Joe had believed that his dream was unattainable and had already thrown in the towel. Without mana, he could not become an Adventurer and was nothing more than an ordinary human. On top of that, as someone who was new to this world, having been reborn only a couple hours earlier, Joe had nothing to his name. Even the few coins he managed to collect had been taken from him. He was a lost soul already doubting if living on in this second life was worth it.

  Through that darkness and despair, someone had reached out to him and offered the chance to become an Adventurer. His heart warmed, though a hint of uncertainty still lingered as he made eye contact with the brown-haired girl in a black cloak.

  “You want me to join your party?” he asked, as if confirming that what he had heard was not a dream or a trick of his mind.

  “That’s right,” the girl said with a gentle smile. “A position has opened up, and we’d like you to come with us. What do you say?”

  A surge of hope bubbled in his chest, but Joe contained his excitement, not allowing it to show in his expression or voice.

  “I’ll do it,” he answered without hesitation.

  “Great!” The girl smiled brightly and reached out her hand to him. “Get up, we’ll be heading out soon.”

  Joe took her soft hand and was surprised by her strength as she helped him rise to his feet. She was petite yet had enough power to lift his lanky frame as if he weighed nothing. Judging by her attire, she was not even a warrior, which meant physical strength was not her specialty. Yet she handled him with ease, doing most of the work to help him stand.

  As Joe faced her, his figure was several centimeters taller than hers, but despite that, he felt an overwhelming aura of strength radiating from her. She carried a quiet confidence that made it clear the power difference between them was insurmountable.

  Joe thought, a mix of awe and disappointment welling up inside him. The gods had denied him access to mana, and it stung.

  “Say,” Joe began as they left the alley, “why would you ask me to join your group when you know I have no magical talent?”

  “It’s fine. We don’t need you to be a combatant,” the girl said. “We have a specific task only you can do. All we need is your willingness to do it.”

  “I’ll do anything,” Joe replied, feeling a rush of motivation. It was enough that someone was willing to rely on him despite his lack of mana.

  “Great. That’s all we want from you.”

  As they pushed open the door to the Guild, Joe asked for her name.

  “It’s Rina,” she said with a smile.

  Joe introduced himself in turn.

  Inside the Guild, Joe felt many eyes on him. The adventurers around gave him hostile stares, clearly displeased to see a mana-less nobody return to their establishment.

  “Don’t mind them,” Rina said casually. “They like to act superior to the Unawakened, but most of them are trash who haven’t even reached the late stage of Tier 1.” She spoke with complete ease, not hesitating to insult her peers.

  Her confidence and composure made Joe realize that she was strong, not just compared to the Unawakened but even among adventurers, who were already considered monsters in their own right.

  They approached a small group of three facing the quest board. There was a red-haired boy wearing a crimson jacket and black pants with dark leather boots and he had a sword strapped to his waist. Beside him stood a black-haired boy wearing a full metal suit of shining silver armor, missing only the helmet. He had broad shoulders and a hulking frame, easily towering the two standing next him. The last was a green-haired girl in a black dress and light blue jacket holding a staff tipped with a crescent moon. A brown bag rested on the floor next to her.

  “Hey guys! I found our fifth member,” Rina said cheerfully as she greeted her teammates.

  All three looked stunned when they turned to see she had brought along someone without mana.

  “Joe, this is Trey, Lars, and Olivia,” Rina said, introducing them in order from the red-haired boy to the green-haired girl.

  Trey gave Joe a once-over before turning to Rina. “Are you insane?” he shouted. “You picked up some weak mana-less trash off the street and want him to join my party?”

  “You know how hard it is to find a good porter, Trey. The strong don’t want the job because it doesn’t pay well, and the weak are too scared. Besides, no one wanted to join us when they heard we’d be hunting the Lord of the Woods,” Rina replied, standing firm.

  “And you think this loser can do the job?” Trey asked, not even bothering to look at Joe.

  “He’s motivated and wants to prove himself. I trust him,” Rina said, glancing at Joe with a soft smile.

  Her faith warmed Joe from the inside.

  “Fine. I hope you didn’t do this out of pity for him,” Trey muttered as he stepped closer. “Because if you did, he’s going to die.” With that, he went passed them and walked away.

  Rina turned to Joe with a grin and gave him a thumbs up.

  Joe didn’t know why she was willing to defend him, but it made him happy. Though Trey's words about him possibly dying left a knot of unease in his chest.

  Lars, who had a massive shield in his right hand, approached Joe and patted his shoulder. “Don’t mind him, he’s always rude. I’m glad you’re joining us, Joe,” he said with a wide grin before following after Trey.

  Olivia came next, her steps hesitant. She gave a small bow and said, “Thank you for joining us.” She seemed shy, avoiding eye contact before hurrying off.

  “Besides Trey, who can be a jerk sometimes, our party is pretty great,” Rina said with a smile. “Pick up the bag and meet us outside after you register.” With that, she left as well.

  Joe nodded and walked to the bag resting against the wall. It was a large brown backpack meant for carrying supplies.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Joe didn't ask for an explanation about porters because he already knew what a porter was. He had read plenty of Adventurer stories to know it was the lowest position in a party, someone who carried everyone else’s belongings. Their job was to act as a living cart. It was an embarrassing role, but for Joe, who had no mana, it was likely the only way he could get close to being an Adventurer. Compared to the begging for coins a couple hours ago, being a porter did not seem so shameful.

  Still, he had held great hopes when he realized he had been reborn into a new world. To find himself reduced to a luggage carrier was disheartening.

  When Rina asked him to join, he had imagined being a regular member of the group, but that idea now seemed foolish. This was probably the best he could hope for as someone Unawakened.

  As a man without mana and new to this world, he also knew he needed money to survive. Joe could not afford to turn down the offer, especially since he was broke.

  He grabbed the bag and tugged at the straps, but it did not move. His eyes widened at its weight. This time, he bent his knees, gritted his teeth, and pulled with all his strength. It felt like lifting ten tons of solid steel.

  ‘What the hell did they put in this thing?’ Joe thought, using the wall for balance and his knee to brace the bag. After much effort, he managed to slip his arms through the straps. The moment the full weight settled on his shoulders, he thought his spine would crack.

  The adventurers in the room burst into laughter, mocking him for struggling with the bag.

  he thought with renewed resolve.

  Each step was agony, but slowly, he moved forward. He joined the registration line and waited for three minutes before writing his name on the party sheet as a porter. His back screamed in protest, but he endured. When he finished, he noticed the purple-haired attendant from earlier smiling at him. She seemed genuinely happy that he had found a job so quickly. Joe nodded back, grateful. She was one of the few who had not mocked him and had even allowed him a second chance to touch the crystal. For that, he was thankful.

  As he left the Guild, adventurers threw small objects at him while laughing. One hit him in the head, almost knocking him down, but he managed to keep his balance. If he had fallen, he doubted he could have gotten back up.

  Outside, his new party was waiting.

  “Took you long enough. What are you, an old man?” Trey grumbled.

  Rina smiled. “Ready to go?”

  After taking a deep breath, Joe answered, “Yes.”

  The group moved north toward the gates of Suveny. Trey led the way, taking massive strides with every step. He seemed the most eager to complete the quest, frequently shouting at his party members to pick up the pace. Lars was the only one who matched his speed, walking beside him with an easy gait and a calm expression.

  Rina and Olivia walked a few paces behind them, just ahead of Joe. They occasionally glanced over their shoulders to check if he was still there. Rina did this more often, while Olivia struggled to meet Joe’s gaze, looking down the moment their eyes met.

  “Are you doing alright?” Rina finally asked as she looked over at him. She had held back for the last few minutes, but the concern had been building ever since they left the Guild.

  Joe did not respond.

  “I can hold on to the bag if you want,” Rina added after a few seconds. “It will take some time before we reach Evergreen Forest. You do not have to push yourself. Since we will not encounter any monsters along the way, I am free to carry it until we reach our destination.”

  The reason Rina and Olivia were walking behind the others was obvious to Joe. He knew they could easily keep pace with Trey and Lars. They had slowed down on purpose so he would not be left behind.

  Drenched in sweat, Joe was already breathing heavily. The weight of the equipment continued to grind him down. His spine felt as if it were being crushed beneath the load, every step demanding a monumental effort. The afternoon sun only made things worse as its scorching rays beat down on him. His vision blurred, and his legs trembled as though they might buckle at any moment.

  “No, I am fine,” Joe replied. “You think just because I am Unawakened I cannot handle carrying a bag?”

  Rina’s eyes widened. “That is not what I…” Her voice trailed off as the words clung to her throat.

  Joe knew she meant no harm. She was only trying to help. Still, he could not suppress the irritation that surfaced whenever someone assumed he was incapable simply because he had no access to mana. He was aware that Rina was not looking down on him, but the frustration lingered all the same.

  “I am sorry,” Joe said after a moment, his emotions settling. “I know you are just trying to help. But when I signed up to be a porter, I was prepared to carry this bag for the entire trip, and that is exactly what I intend to do.” His expression hardened with resolve.

  Joe's pride would not allow him to shift his responsibility onto someone else. Everyone in the party had a role, and his was to carry their equipment, no matter how heavy it became. He was determined to see it through to the end.

  Thirty minutes later, the party reached the town gates. Olivia, Rina, and Joe arrived two minutes after Trey and Lars, who had created a noticeable gap between them.

  “Why are you walking so slowly?” Trey asked, looking at the two girls. His gaze flicked briefly toward Joe. “Is this trash slowing you down?”

  “We are here now, are we not?” Rina replied, annoyance clear in her voice. “Why are you rushing so much? It is not like our target is going anywhere. No one in Suveny is foolish enough to hunt the Lord of the Woods except you.”

  Trey scowled and stepped toward her, looming over her as they locked eyes. “You seem to be talking back to me a lot lately,” he said coldly. “If you do not think you are cut out for this quest, then you are free to leave. No one is forcing you to stay. I will bring down the Lord of the Woods with or without your help.”

  “You talk big for someone who nearly got us killed on our last quest,” Rina shot back. “If Eris and her party had not saved us when they did, we would have been wiped out. That was because of your carelessness. Do you still not realize it? You will never be as good as your younger sister, Trey.”

  “What did I say about mentioning that bitch’s name in my presence?” Trey growled as his hand moved toward his sword. “You must really want me to kill you.”

  “I dare you to try,” Rina replied defiantly.

  Before either could move, Lars stepped between them, shoving them apart. “Enough!” he shouted. “Get it together. We are about to face the most dangerous quest of our lives. The last thing we need is you two fighting over nothing. Unless you would rather abandon the mission right here, save your strength for the Lord of the Woods.”

  Rina and Trey scoffed at the same time, turning away from each other in opposite directions.

  A sudden thud echoed behind them as Joe dropped to his knees. He gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face and darkening the ground beneath him. His legs had finally given out, leaving him unable to stand.

  Joe thought bitterly. Their quest had not officially begun, yet his body had already succumbed to the strain of carrying the bag.

  “Joe!” Rina shouted, her eyes wide with alarm.

  Olivia knelt beside him, her hands trembling. “I will cast a quick recovery skill,” she said shakily. “It will help you regain your energy.” She placed both hands on Joe’s shoulder, preparing to activate her skill.

  “Stop it, Olivia!” Trey’s voice tore through the air.

  She flinched and turned toward him, startled. “But…” Her words faltered.

  “Do not waste a single drop of mana on that piece of garbage,” Trey snapped. “We will need your energy when we face the Lord of the Woods.”

  “Are you insane?” Rina yelled. “He is on the verge of fainting.”

  “So what?” Trey replied coldly. “That trash knew what he signed up for when he became our porter. If he cannot handle it, then he can fuck off. A useless porter only puts our equipment at risk.”

  Rina opened her mouth to argue, but Joe spoke first.

  “He is right,” Joe said, forcing a smirk. “I knew what I was getting into when I registered as this party’s porter. Do not worry. I was only catching my breath.”

  Rina said nothing, but her eyes remained fixed on him, filled with concern.

  A brief silver flash glimmered in Joe’s eyes as he pushed himself upright. He could not explain it, but the bag suddenly felt lighter. It was still agonizing to carry, yet standing took far less effort than he expected. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he tightened his grip on the straps.

  All four party members stared at him in shock, Trey more than anyone.

  The red haired man recovered first, scoffing as he turned away. “Let us move. The Lord of the Woods is waiting.”