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Journey to Become the Zenith

Chapter 124: A Blade That Refuses to Bow · Oct 23, 2026

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Chapter List (490)

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101 Chapter 101: The Test of the Queen 2026-10-23
102 Chapter 102: The Test of the Queen [Part-2] 2026-10-23
103 Chapter 103: The Queen Without Mana 2026-10-23
104 Chapter 104: The Queen’s Three Strike 2026-10-23
105 Chapter 105: The Third Strike 2026-10-23
106 Chapter 106: The Ten Pillars of Skyfall 2026-10-23
107 Chapter 107: Awakening in the Royal Chamber 2026-10-23
108 Chapter 108: The Weight of Fallen Nobles 2026-10-23
109 Chapter 109: A Broken House Still Standing 2026-10-23
110 Chapter 110: A Room Filled with Hidden Blades 2026-10-23
111 Chapter 111: Blade That Refuses to Leave 2026-10-23
112 Chapter 112: Deals Written in Blood and Silk 2026-10-23
113 Chapter 113: Pride Standing at the Edge of Ruin 2026-10-23
114 Chapter 114: King Who Smiles While Bleeding 2026-10-23
115 Chapter 115: Smile That Refuses to Break 2026-10-23
116 Chapter 116: Echoes Beneath a Silent Soul 2026-10-23
117 Chapter 117: The Truth Hidden Beneath the Soul 2026-10-23
118 Chapter 118: Breaking Limits Beneath the Sky 2026-10-23
119 Chapter 119: A Smile Between Steel and Silk 2026-10-23
120 Chapter 120: Echoed Blades Beneath a Silent Sky 2026-10-23
121 Chapter 121: The Promise That Refused to Fade 2026-10-23
122 Chapter 122: The Promise That Refused to Fade [Part-2] 2026-10-23
123 Chapter 123: The Last Promise Beneath a Dying Sky 2026-10-23
124 Chapter 124: A Blade That Refuses to Bow 2026-10-23
125 Chapter 125: A Choice That Refuses to Break 2026-10-23
126 Chapter 126: The Weight of a Crown’s Trust 2026-10-23
127 Chapter 127: The Hunt Beneath a Broken Silence 2026-10-23
128 Chapter 128: Mercy That Cuts Deeper Than Steel 2026-10-23
129 Chapter 129: The Weight That Doesn’t Fade 2026-10-23
130 Chapter 130: A Will That Must Stand Alone 2026-10-23
131 Chapter 131: A Hero’s Way of Facing the Unknown 2026-10-23
132 Chapter 132: Storm Beneath a Calm Sky 2026-10-23
133 Chapter 133: Wolves at the Academy Gates 2026-10-23
134 Chapter 134: The Mask of Righteousness 2026-10-23
135 Chapter 135: A Brother’s Judgment 2026-10-23
136 Chapter 136: A Calm Blade in a Storm 2026-10-23
137 Chapter 137: When the Blade Steps Forward 2026-10-23
138 Chapter 138: The Sword That Chooses 2026-10-23
139 Chapter 139: The Thunder’s Judgment 2026-10-23
140 Chapter 140: The Line That Cannot Be Crossed 2026-10-23
141 Chapter 141: The Queen’s Authority 2026-10-23
142 Chapter 142: A Blade Meant to Kill 2026-10-23
143 Chapter 143: The Man Behind the Silence 2026-10-23
144 Chapter 144: The Silence Before Death 2026-10-23
145 Chapter 145: Smiles Behind Quiet Storms 2026-10-23
146 Chapter 146: The Path That Should Not Exist 2026-10-23
147 Chapter 147: The Bones Beneath the Mist 2026-10-23
148 Chapter 148: The Weight Behind an Apology 2026-10-23
149 Chapter 149: A Drink Before Words 2026-10-23
150 Chapter 150: A Warning That Cannot Be Ignored 2026-10-23

A Blade That Refuses to Bow

It has been a day since Videl returned to the knight academy, and it was tense.

Not the kind of tension that fades with time.

No—

This one lingered.

In the air.

In the whispers.

In the eyes that followed her every step.

The moment she stepped through the academy gates, it began.

At first, it was just a few glances.

Then murmurs.

Then—

A crowd.

Students gathered around her like a storm closing in. Nobles, commoners, elites—none of it mattered in that moment. Their gazes burned with the same thing.

Greed.

Curiosity.

Jealousy.

”...That’s the sword, right?”

”...The one from the selection...”

”...There’s no way a commoner should have something like that...”

Voices overlapped, sharp and relentless.

One stepped forward, a noble by the look of his uniform, chin raised high.

”How much?”

Videl blinked once.

”...What?”

”The sword,” he said, his tone already carrying impatience. ”Name your price.”

A few others quickly followed.

”I’ll double it.”

”No—triple.”

”I can offer you a position in my house.”

Their words piled on top of each other, as if she were nothing more than a merchant standing in a marketplace.

Videl’s grip on the Long sword tightened slightly.

”...I’m not selling it.”

Simple.

Clear.

Final.

And just like that—

The air changed.

The warmth vanished.

”What did you say?” someone snapped.

”...You heard me.”

A scoff echoed.

”...So it’s true.”

”...A thief.”

”...Cheater.”

”...A commoner like you doesn’t deserve that blade.”

The words came like stones.

Sharp.

Ugly.

Each one meant to wound.

Videl didn’t respond.

Didn’t argue.

But her jaw tightened.

Just slightly.

Her eyes hardened—just a fraction.

Because deep down—

She knew.

This wasn’t about the sword.

It never was.

It was about who she was.

And who they believed she should never become.

Before things could escalate further—

A presence stepped forward.

Cold.

Firm.

Unyielding.

”...That’s enough.”

The voice cut through the noise like steel.

Mora.

His gaze swept across the crowd, calm yet suffocating.

”You’ve made your point. Now disperse.”

No one moved.

For a second.

Then—

”...Tch.”

”...Let’s go.”

One by one, they backed away.

Not because they wanted to—

But because they had to.

Power didn’t always need to be shown.

Sometimes—

It just needed to exist.

Once the crowd scattered, silence returned.

Heavy.

Lingering.

Videl exhaled slowly.

”...Thank you.”

Mora glanced at her.

”...Be careful.”

That was all he said.

Then he left.

The walk to her dorm felt longer than usual.

Every step echoed louder.

Every shadow seemed deeper.

When she finally reached her room—

She closed the door.

And for the first time that day—

The noise stopped.

Silence.

Pure.

Fragile.

Videl leaned back against the door for a moment, closing her eyes.

”...This is going to be annoying.”

Her voice was low.

Tired.

But steady.

She already understood the situation.

Once Mora was gone—

They would return.

Again.

And again.

Relentless.

”...I could use the ring...”

Her fingers brushed lightly against it.

The one given by the Queen.

Authority.

Protection.

A shortcut.

She frowned slightly.

”...No.”

A quiet refusal.

”...Not for something like this.”

If she used it now—

She would only prove them right.

That she needed power she didn’t earn.

That she couldn’t stand on her own.

”...I’ll deal with it.”

Her voice steadied.

Conviction settling in her chest.

Knock.

The sound was soft.

But clear.

Videl opened her eyes.

”...Already?”

She straightened and moved to the door, opening it without hesitation.

Three figures stepped inside.

Niva.

Dira.

Kira.

Her roommates.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

They simply looked at her.

Carefully.

Measuring.

”...You okay?” Niva asked first, her voice softer than expected.

Dira crossed her arms, though her gaze held concern.

”...Looked like a circus out there.”

Kira leaned slightly against the wall, eyes narrowing just a bit.

”...Did they touch you?”

Videl shook her head.

”...No.”

A brief pause.

”...Just words.”

”...Hah,” Dira exhaled. ”People love barking when they’re in groups.”

Niva stepped closer.

”...Still, it’s not something you should deal with alone.”

There was sincerity in her tone.

Not forced.

Not fake.

Just... real.

Videl hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then—

”...They want the sword.”

Kira snorted lightly.

”...Of course they do.”

”...And when I said no...”

”...They turned ugly,” Dira finished.

Videl gave a small nod.

Silence settled again.

Then—

”...So,” Niva tilted her head slightly, ”...what is it?”

Videl blinked.

”...What?”

”The sword,” she clarified. ”Where did you get it?”

Dira stepped forward slightly.

”...Don’t misunderstand. We’re not asking because we want it.”

Kira added quietly—

”...We need to understand the situation if we’re going to help you.”

There it was.

Clear.

Direct.

No hidden intention.

No greed.

Just—

Support.

Videl looked at them.

Really looked.

Their posture.

Their eyes.

Their silence.

Something in her chest loosened.

Just a little.

”...You guys are strange.”

Dira raised a brow.

”...That supposed to be an insult?”

”...No,” Videl shook her head lightly.

”...It’s just... unexpected.”

A faint pause.

Then—

”...Alright.”

She took a breath.

”...The sword... was given to me by a powerful magician.”

Not entirely true.

But not entirely false either.

”...And the sword itself chooses its master.”

Kira’s gaze sharpened slightly.

”...Meaning?”

”...If someone unworthy tries to wield it...”

Videl’s voice dropped slightly.

”...They’ll be punished.”

Niva frowned.

”...Punished how?”

Videl met her eyes.

”...At worst?”

A brief pause.

”...Death.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dira let out a slow whistle.

”...That explains why no one’s tried to snatch it directly.”

Kira nodded slightly.

”...They’re afraid.”

”...Good,” Videl said quietly.

Because fear—

Was easier than fighting everyone.

Inside her mind, another voice echoed.

You’re lying to them.

Videl’s fingers tightened slightly at her side.

Not completely.

She exhaled slowly.

Just... not everything.

Because trust—

Wasn’t something you gave all at once.

It was built.

Piece by piece.

”...Once this is over,” she thought quietly, ”...I’ll tell them.”

Her gaze softened slightly.

”...Everything.”

And yet—

Even as they spoke.

Even as a plan began to form—

Videl’s hand brushed lightly against the hilt of her Long sword.

Her gaze lowered slightly.

Because deep down—

She knew.

This wasn’t just about surviving the academy.

This was something bigger.

Something waiting.

Watching.

”...Let’s see how far this goes.”

A quiet thought.

A quiet challenge.

And the beginning—

Of something that wouldn’t end easily.

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