"For starters, factoring in the value of each jewel, the craftsmanship, and their rarity... I'd say around six hundred thousand gold coins."

"Six hundred grand? With practical utility taken into account, I think we could push it a bit higher?"

"It's just an estimate, but let me add some padding... let's settle on 630,500."

The weapon shop under the construction union Trident was known as Trident Trading Company. A lizardman clerk, wearing a uniform designed for other races—a three-horned Viking helmet dangling from a chinstrap at the back of his neck—gazed closely at the goods with small pupils while quoting an appraisal value.

Ariel gasped at that figure, while Rose and Sieg furrowed their brows in slight displeasure.

"I can go up to 880,000."

"As for me... well, even if I cut a bit of slack, it's still 800,000."

The lizardman clerk licked his lips with an expressionless face. It might be hard to tell at first glance, but that meant he was worried.

"Come on, give us a break before we close the books. At this time of year, I can't help it if I don't get rid of them at decent prices. Sure, if we find enthusiasts when we try to dispose of them, we might manage to raise the price a bit, but if there's too much delay before disposal, that whole value becomes worthless inventory on our books—that's a liability issue, you know!"

"Just make it out like I bought it capriciously. You can sell it slowly later."

"Sister... well, fine then."

"880,000."

"Oh ho oh ho. Darn, what kind of favor is that? I didn't think we'd end up taking in the same item twice in a single day."

The jewel knife once claimed as Lyra's tab at an inn ended up circling its way back to being purchased by Trident Trading Company.

"By the way, for reference, how much did you buy it from the tavern?"

"...180,000."

"What a bastard!"

Sieg nudged the lizardman clerk. At least it was better than having an item bought by someone who truly had no idea about its value.

"Oh, um, that... er, 880,000... is-is that in gold coins?"

Ariel looked up at Sieg and Rose with anxious eyes.

Incidentally, a single gold coin of Celesta currency could buy you a non-alcoholic drink; with ten of them, you could get a decent meal at most restaurants.
Speaking of 880,000 coins, in a moderately large city like Tark, that was enough to purchase quite a big house with the land.
Of course, compared to Ariel's debts, that amount was practically pocket change.

"Goodbye, my jewel knife..."

"H-honestly? You really don't want it anymore, Mr. Sieg!?"

"You've got no reason to keep it. I'm a kid who can do anything anyway. It's just a hobby item; nobody will suffer if I sell it..." Wuuu!

Sieg put on a brave face while crying hard and truly. For some reason, the lizardman clerk was shedding tears along with him.

"How much is Ariel's debt?"

"Y-yes, 42,000 coins..."

"Well, as always, she'll try to tack on interest, won't she? Clerk, just list this gemstone standard at 70,000 and hand it over right now."

"Yes, yes. You're the man, old timer."

"Yeah. I'm becoming a man. But becoming a man... it hurts."

Although filled with regret, Sieg refused to call off his actions. Seeing this, the lizardman clerk looked at him with eyes of respect (though he had no expression to show it) and patted his shoulders reassuringly.

"...What looks like a buyout."

Rose teased Ariel as her head spun from the sudden flow of huge sums of money.

"Don't say things so unkind to others. First, I'll sever all that troublesome baggage around Ariel, then we'll get together properly and proudly."

"I see, I see... by the way, you should understand exactly what it means to hand over a sword and receive one."

"Huh?"

"Do you mean you're going to give them the money from the sale right now? Or do you plan to hand over the sword so the dark elf can sell it in your name? The meaning is completely different!"

"Hmm..."
Though Sieg was aware of the custom, how deeply he could grasp its weight remained doubtful.
He ran his fingers roughly over his scruffy beard, then glanced at Ariel.
Handing over gold directly felt undeniably petty and beneath him, yet being bound by a tradition he barely understood struck him as equally misguided.

"Go ahead, Ariel. Do whatever you like. As for the debt, I'll take full responsibility and wipe it clean. Up to this point, think of it as the reckless act of a man who's fallen for you. But beyond that? If you'll spend time with me, I'd be delighted. You've only a lifetime with dark elves; give your love to me instead. Please."

"...I can't help but feel..."
Ariel's face twisted into one of distress.
That Sieg had offloaded his own judgment on receiving the knife onto her, while simultaneously suggesting she shouldn't consider such a great kindness lightly—these words alone seemed like a death sentence for Ariel. That in just half a day, the fortune and decisions she'd encounter were too immense to bear lightly.

"......"

Rose, who had watched Sieg's seduction speech in silence, finally straightened her posture and spoke as she noticed the room falling into an uncomfortable quiet due to Ariel's muteness.

"Perhaps we should discuss that later?"

"...Yes."

Ariel confirmed this before turning back to face Sieg.

"Very well. Let me attend to my own matter first... Regarding accepting my knife, you won't get away with pretending it didn't happen, Becker."

"...W-Well, yes."

"You may have been lenient with that dark elf, but don't expect the same treatment from me... Sieg Becker, you've received a marriage proposal. Acknowledging that fact, you still used that knife for something else entirely. You understand now that there's no chance of returning it?"

"...Uh-huh."

Completely opposite to Ariel—distrustful of humans and men alike, burdened by misfortune, acting like a timid small creature—stood Rose Alderia, the former captive princess who pursued Sieg with nothing but maximum force.
She'd been kidnapped by that thieves' gang at around seventeen. Now twenty-seven; for an ogre woman known for marrying young, she was already far behind schedule.
Yet her position, her presence, and now, after maturing into a fully settled beauty, there was no way to simply let an ogre like her be overlooked. She was by no means a hideous woman who'd arrived late through her own fault.
Though petite even for an ogre, the robustness of her physique—strong enough to blast Sieg skyward with a single punch—would certainly meet the standards of a "good woman" among ogres. Having firmly declined numerous suitors before waiting endlessly for this chance to propose to Sieg...

"Or perhaps I could gift you that jewel knife again? No matter what, if you become my husband, it belongs to you once more. Come on, Sieg Becker; don't you know it's time to pay your tithe?"

"Mm, mmm."

Yet Sieg wasn't quite the selfless warrior of love who'd recklessly accepted everything like Andy did.
Ordinary men run away when chased but chase what flees.
Is this really right?
Is it truly right to tie myself to a woman like this?
Really, absolutely, truly... is this okay, Sieg Becker?

A groundless voice stirred unease within his chest.
Sieg hesitantly stepped backward; Rose stared him down intently.
The lizardman clerk watched the scene with eager eyes, though he didn't quite grasp what was happening.
And then—
"...Still no answer from you, you pathetic bastard!!"

"Ee! C-ch-choooonghuu!!?"
Rose's fist suddenly erupted with fire.
Sieg flew sideways, his left cheek the fulcrum for a three-meter tumble through the air.
He slid across the wooden floor with a splash.
Leaving the stunned lizardman clerk and Ariel behind, Rose grabbed the back of Sieg's belt after he collapsed and hoisted him up.
"You obstructed me. Deliver the knife to my home."
With graceful dignity, she dragged the folded-in-half Sieg out of the shop.

"Ah, wh-what, hey, don't leave me behind!?"

Ariel rushed to chase after her.

The lizardman shopkeeper watched them go with a flat, expressionless face while slowly flicking his tongue.

"…I'd rather not punch my own wife into submission," Sieg muttered to himself.

At least no one had heard this piece of criticism aimed at the group's president; luckily for him, everyone remained blissfully unaware.

Sieg woke from his faint in a dimly lit room.

"Ugh…"

"You're awake."

The ceiling.

The colors of a sunset sky.

His bed.

And three horns.

"…Rose?"

"I'm sorry, but I did make it easier for you to make your decision."

He took stock of the situation.

This dim room was likely an inn; judging by the luxurious furnishings, it was probably one of Thalk's high-end hotels or something similar.

And on the bed lay himself and Rose. From what she showed above the sheet, Rose was practically bare-chested.

Sitting at the edge of the bed was Ariel, hunched over slightly, staring intently at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Well then, Becker," Rose said, her tone sharp. "A man doesn't eat and leave food on his plate—that's a shame for a guy. …I don't know what made you do that back then, but it must've hurt quite a bit."

"…Sorry."

"…Though I'm not actually angry about it. Maybe what was sung brought up something from your past love life that you hadn't thought about in a while?"

"…………"

It was embarrassing enough when his own trauma became public knowledge.

And besides, she had hit the nail on the head.

"…Yeah, that's right. I just can't handle affection from people I don't fully understand. It makes me uneasy because I feel like they're hiding something nasty behind that smile."

"I am…"

"…No, I wasn't doubting you at all. But it was so damn tempting to think about. That time you were infatuated with that woman? Things seemed to progress way too smoothly for my taste, and now I'm breaking out in cold sweat just thinking about it."

That's right. Sieg was merely an orphan, labeled as a prodigy yet managed to pass all trials without defeating even a single enemy—a famous but hollow figurehead ace knight.

Stripped of his pretenses, Sieg was nothing more than a childish dreamer stretching himself beyond his means. And yet, Elsa still loved him, pretending to love him with all her heart.

Behind that affection, there were spy activities—things she had already uncovered so thoroughly about him that he could no longer pretend to know nothing.

If he had realized sooner that she was a spy, maybe he could have fled before his wounds became fatal and given himself a chance to escape.

Such regret had plagued Sieg for years, hardening his heart until even simple physical affection felt like too much of a stretch.

The mistake was made at the start. And it was far worse than just a simple error.

Getting obsessed only to end up stabbing and killing that woman while kissing her—it seemed unavoidable at the time. Such an absurdly cruel ending was just… terrible, the worst kind of over-the-top tragedy.

"…But I'm probably not so old yet that my body will betray me from trauma alone. And even if I did obsess forever about it, why bother? It wasn't until I met Ariel that things truly shifted."

And then… he fell in love.

"So, logically speaking, should I be okay?"

"I-I don't know. But you still aren't that well-known to me yet."

"I haven't changed since ten years ago. The day you rescued me, the moment we left that place—that's when everything started, and from then on, I haven't changed!"

As if spurred by her sudden confidence, Rose sat up abruptly with a jerk.

Her body was draped in nothing more than a single piece of cloth.

"…………"

"…………"

"...No, I thought you'd be dressed in something neat and presentable that morning."

"Eeep..."

"She wasn't wearing an apron then either."

"E-eeep, shut up!! You were the one who loudly told that woman what you wanted!"

Upon closer inspection, Ariel was also topless beneath her apron.

...It was a thoroughly unseemly state of affairs for having anything serious to discuss.

"...We're starting over, you worst-in-the-worst kind of man. I'm demanding a redo on the most miserable memory of my life."

Rose, sulking with a flushed face and slightly teary-eyed, vigorously stroked Sieg's member.

Ariel watched her do it with fluttering anxiety.

"Hmm, maybe we should switch? I've got experience..."

"Eeep..."

Sieg's member stubbornly refused to move past semi-erection, leaving Rose utterly at a loss.

Rose was quite simply incompetent at this.

"Is this your first time?"

"...Yeah."

Rose nodded. Ariel snatched the member from Rose's hands, attacking it with her hand, tongue, and nipples while letting out a soft laugh.

"Don't laugh!"

"I-I didn't laugh! I just thought Ms. Rose was cute..."

"W-what? And I am too! If I'd already gotten my first experience ten years ago, I'd probably be... right about now..."

Sieg reached up, hooking his finger into one of Rose's small horns as he stroked her head while letting his imagination run wild.

If Rose had just given in and gotten it over with that day—

...Then even if he'd held out hope, she wouldn't have ended up getting dumped like a rag, spared such a terrible fate.

Perhaps she'd then cherish him somewhere in her heart as a good memory and be properly married to someone by now.

"I did something awful, but thinking about how you still cleaned yourself up and waited for me means it's not all unlucky. For me."

Rose tried to hide a slight, happy smile at being told she'd become beautiful, holding herself back with visible effort.

That tiny streak of pride felt wonderfully adorable.

"It was my luck that went bad. Ten years spent worrying why you treated me so awfully. Ten years! Give it back, you idiot."

"...Is there really something to give back?"

"Ten years, you know. Not cheap at all."

"Then let's get away from here."

"If you try running this time, I swear I won't forgive you."

"...Alright, pay me then."

While they talked, Ariel thrust her rigid member—cultivated by the techniques of a brothel worker—right into Rose's nose. After Rose instantly gasped in shock, she quickly turned away on all fours, still making a dissatisfied face as she demanded.

"Don't try running! If you run, I won't forgive you?"

"Y-yes... then it's time to go...!"

In those piercing eyes glared the accumulated remains of long-suppressed love; now reigniting, they bore the sweet-and-sour tang of newly awakened desire.

Entering someone who'd been eagerly awaited like this was something completely new for Sieg.

For the first time ever, the person bound by love and affection was truly connected to him on a physical level.

"……Uu… Guoooh...!?"

And so, Sieg finally shed his chastity.

"Nnnkkuuu…!"

Sieg clenched Rose's massive breasts beneath her apron, barely containing the excruciating arousal that threatened to erupt at any moment.

Fundamentally, it was different.

The pleasure of buying a woman and the pleasure of being enveloped by a woman's love were entirely distinct experiences.

"Oh! H-hold on, Rose... You really haven't done this before, have you!?"

Stunned by the vagina's exceptional condition, Sieg panicked.

He'd only ever partnered with prostitutes; he hadn't held an virgin maiden in his arms, yet Rose's intimacy was nothing short of exquisite.

From the very start, she offered him intense, soft, and abundant pleasure, greedily striving to drain his essence completely.

"It's obviously my first time... I swear...!! Oh! Don't treat an ogre's body as if it were human...!!"

"I see, so you were an ogre all along... Th-there really aren't many..."

It was only now that he realized—Rose had indeed been an ogre.

Ogres possess a vulva capable of withstanding immense girth; since male ogres boast extraordinarily large penises, this adaptation allows for intercourse despite such dimensions.

An ogre female's massive member is so enormous compared to human proportions that the very act of engaging in sex becomes a moot point before it even begins.

Yet, an ogre woman facing the challenge of receiving her first such extraordinary endowment still retains her hymen. While technically present, it rarely poses any issue when confronted with a human phallus.

However, it isn't inherently lax.

It contracts firmly and responds with heightened sensitivity to touch.

Though certainly not typical of a situation where an ogre and a man engage in group sex simultaneously, the ogre female's reproductive organ had indeed adapted adequately for intercourse with humans.

This mysterious anatomy was capable enough to attract even enthusiasts of cross-species ogre风俗—a true natural wonder—and now Siegfried found himself overwhelmed by the double-edged thrill of both innate perfection and passionate intimacy fueled by love.

"Uu… Kkuuu… Damn it! You're far too good at this, Rose...!!"

"Aa... Ahaha... It's delightful, so delightful, Mr. Becker...♪"

As Rose swung her hips, she gradually became more sincere.

Slowly, the young girl from a decade ago began to return.

Her once-stern tone softened into something reminiscent of her former self; being addressed as "Becker" morphed back to "Mr. Becker," and though her body had matured beyond undoing, she indulged in the intoxicating sensation of being embraced by Sieg while carelessly disregarding propriety. Without relying on refined technique, she powerfully ground against him, seeking to extract every drop of his essence.

"Gggh… Aaaaah!!!"

Sieg endured the waves of pleasure.

It was almost a matter of stubborn pride, unconscious in its determination.

Then, as that vulva devoured his shaft ruthlessly from every angle—up and down, left and right—he lost control over his breathing, only to finally:

"Nnn… Aaaaaaaahhh!!♪♪"

Successfully climax Rose.

He withdrew his massive member from within her.

While Ariel watched in stunned silence, lips bitten shut, at Rose's dynamic lovemaking—so utterly devoid of any manipulative artifice despite its raw power—he gently pressed her down to the bed.

"Kyyah...!?"

"...W-wait, I—I'm... I'm going to... H-ahh, hahh..."

Calming her head, steaming hot with pleasure, he struggled to form words.

Gently stroking Sieg's face, Ariel smiled.

"...You're fine."

"…………!!!"

The girl had also accepted him.

At least, she hadn't rejected his embrace as a prostitute would have; instead, she had opened her arms to be held.

Sieg, buoyed by what amounted to his first real experience, got even more worked up and shamelessly jammed his pre-cum-slicked penis straight into the crotch beneath the dropped apron.

"Aaahh… fuuuh… I knew it…"

"W-wait, what did you say? What 'knew it'?"

"…………"

Ariel narrowed her eyes.

"Sex filled with real feeling is different, isn't it?♪"

Ariel was feeling the same thing Sieg felt.

It was chaotic. It was orgiastic.

Love truly seems to accelerate pleasure.

After so long, having been desired not just as a body but as a person, Ariel began to drown in ecstasy with an expression of pure innocence—far from her rough movements.

"Mmmngh… Siegg… San… You're… you're actually lovin' me… love me…!?"

"Aaaah… I want to love you… over and over again, forever!!"

"Fufu… is that okay…? Am I… ahnn… allowed to want that sort of thing yet…?♪"

"Yes… if it's from my crotch then damn it, YES!!"

Schluup, schluup, with every thrust of her hips came the sound of friction, as they gripped each other's pleasure points in an intense, grinding fuck.

Seeing this, Rose began to reach for involvement once more.

"Mr. Becker, me too… let me be loved too… Am I not allowed?"

"You're not out of it you bitch! How happy this man is!!!"

And then he plunged his hand into Rose's vagina.

"Kiiyaaah!!?"

"There now, there there!!"

Rose's vagina was pierced by the sheer presence of Becker's hand, rupturing her hymen piece by piece.

Though she recoiled in instant shock at his aggressive assault, Rose still offered a tearful, trembling smile.

"…Idiot… the worst… so cruel…♪"

Fucking the dark elf with their crotches together, fucking the ogre with fists.

Sieg finally lost control of his pleasure and climbed to the summit, firmly connecting himself with the two naked-women-apron-served women before him.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!"

"Nn… ku… aaaaahhhhh!!!"

"Wooooohh!!!"

And then he ejaculated magnificently.

It wasn't until late at night that Ariel, led by Sieg, returned to the rented house in the slums—a maze of earthen walls—at his own residence.

She had even paid back the debt she'd incurred from a moneylender affiliated with the Tower Emblem syndicate. Now, no worries remained behind her.

As they walked home, whispering about how to change their lives going forward…

"I can't offer much by way of hospitality, but I can at least put out some tea."

"Right. My throat feels like it's made of dry straw."

As they smiled at each other and reached for the door handle, a single letter was clutched between the wood and frame.

"This…?"

Ariel opens the letter.

Sieg reads its contents faster than she can, a habit born from his spymaster days that now only fills him with regret.

"Eh... um, person..."

A letter from her former lover, who had vanished on a whim while leaving Ariel behind.

Now that business is finally thriving and he has enough money to repay his debts, he writes that he'd like to come get her.

Scanning the hurried note in the corner of the envelope, it seems he realized she's around here, but didn't know exactly where she was, so he asked a neighbor to deliver it.

"No way..."

Ariel's eyes flutter as she processes this.

Sieg can feel her emotions like a hot flame against his skin.

No matter how selfishly she'd disappeared, the time they shared together certainly hadn't lasted just one or two days.

Beneath Ariel's resolve to work without running away burns an unextinguished longing for him.

But Sieg can do nothing about that, and never could.

After all, he merely showed up unexpectedly this morning, confessed in a burst, and inserted his claws into a crack in her heart—nothing more than an interloper who forced his way in using only his money and strength. How much weight could such a man truly carry?

Right.

Just a flashy white daydream.

"Arl... sir..."
With her head hung low, turning back to beg for salvation, there was no one left in front of Ariel's eyes.
From the very start, as if nothing had ever happened, not even a footprint remained where he had stood.

"......"

Peering at the moon from a back alley, Sieg stares into a trance.

A shadow mocks him.

"Hah... hah... So you're not spending tonight in a woman's bed?"

"...Yo, you guys."

The three bodyguards of the Ace Knights—clad head-to-toe in leather armor and masks.

"Aw, you look so dashing."

"Not even close to being that cute, ya moron. After you paid at the Tower office, the original debtor showed up, and now here you are looking all depressed alone... hahahaha!"

"I don't care about that anyway."

"...Don't tell me they hired you guys just to get underestimated by their employers?"

"Yep, exactly. That's why we were hunting for you, Sieg Becker."

Maito tilts his head sharply and eyes dart around wildly.

"We can't stand being looked down on! Gutsless rats like you better die or else it's time to cut ties... oh right, but you're all acting so spacey while actually laying mines, setting traps, and pouring oil everywhere."

"It's my habit. Even when I don't intend to do anything, the traps get set somehow."

A tone as casual as if he were talking to an old friend.

Maito draws a new blade and presses it against Sieg.

"I've got you figured out; tricks like that won't work on us tonight. I want you to die in style."

"Man? No way, too much trouble."

Sieg waves his hands with a face drained of all energy.

"Die already, Sieg Becker."

Maito leaps. Leon sprints along the wall while Davis swings his mace to level the ground, smashing traps as he charges forward.

Sieg casually stands up and, without warning, severs Maito's head from his body.

"!?!"

It looks as though mere standing caused Maito's torso and head to split apart in weeping pieces. Davis and Leon freeze, shocked.

Sieg cracks his neck with a series of pops, then flashes bloodied knives with a sharp swish.

"Well, I did say earlier that even thugs shouldn't kill civilians during the day, but—"

Sieg grins widely, eyes wide open.

"Lie. You damn fools—don't strike when people are in a foul mood; they'd end up joyful instead."

The next morning, their bodies were discovered behind the offices of the Tower Emblem agency.

"Haaah..."
After having breakfast at Carlos's residence, Sieg slumped his shoulders and headed toward the carriage departure point.
Originally, it was time for him to separate from Diane's group, report on Lyra's presence and Andy's treatment, and seek further instructions regarding future activities from Minister Ashton.
At a moment like this, solitude felt refreshing. Still, he couldn't let loose recklessly; he endlessly berated himself internally: "Think about your age!" and resolved to enjoy a leisurely carriage journey.

That's it.

"BEECKAAR!!"

"SIEG-SAN!"

As Sieg attempted to board the carriage, an outstretched hand from behind yanked him down.

It was Rose. Beside her stood Ariel, both dressed in travel gear.

"Why did you try to slip away on your own? Marriage isn't a one-day event, you know."

"Uh, uh... I'll consider that knife as accepted! But not as money!"

"...Huh?"

As Sieg stared blankly, the two of them chuckled.

"Proposal accepted!"

Well now, it's time to reclaim this worst-of-begins.

"For starters, taking into account the value of each jewel, the craftsmanship, and their rarity... I'd say around 600,000 gold coins."
"Six hundred thousand. If we factored in their practical utility value, could you push it a bit higher?"
"That's just an estimate, but if I fudge it slightly... let's call it 635,000."

The weapon shop under the Construction and Civil Works Guild Trident umbrella: Trident Trading Company.

A lizardman clerk, who wore his tricorn Viking helm—part of the uniform for non-human races—as a chin strap hanging down his neck, appraised the merchandise, his tiny pupils fixated intently on the items as he spoke.

Ariel stared wide-eyed at the figure, while Rose and Sieg furrowed their brows slightly.

"I think I can get it to 880,000."
"As for me... well, even if I concede a bit, it's still 800,000."

The lizardman clerk flicked his tongue around his expressionless face. If you're not used to them, it's hard to tell, but that was his version of looking troubled.
"Please, cut me some slack; closing is coming up soon. At this time of year, if I don't offer prices that make disposal easy, I'm the one who'll be in trouble. Sure, if I look for collectors when disposing of them, I might pull up the value a little, but if there's a gap before disposal, all these valuations become red-ink liabilities and it becomes a responsibility issue."
"Just say I bought them out on a whim. I'll sell them slowly later."
"Senpai... well, fine, I suppose."
"It's 880,000."
"Yes yes. I really don't know what kind of favor you're doing me, either. I didn't expect to have to take the same item off your hands twice in one day."

The jeweled knife, which had previously been seized at a tavern as Lyra's drinking tab, had thus circled around only to end up being bought back by Trident Trading Company.
"By the way, just for reference. How much did you buy it from the tavern?"
"...180,000."
"You really are a bad man, aren't you, Ei?"

Sieg nudged the lizardman clerk. It was better to think he was buying it from someone who truly didn't understand its value.
"A-Ah, um, that is... uhm, 880,000... gold coins...?"

Ariel looked up anxiously at Sieg and Rose.
By the way, one coin of Celesta currency could buy a drink without any alcohol in it; ten coins would get you a decent meal at most cafeterias.
880,000 coins was enough to buy a very large house with land attached, even in a fairly big city like Talk.
Of course, Ariel's debt was on the scale of small change compared to that sum.
"Goodbye, my jeweled knife..."
"H-Hold on, are you sure about this, Sieg!?"
"I'm fine. I'm a 'doer' kind of guy, after all. It's just a hobby item; no one will be troubled if it's sold... Ugh."

Sieg put up a brave face while nearly in genuine tears. For some reason, the lizardman clerk was crying along with him.
"How much is Ariel's debt?"
"A-About 42,000 coins..."
"Sure, they'll probably tack on interest and try to shake us down. Clerk, just convert 70,000 into base gems and hand them over now."
"Yes sir, yes sir. A real man, the old man."
"Ah. I am becoming a man. But becoming a man is... it hurts, you know."

Sieg was clingy about it, but he refused to withdraw his actions; the lizardman clerk looked at him with a gaze of respect (though his face showed no expression) and patted his shoulder to comfort him.
"...It's like indentured servitude or something."

Seeing Ariel's eyes roll from the dizzying movement of large sums of money, Rose teased.
"Don't speak so rudely. First, I'm cutting off Ariel's bad entanglements so we can have a proper, open relationship."
"I get it, I get it. ...You really should understand what it means to hand over a sword and receive one."
"Huh?"
"Do you plan to throw the money you just got from selling it at her? Or do you hand over the sword, letting that Dark Elf sell it instead? The meaning is completely different."

"Mm..."

Zieg was familiar with the customs, but whether he truly grasped their weight was another matter. He rubbed his stubble-covered jaw and glanced at Ariel.

Directly paying off her debt felt crude and vulgar, yet holding her to a tradition he barely understood seemed equally wrong.

"Well, do as you please with Ariel. I'll take full responsibility for erasing that debt myself. Feel free to view this as the capricious act of a man infatuated with you. But on top of all that, I'd be grateful if you would give me a chance. Even if it's only for a brief moment to a Dark Elf, please bring some love into my life. Please."

"Even if you say things like that..."

Ariel looked troubled.

Being handed the judgment on receiving the knife was one thing; Zieg suggesting she could casually dismiss such a massive favor was another. For Ariel, who had been traveling the road of misfortune without deviation, the luck—and the decision—she faced in just half a day was far too great to process.

"..."

Rose had watched Zieg's courtship in silence until Ariel's silence cast a stagnant gloom over the room. Straightening her posture, she spoke up.

"Can we defer that conversation for later?"

"Yes."

After confirming Ariel's agreement, Rose turned back to Zieg.

"Let's deal with my situation first. ...Do not try to fob off the matter of accepting the knife from me, Beccaer."

"...Yes, I suppose so."

"You were soft on that Dark Elf, but don't expect any leniency from me. ...Zieg Beccaer, you have accepted a marriage proposal. Acknowledging that, you still used that knife as if it were something separate. You realize this is no longer a situation where returns are possible, don't you?"

"...Yes."

In stark contrast to Ariel—who shouldered the burden of distrust toward humans and men along with her general unluckiness, acting like a small prey animal—was Rose Aldera, the former captive princess who delivered proposals in straight lines at maximum velocity.

She was around seventeen when she was abducted by the thieves' guild. Now twenty-seven, for an ogre woman—a demographic where early marriage was common—she was well past the prime age.

However, her status, temperament, and beauty, which had matured into a composed elegance, were certainly something that could not be left unclaimed even by ogre standards. She was no ugly old maid who had simply run out of options.

Though small for an ogre, her physical vitality, capable of blasting Zieg into the sky with a punch, more than met the threshold of an "ideal woman" in ogre society. It was safe to say she had rejected numerous suitors, waiting patiently for the chance to propose to Zieg.

"If it would help, I could gift you that jewel knife again. No, either way, if you become my husband, it will be yours once more now. Come now, Zieg Beccaer, don't tell you know it's time to pay your toll?"

"U-uh..."

However, Zieg was not a self-sacrificing warrior of love who would recklessly accept everything like Andy.

He was an ordinary man: when chased, he wanted to run; when given the chance, he wanted to chase.

Is this really okay?

Is it really okay to be held by this woman?

Zieg Beccaer, is it really, really okay?

A voice without any basis stirred unease deep within his chest.

Zieg edged backward slowly. Rose stared at him.

The lizardman shopkeeper watched with excitement, despite not fully understanding the situation.

And then.

"...Answer me already, you lowest of men!!"

"W-whoa, w-waaah!?"

Rose's fist erupted in flames without warning.

Zieg spun through the air for three meters, his cheek as the point of impact, like a top losing its spin.

He slid across the wooden floor with a crash.

Leaving the dumbfounded lizardman and Ariel behind, Rose grabbed the back of Beccaer's belt, lifted him up, and dragged him away.

"Sorry for the trouble. Just have that knife delivered to my house."

She swept out of the shop, dragging the folded-in-half Zieg with a graceful stride.

「A, ch-ch-cherish, don't leave me behind!」
Ariel hurried after them in a panic.
The lizardman clerk watched them go, sticking his tongue out, his expressionless face betraying no particular emotion.
"……I'm not really a fan of wives who hit their husbands, you know."
It was technically a complaint directed at the group's overall commander, so it was fortunate that no one had heard it.

Sieg woke from his unconsciousness in a dimly lit room.

"Mmm..."

"You're awake."

The ceiling.

The color of the sunset sky.

A bed.

And three horns.

"……Rose?"

"My apologies. But I've made it easier for you to decide."

He took stock of the situation.

The dimly lit room was probably an inn. Given the high-end furnishings, it was likely one of Tark's luxury hotels or something similar.

In the bed were himself and Rose. Looking at her shoulder peeking out from the sheets, she was half-naked.

At the foot of the bed, Ariel sat with a leg hanging off the side. She kept her head slightly bowed, gazing at him sideways with fixed intensity.

"Well, Becker. There's a saying: 'A man who doesn't eat free food is a shame.' ...I don't know what came over you at that moment, but you were badly hurt."

"……Sorry."

"I suppose so, but truth be told, I'm not all that angry. I just thought... perhaps whatever was being sung about your old love struck a chord with something."

"…………"

It was troublesome enough that his trauma had become famous.

And, on the whole, her intuition had been correct.

"……Ah, right. I'm a bit bad when it comes to affection from someone who doesn't fully understand me. It makes me anxious—wondering if there's something bad hidden behind it."

"I..."

"No, I wasn't doubting you, but things were progressing far too smoothly. Just like back then, when things with that woman started moving at a terrifyingly smooth pace, thinking that, sweat broke out all over me."

That was right. Sieg was just an orphan. Despite being called a prodigy, he had passed the exam without defeating a single enemy in battle—a paper ace knight in name only.

Sieg, stripped of the pretensions, was just a child reaching beyond his stature, yet Elza had loved him—or pretended to love him.

Behind that love lay espionage. By the time things happened, it was impossible for Sieg to pretend he didn't know; she had already probed every last detail about him.

If only he had realized sooner that she was a spy, he might have been able to give her an opportunity to escape before the wound became fatal.

That regret had plagued and tormented Sieg for years, making him unable to accept superficial, body-first love.

The beginning had been wrong. Too wrong.

To become obsessed with a woman only to stab and kill her while kissing her at the end—to tell himself there was no other choice—was an excessively terrible fate.

"……I'm not old enough for my body to lose control due to trauma anymore, surely. But then again, I realized I shouldn't keep moping forever about this sort of thing. That's when I met Ariel."

And then... he fell in love.

"So logically speaking, it's okay for me too?"

"I-It's not that, but, look, I still don't really know the you from now on."

"I haven't changed since ten years ago. Since that morning you rescued me, from that very moment, I have not changed!"

With a rustle, Rose pushed herself up in bed.

She was draped in nothing more than a single sheet of cloth.
“……”
“……”
“No, wait. I thought you were wearing that pretty formal outfit this morning.”
“Aaah”
“It wasn’t just an apron.”
“U-uhhh, shut up!! You’re the one who shouted ‘I want to’ at that woman loud enough for everyone to hear!”
Upon closer inspection, Ariel was also in a naked apron state.
……It was far from a serious situation, given how undignified they all were.

“……We’re doing this over. Worst man on earth. I demand a redo of my worst memory.”

Rosalind, her face bright red and eyes welling with tears, scolded Sieg while vigorously rubbing his protruding member.

Ariel watched the scene with a nervous, breathless intensity.

“A-actually, do you want to switch? I’m used to this kind of thing……”

“Uuuu……”

Sieg’s member refused to progress beyond its initial half-hard state, leaving Rosalind completely flustered and at a loss.

To be blunt, Rosalind was terrible at it.

“Could it be that this is your first time?”

“……Yeah.”

Rosalind nodded. Ariel snatched the phallus from Rosalind’s hand, attacking it with her hands, tongue, and nipples before letting out a soft, amused giggle.

“Don’t laugh!”

“N-no, I’m not laughing, I just think you’re cute, Ms. Rose……”

“W-well, duh! If I’d lost my virginity ten years ago, I probably would’ve by now……”

Sieg traced his finger through Rosalind’s small horn and gently stroked her head as he imagined the alternative.

If Rosalind had just gone along with it that day and lost her virginity then.

……Even if she hadn’t suffered the cruelty of having a loincloth thrown at her in disappointment.

Perhaps she would have kept Sieg somewhere in her heart as a good memory, and by now, she’d be solidly married off.

“It was a cruel thing to do, but thinking about how you stayed pure and waited for me means it wasn’t all bad luck. At least not for me.”

Hearing that she had become beautiful, Rosalind almost couldn’t suppress a pleased expression, but she held back.

Sieg found that small display of stubbornness incredibly endearing.

“It was bad luck for me. I spent ten years wondering why you did such a cruel thing to me. Ten years. Pay up, idiot.”

“……Do you want it paid?”

“That was ten years ago. It’s not cheap.”

“Then let’s run away.”

“If you run now, I will absolutely never forgive you.”

“……Then let’s pay up.”

While they bickered, Ariel pressed her firmness—cultivated through the techniques of a prostitute—against Rosalind’s nose. After a moment of shock, Rosalind turned her back in one fluid motion, got on all fours, and demanded with her usual dissatisfied expression.

“Don’t run away now? If you run, I won’t forgive you?”

“Yes ma’am…… well then, I’m coming……!”

In that glaring gaze lived the fermented remnants of love she had held back, now re-igniting into a sweet, sour ache.

For the first time in his life, it was Sieg who entered someone who had waited so desperately for him.

To actually connect with someone through their bodies, bonded by romance or love—this was a first.

"...Uuugh...!?"

And so, Sieg shed his true virginity.

"Mm, ksshh..."

Sieg gripped the massive tits beneath Rose's apron, enduring the overwhelming excitement that threatened to make him cum instantly.

Fundamentally, it was different.

The pleasure of buying a woman’s body and the pleasure of being wrapped in a woman’s love were entirely distinct things.

"W-What the hell, Rose... are you really a virgin!?"

Overwhelmed by how tight her pussy felt, Sieg panicked.

Though he had only ever been with prostitutes and naturally never fucked a virgin, Rose’s vagina was exquisite.

From the very start, it was hot, soft, and full of rich pleasure for Sieg’s member, greedily trying to squeeze out his semen.

"Of course I am... No! Wait...!! Don't compare an ogre's body to a human one!!"

"I see, so you were an ogre after all, huh... K, fuck, ogresses are just this...?"

He realized it only now. Come to think of it, Rose was an ogre.

Ogres had an extremely high tolerance in their vaginas. It was because ogre males had incredibly huge cockers, so their anatomy adapted accordingly.

Ogre members were as thick as a human fist; for a human vagina, sex with one wasn't even a question of feasibility before it became physically impossible.

The female ogres who needed to accommodate such monstrous organs from the start of sexual experience did have hymens, but human-sized members rarely posed any issue.

But it was by no means loose.

It tightened properly, and she felt strong sexual sensations.

Granted, a situation where an ogre and humans gang-rape her in a short time might be different, but female ogre genitalia were perfectly adapted to humans as well.

That mysterious organ produced enthusiasts of cross-species ogre prostitution, and Sieg found himself tortured by the double-punch pleasure of its natural masterpiece pussy and the passionate coupling born from love.

"Mm... k-kusshhh... Damn it, you're too tight for me...!!"

"Aa, ahh... I'm happy, really happy, Becker-san... ♪"

Rose swayed her hips, gradually becoming more open.

Gradually, she regressed to the little girl of ten years ago.

Her resolute tone shifted to that of a young girl, and the blunt "Becker" reverted to the old honorific "Becker-san." Drunk on the reality of her matured body being embraced by Sieg despite its inability to return to youth, she began to drain his essence with powerful grinding techniques that had no finesse whatsoever.

"Gg...!!"

Sieg endured the pleasure.

It was sheer stubbornness, almost unconscious.

And so, ravaging wildly up, down, left, and right inside her vagina, controlling the pleasure through his breathing, he finally—

"Mm, kuuuuuaaaaaah♪♪"

—managed to make Rose climax.

He pulled his member out of Rose’s body.

Overwhelming Ariel, who had been dumbstruck watching Rose’s dynamic sex while contrasting with the clumsiness of her skill in pleasing men with hands or mouth, he pushed her down while biting his lip.

"Kyaa!?"

"...T-Tch... I am... I am, to you... Haa, haa..."

Calm the head that might explode from steam due to pleasure, trying to form words.

Gently stroking Sieg, Ariel smiled.

"...It's okay."

".........!!"

This girl had accepted him, too.

At the very least, she had tried to accept his embrace not as a prostitute, but as himself.

Caught up in the fact that this was effectively his first time, Sieg got carried away again and thrust his cum-soaked object mercilessly into her genitals beneath the front flap of her apron.

“Ah… ahnn… …… hehe, just as I thought…”

“What… what do you mean ‘just as you thought’…?!”

“…………”

Ariel narrowed her eyes.

“I always think sex feels different when you’re really into it… ♪”

Ariel felt the same thing Sieg did.

It was a mess. It was a gangbang.

Yet love truly did accelerate the pleasure, making it feel even better.

Longing for more than just physical contact for the first time in a long while, Ariel began to drown in the ecstasy with an expression as pure as a virgin’s, despite the way she moved her hips.

“N-nn, huh-ah… Sieg… Sir… do you… do you love me…?!”

“Ahhh… I want to… I want to love you again and again, forever!!”

“Hehe… is that… okay? …I’m still looking for that kind of thing… isn’t that fine, right…? ♪”

“Yes… if my love is enough for you…!!”

Each thrust of their hips produced a slick zuch, zuch sound as they grinded against each other’s pleasure points in intense fucking.

Into this sex act, Rose tried to insert herself once more.

“Mr. Becker, I want to… I want you to love me too… Is it okay if I’m no good at it…?”

“You’re not no good, damn it… You bastard, I’m so happy!!”

And then he plunged his hand into Rose’s vagina.

“Ky-uu!?”

“Come on, come on!!”

Rose’s virginity was torn to shreds by the sheer presence of Becker’s hand inside her pussy.

She flinched from the forced rape for a split second, but even with tears in her eyes, she managed a smile.

“…You’re an idiot… you’re the worst… so cruel… ♪”

Fucking the Dark Elf between his legs and fucking the ogre with his fist.

Sieg finally let go of control over his pleasure.

Connecting himself firmly to the two women who served him in nothing but aprons, he climbed to the peak.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

“Nn, ku, ahhh!!”

“Uooooh!!”

And then he ejaculated with great force.

It was well past midnight when Ariel returned to her rented room deep in the labyrinthine alleyways of the slum’s earthen walls, accompanied by Sieg.
She had properly repaid the Tower Emblem-affiliated loan shark she owed, and there was no longer any need to look back.
On the way home, they discussed in hushed voices how she might change her life going forward.
“I probably can’t offer much hospitality, but I can at least put out some tea.”
“That sounds good. My throat is completely dry.”
Just as they smiled at each other and reached to open the door, they found a letter tucked under it.
“This…”

Ariel opened the letter.

Sieg read its contents faster than Ariel could, a habit formed from his days in intelligence that he now regretted.

"What... what is this..."

It was a letter from her former lover, the man who had left her behind and vanished.

He wrote that things were finally coming together and he had enough money to repay what was owed, so he wanted to come take her back.

The scrawl in the corner of the envelope indicated he knew she was in this area but didn't have an exact address, so he'd asked a neighbor to deliver it.

"Please..."

Ariel's eyes trembled.

Sieg could feel her emotions as clearly as if holding them in his hands.

Even though he had simply vanished on his own accord, the time they had spent together certainly wasn't just a day or two.

Behind Ariel's resolve to work tirelessly and not run away, there must still be smoldering remnants of her feelings for him.

Sieg couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't.

From the start, Sieg was nothing more than a stranger who had suddenly appeared that morning, made his sudden confession, and jammed his toes into the gap in Ariel's heart to force his way in. He was just an intruder using money and power to make his demands known.

If he thought about it calmly, how much weight could such a person possibly have?

Yes.

Just a flashy, broad daydream.

"Sieg-san..."
Ariel's ears drooped as she turned back, seeking help. But no one was there in front of her anymore.
As if nothing had ever been there, not even footprints remained.

"…………"

In the alleyway, Sieg stood staring at the moon in a daze.

A shadow threw a mocking laugh at him.

"Kukuku... Weren't you supposed to be sleeping in a woman's bed tonight?"

"...Oh, hey you guys."

Three Ace Knights acting as bodyguards, their entire bodies covered in leather armor and masks.

"You have quite the nerve."

"Not nearly enough. After you paid up at the Tower office, the actual debtor showed up. And seeing you look all dejected alone meant... hahaha, hyahahaha"

"That's not really my concern."

"...I got told I wasn't hired to be looked down on by my employer or something..."

"Ahh, that's right. That's why I've been looking for you, Sieg Becker."

Mait tilted his head sharply and narrowed his eyes menacingly.

"I don't allow anyone to disrespect me; a rat like you, the itinerant kind, needs to be killed or else we're fired. ...Ah, but even with that blank look on your face, I see you've set up traps: mines, wire, and oil puddles."

"It's a habit, you know. Before I even realize it, I've laid everything out."

Sieg spoke in the tone of someone chatting with an old friend.

Mait drew his new blade and pressed it against Sieg.

"I've read your moves by now. No needles or cheap tricks will work on me tonight. Let's make this death a bit flashy."

"Ah? No thanks, too much trouble."

Sieg waved his hand dismissively, his face wearing an expression of utter exhaustion.

"Shut up and die, Sieg Becker."

Might leaps. Leon scales the wall, while Davis sweeps his mace in a leveling motion, smashing through traps as he closes in.
Sieg stood up without ceremony and decapitated Might on the spot.
“!?”
It looked like Might’s body and head had simply parted in grief just from him standing up. Davis and Leon froze, startled.
Sieg cracked his neck, popping it audibly, then flicked his bloodied knife with a sharp swish.
“So, I was saying this morning that even as a thug, I don’t kill civilians, but...”
Sieg stared wide-eyed, grinning maniacally.
“I’m lying, you fucking shitheads. You’re not allowed to come at me while I’m in a bad mood. It makes me happy, y’know.”

The following morning, their corpses were discovered behind the Tower Emblem office.

“Haaah...”
After taking breakfast alone at Carlos’s estate, Sieg slumped his shoulders and headed toward the shared carriage station.
It was already time for him to part ways with Diane and the others. He needed to file a report regarding Lyra’s presence and Andy’s treatment, then seek instructions from Minister Ashton on how to proceed with future operations.
He was glad he could be alone at a moment like this. Maybe I shouldn’t have cut loose so hard, he scolded himself continuously in his head. Keep your age in mind. He resolved to enjoy the carriage ride and take it easy for a while.

Or so he thought.
“Becker!!”
“Sieg-sensei!”
As Sieg was about to board the carriage, a hand reached out from behind, dragging him down.
It was Rose. And standing next to her was Ariel. Both were dressed in traveling clothes.
“What do you think you’re doing, running off without telling anyone? Marriage isn’t a one-day event.”
“Um, um... I-I... count it as having received the knife! Not the money!”
“...Eh?”
As Sieg stood there dumbfounded, the two of them laughed.
“The proposal is accepted!”

Alright then. From here on out, we fix that disastrous start.

"Considering the value of each jewel, the workmanship, and rarity... around six hundred thousand gold coins, I'd say."

"Six hundred thousand? If we factor in practical use, it might be worth a bit more?"

"Well, that's an estimate. Let me add some flair to it… how about six hundred thirty thousand five hundred?"

The lizardman employee of Trident Trading Company, under the umbrella of the Construction Guild, hung his chin strap behind his neck and wore a viking helmet with three horns as part of his uniform for alien races. He squinted at the item through small pupils while giving an appraisal.

Ariel was shocked by the amount, and Rose and Sieg frowned slightly.

"I think it's worth eighty-eight thousand."

"As for me… well, even if I give a bit, I still say eighty thousand."

The lizardman employee flicked his tongue out of the side of his mouth. It wasn't obvious to those unfamiliar with him, but this was his equivalent of a frown.

"We're near year-end, so please cut us some slack. If we don't sell at a reasonable price now, I'll be in trouble when it comes time to dispose of them. Of course, if we hold an auction for enthusiasts, the value might go up slightly, but if there's too much time between now and then, this kind of value will all turn red on our books, so it becomes a liability issue."

"I'll say I bought it because I was being selfish. We can sell it later."

"Big sister... well, that's fine with me."

"It's 880,000."

"Heh heh. Well, whatever the reason is, I didn't expect to end up taking the same item twice in one day."

The jewel knife that had been taken as payment for Lyra’s drinks at the tavern ended up being bought back by Trident Company once more.

"By the way, how much did you buy it from the tavern for?"

"...180,000."

"You bastard."

Sieg nudged the lizardman clerk. At least this was better than having someone who didn’t know its value get a hold of it.

"Oh, um... 880,000 is in gold coins... right?"

Ariel looked up at Sieg and Rose with a worried expression.

By the way, one gold coin of Selceta currency is enough to buy a drink without alcohol, and ten coins will usually get you an adequate meal in most diners.

Eight hundred eighty thousand coins would be enough to purchase a fairly large house with land attached in a city like Tark.

Of course, Ariel's debt was just pocket change compared to that amount.

"Goodbye, my jewel knife..."

"H-Honestly, is it okay for you, Sieg-san!?"

"It's fine. I'm someone who can do anything if I try. Anyway, it's just a hobby item; selling it won't hurt anyone... Ugh."

Sieg was trying to toughen up despite crying pretty hard. The lizardman clerk was inexplicably tearing up too.

"How much is Ariel’s debt?"

"F-Four thousand and two hundred coins..."

"Ah, well, they'll probably try to sell it with interest anyway. Waitress, make 70,000 the standard gem and give me the rest now."

"Yeah, yeah, you're a man, old-timer."

"Yeah, I'm going to be a man. But becoming a man... hurts."

Despite his lingering reluctance, the lizardman cashier regards Sieg with admiration (though he has no facial expression), patting him on the shoulder and consoling him.

"...It's like buying me off," Rose teases as she watches Ariel's eyes glaze over at the sight of money changing hands.

"Don't say such nasty things. I'm just getting rid of Ariel's bad connections so we can have a proper relationship."

"I get it, I get it... Anyway, you should understand what giving and receiving a sword means."

"Huh?"

"Are you going to pay them back with the money from selling your sword now? Or are you handing over the sword and letting that dark elf sell it for you? The meanings are completely different."

"Hmm..."

Sieg knew about the custom, but whether he could truly understand its significance was questionable. He stroked his stubble and looked at Ariel.

Directly giving money felt shallow and unpleasant, but tying her to a custom she didn't fully understand seemed wrong too.

"Well, do what you like with it, Ariel. I'll take care of the debt myself. You can think of this as an impulsive act by a man who fell for you. But if you could give me your love after that, I'd be very happy. Please."

"...Even if you say so..."

Ariel looked troubled.

Receiving a knife and being told to do whatever she wanted with such a huge favor felt too much like good fortune for someone who had been on the road of misfortune until now.

"..."

Rose, who had silently watched Sieg's persuasion, straightened up when Ariel fell silent and the atmosphere became stagnant.

"Let's put that aside for now, okay?"

"...Yes."

After confirming with Ariel, I turned to Sieg.

"Well then, let’s settle my side first. ...I won’t let you get away with lying about receiving the knife from me, Becker."

"...Yeah..."

"You were nice to that Dark Elf, but don’t expect the same treatment from me. ...Sieg Becker, you accepted a marriage proposal. You knew what you were doing when you took that knife. Do you understand that it’s too late to return it now?"

"...Yes."

While Ariel acts like an insecure little animal due to her lack of trust in humans and men, as well as her unfortunate circumstances, the former captive princess Rose Alderia is a direct and straightforward woman who proposes marriage without hesitation.

She was kidnapped by bandits when she was around 17 years old. Now at age 27, she’s past the prime time for early marriages among Ogre women. However, with her status, demeanor, and mature beauty, she can’t be ignored even as an Ogre woman. She is far from being a late bloomer who has missed out on everything.

Even for an ogre, she was small, but her sturdy physique that had sent Sieg flying with a single punch would certainly have met the “good woman” criteria of any ogre. She must have rejected many suitors and waited patiently for the chance to propose to Sieg.
“By the way, I can give you that jewel knife again if you want. No, either way, it will be yours once more if you become my husband. So, Sieg Becker, do you understand that this is your time to pay up?”
“U-uh”
But Sieg wasn’t as reckless as Andy in accepting love’s battle.
He was just a normal man who wanted to run when chased and chase when running away.
Was it really okay?
Was it really all right to be caught by her?
Really, truly alright, Sieg Becker?
And yet, an entirely baseless voice of doubt welled up inside him.
Sieg took a step back. Rose stared at him.

A lizardman employee watches with excitement despite not understanding the situation. Then,
"...You better answer me, you scum!!"
"Wh-what? Nngghh!?"
Suddenly, Rose's fist burst into flames.
Sieg was sent flying three meters to the side by the force of it.
He slid along the wooden floor.
Rose left behind a stunned lizardman employee and Ariel as she picked up fallen Becker by his belt.
"I got in your way. You can take the knife back to my place."
She dragged Sieg out of the store, folding him neatly.

“W-Wait, don’t leave me behind!?”

Ariel hurriedly chased after them.
The lizardman clerk watched them go with a blank expression and flicked his tongue out.
“…I’m not really into wives who hit me.”

Thankfully, no one heard the complaint directed at their group leader.

When Sieg woke up from unconsciousness, he found himself in a dim room.

“Ugh…”

“You’re awake.”

The ceiling.

A sky colored with sunset.

Bed.

And three pairs of eyes.

“...Rose?”

“I’m sorry. But I made it easier for you to decide.”

I check the situation.

The dimly lit room is probably a hotel, judging by the high-quality furnishings. It’s likely one of Talc’s upscale hotels or something similar.

In bed with me are Rose and myself. From the shoulder peeking out from under the sheets, she appears half-naked.

At the edge of the bed sits Ariel, leaning slightly forward and peering at us sideways with a steady gaze.

“So what do you think, Becker? Isn’t it shameful for a man to refuse an offered meal? ...I don’t know what made you act that way back then, but I was deeply hurt.”

“...Sorry.”

“…But in truth, I’m not really angry. Maybe the song touched on something about your past love,” he said.

“…”

It’s a problem that my trauma has become famous.

And it was mostly right.

“…Ah yes. I’m kind of uncomfortable with people who like me when they don’t know much about me. It makes me worry if there isn’t something bad hiding behind their affection.”

“I am…”

“No, I didn’t mean to doubt you. But it’s just too good to be true. You know, the same thing happened back then when I was infatuated with that woman. The thought made me break out in a cold sweat,” he said.

That’s right. Sieg was just an orphan who passed his trial without defeating even one enemy and became a famous but fake ace knight. When stripped of all pretense, Sieg was nothing more than a kid trying too hard to act grown up. And Elsa loved him for it, or at least pretended to love him.

Behind her affection lay espionage, and by then she had uncovered everything about him, leaving no room for ignorance.

If only he had realized she was a spy earlier, he might have given her the chance to escape before her wounds became fatal.

For years, this regret had plagued and tormented him, making it impossible for him to accept any kind of superficial relationship.

It all started badly. Too badly.

To end up kissing her while stabbing her to death in the heat of passion was just too much.

"...I'm not that old that my body would lose control because of trauma. I thought so until I met Ariel."

And then... he fell for her.

"So if we're talking logically, am I okay too?"

"Uh, well, but I don't really know you now..."

"I haven't changed since ten years ago! The morning you saved me, I've been the same ever since!"

Rose suddenly sat up.

Her body was covered by only a single piece of cloth.

“…………”

“…………”

“No, I thought you were wearing nice clothes that morning.”

“Ugh!”

“You weren’t just in an apron.”

“U-ugh, shut up!! You were the one who shouted to that woman what you wanted her to do!”

Looking closer, Ariel was also wearing a naked apron.

…It wasn’t exactly appropriate for serious conversation, but there they were.

“…Let’s start over, scumbag. I demand we redo my worst memories.”

Rose, pouting and with a red face, almost tearful eyes as she vigorously rubbed Sieg’s erection.

Ariel was watching her anxiously.

“Um, shall I take over? I’m used to this...”

“Ugh…”

Since Sieg’s erection wasn’t moving beyond half-hard, Rose seemed at a loss. She was clearly terrible at it.

“Is this your first time?”

“…Yeah.”

Rose nodded. Ariel took his member from her hands and attacked with her hand, tongue, and nipple while chuckling.

“Don’t laugh!”

“N-no, I didn’t laugh. I just thought you were cute…”

“I’m not the only one! If I’d had my first time ten years ago, maybe…!”

Sieg imagined what would have happened if Rose had gone through with her first time that day.

If she hadn’t been treated so cruelly and thrown a towel at him in frustration…

He might’ve become a cherished memory for her. She might be happily married right now.

“I did something terrible, but I’m glad you waited for me to get cleaned up. It’s not all bad.”

Rose tried to hold back the slight smile of happiness that threatened to break across her face when he said she had gotten clean for him.

Her stubbornness was so cute.

“It wasn’t lucky for me. For ten years, I wondered why you treated me like that. Ten years. Give it back, idiot.”

「…Can I pay it back?」

「It’s been ten years. It’s not cheap, you know.」

「Then let’s run away.」

「If you try to escape this time, there will be no forgiveness.」

「…Alright then, I’ll pay up.」

As they spoke, Ariel pressed the erection she had cultivated through her prostitute’s skills right against Rose’s nose. After an instant of surprise, Rose turned around and got down on all fours, still looking dissatisfied as ever.

“Don’t run away? If you do, there will be no forgiveness.”

“Yes… I’m going to cum…”!

Her eyes were filled with the bittersweet longing that had built up from her pent-up love, now reignited.

This was the first time Sieg had entered someone who had been waiting for him so eagerly.

It was the first time he had physically connected with someone who was tied to him by love or affection.
“…U, guoohh!? ”
And so, Sieg lost his true virginity.
“Nn, kuh…”
Sieg held onto Rose’s apron-covered large breasts and endured the excitement that threatened to make him ejaculate immediately.
Fundamentally, it was different.
The pleasure of buying a woman for sex and the pleasure of being enveloped in a woman's love were completely different.
“Hey, Rose… Are you really a virgin!? ”
Sieg was terrified by how good her vagina felt. He had never held a virgin before since he only ever dealt with prostitutes, but Rose’s pussy was absolutely exquisite.

She had given Sieg's cock a hot, soft, and rich pleasure from the start, greedily trying to milk him dry.
"It’s my first time… It’s not like that!! Don’t compare an Ogre body to a human one!!"
"So you’re an Ogre… huh? An Ogre is this big…"
Rose only now realized she was an Ogre. Ogres had extremely high vaginal capacity, because Ogre men were very well-endowed.
Ogre penises, the size of a human fist, made sex with humans impossible to begin with. The Ogre women who needed to take such a large penis for their first time did have hymens, but they rarely caused issues when it came to human-sized cocks.
But that didn’t mean she was loose. She still tightened around him and felt intense pleasure.
Sure, in a situation where she would be gangbanged by both Ogres and humans within a short period of time, her vagina could handle the transition between species just fine.

That mystical sex organ was enough to make even a monster like an ogre and other races into fans of Orgasms, and Sieg found himself tortured by the dual pleasure of that natural masterpiece and her passionate lovemaking.
“Ugh, c-curse you… damn it, your body feels too good…!!”
“Oh, ah… I’m so happy, Mr. Becker…♪”
Rose was thrusting her hips while gradually becoming more honest.
Gradually, she was returning to the little girl she had been ten years ago.
Her firm tone of voice was turning into that of a little girl’s, and calling him Becker turned back into the old way of addressing him as Mr. Becker. She became drunk on the realization of being embraced by Sieg with her mature body, which could never return to its former state, and started grinding against him powerfully without any technique, trying to milk his seed.
“Guh…!!”
Sieg endured that pleasure.
It was almost an unconscious act of stubbornness.
And then, he ravaged the inside of her vagina wildly in all directions, controlling his pleasure through his breathing.

“Nn, kuaaaaaaaaah♪♪”

I succeed in making Rose cum. I pull my cock out of her.

While she’s still panting from the intense sex, I push Ariel down onto the bed, who had been watching with a dumbfounded expression as Rose pleasured me with her mouth and hands.

“Kyaa!? ”

“...I-I’m... I’m yours... hah... hah...”

Trying to calm my head that’s about to explode from pleasure, I try to form words.

Sieg is lightly stroked by Ariel who smiles at him.

“...It’s okay.”

“...!!”

This girl accepted me too.

She was willing to accept my embrace, not as a whore but as herself.

Sieg, who was already excited by what could be considered his first experience, thrust his sticky member mercilessly into the girl's sex under her apron.

“Ah, ahn… …heh heh, I knew it…”

“What did you know…!? What is it…!?”

“…………”

Ariel narrowed her eyes.

“I thought this kind of intimate lovemaking would be different…♪”

Ariel felt the same as Sieg. It was chaotic and wild.

Of course, when there's love involved, it heightens the pleasure. Ariel, who had been desired beyond just her body after such a long time, began to drown in ecstasy with an expression that was almost like that of a maiden, despite the roughness of his thrusts.

“Y-nyan… Hafuaa… Sieg-san… I-I… Do you love me…!?”

“Yes… I want to love you… Over and over again, forever!!”

“Hehe… Is it okay…? Am I… Am I allowed to… Still ask for this…♪”

“Yeah… If you want it from me…!!”

With each thrust that made a sound of wet flesh against flesh, they pushed each other's pleasure points in an intense bout of sex.

Rose wanted to join them again during their lovemaking.

“Mr. Becker… Me too… Love me too… Am I not good enough…!?”

“You're more than good enough… Damn it, this guy’s so lucky!!”

And then he thrusts his hand into Rose’s vagina.

“Kyauu!!?”

“Look, look, look!!!”

Rose’s virginity is torn apart by Becker’s hand, which feels like a solid presence inside her.

She arches backward in shock at the rough intrusion, but even with tears in her eyes she smiles.

“…You idiot... You’re so cruel...♪”

Having violated a dark elf down below and an ogre with his fist,

Sieg finally lets go of control over pleasure.

He climbs higher, connecting himself firmly to the two women who are serving him naked aprons.

“Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!”

“Nn, kuh, ahhhhh!!”

“Uohh!!”

And he climaxed with great force.

Ariel returned to her shabby rental house in the slums along with Sieg after nightfall. She had paid back all of her debts from Tower Emblem’s loan company and was now free from any worries.

The two were talking quietly about how they would live their lives going forward on the way home.

“I can’t offer much, but I could make some tea.”

“That sounds good. My throat is parched.”

They smiled at each other as they tried to open the door, only to find a letter wedged between it and the frame.

“This…”

Ariel opened the letter.
Sieg read its contents faster than Ariel could, a habit he had picked up during his espionage days. He wished he hadn’t seen it.
“Wh-…that person…”
The letter was from her ex-boyfriend who had vanished after breaking up with her.
He wrote that now that business was finally picking up and he’d saved enough to pay back what he owed, he wanted to come and get her.
Judging by the scribbled note on the envelope’s corner, it seemed he knew she was somewhere around here but didn’t know exactly where, so he had asked a neighbor to deliver this letter for him.
“N-no…”
Ariel’s eyes fluttered.
Sieg could tell how much Ariel cared just from looking at her.

Even though she had selfishly disappeared, the time she spent with her lover couldn't have been just a day or two.
Behind Ariel's determination to work hard instead of running away was still smoldering affection for him.
Sieg could do nothing about that and he knew it.
In reality, Sieg was merely an opportunist who had suddenly appeared in the morning and confessed his love, inserting himself into Ariel’s heart where there was a crack. He was just someone who forced their way in with money and power.
When he thought about it calmly, how much weight could such a person carry?
That's right.

It was nothing more than an extravagant daydream.

"Sieg..."
Lowering her ears as if seeking salvation, she turned around but no one was there.
There wasn't even a trace of his footsteps.

“…………”

Sieg is staring at the moon in a narrow alley, lost in thought.

A shadow mocks him.

“Kukuku… Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping with a woman tonight?”

“…Oh, it’s you guys.”

The bodyguard of the ace knight trio. He’s covered head-to-toe in leather armor and a mask.

“You look pretty fancy.”

“I’m not as fancy as you are. After I paid off your debt at the tower office, the original debtor came around. And then there you were with that miserable face… Hahaha, hyahahahaha!”

“Whatever.”

“…Your employer told me he didn’t hire you guys to be treated like dirt…”

“Ah, that’s right. So you were the one I was looking for, Sieg Becker.”

Maito tilted his head back and rolled his eyes.

“I won’t let you get away with underestimating me. If a vagrant rat like you can’t even kill me, then you’re fired… Oh yeah, despite your blank look, you’ve got trip wires, barbed wire, oil puddles—lots of little traps.”

“It’s just my habit. I set them without thinking about it.”

Sieg spoke as if he were talking to an old buddy.

Maito drew his new sword and pointed it at Sieg.

“I know your tricks by now. Don’t think you can get away with underestimating me again. Tonight, I want to see you die in style.”

“Huh? No way, that’s too much trouble.”

Sieg waved his hand dismissively with a dejected look on his face.

“Just die already, Sieg Becker.”

Might jumps. Leon runs along the wall, and Davis swings his mace as if to level the ground, breaking traps and charging at them.

Sieg casually stands up and suddenly decapitates Might.

“Huh?”

Just by standing up, it looked like Might’s body and head had been separated in tears. Davis and Leon stop dead in their tracks, shocked.

Sieg cracks his neck and swings a knife smeared with blood.

“Well, I said earlier that even if I’m just some punk, I don’t kill citizens,”

Sieg opens his eyes wide and grins.

“Liar, you bastards. When someone’s pissed off, they can’t help but get happy when killing them.”

The next morning, their bodies were found behind the Tower Emblem office.

Sieg had breakfast at the Carlos residence and then, with his shoulders slumped, headed toward the carriage station. He was already due to part ways from Diane and company soon, report on Lila's existence and Andy's treatment, and seek instructions from Minister Ashton regarding future activities.

He was happy to have some time alone. But he couldn't let himself go wild; he had to think about his age. That’s what he kept berating himself internally as he planned to enjoy the carriage ride for a while.

Then.

"Becker!!"

"Sieg-san!"

As Sieg tried to get into the carriage, he was pulled down by a hand from behind. It was Rose, and next to her was Ariel, both dressed for travel.

"What do you think you're doing? Marriage isn't just one day."

"Um, um... I'll consider it as if I accepted the knife! Not money!"

“...Huh, what?”

Sieg stared blankly as the two of them laughed.
‘The proposal is a go!’

Now it’s time to make up for that terrible start.

"Taking into account the value of each jewel, the craftsmanship, and the rarity... I'd say about 600,000 gold coins."

"600,000? If you include the utility value, I think you can do a bit better than that."

"That's just an estimate, so... let's add a little extra... how about 635,000?"

The Trident Trading Company, a weapon shop under the umbrella of the Trident Construction Guild.

The lizardman clerk, wearing a three-horned Viking helm—a uniform for his race—with the chin strap dangling behind his neck, stared intently at the items with his small pupils as he stated the appraisal.

Ariel recoiled at the amount, while Rose and Sieg frowned slightly.

"I think it's worth up to 880,000."

"I'd... yeah, even if I'm being generous, it's 800,000 at most."

The lizardman clerk flicked his tongue across his teeth with an expressionless face. It was hard to tell unless you were used to him, but this was the equivalent of a troubled grimace.

"Look, the fiscal year-end is coming up, so please have mercy. At this time of year, if the price isn't high enough to make it easy to move, I'm the one who suffers. Sure, I could drive the price up a bit by soliciting collectors during the sale, but if there's too much time between now and the sale, the entire amount would be recorded as a loss, and I'd be held accountable."

"Just act as if I bought it myself out of my own greed. I'll sell it later, slowly."

"Boss... well, alright then."

"880,000."

"Yeah, yeah. Good grief. I don't know what kind of obligation this is, but I never thought I'd be processing the same item twice in a single day."

The jewel knife, which had once been taken by Lyra as payment for her drinks at the tavern, had come full circle to be bought back by the Trident Trading Company.

"By the way, just for reference. How much did you buy it from the tavern for?"

"...180,000."

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?"

Sieg poked the lizardman clerk. Well, he wanted to believe that this was better than having it bought by someone who truly didn't understand its value.

"U-Um, excuse me... er... Does 880,000 mean... g-gold coins...?"

Ariel looked up at Sieg and Rose, her eyes full of anxiety.

For reference, a single gold coin of the Celesta currency was worth the price of a drink without alcohol; ten of them could buy a decent meal at most eateries. 880,000 coins could buy a very large house with land, even in a major city like Talc.

Naturally, it was a scale of wealth that made Ariel's debt look like pocket change.

"Goodbye, my jewel knife..."

"A-Are you sure, Sieg!?"

"I'm sure. I'm a boy who can pull things off when it counts. It was just a hobby piece anyway; no one's going to suffer because it's sold... uuugh..."

Sieg continued to bluff while on the verge of actual tears. For some reason, the lizardman clerk seemed to be moved to tears along with him.

"How much is Ariel's debt?"

"F-Forty-two thousand coins..."

"Well, they'll probably try to fleece us with interest anyway. Clerk, take 70,000 worth of standard gems and hand them over now."

"Yeah, yeah. You're a real man, old man."

"Yeah. I am a man. But 'becoming a man'... that hurts..."

Though he was clearly full of lingering regret, Sieg did not retract his actions. The lizardman clerk gave him a look of respect (though he lacked the facial expression to show it) and patted him on the shoulder in consolation.

"...It's like you're buying her out of her life."

Rose teased Ariel, who looked dizzy at the sight of such massive sums of money moving so effortlessly.

"Don't say things that sound so scandalous. I'm simply severing Ariel's bad ties so we can have an honorable relationship."

"Fine, fine. ...Anyway, you really need to understand the difference between handing over a sword and receiving one."

"Huh?"

"Are you contributing the money you just earned? Or are you handing over the sword so that the Dark Elf can claim she sold it? The meaning is completely different."

"Hmm..."
Sieg knew of the custom, but he had to admit he was doubtful as to how deeply he truly understood its gravity.
Stroking the stubble on his chin, he turned his gaze to Ariel for the time being.
Directly offering gold as a tribute felt somewhat vulgar and distasteful, but he also felt that binding someone to him through a custom he didn't fully grasp was problematic.

"Well, take it however you like, Ariel. For now, I’ll take full responsibility for wiping your debt. You can think of this as nothing more than the reckless impulse of a man infatuated with you. But, even so, I would be happy if you would stay with me. Give me a little bit of love in my life—even if it's just a fleeting moment for a dark elf. Please."

"...Even if you say that..."
Ariel looked troubled.
Whether it was the fact that he had left the decision regarding the knife entirely up to her, or his suggestion that she could decide how to repay such a great debt at her leisure, the sheer scale of the luck and the weight of the decision she had encountered in just half a day was far too much for someone like Ariel, who had been on a direct path toward misfortune.

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

Rose, who had been silently watching Sieg's attempt at seduction, saw the atmosphere grow heavy due to Ariel's silence. Straightening her posture, she spoke up.

"We can discuss that later, can we?"

"...Yes."

After confirming with Ariel, Rose turned back to Sieg.

"Then let me settle my business first. ...You can't dodge the fact that you accepted a knife from me, Becker."

"...Y-yeah, I guess."

"You've been gentle toward that dark elf, but do not expect such treatment from me. ...Sieg Becker, you accepted a marriage proposal. You accepted it, and with that realization, you used that knife for something else. You understand that it is no longer in a position to be returned, don't you?"

"...Yeah."

In stark contrast to Ariel—who acted like a small animal, burdened by mistrust of humans, mistrust of men, and a lifetime of misfortune—was the former captive princess, Rose Alderia, who launched her proposal like a fastball straight down the middle.
She was, if I recall, seventeen when she was kidnapped by the bandit group. Now she was twenty-seven; for an ogre woman, where early marriage was common, she was well on her way to being an old maid.
However, her status, her spirit, and the beauty she had gained through the maturity of adulthood were far too striking to be overlooked, even for an ogre. She was certainly no "ugly woman" who had simply failed to marry.
Though small for an ogre, the physical robustness that allowed her to send Sieg flying into the air with a single punch would surely meet the passing grade for an ogre "fine woman." She had likely rejected many suitors to wait for the opportunity to propose to Sieg.

"If you wish, I could present you with that jewel knife again. No—either way, if you are to become my husband, it shall be yours once more. Now, Sieg Becker, you know that your time is up, don't you?"

"Ugh, ugh..."
However, Sieg was not a "warrior of love" like Andy, who would recklessly take every blow. He was an ordinary man: the kind who wants to run when pursued and wants to chase when the other person runs away.
Is this really okay?
Is it really okay to be caught by this woman?
Is it really, reallly okay, Sieg Becker?
A voice, completely groundless, rose within his chest, fueling his anxiety.

Sieg retreated inch by inch. Rose stared him down.
The lizardman shopkeeper watched with excitement, despite not understanding the situation at all.
And then.

"...Answer me already, you absolute piece of—!!"

"E-eh, wait, gack!?"

Suddenly, Rose's fist erupted in flame.
Sieg was sent into a three-meter, tumbling flight, the impact centered on the side of his face.
He skidded across the wooden floor with a heavy thud.
Leaving the stunned lizardman and Ariel behind, Rose grabbed the back of the fallen Becker's belt and hoisted him up.

"You're in the way. Deliver the knife to my house."

With a brisk stride, she dragged the folded-over Sieg out of the shop.

"Ah, wait, wait! Please don't leave me behind!?"

Ariel scrambled after them in a panic.

The lizardman clerk watched them go with a blank expression, his tongue flickering rhythmically.

"...I'm really not a fan of wives who hit," I muttered.

It was a small mercy that no one was listening to my grievance directed at the group's leader.

---

When Sieg regained consciousness, he was in a dimly lit room.

"Ugh..."

"You're awake."

A ceiling.

The color of a sunset sky.

A bed.

And three horns.

"...Rose?"

"Forgive me. But I have made it easier for you to make your decision."

I assessed the situation.

The dim room was likely an inn. The furnishings were high-end, so it was probably a luxury hotel in Talc or something similar.

And in the bed, there was myself and Rose. Judging by her bare shoulder peeking from beneath the sheets, she was half-undressed.

Ariel was perched on the edge of the bed. Her head was bowed slightly, but she was watching me intently from the corner of her eye.

"How does it feel, Becker? They say it is a man's shame to let a prepared meal go to waste. ...I don't know what drove you to do that back then, but I was deeply hurt."

"...I'm sorry."

"...And yet, truth be told, I am not that angry. I thought perhaps the song... had touched upon something regarding your past love."

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

Having one's trauma become public knowledge is a real nuisance.

And she wasn't wrong about the gist of it.

"...Yeah, that's right. I'm not great with someone's affection when I don't truly know them. I get anxious that they might be hiding something unpleasant behind it."

"I..."

"...No, it's not that I doubted you, it's just that things felt way too easy. I thought, 'Yeah, when I was obsessed with that woman, things progressed far too smoothly, too.' I broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about it."

That was the truth. Sieg was nothing more than an orphan—a "paper tiger" Ace Knight who, despite being hailed as a prodigy, had passed his exams without defeating a single enemy.

Stripped of his pretenses, Sieg was just a child playing dress-up, but Elsa had loved him—or at least, had pretended to.

Behind that love lay espionage, and by the time he realized it, she had probed so deeply into his life that he could no longer feign ignorance.

If only he had realized she was a spy a little sooner, he might have been able to give her a chance to flee before the wounds became fatal.

That regret had tormented Sieg for years, making him unable to accept any love that felt purely physical.

It had started badly. Too badly.

To be so consumed by passion that he ended up stabbing her while they were kissing—it was a tragedy too perfectly scripted to be anything but the worst possible outcome.

"...I'm not at an age where my trauma causes me to lose control of my body. I thought to myself that I shouldn't dwell on the past forever, and it was just then that I met Ariel."

And then... I fell for her.

"Then, logically speaking, I should be fine, shouldn't I?"

"N-no, but, I still don't know the current you very well."

"I haven't changed since ten years ago. From that morning when you rescued me, I haven't changed a bit!"

With a sudden movement, Rose bolted upright.

Her body was clad in nothing but a single piece of cloth.

“……”

“……”

“...No, wait, I thought you were wearing nice, formal clothes that morning.”

“Uuu...”

“You weren't just wearing an apron.”

“U-uuuugh, shut up!! You’re the one who shouted ‘I want you to do it’ to that woman!”

Looking closely, Ariel was also in a "naked apron" state.

...The situation was far too undignified to hold a serious conversation.

“...Let's start over, you lowest of men. I demand a redo of my worst memory.”

Rose, sulking with a bright red face and teary eyes, began vigorously rubbing Siegfried's member.

Ariel watched the scene with a sense of nervous apprehension.

“U-um, shall I take over? I'm... quite experienced..."

"Uuu..."

Because Siegfried's member wouldn't progress much past a semi-erection, Rose was at a loss.

To put it bluntly, Rose was terrible at it.

“Is this... your first time?”

“...Yeah.”

Rose nodded. Ariel snatched the member from Rose's hand and, attacking it with her hands, tongue, and nipples, let out a little giggle.

“Don't laugh!”

“N-no, I wasn't laughing, I just thought you were cute, Rose..."

“I-I am too! If I had lost my virginity ten years ago, then by now..."

As Siegfried stroked her head, his fingers hooking around her small horns, he let his mind wander.

If Rose had simply gone with the flow and lost her virginity that day.

...If she hadn't suffered the cruelty of having a loincloth thrown at her face for even hoping for more.

Then, she might have kept him in a corner of her heart as a fond memory, and they might well have been properly married by now.

“I did something terrible, but when I think that you stayed beautiful and waited for me because of it, it's not all bad luck. Not for me, at least.”

When told she had "stayed beautiful," Rose looked as if she were about to flash a happy expression, but she fought to suppress it.

That small display of pride was incredibly endearing.

“It was bad luck for me. For ten years, I agonized over why you did something so cruel to me. Ten years. Give it back, you idiot.”

“...Am I allowed to give it back?”

“It's been ten years. It's not cheap.”

“Then let's run away.”

“If you run away this time, I really, truly will never forgive you.”

“...Then I'll pay up.”

While they spoke, Ariel thrust the rigid shaft—perfected by the techniques of a courtesan—right under Rose's nose. Rose was startled for a moment, but then she turned around, dropped onto all fours, and made her demand with her usual dissatisfied expression.

“Don't you run away, okay? If you run, I won't forgive you.”

“Fine, fine... Alright, here I come...!”

In her glaring eyes, the wreckage of a long-suppressed love had begun to burn once more, imbued with a bittersweet glow.

It was the first time Siegfried had entered a partner who had been longing for him so intensely.

This was the first time he had truly connected physically with someone bound to him by love and affection.

“...Ugh, guoh...!?”

And with that, Sieg truly lost his virginity.

“Ngh, kkh...!”

Sieg squeezed Rose's large breasts beneath her apron, trying to endure an excitement that felt as though he might ejaculate at any second.

Fundamentally, it was different.

The pleasure of buying a woman’s body was entirely different from the pleasure of being enveloped by a woman’s love.

“H-hey, Rose... are you really a virgin!?”

Sieg faltered, taken aback by how incredible her tightness was.

Since he had only ever dealt with prostitutes, he had never actually held a virgin before, but Rose's vagina was exquisite. From the very start, it was hot, soft, and provided a rich pleasure to Sieg's member, greedily attempting to wring the very essence from him.

“Of course I am... wait, that's not...! Don't compare an ogre's body to a human's!!”

“I see, you are an ogre... Gh, an ogre's is this...?”

He realized it only now. That's right, Rose was an ogre.

Ogres possess an incredibly high vaginal capacity. This is because ogre males have massive members, and their anatomy must accommodate them. An ogre's penis, as large as a human fist, makes sex impossible with a human-sized vagina before the conversation even begins. Because ogre females must be able to accommodate such a member from their first experience, while they do technically have a hymen, it is almost never an issue with a human male.

However, it was by no means loose. It gripped him firmly, and her sensitivity was intense. Barring extreme situations like being gang-raped by both an ogre and a human in short succession, an ogre female's genitals are perfectly capable of accommodating a human.

That mysterious anatomy was so legendary it even produced "ogre-style" enthusiasts among other races, and Sieg found himself tormented by the double blow of a natural masterpiece of a body and the passionate union fueled by love.

“Ugh, k-kuh... Dammit... Damn it, you feel too good...!!”

“A-ahaha... I'm so happy, I'm so happy, Mr. Becker...♪”

As Rose ground her hips, she gradually became more vulnerable, slowly reverting to the young girl she had been ten years ago. Her resolute tone softened into that of a young girl, and her use of "Becker" reverted to the old, respectful "Mr. Becker." Drunk on the sensation of being held by Sieg while her now-mature body moved wildly, she began to drain his seed through a powerful, unrefined grind, devoid of any technique.

“Ngh...!! ”

Sieg endured the pleasure. It was almost an unconscious act of sheer willpower.

Finally, after wildly ravaging the inside of her vagina in every direction and attempting to control the pleasure through his breathing...

“Ngh, kuaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!♪♪”

He succeeded in bringing Rose to climax.

He withdrew his member from her.

While staring in daze at Rose's dynamic, unskillful sex—which lacked the finesse of using fingers or a mouth but possessed raw power—he bit his lip and pushed Ariel down.

“Kya!?”

“...I... I... with you... hah, hah...”

He tried to form words, attempting to calm his head, which felt as though it might vent steam from the sheer pleasure.

Ariel lightly stroked him and smiled.

“...That's fine."

"............!!"

This girl, too, had accepted me.
At the very least, she had tried to accept my embrace—not merely as a prostitute.
Sieg, giddy with the excitement of what was effectively his first real experience, grew even more lightheaded, ruthlessly thrusting his member—still sticky with arousal—straight into her sex beneath the bib of her apron.

"Ah, ahh... hehe, I knew it..."

"Wh-what do you mean, 'I knew it'...!?"

"..."

Ariel narrowed her eyes.

"Sex where someone is actually putting their heart into it... it really is different...♪"

Ariel was feeling the same thing as Sieg.
It was messy. It was a orgy.
But when there is love, that feeling accelerates the pleasure.
Ariel, being sought for more than just her body for the first time in a long while, began to drown in pleasure, her expression turning truly maidenly, in stark contrast to the movement of her hips.

"Z-Zieg... Sieg-san... do you... do you love me...!?"

"Ah... I want to love you... I want to love you again and again, forever!!"

"Hehe... is it okay...? Am I... allowed to still crave something like this...♪"

"Yeah... as long as you're okay with mine...!!"

A violent bout of sex ensued, with wet, squelching sounds echoing with every thrust of their hips as they ground against each other’s pleasure points.

Rose, once again, wanted to join in.

"Becker-san, me too... love me too... is that not allowed...?"

"It's not 'not allowed'... damn it, I'm so lucky, you bastard!!"

And then, he thrust his hand into Rose's vagina.

"Kyauh!?"

"There, there, look!!"

The sheer presence of Becker's hand within Rose's vagina tore through her hymen.

Rose arched her back, momentarily horrified by the forceful violation, yet she managed to offer a tearful smile.

"...You idiot... you're the worst... how cruel...♪"

Ravaging a dark elf between his legs, and an ogre with his fist.
Sieg finally lost all control over his pleasure.
Connecting himself firmly to the two women entertaining him in their naked aprons, he reached his peak.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

"Nng, ah, AAAAAAH!!"

"UOOOH!!"

And then, he ejaculated with great force.

---

It was well into the night by the time Sieg accompanied Ariel back to her rented house, located deep within the slum's labyrinth of earthen walls.
She had already fully repaid the moneylenders of the Tower Emblem syndicate she had been indebted to, leaving her with no worries about the future.
The walk home was spent whispering about how they might change their lives moving forward.

"I can't offer much hospitality, but I can at least serve some tea."

"Sounds good. My throat is parched."

As they smiled at each other and prepared to open the door, they found a single letter tucked into it.

"What's... this...?"

Ariel opens the letter.
Sieg reads the contents even faster than Ariel.
It had become one of his habits from his days in intelligence work, but he regretted it; he shouldn't have looked.

"What... um, a person..."

A letter from an ex-lover who had vanished, leaving Ariel behind.
It stated that now that business was finally on track and they had enough money to pay back their debts, they wanted to come and get them.
According to a scribble in the corner of the envelope, they knew they were somewhere in this area, but since they didn't know the exact location, they had asked a local resident to deliver it.

"That can't be..."

Ariel's eyes trembled.
Sieg could feel Ariel's emotions as if they were his own.
No matter how selfishly they had disappeared, the time spent with that lover surely hadn't lasted just a day or two.
Behind Ariel's determination to stay and work without running away, those unextinguished feelings for him must have still been smoldering.
Sieg could do nothing about it, and could do nothing to fix it.
In the first place, Sieg was nothing more than a homewrecker who had suddenly appeared this morning, confessed out of the blue, and forced his way into the cracks of Ariel's heart. He was merely an intruder who had used money and power to assert himself.
Thinking about it calmly, how much weight could such a person truly hold?
That's right.

It was nothing more than a gaudy daydream.

"Sieg..."

Ariel turned around, ears drooping, looking for salvation, but there was no one left before them.
As if nothing had ever been there from the start, even no footprints remained.

---

"..."
Sieg stood in a back alley, staring blankly at the moon.
A shadow cast a mocking laugh toward him.

"Heh, heh, heh... Weren't you supposed to be sleeping in a woman's bed tonight?"

"...Oh, it's you guys."

The bodyguards for the Ace Knight trio. They were covered from head to toe in leather armor and masks.

"That's pathetic."

"Not as bad as you, though. After you paid the money at the Tower office, the actual debtor showed up. And since you're here looking all dejected by yourself... hahaha, hyahahaha!"

"That doesn't matter."

"...Our employer told us, 'I didn't hire you lot just to be looked down on'..."

"Ah, that's right. That's why we were looking for you, Sieg Becker."

Might let his head drop heavily, his eyes darting around.

"He said if we can't kill a wandering rat like you, we're fired. ...Ah, for someone with such a dazed look on their face, you certainly set quite a few traps—caltrops, wires, oil slicks, the works."

"It's a habit. If I'm not thinking, I end up setting them without realizing it."

Sieg's tone was as casual as if he were chatting with an old friend.
Might drew a new blade and leveled it at Sieg.

"We've figured out your tricks. Cheap stunts like needles won't work anymore. Tonight, we're looking for a bit of a flashy death."

"Huh? No thanks. Too much of a pain."

Sieg waved his hand dismissively, his face devoid of any will.

"Just die already, Sieg Becker."

Might leaps. Leon runs along the wall, while Davis attacks, swinging his mace as if to level the very ground, smashing through traps.

Sieg stands up nonchalantly and, in a single motion, decapitates Might.

"!?"

As he simply rose, Might's head and torso seemed to part as if they had been crying away from each other. Davis and Leon froze, struck with horror.

Sieg cracked his neck with a series of pops, then flicked his bloodied knife.

"Let's see... I did say earlier today that even as a thug, I wouldn't kill civilians."

Sieg grinned, his eyes wide.

"Just kidding, you pieces of shit. Don't come at me when I'm in a bad mood; it's almost making me happy."

The next morning, their corpses were discovered behind the Tower Emblem office.

---

"Sigh..."
After eating breakfast at Carlos's estate, Sieg headed toward the shared carriage terminal with slumped shoulders.
The time had come to split off from Diane and the others, report on Lyra's existence and Andy's treatment, and seek instructions from Minister Ashton regarding their future activities.
He was actually glad to be alone at a time like this. He spent the walk mentally berating himself, You can't just act out like this; think about your age, intending to enjoy a leisurely journey by carriage for a while.

And then—

"Becker!!"

"Sieg-san!"

A hand reached out from behind and yanked Sieg down just as he was about to board the carriage.

It was Rose. And beside her stood Ariel. Both were dressed for travel.

"Where do you think you're going, trying to run away on your own? Marriage isn't a one-day event, you know."

"Um, um...! I... I'll... I'll just pretend I accepted the knife! Not the money!"

"...Eh, wait, what?"

As Sieg stood there blankly, the two of them laughed.

The proposal is a success!

Now, from here on out, he would make up for that terrible beginning.

"Considering the value of each jewel, the craftsmanship, and rarity… I'd say around 600,000 gold coins."

"Six hundred thousand? If you factor in practical use, it could go a bit higher, don't you think?"

"That's just an estimate, but… let's call it 630,000 and a half."

At Trident Trading Company, a weapons shop under the umbrella of the Construction Workers' Union Trident, a lizardman clerk with a three-horned Viking helm slung over his shoulder by its chin strap, peered at the items through his small pupils before stating the appraisal.

Ariel gasped at the amount, while Rose and Sieg frowned slightly.

"I think I can go up to 880,000."

"Me… well, even if I concede a bit, it's still 800,000."

The lizardman clerk licked his lips with an expressionless face. It was hard to tell without familiarity, but this was the equivalent of a troubled look.

"Please, have mercy. We're nearing the end of the fiscal year. At this time of year, I'm in trouble if I don't get rid of things at a price that's easy to move. Sure, I could drum up some collectors when it comes time to dispose of it and maybe get a bit more, but if there's too much of a gap before disposal, all of this value gets written off as a loss, and I'll be held responsible."

"Just pretend I bought it out of spite. I'll sell it off later at my leisure."

"Boss… well, okay then."

"880,000."

"Alright, alright. Honestly, I don't know what kind of obligation you have, but I didn't think I'd be taking the same item twice in one day."

The jewel knife, once taken from Lila as a drinking tab at the tavern, had now circled back to Trident Trading Company for purchase.

"By the way, just for reference, how much did you buy it for from the tavern?"

"…180,000."

"Not such a bad guy, after all."

Sieg nudged the lizardman clerk. He wanted to believe that being bought by someone who didn't understand its value was better than nothing.

"U-um, that… uh… 880,000 is… g-gold coins… right?"

Ariel looked up at Sieg and Rose with a worried expression.

For reference, one Celestial gold coin buys a drink without alcohol, and ten can get you a decent meal at most diners.

Eight hundred eighty thousand gold coins could buy a fairly large house with land in a city the size of Taruk.

Of course, Ariel's debt was peanuts by comparison.

"Goodbye, my jewel knife…"

"A-Are you sure about this, Sieg!?"

"I'm sure. I'm one of those people who can do it if they try. It's just a hobby item anyway; no one will care if I sell it… Ugh."

Sieg was trying to act tough while clearly on the verge of tears. For some reason, the lizardman clerk was tearing up too.

"How much is Ariel's debt?"

"Four thousand and two thousand… gold coins…"

"Well, they'll probably tack on interest anyway. Clerk, make 70,000 standard gems and give it to me now."

"Alright, alright. You're a real man, old timer."

"Yeah. I'm becoming a man. But becoming a man… that hurts."

Sieg was full of regrets, but he wouldn't back down from his actions. The lizardman clerk looked at him with respect (though he had no expression) and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

"…It's almost like a bride price."

Rose watched Ariel, her eyes wide as she gawked at the easy money. She teased him. "Don't be so crude. First, I'll sever Ariel's bad ties and then we can have a proper relationship."

"I get it, I get it... But you really need to understand what giving and receiving a sword means."

"Huh?"

"Are you going to hand over the money you sold it for now? Or are you going to give him the sword and let that dark elf take the blame for selling it? The meaning is completely different, you know."

"Hmm..."

Zig knew the customs, but how well he understood their weight was questionable at best.

He ran his thumb over his scruffy stubble and looked at Ariel. Giving money directly felt cheap and distasteful, but binding him to a custom he barely understood wasn't appealing either. "Well, you can do whatever you want, Ariel. I'll take full responsibility for the debt, at least. You can think of this as just a crazy move from a man who's fallen for you. But if you'd still like to be with me after that... I'd be happy. A dark elf might only offer fleeting affection, but give me love in my life. Please."

"...Even if you say that..."

Ariel looked troubled. Being dumped with the decision about the knife, and Zig's cavalier attitude towards such a huge favor, was too much good fortune for Ariel, who had been headed straight for misfortune for so long.

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

Rose had been silently watching Zig's advances, but seeing the silence settle over Ariel, she straightened up and spoke. "Can we table that discussion for later?"

"...Yes."

She confirmed with Ariel before turning to Zig. "Then let's deal with me first. I'm not going to let you gloss over the fact that I accepted your knife, Becker."

"...Y-yeah."

"You were gentle with that dark elf, but don't expect that from me... Zig Becker, you've accepted my proposal. You know you can't return it now, right?"

"...Yeah."

In stark contrast to Ariel, who carried the weight of distrust in humanity and men, and acted like a small animal, was Rose Alderia, the once-captive princess, coming at him with a fastball straight down the middle.

She'd been kidnapped by a band of thieves when she was seventeen, or so. Now she was twenty-seven, practically an old maid among Orc women, where early marriage is common.

But her status, her spirit, and her beauty, now matured and composed, were not something an Orc could simply ignore. She wasn't some plain woman who was destined to be left behind.

Though petite for an Orc, the strength of her body, capable of sending Zig flying with a single punch, would easily meet an Orc's standards for a "good woman," and she had undoubtedly turned down many suitors, waiting for the chance to propose to Zig.

"I could even give you that jeweled knife again. No, either way, if you're going to be my husband, it'll be yours again. Now, Zig Becker, do you understand that the time for paying your dues has come?"

"U-uh..."

But Zig wasn't an Andy, someone who would recklessly embrace love with abandon.

He was a normal man who wanted to run when chased and chase when running.

Is this really okay?

Is it really okay to be tied to this woman?

Are you really, really okay with this, Zig Becker?

And then, a voice without any basis in reality began to stir anxiety within him.

Zig retreated slowly. Rose watched him.

The lizardman clerk was watching with a mix of confusion and excitement, not really understanding the situation.

And then—

"…Answer me already, you scum!"

"Eh, ch-choo!?"

Rose’s fist suddenly burst into flames.

Zig, taking aim for his cheekbone, was sent flying about three meters away.

He slid across the wooden floor with a thud.

Leaving the stunned lizardman and Ariel behind, Rose grabbed Becker’s belt from behind and hauled him up.

"Sorry for the interruption. Deliver the knife to my place."

She swaggered out of the store, dragging the folded-up Zig along.

"A-ah, wait, don’t leave me behind!?"

Ariel hurried after them.

The lizardman watched with a slack-jawed expression, tongue lolling out in a vacant stare.

"…Guess I’m not too keen on a wife who hits people."

He muttered a complaint to the group leader, thankfully unheard by anyone.

Zig woke up in a dimly lit room.

"Ugh…"

"You’re awake."

The ceiling.

The color of a sunset sky.

A bed.

And three horns.

"…Rose?"

"Sorry about that. But I made it easier for you to decide."

He took stock of the situation.

The dim room was probably an inn—likely one of Tark’s fancy hotels, judging by the furnishings.

In the bed were himself and Rose. Judging by the shoulders peeking out from under the sheets, she was half-naked.

Ariel was perched on the edge of the bed, looking sideways at him with a slightly downcast gaze.

"So, Becker. They say a man should eat what’s put in front of him, right? …I don’t know what made you do it back then, but it hurt me pretty bad."

"…Sorry."

"…Though, to be honest, I’m not that mad. Maybe… maybe the song touched something about your old love life?"

"…………"

Having his trauma become public knowledge was a real pain.

And he’d been mostly right.

"…Yeah, that’s it. I’m just not great with affection from someone I don’t fully understand. Makes me worry what kind of crap they’re hiding on the other side."

"I… I—"

"…No, it’s not that I doubted you or anything. It was just too damn good. Yeah, when I was obsessed with that other woman, things got really intense, and I thought the same thing. Ugh, gross, I’m getting a bad feeling."

That’s right. Sieg was just an orphan, a prodigy who passed his exams without defeating a single enemy—a paper ace with no real achievements.
Stripped of pretense, Sieg was just a kid trying too hard, but Elsa loved him—or pretended to love him.
Behind that love lay espionage, and Sieg had been thoroughly probed by her; he couldn’t pretend ignorance anymore.
If he’d realized she was a spy sooner, maybe he could’ve given her a chance to escape before the damage became fatal.

That regret had haunted Sieg for years, turning him into someone who wouldn’t forgive such reckless, physical love again.
It all started so wrong. Way too wrong.
To end up kissing a woman and then stabbing her to death—that was just too much. To think he had no choice… it was the worst.

"…I’m not old enough for trauma to make my body lose control anymore. And I figured I shouldn’t wallow forever, so when I met Ariel—"

"And then… you fell for her."

"So, logically, I should be okay?"

"N-no, but, well, I don’t really know you that well now."

"I haven’t changed in ten years. Not since that morning you rescued me—I’ve been the same!"

Rose suddenly sat up with a thud.

Her body was clad in nothing but a single piece of cloth.

"…………"

"…………"

"…Wait, I thought you were wearing fancy clothes that morning."

"Ugh—"

"You weren’t just in an apron!"

"U-uuuugh, shut up!! You were the one who screamed at that woman what you wanted!"

Looking closer, Ariel was also in a naked apron.
…It was hard to take anything seriously in that state.

"…Rewind, you pathetic excuse for a man. I demand we redo my worst memories."

Rose, sulky and flushed, with teary eyes, aggressively stroked Sieg’s member.

Ariel watched on with nervous anticipation.

"A-are you sure? I’m used to this…"

"Ugh… not yet."

Sieg’s member wasn’t even fully erect, leaving Rose at a loss.

Frankly, she was terrible at this.

"Could it be… your first time?"

"…Yeah."

Rose nodded. Ariel snatched the member from her hand, attacking with fingers, tongue, and nipples while chuckling.
"Don’t laugh!"

"N-no, I wasn’t laughing. I just thought Rose was cute…"

"W-well, me too! If I’d had my first time ten years ago, I’d definitely be… well, where I should be by now."

Sieg ran his fingers along the small horns on Rose’s head as he stroked her hair, imagining.
If Rose had just gone with the flow and lost her virginity that day…
…If she hadn’t ended up getting a soaking from a kicked-off loincloth because of it.
Then she might have kept Sieg as a fond memory tucked away somewhere in her heart, and they’d probably be happily married by now.

"Even though I did something awful, the thought that you got beautiful for me and waited… well, it’s not all bad luck, at least not for me."

Rose almost let a slightly pleased expression slip but held back.
That little bit of stubbornness made her seem even cuter.

"It was bad luck for me. I spent ten years wondering why you did something so awful to me. Ten years! Pay up, idiot!"

"…Can I pay it off?"

"Ten years, you know? That’s not cheap."

"Then let’s run away."

"If you run this time, I’ll really not forgive you."

"…Then I’ll pay."

While they were talking, Ariel thrust the hard length he’d cultivated with a courtesan’s skill right under Rose’s nose. Rose was instantly startled, then flipped onto her hands and knees, still wearing that same disgruntled expression as she demanded.

"Don’t run, okay? I won’t forgive you if you do."

"Alright, then… here I go—!"

In those eyes, the remnants of long-held love, once again ignited, held a bittersweet sweetness.
Sieg had never been inside someone who’d waited for him this long.
Never before had he truly connected with someone bound to him by love and affection.

"Ugh… guuuh…?!"

And Sieg lost his virginity for real.

"Nng…!"

Sieg felt an overwhelming urge to climax, so he gripped Rose’s massive breasts under her apron to hold back.
It was fundamentally different.
The pleasure of buying a woman and the pleasure of being enveloped in a woman’s love were completely different.

"Whoa, Rose… you’re really a virgin!?"

Sieg faltered at how good her vagina felt.
He hadn’t been with a virgin since he’d only ever slept with courtesans, but Rose’s was exquisite.
From the start, it gave Sieg’s member intense, warm, and rich pleasure, greedily trying to squeeze every last drop of seed from him.

"Of course I’m a virgin… aren’t you listening?! Don’t compare an ogre’s body to a human’s!!"

"Oh, right, you’re an ogre… W-well, ogres are like this…"

He realized it now. Rose was an ogre, after all.
Ogres have an extremely high vaginal capacity. It’s because ogre men have incredibly large penises, so their women have to adapt.

The ogre’s massive cock, the size of a human fist, was more than just a matter of whether or not sex could even be had with a human vagina.

An ogre woman needing to swallow such a monstrous thing on her first time would have a hymen, but it wouldn’t be an issue with a human-sized member.

But that didn’t mean it was loose.

It tightened properly, and she felt intense pleasure.

Granted, being gangbanged by both an ogre and a human in quick succession was one thing, but an ogre woman’s genitals were perfectly compatible with humans.

That mystical sex organ was so legendary it even spawned ogre-themed brothels catering to other races, leaving Sieg at the mercy of its double punch—its natural, perfect form combined with passionate lovemaking fueled by affection.

“Ugh… damn… this is too good…!!”

“A-Ah… I’m happy, so happy, Becker-san…♪”

Rose’s hips swayed as she gradually became more honest.

Gradually, she reverted to the girl she was ten years ago.

Her firm tone softened into that of a young girl, "Becker" becoming "Becker-san," and she lost herself in the intoxicating reality of being held by Sieg, her mature body writhing as she went straight for his seed with a raw, powerful grind—no finesse, just pure force.

“Guh…!!”

Sieg endured the pleasure.

It was mostly unconscious stubbornness.

And then, after ravaging her insides in every direction, controlling her pleasure through her breath…

“Nnghhhhhhhhh…♪♪”

He managed to bring Rose to climax.

Then he pulled his cock out of her.

Ariel, who had been dumbfounded by Rose’s dynamic sex despite her clumsy technique with hands and mouth, bit her lip as she pinned Sieg down.

“Kyah!?

“…Y-you… I… I want you… haa, haa…”

His head was about to explode with pleasure as he tried to form the words.

Ariel lightly stroked his cheek and smiled.

“…It’s okay.”

“…………!!”

This girl had accepted him too.

At least not just as a prostitute, but as someone willing to accept his embrace.

Sieg, giddy from what was practically his first time, got carried away again, shoving his sticky, lubricated cock mercilessly into her crotch beneath the hem of her apron.

“A-Ah… Fufu, I knew it…”

“W-What do you mean, ‘knew it’…? What…!?”

“…………”

Ariel narrowed her eyes.

“Sex with someone who’s really into it feels different…♪”

Ariel felt the same way as Sieg.

Even if it was crazy. Even if it was a gangbang.

Love truly does accelerate pleasure.

Ariel, for the first time in ages, craved something beyond just physical satisfaction, and despite her posture, she began to drown in ecstasy with an expression that was almost virginal.

"Y-yes, hah… Sieg, san… I… I want you to love me…!?"

"Aah… I want to love you… over and over, forever!!"

"Hehe… is that okay…? Ah… I still… do I deserve it…? ♪"

"Yeah… if you want mine then—!!"

Thwack, thwack, the sound of hips grinding together with each thrust, a fierce sex where they pressed against each other’s pleasure points.

Rose wanted in on that sex again.

"Becker-san, me too… please love me too… Am I no good…?"

"You’re not no good! Damn it, this is happiness!!"

Then, he shoved his hand into Rose’s vagina.

"Kyaa!?"

"Here, here, here!!"

Rose’s vagina, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of Becker’s hand, burst her hymen in multiple places.
Rose recoiled, momentarily shocked by the forceful violation, but even with tears in her eyes, she managed a smile.
"...Idiot… the worst… ♪"

Raping the dark elf between her legs, pounding the ogre with his fist—Sieg finally let go of control over his pleasure.

He connected himself to the two women serving him in their aprons, and climbed higher.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

"Ngh, kuh, aaaa!!"

"Uoooh!!"

Then, he came with a mighty release.

It was late at night when Ariel, accompanied by Sieg, returned to her rented shack deep in the maze-like slums of earthen-walled buildings.

She’d properly repaid the Tower Emblem loan sharks she owed, so there were no more worries behind her back.

The rest of the way home, they whispered about how to change their lives going forward.

"I can’t offer much hospitality, but I can at least make tea."

"Yeah. My throat’s parched."

They smiled and reached for the door when a letter was wedged in the frame.
"This…"

Ariel opened the letter.
Sieg read the contents faster than she did—it was a habit from his espionage days—but he immediately regretted glancing at it.
"Eh… that person…"

A letter from her ex-lover, the one who’d vanished without a word.

Finally, the business was on track, and he had enough money to repay his debts, so he wrote that he wanted to come get her.

Looking at the scribbled note in the corner of the envelope, he seemed to have figured out she was around here, but since he didn’t know her exact location, he’d asked someone who lived nearby to deliver it.

“No way…”

Ariel’s eyes flickered.

Zieg could practically feel Ariel’s thoughts.

Even if she’d selfishly disappeared, the time she spent with that lover couldn’t have been just a day or two.

Behind Ariel’s resolve to keep working and not run away must still smolder an undying affection for him.

And Zieg couldn’t do anything about it—couldn’t.

In the first place, Zieg was nothing more than a cad who’d suddenly appeared this morning, suddenly confessed, and wormed his way into the cracks of Ariel’s heart. Just some guy who used money and power to barge in.

If he thought about it calmly, how much weight did such a man even carry?

Yeah.

Just a flashy daydream.

“Zieg…”

Ariel lowered her ears, turned back as if seeking salvation—but there was no one there.

From the start, as if nothing had ever happened, not even a trace remained.

“…………”

Staring at the moon in an alleyway, Zieg was dazed.

And then, a shadow sneered at him.

“Heh heh heh… thought you were sleeping in a woman’s bed tonight?”

“…Oh, you guys.”

The Ace Knight’s three-man bodyguard squad. Their entire bodies were covered in leather armor and masks.

“So lame.”

“Not as much as you, though. After you paid at the Tower office, the actual debtor showed up. And seeing you all sulky by yourself… heh heh heh, hyahahahaha.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“…The boss said you hired us to be taken seriously, not to get looked down on…”

“Ah, right, right. That’s why I was looking for you, Zieg Becker.”

Maito tilted his head sharply, his eyes darting around.

“We won’t stand for being looked down upon. If we can’t take out a vagrant rat like you, we’re fired. …Ah, so even with that spaced-out look, you’ve got caltrops, wires, oil slicks—what kind of traps?”

“It’s a habit. Before I know it, I’m setting them without thinking.”

Zieg’s tone was as if he were talking to an old friend.

Maito drew a new sword and pointed it at Zieg.

“We figured out your tricks, Becker. No more underhanded needles or cheap moves. Tonight, we want you to die a little more spectacularly.”

“Agh? Nah, too much trouble.”

Zieg waved his hands listlessly with a drained look on his face.

“Just die, Zieg Becker.”

Might jumps. Leon runs up the wall, and Davis swings his mace like he’s leveling the ground, smashing through traps as he attacks.

Sieg casually stands up and suddenly decapitates Might.

"!?!"

Just standing up, it looked like Might’s torso and head split apart crying. Davis and Leon freeze in shock.

Sieg cracks his neck and whips out a blood-slicked knife.

"Well, I was saying earlier that even a thug wouldn’t kill civilians, right?"

Sieg grins with his eyes wide open.

"Lies, you bastards. Don’t come to kill me when I’m in a bad mood—it makes me happy!"

The next morning, their bodies were found behind the Tower Emblem office.

"Haaah."

After only breakfast at the Carlos estate, Sieg slumped and headed toward the shared carriage station.

Originally, it was time to part ways with Diane and the others, report on Lila’s existence and Andy’s treatment, and get instructions from Minister Ashton regarding future activities.

Being alone at a time like this is nice. Still gotta chill out, Sieg—you’re getting old—my brain endlessly scolds me as I plan to take it easy on this carriage ride for a while.

And then—

"BECKER!!!"

"ZEKE-CHAN!"

Hands reached out from behind and yanked Sieg off the carriage.

It was Rose, and Ariel was next to her. Both were dressed for travel.

"What, trying to run away without permission? Marriage isn’t a one-day event, you know."

"Um, um… I, uh… I’ll just… count that knife as accepted! Not the money!"

"...Huh? What was that?"

The two laughed at Sieg’s dumbfounded expression.

Proposal accepted!

Now then, it’s time to make up for the worst possible start.

"For now, taking into account each jewel's value, craftsmanship, and rarity... I'd say around 600,000 gold coins."

"Six hundred thousand? If we factor in practical utility, I think we could go a bit higher?"

"It's an estimate, but if we stretch it a little... let's settle on 630,500."

The weapon shop under the Construction Union Trident is known as the Trident Trading Company.
A lizardman clerk, wearing a uniform designed for non-human races and dangling a three-horned Viking helmet from a chin strap around his neck, gazes intently at the items through his tiny pupils while stating their appraised value.

Ariel gasps in shock at the figure, while Rose and Sieg furrow their brows slightly.

"I believe I can go up to 880,000."

"As for me... well, even if I make a concession, it's still 800,000."

The lizardman clerk flicks his tongue with an expressionless face. It may not be obvious at first glance, but this gesture conveys frustration.

"Look, the financial settlement is coming up soon. At this time of year, I need to dispose of items quickly at reasonable prices; otherwise, I'll be in trouble myself. Sure, if we find enthusiastic buyers later, we might fetch a higher price—but if there's too much delay before disposal, all these values will turn into losses on our books, and that becomes a liability issue."

"Let me just say I bought them out of selfishness. I'll sell them slowly afterward."

"Sis... well, fine by me then."

"880,000."

"Hey, hey. Honestly, I don't know what kind of favor this is, but I never thought I'd have to handle the same item twice in one day."

The jeweled knife, once taken from a tavern as payment for Lyra's drink, has now come full circle and been repurchased by the Trident Trading Company.

"By the way, just for reference—how much did you buy it from the tavern?"

"...180,000."

"What a scoundrel, huh, you old man."

Sieg lightly taps the lizardman clerk on the shoulder. At least, he thinks, it's better than having it bought by someone who truly doesn't understand its value.

"Oh, um, that... uh, 880,000—is that in gold coins?"
Ariel looks up at Sieg and Rose with a worried expression.
For reference, one gold coin of the Celesta currency buys a single non-alcoholic drink; ten coins can usually get you a decent meal at most eateries.
With 880,000 coins, even in a large city like Tark, one could purchase a quite sizable house with land.
Of course, compared to Ariel's debts, this amount is still trivial.

"Goodbye, my jeweled knife..."

"H-Really, Sieg-san? Are you sure!?"

"It's fine. I'm capable enough to handle things myself. Besides, it's just a hobby item; no one will suffer if I sell it... Uuuuh."

Sieg pretends to be strong despite shedding tears earnestly. For some reason, the lizardman clerk begins to cry along with him.

"How much is Ariel's debt?"

"Y-Yes, 42,000 coins..."

"Well, they'll surely tack on interest when they present it, so... Clerk, set aside 70,000 as a base gem value and hand them over now."

"Yes, yes. You're a man, aren't you, old fellow?"

"Yeah. I'm becoming a man. But becoming a man... it hurts."

Though still clinging to lingering feelings, Sieg takes action without backing down. The lizardman clerk looks at him with eyes full of respect (though his face remains expressionless) and pats his shoulder repeatedly in comfort.
"...It's like a ransom payment."

Seeing Ariel's eyes spinning with the prospect of easy money, Rose mocked him.

"Don't say such ill-natured things. I'll first cut off Ariel's troublesome entanglements and then pursue a proper relationship."

"Understood, understood... By the way, you'd better understand exactly what it means to give and receive a sword."

"Huh?"

"Do you intend to pay with the money from selling it now? Or will you hand over the sword and have that dark elf sell it instead? The implications are entirely different."

"Hmm..."

Zieg knew only the customs, but whether he truly grasped their weight remained questionable.

He stroked his scruffy beard and glanced at Ariel for the moment.

Handing over money directly felt too cheap and unpleasant, yet being bound by a custom he didn't fully understand also seemed problematic.

"Well, take it as you wish, Ariel. For now, I'll personally handle clearing any debts. Consider this my reckless act born of infatuation with you. But beyond that, I'd be delighted if you'd stay with me. Even though your time with a dark elf may be fleeting, give me your love in return for my life. Please."

"...Even if you say such things..."

Ariel looked troubled.

Having been left to decide on his own regarding the knife he received, and hearing Zieg casually dismiss such a great kindness as something that could be taken lightly, Ariel—who had been walking straight toward misfortune—found this single half-day's encounter with luck and decisive choices far too overwhelming.

"..."

Rose, who had silently watched Zieg's advances, noticed the silence between them and corrected her posture before speaking.

"Can we discuss that later?"

"...Yes."

After confirming with Ariel, she turned back to Zieg.

"Now, let me handle my side first... I won't allow you to gloss over the fact that I accepted your knife, Becker."

"...Y-yes, of course."

"You were gentle with that dark elf, but don't expect the same from me... Zieg Becker, you've already accepted her proposal. You're aware that using this knife separately after accepting it means there's no going back, correct?"

"...Yeah."

Completely opposite to Ariel, who distrusts humans and men while bearing all misfortune alone with a timid demeanor, was Rose Alderia, the former captive princess who pursued him relentlessly like a fastball.

She had been kidnapped by the thieves' guild when she was probably seventeen. Now at twenty-seven, for an ogre woman where early marriages are common, she's already behind schedule.

Yet her status, her spirit, and her mature beauty, which has settled into full adulthood, are qualities that cannot simply be ignored even in an ogre. She is certainly not an ugly woman who was destined to fall behind.

Though small for an ogre, the robustness of her physique—capable of punching Zieg into the air—is well within the standards for a "good woman" among ogres. Having rejected many suitors and waited patiently for the chance to propose to Zieg, she now declares:

"If you wish, I could gift you that jewel knife again. No matter what, if you become my husband, it will be yours once more. Come on, Zieg Becker, do you understand that it's time to pay your tribute?"

"U-um..."

However, Zieg is not quite the selfless warrior of love who would recklessly accept everything like Andy.

He wants to flee when chased and chase when he can escape—he's just an ordinary man.

Is this really what I want?

Is it truly right to be tied down by this woman?

Really, Zieg Becker, is this truly the right path?

Such groundless doubts surged within his chest.

Zieg stepped back hesitantly while Rose stared him down.

A lizardman shopkeeper, excitedly gazing at the situation despite having no clear idea of what's going on.

And then—

"……Just give an answer already! You're the worst guy ever——!!"

"Eh, w-wait, nngghuh?!"

Suddenly, Rose's fist erupted with flames.
Zieg was slammed sideways, skidding across the wooden floor for about three meters.
Rose left the stunned lizardman shopkeeper and Ariel behind, grabbed the back of the fallen Becker's belt, and lifted him up.
"You got in my way. Deliver that knife to my house."
With a swift motion, she dragged the folded Zieg out of the store.
"Ah, w-wait, please don't leave me behind?!"
Ariel hurriedly chased after them.
The lizardman shopkeeper watched them go with a blank expression, tongue flicking in and out.
"……I really don't want to hit my wife."
Fortunately, no one heard his muttered complaint to the group president.

Zieg regained consciousness in a dimly lit room.

"Huuh…"

"You're awake."

The ceiling.

The color of the sunset sky.

The bed.

And then, three sharp angles.

"……Rose?"

"I'm sorry. But I made it easier for you to make your decision."

He checked the situation.
The dim room was likely an inn; given its upscale furnishings, it was probably one of Tark's high-end hotels or something similar.
And in the bed were himself and Rose. Judging by the shoulder peeking out from under the sheets, Rose was half-naked.
Sitting at the edge of the bed was Ariel, slightly hunched over, staring intently at him sideways.

"How are you doing, Becker? A man's shame is to refuse food when it's served to him... I don't know what made you act that way back then, but you hurt me deeply."

"……I'm sorry."

"Although I say that, I'm not actually too angry. Maybe the song reminded you of something from your past love life?"

"…………"

It was troublesome enough for his trauma to become public knowledge.
And yet, she had hit the mark on the main points.
"……Yeah, that's right. I just can't handle unreciprocated affection from someone I don't fully understand. It makes me anxious that there might be something shady hiding behind it."

"I..."

"...No, I wasn't doubting you. It's just that things were getting too delicious for my liking. That reminds me—when I was obsessed with that woman, the situation escalated to an almost unbearable level of 'deliciousness.' A wave of unpleasant sweat broke out over me."

That's right. Siegfried was nothing more than an orphan, hailed as a prodigy yet having defeated not a single enemy while passing his trials—a hollow, nameless figurehead ace knight.
Stripped of all pretense, Siegfried was merely a child pretending to grow taller; yet it was Elsa who loved him, and pretended to love him in return.

Behind that love lay espionage. By now, she had uncovered everything about him, leaving no room for further pretense.
If he had realized her true nature sooner, perhaps he could have fled before the wounds became fatal.
That regret has plagued Siegfried for years, making him reject any easy, physical affection.

It all started with a mistake. A terrible one.
After becoming obsessed, in the end, he ended up stabbing and killing that woman while kissing her. There was no other choice. It was an absurdly, horribly over-the-top situation.

"...Well, I'm not at an age where trauma makes my body uncontrollable anymore. And yet, I can't just keep stewing in this forever. That's when I ran into Ariel."
And then... he fell for her.

"So, logically, I should be fine too, right?"

"I-I mean, but I still don't know much about you as you are now."

"You haven't changed since ten years ago. The morning you rescued me—that day to this very moment, I haven't changed!"

With a sudden gasp, Rose sat up abruptly.
Wrapped around her body was nothing but a single piece of cloth.

"..."

"..."

"...No, I thought you were wearing something neat and presentable that morning."

"Ugh..."

"Just an apron? That's not what I expected!"

"U-Uuuuhh! Shut up!! You're the one who loudly told that woman 'I want this' back then!"

Upon closer inspection, Ariel was also clad in nothing but a bare apron.
...Honestly, trying to have a serious conversation in such a state felt utterly pointless.

"...Let's start over. I demand a redo of my worst memories with you, the lowest man."
Fuming, her face flushed red and eyes glistening with tears, Rose vigorously rubbed Siegfried's member.
Ariel watched the scene unfold, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"Oh, um... should I take over? I'm used to it..."

"Ugh..."

Since Siegfried's arousal hadn't progressed beyond a half-erection, Rose found herself at a loss for what to do next.
To put it bluntly, Rose was quite inept.

"Is this your first time?"

"...Yeah."

Rose nodded. Ariel snatched his member from her hands, then attacked with her fingers, tongue, and nipples, letting out a soft chuckle.

"Don't laugh!"

"I-I didn't laugh, I just thought Rose was cute..."

"W-Well, I'm cute too! If I'd had my first experience ten years ago, I probably would've... by now..."

Zieg gently stroked the small horns on Rose's head, his fingers brushing against them as he imagined.
If Rose had simply gone along with it that day and completed her first experience...
...she wouldn't have ended up in such a terrible situation, having her skirt thrown over her waist just because of unfulfilled expectations.
She might have cherished Zieg somewhere in her heart as a fond memory and gotten properly married by now.

"I did something awful, but thinking about how you waited for me to become beautiful for my sake... it's not all bad luck. For me, at least."
Rose tried to suppress a slightly pleased expression at being called beautiful.
That tiny pride of hers was undeniably adorable.

"For me, it's bad luck. I've spent ten years wondering why you treated me so terribly. Ten years! Give it back, you idiot!"

"...Is there anything to give back?"

"Ten years! That's not cheap!"

"Then let's run away."

"If you try running away again, I absolutely won't forgive you."

"...Then let's pay for it."

As they spoke, Ariel thrust the rigid phallus cultivated by a prostitute's technique toward Rose's nose. After a moment of shock, Rose turned her back on him and got down on all fours, still looking displeased as she made her demand.

"Don't run away? If you do, I won't forgive you!"

"Yes... then I'm going..."

From those glaring eyes, the remnants of suppressed love began to burn once more, filled with a newly born sweetness and sourness.
This was the first time Zieg entered someone he had waited so long for.
It was also the first time he truly connected physically with someone bound by love or affection.

"...U-Guh...!?"

And so, Zieg finally lost his virginity.

"Nn, ku...!"

Zieg held Rose's large breasts beneath her apron tightly, struggling to endure the sudden surge of excitement that made him feel like he might ejaculate immediately.

Fundamentally, it was different.
The pleasure of buying a woman and the pleasure of being enveloped by a woman's love were entirely distinct experiences.
"Oh, hey, Rose... are you really a virgin?!?"
So overwhelmed by how perfect her vagina felt, Zieg recoiled in disbelief.
He had never held a virgin before, given that his partners had all been prostitutes, but Rose's vagina was exquisite.
From the very beginning, it offered him hot, soft, and abundant pleasure, greedily trying to drain every drop of his essence.

"It's definitely my first time... no way...!! Oh, don't compare an ogre's body to a human's!!"

"So you were an ogre all along, huh... ku, ogres have vaginas this big..."

He only realized now that Rose had been an ogre after all.

Ogres have an exceptionally high tolerance in their vaginas, likely because ogre males possess extremely large penises, requiring such adaptation.

Ogre's, penis as large as a human fist is an issue beyond whether they can have sex with a human-sized vagina at all.

An Ogre woman who must swallow such an abnormality from her first experience may technically possess a hymen, but it poses no problem when faced with a human anomaly like this.

Yet she is by no means loose.
She contracts properly and responds with intense sensitivity.
After all, while being gang-banged by both an Ogre and a human in such a short timeframe would be extraordinary, the Ogre woman's genitalia are indeed compatible with humans.

That mysterious organ is so remarkable that it has even attracted enthusiasts of Ogre-themed adult entertainment from other species. Zieg found himself overwhelmed by the double punch of pleasure: her natural masterpiece combined with the passionate union fueled by affection.

"U-uh... k-kuso... damn, you're feeling too good...!!"

"Aa, ahaha... I'm happy, so happy, Mr. Becker...♪"

Rose swayed her hips and gradually became more sincere.
Little by little, she returned to the girl she had been a decade ago.
Her firm tone softened into that of a young girl; the blunt "Becker" reverted to the old "Mr. Becker," and as she was held by Zieg while shaking her mature body—one she could never regain again—she became intoxicated by the reality of it all. With no technique whatsoever, she began to drain Zieg's seed with powerful, forceful grinding.
"Gh... gggh!!"

Zieg endured that pleasure.
Almost an act of stubborn will, nearly unconscious.
Then, after ravaging her vagina wildly in every direction and controlling the ecstasy through his breathing—
"Nn, kuaaaaaaahhh♪♪"
—he finally succeeded in bringing Rose to climax.

He withdrew the abnormality from her.

While staring blankly at Ariel, who watched Rose's dynamic sex with stunned silence despite her clumsy attempts to please a man with fingers and mouth, Zieg pinned her down, biting his lip.

"Kyaa!?"

"...O-okai... I... I'm... y-you... haah, haah..."

He calmed her head, which seemed ready to steam from the pleasure, trying to form words.

Gently stroking Zieg's back, Ariel smiled.

"...It's fine."

"............!!"

This girl had accepted him too.
At least not as a prostitute, but as someone willing to embrace his embrace.

Feeling giddy about what amounted to his first real experience, Zieg became even more buoyant and, without hesitation, thrust the slick, abnormal member directly into the genitalia beneath her apron's front flap.

"Aa, an... fu-fu, I knew it... would be..."

"N-what do you mean 'I knew it'... what is that supposed to mean...!?"

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

Ariel narrowed her eyes.
"Sensual sex feels different, doesn't it...♪"

Ariel felt the same thing Zieg did.
Chaotic, yes—but still a form of group intimacy.

As love exists, emotions accelerate pleasure.

Ariel, who had been long denied more than mere physical intimacy, began to drown in ecstasy with a look of pure innocence, utterly at odds with her hips' vigorous motion.

"Yaaan... hahfu... Sieg-san... me... you love... me...!?"

"Aaaah... I want to love you... again and again, forever!!"

"Heheh... is it okay...? Me... ahun... am I still seeking something like that... is it okay...♪"

"Yes... if it's with me...!!"

Zuchuu, zuchuu... With every thrust of her hips, sounds rang out as they vigorously pressed each other's pleasure points in an intense act of sex.

Rose once again tried to intrude upon this union.

"Mr. Becker, I want too... please love me... am I not allowed...?"

"You're not forbidden... damn it, this is bliss!!"

Then, he thrust his hand into Rose's vagina.

"Kyyu!?"

"There, there, there!!"

Rose's vagina was torn apart by the sheer presence of Becker's hand, rupturing her hymen with forceful precision.

Though Rose recoiled in instant shock at such rough treatment, she still offered a tearful smile.
"...Idiot... you're terrible... so cruel...♪"

Dark elves were ravaged between her thighs, while ogres were assaulted by his fists.

Sieg finally lost control of his pleasure.

He climbed to the peak, firmly connecting himself with both women he had served in their bare aprons.

"Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!"

"Nn, ku, aaaaahh!!"

"Uoooh!!"

And then, he released his seed in grand fashion.

Afterward, Ariel returned to her rented house deep within the slums—a labyrinth of earthen walls—accompanied by Sieg only after night had fully fallen.

She had repaid the Tower Emblem-affiliated loan sharks who held her debts, leaving no lingering worries behind.

On the way back, they whispered quietly about how she might change her life moving forward.

"I can't offer much hospitality, but I can at least make tea."

"That's fine. My throat is parched."

As they smiled and reached for the door to open it, a letter was found wedged between the panels.
"This..."
Ariel opened the letter.
Sieg read its contents faster than she could, a habit from his days in intelligence work that now filled him with regret.
"Huh... that person..."
A letter from her former lover, who had vanished after leaving Ariel behind.

Finally, business has taken off and funds for repayment have been secured; this note indicates an intention to come and collect.
Examining the hurried scribbles in the corner of the envelope, it seems they were located somewhere in this vicinity, but since their exact whereabouts were unknown, delivery was entrusted to a neighbor who lives nearby.

"Such..."
Ariel's eyes tremble.

Zieg can feel Ariel's thoughts as if grasping them directly.
Even though she vanished so selfishly, the time she spent with her lover surely lasted more than one or two days.
Behind Ariel's resolve to work without fleeing, a lingering affection for him must still smolder.
Yet Zieg cannot do anything about it; he simply cannot.

To begin with, Zieg is nothing more than an interloper who suddenly appeared this morning, confessed abruptly, and slipped into the cracks of Ariel's heart like a fingernail pressing in. He is merely someone who used money and power to force his way in—a mere intruder.
If he were to think calmly, how much weight could such a person possibly carry?
Yes.

It was nothing more than a flashy daydream.

"Mr. Zieg..."
With her head lowered, Ariel turns back as if seeking salvation, but before her eyes, no one remains.
As if nothing had ever happened from the start, not even a footprint is left behind.

"…………"

Watching the moon from an alleyway, Zieg stands in a daze.

A shadow approaches, casting mockery upon him.

"Heh heh... Didn't you say you'd sleep in a woman's bed tonight?"

"Oh—hey there, you guys."

The three Ace Knights' bodyguards, clad entirely in leather armor and masks.

"Looks pretty cool on you."

"Not as bad as yours. After you paid at the Tower office, the actual debtor showed up. And since you're acting all pathetic alone... heh heh, hyahahaha!"

"That doesn't matter to me."

"...You weren't hired by your employer just to be looked down upon, were you? That's what they said..."

"Ah, right. So that's why you've been looking for Zieg Becker."

Maito tilts his head sharply and scans the area with darting eyes.

"We won't tolerate anyone acting like an easy target; even a homeless rat has to be killed or he'll lose his job... Ah, yet here you are, staring blankly while setting traps everywhere—stakes, wires, oil pools, all sorts of gadgets."

"It's just a habit. If I don't think about anything, I end up setting them off before I know it."

Zieg speaks with the casual tone of someone talking to an old friend.

Maito draws his new blade and thrusts it toward Zieg.

"I've figured out your style; tricks like needles won't work anymore. Tonight, I want you to die in a spectacular way."

"Ah? No way, that's troublesome."

Zieg waves his hands weakly, his spirit visibly drained.

"Just die already, Zieg Becker."

Maito leaps. Leon runs along the wall, while Davis swings his mace as if leveling the ground, smashing traps and charging forward.

Zieg casually rises and instantly severs Maito's head.
"!?!"
The moment he stands up, it appears as though Maito's torso and head have been split apart like a weeping figure. Davis and Leon freeze in shock.

Zieg cracks his neck with a series of pops, then flicks his blood-stained knife with a sharp shu.

"Well, I said earlier that even if I'm just some thug, I won't kill the common folk during the day..."

With wide eyes, Zieg lets out a sinister grin.

"Lies, you bastards. Don't come to kill people when they're in a bad mood—you'll end up feeling happy about it!"

The next morning, their bodies were discovered behind the Tower Emblem's office.

"Haaah..."
After taking breakfast at Carlos's estate, Zieg slumped his shoulders and headed toward the carriage station.
Originally, this was the time when he should have begun moving separately from Diane and the others, reporting on Lyra's existence and Andy's treatment, and seeking further instructions from Minister Ashton regarding future activities.

Being alone at a time like this felt refreshing. Still, recklessness wasn't an option; he silently berated himself in his mind: Think about your age. For now, he decided to relax and enjoy the journey by carriage.

And then—

"BECKER!!"

"Mr. Zieg!"

A hand reached out from behind, dragging him down as he attempted to board the carriage.

It was Rose. Standing beside her was Ariel, both dressed in travel attire.

"What are you running off on your own for? Marriage isn't a one-day event, you know."

"Um, um... I mean... let's just say I accepted the knife! Not as money!"

"...Huh?"

As Zieg stood there with his mouth agape, both women laughed.

"Proposal accepted!"

Now, it's time to reclaim the worst beginning.

Translate the following Japanese text to English. Paragraphs are separated by "

". Output each translated paragraph with the same delimiter in between, preserving the exact number of paragraphs. Translate every paragraph — do not leave any Japanese untranslated. Do not add explanations. Do not merge or split paragraphs.

"For now, considering the value of each jewel, the craftsmanship, and rarity... around 600,000 gold coins, I’d say."

"600,000? If you include practical value, it could go a bit higher, don’t you think?"

"Just an estimate, but let’s add some leeway... maybe 630,500 or so?"

The weapons shop under the umbrella of the construction union, Trident Company.

The lizardman clerk, with the three-horned Viking helm hanging from his chin by a strap, was staring intently at the items through his small pupils and muttering an appraisal.

Ariel was taken aback by the figure, while Rose and Sieg furrowed their brows slightly.

"I think it could go up to 880,000."

"I’d... well, even if I compromise a bit, it’s still around 800,000."
The lizardman clerk licked his lips with an expressionless face. It might be hard to tell if you’re not used to it, but this was equivalent to a troubled look.

"It’s getting close to the end of the quarter, so please be lenient. At this time, I need to sell at a price that’s easy to dispose of, or it’ll be a problem for me. Sure, I could try to squeeze a bit more from collectors later, but if there’s too much of a delay, everything would be marked as a loss, and it’d become a responsibility issue."

"Let’s just say I was being selfish and bought them. I’ll sell them off slowly later."

"Sister... well, whatever."

"880,000."

"Yeah, yeah. Honestly, I don’t know what kind of obligation it is, but I didn’t expect to end up handling the same item twice in one day."

The jewel knife that was taken from Lyla as payment for her drinks at the tavern had now come full circle and been bought back by the Trident Trading Company.

"By the way, just for reference, how much did you buy it for at the tavern?"

"...180,000."

"What a rotten deal, huh?"

Sieg poked the lizardman shopkeeper. Well, I’d like to think it’s better than being bought by someone who doesn’t understand its value.

"Uh, um... well, 880,000... is that... in gold coins?"

Ariel looked up at Sieg and Rose with a worried expression.

Incidentally, one gold coin in Celesta currency could buy a drink without alcohol, and ten of them would get you a decent meal at most taverns.

880,000 coins was enough to buy a large house with land in even a city like Talc.

Of course, Ariel’s debt was on a much smaller scale.

"Goodbye, my Jewel Knife..."

"H-Hey, are you sure about this, Sieg-san!?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I can do it. It’s just a hobby item anyway, so no one will mind if I sell it... Ugh..."

Sieg was crying while trying to act tough. For some reason, the lizardman shop clerk was also tearful.

"How much is Ariel’s debt?"

"It’s... 40,200 yen..."

"Well, they’ll probably add interest on top of it, so just give me 70,000 yen for the base gemstone."

"Sure, sure. You’re quite the man, old geezer."

"Yeah. I’m becoming a man. But becoming a man... that hurts, you know?"

Sieg was still clinging to his regrets, but he didn’t back down on his actions. The lizardman shop clerk looked at him with a mix of respect (though no expression showed) and patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"...It’s almost like a purchase for freedom."

Seeing the way Ariel’s eyes widened at the sight of such a large sum of money, Rose teased him.

"Do not speak in such a way that makes it sound bad. First, I will sever Ariel's ties and have a proper relationship."

"I see, I see... But you really should understand what it means to hand over a sword and accept one."

"Huh?"

"Will you offer the money directly? Or will you give me the sword and let that Dark Elf sell it? The meaning is completely different."

"Mmm..."

Sieg knows the customs, but it’s questionable how far he truly understands their weight.

Stroking his stubbly beard, he looks at Ariel for now.

Offering money directly feels shameful and distasteful, but on the other hand, I’m not sure if I should bind myself to customs I don’t fully understand.

"Well, do as you like, Ariel. At least I’ll take responsibility for the debt. You can consider this the reckless act of a man who’s fallen for you. But if you’ll continue to be with me, I’d be happy. Even if it’s just for a while, give me love in my life. Please."

"...Even if you say that..."

Ariel makes a troubled face.

Being handed the decision regarding the knife and Sieg’s casual attitude about such a great favor have both thrown Ariel straight into misfortune. But for someone who’s been on a downward spiral, meeting this much fortune and making such a decisive choice in just half a day is too much.

"…………"

Rose had been silently watching Sieg’s seduction, but seeing the tension in the room as Ariel fell silent, she straightened her posture and spoke up.

"That story can wait, okay?"

After confirming with Ariel, I turned back to Sieg.

"I’ll take care of you first. ...I won’t let you dodge the fact that you took the knife from me, Becker."

"...Y-yeah, you're right."

"You were kind to that dark elf, but don’t expect the same from me. ...Sig Becker, you accepted the proposal, and you knew it. You used that knife for something else. You understand there’s no going back now, right?"

"...Yeah."

Unlike Ariel, who bears the distrust of humans and men, as well as her own misfortune, and acts like a timid little animal, Rose Aldelia is the former captive princess who comes straight at you with a fastball proposal.

She was probably around 17 when she was kidnapped by the band of thieves. Now she’s 27—well past the age for an Ogre woman to marry, and definitely late in life.

But her status, her demeanor, and the beauty she’s gained with maturity are not something even an Ogre can ignore. She’s not a plain woman who missed her chance by being too slow.

Even though she was smaller than most orcs, her physical stamina was more than enough to send Sieg flying with a punch—more than enough to meet the standards of an "orc woman." She must have turned down countless offers and waited for the opportunity to propose to Sieg.

"If you want, I can give you that jewel knife again. No, even if you become my husband, it’ll still be yours. Now, Sieg Becker, do you understand that it’s time to pay your dues?"

"Ugh, uhh..."

However, Sieg wasn’t like Andy, who would recklessly throw himself into a fight with love.

He was just an ordinary man who wanted to run when chased and chase when cornered.

Is this really okay?

Is it really okay to get caught by this woman?

Really, is this really okay, Sieg Becker?

A voice, entirely without basis, stirred up unease within him.

Sieg slowly backed away. Rose stared at him.

The lizardman shopkeeper watched with a mix of confusion and excitement, not fully understanding the situation.

And then—

"...Enough already, you useless guy!!"

"Eh, wha— nghhh!?"

Rose’s fist suddenly burst into flames.

Sieg spun through the air, using his face as a pivot point, flying about 3 meters.

He slid across the wooden floor with a thud.

Leaving the stunned lizardman clerk and Ariel behind, Rose grabbed the back of Becker’s belt and hoisted him up.

"You’ve been in the way. Take the knife to my house."

With a cool stride, Rose dragged Sieg, who was still unconscious, out of the shop.

"Ah, wait, don’t leave me behind!"

Ariel frantically chased after them.

The lizardman clerk watched with an expressionless face, his tongue flicking in and out.

"...I’m kinda not into a wife who hits me."

It was fortunate that no one heard the harsh words directed at the group president.

When Sieg woke up from his faint, he found himself in a dimly lit room.

"Ugh..."

"You're awake."

The ceiling.

The colors of the sunset sky.

A bed.

And three horns.

"...Rose?"

"I apologize. But I made it easier for you to make a decision."

He checked his surroundings.

The dimly lit room was likely an inn. The furnishings were high-quality, so it was probably a luxury hotel or something similar in Talc.

And in the bed, Rose and I. Rose, half-naked with her shoulders peeking out from under the sheets.

At the edge of the bed, Ariel is sitting. She’s looking at me sideways with a slightly downcast expression.

“So, Becker. Isn’t it a man’s shame to let food go cold? …I don’t know what made you do that back then, but it really hurt.”

“I’m… sorry.”

“But honestly, I’m not that angry. I just thought maybe I’d touched on something from your past… your old love, or whatever.”

“…………”

It’s a bit of a problem when my trauma becomes famous.

And for the most part, he was right.

“I see. It’s just that… I’m not great with affection from someone I don’t really know. I get nervous, wondering if there’s something dark hidden behind it.”

“I…”

“No, it’s not that I didn’t trust you, but it was just too convenient. I couldn’t help thinking about how things went so smoothly back when I was obsessed with that woman. It made me break into a cold sweat.”

That’s right. Sieg is just an orphan, a prodigy who passed the trial without defeating a single enemy—famous for nothing but being a cardboard cutout of a night ace.

Sieg, stripped of his pretense, was just a self-conscious child, but Elza loved him, or at least pretended to love him.

Beyond that love was espionage, and by now Sieg had been thoroughly probed by her, to the point where he could no longer feign ignorance.

If only he had realized sooner that she was a spy, maybe he could have given her a chance to escape before the wounds became fatal.

That regret had tormented and consumed Sieg for years, preventing him from ever fully accepting the simple physical affection of another person.

It all started badly. Too badly.

After becoming so absorbed, in the end he could only kill her while kissing her. It was the ultimate cliché, the worst kind of ending.

"...I’m not old enough to be traumatized and lose control of my body anymore. And yet, I thought I’d moved past all that self-pity when I met Ariel."

And then... he fell in love.

"So, logically, I should be fine, right?"

"N-no, but... I still don’t know you well enough now."

"You haven’t changed since ten years ago. From the moment you saved me that morning, from that moment, I haven’t changed!"

Rose sat up abruptly.

He was clad in nothing but a single piece of cloth.

"…………"

"…………"

"...No, I thought you were wearing nice, formal clothes that morning."

"Ugh..."

"You weren’t just in an apron."

"Grr, ugh, shut up!! You’re the one who said out loud to that woman, 'I want to do it!'"

Upon closer inspection, Ariel was also wearing a bare apron.

...It was a state that made it impossible to have a serious conversation.

"...Do it over. The worst man. I demand you redo the worst memory of my life."

Rose, sulking, with a bright red face, slightly teary eyes, and a hand scrubbing Sieg’s member vigorously.

Ariel was watching this with some tension.

"A-Are you sure? I’m used to this kind of thing..."

"Ugh..."

Sieg’s member wouldn’t budge past half-erect, leaving Rose at a loss.

To be honest, Rose was pretty bad at it.

"Wait, is this your first time?"

"...Yeah."

Rose nodded. Ariel took Sieg’s member from Rose’s hand and used her hands, tongue, and nipples to tease him while chuckling softly.

"Don’t laugh!"

"N-No, I wasn’t laughing! I just thought Rose-san was so cute..."

"Y-You’re one to talk! If only I’d had my first time ten years ago, I’d probably be at it by now..."

Sieg hooked his fingers into Rose’s small ear and stroked her head as he imagined.

If only Rose had gone with the flow that day and completed her first time.

If only I had expected something like this, I wouldn’t have been thrown into such a terrible situation.

Instead, I might have kept Sieg in my heart as a good memory and gotten married by now.

“Even though I did something terrible, thinking about how you waited for me to become clean makes it feel like it wasn’t all bad luck. For me.”

Rose, who was told she had become beautiful, almost smiled faintly but held back.

That little bit of stubbornness made her seem even more adorable.

“For me, it was bad luck. For ten years, I’ve been wondering why you did something so terrible to me. Ten years. You can’t just take that back, idiot.”

“…Are you sure you want to take it back?”

“Ten years. That’s not a small price.”

“So let’s run away.”

“If you run away this time, I’ll never forgive you.”

“…Then pay up.”

While they were talking, Ariel thrust his hardened member, nurtured by the tricks of a courtesan, right in front of Rose. Rose was momentarily startled, then turned her back and got on all fours, still with that same dissatisfied look on her face and made her request.

"Don’t run away, okay? If you do, I won’t forgive you."

"Yes, okay… so here we go…!"

In the eyes glaring at me, the remnants of pent-up love began to burn again, filled with a sweet and bitter taste.

It was the first time someone like Rose, who had been longing for me so much, would be entering me.

It was the first time I’d truly connect with someone connected to me through love and affection, not just physically.

"Ugh…!?"

And with that, Sieg finally shed his true virginity.

"Ngh…!"

Sieg clenched Rose’s ample breasts under her apron to suppress the sudden excitement that threatened to make him lose control.

Fundamentally, it was different.

The pleasure of buying a woman and the pleasure of being enveloped in a woman’s love were entirely different.

"Hey, Rose… are you really a virgin!?"

Because of the sheer perfection of her vagina, Sieg hesitated.

Though he’d only ever been with whores before, this was the first time he’d felt a virgin. Rose’s vagina was absolutely exquisite.

From the very beginning, it gave Siek’s member such hot, soft, and bountiful pleasure, desperately trying to squeeze out every last drop.

"Of course it’s my first time… no way!! Don’t mix an orc’s body with a human’s!!"

"So you’re an orc, huh… I-I didn’t realize orcs were like this…"

It was only now that he realized it. Rose was indeed an orc.

Orcs have an extremely high vaginal tolerance. This is because orc males are exceptionally large, and their partners need to be able to handle them.

An orc’s massive member, the size of a human fist, is simply too much for a human vagina. It’s not even a question of whether it could handle it; it just can’t.

Orc women, who must swallow such a member from their first time, have a hymen, but it’s practically irrelevant when dealing with a human member.

But that doesn’t mean it’s loose.

It tightens properly and the sensation is incredibly strong.

While it might be a bit much for an orc to be gang-banged by both humans and orcs in such a short time, an orc woman’s genitals are perfectly suited for humans as well.

The mysterious genitals of that woman, so powerful as to even attract lovers of orgies from other races, had left Sieg suffering under the double punch of her natural talent and passion for intimacy.

"Ugh, damn it... Damn it, you’re too good...!!"

"Ahaha... I’m happy, so happy, Becker-san...♪"

As Rose moved her hips, she gradually grew more honest.

Gradually, she returned to the girl she had been ten years ago.

Her firm tone shifted back to that of a young girl, the casual "Becker" became the formal "Becker-san," and as she realized the truth of being held by Sieg while her mature body, now beyond return, was in disarray, she lost herself in a powerful grind, devoid of technique, squeezing every last drop of Sieg’s essence.

"Guh...!!"

Sieg endured the pleasure.

It was almost unconscious stubbornness.

And then, as he ravaged her insides up and down, left and right, controlling the pleasure with his breath...

"Nn, kuaaaaaaaaahhhh♪♪"

He succeeded in making Rose climax.

Extract the anomaly from that rose.

Ariel, who had been dumbfoundedly watching the dynamic sex of the rose while the clumsiness of its techniques for pleasuring men with hands and mouth contrasted sharply, bit her lip and pushed him down.

"Kyaa!?"

"...I-I’m... I’m going to... hah, hah..."

Trying to calm his head, which was on the verge of exploding from pleasure, he struggled to form words.

Gently stroking Sig’s hair, Ariel smiled.

"...It’s fine."

"…………!!"

This girl had accepted him too.

At least not as a courtesan, she was willing to accept his embrace.

Sig, exhilarated by his first real experience, grew even more excited and mercilessly thrust his already slickened anomaly into her genitals under the apron’s front flap.

"Ah, ahn... hehe, as I thought..."

"Wh-what is it… that I’m feeling…!?"

"…………"

Ariel narrowed her eyes.

"Feeling love during something naughty… it’s different, isn’t it…♪"

Ariel felt the same way as Sieg did.

Even if it was messy and chaotic.

When there’s love, it accelerates pleasure.

For the first time in a long while, Ariel, who had been asked for something beyond just her body, began to drown in pleasure with an expression that contrasted with her hips—a truly girlish one.

"Ah, mmm, hah… Sieg-san, do you… love me…!?"

"Ahh… I want to love you… I want to love you over and over, forever!!"

"Fufu… is it okay…? I, ahn… am I really allowed to crave that kind of thing…♪"

"Ahh… as long as it’s with me…!!"

With each thrust, the wet, lewd sounds echoed, and they pressed against each other’s pleasure spots with a grinding intensity.

Rose once again wanted to join in on that sex.

“Becker-san, I also… I want you to love me too… Am I not good enough…?”*

“No, you’re more than good enough… Damn it, this is so fucking amazing!!”

And then, he thrust his hand into Rose’s vagina.

“Kyau!?”

“Here, here, here!!”

Rose’s vagina tore apart with the sheer presence of Becker’s hand, ripping through her hymen.

Rose arched her back, momentarily stunned by the forceful way she was being violated, but even so, she managed to smile through her teary eyes.

“…You idiot… This is the worst… ♪”

Violating the dark elf with his crotch and the ogre with his fist…

Sieg finally lost control of the pleasure.

Connect the two women dressed in aprons to me and climb to the top.

"Aaaaaaaaaahhh!!"

"Mmm, ah, ahhh!!"

"Oohhh!!"

And then, I ejaculated with a loud sound.

It was late at night by the time Ariel, accompanied by Sieg, returned to her rented house in the maze-like slum of earthen walls.

She had also repaid the loan from the moneylender of the Tower Emblem series, eliminating any further worries.

On the way back, they whispered about how to change their lives going forward.

"I can’t offer much hospitality, but I can at least serve tea."

"Yeah. My throat’s dry."

They smiled and opened the door, only to find a letter stuck to it.

"This..."

Ariel opens the letter.

Sieg quickly reads the contents of the letter, even faster than Ariel.

It had become a habit during his days as an intelligence agent, but he now regretted not having stopped himself.

"Uh… that person…"

The letter was from Ariel’s ex-lover, who had disappeared after leaving her behind.

It said that the business had finally taken off and they could afford to repay their debts, so they wanted to come pick her up.

From the scribble on the corner of the envelope, it seemed they knew roughly where she was but couldn’t pinpoint the exact location, so they had asked a neighbor to deliver it.

"So…"

Ariel’s eyes wavered.

Sieg could feel Ariel’s feelings as if they were his own.

Even though he had selfishly vanished, their time together must have been more than just a day or two.

Behind Ariel’s determination to work tirelessly without running away, there was still a lingering affection for him.

Sieg can’t do anything about it, and he can’t.

After all, Sieg is nothing more than a man who suddenly appeared this morning, confessed, and wormed his way into Ariel’s heart. He’s just some intruder who only used money and power to get what he wanted.

When you think about it calmly, how much weight does such a person really have?

No.

It’s just a flashy daytime dream.

“Sieg-san…”

As Ariel turned her ear down and looked back for help, there was no one in front of her eyes anymore.

Just as if nothing had ever happened, not even footprints remained.

…………

Sieg stood in an alleyway, gazing at the moon, completely lost in thought.

A shadow cast a mocking laugh at Sieg.

“Kukuku… Aren’t you supposed to sleep in a woman’s bed tonight?”

"...Oh, you guys."

The trio of ace nights' bodyguards. They were clad in full leather armor and masks.

"It’s so lame."

"Not as lame as you, though. After you paid at the tower office, the real debtor showed up. And here you are, sulking all by yourself... Hahaha, hyahahaha!"

"Doesn’t matter anyway."

"...Our employer even said, 'I didn’t hire you just so you could be looked down on...'"

"Ah, right. That’s why I’ve been looking for you, Sieg Becker."

Mighty tilted his head sharply and scanned the room with his eyes.

"I won’t allow anyone to look down on me. If a wandering rat like you can’t take someone out, you’re fired. ...Oh, but even though you look so clueless, you’ve got traps, wires, and oil puddles set up all over the place."

"It’s just a habit. I don’t even think about it—I just end up setting stuff up."

Sieg spoke in a tone as if he were chatting with a close friend.

Mighty drew his new sword and pressed it against Sieg.

"Your tactics are predictable, and you’ve been overconfident. I’m not gonna let you mess around tonight. I want to see you die in style."

"Huh? Nah, that’s too much trouble."

Sieg flapped his hands with a defeated expression.

"Fine, just die already, Sieg Becker."

Maito leaped. Leon ran along the wall, and Davis swung his mace as if tamping down the ground while smashing traps and charging forward.

Sieg casually stood up and suddenly decapitated Maito.

"!?"

It was as if Maito’s body and head had split apart in a wail of grief. Davis and Leon froze in shock.

Sieg cracked his neck and flicked the bloodied knife with a flourish.

"Well, you know, I said earlier that I don’t kill punks or civilians, but..."

Sieg grinned with wide eyes.

"Lies, you bastards. Don’t come at me when I’m in a bad mood. It just makes me happy."

The following morning, their bodies were discovered behind the Tower Emblem’s office.

"Haah..."

After having breakfast at Carlos’s residence, Sieg slumped his shoulders and headed to the shared carriage station.

It was about time for him to part ways with Diene and the others, report on Lyla’s existence and Andy’s treatment, and seek instructions from Minister Ashton regarding future activities.

Being alone at a time like this made him happy. He scolded himself internally, thinking, "You can’t just go wild, you’ve got to think about your age." He decided to take it easy for a while, enjoying the carriage ride.

And then...

"Becker!!"

"Sieg-san!"

As Sieg was about to board the carriage, a hand reached out from behind and pulled him down.

It was Rose. And beside her was Ariel. Both were dressed for travel.

"What do you think you’re doing trying to run away? Marriage isn’t just a one-day event, is it?"

"Um, um... I’ll say I received the knife! Not money!"

"...Huh? What?"

The two of them laughed at Sieg, who was staring blankly.

"The proposal is accepted!"

Now it’s time to make up for the worst possible start.