The Ugly Orc Strikes Back ~ Reincarnated as the Cruel Crown Prince of a Twisted Doujin Eroge with No Happy Endings, But as an Inexperienced Guy, Cruel Play is a Hopeless Challenge, So I'll Give My Best to Break the Flags and Strive for Survival ~ - Chapter 02: Determining to Lose Weight

Chapter 02: Determining to Lose Weight

“U-um… What should I do…?”

Ilse timidly asked as I was eagerly talking about it.

Oh, I completely forgot about her.

“Ah, um… Well, for now, I don’t have any particular tasks, so… Thank you for your hard work.”

“!?”

Ilse’s eyes widened as I bowed my head in response.

Ah… It’s unnatural for me, the crown prince, to bow to a maid. But in my previous life, I never had a conversation with such a cute girl, so I don’t know how to interact with her, and I’m too nervous to do anything other than use polite language…

Then…

“Um, um! I am here to take care of His Highness Ludwig! So, please give me any orders!”

Ilse said, placing her hand on her chest, her azure eyes filled with fear, confusion, anxiety, and determination.

Just seeing such a desperate figure of a beautiful girl, my mental state crumbles.

“W-well, if you could leave me alone for a while, I would appreciate it…”

“Huh…?”

Ilse let out a voice of despair while showing a hopeless expression.

I feel somewhat sorry, but I’m just desperate to protect myself, so please leave me alone…

“D-did I do something wrong…?”

“N-no, you didn’t do anything wrong! On the contrary, it’s just… It’s just that having a beautiful woman like Ilse-san serving an ugly guy like me is already enough to be grateful for.”

I said, unable to muster the courage to address her informally, unintentionally using a familiar tone.

Both the honorific language and the way the crown prince interacts with a maid are completely inappropriate. I’m aware of that, but acting all princely like Ludwig is just impossible for a guy like me, who’s a social recluse.

“So, that’s how it is! Please take your time, Ilse-san!”

“Ah… um… then, excuse me.”

“Yes.”

Ilse bowed respectfully and left the room. 

Although she had an extremely bewildered expression, there seemed to be a hint of relief, or maybe it was just my imagination.

“Dufufu… Well, I’m happy because I don’t have to deal with her. That’s for sure…” 

I glanced at the mirror, catching a glimpse of my ugly, overweight reflection, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on my face.

◇

“Now then… What should I do from here on out?” 

Since I realized this is five years before ‘The Ugly Orcs Strike Back,’ I need to take action to avoid starting off like in the game.

“Well… In the game, it started with the invasion of the neighboring kingdom of Beruga, followed by attacks on the surrounding countries.”

Originally, the invasion of the Kingdom of Beruga was initiated because there was a princess named “Sophia Marie de Beruga,” who was a candidate for Ludwig’s fiancée. In other words, she was one of the main instigators who led Ludwig to develop such a twisted personality.

Until he met her, Ludwig had a pure and timid nature, not the sadistic character portrayed in the game. But…

“Father! I refuse to become the wife of a hideous monster like an orc!”

Those heartless words uttered by Sophia the moment she laid eyes on Ludwig at the age of thirteen.

Her desperate plea, crying to the King of Beruga, deeply wounded Ludwig’s heart even further. Moreover, not stopping at that, the Emperor, Ludwig’s father, approached other countries and sought out potential fiancées.

However… Every country gave the same answer.

“We cannot allow our cute princess to marry an ugly orc.”

That Kingdom of Beruga… No, it was Sophia who went around spreading that rumor to the surrounding countries.

About Ludwig’s ugly orc-like appearance.

No, it wasn’t just that.

To make matters worse, she took the liberty to distort Ludwig’s personality, portraying him as a despicable orc who inherited his father’s violent, crude, and villainous nature, with an insatiable lust for any woman. She fabricated that image.

Thanks to her, starting from the Kingdom of Beruga, through the surrounding countries and even within the Waldberg Empire, his reputation has spread throughout the western lands. Ludwig himself heard about it.

This further pushed Ludwig into darkness, causing him to lock himself in his room and refuse to see anyone.

In an attempt to comfort such a protagonist, his father, Emperor Otto von Waldberg, provided Ludwig with a toy.

A toy that he could break to his heart’s content.

“So, in other words… No, in Ludwig’s case, it was because he got involved with her that he started to break down…”

And by her, of course, I mean Ilse from earlier.

That’s why she had such a tragic expression, imagining that future.

“Sigh… So, at least by not getting involved with her, the story has changed somewhat… I guess…”

If I don’t get involved with Ilse, Ludwig won’t break down.

In other words, he won’t indiscriminately destroy countries in search of women… or something like that.

“But that’s not possible, right?”

The one who desires the invasion of other countries is not Ludwig, but Emperor Otto, who dreams of becoming the conqueror of these western lands.

“In that case, the most viable way to alter the game’s scenario is to eliminate the emperor… but that’s impossible.”

Yeah, it’s impossible.

Because if Emperor Otto, who is Ludwig’s greatest sympathizer and supporter, were to be removed, I would be the first to be killed by the other kingdoms or the nobles who are dissatisfied with me.

Besides, this country, Waldberg, is ruled by Emperor Otto’s dictatorship, and it’s not a unified entity.

“Ugh… What should I do…”

While holding my head in my hands, I rolled around on the bed… and then my eyes met with my reflection in the mirror.

“…I don’t know if it’s appropriate to say this, but maybe if I lose weight, my face will look decent…”

I murmured to myself while pinching the fat on my cheeks and chin.

Upon closer inspection, I’m the son of the sturdy and handsome Emperor Otto, so I feel like my face shouldn’t be that bad.

…Well, there’s also the possibility that I take after my mother (there are no stills, though).

“In that case!”

I stood up from the bed, raised my fist in the air.

“I will definitely lose weight, improve my appearance, somehow avoid being hated… and avoid the bad ending!”

I raised my fist and shouted at the top of my lungs.