Journey to Become the Zenith

A Favor That Binds Fate

He smiled.

"Sure."

No hesitation.

No pause.

"As long as it’s something that doesn’t require me to die," he added lightly, "then why not."

The words landed like a stone dropped into still water—simple, calm... and yet sending ripples through everything.

Isabella froze.

For a split second, her mind refused to process it.

Her fingers, which had been resting on the edge of the desk, tightened slightly. Her eyes sharpened, searching his face for doubt, hesitation—anything.

There was none.

"...What?"

Her composure cracked.

"What?! Are you sure about this?"

Her voice rose without her permission, disbelief slipping through the cracks of her usual control.

Victor leaned back slightly in his chair, one arm resting lazily on the armrest, as if they weren’t discussing something that could bind him into a future he couldn’t predict.

"What are you fussing around for, Isabella?" he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Weren’t you the one who set this condition?"

He tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming with quiet amusement.

"Why is it you that looks more worried than me?"

That expression—

That damn expression.

It was like he had already seen ten steps ahead and was simply waiting for everyone else to catch up.

Isabella’s jaw tightened.

Irritating.

Infuriating.

And yet...

Something cold twisted inside her ribs.

Some days it hits different - like the world’s got a script where I never get lines. Things tilt sideways without warning. A laugh lands too late, maybe wrong. Roles blur when trust slips quiet. Could be luck. More likely, someone else is reading ahead.

A breath escaped her, quick and loud. The emotion sank under pressure.

"Okay," she replied, pulling her voice steady. So tell me, what exactly are we looking at here?

For a moment, Victor stayed silent.

He watched her.

Hold on a beat past what feels right.

He looked at her again, not carelessly, yet with purpose. How she tilted toward him caught his eye. The quiet movement of her breathing stood out. There was something held tight in how she sat.

Later, he grinned, a spark dancing in his gaze

"Relax," he said casually. "I’m not asking for anything too wild... not like I’m asking for your ass or something."

Redness spread across Isabella’s cheeks without warning. A sudden warmth rose beneath her skin, visible before she could react.

"You - !"

Her voice caught, jaw tightening before another word could escape.

Into the grain of the desk her fingers pressed, just a little.

This man -

A quiet laugh slipped out of Victor, his eyes bright with amusement at their response. He found it way too entertaining.

Out of silence, his voice came clear at last.

"Nothing much," he said. "I just want you to make all my friends that just registered as adventurers... be given D ranks."

Silence.

Isabella blinked.

"...Huh?"

Her eyes stayed fixed on his face.

Waiting.

After all, there had to be more. That just didn’t fit.

"That’s everything?" she said, her voice softening with doubt.".

Victor shrugged lightly.

"That’s all."

Her brows furrowed.

That... was nothing.

Not compared to the favor he just agreed to.

Not compared to what he could’ve asked for.

Her mind raced.

’This isn’t worth him owing me a favor...’

Something was off.

Something deeper was moving beneath the surface.

And that made it worse.

Because she couldn’t see it.

"Why," Victor added, tilting his head slightly with a faint smirk, "do you want me to ask for something more?"

Isabella immediately shook her head.

"No."

Too fast.

Too sharp.

"I mean—no. Fine. I’ll make all your companions into D-rank adventurers."

She stood abruptly, as if staying seated would somehow give him more control over the conversation.

"Stay here."

Without waiting, she turned and walked out of the office.

Her steps were quick.

A little too quick.

Victor watched her go, the faintest hint of amusement lingering in his eyes.

Still easy to fluster.

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes briefly.

Things were falling into place.

Exactly as expected.

...

Downstairs, Isabella moved straight to one of the receptionists, her expression already returned to its usual cold professionalism.

She gave a few instructions—short, precise.

No unnecessary words.

But inside—

Her thoughts hadn’t settled.

Why would he agree so easily?

Why ask for so little?

That man...

He never does anything without a reason.

Her fingers curled slightly.

"...Just what are you planning, Victor..."

...

After a short while, the receptionist returned upstairs.

Guild cards in hand.

The newly registered adventurers gathered as their names were called one by one, each receiving their assigned rank.

D-rank.

Across the board.

Murmurs spread quietly through the hall—surprise, curiosity, confusion—but no one dared question it openly.

Because Victor was there.

And somehow, that was enough.

...

Back in the office, Isabella stood with her arms crossed as she faced him again.

"There," she said firmly. "I fulfilled my end of the bargain."

Her eyes locked onto his.

"So I hope... when the time comes... you’ll fulfill yours."

Victor stood slowly from his chair.

His movements were smooth, unhurried.

"Of course," he said, his voice calm, steady. "I am a man of my word."

Then—

He smiled.

That same confident, dangerous smile.

"See you, guild master."

For a brief moment, Isabella didn’t respond.

She just watched him.

Something in her chest tightened.

Annoyance?

Suspicion?

...Or something she didn’t want to name.

"Just don’t cause trouble," she muttered under her breath.

Victor chuckled lightly as he turned and walked out.

...

Downstairs, the energy had shifted.

The moment Victor returned, all eyes turned toward him.

Eon stood with his arms crossed, his massive frame like a wall.

Brinda leaned casually, lips curved into a playful smile.

Lane stood slightly to the side, calm, observant.

Videl’s gaze softened the moment she saw him.

Victor glanced at them all.

Then smiled.

"So," he said casually, "now that you guys are adventurers..."

He paused, scanning them as if weighing each person individually.

"...let’s see."

The atmosphere tightened.

Even the air seemed to hold its breath.

"First," Victor continued, "I want the guys who don’t know magic to form two teams with six members... and one team will have five members."

People began moving immediately.

No hesitation.

No questioning.

"As for those who know magic," he added, "as well as Eon... you’ll be coming with me."

A subtle shift ran through the group.

The division wasn’t random.

Everyone could feel it.

"As for the three teams," Victor said, pulling several requests from the quest board nearby, "here are the quests I want you to finish within the day."

He handed them out—one by one.

Subjugation quests.

Dangerous.

Time-consuming.

Not something fresh adventurers should be handling.

And yet—

None of them dared protest.

"The team that finishes their quest last..." Victor’s voice softened slightly.

Too softly.

"...will be punished."

A chill ran through the room.

He smiled.

Warm.

Friendly.

Completely terrifying.

"So you guys better apply for those quests right now and finish them as fast as possible."

A pause.

Then—

"You guys better do your best... as for the future losers..."

His eyes gleamed faintly.

"I do look forward to punishing you guys."

That smile.

That damn smile.

It wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t explosive.

But it carried something far worse—

certainty.

The three teams didn’t wait.

They ran.

Literally ran toward the reception desks, scrambling to register their quests as fast as possible.

Fear.

Motivation.

Desperation.

All mixed together.

Victor watched them go—

and laughed softly.

"...Good."

Then he turned.

Facing the remaining group.

"As for you guys," he said, his tone shifting slightly, becoming quieter... heavier, "we’ll be doing something special for your training."

Brinda raised an eyebrow, her lips curving slightly.

"Special, huh?"

Victor glanced at her briefly.

A faint smile.

"You’ll like it."

She chuckled.

"I doubt that."

Victor didn’t answer.

Instead, he turned and began walking toward the exit.

"Follow me."

No hesitation.

No explanation.

Just that.

The group exchanged brief glances—

then followed.

Out of the guild.

Into the light.

Into whatever awaited them.

And none of them—

not a single one—

realized yet...

that what Victor called "training"—

was something far closer to hell itself.