The sun dipped low as Ray and his hunting party returned to the village, dragging the corpses of three goblins behind them. The villagers, who had gathered near the square to wait anxiously, burst into cheers as soon as they saw them.
"Three goblins!"
"They're really dead!"
"By the spirits, he actually did it!"
Old men stood from their worn chairs, women clutched their mouths in awe, and children ran beside Ray with wide, starry eyes. The broken village, once silent and starving, now buzzed with life.
Ray could barely process it all. People were shouting his name—his name.
"Ray the Hunter!"
"He's the one who fed us!"
"A real warrior has been born in this cursed village!"
It wasn't praise he was used to. Back in the modern world, no one noticed him. Just a guy working night shifts in a convenience store. But now, in this world, people looked at him with genuine admiration.
He scratched his head, embarrassed by the attention. "We all worked together. Varun helped lead the way, and everyone here risked something."
But the villagers wouldn't let his modesty downplay it.
"No, lad. You gave us the courage to fight again," Varun said with a proud grin. "You gave us more than just food. You gave us a future."
The wild boar meat from the earlier hunt had been carefully preserved, and now, with the goblin threat beaten back for the moment, it was time to celebrate.
As night fell, torches lit up around the village square. Simple wooden tables were pulled out, and the villagers brought out their best—what little they had. Roasted boar sizzled over the fire, with rough bread and wild herbs spread out like a feast. Children danced, drums beat from old barrels, and laughter filled the air for the first time in years.
Ray sat quietly at the edge of the crowd, a small smile tugging at his lips as he watched the joy he helped create.
> [System Notification: "Milestone Achieved – Village Savior"]
Title Gained: [Savior of the Forgotten]
Bonus: +5% EXP from helping others.
New Feature Unlocked: [System Shop]
His eyes widened.
"The shop?" he muttered to himself.
"Open system shop," he whispered.
> [System Shop – Beginner Tier]
– Wooden Spear – 30 SP
– Simple Bow – 45 SP
– 10 Arrows – 10 SP
– Leather Pouch – 5 SP
– Healing Herb (Basic) – 15 SP
Current SP (System Points): 85
He had earned points from quests and leveling up. Without hesitation, Ray purchased a Simple Bow, 10 Arrows, and a Wooden Spear.
The items materialized beside him in a flash of soft blue light, wrapped neatly in cloth and leather. He quickly glanced around—no one had seen it. The villagers were too busy celebrating.
Ray moved behind a hut and hid the items in a bundle. Moments later, he returned and casually walked back to where the kids were playing.
"Hey, Toma, Lio," he called out.
The two boys, who had been helping him since the first hunt, ran over.
Ray unwrapped the bundle and handed them the weapons.
"A-Are these for us?" Lio asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah. You said you wanted to help, right?" Ray said with a grin. "Now you can."
Toma held the spear with both hands, awe-struck. "Where… where did you get this? We don't even have weapons like this in the whole village!"
Ray paused for a split second, then smirked. "I… uh, made them. While everyone was busy preparing the feast."
"By yourself?!" Lio gasped.
Ray nodded. "You just have to think outside the box sometimes."
The boys looked at him with something close to reverence.
"You're amazing, Ray!"
"You're like the heroes from stories!"
He laughed softly and patted their heads. "We're just getting started."
---
Later that night, after the party had calmed down, Ray sat on a log near the edge of the village with Varun and a few of the other adults. The warmth from the fire crackled gently in the background.
"We can't stop here," Ray said, his tone serious now. "The goblins we killed… they weren't the end. There's probably a nest nearby. Maybe more than one."
Varun nodded grimly. "You're right. I saw signs of more tracks. If we don't take the fight to them, they'll be back."
"We'll need a plan," Ray continued. "Weapons, supplies, teams. I'll teach some of the kids how to set traps and fight. If we can clear out the nest, we'll buy ourselves real safety."
One of the women spoke up, hesitant. "You really think we can do it?"
Ray looked at her, his eyes calm but unwavering.
"I don't think. I know."
---
In the days to come, the village began to change.
Kids practiced with wooden weapons, sparring under Ray's guidance. Adults began sharpening old farming tools into crude weapons. Ray used every bit of knowledge he had—modern tactics, survival instincts, and game logic from the system—to prepare them.
They weren't warriors. Not yet.
But they were becoming something stronger.
And Ray was leading them.