People are at the border, but they become the incarnation of the sun

But she didn't look lost or have any other emotions, she looked like she was thinking.

After a long time, her voice came faintly again.

"...[A lone knight], [a rebellious sinner], [a destined rebel]"

"These are the titles bestowed upon you by the world. Your name... Your deeds have been well-known to me for ages."

"Although it was Torret who chose you in the beginning, I think Torret's choice was not wrong..."

Melina seemed to want to say something, but she stopped here, looked at the golden tree and opened her mouth, but in the end no words came out.

Then he turned and said:

"As for me, Rhine... Hart, you should know a lot, right? You've known it from the beginning, right? My relationship with the Golden Tree is simply about the mission my mother gave me.

And I am not a fan of the golden tree."

"Uh... well..."

"...Please don't lie to me or try to fool me. I can see that."

Before he could say anything, Melina cut off his retreat as if she had foreseen it.

He simply admitted this, spreading his hands and sighing, "Okay, I do know a lot... But can you tell me, Melina, how did you figure that out?"

He thought he was disguising himself well.

Even if he sees some familiar people and things, he will not choose to reveal them most of the time, and will act shocked or ready to watch the show.

But how did this little wooden man who couldn't hear any sound or emotion figure it out?

Obviously, neither Rani nor Marika has ever done this.

"...your eyes."

Melina replied with a firm expression, "...your eyes don't deceive me."

As she spoke, she slowly turned her head and looked him in the eyes. The amber eyes with a hint of gold, like agate, were full of seriousness and unquestionableness.

"All right...."

Hearing this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

I really didn't expect that it would be my own eyes that betrayed me.

However, this is also a skill that Melina has honed over the long years.

During this long millennium, she who had lost her mission had seen too many people and things, the fickleness of the world, the dirty and ugly faces of the people, the loyal love and the unwavering faith. She had seen almost everything.

Over time, this ability was honed.

This is what Lani lacks and what Marika never had.

Moreover, it seemed that no one saw the border area as clearly as Melina did. He found a trace of Marika's shadow in her.

She is truly worthy of being Marika's last daughter...

However, when this thought came to his mind, Melina suddenly looked away and stopped looking at him.

After a long time, her voice came quietly again.

"...Can I lean on you for a moment?"

"Ok?"

He thought he had misheard, so he scratched his ears and asked again what she had just said.

"...Can I lean on your shoulder?"

This time, after she asked the question, she came closer without saying anything.

She rested her light brown, slightly curly hair on his shoulder, slightly pulled the airtight dark cloak, and placed her hands on her abdomen.

In this position, I slowly closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

It was a rare sight for him to see Melina's sleeping face. Different from her usual dull face, it now inexplicably had a touch of innocence.

Perhaps only when she is asleep can Melina be her true self?

No longer bound by that so-called mission.

only....

"What am I supposed to do tonight?"

Looking at the bright moonlight from the sky, he couldn't help muttering to himself, but he didn't dare to move, for fear of disturbing Melina's sweet dream.

After all, he had just learned that Melina could sleep.

"Forget it, forget it, go to sleep, it won't matter if I sleep less..."

Being able to see Xiao Mu's cute sleeping face, it seemed that sleeping one night less was not a big deal. Besides, he had already slept for so long and had already had enough sleep.

While he was admiring the moon, a slight smile appeared on Melina's face.

Unfortunately, he didn't notice at all...

Silent all night.

By the time the golden tree bloomed again, Reinhardt had already set off on his journey riding Torret.

Nearing noon, he had arrived at the familiar territory, the end point of King Gefulei's campaign, the location of the Smoke Church, and the place where the Holy Tree Army had fought.

It was here that Marennia led the Holy Tree Army to officially confront the Red Lion Legion.

Now after many years he has returned here again, and he has many feelings...

He also killed three wild dogs.

Damn, I originally thought that the Faded One being bitten by passing wild dogs was just a game setting, but I didn’t expect it to be the same in reality.

He was just passing by and did nothing, but was bitten by these beasts.

Thanks to his strong physique, dog teeth alone cannot break his defense. Otherwise, you have to consider whether to get a rabies vaccine.

Then he climbed up the long slope, as if climbing a ladder to heaven, passed through the high wall, and walked a few dozen steps before suddenly seeing the open sky.

But the scene that came into his eyes surprised him.

"This is Gallid?!"

His vocabulary was too limited and he didn't know how to describe the scene before him.

To use the words of Peach Blossom Spring:

The land was flat and spacious, with neat houses, fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboos. Roads flowed across the fields, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard. Men and women came and went, working and planting, and they dressed like outsiders.

Although it is a bit exaggerated, there is really not that much difference.

It is completely different from the desolate Nimgefu and the dilapidated Gelid in people's impression. You can even see merchants coming and going here.

Although the number of people is not that large and it is not as prosperous as Lienia, it can still be said to be a rare scene at the border.

Along the way, there was no trace of the battle between the Holy Tree Army and the Red Lion Army, and the ruins that were remembered also disappeared, replaced by villages one after another.

But one interesting thing is that the majority of shops here are weapon shops. A wide variety of weapons are displayed outside the shops for sale. You can also hear the clanging sound of iron forging coming from the shops and feel the hot flames.

Moreover, these shops used the name of the Red Lion Battle Festival to promote themselves and attract customers, and naturally the most frequent customers were the faded ones.

The second is the hotel and the like, although it looks very dilapidated.

Apart from that, there is the sky that seems to be always bright red, covering this peaceful and tranquil land.

"Stop, no passing here."

Just as he reached the edge of the Ionian swamp and wanted to go along the swamp to the magical town of Ceria, several Red Lion soldiers blocked his way with weapons in hand.

what's the situation?

When I came to my senses and looked around, I saw that there was a sentry post and a patrol team almost every twenty meters around the Ionian Swamp.

The soldiers in the patrol team were the same as those in front of them, either holding spears or torches and swords, and they looked very alert, as if they were guarding against something.

However, what the Red Lion soldier who blocked his way said was even more incredible.

"The Ionian Marshes are contaminated by the Crimson Corruption, which has yet to be completely eradicated. For your safety and that of all of Galid, please detour."

Well, you are quite polite in your words.

But what about the Scarlet Corruption?

Didn't he drop a fireball to cleanse Gallid of his scarlet corruption?

Why is it still here???

Thinking of this, he tilted his head and looked through the gap between the soldiers' helmets.

It seems...it really is.

In the distance, on the dead trees and rocks surrounding the swamp, you can clearly see strange mushrooms growing on them.

And it's huge.

Continuous smoke-burning walls were deliberately built around the area, as if to control the spread of the scarlet corruption.

what on earth is it?

But no matter what happened here, it could not stop him from looking for Millicent in this swamp and the corrupt church.

This was one of the purposes of his trip.

189. I was invaded by Millicent (4.6K)

night.

The clear moonlight quietly shines through the dark clouds and falls on the land of Galid.

In the moonlight, the swamp seemed to come alive. The trees covered with all kinds of strange reddish-brown mushrooms swayed gently, and the calm mud made a gurgling sound when he stepped on it.

That's right, while the patrolling Red Lion soldiers were not paying attention, with the help of the hazy moonlight, he turned over and slipped into the completely blocked Ionian swamp cleanly and neatly.

However, the fact that the swamp seemed to come alive was not just an exaggeration, but a true and realistic description.

The hyphae spreading from the branches of the plants slowly squirmed and gathered towards where he was as he passed by. Those white hyphae seemed to have consciousness and were full of desire for his body.

But unfortunately, they grow on plants and can only grow a short distance relying on the nutrients of the plants, and can't even touch the edge.

"What the hell is this?"

Looking at the thin threads that seemed to be swaying slowly in the breeze, Reinhardt frowned deeply.

In his impression, there should be no such thing among the derivatives of scarlet corruption. Even if the pollution is serious, it will only grow mushrooms. This kind of mycelium is the first time he has seen it.

Feels a bit like the silkworm prayers of the corrupt followers?

It looks sticky.

Apart from that, this 800-mile swamp is full of tranquility, which is surprising, and even has a hint of weirdness.

From the moment he walked in, he could not see any living creatures.

Neither birds nor infected hyenas nor land crows were to be seen.

Even the abandoned insect swarms attracted by Marlennia's release of the Scarlet Corruption during the battle here disappeared without a trace, and not a single one was to be seen.

Only the water vent would occasionally produce bubbles, from which a stream of hot air would gush into the sky, turning into drizzle and returning to the swamp.

It's really amazing.

He was somewhat curious about what had happened in this Ionian swamp. Judging from the defensive strength of the Red Lion soldiers and the surrounding incense wall that was so tall that it was enough to keep the Faded Ones away, the scarlet corruption must be very serious.

But until now, he hasn't seen any clues.

All I saw and heard was the gentle breeze causing slight ripples on the swamp, and the reddish-brown mushrooms clinging to the winding old trees, with their white hyphae floating and swaying slowly in the air, as if performing a deadly and enchanting dance.

It looks quite artistic.

But the prerequisite is that you can ignore the muddy water that emits a rotten stench, and the white skeletons that float up and down when it surges.

And as he went deeper, he found that the scarlet corruption pollution was becoming more and more serious.

The air was filled with a foul stench, like the smell of rotting blood, very unpleasant.

This scene would definitely be top-notch even in a zombie apocalypse.