Chapter 79: Irreversible IV (part 2)

“…Then why did you call me? You said that you didn’t want me to see you off, so you begged me to trust you.”

“The princess and Ariel will be leaving soon, but you will remain with the Estel family. In that sense, I asked you to take good care of the Duchy of Estel while I’m away, Bianca.” I spoke in a low voice to Bianca, who was pouting as if she felt somewhat hurt.

“That’s only natural, so you don’t have to ask.” Bianca sighed before giving me a firm look. “You should take care of yourself too, Cain. Never get involved in anything dangerous. And…”

Her gaze drifted toward Aria, who stood silently in front of the carriage parked in the distance, watching me with a blank expression. Lowering her voice, Bianca whispered, “Don’t trust Aria too much. She may be acting as your devoted maid now, but don’t forget—her true nature is that of the ‘Witch of Winter.’ If she were powerless, it wouldn’t be an issue, but her knowledge and wisdom already surpass those of ordinary mages and are close to uncovering the ultimate truth. Perhaps she has even regained all of her past power but is merely feigning vulnerability before you. You must always remain on guard. Understand?”

Seeing the concern in her eyes, I forced a smirk, trying to reassure her.

“What are you so worried about? Aria is no longer the ‘Witch of Winter.’ She’s just Aria now. And have you already forgotten? In the end, it wasn’t you, the princess, or the saint who dealt the final blow—it was me. It was my sword that pierced the heart of the ‘Witch of Winter.’ There’s no way I would lose to an opponent I’ve already defeated once, right?”

“…What?”

Bianca’s reaction was strange. Instead of scoffing at my bravado or reacting with exasperation as I had expected, she simply stared at me.

“…What the hell are you talking about, Cain?” she asked, her expression unreadable.

Then she added something that sent a chill down my spine.

“Before the regression, it was me who killed the ‘Witch of Winter,’ not you.” (G: The mystery unravels.)

***

[Ariel’s POV]

“…He’s leaving again. This time too, he’s leaving me behind.”

Ariel murmured as she stared out the window of the room she had been given, watching the carriage disappear over the horizon.

It was a sight all too familiar to her. The image of him walking away, his back turned to her, was something she had witnessed time and time again. It had become a painful cycle, an endless repetition. The sadness, the agony, the emptiness of separation—she knew them well.

But familiarity didn’t make it any less painful. No matter how many times it happened, parting with him was something she could never get used to.

No, she never got used to it.

She remembered it all too vividly. Even now, the sorrow, the heartbreak—she had never forgotten, not even for a single moment.

How could she forget? It was the happiest time of her life.

…And the most devastating moment when everything had ended in catastrophe.

[Please, don’t go. Please, don’t leave me. You promised. You said you would stay by my side, that you would look only at me. Cain, please. I’m begging you, please…]

[…I’m sorry, Ariel. I know I said I left everything behind, but I can’t turn my back on their suffering. At least once, I was their little duke.]

“…You really are heartless. You’re such an idiot, Cain.”

Ariel whispered, closing her eyes softly.

This time, she swore, she wouldn’t let it end the same way.

That was the only vow she had made when she regressed from ten years in the future.

But then—

A faint, crackling sound echoed somewhere in the Duchy of Estel.

It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Ariel recognized it immediately. The timing was suspicious, almost as if it had been waiting for Cain and Aria to leave the castle. More than that, the energy rippling through the air carried a distinct presence—one Ariel knew all too well.

There was no mistaking it.

“…Kyrie?”

Why was that sinister elf’s aura present in the Duke of Estel’s domain?

As far as Ariel knew, Kyrie el Denaris had never once stepped outside the Great Forest where the World Tree resided. And yet, the energy that pricked at her senses unmistakably belonged to Kyrie.

What was going on?

“…..”

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Ariel turned toward the source of the disturbance. It didn’t take long to track the presence to one of the servants’ quarters.

Carefully, she pushed the door open.

Creak—

Inside, the room was a typical mage’s quarters—shelves lined with countless spellbooks, vials of unknown substances, and an assortment of alchemical tools scattered across the desk.

Ariel’s eyes swept over the items before her gaze settled on something unexpected.

A small branch, discarded carelessly in the corner of the room.

“…A branch of the World Tree?”

The realization struck her instantly.

Kyrie’s bow was crafted from the branches of the World Tree. Ariel knew this well, which meant she could recognize such a thing at a glance.

But why was something so precious tossed aside like a piece of trash?

Then—

Crackle—

The branch pulsed with energy, a faint vibration humming beneath her fingertips as if calling out to her.

Hesitating only for a moment, Ariel reached down and grasped the branch.

[Oh, you finally picked it up. Took you long enough. Aren’t you being a little too cautious? Anyway, it’s been a while, Ariel Thiers.]

“…Kyrie?”

There was no doubt about it.

The voice echoing in her mind through the branch—it belonged to Kyrie.

“…What kind of trick is this?” Ariel’s eyes narrowed. “Why is this branch here? And how did you know I was staying here?”

Kyrie only chuckled, her voice filled with amusement.

[There are ways to know everything. But really, Ariel, aren’t you overreacting a bit?]

“Well, excuse me if I don’t trust a scheming woman like you.”

[Heh. And yet, if not for me, you wouldn’t have even noticed. Quite bold of you to act so confident, Ariel.]

“…..”

[Well, fine. As fun as it is chatting with you, that’s not why I reached out. There’s not much magic left in this branch, so let’s get straight to the point.]

“The point?”

[Yes, the point.]

Kyrie’s amusement never faded, but her next words sent a chill down Ariel’s spine.

[Do you want to see your daughter’s face again?]

Enjoy reading I Picked Up an Amnesiac Witch? Then please show your support if you are able to.

Want to read more? Become a I Picked Up an Amnesiac Witch ($5 per month) member at Patreon and get Five or More Advance Chapters (parts) immediately, then stay 5 or more chapter parts ahead of the regular release for the month! Or, become a KR WN Bundle ($10 per month) member and have access to all the KR webnovel advance chapters on goblinslate. Get more chapters by sponsoring chapters at BuymeaCoffee. Rate and leave a review at NU.

Check out my other projects:

Rehabilitating the Villainess

Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses

My Wife is the Devil

Transmigrated as the Butler of a Defeated Heroine

My Summons Are Special