Rescue Team Dispatched

When Lophiel saw Edenia fall backward, she knew this was her chance to make close contact.

Feeling the soft, warm body in her arms, Lophiel couldn’t resist taking in a deep breath of that enchanting scent coming from the girl.

“Ah… I-I’m just nervous because you suddenly got so close. And also… could you maybe not hug me so tightly? It kind of hurts.”

Startled for a moment, Edenia looked at the stunning face so close to hers and instinctively averted her eyes.

Right now, she didn’t feel anything special toward this domineering heroine.

After all, something unpleasant had happened between them before.

Edenia still couldn’t let go of the barrier in her heart when facing Lophiel.

However, she didn’t hate Lophiel for it.

After all, in their past life, it was Edenia who had schemed against her, almost getting the pure, lotus-like Lophiel killed.

In this life, seeking revenge was only natural.

And besides, Noah brought about his own downfall and ended up executed.

Come to think of it, Lophiel’s transformation into this cool and slightly scheming personality was largely thanks to Noah.

So Edenia was just the unlucky soul who crossed over after Noah’s death—naturally, she couldn’t really empathize with her.

It’s just that when she first crossed over, Lophiel’s killing intent genuinely scared Edenia half to death.

“My name is Lophiel Cosrandelle. You can call me Lophiel, or just Fiel.”

Looking at Edenia, who refused to meet her gaze, Lophiel spoke in an extremely gentle voice.

“Uh… H-hello, Miss Lophiel. So… if there’s nothing else, could you let go of me now?”

Even without looking at her, being held in Lophiel’s arms felt unbearably awkward for Edenia.

Because… wasn’t this the kind of pose where the male lead holds the female lead?

Does that mean she’s become Lophiel’s heroine now?

No way, she didn’t want that at all!

The worst part was—even though she had often admired Lophiel’s breathtaking beauty before crossing over—now that she was seeing it up close, Lophiel seemed even more irresistible than through a screen.

That made Edenia feel too embarrassed to look at her face directly.

“I was just worried my little sister Su Mo would get hurt.

But since you insist, then of course I can let go.”

Lophiel gently helped Edenia up and released her hold, which left Edenia feeling strangely uneasy.

*This yuri boss actually gave up so easily? She didn’t try to force another intimate move? Well… fine, that’s good.

Better find an excuse to leave her soon.*

Originally planning to take things slow and gradually increase their closeness, Lophiel narrowed her eyes upon hearing Edenia’s inner thoughts.

*Hah~ So that’s what you really think of me?

Fine then. I’ll do what a true yuri boss should do, Edenia dear~*

Thinking this, Lophiel supported Edenia back toward the large stone she had been sitting on earlier, asking along the way—

“Noah Brandt actually had such an adorable little sister?

How come I never heard of you before?”

“T-That’s because we lived very far apart.

This time I just finally got some free time and decided to visit for a while.

After all, as the main city of Augiris, this place must have all sorts of new things we don’t see outside.”

Lophiel glanced at Edenia’s dress and nodded slightly before continuing—

“So basically, little sister Su Mo is just a country bumpkin from out of town, huh?”

*What?! A bumpkin?! Have you ever seen such a gorgeous, cute bumpkin before?!

No, no, being a bumpkin isn’t the problem—but why does it sound like an insult coming from her?

And stop calling me little sister! I’m not younger than you at all!*

“Y-Yeah… I’m just a little country bumpkin from some nameless village. Haha…”

Edenia felt like she was about to lose it.

Right now, she almost wished she had fully feminized—if she were in that form, she’d at least stand a chance against this domineering heroine, right?

As they spoke, Edenia was already sitting on the stone while Lophiel crouched down in front of her.

Just as Edenia wondered what she was doing, Lophiel suddenly lifted one of her feet.

“Y-You… what are you doing?!”

Startled by the sudden move, Edenia couldn’t help shouting.

Facing her stammered question, Lophiel replied calmly with a smile—

“Just now, didn’t you twist your ankle, little sister Su Mo?

I’m just checking how bad the injury is.”

As she spoke, she reached to remove the high heel from that delicate foot.

“I-I’m fine! No need for you to worry so much!”

Edenia’s face flushed bright red as she reached out, trying to grab Lophiel’s hand.

But at that moment, a thunderous roar split the skies, interrupting them both.

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Lophiel lowered her mischievous hand and stood up, looking toward the source of the sound—eager to see who dared ruin her sweet moment with Edenia.

Then she froze.

Not just her—Edenia, sitting on the stone, also widened her eyes in shock as she stared at the sky.

The sky had been torn open, revealing a massive rift from which countless black dots swarmed out like an endless tide.

They buzzed like insects as they spiraled and clustered in the air.

Before long, those black specks formed into a colossal insect floating in the sky.

Its body looked like a messy drawing, as if someone had scribbled with black ink across the heavens.

Fly-like wings sprouted from its back.

It had no legs.

Its entire form was like a massive lamprey—wide in the front, narrow in the back.

But unlike a lamprey, its body was completely spherical and lacked that gaping, tooth-filled mouth.

Instead, it was nothing but an endless void of darkness.

It hovered in the air as more rifts opened around it, spilling out black liquid that poured like ocean tides.

“W-What… what is that…?”

Staring at the sanity-shattering black monstrosity, Edenia asked blankly.

“This scene…

There’s no doubt—it’s the Black Tide.”

Lophiel’s eyes locked on the gigantic insect, her heart gripped by the same dread she felt in her dreams.

That overwhelming aura of danger made her entire body tremble uncontrollably, even from such a great distance.

She knew one thing for certain—there was no way she could handle that thing.

The only option was to run.

Just then, the enormous creature began to move.

Its headless form—or rather, the abyssal maw—tilted downward.

Then, with an ear-piercing screech that made one physically ill, it dove toward the ground at incredible speed.

Hearing that sound, Lophiel felt like her eardrums were about to burst.

But Edenia… she seemed to hear something different.

We are all sinners? What… what does that mean…?

“No! Alice! Elia!”

Suddenly, she remembered her childhood friend and the maid who had always cleaned her family’s estate.

Without a second thought, Edenia sprang to her feet and dashed at full speed toward the spot where the creature was descending.