Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Zach, Nessa, Anerias, Dukiel, and Violina dusted off their clothes while glaring at the principal, who had already turned around and headed back into the Academy after closing the gates.

"So, uh, is it the northern Labyrinth this time?" Anerias asked, breaking the stiff silence. He no longer held a grudge about being left behind the last break, but he was looking forward to both returning to his home for the first time in a long while and entering a Labyrinth with his friends.

"Sure." Dukiel shrugged. With the city in its current state, there was no way he could get a job there.

"I don't have anything better to do." Nessa nodded. She could return home and relax or train as usual. But for three months? There was no way she could be idle for that long. She also wanted to do everything she could to get stronger before the start of their hopefully final year at the Academy. Labyrinths were a great tool for that purpose.

Violina just nodded.

The four of them turned to look at Zach, who, to their surprise, hadn't said anything yet.

"...I would love to, but Derot's been asking for help in the capital. Honestly, while I don't want to miss out on another Labyrinth adventure with you guys, my guild is in a stage right now, where, if it succeeds, I'll become wealthy enough that graduating from the Academy literally couldn't matter less."

Zach's goal wasn't to brag, even if it sounded like it was. He was just letting the others know that his priorities weren't to get stronger right now. He didn't need or crave a Labyrinth and its trials and treasures.

It was the closest thing to admitting their imminent failure in defeating the Great Ugor that he was willing to say. Rather than being obsessed with an impossible goal, Zach might as well focus on his potion business and earn a fortune so massive that graduating from the Academy or not wouldn't matter.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The others totally understood what Zach was getting at. That didn't make them any less jealous, though. They didn't have the same options as he did, nor did they stand to make as much money in their lives.

However, they were confident in their strength.

Zach wasn't the only one who considered dropping out after they stood face to face with their weakness and the demoralizing failure of losing against Monolith. They could just stop suffering and drop out, move on with their lives, and establish themselves somewhere else.

Everyone but Dukiel had families to go back to. Violina was a Duke's daughter, and while she had been raised responsibly so far, her great-grandfather had started spoiling her rotten. Even if she didn't graduate, she would be well taken care of.

Anerias was the son of a count in the north. He wouldn't have it quite as easy as Violina, but he wouldn't suffer.

Nessa was a viscount's daughter from the south, but her parents were close vassals to the Systine Duchy, and she was close to Violina. She wouldn't suffer even if she dropped out.

Dukiel would have struggled if he hadn't been, just like the others, an excellent summoner. Even without relying on their family backgrounds, every one of them could find their place in the Empire and work toward any goals they might have.

They could strengthen their families, roam the Empire, gather wealth, or just laze around after getting some money from selling some treasure or raiding Jira a couple of times.

In that case, what did it matter if Zach spent this break focusing on matters as simple as building his guild instead of heading to the northern Labyrinth?

"Damn it!" Anerias cursed and grabbed Zach by the collar. "How am I supposed to beat you if you won't even join the competition?!" He asked.

"First of all," Zach grabbed Anerias' wrists and removed the latter's hands from his body.

"I don't see a reason to compete with you. Even if I do, it's not like you're going to beat me. By the way, how far did you get on the first floor of the Jira Labyrinth?"

"..."

That question alone was enough to silence Anerias, who crossed his arms with a scowl and looked away.

"There's always the west after next year, no?" Zach asked while looking at the others. Even if he didn't join them on the trip to the Labyrinth of Vidur, he could always join them on a trip to the western Labyrinth of Boros when the time came.

"But that's…" Violina started saying.

"I know. It's troublesome getting access, but don't you think it will be doable for us next year?" Zach asked, half-confidently.

Violina sighed. She glanced at Nessa and Dukiel. She took a quick look at Anerias before turning to Zach again.

"Or we go to Vidur next year and this year, Anerias can guide us through Jira. If I've understood the Labyrinths right, Jira is better for our growth anyway," Violina proposed with a one-shouldered shrug.

Nessa and Dukiel looked at each other. It felt a little strange visiting Zach's home region without Zach, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

"But I told my parents I was coming home this break…?" Anerias said with homesickness in his voice.

"Grow up." Nessa tapped him on the shoulder. "This is your chance to break Zach's record." She then turned to Zach.

"And I'm guessing you won't mind writing a letter to ask your family to take care of us and let us meet the baby?"

"Of course, I won't mind. Make sure to say hi to him for me."

"Naturally."

With that, their plans for the break were settled. Zach would join Derot in the capital with his alchemists and they would get the ball rolling with their business. Nessa, Violina, Dukiel, and Anerias would head East and spend the break training with the Evandiels, playing around in Jira, and playing with the baby. Your journey continues on empire

It was something every except Anerias was satisfied with since it meant they would be able to go to Vidur together after graduation or during their next break if they didn't graduate. Still, Anerias kept his complaints to a minimum since he also missed the baby.