A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 142

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 142
* * *
At that moment, in the Northern Prelai Duchy.
“Where did Kiana go! Where on earth did she go! What in the world is happening!”
“Kiki! Kiki!”
“No, what is this….”
Scari, Joshua, Julius, and even Hyde were in an uproar. And for good reason—she had been standing right there moments ago before vanishing without a trace. All that remained where Kiana had been was the luxury dagger Joshua had given her, rolling pathetically across the ground.
Joshua couldn’t even bring himself to pick up that slightly cracked dagger with its pathetic durability, instead hopping anxiously from foot to foot. It was a clear sign that Joshua had completely lost his composure.
“Even Piyak is gone? What on earth is going on here?”
“Kiki!”
When Julius and Hyde panicked and began drawing their weapons, Daram suddenly leaped down and shouted.
【Calm yourselves!】
At that thunderous command, everyone fell silent. Truly, he deserved to be called the castle’s true master.
【I hadn’t mentioned it before, but it seems Piyak’s true ability is spatio-temporal displacement. There’s a high probability she’s been transported somewhere.】
“Spatio-temporal… displacement?”
【If it were temporal displacement, her physical form would remain here. Ortson is the only one who’s ever performed spatio-temporal displacement with his own body. But since she’s disappeared, that means she performed spatial displacement….】
Daram spoke gravely.
【Perhaps Piyak transported Kiana to wherever she wished to go? After all, a summoned creature ultimately uses its power according to its master’s desires.】
“That makes sense!”
Hyde exclaimed excitedly.
“Where did Kiana want to go? Tell me the places she frequented! Quickly, let’s depart at once!”
Neither Joshua nor Scari could offer a ready answer.
“Surely there must be somewhere the child enjoyed going? Where did our Kiki frequently visit since childhood? The wardrobe? The dining hall? Parties? The salon?”
“Well….”
Scari sighed before responding.
“She didn’t have any favorite places… she just stayed cooped up in her room every single day….”
“What? Why did you raise her that way!”
“And you didn’t raise her at all!”
And so Scari found himself quarreling with his long-awaited son almost immediately. It fell to Joshua to sort out the chaos that ensued.
“Ugh, I’m so sick of this household! Who else would clean up this mess if not me!”
Joshua cried out in exasperation.
“…Let’s just go. We’re going. To the Ducal Palace in the Capital!”
And so Joshua, Scari, and Hyde set out immediately for the palace. Only Julius, who couldn’t leave the Northern Region unattended, remained behind, wailing repeatedly “Where did our Kiki go!” On their journey to the Capital, they received a carrier pigeon sent by Alex.
Kiana suddenly appeared in the Capital and collapsed. Kailon keeps spouting nonsense about having to wait.
* * *
Light blazed brilliantly once more. Now I truly couldn’t see anything.
‘Wow, that wish is being granted pretty quickly and efficiently.’
Why show only what needs to be shown and rush through it all so hastily? Moving fast was my style, but this was excessively efficient.
As I clicked my tongue, flap flap flap—I heard the familiar sound of wings.
【Kiana! I finally found you!】
Ah. I did mention earlier that I wanted to meet Piyak. Piyak must have been wandering through some dimension as well, because my eyes widened.
“Piyak!”
I cried out in the empty white space.
“Where is this place? Where am I?”
【This is the Otherworld, Kiana.】
Piyak flew to my hand and folded his wings as he spoke.
【I’ve been using this place to move through space and deliver letters.】
“Ah, so this is your workplace.”
That meant if I left this place, I’d return to reality. Well, I’d already learned all the truths I needed to know, so there was no need for any more time travel.
【Let’s leave now, Kiana.】
Piyak buried his face in my hand as he spoke. Tears had already begun to form at the corners of his eyes.
【Many people must be waiting for you.】
That was true. Just looking at Alex and Sezare’s expressions when I lost consciousness had been something else.
“But Piyak.”
There was one thing that bothered me.
“You said it takes quite a long time to leave the Otherworld, didn’t you? When you were next to Melissa, it took a whole month.”
【Yes.】
“So when I return, a lot of time will have passed too, right?”
【More time will have passed than what you perceive.】
Piyak nodded and explained.
【Since this is the first time something like this has happened, I’m not sure of the exact timeframe, but in any case, time always passes faster in reality than here.】
“I see.”
I gently stroked Piyak’s head and smiled slightly.
“So when I return, Sezare will have become Crown Prince, and Father, Grandfather, and Joshua will have come to the Prelai Manor. I really hope only that much time has passed.”
【Yes, Kiana.】
Piyak spoke with determination.
【If what you wanted is finished, let’s return quickly. And I’ll always be by your side.】
At the same time, my vision brightened again and everything began to fade from sight.
* * *
Piyak fluttered his wings.
“Chirp chirp chirp!”
“It moved!”
“It moved, I saw it too!”
【Baby, baby! You’re awake?】
Amid the tremendous commotion, Piyak blinked his eyes and woke up. The area near Kiana’s bed was crowded with people.
“But why isn’t Kiana waking up! Why!”
Alex shouted at the top of his lungs.
Piyak looked at Kiana lying beside him without even having time to check who was there. Kiana still appeared to be asleep, showing no sign of movement.
【But, surely….】
Piyak trembled his wings in shock.
【I said we should go back together….】
Watching Kiana, who showed no signs of regaining consciousness, Piyak’s expression grew grave.
“W-what’s happening? Piyak, what on earth….”
Scari asked frantically. Piyak couldn’t understand why Kiana wasn’t here either. But one thing was certain—she showed no signs of waking up at all.
“No, why still hasn’t she regained consciousness….”
As Scari rambled incoherently, Piyak suddenly thought of something.
【If what Kiana wants is finished, let’s hurry back. And I’ll always be by her side.】
Piyak’s ability was currently raging uncontrolled, but it manifested absolutely according to Kiana’s desires. The fact that Kiana hadn’t returned here meant that what she wanted wasn’t finished yet….
If that was the case, there was only one hypothesis that could be established.
【I, I think I roughly understand….】
Piyak spoke in a trembling voice.
【Kiana… still doesn’t want to return to reality.】
“What? So you’re saying Kiana isn’t waking up because she doesn’t want to? Then where exactly is she?”
To Scari’s barrage of questions, Piyak answered with his eyes squeezed shut.
【I, in the past… I don’t know exactly which point in the past, though.】
* * *
My vision returned. I staggered for a while, dizzy. Since I’d even met Piyak, I naturally thought I’d return to reality, but my body was still in a semi-transparent state.
‘What is this, still feels like the past?’
Moreover, since Piyak wasn’t by my side, it seemed I was time-traveling alone again. What had I been thinking about? What had I unconsciously wanted to do?
That was when it happened.
“Yes, Kiana! Yes! That’s right, that’s right! Just one more step!”
My eyes widened. Suddenly, my breath caught.
The design was somewhat different from now, but judging by the scenery outside the window, this was my room from a very long time ago.
“Kyahahaa! Mommy!”
“Wow! Our daughter took three steps!”
Tears welled up. My young mother was holding me, who had just succeeded at taking my first steps, and laughing.
‘Ah….’
Something I’d always longed for without even having to think about it. My wish that was truly, truly desperate.
“Want to try again, Kiana? Hm? This time let’s try five steps!”
Mother released my hand again. The pink-haired baby toddled carefully, then giggled and nestled back into Mother’s arms.
“Mama, mama, mommommomom….”
Warm sunlight shone brightly through my room, which was scattered with various toys, illuminating Mother and baby me. It was just an ordinary moment from some time long ago, yet tears streamed down my cheeks nonetheless.
That’s right. I had always missed Mother.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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