Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Zach glanced at Kami. Kami shrugged. This was on Zach. He couldn't help.

Zach looked at the principal. He was silent for a moment as he thought about how to answer the principal in a way that didn't make the principal do as he wished. Zach hoped the principal wouldn't do anything like kidnap him or force him to accept.

But he knew better.

"Principal…Would you become your successor and accept the position of principal in my position?" Zach could only hope the principal was wise and had a smidge of self-reflection.

"Of course not!" The principal's answer was as immediate as Zach's had been.

"But you are different from me, Zacharia. You would make a great principal, and I have a feeling you would get along with my familiars. I can teach you a bunch of things about the summoning interface." That last part piqued Zach's interest. The principal continued in the same vein,

"Things that are restricted can be shared between master and disciple. If you agree to become my successor, I can tell you things that you would need to level up tens of times to find out, even with familiars like yours enhancing your authority."

The principal's offer was tempting. There were a lot of things Zach wanted to find out. He also knew there were things he didn't even know he wanted to know. By becoming the principal's successor, Zach could skip a mountain of hurdles and troubles to learn a lot.

"I…" Zach considered it. What was there to lose? Wasn't this a ticket to instant success? The position of principal of the Academy for Summoners was one of the most prestigious positions in the Empire not directly related to the Imperial Palace. It was all thanks to the current and only principal in the Academy's history, but that would make it all the more prestigious once he inherited it.

The more the current principal built up his fame and infamy, the greater the prestige of his successor.

"Ahem." Soara cleared her throat.

Zach's mind gained clarity, much to the principal's annoyance. He had been so close to finally getting Zach on the hook.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I must refuse, principal. It is tempting. And I'm sure you're right. If I became your successor, I would get what I want and then some. If I know you as well as I think I do, it won't be that easy, but it will still be too easy. What is it you preach with this Academy, principal? Isn't it that suffering breeds strength?

"I don't want some of the answers, principal. I want all of them. And I will need to get them myself. The fruits of one's labor are sweeter the harsher the labor and whatnot." Zach had expressed his wishes with a confident tone. He was not confident it would be enough to convince the principal.

The principal shot Soara a quick glare before looking at Zach.

"This is exactly why you would make a great principal. You're using my words against me. If you do that to students, they always end up at a loss." The principal sighed.

"No, you're right. I was just being greedy. I can't force you, and the only thing I'd get if I did was a troublesome ball of trouble sticking close to me. No thanks." The principal shook his head and reached for a cup of tea. He took a loud sip as he spun to look out through his window.

'Does that mean I should leave?' Zach wondered. Kami was also looking out through the window and wasn't of much help. Zach was about to stand up and take his leave. He had found out what he needed to find out.

Talking familiars were rare, but he could pretend it was natural, just like how Violina could communicate with her familiars.

"Vist me more often, Zacharia. Even if you aren't my successor and even if you want to suffer all alone, there are benefits to be gained. Come by every now and then. Chat. Eat some of my snacks." The principal didn't turn around, but his attention hadn't left Zach for a second.

"Alright." Zach sighed.

"Don't be so forlorn. I'll at least treat you better than that cowardly brat."

"Cowardly brat?" Zach had no idea who the principal was talking about, but his first thought was Anerias.

"What's his name now again? S something. The guy who trained you during the break, I assume."

"Sio?" Zach asked in disbelief. The old man, Violina's great-grandfather, was the only one who matched that criteria. He didn't fit the principal's description, though. As far as Zach could tell, Sio was as far from a brat as possible. He might have seemed a little cowardly since he refused to get close to the Academy and the principal, but Zach couldn't blame him.

"That's it! I'll make sure you don't lose anything from not training while hanging out with me."

"How did you even know he trained me?" Zach questioned. It would be one thing if he had trained with Sio at the Academy. But they had been at the Systine estate, which was a whole other part of the Empire.

There was no way the principal could sense what was going on that far away. And he was supposed to have been staying at the Academy to keep watch in case the Underworld acted up. He could have taken a day trip. But why would he do that to spy on Zach?

"Oh, I recognized him in the way you move. It's clear he taught you," the principal said as if it was no big deal. To him, it probably wasn't.

Zach, on the other hand, looked at his body in confusion.

After a minute, he sighed and gave up.

"Anyway. It's fine if I tell people about my familiars, right?"

"Yeah, anyone who knows enough about summoning to realize it won't bother you."

"Great. See you some other time then." Zach took his leave. He was exhausted after dealing with the principal.

Kami glanced at the door after it closed behind Zach.

"Principal, isn't there one person who would bother Zach?"

"Who? Oh, you mean the other person in the Academy's history who is better at summoning than you?"

"...Yes."

"It would take a lot for them to return. Zach doesn't have to worry until after graduation."