Ch.68Myriad Sword Emperor

Many people welcomed Seo-rin upon her return. Due to the physical nature of their work, the Blue Wing had more men than women. With her cute appearance, Seo-rin was considered something of a mascot within the headquarters.

Still, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. Her heart ached at the fact that she had a place to return to and people who welcomed her. After finishing her greetings, Seo-rin peered around the training grounds and living quarters, prompting a question.

“Seo-rin. Do you need something?”

“I’m looking for Theo and Flora…”

She was simply searching for her peers, her friends. They had joined the organization together. Seo-rin wanted to have a long conversation with the two of them. Any topic would do. Perhaps they could discuss this upcoming mission.

“Ah, those two aren’t here right now. They’re on a mission.”

“Oh… I see.”

Seo-rin’s lips drooped at the senior member’s response. She had expected as much. Blue Wing members didn’t spend much time at headquarters. This was especially true for mid-level members. When would she be able to see them again?

The girl turned away, hiding her disappointment. Her snow-white hair swayed gently as she moved.

The next morning, Seo-rin headed straight to the training grounds after waking up. Having just returned yesterday, she had a legitimate reason to skip the training regimen during her recovery period.

Rather than working up a sweat, she planned to familiarize herself with her swords through communion.

The training grounds were empty. It was during the scheduled training time. Faint battle cries echoing from afar announced the morning at Blue Wing.

Seo-rin sat in the center of the training grounds with her eyes closed, three swords resting on her knees. Mana surged from her body, enveloping the three blades. The mana-infused swords created a humming sound as if resonating with each other.

Lost in thought, Seo-rin reviewed the numerous memories imprinted within her. She mainly focused on the memories of martial artists. They handled various weapons, including swords, as if they were extensions of their bodies, and absorbed natural energy to strengthen their physical forms.

In that world, everything was about martial arts. Life itself revolved around martial arts. Perhaps that’s why many powerful individuals in those memories used forms of power unheard of in this world.

Flying swords? Was such a thing even possible? Unless it was magic, the idea of infusing vital energy into a sword to give it will seemed utterly unbelievable.

A sword is a delicate weapon. Subtle changes at the fingertips have significant effects. A sword that leaves the hand couldn’t possibly exert its full power. At least, that’s what Seo-rin thought.

‘Senior Reynard used something somewhat similar…’

But it wasn’t quite the same. He wove special threads with high mana conductivity at the tip of his sword to control it. Transmitting mana to a sword that had left the hand was also problematic. Was the power they called vital energy something different?

Thud-

The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Seo-rin wasn’t startled. This was an open space shared by everyone. Besides, the footsteps and presence felt familiar.

“Good morning, Vice-Captain Karnok.”

She greeted first. The approaching footsteps suddenly stopped. Opening her eyes slightly and looking to the side, she saw a man with an awkward smile. Had he been trying to sneak up and surprise her?

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes.”

After exchanging brief greetings, Karnok approached Seo-rin’s side. He sat comfortably on the training ground floor, seemingly unconcerned about getting his clothes dirty.

“I’m sorry to tell you this when you’ve just returned, but you’ll be going on a mission soon.”

This was welcome news. As her emotions intensified, her mana surged. The cold energy swirling above the swords nearly burst outward. Seo-rin hastily calmed her mana.

For others, it might have been an unwelcome announcement, but not for Seo-rin. Her body wasn’t damaged. She didn’t need a recovery period. The current Seo-rin was fully prepared.

“What kind of mission?”

“We’ve received information that reincarnators are gathering forces recently. The information came from outside the Empire’s territory, so it’s not entirely reliable. We’re planning to dispatch personnel from headquarters for further investigation…”

“And I’ve been selected for this personnel?”

“Yes.”

“When do we depart?”

“Not yet. We haven’t selected all the personnel yet. We’re a bit short on members currently at headquarters. Once those on missions return, we’ll decide then.”

Seo-rin nodded at Karnok’s words. It wasn’t unprecedented for reincarnators to band together throughout history. However, such alliances always ended poorly. Fundamentally, reincarnators were arrogant, dogmatic, and possessed inflated egos. Given their past achievements, they refused to submit to anyone else’s authority.

A group with multiple heads tends to lose direction. That’s how reincarnator groups had fallen apart.

The probability was high that this would happen again. Nevertheless, the Empire was being cautious because of the individual strength reincarnators possessed. Given enough time, they could easily surpass the abilities of high-ranking knights. Imagine dozens or hundreds of such individuals gathering together.

It represented the emergence of a force that could threaten the Empire.

“I’ll wait.”

Frost formed on her calm breath. Watching this, Karnok raised his hand toward Seo-rin’s head. It was a gesture meant to pat her, but Seo-rin’s movement was faster.

The girl recoiled in disgust.

***

Perhaps their mission dates had overlapped. Members returned one after another. Within just two weeks, about ten members came back. Among them were Flora and Theo. Seo-rin rushed to greet them as soon as they returned.

“Flora! Theo!”

“Seo-rin!”

Seo-rin embraced Flora, who appeared to have just returned. The atmosphere brightened at the sight of the beautiful girls’ friendly interaction.

“Ahem…”

Theo, who had been watching cautiously, subtly moved closer. However, contrary to his expectations, Seo-rin didn’t hug him. Instead, she stood on her tiptoes and patted his shoulder.

“Good job.”

“Ah, um… I’m back…”

Seo-rin looked up at Theo with a peculiar expression. What on earth had he been eating to grow so much? In the few months she hadn’t seen him, he had grown tall enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Vice-Captain Karnok.

If not for the youthful traces remaining on his face, he could have passed for an adult.

She felt a twinge of annoyance. While her little brother wasn’t growing, her friends were shooting up. Flora’s chest had noticeably grown during their time apart.

“You both have grown a lot…”

A week passed after the ten members returned. The selection process for the mission personnel was completed. One vice-captain, one high-ranking member, and five mid-ranking members. That was the personnel selected for this mission.

Among the five mid-ranking members were Seo-rin, Flora, and Theo.

Dawn broke. The trio packed their belongings and headed to the headquarters entrance. Others were already there, waiting for the three of them.

“Has everyone remembered everything?”

Asked Vice-Captain Karnok, the leader of this mission. Everyone nodded in response to his question.

“This brings back memories…”

Theo remarked. Seo-rin was thinking the same thing. How could she forget her first mission with Vice-Captain Karnok? Flora was also reminiscing about that time.

After a brief check, Karnok immediately led the group outside. The destination for this mission was beyond the Empire’s territory. It was the land of another country where the Empire’s power didn’t reach. Being an area where reincarnators frequently ran wild, it was like a lawless zone.

The Blue Wing’s departure point was always the same. They would visit a post station not far from headquarters to rent horses or carriages. Since this mission required swift movement, they didn’t rent a carriage.

The seven knights each rented a horse and mounted it. Seo-rin’s horse was the largest. She had refused the smaller horse the station manager tried to give her and insisted on this one.

“Isn’t that too big for you…?”

“It’s sufficient.”

Dismissing Theo’s question lightly, Seo-rin pulled on the reins. Clop, clop- The large horse pawed the ground lightly.

The group galloped quickly. Monsters were hard to find within the Empire’s territory. This was because the imperial army frequently scoured the mountains and fields. The occasional creatures that appeared weren’t strong enough to harm humans.

“I haven’t seen that sword before… Where did you get it?”

Reynard asked. He rode his horse well, even with just one arm. Seo-rin looked around. When Reynard posed his question, everyone pulled their reins to come closer.

They were swordsmen who handled swords. They couldn’t help but be interested in a new sword acquired by a comrade.

Seo-rin casually shared her experience. She did have a subtle desire to boast. She just hadn’t had the chance to talk about it due to the sudden mission assignment and preparations.

Chatter, chatter.

Listening to her story, Karnok thought absently. It sounded like a sparrow chirping. Seo-rin’s clear voice particularly gave that impression.

In less than a month, the group was able to cross the border region. They were all superhumans. Having taken minimal rest, their travel speed was fast.

“Oh…”

Seo-rin let out an exclamation as she gazed at the scene before her. Following the vast wasteland with her eyes, she saw dusty soil rising at the horizon’s edge.

A merciless wasteland.

It was also a land where reincarnators and criminals who fled from the Empire’s gaze had hidden. She had heard that it became this desolate because all the natural energy had been drained.

“Everyone, remember. Never trust anyone here.”

Karnok’s voice spread through the dry wind.