On his way to go bug Clyde, Seth whistled as he walked down the hall . Voices speaking lowly caught his attention . The only two people that exited the main room was the leader and that Ming chick . The voice that spoke sure as s.h.i.+t sounded nothing like the pretty dark-haired girl .

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"Mmmm, you smell great and I think a little wild s.e.x is down my alley," said the newcomer . "I think I'll plug ya with my stinger? How does that sound?"

That was all the confirmation the young man needed . He burst through the door and immediately unleashed his skill at the mutant girl that wasn't Ming .

[Your party has entered combat!]

[Seth activated Honing Fire Wave . ]

The blast of fire smashed and engulfed the hornet, exploiting its weakness . Ming danced away completely unharmed, eyes glaring at the purple flames of the defeated enemy .

[Battle completed . Victory! Reward: 1000 EXP and $1000 . ]

"Are you okay?" Seth said .

"Y—yes and thank you," Ming said .

"It's no problem," Seth said . "Can't have our prophet going through that right after you just saved Clyde's life . "

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Ming nodded then held out a hand .

"You're Seth, right?"

"The one and only, dudette," Seth said, accepting the handshake . "Best man on the team . " He put his fist to chest . "Now if we can just get Leader-dude to acknowledge it then I'm in . "

"Leader-dude?" Ming laughed .

Seth shrugged .

"Someone needs to give him the nickname . I tried to convince Alice, but she kicked me in the s.h.i.+n . "

Ming laughed harder .

As the two walked down the hall, talking and Seth…just being Seth, Natalia smiled . Opportunity at last .

"Hmm…if I can get those two together, I'll have one less nuisance to deal with," she said . "Then it'd be me cuddling into his arms, regardless of form . " She giggled to herself . "Plan Seth X Ming, commence . "

"Let me in on that . "

Natalia spun to see Kitome strolling toward her .

"No way," Natalia said . "You're not even in this, so why do you care?"

"In what?"

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"The harem—oh never mind, you're a dense dummy-head anyway," Natalia said, stuck her tongue out then bolted as the angry magical girl chased her . "Haruuuummiiiii h.e.l.lppp . She's bullying me . "

"Psst . "

Clyde snapped awake . The attendant giggled… . no, that was Harumi . She poked his cheek .

"Your Daiginjo sake, cute snorer, sir," she said in a butler-like manner . He slightly groaned .

"I don't snore," he protested .

"Maybe not normally, but you sure were just now . " Harumi chuckled . She poured him a small cup of sake then some for herself . A fruity, maybe nutty flavor tickled his tongue as the slightly chilled drink went down . He wasn't a sake expert nor a drunk, but that . . . tasted quite good .

Suddenly, there was a thumping sound behind the duo . He turned to see…Ruri, bowing face to the floor . In her normal form .

"I'm sorry!" she cried .

"It's cool, you're—"

"No! There is no excuse," she said . "I'm supposed to be the princess, the example . Yet . " She sniffled as tears fell from her face . "I can't control the urges . What Alice and Harumi did only serves as a temporary stop-gap, but sooner or later…"

Harumi pulled Ruri into a hug, allowing her to cry . Clyde used that opportunity to get out of the spring, dry off, and put his robe on .

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"I said it's fine," Clyde said . "No harm was done . " He almost moved in to pet her, but halted . His hand somehow landed on Harumi's head .

[Talent, main character stuff: head pat . ]

Clyde almost missed the glimpse, but for a second there, Harumi looked as if she stuck her tongue out in a similar fas.h.i.+on as h.e.l.lhound form Ruri . Imagination for sure . She did seem to sag when he removed his hand, as if disappointed .

"Not good enough," Ruri said, wiggling out of Harumi's embrace . Clyde secretly wished he was there . "Please name your penance . "

"Let's go talk things over with Yusuke," Clyde said . Her eyes widened then narrowed .

"I swear all men are the same," she snapped . "They act as if they know everything . " She walked up to Clyde, glaring up at him in defiance . "I told you that I've imprinted—when I first laid eyes on you . I tried and failed to hide it . Besides, Yusuke doesn't see me as anything beyond a friend . Having s.e.x with that reaperess . "

"So you had feelings for him right?" Clyde continued . "Imprinting not meaning s.h.i.+t . Just re-imprint . " He held up a hand to forestall her . "I don't care how it works . We're going to see him . "

She tried to protest, but Clyde talked right over her as he dressed . "I don't want to hear excuses . This will be good for you, square out of your relations.h.i.+p problems . Just talk with him . He clearly likes you . "

As they reached the end of the hall, Ruri grabbed his arm .

"You will not push me away," she said .

"No idea what you're talking about," Clyde lied . The h.e.l.lhound tried to speak, but the young man once again continued right over her . "Everyone listen up . I'm about to take Ruri to go make-up with Yusuke . Harumi and Toru will be coming with me . The rest of you continue as is . Go knab Sazuki and get her into the training with Kiko . Melody, you and…" he paused and noticed Seth and Ming laughing . Natalia served them sake . She used her magic to make sure they were sitting as close as possible . "Never mind . Seth, you will be in charge of catching Ming up . In fact, the protection of Ming is your sole responsibility . "

Ming looked as if she wanted to protest, but Natalia didn't give her the chance .

"That's a great idea," she said . "As expected of our team lead, seeing potential in all of us . Seth would make a great teacher and knight in s.h.i.+ning armor for our little prophet . " Clyde nodded . "And I'm coming along too . I'm your right hand, remember?"

"But—"

"No buts," Natalia interrupted . "You can't just give a girl a super staff and then not utilize her . I'm your right hand and personal mage . And it is my duty to protect the leader at all times . If he goes down, this Viper or whatever wins . Plus, our team will inevitably fall apart without him . "

"Now listen here," Alice tried to protest, but the loli just spoke right over her .

"Don't try to be all life mate this, life mate that, Lady Alice," she said . "My protection of him keeps you out of danger . You're the head of House Hades—and soon, you'll have to tend to your duties . All of the servants await your return . You can't just throw it onto Tear and Melody . "

Silence . The loli climbed onto Clyde's shoulders . "Lady Alice, your safety is very important to me . Very . So, let me take the bullet for the both of you . "

"Not that any bullet could pierce my s.h.i.+elds," she added smugly .

Something sounded devious in that tone, but the young man couldn't argue . The loli had a point . That didn't mean he had to like it .

"Do you really have to get on my back every time?" Clyde said .

"Of course, pervy nii . "

"You watch a lot of anime for someone making a bold claim at being my right hand," Clyde said . Natalia hugged his neck .

"To Yusuke's—away!"

Ruri once again tried to protest, eyes burning of indignation, but Clyde ignored her . Her h.e.l.lhound companions looked confused, but said nothing . Chika was seated between two, sipping a small cup of sake . She smiled warmly at Clyde .

He selected the group he wanted to make the trip then Jumped .

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