Following a path that had been almost completely covered into the depths of the dense forest, an open field suddenly appeared in front of Ike's eyes. The ruins are covered with a variety of vegetation and moss. Nature is the greatest miracle, no matter how thoroughly human beings have been transformed, once they have lost their continuous intervention, it only takes enough time, and it will not take long to return to their original state, and even the traces of human existence cannot be discerned. Unlike humans, who have only been around for decades or hundreds of years, it has enough time to wait for the extinction of the human species.

It is a dilapidated town, and because it has not been in decay for a long time, the streets and buildings are still largely intact, and even the wooden fences that are used as fences are still standing quietly among the weeds. In the silence, there are hissing insects and beautiful bird calls from time to time. After the humans withdrew from the stage, they were the real masters of the region.

"This is the so-called right of things and people." Ike rarely showed a hint of emotion, squatting down and stroking the grassy soil, even after years of baptism, the smell of gunpowder and blood on the land still did not dissipate. Under the ground covered by weeds, it always feels like you can see the red ground when you turn over the weeds as a cover.

This is a cursed land, whether it is war, or mutation, the origin of everything can be traced back to this place: this is another forgotten land, everyone has chosen to forget this land, forget the villages and people that once existed in this land, and would rather erase it from the map than let people remember what happened in this place, just like Ike's hometown, whenever he came to this land, from the sound of insects and birds, It seems that the wailing and resentment mixed in it can be clearly felt, just because the name of this land is Hamel.

With the memories of the past, all the way to the hill at the end of the open field, the traces of human beings appeared again on this small hill, the ground that should have been deserted was deliberately leveled, the weeds along the way were trampled out of a small path, and at the end of the hill a simple wooden house and a small mound of earth appeared in Ike's field of vision. As Ike approached, the wooden door of the room creaked open, and a familiar figure walked out of it, with a rare surprise on his grim face.

"I didn't expect you to come to this place." Levy spoke.

"I suddenly wanted to come and worship, but I didn't have time to buy a gift in a hurry." Ike shook the bouquet he had just picked from the field in his left hand, and threw a large machine part that he was carrying in his right hand at Levi.

"This is... The core of the god machine? Levy, who had taken the part with his hand, asked with some confusion after glancing at it.

"Got into a fight with this scrap metal around here." Ike replied lightly, "Compared to these inconsequential things, this place is probably already being targeted." ”

“。。。 Hamel? ”

"I can't think of any place like this, except for Hamel, that attracts guys from association." Ike shrugged, "It's not just the Divine Machine, but the new Executor is also there, along with her former Chasseur subordinates. ”

"Hunters ... That Shelly of the Red Sign? After a little thought, Levy frowned, "This area should have been searched by the association, why do you suddenly pay attention to this place?" ”

"You should ask them directly." Ike rolled his eyes, "Although I want to say that... ”

"What did you find?" Levy's eyes flashed, and he asked.

"Just an inconclusive inference." Ike shook his head and pointed to the ground beneath his feet, "Ruhr Village, have you heard the name?" ”

“。。。 I remember it was yours ... Levi replied with some indescribable answers.

"Well, my hometown used to be the same as Hamel. No, it should be said that it happened earlier than the Hamel incident. Ike replied calmly, "Because the people who do things are quite secretive, and the Ruhr is a semi-hidden village that is closed by snow all year round and only appears in summer, because the avalanche buries the whole village or something, it is not impossible to happen, if I die." ”

“。。。。。。”

"But what I want to talk about now is not about the background, what I want to say is that whether it is the battlefield full of corpses or the village that was wiped out because of the 'accident', it is completely different from the feeling of Hamel, even if it has been more than ten years since the incident, this feeling has not faded, but seems to be stronger than before."

"Feelings?" Levi frowned and looked around, shaking his head after a long moment, "I'm sorry, I can't feel it at all." ”

"Maybe you grew up in Hamel, and this strangeness has already been subtly turned into normal by you." Ike replied equally uncertainly, "But there is one thing, the purpose of the association this time is probably the strangeness I felt, just as the ripe fruit will be plucked by the grower." ”

"Are you saying that associations have also been involved? The Hamel affair. Levy's eyes gradually turned cold, "But it's not right, I searched through all the files at the time of the association, and I didn't find any relevant records, although it is said that it may be destroyed, but about the dynamics of the executor and the hunters-"

"Meddling isn't just something on the surface." Ike interrupted Levy's conversation, "And the records of the apostles are only accessible to the apostles and Kemparella, aren't they?" While I understand that you want a quiet life, your wishes are probably going to come to naught, and there's a good chance that the dynamics that follow will not allow you to live this kind of seclusion again, especially at the beginning of this matter. ”

“。。。 Do you already have a direction? Levy asked rhetorically.

"Not yet, it's pitiful that there's little information or anything, after all, I've just come out of the ravine. It's too embarrassing to get the latest information or something instantly. Ike shrugged, pointed to his head, and continued, "But after this practice, I found that there is a benefit, my intuition seems to have become quite confident. I'm going to follow my instincts and maybe find some breakthroughs. ”

"Intuition? I remember you used to talk about plans and treat people who relied on their instincts. ”

"The present is the present, the past is the past, and people will always change." Ike replied disapprehantly, "And I hate being unprepared, and blaming other guys if things don't go my way." ”

"So your instincts tell you what to do now?"

"How can there be such an accurate intuition, and it is not a navigation instrument." Ike rolled his eyes, "But after meeting Hamel, I'd like to find an expert in this area." ”

"Expert... Witches? Levi asked, narrowing his eyes.

"No, there's a lone guy, I think she's probably going to need someone too." Gently approaching the tomb and placing the bouquet on the stone slab, Ike folded his hands and prayed for a while before turning to look at Levi, "By the way, the snake's magic machine and executor have been dismantled by me, and I may focus on taking care of this area next." ”

“。。。 You always say you're going to get people in trouble. ”

"Wouldn't it be nice to be a long-lost exercise?" Ike shrugged his shoulders and walked straight down the hill along the path, "I'll leave the core to you, I'll give it to the doctor if you have time~"