Journey to Become the Zenith

The Forgotten Hero’s Table

Videl followed the fourth hero inside the room. When she entered the room she was in awe of what she saw inside.

The chamber hidden behind the ancient stone walls was far larger than she expected. The moment she crossed the threshold, the cold air of the cavern shifted into something strangely warm. Faint golden lights glowed from crystal lamps embedded across the walls, casting soft reflections over mountains of treasure scattered carelessly across the room.

Gold coins overflowing from cracked chests.

Ancient weapons layered against one another like discarded memories of forgotten wars.

Crimson gemstones the size of fists shimmered beneath the light while strange artifacts pulsed with mana so dense that even the air around them trembled faintly. Some of the relics hanging on the walls radiated enough pressure to make ordinary knights collapse just by standing near them.

Yet despite all that wealth and power, the room itself felt lonely.

Like a tomb where history had chosen to sleep.

In the middle of the chamber stood a long stone table with only three chairs surrounding it, making up the only furniture in the room.

Also on that table was a full course meal.

Freshly cooked meat.

Warm bread.

Steaming soup.

Even fruits that should not have existed inside an underground fortress rested neatly on silver plates.

It was almost as if the fourth hero had known Videl would arrive today and prepared everything in advance.

That thought made a chill run down her spine.

Videl stood frozen near the entrance, her sapphire eyes scanning the room carefully while countless thoughts crossed her mind. Amura and Rika remained silent beside her in spirit form, equally stunned by the strange atmosphere surrounding the place.

The fourth hero had already seated himself calmly at the table. His long black hair flowed behind him like dark silk while his crimson-golden eyes reflected the flickering crystal lights around the chamber. The dragon-like wings folded behind his back gave him an overwhelming presence that made the entire room feel smaller.

Yet despite his monstrous aura, there was exhaustion hidden beneath his eyes.

The kind of exhaustion only carried by someone who had lived far too long.

The fourth hero who was already seated called out to Videl.

”Little hero come in and take a seat. I want to hear some stories of your adventures.”

His voice was calm.

Almost gentle.

Videl blinked in surprise before finally snapping out of her daze. She quickly walked toward the table, though her movements still carried caution. Even now she could not fully lower her guard around someone this terrifying.

Still... this man had saved her.

At least for now, she had no reason to fear him.

”Sorry, and thank you esteemed one. I am sorry to ask this so late, but how may I address you?” Videl said this as respectfully as she could.

The fourth hero leaned back slightly.

”My name... It’s been so long since anyone called me by my true name, that even I have forgotten it already.”

For a brief moment, silence filled the chamber.

Even the flickering lights seemed quieter.

The fourth hero lowered his gaze slightly as though searching through countless ancient memories buried beneath time itself.

”Still there was the nickname that guy gave me, but that really wasn’t such a good nickname. Also seeing as I’m no longer a hero that nickname would be inappropriate. Let’s see a name...”

Videl quietly sat down across from him while watching him mumble to himself.

She could not fully understand everything he said, but one thing became clear.

This man truly had once been a hero.

Not a legend.

Not a myth.

A real hero from an age long forgotten.

For some reason, that realization made her chest tighten slightly.

Heroes...

Victor once spoke about heroes too.

About how the world loved them only when they were useful.

About how justice without power was nothing more than fragile idealism.

Back then she hated hearing those words.

Now...

After being hunted down by people in power despite trying to do the right thing, she could finally understand a little of what Victor meant.

”It seems that I don’t have a name to give you, but you can just call me Niklaus.”

”I see... Then, Sir Niklaus, I’m Videl, and these two are the spirits of my weapons.”

Amura and Rika immediately took their human forms beside Videl.

Amura appeared first.

Her long steel-colored hair flowed behind her elegant figure while the silver robe hugging her athletic body shimmered softly beneath the crystal lights. Her steel-colored eyes carefully observed the fourth hero while hidden tension lingered within them.

Rika appeared next.

Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders while the slit in her silver-white robe revealed her toned legs. Unlike Amura who remained cautious, Rika openly stared at the fourth hero with curiosity.

The two weapon spirits bowed respectfully.

Seeing the bowing spirits, Niklaus simply nodded in response to the bowing Amura.

But when he saw Rika...

His expression suddenly changed.

Surprise flickered across his eyes.

A rare emotion.

”I see, so you survived the passage of time as well.”

Rika tilted her head in confusion.

”Huh? Survived?”

She looked genuinely lost.

Seeing her reaction made Niklaus pause for a moment before a faint smile appeared on his face.

A sad smile.

”So you don’t have your complete form and your memory of the past no longer exist.”

His voice became quieter.

Almost distant again.

”I guess this is better than remembering that horrible past.”

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.

Rika unconsciously frowned despite not understanding why her chest suddenly felt uncomfortable hearing those words.

Amura narrowed her eyes slightly.

Even Videl could sense it now.

This room...

This man...

Everything here carried memories soaked in tragedy.

Wanting to shift the atmosphere, Videl carefully initiated the conversation again.

”Sir Niklaus, I couldn’t help but notice that you kept on saying that you were a hero in the past. I’ve heard of countless heroes but I don’t seem to recall a hero with dragon wings.”

Niklaus smiled a tired smile when he heard what Videl had to say.

”Little hero, I didn’t look like this in that past.”

His fingers lightly tapped against the table.

”Back when I was a hero, I was human in both form and spirit.”

For a moment his crimson-golden eyes became unfocused.

As though he was staring beyond the walls.

Beyond time itself.

”At that time heroes came and go by the hundreds. There were many kinds of heroes back in my time. Chosen heroes, Summoned heroes, Prophesied heroes, and many more.”

His tone remained calm, but hidden bitterness slowly seeped into his words.

”Well at that time, the human race with its usual greed and biases made the pure hearted heroes into beings that became...”

He stopped speaking.

The room fell silent again.

Videl noticed it immediately.

The slight tightening of his jaw.

The faint darkness within his eyes.

Whatever happened back then...

It had broken him.

Completely.

Niklaus slowly exhaled before shaking his head faintly.

”It doesn’t matter anymore those are days long gone.”

Then his gaze returned toward Videl.

”Little hero how about telling me your story instead.”

Videl blinked in surprise.

She had already prepared herself to hear ancient tales about legendary wars and forgotten heroes.

Instead...

This terrifying ancient being wanted to hear her story.

”I don’t have much of a story to tell.”

Videl looked genuinely embarrassed.

Compared to someone who survived countless eras, her journey felt insignificant.

She was just a girl trying her best to protect people.

A foolish girl chasing an impossible dream.

Niklaus chuckled softly.

”Little hero, the mere fact that you’re being chased around by knights is already an interesting story.”

A faint grin appeared on his face.

”So don’t be embarrassed little hero, just tell me your story, and start at the very beginning.”

His eyes quietly observed her.

”Start on the day you left your home to start your very own adventure.”

Videl fell silent.

The crystal lights flickered gently across the room while the warm scent of food drifted through the air.

For some reason...

Sitting across from this ancient hero felt strangely peaceful.

Dangerous.

But peaceful.

Her thoughts unconsciously drifted toward Victor.

Toward his golden eyes.

Toward the countless arguments they had about justice, heroes, and reality.

Back then she stubbornly refused to accept his cynical views.

Now life itself seemed determined to prove him right again and again.

Still...

Even now...

She did not want to abandon her ideals.

Because if she did...

Then what would remain of the person she wanted to become?

Videl slowly released a long breath.

Seeing that Niklaus was being insistent, Videl could only sigh as she started to tell her tale.