Extreme Diet
"...You seem to be in a good mood, my lord."
"......"
Pablo Brace, the duke whose default expression was utter blankness. But the dedicated maid, who had served him for years, knew better. He never showed even this much expression unless something truly piqued his interest.
Clink. Pablo set down his utensils and rose.
"I'll escort you to your study."
"No need." Turning his back to her, he casually adjusted his black coat. "If the boy who's only ever rotted away from the inside is finally ready to change, a father can't just sit idly by."
"Do you believe what Young Master said?"
"Do you think I really would?"
The maid lifted her head toward Pablo, then quickly bowed it again. "...No, my lord. You only believe what you see with your own eyes."
"You know me well."
"Then why—"
Pablo paused, the corner of his mouth twitching upward ever so slightly. The maid's eyes widened in surprise upon seeing his face. It had been years since he'd shown any expression this pronounced.
"His eyes," Pablo said.
"...Pardon?"
"His eyes were different."
Sian Brace, the wastrel young master with the worst potential and character imaginable. Every time Pablo saw those dull, vacant eyes, he'd felt ashamed to call him his own son—a utter disgrace.
But just moments ago...
"Eyes filled with resolve. It's been ages since I last saw that look on him."
"I see."
"Whenever he had eyes like that, he always delivered something."
For a fleeting moment, memories of young Sian flashed through Pablo's mind. Please don't disappoint me this time.
A week passed after that.
The logout button still hadn't appeared, and now I was starting to worry about my real body back in the world. But what good was complaining? My life was already all-in on Ariel anyway. Might as well enjoy it with a positive mindset.
Though possessing the protagonist would've been nice.
"Huff... huff..."
This was a fresh thrill, too. When would I ever get to move a body as hefty as Sian Brace's?
Come to think of it, since I've been synced to the game world for over a week, someone must've taken measures for my real body.
Staying positive has always been my strength. So...
"Ughhh... bleeech!"
Vomiting and sweating like this was a valuable experience.
But seriously, how much had this guy just eaten to live like this? One lap around the garden, and my body was screaming in agony. This was a whole different league of fat guy.
"Oh my, what's going on with him? Did the sun rise in the west?"
"Squealing like a pig being slaughtered from the morning run, and now he's hugging a tree trunk and puking his guts out."
"Tsk tsk, give it three days max. Tomorrow he'll be covered in hives from head to toe and taking it out on us innocents. People never change."
As I leaned against a tree in the duke's territory, vomiting my soul out, the maids' chatter drifted over from nearby.
...Once I reclaim my power, the maids are first on the list.
They were only bold because I was still seen as the dantian-shattered wastrel young master, with even the duke turning a blind eye.
As I steeled my resolve...
Thwang—!Whoooosh—!
I was heading to the bath to wash off the sweat-soaked grime when a sharp whoosh cut through the air from the family training grounds.
What the—?
I stopped and turned toward the sound.
In the center of the wide training grounds, a woman with fiery red hair whipping like flames swung her sword ferociously.
"That's enough for now, Lady Sara."
"N-no! I can keep going. I'm still full of energy!"
"Qi deviation will hit you. Stop being stubborn and rest."
Lady. That word jogged a forgotten detail.
The Brace Duke family has two heirs.
It had to be my younger sister. Unlike her disgrace of an older brother, the wastrel, she had decent sword talent and carried the family's hopes. She'd always loathed her brother like a bug, and her name was...
"I swear on my name, Sara Brace, that qi deviation won't come! Please, just one more—"
"Haa."
A deep sigh drew my eyes to the woman beside my sister.
How big a deal is this guy to treat a duke's daughter like that...? Wait, what?!
I gulped without thinking.
Ethereal golden hair like settled ash. An overwhelming presence that no training robe could hide.
"Sword Fairy! I-isn't that aura?!"
"No, it's not."
...No way. The real Sword Fairy??
The monster among monsters, ranked #2 in the world's power rankings—why was she teaching swordsmanship to a half-baked duke's daughter?!
Swordmasters at that realm had superhuman instincts. If I peeked too obviously and showed even a hint of difference from the original wastrel Sian, she might spot the incongruity in an instant.
...I was too complacent thinking this was just an extra villain's house.
I hurriedly stifled my presence and turned to leave—then felt a chilling gaze pierce my back.
My heart dropped, but I forced a casual stride.
Just my imagination. Even a Swordmaster couldn't pick me out from this distance.
Probably just glanced at the passing dung beetle. Wondering why the wastrel was up early, that's all.
I shook off the nagging unease and hurried to the bath.
...But from that quick peek.
They really are fucking huge. First time seeing anything like that in my life. No wonder the forums buzzed that she might be #1 in something else despite #2 in power. It all made sense.
A month passed.
"Huff, haa, huff!"
Slosh, slosh!
Know any scientific facts that are common sense among dieters? Fat on obese people falls into two main types: rock-hard when you poke it, or jiggly and squishy like a water balloon.
People often mistake the hard fat for healthier muscle-mixed stuff, but it's the opposite. That's hardened, fibrous fat cells swollen to bursting— the absolute worst for weight loss.
On the flip side, if the fat's gone soft and jiggly...
It means the rigid fat tissues have loosened, prepping the body to burn it off.
"Hoo, hoo!"
I slapped my belly fat while running. Back when I first possessed this body, it was taut like a tire—now it wobbled softly like slime.
All thanks to my blood, sweat, and tears.
The first day, half a lap around the duke's garden had me foaming at the mouth. Now I could push past seven laps easy.
Of course, I didn't just brute-force exercise. This damn mansion's meals were all meat, butter, oily sauces. No wonder staying fat was inevitable.
So I summoned the maids and issued a strict order: from now on, only raw veggies and boiled chicken on my table.
The result?
"Huff... haa... Delicious. So damn good!"
Dopamine surged as tormenting my body turned fun. Felt like I was living harder than in my real life.
Maybe because it's a game world? Pain didn't feel so bad. Peeling off the fat layers and fixing my shattered dantian filled me with joy.
Shattered dantian characters are usually doomed, but I'm the only one who knows how to revive this trash—thanks to being a game vet.
As I rounded the garden corner, panting hard...
"Hey, fatty!"
A short, curt voice from behind halted me.
No need to turn—I knew who it was. Only one person in the duke's territory called me that.
"Fatty? To your sky-high brother."
I stopped and looked back. As expected, Sara Brace stood there, arms crossed, glaring.
"So why'd you call?"
"......"
I caught my breath and replied. Sara scanned my sweaty, jiggling mess from head to toe, then scowled deeply. A look of utter contempt, like she'd seen something vile.
The old Sian would've wilted or snapped back, but not me.
Reading my eyes demanding she get to the point, Sara spat it out. "The Sword Fairy wants to see you."
"...What?"
My heart plummeted.
"Deaf? Sword Fairy Iris wants you. Head to the training grounds now."
"W-wait... why?"
A whole month holed up munching greens and running—why now?
That chilling gaze from a month ago flashed in my mind.
...Going means I'm screwed for sure.
A one-on-one with that Swordmaster was suicidal gambling. No logout guarantee, no respawn on death—in this one-life coin toss, I couldn't walk into the lion's den.
"You spiteful little sister. Tell her this." I tamped down my pounding heart, forcing a dry, firm tone. "I refuse."
"...What?"
"Can't you see? I'm on a diet, too busy. Say it politely."
"You weirdo fatty! Last time you begged me for her teachings!"
"That was then. Changed my mind."
I left the flustered Sara behind and resumed running.
But at that point, I had no idea.
"Why refuse?"
"......N-need to do bodyweight exercises."
"Then we can do them together. I enjoy crossing swords, but pressing muscles together is nice too."
That she'd come straight to me at the crack of dawn while I was jogging.