I was subconsciously distracted by the sight of the huge guard captain. At this moment, I felt a heavy blow to my stomach. It was a sudden blow.

[You have been struck by a serious attack!]

"Cough...!"

"Father!"

My floating body flew away and hit a wall. I spat the remaining blood out of my mouth and walked out of the rising dust. s.h.i.+t, it really hurt.

"I'm okay. Don't worry."

Reinforcements would come rus.h.i.+ng because of this sound. It was serious. The quest's completion condition was to ensure the safe rescue of the 10 residents and 30 soldiers. Once reinforcements came, the chances of success would be much lower. If there was one thing that was lucky...

It was that Sujeong was a priestess. She was able to buff and heal. If she did well, she could heal the soldiers and residents and reach the entrance safely. Of course, the premise was to knock down this huge guy first.

The guard captain recovered his mace and asked, "Who are you and how did you get in here? Guruk."

I looked at the residents hiding behind me and ignored his words. They were shaking with fear. They were probably treated quite harshly here.

"S-Save me!"

"Help me! Warrior..."

Warrior... I wasn't great enough to be called that.

"You are the only one who can save us!"

"Please, brave warrior!" 

"Please save us!"

However, they were calling me a warrior. Perhaps I was their only hope? I couldn't turn them away.

...I heard that the position made a man.

"Kuoong."

I had to handle this quickly or we would be wiped out here.

"If you won't say it then die! Kuhaha!"

The guard captain slammed down the giant mace. The floor cracked along with a loud bang.  He seemed to have a tremendous amount of attack power based on the dent. I avoided the mace and felt it more than necessary. Based on this destructive power, I would die with one or two blows. I couldn't drink potions because I had to deal with him quickly. Then there was only one way.

"The best defense is to attack."

I quickly twisted my body, avoiding the swinging mace, and dug into his arms. I stabbed him between his legs and then moved behind, aiming at the guard's back.

"Hey, fatty. Over here."

"You! I'll chop you up and chew you! Kruruk!"

The captain's face was red and ugly. He was quite angry at being called fatty. The situation wasn't as good as his face. This guy had good defense. His pain tolerance was also good. The attack just now had only decreased his health by a speck. After all, this guy was level 15.

Then Sujeong sent me a message.

-Crystal: Father, would you like some help?

It was a whisper. It was a feature Sujeong had taught me while I was learning how to add friends.

-Jackson: It's fine. Don't step in and just protect the people.

-Crystal: ...I understand. I won't add support.

-Jackson: Of course.

I kept her whisper in my ears as I opened the status window and avoided the mace.

[Status Window]

[Name: Jackson

Level: 8 [Nameless] Adventurer

Heavenly Star: Lord of Brilliant Promise

Strength  1 (+20) / Agility  1 (+20)

Fitness  1 (+20) / Knowledge  1 (+20)

Stat Points: 28]

It had been a long time since I looked at my status window. As I saw it, I felt like it was finally time. I hadn't invested my stat points because I hadn't felt the need. Now I instinctively knew that it was time for the stat points to exert their ability. Additionally...

"I've already thought about what I'm going to raise. You rotten guy."

I started to hit the strength b.u.t.ton at a tremendous speed.

"Kuoooh. You...! What are you talking about?"

The guard captain's mace moved downwards. I avoided it lightly and started to move my finger more quickly. Then finally...

[Do you want to invest these stat points?]

"Yes."

Chiiiiiing!

[Your strength stat has increased by 28 points.]

[Muscles all over your body are swelling.]

There was a golden light and I started to overflow with power from every corner of my body. The muscles in my arms, legs, shoulders, and lower back felt swollen. There was a satisfied smile on my face from the sense of fullness different than when Sujeong buffed me.

...Excellent.

I rushed toward the guard captain with enough momentum to raise the dust. I lightly dodged the swinging mace and stabbed his right leg without hesitation.

"Kuaaack!"  

The screams of the guard captain filled the cave. I turned, moved to the opposite leg, and mercilessly cut his Achilles' tendon.

[A serious attack! The goblin guard captain can't use his left leg.]

"Aaack! My leg!"

There was a scream as the guard captain fell to one knee. I quickly pulled back my right leg and started to launch a ma.s.sive spin kick.

The chins of the inhabitants and soldiers were about to hit the ground at the sight. They couldn't shut it. They all fell silent at the sight of the amazing and gorgeous attack as something crept into their hearts. It was the same for Kim Sujeong. "Father is..."

The huge body groaned and fell on both knees at the same time. I spun around twice and appeared in front of him, leaving him with some final words. "Next time, live a good life."

I couldn't help nagging when I saw that terrible face. How could he live when he looked like such evil? Tsk tsk.

"You!"

The guard captain made a final struggle as he swung his mace but this action only further accelerated his death. I jumped quickly, slashed his throat twice, and landed in the right place.

[Experience has been acquired.]

[Your level has risen!]

[The Goblin Guard Captain's Mace has been acquired.]

The guard turned into a large pile of ash. I felt like I should pray for his soul.

"...Namu amitabul." I spoke a Buddhist chant. It didn't matter if it was Heaven, paradise, or other good places. For reference, I wasn't religious. "Is anyone injured?"

"I-I'm fine!"

"Thank you, warrior!" 

"Really thank you!"

"Hooray, warrior!"

...What warrior? I didn't fight to receive this type of name. It was just because of my minor interest. However, the residents and soldiers poured out their grat.i.tude toward me like they had no idea.

"......"

I watched them and thought that perhaps it wasn't impossible to be called a warrior. I felt a bit uplifted at the thought that my small courage gave them hope. I stood for a long time, remembering their faces as they each expressed their grat.i.tude. Then I could hear voices.

"Intruders! Kiik."

Too late. I looked back and saw goblins equipped with leather armor and weapons. They frowned at the sight of the fallen guard captain.

"The guard captain is dead!"

[Lv. 10 Goblin Elite]

Earlier it was 15 years old. This time they were 10 years old. I shook my head and raised the dagger again. At this moment, I heard a voice from behind me.

"We'll help you."

"...?"

The voice came from one of the young soldiers I had saved. He stood beside me with the other soldiers. It was a tall young man in his early 20s. It was good but I was obliged to protect them. In fact, it wasn't for the quest but a duty. After all, I didn't want to sacrifice these young people. In reality and here, young people were the future and hopes of a nation. It was an unchanging, constant truth no matter the location.

I told them, "Just help me break through here. Then I will stop these guys. Run toward the exit as soon as you break through here."

"But..."

"Listen to me. All you have to do is protect the villagers."

I looked at the villagers shaking behind me. At this time, I looked at the young soldier next to me and frowned. "Isn't that right, young friend?" 

The young soldier clenched his fists when he saw the trembling villagers. He seemed upset that this was the only thing he could do. Fortunately, he wasn't a fool.

"Pl...ease."

"Yes. Let's live."

At the same time, the goblin elites rushed forward. I quickly slashed the neck of an elite goblin. It had approximately 500 health.

"These guys, come...!"

"Ahhhhhhh!"

The soldiers and I started to make an escape route with a desperate determination.

* * *

We managed to open up an escape route and I pointed at the entrance I had entered through earlier.

"Run over there!"

"But..."

"Hurry...!"

The villagers and soldiers started moving only after I yelled at them. They ran toward the exit at high speed. The problem was that there were still two people left. One was the young soldier who previously spoke to me. "Tell me your name, Elder." 

He stared at me with an air that he couldn't move unless I gave him my name. I knew why he was asking for my name and didn't bother questioning it. In the movies, the protagonist was bound to die at this time... d.a.m.n. It felt ominous.

"Jackson. My name is Jackson."

"Jackson. I'll definitely remember you! Be sure to come back alive!"

"Yes. See you later."

I nodded and he ran toward the exit. I looked at his receding back and muttered, "Rotten guy. I shouldn't have given my name..."

Then a familiar woman's voice was heard. "What if I don't go?"

"Don't you know that you can die?"

"I made a promise when Mother pa.s.sed away. I will never again run away from death."

"...Okay."

I paid tribute to her heart and resolute determination. I slowly thought of my wife as I faced the incoming goblin elites.

'...Honey. It seems that Sujeong has become stronger. You can rest easy now.'

My wife's last appearance played like a panorama. One of the things she worried about before she died was Sujeong's pain and sorrow. Despite not being family, she treated Sujeong as a real family for two years. My wife hoped she wouldn't be frustrated and would move forward with courage. Sujeong seemed to be doing well according to my wife's wishes. It was the same for me as well.

...Perhaps my little courage could save many young people here. Today I wouldn't 'become' a warrior. I 'chose' to be one. At this moment, a brilliant light burst out.

[Your 'pure courage' has unsealed the Star Fruit!]

Suddenly, something from my inventory rose into the air. It was golden and s.h.i.+ning.

"Aack! What is this light?!"

"It's so dazzling!"

"I can't open my eyes!"

The goblins were unable to open their eyes in the brilliant golden light. Kim Sujeong next to me had wide eyes as she stared at me. I turned as a thrill ran all over my body.

"This..."

The Star Fruit. An unidentified fruit that appeared when I was chosen by the seven stars of the Big Dipper. The constantly emerging brilliance had the power to daze me. Then I heard Kim Sujeong shouting, "Father! Go ahead and eat it!"

...What?

"Hurry!"

I quickly grabbed the Star Fruit from the air. There was no time to think. The instinct to swallow it dominated my mind. I took a bite out of the Star Fruit and swallowed it. At this moment, amazing messages started to appear in front of me.

[Man loved by the stars, you are qualified to be a Star's Beloved!]

[The first apostle who serves the will of G.o.d Gaia has opened their eyes.]

[The apostle 'Fire Thief Looking Ahead' is looking at you!]