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

Chapter 1274: Chapter 1273: This Symptom Looks Familiar

After deciding on the next course of action, Fang Zheng took the four Knights of Belka along with Little Sakura, Nanoha, and the others to the home of the owner of the Book of Night Sky.

Of course, if this were an anime, it wouldn’t go this smoothly. However, the current situation is completely different from that in the animation. Vita and her group were almost beaten to death in one round by Shana and the magical girls, and were immediately detained. Naturally, it wasn’t like in the animation where they absorbed Nanoha’s Core of Psychokinesis again.

Although the four are clearly still unconvinced, they don’t dare to resist in front of Fang Zheng. They aren’t fools; dealing with those little girls alone was already tough enough, and this man in front of them is evidently even more terrifying. Just the aura emanating from his body was enough to make the battle-hardened Knights of Belka tremble. Let alone fighting, a mere gaze from Fang Zheng made them not even dare to think of lifting their weapons.

”Here we are.”

Obediently, Vita brought Fang Zheng and the others to their residence, hesitated for a moment, then opened the door.

”Click.”

As soon as the door opened, a voice sounded from inside.

”Vita? Hegnam, you’re back?!”

Accompanied by this slightly anxious voice, Fang Zheng soon saw a girl in a wheelchair anxiously rush into the hallway. Upon seeing Vita and Hegnam, she quickly wheeled herself to the door.

”Honestly, where did you all go? You didn’t even answer the phone... No news for two whole days! I was really worried!”

”Sorry, Hayate...”

Hearing the girl’s words, Vita turned her head, somewhat at a loss for what to say. It was at this moment that Fang Zheng stepped forward, gently clearing his throat.

”Sorry to interrupt, may I ask your name...?”

”Ah, I’m Hayate Yagami, nice to meet you...”

Looking at Fang Zheng, the girl named Hayate Yagami gave a polite bow. However, she quickly shifted her gaze to Little Sakura, Nanoha, and Fate.

”Excuse me, what exactly is...?”

”My name is Fang Zheng, um... I imagine you might be confused about our arrival, but there are some things I need to clarify with you first... May we come in?”

”Of course, please enter.”

Hearing this, though Yagami didn’t yet understand the situation, she quickly nodded. Then Vita stepped forward to push Hayate’s wheelchair, leading everyone to the living room. Introductions were made, and then Fang Zheng spoke once again.

”First... Hayate, may I call you that?”

”Yes, of course...”

Hayate appeared a bit nervous at Fang Zheng’s words.

”Alright, let’s take things step by step.”

Looking at the girl before him, Fang Zheng smiled to reassure her, then continued.

”Well... Your friends, Vita and Hegnam, have actually been with us these past few days.”

”Eh?? What’s going on?”

Hayate was taken aback by Fang Zheng’s words.

”Did something happen?”

”Indeed. In fact, these four launched an attack on my students, Little Sakura, Nanoha, and Shisei, trying to seize their magic power, but ended up being detained. Because we couldn’t confirm their true identities and purposes, we detained them for questioning and investigation.”

”Eh---!?”

Hayate widened her eyes in surprise, looking at Vita, who was sitting nearby.

”Vita, is that true?”

”Hayate...”

Faced with Hayate’s questioning, Vita seemed awkward and unsure how to respond.

”What on earth happened? Hegnam?!”

Clearly familiar with these individuals, Hayate understood something was amiss from Vita’s reaction, so she looked towards Hegnam sitting on the other side.

”Why did you attack others? To seize magic power?”

”Well...”

”This leads to the second point.”

Unable to answer Hayate’s question, Hegnam paused, and Fang Zheng calmly continued.

”Don’t be too angry. Although their actions were wrong, they were thinking of you.”

”For me??”

Hayate was puzzled by Fang Zheng’s statement but quickly sat obediently and looked at him again.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, what exactly is going on?”

”I believe you know you possess a Magitech Tome. Here’s what happened...”

Fang Zheng explained everything, including the Book of Darkness and the events so far, to Hayate. After listening, Hayate was quite surprised.

”So, my physical weakness and inability to walk aren’t due to illness, but caused by the Book of Night Sky?”

”We need to conduct an examination to confirm this.”

Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”This is why we’re here. We need to conduct a thorough examination of you... As for your friends...”

While speaking, Fang Zheng observed the girl closely. Hayate, upon hearing him, seemed quite anxious, clutching her skirt nervously as she looked at Fang Zheng.

”Their intention was for your sake, which is commendable, but for any reason, randomly attacking and harming others is unacceptable. As a punishment, they are not allowed to leave Haiming City for the next year. If they need to, they must inform us and the Heavenly Dao Palace in advance. If they leave secretly, it will be considered an escape, resulting in punishment... Is that clear?”

”Understood!”

Hayate finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried they might be imprisoned, but now it seemed they were only being forbidden from leaving Haiming City, which was quite lenient! After all, they rarely left the city anyway, as Hayate’s condition wasn’t suitable for travel. So, this punishment was essentially like nothing at all to them.

”Let’s begin the examination then.”

”Alright.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Hayate nodded cheerfully, then she placed her hands on her chest, suddenly recalling something, and looked at Fang Zheng awkwardly.

”Um... Mr. Fang Zheng, should I remove my clothes?”

”No... that’s unnecessary, just close your eyes...”

Dazzling magic radiance began to shimmer.

With her eyes closed, Hayate slowly floated into the air, as one by one magic circles expanded, starting to detect and scan her condition.

”Hmm... I see.”

Looking at the information transmitted from the personal terminal, Fang Zheng nodded, largely understanding why Hayate’s condition had deteriorated. According to Hegnam, the Book of Night Sky randomly seeks a host to bind to, initiating its operation upon doing so. However, the issue was that thus far, Hayate had not activated the Book of Night Sky like Nanoha and Fate had; technically, the Book remained in an inactive state.

Yet, due to the nature of the Book, it continuously absorbed Hayate’s magic power, leading to an imbalance. Typically, Magitech Mentors, after activating a Magitech Device, would have a Core of Psychokinesis to help in concentrating and directing magic power. But since Hayate lacked the Core’s guidance, her magic power accumulated, resulting in her leg condition... Hmm?

At this thought, Fang Zheng suddenly paused.

That symptom... He seemed to have seen it in someone else before...