"You're looking for Stella? That female swordmaster?"

"Swordmaster?" Jillian looked doubtful at the guard that she questioned.

​​

Although swordmaster wasn't an official title, only people with significant accomplishments in Sword Arts can be called with such great esteem.

'Hmph… These people had never seen a real sword art… I must be patient…'

The guard saw Jillian's surprised look so he continued...

"Yes… She's really incredible with her skills. I must remind you that she's only using a unique wooden sword to kill those evil cultists… Isn't that amazing?"

The guard proudly shared the information. He felt proud being in the same village with such a great swordmaster.

"I heard about that… But is it really a wooden sword and not painted to look like one?"

"What? Of course not… I even have an idea what kind of wood she was using… Hehehe…"

The guard said as he smirked at the girl in front of him.

She never heard about the origin of the sword that Stella was using. It was actually one of the reasons why she was being summoned by Hendrick, the Knight Captain.

"Really? Can you tell me what kind of wood she's using?"

Jillian changed her tone as she tries to get a piece of information from the guard. Although they will be asking the female swordswoman later, it wouldn't hurt to know it now to have cross-reference.

However, the guard only looked at her before putting his hands out…

Sigh~

'It's like this everywhere, huh. Well, I'm not surprised.'

Based on the guard's action, it seems that the origin of the sword was a secret and couldn't be obtained easily.

She can somehow believe that since her Knight Captain, who attended the meeting with the leaders of this village, didn't get information about the origin of the sword and was being asked to examine it.

Jillian then took something out of her pocket and placed it on the guard's hand.

The guard has swift actions as he pocketed the coins he received.

"Very well… I guess I don't have to tell you to keep this a secret… I got this information from a friend in the Hunters Association."

The guard then stepped closer to her and whispered his next words.

"After the cultists were routed off the village, she posted a mission to acquire some branches, or perhaps twigs, from that huge Beacon Tree… Then a few days later, she received the branches in excitement. After that, several people saw her make a sword out of it within the smithy owned by her uncle. We also notice her use those two wooden swords in her daily sword training, somewhere there…"

The guard then pointed at the place where Stella would normally practice her sword.

Jillian frowned as she was unsure whether it was real or not. About the Beacon Tree, she heard about it already but she wasn't sure whether it has outstanding qualities. She had to confirm it with the Knights later.

"Are you sure that this is the sword she used during the fight against the Cultists?"

"Of course… The reason why she had to make such a request in the first place was due to its durability getting low…"

"Durability?"

"Yes… The original wooden sword must be on the verge of destruction that was why she immediately made a replacement."

"I see… That makes sense… Thanks for the information…"

"No worries… You didn't hear it from me, alright?"

Jillian only nodded in reply as she left the place.

She couldn't find Stella here so she plans to report to the Knight Captain in the meantime.

After that, she would probably wait outside their smithy until Stella's return.

***

[ Take Over ] could only last 40 seconds in its current level but it doesn't matter for Reiji since his enemies were only young wolf cubs.

Although it may be problematic if their parents joined in the battle, he could still use the trick to refresh the cooldown to have enough time.

'Stella… You have to watch carefully...'

'Yes, Master!'

Stella answered as she let her master use the [ Take Over ]. Then, she saw another shinai appearing on her other hand…

'Amazing… It was like during that last battle… It doesn't seem to be an illusion since it can deal real damage... As expected of a sentient Arcana.'

The young lady was impressed seeing such magical ability of an Arcana. She had never seen or heard something like this except her master…

Then, using her body, her master made a cross-sword stance which her master called Enkyoku…

This stance can be a very versatile form where it can be used for either offense or defense and Stella hadn't fully master this form… Her master said that it would be hard to train her combat skills without a proper training partner.

At the very least, she also has a very unique form of training which is that her master would take control over her body and show her the moves of a real swordsman.

--Ssak!

'Oops—'

She suddenly heard her master mutter something as his single strike sliced off the head of the wolf cub in front!

It seems that her master was similarly shocked as he didn't expect that the enemies wouldn't have a tough hide to take his single strike powered by her spiritual energy.

There was no time for Stella to appreciate her master's swift swordsmanship as she felt nervous after seeing the large wolf growl in anger!

'That's definitely a mid-grade Beast if not the top grade… Why are they even here?!'

Although Stella was sure that her master would not lose, she still felt indignant that a strong beast would be present within the vicinity of the forest.

They should be somewhere deep inside this forest!

***

At the Jarnae Village, Hendrick didn't remain idle after he met with the village's leaders.

He first visited the Arcanists Association to examine the "evil weapons" that the previous leaders of the cult owned.

Of course, these evil weapons weren't truly evil and were only called as such due to their history of being used to massacre innocent lives and their unknown written markings on their surface.

If not for the Knight's presence, they might've destroyed them already as it might bring them bad luck.

The other followers of the three-eyed imp might even come to retrieve them if they learned that the weapons were only sealed or locked away.

"Thank you for showing these to me… Please don't destroy them… I would like to have it studied in our headquarters if possible. Of course, I'm willing to pay the price."

The Arcanist who heard this was more than happy to get paid for those items. There were several deaths in their group as well and it would result in a shortage of income. The magic weapons were left to his management since the other leaders don't have any interest in these items with cursed history.

After making an agreement, the Knight continued going around the village.

He visited the Hunter Association's building to gather reports or evidence about the possible origin or true aim of the cultists that have suddenly appeared around the area.

"The Hunter Association should have a wider range of network… I want to know whether you received reports from other villages about the presence of the evil cult."

Hendrick asked the two-star Hunter or the branch head in this area.

"Of course… I'm willing to tell you everything…" The middle-aged man answered as he brought the Knight to his room and offered him a tea.

He wasn't wearing a Hunters uniform and only wore his normal clothes that can be seen being worn by the villagers as well. He seemed to be living with frugal life even though he has high ranking position.

Hendrick then heard the man say something as if he was talking to himself.

"I'm not sure what's happening in this area… There's a lot of disturbance recently… There was even a beast attack in Farahn Village just recently… Sigh~"

The Hunter then took a bunch of papers in his cabinet and placed them on the table.

"Anyway, these are all the reports I had in the past few days. Although the Hunters reported that they saw suspicious people in their villages, there were no signs that they could be members of the cult---"

"Wait, wait… You said something about the Farahn Village?"

"Ahh… Yes…"

"Sir… Isn't that a village on the other side of the forest?"

"Just call me Tanro, Sir Hendrick. And yes, you are correct about that… Are you interested in what happened? I heard that it happened during the trial of students in the Royal Academy…"

"I see… So they encountered a beast attack during their trial… Right, they must be new Arcane Students, it must've been a tough battle."

"Yes… But everything was under control since there are many 4th-Class Arcanists during that time… Wait… I remember that there were also traces of Beast Tamers found in the area based on their report… Do you think that it's connected?"

"Beast Tamers? From the Dukedom?! Is that reliable information?!"

"Where else can you find Inferno Wolves following orders from a human?" The two-star Hunter answered with a question...

"This…"

Hendrick only heard about this today… If there are really Beast Tamers in this area, then this is a matter of national security!

'Wait… How about Viscount Kale? Is he aware of this? Just what in the world is happening in this forest? Why is it attracting so much attention?'

The Knight Captain thought for a moment before he suddenly froze… He remembered something!

It was a rumor! Perhaps a story made to attract people to brave the forest…

A story that sounded like a fairy tale, it was about an Arcane Circle that was hidden inside this forest!

A Circle that could accommodate an almost infinite number of Arcana Bestowal Ceremony!