Hotel…

Dark thought he’d be lost in a minefield of self-debt and humiliation after facing defeat, but his mind couldn’t drift away from the encounter with that other guide. The words he spoke made Dark wonder about his purpose in this world. Selkie promised him glory, power, and the works—all better than his old life. He had no intention of going back to earth, ever. He also didn’t want to get stuck doing the dirty work of some pseudo-entity.

He checked his inventory for his other three mangas. Too bad Selkie wouldn’t go to her own room. She stared at the young man with amusement in her green eyes.

“Jiiiiiiiii.”

“GET OUT OF HERE YA VILE WOMAN!” Dark tossed a pillow, nailing her in the face. “Oh shit, thought you’d dodge. Tha—that’s what you—”

She dove on top of Dark, pinching his cheeks.

“Stop that,” Dark said. “I will not be treated like a…”

He became all too aware of her curvy, incredible body. The young man’s blush put a tomato to shame. Selkie grinned.

“I just want to eat you up,” she said cheerfully then nipped his ear a little with her lips.

Dark nearly fainted. “There’s nothing more fun than watching the virgins squirm.” She placed her hand on his chest. “You’re hard enough to put diamonds to shame.”

Selkie caressed Dark’s face.

“Say what’s on your mind, Charly, or I’ll reach deep inside of you and pull things out…Are you really bleeding out of your nose?” She spawned a tissue and handed it to the young man.

“Go kill yourself,” Dark said as he wiped his nose clean. The tissue leapt from his and then burned in midair without leaving ashes. “And it’s Dark! That earth name is dead.”

Selkie shook her head.

“So, what’s on your mind? I know you’ve got something to say.”

Dark found himself eyeing Selkie’s breasts, pressed against him in a cruel tease. He reminded himself that she was some kind of ancient deity, keeping him around for her amusement…right? He forced the question out.

“What did you really bring me to this world for?” he said. “All of this talk of power and glory—why me anyway? You could’ve chosen someone else, someone stronger.”

“Didn’t I tell you,” Selkie said. “You’ll see and accomplish great things. The power, that is what’s inside of you. You’re the Leaf. Someone with a destiny of his own. I didn’t select you, I am simply your guide.” She kissed Dark’s cheek. “My mission won’t get in the way, nor can it be done by you. It’s something that may be completed eons from now, so you can stop thinking I’m using you.”

Selkie smirked as Dark’s tension loosed. She sat up, still straddling the bashful young man.

“Start preparing your inventory for tonight. I cannot go with you as it is against the rules.”

Dark sighed.

“Good. Maybe you’ll stop acting like you’re babysitting me.”

He tried to free himself from Selkie, but she held him in place.

“There will come a time where you’ll have to step it up. Do not take the title of the Leaf lightly. The stone-viper game is their entertainment. The main event. There can be changes to what leads up to it. Your own marks.”

“Why do you not disappear like the guide?” Dark asked. “Why live in this world?”

“It’s fun,” Selkie said. “Everyday, I look forward to seeing what kind of nonsense you’ll spout and get yourself into. You must try and fix your temper, chuuni. The Stone played you like a fiddle, using it to his advantage. Relying on that passive skill won’t do you any good, especially against demons that are unaffected by it.”

“There are demons unaffected by it?”

“Obviously,” Selkie said, “besides the demon lord himself. Now enough—oh!”

Dark’s manhood, though clothed by sweatpants, still pushed a little into Selkie.

“You naughty boy,” she said then stood. “You should’ve done me in on the first night I’ve tried, but such a shy human would definitely release too early.” She laughed as Dark’s blush returned. “I would make you go again and again until I’m satisfied. You’re not ready for that.” She caressed the young man’s chin then walked out of the room, last words being, “be there by eight.”

Streets of Lot City….

“Oh, and it gets even worse,” Clyde said, continuing his explanation. They had just got off a bus moments ago to follow the remaining meters of his mental navigation system. “She said pineapple is better on pizza.”

Alice gave him a brief look of horror.

“You humans with these weird eating habits,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ll have to keep you in check, make sure you don’t stray to the wayside.”

“Says the sweets-eating girl,” Clyde said. He halted, his jaw dropping from the enormous house in front of him. Surrounded by fancy gates and a fancier driveway, Clyde wanted to turn around. Despite teasing Toru about being raped by a slime girl, the pretty boy still was leagues above him in life. Privileged.

He shrugged. Maybe he’d pig out on some luxury foods. Clyde, expecting to have to be buzzed in, found the button at the front gate. Moments later, it opened, and they entered. The unimpressed look Alice had, made Clyde chuckle inside.

Toru met them at the door. He went pale at the sight of the demoness but bowed slightly.

“Oh knock it off,” Alice said. “Remember, it was you guys that attacked first.”

“True…but, if you don’t mind me asking.” He looked at Clyde. “What’s going on?”

“You do know that we’ve been friends this entire time,” Clyde said.

[Your relationship with Alice has changed from friend- closer level 1, sexually intense craving, to friend- closer level 2, sexually intense craving. Her demoness nature will continue to radiate a sexual craving around you due to compatibility.]

Toru shrugged.

“You’ve got a guest. And here I thought I was the best at picking up girls.”

“You’re the best at having money,” Clyde muttered under his breath. They followed him through some kind of huge main room of shiny marble floors. Two sets of stairs spiraled from both Clyde’s far left and far right. There were rose patterns in the architecture. The typical, maybe, clichéd large paintings paraded the walls, as if they were a requirement by the rich. The rich club demands it, Clyde thought.

Eventually, Toru led them to some kind of waiting room where a girl with long white hair slept on a fancy couch, giant TV playing a movie about cat superheroes. She indeed had cat ears that matched the color of her hair. She was a pretty, slender girl, dressed in a simple purple shirt and blue short shorts. Clyde’s eyes didn’t miss the whitetail that dangled from her behind.

The moment they stepped into the room, her ears perked up. Soon, Clyde found himself staring into blue eyes. In other words, she was face to face with the young man in one leap—a leap so fast, Clyde’s brain processed it a second later. He flinched.

“And they say the Flash is the fastest,” he said. “I’m Clyde. Toru said you wanted….what are you doing?”

Alice stepped in between them, not allowing the girl to sniff further.

“He’s not food,” Alice said with ice in her voice. “I suggest not sniffing him.”

“It’s a habit,” the girl said. “Nya. And by the aroma deep within, he’s who he says he is.” She cut the demoness from her attention, smiling at Clyde. “I’m Neko. You’ve been a pain in the tail to locate for the past few days.”

Clyde allowed the fact that she used “nya” in her sentence to fade from his mind. A quick analyze confirmed the girl’s identity.

Neko

Level: 27.

Type: beast kin/ catgirl.

Relationship: very interested.

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

He stopped the prompt early to avoid being insulted. The “very interested” was a first, but he assumed it had something to do with being the Stone.

“So how can I help you?”

“Nya.” She was in front of Clyde again, taking a long whiff.

“Not in here,” Toru said. “Go rape him at his house.”

“Sorry,” Neko said. “Your scent is intoxicating. It’s just heat season for us. I’ll try to tone it down now.”

Clyde took a silent gulp, actually taken aback. He regained his composure—probably due to a slight glare from Alice.

“Anyway,” Neko continued, “there’s a door in the city that appears at night and can only open by your touch. In it takes you to the path of unlocking more of your power. My family was against the idea of getting involved with what you do—but I wanted to help the Stone. Help you.”

“What’s going on?” Toru said. “What do you mean by that—him being a stone.”

“Nothing important for you to worry about,” Neko said. “Think of that title being his powers. I cannot tell you any more than that.” She turned back to Clyde. “I shall take you to the door tonight.”

“It’s going to be a group,” Clyde said. “The Leaf will be there too.”

“The what—wait, that’s here in this city? Oh my, that’s interesting. Two protagonists…How long will he be in town?”

“No idea,” Clyde said. “But are the guides allowed to just hang around us like friends?”

“Nope,” Neko said. “As far as I know, there’s no interference allowed. He or she won’t be able to come with us tonight.”

Tuesday couldn’t come fast enough for Clyde. He needed to at least know about this world. Asshole Mortem gave him the blind protag treatment.

Just then, Clyde felt something glide across his cheek. It took him a second to realize Neko licked him. She giggled.

“We’ve got a few hours—”

“Go rape him somewhere else,” Toru interrupted.

Alice gave Neko a death glare.

“If you do that again—or anything that remotely looks like you’re tasting him, I’ll kill you,” she said. “You may be of the so-called peacemakers, but you’re still a demon.”

Neko laughed.

“It’s not tasting when I’m in heat.”

Clyde realized the meaning behind that and fell into a short coughing fit. Toru laughed.

“Oh don’t you start, slime bait.”

“Slime bait?” Neko said.

“Long story don’t ask,” Toru quickly said. “Anyway, I’m going to start preparing for tonight’s patrol. I suggest you do the same, Clyde.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll be taking off,” he said.

“I’m coming along.”

Alice opened her mouth to protest, but Clyde injected with a soothing whisper in her ear.

“Just deal with her for now. We’ll stop for sundaes, my treat. I know your dad’s a lousy payer and all.”

The ice cream bribe worked, judging by the cheerfulness in the demoness’s eyes. Neko knew about the stone-viper game. Clyde needed her around.