When I Was Reincarnated, All the Heroines Were Stolen by the Fake Hero ~ The Guy Who Dominated With Original Story Knowledge, and Me Who Dominated With Talent. It Seems the World After the Ending Is My One-Man Stage ~ - Episode 25

Episode 25

While we waited for beastkin Lin to return with her response, I passed the time playing that board game—very similar to chess—which the soldiers had enjoyed back when we rested by the river.

The soldiers took turns playing against me.

“Checkmate.”

I calmly moved a goblin piece and announced it.

The soldier sitting across from me let out a groan of frustration.

“Grr… again!? I lost again!?” 

He cried, clutching his head.

Another soldier chuckled from behind him.

“Yutaka-san, you were a total beginner and lost twice in a row at first… Now none of us can beat you anymore.”

“Just a coincidence, that’s all. I actually played a similar game a bit long ago, back in my old world. Guess that experience is finally paying off.”

I never thought the memory of playing board games for socializing—like a business golf match—would come in handy in a place like this.

You never know what skills will end up being useful.

While we exchanged harmless banter, Freyja called out from outside the wagon where she’d been standing guard.

“Yutaka-dono, it seems they’ve returned.”

I looked up from the game board.

The time had finally come to hear the beastkin’s answer.

—

Prompted by Freyja, I stepped down from the wagon.

As promised, Lin and Ron were there. They were standing before us.

Freyja and I stepped forward to meet them as representatives.

Ron was glancing around nervously, fidgeting.

Then suddenly, his face turned bright red and he quickly averted his gaze. It was as if he’d spotted something—or someone.

What’s that kid doing…?

Pushing aside the curiosity, I turned back to Lin.

“So, have you reached a decision?”

When I asked, Lin crossed her arms and gave me an appraising look.

“Yeah. Your proposal… Especially that Fluff-Fluff stuff. All the clans found it incredibly tempting. On that point, everyone was in agreement.”

(All the clans…?)

That surprised me.

I had assumed they were just one village. But it turns out multiple clans had come together to live here.

It might be a much larger community than I imagined.

Lin gave a short snort as if she saw through my thoughts.

“Also, for some reason, the number of dangerous monsters in these woods has suddenly dropped lately. Thanks to that, we’ve got a bit more flexibility with our forces.”

Freyja and I instinctively looked at each other.

The decline in monsters… That was probably due to the defeat of the Demon King.

But Lin’s expression suddenly hardened. And she continued:

“However… there’s one big issue. We beastkin don’t do ‘equal relationships’ the way you humans talk about. In the past, being vague about that led to so many problems, we nearly lost our entire race. So now, whenever we form alliances with outsiders, we always follow one rule—one side must submit to the other.”

Freyja looked like she was about to speak. But I held up a hand to stop her.

“I understand. If that’s your way, then I have no objections. Let’s hear your proposal.”

Hearing this, Lin gave a toothy grin.

“Glad you’re quick to understand. According to our laws, in cases like this, the leaders from both sides fight—and the winner leads. That’s our age-old custom.”

“Leaders, huh…”

I looked around.

Freyja was our commander. But as the current lord of this land, I was the rightful leader.

The soldiers’ eyes turned not to Freyja, but to me.

“…Yeah, I figured as much. All right, let’s go with your terms.”

I nodded. And Lin nodded back, satisfied.

Freyja approached me with a slightly apologetic look.

“Yutaka-dono… I’m sorry. If only there had been a more peaceful way…”

“Don’t worry, Freyja. We’re the ones asking for their help. Respecting their culture and customs is only natural. Besides, with people like them, actions might speak louder than words.”

When I said that, Freyja murmured, “I see…” and stepped aside to watch from a distance.

—

Soon, Lin and I stood facing each other a few meters apart.

Ron stood nervously between us. He was acting as the referee.

I glanced around and noticed other beastkin peeking out from the branches and bushes.

They must have gathered to watch the fight.

Surprisingly, the mood among them wasn’t particularly tense.

Some lounged in trees; others yawned lazily.

Perhaps duels like this were a common part of their culture.

Freyja, the soldiers, and Kotama were also watching quietly from the shade of the trees.

Worry clearly showed on Kotama’s face.

I didn’t reach for the longsword at my waist.

Instead, I raised only my shield—Aegis—on my left arm. I left my sword still sheathed.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the fate of the people in this world rests on this duel.

No room for half measures. I would fight with everything I had.

—

Ron swallowed hard. He then announced in a slightly shrill voice:

“U-Um… Both sides are free to use weapons! The match continues until one side is unable to fight or surrenders! And now… Begin!!”

At the signal, Lin grinned boldly.

It was the kind of look someone gives when they’re confident they’re facing a weaker opponent.

Two magic circles instantly appeared around one of her hands.

Light gathered. It formed a glowing, drill-shaped cone over her arm.

Then it crackled. It was coated in pale blue lightning.

“Here I come!”

With a short shout, Lin hurled the electrified drill of light at me.

(A combination of “Spiral Claw” and “Bolt Enchant”…)

I calmly analyzed the magic and angled Aegis to deflect it.

*Kiin! Ba-jijit!*

A shrill metallic sound rang out. And sparks flew as the attack slid off the shield’s surface. They were dissipating behind me with a faint explosion.

“Oh? Not bad for a human. You took that head-on?”

Lin looked surprised but quickly smiled with interest.

“Then how about this?”

This time, two magic circles appeared on each of her hands—four in total.

Just like Ron earlier, glowing claws formed around her hands. They were now enveloped in far stronger lightning.

The power was on another level compared to Ron’s.

“Haaaah!!”

With a beast-like roar, Lin charged at me with terrifying speed—far too fast for ordinary soldiers to even follow.

But I didn’t flinch.

Focusing my magic into Aegis, I activated its true form.

*Gwon…*

With a low mechanical hum, Aegis began to transform.

Its outer surface split apart and unfolded like metal petals. It expanded outward.

In moments, it had become a massive shield, taller than a person.

I held it effortlessly with one hand.

Lin’s electrified claws slammed into it head-on.

*GooOOOonn!! Ba-jijijijijit!!*

A deafening crash and a torrent of lightning noise exploded through the air.

Blue-white bolts danced across Aegis’s surface. They were cascading down in waterfalls of sparks.

Then—

*Ba-chin!!*

With a loud snap, Lin was blasted backward.

She twisted midair, landing gracefully.

But the composure on her face had vanished. It was replaced by shock.

“Wh-What is that shield…!? That’s no ordinary shield…!”

But I didn’t answer her question.

Instead, I provoked her with a grin.

“What’s wrong? Was that your serious move just now? Or is that all it takes to be a leader of the beastkin tribe?”

“Wha… you damn human!!”

At my words, Lin turned bright red and flew into a rage.

She must’ve felt her pride as a chieftain was insulted.

“Fine then! I’ll make you regret this! I’ll roast you to a crisp!!”

Lin roared and focused her consciousness into her right hand.

Then, on her right arm, three magic circles appeared simultaneously — overlapping one another.

The light pouring out from those magic circles was incomparably more powerful than before. It was as if her right hand had transformed into the head of a ferocious beast with wings of lightning.

Break Claw, Bolt Enchant, and… I can’t tell what other magic is being used.

From the jaws of that beast, countless lightning bolts sparked and scattered in all directions. They were scorching the ground and shaking the trees.

(This is… more power than I expected. With this strength, the course of future battles will surely change dramatically.)

Inside, I was thrilled by Lin’s hidden power.

This is good. It’s exactly because she possesses this kind of strength that she’s worth having as an ally.

“This ends nowwwww!!”

Lin was wrapped in such fierce intensity that it radiated true killing intent. She pulled back her right arm — which housed the lightning beast — and charged straight at me.

Her momentum was just like a rampaging thunderbolt.

I poured my magic into Aegis once more.

*Guo go go go…!*

The surface of Aegis, which had been unfolding like precision machinery, began transforming even more intricately.

The shield grew even larger. And countless metal pieces jutted out from its edges like fangs.

It now had the ominous appearance of a giant predator, opening its maw wide.

Then, that monster’s mouth opened so wide it seemed it could engulf Lin’s entire body, along with the lightning beast clinging to her right hand.

(“Gluttony”… was it? Seriously, that Nergo guy. Always giving things names like some edgy middle-schooler… Now it’s stuck in my head.)

In the next moment, the lightning beast was *literally devoured* by the monster’s mouth created by Aegis.

Without a sound, in an instant.

That wild, raging storm of lightning vanished as if it had all been an illusion.

“Wha…!?”

On Lin’s face appeared shock — and a faint trace of fear.

But her charge didn’t stop.

I casually extended my leg toward her feet.

*Don!*

Lin was charging in so forcefully, she didn’t even notice my foot and tripped beautifully over it. She lost her balance and fell forward.

Then, I thrust the tip of my longsword — which I had drawn from its scabbard — into the ground right next to her face as she fell.

The metal pierced into the soil.

A moment of silence.

However, there was no signal from Ron, the judge, to indicate the end of the match.

When I looked over at Ron curiously, I saw that he had completely collapsed to the ground. He was overwhelmed both by the shock of his sister losing and by my unexpected performance. His mouth was opening and closing like a fish.

“…Isn’t the match over?”

When I called out calmly, Ron snapped back to reality. He hurriedly got to his feet. He then shouted in a shrill, cracked voice:

“M-Match decided!!”

His voice echoed through the silent forest.