I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 40: The Emperor’s Sword (4)

“It’s coming.”

“There’s no time to rest…!”

At Andrew’s words, Theo grumbled and dashed across the golden plains. They had tried changing clothes and splitting into two groups to evade pursuit. However, those efforts were meaningless.

The enemies pursued them as if they already knew where Azure Wings was heading. 

There wasn’t a moment of hesitation in their chase. After a sleepless night, dawn was now slowly breaking.

They had sent a signal to the Empire requesting assistance, but no reply had come yet.

“It seems the enemy has someone blessed with tracking abilities.”

“Damn it…! Don’t you have something, senior?”

Theo’s complaint made Andrew fall silent. He, too, had been blessed by the world at birth. Unfortunately, his blessing was of no use in this situation.

“What about you?”

“I…”

Theo shut his mouth. He did have a way to turn the situation around. If he used the blessing he had received, he could shake off the pursuers entirely.

But the risk was enormous. Ludicrously so.

‘One of my futures would disappear…’

Theo made up his mind. Whether he died here after being caught by them or lost a fixed future, the outcome of not reaching their goal would be the same.

Just as Theo’s hand reached for the golden thread of fate, a piercing cry echoed across the dawning sky, reverberating through the entire world. It was sharp, high-pitched, and resonated with a majestic timbre.

“…Finally, it’s here.”

Theo and Andrew looked up at the sky. It was a sound no imperial citizen could fail to recognize—the cry of the griffon, the symbol of the Karma Empire.

A massive bird silhouetted against the faint morning light flew toward them. Its eyes, exuding the bravery of a lion, surveyed the ground, and a mighty wind followed in its wake.

Swoosh—

The wind shifted direction. The pursuers halted in their tracks, and the fleeing Azure Wings slowed down. The faint light of dawn illuminated the griffon.

There was no one riding it.

Theo, unable to hide his confusion, asked, “There’s no one on it…?”

“They’ve already dismounted,” Andrew replied.

As he finished speaking, a dark shadow moved faintly across the vast golden plains.

When the shadow passed by the soldiers of the Silverhill territory, a wave of death swept through them.

Theo’s eyes widened. He couldn’t even perceive the sword strikes. The soldiers fell the moment it passed. It kept happening, over and over.

The soldiers probably only understood their deaths at the very last moment. Their expressions changed as they collapsed.

Step—

The blurry shadow’s form became distinct. Accompanied by a faint breeze, a man clad entirely in black appeared. His pale skin and red eyes stood out, and his black uniform fluttered like a shadow.

At that moment, a soft wind blew as the massive griffon landed behind the man.

With his mouth partially covered by a mask, the man spoke.

“I’ve come in response to the high-level support request. I am Jerold, Vice-Captain of the Shadow Knights.”

Theo stared blankly at the man before him. He had slaughtered nearly two hundred soldiers without a single drop of blood staining him. His skill was terrifying.

‘He feels different from Vice-Captain Kanok…’

“But it’s strange. A high-level support request usually dispatches personnel of my rank. You must have known this…”

Jerold’s doubt was understandable. If there had only been two hundred well-trained soldiers, the personnel already dispatched here could have handled it. As Theo opened his mouth to explain, Andrew stepped in.

“We split into two teams. The Reincarnator followed the other group.”

Hearing this, Jerold gazed into the distance. His red eyes glowed ominously for a moment before his figure vanished in an instant.

“He, he disappeared…”

“Phew…”

Only then did Andrew breathe a sigh of relief and slump to the ground. The ripe grains scattered around him.

“Should we follow them?”

“No need. We wouldn’t be much help anyway. It’ll probably be over before we even arrive. Better to recover our strength here.”

Theo nodded at his senior’s words and lay flat on the ground. His Azure Wings uniform was dirty, but he didn’t care.

“But… are we just going to leave that thing alone?”

At Theo’s question, Andrew looked at the massive griffon. It had folded its wings and was sitting calmly, its armor gleaming in the faint light.

“It’ll take care of itself…”

Cryeeek!

Saeorin and Flora ran through the mountains, their breaths rough and ragged. 

A steep path stretched endlessly before them, forcing them to leap over rugged cliffs and cross rushing streams as they pressed onward.

My stamina was nearing its limit. Clutching the sword in my hand even tighter, I struggled to regulate my heavy breathing.

Splitting the group into two teams had seemed like a good idea. I thought we might have a moment to catch our breath once we shook off our pursuers. But no. The enemies caught up again almost immediately.

“Wahahahaha! How long do you plan to run? Show me more of your strength!”

A voice infused with internal energy reverberated across the entire mountain. It was so loud that small animals darted away in terror.

“Crazy bastard…”

At Flora’s muttered words, I nodded. Baron exuded confidence. If he were to fully unleash his abilities, neither I nor Flora would stand a chance; we’d be captured in an instant.

But Baron didn’t do that. He kept just enough distance to give us a sliver of hope, only to keep it dangling beyond our reach. Was it the arrogance of a strong man, or a sadistic hobby?

“Flora.”

“…What?”

Her reply came slowly. She was reaching her limit too. The occasional stumble hinted at an injury, likely to her ankle, sustained while fighting Baron earlier.

“Go ahead.”

“What…?”

Stopping abruptly, I spoke. What would my sister, Saeran, have done in this situation? I had agonized over it while fleeing because this body wasn’t truly mine.

“Saeran…”

Swallowing hard, I uttered my final words.

“I’ll hold them off here. Go and get reinforcements. I won’t die anyway… You heard what they said, didn’t you?”

“That…!”

There was no time for argument. I immediately drew a sword—not my White Dragon Sword, but the one Baron had been using.

Yet it felt familiar. Memories etched into my mind and experiences embedded in this body made the blade feel natural.

The unsheathed sword spun lightly, scattering a faint blue light. The approaching dawn illuminated the blade, its radiance scattering into the air. Facing the oncoming wind, I left Flora with a final command.

“Go! Quickly!”

As long as you’re alive, there’s always a chance. The fury buried deep within me burned even hotter.

“Looking at you, I can tell! You’re lacking in lightness skills!”

Lightness techniques—martial arts designed to traverse great distances more effectively. While I understood the concept from the memories of another world, I lacked knowledge of specific techniques.

‘He’s coming…’

The air grew heavy. A vast and oppressive aura blanketed the entire forest.

How many moves could I hold out against? Glancing back, I saw Flora finally begin to run, her earlier hesitation dissipating. Thank goodness. A girl around my sister’s age shouldn’t have to die like this.

Resolving myself, I drew upon the last vestiges of mana within me. Without internal energy, I couldn’t use the Emperor’s Sword Technique any longer.

Blue mana followed the White Dragon Heart’s flow, transforming into icy frost. Frost began to form along the blade, starting from its tip, which had been emitting a blue glow.

Sssss…

As if to block the light of dawn, a dark shadow descended from the sky.

Chwaaang!

A shockwave erupted, strong enough to send me flying. As I crouched low to stabilize myself, a figure emerged from the shadow. Jerold.

“Who are you?”

Baron’s question went unanswered. Jerold’s crimson eyes glinted as he surveyed the scene, taking in the fleeing girls bearing the Azure Wings insignia.

The situation was clear. It was the shadow’s duty to punish those who threatened the Empire.

“I don’t know what kind of spirit you are, but this is a matter within my domain. You’d be wise to mind your own business and…”

Baron’s voice boomed, shaking the air as he tried to assert dominance. But it was futile. Jerold raised his sword and replied coldly.

“Your death.”

Jerold’s pronouncement of doom caused Baron’s face to flush red with fury.

Clang!

Their swords clashed in a flash of lightning, filling the air with sparks. Jerold’s strikes, swift and shadowy, summoned dark clouds across the sky.

“Urgh…!”

As the heavens darkened, Baron’s expression grew equally grim. Each clash drained the strength from his overwhelming sword techniques and diminished the oppressive aura he once commanded.

“C-Coward…! You used poison…!”

Jerold paused, tilting his head as if genuinely puzzled.

“In a fight for survival, who cares about cowardice?”

Baron opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, Jerold disappeared. In a straight line, a shadow streaked across the sky, like ink smearing over a painting of the azure heavens.

Skkkt!

The monarch’s head fell, and the blue sky was swallowed by dark clouds.

“Ha…”

Only then could I let out a sigh of relief.