Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

"Oh, you didn\'t get that far? Then, I\'ll take it from here." The principal turned back to Zack.

"The forest is covered in underworld energy. Things are mutating, dying, exploding, and breaking down."

"...Why are you blaming me?" Zach frowned in confusion. That was probably what the tiger\'s death had caused. That was the Underworld\'s fault, not his.

The principal shrugged.

"I just felt like it was."

"What kind of fu—"

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Anyway. The forest will be waiting for you when you get back, so go on, enjoy your break, and come back with another familiar. I bet you\'re going to need it."

"Huh?"

"Mm?"

"Another familiar? How?"

"Oh, right, remember when I said I wasn\'t going to punish you for missing the end-of-year ceremony? I lied." The principal teased and shot Zach a couple of finger guns.

"Your punishment is the fact that you missed how to summon your next familiar. Good luck!"

The principal disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"What?"

Zach looked at where the principal had stood and just stared blankly at the empty air.

Surprisingly enough, the first thing Zach thought of wasn\'t how to summon another familiar.

\'How is a clown like that a principal?\'

Zach sighed. He looked at Nora and Yanael. They shook their heads. They also didn\'t know.

"Oh, I\'ve told everyone not to tell you, so don\'t bother asking any of your friends." The principal had left, but his voice hadn\'t and he kindly informed Zach of another part of the punishment.

"...For fuck\'s sake." Check out m_vl_em_p_yr stories

Zach scowled and crossed his arms. But he couldn\'t maintain his angry face for long. Eventually, he sighed and slid down his bed until he lay down again.

He was still tired, and the conversation with the principal hadn\'t helped. He was going to rest up before leaving.

Zach woke up again a few hours later, already feeling much better.

He looked to his sides. Nora and Yanael were there waiting for him. They noticed he had woken up but didn\'t say anything.

"Is everything ready?" Zach asked.

Nora nodded.

"Good. Let\'s go home."

"Maybe you should get dressed first, Young Master."

"Hmph." Zach scoffed and proudly showed off his hospital gown.

"I can do that later. Who knows if we will even be able to leave if we delay much longer? There\'s no telling with the principal fellow." Zach didn\'t want to waste any time.

Life at the Academy had been a little different from what he expected. It wasn\'t necessarily bad, but it was rough and stressful. He missed the peace, calm, and love he received at home.

As the youngest, he was spoiled almost as much as Lexi. He got preferential treatment at the Academy, too, since he was an S-rank and almost got killed due to the Academy\'s mistake, but that was different.

He missed being able to take it easy.

He wasn\'t planning on only taking it easy since he had the homework the principal had given him, but he missed the feeling of being able to relax. He couldn\'t remember when he had last felt it.

So, Zach didn\'t waste any time. And after half an hour, all the things he wanted to take with him were stuffed into, under, and onto a carriage. When the horses had started pulling, Zach changed into proper clothes inside the carriage and threw the gown out the window.

"No littering." Nora grabbed the gown and stuffed it in a bag.

"Right."

Zach awkwardly sat down. He fiddled with his fingers, tapped his legs, and patted the cushions. He was restless. He looked around the carriage and out the windows before getting bored and looking for something else.

It was the first time he didn\'t have something to do other than wait. He was returning home after almost a year. He would probably be seeing most of his family for the first time in several years.

Zach had changed a lot. His family had probably changed some.

He was nervous about their first meeting in a while. He was also nervous about introducing Yanael to his family.

But more than that, Nora staring at him without blinking was also making him restless. It was like she was afraid he would disappear if she looked away. It made it difficult to talk to her.

"...I think I\'ll go sit with Yanael." Zach began standing up so he could climb out to Yanael, who was steering the horses.

"Sit down."

"Yes." Zach sat down. He waited for Nora to say something. But even after several minutes, she was still as still and silent as a statue.

"...I\'m going to lie down for a minute. Take advantage of the good roads, you know?" Nora didn\'t stop him this time, and Zach closed his eyes. The ride was a little bumpy, and the cushions could have been a little softer.

But he remembered the journey to the Academy. The closer to the Academy, the smoother the roads. It would be impossible to get any rest in the carriage after a while.

Nora might also find it easier to speak her mind if Zach wasn\'t looking at her.

Zach was a hair away from actually falling asleep when Nora finally found the courage.

"...I thought I lost you, Zach. I thought I would never see your annoying face again, or hear your annoying voice. I—It scared me. You scared me, you reckless idiot. Promise me you won\'t do anything like that again. Promise me you won\'t die."

"Again."

"Zach."

"I promise. You\'re not getting rid of me that easy, don\'t worry. I\'ll be here long after you\'re gone."

"...Good."

Zachäs eyes were closed. And he pretended to snore.

Nora could let her tears fall in peace. She didn\'t have to worry about Zach seeing or knowing she shed tears for his sake.