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

Chapter 1154: Chapter 1153: The Most Important Thing for a Magical Girl Is to Persuade with Reason

After conducting a thorough investigation of these strange Shadow Creatures, Fang Zheng discovered that, strictly speaking, these Shadow Creatures do not even count as life forms. They are merely manifestations of some residual fragments.

”Residues?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s findings, the girls were all taken aback.

”Yes, residues of emotions. I think you can feel it too. These Shadow Creatures exhibit very strong anger and aggression, but they cannot communicate at all... Hmm, just like a computer program only reacting to certain targets, ignoring everything else.”

”So, big brother, you mean that these Shadow Creatures only attack us Magical Girls?”

Little Hei scratched her head in disbelief, while Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

”That seems to be the case for now. Maybe there is something in common between you two. But at least it can be confirmed that these Creatures are not after the things you are collecting individually; they are after you directly.”

Upon hearing this, Little Ke voiced her opinion.

”Isn’t it a reaction to Magic Resistance?”

”I conducted experiments using Magic. Even when I released Magic right in front of those Shadow Creatures, they had no reaction. However, just the presence of Little Sakura and Nanoha in front of them resulted in an attack. Therefore, it is evident that their very existence is what draws the attention of these creatures.”

”I have never seen such creatures...”

Looking at the shadow on the screen, Yuno shook his head.

”Could it be something not from Earth?”

”What are you talking about!”

Hearing this, Little Ke was unhappy.

”Kuro Reed and I have lived here for many years. If there were such things, Kuro Reed would have taken care of them a long time ago. Could it be your Seed of Holy Stone causing trouble?”

”What are you saying? If you put it that way, I think those Clow Cards Magic Artifacts are more suspicious!”

”You dare question Kuro Reed? You stinky Snow Mongoose...”

Seeing the doll and Snow Mongoose about to quarrel, Fang Zheng glanced at them, then signaled to the side. The next moment, the white cat lounging nearby suddenly leapt up and slapped the Snow Mongoose onto the table, while Little Sakura hurriedly reached out and grabbed Little Ke.

”No fighting!”

Faced with the intervention, the Snow Mongoose and doll exchanged glances, then turned their heads away angrily. Fang Zheng completely ignored this low-level argument and instead turned his gaze toward Nanoha—ever since returning, she had seemed distracted, as if deep in thought.

”Nanoha, what are you thinking about?”

”Teacher...”

When Fang Zheng spoke, Nanoha was startled for a moment, then looked up at him.

”What did you say?”

”I asked, what are you thinking about?”

Seeing Nanoha return to her senses, Fang Zheng patiently repeated the question. She hesitated, lowered her head, and after thinking it over, finally spoke.

”Teacher... is it really impossible for people to truly understand each other? I want to have a good talk with that kid, but she doesn’t want to talk to me. I don’t know why...”

At this point, Nanoha lowered her head in depression.

”Do we really have to solve problems through fighting?”

”Fighting is not the only way to solve problems, but it is indeed a way to solve them.”

Hearing Nanoha’s question, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.

”If you want to talk to that kid, it’s actually simple. You just need to have power equal to or greater than hers.”

”Huh? Is that so?”

Hearing this, Nanoha widened her eyes in surprise and looked at Fang Zheng, who nodded in confirmation.

”That’s right. As a matter of fact, just as that kid said before, she is collecting the Seed of Holy Stone, and you are too, so you are opponents, enemies—that’s an unchangeable fact. And for her, communicating with you is unnecessary. Because even if you communicate, you’ll still have to fight eventually.”

”But...”

Nanoha clenched her fists, opening her mouth to argue, but didn’t know what to say for a moment. Fang Zheng extended his hand with a gesture.

”It’s like a path. You’re walking from this side of the path while something is approaching from the other side. If it’s a bug, you won’t pay any attention and just step over it. If it’s a cat or dog, maybe you’ll choose to step aside. But if it’s a big elephant in front of you, then you’ll need to actively make way, maybe even show you’re not hostile... Do you understand what I mean?”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng glanced at Nanoha with a smile.

”See, at the end of the battle, didn’t that girl initiate a conversation with you? Why is that? Because you showed enough power to obstruct her from reclaiming the Seed of Holy Stone, so she wanted to talk to relieve the tension. Though you’re not an elephant yet, you’re at least a small cat strong enough to block her path...”

”...”

Listening to Fang Zheng, Nanoha’s eyes shone brighter. She seemed to grasp something, nodded vigorously.

”I understand, teacher!”

”Oh? You really got it?”

”Yes!”

As she spoke, Nanoha stood up and looked at Fang Zheng.

”As long as I display power stronger than that kid’s, then she’ll obediently listen to me, right?”

”Ah... well, more or less.”

Though Fang Zheng felt Nanoha’s way of thinking might be slightly off, he still nodded.

”Whether you want to protect, stop, or communicate with something, you must show enough strength to prove you’re not all talk. Words are easy, but gaining someone else’s trust and understanding isn’t. You need to demonstrate enough strength to earn other people’s recognition.”

”I understand too, teacher!”

At this, Little Sakura raised her hand eagerly.

”Every time I capture a Clow Card, I must defeat it. Only by defeating them will they acknowledge me as their owner. That’s the recognition you are talking about, right?”

”Pretty much...”

Looking at the excited Little Sakura and Nanoha, Fang Zheng felt something was a bit off, but... well, that was indeed the main point, wasn’t it?

”So, remember this, Little Sakura, Nanoha.”

Clearing his throat, Fang Zheng looked at the two again.

”You each have different responsibilities and tasks, but the most important thing is to reason with people. Strength is essential, but strength is a means, not an end. Understood?”

”Yes!”

Looking at the excited Little Sakura and Nanoha, Illya turned to Little Hei.

”Little Hei, why do I feel like something’s not quite right?”

”What’s not right about it? Aren’t you the same?”

With these words, Little Hei rolled her eyes at Illya.

”As the saying goes, firepower is justice, so we Magical Girls are embodiments of justice.”