Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 711

"Both of you, don't push yourselves too hard. Well then, begin."

At Amon's exasperated signal, Johann and I reached for the dishes crowded on the dining table.

First, I wanted to taste the food properly, so I slowly brought the dishes to my mouth. I'd thought this since the social gathering, but the Beastman tribe's seasoning is generally on the stronger side. However, it's neither overly greasy nor too salty. They probably use seasonings and spices to achieve a perfect balance. I was so busy with the clan leaders and Johann yesterday that I didn't get to properly savor the food.

"Ridd. At that pace, you won't be able to beat me."

Johann wore a confident smile. He seemed to be eating the nearby dishes at random. Surprisingly, his table manners were proper, and he skillfully used his fork and knife.

"I want to taste it first. Well, if you want to beat me, you should eat as much as you can now.""You said it, Ridd. Don't regret it later."

Johann pouted and resumed eating. His eating style was quite vigorous.

Although I had been savoring the dishes on the table, the gap between the number of plates Johann had finished and mine was considerable. However, unfazed, I signaled to Capella and Tink, who were waiting nearby.

"Could you two bring me the dishes in smaller portions, prepared in an easy-to-eat way?""As you wish.""Eh, isn't that cheating?"

Johann blinked upon seeing the two bow, but I shrugged my shoulders with a sigh.

"Sorry, but no such rule was established, right? Isn't that so, Lady Sekmetos?""Alright, I'll allow it."

As she nodded fearlessly, Johann puffed out his cheeks."Then I'll use that method too!""Please, feel free."

I narrowed my eyes and replied. He then began instructing the waiting Beastman servants and maids to prepare his food in an easy-to-eat manner.

Watching their exchange out of the corner of my eye, I took a deep breath and activated Body Enhancement: Blazing Flame. Mana, flickering like flames, enveloped my entire body.

Mana uses life force as its source, but what is the root of life force? Willpower, vitality, food, mental strength... various factors are involved, but one thing is certain: 'the calories obtained from food' are absolutely involved.

Body Enhancement: Blazing Flame, which greatly enhances physical abilities, consumes mana particularly fiercely. In other words, if I maintain this state while eating, the ingested calories will be consumed immediately. By the way, this fact isn't public, but Sandra and the others have verified it, so there's no mistake.

"Ridd. What in the world are you doing?""I've just entered a state where I immediately consume the calories I ingest.""...Calories? Consume?"

Johann's eyes became dots, and he tilted his head in confusion. In this world, the concept of 'calories' to quantify food energy doesn't exist yet, so that's natural.

"Well, you'll understand soon enough."

Narrowing my eyes, I began quickly and methodically putting the fish dishes that Tink and Capella had deboned and placed on plates for me into my mouth. Johann gasped, then said, "W-well, I won't lose!" and increased his eating pace.

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"Ugh, burp. I can't anymore. I can't eat another bite.""Too bad, Johann."

Glancing at him, who had slumped over the table with a pale face, I wiped the corner of my mouth with a table napkin and smiled coolly. While many empty plates were stacked around Johann, a mountain of plates was piled high around me.

"One hour has passed. That's it."

As Amon's somewhat exasperated voice rang out, the sound of the pocket watch lid closing echoed heartlessly through the dining hall.

"Well, it's clearer than fire. The winner of the breakfast eating contest is Ridd Baldia.""Fufu, that was quite a spectacle.""Johann put up a good fight too."

In response to Amon's words, Sekmetos and Tabal began clapping, but Chris and Emma were wide-eyed, staring at us intently.

"Lord Ridd, you're an incredible glutton, aren't you?""They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but where in that body did all that food go?""Well, let's just say I used a little trick."

By activating Body Enhancement: Blazing Flame while eating, it seemed that most of the food was digested as planned, immediately upon consumption. However, my stomach was physically quite full.

"But Chris and Emma can also drink that much alcohol. It's similar, isn't it?"

When I asked, the two looked at each other.

"Well, yes. But in my case, it's also due to habit and my physique, so it's a bit different..."

Just as Chris smiled wryly, Johann, who had been slumped over the table, raised his head.

"Ugh... As expected of my best friend and rival. It's frustrating, but I admit defeat. But I won't lose next time!""Haha, I'll look forward to it."

After finishing breakfast like this, we were to move by charcoal-powered vehicle to the border point between Toga and the Beastman territory, guided by Sekmetos and Tabal. Today's schedule involved inspecting the Beastman territory in the morning and learning about Beast Transformation from Sekmetos and the others in the afternoon.

At departure, the Beastman tribespeople and Tabal were very interested in the technology of the charcoal-powered vehicle and the trailer house. Sekmetos and Johann had ridden in one during their visit to the Foxman territory, so they weren't as astonished. However, they grinned fearlessly, saying they'd like to introduce it to the Beastman territory eventually. While I'm happy to have more buyers, when selling to other countries, I must obtain the Empire's permission and handle it carefully. I kept my response non-committal, saying, "If the time comes when we can sell them..."

The route to the border point was on a well-maintained, flat road, and the scenery visible from the window was mostly plains. One could see a mountain range in the distance, with a forest at its foot. According to Sekmetos and Tabal, this area used to be a forest zone. Due to repeated skirmishes with Toga, the surrounding trees were cut down and used as resources, turning it into the plains it is today.

Baldia also has borders with three countries, but it has relatively more forests and fewer plains. This is probably because there aren't many skirmishes. However, Baldia faces problems with illegal entries and smuggling via the continent from the three countries, and foreign spies are a constant issue. While spies can be dealt with by the knight corps, handling illegal immigrants who enter for various reasons like poverty, discrimination, or conflict from other countries is difficult to resolve. If illegal immigrants with no money or education are left alone, they commit crimes to earn daily wages or stave off hunger, worsening public security. Especially recently, rumors of Baldia's remarkable development and the knight corps comprising beastmen have led many to come with aspirations like, "If I go to Baldia, I can succeed," or "Baldia is a paradise."

It's nice that they come with dreams. But if we easily permit illegal entry and smuggling, it disrespects those who entered through proper procedures and creates a situation where those who break the rules win. In the worst case, there's also the possibility of spies disguised as illegal immigrants. It's one of the problems Father and I are always grappling with.

While having various conversations, I wondered how Sekmetos and Tabal would solve such issues and decided to ask them tentatively.

"It's simple. For illegal immigrants, impose a hefty fine and a future entry ban. And if they can't pay the fine and are deemed highly malicious, capital punishment is acceptable. For smuggling, execute or deport them without question. Of course, charge the smuggler's home country for the costs. Tell them, 'Because your country is incompetent, our country has suffered inconvenience,' and make sure to emphasize that strongly.""Th-that's quite radical..."

As I turned pale at Sekmetos's forceful declaration, Tabal cleared his throat.

"Whether we execute what Sek said or not is another matter, but by announcing strict penalties in advance, we can expect some deterrent effect. After that, we can make an example of those who take it lightly and act dismissive, thinking it'll be fine, by punishing them. That should naturally reduce the number of people with ill intentions.""Tabal is right. What's important regarding those with ill intentions is making them think, 'That country will really do it,' and deterring them.""Ah, ahaha. I'll take that as a reference..."

As expected of the Beast King, who leads the formidable beastmen, and his aide. Sekmetos's eyes were serious, and although Tabal's tone was light as he narrowed his eyes, his eyes weren't smiling at all.

Not long after, we arrived at the border point with Toga.