Combat Maid Harem

Lawrend laid another large piece of paper on top of the current one and started drawing shapes on it. He was entirely focused on it.

…

Lawrend and Ember didn't sleep that night. Ember focused on improving her magic, and Lawrend focused on simplifying his magical formation. He was about halfway done.

"Alright. Let's go."

And so, Lawrend and Ember repeated the same tasks. Eating in the same restaurant, teaching the army, and finishing his new magical formation.

…

"Done. This is now practical."

Lawrend stood up and looked down at the magical formation on the large piece of paper. There was only one-fourth of the number of shapes drawn on it. Not only did he simplify it, but it was also stronger.

'The next step is to turn this into an army formation,' Lawrend thought.

He didn't expect to be able to create one so soon. It was all thanks to the magical formation blueprints that Ember gave him. He was able to cross-reference it with the ones inside the crystal ball.

"That's… amazing, Master."

Valentina appeared beside him and stared at the blueprint in amazement. She kneeled down and followed the lines with her fingers.

"Incredible. Some of these shapes serve multiple purposes. It's so simplified."

She was amazed.

"It's easy with my powerful soul."

"Indeed. I could feel dread inside me when I stood beside you. Your soul could crush mine with a single thought," Valentina said as she looked up at him from her current position.

Lawrend's soul had all of the different elements. It wasn't strange for him to be much more powerful than Valentina. Mind you, her soul was already at the Arch Mage level.

A True Mage vs. an Arch Mage should've been impossible, but it was possible because his soul contained more mana than her.

"You helped me reach this stage. It wouldn't have happened without you exploring this idea," Lawrend said.

He was naturally happy from her praise. He still slightly regretted it because he missed one year of experience with his maids. Her praise reassured him that it was the correct choice he made.

"Hehe. Let's not flatter each other, Master. Also, when are you doing it with me?" Valentina asked and stood up.

She posed her body and made herself look sexy and enticing in front of him. She stretched her legs out and lifted her chin up before pulling her lips down with a finger.

She looked like a temptress ghost.

"No. It's already morning. Since you have free time, go check on the Blumin Empire's envoy. I'm sure you can easily hide your presence," Lawrend replied without interest.

He knew when to be lecherous. Now wasn't the correct time. He needed to win against the Blumin Empire with absolute victory. A single mistake could allow the empire to strike on their weakness.

"Hmph. Your will is stronger than before, Master," Valentina said before she dissipated into smoke.

If it was the Lawrend before, he would have been tempted by her sexy body. Alas, his soul was significantly stronger than before. His intelligence, will, memory, etc., were improved.

Lawrend turned to Ember.

"Let's go."

And so, Lawrend and Ember entered the same restaurant again.

"There are rumors that the king is in the city."

"Really?"

"I wonder what the king looks like. He must have his reasons to be keeping his presence unknown."

The nobles in the restaurant chatted with each other. Their conversation topic was the Combat Maid Harem King.

He was like a legend to them. They heard about his past exploits and were full of admiration. Talented and going against the empire with his maids… His bravery was something they could only look up to.

Lawrend sat at the table with Ember in front of him. The waitress didn't need his words to know what he wanted to order.

Ember fed him earnestly. He was like her child but manlier and her master. She found it endearing to be feeding him like this.

As the nobles were chatting amongst them, one of them pointed at Lawrend.

"Hey, don't you think the Combat Maid King would do something like this?"

"No way. This guy and his maid had been eating here for more than a week now. I would've known if he was the king."

The nobles clamored among each other. Some of them were already used to Lawrend's presence in this restaurant. They couldn't imagine him being the king.

"Not to mention. Why would the king be here? That's just baseless rumors," one of them argued.

"True."

Lawrend ignored the nobles and leisurely ate while Ember fed him. He was the embodiment of luxury at the moment.

Lawrend finished after half an hour and left with Ember.

…

The whole day passed, and Lawrend returned to their inn. Valentina appeared in front of him like a ghost.

"Master, the empire's envoy knows that the army is here, including you," Valentina said grimly.

"Huh… Not unexpected. We have 10,000 High Mages and up. It would be hard to hide it."

Lawrend nodded his head at her in acknowledgment. If these mages were pre-trained, they might've been able to attack immediately without giving them the chance to attack.

"What else?"

"They have gathered an army in the Sunset City. As for the details, I don't know."

The Blumin Empire's envoy that arrived in the city didn't talk much when she tailed behind him. She could only gather some basic information.

"That's good enough. That's where the scouting party comes in."

Lawrend was satisfied with her report. He understood that the envoy would be tight-lipped about their forces.

"Thank you, Master."

Valentina respectfully bowed to him.

"Because of your service, let's do it tonight," Lawrend said and smiled at her.

Valentina beautifully smiled when she heard those words. It made all of it worth it, in her opinion.

"Ember, prepare a bath for me," Lawrend said.

"Yes, Master," Ember replied and left.

She felt weird when she heard that he and Valentina would do it. She couldn't help but feel curious as to how a human and a ghost would do it.