I Became the Descendant of My Favorite Character

Chapter 11: A New Tune (2)

I had to find a new Tune.

The situation was different from when I obtained [Rush].

[Rush] was a mystery I could definitively acquire by using the Heart Predation ability.

But that was only possible because I possessed the trait of a ‘Dragon Heart.’

In this world, obtaining a Tune was far more difficult than one might imagine.

It could be hidden in a desert temple or hanging from a tree in a forest and the Tune I needed to find now was concealed within one of the countless stones filling this mountain.

Of course, its appearance was distinctly different from an ordinary stone.

I’d recognize it at a glance.

It was a star-shaped stone, something that couldn’t possibly have been formed naturally.

But even with its unique shape, finding it in this vast stone mountain was no easy task.

Thinking it over again, Adjak was definitely a blessed character.

When Adjak obtained this Tune, there hadn’t been any particular difficulty.

I’d simply picked up a stone with an intriguing shape, and it turned out to be a Tune.

It was, quite literally, the result of absurdly good luck.

I’d climbed the Panata stone mountain a few times while raising other characters, but I’d never obtained a Tune like I did with Adjak.

Recalling my memories as Adjak, a sudden sense of foreboding washed over me.

‘Will I be able to find it today? I need to find it before the sun sets.’

Even that thought felt like a luxury.

I bent down and began searching through the stones.

Please, please show yourself.

* * *

Five hours later.

I came to accept the reality that finding every stone here on my own was practically impossible.

‘Should I have brought someone along?’

Kiyot, Siriel, or even Tayon?

But that was an impossible assumption.

To ask for help, I’d have to reveal that a Tune was here.

Explaining how I knew about the Tune’s presence would be difficult to answer clearly and even the most trustworthy person couldn’t be guaranteed not to covet a Tune upon seeing it.

In desperation, I gripped my sword, shook it, and asked,

“Help me out a bit.”

Ever since I realized the spirit of the World Tree resided in my sword, I’d asked for help several times.

But it was no use.

[Ah… Aah…]

Surely, a spirit of the World Tree’s caliber would have some semblance of self-awareness, but it still couldn’t speak properly.

It didn’t emit white light like it had during my fight with Pinnon either.

‘Let’s be patient a little longer. It’ll speak properly someday.’

It couldn’t possibly be a low-grade spirit with no intelligence, right?

Pushing aside my unease, I resumed rummaging through the stones.

The surroundings darkened rapidly. I’d been so focused on finding the Tune that I hadn’t noticed the sun setting.

I only had one day.

I didn’t know when I’d be able to return to Panata.

I had to find it today, no matter what.

If I could obtain this Tune, it would undoubtedly aid me in the upcoming Coming-of-Age Ceremony and beyond.

Though it had grown dark, there was a way.

After Heart Predation, I’d gained the ability to control the Dragon Heart, which granted me a sort of trick.

I focused a significant portion of the mana surging from my heart into my fingertips.

The mana gathered in my hand, emitting a white light.

Using my hand as a lantern, I illuminated the ground and continued scouring the stone mountain.

As I kept digging through the stones, a voice suddenly called out.

“Excuse me~.”

I looked up to see an unfamiliar woman standing there.

She was smiling faintly, but her silver hair, swaying in the night breeze, gave off a strangely cold impression.

“Are you perhaps looking for this?”

In contrast to her cold demeanor, her gentle voice accompanied the star-shaped stone she held in her hand.

It was the very Tune I was searching for.

My heart pounded.

I hadn’t sensed her presence until she was this close.

She didn’t seem to have any intent to attack, but I couldn’t let my guard down.

And from her appearance, I could make some guesses about her identity.

Silver hair with a purple tint.

Deep blue eyes like the evening twilight.

She undoubtedly had the blood of Lupandel, the ruler of District 3, flowing through her veins.

Recalling a name I’d heard in passing from Pinnon, I asked,

“Are you Soler?”

“Hmm, it’s Soler.”

She demanded the honorific as if it were only natural, chuckling with a faint smile.

Lupandel was originally a prestigious noble family in the Empire.

Even after forming ties with the Adjak family and being incorporated into it, the Lupandel lineage hadn’t lost its noble air.

“Soler, could you give me that stone?”

“Hmm…”

Even her humming was elegant.

To find that stone, I’d have had to scour the entire mountain, yet she stood there without a single trace of disarray, perfectly pristine.

“It looks like a Tune, doesn’t it?”

The situation had grown complicated.

A star-shaped stone.

Though its appearance was unusual, I hadn’t expected her to deduce it was a Tune so quickly.

And a Tune was a mystery anyone would eagerly covet.

As a descendant of Lupandel, she likely had plenty of opportunities to see or possess Tunes.

Even so, I didn’t think she’d give it up easily.

And in the first place, claiming ownership in this situation was difficult for me.

‘Ugh, it’s one of the core mysteries among Adjak’s Tunes. If I miss it here…’

But Soler made an unexpected proposal.

“I won’t give it for free. Let’s make a deal.”

“Is there anything I have that Soler might need?”

“Haha, I like that attitude.”

…Is she crazy?

But the Tune in her hand was something I absolutely needed.

“The next time we meet, I’ll give you a signal. Just take my side once then.”

“Just take your side?”

At my question, Soler nodded.

I’d expected her to demand something more difficult, but if it was a request of this level, it wasn’t something I couldn’t agree to, though I didn’t know what she was scheming.

I nodded back at her.

Soler smiled brightly and handed me the Tune.

“Great. Here, a gift.”

I carefully accepted the gift and, looking into Soler’s deep blue eyes, asked,

“…Thank you. May I ask one question?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“That stone, how did you find it?”

There were many things I wanted to ask her.

Information about the participants from the upper autonomous regions for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, or details about the ceremony’s trials that someone of her status as a direct descendant of a district ruler might have heard.

But Soler didn’t seem like someone who’d easily hand over valuable information.

Above all, I couldn’t suppress my curiosity about how she’d obtained the Tune that I hadn’t managed to find despite all my efforts. But she answered my question as if it were nothing.

“It was just there.”

“Just there?”

“I saw you crawling around on the ground, and I wondered what you were looking for so desperately. So I looked down, and there it was. A somewhat special-looking stone.”

Is she a blessed character too?

I felt a sense of futility.

How much had I dug through the ground?

“Well then, see you later.”

Soler gave a slight wave with her fingertips and turned away.

“I’m curious if you’ll truly walk the path of a hero.”

With that cryptic remark, Soler vanished into the darkness.

While I was briefly talking with her, the sun had completely set.

‘Finally, I’ve obtained [Intangible Armor].’

Even on Adjak’s journey to the Demon King’s castle, [Intangible Armor] had played its part admirably.

Among defensive Tunes, it boasted top-tier performance and was a familiar ability I’d used effectively in the game.

I examined the star-shaped stone—no, the Tune of [Intangible Armor]—that Soler had given me.

Then, with a firm grip, I split the Tune in half.

Wooong.

A halo of light arose. Information flooded into me.

[You have acquired the Tune, ‘Intangible Armor Lv.1.’]

[A transparent armor capable of freely changing shape.]

[It defends against attacks up to the threshold of its level, then breaks. A certain amount of time is required for restoration after breaking.]

A voice echoed in my mind.

Without needing to consciously process the information, I naturally understood how to use

[Intangible Armor].

It was as if it were engraved into my soul.

I activated [Intangible Armor].

I felt a layer of armor overlaying my body.

A transparent film enveloped me. I manipulated my will, experimenting with changing the armor’s shape.

[Intangible Armor] could concentrate its form solely on my right hand or round into a ball.

Despite its name, it wasn’t limited to the role of armor; it was a highly versatile ability that could hinder an opponent’s movements or enable unpredictable attacks.

‘It’s done. Now I’ve got one more life.’

After testing my newly acquired ability, I began descending the mountain.

* * *

“…Polarin. Did things go well?”

“You were gone so long, I was worried! You’re okay, right?”

Kiyot and Siriel’s voices reached me.

I hadn’t told them in advance where I was going.

Even so, it seemed Kiyot and Siriel had noticed my absence.

“Yeah, I had some things to think about for the future.”

“…Your expression’s pretty bright. Looks like you pulled it off?”

Just because the sprout-trampling had ended didn’t mean the threats were over.

The main game, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, hadn’t even started.

“Why ask something like that? Polarin’s got it all planned out, right?”

Siriel’s faith in me made me chuckle involuntarily.

“Haha, yeah. Things worked out well. Let’s ace the Coming-of-Age Ceremony too.”

Reaching District 1 safely.

Successfully completing the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and achieving our respective goals.

That was all I needed to focus on from now on.

* * *

The next morning.

In the plaza of District 9, Tayon called out the names of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony participants.

“Wow, look at their equipment.”

“Those are the kind of items real knights would use.”

People appeared clad in splendid gear.

From those wrapped in heavy armor to those with luxurious high-end swords at their waists.

Their equipment looked even better than that of the Bigfoot who’d come to crush us.

This was the power of the wealthiest region among the Adjak autonomous districts.

“All the names on the list have been called. Is anyone missing?”

But I steeled myself, refusing to feel intimidated.

Fights weren’t decided by equipment alone.

In the meantime, I’d been focusing on controlling [Intangible Armor] more proficiently.

Using the Tune felt easier than in the game.

There was no need to press shortcut keys; I could manipulate it with just my will.

I was also getting accustomed to splitting [Intangible Armor] and wrapping it around my body for use as armor.

[Rush], [Intangible Armor].

Possessing two Tunes at such a young age was an enviable achievement, but considering the journey ahead, it was still insufficient.

“Let’s move out.”

Just as I was about to follow Tayon’s dignified voice, the mistress of Panata in District 9 raised her fan and spoke.

“Tayon, before you depart, could you grant me a moment to speak with my deputy?”

…With me?