"What?"
Ludenberg Lavante couldn't believe Raha's words.
The greatest powerhouse in human history—without a drop of divine power? He'd come to realize through recent events that common sense could shatter at any moment, but this was different.
What was divine power? It was the gods' essential grace for anyone fighting erosion beasts. Even the neighboring nations of the Solemnute Empire each revered their own gods, drawing on their blessings to battle the erosion beasts and the Salvation Cult threatening their lands.
Humanity had no choice but to grow stronger against the erosion beasts, and divine power was their mightiest source of strength.
Yet a human without divine power was history's strongest? Impossible.
"The Starting Knight ascended to the pinnacle of humanity using only his own flesh and blood, without divine power. That's all I can tell you. I'd love to say more, but as you can see..."
Raha shook her chained hands lightly, the iron clanking in response.
"I'm in this state."
Her words ignited a fierce curiosity in Ludenberg about the Starting Knight. This was no reluctant pursuit of traces anymore—he wanted to know this man. A figure called the strongest human despite lacking divine power. What knight faculty student wouldn't be intrigued?
"Then... I have no choice but to find out myself. Through that trial you mentioned."
"Exactly."
Raha nodded, eyeing him with faint concern.
"What exactly is this trial you keep talking about?"
Ludenberg was resolved to face it, just as she'd said. He'd dismissed her words at first, but after everything, he had no choice but to trust her. Especially after hearing that voice—the one that had mocked and warped his senses not long ago.
Come to think of it... the evil fate drew near me back then.
Just as he opened his mouth to ask about it, Raha cut in unexpectedly.
"Before I explain the trial... there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"A little while ago, a voice mocked you and twisted your senses, right?"
Her question was precisely what Ludenberg had been about to ask.
He nodded. "Yeah. I was just going to bring that up. Was that... the evil fate you mentioned?"
Raha shook her head. "No. That was me."
A shock swept through Ludenberg. All those events he'd been sure were the evil fate's machinations—her doing?
"Wait, what? You're saying you warped my senses like that? You spouted all that nonsense at me?"
"Yes."
She admitted it flatly.
"Why?"
"Before putting you through the trial, I needed to gauge your mindset and resolve. In the end, you showed remarkable composure, convincing me you could break free of the evil fate."
"...Testing people on a whim. You've got a twisted sense of humor."
Ludenberg spoke sharply.
"...Sorry about that. Forgive me, Ludenberg. But I needed to be sure you wouldn't falter at petty temptations."
She acknowledged it clearly and apologized. Still, his questions lingered. Why? Why test him?
"Why did you need that certainty? By your own words, the evil fate was already upon me. I had to overcome it anyway, didn't I?"
"True. But I had to confirm how resolute you are. The trials I'll impose will wear down your spirit, plunge you into torment."
"Damn it. I don't understand a thing."
"You'll learn in time. You've proven the bare minimum qualification. Now you're at the starting line to defy the fate barreling toward you."
Ludenberg gave up trying to make sense of his situation. As Raha said, it was too convoluted and arcane for him now.
"Proving my qualification... so I passed your arbitrary test, then."
"Perfectly, as I said before. You strove to keep your sanity amid that horrific sensory distortion and ultimately overcame it. And crucially..."
Raha paused, then continued with conviction.
"Your wish can only be fulfilled through your own actions. That desire you hold will repel any temptation. The evil fate will tempt you endlessly from here on. To resist that voice, you must steel your own will."
"So, time for this trial now?"
"No."
Raha shook her head at his question.
"Not yet. You wouldn't endure it right now."
"...I see."
"What you need to do is simple. Keep training. That's it."
"I was going to do that anyway, with or without you saying it."
"Good. That's enough. And..."
"Hm?"
"Normally, don't students who excel in a test get a fitting reward?"
"...Fair point."
"You aced the test I gave you, so how about a reward from me?"
Raha smiled faintly.
Ludenberg tilted his head. "A reward? What is it?"
"That sword."
With her chained hand, she pointed to the black longsword.
"It's a bit iffy calling it a reward. I'll impose your trials through that sword from now on."
"Sounds more like shackles."
Raha burst out laughing at his word choice.
"Ahaha! Shackles—fitting. But Ludenberg, the moment you break those shackles, you'll shatter the chains of evil fate too."
"No choice then. I just pull the sword?"
"Yes."
Ludenberg approached the defiled altar. Ignoring the nauseating blood stench, he gripped the hilt without hesitation—the one he'd thrust in himself. It fit his hand like a glove, as if he'd wielded it a lifetime.
He'd handled countless famed blades, but none matched him like this.
Feeling an odd satisfaction, he drew the sword. It slid free effortlessly, without resistance.
Hummm—
A white wave rippled out as it cleared the altar, the white script on the blade glowing. The foul blood washed away, reverting the space to pristine white, as when he'd first entered.
"As you train yourself, when you've earned the right, you'll hear my voice through that sword. That's when the trials begin. And... take this."
As Raha finished, a thin book materialized from thin air into Ludenberg's hand.
"What's this...?"
"The Starting Knight's diary. New entries will appear as you face your trials."
"Diary?"
"Yes. It chronicles his life—how he grew strong. It'll help you immensely."
Ludenberg tucked the book away and asked her.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because I must. You'll probably keep asking. To trust me. Even if the seal breaks, I can't reveal why. But know this."
"What?"
"I—no, we—want you to be happy."
Her words ended, and the space quaked, shattering.
"This is...!"
"Go, Ludenberg. I look forward to our next meeting."
Her jade throne vanished amid the collapse, Ludenberg's consciousness plunging into darkness.
Then, in a dreamlike whisper, Raha's voice reached him.
Ludenberg's consciousness faded.
* * *
"...berg!"
"Hey!"
A voice calling snapped Ludenberg awake. He bolted up, scanning around at the worried Tes siblings.
It was the ruin's central hall.
"You're awake."
"Where...?"
"The central hall, before that barrier."
Professor Nah Tes answered his confusion.
"Central hall? Did you drag me all the way from that passage?"
"No. You dropped from the air, the white passage vanished, and we were teleported here."
"What the hell happened beyond that door?"
Nadan followed up after Nah's explanation.
"No idea."
"What?"
"I said I don't know. After entering the door, I only remember a white altar. Nothing else."
Ludenberg feigned bewilderment—quite convincingly.
"What's with the sword? The hilt looks like the one you held earlier."
Nadan eyed Liberra in his hand.
Ludenberg stared at it with mock puzzlement. "When did I even get this?"
"You've clutched it since you fell."
"...No memory."
"Really nothing at all?"
Professor Nah pressed, but Ludenberg replied firmly.
"Nothing. Just the white altar before my eyes."
He hid his talk with Raha. How could he tell them about the evil fate clinging to him, the trials ahead? He wasn't one to broadcast his secrets.
Besides, he had no new info on the Starting Knight worth sharing. Best to play dumb.
His realistic reaction drew sighs from Nah and Nadan.
"If you can't remember, nothing to be done. Let's head back."
"Yeah, let's go. Struck out completely."
"We got something. Think I'd risk that for nothing? I memorized all the ornaments."
Nah reassured the grumbling Nadan.
"Oh, really? Good thing. Thought it was a total bust."
"I'll reconstruct them later with sacred law. Should yield solid results—a paper on forgotten history's artifacts at least."
As she spoke, Nah caught Ludenberg staring, as if he had something to say.
"Hm? Ludenberg, something on your mind?"
"What about this sword?"
"You keep it."
Her casual bluntness startled him instead.
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
"That simple?"
"It is, but seeing what happened in the ruins changed my mind. The Setra Church threw everything at that barrier—it opened the moment you approached. And the passage showed illusions only you saw. This ruin existed for you."
"..."
"Ancient relics carry extraordinary power naturally, and they choose their owners. You've been chosen; we haven't. It's yours. Don't mess with an owner's chosen item—key rule in ruin digs. People forget and get burned."
"Understood."
Music to his ears.
"Let's go. We didn't leave empty-handed, so successful excavation. Good work, everyone. Rest up today."
"Yes."
With that, the trio trudged back to the Setra Church in exhausted silence, parting after brief words of thanks.
Back in his room, Ludenberg set Liberra on the desk and collapsed into bed, eyes closing.