Chapter 1: Empathy

Three years ago, in a certain Dungeon.

From all around came unknown screams and the clashing sounds of armor.

The ear-piercing noise slowly subsided, and only then did I hear the voice of the person beside me.

“Phew. Bug monsters in a Forest Terrain, the worst among B-rank Dungeons. At least they’re mantises. If they were ranged flying monsters, we’d be screwed. You have to spot them first to win. Got it?”

“Huff. Huff. Yes, Captain.”

The Scythe Mantis Monster was exactly what it sounded like—a monster resembling a mantis.

Except, instead of sickles, its front legs had powerful serrated blades that mercilessly tore apart its prey.

Definitely a ferocious monster, but since they mostly operated in small groups, they weren’t too difficult to handle.

With a leader providing a proper countermeasure and the team following orders, coordinating well made them easier to deal with than other bugs.

After all, most bug monsters traveled in large swarms.

Thanks to fighting with safety in mind, none of the team had suffered serious injuries.

I quickly looked around as I applied bandages to their wounds.

From now on, it was my job.

While the Hunters took on the fight and dealt with the monsters, as a Porter, my role was to collect the spoils.

I began dismantling the monsters sprawled across the floor one by one as the Hunters rested.

Sometimes fluids splattered and my blade wouldn’t go in cleanly, but there was no time to hesitate.

Some materials lost their value over time.

Sharp forelegs, hard shells—any valuable materials couldn’t be left behind.

Especially the hard shells; they looked like stones and were easy to miss.

Miss one, and you’d get ripped off.

Only after sweeping the floor clean and gathering all the loot did I finally exhale.

A Hunter approached me with a friendly smile.

His face still bore the softness of peach fuzz, looking quite young.

“Hello! Thanks for your hard work! How old are you, and what’s your name?”

“Twenty-eight, Do Minho.”

“Oh! So you’re an older brother type. I’m twenty-five, Park Jungho. Can I call you ‘bro’?”

“Uh? But you’re a Hunter…”

“You applied to be a Porter to awaken as an Awakened anyway, right? I was a Porter until recently, then I awakened.”

“Oh, I see. Congratulations. I guess the saying about awakening by feeling magic up close is true.”

“Looks like it! You’ll become one soon, too. Your monster dismantling skills earlier were amazing! I’ll be rooting for you. Fighting!”

Most Hunters, wielding powers beyond human limits, were naturally arrogant.

They looked down on ordinary people, sometimes openly insulting them.

But maybe because we both started as Porters to become Hunters, Jungho approached me gently and established a bond quickly.

The days went on without incident.

I thought we’d clear this safely, but then the incident happened.

“Wake up! Everyone up! Multiple monsters spotted ahead!”

No matter their personalities, the Hunters were professionals.

At the sentry’s shout, they sprang up quickly and formed battle formations, truly impressive.

As a Porter, I wasn’t fighting, but I couldn’t just sit back comfortably while they battled.

I moved to the rear, careful not to disturb them, watching the situation.

But—

“Ah.”

There was no such thing as a rear this time.

Predator eyes circled from all sides, stalking their prey.

“Damn, enemies at the rear, too!”

“Same on the left side!”

“E-everywhere! Monsters on all sides!”

As I cleared my vision, grotesque bug monsters appeared.

A swarm of spiders nearly as tall as a person, and countless centipedes writhing their many legs.

They looked nothing like the bug monsters we’d encountered before.

And somehow, they’d already surrounded us completely.

“Ugh. U-ugh!”

Hunters with weak stomachs gagged at their appearance and vomited.

The rustling sound of insects moving grew louder.

The encirclement tightened visibly.

“They’re coming!”

“I’ve never heard of monsters traveling in packs like this!”

“Ugh! I don’t want to die!”

Terrified screams filled the air as the battle began.

Fighting one group required every ounce of strength, but now the spiders and centipedes charged together.

It felt like they were coordinated, tightening their grip on us.

-Kieeeek!

The bug monsters drooled extremely venomous liquid that dissolved Hunters’ corpses without a trace as they greedily devoured them.

The hideous creatures drew close.

Drip, drip.

Centipede saliva dripped beside me.

The floor where it landed hissed and melted away.

“Ugh!”

I rolled away quickly from the bugs, only to have a Hunter block my path.

“This way!”

“Th-thank you.”

Helpless.

And futile.

If I were to die swinging a sword as a Hunter, I wouldn’t feel so cheated.

“If I have to die like this, at least let me awaken… Why… why can’t I even have the slightest Awakening before dying!”

Kyaaah!

As a spiked spider leg lunged toward me, I shut my eyes tightly.

At that moment, was the sky listening to my rage?

Suddenly, my mind felt like it was floating.

Clarity returned, vitality surged through my body, and a strange exhilaration bloomed.

Though my eyes were closed, I sensed all nearby beings.

Every single plant, every monster around me.

‘Oops.’

I had shouted loudly enough that surely the monsters had heard.

But strangely, they didn’t attack.

Opening my eyes slowly, I saw only monsters staring blankly at me.

‘Why aren’t they attacking?’

Even more puzzling was the spider that carried half of a Hunter’s corpse, teeth marks clear, and placed it in front of me.

The spider’s legs gently pushed the body toward me.

Unconsciously, I checked the corpse—and bit my lip hard.

“Ah…”

It was Park Jungho, who had promised to protect me before the battle began.

“U-ugh!”

Recalling Jungho’s kind smile, I vomited everything in my stomach and slumped to the ground.

Still, the monsters didn’t attack me.

On the contrary…

‘They seem to be protecting me.’

They circled around, dealing with anyone who came near me.

Unable to understand this bizarre behavior, I noticed something glinting at the edge of my vision.

Turning to look, it followed me, sparkling persistently.

I swatted my hand like shooing away a fly, and a square blue window spread across my sight.

‘This is…’

I’d heard of Awakened people who could see Status Windows like a game after awakening.

But mine was a little different.

“Status Window. Status Window? Status Window!”

No matter how much I called for it, no information about me appeared.

Figures.

Instead, the blue window showed information about my Awakening.

[Awakening completed through trials.]

[Unique ability ‘Sympathy’ has blossomed.]

Gain affection from all living beings.

Communication becomes possible by sharing your mind with other life forms.

Affinity levels with species you share Sympathy with increase.

‘Sympathy? Just gaining affection? What kind of lame ability is that…!’

I couldn’t express my disappointment.

I’d applied to be a Porter, fully aware of the risks, just to become a Hunter with combat power.

And all I got was some ability to get others to like me?

I’d hoped for powerful combat abilities when completing my Awakening…

Coming back to my senses, I saw the monsters still not attacking or leaving.

The Hunters and Porters were already wiped out.

The Dungeon wouldn’t close like this, so there was no escape.

Swallowing my saliva, I picked up a sword lying nearby.

My hands trembled uncontrollably.

This wasn’t the first time I held a sword, but I’d never been this tense.

Clenching the sword tightly with both hands, I stared at the spider that had brought Jungho’s corpse.

It lay flat on the floor without moving, staring at me as if we were making eye contact.

Swish—

I lunged forward and slashed the spider’s neck.

Preparing for the incoming monster attacks, I swung wildly, fending off anything nearby.

But none moved.

As if they didn’t care about their fallen comrade.

Given the swarming nature of bug monsters, it was natural for aggro to be drawn immediately when one got hurt or killed.

Maybe their attacks were delayed.

These monsters seemed to behave intelligently, so it wasn’t impossible.

I rolled my eyes and gripped the sword tighter.

But minutes passed without any attack.

‘So… they’re just ignoring me? Fine. Let’s see how long they can keep that up.’

I grew angry.

I slaughtered all the nearby monsters indiscriminately, but it only filled their ranks.

Their attitude didn’t change.

They died without resistance, as if gladly offering their lives.

Watching countless monsters fall, I bit my lips.

A thought crossed my mind.

‘Could it be because of Sympathy? Does it apply to monsters, too?’

I didn’t know for sure.

For now, I just wildly swung my sword, drunk on the rising exhilaration.

To close the Dungeon, a certain number of monsters and the Boss Monster had to be killed.

Day three.

I finally reached the Boss Monster’s lair.

The thick forest terrain I’d passed through until now was gone, replaced by a wide clearing with a giant tree in the center and short grass around it.

All the monsters I’d fought had basically handed over their necks willingly, but the Boss Monster could be different.

‘This should be fine.’

I decided to rest before entering the lair.

The presumed Boss Monster crouched at the center.

‘A giant… stag beetle?’

Gulp—

Its size rivaled an SUV.

Even if it wasn’t disgusting, its overwhelming size and bulky, solid jaws dried my lips instantly.

If it charged me with intent, could I handle it?

But unlike my worries, it didn’t react like other monsters.

Almost like it was broken.

‘Still, if I can’t kill it in one blow, it’ll fight back.’

I approached slowly, taking my time to carefully inspect its body for weak points.

All of them.

Attacking the connection points between its head, chest, and abdomen looked like it could kill the creature.

But the problem was, my skill was the useless ‘Sympathy.’

‘There’s time. I need to figure out a strategy.’

Since even the Boss Monster hadn’t attacked me first, I decided not to strike hastily.

I sat down a little away from it and bit into an apple.

The creature’s antennae twitched.

Unlike its minimal movements before, this was a new reaction.

-Krurr.

Did stag beetles make sounds like that?

The low growl made me tense, but it clearly didn’t intend to attack.

It was focused not on me, but the apple in my hand.

I waved the apple around, and the antennae wiggled in response.

‘If only I had poison to put on the apple… Wait a minute.’

Antennae.

I’d heard that when a stag beetle showed no movement, people checked their antennae to see if it was alive.

Whether it understood my intent or not, its antennae kept swaying endlessly.

Those thin antennae should be something even I could cut.

The problem was how to reach those antennae so high up.

Taking another bite of the apple, I adjusted my posture.

Without realizing it, I brushed against the stag beetle’s body.

And then I felt it.

‘Affection?’

Maybe because I’d always dealt with monsters before without touching them.

This strange feeling from the monster made me cautiously place my hand on its body.

‘Right.’

The reason it didn’t attack was because of the affection it felt toward me.

In other words, the ‘Sympathy’ skill given to me caused monsters to inexplicably like me.

Its twitching antennae caught my eye.

Even though it didn’t plan to attack, what could I do?

I had to take down this Boss Monster to escape.

There was only one chance.

Climbing its body, sweat dripped down my spine.

Though I grabbed its shell and carefully stepped upwards, it showed no reaction.

And then.

‘Challenge…!’

Kneeling on my left knee, I readied myself to leap and swung at its right antenna.

The creature, startled by the incoming sword, straightened and stiffened its antenna, making it easier to sever.

Kreeeeek~!

I stomped hard on its head with my left foot and leapt to the left.

The Boss Monster shook its head violently.

“Uh, uh?!”

The sudden strong shake threw off my balance.

If I fell, it would be over.

Desperately, I reached out to grab its left antenna.

‘Got it!’

The creature thrashed more violently.

I stepped on its head, cut off the left antenna, and jumped as far away as I could.

Rolling twice to create distance, I saw the monster thrashing in pain.

‘That was close.’

It wasn’t over yet.

I got up quickly and ran with all my might outside its lair.

Thud! Thud!

Sitting, standing, rolling, unable to stay still.

If anyone had been nearby, they’d almost certainly have been crushed.

After a long bout of thrashing, it finally calmed.

Throwing stones at it didn’t even make it flinch.

It seemed completely drained.

“Phew. It’s over.”

It was finally done.

Relief washed over me knowing I could finally escape this hellish Dungeon.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed.

A portal to Earth opened soon after.

Having taken down the Boss Monster alone, I felt I deserved something in return.

Feeling a bit guilty, I dismantled its body.

I sorted through the byproducts and gathered them, then looked around.

Maybe it had collected some items.

“…A person?”

Behind the central tree, someone was trapped among a haphazard stack of wood, as if a fence had been crudely built.

-%@&^$#%*^#@$!

“What… did you say?”

Curious if it was a Hunter who had come in with me, I stepped closer, but the figure looked young and didn’t seem like a Hunter.

-@#@$!

It seemed to be speaking to me, but I couldn’t understand a word.

“Elf…? Could it be the Elf I know…?”

• #$%^&%@*^&!

When I stepped closer out of curiosity, she startled and stepped back.

Her appearance was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

But even more striking were her large, pointed ears like leaves.

“I-I’m not here to hurt you. What’s your name?”

• &@%^@$.

“Kashya?”

Without thinking, I reached out, but she turned and ran away, leaping over the fence.

‘She’s real…’

I’d always thought Elves were just imaginary creatures from novels, but here she was.

My heart pounded as if I’d encountered something unknown, though I felt a tinge of regret.

‘I wish I could have talked to her even a little.’

Watching the back of the Elf who vanished without a trace, my eyes caught something dropped where she’d stood.

‘Leaf Necklace?’

It was a leaf-shaped ornament coated with a transparent film, faintly pulsating with magic.

‘Oh yeah, loot!’

Since it was dropped by an Elf, it was probably no ordinary item.

I put the necklace in my pocket and searched a little more.

At that moment, the Dungeon portal opened over the Boss Monster’s corpse.

“Phew. Finally getting out. Living alone in the Dungeon for almost two days after the first day has left me a mess.”

The excitement of finally leaving drowned out my worries about what awaited ahead as I stepped into the portal.