The Heroines Who Framed Me Are Clinging to Me

Chapter 49 - Yulia’s Choice

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 49 - Yulia’s Choice

The bloodline of Estrid is noble.

So great that no one dares to touch a member of the Estrid family without permission. Even among Estrids, any unsanctioned contact is considered an offense, a crime.

And yet.

Yulia couldn’t resist the boy gripping her cheek—the boy whose body was now controlled by Ortega.

Why?

Why was she frozen like this?

Was it fear of Ortega?

She couldn’t deny it. Ortega was a being who had single-handedly slaughtered an entire city and turned the entire empire into his enemy. He was both the greatest stain and the strongest force of Estrid. A ghost wandering this world, far beyond the realm of humans.

There was no way she wasn’t afraid.

Her fingertips trembled, her lips quivered. All signs of fear.

But it was more than just fear.

Yulia knew herself well.

She was not someone who would stop because of a little fear.

Something else was keeping her from moving.

— Grip.

The heavy hand gripping her cheek.

It was because of him.

'Lloyd.'

From the moment she first met him, from the moment she learned Ortega was dormant within him, she had made a promise to herself.

'I swore I’d kill you.'

She had vowed that if Ortega ever took over Lloyd’s body, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.

That vow was the problem.

If she moved now, it would mean killing Ortega—killing Lloyd.

"Are you frozen, woman?"

Ortega sneered as he pressed down on Yulia’s cheek.

"......."

"Those blue eyes of yours… I didn’t want to see them again. They still make my blood boil."

Tremble.

His hand trembled, though it was unclear whether it was from rage or excitement.

"This has nothing to do with me. You just didn’t get along with the Reverse Eyes bearer of your time."

That wasn’t true.

Even at this moment, Yulia wanted to kill Ortega—or seal him away forever.

She was just holding back that instinctive urge because of one conflicting presence within her.

"Woman. Your eyes are shaking."

"I don’t know what you mean."

"Then why have you already stepped back?"

Yulia faltered.

Seeing this, Ortega’s grin widened.

"You like him."

"........"

"You like this body I’ve taken over."

"That’s impossible."

"Kuhahahaha!"

Laughter filled the room.

He bent over, shaking with amusement.

In that brief moment, Yulia took several steps back.

Ortega straightened up.

"Hey, Reverse Eyes."

"......."

"Don’t try to hide it. Every bearer of the Reverse Eyes I’ve ever met has wanted nothing more than to kill me."

Yulia bit her lower lip.

Blood dripped down her chin.

"Show me those cursed eyes."

"......."

"I feel like stretching a bit. That last woman wasn’t strong, just filthy."

Whoosh.

Ortega’s aura spread instantly, making the air heavy.

“Haa, haa…”

Even breathing became difficult.

This damn bastard—could he control the air too?

"Use your Reverse Eyes already. Are you going to let me crush you like this?"

"...Shut up."

"Fine, getting crushed isn’t so bad either."

“Haa…”

"I never wanted to see those wretched eyes again. They make me sick."

Ortega swung his hand downward.

— Boom!

Everything in the space sank inward, as though the air itself had caved in.

“Kuh!”

Yulia coughed up blood.

Slowly, Ortega walked toward her, his demeanor careless, almost lazy.

But it wasn’t carelessness. It was confidence.

Anyone could see that Ortega was dominating this space completely.

Yulia counted in her head.

'This is the second approach.'

Ortega stepped on her fingers as he approached.

“Kugh.”

"Those eyes… they disgust me. They remind me of when I was sealed."

The previous Reverse Eyes bearer.

He hadn’t been able to seal Ortega because he was overwhelmingly powerful.

If that were the case, Ortega would have been stopped long before he could have destroyed a city.

The reason he had managed to seal Ortega was because…

‘The sacrifice of the Reverse Eyes bearer.’

By fixing his Reverse Eyes on Ortega and endlessly dispelling his magic, he had become the container that sealed Ortega away.

‘I can do it.’

Yulia wasn’t afraid of becoming that container.

If it meant imprisoning this monstrous being, she was willing to do it.

But.

‘That’s only if all else fails.’

Right now, Yulia knew.

There was another way to stop Ortega.

She didn’t have to sacrifice herself—if Lloyd could regain control of his body, they could stop him.

Flicker.

Yulia’s Reverse Eyes began to glow.

Ortega smirked as he stepped closer.

The third approach.

"You think just lighting up those eyes will let you touch even a hair on me? You’re far from—"

His words trailed off as his brow furrowed.

"Far…"

It seemed like he couldn’t move his tongue properly.

“Huh?”

Ortega glanced down at his leg.

"What’s this?"

Clink.

A shackle had appeared around his ankle.

Ortega’s eyes widened as Yulia smirked.

“A trick.”

?

Before they had faced the Seven Kill Squad.

Lloyd had called a strategy meeting.

Although it was just him, Yulia, and the village chief, Lloyd’s words were enough to draw their attention.

"I have a trick."

"...A trick?"

"Yes. Come take a look."

Thud.

Lloyd placed something on the table.

"...Shackles?"

The village chief mumbled.

Only then did Yulia realize what she was looking at—small, metal shackles, barely big enough to bind two or three fingers, let alone an ankle. They were tiny, easily held in one hand.

"What are you planning to do with those?"

Her voice came out incredulous.

But Lloyd just grinned, fiddling with the chain attached to the shackles.

"Do you know how hard it was to get these?"

"These toys… really?"

"Toys? Oh, hang on."

Lloyd raised one hand and rummaged through his pocket, pulling out some sedatives.

He swallowed two pills at once.

"...Lloyd, you’ve been taking way too many of those lately."

"Ah, that’s because Ortega can’t hear this part."

With a mischievous smile, Lloyd continued, his expression becoming a little drowsy.

"We’re going to face Ilsal soon. She’s definitely a strong woman. Being an assassin, her stronghold is likely full of traps and sorcery. She won’t be an easy opponent."

"Right. Those assassin types are skilled in all kinds of trickery. A tough bunch."

"The chief is right. That’s why we need to prepare as much as possible."

"But we’re the ones attacking. What kind of preparations can we make?"

"Well, the problem is that Ilsal is powerful."

"Exactly. She’s highly dangerous."

"And there are many ways to deal with a strong opponent."

"Many ways… to deal with someone strong?"

"Yes."

Lloyd answered casually, as if it were no big deal.

It wasn’t arrogance.

He had faced enemies stronger than most members of the Hero Party during his battle against the Demon King.

"There’s politics, traps, equipment… many options. The important thing isn’t how strong they are, but how smart you are."

Tock tock.

Lloyd tapped his head.

Brains.

The chief didn’t mind. He knew Lloyd would do the thinking for him.

That clever boy had probably found a way to use those shackles.

"So, what are these shackles for?"

"There are unique magical artifacts in this world. And among them, there are some that grow stronger based on the strength of the opponent."

Artifacts were common knowledge.

But an artifact that grew stronger based on its target?

Yulia and the chief exchanged startled glances.

"These shackles impose 'constraints.'"

"Constraints… as in conditions that, if met, make the artifact stronger?"

"Exactly. The more difficult the conditions, the stronger the shackles become. In other words, against a strong opponent, the artifact can become exponentially more powerful."

"And where did you find something like this?"

"It wasn’t easy. I had to get help from Claire to track it down. Anyway."

Lloyd held up three fingers.

"We’ll input three conditions."

"Three?"

"Yes. The harder the conditions, the stronger the restraints. So, the first condition: the opponent’s guard must be lowered. At the moment when we need to use these, the enemy will likely be in control and overconfident. It’s a difficult condition, but a good insurance policy."

Lloyd extended his second finger.

"The second: we must have fallen into one of their traps."

"And that?"

"We’re invading the heart of the Seven Kill Squad. We’re bound to trigger at least one trap. And the third."

He extended his ring finger.

"The enemy must approach three times."

If all three conditions are met, the target will be restrained, no matter how strong they are.

Lloyd concluded with that.

?

Now, facing Ortega once again.

Yulia hesitated.

She had initially thought the shackles were meant for Ilsal...

'But considering he took sedatives to hide it, he knew they could work on Ortega too.'

"You think you can bind me with these pathetic shackles?"

Ortega rushed toward her, grinning.

As he neared, Yulia knew she had to make a decision.

Would she trust Lloyd?

Or give up everything and seal Ortega herself?

Yulia clenched her fist.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]