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 19: The Witch-hunt Begins

Chapter 19: The Witch-hunt Begins

“Well then, let’s conclude the morning classes.”

A week had passed since that ball. 

Finally, with Nauman-Sensei’s words, lunch break had arrived.

Well… The morning training was so intense that I couldn’t bear it and ended up dozing off completely.

Or rather, ever since Ophelia started getting involved, Ilse has been treating me harshly.

Thanks to that, the training intensity keeps increasing like a doubling game, and at this rate, it seems like I’ll reach a bad end before the main story of “The Ugly Orc Strikes Back” even begins.

“…Ilse, you are undergoing the same amount of training, yet you seem completely fine.”

“Yes. I have been receiving training since I was young.”

She says it with a sarcastic look, but she doesn’t seem to be bothered at all.

Well, anyway…

“Is something the matter, Louie-sama?”

“Huh? No, it’s just that I’m really happy that you’re serving me.”

“!?”

As I said that, for some reason, Ilse turned her face away in a huff. 

Ah… Is she upset because I, an “ugly orc,” said such lines and misunderstood her intentions? Or perhaps she’s angry because she feels I’m not grateful enough. What should I do?

“L-Louie-sama, the lunch break is short, so let’s hurry.”

“Huh!?”

Ilse, with her face still lowered, tugged my arm forcefully, practically dragging me towards the cafeteria. Wow, Ilse, you’re really strong…

And then…

“Ah…”

“…”

Ilse suddenly stopped, so I looked to see Sophia walking towards us. And behind her is that handsome male student… he must be her attendant.

I mean, if at the ball she had just danced with her attendant instead of inviting me and all, we wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble.

“…Louie-sama, have you noticed?”

“What is it?”

“That guy… He’s a student from our class.”

“Ah…”

Having her attendant in our class doesn’t bode well. 

Besides, usually the academy takes care to place attendants in the same class as their masters, right?

Considering they sent that girl here for study, what’s going on with the administration of this imperial academy…

“What do you suggest we do?”

Ilse turned to me and timidly asked. I’d rather not face them and, if possible, escape right now.

But…

“It’s fine, let’s just keep going.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I don’t intend to engage with them, but I think I shouldn’t avoid them here. Otherwise, it would mean accepting the insults that woman threw at you.”

“Ah…”

That’s right. I don’t think I did anything wrong with my actions back then. If anything, running away now would be betraying my precious Ilse.

I… I absolutely don’t want to do that.

“…I’m really glad it’s you… (mumbling)”

“Ilse?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go then.”

“Yeah.”

I tightly gripped Ilse’s hand, and she returned the grip just as firmly. And while ignoring that woman and her attendant, we passed by them…

“…They didn’t say anything, huh.”

“Yes…”

Although Ilse did her best to restrain her killing intent this time, and I intended to avoid getting involved as much as possible, it’s quite anticlimactic.

Considering what happened the other day, I thought she would at least demand an apology or something.

“Louie-sama, isn’t it better to forget about such people? Let’s go quickly.”

“Y-yeah…”

For some reason, Ilse, looking pleased, took my hand, and while I tilted my head in confusion, I followed her to the cafeteria.

◇

“”………””

As I tried to enter the cafeteria, the students, regardless of their grade, gender, or status, blocked the entrance, glaring at me with open hostility.

I’m well aware that I’m not well-liked, but isn’t this a bit too much? I mean, I’m the crown prince of this country, after all.

“…Louie-sama, please allow me to purge these individuals. Grant me permission.”

“N-No, wait a minute!?”

I desperately tried to stop Ilse, who seemed ready to unsheathe the dagger hidden beneath her uniform. 

Certainly, their attitude is extremely disrespectful, and they deserve to be punished. But if we were to do something like that, it would be no different from Emperor Otto… No, it would be the same as Ludwig in the game.

“A-Anyway, what is the meaning of this? We won’t be able to have lunch like this.”

Suppressing the desire to run away, I tried to calmly address them.

I already have poor communication skills, and dealing with such a crowd is beyond my capacity as a socially awkward guy. I just want to go home.

“An ‘ugly orc’ like you, have no right to eat here!”

“”YEAH! That’s right!””

Everyone responded in unison to the words shouted loudly from the back of the group. 

Wow… It’s like they’re all ganging up on me, making it impossible to tell who said it… It’s just like when things go viral on social media.

In situations like this, people tend to have a misunderstanding that they are in the right, and with the anonymity factor, they become even more aggressive…

“Hahaha, how lame.”

“”W-WHAT DID YOU SAY!?””

Oh no, I let my true feelings slip.

“Fufu… Indeed, as you say, Louie-sama. These individuals, hiding in the shadows and insulting from a safe distance, hardly seem like nobility.”

“Just let them be…!”

The students glared at me and Ilse, who chuckled mockingly. However, they seemed to understand that it would be unwise to further criticize us.

But…

“I was wrong about you. Your Highness Ludwig!”

Even so, there’s always that muscle-head heroine who recklessly charges in without thinking… and she exists in this academy.