The rain fell softly.

Another chance missed, thought the lovestruck maiden, sighing. She had thought she was a sensible adult now, but she couldn’t help but realize she was still in the midst of shedding her childish ways.

Ugh… I want to see him.

Even though she knew she should be patient, her heart raced. The other party was a soldier, stationed at a post an hour’s walk from town. It was only natural they couldn’t meet often.

And if the weather turned foul, she’d have to trudge that hour through the rain. Thinking about catching a cold made it understandable why he couldn’t come.

Still…

…I wish we could see each other at least once a week.

She found herself wanting just one weekly rendezvous. Like a child eagerly awaiting a picnic only to be betrayed by the sky, she knew it was childish and impatient of her, but still, the thought of not seeing him for another week made her heart sink.

What a gloomy face, Sylvie. How about a drink?

Her mother tapped on the barrel behind the counter.

I don’t want one. It’s not even noon yet.

Haha, is that so? Well, at 19, you’re probably not in the mood.

Whether you’re 30 or 40, anyone hitting the bottle on a day off before noon isn’t someone to be trusted.

You’re such a good girl. No wonder you’re the only daughter of Professor MacLean.

That has nothing to do with me.

Her mother was a teacher at the elementary academy, and her father was a bureaucrat. It couldn’t be denied that she came from a strictly upright household, but Sylvie still thought alcohol was best enjoyed at night, after which all that remained was sleep.

By the way, drinking was permitted in Celesta from the age of 17, so there were no age-related issues.

…Sigh.

She looked up at the dark sky through the doorway and sighed again. Usually, she would gaze at the corner of town where her beloved Arnie’s massive frame stood aimlessly, but today, too, she felt lonely. Sylvie drooped her shoulders as she slowly finished her lunchtime gratin.

Sylvia MacLean (Human Female, 19 years old, 152cm tall) and Arnie Boyd (Ogre Male, 18 years old, 277cm tall) had been dating for three months.

Between them, an unspoken rule of rendezvous had formed.

Around noon on Sundays, if they were both free, they would meet in front of a tavern on the outskirts of town that Arnie’s unit, the Crossbow Corps, frequented. Then, the two would go to the arena or have a picnic in the mountains and spend time together happily.

Ideally, they could communicate more often, but the Crossbow Corps’ barracks where Arnie lived were far away. Because it was the military, it was difficult to approach, and even if they tried to contact each other by letter, paper was still too expensive to use frequently.

Even if Arnie came to see her, Sylvie worked on weekdays. And with strict curfews at home, and both her parents being stiff-necked people, she hadn’t been able to introduce Arnie to them yet. There was no way they could meet.

So, all they could do was the usual—wait for their rendezvous, and if it went well, go on their usual date.

Since they started dating, their love had only grown stronger, and Sylvie, who wanted to be with him every waking moment, found such a waiting relationship unbearably frustrating. But she couldn’t bring herself to take any drastic action for fear of inconveniencing Arnie. Every day, she scolded herself, I’m the older one, after all.

Ugh.

What’s wrong? The tavern owner asked casually as she watched Sylvie. Is it because you’re feeling down on such a rainy day that you’ve got a boyfriend you want to go out with?

…………?

Sylvia was a little taken aback.

Even though she hadn’t exactly been hiding her relationship with Arnie from her parents, she hadn’t thought she was keeping it a secret either. Especially since this tavern was right in front of their usual meeting spot—she figured her mother would have noticed.

"...So?"

"Oh my. Oh my oh my."

Her mother gave Sylvia a lewd grin in response to her serious answer.

"So Silvy-chan finally got a boyfriend—that’s a real scoop! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

"Who’s 'that'?"

"Well, now you mention it..."

Her mother smirked and pretended to jab Sylvia with her plump elbow. Of course, the elbow couldn’t actually reach Sylvia across the counter.

"The beautiful, serious, famous Silvy-chan—countless men have been rejected by her. Impenetrable, aloof, pure and innocent, a high-horse flower of the lower town."

"...I’ve never really rejected anyone..."

Ever since elementary school, Sylvia had certainly had a few persistent suitors. But she just hadn’t felt the right connection with any of them.

Looking back now, it was inevitable that she found them lacking. They didn’t have the strength to protect her when needed, the kindness to envelop her, the purity that made her want to be with them, and most of all, the calm presence to spend hours together.

In that sense, Sylvia had high standards, and Arnie was a rare find.

But Sylvia had never thought of herself as some unattainable flower. There were plenty of men who would hit on any woman they saw, so she just figured she was an ordinary girl keeping her distance from romance.

"Maybe everyone’s been casually dating all along?"

"Hah, snagging a man is like war these days. The prince isn’t going to come riding in on a white horse, so if you get a chance to catch one right here, you can’t be too picky."

"...I guess. I don’t really come often, do I?"

He came for her. Maybe not a prince, but at least the ideal guy for Sylvia.

Thinking that made her feel incredibly lucky, and her mood lifted. Since he was serious about her, she figured it wasn’t too much to ask if they couldn’t see each other for a week or so.

Her mother gave her a strange look as Sylvia suddenly grinned.

"Oh my, the crow that cried is laughing now."

"...Yeah. I just realized I might be pretty happy."

"...Well, whatever. Let me know about Silvy-chan’s ba-re-shi when you feel like it."

"Yeah... though I think you’ve seen him before."

"Is that so? The young guy you often see… hmm… Anzeros-kun, maybe?"

"...Who’s that?"

"There’s a super handsome soldier around here."

"Nope. Hehe~♪"

No matter how handsome or rugged the other guy was, Arnie was in a league of his own—Sylvia thought that pretty seriously. Once you fall for someone, their flaws become endearing.

And so, Sylvia ended up in a good mood and stood up to leave the tavern.

A beautiful woman with a smile is far more captivating than one with a frown.

Without even realizing it, half the men in the tavern were staring at Sylvia.

It was only natural that the guys stuck inside drinking because of the rain would develop a little lustful interest in a single girl.

"Hey, doll. Pour me a drink, will ya? You got nothing better to do, right?"

One of the drunks grabbed Sylvia’s arm. Her wife had retreated to the kitchen, giving him the perfect opportunity.

"N-No… what is it?!"

"What's this? Can't pour for a little downer like you? I'm asking you to pour me a drink. And maybe do something fun while you're at it, eh?"

"N-No…"

"Come on, now!"

Sylvia was yanked roughly. She stumbled and fell to the floor.

"Oh dear, sorry about that… my hand slipped."

The drunk slapped up her skirt with his hand. Her underwear was visible, and the other drunks cheered.

"Haha, give us a little more service, why don't ya? I ain’t gonna eat you or nothing."

"N-No…"

Sylvia shrank back in terror.

She knew perfectly well she had no allies around.

Her wife would probably get revenge on this drunk eventually, but the thought of what he might do to her in the meantime was enough to make her faint.

"Here…"

The drunk reached out. Sylvia crawled away a few centimeters.

Then, a giant hand intervened.

"Huh?"
"A-aren’t you supposed to be… nicer than that, man?"

Crawling under the table, Sylvia couldn’t see the whole picture.
Even so, she instantly recognized the soaked hand and the quiet voice.
"Ah… Arnie?!"
She was scared. And he came to help her again.
Something inside Sylvia, already at its breaking point, felt like it was shifting with a loud crack.

It was the moment when liking someone turned into loving them, and then into love.

The sight of just his hand was enough to drive the final nail into Sylvia’s maiden heart.

"Hey, don’t think just because you’re a little bigger, some ogre can push you around."
The man was a mercenary. He had some skill in his hands.
Even drunk, he wasn’t about to let a young ogre get the better of him.
But.
"Hmph, cheap sword. Not even properly maintained."
He reached out to give the ogre a lesson, but there was no sword. A young man was casually examining it.
It was Andy.
"Hey kid, don’t touch someone’s sword without permission…"
"Oh, uh, put the drink down."

As Andy reached out, his head was plucked up by a finger even larger than the ogre from before.
With a twist, his head was screwed around 180 degrees, revealing a massive bull ogre’s face.
"Ugh!"
He recoiled instinctively. Facing two ogres empty-handed was far too terrifying.

Andy, Arnie, and Kelly had come to the tavern in high spirits despite the rain.
Even Andy and Kelly wanted to drink on their day off, so they initially tried to sneak out after dumping the weapon count on Arnie. But Arnie, with a tearful face, pleaded, "I was actually planning to meet Sylvia today; she might be waiting for me," so they reluctantly finished up quickly together.
"Normally, I’d mess with guys who have girlfriends, but—"
"Show some adult restraint for once, Smason. You can bully Boyd later."
"That’s true."
"...Uh, am I getting bullied?"
Of course.

Even so, Andy and Kelly couldn’t bring themselves to ditch Arnie while his girlfriend waited in the rain—a truly devilish act. They were surprisingly soft-hearted.

The three of them marched into the tavern singing a marching song in the rain, only to find Sylvia in a huge pinch as soon as they opened the door.

They were pretty angry at the guy who’d tried something with their friend, even more so than it looked.

"Hey, drunkard. There are three things I can’t stand in this world: shops with low ceilings, green parsley, and people who make their subordinates miserable."

Kelly raised his hand high and lectured the drunkard. A bull ogre over 3 meters tall had an outstretched arm nearly reaching 5 meters. Even in a two-story tavern favored by ogres, he was pulled so high he nearly hit the ceiling, sobering up even the most hardened drunkard.

"Hey, you ogre bastard! You think the military police will just ignore this?"

The drunkard shouted. Kelly exchanged glances with Andy and shrugged with a laugh.

"A drunk who tries to assault a woman has no right to complain."

"Totally. …Remember this, human scum: in Celesta, ogres can be military police or elite soldiers. Our Arnie might even become an ace knight. Here, idiots are hated more than half-elves!"

Still holding the drunkard’s head, Kelly threw him backward with a whoosh.

The drunkard crashed through the wooden window, and Kelly struck a muscle pose without missing a beat.

Overwhelmed by the display, the entire tavern applauded.

"Jerk. …Hey, Isaac, let’s break this sword."

"Don’t do that. We’ll use it for drinks and give it to your wife."

"Well, maybe half of today’s tab. …Alright, let’s drink!"

"Yeah!"

Andy and Kelly got hyped up and crowded the counter, immediately earning a scolding from their wives. "You kids shouldn’t break windows," they said, but their voices were a little softer than usual, having returned around the same time as Arnie and the others and watching nervously from the sidelines.
"Sorry, Silvia. I’ll make sure to hire guards during the day from now on."
"Y-yes."

Sylvia clung to Arnie like she was holding onto his hand, blushing bright red as she rediscovered her feelings for him.
Even the oblivious wives finally grasped who Sylvia’s "boyfriend" was. They had no idea that the handsome Sylvia would be dating a hulking ogre.
"...More importantly, you ogre kid, you’ll catch a cold if you stay soaked like that."
"Oh, I’m fine."
"Don’t be shy. Room 3 upstairs is empty today; go dry off there. There are towels in the closet."

"U-uh…"
"Sylvia, you should help him out."
"Eh…?"
That was Sylvie at her best, trying to be considerate. She winked at him, despite her age.

The second floor of the tavern is half open-air and half lodging.

Andy and other soldiers who love their drink but can’t handle it often pass out there, but it’s also a place for… less-than-reputable encounters.

In that simple room, Arnie was being stripped of his clothes and diligently dried off.

"…Arnie, you’re really big, aren’t you?"

"O-ogres are like that, y’know."

"Yeah. It’s so reassuring."

"Ogres are like that, y’know."

"…Yeah. Including the fact that you’re an ogre, I love you, Arnie."

"Ugh…"

Arnie turned bright red. He was always at a loss for words in the face of Sylvie’s straightforward affection.

Smiling at him, Sylvie confessed without beating around the bush or putting on airs that she had fallen for Arnie all over again.

"You saved me again, didn’t you?"

"I-I only put my hand in it a little bit, y’know."

"But I was so happy. You’re always there when I’m in danger. It made my heart flutter."

"Haha… I left it all to Isaac and Smayson, the squad leaders."

"Both of them were angry for Arnie’s sake, weren’t they?"

"…Yeah. I think I’m not alone after all. I’m glad I’m in this squad."

"Yeah. Arnie, you’re in the right squad."

Sylvie embraced him, standing on her knees and dangling from Arnie’s neck, which was about as thick as a person’s torso.

"…I’m so glad Arnie came here. I’m so glad I met you, Arnie…"

"Sylvia…-san?"

"…I was scared. When I was really, really scared, Arnie saved me. I really, really love you… I thought, I’m so happy…!"

"…Me too, I’m happy, y’know."

"Yeah… Now, say you love me."

"…I love you, Sylvia-san."

"I love you a lot."

"I love you a lot, Sylvia-san."

"Then…"

"I love you."

"…♪"

Sylvie shuddered.

"You love me, even before I could say it." Just like that, from the ideal man.
Just hearing those words was enough to make her feel the greatest joy as a woman, her core burning and wet with trembling.
Arnie found Sylvia so cute that he gently hugged her.
He embraced the one whose affection was still growing exponentially, and was embraced in return. It was a blissful time.

"…Mm."

After a while, Sylvia pulled away.

And it was only then that they both noticed the seam of her sleeve was slightly torn.

"Ah…"

"Must've been when you were pulled earlier, huh?"

"…Maybe."

Arnie pondered what to do. Actually, he could sew. He was about to suggest that he could patch it up enough so she wouldn’t be seen in public when Sylvia suddenly started taking off her clothes, nodding toward something unseen.

"W-what, Sylvia-san? If you're going to take them off, I'll—"

"No!"

Sylvia stopped Arnie from rushing to his feet.

He obediently sat back down, still with his eyes closed, and then she climbed onto his lap in her underwear, pulling his eyelids open with both hands.

"Nwah! But—!"

"Arnie-kun, listen to me. Look."

"…………"

"We're lovers now, you know? We've been lovers for three months already, right? …Look, it's okay?"

"U-um…"

Arnie cautiously turned his eyes toward Sylvia.

He blushed more than he ever had at the sight of Sylvia’s defenseless figure in her underwear, his gaze darting around helplessly.

"…Yes."

"…Right, Arnie-kun? …I think I'm ready now."

"?!"

"I thought it was okay if I became yours today. …No, that's not right. It's not just 'okay,' I want to be yours alone. I want you to love me, truly and completely, more than anything."

"…Sylvia-san—"

"Arnie-kun, do you dislike me? Can't we do this?"

"…B-but, I'm an ogre…"

"It's okay. I'm human too."

"…No, that’s not—"

"I understand everything. I know you're a different race than me. I know you might not find me attractive from your perspective. But even so, I love you. I want to be loved by you."

"T-that's not true! From my perspective, Sylvia-san is truly… but I'm worried that I'd be a burden on your life."

"Ugh!"

Sylvia was at her wit’s end.

Sylvia knew. It was clear from everything but the words themselves that Arnie loved her.

But still, Arnie was too kind, too thoughtful—she couldn’t bring herself to believe he deserved to defile her.

Then.

"Arnie, I'm sorry!"

"...Eh? Huh!?"

She yanked down his underwear, exposing his cock.

Ploink. From Arnie’s massive frame, it looked disappointingly small when erect.

"W-wa—"

"Hehe… I’m serious."

Sylvia smirked playfully at the flustered Arnie before rubbing his cock with both hands.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen his dick. Months ago, after Arnie suffered a severe injury with bruises all over, she’d forcefully helped him pee out of a sense of responsibility.

So she wasn’t entirely embarrassed to face it. But still, this was the first time she’d touched a man’s genitals in a sexual way, and things weren’t going as planned.

"Ugh… I, I don’t know how to do this…"

"Sylvia-san—"

"S-sorry, I’m bad at this… I’ve never done it before… but I’m serious!"

Overwhelmed, Sylvia brought her mouth to Arnie’s cock.

She knew such techniques existed, but all she had was theoretical knowledge—extending from just rubbing with her hands—and she was lost as soon as she touched it.

Looking up, Arnie wore a troubled expression—not of pleasure, but of confusion about how to react to Sylvia’s actions.

"...Hey, you get it? I really like Arnie. You can lick my dick all you want, right here. But…"

"...But?"

"...Sorry, I don’t really know what to do… but I want Arnie to love me so badly… I want Arnie to rape me."

"...R-rape, you say—"

"You can really rape me, right?"

Sylvia’s knowledge of sex had finally caught up with her, and she honestly waved the white flag.

But in return, she’d steeled herself.

"I want you to grab my body like this, force your dick inside me, and use me as a tool to rub it. I want you to get off on me, over and over again."

"T-that’s—"

"Even if I tear open, do it. If you love me, then do it…"

From the bottom of her heart, Sylvia was driven by this desperation.

If she ended up unable to walk afterward, that was fine. If it meant truly connecting with Arnie, she wanted it. She wanted to prove that she could intertwine as a woman with Arnie’s masculine side—and connect with him even deeper.

Her swelling affection for Arnie had spiraled out of control, bordering on panic, driving her to crave this act of love.

"...Sylv… ia…"

"…………"

And then.

"...I’m really gonna do it, you know? I am a man, after all?"

Sylvia’s relentless pushing finally loosened Arnie’s grip on reason.

"Yeah."
"Looks like I have a huge interest in women, you know? If you let me, I might do some pretty crazy stuff every time we go on a date!"

The desire made Sylvia tremble. The fear of not being able to express her love, of not being accepted, had flipped into tears of joy.

"...Do some crazy stuff. Make me experience something amazing every week~"
"...Ugh, I don’t know anymore."
"...Me neither... I don’t know anymore~"

She stripped off her underwear too, eliminating all fabric.

No more hiding anything from each other. All their hearts and bodies, everything, laid bare.

Sylvia spread her hands wide, welcoming Arnie’s into hers.

"Yeah, right there..."
"You’re wet..."
"Yeah... I’ve been so wet because I wanted to be held by you, Arnie-kun... I’ve been working so hard to get ready for your dick~?"
"...Haaah... haaah... khuu—"
"...Yeah, it’s okay. You can put it in. Do whatever you want..."
"S-Sylvia-san!!"

Sylvia had her hands gripping her waist and legs, her legs spread open as Arnie pressed his hips against hers.

He was careful with his strength, but an ogre’s brawny arms didn’t allow for a slow, delicate approach. The hymen burst in one swift motion.

"Nngg...!!"
"...Haaah... haaah... This is crazy... so hot and good..."
"...Yeah, I feel it too... Arnie-kun inside me..."

Arnie’s dick was surprisingly small compared to his massive build. It was bigger than the average human, but still far from impressive for an ogre.

But that worked out perfectly for them. Even with Arnie’s shaft fully inserted, Sylvia wouldn’t be harmed.

They could thrust in and out as wildly as they pleased, all the way to the root.

And Sylvia, being small and light compared to Arnie, was truly shaken by him. Arnie, still a virgin on his first time, lost himself in the pleasure of sex with a woman, simply "using" Sylvia without restraint.

"Uwah, ah, ahh... Agg, ah... Shirubia-san... It feels so good, I can’t stop... Sorry, I’m sorry... I’m sorry...!"
"A, hyaa, aaa... Hii, i, iiaa...!!"

Neither of them had any reason or restraint left after penetration.

Overwhelmed by the experience, they just kept thrusting and jerking for Arnie’s ejaculation.

"...Haaah... ngh, a... aah~"

Even so, Sylvia wore a blissful expression.

As a woman, she was undeniably satisfying Arnie’s ideal man, and that made her incredibly happy.

"Uwaaa, aah, a... uaaaa!!"

Arnie was consumed by it. He could only think about coming.

And he slammed Sylvia’s hips against his own.

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"
"Haa, aah... ah, ahh... aah, ngh!"
He came with a massive, gushing ejaculation.

"...I really did it..." ♪

"S-sorry 'bout that."

"...You'll get mad if you apologize."

"......S-sorry..."

"Ei!"

Smack! I slapped Arnie's cheeks.

"...Ngh."

Then I kissed him to shut him up.

"I'm... Arnie-kun's girlfriend, okay?"

"Yes."

"Girlfriends can have sex, right?"

"...If you say that, I think it's okay to do it, you know?"

"You still gotta think about where you do it."

"...Yes."

"You gotta be gentle."

"Yes."

"You gotta be rough too."

"...That's tough."

"It's not. If I leave you alone, you can only be gentle, right?"

"...I guess so."

"Yep!" ♪

"Yo, Smymison."
"What is it, Isaac?"
"...Hey, do you think they're screwing?"
"...I vote for the two of 'em just chattin' sweetly."
"I'm votin' for a full-on carnal feast."
※ Correct answer: Both.
"Damn, I wanna do both!"
"...Let's bully 'em when we get back."
"Let's bully 'em."
Mom came over and gave each of 'em a tray to the head.

"Is it really your job to mess with your comrades' happiness, you soldiers?"
"N-no, that's not it! This is a legitimate right!"
"You bastards! Happy people should just take the beatdown and make everyone around them a little happier!"
"Was I an idiot for getting even a little excited about your performance?"
"Even if an old lady gets turned on by you—"
"Yeah, well—"
"…Pay up. The whole amount, now."

"Seriously, sorry."

This was a month before Selen’s arrival.

The rain falls, soft and steady.
"Missed another chance," the lovesick girl sighs.
She'd tried to convince herself she was already a mature adult with proper judgment, yet she couldn't help but realize she still hadn't shed her childish skin.

"Heh... I want to see him."
Even though she thinks she should hold out, her heart races wildly.
The guy's a soldier, stationed in a lonely outpost about an hour's walk from town. No wonder they can't meet often; it's simply unavoidable.
Worse, if the weather turns bad like this, she'd have to walk that hour-long distance in the rain. Thinking about catching a cold or something... no, he wouldn't come. That makes sense too.

"Still..."
"I want to see him at least once a week."
It feels like they're only allowed one little rendezvous every seven days.
She knows it's unbecoming of her—childish and impatient, just like a kid eagerly waiting for a picnic promise only to be betrayed by the sky. Yet every time she thinks about another week without seeing him, her heart crushes inward.

"What a miserable face you're making, Sylvia. Want a drink?"
The barkeep thumps a sake barrel behind the counter with a cheerful knock.
"I don't need one. It's still broad daylight."
"Ahaha, right? Honestly, even at nineteen, you'd probably not feel that way yet."
"It doesn't matter if I'm thirty or forty—people hanging around just to get hooked up during the day on a break aren't very nice folks."
"You're so serious. Truly, you live up to being Sylvia MacLean's only daughter."
"Having nothing to do with my mother," she retorts flatly.

Her mom was a primary school teacher, her dad a government official—a straight-laced household, no denying that. Still, Sylvia believes alcohol is best enjoyed at night, and afterward? Just sleep.
By the way, in Elenia, drinking is legally allowed from age seventeen, so she's well within the law.

"...Haa."
She gazes up at the dark sky through the wooden latticed window and lets out another sigh.
If anything else were true, Arnie's massive ogre frame would surely be standing right there in her favorite street corner, but it isn't. Feeling empty as ever, Sylvia droops slightly while finishing off her lunch gratin with slow, absent-minded movements.

Sylvia MacLean (human female, 19 years old, 152cm) and Arnie Boyd, a Corporal of the Crossbow Corps (ogre male, 18 years old, 277cm), have been dating for three months now.
Between them, an unspoken agreement had taken root: their meeting ritual.
Around noon on Sundays, they'd converge in front of a roadside tavern frequently used by Arnie's unit—the Crossbow Corps—provided neither side was too busy.
Then they'd spend time together, heading to the arena or going on picnics up in the mountains, enjoying each other's company.

Ideally, they should be able to keep in touch constantly, but Arnie lives at the Crossbow Corps barracks, which are far away. Being part of the military makes approaching them awkward. Trying to write letters? Paper was still too expensive for frequent correspondence back then.
If Arnie wanted to come visit her, she herself worked during weekdays. Plus, curfew at home was strict, and both parents were rigid sorts—they hadn't even introduced him yet. So meeting up wasn't really an option.

That's why they stuck to this pattern: meet as usual, and if things go smoothly, date as usual—and that's about all they could do.
Since starting out, Sylvia's affection had grown stronger by the day; she'd practically want to be together around the clock. The current arrangement of waiting around drove her nearly insane. Yet whenever she considered taking bold action, fear that Arnie might get annoyed or inconvenienced held her back daily. As the older sister figure in this relationship, she told herself constantly: Be mature.

"Haa..."
"Something wrong? If you're gloomy like this on account of the rain, did you finally get a boyfriend you want to go on a date with?"
The barkeep casually pokes at Sylvia over her shoulder.

"...?"
Sylvia hesitated, caught slightly off guard.
She hadn't told her parents, true—but she certainly wasn't trying to hide how serious her relationship with Arnie was becoming.
Especially since this tavern sat right in front of their usual rendezvous spot; surely the barkeep should've noticed by now.

"So... it's like that?"
"Oh my. Oh my gosh."

The landlady replied with a straight face to Sylvia, who had answered honestly, only to flash her a mischievous, crass grin.

"Finally, our beloved Miss Sylvia has a boyfriend? This is special news! Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"The... what do you mean?"

"Well, let me just say..."

Still grinning, the landlady feigned poking Sylvie with her fat, round elbow. Of course, the elbow couldn't possibly reach Sylvia through the bar counter.

"Famous for being beautiful and serious, Miss Sylvia has been rejected by countless men. Untouchable, solitary purity—a high mountain flower of the lower town."

"...So you're saying she got rejected?"

Ever since her days at the Junior Academy, Sylvia was indeed relentlessly pursued by several men. But somehow, none of them felt right for her, so she turned them all down.

Looking back now, it's undeniable that Sylvia found those suitors lacking. They lacked the reliability to protect her when things went south, the warmth to envelop her completely, the pure sincerity that made one want to spend time together, and most importantly, a calm atmosphere where they could simply be together for hours on end.

In that sense, Sylvia's ideals were high, while Arnie was truly rare.

Still, she never once considered herself an untouchable flower. Many men called out to any woman they saw, and she thought of herself as just an ordinary girl who happened to distance herself from romantic entanglements.

"Maybe everyone actually dates quite casually after all?"

"Hah! Catching a man is like war in these times. You don't wait for a prince to come pick you up on his white horse; if you get a chance to grab a guy right here, you can't be choosy—you'd better not complain."

"...So that's why no one usually asks me out?"

But someone did eventually come for her. Maybe not a prince, but at least someone who matched Sylvia's ideal type.

Thinking about it this way made her feel incredibly lucky. Feeling this good, Sylvia decided that missing him for just a week wasn't worth complaining about when he was seriously dating her now.

Seeing the sudden, beaming Sylvia, the landlady put on a strange expression.

"Hehe, look at that crier crow—now it's smiling."

"...Yeah. I think I might be happier than I realized."

"Well, whatever. When you're in the mood, don't forget to tell old me about your ka-re-shi, Miss Sylvia."

"Yeah. Hmm... I think you've been watching us pretty closely, though."

"Really? A young woman who catches my eye often... hmm... could it be young Anzeros?"

"...Who's that?"

"There's a super handsome soldier around here."

"Nope. Fufu♪"

No matter how handsome, no matter how refined his actor-like features, there was no way he could match Arnie, and Sylvia genuinely believed this. Once you fall for someone, it's over—the proverb applies to everyone, blemishes and all.

Eventually, satisfied again, Sylvia got up to leave the tavern.

A beautiful woman smiling draws in people far more effectively than one frowning.

Before Sylvia even realized it, half the men in the tavern had their eyes fixed on her.

For drunkards unable to work due to the rain and drowning their sorrows, harboring a small mischievous thought toward a lone young girl was almost an inevitable outcome.

"Hey, lady. Could you pour me a drink? You must be bored out of your mind."

One of the drunkards grabbed Sylvia's arm. The landlady had retreated to the kitchen and hadn't seen this happen in her blind spot.

"Haa... w-what are you doing!?"

"What? Are you still depressed that you can't pour for me? You just have to pour some sake, right? And hey, why don't we do something fun too?"

"N-no way..."

"Come on, now!"

Sylvia was yanked forward with force. She stumbled and collapsed onto the floor.

"Hehehe, my bad... I slipped a bit."

The drunkard swished Sylvia's skirt up with his hand. Her underwear became visible, prompting cheers from other tipsy patrons.

"Hahaha, give me more service! What are you gonna eat anyway?"

"No...!"
Sylvia shrank back in sheer terror.
She had finally realized with chilling clarity that she was alone—there were no allies around her.
Sure enough, sooner or later, the drunken man before her would be brought to justice by Lady God and the military police for his crimes. But just thinking about what kind of awful fate might befall her before that salvation arrived made her dizzy with dread.
"Look..."
The drunkard reached out a hand. Sylvia scrambled back on all fours, shrinking away mere centimeters at a time.

Then, a gigantic hand burst into the scene.

"Huh?"
"A-ah, not too far... uh, that's kinda bad, you know..."

Scurrying underneath the table to get away, Sylvia hadn't been able to see the full picture.
Even so, one glance at that soaking-wet hand paired with that restrained voice, and someone instantly knew who it was.
"Ah... Arnie-kun!?"
It scared her stiff all over again—but he'd come back to help her out.
Within Sylvia, something that had already been pushed right to the breaking point underwent a silent, earth-shattering transformation.

It was the moment when love turned into adoration, and affection blossomed into true devotion.

The mere sight of his bare hand—his gallant display of courage—was more than enough to seal her virgin heart's fate.

"Hey, you! Just 'cause your body's big doesn't mean some ogre like you can get cocky and act up!"
The man was a hired mercenary from the bar's backroom; he had seen his share of action in his time.
Even if he was drunk, he certainly didn't plan to let a lone young ogre walk all over him.
But...
"Tch, cheap blade. Needs some serious maintenance."
He reached out intending to show the ogre just how painful it could get—but there was no sword in sight. The young man had simply snatched it up and started inspecting it on his own authority.
His name was Andy.

"Hold it right there, kid! You don't just touch someone else's sword..."
"Oh, whoa—put that bottle down, will ya?"
As he tried to reach for Andy, his head was yanked upward by a finger even larger than the ogre's before him. Twisted swiftly between those colossal digits like being turned on a lathe, flipped 180 degrees as if tightening a screw—and there, looming above, was the face of a massive bull.
"Eep!"
They certainly backed off. Facing two empty-handed ogres was terrifying enough as it was.

Andy, Arnie, and Kelly were out having drinks in the rain on what should have been their day off.

None of them minded getting soaked to get a drink; they just wanted to hang out with Andy and Kelly. At first, Arnie had tried to push the weapon inventory check onto him so the three of them could dash off—but seeing Arnie's eyes well up with tears, saying something like, "I was actually really looking forward to meeting Sylvia today! She might still be waiting..." forced them to hurry things up and finish together.

"Sheeks always love pranking folks with girls, that's just their style," Andy muttered.

"You gotta show a little maturity for once, damn it, Smyson! Boyd can deal with Arnie later—you know what I'm sayin'?"

"Right, you're both right."

"...ah, um, does that mean I'm getting bullied?"

"Of course it does," they both said in unison.

Even so, neither Andy nor Kelly could bring themselves to play some dirty trick like making Arnie skip seeing a girl waiting for him in the rain. They were just too sweethearted for their own good.

Anyway, the three of them marched through the storm singing battle songs, only to burst open the tavern door straight into Sylvia's absolute crisis mode.

Arnie had come here specifically to see her beloved—no kidding—and both Andy and Kelly were far more furious than they looked.

"Hey you, drunkard. There are three things I absolutely can't stand in this world: low-ceilinged general stores, blue basil, and guys who make their subordinates miserable."

Kelly raised his hands high and lectured the drunkard, who stood no less than three meters tall—a bull ogre. If Kelly had offered his arm, it would have stretched nearly five meters from end to end. Even inside the second-story atrium, a space designed for ogres and where the ceiling felt within reach of outstretched arms, Kelly hoisted the man so high the drunken fool finally sobered right up.
"Oh no, get off me you big dumb ogre! Do you think the militia will just let this slide?!"
the drunkard screamed in panic. Kelly glanced at Andy and grinned sheepishly.
"Men who tried to harass women love saying that."
"Don't push it... remember this, human bastard: in Celesta, ogres can join the militia or become elite soldiers. Even my buddy Arnie might end up as an Ace Knight. Down here, it's stupid people we least want around—not half-elves, not even ogres!"
Still gripping the drunkard by the hair, Kelly flung him skyward. The man crashed through the window shutters and flew out like a ragdoll. Without missing a beat, Kelly struck a dramatic muscle pose.

The tavern's second floor was split: one half an open loft, the other converted into guest quarters.
It was often occupied by drink-loving soldiers who couldn't hold their liquor, but in truth, it was also intended as a kind of bordello—a dubious use for such modest rooms.

In that sparse setting, Arnie was stripped bare and scrubbed down with energetic vigor.
"...Arnie's really something special, isn't he?"
"Ohhh, because I'm an ogre."
"Yeah, super impressive."
"Because I'm an ogre."
"...Yeah. Even considering all that about being an ogre... Arnie, I love you."
"Uuuuh..."
Arnie turned as red as a tomato. He always lost his composure under Sylvia's straight-and-sincere affection.

While smiling at the flustered Arnie, Sylvia confessed to her renewed feelings for him—honestly, openly, without pretense or disguise.
"You helped me out again."
"I, um... I only reached out a little bit, okay?"
"But I was so happy! Whenever I'm in danger, you're always there. My heart just went thump!"
"Hey, I left Isaac Ten-Commander and Samson Ten-Commander with that, you know."
"Both of them were mad at me on Arnie's behalf..."

Kelly threw the drunkard through the window shutters, then immediately struck a dramatic muscle pose. The entire tavern gasped in awe before bursting into applause. "Ugh, you lowlife! ...Hey Isaac, let's break this sword."
"Don't go breaking it. We'll offer it to the boss as part of the tab."
"Well, at least half today's bill... Come on, let's drink!"
"Count me in!"

Andy and Kelly leaned over the bar with renewed enthusiasm, only for the boss to scold them instantly. Though she muttered, "Idiots, I told you it didn't even need to be the window!", her voice softened when she caught up with Arnie and the others later. She sighed gently, then said, "Sorry, Sylvia-chan. From now on, I'll hire bodyguards during the day too."
"Y-yes!"

Sylvia clung to Arnie like a koala, her face flushed from falling back in love. Even the oblivious boss, usually all mouth and no ears, finally figured out who Sylvia's "boyfriend" was—someone she'd never have guessed would be a hulking-faced ogre.
"...Speaking of which, over there you little ogre boy—if you stay soaking wet like that, you'll catch a cold."
"Oh! Well, I don't think I will..."
"Stop worrying. Room number three on the second floor is empty today. Go wipe yourself off. There's a towel in the closet."
"O-oh yeah..."
"Sylvia-chan, help him out."
"Eh...?"

That was the best the boss could do to show her support—a rather immature wink that popped with a sharp snick.

The second floor of the tavern was split: one half an open loft, the other converted into guest quarters.
It was often occupied by drink-loving soldiers who couldn't hold their liquor, but in truth, it was also intended as a kind of bordello—a dubious use for such modest rooms.

In that sparse setting, Arnie was stripped bare and scrubbed down with energetic vigor.
"...Arnie's really something special, isn't he?"
"Ohhh, because I'm an ogre."
"Yeah, super impressive."
"Because I'm an ogre."
"...Yeah. Even considering all that about being an ogre... Arnie, I love you."
"Uuuuh..."
Arnie turned as red as a tomato. He always lost his composure under Sylvia's straight-and-sincere affection.

While smiling at the flustered Arnie, Sylvia confessed to her renewed feelings for him—honestly, openly, without pretense or disguise.
"You helped me out again."
"I, um... I only reached out a little bit, okay?"
"But I was so happy! Whenever I'm in danger, you're always there. My heart just went thump!"
"Hey, I left Isaac Ten-Commander and Samson Ten-Commander with that, you know."
"Both of them were mad at me on Arnie's behalf..."

"…Yeah. I think… I'm glad to be in this unit. I feel like I'm not alone anymore."

"Yeah, Arnie, you're lucky to be in this unit."

Sylvia hugged him, kneeling on her knees and hanging onto his neck, which was about as wide as a human torso.

"…It's good that you came, Arnie. It's good to have met you… I…"

"S-Sylvi-aa-a?"

"I… I was so scared. So incredibly scared, yet you helped me, Arnie. I really, truly… I thought about how much I love you… I felt so incredibly happy…!"

"…I'm the same, I'm lucky too."

"Yeah. …Well, just say it. You love me."

"I… I do, Miss Sylvia."

"I love you very much."

"I love you SO much, Miss Sylvia."

"Then…"

"I love you to death."

"…♪"

Sylvia trembled violently.

She had confessed her love preemptively. To an ideal man like him.

Just thinking about that made her feel the ultimate joy as a woman; her core burned hot, she became wet, and her body shook uncontrollably.

Arnie found such a Sylvia incredibly cute and gently embraced her.

He wrapped himself around his partner, whose affection for him was growing exponentially like a snowball, while being embraced in return. It was a blissful moment.

"…Hmm."

After a while, Sylvia pulled away.

And only then did they both notice that the seam on her sleeve had started to fray slightly.

"Oh…"

"Do you think… maybe it got pulled when we were dragged earlier?"

"…Probably."

Arnie pondered what to do. Actually, despite appearances, he was capable of sewing. He tried to suggest fixing it discreetly so they could go back without anyone seeing, but just as he was about to propose that, Sylv—she nodded affirmatively at something and suddenly stripped off her clothes.

"Haa…? S-Sylvia Miss, if you're going to strip, I should probably… ah—"

"No way!"

Sylvia held him back just as he hurriedly tried to stand up.

He obediently complied; though still with his eyes closed, he sat down straight in front of her after she had stripped down to her underwear, climbed onto his lap, and yanked open her eyelids both hands pushing them apart.

"Uwaa…! No way… but that's…"

"Arnie-kun, listen to me. Look at this."

"…………"

"We became lovers, right? We've been lovers for almost three months now… so just look, okay?"

"Uh… Hmm."

Carefully, Arnie turned his gaze toward Sylvia.

Her beautiful and defenseless form in her underwear made him blush beyond belief; his eyes swam as he looked around nervously.

"…Yes."

"…So, Arnie-kun. …I think… it's time for me to give up already."

"??"

"I thought today maybe you could be mine all to yourself. ... No, that's not it. I don't mean 'maybe,' I mean I want to become yours, Arnie-boy. I really want to be loved by you, more than anything."

"...... Sylvia-san."

"Do you hate me, Arnie? Can we not do this?"

"I-I... see, but I'm an ogre!"

"It's okay. I'm human too."

"...No, what you mean is—"

"I understand everything. I know we're different species, and I know that to your eyes I might not be particularly charming. But even so, I like you. I want to be loved by you."

"N-No way! From my side, Sylvia-san, you really are charming... but on account of our respective life circumstances, I don't think it's wise for us..."

"Damn it!"

Sylvia's temper flared. She knew that Arnie loved her—that much was evident beyond just his words. Yet, Arnie was simply too kind, overthinking things, believing he would only defile her if they were together. Then...

"Oh, Arnie-boy, I'm sorry!"

"...Eh? Eh!?"

She yanked down his underwear and exposed his dick from between his legs. A modest-sized erection popped out, looking pitifully small compared to Arnie's towering bulk—popyon.

"Wha...!"

"Haa-fu. ...I'm serious."

After flashing a teasing smile at the panicking Arnie, Sylvia grabbed his penis with both hands and began to rub it. She'd seen him bare before; months ago, when he'd sustained severe injuries from a fall, she'd even forced herself to help him urinate out of a sense of responsibility. So she wasn't entirely shy about facing him like this. Still, touching a male genitals for sexual purposes was new territory, and things didn't go as smoothly as she hoped.

"Uuu... l-likkkaaaa..."

"S-Sylvia-san..."

"I'm s-sorry, I'm doing it bad... It's just bad, but I've never done this before... But I'm serious!"

Driven by desperation, Sylvia bit down on Arnie's penis. She knew oral sex existed, but her knowledge was limited to what one does after rubbing with hands, so she froze once the act progressed beyond that. Looking up, Arnie wore a troubled expression—not one of pleasure, but pure confusion, unsure how to respond to her actions.

"...See? I truly like you, Arnie-boy. Your penis... it's okay if I keep licking it like this. But..."

"But?"

"...Sorry, honestly I don't know what to do... But I really want to be loved by you... I want you to fuck me."

"......T-To say 'fuck'..."

"Can I really let you fuck me?"

Sylvia's sex knowledge couldn't keep pace with her actions any longer, so she honestly raised a white flag. In exchange, she had made up her mind.

"I want you to grab my body like this and forcefully thrust your penis inside me, using it as if it were a tool for rubbing against mine. I want you to make me feel good over and over again with your own cock."

"N-No way that..."

"Even if we tear each other apart, do it. If you love me, then do it..."

Deep from her heart, Sylvia was driven by such anxiety. She didn't mind if she ended up unable to stand right here on the spot. As long as she could truly connect with Arnie, she wanted to prove that a woman like her could commune with his masculinity. And she wished to be connected with Arnie even more deeply.

My affection for Arnie swelled beyond all control, nearly driving me into panic; I desperately craved intimacy with him.

"……Silvia……-san"

"…………"

And then...

"……Are you really going to do it? I'm a boy, okay?"

Overwhelmed by Silvia's relentless advances, Arnie finally began to loosen the leash on his reason.

"Yeah."

"Despite how serious I look, I have a huge interest in girls. If you allow me, I might do something extraordinary with every date from now on!"

That surge of desire thrilled Silvia so much she trembled. Her fear of being unable to express her love or being rejected vanished, replaced by joy so overwhelming it brought tears to her eyes.

"……Do something amazing. Let me experience something incredible with you every week♪"

"…………Ugh... I don't know what to do anymore..."

"I also... don't know what to do anymore♪"

They stripped off their underwear, discarding every scrap of fabric.

There was nothing left to hide between them; they showed each other heart and body entirely.

Silvia spread her arms wide, accepting Arnie's hand.

"Yes, right there..."

"I'm wet..."

"Yeah... I've been soaking wet wanting to be held by you, Arnie-kun... I tried so hard to get ready to welcome your cock...?"

"……Haa... haa... fck."

"…Yeah, that's fine. You can let me in. Do whatever you want…"

"S-Silvia-san!!!"

Silvia had both hands clutching her waist and thighs as they were pushed firmly against Arnie's torso with her legs spread open.

He tried to control his strength, but the ogre's powerful arms made it impossible; rather than slowly piercing through, the hymen was ripped through in one violent thrust.

"Nghk...!!!"

"……Haa... haa... Oh no, it's so... hot and... feels amazing..."

"…Yeah, I can feel you inside me, Arnie-kun..."

Arnie's penis was remarkably small compared to his massive build. Even for a human average, it was large, but as an ogre, it was far from something to boast about.

However, this was fortuitous for both of them. Inserting Arnie's cock all the way in wouldn't damage Silvia.

He could thrust deeply and dynamically right up against the base without hesitation.

Furthermore, Silvia appeared light and petite from his perspective, so he shook her with such dynamic force that she barely registered. Neither had prior experience—Arnie was a virgin too—and consumed by the sheer pleasure of sex with a woman for the first time, he lost himself completely, mindlessly "using" Silvia.

"Aa, ah, ah... agu, ah... Si-l-vi-a, san... It feels so good I can't stop... I'm sorry, excuse me... excuse me...!!!"

"A, ah, hyaa, aaah, aaaah... Hii, i-iiaaaah...!!!"

Both of them, since the moment of insertion, had abandoned all reason.

Overwhelmed by the experience, Silvia was whipped back and forth relentlessly, just to reach Arnie's climax with every splash.

"……Haa, ah... n... a... aaa♪"

Yet even so, Silvia wore a blissful expression.

As a woman, there was no doubt she had satisfied Arnie, her ideal man; that realization made her incredibly happy.

"Waaa, ah, aa... uwaaaa!!!"

Arnie became completely absorbed in it; he could think of nothing but ejaculation.

Then, slamming Silvia's waist against his own hip...

He slammed his glans against her womb.
"Uaaahhhhhhhh!!"
"Haa... aah... ah, aaah... n-aaah♪"
With a grand, erupting climax, he finished inside her.

"……You really did it…♪"

"I'm s-sorry!"

"If you apologize, I'll get angry."

"…………S-so sorry…"

"Ei!"

Smacked both of Arnie's cheeks with a crisp pachin sound.

"……nnn..."

Then he silenced her with a kiss.

"I'm... your girlfriend, Arnie-kun?"

"Yes."

"Does a girlfriend have permission to fuck?"

"If you say that kind of thing, I'd think she should..."

"Make sure we choose the right place, though."

"……Yes."

"Be gentle with her."

"Yes."

"Also be rough."

"……That's hard..."

"It isn't. If you just let it happen, Arnie-kun can only go soft."

"……Y-yes I guess."

"Yeah♪"

"You there, Smyson."

"Wha', Isaac?"

"…Hey, do you think they're fucking too?"

"...I'd vote for the ones just making out and talking sweet nothings together."

"I'm voting for the ones throwing a feast of lust."

※Correct answer: Both.

"That's frustrating as hell either way."

"……When we get back, let's bully them some."

"Let's bully them."

The old woman above them dealt each man a solid tray blow to their heads.

"Is your job as military men to interfere with your comrades' happiness?"

"N-no, that's wrong! This is our right!"

"You bastards! Happy people should just get bullied openly so the rest of us can feel a little happy too!"

"I was an idiot for getting a bit turned on by you two losers."

"Just because some old woman's into me doesn't make sense either way."

"Hey,"
"...I'm settling the tab now—full amount."
I'm so sorry.

This happened about a month before Selen's arrival.

A steady, light rain. "I've missed another chance," the girl in love sighed.

She had always thought of herself as a responsible adult now, yet she couldn't help but realize that she was still shedding her childhood skin.

"Haa... I want to see him."

She should be able to hold back, knowing it, and yet her heart kept racing.

He was a soldier, garrisoned in a solitary outpost an hour's walk from the city. It was only natural they couldn't see each other often.

On top of that, when the weather turned, she'd have to wade through that hour-long stretch in the rain. The thought of catching a cold made staying home seem like the sensible choice.

Even so.

"...It would be nice to meet up just once a week."

That's all it took for her mind to settle on just one meeting a week.

She felt like a child left behind at the door, longing for a picnic only to have the sky betray her. She knew deep down that it was too childish, too impatient of her, but even so, the thought of another week without him left her heart wilting.

"What's with that glum face, Silvi? Want a drink?"

The tavern keeper thumped the wine barrel over the counter.

"No thanks. It's still broad daylight."

"Aha ha, yeah right. At nineteen, you probably can't even get into it anyway."

"Whether I'm thirty or forty, trying to hook up with someone during the day on a holiday is just beneath them, no matter how much they're down for it."

"Such an earnest girl. Just like her, the only daughter of Professor MacLean."

"It's not about my mother."

Her mother taught at the primary academy; her father was a bureaucrat. It wasn't hard to deny she came from a strictly serious household, but Sylvia believed that alcohol was for the night, meant to be enjoyed just before bed.

Incidentally, drinking was legally permitted in Celesta starting at age seventeen, so her age was not an issue.

"...Haa."

She gazed out through the window at the dark sky and sighed.

She looked at the street corner where Arnie's massive frame usually stood with a lost, aimless look about him, feeling a profound sense of loneliness. Sylvia mumbled as she polished off her lunchtime gratin.

Sylvia MacLean (Human female, 19 years old, 152 cm) and Corporal Arnie Boyd (Ogre male, 18 years old, 277 cm) had been dating for three months.
An unspoken understanding had formed between them regarding their meeting habits.
Around noon on Sundays, in front of the tavern at the edge of town that was a favorite haunt of the Crossbow Corps—the unit Arnie belonged to—they would gather if schedules allowed.
Then they'd head together to the colosseum or go picnicking in the mountains, spending time well together.
Ideally, they could keep in close touch, but the barracks where Arnie lived were far away. Being part of the military made it difficult for her to approach easily, and while she could write letters, paper was still too expensive for frequent correspondence.
Even if Arnie tried to come visit, Sylvia worked on weekdays. Furthermore, her curfew at home was strict, and since both her parents were stiff-necked people, she hadn't introduced him yet. They simply couldn't manage any other way to see each other.
So the routine remained: meet up like always, and if all went well, date like always.
Sylvia's feelings for Arnie had deepened considerably since they started dating; she wanted to be with him twenty-four hours a day. To her, this waiting game was maddening, but whenever she considered making a bold move that might inconvenience Arnie, she found herself unable to act. She reminded herself every day: I'm the older one here.

"Haa."
"What's the matter? Feeling down in the rain means you've got a boyfriend you're itching to see for a date?"
The tavern keeper glanced at Sylvia and asked casually.
"...Huh?"
Sylvia paused, taken aback.
She hadn't told her parents, that was for certain, but she hadn't really felt the need to keep things on the down-low regarding Arnie either.
Especially since this tavern was right in front of their usual meeting spot; she'd assumed the keeper would have noticed by now.
"...Yeah, I guess so?"
"My, my, my."

The shopkeeper stared at Sylvia, dead serious as she answered, before flashing a lecherous, gossipy grin.

"Finally, that famous Sylvie's got a boyfriend. That’s an exclusive scoop, if there ever was one. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

"That's... what do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Well, see—"

Still grinning from ear to ear, the shopkeeper prodded with her plump, fat elbow. Of course, from across the counter, she had no hope of actually reaching Sylvia.

"Beautiful, hardworking, famous Sylvie—she’s rejected who knows how many men. Impregnable and aloof, chaste and pure-hearted, the high unattainable flower of the slums."

"No... I haven't rejected anyone..."

Ever since elementary academy, there had indeed been a few men who pursued Sylvia with annoying persistence. But somehow, they just didn’t click, so she’d turned them all down.

Looking back on it now, it was inevitable that Sylvia found them lacking. They weren’t reliable enough to be trusted in a crisis, lacked the tenderness to envelop her, were missing that pure innocence where one would think I’m the one who needs to take care of him, and above all, they didn’t have that calm atmosphere where you could be together for hours on end.

In that sense, Sylvia’s standards were high, making Arnie a rare find.

However, Sylvia had never once considered herself an unattainable flower. Most men tended to hit on any woman who caught their eye indiscriminately, and she simply thought of herself as a pretty ordinary woman who just kept her distance from romance.

"Maybe most people just casually start dating without thinking too hard."

"Hah, catching a man in these times is like going to war. You can't expect a prince to come riding to the rescue from far away; if you have a chance to snag a guy within reach, you don't get picky about the finer details."

"Oh... I see. Usually, they don't just come along, do they?"

One had come for Sylvia. He might not be a prince, but at least he was the kind of boy Sylvia considered ideal.

Thinking about it made her realize she was a very lucky woman, and Sylvia felt wonderfully buoyant. Since he was taking things seriously, she figured she shouldn’t complain about not seeing him for a week or so.

Seeing Sylvia suddenly start beaming, the shopkeeper wore an odd expression.

"Well, well, the crying crow is laughing again."

"Yeah... I think I might actually be pretty happy."

"...Well, that’s fine, I guess. Tell this old woman about it sometime, if you feel like sharing, Sylvie's boy-friend."

"Okay. ...I think they've already seen quite a bit, though."

"Have they? The young man the old woman watches often... hmm... could it be Anzeros?"

"Who’s that?"

"There’s a gorgeous soldier around."

"That’s not him—haha~♪"

No matter how handsome he was, no matter what kind of rugged actor’s face he had, Sylvia genuinely believed he couldn’t compare to Arnie. Once you fell for someone, even a pimple becomes a dimple, I suppose.

With that, having finally gotten her spirits up, Sylvia stood up, ready to leave the tavern.

A beautiful woman with a smile attracts people ten times more than one with a sour face.

Without Sylvia herself realizing it, the gazes of nearly half the men in the tavern had converged on her.

It was an almost inevitable outcome for drunkards who couldn’t work because of the rain to harbor a hint of lecherous intent toward a lone young woman.

"Hey, miss. Pour us a drink, will ya? You look bored."

One of the drunks grabbed Sylvia’s arm. The shopkeeper had retreated into the kitchen and wasn’t watching.

"Don't... what are you—"

"What, still stuck in some backwater where you don't know how to pour drinks? It means 'pour me some liquor.' And while you're at it, why not do something a bit fun for us? That’s all."

"No, I can't..."

"Never mind that, move!"

Sylvia was yanked by force. She stumbled and was dragged down to the floor.

"Oh, my. Sorry. ...My hand slipped."

The drunk reached out and whipped her skirt up. Her underwear was visible, and the other drunks erupted in cheers.

"Ha! Give us a little more service. What are we gonna do, eat you?"

"No...!"
Sylvia flinched in sheer terror.
She was fully aware of the fact that there were no allies within reach.
That drunkard would surely face the wrath of his wife and the constabulary eventually, but by then, who knew what unpleasant things she might be subjected to simply because he felt like it? The mere thought made her sick.
"Come here..."
The drunk reached out a hand. Sylvia crawled away across the floor, inch by inch.

Just then, a massive hand intervened.

"Huh?"
"I, it's not... really okay to do that kind of thing,"

Having scrambled under the table, Sylvia couldn't get a full view of the situation.
Even so, she instantly recognized the drenched hand and the modest voice.
"Oh... Arnie?!"
He was scary. But he had come to save her again.
Inside Sylvia, something that had been on the verge of breaking even before finally snapped into a new state with an audible snap.

It was the moment when mere liking transformed into deep affection, and then into love.

The heroic display offered by just his hand was enough to seal the fate of Sylvia's maiden heart.

"Listen here, you. Just because you're big doesn't give you the right to get cocky like some lowly ogre."

The man was a freelance mercenary with a certain amount of skill under his belt.

Drunk as he might be, he had no intention of losing to even a young ogre.

But.

"Hmph. That's an expensive sword. And it isn't maintained at all, either."

Just as the ogre reached out to show him some pain, there was no sword in his hand. A young man had taken it and was appraising it on his own.

It was Andy.

"Hey kid, don't touch someone else's sword..."

"Oh yeah? Put your booze aside for a moment."

When the mercenary reached for Andy, he was grabbed by the head with fingers even larger than those of the previous ogre.

With a twist, his head was pinched and rotated one hundred and eighty degrees like turning a screw, revealing a giant bull's face before him.

"Hyah!"

He naturally recoiled. Facing two ogres without weapons was too terrifying an opponent to handle.

Andy, Arnie, and Kelly had cheerfully arrived at the tavern in the rain.

On their day off, Andy and Kelly felt the same need for a drink. Initially, they had tried to shove the responsibility of counting and managing their weapons onto Arnie so the two of them could dash out immediately, but Arnie had pleaded with a tearful face, "I actually intended to go meet Sylvia today. She might be waiting," so they reluctantly hurried through the task together.

"I hate to hassle guys who have girlfriends, you know."

"You should try showing a bit more maturity, Basson. We can tease Boyd later if we want to."

"That's true enough."

"...Ah, um, am I going to get teased?"

[Of course.]

Despite that, Andy and Kelly were not the sort to do something as diabolical as leaving Arnie behind while a girl was waiting in the rain. No matter how much they pretended otherwise, they had soft spots.

And so, the three of them marched into the rain, singing a marching song in competition with each other before walking in to drink. The moment they opened the door, they were faced with Sylvia's crisis.

Seeing what had happened to Arnie's girlfriend, Andy and Kelly were considerably angrier than it might have appeared.

"Hey, drunk. There are three things I can't stand in this world: shops with low ceilings, shiso leaves, and men who make their subordinates miserable."

Kelly raised his hand high and delivered a lecture to the drunkard. A bull ogre over three meters tall stretching his arm would reach nearly five meters in height. Even inside the second-floor mezzanine of their establishment—popular among ogres—his extended limb nearly scraped the ceiling, sobering even the most hardened boozer.

"Y-Yeah, cut it out, you ogre bastard! You really think the gendarmerie is just going to stand by and watch this happen?"

He ranted and raved. Kelly exchanged a glance with Andy, shrugged, and laughed.

"Not something a drunk who tried to rape a woman should be saying."

"You're damn right... Just remember this, you human bastard. In Celesta, ogres can serve as gendarmes or elite soldiers. My Arnie might even become an Ace Knight down the line. It's being stupid that gets you the most hated around here—not being an ogre or a half-elf!"

Still gripping the man by the head, Kelly flung him through the air with a whoosh.

The drunkard smashed through the wooden window shutters and flew out. Seizing the moment, Kelly struck a muscle pose.

Overwhelmed by the sheer force of it, the entire tavern erupted in applause.

"Damn lowlife... Hey, Isaac, let's just snap this sword in half."

"Don't break it. Use it to pay for the drinks and offer it as a tribute to your wife."

"Hmph, I guess that'd about cover half of today's tab. ...Alright, time to drink!"

"Yea!"

Andy and Kelly got fired up, piling into the counter bar, promptly earning them an angry look from their boss. "You guys don't need to break windows too, you idiots," the landlady said, though her voice carried a touch of softness as she returned at roughly the same time as Arnie and the others, having watched from the sidelines with bated breath once things got heated.

"Sorry about that, Sylvia-chan. I'll make sure to get proper daytime guards for you starting now."

"Y-Yes..."

Sylvia clung to Arnie's arm like a lifeline, her face bright red as she fell head-over-heels in love with him all over again.

Even the landlady, who was usually all talk and thick as two planks on social cues, finally pieced together who Sylvia's "boyfriend" actually was. It wasn't exactly something anyone would guess that beautiful Sylvia had a massive-faced ogre as her partner.

"...Besides that, you little ogre boy over there, you'll catch cold if you stay soaked like that."

"Oh, no I won't, I'm fine—"

"Stop making excuses. Room 3 on the second floor is vacant today, so go wash off and dry yourself. There's a towel in the closet."

"Y-Yes..."

"Sylvia-chan, go help him out."

"Eh...?"

This was about the best way the landlady knew how to smooth things over. Despite her age, she pulled off a flawless wink.

The second floor of the tavern was split: half open-air atrium, half inn.

Andy and other soldiers who loved their drink but had low tolerance often ended up rolling around there, though it originally served as a less-than-wholesome bawdy house.

In one of those spartan rooms under such circumstances, Arnie was being stripped of his clothes and diligently dried off.

"...You're really huge, Arnie-kun."

"I-I'm an ogre, so..."

"Mm. You seem really reliable."

"It's because I'm an ogre."

"...Yeah. Including the fact that you're an ogre, I love you, Arnie-kun."

"Eh..."

Arnie turned crimson. As always, Sylvia's straightforward affection left him flustered.

Smiling at such an Arnie, Sylvia confessed without beating around the bush or any embellishment that she had fallen for him all over again.

"You saved me again, didn't you?"

"I-It was just a little thing I did..."

"But it really made me happy. Knowing you're always there when I'm in danger... My heart skipped."

"Hehe... I left everything to Captain Isaac and Captain Smayson, though."

"Both of them were angry for Arnie's sake, weren't they?"

“……Yes. I really feel like I’m not alone anymore, and I’m glad to be on this squad.”

“Yeah. You’re doing great in this squad, Arnie-kun.”

Sylvia hugged Arnie’s head—roughly the size of a human torso—from where she sat astride his knee, dangling there.

“It was good you came, Arnie-kun. I’m so glad to have met you……”

“Sylvia……-san?”

“I was scared. Really scared. And in that scary moment, Arnie-kun saved me. I truly, truly love you…… That’s what I thought. I must be really happy……!”

“……I’m lucky too, -ss.”

“Yeah. ……Hey, say you like me.”

“……I like you, Sylvia-san.”

“Say you love me.”

“I love you, Sylvia-san.”

“Then……”

“I adore you.”

“……♪”

Sylvia trembled violently.

He had preempted her declaration of love first. To a man so ideal.

Just that alone made her feel the ultimate joy as a woman, her core burning hot, wet, and trembling with the heat.

Arnie found Sylvia’s reaction cute and gently pulled her close.

Wrapping his body around the person whose affection continued to snowball ever onward, enveloped and enveloping in turn. It was a moment of pure bliss.

“……Hmm.”

After a while, Sylvia separated from him.

It wasn’t until then that both of them noticed the stitching on her sleeve had torn slightly.

“Oh……”

“Probably from when I got pulled earlier, -ss.”

“……Maybe.”

Arnie pondered what to do. In case you hadn’t noticed, Arnie was quite skilled at sewing and such matters despite appearances. Just as he was about to suggest mending it enough that they could go home without anyone noticing, Sylvia nodded to something—‘uh-huh’—and suddenly began taking off her clothes.

“W-Wait…… If you’re going to take your clothes off, I should leave first, -ss……”

“No way!”

Sylvia held back the flustered Arnie who was trying to stand up in a panic.

Obediently complying, Arnie sat back down with his eyes closed, and Sylvia stood before him in her underwear, straddling his lap again, then forcefully pried his eyelids open with both hands.

“Nwahhh, that’s—well, but I—!”

“Arnie-kun, listen to me. Look at me.”

“…………”

“We became lovers, didn’t we? We’ve been lovers for three months already…… Look, it’s okay?”

“Uh……”

Tentatively, Arnie looked toward Sylvia.

Seeing the beautiful Sylvia in her defenseless state of underwear, he blushed more intensely than ever before, his eyes darting around erratically.

“……Yes.”

“Hey, Arnie-kun. ……Do you think it’s okay for me now?”

“?”

"I thought today might be the day I could belong to Arnie alone... No, that's not it. I want to be yours, Arnie. I really, really want you to love me more than anything else in this world."

"…Sylvia, Miss…"

"Arnie, do you hate me? Can't we… do this kind of thing together?"

"B-but I'm an ogre…"

"It's fine. I'm human too."

"No, that's not what I mean—"

"I know everything. I fully understand that we're different species. I know that from where you stand, I might not be attractive to you. But even so, I like you, Arnie. I want you to love me."

"N-no way! Even looking at it from my side, Miss Sylvia, you're truly… incredibly beautiful… but if we were together, wouldn't I just end up bringing trouble into your life?"

"Ugh!"

Sylvia was fed up with his hesitation.

She knew, deep down, that Arnie loved her—his words and actions spoke volumes.

He was just too kind, overthinking everything, believing he had no right to defile her.

So then.

"Arnie, I'm sorry!"

"W-What?"

She tugged at his underwear, pulling them back to expose his cock.

A pop. From Arnie's massive perspective, the erect shaft looked disappointingly small.

"W-wha…!"

"Hee-hee. …I mean it."

Giving Arnie a slightly mischievous smile as he flustered, Sylvia began to rub his cock with both her hands.

It wasn't the first time she'd seen his cock. Months ago, when Arnie suffered a severe beating that left him covered in bruises all over, her sense of responsibility had led her to forcefully take charge of helping him urinate.

So she could handle it without too much embarrassment. But this was the first time she was touching a man's member with sexual intent, and things didn't go as smoothly as she'd imagined.

"Mm… like th-this… right?…"

"Miss Sylvia…"

"S-sorry, I'm clumsy… I'm bad at this, but… I've never done it before… but I'm serious, okay?!"

Driven by the intensity of her feelings, Sylvia leaned in and placed her mouth on Arnie's cock.

She knew such a technique existed, but her knowledge only extended to rubbing with hands as a baseline, so once she reached his mouth, she was completely at a loss.

Looking up, she saw Arnie's face twisted in confusion. It wasn't a look of pleasure or anything like that; he simply didn't know how to react to what she was doing.

"…Hey, do you understand? I really, truly love you, Arnie. You can lick my cock as much as you want right now. But…"

"But?"

"I'm sorry, but I just don't know what to do with it… I really want you to love me… I want you to fuck me, Arnie."

"F-fuck? You mean…"

"Are you seriously saying I can fuck you?"

Overwhelmed by desire that her sexual knowledge couldn't keep pace with, Sylvia honestly threw up her hands in surrender.

In exchange, she had made up her mind.

"Just grab my body and forcefully ram your cock into me. Use me like a rag to rub against it. Please make yourself feel good through me, over and over again."

"W-what…"

"Even if it tears, just do it. If you love me… do it…"

From the bottom of her heart, Sylvia was driven by an anxious, burning need.

If she ended up unable to stand on her legs here, so be it. As long as it truly connected them, that would be enough. She wanted to prove to herself and to him that, as a woman, she could make love to his masculine side. More than anything, she wanted to connect with Arnie deeply, infinitely.

An uncontrollable surge of affection for Arnie left her in a state bordering on panic, desperately craving the intimacy of their union.

"……Sylvia……-san"

"…………"

And then.

"……Are we really going to do this? I'm a man, you know?"

Under Sylvie's relentless insistence, Arnie finally began to loosen the reins on his reason.

"Yeah."

"Despite how I look, I have a huge interest in women. If it’s allowed, I might do some really amazing things every time we go on a date, you know?"

Delighted by that desire, Sylvia trembled. The terror of being unable to express her love or be accepted vanished instantly, replaced by a happiness so profound it brought tears to her eyes.

"……Do those amazing things. Make me experience something incredible every week♪"

"…………Mmph, I don’t care anymore."

"Neither do I……I don’t care anymore♪"

They cast off their undergarments as well, eliminating all fabric.

No more hiding from each other. Showing everything—mind and body alike—to the other.

Sylvia spread both arms wide, welcoming Arnie into her hands.

"Yes, right there……"

"You're wet……"

"Mm……I’ve been wet for a long time because I wanted to be held by you, Arnie. I worked hard to get myself wet enough to welcome your cock……?"

"……Hah……hah……uhk"

"……Yes, it’s okay. You can come in. Do whatever you like……"

"S-Sylvia-san!!"

Sylvia gripped her hips and legs with both hands as Arnie forced her legs apart, pressing her firmly against his waist.

Though he was careful with his strength, the brute force of an Ogre’s arm meant there was no slow penetration of the hymen. It split in a sudden, sharp snap.

"Mmmf……!!"

"……Hah……hah…yep, it’s really…hot and feels good…"

"……Yes, I feel you inside me, Arnie…"

Arnie’s cock was surprisingly small for his massive frame. While larger than the human average, it was nowhere near impressive by Ogre standards.

However, this suited both of them perfectly. Arnie could thrust his meat all the way to the base without breaking Sylvia.

They could pump him in and out with full force, dynamically reaching the root each time.

And since Sylvia was slightly smaller than Arnie, she truly got shaken up dynamically by him. Furthermore, as a virgin experiencing sex for the very first time, Arnie forgot himself, swept away by the pleasure of having sex with a woman, and simply "used" Sylvia without restraint.

"Ua, ah, ah…uguh, a…S-Sylvia-san…feels so good, I can’t stop…sorry, my bad…my bad…"

"Aa, ah, hyah, aa, aah…hii, ii, iiah!!"

From the moment of penetration onward, both of them had no sense of reason left.

Overwhelmed by the intense experience, they were tossed about, Arnie relentlessly thrusting Jippo-jippo for his ejaculation.

"……Hah, ah…nn, aah…aa♪"

Even so, Sylvia wore a happy expression.

As a woman, being able to satisfy her ideal man, Arnie, beyond any doubt—it was an immense source of happiness.

"Uaah, aa, aah…uaa!!"

Arnie was lost in the moment. He couldn't think of anything other than ejaculation.

And then, he slammed Sylvia’s hips against his own waist.

Ramming his cock against her womb.
“Uuaaahhhhhh!!”
“Haa, ah… a, aa… aaah, mmm♪”
He came with a spectacular, gushing eruption.

……Actually did it……♪”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“If you apologize, I’ll get mad.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Hey there.”

Snap. She smacked Arnie’s cheeks on both sides.

“…Mmmph.”

And then she silenced Arnie with a kiss.

“I’m your girlfriend, Arnie?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Girlfriends are allowed to have sex, right?”

“……If you put it that way, I guess it’s okay?”

“Just make sure to pick the right place, got it?”

“…Yes ma’am.”

“Be gentle.”

“Understood.”

“Be rough sometimes, too.”

“……That’s tough.”

“It’s not hard. If you leave him be, Arnie can only be gentle, after all.”

“……I-I guess so, huh.”

“Mm-hmm♪”

“Howdy, Smyson.”

“What’s up, Isaac?”

“……Hey, do you think they’re fucking right now?”

“……I vote that nothing is happening and they’re just doing their cutesy couple talk over there.”

“I vote they’re hosting a feast of carnal desire.”

※Correct answer: Both.

“Heck, I’m pissed no matter which one it is.”

“……Let’s mess with them when we get back.”

“Let’s do it.”

Mommy delivers one hit to each of their heads with a tray.

“Aren’t you guys military men supposed to be interfering with your comrades’ happiness?”

“I-It’s different! This is my legitimate right!”

“Damn it! Happy people should just let themselves be fucked and make the rest of us a little happier too!”

“I was an idiot for even being a little bit excited about your exploits.”

“Being turned on by an old hag though…”

"Hey."
"…Pay up. In full. Now."
"I'm so sorry, seriously."
This was one month before Selen's arrival.

It was drizzling.
The lovesick girl sighed, realizing she had missed another chance. She thought of herself as a mature adult, but now she couldn't deny that she was still just a child in transition.
"Hmm... I wish I could see him."
Even though she knew she should be patient, her heart yearned for him.
He was a soldier stationed an hour's walk away from the city. It wasn't surprising they didn't get to meet very often.
Especially when bad weather made it necessary for him to walk that long distance in the rain. If he caught a cold, there would be no way she could forgive herself if she let him come.
Still.
"...I wish we could see each other at least once a week."

She felt like a child who had been let down by the sky after looking forward to a picnic, and even though she knew it was childish and short-sighted of her, she couldn’t help but feel deflated at the thought of not seeing him for another whole week.

"What’s with that gloomy face, Sylvie? Want a drink?"

The bartender tapped on the barrel across the counter.

"No thanks. It’s still broad daylight."

"Haha, I see. Well, you’re only nineteen so it wouldn’t be surprising if you didn’t feel like drinking yet."

"Whether I’m thirty or forty, I don’t think people who start drinking in the middle of the day are very good company on weekends either."

"You’re such a goody-two-shoes. No wonder you’re MacLean’s daughter."

"It has nothing to do with my mother."

Her mother was an elementary school teacher and her father a bureaucrat. It couldn’t be denied that she came from a serious household, but Sylvia thought drinking should only happen at night after work or on weekends.

By the way, in Celesta you’re allowed to drink alcohol starting at seventeen years old, so age-wise there’s no problem.

“...sigh.”
Looking up at the dark sky through the window, Sylvia sighed. She finished off her lunch gratin with a gloomy expression, gazing at the street corner where Ernie usually stood aimlessly.

Sylvia MacLean (human female, 19 years old, height 152 cm) and Arnie Boyd Jr. (ogre male, 18 years old, height 277 cm) had been dating for three months.
An unwritten rule of meeting up had formed between them.
On Sundays around noon, they would meet at the pub near town that was frequented by Ernie’s unit, the Crossbow Corps. If circumstances allowed it, they’d spend time together at the arena or go on a picnic in the mountains.
Ideally, they wished to communicate more closely, but Ernie lived far away in his unit’s barracks. The military made it difficult for outsiders to approach him, and paper was still too expensive to use frequently for correspondence.
Even if Ernie wanted to come see her, Sylvia worked during weekdays. Her curfew was strict, and both of her parents were stern people who hadn’t yet introduced her to Ernie. There was no way they could meet otherwise.
So the only way they could see each other was by following their usual routine: meeting up as planned and spending time together if everything went well.

Since we started dating, our love has grown stronger and stronger. Sylvia really wanted to be with me all the time, but she was frustrated by this waiting game. She didn't want to take any drastic actions that might inconvenience Arnie. Every day, she reminded herself that she should act like an older sister.

"Hmm."

"What's wrong? Are you feeling depressed because of the rain? Or did you finally get a boyfriend who wants to go on a date with you?"

The barmaid asked her casually as she looked at Sylvia.

"……Huh?"

Sylvia was slightly surprised.

Although she hadn't told her parents, Sylvia wasn’t trying to hide her relationship with Arnie. She thought the barmaid would have noticed since this place was right across from their meeting spot.

"...Well, no."

"Oh? Oh oh oh."

The shopkeeper grinned lecherously at Sylvia’s serious answer.

“Sylvie-chan finally got a boyfriend? This is breaking news! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What… are you talking about?”

“Well, yeah.”

She pretended to poke her with her thick elbow. Of course, the counter was in the way and her arm couldn’t reach Sylvia.

“Beautiful, serious, famous Sylvie-chan, who’s turned down countless men. Impregnable, aloof, pure and innocent, a flower on an unreachable hill in the working-class district.”

“…I didn’t reject them.”

Since she went to elementary school, indeed several boys had pursued her persistently. But somehow none of them felt right, so she rejected all of them.

Thinking back now, it was inevitable that they would feel inadequate for Sylvia. They lacked the reliability to protect her if need be, the warmth to envelop her, and the purity to make her want to take care of them. Most importantly, there wasn’t a calm atmosphere in which she could spend hours with them.

In this sense, Sylvia’s standards were high, and Arnie was an exceptional existence.

However, Sylvia had never thought of herself as a high-maintenance girl. She figured she was just an ordinary woman who kept her distance from romantic entanglements. There were plenty of guys who would approach any woman they could, so it seemed natural to her.

"Maybe I’ve been more popular than I thought?"

"Haha, this is wartime; capturing men isn’t easy. No prince charming will come sweeping you off your feet from afar. If there’s a chance to get a guy right in front of you, it would be foolish not to take it."

"...Oh, so that’s how it is. They don’t usually come to me?"

Sylvia had her own special someone. He might not have been a prince, but he was the ideal boy for her.

Thinking about this made Sylvia feel incredibly lucky and happy. Since he took their relationship seriously, she figured it wasn’t too much to ask if they couldn’t see each other for a week or so.

Seeing Sylvia suddenly smile, the innkeeper gave an odd look.

"Look at you, crying one moment and laughing the next."

"...Yeah, I guess I’m happier than I thought."

"Well, that’s fine. If you feel like it, tell me about your boyfriend sometime, Silvy."

"Yeah. …I think I've been watching you a lot."

"Really? The old lady often sees young men… hmm… it must be Anzeross-kun, right?"

"...Who's that?"

"There’s this really handsome soldier around."

"That’s not it. Hehe♪"

No matter how good-looking or serious the actor might be, Ernest-kun is unbeatable, Sylvia thinks quite seriously. When you like someone, even their freckles are charming.

So as things turned out, she was in a good mood and stood up to leave the tavern.

A beautiful woman with a smile will attract far more people than one with an unhappy face. Without realizing it, half of the men in the tavern were staring at Sylvia.
Given that they couldn’t work due to the rain and had been drinking all day, it was almost natural for them to develop some sort of lecherous thoughts toward this lone girl.

“Hey, miss. Pour me a drink. You must be bored, right?” One of the drunkards grabbed Sylvia’s arm. The owner had gone into the kitchen and no one was watching.

“N-no! What do you want?”

“What? Don’t tell me you don’t know how to pour drinks yet? I said pour some sake for me. And while you’re at it, why don’t we have a little fun together?”

“No...”

“Come on, now!”

Sylvia was pulled forcefully and stumbled onto the floor.

“Oh my, sorry about that… My hand slipped.”

The drunkard lifted her skirt with his hand, exposing her underwear to the other drunks who cheered. “Haha, give us a little more service, okay? I’m not trying to take advantage of you.”

“No...”
Sylvia recoiled in fear. She fully realized that she had no allies around her.
She felt dizzy thinking about what this drunk might do to her before his wife and the gendarmes could exact their vengeance on him.
“Here…”
The drunk reached out, while Sylvia tried to crawl away from him by a few centimeters.
At that moment, a huge hand intervened.

“What’s this?”

“Oh, you shouldn’t...do stuff like that.”

Sylvia had been crawling under the table and couldn't see everything clearly.

Even so, she immediately recognized that soaked hand and the timid voice.
“Ah… Arnie-kun!?”
She was scared. But he came to help her again.
In Sylvia’s heart, something that had already been on the verge of breaking suddenly changed with a sound.
It was the moment when love turned from like to truly loving someone.

His heroic act with just his hands was enough to seal Sylvia's maiden heart.

“Hey you, don’t get cocky just because you’re big. Even an Orc wouldn’t dare.”
The man was a mercenary. He had some skill in him.
Even though he was drunk, he didn’t want to fall behind even one young orc.
But...

"Hmph, what a cheap sword. It looks like it hasn't been properly maintained at all."

When I reached out to give the ogre a taste of his own medicine and found no sword there, I saw that a young man had taken it without permission and was examining it.

It was Andy.
"Hey kid, you can’t just go touching someone else’s sword..."

"Oh, put down the drink,"

Just as he reached out to Andy, his head was picked up by an even larger finger than the ogre's before. The finger twisted his head around like a screw, and when it let him go, there was a giant bovine face in front of him.

"Ah!"

He couldn’t help but recoil; facing off against two ogres without any weapons was terrifying enough.

Andy, Arnie, and Kelly came to the tavern cheerfully despite the rain.

On days off, Andy and Kelly wanted to drink just as much as anyone else. They had initially planned on leaving Ernie in charge of counting weapons while they went out together, but when Ernie pleaded with a face that looked like he was about to cry, saying, "I really meant to go see Sylvia today, she might be waiting," they reluctantly agreed to finish quickly and head out together.

"Teasing someone with a girlfriend is our way."

"You should show some maturity for once, Smalls. We can torment Boyd later."

"That's true."

"...Um, am I going to get tormented?"

'Of course.'

Andy and Kelly weren't exactly cruel, though; they couldn’t leave Ernie in the lurch when Sylvia was waiting out in the rain.

So the three of them marched through the downpour singing marching songs as they made their way to drink. When they opened the door, it was straight into Sylvia’s big predicament.

Andy and Kelly were visibly upset about leaving poor Sylvia hanging.

"Hey you drunks. There are three things I can't stand in this world: low-ceilinged junk shops, pickled herring, and people who make their subordinates miserable."

Kelly raised his hand high and lectured the drunkard. With an ogre over three meters tall, raising his arm made it nearly five meters long. Even in this two-story atrium bar, he pulled him up so high that it seemed to touch the ceiling, sobering even the most drunken patron.

“Stop it, you ogre! Do you think the garrison will just sit by and watch?”

He shouted at Kelly. Kelly looked at Andy with a shrug and laughed.

“A drunk who tried to assault a woman sure has some nerve.”

“That’s right… remember this, human scum. In Celesta, ogres can become soldiers or even elite troops like constables. Our Arnie might even become an ace knight one day. Here, we hate idiots more than half-elves and ogres!”

With that, Kelly grabbed the drunkard by his head and threw him out of the window.

The man flew through the wooden lattice as Kelly struck a muscular pose right after throwing him.

The sheer force impressed everyone so much they couldn’t help but clap.

“Hmph, worthless scum… hey Isaac, let’s break this sword.”

“Don’t. We’ll pay for the drinks and give it to your wife.”

"Ah, it'll probably be about half of today. …Alright, let's drink!"

"Yeah!"

Andy and Kelly got excited and started drinking at the counter, only to get scolded by the barmaid right away. She said that they were silly kids who didn't even need to break a window, but her voice was slightly gentler than when she had been watching them from the side with Ernie.

"Sorry, Sylvia-chan. Next time I'll call for bodyguards during the day too."

"Yes..."

Sylvia clung onto Ernie's hand like she was seeking protection, blushing furiously as she fell in love again.

Even the insensitive barmaid finally realized who Sylvia's "boyfriend" was. She had no idea that a beautiful girl like Sylvia would have an ogre boyfriend with such a rugged face.

"...Anyway, you there, young ogre, you'll catch cold if you stay all wet."

"Oh, it's nothing really."

"Don't be shy. There's nobody using Room 3 on the second floor today, so go dry yourself off in there. Towels are in the closet."

“H-Huh?”

“Sylvie, help me out here.”

“What…?”

This was the best she could do. She winked at him playfully.

The second floor of the tavern was half open and half a brothel.

Soldiers like Andy, who loved to drink but were weak against it, often passed out there, though it was technically supposed to be for lovers’ trysts.

In this simple room, Arnie was being undressed and wiped down by Sylvie.

“…Arnie’s really big.”

“O-Of course he is!”

“Yeah. He looks so strong.”

“From an ogre.”

“...Yeah. I love you, Ernie—even as an ogre.”

“Ugh…”

Ernie turns bright red; he’s always at a loss for words when faced with Sylvia’s straightforward affection.

Smiling at him, Sylvia confesses her feelings without any pretense or evasion: “You saved me again.”

“I-I just did what I could,” Ernie stammers.

“But it made me so happy. You’re always there to protect me when I’m in danger. It made my heart skip a beat.”

“Heh...I left everything up to Isaac and Smisson, though.”

“Both of them were really angry on your behalf.”

“…Yeah. I’m glad I’m not alone, and that I joined this team,”

“Yes. Arnie-kun, it’s good you’re here.”

Silvia hugs Ernie, who is standing on her knees with his head at about the height of a person.

“I’m so happy you came to help me… I’m really glad I met you…”

“Miss Silvia?”

“…I was scared. Really, really scared. But Arnie-kun saved me. I love you so much… I felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world!”

“…Me too, I feel happy.”

“Yes… say it. Say that you love me…”

“I… love you, Miss Silvia…”

“Say it properly. Say ‘I really love you.’”

“I love you, Sylvia,”

“Then...”

“I love you too.”

“…♪”

Sylvia shuddered.

He had confessed his love to her first. From such an ideal man.

Just being loved by him was the greatest joy as a woman, and her core grew hot and wet with pleasure.

Ernie found Sylvia so cute that he held her close.

The two wrapped their bodies around each other, still growing in affection like a snowball rolling down a hill. It was a blissful moment.

“…mm”

A while later, Sylvia pulls away.

And at that moment, they both notice the seam of his sleeve is slightly torn.

“Ah...”

“Was it from when you pulled me earlier?”

“I guess so.”

Ernie thinks for a moment. Actually, despite appearances, he’s quite handy with a needle and thread. He was going to suggest fixing it enough to let her leave without anyone noticing, but just then Sylvia nods and suddenly starts undressing.

“What...? S-Sylvia-san, if you’re going to take off your clothes, I’ll go out—”

“No way!”

Sylvia stops Ernie from getting up in a hurry. He obediently sits back down with his eyes closed as she climbs onto his lap while still in her underwear and pulls open her eyelids with both hands.

“Nwahh, b-because!”

“Ernie-kun, listen to me. Look at me.”

“…………”

“We’re lovers now, aren’t we? We’ve been lovers for three months already… …Is it okay if I look?”

“U…”

Ernie looks over cautiously toward Sylvia.

He blushes even more as he sees her beautiful and defenseless lingerie-clad form, his eyes darting around nervously.

“Yes…”

“…Ernie-kun. I think it’s alright now.”

“What?”

"I thought it would be okay if I became just yours today, Ernie. …No, that’s not right. It’s not ‘okay’; I want to become yours. I really want you to love me more than anyone else."

"…Silvia-san?"

"Do you hate me? Can’t we do this together?"

"B-but, I’m an ogre…"

"It’s okay. I’m human too."

"N-no, I mean it doesn’t make sense."

"I understand everything. I know that you’re a different species from me. And I know that maybe you don’t find me attractive from your perspective either. But still, I like you. I want to be loved by you."

"T-there’s no way! From my point of view too, Silvia-san is really… attractive. But, would it just be a bother for you in life if it was with me?"

"Ugh!"
Silvia lost her patience.

Sylvia knew that Arnie loved her, and it was clear from everything but his words. However, he was just too kind and considerate to think that he could ever defile her.

Then,

“Arnie-kun, I’m sorry!”

“Eh…!? What!?”

She pulled down Arnie’s underwear, exposing the erection inside.

It popped out, a relatively small size compared to his large body.

“Wah…”

“Hehe. …I mean it this time.”

After teasing him with an evil smile at his flustered expression, Sylvia took hold of his member and began stroking it with both hands.

I'm not a stranger to seeing Ernie's dick. A few months ago, when he had sustained serious injuries all over his body, I'd even forced myself to help him urinate out of a sense of responsibility.

So, I wasn't completely embarrassed facing it now. But this was the first time handling it with sexual intent, and things weren’t going as smoothly as I hoped.

“Ugh… like… this…?”

“Silvia…”

“I’m sorry, I’m not very good at this… I’ve never done this before… but I really mean it!”

Desperation made Silvia put her mouth on Ernie’s dick. She knew there was such a technique, but she only had knowledge of how to rub it with her hands and didn’t know what to do next.

Looking up, she saw that Ernie looked confused. Not because he found it pleasurable or anything like that; rather, he just couldn't figure out how to react to Silvia’s actions.

“…Do you understand? I really love Ernie-kun. I can keep licking your dick as much as I want, but…”

“But what?”

“…Sorry, but I don’t really know what to do… But I want you to love me truly… I want you to take me.”

“…I mean, ‘take’…”

“Can you really take me?”

Sylvia’s sexual knowledge couldn’t keep up with her actions as she openly raised the white flag.

In its place, she had made up her mind.

“I want you to grab my body and shove your dick inside of me. I want you to treat me like a tool for rubbing your cock. And I want you to come in me over and over.”

“S-Such…”

“If it tears… do that. If you really love me, then do it…”

Sylvia was truly driven by this sense of urgency.

She didn’t care if she got hurt here. As long as she could be connected with Arnie like this. She wanted to prove herself as a woman and connect more deeply with him in his manly way.

Ernie’s growing affection for her was overwhelming, and she desperately wanted to consummate their love with him in a near-panic.

“…Silv, Bia…san”

“…”

And then,

“…Really, I’m gonna do it? I am a guy, you know?”

Under the mounting pressure from Silvia, Ernie finally began to loosen his restraint.

“Yes.”

“And even though I look like this, I have a huge interest in women. If you let me, I might do some really amazing things every time we go on a date,” he said with desire that made her shiver. She was so happy she could cry, no longer fearing the terror of not being able to express her love or having it rejected.

“…Do something amazing. Let me experience something amazing every week♪”

“…………Ugh, I don’t know anymore.”

“I don’t know either…♪”

They discarded their undergarments and removed all clothing.

Now they revealed everything to each other. Their hearts and bodies were completely exposed.

Silvia spread her arms wide and accepted Arnie’s hands.

“Yes, there… It’s wet…”

“It’s been wet… I’ve been waiting for you to hold me, Arnie-kun… I’ve been trying so hard to get ready for your cock…”

“……Haa… Haa… Kuh…”

“…Yes, it’s okay. You can enter me. Do whatever you want…”

“Yes, do what you like…”

“S-Sylvia, saa!!”

Silvia’s waist and legs were grabbed by both hands, her legs spread apart as Ernie pressed his hips against hers.

Though he was careful with the strength of his grip, Ogre’s powerful arms tore through her hymen in one swift motion rather than slowly stretching it open.

“Nkua…!!”

“…Haa… haa… This is so… hot and… pleasurable…”

“…Yeah, I can feel Ernie-kun inside me too…”

Ernie’s penis was surprisingly small compared to his massive body. It was larger than the average human’s but still rather small for an Ogre.

However, this worked out well for both of them. Even when he inserted it all the way to the base, Sylvia wasn’t damaged.

He could pull and thrust deeply with full force.

And since Sylvia was relatively light and small compared to Ernie, she shook vigorously from his movements. As a virgin himself, Ernie had never experienced sex before, so he got lost in the pleasure of being inside a woman for the first time and kept using Sylvia without restraint.

“Uwa, ah, ahh… Agu, ah, …Shirubia-san… It’s so good, I can’t stop… Sorry, sorry… Sorry…!”

“Aa, aa, hyaa, aaa, aaa!! Hi, i, iaahh!!”

Both of them were beyond reason from the moment of penetration. Overwhelmed by their experience, they continued to be shaken for Arnie’s ejaculation.

“…Ha, ahh… Nn, ah… Aah♪”

Even so, Sylvia had a happy expression on her face. As a woman, she was undoubtedly satisfied by Arnie, who was the ideal man she wanted.

“Aaah, aa, ah… Uaah!!”

Arnie was lost in ecstasy. He could think of nothing but ejaculation now. And he slammed Sylvia’s hips against his own.

He slammed his head into her womb.

“Uaaaaaahhh!”

“Haa, aah… ah, ah… aahh, naah♪”

Cum spurted out in a huge orgasm.

“…I really did it…♪”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“…Don’t apologize or I’ll get mad.”

“…………S-Sorry…”

“Hey!”

Ernie’s cheeks were smacked with a loud snap.

「...Mm.」

And she kissed Arnie to silence him.

“Am I... your girlfriend, Arnie?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t girlfriends allowed to do naughty things with each other?”

“Well, if you put it that way, then yes, I suppose we are.”

“But let’s make sure to pick a proper place first.”

“Yes.”

“And be gentle.”

“Yes.”

"I want to do it roughly."

"...That's hard."

"It’s not. Arnie can only be gentle, if you just leave him alone."

"...I guess so."

"Yep!"

"Hey Smisson."

"What is it Isaac?"

"...Do you think they’re doing it?"

"...No, I vote for them having a sweet talk."

"I vote for the one throwing a meaty feast."

*Correct answer: Both.

“Damn, I’m pissed no matter what.”

“…I’ll bully you both when we get back.”

“I’ll bully you too.”

The waitress smacked each of them on the head with a tray.

“Are you guys military men who make it your job to ruin other people’s happiness?”

“N-no! This is our right!”

“Damn it, if someone’s happy, they should be bullied so everyone else can feel a little better!”

“I’m an idiot for getting excited about how well the two of you did.”

“Even if I was the one who got excited.”

“Hey.”

“…Pay up. Now, in full.”

‘I’m really sorry.’

This was a month before Selen’s arrival.

A gentle, drizzling rain.

"I missed my chance again," the young maiden sighs.

She had tried to believe she was a sensible adult, but she was forced to realize that she was still in the midst of shedding her childhood.

"Sigh... I want to see him."

She knows she should be patient, yet her heart races with anticipation.

He is a soldier, stationed at a lonely outpost a full hour's walk from town. It is only natural that they cannot meet often.

Moreover, when the weather turns bad, he would have to trek that hour-long path through the rain. Knowing he might catch a cold, it is only understandable that he stays away.

And yet.

"...I just want to see him, even if it's only once a week."

She finds herself thinking that a single tryst per week wouldn't be too much to ask.

She feels like a child who was looking forward to a promised picnic only to be betrayed by the sky; she knows she is being immature and impatient, but even so, the thought of not seeing him for another week makes her heart wither.

"Why such a gloomy face, Sylvie? Want a drink?"

From across the counter, the landlady taps a wooden keg with a rhythmic thump-thump.

"No thanks. It's not even midday yet."

"Ahaha, is that so? Well, I suppose at nineteen, you aren't quite in the mood for it yet."

"Whether I'm thirty or forty, anyone who starts drinking in the middle of the day—even on a day off—is trouble."

"So serious. Just like Professor McClain's only daughter."

"That has nothing to do with my mother."

Her mother was a teacher at the elementary academy, and her father, a government official. There was no denying she came from a strictly upright household, but Silvia firmly believed that alcohol was something to be enjoyed at night, once everything else was done and it was time for bed.

Incidentally, since drinking is permitted from the age of seventeen in Celesta, there was no issue with her age.

"...Sigh."

She looks up at the dark sky through the window and sighs.

She gazes at the street corner where, usually, Arnie's massive frame would be standing, looking somewhat out of place. Feeling the loneliness wash over her, Silvia hung her head and mechanically finished her lunchtime gratin.

---

It had been three months since Silvia McClain (Human female, 19 years old, 152 cm) and Private Arnie Boyd (Ogre male, 18 years old, 277 cm) began dating.
An unspoken rule for meeting had formed between them.
Around noon on Sundays, they would meet in front of the tavern on the outskirts of town, a place frequently used by Arnie's unit, the Crossbow Corps, provided circumstances allowed.
From there, they would spend their time happily, going to the arena or having picnics in the mountains.
Ideally, they would be in constant contact, but the Crossbow Corps barracks where Arnie lived were far away. Being a military installation, it was difficult to approach, and even if they tried to communicate via letters, paper was still too expensive for frequent use.
Even if Arnie wanted to come to see her, Silvia worked during the weekdays. Furthermore, her curfew was strict, and since both her parents were stiff, formal people, she had yet to introduce Arcius. It was impossible for them to meet otherwise.
Therefore, they could only meet through a routine of meeting at the usual spot and, if all went well, going on their usual date.
Since they started dating, their level of affection had steadily increased; Silvia truly wanted to be with him twenty-four hours a day. This "waiting" relationship was maddeningly frustrating, but she couldn't bring herself to take bold action for fear of causing Arnie trouble. Every day, she reprimanded herself, telling herself that she was the older one.

"Sigh."

"What's wrong? If you're feeling this depressed by a little rain, does that mean you've got a boyfriend you're dying to go on a date with?"

The landlady asked casually, watching Silvia.

"............?"

Silvia blinked, momentarily stunned.

While she certainly hadn't told her parents, she had no intention of keeping her relationship with Arnie a secret.

Especially since this tavern was directly in front of their meeting spot; she had assumed it would be impossible for the landlady not to notice.

"...I mean, yes, but...?"

"Oh! Oh my, oh my!"

The landlady flashed a sly, gossipy grin at Silvia, who had answered with a deadpan expression.

"So, our dear Silvy finally has a boyfriend? Now that's a scoop. Why didn't you tell me?"

"What do you mean... 'that'?"

"Well, you know."

Grinning, the landlady made a motion as if poking Silvia with a plump elbow. Of course, since they were on opposite sides of the counter, her elbow couldn't possibly reach her.

"The famous, beautiful, and serious Silvy—the girl who has rejected countless men. The ironclad, solitary, pure, and innocent flower of the downtown district, they call you."

"...I didn't... reject anyone like that."

Ever since her days at the elementary academy, several men had indeed pursued Silvia with relentless persistence. However, for lack of a better word, the "feeling" just wasn't right, so she had turned them all down.

Looking back now, it was inevitable that those men felt insufficient to her. They lacked the reliability to protect her when it mattered; they lacked the tenderness to envelop her; they lacked the purity that made her feel like she had to be by their side; and above all, they lacked that gentle atmosphere that allowed her to spend hours in their company.

In that sense, Silvia's standards were high, and Ernie was a rare find.

However, Silvia had never once considered herself a "flower on a high peak." Most of the men she encountered were the type to throw themselves at any woman they saw, and she had simply thought of herself as an ordinary girl who kept her distance from romance.

"Maybe... everyone else was just dating more casually?"

"Ha! In these times, catching a man is like going to war. A prince isn't just going to come riding from afar; if you have a chance to snag a man right in front of you, it's only natural not to be picky."

"...I see. But... they did come for me."

He had come for Silvia. He might not have been a prince, but he was, at the very least, the ideal man in her eyes.

Thinking about it that way made her feel like an incredibly lucky woman, and a wave of good spirits washed over her. Since he was dating her so earnestly, she figured she shouldn't complain about not seeing him for a week.

Seeing Silvia suddenly start to beam, the landlady made a strange face.

"Oh my, the crow that was just crying is already laughing."

"...Yeah. I just realized that I might be unexpectedly happy."

"...Well, that's fine, I suppose. If you feel like it, you should tell your bo-y-f-r-i-e-n-d to your old auntie, Silvy."

"Yeah. ...I'm pretty sure you've seen him plenty of times, though."

"Do you think so? The young lad I see often... hmm... is it Anzeros?"

"...Who is that?"

"There's this incredibly handsome soldier..."

"No, that's not him! Hehe♪"

No matter how handsome or ruggedly striking he might be, Silvia believed with all her heart that no one could compare to Ernie. As the saying goes, when you're in love, even flaws look like charms.

---

And so, having ultimately been cheered up, Silvia stood up to leave the tavern.

A beautiful woman with a smile attracts far more people than a beautiful woman with a frown. Without Silvia even realizing it, the gazes of half the men in the tavern were fixed upon her. It was a predictable outcome that the men, unable to work due to the rain and lost in their drinking, would harbor slight impure thoughts toward a single young girl.

"Hey, little lady. Pour me a drink. You look like you've got nothing better to do, right?"

One of the drunks grabbed Silvia's arm. It happened in the moment the landlady had stepped into the kitchen, her back turned.

"Ah—! W-what are you doing!?"

"What, you're too young to know how to pour yet? I'm saying pour the booze. And hey, why don't we have a little fun while we're at it?"

"N-no... please..."

"Just do it, hey!"

With a violent tug, Silvia was jerked forward. She stumbled and was pulled down toward the floor.

"Whoops! Sorry about that... my hand slipped."

The drunk man flicked her skirt upward. As her underwear became visible, the other drunks erupted in cheers.

"Haha! Give us a little more service! It's not like we're going to eat you!"

"No...!"
Silvia recoiled in terror.
She had become painfully aware that there were no allies around her.
She knew that eventually, the Madam and the Military Police would deliver divine retribution to this drunkard, but the mere thought of what unpleasant things he might do to her on a whim before then made her head spin.
"Here comes..."
The drunkard reached out. Silvia scrambled backward, inching away centimeter by centimeter.

Then, a massive hand thrust itself between them.

"Huh?"

"U-Um... that's... not really a good idea, sir..."

Having scrambled to escape under the table, Silvia couldn't see the full picture.
Even so, she knew instantly who that soaking wet hand and that timid voice belonged to.
"Ah... Arnie-kun!?"
She had been terrified. And he had come to save her again.
Within Silvia, something that had already been at its breaking point felt as though it were shifting with a resounding crack.

It was the moment when "like" turned into "love," and blossomed into "devotion."

The heroic sight of nothing but that hand was more than enough to deliver the finishing blow to Silvia's maiden heart.

---

"Who do you think you are? Just because you're a bit bigger doesn't mean an Ogre like you can act tough."

The man was a freelance mercenary. He had some confidence in his skills.

Even though he was drunk, he had no intention of being outmatched by a single young Ogre.

However...

"Hmph. Cheap sword. The maintenance is terrible."

As he reached out to teach the Ogre a lesson, he realized his sword was gone. A young man had taken it without permission and was currently inspecting it.

It was Andy.

"Hey, kid, don't touch a man's sword—"

"Whoa there, leave the booze alone."

As Andy reached out toward him, his head was pinched by a finger even larger than the Ogre's.

With a twist of that finger, Andy's head was spun 180 degrees like a screw. When his vision stabilized, he found himself staring at a massive bovine face.

"Eek!"

He froze. Facing two Ogres empty-handed was a terrifying prospect.

---

Andy, Arnie, and Kelly had arrived at the tavern through the rain, full of energy.

Even Andy and Kelly wanted to drink on their day off. Initially, they had tried to rush out, leaving Arnie in charge of inventory management, but Arnie had pleaded with a tearful face, "I was actually planning to go see Silvia-san today... she might be waiting for me." Reluctantly, they had finished their business quickly to join him.

"Our style is to harass anyone with a girlfriend."

"Come on, show some maturity, Smyson. You can bully Void later."

"True enough."

"...U-Um, am I the one being bullied?"

"Naturally."

Despite their words, Andy and Kelly were far too soft-hearted to commit the atrocity of letting Arnie stand up a girl who was waiting for him in the rain.

So, the three of them had marched through the rain, singing marching songs in competition, only to burst through the door and find Silvia in a dire situation.

Seeing what was happening to Arnie's girlfriend, Andy and Kelly were actually much angrier than they looked.

"Hey, drunkard. There are three things in this world I cannot forgive. Low-ceilinged general stores, blue shiso, and people who make their subordinates unhappy."

Kelly thrust his hand high into the air to lecture the drunkard. When an ox-like ogre standing over three meters tall raised his arm, it reached nearly five meters. Even inside the tavern's two-story atrium, a favorite haunt for ogres, the arm was hoisted so high it nearly touched the ceiling, sobering even the most hard-drinking patron.

"S-stop it, you ogre bastard! You think the MPs will let you get away with this!?" the man screamed.

Kelly locked eyes with Andy and shrugged with a grin. "Coming from a drunk who tried to manhandle a woman, that's rich."

"Exactly. ...Mark my words, human! In Celesta, an ogre can become an MP or even an elite soldier. Our Ernie might even become an Ace Knight one day. Around here, fools are hated more than ogres or half-elves!"

Still pinching the man's forehead, Kelly swung him away with a heavy whoosh.

The drunkard went flying, crashing right through the wooden window shutter, and Kelly immediately struck a muscle pose. Overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle, the entire tavern erupted into applause.

"Tch, piece of trash... Hey, Isaac, let's just break this sword."

"Don't break it. I'm giving it to the landlady to pay for the drinks."

"Well, it's worth about half of today's tab. ...Alright, let's drink!"

"You bet!"

Andy and Kelly leaned into the counter, energized, only to be immediately scolded by the landlady. "You idiots, you didn't have to break the window," she said, though her voice was somewhat gentle. She had returned around the same time as Ernie and the others, having been watching the commotion with bated breath.

"Sorry, Silvy-chan. I'll make sure to call for a bodyguard during the day from now on."

"Y-yes..."

Silvia was clinging to Ernie's arm as if her life depended on it, her face flushed crimson as she fell even deeper in love with him.

Even the landlady, who was usually all talk and little perception, finally realized who Silvia's "boyfriend" was. She had never imagined that the boyfriend of the beautiful Silvia would be such a rugged-looking ogre.

"...More importantly, you young ogre boy, you'll catch a cold if you stay that soaked."

"Oh, no, I'll be fine..."

"Don't be modest. Room 3 on the second floor is empty today, so go dry yourself off. There are towels in the closet."

"U-understood."

"Silvy-chan, why don't you help him?"

"Eh...?"

This was the landlady's utmost attempt at being thoughtful. Despite her age, she gave a playful wink.

---

The second floor of the tavern was half open-atrium and half inn. While it was a frequent haunt for Andy and other soldiers who loved drinking but couldn't hold their liquor, it also served the less wholesome purpose of a place for trysts.

In a simple room in such a setting, Ernie sat with his clothes removed, diligently being wiped down.

"...You really are huge, aren't you, Ernie?"

"I-it's because I'm an ogre."

"Yeah. It's so reassuring."

"It's because I'm an ogre."

"...Yeah. Including the fact that you're an ogre, I love you, Ernie."

"Ugh..."

Ernie turned bright red. As always, he was flustered by the sheer directness of Silvia's affection. Smiling at him, Silvia confessed that she had fallen for him all over again, without any pretense or embellishment.

"You saved me again."

"I-I only stepped in a little bit."

"But it made me so happy. Knowing you're always there when I'm in danger... my heart just skipped a beat."

"Haha... I did leave it all up to Decurions Isaac and Smyson, though."

"They were both angry for your sake, Ernie."

"...Yeah. I really feel like I'm not alone anymore. I'm glad I'm in this squad."

"Yeah. I'm glad you're in this squad, Ernie."

Silvia embraced Ernie's head—which was about the size of a person's torso—as she hung from his neck while standing on his lap.

"...I'm so glad you came, Ernie. I'm so glad I met you..."

"Silvia... san?"

"...I was scared. When I was so, so scared, you saved me. I really, truly love you... I thought to myself, I am so incredibly happy...!"

"...I'm happy too."

"Yeah. ...Hey, say you love me."

"...I love you, Silvia-san."

"Say you really love me."

"I really love you, Silvia-san."

"Then..."

"I love you."

"...♪"

Silvia shuddered.

He had beaten her to the words. To a man this ideal.

That alone felt like the greatest joy a woman could experience; the core of her body grew hot, damp, and tremulous.

Finding her so adorable, Ernie pulled her into a gentle embrace.

Enveloped by and enveloping the person whose affection continued to grow like a rolling snowball—it was a moment of pure bliss.

"...Nn."

After a while, Silvia pulled away.

It was only then that they both noticed the seam of her sleeve was slightly torn.

"Ah..."

"I guess it got caught when it was pulled earlier."

"...Maybe."

Ernie fell into thought, wondering what to do. Despite appearances, Ernie was actually capable of sewing. Just as he was about to suggest that he could mend it well enough to get home without anyone noticing, Silvia nodded toward something and suddenly began to strip.

"Wh—! S-Silvia-san, if you're taking that off, I'll ex..."

"No!"

Silvia stopped Ernie as he tried to stand up in a panic.

Obeying her, Ernie sat back down with his eyes squeezed shut. Before his eyes, Silvia, now in her underwear, climbed onto his lap and used both hands to forcefully pry his eyelids open.

"Wawa! Um, but!"

"Ernie, listen to me. Look at me."

"............"

"We're lovers now, okay? We've been lovers for three months already. ...It's okay to look, you know?"

"Ugh..."

Ernie tentatively turned his gaze toward Silvia.

Faced with the sight of the beautiful, defenseless Silvia in her lingerie, he blushed more intensely than ever, his eyes darting around erratically.

"...Yes."

"...Hey, Ernie. ...I thought, maybe it's okay now."

"?"

"Today, I thought... maybe it's okay if I become yours and yours alone. ...No, that's not it. It's not 'maybe it's okay.' I want to be yours alone. I want you to love me more than anything else in this world."

"...Silvia-san."

"Arnie, do you dislike me? Is this... something you can't do with me?"

"...B-but, I'm an ogre, you know."

"That's okay. I'm human, too."

"...No, I mean, that's not what I meant..."

"I understand everything. I know perfectly well that we are different species. I know that, from your perspective, I might not be attractive. Even so, I love you, Arnie. I want to be loved by you."

"T-that's not true! To me, Silvia-san, you're truly, so incredibly attractive... but, I just... I feel like I'd only be a burden to your life."

"Honestly!"

Silvia grew impatient.
She knew. She could feel, through everything except his words, that Arnie loved her.
But as expected, Arnie was too kind, too much of an overthinker; he believed he had no right to defile her.
In that case...

"Arnie, I'm sorry!"

"...E-eh!?"

She pulled down his underwear, exposing his member.
With a little boing, his erect penis emerged—looking almost undersized compared to his massive frame.

"Wha—!"

"Hehe... I'm serious."

Giving a slightly mischievous smile to the flustered Arnie, Silvia began to stroke him with both hands.
This wasn't the first time she had seen him like this. A few months ago, when Arnie had suffered severe full-body injuries, her sense of responsibility had even driven her to assist him with urination.
Because of that, she could face it without too much embarrassment. However, this was her first time handling a male organ for sexual purposes, and it wasn't going as smoothly as she had hoped.

"Ugh... l-like... this...?"

"Silvia-san..."

"S-sorry, I'm bad at this... I'm clumsy, and I've never done this before... but I'm serious, okay...!"

Overwhelmed by emotion, Silvia pressed her mouth to him.
She knew such a technique existed, but her knowledge was limited to it being an extension of stroking with her hands, so she felt lost the moment she actually used her mouth.
Looking up, she saw Arnie wearing a troubled expression. It wasn't an expression of pleasure, but rather one of pure confusion, as if he simply didn't know how to react to her actions.

"...Hey, do you understand? I really love you, Arnie. I'm happy to just keep licking you like this. But..."

"...But?"

"...I'm sorry, the truth is, I don't know what to do... But I want you to truly love me... I want you to take me."

"...E-even if you say 'take you' like that..."

"You really can take me, you know?"

Silvia, whose sexual knowledge could no longer keep up with her actions, simply waved the white flag.
In its place, she had made up her mind.

"I want you to grab my body just like this, force yourself into me, and use me like a tool to rub your cock against. I want you to use me to find pleasure, over and over again."

"T-that's..."

"I don't care if I tear... just do it. If you love me, then do it..."

From the bottom of her heart, Silvia was driven by a desperate sense of urgency.
She didn't care if she was left unable to walk. If that was what it took to truly connect with Arnie, it was worth it. She wanted to prove that she could commune with his masculine side as a woman. And she wanted to connect with him even more deeply, more and more.

Her swelling affection for Arnie had become uncontrollable; she craved an exchange of love with him to the point of near-panic.

"...Sil, via... san."

"............"

And then.

"...I'm really gonna do it, you know? I'm a guy, after all."

Under the weight of Silvia's persistent advances, Arnie finally began to let his restraint slip.

"Yeah."

"I might not look it, but I'm actually really interested in women, you know? If you let me, I might end up doing something crazy every time we go on a date."

Silvia trembled with joy at that raw desire. The fear that she couldn't fully express her love, or that it wouldn't be accepted, had vanished, replaced by a happiness so intense it brought tears to her eyes.

"...Do something crazy. Make me experience something amazing every single week♪"

"............Ugh, fine, don't blame me then."

"I won't... either♪"

They cast aside their underwear, stripping away every last layer of cloth.
There was nothing left to hide from one another. They showed each other everything—heart and body alike.
Silvia spread her arms wide, welcoming Arnie's touch.

"Yes, right there..."

"You're wet..."

"Yeah... I've been wet for so long because I wanted you to hold me, Arnie... I was trying my hardest to get ready to welcome your cock... okay...?"

"...Haa... haa... ngh..."

"...It's okay. You can put it in. You can do whatever you want..."

"Sil-Silvia-san!!"

Silvia's hips and legs were gripped by his hands and forced apart, her body pressed firmly against his waist.
Though he tried to moderate his strength, an ogre's powerful arms were difficult to control; there was no "slowly" when it came to her hymen—he pierced through it all at once with a sharp snap.

"Ngh... ah...!!"

"...Haa... haaa... God, it's so... hot... and feels so good..."

"...Yeah, I can... feel you inside me, Arnie..."

Compared to his massive frame, Arnie's penis was quite small. While it was certainly large compared to the human average, for an ogre, it was a size he could never boast about.
However, this worked in their favor. Even when he inserted his shaft all the way to the base, he wouldn't break Silvia.
He could thrust deep and dynamic, pulling all the way out and driving back in.
Furthermore, Silvia was small enough in his eyes that he could shake her with true, vigorous intensity. Since Arnie was a virgin experiencing his first time, he lost himself in the pleasure of sex with a woman, mindlessly "using" Silvia.

"Uah, ah, ah... Agh, a... Sil, Silvia-san... it feels too good, I can't stop... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I'm sorry...!"

"Ah, ah, hya, ah, ah... hie, i, iaah...!!"

Once penetration had occurred, neither of them had any reason or restraint left.
Tossed about by the overwhelming sensation, Silvia simply thrust her hips back and forth, driven by the singular goal of bringing Arnie to climax.

"...Ha, ah... n, ah... ah♪"

Even so, Silvia wore a look of pure bliss.
As a woman, the knowledge that she could undoubtedly satisfy Arnie's ideal was a source of profound happiness.

"Uaa, ah, ah... uaa!!"

Arnie was possessed. He could think of nothing but ejaculation.
And so, he continued to slam Silvia's hips against his own.

He slammed his glans against her cervix.

"Uaaaaaaaah!!"

"Haa, ah... ah, ah... ahh, ngh♪"

He ejaculated with a massive, erupting force.

"...I really did it...♪"

"S-sorry about that."

"...If you apologize, I'll get angry."

"............S-sorry..."

"Hmph!"

With a sharp smack, she pinched both of Arnie's cheeks.

"...Ngh."

Then, she silenced him with a kiss.

"I'm... Arnie's lover, you know?"

"Yes."

"Lovers are allowed to have sex, okay?"

"...If you say it like that, I'm going to start thinking it's okay to do it whenever."

"Just make sure you think about the location."

"...Yes."

"Be gentle."

"Yes."

"And be rough, too."

"...That's difficult."

"It's not difficult. If I leave you to your own devices, you'll only ever be gentle."

"...I... I guess so."

"Yup♪"

"Yo, Smyson."

"What is it, Isaac?"

"...Hey, do you think they're fucking?"

"...I vote for the side where they're just having a sweet little talk without doing anything at all."

"I vote for the side where they're holding a feast of carnal desire."

Note: The correct answer is both.

"Dammit, I'm frustrated either way."

"...Let's go bully them when we get back."

"Let's bully them."

The Madam delivered a single blow to each of their heads with a tray.

"Is it your job as soldiers to interfere with your comrades' happiness?"

"T-that's not true! This is a legitimate right!"

"Dammit! People who are happy should just let themselves be teased so everyone else feels a little happy too!"

"I must have been a fool to feel even a little flutter in my heart watching your exploits."

"Even if an old lady is the one feeling the flutter..."

"Hey."

"...Pay the tab. All of it, right now."

"I am so, so sorry."

This was sometime one month before the arrival in Selen.

A steady, pattering rain falls.
The girl in love sighs, realizing once again that she has missed another chance.
She had convinced herself she was now a sensible adult, yet she could not help but acknowledge that she was still shedding her childhood skin.

"Haa... I really want to see him..."
Even though she knows she should hold back, her heart races with longing.
Her beloved is a soldier, stationed alone in a remote outpost an hour's walk from the town. It's unavoidable that they can't meet often.
And if the weather turns bad, he'd have to wade through the rain for that entire hour just to reach her. Thinking about him catching a cold makes it clear why he hasn't come.

Still...
"...I really want to see him at least once a week."
She finds herself thinking that even a single meeting every week would be enough.

It's as if she were a child eagerly awaiting a picnic promise, only to be betrayed by the sky; she knows she's being far too childish and short-tempered, yet whenever she thinks about not seeing him for another week, her heart feels crushed.

"Hey, Sylvia, what's with that gloomy face? Want to have a drink?"
The tavern owner taps a sake barrel against the counter with a cheerful clink.

"No thanks. It's still daytime."

"Aha, is it? Well, at nineteen, I guess you wouldn't feel like it yet either."

"Whether I'm thirty or forty, people who try to hook up on weekdays during the day aren't very respectable," she replies firmly.

"You're serious. No wonder you're Master MacLean's only daughter."

"That has nothing to do with Mom."

Her mother is a primary school teacher, and her father is a government official—a household known for its seriousness beyond doubt. Still, Sylvia believes alcohol should be enjoyed at night, followed by nothing but sleep.
By the way, Celesta allows drinking from age seventeen, so there's no issue with her age.

"Haa..."
She gazes up at the dark sky through the wooden shutters and lets out another sigh.
Looking at the street corner where Earnie's towering figure should always stand, filled with affection, she feels lonely once more. Sylvia slumps in her seat while finishing off her lunchtime gratin with a absent-minded swipe of her fork.

Sylvia MacLean (human female, 19 years old, 152 cm) and Arnie Boyd (Ogre male, 18 years old, 277 cm) have been dating for three months.
Between them, an unspoken agreement has formed regarding their meetings.
Around noon on Sundays, they gather if possible in front of a tavern on the outskirts of town—a place frequently visited by Earnie's unit, the Crossbow Corps.
Then they spend time together, either heading to the arena or going for a picnic in the mountains, enjoying each other's company.

Ideally, they'd be able to stay in close contact, but Earnie's barracks are far away. As soldiers, they're naturally difficult to approach, and while letters could bridge the distance, paper remains too expensive for frequent use.
Even if Earnie tried to come visit, Sylvia works on weekdays, her household enforces strict curfews, and both her parents are stern people—so she hasn't been able to introduce him yet. There was never supposed to be a chance to meet otherwise.
Thus, their only option is to meet as usual, and if things go well, enjoy a date just like always.

Since they started dating, Sylvia's affection has grown steadily; she truly wishes they could be together all the time. Yet the idea of taking bold action worries her that it might bother Earnie, so she remains paralyzed. Every day, she reminds herself: I'm the older one.

"Haa..."

"What's wrong? Feeling down because of this rain means you've finally found a boyfriend you want to go on a date with, huh?"

The tavern owner asks casually while watching Sylvia.

"…………?"

Silvia was taken aback for a moment.
Although she hadn't told her parents, Silvia had no intention of secretly hiding her relationship with Earnie.
Especially since this bar was right in front of the meeting spot; surely her mother would have noticed.

"…Well, but?"

"Oh my. Oh my, oh my."

Her mother responded with a straight face to Silvia's answer, then broke into a smug, worldly grin.

"So it's finally true—that little Silvia has a boyfriend? This is top-secret news! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Huh… what do you mean by that?"

"Well…"

While still grinning, her mother pretended to poke Silvia with her plump elbow. Of course, the elbow couldn't reach Silvia through the counter.

"Famous for being beautiful and serious, little Silvia has been rejected by countless men. An impenetrable lone flower, pure and innocent—the high mountain blossom of the lower town."

"…What? Rejected?"
Since her days at elementary school, several men had indeed persistently approached Silvia. Yet, somehow their feelings just didn't align, so she had turned them all down.
Looking back now, it's clear that what felt lacking for Silvia was inevitable: they lacked the reliability to protect her when needed, the gentleness to envelop her, the sincerity that made one think, I must be there with you, and above all, the calm atmosphere that could last for hours together.
In that sense, Silvia had high ideals, and Earnie was a rare existence.

Still, Silvia had never once thought of herself as such a "high mountain blossom." Many men would casually approach any woman they saw, while she simply believed she was just an ordinary girl who kept her distance from romantic entanglements.

"Maybe everyone ended up dating more casually than I thought?"

"Hah! Catching a man is like war in these times. There's no prince coming to fetch you from afar; if you get the chance to catch one right here, you can't afford to be picky—that's just how it goes."

"…I see. So he didn't come?"
He had come to Silvia. He might not have been a prince, but at least he was the kind of boy who fit Silvia's ideal.
Thinking about this made her feel incredibly lucky, and Silvia's mood lifted considerably. Since he was seriously dating her, she reasoned, there was no need to complain if they couldn't meet for a week or so.

Seeing Silvia suddenly start beaming, her mother wore a peculiar expression.

"Oh my, oh my—the crying crow is now laughing!"

"…Yeah. I think I might be happier than I realized."

"Well, that's fine. But when you're in the mood, do tell old lady me about your boyfriend, Silvia-chan."

"Yeah… I think he's been watching us quite a bit, actually."

"Oh? The young guy old lady me often sees… hmm… could it be Lord Anzeros?"

"…Who is that?"

"There's this incredibly handsome soldier around."

"No way. Heh heh♪"

No matter how handsome or stoic an actor might be, Silvia genuinely believed none could compare to Earnie. Once you fall for someone, even a pimpled face becomes charming—that's just how it goes.

After all that, Silvia finally cheered up and stood up to leave the bar.
A beautiful woman with a frown attracts far less attention than one with a smile.
Without Silvia realizing it, half the men in the bar had their gazes fixed on her.
For men who had been drinking away their days, unable to work due to the rain, harboring even a slight illicit thought toward a lone young girl could be considered a natural consequence.

"Hey, miss. Pour me a drink, will ya? Got some free time, huh?"
One of the drunkards grabbed Sylvia's arm. It was an incident that occurred while her wife had retreated into the kitchen and wasn't watching.

"H-h-what are you doing!?"

"What? You're still acting like a little brat and don't know how to pour? I mean, pour some sake. And hey, why not do something fun too? That's what I'm saying."

"N-no..."

"Come on then, yeah!"

With a sudden, forceful tug, Sylvia was yanked forward. She stumbled and was pulled down onto the floor.

"Oh my, sorry... slipped up," the drunkard said as he flicked her skirt aside. Her undergarments were exposed, prompting cheers from other intoxicated patrons.

"Hah, give us a bit more of a show. We're not here to eat you or anything."

"N-no..."

Sylvia shrank back in terror.
She realized with chilling clarity that she had no allies around her.
While justice—her wife's wrath and the gendarme's retribution—would surely fall upon these drunkards eventually, the thought of what kind of unpleasant things might happen to her before then made her feel as though her soul would fade away.

"Here..."
The outstretched hand of the drunkard. Sylvia crawled a few centimeters to escape.

Suddenly, a massive hand broke into the scene.

"Huh?"

"Oh, no... that kind of thing isn't very nice."

Crawling under the table, Sylvia couldn't see the full picture.
Still, someone instantly recognized the soaking wet hand and the restrained voice.
"Ahh... Arnie-kun!?"

It was terrifying. He had come to her aid again.
Within Sylvia, something that had already been on the brink of breaking shifted with an audible crack.

That was the moment love transformed into deep affection, evolving into true love.

The sight of his courage, displayed through mere hands, was more than enough to shatter Sylvia's maiden heart completely.

"Hey, you! Just 'cause your body's big doesn't mean you can act like some arrogant ogre!"
The man was a mercenary stationed at the sink. He had considerable skill and experience.
Even though he was drunk, he had no intention of letting even one young ogre best him.

But...
"Hmph, cheap blade. Not properly maintained at all."
Reaching out to teach the ogre a lesson, he found no sword in his hand. The young man had already snatched it and was examining it on his own.
It was Andy.

"Hey kid, don't touch someone else's weapon..."

"Oh, hey, put that drink down over there."

As Andy reached out to help, his head was suddenly seized by a finger far larger than the ogre's from earlier and lifted up.
With a twist, his head was rotated like a screw, flipped 180 degrees as if being unscrewed—and there, staring back at him, was the face of a colossal ox.
"Huh!"
He instinctively recoiled. Facing two ogres empty-handed was far too terrifying.

Andy, Earnie, and Kelly had arrived at the tavern in high spirits despite the rain.

On their day off, both Andy and Kelly wanted nothing more than to get drunk with friends. They'd originally planned to rush through things quickly while leaving Earnie to manage weapon inventory—but when Earnie looked on the verge of tears and pleaded, "I was actually planning to meet Sylvia today! She might still be waiting!" they had no choice but to finish up together in a hurry.

"Harassing guys with girlfriends is just our style," Andy muttered.

"You'd better show some maturity for once, Smaysom. We can bully Boyd later."

"That's true."

"...Uh, so... am I supposed to get bullied?"

"Of course," the voice replied coldly.

Yet neither Andy nor Kelly could bring themselves to do something as despicable as making Earnie stand them up while a girl waited in the rain. No matter what, they were too sweet-hearted.

The three of them marched through the rain, singing battle songs competitively on their way to drink, only to find themselves suddenly thrust into Sylvia's dire predicament when they opened the door.

Andy and Kelly were far angrier than their appearances suggested—especially since it was Earnie's girlfriend after all.

"Hey, drunkard! There are three things I can't stand in this world: low-ceilinged general stores, blue basil, and anyone who makes my subordinates miserable."

Kelly raised her arm high to lecture the drunkard. If an ogre could extend its arm like that, it would stretch nearly five meters. Even inside the two-story open-concept tavern, where ceilings were already a concern for regular patrons, she hoisted him up until he seemed about to touch the roof—enough to sober even the most hardened drinker.

"W-wait! Stop it, you ogre bastard! Do you think the宪兵 will just stand by and let this happen?"

He screamed in protest. Kelly glanced at Andy, shrugged, and laughed.

"That's exactly what drunks who try to assault women always say."

"Exactly. Remember this, human: in Celesta, ogres can become both憲兵 and elite soldiers. My Earnie might even become an Ace Knight someday. Here, it's not half-elves or anything else—it's idiots who get hated the most!"

Still holding his head, Kelly suddenly hurled the man away with a powerful throw.

He smashed through the window shutters and flew out into the rain. Without hesitation, Kelly struck a dramatic muscle pose.

Overwhelmed by the sheer impact, everyone in the tavern broke into applause.

"Keh! You lowly scum... Hey Isaac, let's break this sword."

"Don't break it. We'll offer it to Mom as payment for the drinks."

"Well, maybe half today's bill at least... Alright, let's drink!"

"Yeah!"

Andy and Kelly cheered, leaning over the counter—but were immediately scolded by Mom. Though she chided them for being foolish kids who didn't even need to break a window, her voice softened slightly as she watched Earnie and the others return around the same time, having nervously observed from halfway through.

"Sorry, Sylvia-chan. From now on, I'll make sure to call bodyguards during the day too."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Sylvia clung tightly to Earnie's side like a lifeline, her face flushed red as she fell back in love with him all over again.

Even Mom, who had been so emotionally distant and insensitive until now, finally grasped that Sylvia's "boyfriend" was none other than the ogre. She couldn't have imagined at first that such a beautiful woman would be dating a burly-faced ogre.

"...By the way, you there, little ogre boy—if you stay soaked like this, you'll catch a cold."

"Oh, no, I'm fine with it."

"Don't be shy. Room 3 on the second floor is empty today—you can go wipe yourself off. There's a towel in the closet."

"Haa... haa..."

"Silvia-chan, let me help you out."

"Eh...?"

This was the captain's best effort to show care, though it lacked any real maturity. With a sharp wink, she flashed a grin that felt far too youthful for her position.

The second floor of the tavern was split: half an open loft, half a boarding house. Soldiers like Andy, who loved alcohol but had weak constitutions, often ended up passed out here. In truth, it was more of a rough-and-tumble den—a place not exactly known for wholesome vibes.

In one of those spartan rooms under such circumstances, Earnie was having his clothes stripped away while being hurriedly wiped down.

"...Earnie's really big, huh?"

"Oh, from the Ogas!"

"Yeah. You're so reliable."

"From the Ogas!"

"...Yeah. Including everything about you being from the Ogas... I love you, Earnie."

"Uu..."

Earnie turned bright red. As usual, he was completely flustered by Silvia's straightforward affection.

Smiling at him, Silvia confessed without hesitation or pretense that she had fallen for Earnie all over again.

"You really came to my rescue again, didn't you?"

"I... I only reached out a little bit!"

"But I was so happy. Whenever I'm in danger, you're always there for me. My heart just skipped a beat."

"Hehe... Well, Isaac and Smayson were left handling everything on their own..."

"Both of them got angry for Earnie's sake."

"...Yeah. I finally feel like I'm not alone anymore. I think this squad is great."

"Yeah. You're lucky to be in this squad, Earnie."

Silvia wrapped her arms around Earnie's neck, standing on her knees and hanging from his shoulders like a pendant.

"...I'm so glad you came. I'm so glad I got to meet you..."

"Silvia...?"

"...It was scary. So terrifyingly scary. But when things were at their worst, you saved me. I really, really love you... I thought, 'Wow, I'm so happy'!"

"...I'm lucky too."

"Yeah... Hey, say it. Say you like me."

"...I like you, Silvia-san."

"Say you love me."

"I love you, Silvia-san."

"Then..."

"I love you."

"...♪"

Silvia trembled all over.

"I love you," he said, anticipating my needs. To such an ideal man.
That alone made me feel the greatest joy a woman could experience; my core burned hot, grew wet, and trembled.

Earnie found Silvia so adorable that he gently embraced her.
He wrapped himself around her, who was wrapping herself around him, as their love continued to grow exponentially in an endless cycle. It was a blissful moment.

"……nnn."

After a while, Silvia pulled away.

And only then did both of them notice that the seam on her sleeve had torn slightly.

"Ahh…"

"Could it be from when you pulled it earlier?"

"…Maybe."

Earnie pondered what to do. In truth, despite appearances, he was skilled at sewing and could easily mend it before anyone noticed. Just as he was about to suggest fixing it, Silvia nodded affirmatively in response to something he said, then suddenly began undressing.

"W-wait… S-Silvia-san, if you're going to take off your clothes, I should too…"

"No!"

Silvia stopped Earnie from rushing up hastily.

He obediently closed his eyes and sat back down. Before him, now in just her undergarments, she climbed onto his lap, then with a sudden motion, used both hands to pull her eyelids open wide.

"Nnnngh… um, but…"

"Mr. Earnie, listen to me. Look at this."

"…………"

"We've become lovers, haven't we? We've been lovers since three months ago… Look, please?"

"Umm…"

Earnie cautiously turned his gaze toward Silvia.

At the sight of her beautiful, vulnerable form in undergarments, he blushed intensely and darted his eyes around nervously.

"…Yes."

"…Well, Mr. Earnie… I've been thinking…"

"Huh?"

"I was thinking that today, maybe it's okay for you to be mine exclusively… No, wait—that's not quite right. It's not just 'okay'; I want to belong only to you. I truly want to be loved by you more than anything."

"…Silvia-san…"

"Mr. Earnie, do you dislike me? Can't we do this together?"

"…B-but, I'm an ogre…"

"It's fine. I'm human too."

"…No, that's not what I meant."

"I understand everything. I know you're a different species from us ogres. I also know that you might not find me attractive from your perspective. Yet, I still love you. I want to be loved by you."

"T-there's no reason for that! From my point of view, Silvia-san is truly charming… but I worry that being with you might cause trouble in your life."

"Ugh!"

Silvia grew exasperated.

Silvia understood. It was clear beyond words that Earnie loved her; the message came through in countless ways.
Still, Earnie was too gentle, too thoughtful—he couldn't bear to think he might soil her.

Then...

"Ear-nie-kun, I'm sorry!"

"...Eh? Eh!?"

She pulled down his underwear and exposed his penis.

With a soft pop, his erection emerged from his large frame—small enough to seem inadequate when compared to his bulk.

"Waaah..."

"Hehe... I'm serious."

After flashing Earnie a mischievous smile at his flustered state, Silvia began rubbing his penis with both hands.

She had seen it before—not for the first time. A few months ago, when Earnie suffered severe injuries from a full-body contusion, she had insisted on helping him urinate out of a sense of responsibility.

So she wasn't entirely shy about facing it. Yet, touching male genitalia with sexual intent was new to her, and things didn't go as planned.

"Ugh... I-I don't know... like this..."

"Ms. Silvia..."

"I'm sorry, I'm clumsy... I've never done this before... but I mean it!"

Overwhelmed, Silvia opened her mouth to his penis.
She knew such acts existed, but her knowledge was limited to what she could do with her hands; now, facing the act of oral contact, she felt utterly lost.
Looking up, Earnie wore a troubled expression—not because he found it pleasurable, but simply unsure how to respond to Silvia's actions.

"...Do you understand? I truly like you, Ear-nie-kun. Your penis... I can keep licking it as much as you want. But..."

"But?"

"...I'm sorry. Honestly, I don't know what to do... but I really want you to love me... I want you to fuck me."

"Eh? F-fuck me?"

"Really, is it okay if I get fucked?"

With her sexual knowledge failing to keep pace with her actions, Silvia raised a white flag honestly.

In exchange, she had made up her mind.

"Just hold my body as it is, force your penis inside me, and use me like a tool for friction. I want you to feel pleasure deeply and repeatedly through me."

"S-such a thing..."

"It doesn't matter if we tear apart. Do it. If you truly love me, then do it..."

From the depths of her heart, Silvia was driven by this urgent desperation.
Even if she lost her footing right here, as long as she could truly connect with Earnie, it would be fine. She wanted to prove that, as a woman, she could share intimacy with his masculinity. And beyond that, she craved an even deeper bond with him.

Her growing affection for Earnie had become uncontrollable; she desired their emotional and physical union so intensely it bordered on panic.

"...Silvia...-san..."

"..."

And then...
"...Are you really going to do it? I'm a man, after all."

As Sylvia's advances piled up, Earny finally began to loosen the reins of his reason.

"Yes."

"Even though I look like this, I have a huge interest in women? If you allow it, I might do something amazing every time we go on a date?"

That desire thrilled her so much that Sylvia trembled. Having just turned from the terror of being unable to express her love and not being accepted, she was now so happy she could barely hold back tears.

"...Do something amazing. Let me experience something amazing with you every week♪"

"…………Ugh, I don't know anymore."

"I also... I don't know anymore♪"

She stripped off her underwear, removing all fabric entirely.

No longer hiding anything from each other—heart and body alike, they revealed everything to one another.

Sylvia spread both arms wide, accepting Earny's hand.

"Yes, right there..."

"Wet..."

"Yes... I've been wet wanting to be held by you, Earny-kun... I was trying my hardest to get wet to welcome your penis...?"

"...Haa... haa... kuu"

"...Yes, it's okay. You can go in. Do whatever you like..."

"S-Sylvia-san!!!"

Sylvia had her waist and legs gripped by both hands, her legs spread apart, and she was pressed firmly against Earny's hips.

Though he tried to control his strength, the ogre's powerful arms meant the hymen wouldn't slowly stretch—it burst through in one sudden thrust.

"Nkuu...!!"

"...Haa... haa... Oh no, it's so... hot... and feels amazing..."

"...Yes, I can feel you inside me too..."

Earny's penis was surprisingly small compared to her massive body. Even by human standards, it was larger than average, but for an ogre, it was far from impressive.

Yet, this worked in their favor. Even with full insertion to the base, Sylvia wouldn't be damaged.

He could thrust dynamically all the way to the base without restraint.

And since Sylvia appeared light and small from Earny's perspective, he shook her so dynamically that she nearly flew apart. Earny himself was still a virgin, so overwhelmed by the bliss of his first sexual experience with a woman, he lost all self-control and kept "using" Sylvia relentlessly.

"Aa, ah, ahh... agu, ah... S-Sylvia-san... it feels so good, I can't stop... I'm sorry, excuse me... excuse me...!"

"A, ah, hyaa, aa, aah... hii, i, iaah...!!"

Both of them, once inserted, had no reason left—completely consumed by the experience.

Overwhelmed by it all, Sylvia was shaken back and forth endlessly, just for Earny's release.

"...Haa, aa... n, ahh... aa♪"

Even so, Sylvia wore a happy expression.

As a woman, she was undeniably satisfying Earny's ideal man—and that made her deeply, profoundly happy.

"Uaa, aa, ah... uaaah!!"

Earny became completely absorbed. He could think of nothing but reaching climax.

Then, he slammed Sylvia's waist against his own hips.

Slapping his glans against her cervix.

"Uaaaaaaahhhhh!!"

"Haa, aah... ah, aah... aah, nngh♪"

He climaxed with a powerful, spurting ejaculation.

"...Really did it...♪"

"I'm so sorry!"

"If you apologize, I'll get angry."

"...S-so sorry..."

"Eh."

She slapped both of Earny's cheeks sharply—pachin.

"...Nngh."

Then she kissed him, silencing Earny.

"I... am your girlfriend, right?"

"Yes."

"Does that mean we can have sex?"

"...If you say something like that, I'd think it's okay to do it?"

"Just make sure to pick the right place."

"...Yes."

"And be gentle."

"Yes."

"But also be intense."

"...That's hard."

"It's not. If you just let go, Earny-kun can only be gentle."

"...Y-yeah, I guess."

"Mm-hmm♪"

"Yo, Smayson."

"What's up, Isaac?"

"...Hey, do you think they're doing it?"

"...I'd vote for the ones just talking sweet nothings without even touching."

"I'm voting for the ones hosting a feast of lust."

※Correct answer: Both.

"This sucks either way, damn it."

"...Let's bully them when we get back."

"Let's bully them."

The two of them were then struck once each on the head by their teacher with a tray.

"You soldiers—your job is to ruin your comrades' happiness, is that it?"

"N-no way! This is a legitimate right!"

"Damn it! Happy people should be humiliated straight away so everyone else gets a little happy too!"

"I was stupid for getting even a tiny bit excited by your performances."

"Just because an old lady like me got excited..."

"Huh?"

"...Pay up. Full amount, now."

[Seriously sorry]

This happened one month before Selen's arrival.

It’s raining softly.

The young lady, smitten with love, lets out a sigh, thinking she’s missed another chance.

She had thought she’d grown into a mature adult, but she couldn’t help but realize she was still in the middle of her transition from childhood.

“Sigh… I wish I could see him.”

Though she knows she should hold back, her heart races.

Her boyfriend is a soldier, stationed at a remote outpost an hour’s walk from town. It’s only natural they can’t meet often.

And with the weather worsening, she’d have to walk that hour-long path through the rain. The thought of catching a cold makes it clear it’s best not to come.

Still…

“…I wish I could see him once a week.”

She thinks to herself that even just one weekly rendezvous would be enough.

It’s as if she’s a child eagerly waiting for a picnic only to have the sky betray her. She knows it’s childish of her to feel this way, but she can’t help it—she feels deflated at the thought of not seeing him for another week.

“Why do you look so gloomy, Sylvie? Want a drink?”

The barkeep taps on a keg with a wooden mallet and offers her a bottle.

“No thanks. It’s still daytime.”

“Aha, I see. Well, it’s no surprise you’re not in the mood at just 19.”

“Whether it’s 30 or 40, even on your day off, drinking during the day is no good. It’s not something respectable people do.”

“You’re so serious. As expected of Miss MacLean’s only daughter.”

“It’s got nothing to do with my mom.”

Her mother is a teacher at the elementary academy, and her father is a government official. While she can’t deny that their family is all about discipline, Sylvia still believes alcohol should be reserved for evenings, after everything else is done.

Incidentally, in Celesta, drinking is allowed starting at 17, so age-wise, there’s no issue.

“Sigh…”

She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.

Staring at the street corner where Arnie, her beloved ogre boyfriend, usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

Sylvia MacLean (human female, 19 years old, 152 cm tall) and Arnie Boyd (ogre male, 18 years old, 277 cm tall) have been dating for three months.

Between the two of them, an unspoken rule has developed for their meet-ups.

On Sundays around noon, they gather in front of the bar frequented by Arnie’s Crossbow Corps unit if things work out.

Then they either go to the stadium or have a picnic in the mountains, spending time together.

Of course, it would be better if they could stay in touch more frequently, but Arnie’s unit barracks are far away. Being part of the military makes it hard for him to visit, and even though letters are an option, paper is still expensive and unsuitable for frequent use.

Arnie might want to come see her, but Sylvia works during the week. And with strict curfews at home and both parents being strict, she hasn’t been able to introduce Arnie yet. It’s impossible for them to meet.

So, as usual, they meet up, and if things go well, they go on their usual date.

Since starting to date, their affection has grown stronger, and Sylvia, who wishes they could be together all the time, finds this arrangement frustrating. Still, she holds back because she doesn’t want Arnie to feel burdened if she takes the initiative. After all, she’s the older one in the relationship.

“Sigh…”

She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.

Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

“Sigh…”
She looks up at the dark sky through the open door and lets out another sigh.
Staring at the street corner where Arnie usually stands, she feels lonely. Sylvie slumps over her lunch of gratin and continues eating in silence.

Sylvia was a bit flustered.

She hadn’t told her parents, but Sylvia hadn’t intended to hide her relationship with Arnie.

Especially since this bar was directly across from their meeting spot—she couldn’t imagine the landlady not noticing.

[Landlady]: "...Well, but?"

[Landlady]: "Oh my. Oh my, oh my."

The landlady gave Sylvia a straight face before breaking into a sly, vulgar grin.

[Landlady]: "So you finally got yourself a boyfriend? That’s quite the scoop. Why didn’t you tell me?"

Sylvia: "Uh... what do you mean by 'finally'?"

[Landlady]: "Well, you know."

The landlady smirked and poked her plump elbow playfully. Of course, her elbow couldn’t reach Sylvia across the counter.

[Landlady]: "You’re that famous beauty, Sylvia, who’s turned down so many men. The iron wall of solitude, the pure and innocent high-schooler from the neighborhood."

Sylvia: "...That’s not true. I mean, it’s true that a few guys had been persistent when I was in elementary school, but..."

[Landlady]: "But you just kept turning them down, right? You didn’t feel like they were good enough for you. They didn’t have the strength to protect you, or the kindness to wrap you up in their arms, or the pureness to make you want to be with them. And most of all, they didn’t have that calm, peaceful energy that could keep you company for hours on end."

[Landlady]: "In that sense, your standards were high, and Arnie was a rare find."

Sylvia: "But I never thought of myself as someone who’s out of reach. There were plenty of guys who just seemed to hit on anyone they saw. I always thought of myself as just a normal girl who avoids romance."

[Landlady]: "Maybe you’re surprised that everyone else was so casual about it? Back then, getting a boyfriend was like going to war. No prince was coming to save you from afar, and if there was an opportunity to find one nearby, you couldn’t afford to be picky, right?"

Sylvia: "...I see. It’s normal, huh?"

Sylvia: "Well, he did come for me. He might not have been a prince, but at least to me, he was the ideal boy."

Thinking about it that way, Sylvia felt oddly lucky. Feeling so happy, she couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing Sylvia suddenly grin, the landlady gave her a strange look.

[Landlady]: "Oh my, the crow who cried is already laughing again."

Sylvia: "...Yeah. I think I might actually be pretty happy."

[Landlady]: "Well, whatever. If you feel like it, tell me about it sometime, Sylvia. About your... boyfriend."

Sylvia: "Yeah... I think he’s kind of noticeable, though."

[Landlady]: "Is he? The guy I see around here all the time... hmm... is it [Anzers]?"

Sylvia: "...Who’s that?"

[Landlady]: "There’s this really handsome soldier. He’s quite something."

Sylvia: "Nope. Hehe♪"

No matter how handsome or mature he was, Sylvia was certain no one could compare to Arnie.

Once she’d fallen for him, he’d become her everything. She genuinely thought that way.

Feeling good, Sylvia stood up to leave the bar.

A smile on a beautiful face draws far more attention than a frown.
Before she realized it, half of the men in the bar were staring at Sylvia.
It was only natural for the guys who’d been drinking their sorrows away in the rain to harbor a little bit of lust toward a lone girl.

[User Input]

As I reached out to Andy, my head was grabbed by an even larger finger than the one that had earlier held the ogre.
The head was twisted around, and just like turning a screw, it was flipped 180 degrees. There stood the massive face of a bull.
"Y-Yikes!"
I couldn’t help but flinch. Facing off against two ogres bare-handed was far too terrifying.

Andy, Arnie, and Kelly came to the bar in the rain, all in high spirits.

Even for Andy and Kelly, who wanted to drink on their day off, it was the same. At first, they had tried to dump the task of counting weapons on Arnie and sneak out together, but when Arnie looked like he was about to cry and said, "I was actually planning to meet Sylvia-san today, she might still be waiting," they had no choice but to finish quickly.

"Harassing guys with girlfriends is just how we do things here."

"Show a little maturity for once, Smysen. We can bully Boyd later."

"That’s true."

"...Uh, am I going to get bullied?"

[Of course.]

Despite that, Andy and Kelly couldn’t bring themselves to do something as low-down as "letting Arnie stand her up in the rain." They were soft at heart, after all.

The three of them marched into the bar singing a military song in the rain, then suddenly found Sylvia in a dire situation when they opened the door.

Andy and Kelly, who seemed more angry than usual about Sylvia being left with Arnie, had clearly seen past her appearance.

[They] sang their song, drank their drinks, and were about to leave when they suddenly realized they were in deep trouble.

It wasn’t just that Sylvia’s boyfriend was an ogre—Andy and Kelly were genuinely furious.

[To think this would happen to my beloved Arnie.] They were far more upset than they let on.

[Hey, drunkard. There are three things I can’t stand in this world: low-ceilinged shops, pickles, and anyone who makes their subordinates suffer.]

Kelly raised his hand high and lectured the drunkard. When an ogre over 3 meters tall raises its arm, it’s practically reaching 5 meters. Even in a bar with a two-story open ceiling, he was lifted so high that even the most inebriated would sober up.

[W-Wait, stop this, you brute! Do you really think the military police won’t come for this?]

He shouted and thrashed about. Kelly glanced at Andy and shrugged, then laughed.

[For someone who tried to assault a woman, you’ve got some nerve.]

[Exactly. ...Keep that in mind, human scum. In Celesta, ogres can become both military police and elite soldiers. Arnie here might even become an Ace Night someday. In this place, idiots are more despised than even half-elves or ogres.]

With his head still held tightly, Kelly hurled the man away.

The drunkard was sent flying through the wooden window shutters. Kelly immediately struck a muscle-popping pose.

Overwhelmed by the sheer force, the entire bar couldn’t help but clap.

[You piece of trash... Hey, Isaac, let’s break this sword.]

[Don’t break it. The drinks are on you, and Sylvia-san too.]

[Well, at least half of it would be covered. ...Alright, let’s drink!]

[Let’s!]

Andy and Kelly got carried away and clung to the counter, but they were promptly scolded by Sylvia’s wife. Even though they’d broken the window, they were still just dumb kids, she thought, but as soon as Arnie and the others returned, her tone softened a little.

"I’m sorry, Sylvie-chan. I’ll make sure to hire a bodyguard from now on, too."

[Yes...]

Sylvia clung to Arnie’s arm, her face bright red as she fell in love with him all over again.

Finally, even Sylvia’s wife, who was usually clueless and tactless, realized who Arnie’s "boyfriend" really was. It had been hard to imagine that such a beautiful woman would have an ogre for a boyfriend.

"...More importantly, you there, young ogre boy, you’re soaked to the bone. You’ll catch a cold."

[Ah, no, I’m fine...]

"Don’t hold back. The third room upstairs is empty today, so go dry yourself off. There’s a towel in the closet."

[Transcript]

Sylvia: "Ha, haa..."
Sylvia: "Sylvie-chan, let me help you."
[Irina]: "Huh...?"
This was Sylvie’s way of showing her affection in the best way she knew. Despite her age, she gave a quick wink.

The second floor of the tavern was half open to the air and half used as an inn.

Andy and other soldiers who loved drinking but couldn’t hold their liquor often lay sprawled there, though it was also used for more unsavory purposes like bringing in women.

In one of the simple rooms under such circumstances, Arnie was being stripped and diligently dried off by Sylvie.

Sylvia: "...Arnie-kun, you really are big, aren’t you?"

Arnie: "Y-Yeah, I’m an Ogre."

Sylvia: "Mhm. You’re so reliable."

Arnie: "I’m an Ogre."

Sylvia: "...Mhm. Including the fact that you’re an Ogre, I love you, Arnie-kun."

Arnie turned bright red, as he always did when faced with Sylvie’s straightforward affection.

Smiling at Arnie, Sylvie confessed without hiding or embellishing that she had fallen for him all over again.

Sylvia: "You really saved me again, huh?"

Arnie: "I-I just stepped in a little."

Sylvia: "But I was so happy. You’re always there for me when I’m in danger. It makes my heart flutter."

Arnie: "Haha... I’ve been leaving everything to Isaac and Smyth, though."

Sylvia: "Both of them were mad about you, Arnie-kun."

Arnie: "...Yes. I feel like I’m not alone now. I’m really glad I joined this squad."

Sylvie stood on his neck, which was as big as a person’s torso, and hugged him like she was hanging onto him.

Sylvia: "...I’m so glad you came. I’m so glad I got to meet you..."

Arnie: "Sylvia... san?"

Sylvia: "...I was scared. When I was really scared, Arnie-kun saves me. I really, really love you... I thought, I’m so happy...!"

Arnie: "...I’m happy too."

Sylvia: "Mhm... Say you love me."

Arnie: "I love you, Sylvie-san."

Sylvia: "Say it properly."

Arnie: "I love you, Sylvie-san."

Arnie: "I love you."

Sylvie shuddered.

She was told to love her ahead of time. By this ideal man.
Just that alone made her feel like the greatest joy as a woman, and her core burned, her body grew wet, and she trembled.
Annie found Sylvia so adorable that he gently hugged her.
Even now, they embraced each other, wrapped in love that grew like a snowball. It was a time of bliss.

"...Mmm."

After a while, Sylvia pulled away.

And at that moment, they both noticed the seam on her sleeve was slightly torn.

"Ah..."

"It must’ve happened when you were tugging it earlier."

"...Maybe so."

Annie pondered what to do. In fact, Annie, despite appearances, could sew. He thought about offering to fix it so she could go home without anyone seeing, but before he could suggest it, Sylvia suddenly nodded and began taking off her clothes.

"What...? S-Sylvia-san, if you’re going to take them off, I should leave..."

"No!"

Sylvia stopped Annie from standing up.

Annie obediently sat back down with his eyes closed, and in front of him, Sylvia, now in her underwear, climbed onto his lap and pried open his eyelids with both hands.

"N-Wow, uh, but!"

"Annie-kun, listen to me. Look at me."

"...?"

Terrified, Annie turned to look at Sylvia.

Her beautiful, defenseless underwear made him blush more than ever, and he averted his gaze, his eyes darting around.

"...Yes."

"...Hey, Annie-kun. ...I thought... I could just let you have me today."

"?"

"I thought it’d be okay if I became yours alone. ...No, that’s not it. It’s not okay—it’s that I want to become yours alone. I want you to love me more than anything."

"...Sylvia-san."

"Sylvia-kun, don’t you like me? Can’t you do this kind of thing with me?"

"...But... I’m an Ogre..."

"It’s fine. I’m human too."

"...No, that’s not what I mean..."

"I know. I understand that I’m from a different race than you. I know it might not be attractive to you guys. But I still like you. I want you to love me."

"That’s not true! From my perspective, Sylvia-san is really... beautiful... but I just thought... I’d be a burden in your life..."

"Ugh!"

Sylvia grew frustrated.

Sylvia understood. It was clear from everything but his words that Arnie loved her.

However, Arnie was too kind, too considerate, and he believed he couldn’t possibly dirty Sylvia.

Then.

[Arnie-kun, I’m sorry!]

[Wha—what!?>

She pulled down Arnie’s underwear, exposing his cock inside.

With a pyoko, a cock that seemed far too small compared to Arnie’s massive frame popped out.

[Wah…!]

[Fufu~. …I mean it, you know.]

With a slightly mischievous smile at the flustered Arnie, Sylvia began rubbing his cock with both hands.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen Arnie’s cock. Months ago, when he had suffered serious injuries from a beating, she had forcefully helped him urinate out of a sense of responsibility.

So, she could face him without too much embarrassment. Still, it was the first time she was touching his genitals in a sexual way, and it wasn’t going as smoothly as she’d hoped.

[Hmm… l-let’s see…]

[Sylvia-san…]

[I-I’m sorry, I’m not good at this… I’ve never done this before… but I mean it…!]

Overwhelmed with emotion, Sylvia pressed her lips to Arnie’s cock.

She knew such a technique existed, but since her knowledge was only from what she’d learned by rubbing it with her hands, she was at a loss when it came to actually using her mouth.

Looking up, Arnie was making a troubled face. It wasn’t about whether it felt good or not—he just didn’t know how to react to Sylvia’s actions.

[So… you get it? I really love you, Arnie-kun. I can keep licking your cock like this, lots and lots of times. But…]

[But?]

[It’s okay if I tear… Just do it. If you love me, then…]

From the bottom of her heart, Sylvia was driven by this desperate longing.

Even if it meant losing her ability to stand, she didn’t care. As long as she could truly connect with Arnie, it would be fine. She wanted to prove that as a woman, she could fully intermingle with the male part of him. And she wanted to connect with him even deeper.

Her growing affection for Arnie was out of control, and her desire to share their love was reaching near panic levels.

[Arni… Sylvia-san…]

[…………]

And then.

[Really, I’m going to do it, okay? I am a man, you know?]

Under Sylvia's relentless pressure, even Arnie began to loosen the reins of his rationality.
"Yeah."
"Even though I look this way, I’m really into women, you know? If we’re allowed, I might do something amazing with you every time we go on a date…"
Overwhelmed by that desire, Sylvia trembled. The fear of not being able to express her love and being rejected shifted to tears of pure joy.
"...Something amazing. Make me experience something amazing every week♪"
".........Ugh, I don’t know anymore."
"I... I don’t either♪"
She stripped off her underwear, discarding all her clothes.
There was nothing left to hide. Both heart and body were laid bare before the other.
Sylvia spread her arms wide, accepting Arnie’s embrace.

"That’s it… there…"

"It’s wet…"

"Yeah… I’ve been wet for you, Arnie-kun… I’ve been soaking myself, ready to welcome your cock…?"

"...Hah… hah… ngh…!"

"Sh-Sylvia-san!!"

Sylvia’s hips and legs were grasped by both hands, her legs spread wide as she was pressed tightly against Arnie’s waist.

Though he was careful, the ogre’s massive strength didn’t allow for a slow penetration. Her hymen was torn open in an instant.

"Nngh…!!"

"...Hah… hah… This is bad… it’s so hot… it feels so good…"

"...Yeah, I can feel you inside me… Arnie-kun…"

Arnie’s cock was small compared to his massive body. It was certainly bigger than average for a human, but it wasn’t something an ogre could boast about.

However, this worked in their favor. Even with Arnie’s full thrusts, Sylvia wouldn’t be damaged.

He could move her dynamically, all the way to the base.

And from Arnie’s perspective, Sylvia was small and light, shaking under his intense movements. Both of them were lost in the moment, completely overwhelmed by the pleasure of their first time together.

"Ah, ah, ah… ah, ah… hii, i-iaah…!!"

Neither of them could think straight after being joined.

They were swept up in the experience, simply moving to make Arnie climax over and over.

"...Hah, ah… nngh, ah… ahh♪"

Even so, Sylvia wore a happy expression.

As a woman, she was undoubtedly satisfying Arnie’s ideal man, and that made her incredibly happy.

"Uwaa, ah, ah… uwaah!!"

Arnie was consumed. He could only think about climaxing.

And then, he slammed Sylvia’s hips against his own.

"Thrust the tip into her womb."
"Aaaaaahhh!!"
"Hah, ahhh... ah, ah... ahhh, nnngh♪"
He ejaculated with a force that seemed to burst forth.

"...I really did it...♪"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"...Don’t apologize, you’ll just make me angry."

"...S-sorry..."

"Hey!"

He slapped both of Anzy’s cheeks with a sharp pat.

"...Mmm."

Then he kissed her to silence her.

"I’m... Anzy-kun’s girlfriend, you know?"

"Yes."

"A girlfriend is allowed to do naughty things, right?"

"...If you say that, I’ll start thinking it’s okay to do them."

"But you have to think about where we’re doing it."

"...Yes."

"And you have to be gentle."

"Yes."

"And you have to go hard."

"...That’s hard..."

"It’s not hard. If you leave it up to me, you’ll only be gentle with her."

"...Is that so?"

"Yeah♪"

"Hey, Smysom."
"What is it, Isaac?"
"...Hey, do you think they’re doing it?"
"...I vote for them just chatting sweetly together instead of anything naughty."
"I vote for them having a feast of carnal pleasure."
※Correct answer: Both.
"It’s frustrating either way, damn it."
"...Let’s bully him when we get back."
"Let’s bully him."
The wife then smacked both of them with a tray.

[You soldiers, is your job to interfere with the happiness of your comrades?]
[N-No! This is a legitimate right!]
[Damn it! The happy ones should just accept it and make everyone around them a little happier too!]
[Was I an idiot for feeling a little flutter at your achievements?]
[Even if you, old lady, were to feel that way.]
[Right?]
"...Pay up. Now, the full amount."
[Seriously, I'm sorry.]
It was about a month before Selen arrived.