"You damn bastard, you're finally awake! Hand over Blaze Delight!"

Lucia scrambled over the moment Albel stirred, trying to snatch Blaze Delight from his arms.

"What are you doing? Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t get it until we’re out of this forest?"

Albel instinctively shielded the sword against his chest. *Women really do flip moods like pages in a book. We had a deal, and now she’s backtracking.*

"You idiot! Look around you!"

Lucia nearly choked on her rage. Still clinging to the sword like a stingy landowner? She jabbed a finger at the encircling ogres. "Do you see what’s happening?!"

"Keep your voice down. Panicking won’t help."

Albel shot her a look, then scanned their surroundings. They were trapped in a cave, surrounded by grotesque ogres.

"So… we got captured?"

He blinked. *Yeah, that tracks.*

"Obviously! Just give me Blaze Delight—I can protect you!"

Tears welled in Lucia’s eyes. *What’s wrong with you? Don’t you realize we’re about to die?* To her, despair wasn’t the worst thing. Watching hope slip away—that was true terror.

"Tsk tsk," Albel grinned, enjoying her panic. *Jinxed it. Guess I’ve got a cursed talent for this.* "I told you not to ignore good advice. Now look where it got us. Next time, don’t be so stubborn."

"W-wahhh… If there even *is* a next time…"

Lucia collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. *Why is this happening? I don’t want to die!*

"Apologize properly, and there’ll be a next time."

Albel winked at her.

"Sorry! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have disobeyed you—please, just give me Blaze Delight!"

Hope flared in Lucia’s eyes. She lunged at him, tears streaming as she clawed for the sword.

"Good girl~"

Albel patted her head gently, like soothing a child.

"Then give it to me…"

Sniffling, she reached for Blaze Delight—but he dodged again.

"You two are quite the show."

The red-haired ogre who’d been watching finally spoke. They’d held back, curious how humans would act before death. Instead, the boy made the girl cry.

"He’s a dumbass," muttered the green-haired ogre. *Haven’t even touched him, and his mind’s already broken.*

"Prince, why bother talking? Let’s just take them! The brothers are itching for it."

"Yeah! Make ’em watch each other get violated—way more fun!"

The ogres grew restless. Lucia’s tear-streaked face only stoked their lust.

"Holy shit—you’re not planning to *do* me, are you?!"

Albel froze, then turned to see the green-haired ogre leering at him.

"Heh. I’ve got a taste for your type."

The ogre licked his lips and grabbed for Albel.

"Like hell! I’d rather get ‘attacked’ by a cute girl than you!"

Albel slashed the ogre’s hand away with his sword. *I thought only Lucia was the target. Damn, they want me too?*

"Don’t resist. Since you can’t fight back… just enjoy it."

The red-haired ogre lunged for Lucia, who shrank against Albel.

"Who said we can’t fight back?"

Albel smirked. *I may look harmless, but I’m no prey for trash like you.*

"Inferno Surge!"

He pulled Lucia close with one arm and plunged Blaze Delight into the ground.

Flames erupted from the earth like ripples, engulfing the ogres.

"Ahhh!"

"Burning!"

"Help!"

Ogres howled, rolling on the ground as fire consumed them. The blaze refused to die—it reduced them to charred husks.

The red and green ogre brothers, both twelve-star elites with high fire resistance, barely flinched. Their leg hair singed, nothing more.

"That sword… Hand it over, boy. I’ll let you live."

The red-haired ogre’s eyes gleamed. A weapon that unleashed AoE flames? Top-tier loot.

"Bullshit! Why not free the girl instead?!"

The green-haired ogre roared. *Using my spoils to bargain? What an idiot!*

"Are you brain-dead? The sword’s in the *boy’s* hands! Freeing her’s useless!"

"Then just *take* it! Since when do we fear some puny fire?"

*My sworn brother’s the real dumbass here.*

"Oh. Right." The red-haired ogre slapped his forehead. "Got carried away. Boy! Surrender the sword, and I’ll grant you a quick death."

"Fuck you! You’re trading *my* spoils again! And ‘quick death’? Who’d believe that? Only a moron would hand it over!"

The green-haired ogre fumed. *If he weren’t higher level, I’d never follow this fool.*

"…Fair point."

The red-haired ogre hefted his spiked warhammer, glaring at them.

"Don’t kill them. Your hammer’s too big—one hit and they’re paste. I’ve no interest in corpses."

The green-haired ogre pulled out a massive cleaver. "I’ll handle the girl."

"You want it? Here."

Albel casually tossed Blaze Delight to the red-haired ogre, still cradling Lucia. *Take it. I don’t need it anyway.*

Lucia and the two ogres stared at him like he’d lost his mind.

"Are you insane?!" ×3

The red-haired ogre examined the sword, ecstatic. *Twelve-star quality! Way better than my hammer. It’s bound to the girl now… but dead owners mean new bindings.* He’d already decided: if the human girl survived their "fun," he might even let her keep the sword.

Lucia’s face went pale as she watched him discard his warhammer. *It’s over. All over.*

*This smiling black-haired devil caused everything!*

Seeing Albel’s carefree grin, she made a vow: *Even if I die today, I’ll drag this bastard down with me.*

"I’ll bite you to death!"

She sank her teeth into Albel’s shoulder.

"Ow! Are you a damn dog?!"

Albel yelped. *Attacks meant to hurt me? I can dodge those. But this?!*

"You ruined everything! I’ll bite you dead!"

Lucia released him, bursting into tears. All her pent-up despair flooded out.

"Stop crying. It’s not hopeless yet."

Albel hugged her lightly. *Such weak mental fortitude. Already giving up?*

"We’re going to die soon!"

She sobbed harder.

"Not even ‘soon.’ Be good. Watch a special trick, and we’ll go home."

Albel wiped her tears, ignoring the charging ogres. Their attacks veered wildly, slamming into the cave walls beside him.

"What trick? I just want to go home!"

Lucia pounded his chest. *Is he making dirty jokes at a time like this?!*

"See the trick, then go home."

Albel nodded firmly. The ogres stumbled back, bewildered.

"What the hell was that?!"

"This kid’s weird! Brothers—in here now!"

Hundreds of ogres flooded the cave, surrounding them.

"What… trick?"

Lucia’s cheeks flushed. She hadn’t even noticed the encircling horde—her world had narrowed to Albel alone.

"You’ll see."

He cupped the back of her head and pulled her close. Before she could react, he kissed her.

"Y-y-you… I-I-I…"

Lucia touched her lips, staring at him in shock.

"Brothers! Grab them! I’m taking this woman first!"

"Goddamn it! He kissed a woman?! Only men get to kiss men!"

The two ogre brothers, seeing Albel actually kissing Lucia, flew into a rage. They ordered their minions to seize these two lovebirds.

"Roar~"

The ogre army's deafening roars shook the cave, dust raining down from the ceiling.

Albel paid no heed to the ogres charging at him. With a faint smile, he raised his right hand above his head and slowly declared, "The big treasure I meant... is this."

"Demon Sword Laevatein."

A flash of crimson light swept through, and the world instantly fell silent.

Beneath Ragnarok, all are but ants.