chapter 313 - Don't!

The meal had been set as everyone gathered around to feast upon the multitude of dishes. Its aroma already made everyone drool while Caelum quietly took a small portion as the fold was too small for him.

"Thanks again for inviting me. I must say the flavor is delightful. Perhaps, you could start a restaurant in the future, Nino-san."

The food itself was above average from the wide array of dishes that he had eaten in his life and wondered if there's a world where food and fighting are the same.  

[A/N: hint 😉]

He quickly devoured the food, savoring them before swallowing them, surprising how easily the food vanished from his mouth.

"Not only are you smart but also gluttonous like Itsuka."

"Hey, I'm not gluttonous!"

She denied pouting in the process glaring at Ichika who playfully ignored her enjoying seeing her be flustered. 

"My body needed more nutrients to sustain itself. Without the necessary nourishment then my body would not grow."

Upon explaining, Caelum realized the vital key to improving his strength was the nourishment of food to improve every cell of his body.

He did not have any anime that focus on food battles besides Food wars but the thing he needs is a power system focusing on food.

'Once I've regained my power then I'll see the archive of the Verses. Then maybe I could change every cell of my body into something beyond.'

Caelum's true power had yet to fully unlock the highest potential without his cell to grow turned into something else. 

It appeared he had reached a higher dimension from his breakthrough but everything is only the transition period

A vital thing for him to acquire in hoping to become a real Paragon. Though it was far in the future, acquiring the realization was a big step for his plans. 

"Are you alright, Caerum? Why did you suddenly stop eating?"

Hearing Yotsuba took him from his contemplations, noticing how he had lost in his thoughts. 

"Ah, I just realized something. There's nothing to be worried about."

"Hey, do you have any lovers? I doubt there won't be any girls confessing to you."

Ichika asked curiously, opting Miku had been silent, taking glances of Caelum. She still couldn't believe that a playboy was beside him but then thought that the historical figure had multiple lives and perhaps wouldn't have been weird if it was that era.

"Yeah, I have multiple relationships with women. Before you could react violently, it was just a cultural thing and had both parties agree. I'm not some kind scumbag."

Hearing his explanation made them perplexed trying to process his words even ichika who did expect that kind of answer was unable to comprehend his words.

They were far too pure and innocent to understand the world. Love exists does lust, both coexist as without the other then it would be useless. 

Caelum silently ate to understand the awkward atmosphere but did not regret his answer knowing full of the consequences. 

It was not like he had any intention of forcing them to be his but if they agree and confess then he'll treasure them.

This slightly hurt Nino who had a crush on him when seeing his bad boyish appearance that was in contrast with his delicate, nearly feminine features. 

Though hope was not lost upon hearing the polygamist relationship yet it was still weird causing turmoil in her mind and heart.

"Are you telling the truth? In this day and age, there are still people who practice polygamy?"

Itsuka gave her opinion slightly and felt strange when he heard his words as string hurt was pulled. She doubts that it would be legal to have multiple women as a partner.

"You'd be a surprise. The world is vast and I had explored them with everyone on my journey to get strong and even fought fierce lions one time."

It was not a lie as he had fought mereoleona when he was still a newbie from fighting. The only woman who always beat the shit out of people especially their children when training them.

"That's too absurd, people can't be that strong. A lion is at least ten times stronger."

"How did you fight that lion, Caerum-san? Did you beat it like those martial art movies heya! ya!"

Yotsuba was far more concerned about his journey than the part about polygamy. Though, she is surprised but accepts it as Yotsuba didn't find it an issue.

She imitated martial artists by chopping, opting for Caelum to chuckle at her movement.

"Not bad, though you're clenching it too hard. You should relax them first before flexing to increase their momentum and also take deep breaths at each interval  like this."

Caelum demonstrated the proper way by taking a deep breath that sounded like a kettle shocking them. In the blink of an eye, his hand flicker before the sound of a whip was produced jaw-dropping everyone.

"Uhmmm, someone tells me I'm just dreaming."

Miku proceeded to pinch Nino, getting a squeal from the latter. She was the first one to come from the shock and became more interested in Caelum.

"Ow! Why did you have to pinch me, Miku?"

"You ask if you're dreaming and it won't hurt if it was."

"Still that hurts you know!"

"Woah!? How did you do that!? Is it like this?"

"Wait, don't try it!"

Caelum vanished from where he was appearing beside Yotsuba making everyone blink confused how he was able to arrive on the other side. He held her first from imitating his attack.

"If you tried it just now then it would likely harm your body. What I did was called Mach Punch from Shinshinkai Karate. It needs a strong body to be performed and though your body is quite a tone similar to an athlete."

Caelum understood martial art and every movement only lacked the essence which was unable to bring out its potential. 

He sighed in relief from stopping Yotsuba as performing the technique improperly would result in her muscle being torn apart unless she had a sturdy body like Caelum.

"O-Okay…"

"Wait, you were just beside me?"

Itsuka felt confused about how he was able to do that fast without disturbing their meal. It was as if he teleported. 

"It's to explain but this is the result of my training. Yotsuba-san, don't even think of trying it unless I'm around to teach you, that is if you want to learn."

"Really!? Could I do it how you showed?"

"Depends but unlikely as it is extremely difficult to achieve the level I have. Though, it is not impossible and depends on your determination."

"I don't even know where to focus. Is it the part of you having multiple lovers or doing that unbelievable punch."

Itsuka felt her appetite was gone after witnessing everything. It was too fast for her to keep up and that ended up subsiding her hunger

"Though, I'm interested how you did that pinch but do tell about the lovers of yours. How do you show your love?"

"Time management and spoiling them. Don't try to fight too often and try to solve them together. If one of them feels left out then I would take the time to understand the problem and fix it."

Caelum answered honestly and usually manages them by using his power but usually does it in a conventional way.

The way he explained made Nino want to know his love life while Ichika blushed a bit seeing how passionate he said those words as remembering spending time with them.

"How romantic, Masa-kun. You don't mind taking me as well."

"Teasing me won't work on me since my lovers usually do the same."

"Ahh, you're no fun, Masa-Kun."

"We should finish eating before the food gets cold."

Miku said while continuing to eat, deciding to ignore what happened as she silently ate her food. Everyone did the same thing, eating silently before finishing their meals and asking dozens of questions at Caelum.

He answered honestly with few giving vague answers making them slightly disappointed but in the end enjoyed their conversation with Caelum.

His stories made them fascinated by how he had lived his life. They were jealous of how freely he roamed while they're stuck at school rather than pursuing what they love.

Caelum enjoys each Quintuplet having their unique personality and already memories of who's who. He did have a few twins to quintuplet children. His use of memorizing their uniqueness. 

"Thanks again for the meal. If you five have anything then be afraid to ask, I'm just at the other side."

"Good night, Masa-kun."

"Have a good night, Caerum-san!"

"Hope you have a good night's rest, Masa-san."

"Good night, Caelum-san."

"...Good night."

"You all as well. It's been a great meal and night meeting you all."

They gave their farewell to Caelum as headed to his apartment after a long day of exploring the city.