The next morning, Ray awoke to the sound of clattering footsteps outside his wooden hut. The once somber village had turned lively in the past few days. Children were laughing, elders were chatting by the well, and the scent of roasted boar drifted through the air. But Ray didn't smile just yet.
He sat up from the straw mat, rubbing his eyes, the weight of responsibility already sinking into his bones. He remembered the dying family he saw yesterday. The haunted look in the eyes of that starving mother clutching her child still lingered in his mind.
"This isn't enough," he muttered. "Feeding them once doesn't change their fate."
He stepped outside, greeted by warm rays of sunlight. A few kids ran past him, waving excitedly.
"Ray! Ray! Can we train with you again later?"
"You're the coolest!"
He gave them a small smile and nodded. As he walked toward the village center, he spotted the same old man—the village chief—waiting by a stump with a bowl of sweet potato in hand.
"Ah, there you are, Ray," the old man said, stroking his long white beard. "I thought you'd still be asleep after yesterday's chaos."
Ray shook his head. "There's Too much to do."
The chief chuckled. "You remind me of my younger days. Always running around trying to fix everything… but you've done more in a week than I did in years."
Ray took a seat beside him. "There are still people dying in the village. I want to help more."
The old man nodded slowly. "I figured you would say that." He looked toward the fields. "We're starting to plant the sweet potatoes you gave us. Some of the villagers donated extra wood and tools. They said it's the least they could do after you brought food and hunted monsters."
Ray's eyes followed the direction of the fields. Villagers were working together—some plowing, others planting. The atmosphere was warm, hopeful.
Still, Ray's mind wasn't at ease.
"Chief," Ray asked quietly, "I need a list. Of everyone who's sick, too weak to work, or barely surviving. The ones no one notices."
The old man tilted his head, surprised. "Why?"
Ray's gaze hardened. "Because I noticed them. And I don't want to regret ignoring them when I could've done something."
The chief remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll have my daughter write a list by sunset."
Ray stood. "Thanks. I'll be back."
---
Later That Afternoon
Ray wandered deeper into the village outskirts. As promised, he found more broken homes, more people on the brink of death—hidden, forgotten. He shared a portion of dried meat and water he stored in his inventory, then quietly asked each one for their name.
Systematically, he built a mental map of who needed help first.
Then he returned to his hut and opened the system interface.
> [LEVEL: 6] [CLASS: Swordsman] [SKILLS: Combat Momentum (Passive)] [Random Skill Box at Level 10] [System Shop: UNLOCKED]
He browsed through the basic support section.
> [Herbal Kit – 2 gold] [Clean Water Flask – 1 gold] [Basic Medicine Pack – 5 gold] [Crude Crutch – 1 gold]
Ray sighed. "Good thing I sold those goblin fangs earlier."
He purchased a batch of items with the gold he had left and stuffed them into his inventory. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
---
Evening in the Village
Word spread quickly. Ray, the strange boy who appeared weak and lost only days ago, had now become the heart of the village. Children followed him like a shadow, and villagers greeted him with newfound respect.
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the chief returned with a parchment.
"There. Names, ages, conditions... Some of them don't have much time left."
Ray accepted the list silently.
Then, the chief added, "You're doing something this village hasn't seen in decades, Ray. You're reminding people that it's okay to hope again."
Ray gave a tired smile. "I'm just doing what I can."
But in his heart, he knew it wasn't just kindness driving him. This world was dangerous. Monsters. Slavers. War. The Demon Realm. If he didn't act now, the weak would be the first to fall when that danger came.
He glanced up at the night sky and clenched his fists.
"I need to grow stronger. Fast."
And with that thought, Ray quietly slipped out of the village gates. He headed into the forest under the moonlight. This time not to hunt, but to train—alone.
Each swing of his wooden practice sword. Each dodge. Each strike against a tree trunk. He had one goal:
> Level 10. Class Awakening. Unlock the power he needed to protect them all.
And maybe... just maybe... he could bring back the light to this dying world.