'What is this guy saying?'

Stella asked while still looking at the kneeling Caiden.

​​

'Mhmm… It is about the Spiritual Pressure that we've encountered a while ago… Aren't you curious how did they pass that area?'

'Ahh… Now that you said it… The Spiritual Pressure wouldn't just appear without a reason and they should've dealt with that as well.'

Stella replied as she felt that without enough preparations, these Tamers wouldn't be able to pass that area easily.

'That's right… He left it there to obstruct their pursuers. It seems that these stones are their target this time.'

'Really?'

'Yes. He has a method to detect that stone even though it's in your bag. He must have a Magic Item that helps him with that.'

'That makes sense. I wonder if he has more of that stone with him.'

'You can check it in his bag… Hurry.'

'Alright, Master.'

Stella replied as she walked in front of the Tamer… Caiden was already heavily injured and in a weakened state after his beast art has ended. There was no way he can fight back.

Aside from that, all the beasts that they've tamed were also being downed one by one by the hunters and arcanists at the back…

Thud!

Stella used a bit of her strength to strike Caiden down. As soon as he went unconscious, Reiji urged her to do something.

'Check the bag on his chest…'

The young girl didn't ask any questions as she just followed Reiji.

'There's only a few things here, rings, stones, gems, and papers.'

'Take that three identical stones with you.'

'Eh? Alright, Master…'

She had seen the stones and found them familiar with the ones that they found when they explored the Crypt Crawlers Lair…

Of course, it was also similar to the stone that they discovered behind a stone pillar a while ago.

As she pocketed the stones, the Knights who were also exhausted did their best to stand up and approach Stella.

They quickly expressed their gratitude as it made her a bit embarrassed. She was just watching her master do everything so she felt a bit awkward.

Anyway, she'll just think that they are referring to her fight against the Phantom Wolf so she wouldn't feel guilty.

"Thank you, Stella… Without your help, we would surely fail our mission here…"

"That's right… I'll repay you once we returned to the village…"

"Are you drinking already? Let's have a drink after this!"

"Ulysses, she's just fourteen…"

Stella chuckled a bit as she similarly thanked them for their hard work.

"Right, Sir Hendrick. I took a couple of mysterious stones from his bag…"

The young girl said as she was sure that they saw her took something out of Caiden's bag…

It would be better to tell them about it now than to be asked later.

"Stones?"

"These two…"

Stella answered as she showed the stones to them. As per her Master, it wouldn't be a problem to let them inspect it…

As a matter of fact, Reiji wanted them to identify it if possible.

Hendrick and Lord Castillo took a glance at the two but they couldn't find anything special on the stones…

They touched them and scrutinized every single detail of the stones. They then poured some Spiritual Energy on them but nothing happened…

'Mhmm… What is this thing?' Hendrick and Castillo have the same question in their minds.

"Stella… Do you know what these stones are?"

"Eh… No. I don't know anything about it, that's why I collected them. I'm curious." Stella answered after thinking for a moment.

"Hmm… I'm not sure as well. How about you, Lord Castillo?"

"I can't feel any response from this item after I used a couple of investigative skills." The noble Arcanist answered.

"It must be something precious if Caiden kept it in his bag or perhaps, the stones are Magic Items that were burnt out…" Hendrick muttered.

"Ahh! I know something similar…" Misha exclaimed.

There are indeed Magic Items that can only be used once or perhaps a few times before they would be destroyed or become unusable.

"I see… That makes sense."

The stones might be something similar so everyone immediately nodded after hearing a plausible explanation.

"Alright… You guys have rested enough. Let's wrap this up…" Hendrick clapped his hands as he took everyone's attention.

"Are we going to kill them?"

"Let's leave a few of them alive."

Hendrick said after thinking for a while.

As much as he hated these people for troubling them, they still need to investigate as thoroughly as they can…

***

Stella looked around and saw that everyone was having a rest.

From the twenty people who participated in this mission, only 8 of them can still freely move. The others were injured externally or internally…

If they want to move and leave this cave, everyone needs to recover their health as they were still unsure if they'll encounter some Evil Beast horde along the way.

It would be too dangerous if only a few of them can fight.

As for their vision enhancement tonic, its effect was about to run out so they lit some lights to brighten up the place.

Stella marveled at the sight of the carvings on the cave walls.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

"Ahh... Yes, Lord Castillo… I heard that you've exhausted all your Spiritual Energy a while ago."

"That's true. I'm fine now…"

"That's good to hear… By the way, do you know anything about this place?'

Stella asked as it seems that the Arcanists weren't too surprised about this cave.

"Well… We have many clues about this place and I believe that everyone else already realized this…"

"Eh? So it's only me who's not aware?"

"That's fine… You're still too young. Anyway, this place must be one of the Orc's sacred places before… If you considered the size of the path, you can tell that this is a place where they worship their god…"

The Arcanist paused for a moment as he looked at the fascinated Stella. He then continued explaining.

"The Spiritual Pressure that we felt a while ago must be from a remnant presence of the god. Well, I'm not too sure… It can also be an item that is related to a divine being."

"Really?!" Stella was surprised upon hearing his explanation…

"Haha… Sorry. I'm just exaggerating… I can't guarantee such a thing. I don't know where the Spiritual Pressure came from, however, my speculation about this place as the previous sacred place of the Orc must be true..."

Stella smiled wryly after hearing this.

Lord Castillo then asked another question.

"Have you heard about the rumors in this forest?"

"Rumors?"

The young girl shakes her head.

"I see… The rumors about the Wailing Forest and the mysterious stone… You've never heard of it?"

"No, I'm sorry…"

"It's okay…"

Lord Castillo said as he looks at her belt bag…

This is where her potions were placed including the stones that her master wanted to collect.

"What about this mysterious stone?" Stella asked.

"Well, I heard many rumors about it and it came to the point where we could no longer identify the true story… However, there is one thing in common in all the rumors that we've gathered, it is about the bright stone that appears to have magical effects. The stories being spread around said that it can control the minds of people and summon a Cursed Arcana. There was even a story about the stone taking the souls of innocent people and many others."

The nobleman said as he looked at Stella seriously…

"Ahh… Thank you for sharing the story with me, Lord Castillo."

The man only looked at Stella as he asked another question.

"Are you sure you're not aware of the origin of the stones that you've taken?"

As soon as Stella heard his question, she immediately understood what was happening.

'Haa~~ He's suspicious about my goal for getting those stones…. Master, he's trying to find out my true intention...'

'Well, just tell him the truth. You don't know anything about the stone. Just be firm.'

'Alright. That's the truth, anyway.'

Stella replied to Reiji. She took a deep breath to calm herself and to make sure not to stutter while answering the noble.

"Sir Castillo, I assure you that I don't know anything about the stone… I'm really just curious about it. As Sir Hendrick said, this stone must be from a burnt-out Magic Item."

The noble went silent for a moment as he looked at the carvings on the cave wall…

"Very well… I believe you. You should take a quick rest. After all, we'll most likely leave this place after about half an hour."

"I understand."

Lord Castillo left just like that and went to help the other Arcanists treat their wounds.

As Stella heaved a sigh of relief, she heard a commotion from where their prisoners are gathered…

"What's happened?!" Hendrick asked after seeing the unmoving body of the leader of the Red Wolf Gang.

"Captain! He consumed poison to kill himself!"