Combat Maid Harem

"Aleshia, good morning," Lawrend said as he rubbed her face with his palm.

"Good morning, Master," Aleshia replied before yawning in front of him.

They did their usual routine early in the morning. Eating breakfast, taking a bath, and leaving for the academy.

Thus, Lawrend was left in their room alone as he sat on his bed cross-legged. His eyes were also closed because he was looking inside his body.

'Mana exists because the world allows it to… The red lightning mana before is from the Demon World. Doesn't that mean that mana in that world is fundamentally different to the one in here?' Lawrend asked himself in thought.

The Red Lightning Mana felt even more powerful and destructive than the Purple Lightning Mana. Was that because it was from another world? Or was it because the Demon World allows destructive mana to exist?

Lawrend was lost in thought. No matter what he thought, he wouldn't realize that a disaster was just around the corner.

…

A beautiful woman with blonde hair walked along the mud road leading to the Capital City of the Undrasil Kingdom. She had a small pair of white wings behind her back that slowly turned transparent and invisible.

"Target is in this city," the woman said coldly.

She had sharp eyes and cherry red lips. Her every move exudes a divine grace that no mortal could ever replicate.

She had a slender figure that was wrapped with a white satin cloth. Her hair was done in a twin tail that made her a cold but cute beauty.

…

Night came and Lawrend rested his arms against the railing of his balcony. He finally got a breakthrough after thinking non-stop.

Mana was the essence of everything around him. The world was built using that mana as its core which was also why the sky in the Demon World was red. At least, according to Aezel, the sky over there was colored red.

It should also be the reason why her lightning mana was colored red. What the world was, what the mana was. It's not interchangeable.

"I now know what mana is. But I still don't know how to change the pathways of my mana. I'm sure it would greatly benefit me if I'm able to pull it off," Lawrend said out loud.

"Lawrend, I talked with Eleanor. We're ready," Daisy said.

"Ready for what?" Lawrend replied in confusion.

"We're ready to merge together. But before that, you have to find the soul shard in the Undrasil Monster Forest. It should be the last one," Daisy replied.

"I'm sorry, but I'm too busy for that," Lawrend replied with a shake of his head.

"In exchange, we will help you change your mana pathway. I know the way," Eleanor replied.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Lawrend asked her with a frown.

"I thought of it just recently," Eleanor answered.

"How would you even be sure that that would be effective? What if it doesn't work? I still have to take the throne. I'm strengthening myself to the best of my ability because I want the citizens to truly recognize me as their new king," Lawrend replied skeptically.

He wasn't stupid to assume that her words could be trusted. Yeah, sure, he owed her one when she didn't probe further when she heard him talk about his past life. But that doesn't mean that he would blindly listen to what she says.

"It will work, Master. Even though you might not think much of what I said before. You shan't forget that I want to become your maid," Eleanor replied.

"Alright. Since you want to be my maid too, tell me first. If it works, then I'll help you gather your last soul shard after I become king," Lawrend replied.

What he didn't tell her was that he already planned to help her either way. He was just using his opportunity to get stronger faster.

"...Can we enter into a soul contract?" Eleanor replied.

"Soul contract? Why not just a blood contract? Oh, wait. You don't have a body."

"You're doing it on purpose aren't you!?" Eleanor replied in anger.

She hated to be reminded that she was only a ghost right now. She was very regretful that she doesn't have a body right now.

"Relax, Eleanor. I'm sure he didn't mean it," Daisy said.

"Hmph."

Eleanor harrumphed in displeasure. She doesn't like it that Daisy was siding with him.

"A soul contract is a very tight contract. It isn't like the blood contract that could be easily broken with a kiss or a powerful enough mana. To break a soul contract, you would need the expressed permission of both parties," Eleanor explained.

"What are the penalties?" Lawrend asked.

"You would have all of your memories erased. The other party would have your soul for themselves," Eleanor replied.

"*Gulp*" Lawrend made an audible gulp.

That's a really harsh penalty. It doesn't only mean losing your identity. What's worse was that the opposite party can do whatever they wanted with your soul.

Just thinking about it gave Lawrend goosebumps. It breeds existential crisis into one's mind.

"Do you trust my words now?" Eleanor asked.

"What are the terms?" Lawrend asked.

"First, you would not be able to go against your words. You will help us retrieve our last soul shard.

Second, you have to do your best to try and make my solution work. If it doesn't work, I will take the blame and you don't have to do what you said," Eleanor replied.

"That's all?" Lawrend asked her as he blinked his eyes at her.

"What more do you want?" Eleanor asked.

"Third, you will not kill me after all of this. I don't know if you would want to silence me," Lawrend replied.

"That's not a problem," Eleanor replied.

"How do we do it?" Lawrend asked.

"Let's enter inside your body," Eleanor replied.

Lawrend closed his eyes and looked inside his body. Eleanor's soul was already floating inside him.

"Appear in your soul form in front of me," Eleanor said.