I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 41: Promotion Exam(1)

The sun rising from beyond the mountain illuminated the world brightly. 

The vast granary fields shimmered in golden light under the sun’s rays.

The wind swept across the corpses of soldiers, creating an eerie sound, almost like the weeping of the dead.

However, the dead did not speak. The sound that resembled a mournful sigh of the deceased was merely a coincidence, the faint wind passing through the soldiers’ armor.

Four Azure Wings stood overlooking the bodies of the soldiers.

“Clean kills.”

“Their expressions hardly changed. They didn’t even realize what was happening to them until the moment they died.”

“There’s much to learn.”

I carefully observed the reactions of the three. These were individuals who had dedicated their entire lives to the sword. 

Even after surviving death themselves, they focused on capturing the traces left behind by a master.

Hatred for the Reincarnator and the relentless pursuit of greater heights. Which of the two motivated them more? I didn’t bother to ask.

When we arrived at Silverhill Estate, the situation had already been resolved. Jerold had dealt with everyone remaining in the mansion.

Those who resisted with weapons had their heads severed and displayed in the city square. Once everything was settled, Jerold mounted the griffon he had arrived on.

Theo asked, “A-Are you leaving already?”

“Matters related to the Reincarnator fall under the jurisdiction of you Azure Wings. My role here is finished.”

With that, a powerful gust of wind erupted. The massive griffon began to flap its wings and ascended into the sky. Known as the ruler of the skies, the griffon surged forward, tearing through the air, creating a vast distance in an instant.

The Empire sent its people about two weeks after that. During that time, we stayed in the mansion and conducted a meticulous investigation into everything related to the Reincarnator.

Suspicious items were set aside for collection, and those who knowingly concealed the identity of the Reincarnator were imprisoned in the mansion’s underground dungeon.

After the handover process was complete, the return date approached. We mounted our horses to head back.

I drifted through a deep dream for a long time. My head felt heavy. I knew I had been dreaming for a long time, but the memories left behind were faint.

When I got up, I moved to the window. Thick curtains were drawn, blocking the sunlight.

Shhhk-

With a light motion, I pulled the curtains open, revealing the headquarters’ training grounds, unchanged from usual. Morning training had already begun, as seniors ran laps around the field.

Returning members from missions were exempted from training routines. 

Opening the window, I took a deep breath. Fresh air filling my lungs stirred the aching tension throughout my body.

Mana imbued with cold energy coursed through me, examining the damage within. 

My vital energy channels were severely strained, remnants of the forceful attempts to expel internal energy that had invaded my body.

The state of my muscles was even worse. They had torn and healed repeatedly, leaving behind excruciating pain.

“I overdid it.”

Leaning against the windowsill, I tried to piece together the fragmented memories. 

The last thing I remembered was stumbling back to Azure Wings Headquarters in a daze.

I wasn’t sure if I had properly completed the mission report.

“Hopefully, my merits weren’t reduced…”

It was hard to say if the mission could even be considered successfully completed. 

After all, I had to request reinforcements from the Empire at a critical moment. Still, regrets lingered.

I used the White Dragon Core Technique to dull the pain in my body, then picked up a short sword lying on the table. 

It was a trophy I had taken from the mission—an Azure River Sword-style blade used by the Baron of Silverhill.

Shriiing-

As the blade was drawn, a cold azure light scattered from it. Watching the gleaming edge, I rotated my wrist, extending the sword outward.

Swish-

The tip of the blade wavered as it cut through the air. The balance between the sword and my body was off. The weight distribution was uneven, and the grip was excessively large.

It was only natural. This sword had been crafted specifically for the Baron. 

No matter how much of his memory I absorbed, it was impossible to wield it properly with an incompatible body.

Letting out a sigh, I sheathed the sword.

Swish, clack-

I felt no regret. What I truly sought was not the sword itself but the memories contained within it. Something far more valuable than the weapon had been gained.

A distinguished lineage of swordsmen had built their towering reputation over generations, shaping a mental world through the weapon and projecting it outward via the blade.

A technique that dominated space itself by manifesting one’s inner world—a concept closer to sorcery than swordsmanship.

I left my room when the sun was already high in the sky. On my way to the dining hall for lunch, I ran into my peers.

Judging by their direction, they seemed to be heading to the dining hall as well. 

A natural smile formed on my lips as I ran straight over, inserting myself between them.

“Let’s go together.”

“Saeorin?”

“Huh?”

The three of us chatted as we always did. We talked about plans for the upcoming holiday, and how to allocate our limited free time. 

Aside from Theo and Flora, there were no other recruits in our cohort. With our similar ages, it was natural for the three of us to stick together.

But my thoughts were different.

“As the eldest, I should look out for them.”

Though they were taller than me, I saw the two as younger siblings.

Our peaceful lunch was interrupted by commotion near the dining hall entrance. A group of people who had been eating suddenly stood and rushed out.

Our gazes naturally turned toward the entrance.

“What’s going on?”

“They just left without finishing their meals.”

Chewing on bread, I focused on the breeze. Faint words carried in the wind reached my ears.

“Mission, return, death, failure.”

A string of overwhelmingly negative terms. My body stiffened, and I shot to my feet. A foreboding sense of unease gripped me.

“Saeorin?”

“Wait…”

My ominous premonition was correct. What awaited me and my peers was the sight of seniors who appeared to have just returned from a mission.

The usually immaculate uniforms were torn, and some swords were broken. Bandages were wrapped around their bodies, leaving no part unscathed.

Raynard’s condition stood out the most. My gaze was drawn to his empty left hand. Where his arm should have been was nothing but loose fabric, his sleeve flapping in the wind like a cloak.

“Oh, rookies. Were you eating?”

Raynard, sensing the trio’s stares, greeted us with his usual friendliness. 

His narrowed eyes curved softly in his typical manner, and his intact right hand waved lightly, which only emphasized his missing left hand.

“Senior… that arm…”

“Sorry, Saeorin. I let your enemy get away.”

I felt a lump in my throat. He was missing an arm, yet he apologized for failing to kill my enemy. How could he remain so composed? How could he smile like that?

Raynard was a dual-swordsman, a master of wielding two blades. Losing one arm was akin to losing more than half his combat ability.

“What… What on earth happened? And your arm…”

“Raynard-senior, your arm…”

“Ah… He was very strong,” Raynard replied.

He briefly explained what had transpired.

The extermination mission had failed. A squad had been dispatched to eliminate the Reincarnator Hayato, but they suffered a crushing defeat and had to retreat. Not everyone made it back alive.

Raynard, a mid-level knight, had lost his left arm. Of the two high-ranking knights accompanying him, both had died. Even the most senior member, the vice-commander, returned severely injured.

After delivering the shocking news, Raynard stood up.

“Well, I’ll get going. I still have to write my report.”

The three of us remained frozen in place for a long while. I was particularly shaken.

I had thought the Azure Wings were the strongest group, an invincible force that would never lose. I believed my nemesis, Hayato, would meet his end at their hands.

But that wasn’t the case. Even the vice-commander, with his overwhelming aura of authority, had returned in defeat.

I turned to Flora and asked, “Flora.”

“Yeah?”

“All the vice-commanders are supposed to be equally skilled, right?”

“That’s what Kanok-vice commander said, isn’t it? He mentioned the other vice-commanders are on par with him.”

I asked just in case. Perhaps the vice-commander assigned to this mission had been unusually weak. But that couldn’t be true. The revenge I thought was within reach now felt impossibly distant.

***

That evening, I headed to the training grounds. My hair, restored to its natural white, shimmered under the moonlight.

I didn’t know just how powerful my enemy was, but now I understood one thing:

“I’m not enough.”

My current abilities were woefully insufficient. Even a figure as powerful as a vice-commander, with his overwhelming authority, had failed to bring down Hayato.

And he hadn’t gone alone. High-ranking and mid-ranking knights had accompanied him. Despite their combined efforts, they had been defeated.

“By just one man.”

I needed to grow stronger—stronger than even the vice-commanders of the Imperial Knights.

As my blade sliced forward with increasing ferocity, it carried an air of domination. The frosty blade exhaled white frost, tracing an arc across the sky as icy energy expanded outward, filling the empty space.

Lost in rage, I continued to swing my sword until I sensed someone’s presence. It was a familiar figure—Flora.

“Saeorin?”

My gaze swept over Flora’s attire. She wore a lightweight outfit for ease of movement, her tied-up hair exposing the back of her neck.

With a sword strapped to her waist, it was clear she had also come out to train. We had the same purpose.

I stepped aside and raised my sword.

There was no need for words; we understood each other. As Flora gave a light smile and pushed off the ground, our blades met with a crisp clash.

Clang!