Jinhyuk adjusted the heavy backpack on his shoulders, gritting his teeth as he followed the hunting party deeper into the C-Class dungeon.
Beside him, Im Taesuk walked with steady steps, carrying a similar load.
They weren't fighters in this raid.
They were porters.
> "Just until I get stronger," Jinhyuk reminded himself.
Even though his pride stung, he knew this was his only chance to step into a C-Class dungeon.
The raid was organized by Stormwatch Guild, one of the mid-tier major guilds of South Korea.
The entire operation consisted of two teams, each with seven hunters and a single porter.
Each team had a balanced composition:
Tank: A heavily armored warrior responsible for blocking attacks.
Healer: A support mage ensuring the team's survival.
Magician: A long-range spellcaster providing firepower.
Swordsman: A melee fighter with high damage output.
Archer: A ranged damage dealer specializing in precision attacks.
Close-Range Damage Dealer: An agile fighter, usually a rogue or brawler.
Porter: The lowest-ranked member, tasked with carrying loot, supplies, and bodies if needed.
Jinhyuk and Taesuk were porters for each team.
---
Inside the Dungeon
The C-Class dungeon was a vast underground labyrinth, dimly lit by glowing blue crystals embedded in the walls. The air smelled of damp earth and something foul—like rotting meat.
> "This is different from D-Class dungeons," Jinhyuk thought.
Unlike the small caves and ruined temples he was used to, this place had twisting corridors and massive stone chambers.
The monsters lurking within were no joke either.
As the teams advanced, they encountered the first group of enemies—
Iron-Tusk Gnolls.
Standing at two meters tall, these hyena-like humanoids had thick hides, razor-sharp claws, and jagged spears.
> "C-Class monsters… this is my first time seeing them up close."
The battle erupted instantly.
The tank roared, slamming his shield into the ground, activating his Taunt Skill.
The magician chanted, sending a wave of fire magic toward the incoming enemies.
The swordsman and close-range fighters rushed forward, their weapons clashing against the gnolls.
It was a high-level battle—far beyond anything Jinhyuk had ever seen.
He and Taesuk stood at the back, watching silently, waiting.
> "This isn't my fight. Not yet."
Their job was simple—
Stay out of the way, carry the loot, and handle emergencies.
---
As the battle continued, Jinhyuk noticed something strange.
The gnolls… weren't retreating.
In most dungeons, monsters had instincts.
If they were losing, they ran away.
But these gnolls?
They fought to the last breath.
Their eyes glowed with an unnatural red light.
Jinhyuk turned to Taesuk, who also looked uneasy.
> "Hey, do C-Class monsters usually act like this?"
Taesuk shook his head, gripping his sword handle out of habit.
> "Well I'm first timer too, so cannot say it's normal or not "
Jinhyuk's fingers twitched. His "Lord of Illusions" ability was ready to activate at a moment's notice.
> "Maybe it's nothing… or maybe we're in serious trouble."
---
Jinhyuk wiped the sweat from his brow as he continued carrying supplies. The battle had ended, and the Iron-Tusk Gnolls were finally dead. However, it took much longer than expected.
The hunters looked exhausted as they sorted through the loot and checked for injuries.
> "Damn gnolls… they just wouldn't stop attacking."
The swordsman of Team One, Jung Woojin, clicked his tongue as he wiped the blood off his blade.
> "I don't like this," Park Sungho, the team's tank, muttered. "Gnolls aren't supposed to fight this aggressively. It's like they were under something's control."
Jinhyuk didn't think much of it.
Sure, the monsters were a bit more aggressive, but wasn't that just normal for higher-ranked dungeons?
> I guess C-Class dungeons are just this intense.
Shaking his head, he bent down to secure the straps on his bag. His job was just to be a porter.
Let the real hunters do the thinking.
But then—
A sharp whistling sound filled the air.
Jinhyuk's eyes widened.
Something was coming fast.
He turned his head just in time to see a dark blur—
A massive gnoll javelin, flying straight at Park Sungho.
The tank had taken off his helmet, wiping sweat from his face. He didn't even notice the attack coming.
Jinhyuk's body moved before his mind could react.
He lunged forward.
With a desperate shout, he tackled Sungho to the ground—
WHOOOSH—!
The javelin flew past, narrowly missing Sungho's head before slamming into the dungeon wall behind them.
CRACK!
The sheer force of the impact splintered the stone.
Silence filled the room.
Every hunter turned to look at the scene.
Sungho blinked, still processing what had happened.
Jinhyuk, on the other hand, was lying on top of him, panting.
> "What… the hell was that?" Sungho muttered.
Jinhyuk shakily got to his feet, his legs trembling slightly.
> "T-That… was close…" he said, his voice a bit shaky.
Woojin, the swordsman, immediately rushed toward them.
> "That javelin… came from outside the battle zone. We cleared this area. How is this possible?"
Jinhyuk turned his gaze toward the far end of the dungeon corridor—
And felt his stomach drop.
> Oh… shit.
Standing there, half-hidden in the shadows, was a gnoll unlike any they had faced before.
Its fur was pitch black, its eyes glowed with deep crimson light, and two jagged horns protruded from its skull.
A Cursed Gnoll Warchief.
Jinhyuk had never seen one before, but he could feel the danger radiating off it.
And, as if things weren't bad enough—
It wasn't alone.
Behind it, at least a dozen more gnolls emerged from the darkness.
The hunters quickly regrouped, weapons drawn.
> "That's no normal gnoll…" Woojin muttered, gripping his sword tightly.
Sungho slowly turned to Jinhyuk.
His expression was complicated.
> "You… saved my life."
Jinhyuk blinked.
> "Uh, yeah… I guess I did?"
Sungho exhaled and nodded.
> "Then stay behind us. You're not just a porter anymore."
For the first time, Jinhyuk felt something change.
The hunters didn't look down on him anymore.
For the first time—
They saw him as one of them.