It Was Just as Raha Said.
Ludenberg Lavante felt vitality mingled with pain settling into his body before he knew it.
Vitality following extreme agony. His body felt much lighter, brimming with strength. It didn't even feel like his usual flesh. Naturally, it was incomparably frail compared to the body of the Starting Knight, but it was markedly stronger than the self before undergoing the trial.
"What in the world... This is absurd."
Even though Raha had already explained it, hearing it was one thing—feeling it firsthand with his own body was another. Ludenberg could only gape at this ridiculous situation in disbelief.
Don't judge the events around you by ordinary common sense. As time passes, you must grow accustomed to them. And that power wasn't just handed to you. It was legitimately earned through trials in the trial world that others couldn't even endure. You seized it with your own strength.
"Even though you set up the stage for it?"
Yes. I may have created this situation, but accepting the trial and facing it within was all you.
"I see..."
Congratulations anyway. You've grown stronger. But the aftereffects of the pain are still lingering quite a bit, so rest well. And keep honing yourself, pondering what you're lacking and how to slay a highest-grade erosion beast.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Good work, Ludenberg.
Raha's voice cut off, and Ludenberg lay down on the bed. Just as she said, the vitality lasted only a moment before the pain surged back. He writhed in agony until exhaustion drained all strength from his body, finally managing to fall asleep.
"Ugh."
Ludenberg groaned from the lingering pain as he opened his eyes. Judging by the light outside the window, it was already morning, and his body still throbbed persistently.
At this rate, I can't do any training or anything.
With a sigh, Ludenberg got out of bed. He washed up neatly, donned the temporary knight uniform issued by the knight order, and headed to the knight order's mess hall.
Upon arriving, he spotted a familiar head of dark blue hair. It was Ashytara Solenute.
Ludenberg approached her. But when it came to actually speaking to her, the words didn't come easily. After all... it felt awkward to treat her like before. Moreover, having maintained a distant attitude toward everyone for the past five years, being friendly with anyone was already quite difficult for him.
But not for Ashytara. Sensing his presence and seeing him approach with his stiff expression, she smiled faintly and greeted him warmly.
"Hey, Ludenberg. Good morning."
"...Hey."
"Here for breakfast?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, what's your shift like today, by any chance?"
"Same as yesterday."
"So, got time later?"
"...Why?"
"Let's tour Solemnute together. It's changed a lot in the past five years. It's probably way different from what you remember. And we can catch up on unfinished stories."
Ashytara, uncharacteristically beaming, peppered him with questions. It was different from how she treated Cletta or the other students. Not a forced smile, but one bubbling up from genuine joy. Her smile, which naturally eased the beholder's heart, began to soften Ludenberg's rigid expression.
Gazing at that smile, Ludenberg thought,
Training's impossible today anyway... This isn't bad.
"Sure."
"Huh? Really?"
"Why?"
"Oh, no. Just unexpected. I figured you'd shoot it down flat. You told Cletta yesterday you hate moving without reason."
"If we're splitting hairs, yeah. But... never mind."
"But what?"
"Nothing."
Saying friends are the exception feels a bit too distant...
It was too awkward to voice his honest feelings.
"Hmm... So, breakfast then head out right away?"
"Yeah. I was planning to skip training today anyway."
"Skip training? You?"
Ashytara asked in surprise. Back at Solemnute Adem, Ludenberg had been notoriously obsessed with training. He repeated training and study from dawn till dusk, so she couldn't easily believe he'd skip it.
"I don't train all the time. I've been pushing my body too hard lately, so I need a break."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
As they talked, the awkwardness between them gradually faded. Ludenberg didn't smile warmly like before, but that was enough for Ashytara. Of course, a selfish desire welled up inside her to close the psychological distance further, but she suppressed it and steadied her heart.
Be satisfied with this for now. There's still plenty of time.
She chatted amiably with him, and Ludenberg—his awkwardness easing, his heart relaxing—wore a small but unmistakably gentle smile.
The other students watching this astonishing sight rubbed their eyes as if in disbelief.
"Wow."
Especially the girls' exclamations dominated. Rumors swirled that he was cursed for failing to awaken divine power, that he'd assaulted others recklessly, and that he always treated people coldly—so his outstanding looks had gone unnoticed. But with that face smiling gently at someone, the girls couldn't help blushing.
And Ashytara, right in front of him, was no exception.
Ludenberg looked puzzled at Ashytara, whose face suddenly flushed bright red.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. And Ludenberg."
"Yeah?"
"Let's go already."
"Suddenly?"
"We're done eating. Hurry."
Ashytara urged him on, her face somehow reddened. It resembled the face of someone reluctant to show off something precious to others.
Finally, she grabbed the arm of Ludenberg, who had finished eating, and pulled him out of the knight order's mess hall.
"Where to first?"
Ashytara asked Ludenberg with renewed energy.
"Dunno... Haven't thought about it."
"Then... shall we sightsee Solemnute? There are lots of street vendors too. I'll point out what's changed as we go."
"Sure."
Walking side by side, they wandered the bustling streets of Solemnute, alive with preparations for the Terra Prayer Festival. Sometimes snacking at stalls, sometimes her introducing changed buildings.
Ashytara's face bloomed with a truly radiant smile, and Ludenberg was much the same.
"How's it look after so long?"
"It's changed a lot. When I first came back to Solemnute, it didn't seem different, but the inside has transformed this much."
"Right? But some things haven't changed. Like the Sun Tower."
"The Sun Tower..."
"Wanna go see it?"
"Yeah."
"After the Sun Tower, let's hit the Garden of Repose. I went with the others yesterday, but I really wanted to go again with you."
"Haven't heard that name in ages."
"The head chef's the same, so you can taste the old flavors. You loved the food there as a kid, remember?"
"Their steak was really good. Not sure if my tastes have changed now, though..."
"Old tastes linger somewhat, right?"
"Probably. Let's head to the Sun Tower first. There's stuff I want to see."
"Okay!"
A dark workshop lit only by a tiny candle. A certain middle-aged man carefully inspected a small doll before whispering softly to the young man beside him.
"A revelation has come."
"My god. Really? When? When did it come?"
"Last night. The bishop appeared in my dream and spoke."
"Finally!"
The young man shouted in excitement.
"Yes. The time has come to open erosion in Solemnute. Eight years... such a long, grueling wait. Those vile worshippers of false gods. The time to bring them the true god's wrath has arrived."
"Combining it with securing test subjects?"
"No. We can't divide our focus on test subjects. Don't forget where we are. This is the capital, Solemnute—their stronghold. If we act rashly, we'll suffer the losses. Our lord commanded only terror and chaos. So we must avoid anything else."
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind. When do you plan to execute?"
"Next week. When the Terra Prayer Festival truly begins. The main branch said they'd send support timed to it."
"With the main branch's support... We can definitely achieve our goal."
"Yes. We just need to help them enter easily. So don't do anything to give us away."
"Got it! Oh, Jepita, sir. One question."
"What is it?"
"For this erosion, up to what grade of erosion beasts?"
"High-grade. It's not yet time to reveal highest-grade erosion beasts. Our goal is merely to instill terror and chaos, to let them know we've returned. The stronger those emotions, the more power our lord recovers."
"Indeed. Increase people eroded by fear. Death is fleeting, but fear and chaos persist."
"Exactly. The intense fear at the moment of death helps our lord, of course, but humans naturally spread their fear by word of mouth. It's more helpful if they live. So no need to waste time killing them, except as examples."
"Understood. I'll stay true to the objective without needless anger. Our purpose is solely our lord's advent, after all."
At the young man's words, the middle-aged man—Jepita—nodded.
"Time is short. Contact our scattered brethren. Edga."
"Yes!"
The workshop's candle went out, and the two vanished. All that remained was a single grotesque little doll.