07. Villainess Lady Diet Operation (Complete)
How was I supposed to process this?
A girl who'd looked like she had two rice cakes stuck to her cheeks, someone who seemed like she'd roll if you pushed her, had transformed into one of the top beauties in the domain in just a week.
Reducing intake alone leads to weight loss at a rate of 1-2kg per week if you're lucky. But even with exercise, this was insane.
"Thanks to you, Grid, I've regained my old self. I can't tell you how happy I am."
Leperi, who'd tidied herself up, shyly spoke from beside me.
I was flustered and couldn't meet her eyes.
I've never in my life had a woman blush like this while looking at me.
"Please, just speak casually to me, Leperi."
I couldn't take it anymore.
Where had that rude attitude of hers gone?
She flinched, then started trembling faintly.
"Th-that...! The awful side I showed you at first! C-can you forget it, please...?"
Leperi said that and tried to hug herself with both arms.
She didn't quite succeed.
Maybe she hadn't adjusted to her new body size yet—her crossed arms sliced through empty air instead of her upper arms.
It was cute, but seeing that made it impossible to grasp just how drastically she'd slimmed down.
"Count, I'd like to know what schedule Leperi followed after receiving the injection."
I asked the count, whose eyes were practically dripping honey, to explain from the beginning.
This guy seemed like he'd exaggerate too, but at least he was better than that broken girl over there.
"The effect kicked in right after the abdominal injection."
What?
"Leperi, who used to eat enough for fifty grown men a day, suddenly said two portions filled her up."
"Father!"
Her eating habits exposed, Leperi's face turned as red as her hair. She let out a squeak.
The count's lips curved up even more, clearly delighted.
"After that, it was smooth sailing. Her training volume was already substantial, so the results came naturally."
"If I may ask, what was Lady Leperi's training regimen like...?"
"During academy breaks, aside from meals and sleep, she devotes everything to sparring and training."
Good lord. How did she end up with that body on such a schedule?
No wonder her personality got twisted. What kind of rotten luck was that?
Effort without reward, bingeing as the only pleasure.
It's inevitable to lean toward one path, but she never abandoned her efforts anyway.
"You've been through so much heartache, Leperi. I can only imagine the worries you couldn't voice..."
"N-no, th-that's.... um...."
Though I provided the variable with my treatment, would this result have happened without her blood, sweat, and tears?
It hit me hard, reminding me of my old life, and I got emotional.
"The treatment I sold is just an aid at best. This beautiful figure you have now is solely the inevitable result of your efforts, Leperi."
This time, it wasn't for points—it was from the heart.
"...!"
Leperi suddenly bowed her head deeply, then dashed off after a quick nod.
"Leperi?"
"Hahaha! You did the same at the inn, but your silver tongue is no joke!"
"I have no idea what you mean, Count."
"If you know what you're doing, you're born to be a merchant. If not, watch yourself."
"Pardon?"
The count stroked his chin beard with a sly grin.
"Never mind. I don't want to say the wrong thing and get on my daughter's bad side."
"But it's true. The treatment I sold you suppresses appetite, reducing nutrient absorption to achieve weight loss."
"Exactly. That's why she turned out like that, right?"
"?"
I made a confused face, and the count dropped his smile, looking at me like I was an idiot.
"Heh... I thought you were smart from your quick thinking, but apparently not."
If I were that smart, I wouldn't have gotten tangled with your family.
"Isn't the effect you know based on ordinary people?"
"Right. Is there that big a difference between mana users and non-users?"
"Of course."
Oh.
"Once you learn to handle mana, your body tries to return to the state most suited to its condition."
What? Why was this world pulling a full-body transformation like in wuxia novels?
"For a swordsman, it's a body optimized for martial arts; for a mage, reconfiguration of mana circuits, and so on."
Nothing like that was in the original story. "No chronic illnesses" hid this profound meaning?
"All my daughter needed was appetite suppression. Combined with mana, her body reverted to its ideal state."
"So because Leperi is a swordsman, she saw results so quickly?"
"Yes. If she'd followed our family tradition into magic, it'd probably have been the effect you described."
I got really lucky. Leperi being a swordsman, the world's mana working this way.
I'd planned to rake in cash with ongoing payments until normal weight.
"At this point, she probably doesn't need more treatments."
Time to let go, swallowing my tears.
"I'd love to say we should monitor progress longer, that it might revert, so long-term use is best."
Leperi's blushing, shy face flashed in my mind.
"But I don't want to undermine the achievement from her efforts."
Hearing that, the count stopped stroking his beard and approached me.
He bowed his head.
"Grid, as a father, I truly thank you. From the bottom of my heart."
What? Why this suddenly?
Was he about to say, "Become our family slave for my daughter!"?
"Forgive me—I was so blinded by worry for my daughter that I nearly slighted my benefactor."
Nope. Just a doting dad.
Sorry for misjudging your character, Count.
'This beautiful figure you have now is solely the inevitable result of your efforts, Leperi.'
I couldn't stay there any longer and fled.
What if he was disappointed by my rude behavior?
"B-but.... b-but...."
If I'd stayed, my face would've exploded!
-Bubble bubble
Soaking in cold water to cool off, but it just felt chilly—my flushed face wouldn't calm.
"Nanny, you there?"
"Of course, miss."
"Um... Have you ever had your head full of just one person?"
"Of course. That's how I got my family."
"F-family?"
Why was family suddenly popping up?
"N-no, not like that...."
"You're talking about Mr. Grid who visited today, right?"
"Well, yeah, but...."
"You keep thinking about him, he nags at your mind, you want to see him, spend time together. Right?"
"... ."
-Bubble bubble
I couldn't answer and just took water in my mouth.
"Miss, that's love."
"L-love?"
"Yes, love. Sudden yet intense, natural yet special."
I didn't know what to say.
Nanny's never been wrong.
Does that mean... I like... l-like... like Grid?
B-but, b-but....
"Nanny.... I've never shown him a good side from start to finish...."
I barged in, smashed his shop door, and was rude!
I devoured a pot of rice and a pot of meat right in front of him like a glutton!
I only showed my ugly pre-weight-loss self, not even after!
"What am I gonna do, Nanny.... I'm done for.... Ruined before it even started...."
My vision blurred. Sadness welled up in tears I couldn't stop.
"What's wrong with that, miss?"
Nanny's kind voice right before I burst into sobs.
"A bad first impression doesn't doom love. You can make up for it anytime."
"Sniff.... Really?"
"Of course. Your father first met your mother while he was fooling around with two blonde maids on either side."
No way. Father only has eyes for Mother?
"...First I've heard."
"Naturally. He cut off all his indulgences after that day."
Father was a playboy originally?
"This nanny was so upset back then. I told him to hold back for years, but he quit cold turkey because your mother hated it."
"B-but that's different from this! I only showed him the worst as a woman!"
"Did you only show bad sides?"
"Huh?"
"The effort Mr. Grid saw today isn't something anyone can show."
"I guess...."
Chewing on that thought brought Grid's face back, and the heat rose again.
"I'll help you win Mr. Grid's heart, so don't worry."
"Y-yeah! I trust only you, Nanny! Achoo!"
Stayed in the cold water too long. Time to get out.
Grid's probably back at his shop by now...?
I want to see him again soon....
Achoo!
"Someone talking about me?"
Sneeze in the carriage heading to the shop.
Us regular folk without mana have it rough.
"Mana, huh."
As a shopkeeper, I hadn't thought I needed it.
Skills activate without sensing anything, so mine probably doesn't require mana.
But this incident changed my mind.
At minimum, I need self-defense.
Not against Iris, Count, or Leperi levels, of course.
Lower than that.
I don't plan to grind business hard, but with a shop in the academy district?
I should handle troublesome customers myself.
Bonus: no more sniffles.
Issue is finding someone to teach me.
"No clue on a good route."
Asking Iris or the Count is tough.
One'd get clingy once close, the other's too burdensome.
Leperi's a student, so out.
Can't enter the academy. If my "sister" enrolls because I came here....
Wait, I don't even have a sister to enroll. What now?