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 04: After Intense Training

Chapter 04: After Intense Training

“M-my breakfast… I mean, from now on, my meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner should be vegetable-based, with smaller portions.”

“Eh…?”

I told Ilse while looking at the luxurious meat dishes lined up on the table since morning, causing heartburn.

Ilse seemed surprised, but I don’t think she needs to be that shocked.

“A-as expected, you’re not feeling well…” 

“Oh no, it’s just that I… I wanted to lose some weight…”

“Your Highness Ludwig!?”

Please, stop being surprised at every little thing.

“So… if you have some free time after the meal, there’s something I’d like to ask you for…”

“Ah…”

As soon as I said that, Ilse’s expression changed.

“…Understood. Then, please give me a moment to prepare. Is it alright if I take a little time…?”

Ah, she definitely misunderstood.

“Um, what I’d like to ask is if you can accompany me in my training to lose weight, or rather, I’d like to request your guidance…”

“Huh!? Oh, it was about that…?”

Yeah, she misunderstood after all.

Well, it’s me we’re talking about. With my history of being forever alone in my past life plus the age of Ludwig, it’s too high a hurdle for me to make a move on someone as beautiful as Ilse.

“However, why would you make such a request to me? If it’s about training, there are other suitable candidates like the Knight Commander, I believe…”

Ilse asked timidly while glancing at my face.

“Well… Ilse-san, you’re actually quite skilled, aren’t you?”

“!?”

Ilse gasped at my words.

The combat part of “The Ugly Orcs Strike Back,” which serves as the foundation of this world, is a tower defense game, where battles are carried out by units consisting of the heroine and several types of mob soldiers.

Ludwig? Like a chess king, he doesn’t move a step from the back. 

Among them, Ilse excels in utilizing her agility as the fastest heroine, performing multiple consecutive attacks, and serving as a scout. Of course, she is much stronger than the Knight Commander she mentioned.

“Please! I… I really want to change!”

“Your Highness, are you…?”

“…You might have heard this before, but I have been ridiculed by the princess of the neighboring country, ignored by many nations, and as the crown prince, I couldn’t even get engaged.”

“…”

“So… so I want to prove myself to all those people, including Princess Sophia! Of course, I don’t expect a dramatic transformation! But at least I want to become somewhat ordinary… no, just a little less ugly!”

Confused, she looked at me, and I fell from the chair and prostrated myself on the ground.

It’s not something a crown prince should do to a maid, but I have to show her my sincerity to make her understand how serious I am.

As I pressed my forehead against the floor, silence filled the room.

And then…

“…Understood.”

“T- then…”

“I, Ilse Hildebrandt, will do whatever it takes to meet Your Highness’s expectations.”

Saying that, Ilse elegantly curtsied.

But… her eyes are a bit scary…

It must be my imagination, right…?

◇

“Your Highness Ludwig! Just ten more laps!”

“Your Highness Ludwig! Snacks are out of the question! Endure it!”

“Come on, Your Highness Ludwig! You have to swim harder, or you’ll be eaten by a man-eating shark!”

“Oiiiink!”

The training with Ilse was intense. It was incredibly Spartan and demanding, leaving no room for mercy. In fact, it even included things that could be life-threatening if one made a wrong move…

B-but I understand that it’s impossible to go from this flabby orc-like appearance to something normal. So I desperately clung to Ilse’s training.

The people in the palace started to gossip about the state of both me and Ilse.

“Oh… Has the ugly Crown Prince finally gone insane, even losing his mind?”

However…

“Let them say what they want. Ilse understands Your Highness Ludwig’s determination and feelings better than anyone else.”

“Ilse-san…!”

Those words from Ilse… no, my mentor, shook my heart.

That’s right, I’m not alone anymore.

I’m not that Ludwig from the game who locked himself away, spiraled into self-destruction, and vented his frustration by mistreating women. I’m not him anymore.

That’s why…

“Oiiink!”

The grueling days of training with Ilse, supporting each other, continued. We went through summer, passed autumn, welcomed winter, and then… the flowers bloomed, it was spring.

“Ilse… I did it…!”

“Congratulations, Louie-sama.”

[TLN- Will be explained in the next chapter.]

The reflection in the mirror showed my appearance had truly transformed into that befitting a crown prince over the past year.