"Young Master! Wake up, the sun has risen..."
A sharp voice cut through Han-wool's sleep. He groaned, shielding his eyes from the morning light streaming through the curtains.
"Young Master, you have to do your morning training," Logan insisted, pulling the covers back.
Han-wool sat up, rubbing his temples. "Training? Which morning training are you talking about, Logan?"
Logan paused, a look of genuine concern crossing his aged face. "Huh? You don't remember, Young Master? You always do sword training in the morning. Why can't you remember such things that you do daily?"
Logan leaned in closer, scanning Han-wool's face. "Did something happen to you? Since yesterday, you are asking me things you know, things you have done for years. Shall I call a doctor?"
Han-wool froze. He had forgotten that his thirteen-year-old self used to desperately train with the sword, trying to overcome his F-Rank status through sheer effort.
"No!" Han-wool replied quickly, forcing a casual smile. "There is no need for that. I was just joking around, Logan. Testing your reaction."
Logan sighed, placing a hand over his chest. "Young Master, please don't joke like that. I was really worried about you."
"Okay, Logan. I won't do it again." Han-wool cleared his throat, changing the subject. "Ah! What about the thing I asked you for?"
"Yes, I have it right here."
Logan pulled a plastic ID card from his pocket and handed it over.
Han-wool inspected it. The photo showed his face, but with slightly messy hair and glasses to obscure his features.
[Name: Sung Jin-Woo]
[Rank: F]
[Role: Porter]
"In this ID, your name is Sung Jin-Woo," Logan explained. "It grants you access to F-Rank and E-Rank dungeons. Please be careful, Young Master."
"Perfect." Han-wool pocketed the card. "I will start preparing to leave today. Can you find me a party raiding an F-Rank Goblin Dungeon?"
"I will do as you wish, Master."
An hour later, Han-wool stood at the entrance of a dungeon located in a desolate park on the outskirts of Seoul. The swirling blue vortex of the gate hummed with ominous energy.
As soon as he arrived, a man in heavy leather armor approached him.
"Are you the porter, Sung Jin-Woo? The one we spoke to on the phone?"
"Yes, I am," Han-wool replied, adjusting his glasses.
"Okay! I am Seonwoon, a «Spearman» and the leader of this party." He gestured to the group behind him. "Let me introduce your teammates."
A lanky man with a hood gave a lazy wave. "Hello. I am Sin Je-won, an «Assassin»."
A woman carrying a massive shield smiled brightly. "Hey! My name is Park Hyun-bina, a «Tanker»."
Next to her was a young girl with red highlights in her hair. "Hey! Big brother, my name is Bae Seol-a, and I am a «Fire Mage»."
Finally, Seonwoon pointed to a woman with cold eyes and a staff radiating frost. "And this is Jung Ma-ri..."
"Hmph!" Jung Ma-ri scoffed, crossing her arms. "I don't need to introduce myself to a weak-looking guy like him. He's just a porter."
Before the atmosphere could turn awkward, Han-wool stepped in with a polite smile. "Sister, there is no need to be angry. I understand. You are Jung Ma-ri, an «Ice Mage». It's an honor."
Ma-ri rolled her eyes but didn't say anything further.
Then, a timid voice spoke up from the back.
"Hello, brother... My name is Baek Woojin, and I am also working as a porter for this raid."
Han-wool's eyes snapped to the boy. He was skinny, hunched over, and looked like he was afraid of his own shadow.
Is this him? Han-wool thought, his heart beating faster. Is this really the person I'm thinking of?
"Now that we've introduced ourselves, let's go inside," Seonwoon commanded.
The party stepped through the gate. The world twisted, and suddenly they were standing in a humid, dark cave system. The air smelled of wet moss and rust.
As they moved forward, Han-wool, drawing on his decades of experience, began to speak.
"The dungeon layout suggests a standard Goblin tribe," Han-wool said, his voice calm but authoritative. "Goblins are humanoid monsters divided into three ranks."
The party looked at him, surprised that the porter was speaking up.
"First, the Normal Goblins. They don't use their heads. They attack anything that isn't a goblin. They usually roam in groups of three or four because they are weak alone."
"Second," Han-wool continued, pointing to a fork in the path, "are the Warrior and Mage Goblins. They defend the tribe. Warriors take the front with swords and shields, while Mages stay back to cast curses or firebolts."
"And third... the Village Chief Goblin. The Boss. An E-Rank monster."
Seonwoon raised an eyebrow. "You know your stuff, porter. What do you suggest?"
"We lure the Chief outside the village," Han-wool proposed. "Pull him near the forest area we just passed. There is enough space for the Assassin, Mr. Sin Je-won, to hide and strike from behind while the Tanker holds aggro."
Seonwoon nodded, impressed. "Not a bad plan. Let's move."
The battle was brutal but efficient. Following Han-wool's advice, the party tore through ten groups of goblins with ease.
While the combat team rested, it was time for the porters to work.
Han-wool and Baek Woojin crouched over the corpses, knives in hand.
"Focus on the nails and eyes," Han-wool instructed. "Goblin nails contain powerful toxins useful for E-Rank weapons, and the eyes are used for vision potions. This was discovered by the famous «Alchemist» Thomas Parker."
"Right, okay," Woojin stammered, sawing at a goblin's hand.
While Woojin was distracted, Han-wool quietly slipped his knife into the goblin's chest.
People think cores only exist in high-tier monsters, Han-wool thought. But research proves that cores can be found in the head, the lower dantian, or the heart.
With a wet squelch, he pulled out a small, jagged stone from the goblin's heart. He quickly swallowed it before anyone could see.
> [Ding!]
> [You have consumed a Goblin Core.]
> [Skill «Steal» Activated.]
> [You have stolen 0.1% of the Goblin's Agility.]
>
Good, Han-wool thought, feeling a small surge of power. He turned his attention to the boy beside him.
"Woojin," Han-wool asked casually. "You are also an F-Rank, right? What is your class?"
Woojin froze. He lowered his head. "Please don't laugh, brother, when I tell you."
"I won't laugh."
"Um... My class is «Good Eyes». And as for my color... it was Red. A Failure Rank."
Han-wool stopped carving. He looked at Woojin with intense focus.
"Are you sure your class is named «Good Eyes»?"
"Yes, brother," Woojin sighed. "It's useless. According to the description, I just have slightly better eyesight than normal people. I'm basically a human telescope."
Han-wool suppressed a grin.
I found him.
Baek Woojin. The man who would one day be ranked 5th in the World Rankings. The "Divine Archer."
He was the only other person besides Han-wool to receive the Red "Failure" Rank and rise to the top. His skill wasn't just "good eyesight." When it evolved, it allowed him to see the Virtual Points—the fatal weak spots—of any monster, even ones humanity had never seen before.
"Hey, Woojin," Han-wool said softly. "Have you ever actually used your skill in a fight?"
"No," Woojin shook his head. "I've been too scared."
"Woojin... would you like to work with me after this dungeon raid is over?"
Woojin blinked, confused. "Work with you? You mean as a porter duo?"
"No," Han-wool looked him dead in the eye. "Work with me as a Hunter."
"But brother... I only have one skill, «Good Eyes». What can a person like me do? I'm trash."
Han-wool placed a bloody hand on Woojin's shoulder.
"No, Woojin. You aren't trash. You are the most suitable person to work with me. I see something in you that no one else does."
Woojin looked at Han-wool. For the first time in his life, someone wasn't looking at him with pity or disdain, but with expectation.
"Okay," Woojin stuttered, his voice trembling. "Okay! Brother, if you insist... I will work with you. Please take good care of me!"
Han-wool smiled. The first piece of his army had been secured.
"Trust me," Han-wool whispered. "We're going to turn this world upside down."