Journey to Become the Zenith

Urgency and Rumors

”Fine, since the two holy maidens asked of it, I will allow it just this once.” Once he was done saying that Max made way and Videl left alongside Ruby and Natalia.

The tension that had filled the principal’s office finally loosened.

Max stepped aside from the doorway with a weary sigh. His old eyes lingered on Videl for a moment before he spoke again.

”Don’t do anything reckless.”

Videl paused briefly.

For all his stubbornness, she knew the old principal was worried.

”I’ll come back with information,” she replied.

Max folded his arms.

”See that you do.”

Ruby flashed a bright smile.

”Don’t worry, Principal. We’ll keep her alive.”

Natalia chuckled softly.

”Though I suspect she is more likely to keep us alive.”

The old man rubbed his forehead.

”That wasn’t reassuring.”

Without wasting another second, Videl pushed the door open and strode out.

Ruby and Natalia immediately followed behind her.

Several students standing outside the office jumped aside in surprise.

”Videl!”

”Is the undead army real?”

”Are we under attack already?”

Questions came from every direction.

Videl didn’t stop walking.

”We don’t know yet. Stay inside the academy and follow instructions.”

Her voice was calm, but her pace never slowed.

The students exchanged nervous looks as they watched the three women disappear down the hallway.

Soon afterward, they exited the academy grounds.

The atmosphere throughout Fantom City had already begun changing.

People were gathering in groups.

Merchants were hurriedly packing supplies.

Adventurers moved through the streets carrying weapons.

Even the city guards looked more alert than usual.

The rumors had spread faster than wildfire.

An undead army was approaching.

Nobody knew how large it was.

Nobody knew how close it was.

But fear was already spreading.

Videl’s expression grew more serious.

Victor...

Her thoughts drifted briefly toward the handsome black-haired man with golden eyes.

If the reports were true, then Victor and Lane were likely already facing the threat directly.

A small frown appeared on her face.

Ruby noticed it immediately.

”Thinking about someone?”

Videl ignored her.

Ruby grinned wider.

”Definitely thinking about someone.”

Natalia rolled her eyes.

”You should stop teasing her.”

”Why?”

”Because she clearly doesn’t appreciate it.”

Ruby looked completely unconvinced.

”That’s what makes it fun.”

Videl felt a vein twitch on her forehead.

For a moment she wondered whether abandoning both women in the middle of the street would improve her day.

Sadly, it probably wouldn’t.

While sprinting towards the adventurer’s guild Videl was rather surprised to see Ruby and Natalia keep up with her.

The three women raced across rooftops and streets alike.

Wind howled past their ears.

Civilians below pointed upward as they saw the three figures moving through the city with astonishing speed.

Videl had expected the holy maidens to be talented.

She hadn’t expected them to keep pace with her so effortlessly.

Not once did either of them lag behind.

Natalia’s movements were graceful and efficient.

Ruby, meanwhile, looked as though she were simply enjoying herself.

At one point she even waved at a confused fruit vendor while jumping over a building.

Videl seriously questioned her priorities.

”Why are you two following me?”

She finally asked the question that had been bothering her.

Ruby answered immediately.

”I won’t leave your side until you become my temple hero.”

Her voice was filled with absolute confidence.

Confidence that had absolutely no foundation whatsoever.

Videl almost stumbled.

”Why do you keep deciding things on your own?”

Ruby pointed dramatically toward the sky.

”Because destiny!”

”...”

Natalia covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Videl’s eye twitched.

She decided not to acknowledge that answer.

Instead, she looked toward Natalia.

The blonde holy maiden merely smiled.

”I simply desire to witness you becoming a true hero as you claim.”

Unlike Ruby’s energetic declaration, Natalia’s response was calm.

Yet somehow it felt equally troublesome.

Videl groaned internally.

One wanted to recruit her.

The other wanted to observe her.

Neither planned on leaving.

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

Ruby suddenly leaned closer.

Ruby flashed a teasing smile.

”You know, for someone trying to become a hero, you’re awfully grumpy.”

Videl didn’t even look at her.

”I’m not grumpy without reason. Maybe if the two of you stopped bothering me every few minutes, I’d be in a better mood.”

Ruby placed a hand on her chest dramatically.

”How cruel. We’re only accompanying you out of concern.”

”Concern?” Videl snorted. ”One of you wants to drag me into your temple, and the other keeps treating me like some interesting specimen.”

Natalia raised an eyebrow.

”That’s a rather harsh interpretation.”

”Is it wrong?”

Natalia thought about it for a moment before answering honestly.

”...Not entirely.”

Ruby laughed loudly.

”See? Even she admitted it.”

Then Ruby leaned forward with a mischievous grin.

”You literally said you would save people.”

Videl sighed.

”I said I would do what I could.”

”That’s basically what heroes do.”

”No, that’s what decent people do.”

Ruby opened her mouth to argue again.

Before she could, Natalia shook her head.

”You two sound like children.”

That immediately made Ruby point at Videl.

”She’s the childish one.”

Hearing their answers Videl urge slap both women to death but crisis front of her two big so she didn’t bother to talk anymore as she continued running

The three women crossed the final district and soon reached the center of Fantom City.

The Adventurers Guild stood proudly before them.

Normally the building was lively.

Today it was chaotic.

Adventurers moved in and out nonstop.

Messengers rushed between rooms.

Guild employees carried stacks of documents.

Several arguments were occurring simultaneously.

The entire organization had become a hive of activity.

Once the group arrived at the Adventurers Guild, Videl headed straight for the Guild Master’s office.

A few staff members instinctively moved to stop her.

”Wait, you can’t just—”

The employee froze halfway through his sentence.

Recognition flashed across his face.

”Oh.”

His tense posture immediately relaxed.

”Go right ahead.”

A nearby staff member blinked in confusion.

”You’re seriously letting her through?”

The man looked at him as though the answer was obvious.

”Of course I am.”

In times like these, nobody wanted to be responsible for delaying important information.

Especially when the person involved was closely connected to Victor.

Who in Fantom City hadn’t heard of Victor, the Blade of Death?

He had arrived in the city and, within a single day, dismantled and absorbed the entire underworld into his faction. There were even rumors that many of the fallen noble families now answered directly to him.

Stories followed Victor wherever he went.

Some claimed he controlled much of Fantom City from the shadows.

Others believed influential nobles secretly carried out his orders.

There were even absurd tales saying he could see events before they happened.

Most of those stories were clearly exaggerated.

Some, however, were uncomfortably close to reality.

Whatever the truth was, one thing remained undeniable.

Victor’s reputation had grown into something enormous.

Adding to that were the countless rumors surrounding his followers.

Many believed that among Victor’s subordinates, two women possessed strength great enough to stand toe-to-toe with the King’s Five Generals.

Whether those stories were true or not, few people were willing to test them.

Not anymore.

As Videl walked through the guild corridors, hushed whispers quickly spread among the adventurers and employees.

”That’s her.”

”One of Victor’s girl’s.”

”If she’s here, the situation with the undead must be worse than we thought.”

”Do you think we’ll make it through this?”

No one answered.

The only thing filling the guild was uncertainty.

...

Unhindered Videl accompanied by Ruby and Natalia was able to reach the Guild master’s room quite easily. Upon entering the voice of a grumpy girl was heard.

”What the hell do you guys want?! Don’t you see I’m-” Isabella stopped talking as she finally noticed who entered his room.