Whispers of the Evil Fate
Ludenberg Lavante's mind was growing hazy from the intensifying storm of sensations even after training ended. Honestly, aside from swinging his sword, he couldn't even clearly recall what he'd done.
'Damn it. It's gotten worse.'
At the same time, a whisper slithered into his ear.
Even your own senses you can't fully control, yet that arrogance thinking you can do anything with your own power—how pathetic it is.
"Shut up."
Ludenberg muttered softly, too quiet for anyone else to hear.
Foolish. So foolish. Just accept it simply. Submit to your fate. Then it would be easy.
The voice kept urging Ludenberg to give up. To submit to his fate, to embrace the evil fate bestowed upon him.
Ludenberg gritted his teeth.
'If I submit to fate. And become nothing but a powerful monster like in that dream. Then there'd be no "me" left.'
"If that's what happens, I won't be myself anymore. I'd just be a monster—strong, but stripped of all the convictions and values I hold dear."
In response, a tsking sound echoed back at Ludenberg.
You're already a monster anyway. Heretic abandoned by the gods, Ludenberg Lavante. The blessings given to all others passed you by, and divine grace was denied you.
"I told you last time I don't need any divine grace. For something tempting me with gifts, you sure know nothing about me. You idiot."
Ludenberg sneered softly at the mysterious voice.
As he bickered with it, footsteps approached. Thanks to his amplified senses, Ludenberg identified the intruder and cut off his retort to the voice.
The footsteps drew slowly closer. He felt surrounding gazes turning their way. In this situation, one wrong word and he'd be labeled insane for real.
Ha. Let's watch how long that pathetic act lasts.
Thankfully, the voice faded away—perhaps due to Ludenberg's resistance.
Only then could he confirm the approaching figure: a girl with faintly pale purple hair and deep purple eyes heavy with exhaustion. She stood there, utterly drained.
From the black brooch pinned to her armor, Ludenberg instantly knew her rank: Abyss. The lowest in Solemnute Adem's Knight Faculty.
She stared at him intently, as if she had something to say. Her bare face—helmet removed—showed awe, envy, and self-reproach.
"What do you want?"
His mind already muddled by the voice, Ludenberg bristled at the sudden intruder. He spoke coolly to the Abyss student.
"I-I'm Cletta Peliche."
The Abyss girl blurted her name and made her request.
"I've been watching you... Your swordsmanship is incredible. If it's not too much trouble, could you take a look at mine?"
Her desperate plea met Ludenberg's sharp hostility.
He wouldn't have been so harsh normally, but with his mind at its limit, he had no spare capacity for others.
"Get lost. Damn it. I'm barely holding on as it is."
Cletta flinched at his venom.
"Ah... Yeah. Of course. Sorry. Pretend I didn't say anything."
She backed off as if expecting rejection, but couldn't hide her fear—her face pale with terror.
Then, a mocking voice rang from behind Ludenberg.
"Can't you at least help with that? She looks desperate. Oh, wait—no time to waste on some Abyss trash?"
It was Rev Heinz, his tone dripping with scorn.
While Cletta Peliche approached Ludenberg...
"Hey. That..."
Marvin Ashus started it, oblivious as ever. The situation was obvious enough even for him.
Quick-witted Rev caught on perfectly, and Gawin Greta understood too.
"If we play it right, we could really piss off Ludenberg. And she picks this moment to approach? Does she not read the room? I get she's desperate, but wrong target."
They knew too well how Ludenberg bristled at others—and how he'd react.
"He'll definitely tell her to scram or shut up."
"Get lost. Damn it. I'm barely holding on as it is."
Rev grinned at Ludenberg's voice and Cletta's dejected one.
"See? Told you."
Gawin eyed Cletta's slumped shoulders.
"So what now? You think he'll bite no matter how we provoke him? It'll just be childish anyway."
"Exactly. If we're doing something juvenile, might as well pick a real fight. He won't dodge if we challenge him outright."
"And he's not in a normal state right now, right?"
With Marvin backing Rev, Gawin conceded the point.
"Who starts?"
"I'll do it. If I'm getting beat anyway, might as well say my piece."
They were already braced for a thrashing from Ludenberg. The massive rewards made it worthwhile. No matter their future potential, he was currently the strongest in the year.
"Can't you at least help with that? She looks desperate. Oh, wait—no time to waste on some Abyss trash?"
Rev Heinz's mocking words reached Ludenberg's heightened hearing. Ludenberg's glare snapped toward them like lightning.
Just then, some students chimed in, echoing Rev.
"Yeah, that's too much..."
"Doesn't even treat Abyss like people. We'll all be knights together eventually—no need for that attitude."
"Cletta works so hard. Poor girl. Wrong person to ask, though. Should've gone to Eden. Ludenberg's always had a bad rep."
The rigid ranking system bred resentment toward higher ranks—more than one might think.
Led by those words, students openly badmouthed Ludenberg.
Normally, he'd ignore such petty provocations. But the mysterious voice rattling his sanity left him vulnerable. Rev's taunt and the echoing jeers shook him excessively.
Extreme irritation surged, igniting fury at those directing hostility his way.
Staring at the murderous Ludenberg, the trio thought the same.
'This is bad.'
It wouldn't end with a light beating. They humbly accepted their impending doom.
Watching them, Mion Altis—the instigator—alone smiled, whispering to Eden Asta.
"Well, those idiots won't dig up Ludenberg's secrets. Still... unexpected gains. Should I reward them generously?"
Eden seemed to grasp her meaning, watching with delight.
"Yeah. People's inferiority complexes are scarier than you think. No matter how loftily one stands alone, those below will drag them down. Oh, and those three... they're half-dead already."
But they had no idea.
A noble girl with jet-black blue hair, now privy to much, was watching them.
Ashytara Solenute grasped much from the unfolding scene.
Gawin Greta, Marvin Ashus, Rev Heinz. Kids Ludenberg had once introduced as new friends when they were young.
She'd been happy for him, yet bittersweet. After age twelve, though, she hadn't spoken to him at all. She had no clue how their bond soured.
She'd assumed seclusion distanced him. Now she understood everything.
Why he avoided her. Why he'd savagely targeted Gawin Greta in the prior assessment.
'I thought he was just giving his all... No. They betrayed him.'
Rev, Gawin, and Marvin mocking Ludenberg fearlessly. Mion and Eden laughing at the spectacle.
Only those two smiled here. Other students feared the tension splashing their way. Some spat venom from inferiority.
What amused them so?
She knew Eden Asta and Mion Altis resented House Lavante. Her sister Sione Solenute often vented about their visits.
Even their engagement seemed like flailing against Lavante's prestige.
But they weren't satisfied there.
Their sneers, their mockery—it painted a full picture.
"Yeah. So that's it. It was them."
The reason you changed.
Ashytara murmured, voice suppressed. Very quietly.
Then self-reproach hit.
'I'm... so stupid.'
Clinging to Ludenberg, blind to the cause.
If she'd heeded noble rumors, she'd have known why he changed. As imperial kin, information was hers for the asking.
Yet she hadn't. She'd chased the hurt Ludenberg, ignorant, blaming him for ignoring her.
'If I'd known the truth, supported him... our relationship might be different now.'
Her self-blame ignited fury at the pair who twisted him.
'No. There's still time.'
Her blue eyes blazed icy toward Mion and Eden.
For the first time, she'd harbor malice.
Toward the evil encircling Ludenberg.