When She Lose It...?

"...ah?"

Thud—!

After a moment, the reverberation of a heavy object hitting the ground echoed behind them. Juliette turned to witness an extraordinary scene—the trees to the east had vanished, leaving a clear path etched into the landscape. Naked earth stretched toward the distant forest, creating a broad, open space.

...What just happened?

"...Ugh..."

Realizing her brother's groan, Juliette snapped back to attention, hastily checking on the others. The sight that met her eyes was more horrific than she could have imagined.

Many of the heroes' companions lay lifeless, surrounded by a landscape painted with blood. Eveline stood weakly, her sword serving as a makeshift support. Despite the visible scratches on her body and her torn armor, she clung to consciousness.

"Brother!"

Juliette's focus shifted to Julius. His condition was critical, blood covering him, with a large hole in his stomach. Without prompt healing, his life hung in the balance.

She rushed to his side, kneeling beside him in a panic. Examining the wound, she tore a piece of her dress to stem the bleeding, though she knew it was just a temporary measure. The other support heroes capable of light magic were in no condition to help.

"Wait!" Desperation filled Juliette as she covered the wound, but she was fully aware that this makeshift bandage offered only a brief reprieve. Time was ticking until the other heroes returned from the city.

Observing her frantic efforts, Julius summoned his dwindling strength to raise his hand. Juliette, catching the gesture, leaned in as he patted her head.

"...It's fine," he reassured her, a bloody smile gracing his face.

"No... you can't.... You can't die!"

Juliette refused to let go when Julius's hand slipped. Clasping it tightly, she pleaded, "You can't die yet! The people still need you!" Tears welled in her eyes as she desperately sought any means to aid her brother's recovery.

However—

"Brother!"

Rustle~!

As Julius teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, Juliette detected a faint rustle behind her. Someone was approaching. A tall woman, draped in traditional attire, with silver hair and vivid crimson eyes, calmly strode toward them. In her hands, she held a bottle containing red liquid.

"...Here."

"...ah!"

The woman tossed the bottle to Juliette, who caught it with both hands, staring at it in confusion. Recognition dawned on her as she swiftly unscrewed the lid and gently made her brother drink until the bottle was empty.

"...."

By now, Julius had succumbed to unconsciousness, his body pushed to its limits.

Curiously, when Juliette turned to the others, she found each of them leaning against a tree, including Eveline and Seraphina. They were all unconscious.

Juliette remained the sole conscious person in the vicinity.

"...Who are you?"

Turning to the woman, who had begun to leave, Juliette posed the question. However, the woman offered no response, maintaining her silence as she departed.

***

While Saber knelt, drained by the recent use of magic, panting heavily with a tired gaze fixed on the ground, he muttered, "That magic really drained me...."

"Contractor!"

In a swift motion, Odium dashed to his side and effortlessly lifted him up, supporting him as he struggled to walk.

[Ding!]

[You have successfully learned a new ability!]

As Saber observed the sudden notification on his view, he managed to conceal his surprise behind a composed facade.

[It's....]

[𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗]

...Locked? Saber blinked, puzzled by the unexpected development. While Odium helped him settle into a chair, the system underwent a transformation.

[System is currently updating...]

"...It's updating?"

Despite his confusion, Saber composed himself, choosing not to dwell on the unknown situation.

"Thanks..." He expressed gratitude to Odium with a strained smile. She blushed in response but quickly shook off the embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Otuko, having crawled to a nearby tree, leaned against its trunk and took a deep breath.

As Saber stole a glance at Otuko, a sudden heaviness settled over his eyelids, prompting a swift realization—he was dangerously low on mana, his core teetering on the edge of emptiness.

"...."

Even his ability to articulate a sentence was compromised.

...I won't make it back in this condition, he mused inwardly. At that moment, Otuko seemed to discern his struggle.

Annoyed, Otuko pointed at him and instructed Odium, "Help him get up. That guy is practically running on fumes." She huffed and rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Odium, silent yet obedient, nodded and followed through on Otuko's directive. She approached Saber, crouched down, and effortlessly hoisted him onto her back.

"Huup!"

She's impressively strong... Saber and Otuko shared the same silent thought, acknowledging Odium's remarkable strength.

...

..

.

Observing their figures disappearing into the distance, Otuko rose with the assistance of the tree, exhaling a deep sigh before touching her lips.

"...That jerk really went for it."

A shadow cast over her expression, and the interior of her attire illuminated.

As she tore a piece of her clothing, a radiant cross revealed itself. A surge of heat enveloped her body, causing her to instinctively retreat until her back met the sturdy tree trunk.

In an unexpected twist, the luminous cross tattoo, situated just above her pelvic region, transformed abruptly into a chained heart.

"Damn it..."

When she blinked her eyes, her pupils suddenly changed; her right eye showed a black cross, while the left showed a heart being pierced with a stick.

The moment she blinked again, it returned to normal.

"...I'm going to lose it."

Undeterred, she trailed after them, utilizing a stick for support as she navigated the terrain.

=====

[A/N : Apologies for the late chapter. Never thought that creating an r18 scene is hard... Both inside and out.]