Ackster wasn't sure how well he had done or what the original Ackster would have done in the same situation since the original Ackster only had a couple of interactions in the novel. But he felt as though he had done a decent job of impersonating the original Ackster based on the kitchen staff's reaction.
"Y-yes, at once, young master."
The poor kid he had chosen stuttered a response while bowing slightly and hurried to grab a plate and fill it with leftover food while still making sure it looked presentable. The kitchen assistant returned with the plate to where Ackster stood less than a minute after he scurried away.
"H-here you go, young master! Thank you for gracing us with your presence. Thank you for eating the food we have made."
The kitchen assistant bowed and faced the floor with eyes shut tight from anxiety as he reached both hands forward, holding the plate. Inwardly, Ackster felt some admiration toward the kitchen assistant. He had done an impeccable job plating the food, and he had done it quickly, as well.
But Ackster knew that the original Ackster wouldn't have liked it. If only because the kitchen assistant did it too well. So, Ackster couldn't just accept the plate and return to his room.
"Huh? You want me to eat this?"
Ackster grabbed the plate and haphazardly tossed it across the room to where the table with leftovers stood.
"Get me a new one."
"Y-yes, young master."
The kitchen assistant was unable to offer any kind of resistance and hurriedly obeyed Ackster's order.
But in the middle of setting the food on the plate, a rumble filled the kitchen that had fallen silent upon Ackster's entry. The kitchen assistant hesitantly looked up toward the source of the rumble. His gaze met with Ackster's blue eyes, glaring at him.
"What are you standing around for? Are you trying to starve me? Do you want to be charged with attempted murder, you hairless shrimp?"
Ackster naturally felt a little embarrassed about how his stomach rumbled loud enough for all the kitchen staff to hear. But the original Ackster didn't know the meaning of shame and would have definitely taken it out on the people around him, so Ackster did the same. He shamelessly accused the kitchen assistant.
After receiving Ackster's glare and threatening words, the kitchen assistant naturally hurried to fill up the plate, this time with even more food. Ackster obviously needed it. He also grabbed and handed over a glass of water to help the food go down easier.
"Please eat this, young master! I offer you my utmost gratitude for accepting the food I offer you."
The kitchen assistant once again bowed and reached out with his arms to hand over the food and water glass.
Since his stomach rumbled so loudly, Ackster couldn't refuse, even while pretending to be the original Ackster. So, he accepted the food and glass of water with a harrumph as he turned around and kicked open the door with his foot.
Maybe it was due to how hard he had pushed the door, but it didn't close fast enough for Ackster to miss how the kitchen staff praised the assistant he had picked on. He wasn't sure whether it was true, but it felt like he had saved the kitchen assistant from getting picked on by making everyone feel pity for him instead.
Ackster hurried to put on a frown again as he stalked back to his room, where he devoured the food like a ravenous beast. Ackster's previous guess that his body required a lot of food due to his skill seemed to be true. He hadn't even used the active parts of his skill other than when he strengthened his hearing to eavesdrop on the maids' conversation. But he still ate all the food on the plate that had been stacked as tall as the plate was wide.
Ackster wondered if anyone would get suspicious if he started eating a lot all of a sudden.
The novel only mentioned that Ackster practically never trained or used his skill to its full potential. He completely wasted his talent and the skill. But he was still as strong or stronger than an average man. And he had been that since he was a kid.
That was another thing that upset the readers of the novel when it came to Ackster Phileam. The author had given him an incredible skill that could probably have become something amazing, at least if the author's words were anything to believe. And someone with that kind of skill and potential could have been an interesting foe or a useful comrade to The Hero.
But instead of Ackster being even close to interesting or useful, he was just an oversized brat, living in the past, whose glory days were when he was ten years old. He didn't bother taking advantage of his skill or the strength it gave him and spent his days bullying the people weaker than him. And then, drunk on his misconstrued perception of his own strength, Ackster challenged The Hero because he found The Hero annoying and displeasing to look at.
Ackster Phileam had been a boring character that could have been something different. However, things were different now that he had transmigrated into Ackster's body right before the original Ackster died. And one of the most important things for Ackster now was to begin training his skill. He might not be able to accomplish much in regards to strengthening the skill in three days. But he would become more comfortable with using it, which would make his preparations for when he faked his death easier.
It was just that Ackster knew training and getting acquainted with his skill would make him eat a lot. Ackster worried that suddenly beginning to eat large amounts of food would rouse suspicion.
If he wanted everyone to believe he had died, there couldn't be any suspicion at all regarding his behavior before he died.
Ackster thought about it a little more before eventually concluding that it should be fine.
Considering Ackster's circumstances, it wouldn't be weird if he suddenly had a change of heart, at least inwardly. On the surface, he would still act toward others the same as always. Whether it be eating a lot or locking himself in his room, people would only think of it as Ackster finally doing some self-reflection or getting a realization that he was dying in a few days. It would also help explain the letter he planned to leave behind.
And if nothing else, Ackster hoped that people would be understanding of people who started eating a lot when under a lot of stress since that was also a reasonable explanation for why he had suddenly started eating so much.