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 44

Episode 44

Good grief, what should I do?

I sighed inwardly.

The staff with ornate decorations was propped up against the sofa. It was sparkling as it reflected the light streaming in from the window.

But in the next moment, her expression softened.

She smoothly uncrossed her legs and stood up gracefully from the sofa. Her navy robe swayed lightly. And her slender legs extended from the miniskirt came into view.

“It’s been a while, Yutaka.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while, Ulrika. Have you been well?”

I placed my hand over her small offered hand, and we shook hands.

“Yes. And you?”

With a slightly teasing tone, she peered into my face.

“I’ve been good too. Well, as you can see, I’ve been a bit busy.”

I shrugged. That wasn’t a lie.

Rather, the word “busy” wasn’t even enough.

“Well, standing and talking is something else. Please, sit.”

I offered the sofa to Ulrika and called out to Kotama. She had been watching silently behind me.

“Kotama, could you bring us something to drink?”

“Y-yes! I’ll bring it right away!”

At my words, Kotama’s face lit up as if released from tension. She spun her small body and left the room with hurried, flapping footsteps.

“That girl, she’s a beastfolk, right?”

Sitting back on the sofa, Ulrika said while looking with interest toward the door Kotama had disappeared through.

“During my journey, I met beastfolk a few times too. But they were all more like… wild, rough types. So a beastfolk in a maid outfit feels kind of fresh. And Kotama-chan is cute, too.”

“Kotama isn’t just cute. She’s also top-class when it comes to cooking.”

When I said that a bit proudly, Ulrika’s eyes sparkled with a “Heh.”

“Nice— I want a cute maid too. One who makes delicious sweets every day, and we’d have tea parties!”

As we chatted about such lighthearted things, there was a gentle knock, *knock knock*. And along with “Excuse me,” Kotama entered the room holding a tray.

She lined up teacups on the table and carefully poured the steaming tea.

Its rich aroma gently filled the room’s air.

As I watched this scene out of the corner of my eye, I decided to get to the main topic.

“So then… why did you go out of your way to come to me today?”

As I asked, Ulrika opened her mouth. But she quickly showed a troubled look and glanced toward Kotama.

Apparently, it was something complicated and hard to say in front of others.

So then—

“By the way, what are you doing nowadays, Ulrika?”

I deliberately changed the subject to create a more comfortable situation for her.

“I’m a court magician now. Though, it’s more like I just have a title— I don’t really have any particular duties, so I’m just relaxing every day.”

“A court magician, huh. That’s impressive. Somehow, it makes me feel proud too.”

When I said that, she blushed slightly and said, “R-really…?” She sounded a little shy. Just then, *click*, came the quiet sound of the door closing behind us.

Kotama had probably left the room out of consideration.

Silence returned to the room. I faced Ulrika once more.

“So then… really, what’s going on? Did something happen?”

When I asked seriously, Ulrika let out a deep and heavy sigh— completely unlike her cheerful demeanor earlier— and lowered her head.

Then, in a voice that sounded like it could vanish at any moment, she murmured,

“Lately, that guy… won’t pay attention to me…”

“That guy.” Just that phrase made it clear who she meant.

I had a hunch— no, I was about 90% sure that this was the reason she came. And just as I thought.

Nergo, the leader of our party and the hero. That guy must’ve done something.

As I sighed inside, Ulrika added more words.

“And…! I secretly asked Svea to investigate… and it looks like he’s been going to… some shady shop…”

…A shady shop. Hearing those words, scenes from our journey came back to mind.

When we split into male and female groups to gather information in town.

Nergo had said, “This is the best place to gather intel,” or something like that. Then he went into some dark alley shop.

I’d managed to talk around it and cover it up. So the girls hadn’t noticed until now…

But finally, his bad habit had been found out. Well, serves him right.

As I sank into memories of the past, Ulrika’s lowered body began to tremble slightly.

And the next moment—

*BANG!!*

She slammed her small fist down on the table with full force.

“Ughhh! He’s the absolute worst!!”

Her scream shook the room’s air.

“H-hey, Ulrika, calm down…”

I tried to calm her. But once her anger ignited, it wouldn’t cool down so easily.

“Listen, Yutaka! That guy— he didn’t just ignore me! He even turned down the princess’s invitation!? That’s totally insane! No, I mean— if he’d only accepted the princess’s, that’d be bad in its own way! But still, the princess is so pure and kind…! To treat her like that— he’s disqualified as a hero!”

Ah, this is going to be a long one.

I quietly reached for my teacup.

How much time passed after that?

Ulrika vented all of her frustration about Nergo.

Finally, when she had said everything she wanted, she slumped back deeply into the sofa. She was breathing heavily, “Haa, haa…”

Then, she muttered with a lonely tone,

“Ahhh… I wonder if everything between us was just a game to him…”

That voice, in contrast to her earlier rage, sounded terribly frail.

I took a sip of the now lukewarm tea Kotama had made.

Then, I slowly opened my mouth.

“He’s probably just overwhelmed from being released from the burden of being a hero. And he is acting out temporarily. Like a kid who suddenly gets freedom and gets carried away. Just give it time and keep your distance. I’m sure Nergo will get anxious and come chasing after you.”

“…Really?”

Ulrika looked at me with anxious eyes.

Those eyes looked like they were slightly wet.

I remembered the pathetic image of Nergo getting slapped by a woman and thrown out of a tavern during our journey, after going too wild.

“Yeah, no doubt. He’ll come crying and throw himself at you.”

When I said that, Ulrika repeated my words like she was chewing them,

“Throw… himself at me…?”

Then, imagining the scene— her pale cheeks flushed red.

“E-e-even if he did that, I— I’m definitely not going to forgive him! I’m not even going to talk to him for a while!”

As she said that and turned her face away in a huff, her lips curved in a way that clearly showed her joy.

Good grief.

The strongest mage I hadn’t seen in a while was the same as ever— and that gave me a bit of relief.