I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 26: Knights’ Competition (6)

When I awoke, I immediately noticed how much better my body felt.

‘A lot of time must have passed.’

For my body, which had been in terrible shape, to recover to this extent meant a significant amount of time had gone by. Rising from bed, I walked to the window and pulled back the curtains.

Gentle sunlight streamed from the sky, and the breeze softly rustled the tree branches. When I opened the window, the fresh air that flowed in was invigorating.

It was morning.

The tournament had been in full swing around 3 PM the previous day. The cool morning wind told me the competition day had already passed.

[Knock, knock]

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Turning toward the sound, I opened the door, recalling the faint memory of Flora helping me back to my room.

Standing in front of the door was Flora. Without hesitation, I spoke.

“What happened to the tournament?”

“Is that really the first thing you ask?”

“I couldn’t hold back my curiosity…”

“Well, you seem fine enough.”

Ignoring the fact that I hadn’t invited her in, Flora stepped into my room and casually sat on the bed.

“The lower-ranked knights’ matches ended last night. Right now, the senior knights are competing.”

“And my remaining matches…?”

“Of course, you forfeited.”

I closed my eyes at Flora’s response, frustration welling up inside me—not because I lost, but because I couldn’t face my next opponent.

But what could I do? It was my mistake. I had poured everything into one match without considering what lay ahead. It was proof that I was still lacking.

Letting out a deep sigh to expel the negative emotions bubbling within, a thought crossed my mind—I was curious about my friends’ performances.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t had the chance to watch their matches since I was too focused on my own.

“Flora, how did you do?”

“Hmm… not bad. Though I didn’t make it far before being eliminated.”

“And Theo?”

“Theo had good luck with the matchups. He climbed pretty high but lost just before the finals.”

“I see…”

I nodded with a dejected expression. It seemed none of us would be receiving awards in this tournament.

As I moved toward the bed again, Flora spoke.

“Get changed if you’re feeling better. Vice-Captain Kanok is waiting for you downstairs.”

“For me…?”

“Yup.”

“Why would he be waiting for me?”

I tilted my head in confusion. What reason could Vice-Captain Kanok have for seeking me out after I dropped out of the tournament?

‘Could it be because of my unexpectedly poor results?’

Shaking my head, I dismissed the thought. Kanok wasn’t the type to reprimand his subordinates for their lack of skill. There had to be another reason.

“I’ll get ready quickly.”

Without hesitation, I shed my pajamas and changed into my uniform, assessing my physical condition as I did.

The soreness in my arms and legs suggested I should avoid strenuous activity for at least two or three days.

There were also issues with mana circulation. The backlash from pushing it to the limit left a sharp pain near my heart whenever I attempted to use mana.

Taking a deep breath, I checked my reflection in the mirror. My pristine knight’s uniform, combined with my striking appearance, created a cool and composed aura.

Smiling faintly, I thought to myself, ‘I should avoid smiling in front of men.’

With Flora, I left the room.

We met Kanok outside the living quarters. Due to the ongoing tournament, the area was deserted. There was no training schedule today, so no one was passing through.

The three of us faced each other.

“Hmm… are you feeling better?”

The first thing he did upon meeting my gaze was ask about my well-being. It wasn’t a bad feeling. I nodded as I replied.

“I’m fine, sir. But what brings you here?”

“Aren’t you going to claim your tournament reward?”

“Reward for the tournament?” I tilted my head in confusion. I hadn’t won the competition, so how could I receive a reward?

“I didn’t win the tournament. Are you saying I can still receive a reward?”

“Of course. Didn’t I tell you? The condition for earning a reward isn’t winning the tournament. You only need to perform well to qualify. Winning isn’t necessary.”

“Oh…”

I nodded absentmindedly, realizing my misunderstanding. I had focused so much on the reward itself that I mistakenly believed only victory would grant it.

Kanok began walking, prompting Flora and me to follow.

We left the Azure Wings headquarters and walked through the bustling streets. 

The ongoing tournament had filled the city with throngs of people.

To avoid being swept away by the crowd, I stayed close to Flora as we moved.

The Karma Empire was an immensely wealthy nation. Even under normal circumstances, this area was lively, with goods and people constantly flowing through. The large-scale events held only a few times a year amplified the activity.

The streets were packed to the brim, and most conversations around us centered on the tournament. 

Topics ranged from which knightly order was the strongest to which rising star deserved attention. Occasionally, I even heard my name mentioned.

Our destination was a grand imperial palace. Kanok approached the guards at the main gate and presented his knight’s insignia.

“We’re here for the tournament rewards. Open the armory and call the administrator.”

Opening the palace gates involved a tedious process. We waited for about ten minutes outside.

Eventually, the gates opened, and we were greeted by an austere-looking old man: Jack Churchill, the armory’s overseer.

“It’s been a while, Kanok… To think you’d come personally. You must care about these kids quite a bit,” Jack said, his sharp gaze nearly falling on Flora and me before Kanok interjected with a smile.

“Just open the armory.”

“Hmph…”

Jack nodded and turned, leading us to a massive building in a secluded corner of the palace grounds. 

Thick walls without a single window surrounded the structure. I glanced at the soldiers stationed at intervals along the perimeter as we approached.

Soon, the armory doors were opened.

Clank!

We followed Jack inside.

The armory’s interior was illuminated by a soft, steady glow. The light emanated from stones embedded in the walls—an unfamiliar but impressive sight.

Even the lights marking the space as extraordinary weren’t as captivating as the weapons displayed within. 

Tall ceilings loomed over rows of weapons, each bathed in a subtle radiance as though awaiting their destined owners.

“Pick what you like, Saeorin, Flora,” Kanok said.

I could hardly believe it. These remarkable weapons were mine to choose from. Yet, it was bittersweet—I could only pick one.

“Wow…”

Flora’s gaze darted around, mesmerized. She examined not only swords but also bows, shields, axes, and even armor with great interest.

Kanok stood slightly apart, arms crossed, observing us. This visit to the imperial armory wasn’t just a reward; it was also a test.

A true knight should be able to recognize a fine weapon at a glance. 

Only a few items here were imbued with magic or bore a significant history, but even the less unique pieces were of exceptional quality. Nothing in this armory fell below the imperial standard.

‘It’s just a matter of how much you aim for.’

Kanok silently rooted for us as we explored.

I wandered among the swords. Never in my life had I encountered such an array of blades. Thanks to the blessing I carried, I could sense whether each sword had been touched by others before me.

The overly ornate swords failed to capture my attention. Even as they gleamed brilliantly, I walked past them without stopping.

Finally, I halted before one particular sword.

It appeared completely ordinary. The blade didn’t shine, the scabbard was made of worn leather, and the hilt was crafted from simple wood.

On the surface, it seemed no better than the standard-issue sword I’d received when I joined the order.

Yet, I felt an inexplicable pull toward it.

It wasn’t a typical longsword. Instead, it resembled the Cheonggang(Azure Strength) Sword I had seen in the memories of my past life. The reason for its presence here didn’t matter.

Reaching out, I grasped the sword. For a brief moment, a faint image of a white dragon shimmered across the blade.

As if entranced, I slowly moved the sword. It fit perfectly in my hand, the balance unerringly precise. 

When I swung it through the air, it felt like an extension of my body, as though it were a part of me.

It was as if my arm had grown longer. The sword, an extension of my very being, rotated lightly in my grasp before sliding effortlessly back into its worn scabbard.

Click.

“I’ll take this one,” I declared.