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 9

“Delicious! As expected, meat bought with stolen money tastes amazing, doesn’t it, Fern?”

“Yamagishi-san says scary things with pure eyes and voice, doesn’t he?”

After entering Verdi, I was so hungry that I immediately moved to the cafeteria.

By the way, it seems that there was bl00d on the pass, and the soldier frowned quite a bit.

“Hey, what is this?”

“Um… well…”

Hmm, should I just cut my losses? I was thinking that when Fern said, “Big brother, let’s go inside and relax.”

It’s Fern, the smart one.

“Fern from earlier was great.”

“Huh? You liked it? Could it be… cute… or something?”

“Kind of like a cat.”

“……Are you complimenting me?”

“I’m complimenting you.”

Yes

With an expression that makes it hard to tell if they’re happy or not, they’re looking over here.

Including things like this, it’s cat-like.

It seems that the Verdi Kingdom is much more prosperous than Trava.

I heard it was tough due to the drought, but there were many wells and it seemed like self-sufficiency was progressing.

There were many wizards I faced on the front lines, so I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of people they are.

Speaking of which, where’s that guy Arne… I wonder where he is.

At that moment, I suddenly looked at Fern’s clothes. They were tattered from escaping the prison and making it through the forest.

I’m kind of the same, but this isn’t good for women, you know.

“After this is done, let’s go buy some clothes first.”

“Y-yes! I’ll be waiting.”

“Hmm? No, Fern is here too, right?”

“Eh, but, but I don’t have any money…”

“The money from the guys we took down earlier is still left over, so it’s fine!”

When I made a peace sign, Fern looked awkward.

I wonder why.

“Here you go, an extra bone-in meat.”

“Whoa, that looks delicious!”

“……Amazing, luxurious.”

At a good time? The lady brought more meat.

This diner is said to have the biggest portions in town.

I take a big bite just like that. While thinking “delicious, delicious,” I suddenly look ahead and see Fern also stuffing her face with her hands.

Somehow, it’s interesting.

“Please don’t look too much. It’s embarrassing.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“…But it’s really delicious. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a feast.”

Since her white cheek was dirty, I wiped it for her, and she smiled and said thank you.

I was all alone on the front lines the whole time. I couldn’t even talk to anyone.

But still, being able to talk is really fun.

“Yamagishi-san, let me ask you again, do you really want to become an adventurer with me?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Because I’m not strong like Mr. Yamagishi.”

“Don’t worry about it. Besides, I’m not strong either.”

“Are you really saying that?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“To say you’re not strong is an exaggeration of modesty.”

“Really?”

“You really don’t know yourself, do you? But that’s kind of cool about you.”

For some reason, I chuckle. Did I say something strange?

At that moment, I heard the men behind Fern whispering.

I have good hearing. Even when I’m not concentrating, I can still hear things, which is a bit of a hassle.

Could he be a soldier from this town? His clothes are crisp and he has a collar.

“Hey, did you hear? It seems the Frenzied Berserker has disappeared.”

“……Hey, hey, what kind of joke is this? And don’t mention that name. I can’t stop shaking.”

“Wait, wait. What do you mean he vanished? That lunatic didn’t move an inch from that spot.”

A berserker in a frenzy? That’s quite a nickname they’ve got there.

Both seem scary.

“I haven’t been told the details yet. But it seems the attack was successful for the first time.”

“Wow… but hey, even if it disappeared, what if it comes back? Have you forgotten? Our elite squad came back bald overnight.”

“Is that it… I heard you were told it was ‘exercise before bed’ while being handled with one hand. But hey, you were lucky not to get killed facing the frenzy. The bald guy… he’s the worst, though.”

Exercise before bed, huh? I used to do that a lot on the front lines too. During the day, you get covered in mud, so at night, if you don’t fight someone and keep moving, it gets all stuck on you.

It’s interesting that there’s someone else thinking the same thing as me.

“For now, the information is still uncertain. Considering the possibility of a trap, the military seems to be proceeding cautiously from here on. However, it seems they are also recruiting mercenaries from adventurers as a countermeasure against the frenzied berserkers.”

“Hah, no matter how skilled they are, there’s no way they can defeat the frenzy. Besides, they wouldn’t even be able to hold it off.”

“Even so, there’s a big difference between having someone there and not. I agree.”

Oh, I see, that’s interesting. So mercenaries are basically soldiers for hire, right?

Working as a carefree adventurer and occasionally as a mercenary sounds fun too.

Later, I want to try fighting that frenzy berserker!

After that, we continued to enjoy our meal and were very satisfied when we settled the bill.

I was happy that it was cheaper than I expected.

“This money seems to have some bl00d on it…”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s not mine—hey, why are you grabbing my arm, Fern?”

“N-no, it’s nothing! Sorry, please don’t mind it and just bring the bill!”

I was pulled by Fern, and she scolded me, saying, “That’s not allowed.”

Conversation is tough, isn’t it?

After that, I asked the clerk where the Adventurers’ Guild was.

“Oh, is it an exam?”

“Exam?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Today is the semi-annual adventurer recruitment exam. It didn’t used to be like this, but since the war started, things have gotten a lot stricter.”

Oh, really? I didn’t know there was such a thing. I’m not good at exams, but maybe with Fern around, I’ll manage somehow.

“But, it’s better if you don’t.”

“Should we stop?”

“…Just between us, there’s a rumor that today’s exam will be overseen by someone who has never passed a single student. Apparently, they’re incredibly strong and quite the sadist.”

Hearing that, I called out to Fern.

“Did you hear, Fern? I’m looking forward to it!”

“No.”

“There’s no way that’s possible! A single private holding the front line? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

The current king of the Trava Kingdom, Baldra, shouted while sitting on his throne.

A bulging belly, short black hair, and a furious expression.

The one who received those words was the Bedouin commander who was overseeing the army.

Kneeling on one knee, he wore a bitter expression.

No wonder, as soon as Yamagishi disappeared, we were attacked from the north, which had always been peaceful.

The front line collapsed once. Although it is calm now, we are being scolded for why it happened.

“……Y-You are absolutely right. However, first, let me explain according to the report――”

“I don’t care about such false reports! First, give me the current situation report.”

“……Lieutenant German, who was sent to the front lines in place of Yamagishi, has gone missing. Additionally, due to the collapse of the front lines, three hundred people were sacrificed in a single attack…… We are currently gathering soldiers and deploying them to the front lines.”

“You useless idiots! What the hell are you even here for?!!!”

“I-I have no words to respond.”

After getting furiously angry, King Baldra further went through the report.

Clearly frowning and clicking their tongue.

Furthermore, Baldra stood up and threw the wine he had been drinking.

Stamping my feet in frustration, I catch my breath while adjusting my shoulders.

“I got it.”

“…Huh?”

“There’s no way that guy Yamagishi was holding the front lines alone. In other words—he must have been a spy from the Kingdom of Verdi.”

“I-I see… So, are you saying that Yamagishi was selling our information?”

“Of course! Can’t you understand that much?”

Furthermore, the king was furious and lashed out on the spot.

“I’m so sorry!”

“Where did Yamagishi, who we were supposed to have caught once, escape to?”

“Th-that’s… probably in terms of position, it’s Verdi…”

“Hahaha! Just as I thought! Listen, bring Yamagishi before me.”

“That’s definitely a sanction, isn’t it?”

“You idiot! Are you really going to waste it like that?!”

In the face of the king’s fury, the Bedouins simply bow their heads and endure.

“Yamagishi was at least trusted by Verdi. The reason for that was surely money.”

“Gold… perhaps?”

“Don’t make me say it twice! Lieutenant German probably found out and confronted Yamagishi. And then, he was killed. That’s enough of that. But Yamagishi still has value. Find him and pay him.”

“…So, will Yamagishi return?”

“Of course. There’s no one who wouldn’t be swayed by money. Pay them upfront on the spot. And make them spill everything about Verdi—kill them. Our country has no need for traitors.”

“……I see, so that’s how it is.”

The Bedouin stands up joyfully.

“I will summon the troops and infiltrate Verdi. Without fail, I will bring Yamagishi before the king!”

“Also, it seems the half-elf ran away with Yamagishi.”

“Y-yes… I’ll take that one along too…”

“Kill the half-elves. They are a despised race. I was going to execute them and make a spectacle out of it, but never mind.”

“Understood. I will definitely do it with my own hands!”