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

”On the brink of destruction?”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s words, everyone was dumbfounded.

”What does this mean? Is there a world war?”

”No, strictly speaking, you can think of it as a combination of a cult and a virus. Simply put, there’s someone called ’Ultimate Despair’ who wants to destroy this world, so she spread despair, plunging the world into chaos and collapse, and her minions, the Black and White Bears, are rampaging everywhere, turning all areas into Hell.”

”Wait, doesn’t the country care about this? What about the army, the army, why aren’t they coming to help?”

Hearing this, Asahina hurriedly spoke up, and Fang Zheng shrugged.

”The army is also made up of people, and people are susceptible to emotional infection, I mentioned this before, it’s a kind of spiritual brainwashing similar to a cult, so neither the army, the police nor other organizations are functional anymore.”

”How could this be...”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s words, everyone showed shocked expressions. However, Fang Zheng directly continued, since he had already started spoiling them, he might as well spoil everything!

Spoiling feels good for a moment, spoiling continuously feels even better!

”And do you still remember what the Black and White Bear said during the entrance ceremony? You were brought to this school as the hope of this world. This is indeed true. Originally, this school was used as a refuge. I think you have also seen those steel plates blocking the windows, the completely sealed doors, from the inside it does look like a prison, but at the same time, it has the function of a refuge. The original purpose of building this refuge was to protect the last bit of hope from the despair ravaging the world.”

”Wait, wait a minute!”

Hearing this, Makoto Naegi hurriedly opened his mouth again.

”But, but why don’t we have any memory of this? Shouldn’t such things be told to us first?”

”You know, and you came here on a voluntary basis.”

”......Eh?!!”

This time, everyone was truly stunned.

”Wait, this......”

”From my observation, your memories seem to remain at the moment when you first entered the Academy of Hope Peak, but in fact, you have already spent two years at the Academy, and personally experienced the despairs, and finally decided to enter the refuge.”

Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”Don’t you find it strange? Your memory should have stayed the moment before the start of your freshman year, and then you woke up to find yourself in some corner of the school, what about the process in between? The fact is, you had actually entered the refuge, but because the mastermind broke through the refuge’s defenses and took control here, and then released some kind of gas to erase your memories, resulting in this situation.”

”I see...”

Facing Fang Zheng’s words, the Ultimate Gambler, Celestia squinted her eyes, showing a pondering expression.

”But what’s the point of the mastermind doing this? Assuming everything you say is correct, since the mastermind had broken through here, they could have killed us completely, why use such a troublesome method?”

”It’s simple, she needs you to cooperate with a performance.”

”......A performance?”

”That’s right, a play called the last hope of humanity killing each other.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng pointed to the camera behind him.

”You’ve seen those ubiquitous cameras, right? Their purpose is not for security, but for shooting. The scenes here will be filmed, recorded, and then broadcast to every corner of the world. To let those who are still resisting despair see how their hope kills each other, turning into despair, what better persuading drama is there than this?”

”Wait, that means that people outside will know our situation, won’t they come to rescue us?”

”I said, this building is a refuge, and since it’s a refuge, it has complete security facilities, with the current situation outside, they won’t be able to muster any force strong enough to break through the refuge, and coming here will only result in needless death, of course, this is also part of the mastermind’s plan.”

At this point, Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”You see, first tell the whole world that your seeds of hope are already under the control of despair, and then let them see you kill each other and despair, and if these people come to save you, then they can live broadcast another wave of slaughter of the rescuers, flipping hands is earning waves of benefits, isn’t it?”

”How could it be...... Then, then what about our families?”

”Regarding your families, I don’t know much, I’ll only tell you what I know.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng looked at everyone, noticing his gaze, everyone gulped.

”First, Makoto Naegi, your sister is still alive, as for your parents, I have no information about them.”

”Is, that so......”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Makoto Naegi showed a look of either relief or worry.

”Then there’s Fujisaki, your father is still around, as for others, I am also not sure. And Kanburu Yein, your mother is alive, Asahina, your brother is also still there.”

Fang Zheng pointed out several people in succession, these were characters he remembered from ’Absolute Despair Girl,’ and logically, they shouldn’t be in trouble.

Finally......

”Kirigiri.”

Fang Zheng looked towards Kirigiri, and seemingly sensing something in his tone, Kirigiri Kyoko instinctively tensed up.

”Regarding your father, I’m very sorry.”

”............”

”According to the plan, originally your father — Jin Kirigiri, was to serve as the principal, but now the principal is Black and White Bear, I think...... you should understand what I mean.”

”......Is that so......”

At this point, Kirigiri Kyoko fell silent for a moment, then lowered her head.

”Thank you.”

”You’re welcome.”

Fang Zheng nodded to Kirigiri Kyoko, then looked at Togami Byakuya.

”I think you might have already guessed, but I’ll tell you anyway, the Togami Family is finished, that’s all I have to say.”

”...........”

Togami Byakuya just frowned and didn’t say much, while the expressions of others were somewhat complicated. As for Makoto Naegi and the others, they were somewhat relieved, knowing that they still had surviving family members, even if the situation of themselves and their other family members remained unknown, it was still good news.

For others without news, even though they felt uneasy, seeing the despondent Kirigiri Kyoko and the silent Togami Byakuya, they felt a bit fortunate; at least their family still had the ”possibility” of being alive, since Fang Zheng was only ”not clear,” and had not explicitly declared death like the two of them......

In fact, Fang Zheng initially wanted to use ’Ratziel’ to investigate the status of all members’ families, but this world was too severely corrupted by Chaos, resulting in ’Ratziel’ displaying nothing but garbled text, impossible to decipher.

”So, is there anything else you want to ask?”

”Of course there is.”

At this moment, Togami Byakuya spoke again, staring at Fang Zheng with an inquisitive look.

”What you said is really unbelievable. Maybe the Black and White Bear indeed harbors ill intentions, but do you have any evidence to prove what you’re saying is true?”

”As for evidence, you’ll see it once you leave this place. As for witnesses, I do have one.”

While saying this, Fang Zheng reached out his hand and pointed at Toko Fukawa.

”Eh? M-me?”

Startled by the gaze of everyone, Toko Fukawa jumped in surprise.

”I’m not... I’m just like you guys; I don’t remember anything!”

”That’s right, ’you’ don’t remember anything. But I’m referring to the other you. Let her out.”

”How do you know...?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the Ultimate Literary Girl Toko Fukawa’s expression changed, but then she seemed to realize something and lowered her head in resignation.

”I... I understand... I’ll let her out now; there’s no hiding it anymore...”

With that said, Toko Fukawa picked up her ponytail and gently waved the tip in front of her nose, sneezing afterward.

”Ahchoo!”

”Hahahahahahaha!!!”

The next moment, accompanied by manic laughter, the previously neurotic Toko Fukawa returned.

”W-what on earth is...?”

”Toko Fukawa suffers from a personality disorder. She is the second persona of Toko Fukawa, the Ultimate Maniac—Genocider Syo. These two do not share memory, so even if someone wiped two years of Toko Fukawa’s memory, it doesn’t mean they can erase Genocider Syo’s. If you have any questions, you can ask her. Of course, how many clues you can extract from this maniac depends on yourselves.”

”Uh...”

Looking at Genocider Syo wielding two scissors with a snap, everyone was reluctant to approach, especially considering the reports and records about Genocider Syo... she is a serial killer, after all!

”I have another question.”

At this time, Kirigiri Kyoko seemed to have adjusted her mindset and once again turned to Fang Zheng.

”You must know who the mastermind is, right? You mentioned ’her’ from the start, which means you know who the root of all this is?”

”Of course.”

Naturally, Fang Zheng wouldn’t resist such a question.

Kidding aside, the joy of spoilers is pointing out the culprit directly.

”All of this was caused by the one known as Ultimate Despair—Enoshima Junko.”

”...Eh?”

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, hurriedly turning to look at Enoshima Junko, who was frozen in place under their scrutiny.

”Wait, how can I be...? You must be mistaken.”

”No, I’m not mistaken.”

Fang Zheng shook his head.

”The one plunging this world into the Abyss of despair is Enoshima Junko, but you...”

While saying this, Fang Zheng reached out a hand and pointed at the girl in front.

”You are not Enoshima Junko!”

”Whoosh—!!”

Just as Fang Zheng finished speaking, Enoshima Junko suddenly lowered her stance like a leopard and pounced forward, leaping high with a military dagger in hand, thrusting it forcefully at Fang Zheng. Witnessing this, many screamed, while Fang Zheng maintained his hands in his pockets, coldly staring at the girl.

The sharp blade halted before Fang Zheng’s face, unable to pierce further. Because at this moment, the Lock of Heaven emerging from Fang Zheng’s surroundings had firmly bound the girl’s body tightly.

”She... She’s not Enoshima Junko?”

”That’s right.”

Fang Zheng reached out, grasped the girl’s hair, and yanked, revealing a short haircut as the wig fell away.

”She’s Blade Wraith, sister to Enoshima Junko, assisting in this plan. Enoshima Junko hides in the shadows while she disguised as Enoshima Junko in the open.”

”Wait, then why doesn’t she just show up?”

At this point, Makoto Naegi noticed another gap, but Fang Zheng simply shrugged.

”Quite simple, you might suspect a nonexistent person, but you wouldn’t doubt someone who’s considered dead, understand?”

”So you mean...”

At this moment, Kirigiri Kyoko seemed to realize something.

”Enoshima Junko had Blade Wraith disguise herself so that she could kill her, making us believe she’s dead and hence eliminating suspicions altogether?”

”Exactly.”

Fang Zheng reached out, patting Blade Wraith’s pale face. Blade Wraith herself seemed mortified—perhaps she hadn’t considered this possibility. But hearing Fang Zheng’s explanation... it seemed plausible?

”Seems like this sister isn’t too bright, couldn’t imagine this possibility? Well, it doesn’t matter, but one final piece of advice for all of you.”

Fang Zheng turned his gaze back to the crowd before him.

”What we need to do next is leave this place. Although initially used as a refuge, it’s worthless now that Enoshima Junko has penetrated it. We must find a way to escape together. Admittedly, this might take time, but there’s an easier method—cooperate with the Black and White Bear, kill one of us, and according to the rules, if undiscovered, we can graduate and leave...”

With that said, Fang Zheng’s lips curled into a cold smile. Witnessing Fang Zheng’s smiling visage, everyone couldn’t help but swallow anxiously, expressing unease.

”If you really want to try, go ahead; maybe I won’t find out.”

Indeed, spoiling is enjoyable at its best, continuously delighting without pause!