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 39

Episode 39

The unceasing roar of the waterfall endlessly shook my eardrums.

I sat on a damp rock by the river. I was slowly washing away the bitter aftertaste of the fruit I had just eaten with water.

Each day spent traveling through this endless forest quietly. Yet surely, it was wearing down the spirit.

But hearing the sound of this waterfall, I strangely felt my heart calm.

Suddenly, without any warning, Rururii stood up and lightly clapped the dirt off her clothes.

“Well then, let’s go~”

With those words, our brief rest came to an end.

Resolving myself internally with a “One more push,” I stood up from where I was starting to sink.

I offered my hand to Forleen, who had been sitting beside me. She gasped lightly as if startled. And her pale cheeks flushed faintly red.

“Ah… thank you very much, Yutaka-sama,”

She said in a small voice and timidly took my hand.

Due to what had happened earlier—though I still didn’t know the details—there was probably still some lingering awkwardness.

I could feel the awkward strength in her slender hand.

However, Rururii didn’t pay the slightest mind to the delicate air between us.

Instead, she headed straight toward the waterfall itself. Her small steps were unfaltering.

Hey, hey, there’s no path over there—just a wall of water and steep rock!

Surely she’s not thinking of climbing the waterfall?

Well, we had come this far walking through nothing but unmarked terrain. So maybe in her mind, that was just another “path.”

Feeling a touch of unease, Forleen and I had no choice but to follow her.

Water spray pelted us mercilessly. It soaked our clothes.

And then, as we circled around to the back side of the flowing waterfall—

I could hardly believe my eyes.

Behind the curtain of falling water, in the wet rock face, a small cave just large enough for an adult to pass through was wide open.

“We’re… going through here?”

I asked blankly. Rururii turned back to look at us.

“Oh, I forgot to mention. This is the place, my home.”

She said it so nonchalantly.

“Eh?”

A dumb sound escaped me. *This* hole?

No… she must mean that beyond this cave is where the elves live?

I glanced over at Forleen standing beside me—she, too, looked astonished. Her eyes were wide open.

“Usually, you can’t even see it~”

Rururii added. And without hesitation, she slid her body into the dark cave.

We hurried to follow her.

Inside the cave, damp and cool air brushed against our skin.

It was so narrow that a single adult man could just barely pass through. And when I touched the walls, I felt the soft texture of moss.

Only the sound of our footsteps echoed through the darkness.

After walking for a while, we began to see a gentle light leaking from up ahead.

Feeling my heart beat with anticipation, we pressed forward toward the place filled with light.

—

And then, upon arriving—

I gasped.

The place we’d reached was an expansive space. It was overflowing with mystical light and greenery. It was completely different in density from the forest outside.

Towering trees that looked like they pierced the heavens.

On their thick trunks and supple branches were simple homes. They were built as if fused together with the trees themselves. And they were large enough for several people to live in.

Soft, grass-like vegetation covered the ground entirely.

Colorful, unnamed flowers bloomed in abundance. Shimmering butterflies danced elegantly through the air.

But what most caught our attention—

Were the elves scattered throughout the area. They were staring at us with curious expressions.

Pointed ears, faces as perfectly sculpted as statues.

They didn’t show overt hostility. But they clearly regarded us—foreign intruders—with suspicion.

“…Beautiful.”

Beside me, Forleen quietly removed her hood and breathed in awe.

Her beautiful pink hair shimmered under the soft light of this place.

I found myself entranced by the fantastical scenery—

But then it happened.

*Hyun*—a sharp, ominous sound cut through the air.

Again, *hyun, hyun*—the sound repeated.

It was the sound of something moving at terrifying speed.

I remembered Rururii’s earlier warning—“I might get killed.”

Snapped out of my reverie, I immediately switched into combat mode.

I yanked my beloved silver shield Aegis out of my backpack. I then stepped forward to protect Forleen and Rururii.

The source of the noise seemed to be shifting position constantly.

“Tch…!”

I turned and placed myself between Forleen and Rururii.

The next moment—*Gakin!*—a grating metallic sound rang out as a sharp impact hit Aegis.

The attacker wore a black robe with a featureless wooden mask carved like a block of wood.

Their face and build were unidentifiable. And in both hands, they held short swords.

I repelled the attacker with brute force using Aegis and readied myself—

Only to sense another killing intent from a completely different angle.

I swung my shield again. I successfully blocked a second strike.

This attacker, too, wore exactly the same outfit.

More than one…?

I glanced around and realized—there were five black-clad figures surrounding us, soundlessly.

“Y-Yutaka-sama…!”

Forleen’s trembling voice came from behind.

The next instant, all five kicked off the ground and vanished from my view with astonishing speed—leaving no afterimage.

But their presence hadn’t vanished.

Sensing five distinct sources of killing intent, I carefully tracked them and poured mana into Aegis.

The shield responded to my will. Its structure was shifting.

Metal transformed like a living thing. It grew multiple chain-like arms that moved like writhing tentacles.

I think this form was called “Thousand Arms”…?

For a second, Nergo’s smug face popped into my mind—

No time for that! Focus on the threat in front of you!

The five attackers struck from five perfect blind spots, simultaneously.

But they couldn’t escape my senses.

“There you are—!”

Predicting all their attack paths through their presence, I manipulated Aegis’ chains like my own limbs.

*Kiin!*

Sparks flew and metal clanged—every dagger was knocked from their hands and sent flying through the air.

The five attackers landed and stopped. Their pressure was increasing.

Their vigilance had risen.

And just as I started thinking of my next move—

“Yutaka-sama! Rururii is—!”

Forleen’s near-scream jolted me.

I turned around—

There, a sixth black-clad figure had appeared without notice. They were dashing into the forest, carrying Rururii under one arm.

Damn it, there were six of them!?

Despite my panic, I quickly analyzed the situation.

They hadn’t harmed Rururii.

The fact they took her without hurting her meant their goal wasn’t assassination—it was kidnapping, a hostage, or maybe… rescue?

Before I could think further, four more black-clad figures dropped silently from the trees—reinforcements.

They tossed new short swords to the five who’d lost their weapons.

That made nine in total—plus the one who took Rururii.

If this went on, we’d be overwhelmed.

I made the decision to retreat with Forleen.

Just then—

“—That’s enough!”

A clear, commanding male voice—filled with calm yet overwhelming authority—echoed throughout the elven village.

I looked toward the sound—

And from between the trees, a single elf man appeared. He was walking slowly.

He was tall and slender, with long, shining golden hair.

His sharply pointed ears marked him unmistakably as an elf.

The moment the black-robed attackers saw him, they froze in place.