I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 4

The familiar crunch of snow underfoot was gone. The visible puffs of white breath in the cold air had disappeared. 

Instead, swarms of rare insects buzzed around, and the ground was covered in lush green leaves.

The unknown. Saeorin had awakened to a new world, one he had never seen before.

Discovery. He touched and observed things for the first time, experiencing them as they were.

Saeorin wandered through the green forest for a long time, having lost sight of his original purpose.

“It’s warm. Everything I touch.”

Unlike the harsh tundra, everything his hands brushed in this place radiated warmth. The mild weather nurtured the growth of plants, which fed herbivores, which in turn fed carnivores, forming a perfect ecological balance.

His decision had been right. Looking out over the expansive forest, Saeorin nodded to himself. Here, he was confident he wouldn’t starve to death.

Even if he couldn’t hunt, there were tree fruits to eat, and if none were available, he could dig up roots. To Saeorin, everything in the forest seemed edible.

And he wasn’t wrong. During hunts in the tundra, when supplies ran low, anything edible had to be consumed—tree bark was considered a precious resource then.

The first thing Saeorin did was find a place to settle. He was lucky to come across a dead tree beside a flowing stream. He dug out a spot beneath it and made it his base.

Afterward, he bathed in the stream. While the civilized people from beyond the mountains often called Saeorin and his kin “filthy barbarians,” they, too, paid attention to hygiene.

Saeorin was particularly meticulous about cleanliness now. In the past, he might have found it tedious and simply laid down to sleep. But he couldn’t let his sister’s body remain in a filthy state.

So, Saeorin washed thoroughly.

Life in the forest was remarkably smooth. Frequent bathing not only kept him clean but also erased his body odor, which improved his hunting efficiency.

He even set a new personal record: catching ten squirrels in a single day.

As time passed, the small girl’s body gained strength and endurance. Saeorin began targeting larger prey, such as deer.

He chose one deer and pursued it relentlessly. Unable to match its speed, he used tracking techniques, chasing it until exhaustion overcame the animal.

After two days of pursuit, Saeorin finally secured the deer. That day, his shelter gained a deer-hide rug.

The longer he lived in the forest, the more he began to notice a strange energy building within his body.

At first, he thought it was simply a residual effect of the shamanic magic his sister had used.

But it wasn’t.

The energy was faint, almost imperceptible unless he focused on it. Yet, when it surged forth in critical moments, its intensity was undeniable and immensely helpful.

This energy greatly enhanced his physical abilities. When it manifested while running, it gave his legs tremendous strength, allowing him to move faster and farther. When it surged as he swung his sword, even his frail arms could cleave through a log.

Looking down at his hands, Saeorin recalled an ancient legend he had heard long ago—a tale passed down only within the White Frost Tribe.

“The great warrior of the White Frost Tribe could transform into the shape of a bear, unleashing incredible strength in critical moments.”

“Hmm…”

Saeorin stood and raised his arms above his head, mimicking the posture of a bear. But no overwhelming strength emerged. It seemed legends were just that—legends.

Two weeks passed, and Saeorin began expanding his territory.

Predators that crawled on the ground posed no threat to him. By climbing trees, throwing rocks, and shooting arrows, Saeorin forced ground-bound animals to flee.

He left the tree-climbing predators alone, respecting their mutual boundaries. They exchanged silent glances of acknowledgment before retreating. Gradually, Saeorin carved out his own domain.

Today, like any other day, Saeorin went deer hunting. Areas rich with tree fruits often attracted deer and other herbivores, making them prime hunting grounds.

Lowering his stance and exhaling softly, he moved silently, channeling all his focus into the hunt. Using every skill at his disposal, Saeorin crept closer to the deer.

The target was peacefully nibbling at some wild strawberries on the ground, completely unaware of Saeorin’s presence just a few steps away.

Gulp.

Only five steps separated Saeorin from the deer.

“Any closer, and it’ll notice me.”

Swallowing dryly, Saeorin tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.

There was only one chance. If the attack failed, the deer would flee deep into the forest, never to be seen again.

Saeorin knew he had to exercise the utmost caution. Holding his breath, he waited for the perfect moment.

Then, the direction of the wind shifted. Saeorin seized the opportunity and lunged forward.

Swish—!

A silent ambush. A hunter doesn’t shout or make noise that might alert their prey. The target should remain unaware until the moment of death.

Saeorin swung his sword.

But then—

Whoosh—!

The sound of something slicing through the air reached his ears from not far away. Saeorin recognized it immediately. It was a familiar sound, one he had often heard when his brothers lost their arrows.

Reacting quickly, Saeorin twisted his body mid-air. Although he couldn’t gather full strength, he managed to swing his sword in the opposite direction.

Clang—!

Sparks flew as steel clashed against steel. A split second later, a loud sound erupted, sending the startled deer bounding away in fright.

Saeorin didn’t chase after the deer. Instead, he lowered his stance, breathing shallowly, and turned to face the direction the arrow had come from.

There, a man holding a large bow emerged from the shadows.

Saeorin’s eyes scanned the man’s equipment swiftly. A single dagger hung at his waist, a quiver slung diagonally across his back, and in his left hand, a large bow.

“Huff!”

Exhaling sharply, Saeorin sprinted forward. He had to strike before the man could notch another arrow on his bowstring.

An intruder in his territory. Worse, the man had launched an attack first. Saeorin considered him an undeniable enemy.

“Wait, what…?”

Thud, thud, thud—!

The man’s surprise was evident. Saeorin closed the distance rapidly, slipping into the man’s space and swinging his sword upward in a powerful slash.

A diagonal strike, aimed from below to above.

“Ugh…!”

The blade didn’t meet flesh but instead struck the sturdy shaft of the bow. The man had managed to pull back at the last second, raising his bow defensively. But this was within Saeorin’s expectations.

He never believed a single strike would be enough to kill his opponent.

As his attacks grew faster, their force increased. Saeorin used his small body to full advantage, putting his entire weight behind each blow.

Swish—!

“Gah! Wait! Stop!”

Remarkably, the barbarians beyond the great mountain range and the so-called civilized people spoke the same language. 

However, it was only the language that connected them—everything else, from culture to environment, was worlds apart. 

For Saeorin and the White Frost Tribe, once someone became an enemy, their words were never worth listening to.

The man before Saeorin was a clear enemy.

If he didn’t kill first, he would be the one to die. For Saeorin, who had lived in the harsh wilderness ruled by the law of the strong, the choice was obvious. The small girl was simply fighting for her life.

As desperate as Saeorin was, so was the hunter, Deidram. He had ventured far from home for a hunt and had just shot an arrow at what seemed like a fine deer.

At that moment, Deidram had been imagining the deer dish he would enjoy later that evening—until a small girl had appeared and deflected his arrow.

Judging by her attire, she was clearly a barbarian from beyond the mountains. Deidram recalled his experiences with the so-called “barbarians.”

Most were cautious, polite, and wary. Realizing that this girl spoke the same language, he wanted to resolve the misunderstanding through conversation.

He wanted to explain that it was a coincidence, an accident, that he hadn’t intended to harm her.

But the girl didn’t give him the slightest opening. Like a wild wolf, she approached silently and swung her sword with precision. Her movements were predatory.

Even her breathing carried a primal, feral quality.

Cold sweat trickled down Deidram’s back.

“Stop! It was an accident! I mean you no harm!”

He shouted as he retreated. But Saeorin didn’t stop.

Deidram let out a long sigh. If she wouldn’t listen, he would have to act. To subdue her cleanly and without causing harm, he would need to use mana. The girl’s attacks were simply too dangerous to handle otherwise.

Deidram began a deep, steady breathing rhythm, activating the mana centered near his heart.

Thump—!

His heartbeat surged, and mana coursed through his veins. A faint blue glow accompanied his breaths. In that instant, Deidram kicked off the ground.

Boom—!

The ground beneath him cracked as his mana-infused legs propelled him forward. Closing the distance explosively, Deidram reached for the girl’s nape.

Hoo—

A low, deliberate breath escaped Saeorin. The moment her faint breath shimmered with a blue light, her blade cut through the air.

Swish—!

The sword slashed through empty space, striking nothing. Yet, Deidram’s expression turned deadly serious.

It was as if time itself had been severed. For a moment, the two of them stood frozen, silently staring at each other.

Saeorin gauged the situation. Her opponent no longer seemed intent on attacking. At the same time, she didn’t see any chance of victory. That left her with only one option.

Edging sideways cautiously, Saeorin suddenly turned and bolted.