As the sun rose, signaling the awakening of the world, a man could be seen, or more accurately, taking laborious steps due to the sheer weight of his body.
"Haa...haaa...water,"
I gasped for breath, calling upon a maid to bring me a much-needed drink.
Why, you might wonder, was I putting myself through this exercise? To shed a few pounds? Well, in a world with magic, traditional exercise seemed rather unnecessary.
You see, this excess weight was a result of an overabundance of mana within my body. Confused? Allow me to explain.
Imagine you eat a hearty meal, and instead of causing indigestion, your body stores it as fat. That's what's happening here.
My body, laden with excessive mana, had chosen to manifest it as excess weight. But here's the catch – my unique physique allowed me to conceal this mana-related obesity effectively.
So why was I sweating it out with this seemingly futile exercise? It all boiled down to wanting a peaceful life.
To achieve that, I needed to keep a low profile.
Unlike those overpowered protagonists who grew weary of their godly strength, my aim was simple: maintain a low profile until the academy starts, four months from now.
The academy was the gathering place for nobles, a hub where people of noble birth congregated.
It was more than just an educational institution; it was a networking hub for forging connections and relationships.
Upon awakening to their magical abilities, students were taught how to harness and control their newfound powers.
Coincidentally, the day this portly individual met his untimely demise was the same day Thalia discarded him in the wilderness while en route to the academy.
She cleverly utilized a bandit ambush, one she had arranged herself, to accomplish this.
In doing so, she secured her own safety because the academy implemented a tiered system of restrictions for its students.
During the first year, students were essentially confined, unable to make contact with anyone outside the academy.
The second year was slightly better, as they were considered normal students still able to leave as per needed.
Finally, in the third year, students gained their freedom, not necessary for their attendance in academy but ofcourse everyone attended knowing benefits of Valeria Academy
I, too, was set to awaken simultaneously with Thalia and join her on the journey to the academy. But for now, I needed to focus on the present.
"Haaa...haa...Hey, Rolen, get rid of that wretched litter. It's hindering my exercise," I commanded the butler while reclining on the litter, gasping for air.
A maid promptly offered me grapes, while two others fanned me.
I must admit, I felt rather regal in that moment, though I couldn't help but curse these servants, as their indulgence was partly responsible for my expanding waistline.
"Father...!!! "
My father, wiping the sweat from his face with a handkerchief, looked at me. I continued, "Father, I've decided to exercise. Please allow all the servants to retire."
He shook his head, saying, "It's impossible."
Undeterred, I persisted, "Father, I want to go on a picnic at our seaside mansion and enjoy some delicacies there."
He relented, much to my annoyance. His overprotectiveness never ceased to amaze me, but I knew what I had to do. I had meticulously planned my mana training, and it was time to put that plan into action.
"Very well, then. I will take my leave in two days,"
.
.
.
Thalia's POV
As usual, I roamed the mansion and stumbled upon a peculiar sight – a rather portly man reclining on a litter while a small army of servants fussed over him.
My mind wandered to that old story about a girl who kissed a frog, transforming it into a prince.
Absurd, I thought, comparing a frog to this man, who was more akin to a hippo, albeit a somewhat cute one.
His face wasn't bad, though perhaps a tad too round for my taste.
But then, a peculiar notion crossed my mind. What if I could use him to gain control over the county?
In exchange, I could keep him by my side as a sort of living decoration, like a sofa or a bed.
As I gazed at him, I couldn't help but think that it might just be the best idea I'd ever had.
"Yes, well done, Thalia," I mused to myself for getting a alive teddy.