"Hi Clyde," she said, twirling her hair with a finger, like a nervous schoolgirl . Her sweet charismatic words seemed to dance in the air . "I just wanted to thank you for everything . And I'm truly sorry for—"

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"It's fine," Clyde interrupted . He didn't want Chika to have a reason to end her murder-free ways . "It's good to see that you're okay . "

That he truly meant . He looked deep into her eyes, searching . Apart of him still felt like utter s.h.i.+t for not having the power to help her at the time . Adventurers took huge risks when facing enemies or simply going out into the night .

Melody probably knew that—her increased stats revealed resolve . He still didn't forget when she tried to kill him, yet they faced the night together . Neither planned to make the same mistakes .

"So how are your school days?" a short boy said to his friend as they pa.s.sed by . Clyde almost grimaced at the unintended reference . He wasn't a murderer, but if any yandere attempted to go stabby-stabby on him, he'd defend himself . Not that he'd want to get into blows Chika . She was that crazy friend who'd make things happen .

He often forgot that the silver-haired girl was rich . Growing up in the lower end of the middle cla.s.s, other people's finances didn't sway close to his mind .

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask," Melody said . "If you don't mind trading numbers with me . "

[You have received Melody's phone number . ]

I swear this system is deciding for me, half a second before I actually respond, Clyde thought as he put away his phone .

"The offer goes both ways," Clyde said . "If you need anything, I'm on your man . "

"Within reason," Chika said with a.s.sertiveness in her voice . She and Melody shared a brief micro-glare .

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"Well, see you tomorrow," Melody said . "I've got to explain to the student council president why I declined some invitations . "

She moved in a flash, engulfing Clyde in a hug . The young man shook his head when he noticed the obvious evil smirk she gave Chika . As if he'd be one of those main characters that missed the juicy cues . Still, it was on her if she wanted to pick a fight with a f.u.c.king yandere . He'd stay out of it .

Clyde chuckled when Melody left, remembering how last week, he simply wanted to avoid the harem trope, if not all of them . He still hated harems, but only a fool wouldn't use this to an advantage . Not that he wanted to think of any of the girls as minions to fight demons—his friends.h.i.+ps went a little too deep for that—but solving his dilemma alone was just next to impossible, whether the system intervened or not .

"Find something funny?" Chika said, jealousy aura flowing .

"Just remembering something stupid," Clyde replied . "Let's go . "

Chika gave him a brief look of suspicion then followed, cheerfulness ringing like the reverberation of a bell . He thought about stopping at Clare's shop but one glance at his companion made him put it off to the next day . He'd finally get started on his path of the mystic . That combined with his new weird-feeling Omen's sphere powers should tickle the gamer inside .

A trading card awaited the duo on Clyde's doorstep . Indignation frisked through the young man's veins . Fine . If he was going to get sucked into this mystical game anyway, he'd get it over and done with .

[You have found an Action card . Item cla.s.s: bizarre . Wizard's Call . ]

[The cards effect's and abilities cannot be revealed to you until the contract is formed . ]

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"What's that?" Chika asked .

"Some kind of trading card," Clyde replied, handing it to her . "I keep finding them . Any idea what game?"

"Let's go inside and examine it . " She gave the card back . He warped it to his inventory .

Clyde opened the door without thinking . Chika entered his apartment first, pulled the young man inside, then closed the door, smirking .

He found himself pinned against the wall before a thought could pa.s.s .

"Don't think you can just take me once and run," she said, yandere eyes seeming to glow . She kissed him before words could flow out of his mouth . Someone giggled, causing her to quickly pull away .

"I was trying to tell you that I had an uninvited guest," Clyde said .

Chika glared .

"I swear if I turn around to see that demon girl, I'll flip . "

"Alice is actually welcomed here," Clyde said then pointed at the white-haired catgirl lounging on his sofa .

"Nya, don't stop on my account," Neko said .

"Clyde," Chika said in a deadly calm voice . "What is she doing in your apartment?"

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"f.u.c.k if I know," Clyde quickly said but the young woman didn't let him pa.s.s .

"Not good enough," she said, voice still deadly .

"Nya, I needed somewhere to sleep . So I snuck into his closet . "

"I think the real question is, how'd you get into my apartment?"

Neko winked .

"That's a secret . "

Clyde frowned .

"Yeah, no . I think I'll get Alice to show me how to ward this place when she gets here . "

Chika sighed .

"What are you, the harem king now? Why do you have so many girls coming to your apartment . " She fixed him with an inescapable stare . That hit Clyde . Still, they had reasons to meet with him . It wasn't like he spent his days thinking with his second head .

"First all of, don't forget we all fought and almost died together," Clyde said, moving past her into the living room . "Second, you know you can call me anytime, Chika . "

She flinched . "I already told you that I was willing to forget that day . "

Clyde almost gave her the welcome to barge over anytime, but quickly thought against it . Close friends or not, after the love nectar cookies, he wouldn't dare push his luck .

He also admitted to himself that Neko's unwanted presence either ruined or saved his day .

"You're right, sorry," she said . "But I still don't like anyone, but me, breaking into your home . " Clyde gave her a tiny skeptical look—she said the, "but me," under her breath . "Why are you still here?"

"Nya, so ungrateful," Neko said, smiling innocently . "I broke the rules set by my clan thousands of years ago to save your lives . " She gave a satisfied smirk at Chika's silence then leapt up . "Anyway, before I go, I have two warnings . One, He who contradicts the stone is on the move . Second, the demon lord of this city is now fully aware of you . By taking out one who is bonded to him, you've essentially called him out . Be watchful of his Middle Eye . "

She gave Clyde a long lick across his face, opened the door before anyone could say anything, and vanished, leaving the young man with uneasy thoughts .

A knock on the open door brought him back to reality . Harumi walked in with her leather bag containing the chessboard and pieces .

"I just saw Neko," she said . "Is everything okay?"

"Oh you know, the usual," Clyde said . "Me being screwed and all . " He stretched and allowed a smile to curl on his face . "It doesn't matter . I don't plan to be stomped on by the demon lord or his Middle Eye . "

He who contradicts the stone is on the move… Clyde nodded . The Viper? Someone actually told him something about the freaking Viper .

Also . . . did he ever actually introduce himself to Melody? Did she a.n.a.lyze him? Clyde wondered .

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