Chapter 16 The First Trial (3)
[Remaining Time]
[00 hours : 00 minutes : 00 seconds]
Beep.
The buzzer sounded, and the door opened.
It wasn’t a trial where you got extra points for leaving the room faster than others, unless you were quick at shattering crystals, so I used all the time to absorb the dense mana emanating from the Dragon’s Crystal.
Feeling a slight exhaustion, I headed to the plaza.
Kiyot and Siriel, who were already there, waved and ran toward me.
“……Thought you wouldn’t make it out.”
“Haha, just cooling off before coming out.”
“Anyway! Glad it ended well! Thanks to you, we all passed the first trial!”
I used the full three hours, but about 120 people were already gathered in the plaza.
It must have been a tough trial, yet far more passed than expected.
This must be the strength of the Adjak Autonomous Region, trained rigorously from childhood.
[The trial is over.]
Deshkin’s firm voice echoed.
“No way!”
“Please, just a bit more time!”
“Please…….”
Some shouted, some sobbed, some retched, and some collapsed from exhaustion.
“There’s no retrial. You will wait and return to your districts before the second trial begins.”
The sorrow of those whose lifelong dream of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended abruptly filled the plaza.
Their lives began now.
Yet, no one offered clumsy words of comfort.
‘……I should pray they make it down safely.’
Like baby sea turtles preyed upon by countless predators before reaching the sea, a treacherous path awaited the eliminated without escorts.
Among those collapsed on the ground, I saw a few familiar faces from our procession.
I could only hope they’d return safely to their nests, their own seas.
After the supervisors and clerks sent the eliminated out of the plaza, Deshkin made another announcement.
“Before announcing the trial results, the special participants have arrived. They underwent a separate first screening trial on their way, earning 20P. Let it be known their trial was no easier than yours. They’ll join from the second trial.”
Then, those clad in wall guardian attire, beastmen mixed with human blood, half-elves, and other races arrived.
Members of the Adjak family living outside the autonomous regions trickled in.
“……So they’re all Adjak’s descendants too, right?”
Kiyot asked, puzzled.
Siriel lowered her voice and whispered.
“This might sound weird, but…… was Adjak a pervert!?”
“No way!”
I couldn’t help but yell.
* * *
Adjak was a hero unmatched in continental history, bearing many illustrious titles.
But among them was a peculiar one.
‘The one who left the most descendants in history.’
In short, a philanderer.
‘Not that I’m entirely blameless…….’
In Tune World, players could form various relationships with NPCs.
When I played as Adjak, I took the meddlesome route, striving to save the world.
That helped a lot when preparing for the final expedition…… but I had grievances too.
Tune World wasn’t an 18+ game.
When intimate moments with NPCs arose, it’d say something like, ‘Adjak and Chani Erzabella discussed the Myeolji expedition, talking deeply through the night.’
But the “discussion” in those texts wasn’t the kind I thought.
The existence of the Erzabella lineage in the Adjak family proves it.
Since Adjak had “deep discussions” regardless of status—commoner or noble—or race—human or elf—the Adjak family grew absurdly vast over generations.
The result was the current Adjak family.
Descendants everywhere, regardless of race or status.
‘Ugh, those glares are intense.’
The special participants entered the plaza with fierce eyes.
They were Adjak’s descendants too, but they didn’t reside in the autonomous regions.
Yet, the Adjak family was far from egalitarian.
Even within the regions, lower districts and single-number districts were divided, with Districts 1-3 receiving special treatment among the single-numbers.
This longstanding system often led to the special participants being heavily ostracized.
In short, outsiders among outsiders.
Thus, special participants had little sense of belonging to the Adjak family, and many were said to be ruthless.
But with their unique races and backgrounds, winners often emerged from them, making existing participants visibly tense at their arrival.
The special participants settled around the plaza, and the eliminated left.
Once things were organized, Deshkin raised his voice.
“I’ll announce the first trial results. They’re displayed on the wall, so step forward and check.”
[First Trial Passers: 162 (including 17 special participants)]
9th: Kiyot Adjak, 8 crystals, 1P+
8th: Siriel Adjak, 9 crystals, 1P+
7th: Dehon Adjak, 10 crystals, 1P+
Names appeared one by one on the hologram projected by the magic device.
Seeing Kiyot and Siriel’s names, even at the bottom, we hugged and cheered.
One point might seem trivial, but it’s crucial; a single point often decides final rankings.
Grinning widely, Siriel suddenly asked me.
“Polarin! How many did you break?”
As my name was mentioned, I felt several people’s attention shift toward me.
Even Soler, though not looking, didn’t hide her interest.
Some special participants openly glared at me.
‘The Special Recommendation effect is strong.’
Telling Siriel how many crystals I broke wasn’t hard.
But I decided to enjoy the moment a bit more.
“It’ll show up soon.”
“Soon? Ugh, I’m curious. So excited!”
But my name didn’t appear on the hologram for a while.
Cheers and groans alternated with each announcement.
4th: Balan Adjak, 17 crystals, 3P+
3rd: Keldric Adjak, 18 crystals, 3P+
2nd: Soler Adjak, 20 crystals, 3P+
Crack!
The moment 2nd place was announced, something broke.
‘That came from Soler’s direction.’
I tried not to look that way.
Rustling sounds followed, as if she’d punched the ground.
Then, the 1st place was announced.
1st: Polarin Adjak, 50 crystals, 5P+
A deafening cheer erupted, ringing in my ears.
Kiyot shook my arm, making the world feel like it was swaying.
“……Truly incredible.”
“How the hell did you do it?”
They rejoiced as if it were their own victory.
Of course, many were shocked by the result.
“No way, that makes sense?”
“A mere 15-year-old…….”
Participants from upper districts glanced at me, unable to believe the outcome.
I waited for one more announcement.
[Additional Points: Fastest Crystal Destroyer]
[Polarin Adjak, 4 seconds, +3P]
My total points reached 28P.
Over 5P higher than 2nd place.
Having seized the high ground, it was time to defend it.
“That’s all. Now, let me introduce the second trial’s supervisor. The senior who topped the Coming-of-Age Ceremony three years ago…….”
As Deshkin began introducing the second trial’s supervisor, a small, slender woman appeared, waving her hand dismissively.
At her clear gesture to leave, Deshkin bowed sharply and departed.
“Greetings. I’m Diana, the supervisor of the second trial.”
A supervisor with a youthful face, like most participants.
But the aura she exuded was extraordinary.
“You’ve come to Chilgong Fortress; don’t you need to enter a pit at least once?”
I recalled what Deshkin had stumbled over.
─ The first Coming-of-Age Ceremony task is to scoop up soil from the Pit of Chilgong…… no, sorry.
Was the soil-scooping mentioned then the second task?
In the distant past, Chilgong Fortress was claimed as a castle by a demon, ranked 10th among the Demon King’s kin.
With ambitions to make it his demonic realm, he dug seven pits in the fortress, breeding magical beasts.
Though he met his end at the hands of Adjak and allies, before dying, he poured all his demonic energy into Chilgong Fortress and perished.
Even after ages, the deep pits teemed with the 10th-ranked demon’s power and magical beasts.
Ordinarily sealed due to their immense depth and swarming beasts, if the task was to choose one of the seven pits, descend as far as possible, and bring back soil.
‘No clear strategy, but…… same for everyone. It’s doable.’
But what came from her mouth next exceeded my expectations.
“Various creatures live in the pits of Chilgong Fortress. We’ve marked some of them.”
So, entering the pits remained unchanged.
“Your task is to find a marked creature in the pit, and bring it back—dead or alive. Questions?”
It had become a far tougher trial than scooping soil.
As Diana finished, I raised my hand high.
She pointed at me.
“You, ask away.”
“What’s the scoring criterion? Is it enough to bring back a high-grade creature?”
“Do you know about the pits of Chilgong Fortress?”
Of course I did, but her chilly demeanor suggested I didn’t need to explain.
She looked eager to elaborate.
“Once inside the pit, your five senses will be blocked.”
The plaza buzzed with murmurs.
Unfazed, Diana continued.
“In a state where your senses are blocked, bringing back a ‘creature’ that’s hard to find earns extra points. That’s all.”
‘She keeps saying “creature,” so it’s not just about monsters.’
Next, Soler raised her hand to ask.
“I heard some pits are deeper than others, and deeper ones house higher-grade magical beasts. Is there a bonus for choosing the deepest pit?”
“No. Pit selection is up to you, and you must bring a creature deemed hard to find, regardless of pit depth.”
The rules were simple.
I’d figure it out inside.
Then Diana added briefly.
“May you return alive.”
Unlike her initial tone, her voice carried concern.
Only then did I notice the dirt on her body and the bloodstains seeping from under her armor.