To Me, Who Was Single-Handedly Holding The Front Line, You Call Me A "Useless Piece of Trash"? Fine. I'll Live as I Please And Set Out On A Journey To Find A Cute Wife. - This time, I'll Become A Hero In The Enemy Country And Bare My Fangs At My Homeland - Episode 32

“That’s amazing. You just became an adventurer last month, right?”

“I heard he also took the exam to become a knight of Verdi. They say he’s almost guaranteed to pass.”

I am strong.

Since childhood, I was strong and it was easy for me to become an adventurer.

I’ll keep rising like this and make my name known to the world.

“Bory, hey Bory, come on.”

“Huh? What, why are you here, Meily?”

Inside the Adventurers’ Guild. The one who called out from behind was a woman with orange hair.

A face as friendly as a cat. Relaxed cheeks.

This guy is my childhood friend.

She was the only one who knew me from that small village—an unpleasant woman.

“Why? Well, it’s only natural since I became an adventurer too.”

Yeah, this woman became an adventurer just like me.

And they’re leveling up faster than me.

“Is that so? Well then.”

“Bory, did you forget our promise?”

“……Promise?”

“The adventurer said they would treat me to a meal once I reach B-rank.”

Recalling past memories.

Come to think of it, I feel like I made such a promise when I reunited with this guy in the Verdi Kingdom.

Since Peach and Parchik were so noisy, I just said “hi hi” casually, and that’s how it turned out.

However, promises must be kept. I know that much too.

“Ah…”

“Yay. I’m going to cash this in for a bit, so wait for me.”

“Ah”

Dragging along, Meily carried the large monster deeper inside.

Her ability, Gifted, enhances physical abilities.

Something special that I don’t have.

Honestly, I’m envious. I’m strong and hold the title of having great strength, but even so, there are limits.

Maybe that’s why. Wanting to be a little distant from Meily.

“It’s over. Hey, come on, let’s go?”

“Get off me. Don’t cross your arms.”

“When we were little, we used to walk like this all the time, remember?”

See, that’s why I don’t like it.

“Hey, by the way, isn’t your hair a bit damaged, Bory?”

“…That’s what battle is like. You get splattered with bl00d and sweat. If anything, you’re too clean.”

“Since we’re going out for a meal, let’s clean ourselves up nicely.”

“This is fine. This is the way of a man—H-Hey, where are you taking me!?”

Pulled with all their might, being dragged along without being able to resist.

Damn it, I hate this. Why do I, a man, have to deal with women…

“See, I told you it’s beautiful. I really like Bory’s black hair.”

“Geez…”

Where I was taken was an outdoor barbershop.

Even so, it shouldn’t be up to Meily to cut it instead.

My hair was scrubbed so hard that it hurt a bit.

“Were you that unhappy?”

“Well, I do feel refreshed.”

“Hehe, come on, let’s go.”

In the end, all of today’s earnings went to covering Meily’s meal expenses.

It seems that using my gifted abilities consumes magic power, which makes me hungry.

“Goodnight, Bory. Make sure to keep your hair nice and clean.”

“If I feel like it.”

Geez, what a nosy busybody.

Ah.

“Meily”

“Hmm, what’s wrong?”

“When you receive a request, thoroughly examine the mission. No matter how capable you are, unexpected things often happen.”

“Hehe, okay!”

Do you really understand?

Seriously, this guy.

“Hey, did you hear? Apparently, they haven’t come back yet.”

“Ah, it’s the Cave of Evil, right?”

A few nights later.

The Adventurers’ Guild is a treasure trove of rumors.

They’re always going on about how someone died on a mission or how a mission failed—it’s nothing but boring stories.

“Is this the end for Meily? Hmm, what, what’s going on? Bory, what’s wrong?”

“What the hell is going on? Explain it to me. What happened to him?”

“Okay, okay, just don’t grab my shoulder so hard! There was a beginner party stranded in the Demon Cave this morning!”

“So”

“I’m going to help them and I won’t be back. It’s been five hours already—H-Hey, Bory, where are you going?”

Geez, that guy.

――You’ve always been reckless since back in the day.

The Cave of Evil is a place similar to a dungeon.

Although the area near the entrance has a low difficulty level, it becomes stronger the further you go inside.

There isn’t much flavor, but you can earn money from magic stones and other items obtained from monsters, so beginner parties often gather around the shallows.

However, they would get carried away and venture deeper, only to be completely wiped out. Because of this, it came to be known as the Cursed Cave.

Outside the country, beyond the forest, there is a cave.

At the entrance, there are several corpses of goblins.

The reason it’s called a pseudo-dungeon is because the paths are divided like a maze.

Three paths diverged, and I stopped there.

“……Which one is it, damn it?”

At times like this, if only God would guide me.

…No, I have experience. Don’t act spoiled.

The right side is too dark.

I feel an unpleasant magical power coming from the center.

The left side’s magical power has eased a bit.

――This way.

As I kept moving forward, at that moment, I heard a voice reflected off the wall.

It’s a nostalgic, high-pitched woman’s voice.

When I hurriedly ran, there was Meily.

They’re fighting as if they’re going out of their way to protect the four-person party.

My limbs… are still intact.

Geez.

“—Haaah! —Bory, why are you here!?”

“Your hair is all greasy. Aren’t adventurers supposed to keep themselves clean?”

After slicing up the stone golem that was there, Meily crouched down, perhaps feeling relieved.

The beginner adventurer party behind us seems to be injured, but they should be fine.

“Meily”

“W-What… I know, okay? But, I…”

“Well done. You are the pride of adventurers.”

My village with Meily was destroyed by a stampede of monster invasions.

Fortunately, we were playing in the mountains, so we escaped with our lives, but ever since then, Meily has continued to seek strength.

Surely, my body moved because it remembered that day.

“…Hehe, thank you.”

Geez, because you’re working so hard, I have to keep pushing myself too, don’t I?

A few weeks later, I became a knight of Verdi.

What surprised me was that there was also a woman I recognized.

“What are you doing?”

“Cool, right? Starting today, I’m the knight of Verdi.”

When did she take the exam? She was wearing the same clothes as me.

…It really suits you.

“Listen, don’t do anything reckless.”

“Hehe, what do you think? But when I’m in a pinch, you’ll come to help me, right?”

“……Shut up.”

Then Meily, for some reason, took my new hat.

“What are you doing?”

“Your beautiful hair is all messed up, it’s such a waste.”

“Hah, shut up.”

I was assigned to the front lines because of my skills. Meily was a gifted individual, but as expected of the Verdi knights.

The elite squad members were not only gifted with abilities but also received special education from a young age.

Meily was assigned to the defense unit and was basically stationed near the royal castle.

He seemed dissatisfied, but it was convenient for me.

If that guy is about to die, it’s a promise that I have to rush over every single time.

“Bory, I appoint you to the elite unit.”

Six months later, I was recognized for my achievements and rose to the top of Verdi.

It seems it’s an unprecedented case. Well, that makes sense.

Because Meily was just about to win against the vice-captain.

“The winner, Elena!”

Just like Elena, who had completely mastered the Shrinking Teleporter, Meily also fought hard but ultimately lost.

As always, he doesn’t hold back on his training.

However, give up. You’re too nice.

You’ve blended in too much; the Land Knight Commander wouldn’t assign you to the front lines. He doesn’t want you to be away from Verdi.

“Hey, Bory, have you heard the rumors about the Frenzied Berserker?”

“Of course, Commander Land.”

The war with Trava is about to begin. That’s what I thought, but even after six months at the front, we Verdi still couldn’t cross the border.

It was caused by the existence of just one person.

A mysterious man is stationed in the desert swarming with the massacre spider death creatures.

And we couldn’t overcome that.

“Sending an elite unit is close to being the last resort for Verdi. You understand that, right?”

“Hah, I will definitely bring the enemy’s head to my hands.”

Surprise attacks, magic, and grand strategies have all been destroyed by overwhelming power.

If we fail, the Kingdom of Verdi will be in a dire situation.

I have no choice but to bet my whole being on it. Even if it means putting my life on the line.

“Bory”

“What’s wrong?”

At night, I couldn’t sleep.

While I was gazing at the sky outside the knight’s guild hall, Meily came over.

“You’re going tomorrow, right?”

“Ah, it’s just a little field trip. I can’t sleep when I’m excited. You know that, right?”

“…What would you do if I told you not to go?”

“What kind of joke is this?”

Mary slowly approached.

It’s a serious look, unlike usual.

“Don’t fight against the frenzied berserker frenzy.”

What on earth… is going on?

“There’s no way we can do that. We are knights. We have a duty to work for the king and protect the people.”

“I don’t want to lose you…”

Of course I’m going.

Your place is also with Verdi, right?

“Sorry, but that’s impossible.”

“……Yeah, right. — Hey, Bory.”

“What is it?”

“Promise you’ll definitely come back.”

“Hah, who do you think I am?”

“Bawling Boy”

“Shut up”

Geez, I thought crying when we lost the village was the last time.

But I’m pumped up.

The elite squad is as strong as I am, if not stronger.

Indeed, to the point where it wouldn’t lose to Arne and the others.

We can win. No, we will win. For Meily’s sake too.

However――.

“It’s just right for exercising before bed.”

We all got taken out in one hit.

The only evidence of the frenzied berserker rampage was the barely audible voice.

As a consequence of coming into contact with tremendous magical power, the elite unit lost all their hair roots.

After returning home, we weren’t even laughed at.

I risked my life. Well, that’s only natural.

However, it was painful. At least, I wanted you to smile.

One by one, as people left, I was still at Verdi.

There is no place to go back to. Besides――.

“Hehe, hehe, Bory is so cute.”

“Shut up. Don’t touch my scalp.”

“Adorable, just like a baby.”

“That’s why I told you not to touch it, Meily.”

Only Meily is laughing at me.

I’m glad you’re alive, and I’m glad it ended there.

…Damn it, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad if I could see your smile.

“Meily, don’t fight with him.”

“Eh, but I have to avenge my father!”

“Absolutely.”

“……Got it. Hey, Bory, how about I introduce you to a place I know? Your hair might grow back.”

“A store? It is better not be a shady place.”

“It’s a place with a good reputation. They even said they’ve helped people grow their hair back.”

“I’m not really interested.”

“Hey, don’t say things like that. — Because I’m the one going there.”

“Huh?”

“You told me to keep it clean, remember? Ever since then, I’ve been taking care of it there.”

No wonder it’s so lustrous.

…Hmph.

“Fine, but if it doesn’t grow back, you owe me a meal.”

“Okay. Hey, if even one hair grows back, wouldn’t that be a miracle?”

“……Well, there’s no way something like that could happen.”

“Uh, so if it grows back, will we get married?”

“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Because it’s a miracle, right? It’s more interesting to bet on the impossible than to just accept the impossible.”

“Hmph. Listen, the hair follicles are already dead. There’s no way they can grow back.”

“Then let’s make a bet.”

“……Do as you please.”

“Hehe, maybe I’ll have kids once the second one grows in.”

“…You laugh at the most trivial things, don’t you?”

“That’s right? Because when I’m really sad, Bory cries for me. And when I’m struggling, he comes to help.”

“……Shut up.”

“I don’t want to.”

Seriously, you’re such a noisy person.

And after various events, the war ended.

There were also more noisy people around.

――How about you finally get married?

That’s right. “Promises” are meant to be kept.

A man has no second words.

“Meily”

“Hmm, what is it?”

“……I guess it’s nothing after all.”

“What’s up, what’s up?”

“Next time, then.”

“Eh, I’m curious. Tell me.”

――Honestly, what a spineless guy.

――Marry Meily.

――Absolutely. You’ll be able to be happy.

Ah, geez, you’re so annoying.

I know without being told. It’s that obvious.

“I’m going to buy a ring.”