This Place Is Hell
Ludenberg had no choice but to feel that way.
"Ugh……."
Perhaps even harsher than the trials of that other world, the training was pushing Ludenberg to the brink of losing consciousness. In the world of trials, he had at least undertaken them in the body of the Starting Knight, whose basic physical abilities were incomparably superior to his current ones. But not here. He had to endure his father's brutal training in the raw, and it was already turning him—who rarely tired from ordinary exertions—into someone who looked ready to collapse at any moment.
The training he was doing now wasn't the sort that involved heavy shackles or sandbags. It was an endless series of spars with his father. The problem was that every time he blocked one of his father's sword strikes, a shock like his entire body was shattering coursed through him relentlessly.
It felt like the training intensity had jumped several levels compared to when he'd trained under his father before. Ashytara had already collapsed from exhaustion long ago. She lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath as if she might pass out any second—but that didn't mean the training was over.
"Please rise, Your Highness."
"I... I can't... get up... anymore."
"How do you plan to overcome the trials ahead if you're this frail? Ludenberg, you too—get up. You still have a long way to go."
"Yes, Father……."
Trembling in his shaky legs, Ludenberg somehow forced himself to stand. His father was right. He still had far to go. Now that he'd defeated a Salvation Cult knight, their sense of crisis and hostility toward him must have intensified. With the cult stepping back into the forefront, it wouldn't be strange if he faced danger at any moment. Even if he was at Solemnute Adem.
In fact, the Salvation Cult was likely to target Solemnute Adem itself. Its students were the empire's future, after all. Standing by while those buds of tomorrow grew unchecked would be foolish—and the cult wasn't foolish enough for that.
So he had to push through, no matter how grueling the training. Gritting his teeth, Ludenberg rose. He consciously took control of his body, forcing strength into his quivering legs and planting them firmly on the ground before reassuming his stance.
"Well done. You've finally learned to fully command your own body."
"……Yes."
"Then, try blocking this."
Duke Leonard gazed at him with satisfaction, wrapping his sword in Terra's divine power. In that instant, Ludenberg felt an immense pressure like facing a mountain. Shaking off the overwhelming aura that crashed over him, he charged straight at Duke Leonard instead.
As a far more refined and sharp strike than before closed in, Duke Leonard smiled in approval. He met Ludenberg's sword with his own. The heavy blow infused with Terra's divine power sent Ludenberg's blade flying back, but Ludenberg immediately retreated, reset his stance, and lunged again.
The clashing of steel filled the training grounds, and cracks began to spiderweb across Ludenberg's sword. The training blade—not Liberra—couldn't withstand Duke Leonard's divine power. But Ludenberg didn't give up, swinging relentlessly.
Having grown through the surreal events since enrolling at Solemnute Adem, he could now somewhat contend even against his father's sword cloaked in divine power.
"You're holding up decently now. Before, your sword would shatter the moment I wrapped it in divine power."
"I haven't just been playing around."
"Is that so?"
And in that moment, Duke Leonard put his full sincerity into his sword. A strike astonishingly swift, carrying the weight of a mountain's pressure, hurtled toward Ludenberg. Judging he couldn't dodge it, Ludenberg poured every ounce of his strength into the most ideal counterstrike he could muster, meeting his father's blade head-on.
And then, the unbelievable happened.
Kaang!
Ludenberg's sword didn't shatter. It blocked Duke Leonard's divine-power-infused strike. Of course, the impact sent Ludenberg flying backward into a tree behind him—but he'd blocked it.
Duke Leonard stared at him in surprise.
"To think you'd block even that. Impressive."
But his praise never reached Ludenberg. After rolling under countless blows from Duke Leonard that day, Ludenberg lost consciousness the moment he slammed into the tree.
* * *
He's improved tremendously.
Duke Leonard marveled at his son's skill. The strike he'd just unleashed was a technique even the family's knights couldn't block.
So it's true he defeated that Salvation Cult knight and high-grade erosion beasts.
He felt proud of his son. Watching him steadily surpass his limits with nothing but his own body, without divine power, was awe-inspiring even to him. He had no idea what had happened at Solemnute Adem, but the growth in less than two months was unbelievable.
It meant Ludenberg's potential was still wide open—and that filled Duke Leonard with joy. His son wouldn't have to set aside his sword. Even without divine power, he could forge ahead.
Duke Leonard resolved to guide his son with all he had until Solemnute Adem reopened.
As he looked down at the fainted Ludenberg, a sound reached his ears.
"Ugh……."
Ashytara lay collapsed, exhaustion radiating from her in waves.
"Are you all right?"
"……No."
"Your training is sorely lacking."
"At Solemnute Adem, no one trains harder than Ludenberg, Your Grace."
Duke Leonard chuckled at her grumbled retort.
"Haha. Is that right?"
"Yes……."
"Can't be helped, Your Highness. I'm your instructor too, after all. A true master must sometimes drive their disciple mercilessly. So get up quietly."
"Ahh……."
Ashytara groaned but managed to rise after a brief rest. She knew this training wouldn't end until she collapsed from exhaustion.
"Here I come. At least try to track my movements. For now, what I want to teach Your Highness is how to act against someone stronger than yourself."
"……Yes!"
Ashytara gripped her greatsword, eyes fixed on Duke Leonard's every motion. But before she could register it, his blade was already at her throat. Instinctively, she swung her greatsword—but it sliced only air.
Finally, Duke Leonard's sword halted before her neck, and she faced an utterly terrifying pressure. It was enough to buckle knees just from proximity, but Ashytara gritted her teeth and refused to yield.
"We'll repeat this training endlessly. Focus on observing my actions. With enough repetition, you'll grasp the key. Of course, it'll come with physical conditioning."
"Thank you……."
"Ah, but... you did well enduring my pressure just now. In a way, you already possess the most crucial thing in fighting someone stronger: not buckling under their aura, holding firm. That's the starting point."
"Yes."
Exhausted, Ashytara replied hoarsely before collapsing in a heap.
* * *
Ludenberg opened his eyes. He was in his room. Soreness throbbed from every part of his body. It was late afternoon now—he'd been out for quite a while.
He got out of bed. His whole body ached, but not enough to keep him down. The pain wasn't as bad as during the trial world, so he stood and walked normally. For someone who'd fainted, his reaction was remarkably nonchalant. If anything, he seemed pleased.
I fainted, but... I reacted to Father's strike with real intent. I've grown a lot.
Just a month ago, he couldn't even draw out his father's sincerity in a spar. His swings would shatter against a casual divine-power-infused strike. But now, he'd forced it out, kept his sword intact, and even held for a moment.
That fact thrilled him.
It'll be tough on my body for a while, but I'll grow even faster. Then I'll qualify for the next trial. And through it, I'll grow more. Good. I can get stronger.
Those thoughts ignited his drive. He headed to the training grounds. Having fainted, he hadn't done his daily conditioning.
He donned the familiar, brutally heavy training armor—three times the weight of standard plate—that he'd custom-ordered for himself. Wearing it consistently had built his monstrous stamina.
He started jogging lightly around the grounds. His pace quickened, building to a full sprint as he lapped endlessly. His body screamed, but he ignored it, pushing to his absolute limit.
As time passed, his heart constricted, and acetone breath filled his mouth. But Ludenberg didn't stop. He abused his body even harder, matching his grown physique.
Finally, nearing his true limit, he halted for a brief rest.
I can still go further. My total stamina feels unbelievably increased. Is this what it feels like when your limits expand a stage?
Satisfied there was more room to grow, he inspected his enhanced body and resumed running.
That day, Ludenberg ran until he skipped dinner, earning a scolding from a worried Ashytara.