C12 The Super Eater's Banquet

After a grueling day of training, Cello Everett was roused early the next morning by Kyoka Suzuki.

"What? Melinde is here?" he exclaimed.

"Master, I apologize," Kyoka said, her voice tinged with guilt. "I wasn't attentive enough, and she just barged in."

As the head maid, Kyoka knew she shouldn't have let someone in so carelessly. "It's okay, you're not to blame," Cello reassured her. He had noticed Kyoka's diligent work over the past few days. Managing such a vast estate was too much for one person. Clearly, it was time to consider hiring more help. But first things first, he had to see what Melinde was up to, arriving so early in the morning.

...

"The Super Power Banquet?" Cello asked.

"Yes!" Melinde replied with a triumphant smile. "The banquet is filled with many impressive superpowered individuals. You must be bored with all the training at home, right? So, how about it? Do you want to go?" She flaunted the invitation with a sense of pride. "If you want to go, you'll have to beg me!"

Cello ignored Melinde's smugness, his mind latching onto a more pressing concern. "How did you know I've been training at home all day?"

Melinde's smile seized up, her face flushing a deep red. "I guessed!" she stammered. "Anyway... staying at home means your strength will improve so slowly! Boys should get out more," she rambled, clearly flustered.

"Do you want to go or not?" she demanded, her embarrassment turning to irritation.

Cello actually wanted to tell Melinde that his progress was anything but slow. In fact, as of last night's training session, his system evaluation had broken through to Tiger Level, even grazing the threshold of Ghost Level. Yet, he had to admit, after being cooped up for so long, a change of scenery was appealing. A superpower banquet? It did sound intriguing. Why not check it out?

Seeing Cello nod in agreement, Melinde's tension melted away. "This invitation is mine. If you're coming, you have to go with me," she quickly added, a condition that hardly fazed Cello.

Melinde's heart soared with joy. With her charm, she was confident that just one date would be enough.

Could Melinde really not handle someone as minor as Cello Everett?

Just then, Saitama emerged from his room, his eyes bleary with sleep.

"Teacher, it's time for our training."

Cello Everett offered a slight smile. "No training today."

"We're off to the superpower banquet!"

Melinde's face darkened instantly.

"What, I can't bring along an extra person?"

Cello Everett's brow creased subtly. "If that's the case, then I might also..."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Melinde hastily interjected.

Her smile was more bitter than a mouthful of bitter melon.

The Qingxuan family was a co-host of the banquet.

It wasn't a question of bringing one person; ten would be no issue.

But with Saitama tagging along, how could she possibly showcase her allure and capture Cello Everett's heart?

Cello Everett, unfazed by Melinde's scheming, simply smiled and gave Saitama an affirming nod.

"This could be a great opportunity for you to gain some perspective!"

He thought of the S-class heroes from One Punch Man.

Surely some must have made a name for themselves by now.

The thought even had Cello Everett feeling a sense of anticipation.

After all, next to Saitama, the hero known as Blast was the strongest.

Saitama's eyes sparkled with excitement.

He had always aspired to meet a hero like Cello Everett.

The chance to see so many heroes all at once thrilled him to no end!

Meanwhile, Melinde was left to sulk in solitude.

"Is it just me?"