"Also!
I am 21 years old this year. I might as well mention, my wife is the same age, and we have a three-year-old daughter!
I promised them that once the demons are defeated, I will return and live a good life with them!
No more constantly fleeing from demons, no more having to live a nomadic life without a fixed residence!" Layton declared loudly, beating his chest.
Anyi nodded silently.
Indeed, ordinary people living near the border frequently had to flee due to Demon Invasion events.
Although the area wasn't completely overrun by demons, they would still appear occasionally.
Abandoning the town would be a shame, but staying put meant danger.
They could remain for a while, but only for a short time.
The reason he wanted to destroy demons was so that he could live a safe life with his mother and sister, unlike the life they were leading.
Speaking of which, it was quite insignificant, but Anyi could somewhat empathize.
Because his reason for wanting to destroy the demons was simply witnessing the tragic death of his family.
Layton bowed slightly to everyone, then returned to the seat beside Anyi.
Originally, Anyi was sitting in the first seat, but Miruku, gathering all her courage, asked to switch, so he changed places.
Because Miruku felt that sitting next to Layton would surely lead to constant questioning.
Compared to talking to Anyi, waiting beside Layton was far more terrifying!
"Then I should also..." Ariana was about to stand up and introduce herself on the stage.
"Sit down," Anyi pressed her back into her seat.
He then stood up and walked to the front of the stage.
"Greetings, Mr. Layton · Shiklai.
I am the Sword Hero, Anyi · Carl.
To your left, in order, are the Holy Hero, Saintess Ariana · Aldrich of the Aldrich Theocracy, and the Thorn Hero, Miruku · Sinsa."
Ariana turned her head and gave a faint smile: "Hello."
"Ah! Cute little lady! Hello!" Layton gave a thumbs-up.
Then the hai of them simultaneously focused their attention on Miruku.
"Good. Before we slay demons, I think everyone should know their roles within the team."
Anyi cut off their pleasantries.
"...!"
Miruku was weeping internally!
Hero! You are my hero!!
"Bring the pens and the whiteboard," Anyi called out to the devotees on the side.
Very quickly, pens and a whiteboard, completely in a modern style, were brought over.
Since the world was game-like, it didn't matter who invented what; they simply possessed this tool.
"My class is Swordsman in the village; I have more experience and training in team combat than you all.
To avoid any accidents when facing demons, we must have clear assignments."
As Anyi spoke, he began writing down each person's class on the whiteboard.
"I am the Sword Hero. Literally, a Hero skilled in using the sword.
In the squad, I am the vanguard who attacks from the front.
And the Shield Hero should, as expected, be skilled with a shield, acting as the frontline to block damage for teammates.
Next is the support, Her Holiness the Saintess. What is the nature of your skill?
Is it offensive, or restorative?"
Anyi actually knew, but the description of [Holy Hero] didn't reveal anything explicit, and Ariana hadn't shared the relevant details with him, so he pretended not to know.
"Skill... nature?" Ariana didn't understand. "What is a skill?"
"Perhaps after you received the power granted by God, you didn't carefully study this ability.
Although I haven't deeply researched it either, I at least spent a day learning how to use it.
You just need to command your mind to say 'Display Skill Interface' to the system, and you will know your skills," Anyi explained.
In his previous life, he was the quickest to master the system's functions. It was normal that these natives had never seen these things and didn't know how to operate them.
"Wow! There really is one!" Ariana exclaimed in awe.
Before her, a yellow interface appeared, featuring three skill columns.
Without waiting for Anyi's instruction, she focused her attention on one of the skills, and its description immediately appeared.
[Skill: Holy Heal
Skill Description: Heals teammates using divine energy, restoring 30% HP.
Mana Cost: 100.]
"See? Is the first skill an attack skill, or a restorative one?" Anyi asked.
"Restorative. It says here, it heals teammates using divine power, restoring 30% HP," Ariana replied.
"The first skill is 'Basic Attack,' which I assume everyone has. The second skill is restorative, right?
What about the last one?" Anyi asked.
Ariana shifted her focus to the final skill.
"... The skill is Holy Judge. It uses divine power to inflict 30 points of magic damage on the enemy," Ariana read out the effect of the skill.
As her voice fell, the assembled devotees murmured amongst themselves.
"Lord Sword Hero, how did you know Her Holiness the Saintess possesses restorative magic?" A devotee asked.
Magic existed in this world, and the theocracy had mages, so they were familiar with these terms.
"In my understanding of squad combat, ranged support is indispensable.
Our team doesn't have an archer; whether it's me or the other two Heroes, we are all melee attack classes.
I serve as the vanguard, and the Shield Hero acts as the guardian. The Thorn Hero is a melee class, so Her Holiness the Saintess can only be a ranged attacker or a rear-line healer.
Furthermore, there's a subjective element to my deduction.
Because I feel it's unlikely the Saintess would be attacking strong monsters by running up to them with a weapon." Anyi explained.
Logical and convincing! Makes people believe!
The other devotees considered it too. A frail Saintess wielding a hammer to crush a demon...
Yes, that was unimaginable!
"Now that we know Her Holiness the Saintess's skills, she can attack from a distance and heal teammates.
And the Thorn Hero, as an assassin class, must be more agile than me and the Shield Hero.
So, your duty is to protect the Saintess, or harass the enemy from the flanks.
This includes scouting enemy positions and gathering intelligence; you might be responsible for all of that."
Anyi intentionally saved discussing the Thorn Hero for last because without first confirming Ariana's abilities, he couldn't talk about hers.
Miruku: "..."
「Ah, um, what should I say now?」
In her mind, she stood tall with a solemn face, her voice echoing with righteous conviction:
"Understood! Protecting Her Holiness the Saintess, harassing the enemy's flanks, scouting hostile positions, and gathering intel—that mission is mine!"
But in reality, she kept her head down, too afraid to even breathe.
What if Anyi kept talking and her answer cut him off? What then?!
"You have all confirmed your skills, right? If my assessment is wrong, tell me now to avoid a disaster during combat," Anyi said.
"My skill increases my defense and draws aggro, so I am the guardian. You're spot on!" Layton shouted.
Miruku followed immediately: "Yes, mine is correct too!"
"Good."
Anyi nodded and walked toward the large map.
"Then let's not waste time. We begin planning the path for our demon conquest."
"We will prioritize areas where few Heroes have been born. There is more room for Hero selection there, so we won't run into 'kill-stealing' conflicts."
And the most suitable low-level demon for beginners...
Naturally, it's the Slime!
"Slimes are the easiest species to kill among low-level demons."
"Even a peasant with no training can smash a Slime's Magic Core with a club."
"Areas infested by Slimes rarely see deaths, but they devour crops and livestock. They will attack humans, but they are too small to fully swallow an adult. Escape is easy because they digest so slowly. Humans even have a profession just for them called 'Slime Cleaners'."
Anyi, holding the intel from the devotees, quickly found a frequent Slime spawn point on the map.
He jabbed his finger at the location.
"Our first stop is here."
"Wait! A demon so weak that even peasants can kill it—why do we need to bother?!" Layton suddenly raised his hand.
"There is a reason," Anyi replied. "If they are so easy to handle, why does the disaster keep happening?"
"Because... there are too many of them?" Layton scratched his head.
"Slimes don't just appear from nowhere. As Heroes, we don't just hunt them; we find out why they are there. We aren't going to kill one or two; we are going to eradicate the source so they never return. Do you still think this is beneath us?" Anyi asked coldly.
Layton's eyes lit up: "OH OH OH OH OH!! I get it now!! Total eradication!! My fighting spirit is on fire!!!"
"OH OH OH OH OH!!!" The devotees roared in excitement.
As expected of the Sword Hero! What a massive vision!!
That's right! Heroes exist to end calamities, not just to stack kill counts!
"I can't wait! When do we move?!" Layton barked.
Anyi nodded.
"Now."
...
[Class 1 Disaster: Slime Scourge
Event Description: Slimy, squishy, squish-squish monsters have appeared in large numbers~~
[Slimes] are super, super weak nuisance demons. Even a normal person can kill one with a single hammer blow! Squish~
Very few deaths are recorded, but if you are surrounded, run! Otherwise, you will be dissolved!~~]
"Whoa...!"
The system notification made Ariana jump.
"What is this?" Layton reached out, trying to grab the air where the disaster notice appeared in his vision.
Miruku stayed silent.
I am calm! I won't be rattled by such a small thing!
"We've probably just entered the disaster zone," Anyi said casually, looking out the carriage window.
"So because we are Heroes, God tells us exactly what's happening? I love it!" Layton cheered.
They traveled for a full day and night before reaching their destination.
There were closer demon spawns near the theocracy, but those were unpredictable. The low-level threats there were already handled by local forces, so there was no point in wandering aimlessly.
Anyi wondered where the three of them had started in his previous life.
"Your Holiness the Saintess, if I had left the squad at the start to hunt alone, what would you have done?" Anyi asked.
"I would have come looking for you, of course," Ariana blinked.
"..."
Anyi froze.
Does that mean in his past life, they had searched for him too?
Ariana's system had location tracking. Finding the three squad members was her first quest. Even if he "vanished," she could still find him.
However, maybe she wouldn't have.
Compared to the "potential" he showed now, in his previous life, he was just an ordinary swordsman.
RUMBLE—
After a long trek, the carriage finally ground to a halt.
"Your Holiness, Lords Heroes! We have arrived!!" A devotee shouted from outside the carriage.
Anyi stepped down and looked at the long line of carriages trailing behind them.
This wasn't just a simple gathering; it was a massive operation. When it came to logistics, the four Heroes, backed by the raw efficiency of a theocracy, were in a league of their own.
As soon as the four Heroes disembarked, the devotees immediately located the personnel in charge of clearing the Slimes.
This feeling of skipping the long interviews and tedious investigations...
It was incredible!
"Welcome, Lords Heroes! I am Masi, the Slime Cleaner in charge of this village!" A bald man stepped forward, followed by several staff members.
The devotees had already briefed them, so Masi introduced himself with a wide smile the moment they arrived.
"Where are the Slimes?! I'm ready to start killing!" Layton, restless from the long journey, couldn't wait any longer.
"Hold on a second," Anyi called him back, then turned to Masi. "Is there a training area in the village for slaying Slimes? The area where we're staying is clear, so we want some initial experience first."
"Yes, yes! Of course! Please, Lords Heroes, follow me!" Masi led the way.
As they walked, the group noticed that the Slime Cleaners included both men and women, proving that the job wasn't exactly back-breaking labor. If they were hunting Goblins, the ranks would be filled with nothing but burly men.
The group walked for a few more minutes along the village path until they reached their destination.
The Slime farm.
It was an open area fenced in by thick wooden planks. The walls were chest-high for an adult and tightly fitted, preventing the Slimes from squeezing out or leaping over.
As far as the eye could see, these stone-like monsters were roughly the size of a human head. In the center of each stone sat a core the size of a child's fist.
When the four Heroes saw the Slimes hopping around, a data display flashed in their vision.
[Unlock Encyclopedia Entry: Slime
Strength: 0 | Agility: 0 | Endurance: 0
Durability: 3 | Mana: 0 | Intelligence: -10
Technique: 0]
"Lords Heroes, this is where we train to slay them," Masi said.
"Is it alright if I kill a few for practice?" Anyi asked.
"What are you saying, Lord Hero? These Slimes are raised exactly for that! Help yourself!"
Masi opened the gate to the farm.
Slimes possessed zero intelligence and had no idea they could escape once the door was open. They didn't swarm the exit; they just continued to bounce around aimlessly.
Anyi stepped inside and focused his thoughts.
A flash of white light erupted, and a longsword with a hilt inlaid with red gemstones materialized in his hand.
[Sword of the Hero Lv99]
The devotees were stunned by the sudden appearance of the weapon.
"A miracle! A true miracle!!"
"How did you do that?!" Layton's jaw dropped.
Ariana leaned against the wooden fence, watching Anyi with curiosity. "I want to know too."
Miruku stared intently at the sword, her mind racing. A weapon appearing out of thin air... That was so cool!!
"Once the first quest is done, you should receive your rewards. I commanded the System to open my backpack, accessed the rewards, and claimed the hilt. When I thought about drawing it, it appeared," Anyi explained.
The locals didn't have Systems, so they listened in a total daze. But the other three Heroes immediately followed his lead.
Soon, white light flashed again.
Ariana and Miruku summoned their beginner weapons almost simultaneously.
Ariana held a magic staff topped with a white crystal orb. In Miruku's hands were two ordinary-looking daggers.
"It worked!" Ariana smiled excitedly at Miruku.
"Ah... Mm," Miruku's lips curved into a faint smile as she nodded.
"A weapon granted by God! A divine artifact!!"
"A miracle! A miracle!!!"
"Humanity is saved!!"
A group of devotees burst into tears, kneeling in prayer to the heavens.
Anyi: "..."
Divine artifact? It's a beginner weapon. Do they really have to be this dramatic?
Layton scratched his head awkwardly; he still hadn't figured out the trick.
Anyi ignored the crowd and turned his attention back to the Slimes.
Triggered by the presence of a living thing, their instincts to consume awakened. The Slimes began hopping toward Anyi, some even trying to wrap themselves around his boots.
Anyi feigned hesitation, slowly lifting his foot.
"Lord Hero, if you crush the Slime's core, it will dissolve into ordinary water," Masi reminded him with a flattering grin.
"Understood."
Anyi nodded. He feigned a simple step, bringing his heel down on the Magic Core of a Slime and grinding it into the dirt.
CRACK!
The moment the Magic Core shattered, the Slime bled out its color and turned into a puddle of clear water, soaking into the earth.
[Slime killed x1, Experience points +10
LV1 Experience points: 10/1000]
To reach Level 2, he would need to slaughter at least 100 of these things.
"Using my feet is too slow."
Anyi muttered, flicking his blade toward the Slimes swarming at his boots.
He hoisted two Slimes into the air simultaneously. The moment they hung suspended, Anyi delivered a brutal horizontal sweep—
BOOM!!
The two Slimes were instantly pulverized into a fine mist. The sheer Air Pressure generated by the swing slammed into the wooden fences with a thunderous Sonic Boom, leaving everyone's ears ringing in pain.
When the dust settled, the onlookers stood frozen, eyes wide.
In the dead silence, there was only pure shock.
This... was the power Anyi wielded with a casual flick of his wrist?!
"Holy hell! That's incredible!" Layton shouted, stunned.
Anyi glanced at the sword in his hand, silent.
This max-level beginner weapon was even more devastating than he had anticipated...
"Lord Sword Hero Anyi · Carl, in his legendary debut at Tarpao Town, shattered the field-blighting monsters with a single step, before unleashing a cataclysmic blow that erased the remaining foes," a devotee frantically scribbled into his ledger.
Anyi: "..."
Isn't that a bit much?
Miruku, standing to the side, was already lost in a daydream, imagining her own name etched into the halls of history.
"I want a turn!" Ariana jumped onto the wooden platform, buzzing with excitement.
"Please, after you!" Masi swung the gate open.
Ariana stepped into the Slime farm and looked to Anyi for guidance on how to strike.
Anyi explained that Magic Attacks were a different beast entirely from swordsmanship; he didn't really know how to coach her.
Instead, he used the opportunity to let Ariana test a skill, hoping she'd find her rhythm.
After all, a mage's basic attack was essentially hitting things with a stick.
It was better to just dive into the real spells!
Ariana was a natural student. She was obedient and focused, like a blank canvas—whatever Anyi taught her, she absorbed perfectly.
[Skill: Holy Judge] cost 10 Mana. Given Ariana's starting level, her maximum Mana shouldn't have exceeded 300.
However, after she had cast the spell nearly 30 times, she still wasn't showing signs of exhaustion, which piqued Anyi's curiosity.
But she was the Saintess; perhaps her base Mana attribute was simply off the charts?
Anyi had originally planned to let her drain her reserves completely so she could feel the onset of [Gluttony].
But Ariana was so diligent and made such rapid progress that he decided to spare her the ordeal this time.
The trigger for [Gluttony] was when HP or Mana dropped below ten percent. Once active, he would descend into a Frenzy, driven by an insatiable urge to devour anything in sight.
While active, his HP and Mana would skyrocket back to full, only stopping once the hunger faded.
Meanwhile, Miruku kept picturing herself standing over a dead Slime, bathed in the crowd's worship.
Once Ariana finished, it was Miruku's turn. Because she moved with such blur-like speed, the crowd could only watch in breathless anticipation.
Miruku stepped forward with a dark, low chuckle, followed eventually by Layton.
Layton was still fumbling with his Backpack before finally pulling out his shield.
He crushed a Slime in a single blow, but compared to Anyi's display, the visual impact was lackluster.
While they were busy practicing their kills, no one noticed that a certain observer had quietly slipped away from the farm.
...
Masi had vanished the moment Anyi started coaching Ariana.
Back at his office, he paced the floor, his face a mask of anxiety.
"Captain, what's the matter?" a staff member asked, confused.
"Us... we're about to lose our damn jobs," Masi said, his voice grim and heavy.
The entire staff stopped and stared.
"Lose our jobs?!"
"Captain, what are you talking about?"
"Are you firing us?"
They were a lazy bunch, sure, but they showed up when it mattered. How could they suddenly be unemployed?
"Those Heroes who just arrived... they claim they're here to slay every demon in sight.
They plan to wipe out every Slime in the region so this town never suffers again," Masi said seriously.
"Kill all the Slimes?"
The room went silent before several men burst into laughter.
"Do they have any idea how many Slimes spawn every single day?"
"Exactly! You can't kill them all. It's impossible!"
Masi cut them off with a sharp wave of his hand: "You idiots haven't seen what these Heroes can do!
There's a Sword Hero out there; with one swing, he summoned a gale that nearly leveled the fence! Those Slimes didn't even have time to turn back into water—they were turned into dust!
Absolute powder!
I've been doing this since I was fourteen, and in all my forty years, I have never seen a man turn a Slime into smoke!"
"This..."
The staff traded nervous glances, their skepticism finally turning into dread.
"Then what do we do? If they actually clear the fields, our Iron Rice Bowl is gone for good!"
Finally, the realization sank in.
Being a Slime Cleaner was a job for life because it was easy and the Slimes never stopped coming.
The state provided their food and shelter; it was the ultimate secure living.
"We have to stop them... We can't let those Heroes leave this village alive!" Masi hissed through gritted teeth.