Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

The tremors had been slightly irregular, grew stronger with each one, and were powerful enough to crumble houses with more solid ground between the source and the houses than Zach and the others could possibly know. That was all they knew.

The tremors had also prompted a small-scale invasion of relatively weak underworlders. They had stopped the dolls in the process.

"Can we get someone to investigate the city?" Violina asked loudly enough for the other students to hear. She wasn't making anyone do it. She wanted volunteers.

However, it wasn't exactly an enticing offer, and no one eagerly raised their hand into the air.

Instead, several of the students, Violina, Nessa, Dukiel, and Anerias included, slowly glanced at Zach. If anyone could survive no matter what was thrown at him, it was Zach. And if he didn't survive, no one else would.

He was the safest pick.

Zach sighed.

"Couldn't you at least have waited until I volunteered before picking me?" He asked without expecting an answer. He had already started walking toward the city. Zach was used to being singled out. In a way, his classmates and friends were relying on him.

It was what he wanted. It was a nice feeling to be relied on. But how come they only relied on him when there were dangerous things to do? They didn't talk to him about their romance troubles, their stress about studying and performing well, or their anxiety about the Underworld.

They didn't even have to use his special access to the library anymore since they already had access to everything they needed now that they were third-years.

Zach was the bait when they dealt with Mursoth. He was the one who handled the dolls after everyone else chickened out. And now, he was sent to investigate a city filled with underworlders, which might or might not collapse at any moment. The dolls hadn't been dangerous, but only for him. Dealing with Mursoth, however, had been. He risked his life.

And now, he was risking it again.

The burden of being the strongest was heavy, but it was one Zach had chosen to carry for several reasons. Whether he liked it or not, he entered the city with firm steps and his familiars by his side.

The city had regained a feeling of liveliness with all the underworlders hiding in it. But it was wrong. The clammy underworld energy and the irritating presences of the underworlders didn't belong in Basilia. This was not their home.

So, why were they here?

"Fetch one who seems like it can talk."

Yanael darted forward to carry out Zach's order. However, she had to stop only a moment later when a manhole cover that was supposed to be sealed shot into the air with a few stones and a stream of dust trailing behind it. It didn't happen far from where Zach was. There was no way Yanael could leave, even if Soara and Alzara were still by his side.

Whatever struck that manhole cover into the sky took priority. Discover more stories at empire

An underworlder with six clawed fingers on its hands crawled out of the sewers. They were taller and more muscular than Mursoth but not as hunky as Jigak. But the mere fact that Zach subconsciously compared the underworlder in front of him to the two Named underworlders he had met meant they were strong.

No, they should be strong. However, there were streaks of blood about to dry on their arms. Their shirt was torn. It looked like one of their pointy ears had been snapped in half. Blood clotted their dark hair as well.

It looked like the underworlder had taken a beating. It also looked like they were in the middle of fleeing, at least until they sensed Zach.

"Oh," they said.

"Mm." Zach hummed slightly as he inspected the underworlder with his hands behind his back.

This was an interesting turn of events.

The underworlder's arms were raised slightly like they were ready to fight or flee. Their knees were bent slightly. But they didn't make any rash movements. They could tell that the three maids were not to play with.

"What's your name?" Zach asked.

"You first." The underworlder already had an idea of who they were in front of, but they needed to confirm it.

"Zach. Zacharia Evandiel." Zach smiled as he answered. He was happy knowing his name was famous in the Underworld. It meant he had a target on his back. But it also meant they were wary of him.

As expected, the underworlder's eyes widened, and he glanced at the three maids again. He sighed.

"Maer. You are the one who killed Mursoth, right?"

"I had help, but yeah."

"So, not alone?" The underworlder glanced around the street. It was empty save for Zach, the maids, and Maer.

"I'm alone right now. We killed Mursoth a couple of weeks ago or something. You guys didn't miss him?" Maer was a Named, but he was weaker than Jigak and more cautious than Mursoth. He seemed reluctant to attack Zach first, especially now that he was injured. Zach hoped his taunting would change that.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"We've been busy." Maer's answer was short, and his eyes darkened with building resolve. He clearly couldn't return underground. But Zach wouldn't just let him be.

"I could tell." Zach could also tell that Maer was getting ready to fight. But Zach had gotten curious. Maybe he could find out what had caused those tremors. It didn't seem to be intentional if the state of Maer and the other underworlders who fled to the surface were any indication.

"You—"

"I'll make you a deal." Zach cut off Maer.

"...What do you want?" Maer narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He was naturally reluctant to make a deal with Zach. But if it could let him get out of fighting this instant and recover, it might be worth it.

A smile curved Zach's lips upward, and his eyes narrowed benevolently.

"Nothing much. Tell me what's going on down there, and I'll let you go."