Combat Maid Harem

"Duck?" Nuon repeated in confusion.

A dark shadow glided across the skies before swooping down towards Nuon who was the most eye-catching target.

"Not in my watch. +Blazing Swathe+" A man\'s voice shouted from afar.

A large swathe of flames appeared out of nowhere. It lit up the whole forest like it was daytime.

The dark shadow revealed itself within the flames. It was a Night Eagle. It catches its prey at night similar to an owl but with greater ferocity.

The Night Eagle dodged to the right and crashed into a tree.

Meanwhile, at Lawrend and Amene.

"Amene, thank you," Lawrend stared into her eyes in gratitude.

She was under him while he supported himself with his hands above her, and she stared at him in a daze.

"Y-Your welcome!"

Amene regained focus, and her eyes swam around in panic. Lawrend was so close to her that it felt uncomfortably intimate for her.

Lawrend smiled at her before he moved to the side and crouched.

"What\'s going on?"

Lawrend looked up at the flames in amazement. He could tell that it was made up of magic, a very strong one.

"Ahh!" Nuon screamed and rolled on the ground.

He dodged a stray bundle of flames hastily.

"Who is it?" Lawrend looked around and asked.

The flames had already started burning the surrounding trees. Huge clouds of smoke rose into the sky, and the bright flames lit up their surroundings.

"..."

It was silent. There was no response to Lawrend\'s question.

"Why are you helping us?" Lawrend shouted as he asked.

"..."

Still no response. Lawrend gave up and turned his attention back to his group.

Nuon was slightly far away from them. He had small wounds and bruises on his skin from suddenly rolling on the ground.

"Nuon, Amene, let\'s go. We don\'t have time. If we stay any longer, we will be cooked alive," Lawrend said to the two of them.

"Yes, Lawrend."

Nuon nodded his head solemnly.

"Yes."

Amene nodded her head worriedly.

"Follow me," Lawrend beckoned them with his hands.

He led the way heading towards the direction of the Undrasil Tail Town.

VOOOOUUUEEEE

Suddenly, a loud low-hum sounded behind them.

The flames were sucked to someplace in the center before suddenly dying out.

Lawrend\'s group turned their heads back and saw the weird phenomena with gaping mouths.

"We should get out of here. Our rescuer doesn\'t seem to want to reveal himself to us," Lawrend said to them.

"Lawrend, didn\'t the voice sound familiar to you?" Nuon asked Lawrend with doubt on his face.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Lawrend asked while he continued to lead the way while Nuon and Amene followed behind him.

"I can\'t remember, but the voice sounded fake to me," Nuon replied.

"Really?"

Lawrend looked behind at Nuon with wide eyes.

"Give me some time. I\'ll try to figure it out," Nuon said to him.

"Amene, what was that bird?" Lawrend asked her.

It was capable of attacking them silently. Instead, it opted to screech above them first which Amene quickly realized to be a threat.

"It\'s a Night Eagle. It uses its screech to confuse its target. Before you know it, it would gash the back of your neck with its sharp talons," Amend explained to Lawrend.

"How strong was it?" Lawrend asked her.

"Army Sword-level," Amene replied.

"We got really lucky especially you, Nuon. If that unknown mage didn\'t intercept the Night Eagle, you would most likely be dead by now," Lawrend said to him solemnly.

"I almost died…" Nuon murmured

Only after hearing Amene\'s words did he realize how close he was to his death earlier.

"We should go to a more secluded area," Lawrend said to them.

He was worried that the Night Eagle would follow them and finish its job.

"Yes. That\'s the correct decision," Amene nodded her head in approval.

The three of them found an area with dense foliage. It would be hard for another Night Eagle to spot them.

They made another set of three shelters before they went to sleep. Lawrend was left as the lookout this time.

He rested his back against a boulder in relaxation. He thought about the things that happened to him on this journey.

How he had to deal with a bad team captain, how he had to prove himself, how he met Daisy and Jasmine, how he met Grape, how he killed Logan, and how he met Amene.

It had been a long journey. Lawrend could confidently say that he was satisfied with everything that he did.

"What are you thinking?" Daisy\'s voice suddenly asked him.

"Nothing. Just reflecting on some things," Lawrend replied to her casually.

"Oh? I bet you\'re thinking of doing that catgirl, right?" Daisy asked Lawrend in a teasing voice.

"Just when my mind was clear, you had to paint it black. I seriously doubt that you are a part of that beautiful lady," Lawrend replied to her in exasperation.

Lawrend had the impression that that girl is very pure and graceful. Daisy, who was supposedly a Soul Shard of her, had none of those characteristics.

"Jasmine, why aren\'t you saying anything?" Lawrend couldn\'t help but ask.

It had only been Daisy who was talking to him. Usually, she would also speak together with Daisy.

"She can\'t talk to you right now," Daisy said to him.

"Huh? Why?" Lawrend asked in confusion.

"She thinks you\'re dirty for doing it with the catgirl that way," Daisy replied.

"Really? If that\'s the case, you should learn from her innocence," Lawrend said to her mockingly.

"Uhh… Lawrend?" Amene suddenly asked from behind Lawrend.

"Ahh!" Lawrend screamed in surprise and turned around to see Amene staring at him weirdly.

"Who are you talking to?" Amene asked.

\'Crap. She definitely thinks that I\'m crazy,\' Lawrend thought to himself in a grimace.

"I\'m talking to a ghost," Lawrend said to her with a forced smile on his face.