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 5

Episode 5

After the battle with the Ogre, we once again set the wagon in motion.

Sebas still had a look of astonishment on his face from witnessing the earlier battle. But even so, his hands gripping the reins were steady.

Eventually, Sebas opened his mouth while keeping his eyes fixed ahead.

“Yutaka-sama, we will soon be arriving at Aegis Village, the entrance to the Vixel Domain.”

At those words, I leaned forward from the loading platform and looked ahead.

In the distance, I could see a fence. It was simple but manmade. There was also what appeared to be a small watchtower.

At last, we were entering the Vixel Domain.

At the village entrance, two military police holding spears stood. Their expressions looked tired. But there was a sense of tension in their stance.

When they noticed our wagon, they showed a brief moment of caution. But upon seeing Sebas sitting on the driver’s seat, they immediately straightened up and saluted.

“Good work, Sebas-sama.”

One of the soldiers said in a somewhat hoarse voice.

“Mm, good work.”

Sebas responded briefly from atop the horse and exchanged words with practiced ease.

The soldiers cast a briefly suspicious glance at me, sitting in the back of the wagon. But seeing Sebas say nothing, they began to open the village gate.

With a heavy creaking sound, the gate opened. And our wagon slowly moved into the village.

The inside of the village was wrapped in an indescribable dark atmosphere.

The houses were old. And in several places, needed repairs were noticeable.

The people walking along the road had deeply tired expressions. And no sense of liveliness could be felt.

The ones working the fields seemed to be mostly women. Though their movements were practiced, they somehow looked powerless.

A man who passed by had bandages wrapped around his arm and was carrying goods with a pained look.

Even in such a situation, only a few children were running around noisily in a dusty plaza. Which seemed to be the only saving grace.

“This is Aegis Village. It lies at the southernmost point of the Vixel Domain and is the farthest from the frontlines.”

As I was observing the surroundings, Sebas quietly began to explain.

“Because of that, it serves as a place for wounded soldiers to recuperate, and also, as the final stronghold to somehow secure what little food remains.”

Thanks to his words, I felt I could begin to understand the heavy atmosphere of this village.

At that moment, a middle-aged woman working in the fields noticed Sebas and came running. She held a dirt-covered hoe in her hand.

“Sebas-sama, welcome back!”

The woman deeply bowed her head to Sebas. Relief showed on her face.

“Ah, I have returned.”

Sebas replied gently.

However, when the woman’s eyes turned to me in the back of the wagon, her expression slightly clouded.

“…And who might that person be?”

Her tone was clearly one of suspicion.

Sebas straightened up slightly, gave me a quick glance, and then answered.

“This is Yutaka-sama, who will become the new lord of this Vixel Domain. He also contributed to the subjugation of the Demon King as a member of the former Hero’s party.”

“The Hero’s party…!?”

The woman opened her eyes wide in surprise. But her expression soon hardened. And after giving me a brief glance, she bowed only to Sebas and returned to the fields without a word.

From her back, I could feel an atmosphere far from welcoming — rather, it was close to rejection.

“Yutaka-sama, I truly apologize… For the villagers to behave so rudely…”

Sebas bowed his head in a humbled manner.

“No, don’t worry about it, Sebas.”

I quietly shook my head.

“Most likely, it’s the wounds left behind by that previous lord, Hyurandel or whatever his name was. It’s only natural that they wouldn’t trust a young stranger who suddenly shows up.”

That woman’s attitude wasn’t unreasonable. In fact, it’s natural to be wary.

“…Just as you guessed, Yutaka-sama. Hyurandel-sama… took far too much from this territory…”

Sebas’s voice was filled with deep sorrow.

“Now, let’s regain our composure and head to the mansion first. You must be tired from the long journey.”

Saying that, Sebas whipped the horse. And the wagon started moving again.

＊ ＊ ＊

After that, we passed through several small villages.

All of them had a similar atmosphere to Aegis Village. The expressions of the people were stiff, and the gazes directed at me were cold.

Eventually, as the sun leaned far into the western sky and the sky began to glow with a beautiful sunset, we finally arrived at our destination — the mansion.

“Yutaka-sama, this is the lord’s mansion.”

Prompted by Sebas’s voice, I got off the wagon.

Before me stood a large stone mansion. It was far more magnificent than I had imagined.

In stark contrast to the dilapidated villages, the mansion itself still seemed to retain its dignity.

It appeared to have a spacious garden as well. But since it wasn’t well-maintained, weeds stood out.

Even so, thinking this place would become my home from now on made my heart flutter slightly.

Living in a house this big was, of course, a first for me.

As we arrived in front of the mansion, barely a moment passed before the large front doors burst open.

And then—

“Sebas~!”

With a cheerful, slightly high-pitched voice, a girl came running out.

Her reddish-brown hair sparkled in the sunset. And her upright cat-like ears and bushy tail of the same color swayed.

She was a beastkin girl. She looked to be younger than me. She was wearing something like a maid outfit.

The girl ran straight toward Sebas with a beaming smile on her face.

“Sebas! Welcome home! You’re late, so I was really worried!”

Just like a puppy frolicking with its owner, she hugged Sebas’ arm.

“Oh, Kotama. I’ve returned. Sorry for making you worry.”

Sebas gently patted the girl — apparently named Kotama — on the head.

His expression was different from his usual butler face. It was filled with the warmth of a grandfather toward his granddaughter.

However, when Kotama noticed my presence, her smile vanished in an instant. And strong wariness appeared in her large eyes.

*Twitch* — her cat ears twitched nervously.

“…Who is that person?”

Her voice, unlike before, was low and stiff.

“Kotama, this is Yutaka-sama, who will become the new lord. He also served in the Hero’s party.”

Though Sebas introduced me, Kotama’s wariness did not fade.

I gave her a slight bow and said,

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yutaka. Please take care of me.”

But she said nothing. She just stared at me intently.

Then, turning her face away abruptly, she hid behind Sebas’ back.

“Hey, Kotama. Greet him properly.”

Sebas chided her. But Kotama just shook her head and wouldn’t say a word.

The next moment, she spun around and ran back into the mansion alone.

“Yutaka-sama, I am truly sorry… That child is quite shy around strangers…”

Sebas apologized with a troubled look.

“No, it’s fine. I’m not bothered.”

That woman in Aegis Village and this girl Kotama — it seems my first impression in the Vixel Domain isn’t very good.

But that’s understandable.

“More importantly, could you show me inside? I’m a bit tired from the long trip.”

“Y-yes! Of course! Please, this way.”

Sebas hurriedly led me into the mansion.

—

As I stepped into the mansion, it felt oddly quiet. It was contrary to its magnificent exterior.

There were few belongings, and there was no sense of daily life.

“How many servants does this mansion have?”

I asked Sebas.

He replied with a slightly lonely expression.

“…Currently, it’s just myself and the girl from earlier, Kotama.”

“Only two? In a mansion this large?”

I couldn’t help but ask again.

“Yes… Due to the former lord, Hyurandel-sama’s various outrageous acts… the others could no longer endure. They left the mansion early on…”

Sebas’ words carried hints of hardship.

To think this wide mansion was being managed by an elderly Sebas and a still-young Kotama, just the two of them.

As Sebas led me to what appeared to be a guest room, he began to speak little by little about Kotama.

“Kotama, as you saw, is a beastkin girl… but in fact, she was purchased from a slave trader by Hyurandel-sama, seemingly in secret from me.”

At those words, I frowned.

Slave trader. Even in this land, such cruel business existed.

“After Hyurandel-sama fled and vanished toward the royal capital, while I was organizing the mansion… in a hidden room that had been built without my knowledge, I found Kotama. She was full of wounds and trembling in fear.”

Sebas’ voice seemed to be suppressing anger and sorrow.

“I protected and treated her immediately, but… while her physical wounds healed, it seems the emotional scars are not so easily cured. That hidden room has now been neatly sealed off. But Kotama still greatly fears confined spaces and, especially… adult men.”

This man named Hyurandel—

The more I heard, the more he seemed an outrageous villain.

Not only did he torment the citizens, but he committed such cruel acts even toward a young girl.

Now I understood why Kotama was so wary of me.

To her, an unfamiliar adult male like me must be nothing but a source of fear.

“I see…”

I nodded quietly.

Opening up Kotama’s heart would not be easy.

But there was no need to rush. I could only take my time and slowly build a relationship of trust with her.

First, I must start by rebuilding this ruined territory.

And I could only hope that someday, Kotama would show me a truly heartfelt smile.