The Empire's Savior is My Belly Fat!
The air inside the Grand Conference Hall hung heavy as if the room itself had become a funeral parlor.
The faces of the Empire's senior officials were somber, their expressions darkening with every passing moment. In this solemn atmosphere where even a quiet breath felt intrusive, Emperor Karsion reclined at an angle on his imperial throne, listening to the reports from his subordinates.
“Kyah-woo!”
Why was I dragged here in the first place?
I lay sprawled across the Emperor's lap, wondering what political lessons a white tiger cub like me could possibly have learned. Why drag me along?
I propped my chin on the armrest and let my fluffy tail sway lazily. The aide had mentioned earlier that today was the biannual Imperial Conference, held only twice a year.
It was the gathering of every major figure the Empire could muster: the royal family, ministers from every department, the Magic Tower Master, the Saintess, the Knights Commander, and more. All the pillars of the realm stood together.
Of those present, eighty percent were my butlers.
Even with such a weighty atmosphere, it wasn't nearly as tense as I'd expected. I knew every face in the room.
I rested my body against the Emperor's soft robes and listened to the mind-numbingly dull proceedings. Tax collection, border defense, road repairs... words I had zero interest in. They slipped into one ear and out the other without ever touching my brain.
If they actually needed my help, I'd consider it. But these were fields I couldn't assist with at all.
To stay out of trouble I licked my paw pads and pretended to be absorbed in the meeting. Sensing my boredom, the Emperor kept patting my back with his thick palm at intervals.
“Kyah-woo... grrr...”
The recent grooming skill has gotten really good.
Every time those thick fingers brushed me, sleep threatened to pull me under.
Looking around, I saw Kailian standing at attention with perfect posture, Lina and Rosalia focused intently on their duties. Everyone looked busy, yet here I was the only one floating like excess baggage. It was a bit uncomfortable.
Just then the Minister of Home Affairs stepped forward with a grave expression. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Your Majesty, I beg your pardon, but we must report on an urgent matter. The situation is more serious than we feared.”
The Emperor stopped petting my fur. The minister swallowed hard and continued.
“The harvest in the Southern Region this year is disastrous. The severe drought last year means the grain yield will be no more than half of last year's.”
A ripple of unease spread through the conference hall. Low gasps escaped from all sides. The South was the Empire's breadbasket. If it collapsed, the Empire's table itself was threatened.
The Emperor asked in a lowered voice.
“What about our reserves? We can simply open the granaries.”
“That is the problem...”
The minister replied in a strained voice.
“Last year the border conflict forced us to use up the emergency reserves for military strengthening. The granaries are now empty. Without quick action, we may not be able to distribute food to the people starting next month.”
A heavy silence fell. Famine. Starvation. Those were the most terrifying words any ruler could hear.
“Kyah-woo.”
Wait, famine has actually broken out right now...? I didn't eat that much, did I...?
I felt a pang of guilt because of the late-night snack I had last night. The kitchen staff had been crying this morning.
“Haa...”
The Emperor pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh. The Eastern trade routes were temporarily shut down by monster outbreaks, making imports nearly impossible. The room filled with the heavy feeling of having no answers.
The Emperor finally stopped petting my fur and fell into serious thought.
Inside the hall a sharp tension filled the air.
I tried to think too, but I was too busy fighting off the powerful drowsiness that threatened to overwhelm me after a hearty lunch and the warm lap of the Emperor.
The moment the Emperor stopped touching me, sleep came even harder.
I couldn't resist the temptation to yawn.
“Kyah-aaaah... chaaap!”
I stretched my mouth wide, rolled up my tongue, and showed off my sharp canines and palate in one enormous yawn.
In the silent conference hall, my yawn echoed like thunder inside a cave.
“Chaaap, chaaap... qwa?”
Why...? Uh... sorry.
The instant my mouth was properly closed, the air inside the hall froze solid.
Dozens of pairs of eyes suddenly locked onto me. The Emperor, Kailian, Lina, Rosalia, and every single minister stared at me at once.
“Kyah... kyah-woo...?”
Why...? I didn't do anything wrong...
I paused, paw halfway to my mouth. What? Is this a serious conference and I'm about to get scolded for yawning?
I pretended to be clueless, avoided their gazes, and stole glances at them with the corner of my eye.
But the expressions on their faces were completely different from what I'd expected. It wasn't anger or the despairing looks from earlier. Nor was it the playful cuteness from before.
It was the look of someone who had just discovered superconductivity.
The minister who broke the silence was the Finance Minister. He stared at me blankly, then glanced at my rounded belly and muttered.
“Ah... now that I think about it...”
The Minister of Home Affairs beside him also looked at me. His eyes fixed on my belly.
“Miracle... It must have been a miracle, right?”
“Ah... indeed.”
“Why didn't we think of this sooner... We really are getting old.”
“This time for sure... we will bow our heads in gratitude.”
Low cheers rose from all sides. The realization that they had simply forgotten the obvious was spreading.
“Kyah-woo...”
Hey, you guys are the only ones who know about this!
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the belly resting on his lap. Thanks to the excellent eating and sleeping schedule, especially the secret late-night snacks, it was now plump, soft, and heavy.
A memory of the last miracle flashed through their minds. The towering mountains of meat and ingredients in the kitchen, followed by the surprisingly slim divine beast right after the miracle.
[Miracle that creates something from nothing.] A power worthy of being called divine authority. And the inevitable cost of that miracle: burning away body fat.
Their minds ran through a simple, clear calculation.
The divine beast's belly is the Empire's food supply.
“Your Majesty.”
Magic Tower Master Rosalia spoke calmly, adjusting her monocle. A strange heat burned in her eyes.
“Even with the naked eye it's obvious. No, it exceeds everything! Given the current size of the divine beast and the density of its belly... that amount of fat could easily extinguish the emergency fire in the North!”
The Minister of Home Affairs covered his mouth in awe.
“What wonderful luck! Truly... truly wonderful!”
“Kyah-woo?”
I shook my tail in confusion, not understanding a word.
But to them, even my dissatisfied tail waggling looked like a holy sign of abundance.
“Ahh, my divine beast!”
Lina let out a sigh of relief and placed a hand over her heart. Her eyes overflowed with infinite gratitude.
“We didn't realize it and worried because the divine beast's appetite was too great... Oh heavens, that fierce hunger saved the people of the Empire! If the divine beast had held back like a normal person and stayed slim instead of becoming such a big pig, it would have been terrifying just thinking about it!”
“Krrroong...!”
Hey, that was an insult! Calling me a pig!
“Your Highness. Your belly right now is not just flesh. It is the lifeline of the Empire. It is, quite literally, a food pouch! We are truly grateful that you have kept eating without rest.”
Lina grabbed my paw and shook it vigorously.
In other words, they were happy that I kept eating like a pig? I should have been angry, but the praise was too overwhelming and I missed my chance to sulk.
“My words were right, weren't they?”
Kailian grinned cheerfully and scratched under my chin with a proud expression.
“Remember what I told you? We Blanc are supposed to be well-fed. Even when everyone was making faces because we looked chubby, it was worth the effort of constantly bringing snacks.”
“Kyah-woo...”
You called me a pig yesterday...
Kailian suddenly scooped me up and showed my belly to the Emperor.
“Grandpa, look. This sturdy food pouch. Isn't it wonderful?”
“Yes. It looks very... sturdy.”
Even the Emperor's stern face softened, the corners of his mouth twitching. He stroked my belly as carefully as if handling fragile treasure.
“Blanc. I was honestly worried you were eating too much. But I was wrong. Thanks to you eating so diligently and filling your body, the Empire has been saved.”
Every time the Emperor's hand made my belly jiggle, gasps of admiration echoed.
“Whoa, look at that weight. So full and packed. You're truly amazing.”
“...kyah-woo...”
Is this actually praise?
I felt a strange mix of emotions. Should I be upset or happy? My head was spinning.
“Then, let's prepare immediately!”
The Minister of Home Affairs shouted with hope.
“Yes, we must prepare without fail. It is the holy day when my grandchild personally overcomes the Empire's crisis.”
“Yes!”
The minister's voice rang out with raised morale.
I tilted my head on the Emperor's lap and rubbed my nose against his hand.
I still don't understand. Was it really just because I ate well?
“Thanks to you, our pig... I mean, Blanc!”
Kailian scooped me up again and rubbed her cheek against mine.
“Kyah-woo...”
I am the god. Worship me, you ridiculous butlers!