Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 675: Chapter 674: Different Developments in the Same World

Although Fang Zheng found the developments of this world perplexing, it did not mean he was without means. By using Ratziel, Fang Zheng had almost effortlessly discerned the development direction of the Holy Grail War in this world, as well as what exactly the World Tree of a Thousand Realms was.

In Fang Zheng’s memory, the turning point of the original Holy Grail War occurred during the Third Holy Grail War, when the Einzbern Family’s Servant was the first to be defeated. Unwilling to bow out, the Einzbern Family forcibly summoned the eighth Heroic Spirit—Evils of the World. However, contrary to its fearsome title, this Evils of the World was utterly weak and was easily defeated.

After that, the Evils of the World that was recovered into the Holy Grail corrupted the Greater Holy Grail, leading to a series of troubles in the Fourth and Fifth Wars.

However, in this world, the course of the Third Holy Grail War was somewhat different. The Einzbern’s contestant was not eliminated at the first opportunity; instead, right when the Holy Grail War reached its most intense point, something unexpected happened—the Artificial Human, acting as the Little Holy Grail, mysteriously vanished.

Without the Little Holy Grail, it was of course impossible to activate the Greater Holy Grail. This was like a group of people struggling to the vault door only to find they’ve broken the key and couldn’t open it. Regrettably, the Holy Grail War had to end inconclusively this time.

If that were all, there wouldn’t have been a major issue. However, the problem arose after the end of the Holy Grail War when a magician supporting the Third Reich learned of the existence of the Greater Holy Grail and directly used the military’s power to forcibly take it away from Fuyuki.

At that time, the Einzbern, Tohsaka, and Machiri families naturally resisted desperately, but to no avail; the Third Reich still found and took the Greater Holy Grail away.

What happened next... was something peculiar: while the Greater Holy Grail was being transported to Germany, it suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.

Of course, for most people that was the case, but for Fang Zheng who possessed Ratziel, a little investigation would reveal that the Greater Holy Grail didn’t disappear. Instead, it was hidden by the magician supporting the Third Reich, who was also the Clan Leader of the Yukdonia Family—Danik.

As for his purpose, it was evidently to reach the Origin. This was also why Fang Zheng agreed to the other party’s request... He didn’t participate in the Holy Grail War in this world for nostalgia; on the contrary, if Fang Zheng was not mistaken, through the portal opened by the Holy Grail, he should be able to return to his own world.

In other words, not only did he have to participate in this Holy Grail War, but he also had to win.

Speaking of this Holy Grail War, Fang Zheng was quite interested.

Initially, he found it strange. Logically speaking, the Holy Grail War should involve seven MASTERS each leading a Servant to fight one another. However, it seemed that there were alliances being formed here. After investigating, Fang Zheng found the cause to be quite intriguing.

And the reason lay with the Yukdonia Family.

The Yukdonia Family was not ”nobility.”

This was also a setting that Fang Zheng was relatively clear about in the Type Moon World: most magicians in this world belonged to families, and they passed down their Magic Circuits generation after generation, all with the goal of pursuing the Origin. Naturally, those ancient noble lineages occupied the upper layers of the Pyramid within these families.

However, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms was different; rather than calling them a family, it was more accurate to say they were an alliance—centered around the Yukdonia Family, it included families whose histories were brief, whose Magic Circuits were in decline, or weakened due to continuous inheritance, as well as those families that had lost power struggles and withered away. There were also magicians who had been penalized by the Mage’s Association or were currently wanted, banding together for warmth, forming a large alliance.

In plain terms, it was a group formed by commoner magicians, whom the nobles did not regard highly. On average, their capabilities were second-rate, and though occasionally there were some first-rate magicians, it changed nothing significant.

Because of this, the Mage’s Association did not take these commoners, riffraff, and waste materials seriously, as in the world of magicians, only the exalted nobility were entitled to possess the most potent powers and the most supreme status.

But what they hadn’t expected was that this organization, which they saw as inconsequential due to its brief history and mere numerical strength, had raised the banner of rebellion against the Mage’s Association. They formally announced their secession from the Mage’s Association and planned to establish a collective equivalent to it.

What they relied on was the Greater Holy Grail obtained from Fuyuki.

Once they successfully completed the Third Magic, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms would have inexhaustible magic power. Thus, they would possess a force powerful enough to compete against—and even completely overthrow—the Clock Tower, the Wandering Sea, and the Atlas Institute.

Naturally, the Mage’s Association couldn’t tolerate the secession of the World Tree of a Thousand Realms; it was as if a lofty noble had been spat upon by a commoner, which infuriated them immensely. Hence, the Mage’s Association also immediately dispatched Mage Assassins to the base of the World Tree, attempting to erase their existence.

But they failed because the World Tree had already summoned the Heroic Spirits.

Those were beings no human could oppose.

The Mage’s Association sent fifty Mage Assassins, and forty-nine of them died, leaving only one survivor. And this was the opportunity for the Mage’s Association, as that magician had previously activated the backup system of the Greater Holy Grail, causing the originally intended Holy Grail Ritual, which would have been completed with the summoning of seven Servants, to become a bloody skirmish between two camps, red and black, with fourteen Servants in total.

”I see...”

After understanding the whole story, Fang Zheng nodded and closed the ”Ratziel” in his hands, beginning to ponder.

To be honest, Fang Zheng greatly admired the World Tree’s principles of action. If they were truly aimed at overthrowing the rule of the corrupt nobles and building a new world of magic, then he did not mind helping them. After all, although the Clan Leader of the World Tree definitely had issues, their ideology was not evil. On the contrary... Thinking about bringing down those nobles who had been domineering for centuries, hm... Fang Zheng also felt a surge of excitement.

Since the World Tree had officially declared war on the Mage’s Association, Fang Zheng didn’t mind becoming their ally. It wasn’t just about obtaining the Holy Grail but also for their noble ideals.

After all, according to historical materialism, class struggle is the direct force that drives the development of class society. The perennial decline of the magic clans might well be related to their rotten yet stable rule. If he could assist—or even lead—the World Tree in overthrowing the rule of the Mage’s Association and then reshuffle the entire world of magic...

At the thought, Fang Zheng’s lips slightly curled up, revealing a hint of a smile.

”This might be interesting...”

”Big brother!”

Just then, Fang Zheng heard a voice come from behind him. Quickly, he felt a petite, soft body lunge forward and hug him.

”What are you doing? Why are you smiling so weirdly?”

Fang Zheng turned around and saw a girl with brown skin grinning at him. Just then, another girl with the same face forcefully grabbed her arm and pulled her down.

”Really, Little Hei! I told you not to be rude to MASTER! Why did you suddenly pounce on him and disturb him? Didn’t you see MASTER was thinking about something?”

”What does it matter? Big brother won’t get mad, right? Big brother?”

”It’s nothing, Little Hei didn’t disturb me.”

Facing Little Hei’s inquiry, Fang Zheng waved his hand. He had known these two girls for not even two days, but Fang Zheng had almost figured out their personalities. How should he put it... Although both are Illya, they are completely different from the Illya that Fang Zheng remembered. The Illya that was summoned as a Magical Girl was a very cute, obedient, and well-mannered good child. The girl called Chloe, nicknamed Little Hei, who looks exactly like Illya, is quite enthusiastic and naughty.

It had to be said, their personalities were really completely different.

”Are you guys having fun?”

”Of course.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Little Hei cheerily made a gesture.

”It’s just that Yoshino is too timid. She just needed to join us on the roller coaster...”

”But that really... looks so scary...”

Hearing Little Hei’s complaint, Yoshino raised her hand to hold her hat and answered softly. After summoning Illya and Little Hei, Fang Zheng had, of course, introduced them to Yoshino and Kurumi. Fortunately, so far, Yoshino, Illya, and Little Hei seemed to get along well. A large part of this was perhaps because Illya and Little Hei appeared younger than Yoshino, so she didn’t feel too nervous.

”You did a great job, Kurumi.”

”It’s nothing, I had a lot of fun too.”

At that moment, Kurumi also walked over and sat next to Fang Zheng with a smile, casually taking a sip of her drink—they were presently at an amusement park in Fuyuki City. Although Fang Zheng had taken Yoshino to many places before, this was their first time at an amusement park, and since Illya and Little Hei, though Heroic Spirits, also liked to have fun, Fang Zheng decided to bring them here to rest and relax before facing the upcoming battle.

”This feeling... is truly incredible...”

Setting down her drink, Kurumi gazed at the bustling amusement park with a complex expression.

”You know, Mr. Fang Zheng, when I found out this is a different world, entirely different from the world I originally came from, all the pressure on me seemed to vanish. Those things that once troubled me, that nearly suffocated me, have all gone far away. At least until today, I never thought I would put everything behind me and thoroughly enjoy myself like this...”

”After all, that’s all in the past, and you’ve done what you needed to do.”

Hearing Kurumi’s heartfelt words, Fang Zheng reached out and patted her on the head.

”Of course, those things are in the past now. I belong to you now, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

With that, Kurumi smiled slightly.

”So, Mr. Fang Zheng, what shall we do next?”

”For today... just enjoy ourselves fully.”

In response to Kurumi’s question, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

”In two days, we will set out for Romania.”