Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

The members of the Underworld Research and Extermination Club looked at Zach, patiently waiting for a more detailed explanation. They were already at war with the Underworld. Of course, they would be fighting each other. But Zach made it sound like he was planning on turning the city into a battlefield.

Something like that would lead to the city being totally ruined. Using it as a battlefield would leave it far more destroyed than simply letting it be until their tussle with the Underworld was over.

Zach hung his head a little with a sigh. Why did he have to explain everything? Couldn't they just understand without him needing to spell it out? He looked up at the club members.

"Currently, the Underworld has two paths straight to the surface. Honestly, they probably have more. But the two major ones that we know about are the big vertical hole in the middle of the forest and the other one connected to the sewer system beneath the city." Zach's words finally got the others' minds to start spinning.

The hole in the forest was a tunnel straight down. It was incredulously long and might even still be affected by the anti-underworld energy potion at the bottom. Unless they could fly, it was impossible for an underworlder to get to the surface with it. Even then, they would have to fly for a long time.

Zach and the others couldn't exclude the possibility of large-scale, flying, transportation-oriented underworlders. But what would be the need for something like that underground? Any large transportation-oriented underworlders should be made to transport things over or through the ground, not through the air.

It was unlikely that the Underworld would use the hole in the forest as a primary pathway to the surface.

That left the sewers beneath the city. Not only were they accessible to all underworlders not the size of hills, but they would also make it easy for them to infiltrate the surface without detection, thanks to the many manhole openings to the sewer system.

Of course, Zach and the others had no idea what the Underworld was planning, or if they would even try to breach the surface. After all, what would they gain? There wasn't anything special in the city and attacking the Academy head-on was suicidal.

But they had prepared something beneath the city and used the city's people to do it. There was something that had brought them there.

Without knowing what the Underworld was planning, the club had to prepare for everything. That included an invasion. And such an invasion was most likely to come through the sewers of Basilia.

That meant, their best bet to stop such an invasion and hinder the Underworld's plans was to fortify the city and prepare their defense there.

"By fortifying the city, plugging most of the sewer entrances, and lining the sewers and the city with talismans, we can limit and control the Underworld's movements on the surface," Zach concluded the point he was trying to make with that statement.

"...And if we can control their movements, we can kill them more easily." Violina broke out of her thoughtful silence to add another clarification.

Zach nodded.

"So, until we figure out what the Underworld's plan is, we play defensively. I'll start working on making more talismans and potions. You guys start the evacuations and reinforcements.

"Nessa, you're in charge of evacuating. Feel free to borrow mine or Violina's statuses if you need. Just get people out of there.

"Dukiel, can you figure out the best spots to gather the relevant materials and make a map for the first-years?"

"Yes."

"Don't make it too easy on them, though. The principal won't allow it otherwise."

"...Got it."

"Violina, you're on building defenses and strategy. I want a plan for defending the city against a full-scale invasion and facing a Named like Mursoth. Both with and without me present."

Violina nodded with a grave expression. Zach's orders told them how dire the situation might become in the future.

"Anerias, can you find the way to the hole in the forest?"

"Yeah."

"Set up a perimeter using magic tools. We need to know if they come from there, too. And try to hide the magic tools. It will be our advantage if we know they're coming when they think we don't."

"Got it."

Everyone looked at Zach. He nodded. They nodded. What they had to do in addition to their studies was clear. They just had to get started.

There was a knock on the door frame.

"What about me, boss?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Zach and the others turned to look at Liam, who most of them hadn't seen in a few months. The air around him was a little different. But he was the same blonde noble student council member.

Zach threw a quick glance at Violina, who nodded just as quickly.

"Help Violina with strategizing. That's the one thing we can't waste personnel on. It would be even better if you could help figure out what the Underworld might have planned. Why are they targeting the city? Why the forest? What did they have to stabilize so much that they asked for a ceasefire for, based on what I can find, the first time in recorded history?"

Liam nodded with a smile. He turned to Violina.

"I'll do my best to assist you." He looked at Zach again. "And I'll do my best to try and find answers to those questions. Speaking of questions, Club President…Do you have any thoughts about joining the Student Council this year?"

"Nope. Now, get moving. There's no time to waste." Zach kicked the club members out of the club room to get them started on their tasks after shooting down Liam's question.

However, he grabbed Nessa before she left.

"What?" She asked. The others also turned around and looked. Since it wasn't anything private, Zach didn't mind. He had just forgotten to ask about it until now.

"Those alchemists you gathered last year…Are they still around?"

"Most of them are, yes. They are one of the reasons the city still has some merchants running supplies."

"Perfect." Zach smiled and sent her on her way again.