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 56: Taking a Quick Dive into the Pond

Chapter 56: Taking a Quick Dive into the Pond

“Ludwig, why have you brought us to a place like this at this hour? What are you planning to do?”

I brought Ophelia and Clarice, along with some luggage, to a pond on the outskirts of the town of Porga. 

According to my research, the town relies on this pond for drinking water and other daily needs.

If that’s the case, then surely at the bottom of this pond lies the “Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem.”

“Your Highness Ophelia, perhaps Ludwig-san intends to recover the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem’ from this pond…”

“Clarice-san, you’re correct.”

“!?”

As Clarice hesitantly speaks, I jokingly confirm her guess, causing Ophelia to widen her eyes in surprise.

“What are you thinking? To retrieve the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem,’ we’d have to search the bottom of this vast pond! If we go in there, we could be turned into stone!”

“I understand the risks, but we have no other option if we want to prevent further damage. That’s why I’ve prepared such a large quantity of ‘Magic Absorbing Stones.'”

I place the bag I’ve been carrying on the ground and show them its contents filled with ‘Magic Absorbing Stones.’ If the game mechanics hold true, these are single-use items. But with this many, we can dive dozens of times.

Next is,

“With this ‘Aqua Potion,’ we can roam freely underwater. However, the effects only last for five minutes, so we’ll have to go back and forth between underwater and land multiple times.”

“That’s not the point! No matter how many ‘Magic Absorbing Stones’ you have, you’re suggesting that we enter the most contaminated area with the Stone Dragon’s magic! That’s practically suicidal!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be the only one going into the pond.”

“”!?””

Of course, I have no intention of dying in such a manner; I aim to avoid the bad endings and lead a peaceful life. As I’ve said multiple times, with the ‘Magic Absorbing Stones,’ petrification can be reversed.

“I am the ‘Ugly Orc.’ Sure, I may look slim now, but as you both know, I weigh over 200 kilograms. I won’t float in the water, so I’m the ideal candidate for searching the bottom of the pond.”

“How can you say that so casually…”

While gazing at me with her golden eyes, Ophelia bit her lip.

Come on, if I were taking this lightly, I wouldn’t be trying to retrieve the gem when Ilse isn’t around.

I know for sure she would stop me if she were here, which is precisely why I gave her another mission to keep her away.

“Anyway, whether I survive this or not depends on both of you, okay?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Hm? Well, you’re my lifeline. If the ‘Aqua Potion’ wears off or I find the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem,’ I will pull this rope as a signal.”

Ophelia seems unusually confused for our muscle-brained heroine, but she better make up her mind soon. If we don’t hurry, Ilse will finish her mission and return.

“Ludwig… I, Ophelia of Brinth, swear that I won’t let you die! If that happens… I will follow you in death!”

“Hey, hey, hey. Let’s not say things like that; it’s bad luck.”

I mean, I’m trying to avoid a bad ending here, so why are you adding another flag? I can’t help but stare at her in disbelief.

“Sigh… let’s finish this quickly.” “Ludwig, be careful.”

“Ludwig, be careful.”

“Ludwig-san, good luck.”

With somber expressions, Ophelia and Clarice see me off. I drank the ‘Aqua Potion’ and put a ‘Magic Absorbing Stone’ in my mouth before entering the pond.

Ah, seriously, with looks like those on their faces, I absolutely have to return safely.

And so, I frantically search the bottom of the pond. It’s quite expansive, and since it’s already night, the darkness forces me to grope my way around.

But well, let’s see how it goes.

“(The direction where the petrification progresses faster should be where the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem’ is, so I shouldn’t get lost.)”

I raise my right hand and head in the direction where my skin petrifies more quickly. 

Despite the distance still being relatively far and the supposed effect of the “Magic Absorbing Stone,” parts of my body had already started to turn to stone.

At the place with the highest concentration of contamination… no, what would happen if I actually touched the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem’? Ah well, worrying about that now won’t do me any good.

I shook my head, feeling uneasy about the advancing petrification, but I pressed on deeper into the pond. On my way, as the effects of the “Aqua Potion” wore off and I returned to land, I couldn’t ignore the despair in Ophelia’s face, on the brink of tears. That’s all the more reason to find it and retrieve it quickly.

And then…

“(Found it… )”

Having reached a point where about 70% of my body had petrified, I painfully dragged my feet and finally arrived at a spot where I found a sphere. It was about 30 centimeters in diameter, emitting a faint, ominous purple glow.