The Aldrich Theocracy, a formidable religious empire, held dominance over its vast lands, and its people referred to themselves as the "Kami Sect" due to their unwavering worship of an unnamed Kami. However, the term "Kami" was broad and ambiguous, leading outsiders to simply call it the Aldrich religion. At its head was Pope Aldrich, the supreme ruler. Yet, above even the Pope in the hierarchy was the Holy Maiden, the one individual who could communicate directly with the Kami. Though she wielded no political power, her role was the very essence of the religion.

Late one afternoon, a messenger from Aldrich sped into a small village where Anyi was helping rebuild homes after an attack. Though the villagers initially refused his aid, Anyi felt compelled to help, his sword resting nearby as he repaired the shattered walls of a house. The clatter of hooves echoed through the village as the messenger, clad in robes of gold and white, rode in, instantly drawing the villagers' attention. No one dared approach him, too wary of what trouble might follow such a prestigious visitor.

The destruction in the village was hard to miss. The further the messenger rode, the more devastation he saw—roofs caved in, homes reduced to splinters. Finally, he reined in his horse, dismounting to approach a few villagers standing by the roadside.

"I am Kubo Wilker, a believer of Aldrich Sect," he introduced himself, his eyes scanning the ruins. "What happened here?"

"It's the monsters! They attacked us!" a young man blurted out, his voice trembling with fury and fear, as if finally unburdening his anguish.

"Monsters?" Kubo's eyes widened in disbelief. "When did this happen?"

"Last night! A massive beast tore through our village, killed so many of us, and destroyed our homes!" the young man replied, his words spilling out in a rush.

"Yes, all of this, the monsters did it!" another villager echoed, their voice cracking with emotion.

"My husband… he was killed by one of those monsters!" a woman wailed, tears streaming down her face.

Kubo felt a cold sweat run down his back. "This is bad..."

Today, the Holy Maiden of the Aldrich Theocracy proclaimed that Kami had chosen countless Heroes to stand against the monstrous threat. Yet, the very night before, monsters attacked a remote village where one such Hero lived. Could it be that the creatures had somehow sensed the chosen one and struck before he could claim the mantle of Hero? If so, this was a devastating blow to humanity's hope of survival. What a tragedy it would be!

"Fear not, everyone," the messenger declared, straightening himself. "I am a representative of the Aldrich Theocracy, and we will ensure your safety. Rest assured, now that I am here, I won’t allow the monsters to continue their destruction!"

"Sir, the monster has already been defeated," someone said, stepping forward.

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"Excuse me?" The messenger blinked in surprise. Judging by the destruction, a sizable creature must have ravaged this place. Even if the villagers had rushed to the nearest town for aid, they would have struggled to combat such a beast. After all, in this quiet village, the most experienced monster hunters were only capable of handling goblins and slimes, minor threats at best. It typically required Aldrich’s elite forces to vanquish larger monsters.

"It was me," came a calm, crystalline voice from behind him.

The messenger turned to find the villagers beaming with pride. "Yes, that’s him! He’s the one who saved our village!" Cheers erupted from the crowd as the man stepped forward.

A young man with black hair and a stoic expression approached, extending his hand. "You must be the messenger from the Aldrich Theocracy. I have been expecting you since noon. My name is Anyi Carl, the swordsman of Sunderland village."

"Anyi Carl...!" The messenger’s eyes widened as he glanced at the ecstatic villagers around him, then back at the young man. There was no doubt—this was the [Sword Hero].

Anyi's calm demeanor spoke volumes. It was as though he had anticipated the messenger’s arrival, likely due to hearing Kami's call. The timing was impeccable; the Holy Maiden had received Kami’s will earlier today, naming Anyi Carl as the [Sword Hero]. This meant he had already vanquished the monster before officially being granted his Hero status.

The realization dawned on the messenger—Anyi, even before receiving the title, had the power to slay such a powerful creature. Without formal training, without the resources that most people would need, he had still risen to the challenge. It was no wonder that Kami had chosen him. Anyi Carl was destined for greatness—an innate warrior capable of turning the tide in humanity's favor.

"Truly," the messenger murmured, "it is clear why Kami has chosen you. Worthy indeed!"

"Aldrich devotee Kubo Wilker, present the Hero!" The messenger discarded his cloak and dropped to one knee, bowing low before Anyi. "I humbly request that the Sword Hero journey to the Holy City and meet the Holy Maiden!"

The villagers exchanged confused glances, their uncertainty evident. A Hero? Visiting the Holy City? Meeting the Holy Maiden? The weight of the moment was not lost on them, but the significance seemed distant, almost surreal.

Anyi gazed down at the messenger, his mind a whirl of thoughts. "If this had happened in my previous life, I suppose a messenger would have come to invite me then as well?" he mused, recalling how, after awakening the Hero system, he had thrown himself into battle, recklessly hunting monsters in the mountains.

Back then, someone had indeed approached him to join forces, but he had stubbornly refused. The rage and desire for vengeance had driven him to act alone, caring little for alliances or strategy. But this time, things were different. He still craved revenge, but he understood now that to succeed, he needed more than brute force. He needed information—about the Theocracy, about the Heroes, about everything.

"Journey to the Holy City?" Anyi’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. "I must decline."

"Wh-what?" The messenger's shock was palpable. This was not the response he had expected. "But... why?" he stammered.

"As you can see," Anyi gestured towards the ruined village around them, "my homeland lies in ruins. Right now, my duty is here, helping rebuild these homes. I’m bound to that, not to the whims of some far-off city." His words resonated with the villagers, whose tear-filled eyes shone with gratitude.

To them, Anyi’s dedication to repairing their homes was a blessing, a miracle in itself. They had expected the Hero to leave them behind, to chase greater battles, but here he was, choosing to stay and aid them first. How could they not be moved by such selflessness?

"Please, allow us to handle the restoration in this village!" the messenger declared, rising to his feet. His voice carried a note of urgency, realizing that this was the only way to secure the Hero’s cooperation.

'Got him,' Anyi thought silently, a faint smile playing on his lips.