A Feast Of Wine And Flesh

That was it, let’s have a feast of wine and flesh.

I was the Overlord, so it was fine for me to indulge in pleasure, right!

Yes! And so, today’s banquet was being held in the great bath!

Of course, all participants were naked!

There were no bathing garments!

Look one way, and naked people! Look the other way, and naked people!

Everyone was unabashedly showing off the beauty of their bodies… no, well, it was a bath, so of course they were.

As for why we were deliberately using the great bath for a banquet… well, I was the Overlord, after all… and I figured that if we just held an ordinary banquet, everyone would hold back, you know?

And besides, they did say authority was something you wore over your clothes… so this was an Overlord-style stratagem to make them socialize naked and over drinks at the same time!

And so, we were currently holding the “Muscles☆ Men-Only Bath Banquet!”

Naturally, no women were allowed…?

There were no attendants either, and the drinks were being handled by self-service.

Incidentally, the bath temperature had been set rather low, so it felt less like a bath and more like a heated pool.

And the sauna had been sealed off.

No matter how sturdy my people were, they still seemed to get drunk normally, and if someone lost consciousness, that would be bad.

The alcohol content was also kept very low, to the point where serious drinkers would probably start saying incomprehensible things like… this is lighter than water.

As far as the alcohol went, I wanted them to think of it more as atmospheric staging.

If anything, the main point was the naked socializing.

“I do like a hot bath that tingles, but soaking leisurely in lukewarm water like this is pleasant in its own way as well.”

When I said that while relaxing in the bath, Jōsen, holding a sake cup in one hand, replied.

“Indeed. However, my lord, is the sake not a little weak?”

“So Jōsen could really handle his liquor, huh. But if people drank strong alcohol in the bath and wound up drowning or something, that would be a serious matter, right?”

“That is certainly true. This is my first time drinking in a bath as well, so I may end up drunk in an unexpected way.”

Jōsen took some sake from the tray floating in the bath and poured it into the cup of Arandor, who was beside him.

“Jōsen and Arandor both look like they are used to drinking.”

When I said that while watching the two of them, they answered with laughter.

“Jōsen and I occasionally share drinks like this together.”

“And incidentally, Arandor, despite appearances, prefers sweet sake.”

“Oh? So that was the case.”

Arandor was the oldest among my people, and though he looked like an ultra-grizzled old man, apparently his taste in alcohol was surprisingly cute.

Thinking that there were bonds between them I did not know about, and preferences I did not know about, filled me with all sorts of deep feelings… this was probably also the result of the ritual Fio had performed… but that Demon King, for all she was like that, really was amazing.

As I was musing deeply in more ways than one, Arandor laughed in high spirits.

“Hah hah hah, indeed. I like wines that are younger and have a lighter taste, and when it comes to cocktails, I prefer the sort that are called suited for women. Incidentally, Fels-sama, do you partake of alcohol? I had never seen you drinking together with anyone.”

“I do not drink all that often. Especially since coming here, the only time was when I drank alone with Ilmitt once.”

““Alone with Ilmitt, drinking…?””

The two of them repeated that back with slight surprise.

The way they said it in unison was a little funny.

“Ah, I put a bit of a burden on her before by consuming a large amount of mana stones. So I invited her before as a way of apologizing for that.”

“Hohoh, I see. As expected of my lord! So it was Ilmitt first, then!”

“Hrm… what a joyous matter indeed.”

“…You two seem to be getting the wrong idea, but there was nothing like what you are thinking. We simply enjoyed the alcohol and conversation.”

Also, Jōsen.

What did you mean, first?

Did you mean Ilmitt was the first one?

Or that Ilmitt was the one who made a move on me?

“There you go again… my lord, there is no need to be embarrassed. A king may enjoy one woman, or two, or ten, or twenty, and no one would complain. No, rather, should you not be taking the initiative?”

“For someone like Fels-sama, it is not as though you would be consumed by lust. And producing an heir is also part of a king’s duty.”

No, but this Overlord was already facing soul-crushing danger from that sort of thing…?

This Overlord was absolutely weak-willed, you know?

I would absolutely drown, right?

I would drown so badly it would make an actual drowned corpse look mild, right?

“Please wait, Fels-sama. You are a busy man. I humbly believe it would be better for you to rest properly at night.”

Before I knew it, Kiriku had appeared beside me and interjected in the same earnest manner as always.

However, judging by how slightly red his face had become, he had probably been drinking with someone.

“No, no, my lord is not so delicate! He could handle about five in one night, I should think!”

There was no way I could do that kind of nighttime Overlord play!?

Well, I did not know about the Overlord’s specs in that department… but at the very least, the Overlord’s mind was screaming that it was impossible!

“For the sake of the next generation as well, I would hope Fels-sama would do his best.”

“No, no, that is still too soon.”

“It is not too soon at all. Ordinarily, it would not have been strange if an heir had already been produced back during the former war.”

“Mm…”

The former war… he probably meant the Legions era… well, yes, there were certainly character-specific endings with marriage and child-rearing and the like, so it would not be strange to talk about such things… but there was not actually any child-making talk in the game itself, right?

Legions was a game for all ages, after all.

“What are you all talking about, ssu?”

Cougar, who seemed to have been washing himself until now, joined the conversation as he stepped into the bath.

I should use this chance to break away from Kiriku and the others’ topic and talk with Cougar instead.

“It is nothing major… but Cougar, the muscles in your lower body are impressive.”

On a whim, I praised the muscles in Cougar’s legs that had caught my eye.

Or rather, I ended up staring at them without thinking… no, it was not like I swung that way, but they were such magnificent legs that they drew the eye.

“Thank you very much, ssu! After all, legs are important for diplomats, ssu! But I do not think I could beat Jōsen or Arandor when it comes to upper-body muscles, ssu.”

“Ah, the upper bodies of those two really are impressive. Jōsen’s pectorals and biceps are splendid… but Arandor’s latissimus dorsi are simply breathtaking for a man of his age.”

“They really are amazing, ssu… but the most amazing one is definitely Fels-sama, ssu!”

“Mm…?

Really?

I think I am toned, but compared to Jōsen and the others, am I not a bit lacking?”

“Not at all, ssu! It feels like a body that has been trimmed down with no wasted bulk… I think it has the balance one could call an ideal physique, ssu!”

At Cougar’s lavish praise, I tried touching my own upper arm.

…Well, yes, to be fair, I was confident enough in my own body that I could not resist striking a light pose before getting into the bath.

“Still, I have had a lot of paperwork lately. I do worry whether I have gotten rusty anywhere.”

“I too have been sitting all the time lately, so there are a number of things that concern me.”

As Cougar and I were discussing our physiques, Kiriku, having moved away from Jōsen’s group, joined us while touching his own upper arm.

“I would say your body is so toned that one would never think you were a civil official, Kiriku.”

“R-Really?”

“Indeed, it is a splendid body. Have you not been exercising?”

“No, lately hardly at all… So I feel like my neck and shoulders may have become a little stiff.”

Kiriku said that while rotating his shoulders.

“Is there anywhere that gets stiff for you too, Fels-sama, ssu?”

“Hm… at present, I have never felt anything like that… but if I sit on the throne for too long, my lower back starts to hurt.”

When I said that jokingly, Kiriku’s eyes sharpened.

Was it bad that I complained about the throne?

“…Fels-sama. If it pleases you, how about trying to have your lower back kneaded on the massage table over there? Fatigue in the shoulders and lower back tends to build up before one notices.”

“I see, it may not be a bad idea to try that.”

The throne tormented me enough to make me want a reclining chair, after all.

“Fels-sama, would you permit me to perform the treatment for you?”

“Kiriku…? Are you good at it?”

I did not think there had been any ability related to chiropractic or the like…

“I myself also do a great deal of paperwork, so I understand from personal experience where and how one should knead things… what do you think?”

“I do remember hearing that precisely because one knows which areas hurt, one can give a good massage. Very well, since the opportunity is here, Kiriku. Will you give me a massage?”

“Yes! With all my might!”

The moment Kiriku said that with a smile, a single line of bright red blood suddenly streamed from his nose.

“H-Hey, Kiriku. You have a nosebleed, you know?”

“T-This is a shameful sight…”

“Did you overheat? Get out of the bath at once. Cougar, sorry, but could you get some water for him?”

“Understood, ssu!”

It would be dangerous if he staggered… so I got out of the bath and took Kiriku by the hand, intending to lead him to the changing room.

“F-Fels-sama!? P-Please wait! I-I am fine! There is no problem at all!”

“It is not good to be too careless, you know? Do you feel sick?”

“I am fine! More importantly, the massage…”

“Do not be ridiculous. There is no way I can let someone who is overheating do something like that. For now, cool your body and rest.”

“B-But…”

With his eyebrows drooping into a worried shape, Kiriku looked regretfully toward the massage table.

“You were tired too, were you not? I am sorry, always relying on you like this.”

“N-No. Serving Fels-sama is my joy itself. To be relied upon by you is the highest joy.”

That line really sounded like the final form of a corporate slave… no, but it truly would not be good for me to take advantage of that.

“It may be strange for me, the one relying on you, to say this, but please rest in moderation, Kiriku. If you were to collapse, that truly would become a national emergency. I am sorry for being such an inadequate lord, but would you take care of your body and continue supporting me for a long time?”

“Fels-sama…”

Kiriku’s eyes suddenly filled all at once with moisture.

“If there is anything you want me to do for you, tell me anything. Today’s banquet was for the sake of expressing my gratitude to you all. I will do anything for you, all right?”

Since Kiriku’s footing seemed unsteady, I let him lean on my shoulder as I smiled at him.

Hm?

Kiriku’s face had become even redder than before… damn it, had his face been red from overheating rather than from the alcohol all this time?

“U-Um… in that case, the massage…”

“Hah hah! Very well. A massage, then. But improving your circulation even more while you are overheated… that does not seem very good. I will do it for you next time, when your body has settled down. Though I am not very confident in it, so do not expect too much.”

“Ah, no! That is not what I meant! I meant that I would… for Fels-sama…”

“Ah, I understand. Then after I give you a massage, I will have you give one to me as well. Or would it be better for you to give me one first, so I can learn how and then put it into practice on you?”

“Y-Yes… I will gratefully receive it!”

At that reply from Kiriku, I could not help bursting out laughing.

No, no, that would not do, he had probably simply misspoken when trying to thank me.

Since he was overheating, it was a little bad of me to laugh.

For now, once we got to the changing room, I would have to give him water to drink and stay with him while he cooled down.

And so, that was how the banquet in the great bath came to a close.