Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed five new manga series for release in the fourth quarter of 2023, heading into early 2024. The new licenses include the manga adaptation of Lonely Castle in the Mirror, The Villainess Who Has Been Killed 108 Times: She Remembers Everything!, The Secret of Friendship, Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City, and Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing. 

Here are the full details for each of Seven Seas’ newest releases: 

Seven Seas Entertainment will release the manga adaptation of Lonely Castle in the Mirror by writer Mizuki Tsujimura and artist Tomo Taketomi. It is based on the fantastical coming-of-age drama novel that also inspired a 2022 anime feature film from A-1 Pictures and director Keiichi Hara. 

The original novel was published on May 11, 2017 and released in English by Doubleday. The manga series was serialized in Shueisha’s Ultra Jump magazine from June 19, 2019 to February 19, 2022. Five tankoubon volumes have been released in total. 

The first volume of the manga series will be released in North America in November 2023. The series will be available as single volume editions, with Ebook editions also available on digital platforms.

Seven Seas describes the synopsis of Lonely Castle in the Mirror as: 

Kokoro is a junior high school student — but after years of bullying, she’s become so anxious that she no longer goes to school. One day, she’s pulled through her full-length mirror into a castle in another dimension by a girl in a wolf mask. The mysterious girl tells Kokoro and six other kids that they are all competing in a scavenger hunt. If one of them finds a key that unlocks a secret room, that person will get one wish granted. As long as they observe the rules of the world, they can come and go as they please. The seven kids gradually grow closer as they explore the castle, but the scavenger hunt is never far from anyone’s mind. After all, only one of them can win and receive their heart’s desire.

The manga adaptation of The Villainess Who Has Been Killed 108 Times: She Remembers Everything! Will also be released for the first time in North America. The original story is written by Namakura and illustrated by Chinori Toriu, based on Tetsuhiro Nabeshima’s light novel artwork. 

The manga was serialized in Dengeki Daioh from September 26, 2020 to November 26, 2022. Four total tankoubon volumes have been released. 

The first volume will be released for the first time in North America in October 2023. The series will be available as single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available for purchase on digital platforms.

Seven Seas describe the synopsis as: 

In each of her past lives, Scarlet was the despised queen of her kingdom–and each time, her reign was ended by a group of heroes led by Scarlet’s rival, Arisa. Scarlet never even survived beyond age 28! After Scarlet dies for the 108th time, all her memories of her past lives (and deaths) are unlocked for her 109th life. Scarlet is determined to do things differently this time…but it might not be up to her, if all those past deaths were the result of a curse. Can she find a way for her 109th life to break the cycle?

The shoujo drama manga series The Secret of Friendship will also be released for the first time in North America. The story is written by Kazune Kawahara (High School Debut, My Love Story!!) and illustrated by Aiji Yamakawa. 

The Secret of Friendship ran in Shueisha’s Deluxe Margaret magazine from March 28, 2009 to September 1, 2010. 

The self-contained singular volume will be released in December 2023 as a single large-trim edition book. An Ebook edition of the manga will also be available on digital platforms.

The story is described by Seven Seas as: 

Eiko and her best friend Moe couldn’t be more different: Eiko is a shy, average-looking girl while Moe is beautiful and envied by everyone at their high school. Though their personalities are total opposites, the bond between them is incredibly strong. Moe might have an endless supply of suitors, but when it comes to actually dating them, she has a condition: her boyfriend must value Eiko more than he does Moe. No one has yet been able to meet her condition—not until a boy named Tsuchida appears, at least. What will Eiko do when her relationship with her best friend begins to change?

Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed both the light novel and manga adaptation of Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City. The original story is written by Sou Akaike, with Kururi handling the artwork for the manga series, while Maro Aoiro provided illustrations for the light novels. 

The series began as a web novel on Shousetsuka ni Narou on May 15, 2020. The light novels were first published on September 25, 2021 by Overlap on its Overlap Novels label. Three volumes have been released as of August 2022. The manga was first launched in Overlap’s Comic Gardo on August 13, 2021. Three tankoubon volumes have been released as of February 2022. 

The first volume of the light novel will be released in January 2024, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of Seven Seas’ Airship imprint. Ebook editions will also be available earlier on digital platforms.

Meanwhile, the first volume of the manga adaptation will be released in January 2024, with the series available in single volume editions. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms.

Seven Seas describes the story for both the light novels and manga version as: 

Van, the fourth son of a powerful noble, is only two years old when he remembers his past life as a salaryman in Japan. With his adult brain in a young body, he’s considered a child prodigy…until he displays the “Production Magic” skill when he turns eight. In a family that favors offensive magic, this crafting skill is considered useless in battle, and Van is banished to oversee a tiny country town in disgrace. With only his personal maid, the memories of his past life, and his “worthless” magic, can Van improve the fortunes of this little village — and himself?

Mito’s yuri fairy tale manga Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing has also been licensed. The story follows a wolf-woman butler who must tutor a sheep princess, who’s not as soft as people think.

The manga was first serialized on Takeshobo’s Manga Storia Dash website on October 9, 2020. Four tankoubon volumes have been released in total so far. 

The first volume will be released in November 2023, with the series available in single large-trim editions as part of the Seven Seas yuri GL label. Ebook editions will also be available on digital platforms. 

Seven Seas describes the synopsis of Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing as: 

Aki is a wolf-woman who lives in the land of the sheep people. While working as a butler in the royal castle, she happens to save the life of Princess Momo–after which the princess demands that Aki be her private tutor! Momo seems sweet and docile, but she turns out to be a difficult student…and Aki soon learns that the princess’ fluffy exterior hides a hungry heart. Aki must deter Momo’s advances, but she can only deny her wolf’s instincts for so long!

Source: press release