Ritsu Tainaka, thoroughly displeased with Morpheus's apparent favoritism, launched a playful assault, aiming for his ribs with a tickling maneuver reminiscent of a dragon toying with pearls. But Morpheus was quick, his hands darting out to seize both of Ritsu's wrists.
Their eyes locked, sparks practically flying between them.
Then, a brief tussle ensued.
Let alone Morpheus's current status as a Dimension Lord with unimaginable strength—even if he weren't, overpowering a girl like Ritsu would've been effortless.
Ritsu tried several times to break through Morpheus's defense, but each attempt ended in failure.
Finally, she gave up, wrenching her hands free and throwing herself dramatically into Mio Akiyama's arms.
"Mio-chan, Morpheus-kun's bullying me! Waaah…"
"Hey, come on, that fake crying is way too obvious," Morpheus quipped from the sidelines before sighing. "Alright, fine, you win. How about I make it up to you with something tasty for lunch today?"
"Really?" Ritsu's face lit up. She immediately disentangled herself from Mio's warm embrace, her wide eyes fixed intently on Morpheus.
"A gentleman's word is his bond," Morpheus assured her.
Ritsu thought for a moment before saying, "How about some sweet soy chicken bites and hot wings?"
"Sounds good to me."
Morpheus nodded and sent a quick message to his two devotees, instructing Erina Nakiri to prepare sweet soy chicken bites and Hisako to whip up some hot wings.
Ritsu's face broke into a delighted grin.
Mio Akiyama, a bit embarrassed, tapped Ritsu on the head. "You really don't have to do this, Morpheus-kun. Ritsu was just joking."
"No worries. It just so happens those are on the menu for lunch today."
With that single sentence, Morpheus had Ritsu hooked like a fish on a line. For the entire morning, her mind was consumed with thoughts of sweet soy chicken bites and hot wings, leaving no room for focusing on class.
When lunch break finally arrived, Ritsu whipped out her bento box, her large eyes locked onto Morpheus, as if urging him to hurry up and reveal his.
Morpheus chuckled, reaching into his desk to retrieve his bento.
In truth, during class, Erina Nakiri and Hisako had already prepared the meal and offered it to him.
But Morpheus had stored the bento in his dimension.
Only now did he bring it out.
When he opened the bento box on his desk, an intoxicating aroma exploded outward, instantly filling the entire classroom.
Every student who hadn't left the room turned, almost involuntarily, to stare at Morpheus's bento, mouths watering.
The scent was overwhelming—unlike any dish they'd ever smelled before.
Ritsu was dumbfounded, taking a deep breath. "It… it smells incredible! Did you really make this?"
Morpheus's cooking had always been decent, but nothing like this.
This was on a whole other level compared to what he'd made before.
"You're not wrong. I didn't make this. Some friends prepared it for me," Morpheus admitted with a nod. "So, what do you think?"
"Friends? What kind of friends? Don't tell me you've got a girlfriend now!" Ritsu's eyes widened, her voice rising in exaggerated shock.
Morpheus shook his head. Erina Nakiri and Hisako were, at best, his devotees—not girlfriends.
Though if either of them wanted to take things further, Morpheus wouldn't say no.
Their figures were just too perfect. Erina Nakiri, despite being a high schooler, had a physique that defied her age.
And Hisako was the quintessential beautiful girl, pure and proper.
Morpheus was, admittedly, quite taken with them. He wasn't above such desires.
But for now, while both had become his devotees, neither seemed inclined to become his girlfriend.
And Morpheus wasn't shameless enough to force the issue.
After all, matters of the heart required mutual consent. Using his power would be too low.
He couldn't bring himself to do it.
"You're sure they're not girlfriends?" Ritsu pressed, skeptical. "Who else would go to the trouble of making such an elaborate meal for you? Regular friends?"
"What's this about a girlfriend?" Mio Akiyama, drawn by the mouthwatering aroma, joined the conversation.
Ritsu explained, "It's about Morpheus-kun. His bento today was made by 'friends,' but I'm betting it's a girlfriend."
Mio blinked, glancing at Morpheus.
He shook his head. "Not girlfriends. But our relationship is… a bit more special than regular friends."
They were his devotees, after all.
Ritsu, however, seemed to latch onto a new idea, probing, "What, like friends with benefits or something?"
"You're overthinking it," Morpheus shot her a look, playfully tapping her head with his chopsticks.
"Ow!" Ritsu yelped, pouting. "What, trying to silence me with violence?"
Morpheus ignored her theatrics.
Mio, meanwhile, gazed at the steaming bento in front of Morpheus and suddenly remarked, "Wait, Morpheus-kun, your bento is hot. How'd you manage that?"
Ritsu, prompted by Mio's observation, chimed in, "Yeah, how's your bento still hot?"
Typically, high school students who brought their own lunch would prepare it in the morning before heading out.
By lunchtime, no matter how well-insulated, the food would inevitably cool down.
Most students' bentos were cold as a result.
Unless they used a thermos, but most bento boxes didn't have that kind of insulation.
So when Ritsu and Mio saw that Morpheus's bento was still steaming, they were understandably shocked.
"Just a little trick, nothing worth mentioning," Morpheus said with a slight smile, not bothering to explain that Erina Nakiri and Hisako had just made the meal, so of course it was still hot.
Ritsu's eyes gleamed as she leaned closer. "Come on, Morpheus-kun, tell me! How'd you do it?"
Who wouldn't prefer a piping-hot bento over a cold one?
Even Mio looked at Morpheus with anticipation.
Seeing their eager expressions, Morpheus said, "Alright, fine. I'm actually a magician, and I heated this bento with magic. How's that for an explanation?"
A Dimension Lord moonlighting as a magician seemed reasonable enough.
Ritsu rolled her eyes. "Tch, keep your secrets then, stingy."
Mio, however, studied Morpheus's expression, which didn't seem like a lie. Hesitantly, she asked, "Morpheus-kun… could you really be a magician?"
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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