Jinhyuk leaned against the cold stone wall of the dungeon, his breath still uneven from the fight. The corpse of the Hobgoblin lay sprawled before them, its green skin marred with gaping wounds, blood pooling beneath it.
The battle was over.
But Jinhyuk's mind was still racing.
The illusions had worked.
More than that—they had altered the battlefield. The Hobgoblin had reacted to them as if they were real, giving his teammates the crucial openings they needed.
This power was far beyond what a mere D-Class hunter should possess.
But it came with a cost.
His head throbbed with a dull ache, his body heavy with exhaustion. Using the illusions had drained him more than he realized.
Jinhyuk clenched his fists. He needed to understand his limits—and fast.
Loot and Aftermath
Kang Jisoo kicked the Hobgoblin's body once for good measure before sheathing his sword. "Well… that was one hell of a fight."
Sooyoung exhaled, rubbing her shoulder. "No kidding. I thought we were goners for a second."
The crossbowman crouched next to the corpse, already checking for loot. "Hobgoblins don't usually drop much, but the boss might have something useful."
Jinhyuk watched as they efficiently began to harvest materials from the corpse—removing fangs, claws, and anything that could be sold to a merchant.
He, too, had to earn his share.
With careful steps, he approached the monster's massive club, which was half-buried in the cracked dungeon floor. It was rusted and crude, but there was something strange about it.
As soon as his fingers brushed the handle—
[System Alert: Unidentified Item Detected]
A translucent screen blinked into existence before his eyes.
[Cursed Iron Club – D-Class]
A heavy weapon wielded by a Hobgoblin chieftain.
Grants a slight strength boost to its wielder.
However, prolonged use may lead to mental instability.
Jinhyuk frowned. "A cursed item?"
"Something wrong?" Jisoo asked, noticing his expression.
Jinhyuk quickly shook his head. "No, just… checking the club. It's nothing special."
He wasn't about to tell them what he had seen.
Not yet.
Instead, he let it go, watching as Jisoo took charge of dividing the loot.
A Quiet Walk Back
The group made their way out of the dungeon, following the familiar winding tunnels. The air smelled of damp earth and lingering traces of blood.
Jinhyuk walked at the back, deep in thought.
So much had changed in an instant.
He had gained an ability that could defy reality itself.
He had used it in battle—and it had worked.
But he had also realized its cost.
He had only conjured a few illusions, and yet his body was already exhausted.
"How much can I actually handle?"
The memory of The Forgotten's voice echoed in his mind.
"Power comes with a price, little dreamer. You will soon understand."
Jinhyuk gritted his teeth.
He wasn't afraid of a price.
He just needed to make sure he could afford it.
Exiting the Dungeon
As they finally emerged from the cave, the evening sky greeted them, painted in hues of orange and purple.
They had survived another hunt.
Jisoo stretched his arms. "Alright, good work, everyone. We'll split the loot at the guild hall."
Sooyoung yawned. "And then get some damn food. I'm starving."
Jinhyuk smiled faintly, but his mind was already elsewhere.
The next step was clear.
He needed to train.
To test the limits of his illusions—and to prepare for whatever was coming next.
Because something told him that this was only the beginning.
---
Jinhyuk stepped off the bus, his muscles aching from the dungeon raid. The streets were quiet, bathed in the warm glow of streetlights. His family's small convenience store stood at the corner of the block, the familiar neon sign flickering slightly.
He took a deep breath, the scent of instant ramen and fresh bread filling his nostrils. No matter how tough his hunts were, coming home always felt different.
As he pushed open the glass door, the soft chime of the entrance bell rang out.
A Father's Struggles
Behind the counter, a middle-aged man in a simple button-up shirt and apron looked up.
"Jinhyuk?" His father's tired eyes lit up with surprise. "You're home early today."
Jinhyuk gave a tired smile. "Dungeon run ended sooner than expected."
His father, Jin Sangho, nodded, adjusting his reading glasses. His face was lined with years of hard work, and his calloused hands were still sorting through receipts.
"Good, good. You shouldn't push yourself too hard," Sangho muttered, tapping at the cash register. "I saw the news—there's been a rise in dungeon collapses lately. Be careful out there."
Jinhyuk hesitated. His father had always been wary of his choice to become a hunter.
"You know I'm careful," Jinhyuk reassured him.
His father sighed but didn't argue. Instead, he gestured toward the small fridge.
"There's food in there if you're hungry. Your mother made kimchi stew."
At the mention of food, Jinhyuk's stomach growled. He had barely eaten all day.
A Mother's Worries
Just as he was about to grab a bowl, the kitchen door swung open.
"Jinhyuk! You're back?"
His mother, Seo Mira, rushed in, wiping her hands on her apron. Despite her small frame, she had an unshakable presence. Her worried eyes immediately scanned him, as if checking for injuries.
"Were you hurt? Did you eat? You look thin!"
Jinhyuk laughed, raising his hands. "Mom, I'm fine. Just tired."
Mira scoffed, already piling food into a bowl. "Tired? That's because you don't eat properly! Hunters need strength, Jinhyuk. You'll never move past D-Class if you don't take care of yourself."
Jinhyuk bit his tongue.
Moving past D-Class… if only she knew how much more complicated things had just become.
Still, he let her fuss over him. He knew it was her way of showing love.
The Twins Arrive
Just as he was about to dig in, the front door slammed open.
"Jinhyuk-hyung!"
Two voices rang out in unison.
His younger brother and sister rushed inside, still in their high school uniforms.
Jinhwan – His younger brother, always energetic, eyes shining with excitement.
Jinhee – His younger sister, calmer but with a sharp gaze, always analyzing everything.
Jinhwan flopped onto the couch dramatically. "Ugh, school was hell today."
Jinhee rolled her eyes. "It was fine. You just didn't study."
Jinhwan ignored her and turned to Jinhyuk. "Hyung! Did you go on a hunt today? What was the dungeon like? Did you fight a big monster?"
Jinhyuk smiled. "Yeah, I did. We fought a Hobgoblin."
Jinhwan's eyes sparkled. "No way! That's sick!"
Jinhee, however, frowned slightly. "Hobgoblins are dangerous… Are you sure it wasn't too risky?"
Jinhyuk hesitated for a moment. His little sister was sharp. He couldn't tell her about The Forgotten or his new ability, but he also didn't want to lie.
"I managed," he said simply.
Jinhee narrowed her eyes but didn't push further.
Their mother clapped her hands. "Enough talk, let your brother eat!"
As Jinhyuk took his first bite of the warm, spicy kimchi stew, he finally felt a little bit of the day's exhaustion melt away.
No matter how much the world changed… home stayed the same.
A Moment of Peace
That night, as Jinhyuk lay on his small bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind kept drifting.
He thought about:
The illusions.
The dungeon battle.
The words of The Forgotten.
This power… it was too big to ignore.
He had a family to protect.
If he wanted to climb higher—if he wanted to survive—he had to train.
Tomorrow, everything changes.
Jinhyuk closed his eyes, preparing for the next step in his journey.