Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Zach looked at the others enjoying themselves in the vault. At some point, it turned into a treasure fight with them throwing priceless artifacts at each other. He was happy to see his familiars relax and get along with his sister. He was also happy to see that Visla wasn't out of place. It had started when Lexi discarded a treasure she didn't like and accidentally tossed it at Soara.

"You still haven't found anything you like?" Ra asked from beside him.

Zach shook his head.

"My barriers are the best defense there is, and I can't use any weapons. My world essence energy makes most accessories useless, not to mention that most rings will break as soon as I fight someone since I use my fists."

"It's a shame any clothes have long turned to dust," Ra said with a sigh. Zach still hadn't found any proper replacements since his fight with the Child that killed Nora. He was still wearing rags mostly held together by his barriers.

Right then, a black rubbery ball that could easily fit in Zach's hand rolled over and stopped at his feet. It was one of the things thrown by the maniacs releasing some pent up stress inside the vault.

Zach bent down to pick it up and throw it at Lexi, but when he gathered some strength in his pulled-back arm, the ball exploded into a stretchy curtain of black that enveloped Zach before he could react. He started using his world essence energy to blow it away.

"Don't." Ra stopped him. She could tell it wasn't a threat to him. Zach listened.

After a few seconds, a black bodysuit covered him from his wrists to his ankles and the top of his neck. His old clothes were gone, swallowed by the black bodysuit. Zach looked at himself. He looked at Ra.

"Uh…"

Ra nodded.

"I never thought I would see one of these again."

"One of these?" Zach asked for clarification. It wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it was very comfortable. But he was a little concerned about a black something suddenly covering almost his entire body.

"A Taio," she said, taking a closer look. By now, the others had stopped their fighting and come to look at the black-clad Zach.

Ra continued without anyone needing to say anything. Their inquisitive gazes were enough. If they hadn't been, Yanael's sword would encourage Ra to explain.

"They are…something between a living being and an object. They are living objects but without clear sentience. As far as I know, they kind of live on instinct? I don't remember all the details, but they choose hosts like this and become their clothes."

Zach and the others narrowed their eyes.

"When you say host…?"

"They live in symbiosis with their host. It's kind of like trees and some fungi. It's nothing big. If I remember correctly, you give them sweat and maybe a little energy, and they give you clothes. I'm pretty sure they can also consume and replicate any clothing-like item you give them. As in, give them a bunch of armor, and they will become excellent defensive tools."

To Zach, it sounded like Ra had just told him he had a mushroom covering his body, but he moved past that.

"So, am I stuck like this until I give it something?" He asked. He wasn't very interested in the defensive aspects, but not having to change clothes and having something to take care of his sweat sounded pretty sweet.

As if in response to his words, the Taio changed into the clothes he was the most familiar and comfortable with. It transformed into Zach's Academy uniform. Zach's eyes widened in surprise.

"...I guess that's what it means for it to live in symbiosis with me," he said. He thought about the fact that the Taio had read his mind and memories or something along the lines of that. It was a little scary.

But it wasn't the first time something like that happened. It wasn't too big of a deal.

"Do anything to harm me and you're a goner," he simply said to the Taio. It felt like it nodded. He wasn't sure how that was possible, but he would take it. He also wasn't sure about wearing an Academy uniform after he had already graduated, so he thought of other clothes.

After a couple of seconds, he was wearing a simpler outfit more suitable for fighting a mythical monster that was once equal enough to a god for him to have children with it.

Zach felt a little ridiculous just thinking about how far he had come in less than six years.

But then again, he summoned an Angel as his first familiar, and already had someone similar to a god and someone like a god of magic among his familiars. Fighting a monster on that level wasn't strange.

A thought suddenly struck Zach as he was thinking about whether it was right to call Mandra, an Archon, a god of magic. He looked at Soara.

"Hey, what's the difference between a deity and a god, by the way?" He asked.

The others were still waiting to hear his thoughts on the Taio, so they were more than a little taken aback by the sudden question. But it was an interesting question, and it didn't seem like the Taio was that big of a deal.

It was like a set of magical clothes. Compared to the technical difference between legendary beings like deities and gods, it wasn't very interesting.

The others also turned to look at Soara. She was the only one with any relation to either, so she was the only one who could answer that question. Not even Ra knew the answer.

However, there was a problem.

Soara looked a little awkward, and she raised her hands uncertainly.

"I apologize, Master, but I'm not sure," She said with a hint of regret since she couldn't answer Zach's question.

"I know in the depths of my heart that I am a 'deity' but not why I am not a god," She explained.

"Well, I'm sure it's not that big of a difference." Zach turned to Mandra and Ra.

"You two got any ideas?" They shook their heads.

Finally, Zach looked at Lexi. He had something else to ask her.