Chapter 14 The First Trial (1)
Kaang!
In the silent training hall, only a clear sound reverberated.
At my feet lay Soler, sprawled out.
She hadn’t fainted. I didn’t want to hit a defeated opponent with all my strength.
Parrr.
Soler was trembling, seemingly frustrated.
The sparring wasn’t over yet.
“Have you lost? If not…”
As I raised my sword once more, Soler, with her head buried in the ground,
“…I’ve lost.”
She muttered softly.
It was finally over.
Despite the sparring likely being quite a spectacle, no one clapped or cheered.
Just silence.
Only the sound of a few people swallowing hard or letting out sighs could be heard.
Whether the silence was because I had defeated Soler, or because Soler, who had always displayed a noble demeanor, was now sprawled on the ground spewing all sorts of vulgarities, I couldn’t tell.
‘It feels like I’ve become a villain.’
Even my comrades like Siriel and Kiyot were quiet, so perhaps it was because the fierce battle had ended in a somewhat cowardly way.
It was a victory without cheers, but a victory nonetheless.
I approached Milias, who had a bewildered expression, and bowed deeply.
“I’ll make good use of the Tune you’ve gifted me.”
“Y-Yes…”
* * *
After the sparring, things went back to normal.
We were assigned our respective rooms and guaranteed a day of rest.
In District 3, Dmong, there were no Hidden Pieces I needed to seek out.
I locked myself in my room and opened the wooden box Milias had given me.
“Whoa, that startled me.”
As I opened the box, an unexpected sight unfolded.
Blue water, as if covered in moss, sloshed inside.
I carefully gripped the box, wary of spilling even a single drop.
Tunes come in all forms.
I realized once again that I needed to be cautious.
Chijijik.
I tilted the box and poured it onto the Branch of the World Tree.
[Ah…]
Perhaps sensing the power of the Tune, the Branch of the World Tree let out a sigh.
[The Tune, ‘Cutting,’ is imbued into the Branch of the World Tree.]
[Cutting power capable of slicing through any target is granted to the weapon. The cutting power is proportional to the wielder’s strength.]
Though it was an object-imbuing Tune that could only be used on a single weapon, the Branch of the World Tree was more than worthy.
I confirmed that the Tune had fully seeped into the blade’s surface.
Visually, nothing seemed different.
As a test, I tossed the wooden box into the air and slashed it mid-flight.
Srrk.
The box, likely a specially crafted artifact meant to contain the Tune, was sliced in half with a single stroke.
The sharpness was so extreme that I didn’t even feel any resistance at my fingertips.
Feeling the effect of [Cutting], I poured Mana into the Branch of the World Tree.
* * *
“Maganhart.”
“Yes!”
“Dobigny.”
“Yes.”
The roll call for the members of District 3, Dmong, began.
Soler, who hadn’t been seen at dinner or even breakfast, was present.
“Soler.”
“…Yes.”
‘Oh, she’s pissed.’
Soler must have read my expression because she shot me a sharp glare before lowering her head.
Her eyes were puffy, as if she’d been crying.
And so, with a grand farewell, we departed from District 3.
Passing through District 2…
We arrived at District 1, Biche.
Finally, we reached the place where the Coming-of-Age Ceremony would be held.
* * *
Arriving at District 1 marked the start of the true Coming-of-Age Ceremony, the final leg of our journey.
After the roll call for the participants from District 1, we parted ways with Tayon, who had escorted us this far.
“Sir Tayon, safe travels.”
“Thank you for guiding us all this time!”
“It was an honor, Sir Tayon!”
Thanks to Tayon, I received a Special Recommendation and could participate in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, learning much from him.
Moreover, due to his care, our ceremony was dubbed the ‘safest escort in 300 years’ since Adjak’s disappearance.
Not a single dropout or casualty occurred.
I wished we could’ve exchanged farewells, but Tayon merely handed the Special Recommendation with my name to the ceremony’s supervisor without even glancing at me.
Still, I wasn’t disappointed.
If I completed the Coming-of-Age Ceremony successfully, we’d meet again.
The ceremony’s supervisor stood before us.
“Greetings. I am Tibou Adjak, the chief supervisor of this year’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
But something unexpected happened.
Tayon, who had finished his escort duties, didn’t leave and instead stared at the supervisor.
As a result, the supervisor kept glancing at Tayon while explaining the upcoming schedule.
“Excluding the ‘special participants’ who don’t live in the Adjak Autonomous Region, everyone is now gathered. I will now inform you of your trial schedule.”
Special participants referred to Adjak descendants living outside the autonomous regions.
Most were either non-human races free from the Empire’s influence or had parents assigned to special missions, residing outside the regions.
Though few in number, special participants were often highly skilled and had disrupted the ceremony’s dynamics in the past.
Their mere mention created tension.
“Special participants…”
“They’re strong, aren’t they?”
“The first Coming-of-Age Ceremony, as is well known, is held at Chilgong Fortress. The path there is quite treacherous…”
Tibou Adjak.
A rather renowned figure had been assigned as the supervisor.
He was the current vice-commander of the White Dragon Knights.
Yet, despite his status, the proceedings weren’t smooth.
Tayon approached Tibou briefly, and the two spoke in hushed tones.
“…Wait a moment.”
The hot-blooded ceremony participants couldn’t hold back.
“It’s finally starting!”
Siriel’s excited shout marked the beginning, and,
“…The first trial’s event changes every year, but until now, it’s always been the same. Reach Chilgong Fortress without dropping out.”
As Kiyot said, all we had to do was reach Chilgong Fortress, located far from District 1.
“But with Sir Tibou as the chief supervisor… it won’t be easy this year.”
Kiyot spoke with concern.
It seemed simple enough—just arrive at Chilgong Fortress—but the reality was far more complex.
To reach the distant fortress, we had to pass through forests and wastelands teeming with Mana
Beasts targeting human lives and traps set for those beasts.
Unlike our journey so far, the supervisors wouldn’t protect the participants, so even a moment’s delay could lead to elimination.
With more participants than ever this year, the trial might be even harsher to reduce numbers.
After finishing his conversation with Tayon, Tibou returned with a slightly hardened expression. His next words were unexpected.
“To Chilgong Fortress… everyone will take a portal.”
The Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
A variable emerged from the very start.
* * *
The White Dragon Knights, known as the martial pride of the Adjak family.
Tibou Adjak was the vice-commander of this order.
As a knightly order always mentioned when discussing the continent’s finest, their status within the family was unparalleled.
They were, in essence, the ‘present state of the Adjak family,’ gathering all its talents.
Yet even Tibou had to yield to Tayon.
“Are the stamina of those who’ve slept on the road for six months the same as those who just joined today?”
“Of course, they’re different. But, Sir Tayon, running to Chilgong Fortress before the ceremony begins is a long-standing family tradition…”
“As the chief supervisor of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, isn’t ensuring a fair opportunity for the children more important than family tradition?”
“That’s true, but I must also consider the Council of Elders’ opinions.”
“Let me ask again, chief supervisor.”
Tayon emphasized ‘chief’ pointedly.
“Are you only responsible for the children of the upper autonomous regions?”
“No, I am not.”
“Then you can ensure everyone competes on equal footing.”
“…You’re right.”
But Tibou wasn’t one to back down easily.
Though he respected the prestige of the Twelve Swords of Adjak, he wasn’t the type to swallow his questions without voicing them.
“Is this because of that child?”
“You mean Polarin?”
“Yes, the child you gave the Special Recommendation to.”
“No. That child will manage fine on his own. There’s no need to give him special treatment in the trials ahead.”
“Then…?”
“I want to see a unified autonomous region where children from the lower districts are no longer discriminated against.”
Tayon’s voice was calm.
Yet Tibou’s body began to tremble slightly as he listened.
“Am I chasing an unreasonable dream?”
“…I’ll prepare a portal to Chilgong Fortress.”
“There won’t be any further interference from me in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
Tayon patted Tibou’s shoulder, expressing gratitude.
Tibou let out a sigh of relief.
But Tayon’s questions weren’t over.
“All the elders are participating in this Coming-of-Age Ceremony, I hear?”
“Yes, it’s a monumental ceremony, and there are matters to be revealed afterward, so I believe they’re all attending.”
“Then, Lady Hike will be there as well.”
“…Ahem, yes.”
“When you meet Lady Hike, tell her I made good use of the gift she gave me long ago.”
“What gift…? No, why not tell her yourself? It’s a bit… for me to relay a message to Lady Hike directly.”
“If I linger, it’ll make you uncomfortable, won’t it? I’ll stop by when the ceremony concludes.”
“Yes…”
As Tayon turned to leave, Tibou could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
He sent a message to the supervisors gathered elsewhere.
“Skip the preliminary. Prepare to proceed directly to the first task.”
- Understood.
Regaining his composure, Tibou stepped before the ceremony participants once more.
But only one thought occupied his mind.
‘How do I buy time?’
Though he’d prepared thoroughly for the first trial, an abrupt change had occurred.
Skipping the preliminary meant far more participants than expected would enter the first trial. He needed time to adjust to this change.
* * *
“Future of the Adjak family. As the chief supervisor, I will observe your endeavors. Now, let me introduce the supervisor for the first trial.”
Tibou finished speaking and gestured toward the supervisor.
Despite arriving comfortably via portal, Tibou’s complexion was poor.
Not only was his face pale, but he kept rubbing his face, as if troubled, despite the countless eyes fixed on him.
The man who rushed out at Tibou’s call also had a dark expression.
“Greetings, comrades. I am Deshkin Adjak.”
A youthful boy stepped forward.
I’d heard the name Deshkin before.
He was the winner of the previous Coming-of-Age Ceremony and had joined the White Dragon Knights.
The participants’ eyes gleamed with aspiration.
He was someone who had recently walked the path they aspired to.
But whether he knew it or not, he continued, stammering.
“The first task of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony is to scoop earth from the Pit of Chilgong… no, my apologies.”
Though Deshkin was a ceremony winner, it had only been a year ago, and he lacked experience.
Despite using old-fashioned terms like ‘comrades’ to sound authoritative, his youth shone through.
His ears turned red, and soon his entire face flushed.
‘Another variable?’
Deshkin cleared his throat and continued speaking to the boys and girls before him.
“The task of the first trial is ‘Breaking the Dragon’s Crystal.’”