Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

The excitement and stir caused by the summoning ceremonies of his four friends excited Zach to the point where he was about to put in some work so that he could also summon his next familiar. It made him temporarily forget that he had just summoned his third familiar. He would have to work like a pack of dogs and a maniac to summon his fourth before the year was over.

If he hadn't had anything else to do, he might just have done it simply because he wanted to. Unfortunately, he wasn't that free. He had his studies. But those he could ignore. What he couldn't ignore, however, was the Underworld's looming threat.

With less than a month left on the deadline, they couldn't be too cautious. They couldn't prepare too much. They couldn't be too ready.

Alzara and the alchemists had made enough talismans to plaster the city and the sewer system. There was enough anti-underworld energy potion to drown a fish. Most of the manhole covers in the city had been soldered into the ground and covered with talismans. Traps decorated the city and the sewer system's every corner.

Violina had drafted several strategies for possible combat situations. Nessa had evacuated the citizens. Dukiel had set up a search-and-recovery system for all the supplies they needed that they could get in the surrounding area. Anerias had secured the hole in the forest. Zach had earned a small fortune through his side business.

That wasn't all Zach had done, but since he had done something other than train, study, or prepare for the Underworld's movements, the others had him making more rounds in the sewers than anyone else.

Since that was the first line of defense, it was important to check up on it even when there was almost a month left of the ceasefire. Unfortunately, it meant someone had to accompany him since he would be left wandering the sewers until he was discovered like a fossil. But that was a sacrifice they were willing to make.

They didn't buy Zach's reasoning that he was using the money he earned for the betterment of the potions and things he did for the activities against the Underworld. It was a load of bullshit.

Zach glanced at Dukiel, who was dutifully inspecting the anti-underworld energy talismans on the walls leading to the tunnel into the ground.

"So, have you figured out what your contract skill does yet?" Zach asked.

Dukiel had been in a similar situation as Zach with his contract skill in that he didn't know what it did. The others had tried to help him figure it out. But it was Dukiel's skill, in the end. He was the only one who could use it.

"...Somewhat. I think I need to do some more testing."

"But you said you could only use it once a day, right?"

"Yeah."

"What have you used it on so far?"

Dukiel finished his inspection of the section of talismans and moved closer to the tunnel.

"Just random things. A rock. A book. A piece of meat. I think I used it on my shoe as well."

"Did anything happen to those things?"

"I'm not sure with the rock, but the book looks like its newer or has been restored. Anerias' dog rushed over and scarfed down the piece of meat as soon as I did it, so I'm not sure. And my foot has been feeling a lot more comfortable."

"You said the name was Enhancement?"

"I did. I've said it multiple times."

"I'm just confirming. But it sounds like you can enhance things."

"Yup."

"Once a day. Is it permanent or does it only last one day?"

"It lasts more than a day. My foot is still feeling great. I'm considering enhancing my other shoe today."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zach crossed his arms and tilted his head. The skill could enhance things and it would last for more than a day. There was a limit to how much Dukiel could use it that wasn't based on how tired or drained he was, which were the only limits to all other contract skills Zach knew about.

Something about the skill itself prevented it from being used more than once a day. Why?

Dukiel's skill had a daily limited amount of uses.

Other things that had limited uses like certain precious materials or consumable resources had those for a reason. They would run out, break down, or otherwise stop working after those uses.

But Dukiel's skill didn't. He would get a new use the next day. That meant there was another reason for it.

It wasn't because he ran out of materials. He could do it when he had nothing on him and was almost starving. He didn't feel tired afterward.

Zach's eyes widened.

Something else that had a limit was the Labyrinth of Syst. There were only twenty-four Labyrinth Tickets every other year. It was partly because the Labyrinth wasn't made for a lot of entrants.

But the way it worked was similar to exclusivity. Fewer tickets turned the Labyrinth of Syst exclusive. The opportunity to enter it was valuable.

Zach's eyes widened slightly and he grabbed Dukiel by the shoulder.

"Don't use it on your shoe. No, don't use it on anything useless."

Dukiel looked at Zach with a raised eyebrow. Zach's grip was pretty hard, and his voice was hurried, slightly desperate almost.

"Why? I can use it again tomorrow." Dukiel rightfully asked.

"It will be a waste."

"A waste?" Dukiel was doubtful of Zach's expression. A more comfortable shoe was a waste?

"If I'm right, which, let's be honest, I probably am, you should not use your skill on things that you will grow out in a month or that you can lose."

"Why? And it's not a waste to make a more comfortable shoe. You should know how nice it is with good shoes."

"I do know. And that's why I'm telling you to enhance your foot instead of your shoe." Zach's voice was almost a little stern as he pointed at Dukiel's foot.

"My foot? I can't—"

"Try it."

Dukiel just looked at Zach. This was his skill. What was Zach being so nosy for? Dukiel sighed. He could be stubborn. But not as stubborn as Zach. He also had to admit that he was curious. Could he really use Enhancement on his foot?