Journey to Become the Zenith-Chapter 124: A Blade That Refuses to Bow

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.