“Let me guess,” Clyde said, “the Soulless family.”
He stole a glance at Chiyo, eldest of the Rose Dragon sisters. As expected, she looked tense. Maybe she even knew a lot about the dragons’ destructive past. Whether this was a tough pill to swallow or not, the young man knew not to call her out on it. Her ancestors’ crimes had nothing to do with them.
Really, Chiyo was sweet, beautiful, and had quite the humorous anime addiction that seemed to annoy the hell out of her orange-haired younger sister, Kimiko. Kimiko was a bit of a tsundere—even had the look, but once again, lived as a kind and virtuous dragon. Even the man-hater, the dark pinkish-purple haired young woman, caused no trouble whatsoever.
“Yes,” Tetra said. “Not that that’s any news to us. Everyone knows about the Soulless. The problem is locating the Disciple, who hides among them. He or she is responsible for the kitsune tragedy a little over a decade ago. However, I didn’t call this meeting just to tell you things we already know or can talk about over Harumi or Yuki’s delicious dinners. Amina confirmed that the Thousand Year is traveling dangerously close to us.” She looked at Clyde. “Rumors say she’s weakened, but that doesn’t mean you should go charging—”
“Like I said, she isn’t bothering anyone,” Clyde said, “but I will—Team Stone will attack if she becomes a threat to Harumi, Liru, or anyone else here. I find it funny that the records stated that the dragons did things in Emyo’s name, but have not one record of her actually doing anything, other than the overused, vague, ‘she was a terrible monster’ cliché.”
Everyone gaped at Clyde.
“Clyde, I know you’re not from this world, so maybe the mention of Emyo doesn’t affect you, but think of what Harumi and her sister went through because of the Disciple’s attack. The attack that only happened because of the Thousand Year dragon.” Tetra shook her head. “It seems to me that Emyo probably preached to the dragons or encouraged them somehow. Really, we won’t know unless we ask Celestial.”
“Good luck getting an answer from them,” Undine said.
“What haven’t you told us yet, Tetra?” Clare said.
The detective eyed the shrine maiden. “Thanks to Tear and Noona’s networks, fine people they are, I’ve discovered the city that belongs to the Soulless. “
“A stronghold, perhaps?” Tear asked.
Tetra nodded. “I don’t know if the Disciple is there, but the Soulless Head was rumored to be spotted on several occasions. I called this meeting so that everyone associated with Team Stone would know this. Right now, we’re not on their radar or anything. But…” she sighed. “There’s one more rumor that we should really be wary of.”
“Among the many, I presume,” Clyde said.
“If the Disciple finds out about Harumi or Liru from any source, she may send an assassin,” Tetra clarified.
“With us being on TV and all…” Kitome sighed. “What can we do?”
Selkie frowned. “I’ll need to discuss this with some friends.”
“Ku ku ku ku,” Natalia chuckled, as if she was a chuuni from anime. Everyone stared at her blankly. “You people keep forgetting how great I am. Pervy amnesia people. I can ward Harumi and Liru against assassins. Set a trap within their aura. Nothing can stop me!”
Naoko nodded twice in agreement. The gothic loli gave a tsundere harrumph.
Clyde gave the loli a head patting. Ruri puffed her cheeks up in a pout, but said nothing.
“We’ll leave it to you, Natalia,” he said. “Give this assassin bitch one hell of a surprise.”
Natalia giggled. “You know it, husbando-onii.”
“Let’s call it a day,” Clyde said. “Now that we know who we’re up against… Or at least who not to bother.” He gave Tetra a hard look that prevented any further argument. Sure, he didn’t know the past, but that didn’t meant Clyde would charge Team Stone into battle against someone who bothered no one. What if she really did turn out to be too much for the young man?
His team would be in danger for nothing.
“The great lord of the dark offers his amazing protection,” Dark said. Everyone ignored him.
“Harumi, Liru,” Natalia said in a singsong voice. “The two nicest people in the world. This may take some time. Everyone else, out-out-out. Especially you, baka chuuni. I’ll need to concentrate.”
“I’ll start dinner,” Yuki said. “Selkie, you and your crew are welcome to spend the night. Maki and Sophia will show you your rooms.”
“It’s okay, Yuki,” Selkie said. “We kind of already paid for the hotel rooms. They’re quite nice. Besides, there’s someone suspicious I want to keep an eye on. I’m intrigued by her actions, which is why we hadn’t left town yet.”
“Who?” Clyde asked.
“I’ll tell you when I’m one hundred percent certain,” Selkie said. “My target seems depressed. You know how some people look when their hopes and dreams have been blown out by the woes of life.”
“What’d she do, lose all of her money in gambling? Lose the lottery?” Seth said.
“No idea,” Selkie said. She turned to Yuki. “We’d love to stay for dinner, if you don’t mind. You’re the best chef out there.”
Yuki chuckled. “Feel free.”
After finishing his meal, Dark put on a coat and headed out into the cold without telling anyone. Not that he had to. He was the lord of the dark for a reason. No one commanded him. This world belonged to him.
A few steps outside, he noticed the purple-haired catgirl, Chesire, meowing at a neighborhood stray cat.
“Wow,” he deadpanned. The catgirl nearly jumped out of her skin, blushing redder than the ripest Alethian pepper. “I know people bag on me for reciting my epic verses, but talking to a cat. Really?”
“Nya, so what? It’s cute,” Chesire said. “I don’t expect a chuuni like you to understand.”
The catgirl dashed into the house, but not before sticking her tongue out at Dark. He comedically snarled.
Dark watched the cat scurry off before continuing his walk. Chesire… To think that Wonderland was actually real. He wondered if all human fairy tales received the Satovian treatment. Maybe the ancients simply witnessed a lot of magical events before they vanished, making way for the modern era.
Dark didn’t really care. He was just glad to be as far away from Earth as possible.
“Hey, baka-chuuni.”
Dark ignored Myriad and continued to walk. The great lord of the dark didn’t have time to deal with birdbrain plebs.
“That woman from the hotel is on the move.”
Dark stopped and turned around.
“Get Selkie.”
Clyde and fiancées’ room…
Chika scowled at the latest email she’d received from her accountant. Profits were down due to AE’s new console release. The masses were pre-ordering it like crazy and there wasn’t a damned thing she could do. The young woman would have to demand overtime from her acquired studios.
Her own company’s console was still in development, possibly years away. They wanted to keep things hidden and under wraps until then and with no leaks. The silver-haired girl needed to impress the team, show them she could be more than just an academic maniac or a battler. She wanted to put everything she learned to use, get big enough to maybe boast about Team Stone, keep them in a positive view.
Mainstream media were still concerned about the monsters and other “super-powered” human beings. There were outlets that called Team Stone sub-humans, even monsters.
Despite the party doing their best, the media still found ways to bash at them.
Episode 70 (Part 3)
Evening…
Clyde’s house…
Matsume’s room with the door locked…
It was really rare for Matsume of all people to request some head patting while watching some kind of action drama. Her tail patted against his leg excitedly. Her large breasts pressed against him, invoking a giga-boner.
“I can see why Ruri asks for
these all the time,” Matsume said. Her tongue lolled out in a manner similar to a dog for just a second before she quickly composed herself. The young man couldn’t help but find that adorable.
He moved his hands across her soft breasts, massaging them, which triggered something in Matsume. She jumped him, kissing him passionately, enabling the young man to feel all of her soft body. “The foreplay was great, no, amazing, I’m glad we’re on the same page. I don’t see how Tear can resist jumping you every minute of the day.”
The hellhound pulled off Clyde’s boxers and mounted him. The feeling of warm tightness, while sucking amazing breasts, turned on the beast within.
Matsume rode him like a machine and he did the same to her, smacking the hellhound woman’s soft ass a few times.
After three rounds, they cuddled, his wood inside her, as they watched some random harem anime that auto-played after Matsume’s favorite show ended. His head pats made the woman wetter and wetter until they were going at it again.
“We’re hanging out more,” Matsume said afterward. She kissed him. “You already know how to treat a hellhound. Food and sex.”
Clyde laughed, pulling the hellhound woman even closer. She grinned.
The duo ended up showering and bathing together, rounds of sex in between, before heading to the living room to converse with the others. The Team Stone members that didn’t live in the Lot City house had already left for the night.
Kanako, Harumi, Alice, Liru, Tessa, and the Dragon sisters seemed to be teasing Ming over something. Ako, Noona, and the Stone Maidens were discussing light novels. Natalia was probably in the library with Naoko reading manga. Clare, who was still around, Fuyoko, Melody, Tear, Airi, Yuki, Chesire, Neko, Ruri and Hinako played what appeared to be an unfair game of cards. It had to be that Opals game they mentioned before. Matsume confirmed it immediately.
“You guys are playing Opals without us?”
Melody sighed. “How did I let Airi talk me into this horrible game?”
“No wonder why Kanako refused to play,” Fuyoko said. “You guys are ruthless.”
Airi grinned. “You want in on this, Matsume? I may not be able to beat Yuki, but everyone else is fair game.”
“I fold,” Ruri said with a sigh then anime-dove into Clyde, tail wagging in excitement. “Yuki’s unstoppable.”
“That’s the goddess of luck for you,” Clyde said with a laugh.
Grinning, Matsume took Ruri’s spot.
“Do you want to try, Clyde?” Tear said. The young man could immediately since the intent there and wanted to challenge it head on.
“Can I get the rules?” he asked.
The women, except Yuki, grinned, even Melody. Ruri and Chesire were the only ones to give him a look of pity.
“This game is never taught,” Hinako said. “Not with this group at least. Wagers are on the line.”
“I’m trying to get Yuki to cook me a private meal, but she’s unbeatable,” Clare said.
The young man saw just a hint of a smile on the kuudere demoness’s face.
Clyde massaged Ruri’s head. “I’m going to take a wild guess that I won’t know the wagers until I enter the game.”
“They’re going to go after you,” Ruri said.
Clyde shrugged. “Bring it. I’ll show them all. Or probably lose horribly, but that’s beside the point. Where’s Selkie? I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t miss the chance to take on Yuki.”
“She left early,” Tear said. “Apparently she had something to take care of and will be back in the morning.”
“The chuuni and Myr Myr left ahead of her,” Alice said as she ditched the other group. She reached for the bowl of chocolates, only to stop short when Tear shot her a blank stare. The half-demoness puffed her cheeks up in a pout. “I’ve eaten healthy for long enough. I think one or two chocolates won’t—”
“The entire bowl would be gone before you knew it,” Tear interrupted. “So, no. We can’t have the head of Hades Household dabbling in a sugar coma.”
“That sounds nice,” Alice said, staring at the bowl of chocolates longingly. The young man found that comical, but didn’t offer any input. He focused on the game, which was somehow avoided last time.
“Sit here,” Tear said, patting at an empty chair next to him. Yuki pulled him to a chair next to her instead using the force. She didn’t bring Ruri along for the ride.
“Someone’s quite aggressive,” Tear said. Rather than being pissed, the succubus seemed amused. Then again, sexual interpretation could be gathered from that exchange.
“Neko’s turn to deal,” Hinako said.
“Nya, I just dealt two turns ago,” Neko said.
Tear laughed. “You’ve almost gotten the vibrator of doom.”
“She’s lucky Yuki doesn’t wager anything of the sort,” Fuyoko said.
“Yuki doesn’t set any wagers,” Tear said.
“Nya, she’s the best. The peasants set the wagers, not her,” Chesire said.
Neko grudgingly dealt the cards. The young man expected playing cards from Earth but what he received was completely unexpected. Hell, the deck was clearly more than Earth’s standard fifty-two. Seven cards in hand, Clyde possessed a pearl, two fish, a hot anime girl with glowing gold hair, and three watches.
“Seriously, how do I actually learn this?” the young man said. He tried searching for rules on the internet, but every forum and website stated that one must learn it the hard way. Or just have someone teach it. Yuki became his angel.
“The objective is to increase your wealth and bankrupt the person who challenged you,” Yuki said. “A really simple guessing game of luck. And maybe some strategy. The wagers aren’t officially in the rules, but one doesn’t play Opals without them. Watch.”
“Nya, Yuki you shouldn’t have spilled the beans,” Neko said.
Yuki simply ignored the catgirl. “Everyone pick a number from the hat.” She pointed at the upside-down fedora on the center of the table. “All challenges are random,” the demoness continued, “unless someone draws a card that states otherwise.”
“Nya, I think we should take off the randomization this round,” Chesire said.
“Then everyone will just relentlessly target the newbie,” Yuki said. “Let him learn today.”
“Alice, why didn’t you join?” Chika said. “Scared that Matsume will make you eat a salad?”
Alice glared at the silver-haired girl. “I’d make you drop your ridiculous diet for an entire month.”
Chika grinned. “We haven’t started yet. Neko, deal Alice in.”
“Fine!” the half-demoness said.
“Nyyyaaa, two angry hornets fighting each other,” Neko said as she gave the blonde seven cards.
Everyone drew out of the hat. Clyde was number one.
“Now, since Neko’s the dealer, she takes the role of game master and presses the button on the random number generator,” Yuki said. The white-haired catgirl pressed the button on Tear’s phone while muttering some choice words.
“Nya, number six and number five,” Neko said.
“I’m five,” Airi said.
“Nya, I’m six,” Chesire said.
“Six is first,” Neko said.
“Let’s do this,” Airi said.
Chesire set two cards faced down. A Yu-Gi-Oh! joke made the young man briefly think of the edge lord.
“Let’s see. I’m going to guess, a fish and opal,” Airi said.
Chesire revealed two lanterns.
“Dammit!” Airi shook her head.
“Nya, too bad,” Chesire laughed. The super druid sat down two cards. “Nyaaaa… you have a fish and royal letter.”
Airi laughed. “I’m not dead yet!” She revealed two diamonds.
“Why are they guessing fish?” Clyde whispered to Yuki.
“It’s the most common card,” Yuki whispered back. “There are more of it than anything in the deck. You also want to try to get rid of them. They’ll subtract from your final score.”
“This game feels like it can go on forever,” Clyde said.
“There’s a three-turn limit,” Yuki countered. “Then we tally the hands to see who’s the richest.”
“Nya, dammit, I could’ve demanded something good,” Chesire said. “What a waste of one of my precious turns.”
Neko grayed out their numbers on the generator then spun. “Alice and Chika, you’re up.”
“They’re actually going to get the chance to go at each other,” Clyde said.
Alice smacked two cards face down. “Go ahead, guess wrong.”
“Hmm, you won’t put down a fish on the first turn,” Chika said. “Not after Chesire and Airi screwed up. Hmm… Lantern and diamond.”
Alice grinned evilly and unveiled two fish. “Because it’s double fish, I’ll be taking two cards from your hand and these fish get shuffled back into the deck.”
“Fuck!” Chika snapped. She watched in horror as Alice confiscated her two best cards. Clyde assumed it was against the rules for Chika to tell everyone the cards the half-demoness chose. The silver-haired girl placed two cards face down, boiling at a disadvantage. The fish may sink one’s score, but damn were they a lethal offense.
“I’ll go with, diamond and bamboo,” Alice said.
“Ha!” Chika revealed a royal letter and apple. “Good thing all of my cards were different.”
The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #14 a LitRPG (ATS) Page 14