Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Violina wanted to stop by her family before heading for the Labyrinth, but time was a little tight. They had gotten this far without any incidents, despite Zach's presence. The more time that passed, the greater the risk of something cropping up to delay them.

Something like that would be difficult to explain to the Systines, but they would understand if Violina said she didn't want to be late—no need to overcomplicate things.

Zach also wanted to go, though it was more out of obligation as the son of one of the other dukedoms than a personal desire to mingle with Violina's family. He had responsibilities and rules of etiquette to uphold as a member of the aristocracy.

Fortunately, the Systines were among the more relaxed nobles in the Empire, at least according to Violina.

Zach had a feeling they weren't relaxed. They were just different from the rest of the nobles.

Zach's feeling was half-confirmed when they arrived at a smaller bay, where a couple of smaller boats that could fit up to a dozen people were bobbing gently in the water.

Waiting there was a group of twenty-odd people, mostly youths. Descendants of noble families, families who had contributed to the Duchy, or merchants and the like who had bought Tickets.

Since age and sheer strength didn't guarantee results in the Labyrinth of Syst, the Labyrinth was mostly used by the younger generations since their time wasn't as important and to help them earn experience and grow.

That was why the only adults above the age of thirty were Violina's uncles, who were there to ferry them all out to the Labyrinth.

"Vivi! You li'l landlubber, I hope you haven't forgotten what it's like to be on the water," the first uncle happily greeted his niece.

Zach and Nessa looked at the tall, scarred, muscular man with light brown beard tied into thin braids decorated with pearls. His bald head reflected the sunlight and made the second uncle, a seemingly more taciturn man with a similar build and number of scars but a single, thick braid in his beard instead, wince at the sudden bright light.

"Piss off, old man. Didn't you kick the bucket? What are you doing here?" Nessa asked with a frown but did nothing to stop her uncle from picking her up and swinging her around like a kid.

"Unfortunately, we didn't lose him. He was just stranded at sea." The other uncle caught Violina after the first one let her go and set her down on the ground.

"Good news, though, I guess. Tayup brought back a woman and child."

Violina's eyes opened wide and she turned to her first uncle after hearing her second uncle's words.

"Again?!" She exclaimed.

With greetings out of the way and all of the Labyrinth Ticket holders having arrived now that Violina and her two companions were at the bay, the two boats set out. Since he didn't trust Tayup to focus on his task with Violina on board, Krage took Violina, Zach, and Nessa on his boat, along with nine others.

The remaining dozen rode with Tayup.

Zach looked at the nine other Ticket holders. Most of them were fit youngsters.

There was a pair of dark-haired twins who he couldn't tell were young men or young women. There was a guy who looked like a pirate. He had short, wild but glossy hair, a sharp look, stood alone, and piercings in his ears and lip. He wore a vest and had a flamberge sword at his hip.

One guy was surprisingly round. He did not look quite as what Zach would have expected from someone about to fight with their life on the line. Even the soft blond hair looked more like what he had seen on nobles who took good care of themselves by not fighting.

Another guy was leaning against the railing with crossed arms and fierce air around him like he was looking for a fight. He had a rough appearance and almost grey hair. A sword at his hip indicated that he was a swordsman.

Of the remaining four on their boat, three also used bladed weapons of some kind, another swordsman with a typical longsword, a dual-wielding dagger guy, and a tall, skinny person with a tidy appearance and a rapier.

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Lastly, there was a young woman wearing clothes that seemed more fitting for a tea party and a hat. There was not a hint of a weapon on her body.

But while Zach was looking at the other passengers, they were looking at him and his part. To be more specific, they were looking at the two beautiful maids. Wherever they went, Yanael and Alzara were bound to attract and hold attention, especially when the majority of the passengers were boys.

Alzara's height, which was outstanding enough on its own, the two familiars were just too remarkable in terms of appearance.

There was also the enormous Millipede clinging to the side of the boat. It wasn't the same kind of attention as the two maids got, but the Millipede didn't lack spectators.

Due to the situation and the fact that they were getting closer to the famed Labyrinth, no one was in the mood for idle chatter. It also seemed like everyone had heard the rumors about competition. Instead of getting friendly with their fellow participants, the youths were sizing up their opponents, assessing who would be dangerous and who wouldn't be.

The only one who wasn't tense was Krage, who leisurely steered the sailboat away from land.

After a while, he caught up to Tayup, and they anchored their boats next to each other seemingly in the middle of the ocean. They had gotten far enough out that they couldn't see the beach. But there was nothing around them.

The youths looked around in confusion. Where was the Labyrinth? Even if it hadn't opened yet, shouldn't there be something there? Or were they waiting for something or someone else before continuing?

After a while, Zach turned to Violina.

"What are we waiting for?" He asked.

Violina, who had been leaning against the railing with crossed arms, opened her eyes and looked at Zach for a moment.

Right then, something appeared in the ocean.

"...That," She said and looked at the vortex that quickly grew from the size of a nightstand to a big dinner table.