I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 44: The Adenia Pursuit (1)

The Azure Wings promotion exam had concluded. I returned to my quarters with my peers. 

Although the final results hadn’t been announced, the reactions during the duels had been positive.

The senior members had said that, barring any unusual circumstances, all three of us were likely to be promoted to mid-level members. They even congratulated us. Yet, I couldn’t fully accept their words of praise.

“Growing pains?”

I tilted my head, staring at the mirror. Cultural differences aside, I wasn’t particularly upset that Raynard didn’t understand the White Frost Tribe’s customs.

It wasn’t his ignorance that bothered me—it was his words.

I knew what growing pains felt like. I remembered the dull aches that spread through my body, the odd creaking sensation in my joints during my youth.

“Strange…”

It didn’t make sense. Nearly a year had passed since I was reborn into Saeran’s body. I had been mindful of her nutrition, eating balanced meals, and I exercised daily to stimulate her growth plates.

And yet, her body hadn’t grown at all. Her height remained the same, her muscles showed no noticeable increase, and no physical development had occurred.

Why? My peers who joined the Azure Wings at the same time as me were growing day by day.

Take Theo, for example. In the past few months, he had grown significantly. What had once been a small difference of about a finger’s length in height had now become a full handspan. His body was filling out with muscle, gradually shedding the look of a boy.

“And her chest too…”

Flora was no exception. She had also grown from a young girl into an attractive woman.

Compared to them, Saeran’s body—my current form—was completely stagnant. Her chest hadn’t developed at all, remaining as flat as ever. For her age, this was impossible.

“Hmmm…”

That evening, I received the feather badge that marked my promotion to a mid-level member. 

Without delay, I headed to the infirmary. I rarely visited the infirmary, so the physician on duty looked startled when I arrived.

“Here because of today’s duel?”

“No.”

It wasn’t because of the duel. I shook my head.

“My body isn’t growing.”

“Uh…?”

The physician tilted his head, scrutinizing me. He knew most of the Azure Wings members’ basic profiles, including mine.

Name: Saeorin. Age: 15. Compared to others my age, my frame was indeed smaller, but it didn’t seem like a serious issue. After all, delayed puberty wasn’t unheard of.

Still, with me—a future star of the Azure Wings—expressing concern, the physician decided to investigate. Together, we conducted a basic physical examination.

The examination didn’t take long. The results were clear: no abnormalities. I was perfectly healthy. Stroking his chin, the physician spoke.

“There’s nothing wrong with your body. I suspect it might be psychological.”

“Psychological?”

“It’s not a definitive diagnosis. Mental health isn’t my specialty…”

“Hmm…”

I nodded. It was true that the mind had a profound influence on the body. The White Frost Tribe’s shamanic magic often operated on similar principles. 

Perhaps my soul residing in Saeran’s body was causing some sort of side effect.

“Thank you.”

Although it wasn’t a perfect solution, I felt somewhat relieved. I rummaged through my pocket and handed the physician a candy.

“Here, as thanks.”

With that, I walked out of the infirmary.

***

My next destination was the library. It housed a wide variety of books to aid the members’ studies. I had often visited this place when Flora taught me to read.

Even though it was late in the evening, the library was bustling with members. I moved quietly, pulling a large ladder cart around.

I searched for books related to the mind, the body, and shamanic magic. Now that I could read on my own, I no longer needed Flora’s help.

My small hands flipped through pages rapidly, scanning the dense text on the worn paper.

Becoming a mid-level member didn’t immediately change life at Azure Wings Headquarters. While I no longer ran as many errands for the seniors, that was about it.

I still shared meals with my peers.

“Wow… Look at this. Two feathers now…”

Theo spent the entire meal flaunting the mid-level badge newly affixed to his shoulder. He puffed on it and polished it incessantly.

I watched him quietly. Why was he so excited over something as trivial as a mid-level promotion? The other promoted members acted as usual. Only Theo was this exuberant.

Unable to contain herself, Flora finally said, “Is it really that great?”

“Holidays abroad! Isn’t it obvious? We get a pay raise too, and now we can take trips outside the country!”

Holidays abroad. The words brought back memories of the siblings I had left behind in the snow-covered mountains. I had come this far fueled by vengeance, unable to properly retrieve their remains at the time.

But now, things were different. I had grown stronger, both in power and knowledge, than I was in the past. If given the chance, I wanted to visit my homeland again and build proper graves for them.

“Theo, how much time do we get for a vacation?”

“Um… I think it’s a month per year? But not right away. We just got promoted, so we can’t use it for now.”

If he hadn’t mentioned it, I might not have even thought about it. I made a mental note of the vacation policy.

After finishing our meal, the three of us naturally headed to the training grounds. Spending time together had become second nature.

It feels like I’m with my brothers again…

I wasn’t sure how Theo or Flora felt, but that’s how I perceived it. After risking our lives together and crossing the brink of death multiple times, a bond beyond mere camaraderie had taken root in my heart.

That evening, as I returned to my room after training, I found an envelope waiting at my door. The seal of the Azure Wings marked it unmistakably as mission orders.

I picked it up and entered my room, quickly opening the envelope to review its contents. My eyes, as cold as the winter moon, skimmed over the details of the target.

Name: Partman.

Age: 20.

Male.

Background: A commoner whose Reincarnator identity was revealed by a coworker at his workplace.

Notes: It has been less than six months since he regained his past life memories. Origin listed as Korea.

Korea…

After killing several coworkers, Partman fled and is currently hiding in the Adenia Forest. Tracking him has proven difficult.

Due to the need for skilled tracking in the wilderness, I was selected for this mission. Interestingly, I was the sole operative dispatched—my first solo mission.

I looked out the window. Moonlight spilled gently into the room, carried by the cold breeze.

Since I couldn’t sleep anyway, there was no reason to delay. I donned my uniform, grabbed a bag I had stashed away, and packed it with spare clothes, provisions, and medical supplies.

Later that evening, I departed from Azure Wings Headquarters alone. 

The chill of the winter wind wrapped around me gently as I stepped into the night.

***

The sun’s rays swept lazily across the vast plains, chasing away the shadows. Beneath the rushing light, a lone figure on horseback sped forward.

I unfolded a map from my small bag. The wind tugged at its edges as I rode, but it didn’t hinder me much.

Almost there.

I had been riding non-stop for two weeks, occasionally switching horses at relay stations. 

Sleep had been brief and infrequent. The cold winter air reminded me of my time as a hunter traversing the snowfields.

This would be the final stretch. Tightening my grip on the reins, I urged the horse into a gallop. Together, we raced forward like light piercing the horizon.

Before long, I arrived at the edge of Adenia Forest. As I approached the entrance with my horse in tow, figures emerged to meet me.

Their breathing was steady, and their steps balanced. They suppressed their presence intentionally, though their lack of combat strength was evident. These were not warriors but individuals trained for intelligence gathering.

We recognized each other immediately. The emblem of the Karma Empire on their chests was unmistakable.

Relaxing my guard, I dismounted from the horse and introduced myself.

“Mid-level member Saeorin of the Azure Wings.”

“Agent Red Gryphon 3 of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau. Due to department policy, I can’t disclose my name. I ask for your understanding.”

“Agent Red Gryphon 4, same affiliation and restrictions.”

We exchanged light conversation, during which they shared additional information. 

There had been no significant movements from the target. Since fleeing, the Reincarnator had not been sighted.

“Let’s move immediately,” I said.

“You’re heading in now…?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, I stepped into the forest. The distinctive dampness and earthy scent of the woods enveloped me. My boots squelched against the mud, sticking slightly with every step.

It’s warm…

Even in the heart of winter, the forest was uncomfortably warm. A small bead of sweat trickled down my cheek.