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What is the way to earn respect from others?

Some seek knowledge, some seek character, and some seek wealth, among other things.

There are various means and methods, but throughout the history of humanity, the most widely used means has been power.

That doesn’t mean stabbing someone without reason, though. Unprovoked violence and murder were punishable even in ancient times.

So, what is the simplest way to demonstrate that power?

It’s to showcase one’s size and strength, flaunting masculinity.

If you’re taller and bigger than others, according to the laws of nature, the other person will inevitably bristle but will also take a moment to reconsider their own situation and attitude, which will then manifest as respect towards you.

However, the scientific physical training for efficiently building size and muscle only started to be established in modern times.

Before that, methods of gaining strength were pretty similar.

Wrestling, boxing, and other forms of bare-knuckle fighting.

Weaponry skills like swordsmanship, spear fighting, and shield techniques.

Outdoor activities like horseback riding and hunting, and sports.

Or just mindlessly lifting heavy objects repeatedly, or running until exhaustion.

Yet above all, there was a simpler method.

Simply eating to gain weight.

The standards of beauty and style have changed over time.

But just a few decades ago, being overweight was one way to flaunt one’s strength, power, and status.

As a result, men believed that the more they ate and drank, the more of a “real man” they were, while those who couldn’t keep up would look on with admiration, envy, or jealousy.

This trend was particularly strong among those with power, and it only started to fade after changes in diet and advancements in medicine demoted blob-like physiques.

In short, Godwin Felwinter was a remarkable young man with a brilliant future by the standards of Europa.

“Godwin? Looks like you’ve added quite a few new clothes, haven’t you?”

“Oh, Mother. I’ve grown bigger, so the clothes are tighter.”

“That’s one way to put it, but something seems a bit off. Wait, come here for a second.”

“Yes? Wait. No? Uh, Mother?”

“My goodness. Look at this belly! This isn’t a sign of being robust, you’ve just gained weight! No way! We’ll have to restrict or eliminate snacks until you either lose that fat or build muscle.”

“…!”

“And stop eating that mayonnaise, the gooey stuff!”

“..!!!”

“And eat more vegetables!”

“..!!!!!”

But as for the Duchess of Iceland, the mother of your children, would Elizabeth Felwinter really think so?

With modern aesthetic standards—and peculiar preferences by Europa standards—she couldn’t stand her eldest son’s increasingly plump appearance and drew her sword.

*

*

*

Haah…

The sound of a sigh echoed loudly across the room.

Godwin, sitting before Karem and Gordon, wore a tormented expression as if he bore the weight of the world.

“Is it really that big of a deal?”

“Of course it is!”

Bang! Godwin slammed his hands down on the table.

“My joy in life is disappearing, and if that’s not a big deal, then what is!?”

Do I really need to say that?

Karem looked at Godwin with a begrudging gaze, somewhat pitying him.

Well, it wasn’t entirely uncalled for on Godwin’s part, either.

Did anyone threaten him with a sword to eat that mayonnaise?

Not to mention, Godwin’s growing appetite each passing month.

Naturally, his weight and volume increased in tandem.

But the cooks weren’t responsible for that.

Karem firmly believed he wasn’t at fault.

After all, the cooks were merely cooking.

What people chose to eat was entirely up to them.

‘Though, it is odd that I’m not gaining weight either…’

Iceland’s diet was inherently greasy.

Most of the year dealt with the same harsh cold as other countries.

Spicy flavors added to such oily meals?

Of course, before the Fire Witch’s Finger, there were spicy spices, but compared to those with stronger scents, the stimulation was far greater with the former.

Naturally, it was expected that the appetites of those accustomed to Iceland’s diet would explode.

It was also to be expected that even those who ate less due to the heaviness of the meals could eat without hesitation once they made use of Fire Witch Finger.

With newly developed desserts appearing without warning, there was no one who would refuse them.

“So the answer is simple, right?”

Gordon, having stuffed an Egg Tart into his mouth, brushed off the powder and tapped the table dully.

“Just ask the kitchen secretly for more.”

“I’ve already tried. But every cook in Winterhome has been bribed by Mother.”

“Then there’s still one cook left—”

“Yeah, the only one who hasn’t been bribed is Karem, who’s out and about!”

That wasn’t wrong.

To feed the rescue team, many cooks were dispatched.

And now that they’d switched back to the subjugation team, only Karem had returned as the remaining chef.

“Just work out, then?”

“That’s not something easy to do.”

Karem’s neck twitched at the single response he made without hesitation.

What exactly am I supposed to do about that?

But Godwin had his own excuses.

“Though I had no choice but to extend sword training and horseback riding, I’m even hungrier, and all the chefs bribed by my mother only serve me the same bread, salad, and boiled meats with a sprinkle of salt!”

“Oh, if that’s the case…”

Karem could empathize to some degree.

He too struggled with dieting in his previous life.

The law of action and reaction. The principle of elasticity.

Those who move their bodies expect to fill the calorie need accordingly.

People’s instincts crave high-calorie food, but yielding to those instincts would not lead to weight loss, thus continuing the cycle of hardship.

After harsh efforts, he finally succeeded in losing weight.

Yet, those painful times remained etched in Karem’s memory.

“Hmm? Wait, I feel like I’m about to come up with something…”

“You are my hope!”

“Could you please be quiet? I’m in the middle of thinking.”

Such a callous reaction that could be seen as failing to respect one’s superiors.

Godwin ignored the gaze laden with reluctance that Gordon fixed on him as he finished the last Egg Tart.

Is this really okay?

‘Those Westerers lose weight just by changing their meals…’

Whatever that may be, Karem focused on wringing his mind dry.

Bread and rice are both refined carbohydrates.

But whether it’s due to the difference in usual diet or a varying function of the stomach, Westerners dropped weight significantly just by switching their diets.

He wasn’t sure of the details, but the summary was that they switched from bread to rice and tried to exclude oils from their meals as much as possible.

But alas.

Rice wouldn’t be found here.

At least Karem had never seen it in Winterhome.

He could ask Zigmeser to procure it; having no rice didn’t mean it was impossible. After all, there were plenty of other grains. And if he could just combine the diet somehow…

“Your Highness Godwin, what part of your meal are you most dissatisfied with right now?”

“First of all, it’s too raw as it is. No matter what, serving a salad of fresh fruits without dressing and just boiled meat is a bit much, don’t you think?”

“In other words, your mouth is dissatisfied?”

“Exactly.”

Godwin nodded firmly.

That’s good news in a way.

If taste is the issue rather than hunger, then Karem could prepare something suitable.

“First, I can’t take action right away.”

Godwin’s expression, which had been full of hope, crumbled in an instant at Karem’s words.

Gordon, who was dipping the pastry crumbs on his plate, said, “No, Your Highness, think about it. It’s only been one day since he went out, right? Besides, you just heard about it, didn’t you?”

“Ugh, was I too impatient?”

“Well, since he’s gone this far in his argument, let’s give him some time.”

“Huff, I see. I was being quite rude.”

With a relieved expression, Godwin stood from his seat.

“Anyway, you do say you actually have a solution?”

“Yes. But you must follow one rule.”

Karem spoke seriously.

“First, no mayonnaise for the time being.”

“Ugh, that’s… I guess there’s no choice.”

“And even if it feels off-putting, you must follow my advice.”

Gordon, who was tapping the empty plate, flinched.

He suddenly recalled events from Blackwood Village.

The Grizzly Beaver… what exactly were they trying to achieve?

Gordon stared at Karem with a suspicious, hard expression.

*

*

*

“Kuh, kuhu, hahahaha!!!”

Catherine, having heard all of this, could no longer maintain her dignity as both an employer and a Grand Wizard.

So the heir of the Duke’s Family came rushing in for something like this?

It was incomprehensible.

“Hmm, isn’t that a little nice, gaining weight like that? I really don’t understand the tastes of today’s youth.”

Meanwhile, Olivier, who was listening from a distance, frowned discontentedly, making remarks that suited his appearance.

“Four hundred years ago, at that age, such physique was easily deemed good by anyone.”

“You old man. Four hundred years ago, the world has changed at least forty times, and the tastes are bound to change. The Duchess’s tastes are indeed a bit unique.”

“You too, Kitty; the youths nowadays are just overly satisfied. When I was young—”

And here we go again.

Feeling the reverberations of the flashy magic battles that followed their usual bickering, Karem momentarily kept his mouth shut.

And after a while, neither of them waited for the other to begin; those two Grand Wizards simultaneously clicked their tongues and withdrew their magic.

“So, Karem. Is there any method at all?”

“Truth be told, it’s not that difficult.”

“Eeh?”

Olivier gazed at Karem, full of curiosity.

Catherine was the same, but Karem puffed out his chest confidently.

Karem was indeed certain of himself.

He had amassed direct and indirect experiences through various media and lived them firsthand; how could he be stumped by a meal plan?

While he couldn’t honestly claim to be a professional about it.

Karem, who always justified himself with genius at every turn, wasn’t that immoral.

Ultimately, the essence of dieting boiled down to two points.

Increase physical activity and adjust the food consumed.

And Karem was a cook, so all he needed to do was create a fitting diet plan.

Of course, if ordinary folk saw Karem’s diet plan, they would sneer about how this was hardly a diet just because it lacked rice.

But this is Europa.

With physiques and diets close or identical to Westerners, that amount of diet would suffice.

“First, exclude the butter and oily Icelandic diet.”

“Hoho, certainly, the food of cold regions is rich.”

“Pack it full of meat and vegetables.”

“Right, that too. Huh? What?”

“I’m going to replace rice with oats.”

Should I discourage this or not?

Catherine and Olivier. The mentor and student hardly ever aligned in private.

Unaware of the thoughts of the two, Karem was busy brainstorming his menu as he walked away, not looking back at the empty tableware.

 

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