Trouble in the Goblin Den

Eun Seong-jin was a D-rank hunter on the cusp of reaching C-rank. With his stable party management and solid skills, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he was the leader who guided rookies into dungeons.

"Let's take a short break here."

He was currently inside the E-rank dungeon, Goblin Den.

The hunters who'd entered with him were strangers matched through the Hunters app—no fixed party. That could sometimes lead to mismatched teamwork, but in an E-rank dungeon, it rarely became an issue.

"Hyun-ji, you and the porters gather mana stones and sort the byproducts."

True to form as the leader, he used the break to direct even the porters. It was standard procedure for any leader, so Hyun-ji simply carried out the assigned tasks without complaint.

"Party leader, you could hit D-rank any day now."

This came from the D-rank hunter covering the rear. Seong-jin gave an awkward smile in response.

"Nah, I'm still a ways off."

"Didn't you say you're taking the C-rank exam soon?"

"Yeah, but..."

"You're so humble. It's all over the app forums. That's why I signed up. And yeah, it checks out."

"Rumors, huh?"

Seong-jin was well aware. He knew about the online buzz and his good reputation. Sure enough, the other party members just nodded along during their break, affirming it.

"Guess it comes with the territory when you're grinding hard."

Seong-jin played it extra humble while subtly eyeing Hyun-ji, who was handling the grunt work from behind. The reason was simple.

'Of all people, why me.'

That morning, he'd gotten a call. From Baek Seong-cheol, boss of Hwarang Porter Office.

Seong-jin had been saddled with a job he couldn't refuse. And for good reason—he'd gotten his guild recommendation thanks to Seong-cheol. Once he hit C-rank, he'd form a proper fixed party and run dungeons full-time, no more app pickups like today. In short, the favor wasn't small.

'No choice, then.'

He'd been on the fence until now, but ignoring Seong-cheol wasn't an option.

'Shouldn't have pissed off the boss.'

He didn't even click his tongue. Still, he couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her.

"Alright, let's move out!"

At Seong-jin's call, the hunters rose, and the porters packed up the byproducts and followed behind.

Hyun-seong was shadowing Hyun-ji from a discreet distance, observing closely. So far, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. No real dangers, and they were clearing the dungeon by the book, just like the strategy manuals he'd read online.

The E-rank Goblin Den was exactly what it sounded like—a goblin-infested hole. To clear it, they had to wipe out every monster inside. The objective was clearly marked as a mission.

The party had taken down 15 goblins so far—not a bad pace. If things stayed this smooth, they'd clear without issue.

Then it happened.

The hunter party ran into another goblin pack. Goblins were green-skinned runts topping out at 130cm, dim-witted and armed with junk weapons. One-on-one, even a civilian could win. But like anywhere, the weak stuck together—in packs of three or four, sometimes ten or more.

'Brings back memories.'

Faint recollections from eons ago surfaced for Hyun-seong: goblins in a similar cave, reeking of filth, their shrill cries echoing off the walls. The nauseating vibe wouldn't fade. Lost in those hazy "memories," he hung back as the hunters engaged.

Porters stayed 10-20 meters behind during fights, ready for surprises. Hyun-ji watched the hunters' backs like the rest.

But then.

Kyeeeek!

One goblin broke from the fray and charged the porters. It was too fast for the hunters to react. The frontline tank with sword and shield could only yell a warning, while the rearguard was too stunned to act.

The escaped goblin was the porters' problem now.

"R-run away!"

One porter broke formation, and soon they were all dropping packs and fleeing. Their bodies were their livelihood—running made sense. Sure, they might beat a lone goblin, but no promises on not getting hurt. No one wanted to fight.

Kraaak!

Goblins were monsters through and through—feral when they smelled human, even more savage if they sensed weakness. Hyun-ji eyed the pumped-up goblin, wondering if she should bolt too.

"Hyun-ji! Sorry, but handle it!"

It was the party leader, Seong-jin, shouting mid-grapple with another goblin. No escape for her now.

Grind!

Hyun-ji gritted her teeth, drew her crude club, and swung at the goblin.

Whoosh!

It missed. She was awakened, but zero combat experience.

The goblin capitalized, swinging its own club. Panicked, Hyun-ji turned her back.

Thud!

She took the hit defenseless—but no real pain. Her backpack had absorbed it. The chaos had kept her from ditching the bag; small mercy.

Refocusing, Hyun-ji glared at the goblin. It stared back like she was dinner and lunged, slobbery tongue flopping disgustingly.

"Uwaaaah!"

This time, determined to land it, she swung. Her senses sharpened from the first try.

Crack!

She smashed the blindly charging goblin's skull.

Kyeek!

Dazed, it staggered. Hyun-ji raised her club to finish it.

But.

Thwip, thunk!

The rearguard archer nailed it in the back. Crisis averted. He rushed over.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, luckily."

Hyun-ji didn't want to dwell on how close that was. She might not have died, but it was the riskiest thing since she started dungeon runs.

And the guy responsible approached.

"Sorry. My aggro control slipped."

Seong-jin bowed with genuine-seeming remorse, but Hyun-ji wasn't one to go soft.

"Do better next time. One goblin's nothing to you party leaders, but it's deadly for us."

"Absolutely. My bad."

He seemed to take it. Hyun-ji cooled off, seeing his regret.

Then.

"But 'us'? Aren't you an awakener, Hyun-ji?"

Seong-jin's words stirred the pot. Hunters and porters buzzed.

"What? She's awakened?"

"Why the fuss?"

"She should've handled it anyway."

"Ugh, we ran for nothing. Embarrassing."

Some porters even blamed Hyun-ji for hiding it.

"You should've said something sooner! What if someone died? You'd take responsibility?"

Guess he treasured his life extra.

But Hyun-ji fired back.

"My fault? Blame the party leader who let the monster slip!"

That redirected the porters' ire to the hunters.

"Yeah, he'd have controlled it if he cared about us."

"True, that's on him..."

But their voices stayed low. As sides formed.

Seong-jin stepped in.

"I was gonna let it slide, but you messing around, Hyun-ji? Why do we pay extra for awakened porters? Hunters aren't computers—we slip up. What're we supposed to do, huh?"

"Extra?!"

Hyun-ji got the same pay as the others—no premium. She opened her mouth to argue.

"Keep pushing, and now you're strutting 'cause you're awakened? If you can't do your job, stay the hell out of dungeons. Scaredy-cat playing porter..."

"What did you just say?"

"Huh? What, did I lie?"

Hyun-ji snapped. Revulsion boiled at this over-the-top scolding from the leader. She'd endured too much hardship since childhood to swallow this.

"You stay out of dungeons. Can't manage aggro on E-rank trash? Hand in your hunter license."

"What?"

"Eun Seong-jin—good app rep, C-rank exam coming up. With skills like that? No chance."

Hyun-ji knew from watching other leaders. Seong-jin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was subpar by comparison. That's why she could say it.

Of course, it hit Seong-jin's trigger hard.

"You done talking shit?"

He stalked toward her.

"What, gonna mess me up? In front of everyone?"

Crack.

Hyun-ji had her backing.

But.

Flick!

Seong-jin had his too.

His guild business card. Boldly emblazoned.

Hyun-ji's face hardened.

"Think I'd blink killing trash like you?"

His tone turned vicious. Onlookers were shocked, but no one intervened. Guilds loomed large in the hunter world. And deaths in dungeons? More common than you'd think.

"Should've known your place."

Shing!

Seong-jin's sword cleared its sheath.

"W-wait. P-party leader. N-no, Seong-jin. Think it over. This... this ain't simple."

The chatty hunter from before spoke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up.

"Even with a guild, eyes everywhere. Bad app buzz helps no one."

Solid logic. Everyone, Hyun-ji included, rooted for him.

Too bad Seong-jin was past reason.

"Just kill 'em all."

His eyes were mad.

"Starting with this bitch."

He swung.

"Kyaaak!"

Hyun-ji screamed in shock.

Then.

Splat!

Something burst. Seong-jin vanished from before her.

"Ah, shit—hit too hard?"

Hyun-seong stood there. Hyun-ji, unharmed, blinked at his back and voice.

"Choi Hyun-seong?"

Thud!

Long seconds later, a crash against the wall. Hyun-seong turned.

"Uh, who're you?"

Playing dumb about Hyun-ji.

"Why're you here, oppa?"

He scratched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his head under his hoodie.

"Oh, uh... took a wrong turn?"