A certain female Swordsmanâs Intrusion (side Merutia)
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Forest of Noah was a place more dangerous than rumors.
I managed to defeat gray wolves and moving mushrooms in the beginning while advancing smoothly, but when we had to turn around because of a cliff, we were attacked by a large spider.
I managed to kill it by doing a pincer attack with Yuno, but it might have been a little dangerous if it is one-on-one.
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After a long walk, the vicinity starts to darkens
Yuno picks a mushroom that emits light grew in the forest, and we use it as light subst.i.tute.
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Half a day had pa.s.sed since we enter the forest, but we haven't found any clue related to Dorz.
I guess it was just a bad rumor after all
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"Umm, Yuno-chan thinks we had already entered  the deep forest...." (Yuno)
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"Rather than coming here because of the request, Iâm here purely for my  curiosity. The monster has also become stronger, so shall we head back?" (Merutia)
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When I answer unapologetically, Yuno glares at me with moist eyes.
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"Well, I thought it was like that too...." (Yuno)
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When I was about to turn my heel, I saw a strange thing in the distance.
In front of the entrance of the cave, two statues are placed.
One was shaped like a dragon, the other one was shaped like a human.
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Although thereâs already a shrine between the village and the forest, is this one also the same thing?
But iâve never heard of a religion that wors.h.i.+p dragon in the village at all.
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"As I thought, we need to check it" (Merutia)
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When I turn around while saying so, Yuno is sniffing around with a âsun sunâ sound from her nose.
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"Eeh ..... that smells like meat, no matter how you look at it" (Yuno)
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When I look at the direction Yuno points, a large amount of meat is stabbed to a tree that doesn't have any leaves.
Frankly, it was a strange sight.
I was preoccupied and doesn't notice it.
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"T-there was a big monster bird with this kind of habit, I think iâve heard of it." (Merutia)
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"Really? Did the bird pick up all the leaves or is it the villagers? The meat too, I think it was cut to a reasonable sizes you see." (Yuno)
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"We-wellâ¦." (Merutia)
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Just when I found a convincing reason based on my knowledge at hand, it was easily denied by Yuno.
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"But still, I don't think there are people living in the forest depth."
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I think for a bit after saying that.
Donât tell me, does a missing man decided to live here after being touched by the nature?
But still, why do such a thing?
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"A-as I thought this request is really weird u know! Let's cancel it, canceled! In the first place, it wa impossible to do a C-rank request with only two people!" (Yuno)
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"...... A little bit more, let's get closer to observe the stone statue. Anyway,this is too suspicious" (Merutia)
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As I approach the stone statue, Yuno also follows behind me unwillingly.
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"............"
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When I get a closer look at it, I understood that it was well done.
However, I cannot guess the time it was made.
It's unnatural as there are no scratch at all, like it was imbued with magic to prevent deterioration.
Let alone 10 years, I will even believe it if this was said to be build 100 years ago.
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Therefore, I donât know about the age of this thing.
But what I know is, at that time this was built, it seems like it was going to have a very important meaning.
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"What's wrong~? Youâre looking at it so much like youâre going to eat it." (Yuno)
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"...... This statue, there is no scratches at all. It was imbued with a considerably strong magic." (Merutia)
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"............" (Yuno)
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When she heard my words, Yuno puts the hammer and the mushroom emitting light on the ground
While touching with âpeta petaâ sound, words such as "He~" or "Ho~" leaks out of her mouth interestingly.
Then Yuno picked up a branch of a tree that had fallen near her, and proceed to hit the stone statue with it.
The branch broke and flew , but thereâs no sign of the statue being damaged.
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"Fumu." (Yuno)
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Yuno says satisfied, while lifting the hammer with both hands.
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"The weapon might break." (Merutia)
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When I advise that, Yuno regretfully hold the hammer in one hand, and pick up the glowing mushroom again.
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"So...... um...... as I thought, weâre really going?" (Yuno)
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"It is very likely that this is related to the request. However, be prepared to run away at once in case of emergency.â (Merutia)
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"Fuai~......" (Yuno)
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Yuno who was holding the glowing mushroom is taking the lead, and we advanced into the cave.
It does not seems to be very wide.
Halfway inside, I felt my feet touching something that feels like a monster.
Thinking it was a monster, I swing my sword to take it down.
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âKan', the metallic sound was heard.
Once I calm down and saw it, it was only a fur carpet on the floor.
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"...W-what. That surprised me a bit" (Merutia)
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However, why is there carpet spread in such a place?
When I look at it carefully, it is not in a very good state.
The cleaning process is incomplete, so it is pretty damaged.
If this cave is a little bit warmer, it might attract insects.
Stone statue aside, this cannot be used for many years.
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From what I understood, the person who make this carpet went in and out of the cave recently.
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"............" (Merutia)
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Is it the people from the village?
No, is there a person who can come here alone from the village?
Was it a quarrel with the village? But then still I can't understand why people from the village would hire us if it was that
Or rather, is this shrine used as a thief hideout or something?
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Really, what happens here?
No matter which hypothesis, it does not match very well.
Anyway, lets leave this place at once, and ask Mariel some questions.