Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Zach continued making material worms for Alzara, but he couldn't stop thinking about Bruns, the man who had supposedly killed a Named underworlder. It wasn't too far-fetched.

Zach knew strong people. The principal. Instructor Kami. His parents and many of the knights at the duchy. They could fight and kill Named underworlders. It only stood to reason that there were others in the world who could do the same, even if he hadn't heard of them before.

They also had to have earned their name. What was the point of being called Underworld Exterminators if they weren't contributing to the extermination of the Underworld? They had to have done something to earn that name.

There was also the possibility that not all Named were equally strong. Zach didn't know the first thing about the hierarchy or the levels of strength on the deeper layers of the Underworld. But he knew different individuals would not be exactly as strong as one another.

It meant Bruns could have killed a Named weaker than Jigak.

Unfortunately, it also meant he could have killed a Named stronger than Jigak. Even just the possibility of there being stronger Named underworlders than Jigak was a problem.

But stronger Named wasn't an immediate problem. Zach estimated that they would only start encountering Named underworlders next year.

Presently, the most pressing concern was the fact that a person, who, if the rumors were true, was strong enough to kill Named, was associating with bullies. It didn't bode well for their activities in Basilia.

But worrying about it wouldn't change anything, so Zach focused on his task while also including some strength training and more sparring into his daily routine. Just because he got stronger from leveling up, it didn't mean he didn't get stronger from training his body.

If anything, it was even better if he mixed in strength training with his leveling since it would only make him stronger. Even if he had trouble learning the ways of the spear or other weapons, just being physically strong could help him a lot. A strong body also made it easier for him to absorb the blows when his barriers broke. And more stamina let him use Material Extraction more.

Zach was not neglecting his basics.

After a couple of days, Nessa entered the lab again and informed Zach of Bruns' arrival.

"Did you get a look at him?" Zach asked as they made their way to the city. Since Bruns was supposedly very strong, Zach brought both of his familiars along.

"No." Nessa shook her head. "I left to get you as soon as I heard he was close. I figured it was best if you were there before he had time to settle in." Nessa nervously looked toward the camp outside the city. Even from a distance, she could tell there was a certain ruckus in one corner. People—Exterminators—had gathered there.

"I have a feeling that was a wise decision, Nessa." Zach nodded. He wondered if he should ask the Millipede to pick up the pace, but he didn't want to make it seem he rushed over to meet Bruns. It could give off an impression Zach didn't want to give off.

He didn't rush over to receive Bruns. He hurried over to prevent Bruns from causing trouble.

By the looks of it, he was just in time. Before Bruns could do anything else or target anyone else, Zach was there to catch his attention.

Zach and Nessa hopped down from the Millipede and made their way through the tents in the camp over to the other side, where Bruns had made an entry.

"There he is! Boss, that's the guy who assaulted me!"

Zach recognized that voice. He wasn't sure from where, but it ground against his ears with an air of familiarity. He remembered who it was when he looked at the bandaged hand that was pointing at him.

It was the Idiot.

Zach didn't look at him. He looked at the tall, muscular man next to him. He was a head taller than those around him. He was still a head away from Alzara's height. He was not prepared for that since he was looking more at her than at Zach or anyone else.

Or it could be that he somehow sensed the threat she posed.

His face and bare arms had tiny and big scars. The vest on his upper body didn't do much to hide the scars there, either.

He was a warrior and had probably honed his senses through fights to the death. Zach could tell at a glance that Bruns' reputation wasn't unfounded, even if only because he looked the part and did so convincingly.

"Boss, please avenge me!" The Idiot snapped Bruns out of his staredown with Alzara, which could have been fatal if Alzara and Bruns had been about to fight.

Bruns glared at the Idiot, which shut him up. Like a meek rat, the Idiot shrank back and stayed silent. But he had still succeeded in diverting Bruns' attention toward Zach.

Bruns looked Zach up and down, his gaze lingering on Zach's orange hair.

"So you're an Evandiel." Bruns glanced back at his man as if to tell him that he forgot to mention an important detail. But he could see that the Idiot hadn't known. He was pale and looked at Zach in surprised horror.

Bruns shook his head slightly at the sight of someone who called himself his subordinate.

"I've seen the Duke fight once. He is a man I respect. The Evandiels are worthy of respect. But that name won't get you out of this if you assaulted my subordinate."

Zach smiled. It seemed Bruns was reasonable.

"I wasn't planning on relying on my family's name for a trifling matter like this. And I don't need to, since I didn't beat up your idiot, even if he deserved it. He did that to himself." Zach nodded at the man's bandaged fists.

"Without getting into all the nitty-gritty details, we had a verbal disagreement, and he resorted to violence. Alas, he didn't live up to his ideal.

"Instead of punching my teeth out, he broke his hands."

Bruns raised an eyebrow and glanced at the Idiot, who didn't dare meet his gaze.

"You look thick-headed, but he broke his fists on your skull? I don't believe it."

"He didn't. He broke them on my barriers. Here. Try it."

Zach made a barrier in the air in front of Bruns.

Bruns looked at it and unfurled his crossed arms.

"Sure."

Zach's words and actions weren't just to inform Bruns of the truth of what had transpired between him and the Idiot. They were a blatant provocation.

It was also a test for Zach to measure Bruns' strength. If he could break the barrier with ease, they might have trouble dealing with him. If he couldn't, Zach had nothing to fear other than the sword at the big man's hip.

Bruns knew it was a provocation. But rather than letting himself fall for it, he also wanted to test Zach. So, he balled up his hand in a fist and threw a straight punch at the barrier.