Primeria von Weltheim-she was one of the primary heroines of the story known as 'Sword, Magic, and the Cadenas'¹... and she also happened to be the younger sister of the villainous noble, Kraut.
However, in truth, Primeria was not actually Kraut's sister at this current stage of things.
Her origins were that of an illegitimate child of a Viscount⁴ family. It was only because the current Duke Weltheim³-Kraut's father-took a keen interest in her immense magic² and her striking beauty that she would be adopted into the family when Kraut reached the age of twelve. In other words, she was his sister-in-law by bond, not blood.
But because of those very origins and her natural excellence, she was destined to be targeted by Kraut's cruelty.
From that point until she eventually met the protagonist, she would endure years of torment at Kraut's hands, leaving deep scars upon her heart... well, I suppose I should be off to give that fellow a good thrashing now. Even if that 'fellow' is me.
Kraut's past atrocities were utterly unforgivable, but before he could ever meet her, the original soul had been replaced by 'me'. And I was someone who absolutely adored Primeria.
Which meant, quite simply...
"I can make my favorite character happy with my own two hands! There is no greater act of devotion than this!"
Ha ha ha! When I first realized I had been reincarnated as Kraut, my heart nearly failed me, but perhaps I should actually be grateful. I was perfectly aware that my mood was a bit peculiar, but the excitement simply wouldn't stop bubbling up.
...By the way, Heliotrope. You, who stand silently by your master's side despite his eccentric antics, are truly a paragon among maids. Even if you are currently scowling quite fiercely.
* * *
There are times, aren't there, when one falls into a state of utter, cold sobriety after making a complete spectacle of oneself in a fit of strange excitement? Only to be overcome by a desperate wish to vanish from the face of the earth.
...Yes, that is exactly the predicament I find myself in. I wish I could simply turn into a clam and hide away.
Between the earlier fervor and the present, creeping shame, my throat had suddenly gone dry. The tea had gone quite cold by now, but for the current 'me', that seemed just about right.
Fearing the sofa might swallow me whole again if I lounged, I perched on a chair and lifted the teacup. As I brought the rim toward my lips, my eyes caught a glimpse of the face reflected on the surface of the tea.
In an instant, I froze.
"...Master? Shall I brew a fresh pot of warm tea after all?" Heliotrope asked.
"......"
She was being thoughtful, but I didn't have the mental capacity to give her an answer.
My hands-no, my entire body-began to tremble. The tea in the cup rippled violently, sending several droplets splashing onto my clothes.
"A-Ah..."
"M-Master?" she inquired, her voice tinged with concern.
That's right, how could I have failed to notice... death flags? Making my sister happy? Before any of that, wasn't there something far more pressing I had to do!
I slammed the cup onto the table and lunged upward from the chair-managing to stand properly this time. With that same momentum, I thrust my fist high into the air and made a powerful declaration.
"I'm going on a diet!!"
"...Pardon?"
The face of the current Kraut, reflected in that tea... it was the first time I had truly seen it since my reincarnation, and it brought me to a crushing realization of my current situation-no, my current catastrophe!
I was a flabby, slovenly mess of a person. I was so round that I looked like a failed attempt at a magical fusion. I wondered if my spiritual fusion had somehow impacted my physical girth?
Regardless, I absolutely could not meet my favorite girl in this 'selfish body' of mine!
There is a theory that ninety percent of a first impression is decided by appearance. If my absolute favorite character looked at me and thought,
'Ugh, gross. He's basically an Orc⁵. I literally can't even deal with having this thing as a brother lol,'
I would probably just shrivel up and die. Well, I didn't think she'd actually talk like a modern valley girl, but you get the point.
For the record, an Orc was a massive, pig-like monster that walked on two legs. I hadn't encountered one yet, but if one ever dared to mistake me for its kin, I was prepared to hunt the entire species to extinction.
Orc issues aside, the current Kraut had only just turned nine. There should be at least three years before Primeria arrived at the Weltheim household.
Until then, I would work my hardest to lose weight. I wanted to achieve such a dramatic transformation that people would gasp in disbelief at the 'before and after'.
When I thought about it, Kraut was severely lacking in almost everything. Academics, combat, magic, elegance, character, education, manners, and the proper treatment of a lady-he was a walking failure in every category.
In the game, he was always making eyes at the second princess, but he really should have looked in a mirror. On the outside, he was an orc; on the inside, he was a Goblin⁶.
As a side note, the concept of a 'status window' did not exist in this world.
In a game, defeating enemies would raise your level and boost your stats. However, this world was annoyingly realistic... if you wanted to get strong, you had to train. It was a brutally physical system.
Therefore, if I were to shout "Status Open!" like a typical isekai protagonist, I would promptly be labeled as a suspicious lunatic.
...Exactly. If the Kraut of the game was a villain who made his sister miserable, then the 'New Kraut'-me-would walk the exact opposite path!
"I can do it for her! I'll master academics, combat, magic, elegance, character, education, manners, and how to treat a lady! It's time for the Villainous Noble Son Reformation Project!!"
I wasn't going to be the King of the Pirates... I was going to be the ideal older brother!!
Unable to sit still a moment longer, I sprinted out of my room. Heliotrope, with her absolute-zero gaze, followed behind at a leisurely walking pace, yet somehow she was keeping up with me even as I ran my heart out!
...First, I suppose, we start with jogging.
Summary:
Kraut realizes that before he can win over his future stepsister Primeria, he must address his own physical and social failings. Horrified by his 'orc-like' reflection in a cup of tea, he resolves to undergo a massive transformation. He plans to spend the next three years dieting and studying to become the ideal older brother. The chapter ends with him impulsively beginning his first workout by running out of his room.
Character Insight:
This chapter highlights Kraut's transition from passive observation to active participation in his new life. His motivation is purely fan-driven; his love for Primeria as a 'character' provides the catalyst for self-improvement that the original Kraut never possessed. However, his internal monologue reveals a deep-seated self-loathing regarding his current appearance, showing that his journey will be as much about building confidence as it is about losing weight.
Behind the Scene:
The protagonist's reference to 'I want to be a clam' (Watashi wa kai ni naritai) is a famous Japanese cultural reference to a 1958 TV drama/movie about a man who wants to escape the suffering of human life. The 'Fusion' reference is a nod to Dragon Ball, used here to describe his disproportionate physique.
T/L:
1 ↩ The fictional Otome Game world Kraut has been reincarnated into.
2 ↩ The supernatural energy used to cast spells in this world.
3 ↩ The highest rank of nobility below the royal family.
4 ↩ A rank of nobility below a Count and above a Baron.
5 ↩ A classic fantasy monster, often depicted as a pig-faced humanoid.
6 ↩ Small, malicious fantasy creatures often used to denote low character or ugliness.
Notes:
• Primeria - A main heroine of 'Sword, Magic, and the Cadenas'. Currently the illegitimate child of a Viscount family with high magical power and beauty. Destined to be adopted by the Weltheim Duke family when Kraut is twelve.
• Kraut - The eldest son of a Duke's family. He has blue eyes, a straight nose, and short silver hair. Despite his handsome facial features, he is notably obese. He was previously arrogant and selfish before regaining memories of a past life.
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.