I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience

43 – 043: The Path to the North (6)

With this, the destination is set, but the journey ahead is still long.

Although the information is roughly judged based on the map, reaching the northern front where Ras’s mentor is will take at least a few weeks from here.

The only fortunate thing is that there are no obstacles in the vast plains leading to the northern front.

Awakening from his daze, Ras and I abandoned the carriage in the field, which was no longer needed, and moved forward faster than before.

According to Ras, who is the only one among us who has been to the north, it is true that the demon army has taken control of the majority of the north, but it does not mean that the entire north has been occupied by the demon army.

“There are several fortresses in the north protected by barriers that repel demons. And because the north is so vast, they couldn’t dominate it all. (Experience Points: 17)”

“Then how did the front line form?”

When asked about the reason for the front line, he replied that it was because the demon army occupied key strongholds in the north.

The front line was formed based on the strongholds they occupied, and the people living in those strongholds or those who fled from the north to escape the demon army became refugees of the royal road.

The demons trapped in the fortress increased their compatriots and deployed them to the front line.

When asked why they couldn’t capture the fortress before the front line was formed, he sighed and said.

“It’s practically impossible to defeat demons in a siege. (Experience Points: 17)”

Since demons do not consume food, they do not need to be supplied, and thanks to the power of increasing compatriots, they eventually become superior in military strength.

However, it’s not a task that can be recklessly approached.

It’s a fact even I, who knows nothing about strategy, understands—the defending side has the advantage over the attacking side.

It’s like riding a boat with a hole in it.

As long as you don’t plug the hole causing the leak, this war won’t end because water will constantly pour in.

Unlike humanity, which has limitations on resources, there are no such limits for the demon army.

In other words, unless we stop the leak in the boat, this war will never end.

Currently, the master of the Kingdom’s greatest sword, Rast, and the leaders of each temple are in disagreement, but how long will this last?

“So, the thing is… (Experience Points: 17)”

Rast, who stopped mid-sentence, spoke to me with a serious expression, as if concerned about that point.

“Hero, wouldn’t it be possible for you to help the front line just a little? (Experience Points: 17)”

“No.”

Even if I kill demons, if they quickly reappear, it’s meaningless no matter how many I kill.

I don’t have time to spend on something meaningless right now.

Pointing that out, Rast raised his head and countered.

“All we can increase are nameless foot soldiers. I heard we can’t increase officers! If you defeat the officers, it would be a great help…!! (Experience Points: 17)”

“If that’s the logic, wouldn’t defeating the legion commander beyond the front line be helpful?”

When thinking about the strength of officers, the reason for not capturing the castle may be because the legion commander is cautious when aiming for the opportunity to capture the castle.

If I defeat the most dangerous element, the legion commander, I can easily capture the castle afterward.

If I take on defeating the legion commander on the front line, I can recover the lost castles even faster.

Rather than wasting time on the front line, it’s better to defeat the legion commander first.

“And the front line is being watched by the Demon King’s army, right? If we capture the castle there, won’t information leak to the enemy? Or should officers fight risking the danger of not capturing the castle?”

“T-That’s… (Experience Points: 17)”

“Above all, we don’t have time. Damn it… the North is vast? I doubt it can be done within a year.”

“…No time? (Experience Points: 17)”

If I can’t defeat two legion commanders of the Demon King’s army within a year, I will marry Penny.

Seemingly hearing it for the first time, Rast asked me with hesitation.

“Hey, Hero…! (Experience Points: 17)”

“Don’t ask me again since you heard it correctly.”

Marriage.

At the mention of that word, Rast’s pupils begin to shake.

His body trembles with hesitation. Whether that hesitation is conveyed to the horse through the reins or not, the horse’s steps slow down, swaying like its owner’s heart.

“Rast… (Experience Points: 4)”

As always when that bastard talks nonsense, the priest and the magician looked at Rast with eyes that seemed to see a dog shivering in the cold from behind.

But Penny, who could be considered one of the parties involved in this matter, was indifferent.

She briefly glanced at Rast, but soon turned her head away.

Penny, who used to run to Rast, leaving everything behind in the past, responded so coldly.

It’s not hatred, but empty eyes that can’t be called love.

It’s easy to imagine how her feelings for Rast have changed.

“That jerk is thinking some sh*tty thoughts again.”

I was angry at Rast’s pathetic behavior, insufficiently described as nonsense.

A face shocked as if experiencing NTR.

The face of someone who became the protagonist of an unfortunate story.

The last time he made such an expression, he claimed to be on a mission and suddenly left the forest.

If he escapes this time, where will he go?

Without a forest, will he dig into the ground, soar into the sky, or perhaps go under the Orochimaru to learn some magic?

I’m done waiting for a stubborn child who may or may not return.

I approached Rast immediately and before he could turn his head to acknowledge my presence, I struck him on the back of his head.

“Bang!”

With a refreshing sound, Rast’s upper body lurched forward.

“Uh, huh?! (Experience gained: 17)”

Only then did Rast, who had regained his senses, turn to me with a face that seemed to have received a blow to the back of his head. However, I responded nonchalantly.

“Are you thinking some sh*tty thoughts again?”

“…No. (Experience gained: 17)”

“I sense that sh*tty energy I saw in your eyes back then. Behave yourself for a while. If you disappear and reappear to talk about duels again, it won’t end with just fainting this time.”

With that short warning, I turned back.

Now that I’ve given him a reason, if the same thing happens again later, I won’t hesitate to kill him.

“What kind of hero party is this?”

Suddenly, I turned back and watched the party that would soon go to defeat the legion commander together, and I felt exceptionally formidable as an invincible hero.

“I can’t stand these annoying voices.”

I took out my Bluetooth earphones from my pocket, turned up the music as loud as possible, and closed my eyes.

It seems I’ll be wearing these earphones for a long time.

I’ve never been so grateful for the grace of the goddess as I am today.

*****

To sum up our journey that followed in one word, it was silence.

No one, including me, spoke a word. We just silently moved forward.

There were no obstacles blocking the path, and there was no need for conversation as long as we kept moving forward.

Even if there was a need for conversation in my opinion, it seemed that only the bare minimum would have taken place.

The air of silence flowing through the party was cold and heavy.

Day and night, we only did what we had to do.

We set up tents on our own, and during the remaining time, we trained without exchanging a single word.

Although Lars entered the same tent with the cleaners, there wasn’t much conversation there either.

The tent didn’t shake, and there was no sound of heavy breathing.

After all, who would even think of doing that while carrying such a thing in the backpack in a situation like this?

In an atmosphere where even a normal person would not be able to resist shouting, the only consolation was music.

“Never again~ K5 won’t park twice~!!”

I could barely endure the atmosphere by humming along to the lively song.

“Hey. (Experience gained: 1)”

“I am a romantic wild goat!!!”

“Hey!!! (Experience gained: 1)”

While humming a song in a low voice, I turned my head at the touch on my shoulder from a virgin-like girl.

Next to me, Penny, with an impressed expression, gestured to take off my earphones.

She signaled to release the noise canceling, and when I gestured to speak, she said,

“Take that off. (Experience gained: 1)”

“Now that the noise canceling is off, speak.”

“……. (Experience gained: 1)”

Although she seemed to want to say something, when I showed my usual firm attitude, she sighed as if giving up and said,

“It’s getting dark, so let’s camp soon. (Experience gained: 1)”

Indeed, it had gotten dark.

Even though the sun hadn’t completely set, there was no need to push ourselves to go further when the front line was close.

“Where are we camping?”

“…There. (Experience gained: 1)”

Perhaps our stamina was depleting on the journey, as at the tip of the weak finger pointing, there was a small village.

No, it was precisely a village.

Even from a distance, the unmistakable signs of destruction and looting pointed to a cluster of ruins that would be our resting place tonight.

“…Looks like the ghost of a virgin is coming out.”