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 63

Episode 63

It’s been a little over ten days since the Harvest Festival.

The Vixel Domain had regained its calm. I, too, had returned to my usual routine.

And today, at last, the inspection team from the royal capital. The team was centered around Princess Osa. It was scheduled to visit the Vixel Domain.

This marked an important milestone. It was where all our efforts up to now would be tested.

I stood in front of the large full-length mirror in my bedroom. I was making the final adjustments to my appearance.

Wearing a shirt made of slightly finer fabric than usual, a neat jacket over it, and finishing it off with a tie around my neck. I had changed into attire befitting a lord.

*Knock, knock.*

Along with a reserved knock, a familiar voice came from the other side of the door.

“Yutaka-sama, are you ready?”

It was Sebas. I stared into the mirror and tightened my tie knot with a swift motion.

Alright, perfect.

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll be right there.”

When I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, Sebas was waiting there as always. He was impeccably dressed in his flawless butler’s uniform.

His calm demeanor always brought me a sense of reassurance.

“If we head out to greet them now, we should arrive just in time.”

“You’re right. We can’t keep them waiting, after all.”

Nodding at Sebas’ suggestion, the two of us began walking slowly toward the stairs.

His profile looked somewhat proud. It was as if he were smiling with satisfaction.

“If the safety of the territory can be fully confirmed, the kingdom’s regular soldiers will be dispatched. That will solidify the town’s security. And trials for criminals can be carried out according to kingdom law.”

“Yeah. That way, we can finally give Freyja and the others some time to rest. They’ve really gone above and beyond. I want them to be able to relax.”

Freyja had taken command of Kanaloa’s forces. And together, they had maintained the town’s order all this time.

Without their dedication, today’s Vixel wouldn’t exist.

To properly reward their efforts, this inspection had to be a success.

That’s what I was thinking when it happened.

“Kyaaaaaa!!“

A shrill scream echoed violently through the mansion. That voice—no doubt—it was Kotama!

“Was that… Kotama!?”

Sebas was walking beside me. He immediately changed expression. Panic was written across his face.

His agitation spread to me instantly.

“Where is Kotama!?”

“Just earlier, she was cleaning the second-floor windows in the entrance hall!”

Before Sebas could even finish answering, I was already sprinting off.

I dashed down the long corridor, overtook Sebas, and burst into the entrance hall.

The grand space with an open ceiling—on the second floor, just beyond the elegantly curved railing. Right there I saw a figure.

There, it collapsed onto the floor, trembling violently. It was none other than Kotama in her maid uniform.

Thankfully, there were no signs that she’d been attacked. And there were no obvious injuries.

Relieved that it wasn’t the worst-case scenario, I ran up the stairs.

“What happened, Kotama!? Are you okay!?”

“Y-Yutaka-sama…”

As I rushed to her and spoke, she looked up at me with teary eyes and pointed a trembling finger toward the window.

“Th-There…”

She was clearly terrified of something.

A thief? A monster?

I turned my gaze toward the window she was pointing at.

And then I saw it—and blurted out a foolish, stunned, “Ah!”

Outside the window. Hanging upside down from what looked like the roof eaves—

Long, silvery hair flowing down with gravity. And a bob-cut was swaying around an emotionless face that was peering in.

There was no mistaking her. That silver hair and those unreadable, cool eyes—she was someone I knew.

It was Svea. She was the former archer of the hero’s party who had once traveled with me.

The surreal sight of her dangling upside-down momentarily disconnected me from reality.

She wore the same deep green robe as she had during our travels.

But now, unable to defy gravity, the hem of her robe was flipped upward.

She desperately tried to hold it down with one hand. She just barely managed to keep it from revealing her underwear.

At that moment, Sebas arrived. He was out of breath. He widened his eyes at the sight outside the window and stood speechless beside me.

“Yutaka-sama, th-this person is…?”

“Sorry, Sebas. She’s someone I know…”

I replied. I felt terribly apologetic.

Why she was here, dressed like that, and hanging upside down—I had no idea.

I quietly approached the window, unlocked it, and opened it.

“Long time no see, Svea… So, what exactly are you doing there?”

“Observing.”

She answered bluntly. She was expressionless as ever.

Observing what?—I tried to ask. But the words evaporated before they left my lips.

Svea lightly twisted her body and spun gracefully. She landed softly on the window frame like a cat.

Then, without hesitation, she stepped into the mansion.

She walked straight up to me. She then glanced at the frozen Sebas and Kotama behind me.

“I need to talk… Those two are in the way.”

Still as sharp-tongued as ever. Of course, I knew she didn’t mean any harm. She just always said exactly what was on her mind.

Smiling awkwardly inside, I turned to the confused pair.

“Sorry. She doesn’t mean anything bad. Sebas, Kotama—sorry, but could you go on ahead to Aegis Village and welcome the inspection team? I’ll join you later.”

“U-Understood…”

Though he hadn’t fully grasped the situation, Sebas nodded. He then helped Kotama to her feet and quickly led her away.

Once their footsteps faded into the distance, I let out a long sigh.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“When I was investigating Nergo’s cheating, the owner he was close to said something suspicious.”

She’s completely convinced Nergo was cheating…

But putting that aside, I urged her to continue.

“Something suspicious?”

“First, there’s an assassination attempt on you.”

“A-An assassination!?”

My voice cracked in surprise.

A chill ran down my spine. I looked around nervously for no reason.

Seeing my reaction, Svea said casually,

“It’s fine. I already took care of that one.”

“T-Took care of…?”

Even if she says that…

The fact that someone had targeted my life was shocking enough. But hearing it’s already been “dealt with” doesn’t exactly make me feel reassured.

Then, something clicked in my mind.

When Sonia had visited this town before—

“Wait… so when you came to town with Sonia, that was…?”

“I met Sonia. Yeah, that’s right. We came to investigate this.”

So that’s what it was.

She could’ve told me… but no—that was her way of not wanting to worry me unnecessarily.

I knew Svea had that kind of awkward kindness.

“So, you said *first*. That means there’s more?”

I asked. And for the first time, Svea showed a slightly troubled, frustrated expression.

“Yeah. But… sorry. I got spotted halfway and they got away. They hired a mage who could teleport…”

“I see. Well, even that much is valuable information.”

Not knowing the enemy’s goal is dangerous. But just knowing they had other objectives is very useful.

I had no intention of blaming her.

“Apparently, they’re planning to abduct someone in the Vixel Domain. I heard them say, ‘Bring them back even if you have to cut off their limbs.’”

My assassination. Someone’s abduction.

Both were extremely dangerous.

Who could hate me—or that “someone”—enough to go that far?

I had no idea.

“…Svea. About the one targeting us—what kind of person are they?”

When I asked, Svea looked up slightly as if reaching into her memory. She then said softly,

“Probably Hyurandel… Nergo called him that.”

The moment I heard that name, my mind froze.

“Hy-Hyurandel!?”

There’s no way I could forget.

The former lord of the Vixel Domain.

For that man’s name to come up here and now—

All I could do was cry out in disbelief.