Journey to Become the Zenith

The One Beside the Hero

Then he glanced back toward Videl.

”And some...”

For the first time since meeting him, Niklaus’ expression softened slightly.

”Some are shaped by the people beside them.”

Videl fell into thought after hearing those words.

The candlelight inside the ancient chamber flickered softly against the stone walls, painting golden shadows across the treasures piled around the room. The atmosphere had grown strangely quiet after Niklaus spoke. Even the air itself seemed heavier somehow.

Videl lowered her gaze slightly.

The people beside them...

What exactly did he mean by that?

Her fingers unconsciously tightened against the fabric resting above her knees.

Inside her mind, Victor’s face naturally surfaced.

Black hair.

Golden eyes.

That calm expression he always carried no matter the situation.

The way he stood in front of danger without hesitation.

The way he casually gave advice that changed her entire way of thinking.

The way he looked at the world differently from everyone else.

A faint warmth quietly spread through Videl’s chest.

She still remembered the first time Victor had corrected her sword stance beneath the setting sun near their village. At the time she had been frustrated after losing repeatedly during training, yet Victor simply laughed lightly before stepping behind her and adjusting her posture himself.

”Your body’s too stiff,” he had told her calmly. ”A sword isn’t only about strength.”

At that moment she remembered feeling embarrassed because of how close he was.

And now...

Thinking back on it, Videl realized something.

Many parts of her life had changed because Victor was there.

The way she fought.

The way she thought.

Even the way she viewed the world itself.

Without noticing it, her lips curved ever so slightly.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the table, Niklaus remained deep in thought.

The ancient Fourth Hero slowly narrowed his crimson-golden eyes.

Aside from that, there were other points that were different, like how Videl saved the princess.

Based on the situation, and Niklaus’ current understanding of the Skyfall Kingdom, the person Videl saved was most likely a body double.

Nothing more than political deception.

A fake princess used to draw danger away from the real one.

Niklaus had seen such methods countless times throughout history.

Kings, nobles, and royal families always feared assassination.

Especially during unstable times.

And from what Videl described earlier...

The silver-haired female guard accompanying the ”princess” was far too capable.

Far too calm.

Far too important.

Niklaus slowly rested one elbow against the table.

The real princess was most probably the silver-haired guard, and it would seem like she was more interested in Victor.

That alone made things stranger.

Heroes naturally attracted people.

Especially royalty.

That was simply how fate worked.

Kings sought to control heroes.

Princesses admired heroes.

Nobles feared heroes.

That was the normal flow of the world.

Yet somehow...

The attention kept drifting toward Victor instead of Videl.

Niklaus found that deeply abnormal.

Very abnormal.

There were many other things, big and small, changing in Videl’s journey as a hero.

This confused Niklaus, since this was the first time he had ever seen this kind of situation.

His long black hair swayed lightly as he leaned back into his chair.

The ancient dragon-like wings behind him shifted slightly, causing a faint gust of wind to move through the chamber.

Every abnormality seemed to stem from the friend called Victor.

Niklaus quietly replayed every story Videl told him.

The Red Bear incident.

The academy entrance examinations.

The princess rescue.

The combat training.

Even Videl’s growth itself.

Again and again...

Victor appeared at the center of every major deviation.

Like a hidden hand quietly altering fate itself.

Niklaus’ eyes darkened slightly.

For countless ages, he had observed how heroes moved through destiny.

There were patterns.

Rules.

Invisible currents.

Yet Victor felt like something standing outside those currents.

Something capable of bending them.

And that...

Was dangerous.

Or perhaps...

Interesting.

Niklaus slowly exhaled.

Then finally, he looked toward Videl once more.

”Videl,” he suddenly spoke.

His deep voice broke the silence inside the room.

Videl blinked and raised her head.

”Yes, Sir Niklaus?”

”Tell me more about that lover of yours.”

The moment those words entered the air, Videl immediately froze.

Even Amura and Rika looked toward her.

A faint blush instantly appeared across Videl’s beautiful face.

”Y-You mean Victor?”

Niklaus calmly nodded.

”Yes, I find him quite intriguing. If it’s alright with you, can you tell me more about him?”

Videl immediately became hesitant.

Her sapphire-blue eyes shifted downward again.

Victor was not someone who liked unnecessary attention.

Even among friends, he rarely spoke about himself.

Most of the time, he simply listened quietly while observing everyone around him.

And honestly...

Videl herself did not fully understand Victor.

That was one of the reasons she admired him so much.

The young man always seemed calm.

Too calm.

As if he carried countless thoughts hidden beneath that relaxed expression.

Sometimes when she looked into his golden eyes, she felt like he was carrying memories far older than he should.

Videl unconsciously bit her lower lip softly.

Also, she was sure that her beloved Victor wouldn’t like her telling other people too much about him.

Especially someone as mysterious and ancient as Niklaus.

The Fourth Hero quietly observed her hesitation.

Then he suddenly smiled faintly.

”It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me.”

His tone remained calm and gentle.

”I don’t really want to know too much. I just wanted to know what kind of person your friend is.”

Niklaus’ gaze became distant for a brief moment.

”After all... people around a hero are often more important than the hero realizes.”

Videl remained silent.

Niklaus continued calmly.

”I think it isn’t too much to ask for to get some bit of information. Don’t you think so?”

Then his lips curved slightly.

”This can be your payment to me for helping you out.”

The room fell silent once again.

Videl lowered her gaze.

Technically...

He was right.

Niklaus had saved her life.

Not only that, he had erased the memories of the knights instead of killing them despite how easily he could have done so.

The ancient hero had shown her kindness.

And compared to the things Victor had already done publicly...

Talking a little about him should not be a problem.

Right?

Videl slowly exhaled.

Then finally, she nodded lightly.

”I suppose... telling you a little should be alright.”

Niklaus’ eyes sharpened ever so slightly.

He remained silent and listened carefully.

Meanwhile, Amura folded her arms beneath her chest while quietly observing Niklaus.

She still could not fully trust him.

Ancient beings were dangerous.

Especially one powerful enough to erase memories casually.

Yet strangely enough...

She could not sense malice from him.

Curiosity?

Yes.

Interest?

Definitely.

But not hostility.

Rika, meanwhile, looked strangely excited.

Any conversation involving Victor naturally caught her attention.

The black-haired spirit moved closer slightly, her eyes sparkling faintly.

Videl noticed the reaction and almost smiled helplessly.

Then slowly...

She began speaking again.

”Victor is...” she paused briefly.

A soft expression unconsciously appeared on her face.

”He’s hard to explain.”

Niklaus quietly listened.

”He acts calm most of the time, but sometimes he says things that make it feel like he understands everything already.”

Videl lightly looked toward the candle flames dancing atop the table.

”He’s very smart... smarter than anyone I know.”

A faint laugh escaped her lips.

”And honestly... sometimes that’s irritating.”

Amura silently nodded in agreement.

Rika giggled softly.

Videl continued.

”He always acts like he has everything under control, even when situations become dangerous.”

Her voice softened slightly.

”But at the same time... he helps people naturally without making a big deal out of it.”

Niklaus narrowed his eyes faintly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

”He taught me swordsmanship and magic.”

Videl smiled gently.

”He’s younger than me by a year, yet I still ended up learning from him.”

The warmth inside her voice became impossible to hide now.

”And whenever I’m with him...”

Her words slowed unconsciously.

”I feel like things will somehow be alright.”

Silence filled the room.

Niklaus quietly stared at her.

Then inwardly, the ancient hero sighed.

There it was again.

That abnormality.

Heroes usually became the center people relied on.

Yet somehow...

Victor seemed to be becoming the emotional pillar of the hero herself.

Niklaus slowly closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Fate was definitely changing around this person called Victor.

And the more he heard...

The more familiar that name felt to him.