Hanging from a spear wasn't particularly comfortable, but it was far safer than what he had seen before. No magma titans, no useless systems. Just him and a couple of armed dwarves. Maybe this was the meaning of life: just hanging from a spear and watching the scenery.
Dwarf: Grum-han thap thum!
Froggy: I don't understand you, brother.
They had tried to communicate with him, but it was useless. He couldn't understand them—and on top of that, he no longer had that useless system that had abandoned him. At least with it, he'd know what to do.
He sighed.
The journey wasn't really long. They returned to the same cave as before. He saw his "home," somewhat scorched by lava—a truly pitiful sight. They crossed it, passing by the same lake as before.
Froggy: Where are you taking me?
They didn't answer.
The dwarves walked steadily until, after a while, they reached what looked like an entrance—an underground passage. Froggy looked at it in surprise. The dwarves continued, revealing a city. He saw small houses and a few buildings. Seeing almost all the dwarves armed wasn't surprising, but they threw him looks of disapproval and even curiosity.
Froggy: Nothing to see here.
They took him to a dungeon. It was very simple: a room with bars, nothing more. They threw him inside. Froggy stood up and grabbed the bars.
Froggy: Don't leave me here! I'm one of the good guys!
The dwarves walked away.
Froggy: Fine, your loss! You hear me? YOUR LOSS!
Taking advantage of the absence of threats, he inspected the prison. Just a dirt floor and, on the ceiling, some hanging chains—like a macabre decoration for such a gloomy place.
Froggy: My shelter was better.
Then he looked at the most important element in the entire place.
Froggy: A bed!
It really was a bed… a real… real one… He threw himself onto it. It wasn't particularly comfortable—it seemed to be made of straw—but it was much better than the hot ground from before.
Froggy: I lied… you're definitely better.
Shhh…
Froggy: Hm?
Shh…
A sound began to echo, as if someone was calling him.
Froggy: Is someone there?
???: Hey…
Froggy heard the voice.
Froggy: Who are you?
He went on guard.
???: I'm here, next to you.
He tried to peek through the bars. He couldn't quite manage, but it was enough to see a hand.
???: Over here.
Froggy: I see you… who are you?
???: My name's Star. Who are you?
Froggy: I'm…
He thought about his name.
Froggy: I'm Froggy Green, a hero from another world.
A loud laugh echoed.
Star: You? A hero?
The laughter continued.
Froggy: What's so funny?
Star: Do you even understand what that means?
Froggy: Don't I?
Star: Better… it's really better that way.
Froggy: I've had a confusing companion before, but he was definitely worse. I don't understand you.
A sigh was heard.
Star: You're the only company I've had in a long time.
Froggy: How did you end up here?
Star: Are you really a hero?
Froggy: I am.
Silence filled the place again. After a while, Star spoke.
Star: I'm a translator—someone with the ability to understand all kinds of languages. Let's say I scammed a couple of dwarves, and they didn't like that. What's a hero doing here?
Froggy: Let's just say… I might have stolen something from a dwarf…
Star: Stealing? Don't you have some kind of inner guide?
Froggy: The system? It's not very useful.
Star: Strange… I've met other heroes, but none of them have ever called that guide useless.
Froggy: Wait! Wait… there are other heroes?
Star: They're on the surface. They claim to come from another world. They're arrogant and only seek their own benefit.
Froggy: B-but there's only one chosen hero… the system—
Star: Chosen hero? Where did you hear that nonsense? Maybe there was one… but that was a long time ago.
Froggy: I don't understand… I'm supposed to be the hero…
Star: Welcome to hell, my friend.
Froggy: I still have this question… where are we?
Star: Umm… in a dungeon? There are many like this in the world.
Suddenly, everything started to make sense in his mind: why there were no villagers, no trees, no friendly NPCs. It was a dungeon. He felt like laughing.
Froggy: A dungeon…
Star: Correct.
Froggy: One more thing… is there a demon lord?
Star fell silent.
Froggy: Star?
Star: …
Froggy: Hey, are you still there?
Star: There is a demon lord. The world went to hell because of him. The surface—far, far above all this—is partially occupied by him.
Froggy swallowed.
Froggy: Then we'll have to defeat him.
Star: Good luck with that.
Froggy: Ha! That demon lord will be lucky if, after facing me, he only ends up with a couple of bruises.
Star didn't respond, but he knew: no one could face that being. He stroked his beard and sighed. A hero in his underwear claiming he would defeat a godlike entity… the world was truly doomed…
The dwarf Swar walked briskly toward the barracks, where his superior was waiting after an incident in the dungeon. Swar opened the door. His chief sat inside—an old dwarf with a scar across his face.
Swar: Sir.
Chief: Any updates?
Swar: We've captured the creature, sir. Looks human, but its essence is… wrong. No doubt it's part of the demon army.
Chief: This far from the front lines?
Swar: Maybe it got in through some tunnel, burrowing up from underground.
Chief: If that's the case, we need to act. Send patrols to the outer zones. Any sign of an army gets reported immediately.
Swar: Understood!
The chief stayed deep in thought. They needed to mine faster. More resources—but no time. He rubbed his forehead, trying to come up with something…
Chief: Oh—and Swar.
Swar: Yes?
Chief: Bring me that prisoner. I want him questioned.