The once-desolate village was now full of life.
Smoke drifted gently from the chimneys. The smell of roasted meat filled the air, and laughter echoed between the cracked stone walls of the aging houses. Children ran barefoot through the dirt paths, some swinging wooden sticks pretending to be warriors, others simply chasing each other with carefree smiles. Even the sky seemed brighter than usual.
Ray stood near the edge of the village, arms crossed, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"All of this… because of me?" he thought, almost in disbelief. "A week ago, I was just starving in this place. And now..."
He looked down at his hands, once trembling from weakness. Now they bore the calluses of hard work and the blood of battle.
"Oi! Kid!"
Ray turned. The familiar old man with a long beard and bent back was approaching him with a cane. Ray blinked—this was the same elder he had spoken to when he first woke up in this world, the one who explained the village's sad past.
"You again?" Ray greeted, scratching the back of his head. "You're everywhere, huh?"
The old man chuckled. "Brat, you really don't know, do you?"
Ray raised a brow. "Know what?"
"I'm the village chief, you little punk."
"...Eh?!"
The old man laughed so hard he nearly dropped his cane. "You didn't even ask my name last time. Just dove head-first into fighting goblins and hunting boars like a madman."
Ray blinked, stunned. "You're serious?"
"As serious as your wild haircut, boy."
Ray scratched his head again, embarrassed. "Guess I should've bowed or something."
"No need for that. Honestly, we owe you more than we can express." The chief looked out at the village. "Everyone thought we'd just… fade away. One by one. But now we've got food, hope, and even laughter."
Ray looked around again. "They're just… smiling. Like they actually believe things can get better."
"They can." The old man nodded. "But food from goblins and wild boars won't last forever. We need sustainability. And you, Ray… I want you to help us with that next."
Ray tilted his head. "Like what?"
"Help us build farmland again. Many of the elders still know how. We just haven't had the strength or tools to try."
Ray opened his system shop out of instinct. He'd reached Level 10 during the goblin raid, and the system gave him a small sum of gold—just enough to browse a few basic items.
He found what he needed: Sweet Potato Seeds – Basic Quality (10 silver for a bundle).
"I'll buy some seeds from a… merchant I know," Ray said vaguely. "I can show the elders how to plant them."
The chief raised a brow but nodded. "You always seem to have a way, even if I don't know how."
Ray purchased several bundles and handed them out to the older villagers. With Ray's help, they tilled a patch of soil outside the village walls, using old tools and some makeshift equipment. Under the sun, they planted row after row.
Later that day, as they rested under a tree, several elders passed Ray a small pouch.
"What's this?"
"Coins," one of the grannies smiled. "We can't pay you much, but take it as thanks."
Ray opened the pouch—maybe a couple of silver coins inside. He didn't care about the amount. Just the warm, calloused hands that gave it to him made something stir in his chest.
"Thanks," Ray said, smiling genuinely. "I'll use it well."
As dusk began to fall, Ray decided to take a walk. He wandered toward the edge of the village, the place where some of the older, more abandoned houses stood. Weeds grew between cracked stones, and the scent of damp wood lingered.
Then he heard it.
A faint cough.
He turned the corner and found a half-collapsed hut. Inside, huddled on the floor, was a frail woman holding two small children—one asleep, the other coughing.
Ray's heart clenched.
The woman's skin was pale, her cheeks sunken, and the children looked even worse. She looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes, as if expecting to be chased away.
"Please…" she croaked. "We don't want trouble…"
Ray stepped forward slowly and knelt.
"You're not in trouble. I'm Ray. I live here too."
She blinked. "You're… the new hunter?"
Ray nodded. "Why didn't you come when we distributed food?"
"I was scared… I didn't want to steal from others. My husband… he died last winter. We've just been hiding here."
Ray reached into his inventory. He still had some leftover meat from the hunt.
He placed the food before her. "Eat this. And bring the kids to the center of the village tomorrow. We'll help."
She tried to speak, but her lips trembled instead. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ray stood, fists clenched at his sides.
"There are probably more like her. Still hiding, still suffering."
His eyes hardened. "Then I'll find them. I'll fix this place."
As he walked back toward the village square, the system chimed quietly in his head.
> [Quest Update!]
Hidden Quest Discovered: "Ray of Hope"
Help revive the village by finding every forgotten soul and returning them to the heart of the village.
Progress: 1/??
Reward: Unknown
Ray smiled faintly to himself.
"Let's keep going."