A Villainess Should Be Strong

"Why would she not tell me...?" Estelle recalled Yulia's visit.

She acted like nothing was off. It was just a normal day. Without any differences.

Talking with her in ease. Behind all that, she was actually hiding these secrets?

"I don't know, but what do you think about the title? Does it resonate with you in any way?"

Although Yulia was able to uncover the seal, she couldn't do anything more than that.

Not to mention, the third seal was described by Yulia as 'impossible' to solve.

It was something she had never seen before.

A bundle of words. A cocoon of sealing chants.

It was bizarre. It made one's stomach sick.

To Yulia, the sealing chants looked like cursed writings. Cryptic words. Upon attempting to pry the seal apart, you would receive a backlash.

It wasn't something that was supposed to be opened right now.

At least, Yulia was able to ensure that no one had the ability to open it.

"..Nothing in particular," Estelle answered.

Minerva hummed in response.

There was nothing they could do.

Rushing everything wouldn't do anything good either, so it was best to take it slowly.

Far more important matters lied within the world. For example, the monsters and the ancient race.

All of them involved Estelle.

It was as if.. the world itself wanted to make Estelle as the center. The center of every development.

"What does it mean anyway? Now that I have the title, does it change anything?" Estelle asked.

Estelle tried to administer her magic. Nothing changed. She couldn't feel any difference.

"Well... there are two plausible choices since we don't know what the original Constellations' title was, right?" Minerva trailed her finger on her chin as she carefully contemplated the question.

With a swipe, she pulled out a magic book.

It was part of her [Magic Library]'s compartment. A physical representation of the skill.

It floated in the air and glimmered with sparkles.

"Constellations. What do I say? I probably have their magic in here somewhere, but I don't know where exactly," Minerva browsed through her catalog.

The [Magic Library] allowed her to study existing magic spells, and provided her with the possible ability to research into a new magic.

This was the exact way she obtained her soul searching ability. The one that peered into Estelle's soul and let her know that she was a reincarnated person.

In fact, Yulia, too, had known about this fact when she unveiled Estelle's first seal, revealing the [Reincarnated One] title Estelle possessed.

However, there was a strange ambience between the events.

It was too convenient.

Before Minerva met Estelle, it wasn't like she never though about creating a soul searching magic.

She tried multiple times, but the progress suddenly jumped when she encountered Estelle.

Too convenient.

As if somebody was controlling all the events from behind the scenes.

Minerva was sure that everybody felt it, too.

The timing was too coincidental and orderly for it to not be planned.

"One thing. You're either a Constellation below someone else, or a Constellation destined to unite the other members," Minerva informed.

"...?" Estelle, who didn't know what she meant became confused.

"[Constellation: Astraea]. That could be.. the title for the twelve Constellations' member, or the 'Leader' themselves,"

"Leader.. Like the Sage?"

"Like the Sage," Minerva affirmed.

"Even though the Sage led the Constellations, he was technically considered a Constellation too. The thirteenth Constellation. A shadow part, I suppose,"

The Sage wasn't considered as a Constellation by the people because he had a larger title. He was 'The Sage'.

He didn't need the Constellation title.

That was why, Estelle could possibly be the 'Leader'. The one that would gather the 12 Constellations.

Estelle thought hard, but nothing came to mind.

If she was the second Sage, then doesn't that mean she had to gather 12 other people? From where?

The most probable candidates would be the people around her.

Minerva Eire, the Crimson Witch.

Yulia Eire, the Witch of Arcana.

Heine, the former Spirit King.

Those three candidates were overqualified to be a Constellation.

In the world, they were top reigning champions.

Estelle debated.

If she was the 'Leader', then wouldn't these three naturally be a part of her entourage?

"...Minerva, if I was the second Sage, would you become one of the Constellations?" Estelle timidly asked.

"Hmm? It depends. I don't really mind, since I'm not bound to anything. But.. am I even worthy for the position?"

"We're talking about a Constellation. Twelve people out of the entire world. Keeping the world's balance. I don't associate with any.. important factions, I'm just myself,"

There was a difference between a Ruler and a strong individual.

A Ruler had thousands of lives under their commands.

A strong individual might overpower a Ruler, but if they had few supporters, it was hard to command others.

Minerva and Yulia fell into the second category. They were strong individuals with little connections and political influences.

Standalone Witches.

"I think you're worthy," Estelle claimed.

No matter how infamous one was, they still could qualify for a Constellation's position. They just had to work to maintain the world's balance along with everyone else.

In Estelle's mind, it didn't matter if one was a Ruler or not.

One or two Rulers were enough. If everyone was a Ruler, they would be busy with their own factions and would have less time for the operation.

Wouldn't that be worse?

Minerva was a top-tier Witch. One of the best magic user in the world that's currently alive.

Not to mention, she still had hundreds of years worth of life. No one knew how much further she could progress.

She qualified.

"...Then we can talk it out once more with Yulia and Heine. If you want me on the board, then those two are going to be invited as well, right?" Minerva massaged her temples and relented.

In truth, she also wanted to see how things will progress.

"Of course!" Estelle flashed a dazzling smile. She beamed with happiness at Minerva's reply.

Thankfully, she agreed for the time being.

At least it wasn't a rejection.

They soon prepared for Estelle's official return to the Dukedom.

Estelle trusted her servants, but it would still be unnerving if they found out about her growth.

She was currently known to have 'disappeared'.

If anything, she planned to continue that 'disappearance' and transition to another country without making a ruckus.

Thus, Estelle directly opened a gate to a place that she was sure no one would enter except for her two parents: Alan's study.

"Then, I'll be leaving now," Estelle bid her goodbyes to Minerva.

Just yesterday, Alan and Sheila visited her through Minerva's kind escort. Now, Estelle was going to go back to them.

Only to deliver the news of her eventual departure.

Estelle felt somewhat hollow inside. She was going to miss the convenient comfort and warmth of her parents once she travels abroad.

It didn't mean that she wasn't going to see them again. In fact, just with the space rift she created to travel from Minerva's house to Alan's study, she was able to go back on forth between the two locations with ease.

Her unlimited mana made it possible.

When she crossed over to the other side, her two familiar parents were waiting.

Sitting there on the couch, side by side.

Both had a solemn expression that seemed to already know what was going to happen.

Estelle's arrival, too, wasn't greeted by the usual enthusiasm.

There was a stagnant silence for a minute.

Both Alan and Sheila sat there, gazing at Estelle. Like they wanted her to talk first, to deliver the painful message.

Estelle readied herself.

Even though she was technically an adult inside, the feeling of being scared to convey something to parents was universal.

"..Mother, father, I have decided. I'll just leave Alynthi for Sylvania," Estelle dropped her statement.

She made her choice.

Her voice became shaky.

It wasn't because she was wavering.

It's just that she worried too much for everyone. What would be the outcome, and how would her choices affect that.

Alan and Sheila made a face that seemed to scream 'I understand'.

After all, they too didn't think that Estelle could be constrained inside Alynthi.

The child was meant for so much more.

Sheila was the first to open her arms.

Tears accumulated in her eyelids, forming a pool of water.

Estelle, knowing that the gesture was for inviting her to a hug quickly rushed and gave Sheila a tight embrace.

Alan also joined and held the two in his own arms.

"Little star.. We're going to worry over you a lot. Mommy, Daddy, and Noah won't know where you're at, so we can't even visit you,"

Estelle was going to tour around the world. No one would know where she was all the time.

"You have to visit us a lot, alright? We will miss you everyday," Sheila pursed her lips and exhaled a deep breath, trying to contain her sadness.

It was hard.

Watching your beloved child have to venture out there before they even become an adult.

Watching them bear heavy responsibilities for eveyone's sake.

Because they were powerless to guarantee the child a happy childhood.

They weren't as strong as the 'Villainess' Estelle.