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

Chapter 904: Chapter 903: It Must Be Because I’m Handsome

In the Dark Moon Sword, the status of Ester and Restia is actually quite peculiar.

According to the seniority ranking system familiar to the girls, commonly used by the Japanese, Fang Zheng is the founder of the Dark Moon Sword, while Ester and Restia are considered seasoned leaders at Level One. In this hierarchy, if Fang Zheng is not present, usually either Ester or Restia would be responsible for handling his affairs.

However, this is not the case. These two are like silent protagonists, always quietly doing their own things. When Fang Zheng is around, they fight alongside him. When he’s not, they mostly stay in their rooms, and occasionally, everyone might see Ester and Restia going out to fight, but that’s about it.

As for the guild’s affairs, the two of them do not get involved at all, leaving it entirely to others as handed over by Fang Zheng.

Strictly speaking, Fang Zheng does things differently from the Japanese. Almost everything in Japan, be it community groups, work, or school, follows a seniority model. It’s similar to the way state-owned enterprises operated in the early days of liberation in China: the older you are and the earlier you join, the more you are considered a senior and qualified to give opinions, whereas newcomers should just comply unless they encounter a discerning boss or they rise up the ranks. Only then can they start making decisions.

But Fang Zheng clearly doesn’t care about this. He simply lets whoever is capable take the lead. If Asuna likes leveling up, she’ll lead the leveling-up team. Eiriri, though cunning, can keep an eye on guild members’ dynamics if she’s idle. When it comes time to level up in a dungeon instance, Asuna or even Aoba can lead the team.

For Fang Zheng, this is utilizing talent, but for these girls, it is quite the headache.

The biggest problem is how they should interact with Ester and Restia.

This left them in a dilemma. After all, these two are ”senior members” of the guild, while they are just ”juniors.” Wouldn’t ordering the seniors to do things be inappropriate? But if they didn’t ask them for help, might they be seen as disrespecting the ”senior members” if the two found out...

Of course, Fang Zheng was unaware of these girls’ complex thoughts, and he couldn’t be bothered, just instructing them to clear the dungeon instance and then leave with Yuna and Black Cat.

After much discussion, the girls finally mustered the courage to ”invite” the two to join them in the dungeon instance. Unexpectedly, both of them picked up their weapons and followed without a word.

However, during combat, they spoke very little, which matched everyone’s impression of them. When Fang Zheng led the team, they quietly followed behind him like his shadow during breaks as well.

Actually, Asuna and the others were curious about the two’s identities, but despite discussing it privately a few times, they had no conclusions and were too shy to ask directly. Mimel, a newcomer not long after joining the guild, was careless enough to bring up this question, and while others kept silent on the surface, they were all secretly paying attention.

Even Asuna, who originally intended to urge everyone to quickly attack the boss, closed her mouth now, looking curiously at the two.

Under everyone’s gaze, Ester quickly provided an answer.

”We belong to the Master.”

”Uh......”

Faced with Ester’s answer, everyone was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. Ester’s answer seemed so natural, as if it were as obvious as needing to eat when hungry...

But... why... ”things”?

For a moment, the atmosphere grew awkward. Aoba looked around, then clapped her hands.

”Ah, is it that... you two are Fang Zheng’s... maids?”

”Our relationship with the Master is not that simple, you know?”

Restia then laughed and spoke, in contrast to the taciturn Ester, Restia was noticeably more ”playful.”

”We and the Master are united in mind and body, inseparable in soul and form.”

”Eh...eh eh eh?!!”

Hearing Restia’s response, not just Aoba but several other girls exclaimed, and Eiriri’s eyes sparkled.

”Are both of you... Fang Zheng’s girlfriends?”

”The Master does have a few girlfriends, but we’re different from them.”

In this regard, both Restia and Ester were quite adamant. To them, girls like Kurumi and Atalanta might just be Fang Zheng’s ”companions,” but they were Sword Sprites—Fang Zheng’s weapons.

As the saying goes, companions are like clothes, but weapons are like limbs; clothes can be changed, but limbs cannot be lost!

However, the other girls’ focus was obviously elsewhere.

”Does Fang Zheng really have a girlfriend?”

”It would be strange if he didn’t have a girlfriend...!”

Looking at the stunned girls, Eiriri couldn’t help but quip. How could someone as handsome, capable, and reliable as Fang Zheng be single? If he doesn’t have a girlfriend, then he must have a boyfriend, Eiriri thought. With Fang Zheng’s qualities, staying single would be too difficult...

”...... Haa......”

At this moment, Asuna couldn’t help but sigh. She didn’t know why, but when she heard that Fang Zheng had a girlfriend, her heart felt a tiny pinch, a slight discomfort. But why she felt uncomfortable, Asuna couldn’t quite articulate.

”Hmm......?”

However, Yuki frowned slightly.

”If Brother Fang Zheng has a girlfriend, she must be worried about his current situation.”

Faced with Yuki’s inquiry, Ester shook her head.

”No, they don’t know about the Master’s current situation.”

”Why not?”

”Because they are not in this world.”

”.........”

Hearing this, everyone suddenly fell silent, and even Gabriel, who had been complaining non-stop earlier, stopped talking. After a long while, Asuna softly spoke up.

”Prepare yourselves; it’s time to eliminate the boss.”

”Ah, yes... That’s right.”

Eiriri quickly nodded, then grabbed the dagger.

”I’ll scout ahead; you all follow.”

”Alright, alright...”

”......? ?”

Watching the hastily departing girls, Ester tilted her head in confusion, then looked at Restia.

”Did I say something wrong?”

”You didn’t say anything wrong.”

Watching the girls’ backs, Restia giggled.

”However, you did well, but don’t tell the Master... we’re giving him a surprise.”

”......?”

”Achoo!!”

Watching the battle ahead, Fang Zheng sneezed, rubbed his nose, and frowned.

”What’s wrong, Mr. Fang Zheng? Did you catch a cold?”

Yuna, walking beside Fang Zheng, looked at him curiously. After all, in the Game World, getting sick was impossible. What was going on...?

”No, my nose just suddenly itched, probably because someone’s talking about me behind my back.”

Fang Zheng casually replied, not taking it seriously. A man as handsome as he is would always be the subject of conversation. People less handsome, not as smart or strong, or not as popular, Fang Zheng was used to it. As they say, with capability comes toil—this is the side effect of being attractive.

”Their performance is good enough.”

Fang Zheng continued looking towards the battlefield ahead, nodding in approval. So far, he had stuck to his plan, moving like a shadow, saying nothing, and simply keeping to the back while observing the Dark Nebula and Red Knight Order’s battle. To Fang Zheng’s satisfaction, these two guilds were clearly prepared, strictly following the Survival Manual’s guidelines.

Whether it was the rank of battle members, combat methods, or switch timings, these people performed proficiently, with nothing in particular to criticize.

”Move forward, everyone, keep it up; the boss is just ahead!”

After taking down the last wave of futile creatures, Ang couldn’t contain his excitement. Although the Dark Nebula and Red Knight Order had navigated many side-dungeon instances on other floors, it was their first time facing a boss. If they could defeat this lead boss, it would mean they could master their destiny!

Once they recovered, the leading player pushed open the lead boss’s doors, and the next moment, everyone saw the figure of the floor’s fifth boss.

Yet, the scene in front of them left many players in a daze.

Though they had not faced a lead boss before, they had fought other bosses, who generally came with a few minions. But now, standing alone in the hall’s depth, the floor’s fifth boss was solitary, with no minion in sight.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow.

It seems, something might be amiss...