I Reincarnated as a Shinai

"This?" Stella looked at the others.

She wanted to make sure that she wasn't the only one who felt it. Indeed, the others couldn't remain calm as they noticed the mysterious connection again.

"What?"

"In that direction!"

Rufus and Diether exclaimed as they managed to somehow find the origin of the mysterious connection.

The others also focused in the direction Diether pointed.

At this time, Stasis realized what was going on.

"If we walked there for two days, we will find the newest Dark Elf Town in that direction…" 

"Right, they have become active after Master Reiji went missing, they took several areas rich with resources… Perhaps almost half of their population moved outside to control these lands. I'm pretty sure they already created five towns."

Vinete added. This is known to half-imps like them but Diether and the others weren't aware of this.

"Towns, huh…" Stella muttered. She's thinking of possible things they could do to save their master…

They discussed things for a bit longer… About an hour had passed before they decided to meet again on the next day. 

Diether had to coordinate with the Sun Fire Knights and the Kingdom's Army before he could think of entering the chaotic lands. 

On the other hand, Stasis and his group also had to return since they have to meet with Reiji's Sword Servants…

"Sword Servants?" Diether asked.

"Ahhh… They're like Master Reiji's slaves or something like that. Unfortunately, only one of the human servants remained alive. It seems that if they got too far from Master, they would die in the process…" Mourad answered.

"Eh? If that's the case, we will have a way to find master Reiji. Do you know what's the limit of this distance?" Stella quickly asked. 

With all the magical things in this world, she was no longer surprised that such a thing is possible. So instead of asking about how Reiji did it, she'd rather ask about the details of this limit.

However, Stasis only wryly smiled as they weren't aware as well, including the servants who are bound by this magic.

In the end, they could only leave it at that and go on separate ways in the meantime.

***

In the Isengard Fortress, Stella and her group discussed their future plans. 

"What? You guys are planning to visit that scary place?" Yasmin asked as she hesitated for a bit. 

After doing several missions and meeting various Hunters and Arcanists on the road, she heard about the terrible things happening within the Chaotic Land. 

Unfortunately, once they entered that place, not only would they have to face the Dark Elves, but also other intelligent Evil Beasts…

"That's dangerous… I have to go with you guys…" Aria said after thinking for a while.

"There's no need, sister… We can do this, it's not like we will be fighting against the Dark Elf King… Now that we somehow regained the mysterious connection with our Master, we would just confirm his current condition. If our master doesn't need help, we would just leave…"

Diether replied as he tried to make their mission less dangerous. However, Aria wouldn't buy that.

"What if your Master is in trouble? That's a half-step deity, you know? Shouldn't you ask for the Knight Champion's help?"

"Haa~ It's complicated… Knight Champions and First-Class Arcanists aren't allowed to leave the Kingdom without the authority of the King. And even if we ask for his help, I don't think Sir Sayel would be a match to the Dark Elf King."

"What? Then wouldn't you guys be the same? What if this dark elf king noticed your presence? There's no way he wouldn't be able to sense you, right?"

Aria asked in worry. She indeed has a point but Stella and the others had, of course, realized this already.

"Don't worry, we also have a unique connection to our Master… It should be some kind of Arcane Magic. Anyway, as long as we reach a distance where we could communicate with our Master, then we'll be following his instructions."

"That's right… We also felt the connection with Master Reiji at the nearest town built by the Dark Elves… It's not in the forest where the Half-Step Deity lives… So we should be safe if we're careful…"

This finally made Aria give up on persuading Diether not to go…

Lyrei and Yasmin were also rejected to join their cause as they wanted to make this mission only exclusive with Kendo Practitioners. 

"Hmph! I know how to deal with the Dark Elves… I'm also immune to their curses. Are you sure you don't need our help?" Lyrei couldn't help but remind them of her worth.

"Of course, you will be helpful… However, we still need someone to be here in case something happened to us. Perhaps consider sending a rescue team if we didn't manage to return in a month or so?" Diether answered with a smile. 

They chatted for a bit longer before they decided to go together to the market to purchase all the things they needed. They have to be ready for the things that may happen there after all.

On the next day, Diether and Rufus reported their findings of the Dark Elves and announced that they are planning to investigate more about the current situation of the Chaotic Land.

General Julian and Sayel didn't reject their plans as they have already noticed Stella and Diether's special relationship…

They allowed them to travel there and report whatever they could find.

As for the existence of the half-step deity, they decided not to report it for now since there was no conclusive evidence at all. 

"Right… I heard that there's already a group of powerful Arcanists who visited that place… Unfortunately, from their group of 10 elite Second-Class Arcanists and 30 Third-Class Arcanists, only six Second-Class managed to return alive. They returned to the capital but I didn't hear much about the purpose or the result of their mission…" Sayel suddenly said which greatly surprised Diether…

"What? Something like that happened?"

"Yes… It happened just recently… Anyway, I heard that the leader of this group holds the Sacred Sword that was previously stuck on a stone… I wonder how they still lose with that sword." Sayel calmly said which only added to Diether and Rufus' shock.