Dimensional Codex System I m really not a cultist

Chapter 127: Chapter 126: From Another World!

Fang Zheng felt like he was advancing through a hail of bullets on the battlefield, only to realize he had stepped on a landmine. He had always been wary about how this world might trap him, but surprisingly, when the moment came, it still ensnared him.

And in an area Fang Zheng was skilled in no less.

Until today, Fang Zheng had always believed that the knowledge he possessed upon entering certain instance worlds granted him immense convenience, but now, he had come to realize that this almost “foreknowledge” could sometimes be a double-edged sword.

Many motivational quotes have said that fools are happy because intelligent people do not find happiness, as they know too much, and the more they know, the more pain they endure.

Fang Zheng used to think this was just melodramatic nonsense, but now he had to give that statement thirty-two likes.

He currently found himself in the state of “the more you know, the more painful it becomes.”

Damn, this is lethal!

Fang Zheng’s expression also grew unsightly because he was acutely aware that, in the World of Cicada’s Song, the mark of doomed protagonists often starts with indecisiveness—a near-perpetual doubt that was almost inevitable. Yet now, Fang Zheng discovered he too had this tendency, and he was utterly unable to control it!

He was genuinely worried that Rena might kill Shion and Keiichi—after all, she had a history of violence!

No, it should be said that any one of the three coming together could normally end in murder, because all of them had a history!

Damn it… why did I watch so many animations!

Fang Zheng now regretted his actions too late, as he replayed the plot over and over in his mind. Eventually, Fang Zheng had to sadly admit, apart from the part about Rena killing out of love which seemed a bit far-fetched, both Shion and Keiichi’s reasons were very much “in character” for them.

But at the moment, he was unable to make a choice. The sky was still not dark, and if his dream was correct, then the rising of the moon would mark the start of a bloody massacre.

But if his premonition was right, then it was best not to try and stop any of it.

This is so irritating!

After much deliberation, Fang Zheng gritted his teeth.

Forget it, let’s take a gamble and not worry about anything; the rest can wait until tomorrow. After all, this is just a Free Instance, and even if he lost, nothing would be deducted. Since that was the case, he might as well follow his heart!

“Do you need something from me?”

Thinking this, Fang Zheng also abandoned the idea of immediately leaving to prevent Rena and Keiichi from acting. After all, that was just a dream, not reality. The reality was that Rika had come here to find him… obviously, not for a casual tea.

Indeed, after hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Rika was silent for a moment, then slowly lifted her head and looked at him.

“Teacher, do you… believe what I say?”

It was the same question, but this time, Rika’s voice was completely different.

If one were to say Rika’s voice was usually light and bright, her voice now was that of a mature woman’s, filled not only with that maturity but also with a never-before-felt pressure.@@novelbin@@

Here it comes!

Hearing this voice, Fang Zheng had a realization. He finally understood why he had that premonition earlier.

In the world of “When the Cicadas Cry,” Furutega Rika had been reincarnated for a hundred years!

A loli who has reincarnated for a hundred years, even if her appearance is still loli, her spirit certainly isn’t. In fact, the current Rika was the true Furutega Rika. The naive, innocent, and cute persona she previously displayed was all for show. In reality, the somewhat gloomy, fearful, and even desperate Rika now was the real her.

And this, unfortunately, might have been the reason Fang Zheng had that premonition earlier. It seemed that the behavior of his companions had profoundly disappointed Rika, and this is why she had come to him for one final confirmation. If Fang Zheng rejected her at this moment or continued to indulge her superficially, then Furutega Rika might completely lose hope in this world.

However, Fang Zheng was no fool; he could tell that Rika reaching out to ask him this was more out of habit. It’s like a terminally ill patient asking a doctor if there’s still hope, knowing well there isn’t, but hoping the doctor would say something comforting.

The current Furutega Rika was in that phase. She was clearly very disappointed, and one might even say hopeless.

In such a scenario, mere words of comfort were useless, so…

“I believe you.”

Facing Rika’s inquiry, Fang Zheng nodded, and hearing his answer, Furutega Rika revealed a disappointed smile.

“I see… you are just like the rest, treating this as a child’s fantasy… I knew it…”

“No, I said.”

But before Rika could finish, Fang Zheng cut her off. He then squinted his eyes, staring at the girl in front of him.

“I believe you… or rather, I finally found you.”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s response, Rika glanced at him, but the next moment, her eyes widened in astonishment.

Because at that moment, right before Rika, Fang Zheng’s form was rapidly transforming!

Pitch Black scales instantly covered Fang Zheng’s body, and hard spines grew out from the top of his head, jutting out like horns. Not only that, behind Fang Zheng, pitch black, enormous wings suddenly ripped through his clothes, unfurling!

“Who, who are you?!”

Looking at the scene before her, Furutega Rika’s face turned completely pale; she had cycled through a hundred years, but she had only encountered humans. The only exception, Haneiru, only had horns on her head, and besides that, there was no difference between her and humans.

But the current Fang Zheng barely resembled a human at all!

That terrifying aura, it was just like a creature!

In fact, this was Fang Zheng’s Zerg Awakening form, and he was well aware that under the current circumstances, relying purely on verbal persuasion was impossible. He had to produce some compelling evidence, and right now, the most convincing method was to transform!

However… even Fang Zheng hadn’t anticipated that the first use of this tactic would not be for combat but to frighten a little girl…

Well, as long as it serves the purpose, it’s enough.

“Could it be, you are also from the Haneiru clan…”

“There are not only them in this world.”

Fang Zheng reverted to his original form, for maintaining the Zerg Awakening state in this world was too draining on his strength—using it to scare people might be fine, but using it in combat would be an overkill.

“I am a member of the Space-Time Bureau. The Bureau detected a problem with the timeline in this world, which prompted them to send me here to investigate. According to my investigation, the origin of the timeline issue lies here, which is why I came.”

“So that’s it!”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s response, this time Furutega Rika immediately believed him. You see, she had only confided with everyone about the Hinamizawa Syndrome prior, but she never spoke a word about her own cycles of reincarnation. Although she had mentioned some aspects as a ‘manga setup’ while interacting with Fang Zheng previously, she had not been this detailed!

If Fang Zheng had solely relied on verbal explanation, then Rika might still have her doubts. But the Zerg form was too shocking that even Rika was frightened. Hence, now she was willing to listen to whatever Fang Zheng said.

“But, but your coming here…”

Soon, however, the expression on Rika’s face as she looked towards Fang Zheng turned fearful again. She was previously unafraid of death; for Rika, death was just a momentary affair. As long as she opened her eyes, she could locate another timeline’s version of herself and start over. But Fang Zheng was different, claiming to be from some ‘Space-Time Bureau’, a body seemingly possessing powers far beyond her own world-traveling capabilities. And Fang Zheng had also stated that they were here to investigate her century of cycles!

And now… they wouldn’t take her back and lock her up, would they?

Thinking this, Rika shivered slightly, though also feeling a vague sense of anticipation. After all, she was unable to escape the cycle on her own; if someone could help her break it, then even being locked up, she would accept it!

“The Space-Time Bureau, in theory, does not actively interfere with occurrences in other worlds.”

Seeing that he has successfully convinced the little Rika, Fang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

“However, solving problems is necessary, as distortions in time can lead to many unnecessary complications. Thus, I am here to find the origin of the problem and resolve it.”

With that said, Fang Zheng also looked towards Rika.

“Now, it appears that the center of the problem in this world is quite clear.”