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

Chapter 124: Chapter 123 Certain and Uncertain Mirai

The next day, when Fang Zheng returned to the school, he received an invitation from Furutega Rika.

“Mr. Fang Zheng, please wait after school today. I have some matters to discuss with you.”

“Understood.”

After hearing Furutega Rika’s reply, Fang Zheng nodded. In fact, even if Rika hadn’t mentioned it, Fang Zheng had already guessed what she wanted to do.

Soon, another day passed, and as dusk fell, Fang Zheng once again arrived in the classroom. There, the other members of the College Life Division were already waiting. Seeing Fang Zheng appear, they couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

“Teacher?”

“Were you also called here by Rika?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Mion’s question, Fang Zheng nodded, then he looked around at everyone.

“And you guys?”

“Yes.”

Maehara Keiichi nodded, then showed a puzzled face.

“I don’t know why, but Rika told me to stay behind after school, saying there was something very important to talk about.”

“Me too… she also asked me to bring Shion…”

Mion was just as baffled, and sitting beside her, Shion was even more at a loss.

Although the protagonists were all bewildered, Fang Zheng didn’t explain anything to them. He had a vague idea that Rika had gathered them there to lay her cards on the table, but Fang Zheng had an unsettling premonition — as a Prophet Mage, his talent in this area was high. Perhaps it was because Fang Zheng always had a strong sixth sense that after becoming a Prophet Mage, he could often sense if something was good or bad before it happened.

And now, what Rika was about to do made Fang Zheng feel unsettled, as if… there were some issues.

“Click.”

Just then, the classroom door opened again, and Rika and Satoko appeared in front of everyone. Seeing everyone gathered, a smile appeared on Rika’s cute little face.

“Meep! It looks like everyone is here.”

“Rika, what is it that you called us here for?”

Seeing the person in charge appear, everyone became curious, and Rika, facing the gaze of the crowd, walked over with Satoko, glancing at them all.

“Actually… I have something very important to tell you all.”

“Something very important?”

“Yes.”

Hearing Keiichi’s retort, Rika nodded.

“It’s about Hinamizawa…”

After that, Rika began to disclose everything she knew, including that the “Hinamizawa Syndrome” was caused by a parasitic virus, and the true facts behind the deaths attributed to the curse. She also revealed the true purpose of the Irie Research Institute which was to study and treat the disease, and that they had a contingency plan to destroy the entire village should the Queen Infector perish.

After listening to Rika’s narrative, everyone wore expressions of disbelief, clearly overwhelmed by the extraordinary nature of Rika’s revelations.

“Is this true, Rika?”

After a long while, Mion hesitantly began to inquire.

“Why hasn’t the Sonozaki family received any news about this?”

“Such matters are confidential, the Sonozaki family wouldn’t be privy to them.”

Rika shook her head, not knowing much herself. Meanwhile, Shion furrowed her brow, appearing contemplative.

However, not everyone was ready to believe what Rika was claiming.

“But… Rika, can that… parasite really do such things?”

Keiichi looked at the girl in front of him with total confusion.

“It sounds more like some horror story.”

“I am serious!”

Hearing Keiichi’s question, Rika became agitated and slammed her hand on the table. She couldn’t believe that after she had finally braced herself to explain everything, they… didn’t believe her!?

“But…”

Faced with Rika’s reaction, everyone seemed confused. That was understandable since they were all ordinary young men and women who had led peaceful lives up to that point. To suddenly discuss a parasite-related disease named “Hinamizawa Syndrome” and to consider that they might all be infected was indeed quite unfathomable.

“Let’s call it a day.”

Seeing the situation was not looking good, Fang Zheng quickly stood up.

“What Rika has shared is certainly unexpected, but I believe she wouldn’t lie just to scare us, and April Fool’s Day has long passed. Anyway, since everything that needed to be said has been said, everybody should go back and rest, and think things over. If there’s anything else, we can talk about it tomorrow. Also…”

At this point, Fang Zheng paused, looking at everyone.

“……I think you all know this matter is of great importance, but whether what Rika says is true or not, I hope none of you will speak of this to others, understood?”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the crowd’s expressions varied, yet they all nodded. As he looked at the odd atmosphere before him, Fang Zheng didn’t know what else to say, so he simply clapped his hands.

“Alright, it’s time to go home now, everyone.”

Following Fang Zheng’s order, everyone left the classroom—even Furutega Rika now seemed very downcast and despondent. Fang Zheng could understand her reaction, though. In fact, even he had thought that once Rika revealed the matter, everyone would be able to accept it.

But now, thinking it over, Fang Zheng realized. An anime episode is only thirty minutes long—there isn’t enough time to perform it all for the audience, so in the anime, everyone believes Rika right away. But reality… after all, isn’t an anime.

“Ah……”

Returning to his room and looking out the window, Fang Zheng extended his hand to press on his forehead. A faint sting sent a wave of discomfort through him.

Here it comes again… Never mind, time to rest.

Thinking this, Fang Zheng closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, the others who had left the school were also experiencing a variety of reactions. Rika, claiming to feel unwell, left early with Satoko. The rest of the group didn’t know quite how to respond.

“What Rika said… Is it true?”

Keiichi frowned, mulling over this question while muttering to himself.

“Little Gui, you don’t believe her?”

Hearing Keiichi’s murmur, Mion glanced at the youth beside her.

“To be honest, I don’t really believe it either. Although ‘curses’ and such are just legends, the idea that it’s some parasitic disease… it’s just too bizarre.”

“I, on the other hand, believe Rika.”

However, as soon as Mion finished speaking, Rena voiced a differing opinion.

“Although I find what Rika said somewhat unbelievable, I always feel like I can trust what she says is true. I don’t know why, but I have this sensation that I really have felt something before……”

“Same here.”

Unexpectedly, the second to agree with Rena was Shion.

“Honestly, I had a really strange dream a few days ago… It felt really awful, but for some reason, I feel like that dream is deeply connected to what Rika said……”

“A dream?”

“Just a dream, yep.”

Seeing the curious expressions on the others’ faces, Mion smiled sheepishly.

“This Shion here, said she killed me and Satoko and even seriously apologized to us. Truth be told, I think she took it a bit too seriously.”

“Seriously, I was really troubled by that.”

Hearing Mion spill the beans, Shion’s face flushed.

“Because that dream was so eerie, I didn’t just kill you, but also Satoko and Ghost Granny, and even your nails…”

“Ah, stop! It hurt just to think about it when you said it before!”

“But… if what Rika said is true, shouldn’t we verify it?”

Just then, as if struck by a brilliant idea, Keiichi suddenly clapped his hands.

“Didn’t Rika mention that the Irie Clinic is a research institute? Then we might as well go check it out. If we really find out it’s a research institute, doesn’t that prove that what Rika said is true?”

“Wait, wait a minute, Keiichi!”

Seeing Keiichi ready to take action, Rena quickly reached out to grab him.

“Did you forget what the teacher said? If what Rika says is true, wouldn’t you be alerting them to our awareness?”

“But… we need evidence!”

“……So you’re saying you don’t plan to follow the teacher’s instructions?”

A chilling voice whispered past everyone, with Rena staring down at the ground, as if she hadn’t been the one to speak at all.

And perhaps sensing something, Maehara Keiichi took a step back.

“I—I didn’t say that, but…”

“You heard what the teacher said, Keiichi.”

Rena lifted her head, her eyes seemingly unfocused as they bore into the boy before her.

“Don’t tell others, and don’t do anything you shouldn’t. Whether we believe Rika or not, you know it best, Keiichi. So why bother with these pointless actions? Why?”

“The teacher didn’t say we shouldn’t do it! And Rika made it so clear… Forget it! If you guys don’t go, I’ll go by myself just the same!”

Having said that, Keiichi didn’t hesitate to turn around and leave. Watching Maehara Keiichi’s departure, the others seemed to lose their focal point and eventually dispersed. Only Rena stared in the direction Keiichi had gone, silent for a moment before following him like a ghost.

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