The Strange Adventure of a Broke Mercenary

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After the soldiers’ mercenary group where he used to work had been utterly destroyed, Loren, who survived the disaster, decided to walk the adventurer’s path as a way to make a living. However, for Loren who had no acquaintances and nothing but an empty pocket on him, receiving a single quest seemed like a faraway aim. So, as he was contemplating about what he should do next, another adventurer called out to him.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Kuitsume Youhei no Gensou Kitan
走投無路傭兵的幻想奇譚
食い詰め傭兵の幻想奇譚
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Goblin Slayer (2)
The Second Coming of Gluttony (2)
Rakuin no Monshou (2)
Shini Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Shichi-nin no Kikōshi (2)
Grimgal of Ashes and Illusion (1)
Wortenia Senki (WN) (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Action - Cultivation - Adventure (On going)
  2. Japanese Light Novels or Web Novels
  3. stories that caught my eye
  4. Novel I Read
  5. Novel List

Latest Release

Date Group Release
03/24/24 Divine Dao Library c320
03/17/24 Divine Dao Library c319
03/10/24 Divine Dao Library c318
03/03/24 Divine Dao Library c317
02/25/24 Divine Dao Library c316
02/18/24 Divine Dao Library c315
02/11/24 Divine Dao Library c314
02/04/24 Divine Dao Library c313
01/28/24 Divine Dao Library c312
01/21/24 Divine Dao Library c311
01/14/24 Divine Dao Library c310
01/07/24 Divine Dao Library c309
12/31/23 Divine Dao Library c308
12/24/23 Divine Dao Library c307
12/17/23 Divine Dao Library c306
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69 Reviews sorted by


Zerephiehell
Zerephiehell rated it
January 22, 2020
Status: c131
I'll keep this review real short... I did love this novel. It's very levelheaded in what it does for the most part. The decisions and actions taken of the main cast feel fitting most of the time (with exception of lapis who is a deus ex mashine but even with her I get the impression shes not allmighty). I'd critisise though that the MC feels somewhat like a pushover for a mercenary. Still this is worth a read for people who enjoy fantasy

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contently
contently rated it
January 6, 2020
Status: c90
So far the main cast is likeable and seems to have a deep backstory, however the world around them is very one-dimensional.

... more>>
Spoiler

The biggest examples being the city which was completely converted into undead and the elves which were massacred by mindless fairies. The whole story feels like an episodic rpg that follows the causality of the MC and his group. It seems like a cheap avoidance of fleshing out more sentient characters. I feel like a lot of potential was wasted in this story just to keep a focus on MC and FL.I did enjoy the story during the first 50 chapters or so.

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sgrey
sgrey rated it
April 15, 2019
Status: c77
The story is quite interesting, albeit underdeveloped. We have MC who is an ex-mercenary, who apparently survived after most of his comrades died in battle. However, he keeps saying later on that his group was disbanded, which is a bit confusing. What is refreshing here is that MC behaves like an adult for once. This is not the type of novel where everything is always fine and dandy. There is a lot of backstabbing, most people during every mission so far die and MC doesn't think twice about killing people... more>> who are his enemies or teach a lesson to annoying people who bug him. What is also refreshing is that no harem, no lolis and not tsunderes here. I hope it stays without tsunderes and lolis...

On the other hand, MC's overall behavior does not correspond to his supposed character. He was an experienced mercenary, but he doesn't know anything. He doesn't make decisions and have no clue how to live by himself - he doesn't even know what country he is in. Supposedly it's because he was just a soldier and didn't need to know anything but just follow orders. I don't really buy that. You should pick things up by just living, so it doesn't make sense in many cases where he lacks the knowledge. Also, he is not proactive at all. There is this pattern so far that keeps repeating itself: he is being dragged in to do a mission by the girl he is with, the mission goes horribly wrong, he uses his "berserk mode" to fight and saves them, ends up unconscious because of it and in the hospital. It's an annoying pattern and I hope the author will break it soon.

I like the chemistry between the girl and the MC. They are both pragmatic with a realistic outlook on things and are actually working well together. She wants to keep him by her side, but it doesn't seem to be malicious and she seems to actually like him. She helps him quite a bit: she gives him equipment that cost much more for a reduced price. So I don't really get the people who view her as evil and manipulative. It's not like she even hides anything she does from the MC and he can return the debt and leave if he really wants to. It's just because the storytelling is not that great, their situation is not as believable as it could be. Another thing is about this girl - the only thing we know about her is that she is a powerful demon with a seemingly large amount of resources and she can procure rare equipment easily. So she should have some background, but we are never told what it is so far.

There is also this trend of not asking for information. For example, in the second arc, it is the most obvious how they have poor decision-making abilities. They found this girl in the forest, but no one seems to even ask how this girl ended up near their town. Also, the girl absorbs live energy and basically kills people by draining them within one day by just being near them. However, she was at the guild for several days and no one noticed? And after noticing that unexplained stuff is happening they chose to just go right ahead to their destination where it was obvious that the best choice of action would be coming back with the information and getting reinforcements.

Overall other than a few things that I can overlook, I actually enjoy the novel. There hasn't been anything that irritates me too much. They only thing is that repeated pattern of ever-increasing debt, failed quests, and ending up in the hospital at the end of each arc. <<less
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SquireBone
SquireBone rated it
April 10, 2019
Status: c60
After reading the reviews here, I keep convicing myself that it'll be better latter in the chapter every time I wanted to drop this novel, but I was so horribly wrong I should've stopped reading this novel a long time ago, there's nothing that I like in this novel at all and I regret the time I spent reading this.
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Bumblesquito
Bumblesquito rated it
December 10, 2023
Status: v8
Pretty damn good as of Vol8. Loren is a level-headed meathead we don't often see in fantasy WN. Favorite part of the novel are the power dynamics though; often he finds himself outclassed and has to rely on a lot of different people. Most characters get pretty good character development as well.
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Mr.Mochi
Mr.Mochi rated it
June 9, 2023
Status: --
Calling this a combo of berserk and goblin but more light hearted isn't a bad description.

It's a bit rough early on, and when it's slow, it's slowww, but it's a fun ride. The characters feel realistic and goofy moments are funny. The biggest knock is that the main character is a muscle headed idiot, but I find that refreshing after all those super clever OP MCs who love disguises and hiding their power levels.

Biggest complaint is that the MC doesn't grow or mature at all. He's the same guy from... more>> chapter 1 as he is in chapter 200. Think Goku in terms of not growing up. The MC is broke, but does he become more frugal? Nope, he relies on his lender to handle all monetary issues.

In addition, there's a crap load of filler. Fillers not inherently bad, but bloat is bloat. You know, to do x, I need y, to do y, I need z, blah blah. Prime example: MC wants to learn x, so he has to go to z and by the time he gets to z, he to do a and b. Now add in going to z is a cross country trip with various problems, a is just drama, and b is just another quest line.

The filler kicks in later, but when it hits, it's exhausting. And you can't skip it because1/3 of the important story beats are there.

This is probably better as an anime or manga, but not a bad read. 8/10. Later 3/10

edit: The concept surrounding this story is a little s*upid. He's forced to partner with female interest because of a debt, but it's only a way for the FI to keep the MC. Yet, the MC gets priceless gear and items as rewards, and never tries to settle the debt. Within the story, several things happen to increase the debt. This sounds like a fun gag, but it gets old quick. 200 chapters in and you wonder why he wants to stay with the FI, as she drags him into more insane and dangerous quests and his debts only increase.

The MC has no ambition, no real passion and maybe that's why he is glued to FI? Anyways the point is the FI is too domineering, and the MC is just a dog. <<less
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FrodosBeutel
FrodosBeutel rated it
May 30, 2023
Status: Completed
I can only give it a 3/5. It was very well written but:

  1. Unfinished. The story could have gone further but the author got cancelled.
  2. MC is strong from the start and doesn't start weak. Probably just my personal preference
  3. No system to know how strong someone is. It's so hard to get a feeling of someones strengh, even for the MC. The guild ranking doesn't really count since it's very inaccurate and hardly anyone has it.
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Vicrom
Vicrom rated it
July 13, 2020
Status: c50
A pulp fiction to read and throw away. I can only say that every epic arch reminds me of the adventures of Gotrek and Felix. The Warharmmer, and that's a big praise.

Protagonists simply too OP, who wander around a interesting world fixing it. The bards would sing of their feats, but by the whims of fate they remain unknown.

Although it quickly becomes annoying that the protagonist never makes money.
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