Simply put, calories are the battle power of taste.
Most flavors come from sugar and oil, and the higher the calorie count, the more intense the taste becomes — an undeniable fact.
Of course, many heroines pay attention to these calories. In Yunia’s case, although she may not realize it herself, she is capable of converting ingested calories directly into mana.
This is a secret known only to those who follow Yunia’s main storyline, as well as a topic that even the Seven Dukes of Hell pondered and researched heavily upon discovering this ability.
Part of the result of that research manifests as the “Mana Bread”, a creation I’ve developed, which involves converting memories into mana.
Unaware that her body’s “instincts” are naturally converting calories into mana, Yunia remains conscious about her food intake.
But what if she realized that, aside from the minimum nutrients her body needs, all the excess is being absorbed and transformed into mana?
– A single cake? How could one cake be just one slice? Surely, it’s a whole piece, not a portion.
All cafes around the Academy, including those at the Terminal, would cry “Emergency!”
From that day, a “cake demon” would descend, boosting all Terminal cafe sales by over 18%.
Calories equal battle power.
Though the term “battle power” here omits “nutritional intake converted into mana for storage and release during crucial moments”, the end result remains the same: daily meals fuel the magic necessary for battle.
Thus, Yunia holds the miraculous ability to convert calories into mana.
But what about everyone else?
– It’s fine. Just work out as much as you eat.
– No, you have to work out harder than you eat.
In the cases of Ludmila and Instructor Esta — those you might call “body-centric” individuals — the solution is straightforward. They just burn off the calories with exercise.
Given their naturally trained bodies and high metabolism, consuming a calorie-rich diet doesn’t pose a significant problem. As long as they maintain nutritional balance, a whole cake is nothing they can’t handle.
Even if they sometimes show reluctance to exercise or engage in intense physical training on a lazy day.
And what about Evangeline?
Coming from the DLC Empire di Ercy, her preferences weren’t initially known, but after two weeks in the same class, I learned about her habits.
When it comes to food, Evangeline is quite average.
Though she’s got a solid, curvy figure, she’s sensitive about certain areas, like her stomach.
While a lover might comfortably touch her chest or hips and share a laugh, touching her midsection could earn them an uppercut and an immediate pinning.
So, Evangeline is the type who exercises moderation in her own way.
If all her calories went to growth or directly to her curves, she’d probably be indulging in a variety of cakes with Yunia in a “Golden Carriage” to taste every type available.
…In this case, it’s not a calorie issue but rather the cost of such cake indulgences.
Calories are a major concern for these heroines.
As women, they can’t help but pay attention.
Their interest in Mana Bread isn’t just to replenish mana; it’s because they want to experience a hint of sweetness without the calories.
The methods for resisting sugar and sweetness are endless.
Creating miracle-like magic. Facing it head-on with exercise.
Adjusting daily diets as much as possible. Developing “zero-calorie” foods with similar effects.
Yet there is one who renders all these efforts unnecessary.
“What’s wrong with accumulating calories if they only make the chest and hips grow?”
For some, regardless of calorie intake, all it does is enhance “s*xual appeal” in specific areas.
“That’s a blessing, Instructor Kadisha.”
Genetics can’t be denied.
Though designed as a “character setting”, this phenomenon certainly exists in reality.
“Is it a blessing? Hmm, I’m not so sure.”
Kadisha supported her ample chest from below once more.
“If it gets any bigger, it’s just a pain in the shoulders.”
“Why not rest it on your desk while working?”
“…Oh, is that an option?”
Kadisha blinked, as if she had stumbled upon a profound realization.
“But then again…”
“When you’re alone in the lab, why not just be comfortable?”
“But what if someone walks in?”
“You’ll be wearing your lab coat anyway, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Hmm…”
Instructor Kadisha contemplates deeply, holding a fork in her hand, as she faces the three types of bread laid out before her.
“Maybe… I was just overthinking things?”
Kadisha gives a slight chuckle and then reaches out with her fork to try each of the three types of bread.
“Yeah, so what if I gain a little weight? It’s not like anyone’s watching.”
One was bread packed with calories, another had partial mana, and the third was entirely made of mana.
“If I gain weight, I can always just work it off with a diet.”
“Exactly. And you might not even need to diet.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because, as you yourself mentioned earlier, you burn calories by using your brain.”
I pointed at Kadisha’s slender waist.
“Looks like you’ve lost weight over the past few days.”
“…How did you even notice that? Really.”
Kadisha blushed slightly, tugging her gown closer around her.
“It’s odd.”
“What is?”
“That only my stomach seems to slim down. Shouldn’t it at least be balanced? Don’t you think?”
“I think it’s fine as it is.”
“Well, setting aside Student Phoenix’s preferences, it’s inconvenient for me sometimes. Even now.”
Kadisha pointed to the skirt peeking out from beneath her gown.
“I’d like to wear pants, but whenever I research for a bit, they end up loose and start slipping down.”
“Which could lead to… unfortunate incidents?”
“Not that extreme. After all… it rests right here.”
Kadisha ran her hand down her hip line below her gown.
“While it might be nice for a guy, for a woman who wants to wear pretty clothes, it’s definitely inconvenient.”
“Indeed. But it’s not like you gain weight easily… Hah.”
To someone else, her words might trigger outrage, but we all have our own struggles, unique to each of us.
“I wish I could just eat without worrying about weight.”
“Well…”
There was one way.
“Have you ever tried any intense workout that just burns fat fast?”
A slight spoiler from the original storyline here.
“Huh?”
“When I tried this kind of exercise, there was something that made me lose a lot of weight. Even if it wasn’t necessarily my belly, there was something like a sudden decrease in the fat in the area where Instructor Kadisha gained weight, right?”
“…Ah.”
There was one exercise Kadisha had that was both a stress reliever and a major calorie burner.
“…”
“Why no answer?”
“Well, it’s…”
Kadisha scratched her cheek and looked at me for a while.
“See, it’s one of those exercises that only works at half efficiency if I do it alone.”
“Alone, huh…”
“But it’s not something I could easily get help with either.”
“Well, then why not just imagine it?”
I picked up a mana tart Kadisha had made.
“If you picture doing it with someone else, wouldn’t that help burn off the areas where you think you’ve gained weight?” “…True.”
Lick.
As soon as I licked the mana tart, Kadisha grinned at me.
“Is that permission?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re saying it’s okay if I imagine doing it with you, right?”
“I don’t see why not.”
In fact, I’d welcome it.
“If it helps relieve some of the stress you’ve built up, please let me know. I’ll be happy to assist.”
“Yes. But… not just yet.”
Kadisha waved her hand firmly.
“At least wait until you’ve graduated and become a graduate student.”
Kadisha was, after all, an adult.
* * *
After spending time with the heroines, it became Sunday morning.
Most of them were probably occupied with their own activities, and now I had one crucial task to attend to.
Secretly observing all the heroines busily using me for their various purposes —
Not that.
What I had to do to eliminate the protagonist and eradicate all angels in this world.
“…Phew.”
I placed my hand on my chest.
Only two weeks had passed, yet so much had happened.
Throughout this time, I had gained the “faith” of many, which granted me greater freedom of action.
‘Thanks to the Mana Pants.’
A supporter who had offered various forms of help to the heroines of the Old School Building.
The savior of pride for the Academy’s male students. The ally who provided the greatest assistance to Mercenary King Ederson Lionheart, enabling him to ascend from “Lion King” to “Lion King of Wisdom”.
The contractor who instilled hope in Alhena Silverstar about enrolling in the Bread Academy.
And the seeker who had shown a way to confront the angels.
“…One-seventh.”
With all this faith accumulated, I had gained the power to summon a fragment — one of the seven pieces.
“Come forth.”
Without anyone noticing.
“Dark God.”
Drawing upon the accumulated faith, I began the “Summoning Ritual” confidently within the Old School Building.
The target — undetermined.
But it didn’t matter.
All seven were “on our side.”
‘Just, please… not that one.’
If I could wish for anything, I hoped for the easiest to manage—
“Oh.”
Wheeze.
A breeze swept through.
Carried in that wind was a scent I recognized all too well.
“Damn it.”
[Behold, my arrival.]
In front of me.
“Mint-chocolate.”
[Prepare to die, Nyah.]
A small, cat-like spirit with the unmistakable scent of mint chocolate appeared.
Correction.
It had been “summoned.”
