Journey to Become the Zenith-Chapter 36: Silver Badges and Unspoken Tension

Silver Badges and Unspoken Tension

Finding their way back through cobbled lanes, Victor arrived alongside Clara, then Lane at the Guild’s heavy door. The air inside held dust motes spinning under slanted light. Boots scuffed stone as they stepped past the threshold together.

Sunlight cut through the tall wooden doors of the Fantom City outpost, their familiar creak filling the air. Polished stone gleamed underfoot while travelers moved between shelves, voices humming like distant wind. A hush slipped in when the trio crossed the threshold - clothes stiff with grime, faces calm, trailing echoes of deep earth and clashing steel behind them.

Lane moved beside Victor without sound, strands of dark hair slipping down her back like water. Though her face stayed still - unchanged - the way she watched him betrayed a quiet attention. The world around them faded into blur each time he shifted position. She did not speak, yet something in how close she stepped said enough.

Over by the far path, Clara moved with a stiff spine, a spear fastened behind her, golden hair lit in thin pieces. Not like normal - her violet gaze cut harder today.

Framed by dark strands, Victor moved through the space, height making him stand out. Calm in his posture, he carried no tension. Those amber irises stayed fixed, giving nothing away.

Upstairs they went, guided by quiet steps ahead.

Floating above the chair, Isabella stayed put inside the Guild Master’s room.

A chair held her weight, strands of violet falling soft across her back, gaze dimmed under heavy lids. As if forms and reports had wronged her somehow, she wore boredom like a second skin.

Clara gave a detailed report.

From the descent.

To the Sixteenth Floor battle.

To the Twenty-First Floor.

She did not mention everything.

But she mentioned enough.

Isabella listened quietly. No interruptions. No yawning this time.

When Clara finished, Isabella slowly shifted her gaze.

She looked at Victor.

Really looked at him.

Her eyes lingered a little too long.

"Do you really not want to be the Guild Master?" Isabella asked suddenly, leaning forward slightly, chin resting against her palm. "With your strength and ability, you could pretty much force your way into the position. But don’t worry, I’ll help you get it without any problems arising. So come on... take my job. Please."

Clara nearly facepalmed.

Again.

Yet this time—

She didn’t interrupt.

Because somewhere deep down, she couldn’t deny something uncomfortable.

Victor—battle-hungry, arrogant, insufferable as he was—

Would probably make a better Guild Master than the current one.

Victor sighed softly.

"Can you stop forcing your job on me?"

Isabella blinked once, then gave him a playful pout.

"Well, it was worth a try..."

She leaned back in her chair, stretching lazily. The motion drew attention to the curve of her waist before she casually reached for two documents.

"So now you two will officially become B-ranked adventurers once I sign these."

She paused mid-motion, black eyes flicking back toward Victor.

"Are you sure you just want to be B-ranked?"

"Yes," Victor answered without hesitation.

Not even a flicker.

Isabella’s gaze softened slightly.

Interesting.

"How about you, little lady?" she asked, turning toward Lane. "Are you sure you just want to be B-ranked?"

Lane’s expression remained calm.

"I’m alright with whatever Victor decides."

Her answer was steady.

But inside—

A quiet sigh.

He flirts with Clara in dungeons.

Now the Guild Master.

And I just follow.

She didn’t show it.

But something inside her tightened.

Isabella shrugged lightly and signed the papers.

"Now you are officially adventurers... and B-ranked."

She slid two shield-shaped silver badges across the desk.

"Ah, right. There’s something I need to say as a member of the Guild to new adventurers. Usually one of the receptionists handles this, but you must be very proud to hear it from me—the Guild Master."

She yawned mid-sentence.

Clara’s glare sharpened immediately.

Isabella ignored it.

Then her tone shifted.

Her voice steadied.

"You who have taken the first step as adventurers... devote yourselves until all secrets are revealed. Until there is nothing left to explore. Until there is no more treasure to be found. Until all stories end. Until finally, the truth is revealed."

She stood slowly as she spoke.

"Oh adventurers—soldiers of freedom and fortune. Go forth and have your grand adventure."

The room grew quiet.

Victor’s eyes flickered faintly.

He remembered one of his generals in his previous life who used to say similar words before campaigns.

Strange how time loops back.

"What’s with that?" Victor asked lightly. "Does every adventurer need to hear that?"

Isabella smiled faintly.

"Those are the words of the very first leader of the Adventurers Guild, thousands of years ago. They’ve been passed down to every adventurer who begins their journey."

She placed the badges into their hands.

"Now enough with history. These badges indicate you are B-ranked adventurers."

The silver emblems were cool against Victor’s palm.

Most adventurers trembled when receiving silver.

It meant prestige.

Recognition.

A milestone.

Victor and Lane simply looked at them.

No visible reaction.

Clara noticed.

Of course they wouldn’t react.

After what they just did, B-rank probably felt like a technicality.

Isabella leaned forward again, eyes narrowing playfully at Victor.

"You know... if you ever change your mind about that Guild Master position, my office is always open."

Her fingers brushed lightly against his as she adjusted the badge in his palm.

A subtle gesture.

Intentional.

Victor didn’t pull away.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly and gave her a lazy smile.

"If I take your position, what would you do?"

Isabella blinked.

Her heartbeat stuttered once.

"Retire," she replied lightly. "Live peacefully."

Victor leaned closer just a fraction.

"Peaceful doesn’t suit you."

Clara’s fist clenched.

Lane’s gaze lowered briefly.

Isabella felt her pulse quicken unexpectedly.

She straightened in her seat.

"Flattery won’t make me hand over the Guild."

Victor chuckled softly.

"Good. I wasn’t asking for it."

The tension dissolved—but only slightly.

Clara cleared her throat.

Sharp.

Cutting through the air.

Isabella leaned back again, recovering her composure.

"By the way," she added, voice smoother now, "as B-ranked adventurers, you’ll have access to higher-tier requests. Independent missions. Regional contracts. And if you perform exceptionally well, promotions come naturally."

Her black eyes flicked toward Victor again.

"You don’t have to rush things. The Guild welcomes strength—but it also rewards discretion."

Victor understood the subtext.

She was helping him.

Lane held her badge quietly.

I don’t need rank, she thought. As long as I can walk beside him.

Clara suddenly stepped forward.

"Guild Master, I have something to say as well."