Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 7

Right.

What difference do other stories make?

While most civil servants desperately try to avoid entering gates, anyone willing to take on a field position was more than welcome.

After all, this job offered no financial reward and was something one could only endure with true patriotism and altruism.

Holding back his urge to cheer, Jung Chulmin responded.

“…Understood. This will conclude the paperwork and background checks. Although this meeting wasn’t supposed to turn into an interview, it certainly feels like one.”

“Talking tends to lead to one topic or another, doesn’t it?”

“Haha, that’s true. So, all you have left are the aptitude test, the written exam, and the practical test…”

After checking his phone, Jung Chulmin continued.

“You know that registration for this year’s exam is already closed, right? But, if you’re willing, I could register you as an exception.”

“Is that allowed?”

“It’s neither illegal nor against policy. There is an actual rule allowing this—since you solo-cleared an Unpredicted Gate, I just need to report it to my superiors for approval. However, the exam happens to be scheduled for tomorrow…”

Jung Chulmin glanced at Suho for his reaction.

Though he suggested it out of excitement, preparing for both the written and practical exams in a single day would be tough.

‘Fieldwork and exams are vastly different… Sure, things learned for the exam might help somewhat, but if he’s completely unprepared, it’ll be hard.’

Jung Chulmin smiled awkwardly and added.

“It might be difficult, right? But if you’d prefer, there’s the exam next month…”

“No, please go ahead with the registration.”

“What?”

“I’ll take the opportunity to get some experience while I can. So, will I take the aptitude test along with everything else tomorrow?”

“Oh, no. You can take the aptitude test today… Will that be alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine. And if you could process these as well? I don’t have the registration fee on hand.”

Suho gestured to the Hobgoblin head and Magic Stone, and Jung Chulmin quickly took them.

“Understood. I’ll process these while you complete the aptitude test and deposit the money directly to you. Also, we might be able to cover your registration fee…”

“No, thank you. I’d rather not have any issues brought up about this later. I’ll cover it myself.”

Moved by Suho’s integrity, Jung Chulmin nodded energetically.

“Alright! I’ll prepare everything immediately, so please wait just a moment!”

Jung Chulmin jumped from his seat, and Suho couldn’t help but chuckle at his quick efficiency.

* * *

Everything proceeded swiftly.

While Suho took his aptitude test, Jung Chulmin, using his authority, processed the sale of the Magic Stone and head tax-free and deposited the proceeds—about three million won.

When Suho finished the test, he approached Jung Chulmin with another request.

“Team Leader, could I ask one more favor?”

“What is it?”

“From what I know, there’s a library in the basement of this association building. I understand that it has resources and study materials related to tomorrow’s exam… Would you mind if I used it to prepare a bit?”

“Oh, is that all? Of course, you can!”

“Thank you.”

The association’s basement library.

It was a staff library for professional development—what harm could come from letting Suho use it?

Since Suho could potentially become a future colleague, of course, Jung Chulmin would allow it.

And besides, while the library was intended for self-study, hardly anyone used it.

There was no reason to refuse.

As they arrived at the library, Suho took in the familiar scent of the rarely used staff space.

‘It’s been a while.’

Hardly anyone visited the library, and the few librarians hired to manage it mostly passed time idly.

Due to the library’s nature, they barely glanced at anyone who entered.

Fortunately, that meant no one would pay attention to him.

‘Yes, this was always the atmosphere here.’

Lowering his voice, Jung Chulmin spoke.

“You can leave without a staff card, so feel free to stay as long as you need.”

“Thank you.”

“I have work to do, so I’ll be going now. Best of luck on tomorrow’s exam.”

With those words of encouragement, Jung Chulmin left.

Once he was alone, Suho began to look around the library in earnest.

‘Where was it again…’

Suho’s purpose in coming here was a hidden skill stored in the staff library.

It was a skill related to memory, and while he normally wouldn’t need it, the sudden change in circumstances made it essential.

‘Human memory has limits.’

Although he hadn’t confirmed it, Suho was likely the only regressor in this world.

Meaning he had no one to rely on for help or guidance.

So he had to depend entirely on his own memory, and though he remembered major details, the smaller ones were fading.

That was why he came here.

Suho moved straight to the “Unknown Books” section.

Unknown Books referred to books found within gates from other worlds, and since no one had been able to decipher them, they were classified as “junk items.”

Looking at the miscellaneous Unknown Books, Suho recalled the trouble they caused.

‘They were quite a headache.’

Unknown Books were truly troublesome.

These books couldn’t be burned or easily disposed of.

Yet, they couldn’t be stored just anywhere since they came from within gates, so minimal care was necessary.

Thus, they ended up in the association’s staff library.

‘Eventually, half of these will just be moved to storage.’

Not long after browsing the Unknown Books section, Suho found what he was looking for.

It was easy to locate because it was the largest book in the section.

‘It’s so big they just left it at the front.’

Suho took it and headed to a quiet corner of the library.

Larger than an encyclopedia, this book had no known title.

Its information only read, “A book from another world.”

But this book held a powerful secret.

Confirming he was alone, Suho opened it and pressed his head against the pages.

After a few minutes, a system notification rang in his ear.

[ Welcome to the Library of Memories. ]

[ The Library of Memories takes an interest in your story. ]

[ Will you donate your story to the Library of Memories? ]

Hearing the alert, Suho smirked.

This was exactly what he’d been looking for—the hidden skill known as the Library of Memories.

As he raised his head from the book, the notifications continued.

‘It’s real.’

The Library of Memories was a skill similar to eidetic memory.

On the positive side, it allowed the user to remember everything seen and heard; on the negative, it was often called a “curse of memory.”

After all, the human mind could bear pain because it could forget, as they say.

But for Suho, the Library of Memories was an essential tool, not a curse.

Right now, he needed certain and reliable “information,” not forgetfulness.

‘With this, I can fully retrieve all my memories.’

As Suho nodded, the system moved to the next phase.

[ Your story is being donated. ]

[ The Library of Memories is pleased with your donation and offers a token of gratitude. ]

[ You have acquired the Library of Memories (A). ]

[ The Library of Memories is now accessing and documenting your memories. ]

As soon as the notifications ended—

Shwaa!

A sudden rush filled Suho’s mind as an image of a vast library took shape.

The library Suho saw was empty.

But as the gust swept through, hundreds of sheets of paper appeared, each blank page filling up with Suho’s memories, forming dense documents that bound themselves into books.

It was a fascinating sight.

And finally, when the library was filled with books…

[ The Library of Memories has opened. ]

Suho had successfully acquired the Library of Memories.

He checked the information on the skill.

[ Library of Memories ]

– Grade: A

# Stores all memories of what has been seen and heard, allowing access at any time.

# The Library of Memories can also suggest information relevant to the user.

A straightforward description.

But the skill’s effect mattered more than the description itself.

Suho thought of the person who had told him about the Library of Memories.

She was a legendary administrator for the top-ranked Hexagon Guild, and he’d learned about this skill over a meal with her.

– Suho, did you know? I was actually an association employee.

– Really? You, Chief?

– Yes, back when I worked at the association, I was studying alone in the library to prepare for a job transfer…

She had mentioned it offhandedly, but the story had left a strong impression on him.

– It was uncomfortable to sleep with my head down, so I grabbed a book to use as a pillow, and, well, that turned out to be the condition for unlocking the skill.

He’d been utterly dumbfounded when he first heard it.

Who could have guessed that such an extraordinary skill—an A-grade skill, no less—could be obtained in such a way?

‘People destined to succeed find a way, no matter what. I suppose she was one of those cases.’

With her newfound memory skill, she passed various certification exams and successfully transferred to Hexagon, the top guild.

And once there, the skill’s powerful memory and suggestion features allowed her to efficiently manage all guild members, leading to continuous promotions until she became a legendary figure in the field.

Suho thought he should treat her to a meal when he saw her again, and put the book back in its place.

Depending on the skill item the embedded skill could sometimes be extracted, but the Library of Memories left only the book’s shell.

‘Now that I’ve got the skill, let’s try a light test.’

Suho focused on a moment from before his death.

Instantly, the memory unfolded from an observer’s perspective, vividly bringing back his anger at his former allies who had betrayed him.

‘Fine. You’re my target now. I won’t forget this feeling.’

The Library of Memories indeed.

Simply recalling his memories reignited the fury he’d felt then, allowing him to reaffirm his resolve.

And at that moment…

…

[ The system, recognizing you as the first to reach the transcendental level, offers you a chance to grow stronger. ]

[ Rebooting Ahn Suho’s system. ]

In his fading memory, he saw a completely unexpected notification.