As the Hobgoblin slowly advanced, Anyi remained motionless, not making the slightest move.
'What is he planning?' Everyone nearby watched in confusion, their eyes fixed on Anyi.
The Hobgoblin swung its massive wooden club, the air around it whistling ominously. If it connected with Anyi, the damage would be catastrophic.
Yet Anyi still didn't budge. He stood rooted to the spot, seemingly unfazed by the impending danger. What was going through his mind?
Then, in a move that nobody expected, Anyi calmly took a few steps to the side and retreated into the narrow gap between two village houses.
"Bump!" A deafening crash echoed as the Hobgoblin's club smashed into one of the houses. In an instant, a cloud of clay and sand burst into the air, and the brick and cement walls crumbled violently under the force of the blow.
At the moment the Hobgoblin's movements slowed due to hitting the house, Anyi seized the opportunity. He darted out, gripping his sword with both hands, and sprinted toward the towering beast. The Hobgoblin, still reeling from the impact, tried to react and swing its club, but it was too late---
"Poof!!" The long sword plunged into the Hobgoblin's unguarded abdomen, slicing through flesh and muscle, and driving straight towards its heart.
"Raaawwwwrrr ——!!!" The Hobgoblin let out an agonizing roar, its massive hand swiping at Anyi, desperate to throw him off.
But Anyi, anticipating the move, released his grip on the sword embedded in the creature and swiftly ducked into the blind spot beneath the Hobgoblin's legs. With precision, he drew his short sword and delivered a devastating stab to a particularly vulnerable spot---
"Raaawwwwrrr ——!!!" The Hobgoblin howled in excruciating pain, its entire body trembling uncontrollably. The pain was unbearable, causing the beast to double over, clutching its abdomen in a futile attempt to ease the suffering.
With deliberate calmness, Anyi withdrew his short sword, neither rushed nor hesitant, and climbed up behind the Hobgoblin. Exploiting its blindness, he drove the short sword through its eye, piercing deep into its brain.
The Hobgoblin’s massive body quivered violently for a moment, then began to collapse, its strength draining away as it fell to the ground, lifeless.
Anyi observed the Hobgoblin's lifeless body, his gaze steady and thoughtful.
In this world, inflicting damage on the brain or heart ensures immediate death. That's the "mechanism" here—no need to worry about whether the wounds were deep enough. If it were an undead creature, something without a heart, lungs, or brain, then it would be a different story.
"Is it dead...?"
"Looks like it," one of the monster hunters cautiously remarked. They had been hiding, watching intently as the Hobgoblin remained motionless. After some time, they emerged from their hiding spots, edging closer to the fallen beast. Several of them repeatedly checked the body, confirming that the Hobgoblin was indeed dead before they finally relaxed.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
However, instead of relief or celebration, what lingered in the air was concern and suspicion.
"Kid, do you realize that this Hobgoblin is a genuine Class 2 monster? Even if you're a Class 2 monster hunter, you'd still need a team to take it down. But you... you managed to defeat it on your own. That's equivalent to having the strength of a Class 3 monster hunter. What exactly happened here?" The captain of the monster hunter group furrowed his brow, his voice filled with both curiosity and unease as he questioned Anyi.
Strength in a young person isn't unusual, but when it comes to battling a Hobgoblin, it was clear that Anyi had something beyond mere physical power.
More importantly, his experience stood out. These hunters were seasoned fighters, and they recognized that Anyi's performance in the fight wasn’t just a matter of quick reflexes. His movements were calculated, his decisions precise—almost as if he had extensive combat experience, particularly with large creatures like the Hobgoblin.
"Well," Anyi muttered, glancing at the Hobgoblin's lifeless body beside him.
"I figured I could win, so I fought it," he responded nonchalantly.
"Good! Good job!" Before anyone could press Anyi further, Assel laughed loudly and gave his shoulder a firm pat. Then, turning to the others, he declared, "This boy has been gifted since he was a child. He’s not even eighteen, yet he's the strongest swordsman in our village. Isn't it natural for the young to react quickly?"
"This..." The monster hunters exchanged uncertain glances. Talent and quick reflexes aside, Anyi's performance felt beyond what they expected from a normal youth.
"I'm tired," Anyi cut in, his tone dismissive. "Let's head to town. Who knows if more monsters will appear tonight." Handing the sword back to Assel, he turned and began walking away.
Assel hesitated, then, snapping out of his daze, shouted after him, "Good! Let's go!"
....
In a [Class 1 disaster: Goblin Invasion], once you kill all 20 goblins and 1 Hobgoblin, no more creatures will appear. If it were a [Class 2 Goblin Invasion], the number would be doubled. Fortunately, Sunderland's village is only enough to be classified as [Class 1], so there is no chance of such an event rising to a [Class 2 ] disaster.
Upon reaching the town, it was the responsibility of the Monster Hunter Guild and the mayor to take in the villagers as temporary refugees. However, this was a small town, and space was limited. Instead of individual rooms, they were gathered in a large courtyard, where dozens of beds were set up for them to rest.
When Anyi returned, exhaustion overcame him, and he fell asleep almost immediately. He had saved his sister, executed his enemies, protected his parents, secured his village, and ensured the safety of the people he cared about. The heartache from his previous life, the regrets that had weighed heavily on him, could finally begin to release.
But even as he drifted into a deep sleep, a greater yearning remained unfulfilled. A goal that had eluded him in his past life lingered in his mind: to slay the Demon Lord, to eradicate every last monster, and to bring about a world where no one would suffer such calamities ever again.
Yet, there was more. This world had entered a countdown—ten years. After that, all of humanity would vanish entirely from existence. This wasn’t just a setting; it was the stark reality Anyi faced. He had to kill the Demon Lord. There was no second choice.
---
The next day, at noon.
Sunlight streamed through the grand windows of a magnificent golden cathedral, casting a brilliant glow upon the chamber. The light enhanced the splendor of the hall, making the atmosphere almost blinding in its beauty.
On a crimson velvet carpet, rows of figures stood in silence, clad in platinum robes that marked them as clergy. They faced the front of the assembly hall with solemnity, their reverence palpable. At least several thousand people filled the great hall, all awaiting the divine will of Kami.
Atop a high platform, an elderly man with a long white beard and dressed in a silver-white robe stood solemnly. He was the Pope, and his voice carried a weight of authority as he spoke.
"Let us begin," he intoned.
Then, raising his voice, he called out:
"Holy Maiden-sama, please convey Kami-sama's will to us!"