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 53: It Seems to Be the Work of a Bad Guy

Chapter 53: It Seems to Be the Work of a Bad Guy

“Louie-sama, please wash your hands immediately.”

Ilse told me with a stern look as we left the Saint’s room, leaving Batista behind.

Wow… I can see she’s determined to make me do it, even if I refuse or get angry.

However…

“Sorry, but I have no intention of doing that.”

“! Louie-sama!”

“Ilse, Natalia-san is sleeping. Let’s leave here and go somewhere else.”

“…Yes.”

I answered with a determination not to be swayed, and she reluctantly nodded.

But once we move to another location, she might want to wash not just my hands but my whole body. I’d like to decline that because it’s embarrassing.

“U-Um… Lu-kun…”

“What is it?”

“!? N-no, it’s nothing…”

I’m sorry, Gill-senpai. Right now, I can’t quite maintain my usual attitude.

“Calm down. As you said, we will definitely help Natalia.”

“Of course.”

Ophelia patted my shoulder to encourage me, but I already knew that.

And as we entered the inn where we were arranged to stay…

“Louie-sama, I’m sorry.”

“I knew you’d do that.”

As expected, Ilse caught me in a headlock, and I couldn’t help but grin. 

I couldn’t say anything when she was doing it for my sake, knowing she would be scolded…

“Ilse…… can you please calm down and listen?”

“I’ll listen after you wash your hands and body.”

There’s no reasoning with her. I guess I’ll just tell her…

“This unknown disease won’t infect anyone, so it’s okay.”

“”!?””

As I uttered those words, everyone’s eyes widened in unison.

“L-Ludwig, what do you mean by that!?”

“T-That’s right! Didn’t that man say the opposite? That the first victim was found, and then it spread explosively!”

“I can’t say anything about that until I investigate, but I can assure you that this won’t infect anyone. Even if it costs me my life…”

“Don’t say such a thing lightly! If something happens to you, I… I…!”

Feeling apologetic as Ilse clung to my chest, I gently patted her back.

That’s right… If I were to die, I wouldn’t be able to help with the revival of her family, the Hildebrandt household… Wait, isn’t that beside the point?

With that thought, I couldn’t help but grin.

“Ilse, it’s just a metaphor. I don’t intend to die over something like this.”

“Don’t ever… ever say something like that again…”

“…I’m sorry. So, there’s a reason why I’m saying this with such confidence. It’s because…”

I went on to explain the true nature of this mysterious illness.

That the petrification causing the skin to harden and lead to death wasn’t due to a disease, but rather a result of something else entirely.

“H-Hold on a second! What exactly is this ‘something else’? I mean, seriously, I’ve never heard of anything that turns human skin into stone!”

“Well, it exists. I just happened to read about it in the palace archives, so I was lucky to know about it.”

Of course, this is a lie.

I’ve never read anything, including Ludwig’s previous memories, that contained information like that.

So, if someone were to ask how I know about it, well, there was a “special event” in ‘The Ugly Orc Strikes Back.’ If you experience the “defeat end” three times or more in a single save, a certain item becomes available for purchase from the merchant of the Gabelot Maritime Kingdom… Gill-senpai.

And that is precisely…

“The ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem,’ that’s what it’s called.”

When you use this item with a scout, in other words, Ilse, and deploy it in the invaded country, during the battle phase, half of the mob units other than unique units like heroines start in a petrified state.

“S-Something like that…”

“L-Louie-sama, then how does this ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem’ cause people to end up like this…?”

“Well, you see, it’s by drinking water contaminated with the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem.’ That’s what leads to this condition.”

As part of the scenario, there was an explanation that if the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem’ is placed in wells or rivers, sources of drinking water, the magic power of the stone dragon dissolves into the water. When people drink this water and it enters their bodies, they become petrified.

By this point, it seems everyone has grasped the situation. Yes… this is definitely not an unknown disease.

Someone, for a sinister purpose, went to such lengths to bring about the destruction of this town.

“What a despicable act!”

Ophelia exclaimed, her anger evident as she forcefully slammed the table.

Behind her, Gill-senpai alone wore a pale expression, bowing his head in dismay.