Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Dukiel glanced at Zach and Julius. They had already walked far enough that the treeline and the campus outside the forest were impossible to see.

"Are you guys sure about this?" Dukiel couldn't help but be worried when they had left the rest of the class behind without saying a word.

"Pssh. What's there to worry about when we have the class's three strongest summoners?" Julius was the complete opposite of Dukiel. It was like he couldn't be any more relaxed.

Julius' comment earned him two doubtful looks, but neither Zach nor Dukiel said anything about that.

"A lot of things." But Dukiel was still worried.

To ease Dukiel, Zach pointed at his Sentinel.

"With your Sentinel scanning our surroundings like that and its combat ability, what's there to be scared of?"

The Sentinel wasn't in combat mode, but its head had popped up, and its red eyes were blinking and spinning to show that it was watching their surroundings like a hawk.

Zach could tell Dukiel was still worried, so he put a hand on his shoulder.

"You should trust your familiar more. But even if something that your Sentinel can't handle comes at us, we still have me and my angel. If something she can't deal with occurs or attacks us, it's not something that we can change by worrying. Thus, there's no need to worry." Zach wasn't as flippant as Julius, but he was still calm. He trusted Yanael.

Although Zach didn't know what lived inside the forest other than bugs and mosquitos so far, he knew that the instructors wouldn't put them through something impossible to handle or survive.

And if it was something that even someone like Julius, who had a D-rank Mannequin, was supposed to make it through, Zach shouldn't have anything to worry about.

The only obstacle Zach and the others encountered during the first day of trekking through the woods was deciding what to eat. Dukiel was worried that a campfire would attract attention.

Zach and Julius were worried that it would be cold without one. It would also be easier for Yanael to prepare a tasty dinner with some heat. Zach also wanted to use up the fresh ingredients before they spoiled in Yanael's backpack, which was easier to do with cuts of meat when you had a fire.

So, without much actual trouble, the three boys settled on roast meat skewers with some vegetables.

It wasn't the kind of delicacy Zach was used to. But they had built up a robust hunger after walking through the forest's harsh terrain for an entire day. All three of them ate until their bellies burst out of their shirts before collapsing into the tent Yanael had pitched for them.

They slept like logs inside the tent while Yanael, the Sentinel, and the Mannequin kept watch. The three familiars weren't tireless, but their masters had ordered them to stay vigilant, so that's what they did.

The breakfast consisted of still-soft bread. The day was spent trekking through the rough vegetation. They stopped for rest and snacks now and then but only ate proper food when they stopped for the night and Yanael cooked dinner for them.

It was first during the third day that something changed. Dark grey clouds covered the sky. However, the weather remained calm until the early afternoon when the first few drops of rain started hitting the leaves and splattering to the ground.

"This isn't good." Dukiel turned to Zach and Julius after looking at the sky with his hand cupped over his eyes.

"With clouds this heavy and a rainshower that's starting gentle, it's going to rain for several hours at least." Dukiel's voice was somber.

"...What should we do?" Asked Julius hesitantly. He wasn't looking forward to spending the night soaked, drenched, and cold.

"Find shelter or higher ground."

Dukiel and Julius turned to Zach, who had just spoken. He said it with such confidence they couldn't help but wonder if he had experience.

Zach shrugged.

"What? I read. Didn't I tell you guys I have basically unrestricted access to the library?"

"...You did. But we—I, at least—didn't take you for the guy to read anything that might be useful." Julius took the opportunity to tease Zach.

"Rude. Anyway, we should start looking. It's hard enough as it is to see anything with all these trees. It's only going to get worse when the rain starts really coming down." Zach started walking.

"Right. We shouldn't forget which direction the camp is in, either." Dukiel reminded the other two about one of the most important things to keep track of during this field trip.

"Weren't you the one doing that?" Julius looked curiously at Dukiel.

"I mean…Not really. I've been using my skill to have Sentinel watch our surroundings. Didn't you have the compass, Julius?" Dukiel answered hesitantly before growing slightly worried as he questioned Julius.

"No. I've just been following you two."

"And I've followed the two of you…" Slowly, Dukiel and Julius turned to look at Zach. The realization hit them like a stream of cold water.

Since neither of them had been leading the way, it meant Zach had been doing it. And they hadn't seen him or Yanael touch a compass or a map during the entire trip. Though, considering Zach could get lost in his own back pocket, a compass or map wouldn't help.

"Zach…" Since Zach didn't seem to have noticed Dukiel's and Julius' looks, Julius grabbed his attention.

Zach glanced back at his two companions with a curious expression.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where you're going?"

"To the camp that Jarron mentioned, obviously."

"...Do you know where the camp is?"

"Of course, I do."

Zach raised a hand and began pointing it forward. But before he could fully extend his arm, he hesitated. He tilted his head and looked at the trees before glancing around with eyes like slits. He made a couple of full turns with his hand still raised.

"Zach…?"

"Bad news, guys. I think we're lost."

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