Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Nessa was still sleeping, which didn't come as a surprise to any of them. At least she was just sleeping and not in a deep coma like Rierdan. She was also recovering steadily. Something extreme had to happen for her to die. She was officially in the clear.

Nessa was still missing an arm, but other than that, there was no reason for her not to make a full recovery.

It was almost cause for celebration. But they held off on that. Nessa was only fine physically. She had yet to wake up.

The others were happy that she had returned from the land of the dead. If they showed that happiness to Nessa, who hadn't been conscious for the entire process and the emotional ups and downs and would wake up with an arm less than when she was born, she might end up a little upset.

No one wanted that.

There also wasn't a reason to celebrate Nessa's steady recovery without Nessa present. So, after making sure she was alright and talking to the doctor a little, the club members set out on their assignments.

It was a shame they couldn't bring Liam or Rabst with them since their experience and the added numbers might be a help, but it didn't change anything in the end.

Zach and Dukiel confirmed that the underworld energy was slowly making a tactical retreat back into the Underworld now that it didn't have anything forcing it to stay on the surface.

It was a relief to everything but the monsters and plants that had adapted to the underworld energy.

Zach didn't know if they could adapt back or live without underworld energy anymore. But he wasn't going to pity them. The only pitiable thing about them was the fact that the only way to their new home was through a bottomless pit.

Entering it and trying to jump down to the Underworld would lead to certain death unless they could fly, hover, or not get injured from falling from heights.

The forest's recovery seemed steady but slow.

However, Zach wasn't planning to interfere yet. He would let nature take its course until nature was too slow. They still needed to clear the forest before the end of the year to pass and be allowed to advance to the next year.

Zach was curious about what would happen if they failed but not curious enough to try it.

But there were still a few months left on the school year. The forest could work on that on its own for a bit while the students and the Underworld Research and Extermination Club prioritized the city.

And that was where the problems started appearing.

Nessa was fine. Zach and Dukiel confirmed that the forest was going to be fine.

The city…

Zach looked at Anerias and Violina who had returned to the club room first.

"Your frowns don't match the problems we expected from the city."

Violina and Anerias glanced at each other. Was it possible to deduce something like that just from how the wrinkles on their brows were aligned?

"...I don't know how you read that off of our frowns, but yeah, that's because the problems aren't what we expected, at least not only," Anerias answered.

Zach interlaced his fingers and rested his elbows on the table. He looked at Anerias.

"Do you mind elaborating?"

Anerias looked at Violina before elaborating.

"We weren't allowed entry. There was a perimeter around the city, prohibiting anyone from getting close to the city."

"They had even extended that perimeter to include a region where the underworld energy was leaking from the city. We were stopped before we could even get to the city gates," Violina added, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Did you tell the guards you were there to check on the underworld energy?"

"Yes! They weren't guards, but we told them that. We said we were students whose task-of-the-year was to fucking fix the underworld energy." Violina crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, frustrated.

"So, people who weren't guards stopped you from entering the city?" Dukiel asked.

"And you let them?" Zach added.

"What were we supposed to do? They were armed. And they said it was for our own good. There's apparently an epidemic going around in the city. They were wearing cloths over their faces and stuff like that."

"Are you sure they weren't bandits robbing the city?" Zach raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Well, now that you mention it, no. But they said they were Underworld Exterminators. They were there to exterminate underworlders and put a lid on the leak of underworld energy that was spreading the disease to all the citizens," Anerias explained.

Zach took a deep breath.

"...what?"

"Uh…" Anerias wasn't sure what part Zach was directing his question at, so he wasn't sure what to say.

"I'm not surprised other people are fighting against the Underworld, but this is what they amount to? Let's go. I need to talk to them." Zach stood up. He didn't want to jump to conclusions. But he wasn't getting a good first second-hand impression of these Underworld Exterminator guys.

Based on Anerias' and Violina's expressions and tone, they hadn't had a very productive conversation with them. It was bullshit.

Basilia practically belonged to the Academy. The administration for the two was separate, and it wasn't like the Academy owned the city.

But there was no way the city could barr the students' entrance, much less random outsiders who had just arrived at the city and taken advantage of its weakness.

"Epidemic my ass." Zach scowled as he left the clubroom and started walking.

"Isn't it just underworld energy? What are they making a fuss about?"

***

Zach, Dukiel, Anerias, and Violina heard the coughing, the crying, and the puking even before they arrived. It was because there was no one else on the roads and the only sounds in the vicinity came from the city, but they still heard the telltale signs of sickness before they stepped foot into the city.

What confused them, however, was that no one was coughing outside the city.

"Please stop right there."