I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 57: Perpetual Mechanism (4)

In the haze of my semi-conscious state, I turned my focus inward. I could have awakened immediately, but I chose not to. Fragments of inspiration swirled around me, glimmering as if trying to convey something.

This was fundamentally different from gaining insight by absorbing someone else’s memories. It was a realization built entirely upon my own experiences. My mind felt ablaze.

Although my body’s sensations were dulled from deep slumber, the clarity in my mind was undeniable.

Through the delicate flow of blood coursing through my veins, immense traces left by the mages’ mystical energy spread throughout my body, reaching my head.

Countless memories surfaced and sank repeatedly. I took what I needed from the inspiration shaped by my experiences and discarded the rest. A fragment of a master swordsman’s memory whispered to me:

“To embody nature itself… What nonsense is that?”

“If you don’t understand, that’s the end of it. If you wish to advance, you must realize it on your own.”

Whose memory was this? A boy’s naive question answered by an old man. Their attire felt both foreign and familiar, blurred by the mixture of countless recollections—the distinct garb of reincarnators.

The old man had demonstrated nature to the boy. Holding a sword, he became at times a fierce wind, an unyielding mountain, and a wild wave.

One particularly vivid fragment of inspiration dimmed, its role complete. From the moment I had entered the Fairy Forest, I’d sensed something elusive, just out of reach. Now it has revealed itself.

A new lead. I couldn’t let it slip away. Using the swordsman’s memory and the principles of the Emperor’s Sword Technique as a foundation, I began to deconstruct and rebuild.

The Emperor’s Sword Technique was an art designed for the noble bloodline of a prestigious sect that once ruled the land. Its use relied on their unique growth process and inherent characteristics etched into their lineage.

To wield it freely, I needed to reshape it for myself.

Inspiration struck like lightning.

The fragments that filled my mind coalesced into a radiant brilliance. I could feel the guiding intent that permeated the sword’s principles. 

The scattered words of the technique’s mantra began to align, creating a perfect harmony.

Like a tailored uniform, it felt natural and fitting.

“The White Dragon Heart Manual…”

But there was no time to delve into that now. I set aside thoughts of the manual. For now, this was my priority.

From the first mantra to the last, the flow was seamless, like water cascading without obstruction. 

The arrogance of an emperor overlooking the world was stripped away, leaving only the practical essence of the technique—its ability to dominate space.

I overlaid the technique with the flow I had observed in the Fairy Forest.

The result was an unstable flow that disrupted the surrounding mana, scattering it chaotically. 

Within its influence, neither mage nor knight could function effectively. 

Spellcasting became impossible, and mana-driven high-speed movement or defensive barriers ceased to work.

Except for me.

This domain was mine alone, suppressing the power of my opponent while amplifying my own. 

Unlike the overwhelming dominance of an emperor, this carried a different presence.

“A world for the empress.”

The result was a hybrid skill, loosely bridging the realms of magic, martial arts, and sorcery.

With that realization, I opened my eyes. My senses returned vividly, and I immediately felt the soft texture of a blanket against my skin. My blurry vision focused on an unfamiliar ceiling.

Rustle—

“Where am I?”

Sitting up in bed, I took in my surroundings. It was a place I didn’t recognize, but it didn’t evoke fear. Not far from me sat Envy, dozing in a chair.

“This must be the Magic Tower…”

After collaborating with the mages to defeat the Reincarnator, I had lost consciousness. It seemed they had taken care of me. Rising from the bed, I assessed my physical condition.

I felt empty. The mana coursing through my heart was faint, and I experienced a gnawing hunger, akin to fasting for days. My mouth was dry, and even my lips felt parched as I touched them lightly.

“That won’t be good for my skin…”

Dehydration could easily roughen one’s skin. Glancing around, I spotted a large water jug on the table and grabbed it.

The sound of movement stirred Envy from her sleep. Noticing me, she blinked in surprise. In her eyes, I appeared frail, but she found my appearance strikingly beautiful.

For a moment, she stared silently at me.

“How long was I out?” I asked, breaking her reverie. Even my voice carried a distinct charm, enough to make her think I could pass as an adorable younger sibling.

“Huh? Oh… Uh, about a week, I think.”

My gaze shifted to the bedside table, where a small basin, a cloth, and fresh clothes had been prepared. Judging by the evidence, Envy must have cared for me during the past week.

“I’m hungry…”

“Ah, wait a moment!”

At my words, Envy hurried to bring food. She returned with a bowl of thin soup. Boiled thoroughly, the vegetables and other ingredients had dissolved into a soft consistency. It was the perfect meal for someone who hadn’t eaten in days.

Sitting on the bed, I devoured the soup.

“You’re… bold,” Envy muttered, watching me. My manner of eating seemed incongruous with my delicate appearance, yet she found it oddly appealing. After all, everything a beautiful girl did carried a certain charm.

“What about the Reincarnator?” I asked.

“He’s dead. Sliced apart along with the steel golem.”

“And his body?”

“We retrieved it at the Magic Tower. They said the body had significant research value due to its unique magical system,” Envy explained.

I nodded. My mission was to eliminate the Reincarnator. What became of its corpse afterward was of little concern to me.

Before I realized it, my bowl of soup was empty. Grabbing the ladle, I refilled it for another serving.

“I need to contact the Empire…”

“You mean for a mission report, right? Don’t worry about it. Someone from the Empire already came by recently.”

“Hmm…”

If someone from the intelligence department had visited, they likely confirmed the mission’s success. 

Any discussions between the Magic Tower and the Empire would have concluded as well. My success would have been reported to Azure Wings Headquarters, too.

There was nothing more I needed to do.

After finishing my meal, my body felt much better. Though my mana was still depleted, I wasn’t incapacitated anymore. I dressed in my freshly laundered clothes and equipped my two swords.

The weight pulled me to one side. The dark blade was far too heavy. I had no choice but to set one sword down.

“I’d like to be alone for a moment. If you don’t mind, could you leave?”

“Huh? Oh… Sure…”

Envy’s face visibly fell, looking disappointed as she stood. Her expression made me chuckle lightly.

“I’ll come find you later. I’d like to look around the Magic Tower…”

“…Alright!”

Finally, a smile returned to her face. As Envy left the room, I turned my gaze away from her retreating figure.

Click.

The door closed, and silence descended upon the room. Alone at last. It was the perfect chance to test the martial art I had conceptualized in my dreams.

“Can this even be called a martial art…?”

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Inhale, exhale. The sounds around me faded as my senses sank into stillness.

My small hand rested on the White Dragon Sword. I guided the meager amount of mana left in my body along the principles of the technique, changing its nature. I only had enough mana for a single moment of realization.

But for now, that was enough.

Ssshhh—

Mana radiated from me, creating a unique flow. As my eyes snapped open, faint light gleamed from them, and a vortex of mana formed around me.

Manifestation of the Inner World

A World for the Empress

The vortex of mana altered the surrounding environment. This wasn’t merely a suppression of an opponent’s power but the projection of a virtual domain onto reality.

However, the effect was brief. As soon as the technique was completed, the world I created crumbled away.

A deep smile spread across my face. Up until now, every technique I used had been based on memories taken from the sword—someone else’s experiences.

This time was different. It was a skill forged entirely for myself.

The realization filled me with joy, and a soft, satisfied smile lingered on my lips.

Elsewhere

“It’s irreparable…”

“Haaah…”

A chorus of sighs escaped the gathered mages, their expressions grim. These were the leaders of the Magic Tower, representing the heads of various disciplines. 

Yet, even with their combined knowledge, the problem remained unsolved.

The elderly mages stared at the large, broken machine lying before them. It was the infinite mana generator—a dream come true for any mage. Now, it was nothing more than cold scrap metal.

When it had been transported to the Magic Tower, it was still producing mana endlessly, just as Shave had described. 

But shortly after arriving, it had stopped functioning entirely. Since no one had tampered with it, there was no one to blame.

“Could the damage from the battle have caused this?”

“It’s not impossible…”

“Then what do we do now?”

“…Perhaps we should request assistance from the dwarves.”

At that suggestion, the faces of the gathered mages collectively twisted in displeasure.