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

”Ooh...”

Kanzaki Kaori slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was a cold, monotonous room devoid of anything.

What exactly happened?

Kanzaki Kaori shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Yes, she came to Academy City to retrieve the Forbidden Index. Upon discovering the Forbidden Index, she launched an attack, and was stopped by a short-haired girl. The two sides fought intensely but couldn’t determine a winner, and then...

On the cold cement floor, traces of battle were everywhere.

”Although I don’t know which faction of mage you belong to, this is as far as you go.”

Kanzaki Kaori coldly looked at Rem standing opposite her, her blade unwavering. The opponent’s magic was very peculiar, unlike any magic Kanzaki Kaori had seen before. It didn’t seem to be a spell generated by some belief or characteristic, more like an entity with some unique mechanism.

But anyway, since the opponent is a mage, it implies the involvement of a magic society, which means she must quickly retrieve the Forbidden Index to prevent its misuse!

Thinking this, Kanzaki Kaori tightened her grip on the sword handle, and at that moment...

”Yo, aren’t we done fighting yet?”

Suddenly, a leisurely voice rang out. Upon hearing it, Rem quickly lowered her hands, then respectfully stood aside.

”Lord Fang Zheng, I deeply apologize.”

”No need to apologize. Yeah... I know you can deal with her, but... well, it’s best to save some magic power.”

”Yes.”

At this moment, Kanzaki Kaori saw a man quietly appear beside the short-haired girl. He reached out to touch her head, then turned to look at Kanzaki Kaori.

”Now, let’s end this farce. I’m waiting for my supper.”

I’m going to die———!

In the instant she was gazed at by the man, Kanzaki Kaori suddenly felt an absolute fear. Just from the mere exchange of glances, she could sense that it was the moment right before death!

”Seven Blades of Seven Days————!”

At that moment, Kanzaki Kaori unleashed all her power, not to win, but to survive!

However...

”Thud!”

Kanzaki Kaori didn’t even see how the man did it. She only knew that he was suddenly in front of her, and then... she lost consciousness.

”...So, was I captured?”

Kanzaki Kaori shook her head, then barely stood up. It was only then that she realized she couldn’t use her Saint’s power at all!

What’s going on?

At that moment, she discovered a golden bracelet on her wrist, one she didn’t know when it was put on. It seemed so fragile—normally, she could break it with a single finger—but now it was so sturdy, she tried several times but couldn’t take it off.

”Ugh... uh...”

At this moment, another voice sounded. Kanzaki Kaori turned her head and saw a tall, red-haired man lying not far from her, covered in scars even worse than her own.

”Stiyl!”

Kanzaki Kaori called her companion’s name as she rushed to his side. Hearing the call, Stiyl barely opened his eyes. He blinked several times before looking at Kanzaki Kaori with a bitter smile.

”Sorry, it seems I’ve failed...”

”No, I did too.”

Seeing Stiyl heavily injured, Kanzaki Kaori lowered her head in defeat.

”In fact, we seem to have been captured.”

”What?!”

Upon hearing this, Stiyl widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at Kanzaki Kaori. He couldn’t imagine that she would say such a thing. The woman before him wasn’t an ordinary person but one of the less than twenty Saints in the world, with power unmatched even among the mages in London! Yet here she was, captured?

”The opponent’s strength is beyond what we imagined. I had no chance to retaliate...”

What Kanzaki Kaori said was true. If it was the short-haired girl, she was confident she could fight back. But when faced with the man who appeared later...—that fear felt like a mouse seeing a cat. She instinctively knew this opponent was unconquerable.

”Squeak———”

As the two looked at each other in silence, the tightly closed door suddenly opened, and Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl nervously raised their heads, looking towards the entrance. There stood Rem and Rem, coldly staring at them.

”Sister dear, sister dear, the captives seem to have woken up.”

”Rem, Rem, it looks like we can take them to see Lord Fang Zheng.”

The two seemed to be conversing with themselves, then Rem looked at Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl.

”Come with us. Lord Fang Zheng wants to see you.”

”...”

The two exchanged glances, then reluctantly stood up, following Rem and Rem out of the room.

They had no other choice now.

Following the two maids, Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl arrived in another room, which compared to the previous one that looked like a warehouse, appeared more like a living space. In front of them, Fang Zheng playfully holding a kitten while yawning, and Saten Reiko sat beside him—her injuries had been completely healed by one of Fang Zheng’s Healing Techniques, unlike the pitiable state of Stiyl.

After bringing them in, Rem and Rem stood behind Fang Zheng, who continued to tease the kitten in his lap, then raised his head to glance at the two.

”Alive, huh, not dead?”

”...”

They didn’t know how to respond to that.

”Alright, sit down. I’m sparing you on account of you being members of the English Puritanism. If you were from the Vatican, I would have sent you to the crematorium ages ago.”

Fang Zheng scoffed coldly as he spoke.

Fang Zheng wasn’t wrong. He spared Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl not because they were important NPCs, but simply because they were members of the English Puritanism. Fang Zheng himself, in Alucard’s world, had worked for the Hellsing organization, which was also part of the English Puritanism, so he felt some camaraderie, thus sparing their lives.

If they were the idiots from the Vatican, he’d scatter their ashes in no time.

However, upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Ruiko jumped up in surprise.

”Eh? Mr. Fang Zheng? They’re from the English Puritanism? Isn’t Index also part of that? Why are they chasing her?”

”...Because she doesn’t remember us anymore.”

It wasn’t Fang Zheng who answered but Kanzaki Kaori, who lowered her head, clenching her hands tightly.

”Index lost her memory from a year ago. She completely forgot about us... In fact, we are not only her kin but also her friends... But she doesn’t remember us or the real reason she’s being chased. So, she can only rely on her own knowledge to judge, and believes we are magicians wanting to seize the ten thousand three hundred Magitech Tomes, thus fleeing from us.”

”But why do you chase her?”

Faced with this answer, Ruiko was at a loss for words.

”Since you’re friends, can’t you just reveal your identity and leave together with her? Why do you have to pursue that child in this way?”

Upon hearing Ruiko’s inquiry, Kanzaki Kaori seemed anxious as well. She bowed her head and answered softly.

”... Do you know about the complete memory ability?”

”Yeah, I know...”

Of course, Ruiko knew about it. She used to envy Index’s ability to remember everything at a glance.

”In fact, Index hasn’t lost her memory; I erased it.”

”... Eh?”

Upon hearing this answer, Ruiko was utterly stunned, while Fang Zheng merely extended his hand to tease the kitten nestled in his arms.

The kitten reached out its paw, playfully swatting Fang Zheng’s fingers and trying to nibble on them.

Aww, little kitten, you are just too cute!

”Why, why did you do this? Aren’t you her friend?”

”Because if I don’t do it, she’ll die.”

”...”

”I’ve explained before; 85% of her brain capacity is used to remember those 103,000 Magitech Tomes. She can only use 15% like a normal person, and if she continues to remember things as regular people do, then her brain will become saturated, threatening her life. Now it’s only three days until the next memory erasure, and that child is already experiencing intense headaches; that’s the sign.”

”How could this be...”

Upon hearing this, Ruiko, who had excitedly stood up from her chair, collapsed back into it, dazed and disoriented.

Fang Zheng yawned and picked the kitten up again.

The kitten stretched its paws, kneading on Fang Zheng’s chest.

Aww, little kitten, how can you be this cute! Let’s cuddle!

”By the way! Mr. Fang Zheng!”

Now Ruiko hurriedly came to her senses and looked towards Fang Zheng.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, is what she said true?”

”...”

Fang Zheng didn’t speak; he merely picked up a book from beside him and tossed it to Ruiko.

”What’s this...? Cognition Neuroscience?”

”Memorize it by tonight; I’ll quiz you tomorrow.”

Fang Zheng glanced at Ruiko.

”It would be one thing if all mages were illiterate, but are you illiterate too? Go back and study.”

”Eh? Wait! Mr. Fang Zheng! Don’t... hmm? Are you saying... they got it wrong?”

”Nonsense.”

Fang Zheng yawned.

”There are plenty of people with eidetic memory in this world, not to mention that 103,000 books, even if they aren’t Magitech Tomes, over decades, one person would read about that many. According to what they said, then more than one or two people would have died... Eidetic memory is just a rare talent, not some unique Savior attribute that only one person in the world can have.”

”But, they just mentioned that Index has been having headaches lately... Index truly exhibits those symptoms!”

”Ugh...”

Facing Ruiko’s rebuttal, Fang Zheng yawned.

”Ruiko, have you read Martial Hero novels before?”

”Martial Hero... novels?”

”Here’s the deal: I’ll tell you a story. There is a powerful Martial Artist named Celestial Maiden, the master of the Misty Peak of Heavenly Mountain’s Spirit Vulture Palace, ruling over thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands—simplify it as her having command over numerous gangland bosses. With so many people, there must be some who would rebel, right? Do you know how Celestial Maiden prevented betrayal?”

”How?”

”Celestial Maiden makes them ingest a poison called ’Life and Death Talisman.’ This poison causes intense pain during an outbreak, making living unbearable, and the only relief is obtaining the antidote annually at Spirit Vulture Palace. Because of this, the gang bosses were absolutely loyal, fearing rebellion. If they betrayed her, they’d lose access to the antidote and have no choice but to die.”

”Oh... So that’s how it is...”

Ruiko nodded, then suddenly realized.

”Wait, Mr. Fang Zheng, are you saying that to prevent Index’s betrayal, English Puritanism poisoned her?!”

”Pretty much, it’s essentially like a collar for a dog.”

”But, but Index herself seems unaware...”

”Of course, she can’t know. Think about it, her mind contains 103,000 Magitech Tomes; there could easily be a solution to break the control in any one of them. What if Index knew and figured out a way to undo it herself? So...”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng gestured dismissively at Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori.

”They deceive these illiterates? All the mages are illiterate; tell them that 4G signals can fry people’s brains, and they’d believe it. This kind of talk, they’d swallow without a second thought.”

”You...!!” Upon hearing this, Stiyl angrily stood up, but Fang Zheng merely glanced at him.

”Shut up, I don’t want to converse with illiterates. Talking to you is an insult to my intelligence, like those idiots who believe urban legends shared on social media and dismantle neighborhood base stations. Idiocy is contagious, so keep your distance. Shoo, shoo.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng disdainfully waved his hand.

”You...”

Stiyl clearly wasn’t finished, but before he could say anything, a metal ball whizzed past his cheek.

”Don’t be disrespectful to Lord Fang Zheng.”

”...”

Seeing Rem nearby, Stiyl hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat back down quietly.

After all, his life was at stake.

Ruiko, however, didn’t care about these minor matters. Instead, she kept her eyes on Fang Zheng.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, can you help Index?”

”Of course.”

Faced with Ruiko’s request, Fang Zheng shrugged.

”It’s a piece of cake.”