#466 The Demon King Relapses

“I think I know why you got fat! It’s the mayonnaise! I’m sure of it!”

The Demon King chugged mayonnaise like a refreshing after-work drink.

I have no doubt about it because he did it right in front of my eyes.

“It’s only natural that you’ll gain weight if you ‘drink’ that! Why mayonnaise, of all things?! How can you call that a drink?!”

No wonder he got so fat!

The Demon King is the most important figure supporting the Demon Kingdom.

I’m sure the cooks are scrupulous in preparing his meals to maintain his health.

I know he’s a disciplined man, so it’s weird for him to grow obese...

“I didn’t know such a foreshadowing was lurking...!”

Mayonnaise—a mixture of eggs, vinegar, and oil.

It is exceptionally high in oil content and high oil content=high calories!

“‘Drinking’ this like water will only make you fat! So why?!”

“But... mayonnaise was the perfect drink to refresh me after a gloomy day drowning in paperwork.”

“IT’S. NOT. A. DRINK!”

It’s a condiment.

“Ingesting mayonnaise gives me this rush of strength from deep within. No matter how tired I am from my political duties or how mentally drained I may be, mayonnaise instantly revives me. That’s why I can’t live without it.”

You’ve grown dependent on it!

Good heavens. I didn’t know mayoras in another world were this far gone.

“Wait, did this world have mayoras in the first place?”

We developed mayonnaise some time ago here on the farm, but if it already existed before that, then it’s nothing new.

“Oh no. I learned everything about mayonnaise from you, Lord Saint.”

“What?!”

The Demon King’s reply shocked me.

“I remember it was served during dinner once. I was surprised by the richness of its flavor. But I was even more astonished when I heard what it’s made of—raw eggs! Unbelievable.”

Yes, that’s right.

But is there anything unusual about that?

“Eggs are supposed to be cooked, right? Otherwise, they will make you sick and even kill you! And yet, mayonnaise made from raw eggs is not the least bit dangerous! Anyone would be shocked!”

“Ah... I see...”

He must be talking about salmonella.

Eggs are highly likely to have this harmful bacteria, causing food poisoning.

You often hear you can’t eat rice with raw eggs outside Japan because the eggs’ quality assurance system may or may not have ways to eliminate salmonella.

Eggs are a common foodstuff in this world, so there probably have been salmonella-related incidents.

“Mayonnaise has vinegar, that’s why...”

Vinegar is the number one disinfectant.

Even if there is salmonella on raw eggs, the vinegar will kill it all.

That is why mayonnaise is safe to eat, even if made with raw eggs.

“I was shocked and impressed by mayonnaise’s wonders, so I set up a policy to popularize it in my nation.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Its ingredients, eggs, vinegar, and oil, are easily available in the Demon Kingdom. It is also highly nutritious and can help the starving villages. In fact, when we sent mayonnaise as relief supplies to villages where famine had occurred, the number of deaths from starvation was reduced to zero.”

For real?

Are you sure it’s not just because of your constant provisions?

You sent other things as relief, too, didn’t you? I can’t help but think that mayonnaise-only relief supplies are pure harassment!

“Since then, it quickly spread throughout the Demon Kingdom.”

And the mayonnaise taking their nation by storm...

Was developed on our farm?!

“Of course, people were initially skeptical because they were afraid to eat raw eggs. So, I, the Demon King, gulped mayonnaise myself to reassure them.”

“That’s how it became a habit of yours?”

And you’ve become a sucker for its taste, even to the point of treating it like a beverage?

“But look at where that got you! You can tell them it has no food poisoning risks, but what’s the point if you, their ruler, get fat from it?”

“Was the cause of my sudden weight gain really mayonnaise...?!” he says surprisedly as if the thought never crossed his mind.

What a turn of events this is.

I had no idea that my development of mayonnaise was the cause!

“Master...”

Veil and Horkosfon, who act like bystanders, stare at me with reproachful eyes.

“So, this all boils down to me?!”

“Your food is hardcore stuff, you know, Master. You have to be more careful with it.”

I don’t want to hear that from you, Veil.

“A-Anyway, Demon King, please stop binge-drinking... or binge-eating mayonnaise from now on. That’s definitely the cause of you becoming fat.”

“Whaaaaaaaaaat?!”

His face turns pale.

Is it that shocking?

“Wait a minute. Mayonnaise... mayonnaise is now absolutely indispensable for my political affairs. I have to consume it in between sessions to keep me stable!”

“Now you’re just plain addicted to it!”

Look, you may think that if you get fat, you can lose weight again, but using a reckless method is not going to make the cut all the time.

The Dragon & Angel Diet was attainable only because of the supreme miracle drugs: ramen and natto.

Unfortunately, dragon extract has a fixed dosage, and you’re already in the gray zone of its lasting effects.

“As such, you cannot have another bowl of dragon ramen! Without it, you can’t do the same reckless diet you did today!”

“Gonkotsu ramen, Master. Gonkotsu.”

Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Veil.

“But can’t he get by with just natto?”

There goes Horkosfon and her natto endorsements again.

But that’s not the root of the problem.

“What you need to do is stop what’s causing you to get fat. And giving up mayonnaise does just that.”

“So, you mean to say that if I can do that, my problem will be gone...?”

I’ve never seen the Demon King so tense before.

Is this another effect of mayonnaise?

“Please, Lord Saint! Mayonnaise is indispensable for the efficient conduct of my government! My nation needs it!”

“He’s right, Master!”

Huh?

Why are you agreeing, too, Veil?

“He’s the most powerful man in his nation, which means he has the hardest job in the world! He’s got a lot on his shoulders! I think we have to do something to help ease his burden!”

“I second what Veil said.”

You too, Horkosfon?!

“The reason this world is stable now is that the ruler, the Demon King, has the ability to make rational decisions. As a person who desires stability, we’d appreciate your support for him.”

These two guys have suddenly taken the Demon King’s side.

What’s gotten into them?

Wait, I know.

This world is peaceful because of the efforts and cooperation of each and every one of its inhabitants, but most especially the Demon King, who is the supreme ruler of the earth.

With his peaceful regime, I can live a leisurely life tinkering soil on my farm.

I get that.

That’s why I have to support the Demon King to my utmost ability...!

“...Very well.”

“Oh?”

“Let’s make a low-fat mayonnaise just for you.”

“Thank you, Lord Saint! I am in your debt!”

I know, okay?

Low fat or not, mayonnaise is still mayonnaise.

It’s not a fundamental solution.

The Demon King has returned to his muscular self for today.

Will he get fat sooner or later again? Who knows.