The Aldrich Theocracy was a vast nation governed by divine law.
The Aldrich faith was also widely known as Sky Godism, named after the unnamed Sky God they worshipped. However, since the term Sky God was considered too broad, most people simply referred to the religion as the Aldrich faith.
The supreme ruler of the Theocracy was the Pope. Yet, positioned even above the Pope was a higher-ranking existence: the Saintess of the Aldrich faith. While she held no formal political power, she served as the sole messenger capable of communicating with the Divine. In essence, the entire religious fabric of the nation was centered around her.
That afternoon, an envoy from the Aldrich faith arrived in posthaste, bearing an invitation for Anyi to travel to the Holy Capital.
When the envoy arrived, Anyi was still assisting the villagers in repairing their homes in the village square. Although the villagers insisted he rest, he felt a sense of responsibility for the destruction and could not comfortably sit idle.
The envoy, adorned in white and gold vestments, was clearly a figure of importance, immediately drawing the gaze of the locals. However, the villagers kept their distance. They knew that a casual remark to a high-ranking official who might disdain commoners could lead to unnecessary trouble.
The envoy did not stop to question the peasants, as a far more disturbing sight had captured his attention. As he passed through the main gate, a panorama of devastation unfolded before him. Along the village's primary road, the number of ruined houses only seemed to increase.
Finally, he brought his horse to a halt and approached a nearby villager.
"Greetings. I am Cooper Wilker, a devotee of the Aldrich faith. May I ask what catastrophe has befallen this village?" the envoy inquired, surveying the wreckage.
"Demons! Our village was invaded by demons!" a young man nearby exclaimed, his voice thick with the need to confide in someone of authority.
"A Demon Invasion?!" the envoy asked, visibly shocked. "When did this occur?"
"Just last night! A massive monster stormed our village and slaughtered many! It leveled these houses!" the young man shouted.
"It is true! It was the work of demons!" another added.
"My husband was killed by that beast...! Waaah-waaah-waaah——"
Cold sweat trickled down the envoy's spine.
This is disastrous!
Only today, the Saintess announced that the Sky God had summoned thousands of Heroes to repel the demonic tide. Had a Hero's village been struck by an invasion just last night?
Could it be that the demons had identified the chosen ones in advance? Had they struck down a Hero before he could answer the call, severing humanity's last hope?
"Do not fear," the envoy declared loudly to the gathering crowd. "I am of the Aldrich Theocracy. Our sacred duty is to protect you. Since I am here, I will not allow these savages to continue their rampage! Tonight, I shall have our warriors guard this ground and eradicate those monsters!"
"My lord..." someone bravely stepped forward to interrupt. "The demon has already been slain."
"What?" The envoy was stunned.
Judging by the sheer scale of the destruction, the beast must have been formidable. In small towns like this, the local Demon Hunters were usually only equipped to handle Goblins or Slimes. A demon capable of leveling a village typically required an elite squad of the Theocracy's finest soldiers.
"The demon is dead? By whose hand? Tell me, which powerful warrior accomplished this feat?"
Whether out of curiosity or the intent to recruit such a talent, the envoy needed a name.
"It was me."
A clear, cold voice rang out from behind him. The villagers' faces instantly brightened with relief and joy.
"Yes! It was him! He is the Hero who saved us!"
Amidst the cheers, the envoy turned. A black-haired youth stood there, expressionless, extending a hand in greeting.
"You are from the Aldrich Theocracy, I assume. I have been expecting you since noon. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the swordsman of Sunderland Village—Anyi Carl."
"Anyi Carl...?!"
The envoy looked at the cheering crowd, then back at the youth who called himself a swordsman. There was no doubt—this was the Sword Hero himself.
He must have heard the voice of God to know an envoy was coming! Furthermore, his mention of "waiting since noon" coincided perfectly with the moment the Saintess received the divine decree.
The Saintess had stated she was the first Hero, and that no others had been manifested before this afternoon. This meant that Anyi Carl possessed the strength to slay high-level demons even before receiving his divine summons. He was a mere swordsman, yet he had achieved what elite soldiers could not.
Truly, the envoy thought, those chosen as Heroes are born with an innate talent for the hunt.
"Cooper Wilker, devotee of the Aldrich faith, offers his greetings, Lord Hero!"
The envoy adjusted his robes and dropped to one knee, bowing his head in reverence.
"Please, Lord Sword Hero, travel with me to the Holy Capital to grant an audience to Her Holiness the Saintess!"
The villagers looked at one another, utterly bewildered. Hero? The Holy Capital? Meeting the Saintess?
They quickly rationalized it: Anyi's incredible feat must have reached the Theocracy overnight, prompting them to treat him with such unprecedented prestige.
Anyi looked down at the kneeling man, a distant thought flickering in his eyes.
If this were my previous life, would an envoy have come for me then as well?
Unfortunately, in his previous life, as soon as he awakened the System, he had immediately retreated to the demon-infested mountains in a frantic search for enemies.
He could not be found in the destroyed village, nor in the town.
In fact, although people had invited him to join their ranks later on, he persistently chose the path of a lone wolf, unwilling to let friendship interfere with his thirst for revenge.
Now, in this life, he still chose revenge.
Forming a team was not out of the question, but...
Before that, he wanted to scrutinize the higher echelons of the Theocracy.
"Go to the Theocracy's Holy Capital? I refuse."
"Huh?" The envoy was startled.
"As you can see, my hometown lies in ruins. Compared to becoming some Hero, helping these people rebuild their homes is what I should be doing most right now," Anyi stated indifferently.
The villagers cast glances of deep gratitude and emotion toward him.
Anyi really... I'm going to cry!
In their minds, it was as if Anyi had been offered a prestigious, once-in-a-lifetime career but turned it down, sacrificing his own future just to help them repair their dilapidated houses.
How could they not be moved?!
"In that case, please leave the village repairs to us!" The envoy raised his head and declared loudly.
...
"Your Holiness the Saintess, we have made contact with the nearest Lord Sword Hero."
In the grand hall, a devotee delivered his report to Saintess Ariana, who sat upon the Sacred Throne.
"I see. Thank you for your efforts." Ariana nodded, then asked, "What kind of person is he?"
"It is said that last night, even before he was officially summoned as a Hero, he single-handedly slew a Hobgoblin," the devotee replied.
"A Hob... goblin?" Ariana asked, looking puzzled.
For the past sixteen years, she had spent most of her time in seclusion, rarely conversing with outsiders and remaining largely ignorant of the world beyond the temple. Her sole task was to communicate with the Divine. Had she not become a Hero, she might never have needed to speak with people in person like this.
Of course, engaging with the world was her own wish; she intended to become the figurehead in the struggle against the demons, stepping out from behind her identity as the Saintess.
"A Goblin is a type of small, low-level demon, and a Hobgoblin is simply a larger, evolved variant. A Hobgoblin is a massive creature, nearly 3 meters tall. It can easily level houses and is a known man-eater. Even dozens of Class 1 Demon Hunters would suffer heavy casualties against such a beast," the devotee explained.
"And the Sword Hero, before even receiving God's summons, killed it alone... It is clear he is a powerful individual whose strength is worthy of recognition by the Lord God."
Ariana nodded slightly, a hint of admiration touching her youthful voice.
"Is there anything else?" she continued.
"Lord Sword Hero..." The devotee hesitated for a moment, averting his gaze before continuing. "Lord Sword Hero refused our invitation. He stated that rather than acting as a Hero, his immediate priority is to repair the houses in his village. He also mentioned that because his village suffered a Demon Invasion, he nearly lost his family. He wishes to use his power to protect them and remain by their side."
Ariana listened in silence, then eventually nodded. "Very good. It seems he is someone whose strength and spirit are both worthy of the Hero title."
Though she had yet to see Anyi's face, the devotee's description had already left her with a very favorable impression of him. Furthermore, his words sparked a realization within her.
"Lord Pope." Ariana's beautiful eyes turned toward the leader of the church.
"Yes, Your Holiness. How may I serve you?" The usually dignified Pope bowed respectfully before the Saintess, who was also humanity's first Hero.
"According to the divine decree, thousands upon thousands of Heroes will soon be born across this great land. Since their mission is to defeat demons, their families may very well suffer from demonic retaliation. Before we ask them to save the world, should we not ensure their loved ones are properly protected?" Ariana spoke gravely.
The Pope pondered her words for a moment, then nodded decisively.
"Your Holiness speaks with great wisdom. I will immediately arrange for the protection of the Lord Hero's family."
...
The next day, earlier than expected, envoys from the Aldrich Theocracy arrived at Anyi's home.
This time, their numbers had increased, and they arrived in exquisite carriages. they claimed they wished to transport Assel's family to live within the great fortified cities of the Theocracy.
Anyi agreed without hesitation, as this was precisely the outcome he had engineered.
Yesterday, his insistence on staying to repair the village was an implicit suggestion to the high-ranking officials. He wanted to see if they would have the foresight to protect a Hero's family. He wasn't merely looking for a free hand-out; it was a test of the Theocracy's leadership.
In his previous life, he had been a lone wolf through and through, only participating in missions that required a group. He had rarely interacted with others and possessed only a shallow understanding of the Aldrich Theocracy.
If they were truly dedicated to the benefit of humanity, they should intuitively understand that a Hero's hometown needed security. If they lacked such basic consideration, Anyi would never have entrusted his family's safety to them.
The Theocracy had passed the test, but... convincing Assel proved to be the real challenge.
"What? Move?! To the big city?! Absolutely not! Who will protect this village if I leave?" Assel disagreed vehemently.
"Our faith will dispatch our most elite warriors to ensure the village's safety," the envoy solemnly declared.
"If warriors are already being sent, then why should we move? Can't we just be protected here?" Assel folded his arms, looking utterly stubborn.
"This... this is to provide an additional layer of security for everyone. we hope the families can relocate to a city where demons will not manifest unexpectedly," the envoy replied with a practiced smile.
"No! This is my home! I've lived here my whole life and I'm not going anywhere!" Assel refused.
Elza remained silent, but she kept her gaze fixed on Assel, clearly supporting his decision.
Annie, however, was conflicted. Part of her truly wished to move to a major city. The despair she had felt in the forest and the subsequent attack on the village had shattered her sense of security. The only thing that made her feel safe was Anyi, who had rescued her from both disasters.
If Anyi stayed, she would stay. But Anyi had already told her that he might have to leave home for a long period and would not return for a very long time.
Since he had spoken so plainly, how could Annie possibly feel at ease waiting behind in this village?
If they relocated to a major city, it would undoubtedly be safer than remaining here, wouldn't it? Both she and Anyi were now in full agreement—their parents had to move.
At that moment, Anyi finally broke his silence.
"Would you mind waiting outside for a moment? We need to speak as a family," he said to the envoy.
The envoy hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Of course."
With that, he stepped out of the room.
As soon as the door closed, Assel couldn't contain himself. "Anyi, what on earth are you thinking? I know the village is dangerous right now, but a man has responsibilities! If I were to abandon these villagers and flee to a city for my own refuge, wouldn't that be the height of cowardice?"
Anyi looked at him calmly, remaining silent for a long beat.
「If we stay here, isn't that being irresponsible with Mom and Sister's lives? If the demons return and drag them to their deaths, is that what you call being responsible?」
Though those words burned in his mind, he knew that provoking Assel now would only be a waste of time.
"Ten years."
"?"
"Give me ten years," Anyi continued. "I will return, but I need ten years to kill the Demon King and purge the demons from this world. During that time, I cannot guarantee your safety while I am on the front lines. I need you to reside in a city that is absolutely secure. Only then can I fight without the weight of worry holding me back."
Anyi's tone shifted. It lacked its usual detachment; instead, it carried the weight of a desperate plea—an entreaty.
"I... I think Anyi is right!" Annie stepped to her brother's side, looking at Assel with newfound resolve.
Assel stared at them, stunned into silence for a long time. Then, he let out a sudden, boisterous laugh.
"Ha ha... Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Fine! You're a fine lad, aren't you? Your wings have grown strong, and now you're looking down on your old man?! And you, Annie—a grown woman and you're still useless! To think you two brats would team up against your father!"
Assel grinned, pointing a defiant finger at Anyi.
"Anyi! I'm not running! But since you're so intent on me leaving, then let's settle this like men! One-on-one! A true duel! If I lose, I'll walk out of this village myself!"
Anyi listened, then gave a grave nod. "Alright."
The duel took place in the village square. The Hobgoblin's massive corpse had yet to be carted away, and the sight of father and son facing off beside the monster's body gave the encounter an epic, almost legendary feel.
In a duel between men, Anyi knew he should go all out to show respect for Assel as an opponent. However, since he was fighting his own father, he had to find a way to preserve the man's dignity.
For a swordsman, having one's blade struck from one's hand was the ultimate humiliation. So... Anyi simply delivered a heavy open-handed strike. The force sent Assel and his sword tumbling several meters back. It wasn't too excessive, surely?
As for why he didn't use his own blade, it was a subtle sign of deference. By overwhelming his father with brute strength rather than outclassing him in swordsmanship, Assel would remain, in the villagers' eyes, the most skilled swordsman in the village.
While Anyi was undeniably the strongest now, in terms of experience and reputation, Assel still held his ground. Had Anyi utterly dismantled his father's technique, it would have shattered the villagers' faith in the man. He wanted his father to keep that last shred of pride.
In the end, Assel was so battered he couldn't stand, and he was ultimately placed into the carriage by the men of the Theocracy.
Elza could only sigh and shake her head with a faint smile. Although she shared Assel's sentiments, both her husband and her son were the pillars of her life.
Assel had vowed to leave if he lost, and Anyi, driven by a fierce need to protect them, wanted them in the city. What room was there for complaint?
"Anyi! When did you become so powerful?!" Annie asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
"This is the strength the Divine has bestowed upon me." Anyi looked at his palm, slowly clenching it into a fist.
After allocating his Attribute Points, his physical power had undergone a qualitative transformation.
Initially, his Strength sat at a mere 2 points. As a Sword Hero, this attribute was paramount, so he had invested 14 points, bringing his total Strength to 16.
To put that in perspective: the Hobgoblin from the previous night possessed a Strength of 20, granting it the power to level houses with ease.
While Anyi's 16 Strength wouldn't allow him to out-wrestle such a beast in a test of pure brawn, it gave him the capacity to confront it directly.
Assel—and Anyi himself before his awakening—both possessed a Strength of 2, typical for an ordinary person with basic physical training.
Thus, Anyi could now swat his father aside without effort. They were simply operating on entirely different tiers of existence.
"God's... power." Annie nodded, trying to process the concept. "So, God gave you this power to deal with demons? Like... hiring you for a job and providing the tools?"
"Not quite," Anyi replied, shaking his head. "I believe the prerequisite is the will to fight. God grants strength to those who possess the resolve. Because I desire to slay demons, God provided the blade."
Whether in his previous life or this one, Anyi's hatred for the demonic remained absolute. Even with his family saved, no one should expect him to simply smile and move on.
"Then... will it be dangerous?" Annie asked, her voice tinged with sudden worry.
"Perhaps," Anyi said softly.
He had already endured the greatest horrors in his past life, walking a lonely path of vengeance until the very end. In this life, however, he chose to stand alongside other Heroes, which might—just might—lessen the burden.
"Could it even lead to... death?"
"Perhaps."
"..."
Watching Anyi's calm demeanor, it was clear he harbored no hesitation about the quest ahead. Whether danger or death lay in wait, it seemed to matter little to him.
But his safety was everything to Annie, and to their parents. She bit her lip, the words escaping her in a sudden, impulsive burst:
"Can you just... not go?"
"Of course not. Have you forgotten the demons we saw in the forest? We were lucky to survive—extraordinarily lucky. But across this world, countless others will face that same nightmare. They won't all have a 'genius swordsman' for a brother. To prevent more people from suffering the calamities brought by demons, I must stand and eradicate them all."
Annie stood frozen, looking up at Anyi in silence for a long time. Finally, she let out a bitter, resigned smile and shook her head.
"Anyi, you truly are a good soul, aren't you? Your sister can only see what is right in front of her, but your gaze is already fixed on the horizon. I still don't quite understand... but never mind. Go and do what you must. Just... be careful. Stay safe."
She couldn't understand.
Of course she couldn't. To her, "saving the world" was a concept far too grand for a single person to grasp. It wasn't that she was shortsighted; it was simply that she had never experienced Anyi's agony. She could not comprehend a hatred for demons so profound it was etched into his very marrow.
To her, it was as if someone ate a bowl of rice and suddenly declared they would change the eating habits of the entire world. To an ordinary person, such a thing was nothing short of absurd.
"Don't worry. I won't fall easily," Anyi promised.
Annie said nothing more. She gave Anyi a brief, tight hug before turning and running back into the house to pack her things.
...
After relocating his family to a major city within the Aldrich Theocracy, Anyi spent half the day walking with them through the streets. It wasn't until late at night that he finally arrived at the Holy Capital.
The Aldrich faith had pledged that throughout the decade-long quest to defeat the Demon King, they would not only protect his family but also subsidize their living expenses. This covered essential food and household needs, though it did not extend to luxuries or entertainment. In short: their bread was paid for, but the casino, the opera, and the wine cellar were on their own coin.
After riding through the night, Anyi arrived at the Sacred Temple and settled into his assigned quarters. Only then did he realize he was the first Hero to arrive. The other two were located much further away and were expected by morning.
Sunderland Village was, in fact, quite close to the Theocracy. Theoretically, the demonic territories had not expanded this far yet, and demons should not have appeared.
But much like a cruel game mechanic, demons often "spawned" into existence. They appeared out of thin air in the forests—not from nothing, but teleported by powerful demonic entities. Because demons with excessive mana could not be warped this way, only low-level monsters appeared near villages. Even if they manifested in large cities, the defensive forces were usually more than enough to handle them. A high-level Demon Invasion was a rare, catastrophic event that demanded the intervention of a Hero.
Before retiring for the night, Anyi asked a devotee if Her Holiness the Saintess wished to see him.
The devotee replied: "Her Holiness is already at rest. If the Lord Sword Hero desires an audience, please attend her tomorrow morning."
"Understood."