Journey to Become the Zenith

The Dragon War Goddess’s Chosen

When Videl entered the room accompanied by Aria, she immediately noticed the new face.

The principal’s office felt unusually quiet.

Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating rows of bookshelves and casting golden patterns across the polished wooden floor. Principal Max sat behind his desk with his usual composed expression, but the atmosphere in the room felt different from normal.

Most of it came from the woman sitting on the couch.

Videl’s blue sapphire eyes naturally drifted toward her.

The woman appeared to be around nineteen or twenty years old. Long scarlet hair flowed down her back like liquid fire, while a pair of striking emerald-green eyes observed everything with sharp curiosity. She wore an elegant red-and-gold robe embroidered with intricate dragon patterns. The robe’s high slit revealed one long toned leg, while the fitted design emphasized her mature figure.

She was undoubtedly beautiful.

The kind of beauty that attracted attention the moment she entered a room.

Her chest was generous, her narrow waist accentuating the curves of her body, while her peach-shaped hips completed the image of a confident young woman who knew exactly how attractive she was.

Yet what stood out most wasn’t her appearance.

It was the intensity in her gaze.

She was looking at Videl as if she were examining some rare treasure.

”Oh, you’re finally back Videl, and who is this lady?” Max looked at Aria with a piercing gaze.

The look Max was giving her made Aria tremble slightly.

For a brief moment, she felt as though the principal could see through every secret she possessed.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened.

”She’s Aria, my... maid.”

Videl hesitated slightly before answering.

She didn’t like calling Aria a servant.

After everything the girl had suffered, the word left a bitter feeling in her mouth.

Companion wouldn’t work because Aria would stubbornly reject it.

So maid was the compromise she settled on.

Fortunately, Aria seemed perfectly content with the title.

”I see...” Max nodded thoughtfully. ”Can you please tell your maid to wait outside, since this is a sensitive matter.”

Videl glanced toward Aria.

Aria immediately understood.

She offered a respectful bow.

”As you wish, Lady Videl.”

Before leaving, however, Aria briefly looked at Videl.

There was obvious concern in her green eyes.

Videl responded with a reassuring smile.

”I’ll be fine.”

Only then did Aria leave the room.

The moment the door closed behind her, the scarlet-haired woman abruptly stood up.

Videl instinctively took notice.

The woman walked around her once.

Then twice.

Her eyes scanned Videl from head to toe.

”Hmm, the looks seem to be a bit above average.”

Videl blinked.

What?

Before she could react, the woman stepped closer.

Far too close.

She inspected Videl’s shoulders.

Her arms.

Even the muscles visible beneath her academy uniform.

The woman nodded thoughtfully.

”Good posture.”

Tap.

She lightly poked Videl’s shoulder.

”Strong frame.”

Tap.

She pressed against Videl’s forearm.

”The muscles are nice and tight.”

Videl immediately jumped backward.

”W-w-w-what the hell are you doing!”

The scarlet-haired woman ignored her completely.

Instead, she continued speaking to herself.

”Interesting.”

Her eyes narrowed.

”Even the mana she’s pouring out is a bit better than most, but not as overwhelming as I thought it would be.”

She tilted her head.

Then turned toward Max.

”Max, are you sure this is the girl called Videl?”

The woman crossed her arms beneath her chest.

”Isn’t she too weak?”

Videl’s eyebrow twitched.

Too weak?

She had spent months training herself nearly to death.

Yet this woman had looked at her for less than a minute before dismissing her entirely.

Max rubbed his forehead.

”Lady Ruby, how about introducing yourself first before doing anything else?”

The woman now identified as Ruby clicked her tongue.

Clearly dissatisfied.

”Why should I introduce myself to someone like her?”

She pointed directly at Videl.

”It doesn’t seem like she’s the one I’m looking for.”

Ruby shrugged.

”So I might as well just leave as strangers.”

Max sighed heavily.

Meanwhile, Videl stood there completely confused.

What exactly was happening?

Who was this woman?

And why was she acting as though she had traveled halfway across the continent just to inspect livestock?

Seeing the conversation reaching a dead end, Max finally spoke.

”Videl, can you please stop suppressing your mana and show Lady Ruby your true might?”

Videl frowned.

Suppressing her mana?

Well, she had gotten used to controlling it after spending time around Victor.

Compared to him, her power felt insignificant.

Still.

Since Max asked, she complied.

Without questioning further, Videl released the restraints she had placed on her mana.

Whoosh!

The room instantly trembled.

Golden-blue mana erupted from her body like a rising tide.

The air itself became heavy.

The sunlight flickered.

The bookshelves rattled slightly.

Ruby’s eyes widened.

Her bored expression disappeared.

Then something unexpected happened.

Her entire body started trembling.

Not from fear.

From excitement.

Pure excitement.

”Wow!”

Ruby’s voice echoed through the office.

”That’s awesome!”

Her emerald eyes sparkled.

”Why the heck are you suppressing this kind of power?”

She rushed forward.

”You really are the person I’m looking for!”

Before Videl could react—

Ruby threw her arms around her.

”Huh?!”

Videl froze.

The sudden hug completely caught her off guard.

Her brain stopped functioning for several seconds.

Ruby seemed entirely unconcerned.

”Strong mana.”

Squeeze.

”Excellent control.”

Squeeze.

”Good physique.”

Squeeze.

”Dragon Goddess preserve me, you’re perfect!”

Videl’s face turned red.

What was wrong with this woman?

She wasn’t someone who got embarrassed easily. She trained with knights daily, sparred against opponents stronger than herself, and had faced life-and-death situations more than once.

But this was different.

Ruby had only met her moments ago and was already hugging her without the slightest hesitation.

Videl instinctively stiffened.

The only person she had ever been comfortable being this close to was Victor.

The thought made her cheeks warm even more.

Meanwhile, inside her mind, another voice spoke.

’Master, how about pushing her aside?’

Amura sounded distinctly annoyed.

’She’s touching you too much.’

Videl almost laughed.

Even her sword spirit sounded irritated.

Then Amura added in a grumbling tone,

’And if Victor saw this, he might become jealous.’

Videl’s eyes widened slightly.

”What?”

The reaction escaped her before she could stop it.

Amura snorted.

’You know exactly what I mean.’

Videl suddenly became even more aware of Ruby’s arms wrapped around her.

For some reason, that realization only made her face hotter.

At that moment—Thankfully, before her embarrassment could grow any further, Ahem.

Max’s deliberate cough echoed through the office.

The sound instantly broke the atmosphere.

”So now that you have confirmed she’s the one you’re looking for, how about you introduce yourself, Lady Ruby?”

Ruby finally released Videl.

Though not before giving her one final approving look.

She then took several steps back.

The playful expression disappeared.

In its place appeared something surprisingly elegant.

She performed a graceful curtsy.

The dragon embroidery on her robe shimmered beneath the morning sunlight.

”I’m sorry for the late introductions.”

Her voice became formal.

”I am Ruby.”

She placed a hand over her chest.

”The one and only Holy Maiden from the Shrine of the Dragon War Goddess Kia.”

The room became silent.

Ruby smiled.

There was pride in her eyes.

There was faith.

And there was unmistakable excitement.

”I have journeyed here to meet with you...”

She pointed directly at Videl.

”...the chosen hero of our glorious Goddess.”

The moment Videl heard what Ruby said, she couldn’t say anything as she simply stood there in stunned silence.