NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka?

We left the city as the sun began to set on the western horizon. The sky was painted in golden orange hues, and the evening breeze carried a refreshing chill.

I walked behind the group, observing them one by one.

At the front, Zain, the leader of this group, walked casually. Even though he seemed indifferent, I could sense that he was always alert.

Beside him, Garron, the large warrior in heavy armor, strode forward with steady steps. His massive sword, strapped to his back, reflected the sunlight.

Behind him, Lyra, the female mage, walked with a cold gaze. Her deep blue robe fluttered with each gust of wind. From the way she carried her staff, I could tell she wasn't just an ordinary mage.

And lastly, Rin, the small rogue with dual daggers, moved lightly. She didn't speak much, but her eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.

Me? Just a porter.

I walked at the very back, carrying a bag filled with their supplies.

In reality, I wasn't carrying much. They all seemed confident they could clear this dungeon without much preparation.

We continued walking across the grasslands, then entered a forest path that grew darker with every step.

The moment we stepped into the forest, the atmosphere shifted drastically.

The air grew colder.

Towering trees blocked out the sky, allowing only the faintest slivers of sunlight to pierce through the thick canopy.

In the distance, the sounds of nocturnal birds and insects filled the air, adding to the eerie mood of this place.

I swallowed hard.

This forest felt… different.

Not just because it was dark and quiet.

There was something in the air.

Something… unseen, yet palpable.

I glanced at Lyra, the group's mage.

She seemed to notice it too, as her expression had hardened slightly.

"Something's off," she murmured.

Zain glanced at her. "What do you sense?"

Lyra narrowed her eyes. "The energy here… it's too dense. A low-level dungeon shouldn't have an atmosphere like this."

I frowned.

Energy?

I couldn't see or feel it like she could, but… I could sense something pressing against my chest.

Like… the forest itself was watching us.

Garron chuckled. "Maybe it's just your imagination. This isn't our first time here, right?"

Lyra didn't respond, but her serious expression remained.

I looked at Zain.

He said nothing, but I could tell he wasn't dismissing this lightly.

We continued deeper into the forest, and as we did… the silence grew heavier.

Even the birds and insects from before… had vanished.

A chill ran down my spine.

I didn't know why, but I felt like something was waiting ahead.

And my instincts were rarely wrong.

Eventually, we arrived at a massive stone gate, covered in moss.

Above it, ancient symbols were carved, glowing faintly in the darkness.

The entrance to the Dungeon – Abyssal Forest.

I swallowed hard.

This was my first time entering a dungeon.

I still didn't know my abilities, I had no idea if I could fight, and all I could do was hope that I wouldn't die here.

Zain stepped forward and placed his hand on the stone gate.

In an instant, the ancient symbols above flared brightly, and the gate slowly creaked open.

Beyond the entrance, pitch-black darkness awaited us.

The air around it felt even colder, and I could smell the damp earth mixed with something… foreign.

I gripped the straps of my bag tightly.

There was no turning back now.

Zain turned to face us.

"Alright," he said. "Once we step inside, don't get careless. If anything feels off, let us know immediately."

Garron smirked. "Yeah, yeah, we know the drill."

Lyra simply nodded, while Rin remained silent.

Zain glanced at me before smirking. "And you, weird NPC… don't fall behind."

I sighed. "I'll try to stay alive."

Zain chuckled, then stepped into the dungeon.

One by one, we followed behind.

And the moment I crossed that stone gate…

I felt the world around me shift.

Darkness swallowed everything.

The air grew even colder, almost piercing through my skin.

The faint glow of crystals embedded in the cave walls provided dim lighting, casting long shadows along the stone corridor.

I could hear the sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling.

This dungeon… felt more real than I had imagined.

We walked cautiously, following the narrow path ahead.

There was no sound except for our footsteps.

I glanced left and right, observing the cave walls, which were covered in dimly glowing purple moss.

I tried activating my status again, hoping something had changed since I entered this place.

Name: Rei Aetheros

Level: ???

Race: NPC

Job: Porter (Temporary)

Class: ???

Status: Unknown

I sighed internally.

Still the same.

I still had no idea what I was truly capable of.

I continued walking behind the group, hoping to learn how they fought once enemies appeared.

We had been moving for several minutes without any trouble.

But then—

The footsteps ahead halted.

I saw Zain raise his hand, signaling us to stop.

"There's something up ahead," he whispered.

I peered forward.

The crystals on the ceiling only illuminated part of the room, but I could see…

Shadows shifting within the darkness.

I tensed.

From within the gloom, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged.

A low growl echoed, something inhuman.

I swallowed hard.

This was the first time I was seeing a monster in this world.

And now, I couldn't help but wonder…

Can I really survive this?

I have to stay calm.

My eyes remained locked onto the pair of gleaming red eyes in the darkness.

The monster had yet to fully reveal itself, but I could hear its deep, heavy growl.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Lyra gripping her staff tighter, Garron raising his massive sword, and Rin lowering her body, ready to move swiftly.

Zain, on the other hand... simply stood there, casually resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

I activated my ability to see status.

[???] – Lv. 20Name: ???Type: ???Status: Preparing to Attack

I held my breath.

I couldn't see its name or type... but its level was 20.

In other words, I was completely out of my depth against this thing.

I clenched the strap of my backpack tighter.

I was just a porter in this expedition, but if that monster suddenly attacked me… I had no way to defend myself.

I heard slow footsteps coming from the darkness, and then—something finally stepped out of the shadows.

A massive black wolf with glowing red eyes.

Its dark fur shimmered under the faint crystal light, and its claws scraped against the ground in a wary motion.

I swallowed hard.

Okay. This wasn't just any wolf.

It was far larger than normal, its body the size of a small horse, and every movement felt too smooth for something of that size.

Zain raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly.

"Ah... Abyssal Direwolf."

I turned to him. "You recognize this monster?"

Zain nodded casually. "Of course. They're mid-tier dungeon monsters. Not too strong, but smart enough not to attack recklessly."

I frowned.

If they didn't attack recklessly, then why was this one staring at us like an executioner sizing up his next victim?

Garron patted the hilt of his sword and let out a small chuckle.

"Well, if it doesn't want to make the first move, then I will."

Before anyone could stop him, Garron lifted his sword high and charged forward.

The wolf moved in an instant.

WHOOSH!

All I saw was a black blur.

And before I even realized it, Garron was already sent flying.

BAM!

His body slammed into the cave wall with a loud crash, the impact echoing through the chamber.

My eyes widened. That fast?!

Before I could even blink, the monster had already moved and knocked someone as big as Garron away.

Garron coughed, letting out a low growl. "Damn... it's faster than I thought."

I turned to Lyra.

The mage had already raised her staff, a magic circle forming in the air.

"I'll attack from a distance. Hold it off for a moment."

Rin vanished into the shadows, then suddenly reappeared behind the wolf, slashing her daggers at its neck.

But—

CLANG!

My eyes widened.

The attack didn't pierce its skin.

The wolf only turned slightly, then leaped backward with effortless grace.

Rin frowned. "Their fur is as hard as steel…?"

Zain chuckled. "Good guess."

He finally unsheathed his sword—a long black blade with crimson engravings running along its length.

"Abyssal Direwolves have high defense, but only on their fur. If we can hit their softer spots…"

Zain dashed forward faster than my eyes could follow.

In one swift motion, his sword slashed at the wolf's leg.

Black blood sprayed into the air.

The wolf howled in pain, leaping back and clawing at the cave floor in fury.

Zain smirked. "…then they fall like any other creature."

I swallowed hard.

This guy… was on a whole different level.

Even with this monster's speed, he landed a perfect hit.

But the fight was far from over.

The wolf growled, then suddenly opened its mouth.

I didn't know what was about to happen, but I felt the danger.

I had to move.

I had no plan. I just followed my instincts.

I immediately threw myself to the ground.

And at that exact moment—

BOOM!

A blast of black energy erupted from the wolf's mouth, sending a shockwave that slammed into the cave walls with brutal force.

Dust and debris filled the air.

I stayed low to the ground, my heart pounding.

That… was no ordinary attack.

The wolf could use magic.

Lyra, who had been waiting at the back, finally unleashed her spell.

"Stay still, you damn mutt."

From the tip of her staff, a surge of blue fire shot toward the wolf.

The monster leaped aside, but the flames still caught one of its legs.

FWOOSH!

The wolf let out a furious roar, its burning fur releasing black smoke.

I pushed myself up, still feeling a little shaky.

Okay, so I almost died just now.

Great.

What a lovely experience.

Zain turned to me with an amused look.

"You were this close to turning into dust on the ground."

I clicked my tongue. "I was executing a defensive strategy."

Zain chuckled, then turned his attention back to the wolf, which was now losing its balance.

"Alright. Let's finish this."

He raised his sword again, and Lyra prepared her next spell.

Rin and Garron moved back into position, ready to strike.

I stared at the wounded monster, its eyes still burning with rage and ferocity.

I took a deep breath.

I couldn't fight like them. I didn't even know what I was capable of.

But one thing was certain…

I had to figure it out—before I really ended up dead.

I stood in place, my heart still pounding fast after almost getting hit by that monster's black energy attack.

I could feel cold sweat running down my back.

This battle was far more chaotic than I had imagined.

Zain, Garron, Lyra, and Rin were still in their fighting stances, surrounding the Abyssal Direwolf, which was now starting to run out of energy.

Black blood dripped from its wounded leg, and its once-glimmering black fur was now scorched from Lyra's magic attack.

But even so…

Its eyes were still full of rage.

The wolf still hadn't given up.

I clenched the strap of my backpack tighter. I had to do something.

I couldn't just stand here like a regular NPC.

I didn't want to be a burden.

But what could I do?

I didn't even have a weapon.

I didn't know if I had any skills.

I—

"Oi, NPC!"

Zain's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned to see him tossing something toward me.

I caught it on reflex.

A dagger.

I stared at the dagger, then back at Zain.

He grinned. "Don't just stand there. Time to prove you're not just some ordinary NPC."

I swallowed hard.

I could feel Lyra, Garron, and Rin's eyes now on me.

I knew they were probably thinking, Seriously? This porter NPC wants to fight?

I couldn't blame them.

Even I wasn't sure if I could do this.

But this was a chance.

If I could fight—even just a little—I could start understanding what I really had.

I gripped the dagger tighter.

"Alright…" I whispered to myself. "Let's just try."

I looked at the Abyssal Direwolf in front of me.

The monster was still trying to stand tall, but its movements were slowing down.

Zain and the others had already drained its stamina with their relentless attacks.

Now… it just needed the finishing blow.

I took a deep breath.

"Alright," I said quietly.

I looked at Zain.

"Do you have a plan?" I asked.

Zain smirked. "Of course."

He raised his sword slightly. "I'll keep it busy for a few seconds. Rin, attack from the right, and you…"

He glanced at me.

"…find an opening to stab its neck or stomach. Those are its weak points."

I swallowed hard.

The neck or the stomach.

That meant… I had to get within striking range of the monster.

One wrong move, and I'd be the one dying.

I exhaled. "Okay. I'll try."

Zain looked satisfied. "Good. Let's begin."

The moment he finished speaking, he dashed forward.

Garron followed right behind him, swinging his massive sword to pressure the monster's movements.

Rin disappeared into the shadows, moving swiftly to find an opening from the side.

Lyra stood behind, preparing a backup magic attack if necessary.

And I…

I took a deep breath and started moving.

I circled the battle from the left, looking for an opening to strike.

The Abyssal Direwolf growled angrily, leaping sideways to avoid Garron's strike.

Zain instantly launched a swift slash at its back leg.

CLANG!

His blade struck right at the joint, making the wolf howl in pain.

Now!

I didn't think twice.

I lunged forward, aiming my dagger at the exposed side of its stomach where the thick fur didn't protect it.

I swung the dagger with all my strength—

And…

SLASH!

The dagger pierced through.

The Abyssal Direwolf let out a deafening howl.

Its body trembled violently, its claws scratching the cave floor wildly.

I immediately pulled my dagger back and leaped away before it could retaliate.

Black blood splattered onto the ground, and the massive creature's body began to lose balance.

Its glowing red eyes slowly dimmed…

And finally, it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Did… I do it?

I stood frozen, still unable to believe that I had just landed the decisive blow.

I looked at the dagger in my hand, now stained with the monster's black blood.

My hands trembled slightly.

I had just… killed something.

I took a deep breath.

I didn't know if this was normal or not, but… I didn't feel disgusted or guilty.

I just felt like… this was natural.

I heard a slow clapping sound.

I turned to see Zain grinning while clapping his hands.

"Nice job, NPC. Turns out you can fight, huh?"

I clicked my tongue. "Don't act like I just won a sword-fighting tournament."

Zain chuckled.

Lyra raised an eyebrow at me.

"I have to admit… I didn't expect you to strike that fast," she said.

Garron grinned. "You were even faster than what I saw earlier, kid."

I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult, but I didn't care.

What mattered was… I survived.

I looked at the Abyssal Direwolf, now lifeless.

I had killed a monster.

But more importantly…

When I checked my status again, I saw something new appear.

Name: Rei AetherosLevel: ???Race: NPCJob: Porter (Temporary)Class: ???Status: [Abilities Sealed]

I frowned.

Abilities sealed?

What was this?

I tried to touch it with my thoughts, hoping to get more information.

And at that moment—

A voice echoed in my head.

"You are getting closer…"

I froze.

That voice…

It wasn't the system's voice.

I didn't know who was speaking.

I looked around, but nothing had changed.

Only Zain and the others, preparing to continue the journey.

I clenched my teeth.

I had just unlocked something…

But I had no idea what it was.

And I had a feeling that…

This was only the beginning of something much bigger.

I remained standing still, staring at my status screen that now displayed something new.

[Sealed Ability]

I frowned.

What does that mean?

I tried touching the text in my mind, hoping for more explanation.

But nothing happened.

I grit my teeth. Damn it.

I just had my first battle, and now I was being thrown into a new mystery?

And what's even weirder…

"You're getting closer…"

That voice.

I didn't know who was speaking, but I was sure it wasn't the system's voice.

I tried looking around, searching for the source, but everything remained the same.

Zain and the others were getting ready to continue the journey.

The Abyssal Direwolf we had defeated was already starting to vanish, turning into particles of light like most monsters in games.

I took a deep breath.

Okay, I needed to stay calm.

This wasn't the time to dwell on things I couldn't understand yet.

For now…

I had to survive.

Zain patted the sheath of his sword and looked toward us.

"Alright," he said casually. "That was just a warm-up. Shall we continue?"

Garron grunted, rolling his shoulder that had slammed into the wall earlier. "Damn, what kind of warm-up was that?"

Lyra let out a quiet huff, while Rin remained silent as usual, cleaning her dagger of the remaining blood.

I sighed.

"If that was just a warm-up, I'm scared to imagine what's waiting inside," I muttered.

Zain heard me and smirked. "Oh? Are you getting scared, NPC?"

I gave him a blank stare. "No. I'm just considering the life insurance I don't have."

Garron burst into laughter. "Ha! I like this guy!"

Lyra glanced at me briefly before stepping ahead.

"This dungeon is long. We don't have time for jokes."

Rin followed silently.

I sighed again and started walking, though my mind was still stuck on the [Sealed Ability] status that had appeared earlier.

We continued through the cave's corridors, which grew darker with every step.

The glowing crystals embedded in the walls provided faint light, just enough to see a few meters ahead.

I stayed at the back of the group, remaining alert.

After that last fight, I realized something important…

I could fight, but I was still far weaker than them.

I needed to find my advantage.

If I was truly a different kind of NPC, there had to be something I could do.

But until I figured that out, I had to be careful.

I glanced at Zain, who was leading the way.

From the way he moved, I could tell he was always on guard.

He might look relaxed, but he was always ready to fight.

Garron, on the other hand, relied more on brute strength.

Lyra was the strategist, and Rin… she was like a shadow, disappearing and reappearing without a sound.

They all had their roles.

And me?

I still had to find mine.

We walked for a few minutes without any trouble.

But suddenly—

Zain stopped.

I immediately halted as well, and so did the others.

"Something's here," he said quietly.

I sharpened my hearing.

I didn't hear anything.

But then…

The crystal lights on the walls started to dim.

A cold chill crept up my spine.

And from deep within the darkness ahead…

A strange sound echoed.

A scraping noise.

Like something crawling against stone.

I felt the hairs on my neck stand on end.

"…What is that?" I whispered.

Zain didn't answer.

He simply raised his sword slightly.

Garron tightened his grip on his weapon, and Lyra began drawing a magic circle in the air.

I saw their expressions shift.

Even Rin, usually calm, narrowed her eyes.

I swallowed hard.

This… wasn't an ordinary monster.

I stared ahead, trying to make out anything beyond the darkness.

And then…

I saw it.

From the shadows, something moved.

A long, pitch-black body, crawling along the cave walls with smooth, almost dance-like motions.

I couldn't immediately recognize its form, but something about it made me deeply uneasy.

And when the crystal light flickered slightly brighter—

I finally saw it clearly.

A giant spider.

Its body was pure black, with eight long legs clinging to the cave wall.

Its eyes gleamed red, just like the Abyssal Direwolf before, and its fangs dripped with a thick, purple liquid.

I instantly knew that was poison.

I swallowed hard.

"Okay… I hate giant bugs."

Zain smirked slightly. "Relax, NPC. It's just a spider."

I turned to him with a deadpan look.

"A spider the size of a horse?"

Zain chuckled. "Well, at least it's not a dragon."

I almost wanted to punch him.

But before I could complain—

The spider moved.

With terrifying speed, it leaped down from the wall, attacking us.

I immediately jumped back, trying to keep my distance.

But the massive insect wasn't interested in me.

It lunged straight at Zain with its sharp claws.

CLANG!

Zain raised his sword, blocking the attack, but the impact was strong enough to push him back.

Garron swung his blade at the spider's leg, but the monster leaped into the air, dodging effortlessly.

Lyra wasted no time and fired a blast of blue flames.

The fire shot toward the creature at high speed—

But before it could hit—

The spider spat out a web of black silk.

The web absorbed Lyra's fire, snuffing it out instantly.

Lyra cursed. "That web negates magic?!"

I narrowed my eyes.

This monster… was far smarter than I expected.

I tightened my grip on my dagger.

I didn't know if I could contribute to this fight…

But one thing was clear—

If I didn't figure out how to fight soon, I might not make it out of here alive.