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

Chapter 845: Chapter 844: Adventure Journey in the Main World (II)

The person who appeared before Fang Zheng was none other than Cleric Fina. Her attire hadn’t changed much from before, and upon seeing Fang Zheng, Fina also broke into a smile.

”I really didn’t think I’d encounter you here. What a coincidence...”

”Ah, yeah... it really is unexpected. By the way, what are you doing here?”

”I...”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Fina’s expression turned a bit peculiar. However, just as she was about to say something, a series of footsteps sounded, and then the man who had previously beaten the Orc walked over with large strides. He looked at Fina with a smile and then spoke.

”I apologize for scaring you, Lady Fina. Are you alright?”

”Ah, I’m fine... there’s really no need to trouble you.”

Faced with the man’s inquiry, Fina quickly took a few steps back like a startled bird and hid behind Fang Zheng, then bowed respectfully to the man. Seeing Fina’s actions, the man’s brows furrowed slightly and then he looked at Fang Zheng and his group.

”They are...”

”They are my friends. We’ve fought together before.”

This time, even before Fang Zheng could speak, Fina hurriedly responded.

”So, I apologize, Mr. Coris. I, I’ve already decided to seek their help!”

”I see...”

Hearing Fina’s answer, the man glanced at Fang Zheng and the others, then nodded with a smile.

”In that case, we’ll meet again soon.”

After saying this, the man turned and left, leaving Fang Zheng and the others standing there in perplexity.

What was that all about?

”...Can you explain, Lady Fina?”

Although Fang Zheng had essentially guessed the situation, he still turned his head to look at Fina next to him and asked. Fina nodded somewhat bashfully.

”Of course... Mr. Fang Zheng, please follow me...”

Now that the excitement was over, the people outside the tavern dispersed, and Fina led Fang Zheng and his group to a private room on the second floor of the tavern, where she recounted the entire story from the beginning.

”Here’s what happened: a few days ago, while on my pilgrimage, I passed by a nearby village and discovered a strange disease and plague there...”

”Plague?”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng’s eyebrows raised.

”What kind of plague?”

”Patients first develop a fever, then their limbs become weak, they can’t eat, and then they die... More importantly, after death, they transform into Undead Creatures. In fact, when I went to that town, the entire place was in a panic. I tried to treat the plague, but it had no effect at all.”

”What about the local authorities? The Church?”

”That’s the strange part.”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Fina also furrowed her brow.

”At first, I wanted to speak with the village chief and the church’s administrators to see if there was anything I could do to help. But... they all disappeared.”

”...Disappeared?”

”Yes.”

Fina nodded.

”The church was empty, and the village chief’s house had no one. According to the villagers, they vanished shortly after the plague occurred. As for where they went, no one knows. I wanted to investigate, and as a result, I found traces of Cultists in the nearby mountains... We still don’t know which organization they belong to, but it’s certain there are many of them. I clearly can’t fight against them alone.”

”So you plan to look for help here?”

”Yes, City of Twilight Moon is the closest to that village, and now almost everyone in the village is infected with this disease and can’t even get out of bed. I used Divine Arts to temporarily stabilize their condition, but if the situation isn’t resolved quickly, it’ll get worse. There’s no time to seek aid from other Sanctuary Churches. I had intended to ask for help from the Lord of the City of Twilight Moon, but... he wouldn’t even see me.”

At this point, Fina sighed helplessly.

”So I plan to hire a group of mercenaries to help. That Mr. Coris just now... he intended to invite me to join his Mercenary Group, but because I need to deal with this issue, I declined him. Although it seems Mr. Coris also wants to help me...”

”Offering unsolicited help often hides ill intentions, right.”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s comment, Fina said nothing more and simply nodded apologetically. This was quite normal; after all, while Fina wasn’t a stunning beauty that would cause a scene in the streets, she was indeed a pretty girl. Such situations must have been common during her pilgrimage.

If Fang Zheng hadn’t come, Fina might have considered it a bit more, but now that Fang Zheng was here, she naturally didn’t have to think about it. Compared to unknown and suspicious mercenaries, it was obviously more reassuring to rely on someone she knew and had fought alongside.

”...So, can I ask for your help, Mr. Fang Zheng?”

”Of course, no problem.”

Faced with Fina’s request, Fang Zheng didn’t hesitate at all and agreed immediately. The reason was simple: City of Twilight Moon was the ”quest trigger point” that Fang Zheng had sensed through the Prophecy Spell. However, he had only just entered the city when he met Fina... so all of this was the guidance of the Steins Gate—no, the Prophecy Spell!

But before that...

”How did you recognize me?”

Fang Zheng thought his disguise, while not professionally perfect, wasn’t so bad that it would be seen through at a glance.

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Fina blushed. She lowered her head, hesitating for a moment before finally muttering, ”I have a keen sense of smell...”

”Alright, I get it.”

Fang Zheng decisively dropped the subject. He had no intention of asking Fina’s zodiac sign or if she was born in the Year of the Dog...

Now that the target was clear, Fang Zheng and his group naturally didn’t need to do anything else and directly set out from the city into the mountains, heading towards that village under Fina’s guidance. During this time, Fang Zheng also introduced Kurumi and Walnut to Fina. Evidently curious about the two girls, Fina, who was both cheerful and approachable, quickly became engaged in conversation with Walnut, who was outgoing and open.

”This Lady Fina is really interesting.”

Walking along the mountain path, watching the chatting Walnut and Fina, Kurumi came over to Fang Zheng’s side, chuckling as she lowered her voice to speak to him.

”She couldn’t be one of your romantic targets, could she, Mr. Fang Zheng?”

”I have no such intentions.”

Faced with Kurumi’s teasing, Fang Zheng waved his hand. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t believe in pure friendship between men and women. However, perhaps due to the battles they’ve shared, Fina was less of a romantic interest to Fang Zheng and more of a compatible battle companion. After all, Fina was intelligent and likable, and she didn’t have any glaring faults as a teammate, making fighting alongside her quite pleasant.

But come to think of it, they really are destined to meet...

As Fang Zheng and Kurumi conversed, the four of them had already walked deep into the forest when suddenly, a thick fog appeared before them. Seeing this fog, Fina immediately stopped laughing and turned serious.

”This is it, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

As she spoke, Fina gripped her staff tightly.

”Once we pass through this fog, we’ll reach the village.”