Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!-Chapter 1445 - 1444: Wait and See (Today Was Really Unlucky)
Although there was a small issue between Eiriri and Kurumi, everyone else got along quite well. Whether it was the banquet or the carnival night at the amusement park, everyone had a fantastic time.
Especially His Majesty and Satoko, they almost didn’t want to leave. If it weren’t for His Majesty having matters to handle with the Chinese Federation, she would have been eager to stay at the Heavenly Dao Palace forever.
Luckily, Fang Zheng gave everyone a personal terminal, allowing them to teleport directly to Heavenly Dao Palace, solving the issue for those who couldn’t just visit anytime.
What Fang Zheng didn’t expect was Colette coming over at the end of the carnival.
"I heard you’re setting up a Magical Girl academy?"
The Chief of Necromancy Department is always well-informed, or rather there’s nothing in the White Tower she doesn’t know about.
"That’s right."
"Magical Girls... how are they different from regular Mage Apprentices?"
Colette admitted she was as confused as someone else about this, and Fang Zheng thought for a moment before replying.
"Magical Girls are contract-based... regular magic requires learning before it can be used. But Magical Girls need to first make a contract to unlock the power within themselves, so unlike regular mages, the process of becoming stronger for a Magical Girl is about continuously tapping into their inner potential."
"Sounds just like those Magicians."
Although both are spellcasters, mages and magicians don’t get along, as magicians rely on unlocking power from their bloodline and often mock mages for needing to study, while mages see magicians as uneducated opportunists relying on ancestral luck.
After all, if it weren’t for one of your ancestors being X’d by a dragon, how else would you have dragon blood?
Saying that, both sides mostly end up scheduling a showdown.
"What requirements are there to become a Magical Girl? There must be some characteristics."
"Hmm..."
Upon hearing Colette’s query, Fang Zheng paused.
"Pure-hearted, kind."
"Huh?"
However, this time Colette was taken aback.
"What kind of ridiculous condition is that?"
"It’s true, wanting to become a Magical Girl has nothing to do with your talent or whether you’re born into nobility or commonality, what’s important is having a kind heart."
"From a certain perspective, it’s quite fair."
For Fang Zheng’s answer, Colette didn’t have much to say. In a scientific world, saying such things might get you labeled as crazy, but in the Main World, this isn’t unheard of; myths often tell of kind-hearted people being granted divine power, and there’s evil individuals lured by devils to turn into accomplices of evil.
For instance, if Hell were recruiting in the Main World, a notice might read [Due to excessive bloodshed, need for cannon fodder, requirements: cold-blooded, fond of slaughter, obedient to orders. Contact by killing your closest person and using their flesh for a summoning array, our legion offers generous benefits, no annual leave, can’t resign. Interested parties please contact the Lord of the first layer of Hell...]
Having seen her share of Corrupted Cultists making contracts with Hell for evil power, Fang Zheng’s requirement was a mere version of this, nothing special.
However...
"This ought to be done in the Sanctuary, we are mages."
Colette still found it odd, this seemed more like the selection process of Paladins or Priest Officials, shouldn’t it be held in the Sanctuary?
But Fang Zheng’s reply was straightforward.
"I am a Paladin."
"..."
It slipped her mind that Fang Zheng was a Paladin learned at the Mage Tower.
"Alright."
Colette resignedly spread her hands, what more could she say, since the proposal originated from the Eight Great Chiefs, and it’s just the Magitech Nation looking for an excuse to bind itself with Heavenly Dao Palace. Whatever Fang Zheng suggested, they could only accept.
However...
"People change."
Before leaving, Colette still offered Fang Zheng one more remark.
"As children, not every child considers the world paradise, but as adults, few indeed consider the world paradise."
Sure, here is the translated text:
"There are always good people."
Fang Zheng also understood Colette’s point. After all, the requirement for a kind heart is quite vague, and as Colette said, children might think the world is Heaven when they’re young, but as they grow up, they’ll face setbacks, they’ll get hurt, and at that time, maybe not everyone will remain kind.
But there are still kind people.
Just like online when people often say bad people grow old and old people turn bad, complaining overwhelmingly about incidents of old people occupying basketball courts and disturbing others by dancing in public squares, but still, people will offer seats to elderly on public buses.
"Just as long as you have ideas."
Hearing Fang Zheng say this, Colette didn’t add anything more. This time she came to find Fang Zheng mainly because she felt his proposal was unreliable after hearing about it. Although the Magitech Nation took the initiative, one shouldn’t be too haphazard. Now it seems Fang Zheng isn’t just brushing things off but has his own plans.
Since that’s the case, Colette didn’t say anything more, but before leaving, she specially reminded him.
"In that case, you better prepare to come to the White Tower in five days."
"Is there anything happening?"
Hearing Colette’s reminder, Fang Zheng was taken aback, and Colette nodded.
"Yes, five days later, the White Tower will hold a competition... To put it simply, each faction will send a few representative disciples to participate, competing against each other for high and low. Though I have no interest in this kind of thing, if your faction wants to make a name in the Magitech Nation, this competition is a good start, as it will be nationally broadcasted within the Magitech Nation."
"I see, I understand."
Upon hearing Colette’s words, Fang Zheng immediately understood her meaning, nodding. Obviously, this type of competition is indeed suitable for him. After all, Fang Zheng’s goal is to cultivate more Magical Girls to increase his Power of Faith, so having such an advertising channel is far better than spending money on billboards in various cities of the Magitech Nation, isn’t it?
However, before this, Fang Zheng wanted to clarify something.
"I want to ask, does the competition... need to be stopped at a certain point?"
"Heh heh."
As the Chief of Necromancy Department who has lived for thousands of years, Colette understood perfectly Fang Zheng’s implied meaning.
"If you really have that much faith in your little girls, feel free to let them come. The youngsters at the White Tower, each one is not very old yet are so world-weary, they should be shown that there are always people beyond people, and skies beyond skies."
You’re old... Well, you are indeed quite old.
Looking at this Chief of Necromancy Department in front of him who looked about the same age as Latifa, Fang Zheng was speechless. The age difference was vast; strictly speaking, everyone in the White Tower would be grandsons to her... in every sense.
But since Colette had spoken, Fang Zheng also knew what needed to be done.
The White Tower remained the White Tower, with people coming and going as before, but to Fang Zheng and others, this place is quite novel.
"Is this the place where magic is learned, Teacher?"
Looking at the White Tower ahead, Little Sakura asked curiously, and Fang Zheng nodded.
"That’s right, this is where the most magically gifted individuals across the continent gather. Simply speaking, you can consider this as the university of the continent’s magic realm."
"Uh... feels like everyone’s looking at us, a bit embarrassing..."
Illya turned her head left and right, observing the crowd and said softly. No wonder, since this is the Academy of Magic, everyone coming and going wears a Mage’s Robe, while Illya and the others wore everyday attire. Of course, this type of clothing wouldn’t be out of place in a typical modern world, but here where everyone wears wizard robes, it stands out.
Not to mention Fang Zheng and the group of girls; the man is handsome and elegant, the girls petite and cute, naturally attracting the attention of other mages.
"Ah, Mr. Fang Zheng, sorry for keeping you waiting."
At this moment, Mary and Delian also ran out from the White Tower, greeting Fang Zheng.
Although Colette mentioned that this is just a small competition, it was clearly more than that. Seeing even Mary and Delian, originally part of the delegation, being called back, it was apparent this isn’t just a small competition. Actually, Mary and Delian traveled back to the White Tower with Fang Zheng aboard the warship and entered the White Tower for paperwork, which was completed just now.
"Thanks for your trouble, did you register successfully?"
"Of course."
Mary nodded. Although Fang Zheng is nominally a White Tower Mage, he isn’t familiar with the registration process and procedures at all, hence he entrusted Mary to handle it, who naturally had no problem with these matters and got it done quickly. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
After all, her mentor is of the type who would starve if she didn’t keep watch during lunch, without Mary helping, he would probably have died in the Mage Tower.
But speaking of which, it’s been long since returning, no idea if her mentor is dead yet.
If he died, peace would truly prevail.
Silently sighing in her heart, Mary then smiled at Fang Zheng.
"Please follow me."
