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

Chapter 715: Chapter 714: Please Take Care of My Sister

Originally, Fang Zheng thought that the World Tree of a Thousand Realms would have some doubts about his proposal, but to his surprise, after Fiore had thought for a moment, she agreed to Fang Zheng’s request.

In fact, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms truly had no choice. Just as Fiore said, up to this point, for this Holy Grail War, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms had risked everything. If they were to fail, then the end would be disbandment and separation. To avoid this outcome, they were willing to do anything.

Moreover, once Fang Zheng really obtained the Holy Grail, he would become a mage who mastered the Third Magic, and the support of a mage was naturally something the World Tree of a Thousand Realms clan would desperately want.

Since everything was already prepared, what they were waiting for next was only the ”method” Fang Zheng had mentioned. Although it could be done at any time, for safety, Fang Zheng still decided to wait until nightfall to perform the summoning. After all, even though Romania could only be considered a rural area in Europe, considering what he was about to do, he decided it was best not to be too conspicuous.

After all, half a day wouldn’t allow the Aerial Courtyard to get very far.

In this gap, everyone was taking the time to rest. Atalanta had returned to her spiritual body form, and it was unknown what she intended to do. RULER was trying her best to lock onto the locations and auras of the Servants of the Red Faction, in preparation for the upcoming battle. As for Fang Zheng, he stood on the city wall, watching Illya and Yoshino playing and frolicking in the garden below... For these children, the previous battle was already in the past, and they only needed to enjoy the present.

”You don’t mind if I stay here for a while, do you?”

Just then, a voice came from behind Fang Zheng, he turned around, and saw Coles waving at him with a smile, and Fang Zheng nodded in response.

”Please, feel free.”

”Thanks.”

After saying this, Coles walked up to Fang Zheng’s side, looking out over the courtyard, then he sighed deeply.

”I heard the things you said to my sister.”

”Oh?”

Fang Zheng glanced at Coles, who was next to him. He didn’t have a very strong impression of this frail youngster, but he still remembered him somewhat. At least, he had often seen him chatting and walking in the courtyard with BERSERKER, forming quite a harmonious master-servant pair.

”Do you have any objections?”

”Honestly, I don’t.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Coles shook his head, looking to the distance, his face even showing a relieved expression.

”My sister might not like to hear this, but... when I found out that she didn’t have to bear the responsibility of commanding the World Tree of a Thousand Realms clan, I was really happy.”

It was not out of jealousy or curse; on the contrary, Fang Zheng could feel from Coles’s tone that he was sincerely happy for his sister.

”Why?”

”.........”

This time, faced with Fang Zheng’s question, Coles did not immediately answer. He closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment.

”In the past, our family used to have a dog.”

Then, for some reason, Coles began to talk about something completely unrelated to the previous topic; nevertheless, Fang Zheng did not mind and simply stood there quietly listening.

”It was a gentle stray dog that Dad picked up from somewhere. Dad originally planned to use that dog to teach us Necromancy. But then he had to leave suddenly on an urgent matter, so my sister and I ended up taking care of the dog.”

As he spoke, Coles placed both hands on the castle wall, clenching them into fists.

”There was a very dull and lethargic dog. But my sister took great care of that dog, even though she was not able to move around easily herself. She still insisted on cleaning the dog and even used her favorite comb to groom its fur—yes, the comb she used for her own hair. Then she bought a guidebook on how to care for dogs and pondered over what food to feed it. When I asked her why she was doing all this, she answered in a way that I could hardly believe—’Because pets must be treated with love, right?’”

”.........”

Coles closed his eyes and shook his head.

”Even I understand something that my sister clearly does not. That wasn’t our family pet; it wasn’t even ours at all. It was our test subject, and its fate had been decided the moment our father brought it home... But my sister seemed to have never considered this issue.”

”And then?”

Even though Fang Zheng had guessed the ending of the story, he still asked, and Coles just shrugged his shoulders.

”A week later, our father came back. He apologized to us with a smile, and while doing so, he grabbed the dog and demonstrated in front of both me and my sister the consequences of failed Spirit Summoning. Watching the dog’s fur turn inside out, hearing it scream in agony, and then seeing it turn into a bloody mass of flesh, my sister’s expression... I really do not know how to put it into words.”

Remembering the event, Coles vigorously shook his head.

”A minute later, the dog died, and at that time our father used the body to warn us that if we were not careful, the same could happen to us. Facing our father’s teaching, my sister just smiled and replied, ’I understand, Father.’ Because she was excellent, she knew that under those circumstances, she couldn’t cry or cover her ears. So she quickly found the best solution.”

But after that, when he and his sister were making a grave for the dog, she could no longer hold back her tears and began sobbing profusely while saying sorry. And from that day on, Fiore never mentioned the dog again, even throwing away everything related to it. As for her being unable to eat meat and vomiting repeatedly, or only being able to sleep when Coles held her hand, their parents never noticed.

”... My sister’s talent as a magician is unquestionable.”

Coles looked at Fang Zheng with a complex expression.

”But, she just isn’t cut out to be a proper magician. After that incident, my sister never failed in Spirit Summoning again. Everyone thought it was because of her exceptional talent, but I know it was because she knew she absolutely had to succeed—failing would make her relive that trauma. I used to think everything was fine because Uncle Danik was there, and she didn’t have to shoulder too much responsibility even though she strived to learn. But... being the Clan Leader of a Magical Family is different from being a magician.”

Coles’s expression turned grim, and Fang Zheng understood what he meant.

If Fiore became the Clan Leader of the World Tree of a Thousand Realms, there would be times when she had to make ruthless decisions and judgments to maintain her rule. If Fiore were a true magician, this wouldn’t be an issue, but the problem lies in that, although she has the talent of a magician, she lacks the mercilessness required to sacrifice everything for a goal.

For instance, to commend a magician who kills innocent infants to obtain magical knowledge, or to not punish those who witness magecraft, or even to personally execute ordinary people who have seen magecraft... These are commonplace and justified occurrences in the world of magicians and run completely counter to Fiore’s moral views.

Indeed, magicians generally avoid killing unless absolutely necessary, as it would cause disturbance. This aversion has nothing to do with morality; it’s merely because ”causing disturbances is inconvenient.” For magicians, the idea that killing, that taking a life is wrong, does not and should not exist. Conversely, when truly cornered, magicians can kill as a matter of course.

”This is one of the reasons why I am willing to help you.”

Fang Zheng reached out and patted Coles’s shoulder. He understood his meaning. In fact, this was also another reason why Fang Zheng had decided to bring the World Tree of a Thousand Realms under his control. Admittedly, the tree was mostly filled with second-rate and third-rate magicians, even mediocre ones. But precisely because of this, they, unlike those from top-tier magical families, wouldn’t discard their humanity for some goals, whether it be Fiore, Coles, or even that fat man Gold—all showed no intent of discarding their humanity.

It should be said that, in contrast to the Magician and human, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms sided more with ”humans,” whereas the Mage’s Association focused more on the ”magician” side.

This was also one of the irreconcilable contradictions between Fang Zheng and the Mage’s Association.

”After this Holy Grail War is over, I might go traveling around.”

As he spoke, Coles smiled and looked at Fang Zheng.

”By then, I’ll be counting on you to look after my sister... Mr. Fang Zheng.”