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 3

Episode 3

After last night’s strange conversation with Nergo, I fell asleep without giving it much thought.

Things like the world being a game, the hero’s role being stolen, or the heroines being taken — to be honest, none of it felt real.

I had done what I was supposed to do. And if peace came as a result, then wasn’t that enough?

That’s what I vaguely had on my mind the next morning. It was just before the sun had fully risen. It was when a reserved but repeated knock came at my door.

“…Who is it?”

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I answered. And a somewhat flustered soldier’s voice came through the door.

“Yutaka-sama! His Majesty King Felix has something he wishes to discuss with you! He requests your presence in the audience chamber immediately!”

A direct, urgent summons from King Felix himself — that was unusual.

What could it be?

Had something happened just after yesterday?

“I understand. I’ll head there right away.”

Responding as such, I hurried to get dressed.

Though it was my usual simple travel attire, I should still show minimum respect in front of the king.

＊ ＊ ＊

When I arrived at the audience chamber, I saw King Felix seated heavily on the throne.

However, his expression wasn’t the calm one from yesterday — he looked suspicious, and even a bit tired.

Fewer nobles were present than yesterday. But there were more heavily armed soldiers. It created a tense atmosphere.

As usual, I stepped forward before the king and knelt on one knee.

“I am Yutaka. Your Majesty, I’ve come at your summons.”

“Mm. Yutaka, raise your head.”

Prompted by King Felix’s calm voice, I looked up.

“Let me get straight to the point. Your reward has been decided — I’ve called you here to inform you of it.”

A reward, huh.

Indeed, after slaying the Demon King, it would be natural to expect a fitting reward.

Even I felt my heart beat a little faster.

But at the same time, I had a question.

Why weren’t the other party members here?

If this was about a reward, wouldn’t it make sense for us to hear it together?

Or did I have some special circumstances?

“Well then, Yutaka. First, I shall bestow upon you the title of Count.”

Count. For someone like me who came from the slums, this was an extraordinary honor.

“And, as territory suitable for that title, I will grant you the land known as the Vixel Domain.”

The name “Vixel Domain” rang no bells for me, no matter how I searched my memory.

Still, being a noble with land meant great responsibility.

“Your Majesty, this is more honor than I deserve. I humbly accept.”

As I bowed deeply and expressed my gratitude, a faint but unmistakable murmur arose among the soldiers in the audience chamber.

“Vixel Domain… that one?”

“Surely not… Isn’t this basically a demotion for someone from the Hero’s party…?”

Though they spoke in hushed tones, I could clearly hear the content.

A *demotion*? What do they mean by that?

King Felix silenced the whispers with a cough and addressed me again.

“Indeed. Now then, Yutaka. I apologize for the urgency, but I ask that you go to the Vixel Domain immediately and greet the people there as their new lord. An escort has already been arranged.”

Immediately, huh.

Quite a hasty request. But a royal command couldn’t be refused.

Besides, I was curious about what kind of land this Vixel Domain really was.

“I understand. I’ll depart at once.”

Without changing expression, I accepted the request.

＊ ＊ ＊

After leaving the audience chamber, I walked down the corridor that led outside the castle.

As I passed through the courtyard, thinking this might be the last time I’d see the grand castle for a while, I reached the road leading to the gate — and there I saw a familiar figure.

Long, vivid pink hair sparkled in the gentle morning light.

A pure white habit embroidered with gold thread — it was Saintess Forleen.

She was walking toward me with a few sisters and what seemed to be a priest.

When she noticed me, her face lit up. And ignoring the holy people around her, she ran toward me with surprising lightness. It was far from her usual graceful demeanor.

“Yutaka-sama!”

Her voice rang like a tinkling bell. It was cheerful and full of energy.

I stopped and turned to her.

“Forleen? What a coincidence to meet you here.”

“Yes! And Yutaka-sama, where might you be headed so early in the morning? Do you have urgent business?”

Still catching her breath, she peered at me with concern.

“Ah, actually, His Majesty has granted me the land called Vixel. I’m on my way now to greet the people there.”

The moment I said that, her expression stiffened for a brief second.

“Eh? U-um… the *Vixel Domain*, you said…?”

Her voice carried an unmistakable sense of shock and… something else — unease.

Before I could ask what she meant, Forleen quickly returned to her usual gentle smile.

“I-I see… You’ve only just returned, and already… I had hoped we could talk a bit more.”

Despite her words, a hint of sadness lingered in her tone.

Her thoughtfulness was always comforting.

“Yeah, I know. But this is a royal order. Once things settle down in the domain, I’ll visit the church again.”

At that, her face brightened at once.

“Really!? Yes…! We’ll always be waiting, Yutaka-sama!”

I gave her a small nod.

“Until then.”

“Yes. Please, take care on your journey.”

As Forleen bowed deeply to see me off, I turned my back to her and resumed walking toward the castle gate.

The Vixel Domain… Her reaction—there really is something going on.

Well, I’ll find out soon enough.

＊ ＊ ＊

Outside the royal castle, a cart was waiting.

No, rather than a cart, it looked more like a plain wooden box on wheels. It had no roof or decorations at all.

It was nothing compared to the ornate carriages used in yesterday’s victory parade.

Had the kingdom’s finances been drained by that parade?

Next to the cart stood an elderly man.

His tanned, deeply wrinkled face and long white hair tied back gave a solemn impression.

He wore what looked like an old but proper butler’s suit.

Upon seeing me, he bowed deeply.

“I’ve been awaiting you, Yutaka-sama. I will be your guide.”

His voice was surprisingly firm for his age.

“Ah, I’m Yutaka. I’ll be in your care.”

I gave a slight nod and introduced myself.

“Please, call me Sebas.”

Sebas, huh.

I wondered if that was his real name or a professional alias. But I didn’t ask.

“Nice to meet you, Sebas.”

＊ ＊ ＊

The cart left the stone roads of the capital and began rattling along an unpaved country path.

The ride wasn’t exactly comfortable. But compared to a packed train in my previous life, this was nothing.

We rode in silence for a while. But I couldn’t help being curious about the Vixel Domain.

I called out to Sebas on the driver’s seat.

“Sebas, I wanted to ask… What kind of place is the Vixel Domain? Honestly, I don’t know much about it.”

Sebas looked back at me, slightly surprised.

“You… don’t know about Vixel Domain, Yutaka-sama?”

“Yeah. Is it that well-known?”

I asked, and he lowered his eyes slightly. He hesitated before he answered — his face showed the hardships he must have endured.

“…The Vixel Domain is a remote frontier land. It’s several days by carriage from the capital.”

He continued.

“And… even now, it remains a fierce battlefield. It’s where fights with monsters rage day and night. It is truly a front-line territory.”

A front line… So that’s why the soldiers whispered earlier.

A dangerous place, then.

“That sounds tough. I imagine there are excellent soldiers stationed there?”

I said. But Sebas shook his head weakly.

“…No.”

That short denial gave me a bad feeling.

“The knights and soldiers once dispatched from the capital have already withdrawn from the Vixel Domain. For the past year, only those who remained have somehow managed to hold out.”

“What!?”

Even I couldn’t hide my shock.

No royal army in a front-line territory?

“Why? What happened?”

I pressed him, and Sebas answered bitterly.

“…After the previous lord died, his son inherited the title… but he was a terrible ruler. He was focused solely on squeezing heavy taxes from the people to enrich himself. Then, about a year ago, he vanished — abandoning the land. He took all the wealth with him.”

Unbelievable…

“As a result, the kingdom gave up on the Vixel Domain. It was essentially deemed no longer part of its territory… and the stationed troops were withdrawn.”

Sebas spoke calmly. But in his words, I could sense deep despair… and a persistent love for the people he hadn’t given up on.

A former lord who abandoned the people, and a kingdom that followed suit.

Caught in between… are the ones still living there.

I felt a quiet anger rising in my chest—and even more than that, a strong sense of duty welling up inside me.

“Sebas, hurry. I want to see the situation in Vixel Domain with my own eyes, as soon as possible.”

At my words, Sebas’ eyes opened slightly in surprise. But he quickly gave a firm nod.

“Understood, Yutaka-sama.”

The wagon picked up speed, heading toward the remote frontier.