Arthur was sleeping deeply when it happened. Exhaustion weighed on him after everything he had endured since entering the dungeon.
The moment he heard the word hunter and the anxious cries of the goblins, he jolted awake, instantly alert, gripping the spear he had been given.
The goblin leader rushed to him, explaining the situation. "We spotted a hunter in the forest ahead, but he hasn't attacked yet. I think he's afraid of the number of goblins, Gyakk."
It was unusual to see so many goblins gathered in one place. Normally, the scattered tribes within the dungeon were much smaller. Seeing this massive group—Arthur's summoned goblins—the hunter had grown wary.
That was good. If the hunter was afraid, it meant he believed he couldn't face them all.
"Stay here and keep everyone calm," Arthur told the leader. "I'll go speak with him."
The goblin leader gave him a strange look. "Are you his friend or something? Despite your scent, you're about the same height as him… Gyakk."
Arthur tried to reassure him. He was genuinely surprised by the intelligence of these creatures. They weren't nearly as stupid as hunters claimed.
"Don't worry. I'm not his friend. Just wait here."
With slow, deliberate steps, Arthur moved toward the hunter hiding among the trees and brush. Of course, he didn't go alone. A small group of his summoned goblins followed, eight in total, forming a protective ring around him.
When the hunter saw Arthur approaching with goblins at his side, his eyes widened in shock.
"Did they capture you?" the hunter exclaimed, preparing to fight. "I'll save you!"
This one didn't seem as reckless as most hunters. Arthur knew well that many hunters despised working with others, unwilling to share loot or experience. It wasn't uncommon for hunters to fight each other inside dungeons, driven by greed.
Arthur raised a hand calmly. "Relax. They didn't capture me."
The hunter couldn't comprehend how Arthur remained so composed among goblins. He checked Arthur's level twice to be sure—the system confirmed he was only level 2, far weaker than the goblins surrounding him.
"How the hell are you doing this?" the hunter demanded. "You command goblins? Wait… are you one of those rare Invokers? I never thought I'd meet one!"
He was referring to hunters who awakened—or otherwise obtained—classes capable of summoning creatures. The types of summons varied greatly between Invokers.
One of the most infamous hunters with such a class was a villain hunted across the world—a necromancer who could summon and control the undead. His name had become legend, feared everywhere.
Arthur still had no idea how his own class truly worked. At that moment, he only had the ability to summon goblins because he had learned that specific skill. Would his class grant more summons as he progressed? Or would his abilities evolve into something entirely different? It was impossible to know.
For now, it was far easier to claim he was an Invoker. How else could he explain being connected to the dungeon itself, or the fact that the goblins saw him as a friend?
"Yes, I'm an Invoker," Arthur said firmly. "We can talk peacefully… unless you're here to cause trouble."
Although the hunter seemed friendly, it was difficult for Arthur to know if that was truly the case. The hunter was level 6—higher than Arthur—but still too weak to face so many goblins at once.
"Of course we can talk peacefully," the hunter said. "That's what I was hoping for. I only kept watching because this absurd number of goblins seemed strange. Now that I've seen you, it makes sense."
It was the first time this hunter had ever spoken with an Invoker, and he clearly had no idea that one could summon goblins and stand among them without fear.
The two moved to a spot farther from the others. Arthur wanted their conversation private, though it wasn't strictly necessary—the goblins didn't speak the same language.
"How do you keep them from attacking you?" the hunter asked, visibly curious, his gaze fixed on the small green creatures surrounding Arthur.
He crouched near one of the goblins and pointed at its face. "Can I touch him?"
Arthur found the question ridiculous. He didn't understand why the man wanted to poke a goblin, but he agreed anyway. There was no reason to refuse.
"Go ahead. Why not?"
The hunter poked the goblin's cheek with his finger. The creature didn't look pleased, but since it was summoned and bound to Arthur's will, it did nothing—only stared back at the hunter.
"How strange," the hunter muttered. "Their skin feels a little different…"
Arthur ignored the comment and answered the earlier question with a quick explanation he had just thought up.
"I think they were surprised to see me with summoned goblins, so they assumed I was their ally. That's probably why the dungeon goblins—at least the ones I've met—haven't attacked me."
The hunter nodded, now focusing on Arthur instead of the goblin.
"Makes sense. It's like you're camouflaging yourself somehow. But tell me—why goblins?"
Arthur gave a faint, mysterious smile. "Can't reveal my secrets. Sorry."
The hunter laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. "Fair enough. My bad. I didn't think before asking. My name's Yuri."
Yuri extended his hand for a shake. Arthur extended his as well. "Arthur. A pleasure."
Yuri was a young man with blond hair and blue eyes. The way he spoke, and even the way he dressed, suggested he came from a family with money.
That wealth could have been earned in many ways. Perhaps Yuri was the first hunter in his family. Or perhaps his family had prospered thanks to other talented hunters. It was hard to say.
Overall, the young man seemed kind and well-mannered. The two sat down on the ground and began to talk.
"I only started venturing into dungeons recently," Yuri said. "I came to this one because it's the easiest place to begin."
This dungeon was ranked at the lowest tier. It was common for hunters between level 1 and 20 to explore here. Occasionally, higher-level hunters would come to guide and train novices. But Yuri appeared to be alone.
"I entered today," Arthur said, sharing a bit of his story. He had noticed Yuri's wealth—or at least his connections—and wanted to take advantage of that detail.
"To be honest, I came here before getting my official hunter ID… When I leave, I might be in serious trouble."
"What? Are you insane?" Yuri exclaimed, his eyes wide.
Entering a dungeon without being a registered hunter was strictly forbidden. Normally, it was impossible, since dungeons were guarded. Arthur had simply been lucky enough to slip past a careless guard.
Arthur lowered his gaze, feigning a hint of sadness. He was good at acting.
Yuri noticed, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Maybe my parents can help you. Don't worry. I don't think it'll be a problem. I don't want my new friend to end up in prison—that would be depressing."
"New friend?"
Those words were rare for Arthur. He smiled faintly. Yuri seemed like a good guy—and he was willing to help. That was perfect.
"Yes," Yuri said. "But hey, I've got something to tell you. I'm not exactly alone here. Can I introduce you to someone?"
Arthur grew tense at that. If this other person was strong, his advantage of commanding goblins might vanish. But the person Yuri introduced was unexpected.
Yuri stepped deeper into the forest and returned with a striking woman.
She was tall, slender, with a graceful silhouette. Her legs were neither too thin nor too thick, and her chest seemed ready to burst from the dungeon gear she wore. The outfit revealed nothing—it was practical, designed for dungeon exploration.
She, too, had blond hair and blue eyes. Arthur wasn't a fool.
"This is my sister," Yuri said. "She's helping me in the dungeon."
Not only was she stunning, she was also incredibly strong. Arthur checked her level.
Level 50.