Dimensional Codex System I m really not a cultist

Chapter 128: Chapter 127 This Is Not a Romance Simulation Game!@@novelbin@@

Under Fang Zheng’s coaxing, Furutega Rika finally cheered up. She agreed to cooperate with Fang Zheng to prevent the destruction of Hinamizawa. Of course, Rika also raised the issue of several other friends to Fang Zheng. To this, Fang Zheng readily agreed… Although, after having that dream, Fang Zheng always had the mistaken impression that Rena had achieved a double kill, but… It should just be a dream, right?

In fact, if there was time, Fang Zheng really wanted to try to overcome the L5 curse with psychological treatment alone, without relying on medication. After all, in the anime, Rena had once regained her sanity on her own strength. Of course, she was the only one in the main cast who broke the limit purely on her own without any medicinal help.

Regrettably, there wasn’t enough time.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

“Come in.”

“Excuse me, Teacher.”

Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrives.

Looking at Rena entering with a lunchbox, Fang Zheng had mixed feelings. Previously, Rena brought him lunch every day, and he didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, because, according to Rena, it was to thank him for helping her with the problem concerning her father.

But since having that dream yesterday, Fang Zheng suddenly felt… a girl bringing lunch to him every noon indeed seemed a bit problematic.

Moreover, approaching the protagonist under the guise of gratitude to gradually increase favorability is also the standard plot of many romance shows, isn’t it?

But he was not the male protagonist.

“Teacher, I made peony cakes today. Please have a taste.”

Looking at the lunchbox Rena was smilingly handing over, Fang Zheng hesitated. He used to think that many male protagonists in romance anime were foolishly indecisive when facing the female lead’s advances. Now that it was his turn, he realized that this was a troublesome matter!

After all, Rena’s reason was flawless. If Fang Zheng rejected her now, it would seem like he was overly self-conscious. She was just saying she is bringing you food, not that she wants to date you. And he himself is a teacher, isn’t he…

Not to mention it would hurt the other person’s feelings… Well, in a normal world, hurt is just hurt, but in this world…

Damn, she might actually start sending packed lunches next time!

“Thank you.”

Although he felt downtrodden inside, Fang Zheng still took the lunchbox from Rena’s hands. Then he hesitated for a moment before asking.

“By the way, where’s Keiichi? Why isn’t he here today?”

“Keiichi? He has some matters to deal with today and might not be able to come to school.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Rena answered cheerfully with a smile.

Upon hearing Rena’s response, Fang Zheng’s actions paused slightly.

Because he had heard this sentence in his dream as well.

Could it be true, just as he had seen in his dream, that Rena had killed Shion and Keiichi?

Fang Zheng felt anxious inside, but he did not show it on the surface. Facing Rena’s response, he simply nodded.

If one were to describe the current Fang Zheng using a famous saying from the internet, it would be — calm as an old dog on the outside, panicking like hell inside.

This was the only response Fang Zheng could determine after mulling over it for an entire night. No matter whether Rena really killed Shion and Keiichi, until he saw their bodies with his own eyes, he absolutely could not show a trace of distrust towards others.

Especially Rena Ryuuguu!!

Speaking of the most formidable character in the World of Cicada’s Song, Fang Zheng believed Rena Ryuuguu was definitely at the top of the list.

Her reasoning, logical deduction, judgment, and observational skills were all super first-class, and her combat ability was also upper-tier. Keep in mind that in “When the Cicadas Cry Expansion,” Rena wielded a machete and cut her way through a crowd seven times in and out, fighting decisively and calmly. To be honest, such a person would be a godlike teammate.

But if she were an enemy, that would be terrifying.

In a sense, in the World of Cicada’s Song, Rena Ryuuguu’s status was no less than that of the Detective Elementary Student and Detective Kindaichi. As long as she caught a flaw, almost all the subsequent problems would no longer be an issue.

In the Cotton Flow Chapter, Rena Ryuuguu almost perfectly deduced the opponent’s modus operandi from the beginning to the end, and her only mistake was not knowing the “historical reasons” for the sisters’ identity swap. But these deductions were made almost without interacting with Shion, and merely based on her observations of her in everyday life and some external understanding of the case.

This was even more terrifying from a certain perspective than the Detective Elementary Student and others, as Conan and Kindaichi both needed to carry out investigations and gather evidence on-site for their judgments. But Rena Ryuuguu, without even going to the crime scene, directly identified the ultimate culprit, which is a truly heaven-defying observational and deductive ability.

So Fang Zheng absolutely could not show any wavering in front of her, otherwise, it would definitely arouse Rena’s suspicion. If she had truly killed someone, she would soon realize that Fang Zheng might have perceived her actions. But, if she hadn’t killed anyone, she would surely be saddened after sensing Fang Zheng’s distancing himself. Maybe she would just fall ill, and then darken, machete in hand…

This world is really headache-inducing.

Therefore, in front of Rena, Fang Zheng’s attitude showed no change from usual. He was also a senior executive in a company, had attended numerous press conferences, and had to coordinate work among various departments, so he did have some experience in cultivating his demeanor. As a superior, many times, even if he was going berserk inside, he had to appear as calm as if nothing was wrong on the outside. Otherwise, who knows what would happen.

Luckily, Rena didn’t seem to notice anything strange in Fang Zheng either, and as usual, she enthusiastically introduced what she had made that day and shared other delicious items with him. She even complained to Fang Zheng that her father had found work and was hardly ever at home, and although she was happy that her dad was picking himself up again, he really could show a bit more concern for his daughter.

“Really now, Dad’s been working overtime so much lately, I’ve even told him to take more care of his health…”

“Lonely?”

“A little.”

Facing Fang Zheng’s question, Rena showed a slight bitter smile, but quickly, she shook her head.

“However, seeing Dad cheer up, Rena is already very satisfied. And… for Rena, it’s not that lonely actually…”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng curiously lifted his head to glance at Rena, and then he was surprised to find that, without knowing when, Rena had come right in front of him, quietly looking at him!

“Teacher?”

“What’s up?”

Hearing Rena’s question, Fang Zheng’s heart skipped a beat, then he put down his lunchbox and looked at Rena to ask.

“Teacher… what do you think of Rena?”

What the hell is with this dating simulation-style dialogue?!

“Uh… very cute, lively, an interesting girl.”

Resigned to only answering within the script, Fang Zheng felt helpless. He indeed wanted to say something else, but… this was a damn life-or-death question!!

“Then, does Teacher like Rena? Do you like me?”

“Of course, how could I not like such a cute student? Not just you, Rika, Satoko, and Mion, I like all of you.”

While saying this, Fang Zheng was internally holding his head and weeping bitterly. This wasn’t a romance game, so why on earth was he sticking to this script?

If Fang Zheng were to tell the truth, then Rena was indeed a good girlfriend material — gentle, lively, kind, cute, with good looks and a nice figure, save for the Blackening and the cleaver, there were seemingly no flaws. But for Fang Zheng, he wasn’t like Keiichi, a boy who had just entered puberty, to foolishly nod and agree just because a girl confessed to him.

Furthermore, to Fang Zheng, the most important thing was that this was just the Free World. He didn’t know how long he would be able to stay in this world, and he also didn’t know if he could bring someone out from the Free World. However, in Fang Zheng’s view, a child like Rena was better off living an ordinary and peaceful life in this world. The Main World might be more colorful, but it was too dangerous for her.

To be honest, in “When the Cicadas Cry”, Fang Zheng indeed liked the characters Furutega Rika and Rena Ryuuguu, but that was more of an appreciation rather than the “XX is my wife, come fight me if you disagree” level. So even if Rena Ryuuguu confessed to him, it would be more of a disadvantage than a benefit for him.

“Uh…”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Rena puffed up her cheeks slightly dissatisfied, her eyes unwaveringly staring at Fang Zheng.

“Rena likes everyone too, whether it’s Mion or Shion, as well as Satoko and Rika, and Keiichi too… But, Rena’s feelings for Teacher are different from the others…”

While saying this, Rena slowly moved closer to Fang Zheng. As for Fang Zheng, he watched the girl before him, while his mind raced with thoughts on how to handle this troublesome situation. Ideally, if this were a novel or anime cliché, someone should come knocking at the door right now to break the tension and stop all this.

But… perhaps Fang Zheng didn’t bribe the author enough, which was why, as Rena drew close to his face, he still hadn’t experienced the clichéd scenario of someone suddenly knocking at the door. Not only that, but the entire school was also very quiet, as if the whole world in its mysterious ways wanted to see how Fang Zheng would solve this difficult problem.

“Teacher… Rena… likes you?”

Staring intensely at Fang Zheng, Rena finally uttered those words she shouldn’t have said.

“It’s a different kind of like, even though Rena doesn’t fully understand this feeling, just seeing Teacher makes Rena very happy. If I can’t see Teacher, Rena feels very lonely. If possible, Rena really wants to take Teacher home…”

Young lady, that’s a dangerous thought!

In front of him was Rena Ryuuguu’s beautiful and pale face, Fang Zheng could even smell the unique fragrance of a young girl coming from her, and at this moment, Rena’s cheeks were slightly flushed, giving her a shy and cute appearance. For anyone else, this scene alone could make them drift away in euphoria. But Fang Zheng was different; his exterior remained expressionless, yet inside, he was on high alert!

Because Fang Zheng could clearly feel that, within Rena, the previously suppressed Hinamizawa Syndrome was showing signs of erupting again! That terrifying, eerie aura, was starting to emerge and spread from the girl’s body. At the same time, Rena’s eyes also underwent a transformation.

Her originally bright eyes began to dull, and her pupils slowly started to elongate, changing like those of a reptile.

“… Teacher, do you like Rena? If Teacher likes me, you can also take Rena home, you know? Rena… wants to be with Teacher forever… Even though I really like everyone, but Teacher is different. Teacher is so handsome, gentle, and you even helped Rena with many troubles… Rena really likes Teacher a lot, so Teacher, what do you think of Rena?”

While saying this, Rena was almost leaning on Fang Zheng’s body, he could even faintly sense the heat emanating from the girl opposite him.

If it wasn’t for those dim, lightless eyes, this moment could have been incredibly sweet.

But…

Fang Zheng was very clear that the next wrong answer from him could send him plummeting into an abyss!

But… wait a minute!

Thinking this, Fang Zheng seemed to suddenly realize something, then, he suddenly opened his eyes.

That’s it!!