I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 112 - 112 111. Never heard of Anan_1

Chapter 112: 111. Never heard of Anan_1 Chapter 112: 111. Never heard of Anan_1 Hearing Red Leaf’s words, Lu Ban’s last bit of doubt was also resolved.

On this island teeming with monsters, one would be contaminated by pollution within half a day, even the chief priest of the He Island Shrine had died silently, and all other people had turned into monsters, so why was Red Leaf alone unharmed?

Even if she was once a candidate for Shrine Maiden, while Lu Ban was greatly affected, why was there still no difference in her?

Of course, this could be explained by Red Leaf’s exceptional talent and unique constitution.

But now Lu Ban knew that this was because the Calamitous Shrine Maiden who ruled over Song Island, was Red Leaf herself.

“A hundred years ago, a Shrine Maiden candidate came to Song Island and became the chief priest of the Great Shrine of Harmony Island, tasked with purifying the defilement.”

“However, she did not realize that the island had already been polluted, and the Shrine Executive Officer, the Island Steward, and everyone else had been corroded by the Undefined Fog and turned into monsters.”

“That Shrine Maiden was too tender-hearted, trying to save those monsters that had lost their reason. Little did she expect that the real target of the Undefined Fog was precisely the Shrine Maiden who was once closest to becoming the Shrine Maiden Lord.”

Red Leaf’s expression turned gloomy, and even the never-extinguishing Pure Fire could not bring brightness back to her face.

“You can imagine the outcome, the Shrine Maiden was killed by the very people she wanted to protect, her soul sacrificed to the filthy creatures, and though they did not completely devour her, they mutated her into their spokesperson, the Calamitous Shrine Maiden.”

“Then you…”

Lu Ban’s body sprouted lush green grass, and as the temperature raised by the flames rose higher and higher, the tips of those plants gradually turned jet black and withered away.

The Island would continue to burn for a month and be completely submerged after about fifty days; meanwhile, the Pure Fire would keep spreading in the water, until, years later, the seabed here would become an absolute Hell.

“Do you know the most fundamental effect of the Undefined Fog on people? It’s illusion,”

said Red Leaf in a deep voice.

“This island, this festival, is itself a dream. The Undefined Fog uses the power of the Calamitous Shrine Maiden to lure ships, to deceive them into landing on the island, to participate in the festival, and ultimately to assimilate them into monsters. Poets, artists, and painters whose insights run deep and are full of inspiration, are drawn to land on Song Island.”

“Over time, the Poetry Festival also became the legend of He Dao, the real ritual.”

Hearing Red Leaf’s words, Lu Ban generally understood the events he had experienced.

Probably, both Tachibana Masamune and Ginpei had already been artists who met with misfortune on Song Island, becoming the real monsters, merging with the island itself, deceiving other visiting artists.

And Wan Ye was an artist who had landed on the island before Lu Ban.

This also explained why Tachibana Masamune and Ginpei had mutated within just half a day, while Lu Ban remained unharmed. This was not due to Lu Ban’s “Photosynthesis”, but because it simply takes some time for the island’s corrosion to affect a person.

“So, you want me to put an end to all this?”

Lu Ban looked at Red Leaf.

It was hard for him to describe Red Leaf’s current state.

She was once a Shrine Maiden close to being the Shrine Maiden Lord, but she was corrupted by filth, mutated into a monster. For a hundred years, the Poetry Festival of Song Island must have attracted many inspirational artists.

She would have continued in this muddled state, like a puppet on strings, like the Pure Glass Doll of Song Island.

But fortuitously, she gave birth to a will, which became Red Leaf, who arrived with him on the island.

Perhaps over the years, Red Leaf had repeated many similar actions.

She hoped that someone would come and redeem the soul of the entire island.

However, over and over again, Red Leaf could only watch helplessly as her comrades turned into monsters, becoming marionettes.

Until Lu Ban appeared.

“I was originally a filthy creature, perhaps it’s just some lingering obsession of that Shrine Maiden that allows me to masquerade as someone who wants to save the island, to find some peace of mind.”

Red Leaf said with a bitter expression.

“Now, it’s just a return to my true nature amidst these Pure Fires.”

Lu Ban saw Red Leaf come beside him, placing her hands on his chest, a kind, warm, and comforting power flowing into his body, mending his torn and bleeding organs, healing his burnt and cracked skin.

His consciousness became clear.

Clearly, the island would eventually sink under the burning Pure Fire, and Red Leaf was probably unable to escape fate.

This was the ending destined from the beginning of the mission, or perhaps, when Red Leaf became the Calamitous Shrine Maiden.

She once said that she wanted to become a Shrine Maiden, not for power or authority, but simply to protect the world, just as past Shrine Maidens had saved her.

But the Undefined Fog twisted that wish, causing Red Leaf to be sent into the abyss by those she sought to protect, and brought calamity upon countless others she had wished to safeguard.

Compared to physical or mental harm, such twisting was even more terrifying.

“Have you never considered that there might be a way for you to return to normal, to continue living, like seeking help from the Shrine Maiden? Since you could turn Wan Ye into a normal person, couldn’t a more powerful Shrine Maiden do something similar?”

In the end, Lu Ban asked one last question, unclear about the extent of the powers in this world.

Red Leaf shook her head.

“I have been utterly polluted. As long as I draw breath, I will cause pollution around me. If it were the Shrine Maiden Lord, she would surely kill me decisively.”

Lu Ban remained silent for a moment.

Now, there was only one thing left for him to do.

At least in the end, to let Red Leaf die with the identity of a human being.

Not as a fiend that plagued the world, but as a Shrine Maiden who eradicated evil.

He stood up, looking at Red Leaf who was kneeling on the ground.

“I have another wish. Should you have the chance, I hope you can bury my ashes under the cherry tree at the Great Shrine of Harmony Island. All the Shrine Maidens who were once candidates to be the Shrine Maiden Lord scatter their ashes there after they pass away.”

Red Leaf spoke calmly, not so much leaving last words, but rather chatting casually, planning her next tourism destination.

“I’ll do my best.”

Lu Ban didn’t know if he would have the chance to visit Harmony Island again, or to visit the real Great Shrine of Harmony Island, but at least now, he had to agree to this promise.

“Oh, right.”

Suddenly remembering something, Red Leaf let out a light chuckle.

“The song you said could bring good fortune, could you let me listen to it one more time?”

Lu Ban was taken aback.

After thinking for a moment, he materialized the silver “Testament” in his hand.

Then, he fired the Speech Bullet of “Good Fortune Comes,” hitting Red Leaf.

“So this is the melody…”

With a touch of feeling, Red Leaf closed her eyes.

Lu Ban raised the crowbar, and with the most precise and solid strike, one that would hardly let her feel any pain, he killed Red Leaf.

Pure Fire enveloped her corpse, a piece of crimson crystal twisted and entangled, forming the System’s cold text.

[Survive until the Poetry Festival ends: 1/1]

[Mission Completed]

[Return now?]

[Yes/No]

As he clicked [Yes], all the flames around Lu Ban suddenly soared, engulfing him.

[Mission Completed, now beginning the return]

[3…2…1…]

In the midst of the flames, Lu Ban seemed to see a black-haired Shrine Maiden, dressed in white and red hakama.

She smiled like a flower amidst the undying Pure Fire, softly chanting an ancient song from times immemorial.

“Endless tales from the age of gods, shrouded in darkness unheard, the maples color Long Tian Chuan, babbling waters so deep…”

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