"Guh-hehh... guh-heeehhh..."
A sound like the eerie moaning of a monster echoed through the training grounds. Usually, this wide arena was filled with the diligent drills of the Duke House¹ knights, but today, an altogether different and far more unsettling atmosphere hung in the air.
"Gufuh... guhehh... uguh..."
It was a noise quite impossible to associate with a human being. Moreover, I certainly didn't want to believe such a sound was currently leaking from my own mouth!
Just the other day, I had firmly resolved to embark on the Villainous Heir Remodelling Plan². Guided by that newfound determination, I had sprinted from my room... only to find myself utterly spent before I had even reached the mansion's exit.
I was in despair! I was in utter despair at a lack of stamina that defied even my lowest expectations!
And so, I decided to start with a simple bit of jogging to build up my physical strength... but, as expected, or perhaps even worse than expected, I was already at death's door after only a few minutes of running.
As one might expect from a pampered, overfed, and deeply unhealthy child, I was barely on the level of a goblin - no, I was likely inferior to one. Even in my previous life, where I had been the self-proclaimed 'ace' of the Go-Home Club from primary school through university, I had never been this pathetic.
As these thoughts flickered through my mind, my vision began to flicker with sparks. By the time I realized what was happening, my legs had tangled together and I was diving headfirst toward the dirt.
"Guh-ha!"
"Young Master!?"
I heard Sebastian's worried voice, but I had no spare energy to acknowledge him. My head was spinning, my legs were shaking like jelly. I was barely managing to maintain a crawling position on the ground.
I desperately fought back the urge to retch, forcing down the bile rising from my stomach to prevent an undignified transformation into a fountain. My ears were ringing, making it hard to hear, but it seemed the knights watching from a distance were letting out stifled laughs. It was painful.
This was going to be a much harder road than I had imagined. However, for the sake of my love for my favorite character, I couldn't afford to lose!
* * *
The following day.
"From today, I won't be needing any sweets with my tea."
"......"
When I said this to Heliotrope, who had brought me my morning tea, she looked at me with eyes full of utter disbelief. Really, must you look at me like that?
I doubted a person would look with such suspicion even at a best friend who had just pushed them off a cliff.
"...Are you truly not going to eat them?" Heliotrope asked.
"Yeah. It would be a waste to throw the rest away... so please, share them among everyone else," I replied.
As befitting a medieval fantasy world, sugar was a luxury item. Despite that, the fact that high-grade sweets laden with sugar were served daily as tea snacks was a testament to the wealth of the Duke House.
However, to me, currently in the midst of a desperate diet, these sugary treats were my mortal enemies. My fated rivals. Truly, their battle power was 530,000.
That said, my former Japanese 'Mottainai' spirit wouldn't allow me to simply toss them out, so having the servants who looked after me eat them was the best solution. Many of the servants were women, and I was sure they would appreciate the sweets.
...For a boy like Kraut, who was currently profoundly unpopular even among his own staff, I had to steadily earn points in places like this.
"If you like sweet things, Heliotrope, please help yourself too," I said.
"Thank you... very much," Heliotrope said quietly.
She seemed to be in something of a daze, as if her mind were elsewhere, but I felt like that was the first time she had ever actually thanked me.
Well, back when Kraut had purchased her from the slave trader, he had smirked and taunted her, saying, 'I'm the one who bought you. Why don't you show some gratitude?'
At the time, she had glared at him with absolute daggers in her eyes and muttered, '...Thank you... very much.' It would be quite a stretch to call that an actual thank-you. It was practically a legal insult to even suggest it.
...Yes, I definitely needed to raise Heliotrope's affection, or I'd never be able to dissolve the slave contract. Otherwise, it would be 'off with his head' for me.
* * *
The day after that. I couldn't very well spend every waking moment from morning till night on nothing but dieting. Starting today, I was to try my hand at studying with a tutor.
As for that tutor--
"To think the Young Master would seek to devote himself to his studies of his own volition...! I, Sebastian, am moved to tears!"
"Ah... yeah, I'm counting on you," I muttered.
Before we had even begun, the 'romance grey' butler of the house was already sobbing with overwhelming emotion. He was the reliable Sebastian, though I really wished he'd stop with the 'Young Master' bit.
Since he was the one managing the affairs of the Duke House, he was actually incredibly talented. It seemed he could teach everything from arithmetic and estate management to dance and etiquette - everything except martial arts. Honestly, Sebastian alone was probably enough for my entire education.
And so, once Sebastian had finished crying, I had him begin the lessons.
Until now, Kraut had skipped the education a noble son ought to receive. Since I was trying to make up for lost time, the pace of the lessons was quite brisk.
However, despite never graduating, I was someone who had technically made it through a university economics department. When it came to subjects other than history, I apparently already possessed practical-level knowledge... which sent Sebastian into another round of weeping.
"As expected of the Young Master! You are a prodigy worthy of being the heir to the Duke House! You may even become a lord who surpasses your father!"
"Ah... yeah, sure."
I felt a bit bad for Sebastian, but wasn't that setting the bar a little too low?
After all, my parents had left the management of the Duke Territory³ and the care of their son entirely to their subordinates, while they spent their time enjoying endless parties in the Royal Capital. They only returned home a few times a month at most, and there were plenty of months where they didn't show up at all.
In short, the parents were doing as they pleased in the capital, while the son did as he pleased in the territory. Truly a family of villainous nobles; one could only pity those who had to work for them.
Well, considering my future plans, this situation was actually quite convenient, so I decided to leave them be for a while, despite feeling a bit guilty.
Right, the next lesson was... eh, etiquette? W-well, in my previous life I was a polite Japanese person, so I should be able to manage somehow!
I failed both dance and etiquette miserably.
Summary:
Kraut attempts to begin his physical fitness regime but collapses from exhaustion almost immediately, realizing the dire state of his health. To aid his weight loss, he gives up his luxury sweets, offering them to his suspicious maid, Heliotrope, to build rapport. He begins academic tutoring with Sebastian and discovers that his previous life's education makes him a prodigy in economics and management. However, he quickly learns that his modern sensibilities do not translate to success in noble dance and etiquette.
Character Insight:
In this chapter, Kraut shows a shift from purely selfish survival to a more strategic, albeit clumsy, social awareness. By giving his sweets to the servants, he's attempting to reverse the negative reputation his predecessor cultivated, showing he understands that 'villainy' is as much about perception as it is action. His struggle with etiquette highlights the gap between his modern identity and the rigid expectations of his new noble life, suggesting that while his mind is sharp, his body and social graces have a long way to go.
Behind the Scene:
The chapter title is a parody of Frieza's famous line from Dragon Ball Z regarding his power level. The author uses this pop-culture reference to emphasize how insurmountable Kraut perceives his 'enemies' (the high-calorie sweets) to be.
T/L:
1 ↩ Duke House: Refers to the household of a high-ranking noble, typically holding the rank of Duke (Koushaku) in the Japanese 'Narou' fantasy hierarchy.
2 ↩ Villainous Heir Remodelling Plan: Kraut's personal project name for changing his appearance and behavior to avoid the 'bad endings' usually associated with villain characters in games.
3 ↩ Duke Territory: The land managed and ruled by the Duke family; in this genre, the lord often has significant autonomy over regional laws and taxes.
Notes:
• Sebastian - An elderly butler serving the Weltheim household.
• 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.
• 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.