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 57: Retrieval of the "Stone Dragon's Magic Gem"

Chapter 57: Retrieval of the “Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem”

“(This… is 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.

It must be the “Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem.”

I take all the “Magic Absorbing Stones” I have in my bag, place them in my mouth, and hold them in both hands. Ahaha, the process of petrification and depetrification is changing so rapidly that my movements have become incredibly awkward.

But… yeah, this should work.

Confirming that my petrified leg can move, I take my position and focus on the “Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem.”

“(RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!)”

I dash toward my target in one go. 

Despite my body stiffening due to petrification, my 200-kilogram body charges at the “Magic Stone of the Stone Dragon.”

“(Just…a little…more…)”

Gritting my teeth so hard that I crush the “Magic Absorbing Stones” in my mouth, I finally… manage to hold the “Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem” in both arms. At the same time, I pull on my lifeline.

Now, they should pull me up… I hope…

The petrification accelerates, and I almost lose consciousness. Ah, maybe, just maybe, I’ve made it in time…

—Splash!

“Ludwig! Ludwig!!!”

“Ludwig-san!”

The “Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem” rolls away from my arms and onto the ground, as Ophelia and Clarice shout my name. It seems I’ve won the gamble.

“Ah… ah…”

I try to squeeze out my voice, but due to the intense petrification, no voice comes out. Well, there’s nothing I can do…

“Ludwig! Ludwig! You idiot…”

Ah, please, don’t hit my petrified body that hard… And for a muscle-head handsome heroine, you’re making a face that looks like you’re about to cry.

“Clarice! Give all the ‘Magic-absorbing Stones’ to Ludwig, now!”

“Yes!”

Oh, wow… it’s surreal seeing myself covered in “Magic Absorbing Stones” with only my face sticking out. However, I can feel the Stone Dragon’s magical power inside me being purified rapidly.

As that happens, I can finally move my facial muscles a bit.

“O-Ophelia… don’t you think this is a bit too much?”

“Ludwig!”

I tried to make light of the situation with as cheerful a voice as I could manage, but Ophelia’s golden eyes filled with tears. She’s never shown tears, even when she was being tormented by Ludwig in “The Ugly Orc Strikes Back.”

“I was… worried about you…”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry.”

I gently stroked Ophelia’s shining golden hair as she clung to my chest, using my right hand that had finally regained its mobility.

That’s when it happened.

“Louie… sama?”

“Ah…”

Yabai!

Big trouble.

Ilse has caught me red-handed, being hugged by Ophelia?!

“Louie-sama!”

Ilse rushes in all at once and pushes Ophelia aside to hug me.

“Why, why, do you always…”

“Um, well, there are various circumstances…”

I try desperately to think of an excuse for my situation with Ophelia, but I’m totally cornered. What should I do?

I try desperately to signal Ophelia with my eyes, hoping she’ll explain that we haven’t done anything inappropriate.

“Sniff… Ludwig went into the pond himself to retrieve the ‘Stone Dragon’s Magic Gem’ to save the town of Porga…”

No, what I want you to explain is why you were hugging me, not that…!

“Louie-sama, do you enjoy making me suffer so much? Do you enjoy making me sad?”

Like Ophelia, Ilse’s blue eyes start to well up with tears, and I find myself unable to say anything.

“…Sorry.”

“Please, never do something like this happen again… If you were to leave me, I would…”

As I barely managed to voice an apology, Ilse’s shoulders trembled and she cried. 

Okay… As she wishes, I’ll make sure to set things straight with Ophelia to prevent this from happening again.

Ophelia probably just doesn’t get these things due to her straightforward personality, and likely treats this as a same-sex friendship. I wish she were a bit more sensitive to, let’s say, the nuances between men and women. Not that I have any room to talk, considering my own lack of experience in romantic matters.

“Uh, um… Clarice-san?”

“…I don’t think that’s what this is about, Ludwig-san.”

Probably sensing my thoughts, Clarice shook her head with an exasperated expression. Please don’t look at me like I’m some unfortunate orc.

“Sniff… Louie-sama! Are you even listening?!”

“Yes, yes I am!”

Seeing Ilse’s beautiful face wet with tears and angry for the first time felt strangely refreshing, and I vowed to be more careful with my relationships with women.

…Well, not like I really have to worry about that sort of thing, given who I am.

Ahahaha……… sigh.