Clyde watched the redhead carefully as she sat in silence, engulfed by their gazes . And Chika's glare . And Selkie's glare .

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"Okay, this isn't going to work," Clyde said, "we're not going to achieve anything by giving her the hornet stare . " He looked at the clock . "I've got two more errands . Melody, could you join me please . Just a talk . And no one's forcing you to do anything . "

Melody's eyes brightened .

"Sure," she said, standing . She muttered, "I'll take anything over being near that one . "

Clyde knew she meant Chika and held down a laugh .

"You can't be serious, Clyde," Chika said, but he gave her a hard stare . For some reason, there was a look of disappointment in Dark's eyes when they briefly met with Melody's gaze . Maybe even disgust… He knew her? But the way he and Selkie reacted to trickster demons at the café, something s.h.i.+tty must've happened to them . As if answering his thoughts, Selkie spoke .

"I agree with silver hair," Selkie said . "You should not be alone with her . "

Melody glared in defiance .

"Do not speak as if I mean him any harm . "

"You did before," Harumi barked . "What's different now? Clyde, I'm with them . Don't put yourself at her disposal . "

So much for having any faith in him . Clyde had a summon at his disposal . And if Melody made any threatening move toward him, the system would warn the young man then halve her defenses . He also had his new mystic abilities which he'd show off that night .

"Just trust me," he said . "And I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself . Remember Sunday night?"

Everyone but Selkie frowned . Melody's face flushed, probably remembering the act, gauging in some kind of s.e.xual fantasy or illusion of it, then fleeing away with crocodile tears . Unless the stinger of that honeybee took her by surprise—the young man pushed away those thoughts . He needed to get to the bottom of this situation right now . "Let's go . "

Selkie stood and offered a hand to Clyde .

"The chuuni and I will be going to the hotel to retrieve our things . It's been a pleasure to meet you . " Clyde accepted her handshake . She suddenly pulled him in to whisper . "And if we cross paths ago, let's find a hotel or something . I'll show how ent.i.ty women handle the bedroom . "

Clyde's mouth hung agape . Selkie winked .

"Let's go Charly . And Clyde, if you ever need to chat, just text Dark . His number will be in your phone . "

"I don't—"

Selkie and Dark vanished before the chuuni's protest could leave his tongue .

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What Clyde would give to take Selkie right now . He replaced his current expression with a neutral one at the glare of the surrounding women .

"I trust you two to lock the door when you leave, if you do," Clyde said . "Just call or text if you need anything . Otherwise, same spot tonight at eight if you're not here when I return . "

Clyde strolled outside, followed by the redhead .

[Your relations.h.i.+p with Melody changed from Absolute Endearment to Friend closer level 1 and Absolute Endearment . ]

How? Clyde raged in his mind . How? Why? Oh, who was he to question anime at this point .

"Thanks for sticking up for me," Melody said softly . "I've never had anyone actually do that…or anything for me . "

Clyde shrugged .

"What about your parents?"

"Demon G.o.ds aren't exactly…never mind . It's too much for a mere human to understand . "

"We both know I'm no mere human, so let's just skip the denial phases and talk," Clyde said . His mystic senses picked up the flows of the air as well as detected the moods of the city . It allowed him to walk without even paying attention, easily dodging citizens and objects . That still made the young man a bit uneasy, so he opted to do the human thing and use his eyes . Yet, his senses came naturally, as if he was one with the wind, one with Satovia and its spirits and even earth . If he made it home, that power would still follow him .

"Fine," Melody said . "But I'd like us to be friends . More than friends . Agreed?"

A little too late for that, Clyde thought . He wanted to smash the system, but also liked it . Well, when it wasn't being a d.i.c.k to him .

"Sure, I don't mind being friends," Clyde said then he gave her a car salesman's grin . "And the first step of friends.h.i.+p is trust . "

Melody sighed .

"Will you trust me?" she said . "You know what I am . This could be an illusion . "

He decided not to mention her mute status or the fact that if she casted anything against him, her strength would be zapped .

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"We've got to start somewhere," Clyde said . "So let's handle the obvious question . Why are you here? Daughter of the f.u.c.king deities and all that jazz, serving a demon lord . "

"Punishment," Melody said . "I…broke something very important to my parents . Well to my clan, so I was forced to handle a favor of my father . Things happened, and I ended up becoming a Hidden Eye to Demon Lord Hades . I've been plotting revenge, planting tiny little seeds into as many humans as possible, silently encouraging the city to risk their lives in an uproar against Hade's estate . Then you came along . Your presence wiped out every single seed in the city—frustrating me to no end . My second mistake came along when I tried to put on an act, as if you defeated me in battle . Following you just to see what happened, the only reason why that Dark Abyss creature sp.a.w.ned was because of my presence and…I…was so scared . It nullified my powers, made me feel useless . That was no illusion . You really did save me . I took the monster girl illusion of being violated too far, but the truth is, I wanted to lose the fear and stress that was still strong in me . The thought of being consumed by…that blackness . And you, who had no power to do anything against it, risk your life for me . Me…who didn't deserve it . " Melody grabbed Clyde's arm . "I really am sorry for the trouble I've caused . "

Clyde nodded, understanding the big picture . There was a lot going on and not everything was what it seemed, yet the sincerity in the powerless girl's face sounded very real . It reached Harumi's level of honesty . Good enough for him, but he wouldn't be naïve enough to let his guard down . Clyde knew of the ancient stories of deities being able to fool humans with ease .

If Melody was putting on a truly convincing act without her magic to back her efforts, then she did a good job . But… Absolute Endearment .

"Melody," Clyde said . She stopped and looked at him with eyes that hoped for more . He decided to drop the "if you're lying to me and threaten mine, you'll regret it," speech . Even if he was that type of mobster-like man, a threat like that to a being like the redhead was a good as mud . "Be yourself . "

Clyde continued onward, kicking himself for saying something so cheesy to the beautiful girl . So much for maintaining an image that he didn't have yet . Suddenly, he felt her soft hands grab his arm . Then she was in his, tears falling . He noted to himself that Melody's crybaby att.i.tude had two possibilities: cute and heartfelt or annoying . She seemed to be pouring out her heart, so he cut off his d.i.c.kish thoughts . Sure, he had the right to them, accounting for the time she tried to kill him, but he did make the forgive and forget declaration . No one put a gun to his head .

"I'm sorry," Melody said . "I don't know what it's like to have someone who actually cares . It's a take-care-of-yourself or die thing in my realm . "

"You're such a sweet young man," an older woman said as she pa.s.sed by .

He took notice of a few people looking at them, some nodding, some seemingly jealous .

"Let's go," he said, feeling his face burn of the embarra.s.sment . No reputation for him . The system should just take away that level two, he thought .

Clare's shop was closed with a Be Back Tomorrow sign on it . A part of him was relieved .

He stopped at the dojo, got suckered into a match, but his skill level surprised him . He beat his foe so easily, it gave him chills .

[Congratulations, your combat level has increased from basic level 4 to intermediate level 1 . Mediate without distractions to increase your Mystic combat level . You can only increase that once per week . ]

"That was impressive," Melody said, "show off . "

Clyde chuckled .

"To be honest, even I didn't know I was good, but in addition to my usual skill, I sensed… Never mind . Must be the monster fighting and all . "

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Melody gave him a skeptical look but allowed the topic to drop . He could keep secrets too .

"Excuse me . "

The duo turned around to see a short bald man bow .

"Can I take your picture for the magazine . You two are…" He showed them a sample copy that didn't seem all that impressive . Clyde looked through it to make sure this wasn't some kind of left-field trap .

"No need to be like that, darling," Melody said to Clyde . He gave her a blank stare .

"Please don't—"

She smiled wider .

"I like it . Take our picture, kind sir . "

The man nodded appreciatively then ordered them close enough to look like a married couple . After the positions were perfect, he said something that made Melody flush .

"Okay, go ahead and kiss her . "

"Sir, we're not like—"

"We'll do it," Melody said, then closed her eyes for the kiss, anime-style .

It seemed the system no longer needed to push anime tropes on him . They were drawn to the young man, he, the magnet .

He kissed the demi-G.o.ddess and received a prompt .

[Hahahaha, you certainly know nothing of the culture of the G.o.ds, whether demon or not . ]

[Melody has fallen in love with you . Warning, there is a 99% chance of a fight breaking out if she declares this near Chika . Her relations.h.i.+p with Chika is sworn nemesis, the lowest possible negative relations.h.i.+p level . ]

[Your relations.h.i.+p level with Melody has changed to unrequited love-female's side . ]

Clyde pulled away from the kiss, baffled, but Melody had the look of longing . The old man's eyes were wide .

"You two were amazing," he said, "especially you, young woman . A look akin to a newlywed couple . "

"Alright, you've got your photo, enjoy your day, old-timer," Clyde said then marched ahead . No need for the geezer to give the trickster new ideas .

"You didn't have to be so rude," Melody said .

"Says the scammer," he said .

Melody stopped, frowning . Clyde did too .

"Listen here, darling . I won't ever do such things, I promise, but I do not wish to be called that, especially by you . "

Clyde nodded, letting out a breath .

"Sorry . That was uncalled for . "

He turned but was a little worried by her surprised look . Was he that much of an a.s.shole? He needed to watch that .

"All is forgiven," Melody said, cheerfulness returning to her voice .

"Will you join us tonight?" Clyde said as they reached his house . "Or fight for the demon lord . "

"I will not get in your way," Melody said, "but as along as Hades is alive, I'm stuck in a pinch . This is his territory, darling . I cannot attack him due to the oath . " She turned to leave . "Please take care . "

"You too," Clyde said then watched her wave down a taxi .

He felt something…sticky and…slimy on his door k.n.o.b . Fully coated and of course he grabbed a handful of it .

He grimaced, opening the door anyway, preparing to bolt to the kitchen sink . Chika was still there, alone, watching TV . She gave him a l.u.s.ty yandere smile .

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