On January 1, 1972, the War of Dawn came to an end.

War leader Asa Acto, Xi, Meira and others are dealing with post-war matters, and the sacrifices for the victims are also being prepared.

Under the ginkgo tree by the river, a blond boy stared at the wild flowers all over the mountains and hundreds of black coffins slowly passing by not far away.

In his field of vision, thousands...no, immeasurable people were walking along with these coffins. As the sun set, people's clothes were dyed with a golden color, like a flowing river. For a time

, they seemed to be uniformly wearing golden sacrificial robes.

This river flows from inside the city-state to outside the city, running through the streets and alleys, flowing through wide squares and narrow lanes. It seems that there is a silent, vast and heavy force coming together, carrying their footsteps.

The ground was trampled into pieces of light. The funeral procession stretched for miles, stretching from one end of the sky to the other.

Surrounded by them were coffins as dark as ink.

Since there were so many victims in the war, the names of many of them are unknown. What these coffins contain is not the corpse or ashes of a specific person, but the relics left by countless victims.

Some are a blood-stained band, some are a broken family portrait, some are a torn handkerchief, even a feather, a piece of tea... These relics are not completely collected and cannot cover every victim, but

Their bones have been integrated into this land for a long time.

Underneath your footsteps is your hometown.

"Crash-"

The white bird flapped its wings, and its snow-white feathers fell from the sky. A child raised his head and looked at the golden light under the sky. The sun was particularly good today, and even the cold rain that had fallen all night in the city was dried up. When the child raised his head

At that moment, his eyes were filled with warm golden light.

The sunshine is so beautiful that it makes people cry.

It seemed like it could burn away the heavy snow that had fallen for 2,300 simulations and lasted for so many times for forty years.

Suddenly, a loud voice came from down the hillside. A middle-aged man led a team and walked towards the farewell team.

"——Five hundred and sixty-two soldiers of the Freedom Alliance bid farewell to the 53.64 million soldiers who died in the war."

At the head of the team, a white-haired old lady glanced at them and nodded. They naturally blended into the farewell team, and as the team moved forward slowly, they looked like a long, winding black dragon.

"——One thousand, two hundred and thirty-six judges in the Trial House sent farewell to the 53.64 million soldiers who died in the war."

Another sound came, and the city gates were opened wide, and a very long team came out, each person holding a small black box in their hands.

The team continues to expand, and more and more teams join it, like a river flowing into a sea.

"——The 2,564 residents of Hope City bid farewell to the 53.64 million soldiers who died in the war." The gray-haired city lord Yalin arrived with a huge crowd.

The expression is solemn.

"——One thousand, six hundred and fifty-eight residents of Antofa City..." Another team came next.

"——One thousand, three hundred and forty-four residents of Roko City..."

"——One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight residents of the city of Hebimi..."

"..."

"..."

More and more people are joining the funeral procession. Each team is composed of various forces that have participated in the war in the past forty years. Each of them has participated in this cruel and long war to a greater or lesser extent.

Rivers flow into rivers, and then converge into new rivers. Gradually, rivers evolve into seas, and rivers flow into seas, endlessly.

Until a clear voice sounded——

"——Two members of the battle group, farewell to the 53.64 million soldiers who died in the war."

This is the force with the smallest number of people. Compared with the large teams that often number hundreds or thousands of people, it is simply too small.

There are only two of them.

In the breeze, Che strode forward, his blood-colored cloak fluttering in the wind behind him. Next to him was a girl with a thin sword at her waist, also wearing a blood-colored cloak. She held a dark urn in her hand. What was in the box was

A monument to humanity.

A pure white lily was tied to the urn, its petals stained with dew.

The first lilies of spring have withered, but the second, third, and thousands of spring lilies have a chance to bloom. The white-haired old man of Kelstia's family has already held his hand.

The granddaughter walked in the bright sunshine.

"——Rongyuan, one of the Nine Alliances, bids farewell to the 53.64 million soldiers who died in the war."

A red-haired man came over. He also did not lead a huge team, and his voice was not loud. He just called in a low voice and blended into the crowd.

"——Freedom Violet, leading one hundred and twenty-nine mercenaries, bid farewell to the soldiers who died in the war."

Violet took willing players to participate in this funeral. This war infected these players who called themselves the Fourth Natural Disaster. Even though there was no system reward for participating in the funeral, they came to participate.

"——Eagle Dog Dongxu, Xudong, led the 394 eagle and dog guards to see off the soldiers who died in the war."

"——Eden Mela, Cheng Luohe, led 298 researchers to see off the soldiers who died in the war."

Then came the old lady Meira wearing the badge of Eden, and the sniper Cheng Luohe who lost one eye.

"——Yaoguang Anita..."

"——Six hundred and eighty-five residents of thirteen cities..."

Soldiers, generals, ordinary residents, street children, mercenaries, players, students, farmers... people from all walks of life gathered in the team.

Among the turbulent sea of ​​people, some people wept silently, while others expressed solemn expressions. The setting sun was setting, and even the coffin was glowing with a layer of shining gold.

The world of ruins is so big that not everyone can be present, but it seems that all the memories are gathered here to bring this huge war to an end.

The smoke has cleared, and white birds are singing around. This is a spring earned by countless lives burning hard.

On the hillside in the distance, Noel watched this scene.

He faced the air and murmured:

"It is said in "The Brothers Karamazov" - I love mankind, but I am really confused about myself: the more I love mankind as a whole, the less I love specific people. I often intend to devote myself to mankind with passion,

But I cannot stay in the same room with anyone for even two days: the more I hate specific people, the more intense my love for humanity as a whole becomes."

He stopped talking to himself and murmured in a low voice: "...So, is there some kind of 'program' controlling you?"

While he was thinking, a "girl" wearing a Lolita dress came over.

"Noel, if nothing else happens, tomorrow will be the last day of the dungeon." Yamada Machichi said.

Noel stopped talking to himself and smiled at Yamada Machichi:

"Yes, today is February 5th. The day after tomorrow we can catch up with the seventh day of the Lunar New Year in Dragon Kingdom and make up for the New Year."

"I remember you are from Yuguo?" Yamada Machichi said.

"Not really." Noel shook his head: "But it would be interesting to celebrate the Dragon Kingdom's New Year with you. When I traveled around the world in the past, no one accompanied me to celebrate these festivals. Since I met you, it seems that many things have happened

It’s all become interesting.”

He said, fiddling with something in the palm of his hand.

Only then did Yamada Machichi realize that Noel was holding a snow-white bird in his hand. The white bird seemed to like Noel very much and kept rubbing Noel's palm.

"If I return the day after tomorrow... I have already planned the general itinerary." Noel said: "On the first day, we will follow the customs of the Dragon Kingdom. Let's make dumplings, cut paper, put up Spring Festival couplets, and cook New Year's Eve dinner together. Will Su Mingan like this?

?"

As a Fuso native, Yamada Machichi pondered for a moment: "I don't know much about the festivals of the Dragon Kingdom."

If you were an ordinary Longguo person, you would have long been tired of activities like making dumplings. But for Su Mingan, who stopped having a family at the age of ten... maybe these activities are really novel.

Noel whispered: "I heard that people in the Dragon Kingdom like to have crowds. How about we invite more people?"

"Well..." Yamada Machichi saw Noel's shining eyes and didn't know how to answer.

"Lin Yin must be invited, Luna and Lu may be able to do it, but as for Lu Shu and others..." Noel frowned when he said this: "If Lu Shu is not here, Su Ming'an will not be happy... It seems that Lu Shu must

Bring it with you, and Su Lin... Su Lin probably won't come, I can't imagine him making dumplings."

"Do you think Lu Shu is still alive?" Yamada Machichi said.

"I guessed who Lu Shu is, so he should still be alive." Noel said.

"Who is it!" Yamada Machichi was anxious.

Noel shook his head and said nothing: "As for the next day, let's go to the New World Guild together. I have already asked Seruo to build a suitable weapon for each of you. How about we go to the zoo the next afternoon? I listen.

It is said that a very large zoo has opened in a district. Whether it is feeding the pigeons in the square or going to the botanical garden to see the flowers, it will definitely be very interesting."

"On the third day, we are free to choose where to go. If Su Mingan's power skills are upgraded, maybe we can also go to Praia? Yamada Machichi, is there anywhere you want to go?"

"I……"

Seeing Noel who rarely chattered endlessly, Yamada Machichi felt more and more uneasy.

Noel is always like this, covering up crises with optimism. Even though Noel himself is the most dangerous person now, he has been thinking about how to bring happiness to everyone.

After the end of the Ninth World, Noel will definitely be taken away by the organizer for investigation... As for the results of the investigation, no one knows what will happen.

Is it business as usual, or is Noel no longer able to participate in the game, or is it the most tragic fate... Yamada Machichi himself feels afraid.

"Noel, aren't you afraid?" Yamada Machichi looked at Noel.
To be continued...