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 12: A Poison to the Eyes... No, It's a Reward

Chapter 12: A Poison to the Eyes… No, It’s a Reward

“Lu-Louie-sama, I apologize…”

As soon as we boarded the carriage, Ilse bowed deeply, offering her apologies. 

Her complexion was pale, and she seemed so downcast that I couldn’t help but worry she might even consider suicide.

“S-stop it! Ilse, you’ve done nothing wrong! More importantly… I’m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable… I’m sorry…”

“Please… Please stop. Louie-sama, you haven’t done anything wrong! On the contrary, you’re going out of your way for someone like me…”

We exchanged apologies, both of us avoiding eye contact.

However…

“…Pfft.”

“L-Louie-sama…?”

“Ahahaha! Why are we apologizing to each other like this?”

Finding it funny, I burst into laughter.

Yeah… There are definitely things we should reflect on, but neither Ilse nor I should be apologizing like this.

Instead, there’s something more important we should say.

“Ilse… I was really happy when you saved me from Sophia. Thank you.”

“Ah…”

That’s right. Rather than apologizing, it’s better to express gratitude first. Besides, I’m sure Ilse will be delighted with this.

“I-I also… Thank you so much for protecting me like that, Louie-sama. No, for cherishing me so much… Thank you…”

“Ahahaha… It’s mutual. So… let’s continue to rely on each other from now on.”

“Yes… Yes, of course…”

Ilse bowed deeply to me, and I chuckled awkwardly.

She nodded repeatedly, her shoulders shaking.

However…

“Ahh… With this, my ‘Operation Crush All Destruction Flags by Showing My Back to the Heroines’ has become impossible…”

As I returned to my room in the dormitory, I muttered while lounging on the bed.

Yes… I had devised a plan to dispel misunderstandings from as many heroines as possible and break the flags that led to a bad ending.

To that end, I delivered that speech at the entrance ceremony, declaring that I was different from the repulsive Ludwig in “The Ugly Orc Strikes Back.” Of course, I don’t expect my evaluation to change based on mere words.

But if Sophia could understand even a little that I wasn’t the kind of man she slandered with her malicious remarks, and if her perception changed as a result, then there was a glimmer of hope that the destruction flags could be averted. I gambled on that hope.

Ideally, I should actively approach the heroines myself, but unfortunately, I am a socially awkward guy. It’s an insurmountable hurdle for me to interact with girls, especially when they’re all beautiful heroines.

“And yet… What I showed them was an image of me pouring juice over Sophia and shouting…”

To someone who knows nothing, my actions would be seen as an act that disrespects women… Moreover, it’s an act that insults a princess of a nation to the utmost degree.

No matter how much I argue that I’m different from the “Ugly Orc,” no one would listen.

Of course, I have no regrets about my actions.

In fact, if I hadn’t done that, I think I would never forgive myself.

“Hmm… In that case, should I guide the story to lead to one specific bad ending, narrowing down my focus…?”

If I do that, it would be easier to predict what to do next and come up with countermeasures. Despite my aimless attempts to improve my relationships with the heroines, I’ve realized that it’s fundamentally impossible when one of them is Sophia… Ah, well…

“No, that won’t work… Each heroine has different conditions for a bad ending, so I have to tackle them individually…”

As I remembered this, I involuntarily held my head in my hands. 

It’s not as simple as having only a “defeat ending” as the condition for a bad ending. There are various special endings like a “rebellion ending” or a “murdered ending.”

“Well… I have no choice but to do my best to avoid death, huh?”

I slapped both of my cheeks, trying to muster up the courage and settled into bed. I haven’t slept a wink due to the nervousness from the speech yesterday, so I’m really sleepy…

“Let’s just sleep…”

I murmured to no one in particular and gently closed my eyes…

—Knock, knock.

…Hm? Who could it be at this hour? 

Well, there’s no one else who would visit besides Ilse. I got out of bed, opened the door, and as expected, it was Ilse…

“T-that outfit…!?”

“Apologies for visiting at such a late hour.”

It can’t be! Ilse was wearing none other than the item from “The Ugly Orc Strikes Back,” a see-through nightwear!