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

Chapter 965: Chapter 964: The Third Quest Activated

Yuki’s problem isn’t particularly difficult for Fang Zheng to solve. You could even say that as long as they return to the real world, Fang Zheng has plenty of ways to handle it.

The Swarm’s genetic adjustments can definitely cure Yuki’s problem, and if that doesn’t work, Fang Zheng can use a Spirit Crystal to transform Yuki into an Elf. He still has three Spirit Crystals in hand that haven’t been used yet. If he gives Yuki one of them and transforms her into an Elf like Kurumi Tohka, then there won’t be any issues.

For now, Fang Zheng only hopes that Yuki can hold on, because according to Yuki’s statement, the reason she entered this game initially was that the doctors used it as part of ”end-of-life care treatment” as an experiment.

In fact, long before the game started, Yuki had already been living in a sterile room, leading a day-to-day existence.

This is why she is more adaptable to this world compared to others. For Asuna and others, they can still run, walk, play, and study freely when they return to the real world. But for Yuki, even if she returns to the real world, she still cannot leave the sterile room, can’t even get out of bed and walk, and must endure constant pain and suffering.

So, for Yuki, this world is her ”heaven.”

However, both Fang Zheng and Yuki are very clear that no matter how cheerful, lively, and energetic she might appear in this world, Yuki’s body will continue to weaken over time.

No one, not even Yuki herself, knows how long she can live.

Maybe one day, she will suddenly collapse without any warning and then disappear.

It would be great if I had the Resurrection Technique or could draw a Soulstone with a resurrection skill.

Fang Zheng’s team has all kinds of talented people, but the lack of medical personnel is a shortfall. The Swarm’s genetic adjustment is indeed powerful, but unfortunately, the Swarm isn’t human. It works for single-unit modifications, but if it requires the Swarm to formulate medication for human use, it’s still too challenging.

Of course, if you want the Swarm to spread a virus, that’s their specialty.

This matter is a secret between Fang Zheng and Yuki. Yuki specifically asked Fang Zheng not to tell anyone else, and Fang Zheng can understand this. Although everyone wants to leave this world, recently they’ve slowly gotten used to life here and started to enjoy it.

At this time, if they learn about Yuki’s condition, everyone might go crazy with a mad rush, reverting to the initial raid group’s state of wanting to clear it at once. Hastiness leads nowhere, and speeding will eventually lead to a crash. Fang Zheng doesn’t want his girls to fight with such an anxious mindset.

Therefore, he agreed to Yuki’s request not to tell the others about this matter.

And now, he continues on with his own tasks.

”Mr. Fang Zheng?”

”What’s up, Aoba?”

Hearing a voice coming from beside him, Fang Zheng snapped back to reality and looked at the girl standing next to him, who was watching him with a bit of unease. Seeing Fang Zheng looking at her, Aoba blushed, quickly shaking her head.

”Nothing, just... I was wondering if Mr. Fang Zheng found it boring to be out with me...”

”Nothing like that, I was just pondering a question earlier, sorry for leaving you out here.”

Seeing Aoba before him, Fang Zheng faintly smiled. Aoba, however, seemed somewhat anxious, clenching her fists tightly. Seeing the girl in front of him looking like this, Fang Zheng helplessly shook his head.

”Do you still feel like you lack confidence?”

”Yes... Mr. Fang Zheng, I’ve always been considering whether I should leave the Raid Group and transfer to the Combat Group...”

While saying this, Aoba also looked down with some anxiety.

Fang Zheng could understand why Aoba would think this way. People come in various kinds: geniuses, talents, fools. Aoba is not a genius; at best, she’s a talent. So in a Raid Group filled with geniuses, Aoba has always felt under pressure. Eiriri may only have average combat skills, but she stands out with her unique probing and surveillance skills. Aoba works hard, but her reaction, combat ability, and speed are only slightly above the average person.

Among ordinary players, Aoba is a tier above them. But in the Raid Group... at least in the Dark Moon Sword’s Raid Group, in terms of strength, Aoba ranks near the bottom.

Precisely because of this, Aoba always considers whether she should apply to leave the Raid Group and go to a lower-tier Combat Group. This was the question she raised with Fang Zheng during this date.

”Then my answer is the same as before, Aoba.”

However, Fang Zheng wouldn’t let her go that easily.

”Your biggest flaw right now is your lack of confidence in yourself.”

”But...”

”Everyone has their own suitable way of fighting. You shouldn’t just look at others but pay more attention to yourself as well. They have their strengths, and you have yours too.”

Fang Zheng stared at Aoba as he spoke.

”Remember, I’m the overall commander. If I thought your performance didn’t meet the requirements, I would’ve replaced you long ago. But I haven’t done that because your performance meets the requirements, and in my view, you can go even further. It’s not just me; everyone feels safer with you supporting them.”

Fang Zheng spoke the truth. Even though the girls could easily dodge most boss attacks after acquiring the Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear, Aoba and Seven Seas still served as their last line of defense against AOE and unavoidable strong attacks.

In fact, many times, the two of them didn’t even participate in the battle; they merely held their shields, standing at the back of the team, always ready to defend. In some boss battles, they might not even get the chance to act once from start to finish.

Nonetheless, the girls still felt at ease. Even Eiriri mentioned at bedside that whenever she felt uneasy during fights, as long as she turned around and saw those two shields in their usual places, she immediately felt reassured.

”Trust me, Aoba.”

Looking at the twin-tailed girl before him, Fang Zheng reached out and patted her head.

”It’s not just me; everyone really needs you. You should have more confidence in yourself. But now...”

Saying that, Fang Zheng stopped walking and looked up ahead.

Just before this, he and Aoba had completed the second task, thus allowing all seven individuals to complete their second task. As expected, the third task appeared in front of Aoba.

[Task: Rosalie’s Wedding]

[Rosalie desires a formal wedding to fulfill her final wish. Go to the church, complete the wedding, and end her sorrowful destiny.]

And now, Fang Zheng and Aoba had once again returned to the starting town on the sixty-fourth floor, in front of the church where the task was triggered.

At this time, others, including Eiriri and Asuna, had also arrived.

”Ah, Mr. Fang Zheng, Aoba!”

Seeing their arrival, Eiriri waved at the two. Fang Zheng brought Aoba over to join the others.

”Did you receive the mission too?”

”Yes.”

Asuna nodded.

”We all received the task notification just now, so we came here... but we can’t go in.”

”Oh?”

Surprised by Asuna’s words, Fang Zheng looked carefully and indeed saw that the church doors were tightly closed, glowing faintly.

”... Let’s go.”

Seeing this scene, Fang Zheng felt increasingly uneasy, yet he maintained a calm demeanor outwardly. Fang Zheng said just one sentence before stepping forward to push open the church doors.

In the next moment, dazzling radiance emerged, enveloping everyone.

When Fang Zheng opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in the middle of the church, not just wearing white suits, but also seeing the girls wearing pure white wedding dresses, holding bouquets, staring in awe at their attire.

”Asuna... we’re wearing wedding dresses!”

”Shinong, you look beautiful in a wedding dress...”

”Eiriri’s wedding dress style is so cute...”

Looking at the wedding dresses on everyone around them, the girls started to scream excitedly. After all, this was their first time wearing a wedding dress—though in a game, it was still a wedding!

”Choose...”

However, at that moment, a cold voice suddenly echoed, and everyone saw a ghost in a tattered wedding dress quietly appear in the air, slowly coming to float above Fang Zheng and the girls before spreading its arms wide.

”Choose...”

The voice echoed again.

”Choose...your bride...”

”.......”

Hearing this, all the girls fell silent, then they all turned their eyes toward Fang Zheng.

Feeling the girls’ complicated gazes, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

And now... how was he supposed to choose?