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

Chapter 1526: Chapter 1524: Catching the Culprit Doesn’t Require Deduction at All

In the dead of night, the forest was enveloped in deathly silence.

After the hustle and bustle of the daytime, the forest seemed especially sinister at night, but for Fang Zheng, it was nothing much.

”To be honest, what’s the point?”

Fang Zheng walked through the forest with his hands on his head, looking at Haine, who was not far ahead.

”Are you still fixated on that secret technique? Why not just join our World Tree of a Thousand Realms instead?”

”I still need to give it a try, after all, Magicians are stubborn people.”

”Then why did you have to involve me?”

Fang Zheng was quite confused because, after discovering the Old Man’s corpse in the morning, Haine had approached both him and Hana. Fang Zheng had initially thought Haine had finally come around, but unexpectedly, he had asked them to take care of his sister, Rosalind.

That would have been fine, since the little girl was obedient and sensible, and could watch Happy Sheep with great interest all day. But what Fang Zheng didn’t expect was that Haine approached him again at dusk, inviting him to pursue the legacy and the perpetrator together.

This made Fang Zheng a bit puzzled, but despite the confusion, he still decided to follow along.

”But didn’t you come along anyway?”

”Yeah, I’m here, but I’m looking to end this farce early. That guy Weber seems to want to play detective, but I have no interest in reasoning. The simplest and most direct way to catch the perpetrator is to catch them at the crime scene...”

Saying this, Fang Zheng clenched his small fist and waved it.

”This farce should end!”

Speaking, Fang Zheng looked at Haine.

”So what about you? Still not over that secret technique or whatever it’s called?”

”In fact, I’ve had an encounter with that beast once.”

”Oh, I heard about that.”

Fang Zheng wasn’t surprised by Haine’s words because he was the first person to discover Kayano Riri, the first victim, and according to Haine’s description at that time, he’d encountered some kind of beast while looking for the ’solution’ in the castle, and following the beast had led him to the hall where he found Kayano Riri’s body pierced on the Angel.

”I wasn’t satisfied with not being able to determine a victor at that time, so I’ve come to find it for another challenge.”

”And what does that have to do with me?”

”I want you to be a witness.”

Haine smiled slightly at Miss Red Ponytail, and his handsome smile would certainly cause a genuine young girl to scream---However, Fang Zheng naturally had no reaction.

”Alright, alright, I don’t care. Maybe by hanging around with you, I can find the perpetrator quicker; sorting this out early and getting home sooner would be nice too.”

As they chatted, they reached a clearing at the forest’s edge; there was a pedestal which should have held a statue, but it was empty. Nonetheless, it was obvious what was supposed to be placed there should have been an Angel.

”The Angel transforms into a beast, gazes toward the west skies, and devours the Sun.”

Seeing the inscription on the pedestal, Haine took out his invitation to glance at it, then murmured softly. Afterward, he scrutinized the pedestal and reached out his hand.

”Rumble...”

Accompanied by a faint humming sound, the pedestal slowly moved backward, revealing a pitch-black tunnel in front of the two.

”Impressive.”

Witnessing this scene, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but whistle.

”You’re better than that guy.”

”It’s just finding a bit of a clue.”

Saying this, Haine walked into the tunnel, with Fang Zheng close behind.

After entering the tunnel, Fang Zheng saw Haine standing there, and then he closed his eyes, murmuring a soft phrase.

”Flow.”

In the next moment, Haine’s body was suddenly enveloped by Knight Armor, and simultaneously, a Long Spear appeared in his hand—this sight left Fang Zheng momentarily stunned.

”Hey, I say, are you serious?”

”Hmm? What?”

Haine turned his head, looking at Fang Zheng in surprise, seemingly not understanding her meaning.

”I mean, why choose a spear of all things... Don’t you know Lancers are historically unlucky?”

”...Sorry, I’m not quite sure what you mean?”

”I mean people who use spears are historically among the very unlucky ones.”

At this point, Fang Zheng casually added.

”And they also tend to die terribly.”

”...”

Upon hearing this, Haine didn’t know what to say for a moment, so he just coughed and continued ahead.

The silent sound of footsteps echoed in the passage, with the two moving one after the other through the tunnels without any Radiance, although it was no bother for Haine and Fang Zheng.

”------”

Sure enough, after a short time, they both stopped. Even without light, they could see something lurking in the darkness—the depth of darkness shrouded in even deeper darkness.

”Is this the beast you were talking about? It sure looks ugly.”

Fang Zheng squinted his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the creature before him, and gave his opinion. For Fang Zheng, who possessed Dark Vision, this monster wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight. It looked like a hybrid between a spider and a wolf, with fur matted in blood and mud. Meanwhile, Haine clenched his Long Spear, assuming a combat stance. He looked at the creature and whispered.

”We meet again.”

”Hoo—!!”

Without replying, the black creature lunged from the other side of the passage, raising its sharp claws to strike at Haine. Meanwhile, Haine, transformed into a Knight of the Spear (what an ominous name), lowered his center of gravity, and thrust the Long Spear fiercely toward the black creature.

However, contrary to Haine’s expectations, the creature did not attack him as he imagined. Instead, it swung its claws directly against his Long Spear, chipping the sharp spearhead.

”I see.”

Haine muttered to himself, then quickly wielded his spear. The Long Spear in his hand began to transform, and in the blink of an eye, it became a Longsword. Clearly, he realized the creature’s strategy, intending to disarm him before slowly torturing him.

Facing Haine’s counterattack, the creature once again leaped with inhuman speed, bouncing off the walls of the passage like a rubber ball, appearing behind Haine in an instant, and thrusting its claw toward his back.

However...

”I knew you would do that.”

As Haine spoke, the armor on the young man before him suddenly melted, transforming into chains that bound the creature tightly. At that moment, Haine swiftly turned around and raised his Longsword toward the creature.

”Now, let me see your true form.”

At that moment, the creature opened its mouth as if crying.

The next moment, a piercing scream filled the entire passage.

Simultaneously, Haine’s body suddenly trembled, and he collapsed weakly to the ground. The chains binding the creature reverted to their original form. In that instant, as the creature extended its right hand toward Haine’s chest, a small, fair hand suddenly appeared and grasped the creature’s claw.

”Hey, did you forget about me?”

Before the words were finished, Fang Zheng jumped up and punched the creature in the nose, sending it flying. It was only then that Fang Zheng turned around to look at Haine, who was lying unconscious on the ground.

”Hey, are you alright?”

She grabbed Haine and slapped his face repeatedly until he came to his senses.

”I... I understand now...”

”Understand what?”

”Why Kayano Riri and Old Man Orlok were so easily killed by this creature...”

Feeling the weakness in his body, Haine gasped and spoke. In fact, ever since the incident began, Haine had harbored doubts deep in his heart. Kayano Riri was the representative of the Arcane Formation Department, and Orlok was a veteran of Butterfly Magic. Their skill in magecraft was extraordinary. Even if their enemy was formidable, it was unlikely they couldn’t escape.

Moreover, from the previous battle, it seemed the opponent was just a beast.

But now, Haine finally understood why Kayano Riri and Orlok met their end at the hands of the beast.

Its scream could affect Magic Crests.

In fact, at the moment the scream was heard, Haine’s Magic Crest immediately lost effectiveness.

The stronger the magician, the deeper the connection with the Magic Crest. Therefore, if a problem arises, it’s more likely to cause trouble. Haine was no exception, and neither were Kayano Riri and Orlok. Even though they were powerful magicians, once their Magic Crests were completely disabled, they were like robots without power, at the mercy of others.

Fortunately, not everyone was affected.

”Are you okay?”

”You make it sound like I should be affected.”

Grabbing Haine by the collar, Fang Zheng darted toward the depths of the passage, relentlessly pursuing the beast.

”I’m different from you fragile magicians. Magic Crests? I wouldn’t take them even if you begged me! Hold still!”

At that moment, Miss Red Ponytail suddenly halted, and Haine witnessed her wiping her right hand against her hair accessory. A flaming crimson Greatsword materialized out of thin air, and Miss Red Ponytail swung it fiercely at the fleeing creature!

”Boom boom boom!!!”

Scorching heat mixed with violent explosions almost turned the entire ground upside-down, and the creature let out a wail as it disappeared into the swirling dust.

”Tch!”

Fang Zheng, holding Haine, leapt from the collapsing tunnel, looked around, but unfortunately, the creature seemingly vanished without a trace. She snorted lightly before tossing Haine to the ground.

”What happened?”

”What’s going on?”

By now, having heard the commotion, Lord El-Melloi II, Gray, Luvia, and others rushed over, and were taken aback by the scene before them.

”We just encountered the likely culprit behind the murders of Kayano Riri and Mr. Orlok...”

Haine, finally composing himself, spoke while gasping for breath and getting up from the ground.

”I almost got killed. Fortunately, Miss Red Ponytail saved me...”

”What exactly happened?”

Hearing this, Luvia was clearly losing her patience, but just as Haine was about to explain, suddenly... a flash appeared in the distance.

”Boom!!!”

The next moment, under everyone’s gaze, the window on the second floor explosively shattered.

And that was precisely Fang Zheng and Hana’s room.