Chapter 6: The Ritual
6-1 The Seven Stars
“I might be recommended for the Seven Stars.”
Alice reported this to me some time after my engagement to the crown prince had been privately called off.
The Seven Stars is a title given to the top seven magicians in this country.
There are apparently evaluation criteria such as magical power, ability, and achievements. But it’s rare for someone Alice’s age to be recommended for the Seven Stars.
Alice has been at the top of the magic class since her first year, and has been creating new spells one after another while still in school. Given her ability to absorb knowledge from books as easily as breathing, it’s certainly not difficult for her to join the Seven Stars. However, I felt something was off.
“Was there even a vacancy in the Seven Stars? I thought all seven members were still active. Did someone retire?”
To become one of the Seven Stars, there must be an open seat to begin with. Unless one of the Seven Stars retires or passes away, no matter how excellent a magician is, they cannot become one of the Seven Stars.
“No, there has been one vacancy in the Seven Stars for a long time. They’ve finally decided to hold a selection process, and I’ve been chosen as one of the candidates.”
I know about this. In my previous life, the selection meeting was also held… Was it? Who was chosen in my previous life?
I can’t remember that person’s name. But in my mind, that someone remains as one of the Seven Stars.
“Alice, tell me the names of the other candidates.”
“Yes. There’s Arcanas, who distinguished himself in the border conflict five years ago. Eliana, renowned as a dark magic researcher. Leila, who made it to the final selection for the Seven Stars last time. And Sephiroth, who has devised numerous new spells. These four.”
I have no recollection of any of these names. Yet, someone must have become one of the Seven Stars in my previous life. I know that magician. I felt something like certainty.
To become one of the Seven Stars, they must have been able to use powerful magic.
— For example, magic that could let one relive their life again —
It had been bothering me for a long time.
Why am I, who should have died, living my life over again?
When I was first reborn, I thought it was divine guidance.
That God had taken pity on me, who met a tragic death, and given me another chance.
But that couldn’t be. Looking back now, it wasn’t a tragedy at all.
It was simply the consequence of an eighteen-year-old girl, who understood nothing about the world, wielding unfamiliar power recklessly.
Besides, in my previous life, I was nothing more than an arrogant noble lady with only a high sense of self-importance, who had done nothing virtuous.
I’m not the kind of person who could expect divine grace.
Probably the person who became one of the Seven Stars in my previous life is the very one who made me relive my life.
I don’t know the name. However, I felt a sensation as if several missing pieces were coming together.
And a memory in me opened up.
“Selina, this is an amazing book, you know?”
Someone in my previous life said that and showed me a book.
“This book is an artifact called [Record]. It’s not affected by physical phenomena, magic, or even time. In other words, this book will continue to exist no matter what happens. It can’t be erased. It will remain in memory. Even if the world ends, even if the world is changed by magic.”
“What’s that? It’s not amazing at all. That’s meaningless.”
At that time, I glanced at the [Record] and quickly lost interest.
I, who was unfamiliar with magic, couldn’t find value in a book that simply continued to exist.
So, in my previous life, I pushed that book to the corner of my memory as an insignificant event. That’s why the impression was faint, and I hadn’t remembered it until now.
A book that should exist but I thought didn’t. But I knew where that book was.
And magic that can rewind the world and redo life.
Magic demands a price. The price for one person’s life must be the same thing.
That is, the life of the caster itself.
Various things were coming together in my head with a snap.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
On my way back from the academy that day, I stopped by a certain noble’s mansion.
I shouldn’t have any acquaintance with them. But it was a house that had been bothering me for a while.
The Ravenwood Viscount family.
A family that has produced excellent magicians for generations and has been recognized for their achievements to join the ranks of nobility.
I sent Isabel ahead and waited in front of the gate.
“I’d like to see inside the mansion.”
It’s an abrupt request. But given the difference in our social status, they should be able to accommodate some unreasonable demands.
After a while, Isabel and a servant of the mansion came out together and guided me into the mansion.
In front of the house door, the Viscountess Ravenwood was standing with a tense expression, wondering what was going on.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ravenwood. I am Selina von Rosenberg. Thank you for allowing my sudden visit today.”
I greeted her as politely as possible.
“I’ve heard your name before. What brings you here today? I heard you wanted to see the mansion…”
“Before that, I have one question for you, Lady Ravenwood. Do you have a child about my age?”
“…No, we don’t have any children.”
Lady Ravenwood’s expression turned a bit sad. Not having a child to inherit the family must be a painful topic for her.
“I apologize for my rudeness. Then, I’d like to see one room. I believe it’s a room that no one is using.”
The lady and the servant exchanged glances. They probably have no idea what I’m talking about.
“I wonder if we have such a room? I don’t mind showing you any room except my husband’s, so please come in if you’d like.”
I stepped into the mansion.
There’s a sense of déjà vu. It feels like it’s not my first time here even though it should be.
The lady is looking at me suspiciously. Ignoring her gaze, I started walking.
The room at the end of the corridor, entering from the left of the entrance hall. That’s the place I’m aiming for.
Only the memory related to [Record] remains vaguely.
But there was nothing there. There’s an unnaturally empty space where there should be a room.
I gently pressed my hand against the wall. This should be the place.
I felt the touch of a depression… not a wall, through my palm. I moved my hand along this depression, searching for what I was looking for.
My hand lightly touched it, making a clicking sound. An invisible doorknob. Also what I was looking for.
When I grasped the doorknob, a door appeared as if it had been there all along.
The lady, the servants, and the attendants I brought with me were all surprised.
“Lady Selina, what is this?”
Isabel is on guard. She probably thinks it’s some kind of magical phenomenon.
“This is not an illusion. It was probably isolated from the world to maintain consistency. To hide something that shouldn’t exist.”
A book that continues to exist even when time is rewound. It was probably hidden as an inconvenient item due to the major contradictions it carries, such as the loss of timeline and creator.
I opened the door without hesitation.
Inside were a bed, a desk, a chair, and a bookshelf. The bookshelf was empty.
(Nostalgic)
I feel nostalgic even though this should be an unknown room.
I opened the desk drawer and took out a book, the [Record].
— The Book of Marius Ravenwood —
That’s what was written on the cover of the book.
As I left the room, I said goodbye to the lady who was standing there dumbfounded.
“I’m sorry for the disturbance. I’ll take my leave now.”
What I’m doing is essentially theft, but the contents of this book can’t be seen by others.
Even if I explained that it’s a book of an unknown son, it would only confuse the lady.
Besides, they should naturally accept the existence of that room after some time passes. As if it had always been there. They’ll probably forget about the book too. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.
In fact, the lady and the servants are unnaturally unable to move. Probably in their heads right now, the world is being reconstructed in a convenient way.
My attendants are also experiencing confusion in their consciousness, shaking their heads while walking with frowning faces. Only I, who knew about the existence of this book from my previous life, should be able to remember this series of events.
I see, this book is indeed amazing. It continues to exist by altering even the causality of the world.
I gently opened the book in the carriage.
Isabel sitting across from me, Emma sitting next to me, they show no interest in the book as if nothing had happened earlier. Even Alice, sitting diagonally across, is reading another book. They probably don’t feel any question about this book being in my possession.
On the first page of the book, it was written:
— To my dear Selina —
TLNOTE : While waiting, I implore you dear readers to read other masterpiece novels that also written by the same author :
- When the Monster Meat I Ate Led Me to the Throne
- Who killed the Hero?
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated. Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
TFTC