the same river twice, for the waters of fate are always flowing and changing.

The end is the only constant, and people are like leaves falling into the river of fate, desperately trying to grasp and change their own destiny. Yet ultimately, their outcomes remain unchanged. Death is the end of all life, and even with insight into the future, this cannot be changed.

The only thing a Prophet Mage can do is to choose as smooth a river as possible, rather than a turbulent waterfall.

However, those who drift with the current can never change the river’s course. Choosing is the plea of the weak; changing is the desire of the strong. And fate itself exists, unchanging and eternal. Whether raging torrents or gentle streams, both are parts of fate. It will not change direction for people’s pleas, nor stop for their entreaties.

Until forever.

“Thud!”

The deep drumbeat resounded. Hearing this, Fang Zheng turned his head, looking towards the shrine before him. There on the raised platform, Rika, dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit, held a towering rake plow and performed the offering dance with solemn focus.

This too was a small life wishing to change its own fate.

Repeating countless times in a fractured world, longing to escape the shadows of death and the endless cycle, but for her, fate remained ever the same.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

As the drumming stopped, Rika nodded to the crowd from the stage, then turned and walked away. Next, the villagers, one by one, took the cotton to the river’s edge to perform the final rite of the Cotton Flow Festival.

Fang Zheng, with another glance at the now-empty platform, turned and left.

Night deepened.

Under the silvery moonlight, the forest was pitch black, with the distant river’s edge lit by burning lamps. The entire village was a picture of peace, with no one able to imagine that after this festival, this small village would gradually become a dreadful hell.

And all this was merely due to a woman’s pitiful and futile delusions.

But now, none of this would happen again, I will shatter your tedious persistence, and let you taste what true despair is.

“Ah, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

Just then, a voice rang out. Fang Zheng snapped out of his thoughts and turned toward the direction of the sound. He saw, on a path not far away, a green-haired girl in a dress watching him with a smile.

“Hello, Shion. It’s getting late, aren’t you planning on going home?”

“I was a bit worried about going alone, so could you give me a lift, Mr. Fang Zheng? Just to the intersection would be fine; someone will come by car to pick me up there.”

The girl named Sonozaki Shion bounded over to Fang Zheng’s side and then clasped her hands together, gazing at him.

“Is that okay, Mr. Fang Zheng?”

“Of course, no problem.”

Honestly, Shion’s appearance surprised Fang Zheng, especially at this Cotton Flow Festival, where she unexpectedly didn’t pretend to be Mion like in the anime, instead appearing as herself. Not only was Fang Zheng surprised, but so were Mion, Keiichi, and Rena; they were all shocked. After all, they had never heard Mion mention she had a sister, so it also caused quite a stir.

Now, seeing Shion’s smug expression, it was obvious she had pulled one over on Mion.

“I heard from my older sister that you’re the advisor for their club, Mr. Fang Zheng? I’ve also played that ‘Warring States’ game; it’s really fun.”

“Glad you like it.”

“And also, and also…”

Perhaps because she rarely came to Hinamizawa, Shion was incredibly excited along the way, chattering away to Fang Zheng like a little bird about the happenings at the Cotton Flow Festival. This included participating in festival games with Keiichi and the others, enjoying various foods, and her thoughts about other people. Such as how Keiichi was always tormented by them, how Rena was even tougher than she imagined, and then there was Satoko…

“…”

At this point, Shion suddenly fell silent.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Shion fall into silence all of a sudden, Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow and asked. He, of course, understood why the girl had become quiet; Satoko Hojo was the subject of Shion’s secret crush, Satoshi Hojo’s sister. And Shion’s feelings towards Satoko were quite complicated.

She resented Satoko because, in Shion’s view, Satoshi had long been mentally wounded by various burdens. In his fragile state, Satoko still completely relied on him without considering her brother’s condition. This only increased the pressure on Satoshi, causing him frequent anguish… That was, of course, Shion’s perspective.

“It’s nothing.”

In the end, Shion smiled and shook her head at Fang Zheng.

“By the way, Mr. Fang Zheng, I would like to come and consult with you about some issues in a few days, would you have time then?”

“Certainly, no problem.”

Upon hearing Shion’s inquiry, Fang Zheng readily responded.

“Thank you, then. Ah, the person picking me up has arrived. I should head back first. Goodbye, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

“Beep beep…”

Just then, a pitch-black sedan drove up from the end of the road, pulled over, and after Shion waved at Fang Zheng, she got into the car and left.

I know what you want to say to me.

Watching the departing figure of Shion in the car window, Fang Zheng’s lips curled up slightly. The nice thing about being a Prophet Mage is that I can now have some premonitions about many things. Of course, it’s only a vague feeling, but for someone with “Future Sight” like Fang Zheng, that’s enough to confirm things easily.

But I think, you will soon get your answer.

With that thought, Fang Zheng glanced once more toward the forest path nearby. He could clearly see a silver minivan quietly parked on a byroad within the forest. As soon as the vehicle Shion was in drove away, the minivan started and turned onto the main road, heading toward his own direction.

Because you’ve been scorned, you’ve grabbed the BOSS’s attention, huh?

With that thought, Fang Zheng sneered and turned to walk in the direction of the school.

Come at me if you’re not afraid to die. Since you want to play, then let’s play a good game…