6-4 The Last Wish
In the basement of the duke’s mansion, there is a large magical training ground.
Even though great nobles rarely engage in battles themselves, their ancestors were often excellent knights or warriors. In the case of the Rosenberg ducal family, their ancestor was a magician.
This underground training ground is a remnant of that legacy. While it’s sometimes used for magic training, it was originally a place for magical rituals.
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to use magic openly in the garden during broad daylight, but magic was originally a secret art, not meant to be displayed publicly. That’s why training grounds of the past were often hidden underground.
The training ground, surrounded by black stone walls, is dimly lit and has an atmosphere where ghosts might appear.
It’s now late at night, with everyone in the mansion fast asleep. Alice has drawn a giant magic circle on the floor of the training ground and placed an altar at its center.
On the altar lies a [Record] that serves as a catalyst, along with various magical items whose purposes are unclear.
My servants and I stand at equal intervals along the edge of the magic circle, outside of it, to supply the magical power necessary for the ritual.
Since everyone possesses magical power, even non-magicians like Richard can supply it.
As [Reset] itself was a powerful magic that interfered with the world, this ritual to replace its compensation requires an enormous amount of magical power.
Richard and Oscar, who usually joke around, haven’t said a word since entering the training ground. Everyone is enveloped in a tense atmosphere. It’s understandable. Even if it’s for my sake, the fear of one’s existence disappearing is real.
Alice steps back from the center of the magic circle to its outer edge. Now, including myself, seven people surround the magic circle.
Alice begins chanting the spell.
I feel the sensation of magical power draining from my body.
The giant magic circle glows pale blue, and the floor of the training ground within it appears distorted.
Probably, the inside of the magic circle is trying to connect with something.
Alice continues her chanting.
I sense a buildup of power around the altar. It’s not magical power, but something more fundamental.
It’s indescribable in words. It’s amazing that she can connect to such a thing. I’d be too terrified to do it.
Both Alice and Marius must be somewhat inhuman.
As I’m thinking this, I notice Alice’s voice gradually becoming more strained as she chants the spell.
The ritual must be nearing completion.
Then, a pillar of white light appears in the center of the magic circle.
“…Lady Selina, the person who enters that white light will become the compensation. Please designate someone.”
Alice prompts me in a breathless voice. She seems about to collapse from using so much power in the ritual.
To be honest, the person to be sacrificed was decided from the beginning.
It’s me.
I lived eighteen years in my previous life, and eighteen years in this one. It might be a bit short as a lifespan, but my life was supposed to end at eighteen originally. Living twice as long seems sufficient.
I silently walked towards the center of the magic circle.
“Lady Selina!”
My servants cry out in what sounds like screams.
Richard reflexively tries to run forward but stumbles and falls.
“My legs? No, my whole body is numb…”
Richard realizes the change that’s occurred in his body. It’s not just Richard; none of the servants can stand, and they all slowly collapse where they are.
Just before coming to the training ground, I personally served tea to my servants in my room. Regardless of who I chose as the sacrifice, it was a small token of gratitude for their loyalty thus far.
Tea etiquette is something every noble lady learns, but in my case, due to my high status, I rarely had the opportunity to serve tea myself. Including my previous life, this was only the second time.
Incidentally, the first person I served tea to was Eleanor in my previous life.
It’s ironic that both the first and second times, I ended up mixing drugs into the tea.
However, while Eleanor noticed the drug and my attempt failed, this time it worked because my targets completely trusted me.
Even if they had noticed, I could have just threatened them by asking, “Can’t you drink the tea I made?”
I suppose this is where I truly shine as a villainess.
“Lady Selina! Please stop!”
Everyone was shouting. They can still speak well. Their voices reach even my heart.
That’s enough. There are many people here who care about me. This was an unimaginable scene in my previous life.
Surely, I must have been lonely in my previous life. I must have been lonely because there was no one truly around me in a meaningful way.
However, the one friend I had gave me a chance to start over.
I think that was incredibly fortunate.
I advanced to the edge of the pillar of white light. I’m admittedly tense, my body stiffening. It would be a lie to say I’m not scared. But in this life, I’ve fought countless monsters without fear. I have the courage to move forward.
If it were me from my previous life, I wouldn’t have had such courage and would have unhesitatingly sacrificed one of my servants instead.
The fact that I no longer make such choices proves that living this second life was worthwhile. I looked around at my servants.
“This might be my last order, as you may forget it.”
I forced a smile on my tense face.
“Everyone, please be happy.”
My servants were crying. These were tears that no one shed for me in my previous life.
Isn’t this quite an admirable end? I did well. I have no regrets like in my previous life.
Just as I took a deep breath and was about to step into the light, the door to the training ground creaked open.
“Huh?”
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There shouldn’t be anyone else awake in this mansion. Moreover, I had put up a barrier, so no one should even be able to approach this place.
When I turned around, I saw six dogs entering through the open door of the training ground.
These were the old dogs that had recently been sleeping most of the time and barely moving.
However, now they were panting heavily like when I first met them, running straight towards me.
Their momentum was so great that I reflexively froze.
Taking advantage of that moment, Richard’s dog, the strongest of them, knocked me away.
Away from the pillar of light.
“Why?”
What I saw then was the sight of six dogs leaping into the pillar of light, passing right by me.
I hurriedly tried to move towards the light pillar, but Alice’s red dog bristled all over and growled at me menacingly.
“Eek!”
The dog’s openly hostile bark and my lingering fear of dogs made me slump to the ground.
All six dogs were now inside the white light.
! Image
“Get out of there!”
I shouted.
But the dogs’ expressions suddenly turned gentle, wagging their tails and gazing at my face.
Twelve eyes. In them, I could undoubtedly see affection for me.
The time I spent with the dogs flashed through my mind. It wasn’t always pleasant memories.
But I love you too. You shouldn’t be the ones to go. That’s my role.
“At least listen to me this one last time!”
But they didn’t move.
I hate dogs. They never listen. Not even to my last wish.
The next moment, the outlines of the dogs blurred within the white light.
As the white light converged, Marius lay collapsed in the center of the magic circle.
Why am I here? I’m sure I was about to step into the white light to become the sacrifice.
All six of my servants, whom I had drugged, are still here too.
“Lady Selina is still here!”
Isabelle cried out, her voice brimming with joy.
“Nobody’s gone, right!?”
Richard keeps counting the servants over and over.
“It’s a miracle! God has performed a miracle!”
Louis, still collapsed on the floor, offered a prayer to God.
A miracle? Did such a thing really happen?
I stared blankly at Marius lying before me.
Then, my hand touching the floor felt a small puddle.
(Where did this water come from?)
As I wondered this, another droplet fell onto my hand.
It was none other than my own tears.
Why? Because Marius came back?
Even I am called a demon and a devil, the most feared ducal lady in this country.
It’s not good for such a demon to be crying. It would damage my reputation.
I tried to hold back, but against my will, tears continued to overflow from my eyes and wouldn’t stop for a while.
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)
- The Last Magic (translated by my friend narwhal)
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
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