The Porter's Gaze: Song Kang
Song Kang, a Chinese adventurer, was a veteran porter slave who'd spent twelve years hauling loads after entering the Tower. During his long enslavement, he'd met countless people and obeyed all sorts of masters' orders. His role was simply to quietly carry the baggage and follow his owner around—and if he did his job well, he'd get a woman as a reward to relieve his urges. That was the life of any 2nd Class Slave. Not just Song Kang, but most of them dragged through their days feeling like they were only alive because they couldn't die.
When he met his new master, Namgung Seojun, he didn't think much of it at first. But then, Seojun gave them hope.
"If you fulfill your roles properly, I'll give you a chance to escape slavery!"
He was an adventurer with the incredible class of Apostle of the Main God, and his words filled Song Kang and the other 2nd Class Slaves with hope.
"I'll do it right."
"Yeah, let's give it our all!!"
Not just Song Kang—all the 2nd Class Slaves steeled their resolve and joined the party. And Song Kang quickly realized this wasn't your average party.
21st floor field
"Combat ready! Eleven o'clock, orc pack approaching—43 in total, including riders!"
Seojun perfectly grasped the enemies' movements and issued precise orders.
"Defensive circle formation. Free-roll dealers, hold the line too!"
The team swiftly formed up at his command. Lee Guho and the attackers prepared their strikes, surrounded first by the porters and sex slaves. Song Kang shrugged off his heavy pack and gripped his shield, sticking close to the attackers. Then the guards and free-roll dealers formed the outermost ring, enclosing everyone.
With the main force in a solid circular formation, Seojun took position a bit apart for an ambush.
"Kraang! Quek!"
The orc riders spotted the group and charged with roars. Orc riders were gray orcs from the 20th-floor mountain region, riding wild wolves. They were annoying monsters who relied on mobility for devastating group assaults. Their specialty was charges using weight and momentum.
"Hold the line!!"
As the orc riders barreled in at full speed for their signature charge, Jo Jaehun simply barked the order to block. The guards raised their shields in response.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Each impact from the charging orc riders produced thunderous clashes. Song Kang flinched at the noise but didn't budge. From years as a porter, he'd learned that in combat, staying put in your assigned spot maximized survival odds. Anxious as he was, he held his ground.
The relentless charges kept slamming home, but the defense held firm. Then came a hopeful sound.
"Fire Bolt!"
"Multi Shot!"
The attackers' strikes landed, thinning the orc riders' numbers. "Gahk!" Those circling back for another charge after their assault fell to Namgung Seojun's sword. Without their mobility, they were easy prey for him.
As the pressure eased, Jo Jaehun gave the next order.
"Strike when you see an opening!"
Li Zhangwei and the free-roll dealers switched to offense, while the sub-dealers joined in opportunistically. In just twenty minutes, it was over. The party wiped out all 43 orc riders without a single casualty. A total victory.
Seojun confirmed with his Super Sense—a few orcs and wolves had fled, but most were dead. No big issue.
"Clean up the battlefield."
At his order, the party got to work. During the cleanup, the porters chatted as they handled the corpses.
"Whoa, you see that magic? Multi-casting non-stop."
"Defense was rock-solid too. Tanked those orc rider charges like nothing."
"Even the free-roll dealers... they're no joke."
"True, but the leader—our master—is on another level. How does he predict their approach so perfectly?"
"Better than anyone with Presence Detection. More accurate, senses farther out."
The impressions from Song Kang and the new 2nd Class Slaves all boiled down to one thing: this party was on a whole different level.
With cleanup done, the party resumed marching. Even on the move, Namgung Seojun's party stood out from others.
"Hold."
Everyone froze at the leader's command. Porter Song Kang halted too, crouching low in concealment and awaiting orders. He waited for Seojun's next words. Sensing something with his Super Sense, Seojun spoke.
"Wait here ten minutes. Isu-yeon!"
"Yes!"
Tail-bottle Isu-yeon dashed forward. He ordered her immediately.
"Follow me."
"Yes."
Seojun led Isu-yeon off briefly. Watching the scene, Song Kang and the porters murmured.
"Why's the leader taking Isu-yeon ahead?"
"Nothing in those bushes, looks like."
"You think...? Something between them???"
"Crazy... lol, you think the leader's some horndog like you?"
"Nah, probably not. But still...?"
The joke sparked louder chatter among the porters. Jo Jaehun cut in.
"Quiet, all of you!"
Song Kang shushed them first with a finger to his lips, and the others followed. Gisohee added,
"Seojun-nim keeps work and play separate. No funny thoughts—just wait."
Song Kang noted once more how high trust in Seojun ran in this party.
Twenty minutes later, the pair returned.
"Hyungnim? What was it?"
Lee Guho's question got a flash of red herb from Seojun's pouch.
"Nothing major. Felt something, checked it out—found this."
Jo Jaehun recognized it instantly.
"Red Mo Jam. That size? Five gold easy."
Twenty minutes for five gold would be a windfall for other parties, but for Namgung Seojun's group, it was routine income.
"Take good care of it."
Song Kang received the red Mo Jam at Jo Jaehun's order. With practiced hands, he wrapped it in cloth and stowed it in his pack.
"You're good at this."
Song Kang grinned at the praise.
"Over ten years as a porter. Basics are second nature—whatever you need, just say."
Jo Jaehun thought Song Kang had the right mindset.
"Move out!"
The party marched on. Song Kang figured one of this party's quirks was all the extra income like this. Seojun maximized profits with his Super Sense.
Evening. Following Namgung Seojun's orders, the party set camp in a safe spot. Even camping was highly organized. Seojun and Isu-yeon scouted and set traps; guards gathered firewood. Sex slaves prepped food, porters pitched tents.
"Main large tent here. Six small ones nearby on flat ground."
At Gisohee's instructions, Song Kang worked diligently. He was extra careful with the small tents—for the leader Namgung Seojun, regular party members, and sex slaves.
Tents up, Song Kang unpacked into the large slave tent. He was thrilled with his pack—a Rare-grade backpack, used, with only Lightweight enchantment, just ten gold. For a slave, it was a godsend.
Treatment was top-notch overall. Quality meals even for slaves, ample support for comfort. In towns or villages, they got pocket money to blow off steam. In all his years as a slave, Song Kang had never seen a party this good to them.
"Camp ready?"
Namgung Seojun and Isu-yeon returned; Gisohee replied promptly.
"Tents done, food's good to go."
He nodded, chatting briefly. Meanwhile, Isu-yeon sorted his and her gear in his tent, sprucing it up like a personal secretary.
"Seojun-nim, shall we tonight?"
Pinara teased him provocatively. He smirked and ignored her.
"Didn't you hear me? Why avoid me?"
He kept brushing her off. Pinara trailed him, chattering away for a while.
After a solid dinner, Jo Jaehun assigned night watches to the slaves.
"Song Kang-ssi, second shift."
"Got it."
Song Kang grumbled inwardly at the unlucky slot, but it had one upside...
"Song Kang-ssi, Im Soo-jin first shift."
"Yes!!"
It paired with sex slave time. Song Kang eyed Im Soo-jin; she met his gaze with a subtle look. Seeing her face lifted his mood.
Night
"Hoo...."
Sweaty, Song Kang emerged from the small tent—Im Soo-jin's. Exhausted inside, she murmured,
"Haa... that was good tonight."
"You too."
Outside, Song Kang straightened his clothes. Moments later, first-shift Iban Sergeyei approached.
"Made good time, huh?"
"Basics."
Iban handed over the whistle, lantern, and candle for handover.
"Handover... nothing special to report. All quiet."
"Roger."
Song Kang hung the whistle, checked lantern oil, lit the candle. When it burned out, his watch ended.
"I'm off."
Iban headed lighthearted not to the slave tent, but Im Soo-jin's. He was her second tonight.
"Have fun."
Iban chuckled and ducked inside.
On watch, Song Kang patrolled with the lantern. Two tents still glowed brightly.
"Ah... ahk... aah!"
2nd Class Slave Park Eunhye's tent was always the men's relief spot. Open for anyone, anytime—like a urinal that took loads. Song Kang passed it, pondering how he'd use her after his shift.
Another lit tent leaked a woman's moans.
"......"
But what caught Song Kang's eye was Isu-yeon, waiting patiently outside. Even with her master bedding another woman, she stayed quiet. Sure, he juggled multiple women and she was a slave, but such devotion was rare.
Convinced Isu-yeon truly served from the heart, Song Kang slipped past silently. He stood watch quietly till his time ended.
Next morning, Song Kang rose, washed quickly, and dismantled tents.
"Good, you handle it well on your own?"
Jo Jaehun praised Song Kang's initiative; other slaves rose and got to their tasks. After a simple breakfast, Namgung Seojun announced,
"Depart in ten minutes. Prep."
"Yes."
Exactly ten minutes later, with the leader in front, the group marched on. Song Kang shouldered his pack and trudged silently.