Chapter 119 "You Look Like You Have a Lot of Questions"
"You look like you have a lot of questions."
At Raha's words, Ludenberg Lavante nodded. The concept of conviction. He wondered if it could apply to him in the real world, and he conveyed that doubt directly to her.
"Does the conviction that Liberatus Ahad taught to the three heroes... apply to me as well? If I infuse my conviction into my sword in the real world, will it make my sword that much stronger?"
"Yes."
Raha nodded. It was a perfectly clear answer.
"It might be a little difficult at first. Liberatus already perfectly understood how to infuse his conviction into his sword. Of course, you did splendidly infuse conviction into your sword in the world of trials, but that was merely borrowing his body and experiencing his achievements. He was someone who could instinctively infuse conviction into his sword."
"So, it might be difficult with my own body."
"Yes. Probably... you'll have to put in some effort to infuse conviction into your sword with your own body."
"I see."
Ludenberg looked a bit disappointed. He understood. Having just experienced infusing conviction into the sword with Liberatus's body, he'd thought it would be the same in reality. Though he enjoyed slow, steady training, he wasn't one to turn down a shortcut to strength.
"But you don't need to worry too much. You already have a track record of strengthening yourself through conviction."
"What?"
"Haven't you ever thought your body was excessively strong compared to your peers? That you strangely never tired physically?"
Indeed, Ludenberg's stamina and physique... it didn't quite make sense to chalk it up to mere talent. Even if his talent was exceptional, it was too much. Even Eden Asta, clad in divine power, couldn't overpower Ludenberg's raw strength.
But Ludenberg had brushed it off. He'd assumed it was just his effort and talent shining through.
"Your body had instinctively embraced your conviction. That's why you could defeat erosion beasts so easily without divine power."
"I never consciously held any conviction during training."
Raha shook her head at Ludenberg's response.
"No, you did."
"What?"
"The vow you made at twelve, watching those who turned their backs on you. Does that ring a bell?"
"......"
Ludenberg paused, deep in thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I wanted to prove myself. That I could do it without divine power. That I could defeat those with divine power even without it. That's the conviction you held back then."
"Yeah. You're right. I definitely thought those things."
"And that's how you got this far. Even if it was just a vague belief, those who realize it will surely grow. That's the power latent within the human heart. Perhaps... even greater than divine power."
"Does that... make sense? I got ridiculously strong after meeting you."
"What about before you met me? From twelve to sixteen?"
Thinking back, Ludenberg had been far superior to his peers even in raw physical toughness.
"No. I've always been innately strong. At eight, I could lift a longsword without strain."
"Even if you're innately strong, could a sixteen-year-old without divine power tear apart a mid-grade erosion beast's hide barehanded?"
"......Couldn't someone?"
"There's no historical record of anyone your age doing that without divine power."
"I see......"
"Yes. Without realizing it, you honed yourself in the exact way Liberatus taught the three heroes."
"Wait, then doesn't that mean it'll be easier for me to infuse conviction into my sword? My body already instinctively knew how."
"That's why I said not to worry. You already hold your own conviction."
"Then why say it'd take effort?"
"Just because you've infused conviction into your body doesn't mean you can immediately do the same to your weapon. There's only one condition for conviction to dwell in something. Endless effort... while holding that conviction."
"......"
Raha paused to catch her breath before continuing. Ludenberg listened intently without a word.
"That's why conviction dwelled in your body. You believed in your body's potential and poured years of grueling effort into it. Your sword is the same. Whatever conviction you hold, if you swing it endlessly based on that belief, conviction will dwell in your sword. For example... 'My sword can cut anything.' That would be a good conviction."
"Can conviction encompass multiple things?"
"Conviction is a firm belief in your thoughts. Thoughts can be many. Hoping your body is sturdy and strong, that your sword can cut through anything blocking your path... You've thought those things, right?"
"......Yeah."
"If you firmly believe those thoughts and act on that belief continuously... then yes, you could say you've infused conviction into your body or sword."
Ludenberg finally nodded. His doubts had cleared.
"I get it... somewhat. Thanks, Raha."
"Good. Then head out for today. It's a festival—enjoy it."
"You know it's festival day?"
"Of course. I watch your every move. Anyway, goodbye. See you next time."
With Raha waving, Ludenberg opened his eyes.
It was dimly lit, but sunlight was piercing through clouds and mist, faintly reaching the ground. The boundary between dawn and morning—perfect for testing what he'd realized in the trial.
Ludenberg rose from bed. He'd promised Ashytara Solenute to meet around noon. Before then, he wanted to test this conviction thing.
Perhaps because it was festival day, the training grounds were deserted. Ludenberg was pleased. The quiet grounds at dawn-morning's edge, with thick mist drifting on the breeze, had a captivating focus all its own.
Gazing at it lost in thought might seem silly, but for Ludenberg, who valued his environment, this was his favorite setting. It filled him with satisfaction.
Thinking back, student council duties and festival prep had sharply reduced his training. He'd trained in spare moments, but he wasn't as obsessed as before—not staking his life on it.
Honestly, denying he'd grown lax would be a lie. Excuses or not, they were just that.
Ludenberg began reflecting on his own sloth. He had far to go; he couldn't afford complacency.
Resolved to never neglect training again, he drew a longsword similar to Liberra from the corner.
The training sword felt surprisingly perfect in his own hand, not Liberatus's. He assumed position and unleashed his swordsmanship.
The blade whistled through the air, his strikes far more refined and sharp than when he'd entered Solenute Adem.
Conviction. What conviction should I hold?
The belief that his sword could cut anything before him, as Liberatus and Raha described?
I held that conviction even in Liberatus's body, so let's train on that basis.
Gripping his sword, believing it could cut anything... he swung.
The blade sliced sharply forward. But none of the omnipotence from the trial world enveloped him.
Repeating yielded the same. Just like any normal swing—no difference.
Yet Ludenberg didn't despair. He kept swinging. If his body had grown strong over time, so could his sword, given time—like Liberatus.
It wasn't fantasy; he'd felt it himself last night.
Well worth trying. With a path ahead, he couldn't quit after one go.
As Raha said, conviction dwelled through arduous effort—like with his body, so with his sword.
Thus, Ludenberg swung relentlessly.
From now on... no matter how busy, I'll keep training like this. Until conviction infuses my sword.
And so he did.
Dawn passed, morning too. The sun reached midday.
Time to meet Ashytara as promised. Ludenberg ended training and washed up thoroughly. He couldn't greet her reeking of sweat.
Prepared as always, he headed to the girls' dorm.
A familiar path since returning to Solenute Adem.
Before arriving, he spotted Ashytara from afar—her dark blue hair tied up high. Even faint makeup suggested extra effort today; she looked stunning.
"Lude!"
Her greeting brimmed with energy, thrilled to spend the festival with him.
She hadn't dolled up that much yesterday—what had changed? Ludenberg couldn't guess.
"Hey, Tara. You look pretty today."
"Oh, uh... really?"
"Even makeup, which you don't usually do. What's up?"
"Nothing special... just. Hehe."
Ludenberg tilted his head at her sly smile.
"Anyway, where to first?"
He pondered briefly, but after training from dawn to noon without eating, hunger decided.
"Let's eat first. I'm starving."
"Okay. Where to?"
Pulling out the guide, Ludenberg scanned options. As he pondered good spots, Ashytara made a suggestion.