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　Discarded ruins survey team.

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　Several men walked through the dark-colored forest.

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　One of the investigators stopped and looked back behind him.

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''What was that corpse, I wonder what it was?''

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　The captain also stopped and turned around.

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'Come on. You're a deadbeat mercenary at best.

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Were you on your way to Mills?

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Maybe. The only people who want to live in this forest are the ones who want to go to the mills. Except us.

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　I notice that one of the troopers is pale.

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　He looks terribly pale.

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'Have you ever seen a body in that condition before?

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"Is ...... yes ......

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　The bodies were a mess.

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　There were four of them.

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　I couldn't make out their faces in any of them.

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　They must have been eaten by a beast or demon.

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　The girthy squad member tapped the sword hilt on his hip.

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''You must not have been a very good mercenary if you got killed in this forest.

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None of those bodies had any money, did they?

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　A dead body is rarely a good source of spending money.

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　Of course, we raided their bags.

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　But I didn't find any money.

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Maybe they encountered some burglars. There's a rumor that they sometimes appear around here too.

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Did the other travelers steal it from the corpse after it was killed by the demon?

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You're not fit to be a mercenary if you're only getting killed by the monsters in this forest.

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Has the demon from the ruins finally come to earth?

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Ha, if that's the case, I'll have to ask the Knights of Magic for help.

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Yes.

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　The team members jokingly laid out their reasoning.

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'Oh, I see our place of business,'

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　Discarded ruins.

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　Familiar scenery.

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　No change this time either.

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　Just as well, the captain thought.

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I've never seen anything like it.

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　The troopers make light remarks.

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'It's not a very varied job, is it?

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That's okay. All right, let's just go through the usual checks.

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Captain, he's so serious.

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It's my job.

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　This is a job via our ally Allion.

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　A regular survey of discarded ruins.

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　Urza and Allion have been working hand in hand with each other.

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　They've been on good terms for a long time.

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　I'm glad to be on this job.

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　The captain feels strongly about it.

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　First of all, it pays well.

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　And yet, the job is a cushy one.

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　I take out a magic tool from my backpack.

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　A magic crystal.

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　It's a hand-made magic tool made by the goddess Vysis.

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　It has been handed down to this research team for many years.

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　I walk along the wall of the ruins.

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　I push a part of the nondescript wall.

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　Whack!

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　A depression appeared.

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　A long, narrow hole just wide enough to hold an arm.

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　Bring the crystal closer to the hole.

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　Black crystal.

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　My work is done when I see it turn into a platinum color.

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　I don't know how it changes color, but I have no desire to find out why.

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　But I have no interest in finding out why.

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　Easy peasy work.

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　Everyone in the investigation team is happy to enjoy the ease.

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　I know what kind of place a waste site is, but I am not interested in it.

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　But I am not interested in them.

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　I don't care who is sent to where.

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　It has nothing to do with my life.

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　As long as I can live a comfortable life free from danger, that's all that matters.

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　We don't want to change.

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　We are all used to it.

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　I am the same way.

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　I don't want any more hassle.

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　I want to keep my easy, well-paying job.

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"Hmm?　Huh?

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What's up, captain?

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The color doesn't change.

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　The black crystal doesn't twitch.

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　Normally, something deep inside the hole would glow a platinum color.

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　As if in response to that, the crystal in my hand should be discolored as well.

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'Captain!　What is this--

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Yeah.

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　The captain got a serious look in his eyes.

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　With a reluctant expression, he put his hand over his mouth.

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''At last, this crystal has reached the end of its life.

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Even Goddess-made magic tools have a life span.

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　knuckle dragging

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　He pokes at the crystal with his fingertips.

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'I'll have to have it replaced with a new one.

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So you'll let Allion know when you get back?

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No, no--

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　The captain replied after a beat.

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'You can tell them all together at the regular report in six months' time. We'll have it replaced then.

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Are you sure?

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'Reports like this go all the way to Allion, which makes the process more complicated. If it was just for my country, it would be easier. I also have a problem with documentarians.

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Oh, I see.

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　The survey team begins to prepare to leave the ruins.

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"Well, I'll just call this report 'normal' as usual. In fact, we didn't find anything unusual in this report.

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Isn't there actually a person who came out of these discarded ruins alive?

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'Hahaha!　That ain't happening!

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　Laughing off the joke, the captain turned back to the ruins.

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'I've never heard of anyone ever getting out of this place alive, not even when I've gone through the records of the past.

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　A discarded ruin with zero survival rate.

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　There is no way that change is possible.

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　I tuck the useless crystals into the leather pouch on my belt.

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Piece of cake, really.

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