Chapter 54

A certain female Swordsman’s Intrusion (side Merutia)

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 .

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 substitute .

Half a day had passed 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

"Umm, Yuno-chan thinks we had already entered the deep forest . . . . " (Yuno)

"Rather than coming here because of the request, I’m here purely for my curiosity . The monster has also become stronger, so shall we head back?" (Merutia)

When I answer unapologetically, Yuno glares at me with moist eyes .

"Well, I thought it was like that too . . . . " (Yuno)

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 .

Although there’s already a shrine between the village and the forest, is this one also the same thing?

But i’ve never heard of a religion that worship dragon in the village at all .

"As I thought, we need to check it" (Merutia)

When I turn around while saying so, Yuno is sniffing around with a ‘sun sun’ sound from her nose .

"Eeh . . . . . that smells like meat, no matter how you look at it" (Yuno)

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 .

"T-there was a big monster bird with this kind of habit, I think i’ve heard of it . " (Merutia)

"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)

"We-well… . " (Merutia)

Just when I found a convincing reason based on my knowledge at hand, it was easily denied by Yuno .

"But still, I don't think there are people living in the forest depth . "

I think for a bit after saying that .

Don’t tell me, does a missing man decided to live here after being touched by the nature?

But still, why do such a thing?

"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)

" . . . . . . A little bit more, let's get closer to observe the stone statue . Anyway,this is too suspicious" (Merutia)

As I approach the stone statue, Yuno also follows behind me unwillingly .

" . . . . . . . . . . . . "

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 .

Therefore, I don’t 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 .

"What's wrong~? You’re looking at it so much like you’re going to eat it . " (Yuno)

" . . . . . . This statue, there is no scratches at all . It was imbued with a considerably strong magic . " (Merutia)

" . . . . . . . . . . . . " (Yuno)

When she heard my words, Yuno puts the hammer and the mushroom emitting light on the ground

While touching with ‘peta peta’ 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 there’s no sign of the statue being damaged .

"Fumu . " (Yuno)

Yuno says satisfied, while lifting the hammer with both hands .

"The weapon might break . " (Merutia)

When I advise that, Yuno regretfully hold the hammer in one hand, and pick up the glowing mushroom again .

"So . . . . . . um . . . . . . as I thought, we’re really going?" (Yuno)

"It is very likely that this is related to the request . However, be prepared to run away at once in case of emergency . ” (Merutia)

"Fuai~ . . . . . . " (Yuno)

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 .

‘Kan', the metallic sound was heard .

Once I calm down and saw it, it was only a fur carpet on the floor .

" . . . W-what . That surprised me a bit" (Merutia)

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 .

From what I understood, the person who make this carpet went in and out of the cave recently .

" . . . . . . . . . . . . " (Merutia)

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?

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 .