This really was the kind of life a hero deserved: a private room, a comfortable bed, and a quiet companion.
Froggy: Ahh… now this is living.
Even if it lacked a few luxuries here and there, it was a good start. But he was already getting tired of staying still for so long. In short, he was bored.
Froggy: There has to be a way to escape…
Star: I don't recommend it. Even if you managed to get out, you'd run into an infernal environment.
Froggy: Nothing I haven't experienced already.
He paced back and forth, thinking. Maybe pretend to faint and then run? It was stupid, but he vaguely remembered an escape like that… from a show he had watched… when had he watched it? Didn't matter.
Froggy: Maybe break the bars?
He had a pickaxe in his inventory. Maybe, if he worked hard enough, he could escape by chipping away at the bars whenever he wasn't being watched. However, that plan had a fatal flaw: he needed the system to access his inventory.
Froggy: What else? There has to be something…
And then his opportunity came. Several dwarves entered and took him out. Strangely, they took Star as well. They led them down a long corridor, lined with portraits of dwarves he didn't recognize. It looked like some kind of final boss waited at the end. Froggy swallowed.
Before entering, they tried to take his weapon—the knife. In vain. No matter how hard they tried, it simply wouldn't come off. Instead, it glowed with its usual tone, as if that made things easier. One dwarf reached for his axe.
Froggy: W-wait. I have a better idea… why not just wrap it up?
Star translated his words. They used several cloths to wrap the weapon, turning it into a strange bundle.
Finally, they entered. A rustic office, with weapons hanging on the walls and some kind of furnace at the back. It looked more like a workshop than an office. But sitting at the front was a dwarf. His hair was white, and he had a large scar across his face.
They forced him to sit down and tied him up again.
Froggy: I plead innocent to all charges.
The dwarves murmured and looked at Star. He repeated Froggy's words in their language—or so it seemed, because Froggy didn't understand a thing.
Star: They want you to identify yourself.
Froggy: Tell them… uh… I'm the great hero Froggy Green. I come in the name of peace… uh… and that I didn't mean to steal from them…
Star spoke again.
Star: They're asking about your guide. If you're really a hero, they want you to tell them what they're called.
Froggy swallowed.
Froggy: Uh… yeah… about that… tell them my system shut down, overheated or something. I don't have access to it right now.
As Star translated, all the dwarves' gazes sharpened. Even the old dwarf looked at him with deep suspicion.
They placed an axe beside him.
Star: They're asking you again to identify yourself… demon.
Froggy: Huh? Demon? I'm a hero! And what I'm saying is true.
Star: Allow me to doubt that. A man in his underwear without a guide is not a hero.
Everyone stared at him. With each passing second, it felt like he was one step closer to being attacked.
Froggy: …
Star: This is the last time they'll ask.
Froggy: …
A dwarf stepped forward, pressing his weapon against Froggy's neck.
Froggy: Alright… you've found me out… I'm a DEMON. HAHAHAHAHA!
Froggy burst into exaggerated laughter. Everyone tensed and raised their weapons.
Star: What is a demon doing so far from the front?
Froggy:Uh… an army is coming this way. A big one. And if you hurt me… uh… you'll regret it.
Star repeated his words.
The dwarf chief slammed the ground with such force that the whole place trembled. Then he looked at Froggy with hatred. Froggy stared back defiantly. Then he spoke again.
Froggy: I'll tell you everything I know. I'm actually a deserter.
The dwarves looked at each other.
Star: They say they'll consider it.
Froggy nodded.
Star: That concludes it.
The dwarves took him back to the cell, but unlike before, this time they put chains on him, fastening them to his ankles.
Froggy watched them leave, then collapsed onto his bed.
Froggy: That was close…
He had bought time. A demonic being? He was supposed to be a hero. But who knew what would have happened if they had attacked him without the system. Would he revive? That wasn't guaranteed. At least he'd gain some time until it returned.
Froggy: Hey, Star…
Star: So, a demon, huh? That explains quite a lot.
Froggy: It's not true. I really am a hero.
Star: You're far too ugly to be one. I suspected it from the start.
Froggy: Ugly? No! That's not the point! I just said it so they wouldn't kill me!
Star: Sure…
Froggy: You don't believe me?
Star: You haven't said anything that would make me think otherwise.
Froggy: Fine! I'll tell you whatever you want. Ask freely.
Star: What were you like in your world?
Froggy: I was… well… a champion? Yeah, something like that…
Star: A demon.
Froggy: I'm not! Look, I lost part of my memory because of the system.
Star: You said you don't have a guide.
Froggy: I do, but… it left.
Star: Back to the same thing again.
Froggy sighed.
How had he gone from being a glorious hero to a demon? It made no sense.
Froggy: I've got it. I'll prove to you I'm a hero.
Star: How will you do that?
Froggy: Every hero has their legendary weapon.
Star: You mean that thing you haven't let go of since you arrived?
Froggy: Exactly. If I weren't the hero, I'd be able to let go of this weapon.
Star: The heroes I know don't live with their weapon glued to their hand. That looks more like a curse.
Froggy: But it glows! It's a…
Froggy didn't even believe what he was saying.
Froggy: …a legendary weapon.
Star: Uh-huh.
Froggy: Fine. I'll prove it another way.
Froggy tried to stick his hand through the bars, but it was difficult because of the chains.
Froggy: Stop hating me and you'll see—it'll turn off.
Star: Are you stupid?
Froggy: Do it.
Star looked at the knife, glowing intensely.
He didn't really look like a demon—just an ugly creature… very ugly. But deep down, very deep down, a doubt began to form.
Maybe he really was a hero?
It was a question without an answer.
Star sighed.
The knife stopped glowing.