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 57 (Third-Person)

Episode 57 (Third-Person)

The royal capital of the Kingdom of Virein.

In a room within the royal castle at its center, a lone boy was quietly kneeling.

It was Yutaka. His green hair swayed slightly. He had recently been recognized for taking the first step in the restoration of the Vixel Domain. And he had been summoned in honor of that achievement.

However, the only ones present were the king seated upon the throne. There were also a few soldiers standing silently along the wall, as if to protect him.

For a ceremony honoring such an accomplishment, the atmosphere was overly quiet and modest.

“Raise your head.”

A gentle voice echoed.

The one who spoke was King Felix Virein of the Kingdom of Virein.

As Yutaka slowly lifted his face, Felix nodded in satisfaction and gave a soft, kind smile.

“The restoration of the Vixel Domain seems to be progressing smoothly. You’ve done well.”

“No, it’s only thanks to Your Majesty’s support and the tireless efforts of the people of the land.”

Yutaka responded calmly and modestly. It was without a trace of arrogance.

Moved by his humble attitude, Felix’s eyes softened even more.

“Furthermore, I’ve heard the coexistence with the beastkin and the relationship with the dwarves are going well. In this wide world, it’s rare to see different races working together without barriers. Only your Vixel Domain seems to be achieving that. It’s a remarkable feat.”

“Thank you. I intend to continue building sincere and devoted relations with both races.”

Yutaka replied fluently. It prompted Felix to nod deeply.

His clear eyes proved that not a word of his was false.

“Indeed. Most reassuring… In fact, I plan to send an inspection party to your land soon. When the time comes, I intend to have my daughter, Osa, accompany them.”

“Princess Osa, Your Majesty?”

The unexpected proposal made Yutaka open his eyes slightly. But he soon bowed in acceptance.

“Understood. The people of the Vixel Domain will wholeheartedly welcome Princess Osa’s visit.”

“I see. Then I shall continue to place my hopes upon you.”

With those words, Felix slowly rose from the throne.

“You may go now. I look forward to seeing how much more your land will have grown by the next time we meet.”

With those parting words, the aged king disappeared quietly through a door set behind the throne.

＊ ＊ ＊

After leaving the royal castle, Yutaka’s next destination was the grand cathedral located at the heart of the capital.

The white walls stood out brilliantly against the blue sky. It gave the building the appearance of an ordinary church at a glance.

However, the intricate decorations on the doors and pillars were proof of the devotion poured into it by a top-class architect. It caught the attention of passersby.

Upon stepping inside, the noise of the outside world vanished like a lie. And a solemn atmosphere brushed against his skin.

Stained glass covering the walls cast multicolored lights onto the floor. The polished candelabras gleamed softly.

This was not merely a place of prayer.

It was the seat of the nation’s faith. It was where the Saintess resided.

Yutaka looked around curiously, as if searching for someone.

But the person he sought was nowhere in sight. And his shoulders drooped slightly.

Just as he was about to give up thinking she wasn’t there—

A door beyond the grand altar, deep within the cathedral, slowly opened.

Surrounded by several priests and sisters, a woman appeared.

She wore a pure white habit embroidered with gold. Her soft, pink hair shimmered like it had absorbed sunlight.

She was the Saintess Forleen.

She wore a gentle, motherly smile as she faced her followers—until she caught sight of Yutaka’s green hair.

In that instant, her expression bloomed like a flower.

The solemn atmosphere vanished. It was replaced by a bright and innocent smile like that of a young girl. She ran over to Yutaka.

“Yutaka-sama!”

Her voice rang through the quiet sanctuary like a bell.

“Forleen. I’m glad—you’re here.”

Yutaka let out a sigh of relief and smiled at her.

“What brings you here today…?”

“Ah, I was summoned by King Felix. Don’t worry—it wasn’t anything bad.”

“I see…”

Forleen placed a hand over her chest and let out a breath of relief.

Seeing that, Yutaka continued speaking.

“So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to stop by the cathedral and see your face.”

Those words made Forleen’s white cheeks flush a soft red.

“T-To see… me…?”

She looked down. She was unable to hide her joy. She was fidgeting with her fingers.

Her bashful reaction caught Yutaka off guard.

“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

“N-No! Not at all! I’m just… happy…”

She muttered quietly. Her voice was as thin as thread.

Yutaka looked away, clearing his throat. He was unsure how to respond.

“A-Anyway, it’s good to see you’re well. Also, I’d be in trouble if you suddenly showed up at my estate again without warning.”

He added playfully. He was wearing a teasing smile to hide his embarrassment.

Suddenly, Forleen’s expression changed.

“H-Hey! Just what do you think I am!?”

“Oops.”

Yutaka quickly raised a finger to his lips and glanced around.

“Is it really okay for the Saintess to be shouting like that?”

At his comment, Forleen’s eyes widened. And she hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.

Behind her, the priests were staring in curiosity.

“M-My goodness! Yutaka-sama, you’re terrible!”

She puffed her cheeks and whispered angrily. She then turned around with a huff.

She quickly walked back toward the priests. But halfway there, she glanced back at Yutaka with a lingering look.

In return, Yutaka gave her a gentle wave. His hand was fluttering softly.

＊ ＊ ＊

Meanwhile, at that very time—

In a room on an upper floor of the royal castle. 

A black-haired boy named Nergo was lying on a bed with a sour expression.

“Tch… I was planning to help that Yutaka bastard if he came crying for help.”

He muttered while staring at the ceiling.

He crossed his legs and clicked his tongue.

“In the end, guys with talent can do anything, huh? What a joke.”

His words were filled with a mix of jealousy and irritation. They disappeared into the quiet room.

Suddenly, Nergo sat up and scratched his head roughly.

“Ahh, screw this. Thinking about this crap is a waste of time. Besides, I’ve got cute wives now. Guess I’ll just live out the rest of my days quietly.”

As he spoke, he pictured his wives’ faces in his mind.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Ulrika recently. And Raiza had seemed unusually busy.

Just as those thoughts crossed his mind—

*Knock knock*, a gentle knock sounded on the door.

“Huh? Who is it?”

He muttered softly. A faint girl’s voice came from the other side.

“Nergo-sama, are you in?”

It was followed by a cheerful, bouncing voice.

“Nergo, you there?”

He instantly recognized the voices.

With a sigh, he stood from the bed and replied,

“Yeah, I’m here. Come in.”

The door opened slowly. It revealed two girls.

One was Princess Osa. She was clad in a dazzling white dress with beautiful white-blond hair.

The other was Sonia. She had golden hair tied in a ponytail—one of the companions who had journeyed with Nergo on the Demon King subjugation.

“What do you want?”

Nergo asked bluntly.

Osa fidgeted. She was touching her fingers together and looking up at him.

“Um… if it’s alright with you, Nergo-sama… would you join me for tea later…?”

“Ah… sorry, I’ve got something I can’t miss after this. My bad.”

He scratched his head as he declined without hesitation.

At that moment, he felt a sharp gaze pierce through him.

Behind Osa, Sonia was glaring at him with an icy stare.

The silent pressure made Nergo break into a cold sweat.

“Ah—no, I just meant I’m busy *right now*. I’ll be free by tonight, so… I’ll make it up to you then. Sound good?”

He quickly added. And Osa’s face lit up with joy.

“Really!? Alright! Then I’ll visit your room again tonight, Nergo-sama!”

“You better keep your promise!”

Sonia jabbed sharply.

The two turned and left. The door closed with a loud *bang*.

Left alone in the quiet room, Nergo let out a weary sigh.

“…Man, being popular sure is tough.”

＊ ＊ ＊

Afterward, Nergo went to a private room in the store run by Hyurandel.

He asked the staff to summon Hyurandel and poured himself a drink.

Swirling the glass, Nergo muttered with a hint of melancholy:

“Looks like it’s goodbye to this place too.”

At that moment, the door opened without a sound. And a man with a sticky aura stepped in.

“Oooh, it’s been a while, Nergo-san.”

It was Hyurandel, the previous lord of the Vixel Domain. He was wearing his usual creepy smile.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

“I was starting to worry, since I haven’t seen you around lately.”

“I’m not exactly free either, you know. I’ve got guests to deal with, soldiers coming to me for advice… all sorts of crap. And you’re worried about me? Don’t say disgusting stuff like that.”

Nergo tossed out his words casually. To which Hyurandel chuckled, shaking his shoulders.

“Oh my, how harsh,” 

He said playfully.

Nergo set his glass down on the table.

“So anyway, Hyurande—whoa!?”

Just as Nergo was about to say something, Hyurandel suddenly and smoothly sat down right beside him.

He was so close their skin could almost touch. Nergo instinctively leaned away.

“What the hell, seriously… you’re creepy.”

Hyurandel paid no mind to the insult and beckoned with his fingers. He was gesturing for Nergo to lend his ear.

Then, he whispered:

“We’ve found her. That elf.”

At those words, Nergo’s heart gave a sharp thump.

The resolve he had tried to bury trembled, fragile and shaken.

“…Is that true?”

He squeezed the words out of his throat. Hyurandel nodded with a satisfied look and adjusted his posture.

“Yes. Our covert unit has finally pinpointed her location.”

“…So where is she?”

Nergo asked in a low voice. He was holding back his urgency.

Hyurandel paused deliberately. He then curled up the corner of his mouth.

“She’s in the Vixel Domain.”

At that name, Nergo’s body stiffened.

“Vixel Domain… that’s where Yutaka…”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem like anyone else has caught on yet… but the domain lord, Yutaka-sama, is surely aware.”

Hyurandel’s words poured oil onto the smoldering, dark emotions lingering in Nergo’s heart.

The jealousy and hatred he had tried to extinguish flared up once again.

Nergo let out a deep sigh. He then spat out his words as if to drive those feelings away.

“…Whatever. It’s not like she ever liked me anyway.”

With that, Nergo stood up from his seat.

“Sorry, Hyurandel. I’m—”

He was about to leave the shop—

“Ah, and one more thing. That former Hero’s party member… Ulrika-sama, was it? Seems she’s settled down in the Vixel Domain as well.”

Hyurandel added the remark as if it were nothing.

Nergo’s feet froze in place.

“…Ulrika?”

Hyurandel pressed further.

“Come to think of it, Raiza-sama was also involved in the restoration of the Vixel Domain, wasn’t she?”

Those words became the final trigger.

Ulrika, Raiza, and that elf—Rururii.

Everyone who had once been around him had disappeared… and now they were all gathering around Yutaka.

Coincidence? No. Impossible.

Within Nergo, the black flames in his heart ignited once more—stronger than ever before.

“Hey, Hyurandel… Tell me more about that.”

His voice carried a cold, heavy tone so deep it seemed to shake the very air of the dim room.