Combat Maid Harem

"And I am Lawrend Ignis, an All-Element Earth Mage. I'm here to see you, not to ask permission," Lawrend replied and stood up.

Paeia squinted his eyes and stood up too. The two of them had a standoff, and Lawrend wasn't able to get an advantage as Paeia was slightly taller than him.

Ember looked at the two of them with a forced smile on her face. She was happy that Lawrend was being so brave, but she was worried about what would happen next.

Paeia didn't say much and stared Lawrend up and down. Lawrend used his elemental eyes and scanned the mana within Paeia's body. The man wasn't lying when he said he was a Heavenly Earth Mage.

"You have two elements, Fire and Earth. Interesting," Lawrend said.

"Hm? I suppose you aren't lying about being able to use all of the elements," Paeia replied and sat back down.

Lawrend faintly smiled and sat down too.

"My dear daughter, who do you think will win between us?" he asked as he looked straight at her.

"Master," Ember answered instantly.

"*Sigh* You have grown apart from your father. Are you sure?"

Paeia seemed to grow several decades older after realizing that his daughter was another man's woman now. She wasn't the same daughter he used to know.

"I can become a Heaven Mage any time soon. Even I can't win against Master."

Paeia glanced at Lawrend and closed his eyes. He silently mulled over the new information he received. This was the first time in his life that he would give his daughter to someone. It was a hard decision to make since he loved her so much.

Paeia opened his eyes and said, "When the ancestor decided to send you to this man, I was fiercely in opposition. You were too, so I was confident you would come back, but I didn't expect he was fierce enough to tame my arrogant daughter."

Ember turned away as she blushed. She couldn't help but remember how Lawrend 'tamed' her. It would have been a traumatic experience for other women, but it was a memory she cherished. It was the first time in her life that another man was able to defeat her while having a lower level.

Coupled with the fact that he was very talented, his dream for his future was captivating. It was inevitable that she fell for him. Her arrogance was nothing before him.

"She's my woman now," Lawrend said, embracing Ember on the couch. He then continued, "If you want to take her, you will have to send a Heaven Mage to defeat me."

"Hmph. We have a Heaven Mage ancestor, do you really dare challenge us like that?" Paeia snorted in displeasure.

"My Ember and I can work together to defeat your ancestor."

Lawrend's confidence shot through the roof. He didn't look away but rather stared into the soul of Paeia. Seeing Lawrend's courage and confidence shook the father's heart.

He looked up and stared at the ceiling for a minute. The whole room was silent to the point where you could hear it if a mosquito buzzed at the corner of the room.

Paeia gathered his gaze. His eyes were as calm as a cup of water. There was no turbidity as he stared at the two of them.

"If that's the case, I have nothing to complain about. I want to know more about this little guy instead."

Paiea settled his eyes on Inferno. His solemn eyes turned warm at the sight of his grandchild.

"Inferno, this man is your grandfather," Ember gently said.

"Hello, Grandfather," Inferno greeted with a slight smile on his face.

"Hello, little one. The Third Ancestor wasn't wrong about matching you two up. I'm afraid the Ignis Clan will change with his appearance," Paeia said.

He felt emotional. He knew about the bloodline Inferno possessed since he was informed by the Phoenix Main Hall about the powerful bloodline detected in Eridanus City. He didn't believe it at first, but seeing Lawrend and Inferno in person forced him to accept reality.

In any case, he was happy for his daughter.

"Can he stay with me for a week? The competition will only start till then."

"Father, aren't you switching too fast? Weren't you just about to fight my Master?" Ember pouted.

"Ehem. If you want to be free, then leave him to me. I will groom him to be the next Clan Head. Or do you still want to become the Clan Head?"

Paeia knew about Ember's great desire to become the Clan Head. Her hunger for power was well known at the top of the clan since she pretty much defeated everyone before her.

"How fierce is the competition now?" Ember asked.

"Your…'Master' almost killed the representative of the Blaze Faction, and the Pyro Faction has been quiet. It will be easy for your son to become the Clan Head."

It was hard for Paeia to call Lawrend her 'Master'. After all, it was his daughter. He always held her in high esteem. He never expected her to fall so low as to become someone's maid.

If Lawrend didn't have the approval of the Third Ancestor, a powerful Ignis bloodline, All-Element, and a son like Inferno, he would have tried to get between them as much as he could.

Unfortunately, if he tried that, it would only make him petty. He was thoroughly defeated by Lawrend's positive qualities.

"Aha! Then I don't have to vie for the Clan Head position. I'm rather happy to be with Master," Ember replied joyfully.

She felt a heavy weight lift from her back. It had been her lifelong goal to become the Clan Head. Hearing that her son could take the goal from her greatly relieved her.

"Mommy, I never agreed to this."

Inferno rolled his eyes at his mother. She never talked to him about becoming the Clan Head. It was an abrupt decision on her part.

"You will control the future most powerful clan in the world, isn't that exciting?" Ember enticed.