Chapter 208: The Blade Forged by Conviction
From that day on, Liberatus began relentlessly training Parrel. Once the basic training for knights and soldiers wrapped up, Parrel stayed behind in the training grounds to receive additional instruction from Liberatus. At that time, he started refining his foundational swordsmanship, which still hadn't fully taken shape—how to swing the blade, how to maintain a stable stance.
But... there was one thing Liberatus had overlooked. Parrel's talent fell short of anyone Liberatus had ever seen. Even the things he assumed Parrel could do naturally proved impossible for him.
"...This is more serious than I thought."
"Is it?"
"Yeah. Worse than I imagined."
Even his four new disciples, who lingered in the training grounds to learn more from their master, couldn't help but think, Why can't he do that? But they kept it to themselves. They knew Parrel suffered far more than they could imagine.
"...I'll try again."
"Good. No matter how abysmal the talent—beyond imagination—humans grow through repetition. It's grueling, exhausting... but keep at it, and eventually, there will come a moment when it clicks."
"Yes."
"Again."
At Liberatus's command, Parrel swung his sword over and over. He paid no mind to the other disciples watching intently, his focus entirely on the blade. Was it that distant determination? Little by little, his swings began to stabilize.
But that was all. It didn't take long for the newly steadied sword to falter again. His talent was monstrously poor. Watching this, Ludenberg Lavante wondered if Parrel might be better off setting the sword aside for something else.
Yet.
Even so.
Despite the irrational wall of talent, Parrel's resolve never wavered. Even as the skin on his sword hand peeled away, even when exhaustion from endless training caused him to collapse unconscious, he never let go of the blade.
Liberatus caught the falling Parrel with one hand.
"Ridenah. Don't just stand there watching—come here. And you all too."
"...Yes, Captain."
Ridenah and the disciples, including Kyle Solenute, who had been observing Parrel's training from afar, approached Liberatus.
"He reminds me of you."
Liberatus looked at Ridenah as he spoke.
"...Did he?"
"Yeah. That stubbornness—it's just like yours."
"I wasn't this talentless, though."
"Haha. Is that so?"
"For a boy with no talent to push himself this hard..."
"Yeah. Looks like he's lost the most precious things, just like me."
"..."
"Erosion beasts are wreaking havoc everywhere. It's commonplace now, but those who suffer it firsthand can never forget. How could they? The slaughter of their most cherished ones by those vile things."
In that moment, Liberatus's gaze turned to Kyle and Orpina Testia. They met his eyes with heavy expressions and nodded.
"Yes. That's how it was."
Turning back to Ridenah at their response, Liberatus continued.
"Plenty sought revenge. But most gave it up for one reason or another—more to protect, or their own lives deemed more valuable."
"Yes. That's right."
Ridenah nodded, her gaze drifting far away.
"Don't you wonder why I decided to teach this boy?"
"I am curious. You like helping people without reason, Captain, but it's always for different ones. Like when you took me in."
"Simple. He hasn't abandoned revenge. That distant killing intent in his eyes—I'd never seen anything so intense. When he stood up to me earlier... I judged it wasn't the kind you can just ignore and live with."
"...I see."
"Revenge is his reason for living. Nothing can replace it. Not even the petty wall of talent can stand against that mission."
"So that's why you're teaching him?"
"Yeah. Mark my words—if Parrel doesn't give up, humanity will gain a fearsome ally."
"That much? Even with his awful talent?"
"Human potential is infinite. Haven't I proven that?"
"...You have."
"No emotion burns humans more fiercely than revenge, killing intent, hatred, rage. Ah, no—there's one."
"What?"
"Love. Only those with love can abandon hatred and rage. But he has no one like that. So he'll burn himself to ash. The moment those flames consume him whole... that's when the sword to protect humanity will be forged."
"...Isn't that a bit generous?"
"You'll understand one day. Talent is just one piece of what makes a human. True human strength comes from the heart."
Listening to their conversation, Ludenberg realized why Parrel Mer—despite his pitiful talent—became the strongest of the Six Heroes.
The power of the heart is conviction. That's why. That's how Parrel could grow strong.
As if reading Ludenberg's thoughts, Liberatus continued to Ridenah.
"Conviction. The force that makes humans strongest. It's feeble now, but the moment he grasps it, Parrel will surpass the wall of talent blocking him."
"...Are you planning to take him as a disciple too?"
"Yeah."
"That's so like you, Captain."
"Haha. Think so? Anyway... let's head in."
"Yes, Captain."
"You all too—go rest. Grueling training awaits tomorrow. And this kid? He'll be your comrade soon. Take good care of him."
"Ah, yes!"
Liberatus's disciples nodded, reflecting on his words. He'd said it before: Hold onto conviction. Forge your own and see it through. They gazed at the unconscious Parrel with strange looks.
Liberatus and Parrel's training continued. Of course, Liberatus guided Parrel without neglecting the other soldiers and knights. Sessions with Parrel always ran late into the night, leaving his hands trembling from the intensity.
The other disciples helped Parrel while repeating their own drills. Seeing them, Parrel harbored no ugly jealousy. He simply absorbed their forms, Liberatus's above all, and imitated them.
Parrel pressed on relentlessly. Ignoring everything else, focusing solely on his growth.
Yet even so, his skills barely improved. Better than before, yes... but his wretched talent held him back. Straight paths for others were jagged thorns for him, drawing blood with every step.
Still, Parrel kept walking. His growth wasn't steep, but he learned the meaning of effort. And no matter how often he crashed against talent's wall, his spirit never broke. Even if others surged ahead...
He walked his own path alone. Holding the conviction that one day, he'd eradicate every erosion beast from the world.
Was it that endless effort bearing fruit? Parrel's swordsmanship began to change, ever so slightly. His shaky basics solidified bit by bit; his movements quickened. Only a little.
During one soldiers' sparring match, that sliver of progress let him finally defeat an opponent he'd never beaten before. Parrel realized his path was right and bowed deeply to Liberatus, who had forged him.
Liberatus looked on with satisfaction.
When the time finally came for Liberatus to depart.
"Come with us."
"...Can I?"
"Yeah. I can't make you a knight right away, but keep at it, and you'll join the Imperial Knights too."
"I'll go."
He thanked the soldiers who had cared for him and resolved to follow Liberatus.
But just before their departure.
A massive erosion tore open outside the ironclad fortress of Tachgalde.
Ludenberg opened his eyes. With today's trial complete, he had exited Liberatus's body and now stood before Raha's throne.
"...Is today's trial over?"
"Yes."
"I never knew Parrel Mer lacked that much talent."
"Impressive, though, right?"
"It was."
His determination surpassed even Ludenberg's own during his darkest days of distrusting humanity.
"Parrel became the strongest of the Six Heroes. Knowing his talent now only makes it more awe-inspiring."
"You learned a lot this time."
"Yeah. Especially about the basics... made me reflect again. Have I been neglecting them lately?"
Raha smiled in satisfaction and clapped twice.
"Good attitude. As I mentioned before... shall we take time to consolidate what you learned from the trial?"
The space shifted, and suddenly Ludenberg stood in a vast training ground. Before him was Raha's knight from before—Leven.
Leven asked Ludenberg,
"What did you learn today?"
"The power of the heart. And basics."
"Good. Draw your sword. No need for words. Show it with your body. You can think deeply after."
Ludenberg gripped Libera and assumed the basic stance from the dream's visions.
Seeing this, Leven drew his jet-black sword and mirrored the stance.
"...!"
The overwhelming pressure from Leven choked Ludenberg. Stronger than any he'd felt before—from his father at full power? Facing a Devourer in Liberatus's body? Meeting Jepita, the Salvation Cult knight, during the Solemnute raid?
No.
Comparing was futile. In that pressure, Ludenberg realized Leven was the strongest being he'd ever encountered.