Morpheus nodded with satisfaction, a look of approval on his face.
Hisako hesitated before asking, "Where do we find you after preparing the meals?"
Morpheus waved a hand dismissively. "No need to find me. Once you're my followers, just whisper my name after cooking, and I'll collect the food myself."
Erina considered this. It was convenient—merely preparing an extra portion for breakfast.
No big deal.
Hisako thought the same and agreed readily.
Morpheus beckoned. "Both of you, come sit beside me."
Erina instinctively asked, "What are you going to do?"
"Make you my followers, obviously," Morpheus said, exasperated. "Or, if you prefer, you can kneel before me. I don't mind."
"..."
No thanks.
She pulled Hisako along, and they sat on either side of Morpheus.
He placed a hand on each of their shoulders, channeling a surge of Light Dimension power into their bodies.
About ten thousand units each.
For Morpheus, who wielded a billion units of Light Dimension power, this was a drop in the bucket.
But for Erina and Hisako, it was an overwhelming force.
With this power, they could likely take on Rihan Nura in his base form and hold their own.
If Rihan used his Matoi technique, however, they'd be outmatched, as it boosted his strength tenfold, easily crushing novices like them.
After receiving Morpheus's gift, both bore his mark, becoming his followers.
He could reclaim their power or even their lives with a thought.
But Morpheus wasn't some evil god—he wouldn't do that.
"So… strong," Erina murmured, awestruck by the Light Dimension power coursing through her.
Since awakening her Gourmet Cells, she'd felt formidable, her strength fueling her confidence.
But now, she realized what true power was. Compared to Morpheus's Light Dimension power, her Gourmet Cells were insignificant.
Not that Gourmet Cells were inferior. Their potential was terrifying, rivaling even Dragon Ball.
The Appetite Demons were especially fearsome.
Take Don Slime, the Appetite Demon inside Ichiryu from Toriko. It had ruled the Black Universe multiple times. After Ichiryu's death, it tried to revive him, only to be refused. At its peak, a single punch could destroy a star or replicate a small planet.
Its Supernova Explosion created a ping-pong-ball-sized star with unimaginable mass. Don Slime claimed it could obliterate the Gourmet Earth—a planet hundreds of times larger than the current Earth, transformed by Gourmet Cells.
This showed the terrifying ceiling of Gourmet Cells.
But Erina's Gourmet Cells were newly awakened, and she hadn't consumed enough high-quality ingredients to raise their level. Her Appetite Demon, Black Slime, hadn't even stirred.
She couldn't yet unleash their true potential.
That said, was her Black Slime related to Don Slime? A kin or subordinate, perhaps?
It wasn't impossible.
Meanwhile, Hisako marveled at her newfound power.
She felt like she could destroy the entire culinary workshop with a flick of her finger, leaving no trace.
Terrified by the thought, she quickly suppressed her impulses.
This was Erina's kitchen. Destroying it would be unforgivable.
Stay calm, Hisako.
As the saying goes, power breeds ambition. Her mindset was a perfect example.
With great power, the urge to test it was natural.
Even an ordinary person with a hammer wants to swing it, seeing everything as a nail.
For Hisako, freshly imbued with such strength, the temptation was even stronger.
Morpheus noticed her struggle and smiled. "No need to suppress it. If you want to test your power, go ahead. There are plenty of targets outside."
"???"
She understood each word, but together, they baffled her.
What did he mean by "plenty of targets"?
"Let me show you," Morpheus said, standing from the sofa.
He led them out of the workshop to an open area, pointing at the malevolent spirits wandering Totsuki Academy. "See? Tons of targets. Go wild."
Hisako gasped, horrified. "W-What are those things?!"
She'd never known the campus was infested with grotesque, black-aura-shrouded creatures that looked human yet weren't.
This was terrifying. Was this still the Totsuki Academy she knew?
"They're malevolent spirits," Morpheus said.
"No, not quite," Erina interjected, shaking her head. "They're not exactly malevolent spirits. They're curses."
Morpheus raised an eyebrow. That term sounded familiar.
"Curses?" Hisako blinked, recalling something. "I've heard my family mention them. They're monsters born from human negative emotions, right?"
Erina nodded. "Curses, or cursed spirits, are born from human malice. They're also called malevolent spirits, but 'curses' is the term ancient onmyoji used."
"They reside in a ruined world the onmyoji called… Magatsuhi-no-Ya."
"Once humans enter Magatsuhi-no-Ya, they're devoured by the curses within. It's a terrifying place."
Hisako frowned. "If curses belong in Magatsuhi-no-Ya, why are they here at our school?"
***
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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