#463 The Demon King Grows Plump

The Demon King’s here.

I feel like we’ve been seeing each other more often since he attended the weddings of Arowana and myself, but it has been quite a while since he visited just to meet me and have a chat over a cup of tea.

And it’s been some time since I got to talk to him face to face, so...

“S-Something’s different about you.”

“You think?” he replies.

We’re casually having tea at the table, but there’s this mysterious tension in the air.

What should I say?

Do I have to probe further?

“It’s just, I can feel something’s different... maybe it’s your presence?”

“That makes me happy if so. I am the lord of a nation, and as such, I must be as dignified as I can be.”

That’s not what I meant!

Ugh. Do I really have to be blunt about this?!

But the issue is kind of sensitive.

If I’m too straightforward, I might ruin the mood... and there’s no point of return from that!

“You needn’t fret so much.”

“Huh?”

“You can say it. That I, Demon King Zedan...”

Has grown fat.

“Ahh, you’ve gained weight, Demon King!”

“You really said it...?!”

As head of the demon race and ruler of a nation, the importance of his position is boundless.

When I first met him, he had this majestic, muscular, and towering figure like a wall closing in on you, intimidating me.

But now...

“No inkling of that trace is left...”

“Must you really elaborate on it...?”

He has become so round, from the contour of his face to the shape of his limbs.

Since he used to be muscular, the extra fat has made him look even bigger.

He’s still intimidating, but instead, it feels like a massive slab of meat is closing in on you.

I feel uncomfortable just seeing him in that state.

“...You’ve gained weight.”

“Yes.”

I can’t believe I didn’t notice this change in him until today.

He was literally at my wedding just the other day.

Such an obese body can’t have been created overnight, can it?

Ah, but I had other things on my mind at that time.

I was so occupied that I failed to notice the Demon King’s change.

...Or maybe I was trying not to notice it?

“The war with the human race is over, and the world is at peace. Now that there are no enemies, I focus on domestic affairs and do paperwork.”

Is that why you have fewer opportunities to be physically active?

“I thought I had been practicing diligently, but it seems I was still getting less exercise. Ultimately, I found myself in this situation.”

“I can only imagine how hard your work must be.”

He’s a king, after all.

The administration of the Demon Kingdom lies in his judgment, and the stress from it may have led him to overeat occasionally.

And the end result is... this.

“As you know, I look forward to coming home to my wives and kids every day. When the whole family is around the table, I end up eating and drinking more...!”

“I guess that goes to show your wives are taking care of you well...”

“I’ve come to accept things. It happens to people as they get older. I’ve known many fearless friends during their youth but put on weight as they approached middle age!”

A typical excuse from fat people!

“While I’m personally fine with my state, the other day, someone told me to lose weight.”

“Who did?”

“Belphgamilia...”

Oh, the commanding officer of their army.

What was he thinking, giving such a direct order to his lord?

“He said, ‘Your Majesty, you have grown fat and bloated as of late.”

“He wasn’t beating around the bush at all!”

That’s some guts of steel talking to the Demon King like that!

“He also said, ‘Even though peace has come, the Demon Kingdom is still a nation of warriors. We always threaten enemies with overwhelming military power and maintain peace by making them back down.’”

Okay...

“‘If the Demon King, head of the Demon Kingdom, has grown obese, he is far from being the ideal warrior. His nation will be taken advantage of, which will lead to the ravages of war. Above all, it’s unsightly, so please lose weight.’”

“He didn’t pull his punches!”

Wow. The audacity he has to say all that to the Demon King...

Isn’t this lese-majesty?!

“So, I had no choice but to admit it... I’ve been feigning ignorance of my own flab! The lump of flesh in my belly! The demon race has become the supreme ruler of the earth over the human race. To fulfill that responsibility, I must remain the strongest demon!” he laments.

Perhaps because of his above-average mass, his body temperature is rising, and sweat beads are forming on his forehead.

“Now, Lord Saint! Will you help me lose weight?”

“Me?”

“I won’t trouble you too much! All I need is a place to stay! If I don’t lose weight, my people will see my shameful figure running around with my jiggling flab!”

Our farm would indeed be out of general demon folk’s sight...

But we have demon students here. Wouldn’t it be worse if they, who are future elite candidates, see you?

“I’ve taken a short leave from my official duties to lose weight. I’m going to stay here for a few days and work out thoroughly. Can you please lend me a place?”

“Uh, well...”

Do you think you can get your body back to its original muscularity in just a few days?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that belly fat has probably been cultivated over several months or even years.

It’s not logical to think you will lose it in just a few days.

You have to spend the same amount of time to lose weight as you have gained.

I feel great anxiety from the Demon King’s diet regime...!

***

Then again, I have no reason to refuse the Demon King’s request.

At any rate, I offered him a flat area of land.

We still have loads of bare areas, after all.

“All right! Time to work out a sweat!” says the Demon King, rocking his belly.

“What kind of exercise do you plan to do?” I ask.

I can’t take my eyes off him out of worry.

“Hm... Horse-riding, I suppose!”

“Horse-riding?”

“Don’t worry. I brought my ride with me! Black Flame, this way!”

In response to the Demon King’s call, a huge horse with pitch-black coat approaches him.

“I’ve been so busy with my political duties that I haven’t ridden astride you for quite some time now. Today, we will ride the wind for eternity!”

No, wait, Demon King.

Riding a horse means the horse runs, right?

Does doing that help you lose weight at all?

I’m sure an expert in the field has much more to say.

This is why I’m worried.

“Let’s go together, my beloved horse! ...Hyah!”

His plump body is hard to maneuver, but he finally got on the horse on his second try.

I thought they were going to start galloping right away, but...

“Whoa!”

The horse immediately rears up and knocks the Demon King off his back.

“What’s gotten into you, Black Flame?! Why did you shake me off?”

The horse only looks down with cold eyes at the puzzled Demon King.

His eyes say...

“You’re too heavy. I can’t carry you. You better lose all that fat before you try to straddle me next time.”

And then gallops away alone.

I knew my fears were correct.