Chapter 35: Phantom Foes
Ashytara stood before the erosion beast with an expressionless face. During her training with the Solem Church, she had learned Solem's doctrines and sacred laws while gaining opportunities to fight erosion beasts. Thanks to that, she had subjugated low-grade ones multiple times, so she planned to end this quickly. Standing before the stationary erosion beast, she drew the greatsword strapped to her back—nearly as tall as she was.
The moment she unsheathed it, the erosion beast began to move. Ashytara summoned her divine power. In an instant, a scorching gust swirled around her, flames erupting from her greatsword and dyeing the blade red. She rested the sword against the ground, waiting for the erosion beast to charge.
The creature rushed straight at her, unflinching despite the flames. But in that moment, Ashytara channeled the power surging from her toes straight into the blade, slashing upward in a fierce diagonal arc. The erosion beast hardened its outer shell as much as possible upon seeing the incoming sword, but it was futile.
Ashytara's raw strength combined with the weight of her greatsword crushed the shell outright, and the flames she had wrapped around the blade charred the beast's ruptured insides pitch-black. Erosion beasts could regenerate endlessly unless their hearts were damaged, but this low-grade one had its heart incinerated. It halted abruptly, crumbling into black ash.
A clean victory by any measure. The flames on Ashytara's greatsword had already subsided, leaving only a faint heat lingering. Next came admiring gazes from the Innocence students. Glancing back, she brushed off the stares directed her way—until she spotted Ludenberg Lavante watching her.
Their eyes met for a moment. But Ludenberg simply turned away without a flicker of emotion, leaving Ashytara with a faint, fleeting pang of disappointment. The old Ludenberg would have praised her lavishly.
She shook her head, shaking off the regret. Their relationship had changed, and she had only just taken her first step toward mending it.
To get back to how things were, it'll take a little more time. For now, focus on what I need to do.
The instant her turn ended, she began pondering how to spread positive rumors about Ludenberg.
Ludenberg Lavante's turn was last. Among the Innocence students lined up with him were Eden Asta and Mion Altis. They glanced sidelong at him, but he noticed without reacting. They looked like they were scheming something, but he didn't care.
Having been dragged through all sorts of absurd events before, Ludenberg was confident he wouldn't be swayed by whatever they were plotting. His encounter with Raha—and the minor test she had given him—had ingrained a resolve to remain unshaken by external forces. Their petty schemes no longer fazed him; he wouldn't even spare them a thought.
Shaking off stray thoughts about Mion and Eden, he eyed the stationary erosion beast before him. Boring. The real ones he'd faced were far more menacing, instilling primal fear. This illusory remnant held no such threat—just grotesque shaping.
The thought arose naturally, but he resolved to give his all anyway. Maintaining best effort even in trivial matters would keep arrogance and sloth at bay.
Daphnen's incantation had already run six times. The Setra priestess, looking a bit fatigued, chanted the final one. The erosion beast stirred to life the moment she finished.
But Ludenberg had already lunged the instant it glanced at him.
Thump.
Even though it was mere illusion, the heartbeat pulsing from within rang clearly in his ears. Closing the distance in a flash, he slashed unhesitatingly at the source of the sound. The fierce strike engulfed it, shattering its heart in an instant and reducing it to black ash.
Gasps erupted from the watching Innocence students. Soon after, Mion and Eden dispatched theirs effortlessly too.
In particular, Evelyn Ansis, Brian, Granias, and Jerome—who had just fought the illusory beasts—spoke up in sequence.
"Whoa. Last time he sliced through a divinely empowered sword whole, and now he bisects an erosion beast."
"Just... let's give up trying to make sense of him."
"Come to think of it, Professor Calvin said Ludenberg got thoroughly drilled in the Eastern Erosion Zone. Probably been facing them since childhood."
"Even so, does that make sense? How'd he even know the heart's position? Finding it was the worst part. We can't just burn it out like Ashytara!"
"...Honestly, Ludenberg, Ashytara, Eden, Mion—these four are barely in the same league as 'Innocence.' They're at least a few tiers above. Don't compare yourself; you'll just feel pathetic."
"Yeah. Let's just listen to the prof, wrap up, and hit training."
Evelyn murmured softly, and Granias nodded in agreement. At that moment, all the erosion beasts on the training ground vanished.
"Thank you for your hard work, Priestess Daphnen."
"No, it's just my duty. You worked hard too, Professor."
"What did I even do? Activating the sacred law formation and sustaining the illusions—that was all you."
"Anyway, I'll head out now."
"Yes, thank you again. Alright, Innocence students—gather here!"
With the battles over, Professor Hainkel thanked Daphnen before assembling the group.
"Good work. The reason I had you fight these illusory erosion beasts today was to show those unfamiliar with them just how dangerous they are—and to give you experience. Some of you are pleased with your results; others, not so much."
A few Innocence students hung their heads in frustration. Whispers rose: Everyone else won—why only me?
Hainkel addressed them. "Don't dwell on it. You've just entered Solemnute Adem and faced your first erosion beast. As I said, being clumsy is natural. Keep at it, and you'll handle them reliably. Class dismissed."
"Thank you!"
The moment it ended, the Innocence students streamed toward the public training ground—to temper themselves after losing to mere low-grade beasts.
By the time Ludenberg arrived, it was already packed. Other pavilions must have run similarly motivating classes, drawing knight faculty students of all ranks.
Surveying the crowd, he felt little urge to train. He'd never liked crowded places. Training was unavoidable, but he didn't want personal time under prying eyes too.
Better come at dawn.
He headed straight back to the dorm. There, he retrieved the black longsword—Liberra—hidden in a corner and examined it.
No changes yet... Well, it's only been a day since the ruins. Nothing to do but hone myself until the trial or whatever.
After inspecting the sword once more, he stowed it and checked his schedule.
"Tomorrow's classes... Lanur theology and erosion studies. No assignments, so might as well prep. Theory affects grades too."
Then sleep early, rise early, train at dawn. Muttering to himself, he opened his theology textbook.
The Abyss students' training apparently hadn't ended; the Black Pavilion was quiet. Ashytara waited out front for Cletta Peliche.
While waiting, she recalled her earlier plan. It was simple: If I help with Cletta's training, people will react. Then...
As a high-rank Innocence helping in a crowded training ground, Abyss and other students would take notice. Seizing that attention, she'd casually drop stories debunking false fears and rumors about Ludenberg.
Scattered positive gossip in a crowd could plant vague goodwill toward him. Sure, with existing fears rampant, they'd be skeptical—but skepticism itself sparks discussion, shifting perceptions.
Neither spreaders nor hearers would dig too deep into truth; people craved gossip. Plus, it would redirect those spreading lies toward Cletta, his defender—diluting Ludenberg talk.
That was her aim. Using Cletta might've bothered her old self, but with Ludenberg involved, no hesitation. She'd bear any resentment later.
As she pondered, Abyss training ended. The Black Pavilion erupted in noise—groans everywhere.
"Ughhh... mercy."
"I'm dying, for real. Why so brutal?"
"This is no different from outdoor training! Thought we'd get rank-specific stuff... damn, feels unfair."
Amid the complaining horde, Ashytara spotted light purple hair standing out. Cletta, seeing her, beamed and called out.
"Ashytara!"
Ashytara greeted her with a calculated smile. "Training over?"
"Yeah. But I could go more—planning dinner then straight to the grounds. Were you waiting?"
"Promised to check your swordplay today. Let's hit the cafeteria. Menu's decent."
Cletta just flashed a bright, wordless smile.