Ch.55. Conclusion of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Even at a glance, Hoan’s charging momentum was fierce. His massive build was a weapon in itself. Each time Hoan took a step, an ominous sound echoed.

Anyone without considerable courage would likely become intimidated before the fight even began, unable to perform at their best.

Rex stood still, watching Hoan intently. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk eyeing its prey.

The spectators who couldn’t see his expression were actually anxious for him. They worried that if he got hit, there wouldn’t even be bones to collect, wondering if his body had frozen in fear.

“Don’t blame me if something breaks—!”

As Hoan approached, rather than slowing down, he accelerated once more and lowered his upper body. He intended to tackle Rex and knock him down.

But no matter how strong one is, strength means nothing if you can’t land a hit.

Rex waited until the last possible moment before lightly jumping to the side. Hoan’s grasp didn’t even brush Rex’s collar, clutching at empty air instead.

The timing was so exquisite that Hoan experienced cognitive dissonance. Having fixed his gaze on Rex’s waist, he had missed the movement.

Huh? Where did he go?

It was a brief moment of distraction, barely a second, but the consequences were severe. Rex immediately rotated his body and moved behind Hoan. His evasion and counterattack flowed together as one fluid motion. Rex crossed his arms and wrapped them around Hoan’s neck.

“Gack!”

As his breath was suddenly cut off, Hoan reflexively flailed his arms. But in combat, exposing your back is a fatal mistake.

Having never lost to peers in terms of strength throughout his life, Hoan thought he should forcibly break free from the hold. This was his second mistake.

What Hoan overlooked was that Rex was also a powerhouse who could lift the fourth boulder.

“L-let go. Kugh!”

Despite Hoan’s violent struggling, Rex maintained his position with a composed expression.

Eventually, Hoan’s knees buckled and touched the ground. Only then did Rex release the choke hold and slip his hands between Hoan’s armpits.

Pushing with all his might, the exhausted Hoan spun once and collapsed sideways. According to the rules, the first person whose shoulders or back touched the ground lost. Rex was the winner.

“Match over.”

From Rex’s perspective, his previous opponents had actually been more challenging.

At least they had approached with caution, but Hoan seemed somewhat careless, perhaps overly confident in his size and strength. “Complacent” would be the accurate description.

His reckless tackle made the match end more easily than expected. Though most people wouldn’t have been able to dodge that tackle at all.

Hoan wasn’t completely foolish; if Rex had dodged earlier, Hoan would have changed direction. It was Rex’s courage to evade at the last moment that was remarkable.

“The final winner of the wrestling competition is Rex.”

At the village chief’s announcement, the spectators who had been watching with excitement erupted in cheers. Some repeatedly called out Rex’s name. The result had surprised everyone.

As Rex stood there scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed expression, the village chief beckoned to him with a gentle smile.

“In my decades as village chief, you’re the first to take first place in all categories of the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Uh… thank you.”

“I don’t understand how I’ve overlooked such an outstanding young man. People who weren’t acquainted with you before will now know you well, just like I do. By tomorrow, everyone will be eager to recruit you. Congratulations.”

Having never experienced this before, Rex could only nod repeatedly without knowing what to say. But it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

The village maidens observed Rex with admiring eyes, while the wealthy village elders looked at him as if appraising his value.

Rex’s initial goal had been to perform well at the coming-of-age ceremony to secure employment, and he had succeeded beyond his expectations.

Rex climbed onto the platform to receive the prizes awarded to the ceremony’s winner.

The items were both modest and precious: a cloak made of wolf hide, an iron dagger, and a small pouch containing some jerky.

These were items that any adult with some savings could acquire with a bit of sacrifice, but Rex couldn’t have been more satisfied.

The cloak, though simple, would last a long time with proper care, and the dagger would be useful in many situations.

Especially the jerky—Rex opened the pouch with loving eyes.

‘Father was always the only one who ate this, but now I finally get to taste it.’

A quick count showed there was enough to last a week if used sparingly. He wouldn’t share even a bite if someone asked. Rex suppressed a smile as he carefully tucked the pouch inside his tunic.

The other ranked participants also received modest rewards, but nothing compared to the first prize.

Hoan, who had competed against Rex in the final match, hung his head low in second place. The shock of defeat seemed to have hit him hard.

Rex turned away disinterestedly and began to walk home.

“Hey.”

Hoan grabbed Rex’s shoulder. Rex turned around with an expressionless face. Hoan opened and closed his mouth several times before finally speaking with difficulty.

“I… lost.”

“Huh?”

Rex tilted his head in confusion at Hoan stating such an obvious fact as if revealing a great secret. With a reddened face, Hoan hastily added:

“This isn’t over. Let’s do this again. Next time, I won’t lose.”

“Another match? That’s too much trouble for me.”

“Th-then! What do I need to bring for you to agree?”

Rex chuckled, removed Hoan’s hand, and walked away slowly.

“Bring some food or something. I’m leaving.”

“…What?”

As Rex casually waved his hand behind him while walking away, Hoan muttered to himself:

“Do I need to offer meat or something…?”

Lost in thought, Hoan remained rooted to the spot until the sun had completely set.

***

“Well done.”

Rex froze at the voice that greeted him as soon as he entered the house. His father was sitting in a chair, looking at him.

It seemed he had returned home ahead of Rex after the ceremony awards.

“Ah… yes.”

When Rex responded awkwardly, his father’s eyebrows twitched.

“Aren’t you happy?”

“Well… I am happy.”

“Then why so stiff?”

Instead of answering, Rex let out a laugh that was obviously forced.

‘I can’t help it—whenever I see Father, I remember all the beatings from before.’

After examining Rex with a puzzled look for a moment, his father clicked his tongue and tapped the table with his palm.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rex quickly pulled out a chair across from his father and sat down. His father went to the kitchen and returned with two cups and a bottle of alcohol.

Rex accepted the drink his father poured with a respectful posture. It was lukewarm beer with a sour smell wafting from it.

His father picked up his cup and downed the beer in one go, showing no reaction as if he had just drunk water.

“Drink.”

Hesitating whether he should drink it, Rex nodded at his father’s expectant gaze.

‘This is my first time drinking alcohol.’

The yellowish liquid looked like urine, and its strange smell suggested it wouldn’t taste good. But his instinctive fear overcame his reluctance. Rex swallowed hard and brought the cup to his lips.

“Keck keck.”

As soon as the beer touched his tongue, Rex coughed with wide eyes. Why does this taste so strange?

The taste was indescribable. It was hard to believe the village elders who claimed they needed to drink beer at the end of each day.

“Drink it all.”

“Kuhp. Yes, sir.”

Rex struggled to empty the cup. He continued coughing as if he had caught a cold, when suddenly his father’s shoulders trembled slightly. Rex stared at him blankly.

‘Did he just laugh?’

Was it real or an illusion? The moment was too brief to tell for sure.

His father’s abrupt words interrupted Rex’s thoughts.

“You did well.”

“Pardon?”

Rex asked again, thinking he had misheard. It seemed too surreal—his father’s praise was something he had never experienced in his life.

“I said you did well.”

His father repeated what he had said, as if confirming that Rex had heard correctly. Dumbfounded, Rex responded without thinking:

“The beer? Well, it doesn’t taste good, but it’s drinkable.”

“…I meant the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Ah, yes.”

His father sighed deeply, a prominent vein bulging on his forehead. Rex closed his mouth and lowered his head.

An awkward silence fell, and his father, as if having said all he needed to say, stood up and left the house.

Just before the door closed completely, his father’s voice drifted through the gap, muttering as if to himself:

“Go to bed early tonight. You’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”

Thud.

Only after the door had fully closed did Rex relax his tense body. He slumped in his chair like a dishrag hung on a clothesline.

Conversations with his father usually left him feeling like he’d been through a battle, but this time wasn’t so bad. Peculiar, perhaps. It was strange, anyway.

Returning to his room, Rex carelessly tossed his coat aside and neatly arranged the items he had received today.

He hung the wolf hide cloak where it was visible, as he planned to wear it every day. He hid the jerky pouch well, and placed the dagger within easy reach.

‘Time to sleep.’

Even without his father’s instruction, Rex was already exhausted from the coming-of-age ceremony. He felt he would fall asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

Lying down under his blanket, Rex stroked his left chest. The mark remained quiet. Everything that had happened today felt like a dream.

Since the first test, the mark had shown no particular reaction. “Overcoming hardship makes one stronger.” He still didn’t fully understand what that meant, but he had some inkling.

It would become clearer over time. For now, he had made it through today safely, and that was enough.

Rex closed his eyes with a satisfied smile. Just as his weary body was drawing his mind into deep sleep—

“Hey! Did you really get first place in the coming-of-age ceremony? No way!”

The door burst open as Anna shouted in a mocking voice. His happy mood plummeted instantly.

How could someone make another person so irritated just by speaking? It must be a kind of talent.

Rex pulled the blanket over his head and covered his ears with his hands.

“Hey, are you ignoring me? Answer me, is it true?”

Anna strode into the room and tugged at the blanket. But there was no way she could overpower Rex physically, so she eventually gave up, exhausted.

“Playing hard to get, huh? Fine, whatever. There are plenty of other people who can tell me.”

Stomping her feet on the floor in frustration, Anna gave Rex one last glare before leaving. Rex lifted his blanket slightly and said:

“Close the door on your way out.”

“Get lost!”

Anna left with her middle finger raised. Rex stared weakly at the ceiling. It felt like a storm had just passed through.

‘What a miserable household.’

Fortunately, sleep soon overtook him, finally bringing him peace.

In the dead of night, a golden light briefly flashed from the mark on his left chest before disappearing.

Rex, deep in slumber, remained unaware.

***

Though the coming-of-age ceremony was over, daily life didn’t change immediately. Rex woke up early alone as usual. He cleaned the barn, chopped firewood, and returned home by the time his family would be waking up.

Even independence required concrete planning; it couldn’t be done impulsively.

“Good morning.”

When Rex greeted him, his father gave a slight nod. At least today he was responding—there were more days when he wouldn’t even acknowledge Rex with a chin gesture.

Soon, his mother brought breakfast: bread, milk, a boiled egg, and even a piece of meat.

“Oh, what’s the occasion?”

Anna looked at the dishes with surprised eyes. It was rare to have meat for breakfast.

His mother smiled as she cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and distributed them to the family.

“Your father must be in a good mood. He suddenly brought this home last night. Say thank you.”

“Really?”

In response to Anna’s question, their father silently pierced a piece of meat with his fork.

“Eat.”

“…Thank you.”

Rex gave his father a quick glance and began eating.

Though unsaid, he privately thought this lavish meal was prepared because he had taken first place in the coming-of-age ceremony. It was probably true.

‘I guess I do get this kind of treatment sometimes.’

Beside him, Anna kept pestering him about how he did it, asking if he had used magic, but the meat was so delicious that Rex paid her no attention.

“Rex.”

As the meal was ending, his father spoke.

Rex stopped wiping his mouth and stood up abruptly.

“Come with me.”

“Yes, sir. Ah, just a moment.”

Rex returned to his room to put on his leather cloak and tuck the dagger inside his clothes. When he went outside, his father was waiting.

“Let’s go.”

His father walked ahead without further explanation. Rex hurried after him and cautiously asked:

“Where are we going?”

“To the village chief’s. He told me to bring you at daybreak.”

As Rex was wondering about the reason, his father added:

“He probably wants to induct you into the youth council.”