Reiji and Ayumi dealt with the minotaurs chasing their group.

Of course, this was through the help of Arcana's Take Over and multiple abilities that were used including the Void Slash…

​​

However, the crowd watching the lady didn't recognize the power of the shinai in her hands as they only saw her swiftly killing all twenty-four Minotaurs…

They are all stunned as the massacre happened so fast!

'Why did you run if you have that strength in the first place?!' Tamas wanted to ask but he thought that Ayumi was probably incapable of doing that numerous times.

It means that there should be a difficult requirement in order to accomplish that feat again. If she can do that every time, then Ayumi can probably fight a whole kingdom if she wanted to…

"Whoa! Miss Ayumi, you've really exceeded our expectations…" One of the half-imps exclaimed after seeing the approaching Ayumi.

"You're even using a blunt sword!"

"Yes, I bet that if you used a sharp sword, you'll kill them faster than that…"

"That's true… Are you just training yourself that's why you're insisting on using that bamboo sword?"

Everyone in the group praised Ayumi's abilities. Though they are also capable of fighting a minotaur… Perhaps they would be exhausted killing two or three alone… If they were pitted to fight 5 minotaurs alone at the same time, they would most likely die in the process.

"I'm just lucky with the terrain. They can't surround me while fighting them… Anyway, I also have a dimensional storage space, so I will be taking 5 more of the minotaurs… You guys can take the rest…"

"Ahh… Yes… We will be taking their horns and beast cores… Those two are the only important thing with them anyway."

"Oh… Is that so?" Ayumi replied as she proceeded on pulling the 5 beasts inside her master's void.

Then, she looked at the man who previously mentioned something about the tomb inside this forest.

"Y-yes? How can I help you, Miss Ayumi?"

The man stuttered after seeing the gorgeous lady stare at him.

"Tell me about the tomb you mentioned a while ago…"

"Oh… The one that the minotaurs should be guarding…" The man finally realized her intention. The others that heard their conversation also listened up.

They are aware of the existence of the tomb since it's a story passed down by their ancestors. However, they didn't find it interesting at all so they were curious whether this lady has some unique taste…

"Mhmm… We haven't seen the tomb as well, Miss Ayumi… However, there is a story about the tomb that the Minotaurs are guarding somewhere within this thick forest… They said that the entrance to the tomb was a mysterious red rock."

"A red rock? Why none of you decided to look for it then?" Ayumi asked.

"Well, if I remember it correctly, no one had ever seen a red rock there... Anyway, the story says that anyone who tried looking for it will have a horrible death… And even though we didn't believe it, it was also said that the tomb doesn't have a lot of valuables aside from personal journals of the dead and some old records or recipes of medicines that are popular a long time ago…"

"Isn't that enough of a reason to look for it?"

"That may be for the others that don't have to worry about the Beast Waves. However, I don't think that it will help us combat the Gryphons… It's better to use our resources to create weapons to fight against these beasts."

"I understand…"

Ayumi nodded as she realized that their priorities are indeed correct. Instead of looking for something that may not even be there, they should instead focus on their current needs.

Anyway, she continued asking about the minotaurs' lair from the other members of the group.

Then, she found out a bit about the story that was passed down to them. Apparently, a part of the story said that the tomb has a scent of alluring medicines that attracted the minotaurs of the forest. This made them build their base in the tomb's vicinity…

In the end, Ayumi learned that the minotaurs have three suspected lairs within the hills inside the huge mountain range.

Invading each of their territories with a hundred half-imps was definitely not enough… Perhaps, they have to bring all the elite forces of the three neighboring villages in order to conquer even just a single minotaur lair.

"Great… Thank you everyone for all the information. I think that you guys wouldn't have any issues from this point onward… Just continue your way back to the village. Just try not to engage in too many combats. If you can avoid them, just avoid them…"

"W-wait… Miss Ayumi, are you going to leave us?" Tamas asked after hearing her like this.

It's not like he's worried about his team's safety but he can't just leave her alone in a dangerous region. Perhaps if she's together with one or two more guardians like her, then he wouldn't be worried.

"Yes… I have plans. Just return to the village."

"I don't think it's a good idea to separate with our group… It would be better to move together. Are you planning to check out the minotaur's lairs? I can at least accompany you."

"No need… Just inform Ruthren about what happened. He'll decide whether it is needed to look for me…" Ayumi doesn't want to explain too much so she gave him an instruction instead.

It seems that it is actually effective as she finally discouraged Tamas from joining her…

"Very well, be careful on your way…"

Ayumi didn't wait for their reply as she rushed towards the forest and headed to the nearest hill where the minotaurs are gathered.

Tamas sighed as he looked at Ayumi's silhouette… He felt conflicted leaving her alone in such a dangerous place even if she's extremely strong.

Nevertheless, it is indeed better to ask for Ruthren's opinion since that man is probably enough to be sent as a rescuer if she truly needed one.

***

Meanwhile, as soon as Ayumi left their sight, the Shinai strapped on her waist floated in front of her.

It then sliced the air in front creating a tear on space.

Without any hesitation, the Sword Slave entered the dimensional storage created by the mysterious ability.

She left Reiji alone inside the forest as she knows that she would just be a bother to his master.

'Mhmm… Let's see…' Reiji surveyed the area and decided to increase his range.

Stealth and Traceless were immediately activated as the shinai flew higher to have a better look at the surroundings.

There were a few hills in the vicinity so he decided to check the closest one where the minotaurs were probably present.

The shinai descended at the nearby hill and focused his senses to look for the minotaur's lair…

It didn't take long for him to find them…

He found a group of 12 minotaurs equipped with a crude stone axe. They appear to be guarding the border of their territory without hiding their presence so none of them escaped Reiji's senses.

He then rushed towards the group… They only heard a whistling sound before realizing that something had just hit their head.

Pah! Pah! Pah!

The twelve minotaurs fell on the ground but they quickly kneeled on the ground after opening their eyes…

Sword Slave Marker was used!

They tried communicating with Reiji in their language but he didn't understand all of them… At the very least, he understands that they are paying respect to him…

He also didn't bother checking their status as he knows that they are just weak and will be killed later for his mission.

Reiji looked at the only Minotaur that seems to have high intelligence and was capable of speech.

"Lead me to your base…"

"Yes, Master…" The minotaur replied. The others can also understand Reiji but they are unable to communicate with him which is quite normal to Reiji.

"Good. By the way, why are you the only intelligent one in the group?"

"I have a perfect Beast Core, Master… The other's Beast Core are either imperfect or with defects."

"Eh? There's something like that, huh… I'll keep it in mind."

Reiji mused after hearing the minotaur's explanation. So their intelligence appears to be based on their Beast Cores, after all.

Finally, he realized that during the past years, he had only taken defective Evil Beasts as his Sword Slaves for quick use…

He already doubted that being incapable of communication with them is a normal thing, so hearing the minotaur's explanation had finally cleared the doubts in his mind.

"Right, have you seen a red rock in your lair or near your base? Or perhaps, do you know anything about a tomb somewhere in this forest."

"Red rock? Tomb? Hmm… I'm sorry, Master. There are no such things within the passed-down memories inside my Beast Core..."

The beast answered after browsing through his memories…

Now, Reiji had also realized that they have such convenient ability of just passing down their memories through their perfected Beast Cores.