Chapter 199 Recovering Memory - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

When Lynn opened his eyes again, he found himself in a somewhat familiar corridor. What was going on? Recalling his actions moments ago, he was at a loss. Due to his injuries yet to recover, his body couldn't move. Thus, while Tia was out, he connected with the mark of the god of the end, attempting to visit the Pantheon to finally see the Witch Lady again after so long. Apart from the ascension trials, he had many questions for her. For example, the aftermath of the Moon Goddess descending upon the Pantheon. And, the truth related to his sealed memories. According to the information from Evester, it seemed some of his memories didn't match reality. Although unwilling to doubt his favorite Witch Lady, Lynn had decided to address the matter openly. As beings with such special significance to each other, he didn’t want there to be any secrets. That is why Lynn proactively sought her out before things were resolved. Yet, the scene before him left him utterly stunned. Not only was it not the magnificent Pantheon he remembered, but it also turned out to be a long carpeted corridor that felt both familiar and strange. Wait. Isn't this the one in Augusta Manor? Lynn immediately recalled the route he had to take every time he went to the Princess’s study. Though he hadn’t stayed long at the manor, this memory was significant and hard to forget. But why exactly? He had been in a mercenary inn on the outskirts of Glostine's lower district just moments before; how was he suddenly back in Orne City? Instinctively, Lynn looked out the window, only to find utter darkness. At the same time, a faint calling seemed to come from a room ahead. What trick was the Witch Lady up to? Lynn was puzzled but didn’t overthink it, hurriedly walking towards the location of the Princess's study in his memory. "Creaaak—" Accompanied by the sound of the door slowly opening, he walked in silently. Soon after, an unexpected scene unfolded before him. In the study stood a cold-tempered white-haired woman, wearing a gown as thin as white gauze that barely concealed her enticing silhouette and private features, creating an alluringly obscured vision. Her face was adorned with a familiar black mask, standing quietly by the window. The Witch Lady? The thought had barely surfaced when, in the next second, he saw the woman gracefully raise her alabaster wrist and slowly remove the mask from her face. Simultaneously, a menacing dark mark on the side of her face came into view. Lynn froze in place. White hair had always been the most conspicuous trait of the Witch Lady. But this woman before him not only possessed this characteristic but also bore the Princess's mark on her face. As if the two distinct individuals had fused into one at this moment. Of course, it was just his illusion. After all, both women were essentially the same person, and given time, wouldn’t the Princess inevitably transform into the Witch Lady? Lynn's mind became a whirlwind of complex emotions. Meanwhile, when he met the gaze of this familiar yet unfamiliar woman, a bout of dizziness swept through his mind. This scene evoked a strange sense of familiarity in him. As if he had seen it somewhere before. In the eyes of the white-haired woman, he detected a tinge of melancholic beauty. Simultaneously, her soft lips parted, and an ethereal yet gentle voice resonated in his ears. "At the age of four..." The woman walked gracefully toward Lynn on her bare jade feet, recounting her tragic and dark past while gradually shedding her clothing, revealing her exquisite body. As her familiar fragrance enveloped him, Lynn felt her warm and soft body gently press against him. Instinctively, he embraced the white-haired woman. Meanwhile, an unprecedented sense of incongruity arose in his heart, accompanied by a faint, intermittent pain in his mind. Yes. He seemed to have seen this scene somewhere before. A scene that should have been indelibly etched in his memory. But why... Sensing her warm, orchid-like breath and those tempting lips so close, he felt an urge to kiss her. But before him was the Witch Lady whom he respected and admired! In a flash, the stabbing pain in his mind intensified. Simultaneously, countless memory fragments breached a mental barrier and flooded into his mind. Dungeon interrogations, disguised hypnosis, thorn collars, obedient pet, relics, stockings, rewards, dates, heart-to-heart confessions, tears, rescues... Numerous forgotten past events surfaced in his mind. Lynn felt an unprecedented mental shock as if his entire worldview was collapsing; his vision went black, and he passed out. The white-haired woman, previously nestled in his arms, sensed the anomaly and quickly caught his limp body. Simultaneously, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared in her eyes. She had been so close to having her beloved follower bow down for a kiss. Yet, in the end, it hadn't happened. While holding the unconscious Lynn who had fainted from the sudden return of his memories, the white-haired woman lightly waved her hand. The dark runes on her face vanished silently, and her previously unclad body was now covered again by a tattered black gauze gown. Simultaneously, the surrounding scene of Augusta Manor dissolved like a mirage, revealing the grandeur and sanctity of the Pantheon once more. Indeed. The woman combining both sets of traits was, of course, the Witch Lady in disguise. The scene that had just unfolded was in fact an event that had happened on the night Evester handled the level zero unsealed artifact incident. Gazing at the unconscious young man, she remained silent. After a long while, she let out a soft sigh. The Witch Lady had always felt a pang of jealousy toward Evester. All the experiences etched in Lynn’s memory were just "memories"; it was, after all, that woman who truly experienced them in reality. So, when the follower proactively contacted the Pantheon, she whimsically recreated the scene before him. Not only to experience what the other woman had gone through but also to use this scenario as a medium to break the memory seal she had imposed. Actually, even the final witch hadn’t wanted to remove the seal on her follower’s memory so soon. She was simply outmaneuvered by Evester. Regardless, a seed of doubt had been planted in his heart, prompting his visit for answers. So, rather than concealing, it was better to confess directly. In this way, the initiative still lay in her own hands. When Lynn awoke again, he found himself lying in a warm bed. "Awake?" The cold voice of a woman reached him. Instinctively, he sat up and looked to the side. At this moment, the Witch Lady sat elegantly on a chair by the bedside, legs crossed. Noticing his awakening, she spoke softly, closing the book in her hands. Glancing around, he realized the scene had switched to the familiar Pantheon from his memory. Lynn was somewhat bewildered: "That person just now..." He intended to ask about the woman who was a blend of both the Princess and the Witch Lady. Unexpectedly, before he could finish, the Witch Lady's clear voice interrupted, "What appeared before you was merely an illusion." "Only by recreating the most profound scene can the memory seal in your mind be shattered." Her expression was calm, yet indisputable. An illusion? But it felt so real—he could even feel the woman's generous bosom and her soft, creamy skin through the fabric. Even now, the familiar fragrance lingered faintly at his nose. Something about it felt off. However, this was the Witch Lady's explanation, and Lynn believed her without question. At the same time, he finally recalled everything that had once been forgotten. "So, you really did seal away a part of my memory," Lynn softly asked, simultaneously sifting through the sudden influx of fragmented images in his mind. This was, after all, the very reason he had come to the Pantheon. Unexpectedly, the Witch Lady straightforwardly and calmly admitted it without any attempt at concealment. "That's right," she replied candidly. "Judging from the results, the operation seems to have been quite successful." Although his feelings were mixed, Lynn had to agree. The reason for sealing his memories was precisely to avoid being crippled and imprisoned by a deranged Evester who wanted to keep him forever. And now, being able to roam freely around Glostine was testament to that success. Indeed, no one knows oneself better than oneself. Yet, remembering the past incidents of confinement scenarios, mouth-to-mouth feeding, and the wrestling reward on the train—the things the Witch Lady had done to him—evoked a strange feeling in Lynn. It all felt...so awkward. His eyes involuntarily drifted to the Witch Lady's slender ankles and beautifully shaped fair feet peeking from beneath her skirt. Noticing Lynn's gaze, normally, she would react by withdrawing her feet, refusing to let him look at her with such a defiling gaze. But this time, she seemed oblivious. "So, now that your memories have returned, how do you feel?" the Witch Lady asked after a brief silence. Her gaze, calm and steady, landed on him. Lynn sat there for a few seconds, scratching his head. Perceiving his hesitation, the Witch Lady's face remained unchanged, yet the pale hand hidden beneath her ruffled sleeve clenched tightly. Her anxiety over his response was palpable. It was natural for her to feel anxious. After all, with the memory seal broken, Lynn's affections could now sway between Evester and herself. Seconds ticked by. Eventually, a hint of shyness appeared on the boy's face. Uneasily shifting his gaze toward the colossal statues surrounding the Pantheon, he murmured, "I guess... I still like the Witch Lady the most." "Wha—!!" Involuntarily, the Witch Lady took a step back, only to quickly regain her stance. To mask her momentary lapse, she clutched the fabric at her chest, attempting to calm her racing heart as she turned slightly away. Under the glow of the light cast by the chains of the Order God, a light blush radiated across her fair cheeks. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her chaotic thoughts. Meanwhile, Lynn continued, "After all, when I was at the brink of death, it was you who saved me and guided me toward the past, gradually granting me the strength and means for revenge." While Lynn's demeanor could be quite diplomatic, these words bore no flattery. Had Evester been present to hear this, she'd be seething, shouting her grievances against the detestable witch. The reasoning was straightforward. Were his memories restored? Indeed. But not completely. Worried that fully unlocking his past recollections might cause her follower's devotion to shift entirely to the her of the past, the Witch Lady withheld some memories. While Lynn now remembered everything about Evester and developed a certain fondness for her, these emotions still predominantly favored the Witch Lady. In a sense, this was the advantage of who came first. And it was also the prowess of a first love’s aura. She had delved into Lynn's memories and knew full well that the event evoking the deepest emotional resonance with her former self was that night before she dealt with the unsealed artifact. It was that night Lynn witnessed a tearful Evester, who confided her tragic past to him. This revelation was why he later chose to jump off the train. Lynn reasoned it was to prevent future regrets. But to the Witch Lady, his logic seemed unfounded. Many actions could lead to regret, but they weren't significant enough to risk one's life. If not for the unique standing and meaning she held, why else would he have periled his life to save her? Under such circumstances, who first left a mark became especially pivotal. After all, from a material perspective, the two women were the same person. The one who first etched herself into his heart naturally held an unparalleled advantage. No matter what came next, he'd likely frame it with, "This was the past Witch Lady, after all." "...No need to dwell on those past events," the Witch Lady declared after a moment, regaining her cool and dignified demeanor, looking down at Lynn from her elevated stance. Indeed. Her icy demeanor always managed to strike at Lynn's preferences. Alas, poor Princess. You're only 23—it's a hopeless match against her. Reflecting on this, Lynn shook his head before asking, "Anyway, about the Moon Goddess's affair, what happened afterward? Were you injured?" Upon hearing his query, the Witch Lady gently raised her wrist. The seal seemed significantly wider than before, but despite that, distinct fissures appeared across the shackles' surface. "After Beatrice's descent that day, she reinforced the seal on my wrist, weakening my power more than ever," the Witch Lady's voice carried an ethereal grace. "Fortunately, your actions in the past disrupted her fate's trajectory, triggering a chain reaction that nearly shattered this shackle." "Yet, there is something you should know." "And what might that be?" Lynn asked, puzzled. In the next instant, the Witch Lady slightly lifted her hand. With a pulse of divine energy, a cocoon of light, woven like moonbeams, formed before Lynn. It was the size of a carriage, inside which lay a beautiful elf maiden, her expression serene as if dreaming a long, lovely dream. Lynn was momentarily stunned. Tia? According to the original storyline, wasn't she supposed to be assimilated and devoured by the Moon Goddess Beatrice? Why was she here? In that instant, countless questions arose in his mind. "What happened to her?" After a prolonged silence, Lynn turned to the Witch Lady. With an unfathomable calm, bordering on cold indifference, the End Witch responded. "She's dead."