Naomi didn't answer her phone . Clyde made a mental note to try again later, as he simply didn't know where she lived . Harumi contacted friends about her home whereabouts and was currently waiting for replies .

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As Clyde and his party walked through the streets, he made up his mind . If being the Stone meant something greater then he'd harden his heart . And for once, he needed to go out and have some fun . First step to that: don't attract the crazy . Second step: take Alice on a date . He planned this one for a while—nothing could possibly get in his way . Not even the cliché, girls spying on their date, right?

"We've got to do something about Maki," he told the others . "I plan to buy the house today and get moved in asap . How will we ever sleep if she's…around?"

The others said nothing . What was there to say? There was only one place Clyde knew she'd have to go .

[Quest: Send Maki to either an asylum or the futas . This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused, desu . You must make the arrest, no bias for you . As the Stone, it is your duty to carry out a form of justice before things get worse . The Stone has deity authority for matters like this . You have 3 days to make the arrest or penalties will be dealt . Maki will begin to murder after the 3-day time limit . The Ashen City Asylum, ran by wizards and sorceresses can recover and repair Maki's mind; however, she will be required to remain there for five years due to the crimes committed . At any time, you are allowed to spend free points to increase her time . As a bonus, her Ki will remain disabled forever, unless you spend free points to re-enable it . Judging by the thought that just occurred, you will probably not . Your choice . ]

Clyde took it all in with a stride . Instead of b.i.t.c.hing about gaining the police's responsibilities, he'd get this over with, then oust Maki's family out of any leaders.h.i.+p role, because f.u.c.k 'em .

"Tear can't make it," Alice said, "not unless it's an emergency . I wonder what she, Melody and Natalia are up to . "

"They've been showering you with praises behind your back nearly nonstop ever since you killed s.h.i.+thead-fall," Yuki said then covered her mouth in feigned innocence . "Woops, wasn't supposed to say anything . " Clyde gave her a suspicious look . She returned it with mischievous twinkles in her eyes . It reminded him that deposing Ashfall and saving the abused servants was more than just worth it .

Eventually, Harumi led them to a real estate agent recommended by her sister, Liru . Anzu's Office .

They walked in on dark-haired twelve-year-old girl singing and dancing to an anime theme song . And not just any anime song, but a cat-heavy, cringeworthy cutesy mess in Clyde's opinion .

"Nynynya, I love yummy food . Nynyan-nya, it's so good . "

"Uhm," Harumi said .

The kid nearly fell on her face as she scrambled to turn off the music . It took her three tries . Flus.h.i.+ng, she gave a short j.a.panese-style bow .

"I'm Anzu, how can I he—help you?"

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Clyde glared at Harumi .

"A kid…is running this?"

"Hey, I'm twenty-three you know," Anzu said, giving him a loli-pout . Clyde looked at her in disbelief .

"Okay, first of all, that's—"

"Clyde, we're short on time," Alice interrupted . "House, remember?" She was holding his arm . A gentle caress pa.s.sed the intended message .

"Fine," he said . "Kid—I mean, Anzu . I'm here to talk house-shopping . No need to worry about loans and what not, I'm ready to buy in cash . "

Anzu's eyes widened .

"Seriously?" she hopped on the chair . "Houses aren't cheap, you know . If you're planning to just buy one outright then you must be loaded . " Her eyes seemed to s.h.i.+ne with stars, then she was in front of Clyde . She…attempted to speak in the poorest seductive voice Clyde had ever heard in his life . "Hey handsome, if you have room for one more in your harem—"

"If you don't get behind that computer to process my order, I'll switch you," Clyde said . Anzu danced away, laughing .

"Sorry, had to try . "

"We're in a hurry, Anzu," Harumi said .

"Okay, okay . " The loli turned on her computer, hammering at keyboard keys while humming the cat song .

"His information is in the national homeowner's profile database," Alice said .

Clyde knew this of course—there was no way he could simply go about buying a house without Tear paving the way for him . Chika offered to flex her connections at first, but family issues got in the way . He made a mental note to buy the succubus something for being such a big help . He'd find some way to relieve Chika of her stress when he got the chance .

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[You do know that Tear's a succubus and there's only one gift that could make her happy, desu]

Get out of here, System, Clyde thought, holding back laughter . It had an odd sense of humor that seemed to come out of nowhere at times .

[Quest: Give Tear the Gift that she wants . Reward: relations.h.i.+p increase with Tear and a possible summon . This quest is mandatory and cannot be refused . This is a good opportunity to acquire some Ki, desu . ]

Clyde's mouth went dry . Did the system just… No . He'd try for a legitimate gift, something tangible to show his appreciation . Alice only wanted sweets, which he secretly related to .

[Let it be known that the Gift is legitimate and is honorable among succubae . You must not be closed-minded . Do not dismiss the customs of other species and races . ]

Clyde closed his thoughts, dismissing the matter . He knew the system was right and wouldn't let skip around the matter . Just…approaching Tear was going to be quite the adrenaline rush .

Anzu finally found his file . She hopped out of the chair, cheering .

"You want the biggest one, right? We have a few newly built specimens right on the outskirts of the town . Nice neighborhood . Very popular with the women for some reason . "

Clyde nodded, ready to get this selection over with . Anzu handed them the key .

"Take a look and tell me what you think . It has many bedrooms, a large kitchen, a pool, yadda, yadda, rich people stuff . You're loaded, so I'm reserving the best house . You could always go for a mansion or castle—"

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"That's fine," Clyde said . "We'll be back in an hour or so . "

Anzu sighed .

"I wish I could go, but I have to finish your paperwork and produce the deed . Be ready to pay, if you can . If not," she placed hands on her tiny hips . "I cried for only ten minutes the last time a deal fell through . "

The loli looked rather pleased with herself . Clyde forced himself not to give the girl a blank stare . Alice snorted . Yuki stifled a giggle .

Streets of Lot City… .

Tyrone muttered a string of curses that didn't end until two blocks later . His friends thought the same—every day of not finding this legendary person brought them closer to the inevitable . Canceled mangas, Ming's b.i.t.c.hing, and no accomplishments .

So, when he suddenly felt an enormous flux of odd tingling sensations, he knew that Lady Luck hadn't given up on him after all . Tyrone followed the revealed path inside his head until at last, he spotted them .

A guy who looked no older than him, surrounded by some of the s.e.xiest women he'd ever seen in his life . Was the legendary figure a playboy? Ming surely wouldn't be happy about that, supposedly being destined to marry him and all . They'd get b.i.t.c.hed at for the millionth time .

That pink-haired girl, he knew her . Harumi . She was a beauty with melons . The way she looked at the figure said a lot . Lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d . How could one get so lucky? What was he, the main character of some manga?

He noticed the jealousy snarls of his friends and straightened himself . Tyrone was a little envious, but he wasn't single like the others . He and Kazumi only recently started dating, but every moment of his life with the unpredictable girl ended up perfect somehow .

Still, the young man decided to challenge the legendary figure to a duel . A win could end up embarra.s.sing him a bit .

He led his friends to a secluded path and around a corner until they cut off the figure and his girls .

"You're someone important," he said to the man . "And I challenge you to a Nonreal game . "

"Nope, not important at all," he said . "And we don't have any time for this . "

"Wait! You can't ignore this, I know you have the legendary forsaken deck, Stone Tokken . "

The man seemed to react, just a tiny bit to the name . That was all Tyrone needed . His group were champions at the game, led by Ming . There was no way he'd lose to some newbie, whether claiming to be some bulls.h.i.+t figure or not . "An admirer wants to meet you with some important message, something about Stone and whatnot . She kind of speaks nonsense pertaining to omens and spheres, but you'll need to meet her yourself . But no sooner than after this duel . "

The man gave off another reaction, but the weird thing was, so did his companions . Just subtle, hints that told a lot . They knew about Ming's omens and whatnot .

"What do you think, Alice?" he said .

"Tyrone, we should skip all of the pretenses and just talk to this Ming," Harumi said, her voice warming the young man's heart . Tyrone could see why his girlfriend loved being around her .

"No can do, Harumi," he said . "It's an order . " He added quietly, "Can't have my favorite manga getting the boot . I need to make sure this guy is the real deal . She told me the signs . "

The incredibly pretty blonde girl next to him spoke .

"Go ahead, duel him, but don't take too long . Anzu won't wait forever, my Clyde . "

So his name was Clyde… He'd crush this newbie into the dirt, embarra.s.s him in front of the girls, then reveal it all to Ming . Tyrone was a part of a team of undefeated champions . At least in this region . With the power of his Monster Girl deck, he'd continue to build up the legacy .

Forbidden spellcasters . As if that deck really existed .

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