I Became the Descendant of My Favorite Character

Chapter 8: Trampling the Sprout (4)

Pinnon was born in Dmong, District 3, into a powerful family even among the single-number districts.

However, from the moment he was born, he had no choice but to recognize his position.

Pinnon’s father worked for the Lupandel faction, the most influential force in Dmong.

Lupandel, a knightly house symbolized by silver hair and twin swords, was a prominent family even within the Empire.

After being incorporated into the Adjak family, they maintained a degree of prosperity.

Pinnon, naturally, inherited that duty.

It was a fate arranged for the Lupandel faction.

From a young age, he served Milias Adjak, who was the same age as him, as his master.

Milias possessed decent talent.

He was reasonably skilled and had a good reputation.

But Pinnon’s talent was on a different level, not just compared to Milias but to anyone.

Milias and Pinnon went through the Coming-of-Age Ceremony in the same year and that year, Pinnon took first place in the ceremony.

Yet, Pinnon did not take on the role of a hero candidate for the Adjak family.

He refused to represent the Adjak family, rejecting significant responsibilities like joining the White Dragon Knights.

Despite the expectations of many, he returned to District 3.

There were rumors of pressure from District 3, but Pinnon remained silent.

Regardless of his intentions, Pinnon was still a prominent figure in the Adjak Autonomous Region.

He quickly rose through the ranks of the Black Veil, the shadow unit of the Lupandel faction.

His ascent was unprecedentedly swift, earning him the position of second-in-command within the Black Veil.

Click-click-click.

The sound of his staff instilled fear, his movements disrupted perception, and his ability to complete missions without fail was unmatched.

For someone as renowned as Pinnon to be dispatched to this Coming-of-Age Ceremony was unusual.

Typically, lower-ranking members handled intelligence tasks.

But this year’s ceremony was different.

Milias’s daughter, Soler, was participating.

“It’s the year my daughter is taking part in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”

“If it’s Lady Soler, she’ll surely earn a special recommendation.”

“A special recommendation from the Twelve Swords of Adjak. Even if Tayon holds the lowest rank among them, it’s thrilling…”

“I will personally oversee this ceremony. I’ll do my utmost to ensure no disgrace befalls Lord Milias or Lady Soler.”

Milias’s daughter, Soler, had been called the hope of District 3 from a young age.

Her talent was more than enough to be considered the most promising of her year.

But the one who received Tayon’s special recommendation was someone they hadn’t even anticipated.

“Lord Milias, a 15-year-old from District 18 has received Tayon’s special recommendation.”

- What kind of child?

“My apologies. It’s not a talent we were monitoring.”

From that moment, Pinnon began tracking Polarin.

However, Tayon rarely showed openings, making the pursuit difficult.

Still, Pinnon didn’t stop.

Districts 1 through 3 took pride in themselves.

They didn’t send Bigfoots for something as trivial as sprout crushing.

Pinnon, too, was dispatched not as a Bigfoot but merely to gather information.

- Is the child exceptional?

“It’s hard to judge yet… but from what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t say they’re as remarkable as Lady Soler.”

- Then handle it as you see fit.

Handle it as you see fit.

Pinnon pondered deeply.

He considered the intent behind Milias’s words and what he needed to do.

And Pinnon made his decision.

He would take only Polarin’s head.

For Pinnon, who once stood at the pinnacle of his cohort and took great pride in himself, it was not an easy choice.

But he believed eliminating any variables that could affect Soler was the right course.

And then came the fight with Polarin.

Of course, Pinnon didn’t go all out.

A talent recognized by Tayon, one of the Twelve Swords of Adjak, surpassing even the lower districts.

He wanted to see how brightly that talent shone.

And indeed, that talent was extraordinary.

Polarin, after observing Pinnon’s fighting style just once, analyzed his abilities and relayed them to their companions.

Even in direct combat, Polarin was remarkable.

Though Pinnon held back, Polarin blocked his attacks while seizing moments to counter.

Gracefully wielding their sword, Polarin tried to draw Pinnon into their rhythm.

How had such talent gone unnoticed until now?

Was it truly right to eliminate a child with such radiant potential?

Pinnon’s thoughts deepened.

Distracted, he unintentionally swung his sword with full force, piercing Polarin’s shoulder.

Pinnon gazed at Polarin, who had dropped to one knee.

Though unintended, he thought the situation was over.

He never imagined a child could stand again after such an injury.

* * *

I put strength into my legs and stood up again.

I spun my Dragon Heart even more fiercely.

Mana, visibly concentrated, enveloped the wound.

I raised my arm, which should have been immobile from broken bones.

Mana is typically blue.

But few have ever seen its color.

Unless an extraordinary mana phenomenon occurs, its hue rarely becomes visible.

Yet, the mana enveloping my wounded shoulder was unmistakably a deep blue and that mana gradually turned white.

The dense mana took the place of the broken bones.

Then, another anomaly occurred.

The Branch of World Tree trembled, emitting a blindingly bright light.

[Ah…]

A voice like a child’s babbling came from the Branch of World Tree.

I instinctively knew the branch had bloomed.

‘Thankfully, it’s not too late.’

Releasing mana from my body.

Though it wasn’t entirely by my will, I momentarily glimpsed the realm of the Third-Rank.

The difference between the Second-Rank and Third-Rank lies not only in circulating mana within the body but in releasing it outward.

Enveloped in two powerful energies, I rushed.

Kaang!

Perhaps not underestimating my transformation, Pinnon blocked my attack with a different stance than before.

Gone was his earlier relaxed demeanor.

He moved unpredictably, thrusting his staff from blind spots.

But I didn’t stop either.

I linked my sword strikes, one after another, pressing Pinnon.

I broke down the [Rush] I had used with each step into finer segments.

Now, the effect of [Rush] wasn’t limited to my feet.

The speed of my sword-wielding arm changed.

The Branch of World Tree bent flexibly, pressuring Pinnon.

Kiyot and Siriel began lending their strength.

Pinnon no longer had the leeway to block their attacks.

Wounds began to appear on his body.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been injured.’

Pinnon thought briefly.

But he found this precarious situation enjoyable.

Since creating a vast gap with others and rising to a high rank in the Black Veil, he hadn’t fought a life-or-death battle like this.

Slash!

The Branch of World Tree, swung by Polarin, cut through Pinnon’s right shoulder.

The two energies emanating from the branch seeped into the open wound.

Pinnon and I had both suffered critical injuries in the same spot.

But that was no issue.

I could continue to rush, maintaining the flow of the fight.

Then, a pebble came flying.

It didn’t reach Pinnon, landing weakly at his feet.

But the pebbles kept coming, growing in number.

“Polarin! We’re here!”

Someone’s voice rang out.

Alongside it, cheers from the lower-district members heading to the Coming-of-Age Ceremony echoed.

In the brief moment Pinnon flinched from the flying pebbles, a small opening appeared.

I didn’t miss it and thrust my sword.

“Ahh…”

Thud.

My sword pierced Pinnon’s chest. But it didn’t fully penetrate his heart.

Still, the attack wasn’t meaningless.

White mana poured toward Pinnon’s heart, ravaging his body.

Just as I had done earlier.

Pinnon dropped to one knee.

“I’ve lost.”

There was no trace of regret in Pinnon’s voice.

He had always emerged victorious in life-and-death battles.

This time, the outcome was different.

But I didn’t swing my sword again to finish him.

It wasn’t carelessness or petty mercy.

I simply felt no more will to fight in Pinnon.

Instead, his eyes sparkled as if he had seen some kind of hope.

“…You will become a hero.”

Pinnon continued calmly.

Yet, despite his calm words, blood flowed from his mouth.

The materialized white mana, starting from his heart, shook his entire body.

“Walk your own path. Not the path others want, but the one you wish to tread.”

There was sincerity in Pinnon’s voice.

He acknowledged his defeat to Polarin, a new hero.

“…This victory wasn’t mine alone.”

“That’s true. You already have followers.”

“They’re not followers; they’re comrades.”

“Haha, comrades. Call them what you will. Wherever there’s a hero, those who follow are bound to appear. It was the same for Lord Adjak.”

“…”

No matter how I looked at him, his condition was dire.

He seemed like he would die if left alone.

But Pinnon’s expression grew increasingly peaceful.

He grinned and said to me,

“Just… could you give me a little time to report?”

I nodded to Pinnon.

He took out a communication orb from his pocket.

“Lord Milias, I’m sorry.”

- What happened? Did Tayon stop you?

“No, there was no interference from Tayon. I was simply lacking.”

- What does that mean! Where are you now!

“More importantly, there’s something I’d like to say.”

- …What are you trying to say?

“Polarin, this child will become a hero.”

- A hero? Are you talking about the one who received the special recommendation?

“Yes, that’s right. This child is already a hero. If we try to break a hero, we may end up broken ourselves.”

- Pinnon.

“This is likely the end. It was an honor to serve you, Lord Milias.”

Thud.

Pinnon collapsed forward with a faint smile.

I caught his falling body.

- Pinnon, Pinnon! Damn it. You’re listening, aren’t you, Polarin Adjak…! If you spare Pinnon, I’ll give you whatever you want. Answer me!

His condition was a mess, but Pinnon was still alive.

With the Heart Engraving of the Adjak family, Pinnon’s strong heart was still beating.

I took the communication orb from Pinnon’s hand.

“I’ll remember your promise to give me anything.”

- You’re Polarin? I swear it. Just spare Pinnon. On my name…

I told the communication orb our location and cut the connection.

Pinnon lay there peacefully, as if in a deep sleep.

Looking at him, I felt complex emotions.

Kiyot and Siriel hugged me tightly.

“Polarin! Are you okay?”

“Sorry we couldn’t be more help.”

But I couldn’t easily speak.

I had fought and defeated the strongest person I’d faced in this world.

Along with the relief of surviving, complex thoughts swirled in my mind.

‘The current Adjak family is not just.’

I looked at the Branch of World Tree.

The branch flickered with both white and blue energies.

‘I will change it.’

At that moment, the Branch of World Tree trembled again.

[…Ahhh.]

A babbling sound came from the branch once more.

No casualties.

The group led temporarily by Polarin survived the sprout crushing in the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.