Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

The Underworld Exterimantors were not united in anything but their cause. The man who had tried to break Zach's barriers with his, in comparison, much more fragile fists had a small group that supported him. It also seemed like they were waiting for someone or something.

Nessa hadn't been able to find out more than that from her preliminary research of the market. But among the Underworld Exterminators, that group was the one with the most aversion to working with the students. They hung back and avoided all the sick ones.

There were other groups of Underworld Exterminators and some working alone that did various things to contribute in their own ways. Some helped with taking care of the sick citizens and alleviating their symptoms. Others went around the city and the sewers, checking for underworlders or people who hadn't left the city yet.

Some Underworld Exterminators headed into the forest instead when they discovered that the city was handled. They hunted monsters to sell and make some money while wasting time, killed monsters tainted by underworld energy, or gathered materials for the talismans.

Many of the Underworld Exterminators felt a little hopeless and useless. Many of them had gone through a lot to find ways to fight back against the Underworld. A lot of experimenting, training, and near-death experiences had brought them to where they were today.

They had lost comrades and limbs fighting against underworlders whenever they discovered them, which wasn't often. But even when not fighting the Underworld directly, there were many difficulties with the lives they led.

However, as if to spit in all of their faces, a young boy sixteen or seventeen years old had made not one, but two items that were very effective against the Underworld and its underworld energy.

The first creation, the anti-underworld energy potion was mostly a rumor. But the students, especially the ones in the Underworld Research and Extermination Club were adamant about its existence. But even without the potion, the talismans still existed.

They were more efficient in driving away the underworld energy than anything the Underworld Exterminators had made.

As if that wasn't enough, Zach had only known about the Underworld for less than two years.

It was demoralizing.

But it was difficult to feel anything more than that for most of the Underworld Exterminators. Only a few of them had seen Zach, adn they didn't connect that Zach to the creator of the talismans.

But they knew the creator of the talismans was a powerful summoner. He was also a creative and resourceful craftsman. He was one of the greatest students in the Academy's history. He was a lofty being that most people had trouble imagining.

That reputation only grew with each talisman Nessa sold and provided to the citizens in exchange for materials or services like cleaning up the city.

Things were looking up for the city.

Alzara had even made progress in the matter of creating a medicine that would cure the citizens of their poisoning before it was too late.

Zach was in the middle of supporting Alzara in her work by creating more worms with his Material Extraction when Nessa knocked on the door to the lab and entered.

"Zach, we have a problem." She plopped down on the floor next to Zach and leaned her back against the chair's leg. She heaved a deep sigh.

"What is it this time?"

"That guy who broke his fists on your barriers. Do you remember him?" Nessa hadn't been there, but she had heard the story from the others when they discussed Zach's worrying behavior.

"...Vaguely." Zach couldn't describe what the man looked like if he tried.

"Ah, whatever. That guy. He and his group are causing trouble again. They finally got word that their boss is coming, so they've been acting cocky." Nessa sighed again, at a loss for what to do.

"Have you guys tried humbling him again?" Zach asked innocently.

Nessa glanced up at him out of the corner of her eye.

"You are surprisingly quick to resort to violence, aren't you?" It wasn't like she hadn't thought about it.

"Right. I should ask what they did first."

"So far, not much. They've just been going around and taking the talismans around the city for themselves. They gave them back when Anerias asked. But they've also been coercing the cleaners to hand over their talismans."

Nessa's expression darkened as she thought about the people dutifully cleaning the city who had been just short of manhandled into handing over their talismans to the group of Underworld Exterminators who were content just watching everyone else work.

"...Is there any reason you guys haven't given them a taste of their own medicine?" Zach asked, earnestly curious about why they were letting glorified thugs act out.

"Haa…It's not that easy. The Exterminators aren't as divided as they first appear. They would rather side with rotten apples on their own side than a bunch of students. So, if we are too aggressive, the other Exterminators might also start causing trouble. We can't afford that. And that's not all."

"Right. The boss. But he hadn't arrived yet?"

"Not yet." Nessa shook her head. "But when I asked around a little, it seems he's supposed to be strong. I couldn't get any confirmation from anyone trustworthy, but apparently, he's killed a Named."

"Oh, shit." Zach's eyes widened and he looked at Nessa properly for the first time since she entered.

"That's not good," he said.

Zach still vividly remembered the strength Jigak had displayed in the swamp Locale. Even after summoning another familiar and leveling up more than ten times, Zach didn't even want to think about how strong that Named underworlder had been. If he did, he might risk breaking out in a cold sweat.

Nessa didn't know how strong a Named underworlder was, but she had heard Zach's cautionary retelling of his meeting with Jigak. Rather than trusting the accuracy of Zach's depiction, she trusted her opinion of Zach.

Zach didn't frighten easily. Even if he was in a situation where he might lose his life, he could stay calm, at least if there was something he could do. Otherwise, he might make a bad joke or run for the hills.

When he told her about Jigak, it was the first time Nessa saw Zach show fear.

That was why she had gone to look for him as soon as she heard about that rumor.

"Let me know as soon as he's arrived at the city."

"Of course."

"Oh, by the way, did you get his name?"

"Yeah. Bruns."