Frieren rubbed her chin, pondering seriously for a moment before answering:
"I don't know. Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Melina turned her head away, thinking that there were too many touching points to recount in such a short time...
"Let us discuss business. We are here to find the Shaman Village."
"If you intend to investigate Mother's past, that is indeed the place to go. Take a good look at the hometown of your birth, the place where the Golden Lineage originated."
"Marika's departure last time heralded the beginning of the dynasty; treat this reunion with the Shaman Village as tolling the death knell for that very dynasty."
Messmer's tone held both restraint and the resolve of a finale. As the Commander of the Crusade, saying such things was practically treasonous, but where was the majesty of the Golden Order now?
Better to give it a roaring, fervent send-off.
"So, you have guarded the Shaman Village for years but rarely visited?" Frieren asked.
"Correct. It is a place of quiet cultivation. The outside world is noisy enough; let it slumber in the passage of time. You may go and disturb it, but do not stay too long. Treat it simply as a harbor for spiritual rest."
"Rumors in the Lands Between have long claimed Mother is missing... or even dead. So, I pin my longing within the Shaman Village."
"I am sorry that my daughter must abandon her mission, but it is because someone promised me she would have the right to choose."
Messmer looked deeply into Frieren's eyes.
The unspoken understanding between the two left Messmer with complex feelings; their affection was practically heating up right in front of him. Although both were like blocks of wood, their feelings were genuine enough.
Through long-term resonance and feedback, they had slowly fumbled their way toward love, hatred, and passion.
The Shaman Village would likely become a fine place for them to bare their hearts to one another. At least Mother Marika would see it. As a brother, his feelings were a mixture of five flavors.
"Do you have the resolve to ascend to the throne of Elden Lord without paying the price of sacrifice?" He could not help but ask for confirmation one more time.
Frieren answered patiently: "I reiterate: I will absolutely not sacrifice Melina to enter the interior of the Erdtree. In fact, I have different plans. Either I use my methods to break it open, or I use another plan to repair the Lands Between. In short, there must be other options."
"Brother," Melina interjected, "Frieren even threatened me with not becoming Lord. If something happens to me, she might continue to adventure, but she would absolutely never become King."
Messmer looked at the silver-haired girl, half in reproach and half in emotion.
That "threat" was by no means a joke. From beginning to end, Her Majesty was indifferent to fame and fortune; it mattered not to her whether she became King.
One is strong when one has no desires.
What she cared about was—a free and easy adventurer's style. It was her connection to people that gave Frieren a connection to fate, making her willing to try changing her style to shoulder the responsibility of salvation.
If the people she cared about were gone, she would absolutely wash her hands of it all immediately.
The temptation of kingship could not trap a powerhouse like Frieren. Looking at her temperament, one knew she had stood at the peak more than once. Worldly glitz meant nothing; realizing self-worth and carrying out one's convictions were her true pursuits.
"I understand." Messmer nodded.
He was blinded again by the affectionate interaction between the two. Did his opinion as an elder even matter anymore?
The draft of questions he had prepared to interrogate their relationship was entirely scrapped. He couldn't beat Frieren in a fight, and Melina and she cared for each other incredibly deeply, with perfect tacit understanding.
He had to admit that Frieren was—someone to whom he could entrust things, someone who valued emotion and righteousness.
She not only valued it but had the qualifications to save. The towering seal of the Erdtree did not scare her. If she decided not to use the Kindling Maiden, she wouldn't use her. Even if she had to personally blow up that tree, it wouldn't matter.
Frieren was certainly capable of doing that.
If there were any wavering, her aura would not be so consummate and heroic; she had never compromised for the sake of completeness.
Messmer had seen many such people, and basically, they were smashed to pieces. However, Frieren was strong beyond specification. He could not judge her by experience.
It made him curious to see to what extent she could succeed. He would wait and see.
"Shall I take you to the Shaman Village, or shall we hold a council here? After all, you are very concerned about Miquella's ascension to godhood."
"Melina and I will go to the village to rest first. It happens to be a good time to wait for Rellana and Ranni to arrive."
Messmer rose to lead the way. Just as they stepped out the door, they encountered a knight in heavy black armor, with a large wild boar waiting in battle array beneath him, blades sharpened and ready.
"It is good that you have returned. Was everything smooth outside?"
"The Hornsent are indeed active... A lot has happened here as well, my Lord."
"His name is Gaius. Everyone calls him the Wild Boar Knight."
"He once studied Gravity Magic alongside General Starscourge Radahn under the same master. Later, he joined the Crusade. I had previously sent him to scout the direction of the Spiral Tower."
"This is Her Majesty Frieren. She is the Shardbearer who defeated me and is closest to becoming Elden Lord. Moving forward, the Crusade will cooperate with her army."
"She is Melina, Her Majesty's maiden, and my sister."
The three nodded to each other in greeting.
"I have heard much of you both. I also believed you would come to the Shadow Keep, though I did not expect this day to come sooner than imagined."
Gaius and the elite troops behind him could grasp the attitude from Messmer's introduction. Frieren had already conquered the Shadow Keep, enough to issue orders.
Legally, no fault could be found: she held half the Elden Ring, could bestow Grace, had the support of an Empyrean of the Golden Order, and even the certification of the Beast Regent...
Thinking about it carefully, her configuration was maxed out. Joining her was no loss.
"The Carian advance party has already entered the city and informed us of Miquella's plot," Gaius said with stern indignation.
"We absolutely cannot allow him to succeed."
"Furthermore, I must avenge Radahn. He should not be blasphemed in such a way."
"Gaius, reorganize the army. Ensure everyone is ready to respond to Frieren's deployment at any time. Also, prepare to rendezvous with the main Carian forces. We are going to reform a complete Crusade."
"I will take them to Mother's hometown. I will return immediately to help you reorganize."
After speaking, Messmer took Frieren and Melina and left.
Although the wounds on his body were not fully healed, his spirit was visibly revitalized, as if he had been reborn, sweeping away his past confusion to take a step forward.
Those who knew him saw this change clearly.
Moreover, allowing outsiders to enter Marika's hometown, which he had always guarded, was of great significance. It represented total approval.
Clearly, Messmer not only recognized Frieren's power and capacity but was also willing to entrust Melina to this King, believing in the future new age.
Gaius turned his head and instructed: "Open the armory. Check the reserve status. Maintain existing weapons. Issue orders to all fortresses."
"All units assemble. We will organize an expeditionary force right here in the Shadow Keep."
"Do not think about defending the city. This is the final battle for the Land of Shadow. All-out attack."
The officers answered in unison and then dispersed.
Everyone smelled the scent of war more intense than ever before. As Frieren destroyed what needed destroying and incorporated what needed incorporating, the originally scattered armies of the Land of Shadow were being integrated.
It had been a long time; when sharp blades are unsheathed, they must drink blood.
The unfinished war against the Hornsent still awaited the Crusade to draw its period.
The visiting group assembled. At some point, the Mimic Tear had returned to its ash state and entered the Spirit Calling Bell, partly because it was tired, and partly because it felt it best not to disturb them for now.
Messmer knelt with his knees together, his hands cupped in a gesture of offering, murmuring: "O Mother..."
Suddenly, the sound of a mechanism came from the statue before him. It moved aside to reveal a door, deep and hidden. Before it parted, the magical aura inside had been extremely subtle.
Surprised, Melina looked toward the professional, Frieren.
"In the absence of a magical reaction, it is hard for ordinary people to notice the statue's mechanism. It is indeed clever, but I have other search methods."
Like the reminders from the messages all over the ground.
The secret code mentioned therein was the gesture Messmer was performing now, which could be found in Bonny Village.
Previously, when the Ranni and Rellana squad went to investigate the Finger Ruins, they exterminated the Hornsent of Bonny Village in passing and brought back the Numen victims. They also searched out some collectibles for her, including this gesture. She hadn't expected it was used for the statue.
It was reminiscent of the gesture used to access Archdragon Peak back then.
After the entrance fully opened, Messmer took the lead, guiding the two guests through an indoor passage.
Just a few steps later, the view suddenly opened up, and the scent of flowers rushed to meet them.
In the generally dim Land of Shadow, there was actually such a spring field of brilliant purples and reds.
Undulating mossy slopes extended to the rocky terrain ahead, colors bright and vivid, the wind blowing flower petals, allowing the eyes a good rest.
Although small in area, it had quite the atmosphere of a paradise lost.
The site selection for the Shaman Village was indeed particular. At the same time, they realized that the Shadow Keep, in a sense, acted as a checkpoint, shielding the hometown of the Numen.
With its guard, no one had disturbed this place for thousands of years. Anyone who dared to force their way in would definitely be—devoured by Messmer's flame.
"Just walk forward and you will arrive. Rest well; I am going back."
Messmer, touched by sadness at the sight, sighed. He did not stay long, striding back toward the Shadow Keep.
This pair of silver-haired girls had an emotional connection beyond imagination. There was no need for him to gossip; let Mother's hometown bear witness.
The remaining two exchanged a glance and set off.
They maintained a tacit silence, engaging in no communication, simply admiring the beautiful scenery, carving every bit of the Shaman Village into the depths of their minds. Its scenery made one linger, forgetting to return.
"There are old friends ahead," Frieren suddenly broke the silence.
Her perception had discovered the targets a step ahead. When Melina followed the sound to look, it was shockingly two Tree Sentinels.
However, the other party held no hostility; they bowed deeply and sheathed their weapons.
They likely understood that Messmer had let them in and respected the decision of the Crusade's Commander, especially after seeing Melina.
The gazes of the two Tree Sentinels lingered for a moment on the face of this Scion of Gold.
"You look very much like Lady Marika when she was young. Truly pure Numen blood, and possessing the strongest talent for Faith... You may pass."
"Have a good talk with Mother through prayer."
After speaking, they turned and left, making way while maintaining a considerable distance.
Seeing this, Frieren also put away her staff. If she didn't have to fight, she wouldn't.
After all, this was the place where Melina was born. The beautiful Shaman Village should not be touched by the fires of war; it was good to let the hidden land continue to remain quiet.
She scrutinized and bowed to the Tree Sentinels, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. The other party's gaze was not like looking at a stranger; they had likely heard of matters in the outside world.
Both sides parted ways without disturbing the other.
Strolling all the way up the hillside path, stepping on soft soil, draped in petals, crossing broken vine fences, they were welcomed by an open garden amidst the colors of spring.
Although called the Shaman Village, it was actually just remains.
What came into view were nothing but broken walls and ruins. The buildings had long since decayed, full of mottled traces.
Who could have imagined that the hometown of Marika, who founded the Golden Order, would be in such a state of decay? The Numen were either displaced or harmed by the Hornsent; this tragic history of blood and tears had not been concluded to this day.
However, they felt no sorrow, because the Numen were being saved.
The evildoers would meet with vengeance in this war, and the victims who had endured torture would rebuild new homes. There is justice in the Lands Between, and Frieren and Melina were now putting it into practice.
"Look, there is an incantation scroll by that small sapling."
Reminded, the silver-haired girl silently picked it up. It turned out to be one of the most familiar incantations: [Minor Erdtree].
[An incantation hidden by Queen Marika.]
[Gold without Order, possessing only kindness.]
[Creates an illusory Minor Erdtree that continuously restores the HP of nearby allies.]
[Marika bathed her home village in gold—]
[Even knowing that those who needed healing were long gone.]
Frieren felt the warmth within it. Her hands gradually cupped a tiny Golden Tree. On the other side, Melina cupped another.
No matter how much magic Frieren poured in, it could not compare to the maiden's; it was as if the incantation was completely compatible with her.
In a sense, the Minor Erdtree symbolized Melina's warmth. According to the time revealed by the messages, she likely hadn't moved with the maiden then; it was inevitable to see the object and think of the person.
If not for the partner's face, the two Tree Sentinels would surely have defended the Shaman Village to the death, even facing the Elden Lord.
"'Gold without Order, possessing only kindness,' is it... This is Marika's human side."
"Mother was more suited to becoming a god than Miquella."
"It is a pity her fate is unknown."
There were all sorts of sayings in the Lands Between, but a basic fact was that the Eternal Goddess had been missing for thousands of years, with no news and her life or death unclear. At the very least, she was in a state where she could not execute her authority.
So they needed to enter the interior of the Erdtree to find out the truth even more.
Melina knelt on one knee at the spot where the incantation was found and sighed deeply: "This place was destroyed by the Hornsent."
"Likely, Mother happened to be out and escaped the calamity. Afterwards, even becoming a god was too late; avenging the grudge could not bring back her kin."
The Numen were not extinct; bloodlines had still been passed down.
But one could imagine that the neighbors, friends, and even family Marika was familiar with had been brutally tortured. If Frieren put herself in those shoes, it would be the destruction of the Elf Village.
The Hornsent were far more vicious than demons.
If it were her taking revenge, she wouldn't even kill the Hornsent. She wouldn't kill a single one.
There were too many things in the world more terrifying than death, especially for a user of Soul Magic who lacked no means.
This grievance once had nothing to do with Frieren, but as she learned more, she became increasingly angry.
Especially since the tragedy of the Shaman Village had hurt Melina, making her even more annoyed. Compared to the many behind-the-scenes actions of the Mother of Fingers, the Hornsent's atrocities were felt more clearly and were more terrible; they truly invited hatred.
A moment later, Melina stood up and gazed into the depths of the village.
____
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