Journey to Become the Zenith

Forgotten History

And now—

She possessed one of the six legendary divine treasures.

For the first time, Videl realized she knew almost nothing about the Guild Master.

Who exactly was Isabella?

The lazy woman who constantly looked half asleep.

The adventurer who complained about paperwork.

The Guild Master who always acted like everything was a hassle.

Just how many secrets was she hiding?

A faint groan suddenly escaped Isabella’s lip.

Everyone immediately turned toward her.

”She’s waking up?” Clara asked.

Natalia shook her head.

”Not yet.”

The green light brightened slightly.

Then slowly returned to normal.

Ruby nodded.

”The ring is stabilizing her condition.”

Brinda sat down on the floor.

”I think I’ve officially stopped trying to understand powerful people.”

”A wise decision,” Eon replied.

Videl couldn’t help but smile.

The room finally felt calm.

No dragon.

No death.

No desperate struggle for survival.

Only the soft glow of a legendary artifact illuminating the sleeping Guild Master.

For now, that was enough.

Ruby looked once more at the emerald ring before continuing her explanation.

”The Venus ring is a divine item and only six of them exist in the world today. It is said that during the age of chaos, The Goddess of Love and Light Venus granted these rings to six heroes that were summoned to fight the strongest tyrant of the evil spirit race the Evil Spirit Lord Anos.”

The Goddess of Love and Light Venus...

Demon Emperor Anos...

Age of Chaos...

The unfamiliar names lingered in the air like ripples spreading across a still lake.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Even the normally energetic Brinda looked unusually quiet.

Videl frowned.

The more she thought about those names, the stranger they sounded.

Stories about heroes existed everywhere.

Stories about ancient monsters existed too.

But Demon Emperor Anos?

The Age of Chaos?

Those were things she had never heard before.

Not once.

Not even from the oldest elders in her village.

”The Demon Emperor Anos?” Videl finally asked. ”That’s the first time I’ve heard of that name. There are no stories in my village that ever spoke of him.”

Ruby and Natalia exchanged glances.

Seeing their reactions only made everyone more curious.

Natalia sighed softly.

”That’s normal.”

”It is?” Clara asked.

Natalia nodded.

”Most people have never heard those names.”

”Then why do you know them?” Eon asked.

”Temple archives,” Ruby answered. ”Some histories are preserved only by the major temples and royal families.”

The room became noticeably quieter.

Videl looked toward the unconscious Isabella.

Today alone, she felt as if everything she knew about the world had been overturned.

First an undead dragon.

Then Spirit Rulers.

Now forgotten heroes and hidden histories.

Ruby folded her arms beneath her chest and spoke with a hint of pride.

”To defeat the Demon Emperor, the Gods and Goddess chose to intervene. They bestowed those rings upon the six heroes. The Ring of Venus possesses a remarkable ability—when its owner’s mana is nearly exhausted, it activates automatically and accelerates mana recovery to five times the normal rate.”

The room immediately fell silent.

Even Videl’s eyes widened slightly.

”Five times faster?” Brinda repeated in disbelief.

Ruby nodded.

”Five times.”

”That’s insane.”

”It is,” Natalia admitted. ”Many mages would be willing to sacrifice a fortune for an item like that.”

Brinda glanced at the unconscious Isabella, who was still surrounded by the gentle green glow.

”No wonder she’s recovering so quickly.”

”The ring is doing exactly what it was created to do,” Ruby explained. ”As long as the wearer is alive, it continuously replenishes their depleted mana.”

Brinda stared at the divine artifact with newfound awe.

”That’s amazing. So how did the Guild Master gain such a precious ring?”

As soon as the question left her mouth, everyone’s attention shifted toward the two holy maidens. Ruby’s lips curled upward, ready to answer, but Natalia stepped forward first.

The blonde maiden lifted her chin proudly.

”That story is actually quite interesting.”

Ruby opened her mouth.

Natalia immediately interrupted.

The blonde holy maiden smiled victoriously.

”As expected, this explanation belongs to me.”

Ruby’s eye twitched.

”You did that on purpose.”

”Absolutely.”

Ruby grumbled under her breath.

Natalia ignored her completely.

”Isabella, the Sleeping Lioness of Skyfall, comes from an extremely noble family. It isn’t public knowledge, but it is said that her family are direct descendants of one of those six heroes that faced Demon Emperor Anos.”

The room instantly exploded with reactions.

”What?!”

”Seriously?!”

”No way!”

Even Clara looked stunned.

For years she had worked under Isabella.

She knew the Guild Master was a noble.

She knew she was powerful.

But a descendant of a legendary hero?

That was an entirely different matter.

Clara looked toward the unconscious woman lying on the floor.

Then she remembered Isabella sleeping during meetings.

Skipping paperwork.

Complaining about responsibility.

Avoiding work whenever possible.

A vein appeared on Clara’s forehead.

”How does someone born from a heroic bloodline become such a professional slacker?”

Brinda laughed.

”Maybe it’s a family talent.”

”That isn’t a talent.”

”It clearly is.”

Clara pinched the bridge of her nose.

”I need a drink.”

Meanwhile, Videl remained silent.

Her attention wasn’t focused on Isabella’s lineage.

Instead—

Her thoughts remained fixed on another matter.

Demon Emperor Anos.

The title alone felt strange.

Heavy.

Ancient.

Dangerous.

”So did they win?”

The question came from Eon.

Everyone turned toward him.

The young man had already placed the sleeping Lane comfortably on a couch before joining the conversation.

Natalia blinked.

”Did who win?”

”The six heroes.”

Eon looked directly at the two holy maidens.

”Did the six heroes win against the Demon Emperor?”

The room became silent again.

Videl unconsciously leaned forward.

That was exactly what she wanted to know.

Ruby immediately straightened.

Finally.

A question she could answer.

Natalia noticed her expression and immediately pinched her side.

Ruby flinched.

”Ouch!”

”Don’t get carried away.”

”I wasn’t!”

”You absolutely were.”

Ignoring Natalia completely, Ruby cleared her throat.

”Unfortunately, the six heroes lost their lives against the powerful Demon Emperor.”

The room became deathly quiet.

Nobody expected that answer.

Ruby continued...