Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

Five pieces of equipment were destroyed in succession.

“I’m sure I did it right…”

I searched my memory but couldn’t find the problem. Check the mana circuit, use mana as a medium to overlay the formation. That’s correct, isn’t it?

“Why isn’t anything working out?”

Was it wrong for a C-rank to covet an S-rank skill? My surging confidence vanished in an instant.

“Worst day ever.”

Boasting about having an S-rank skill only to fail repeatedly. I couldn’t hold my head up.

I wanted to rush to the 33rd floor to meet Kallos right away, but I have work in the afternoon. I won’t have enough time to visit the World Tower until the day after tomorrow…

“No, this isn’t the time for that.”

I suddenly came to my senses.

As Yun Su-ho said, as a C-rank hunter, I was someone with mediocre skills who could be replaced at any time. This was a golden opportunity for someone like me.

I wasn’t in a position to give up after trying just this much. I steeled my resolve. Everything will be resolved once I visit Kallos. Right.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

It didn’t seem like trying more would make much difference. I crawled down to the floor and swept up the scattered item fragments.

“Ah, I need to check that too.”

[Chimera Egg (B)

: A black magician’s life’s greatest masterpiece, completed in his old age. Grows by consuming mana.

(Hatching progress: 0.2%)

※ Untradeable item]

The chimera egg was smaller than I thought, fitting snugly in both hands. Unlike the eerie impression its name gave, the navy egg with silver wave-like patterns was quite striking.

‘So a chimera will come out of this?’

After being momentarily captivated by its appearance, I suddenly didn’t want to touch it.

“Let’s take a look.”

I used ‘Explorer’s Eye’ to examine the egg’s structure.

“Ugh, what on earth…”

Dozens of complex symbols were layered all over the egg. Now I understand why Gyeon Ji-woon called it a highly precise magical formula. It was undoubtedly created by someone who had reached an extraordinary level.

Unable to grasp the entire structure with my naked eye, I placed my hand on the egg.

As I carefully traced the circuit with my mana, an invisible force suddenly pulled at it.

[Imprinting complete!]

[‘???’ recognizes its parent. (Hatching progress: 1.0%)

※ The final form will change depending on the nature of the mana consumed.]

[Please name ‘???’.]

“Imprinting? What’s this about a parent?”

When I came to my senses, a blue thread-like connection had formed between the egg and my wrist.

I tried pulling with all my might and even attempted to cut it with something sharp, but this strange thread wouldn’t break.

On a hunch, I put the egg in my inventory, and a small tattoo-like mark appeared where the thread had been.

What is this, without any proper explanation? Why did the hatching progress increase? I clutched my head in frustration.

‘I shouldn’t have touched it carelessly.’

I had a feeling I was now firmly entangled with this egg.

“Think, Yun Gaho.”

The World Tower system is unkind. I need to deduce what happened on my own.

Let’s check the egg’s information again first. All clues are at the starting point, aren’t they?

‘Grows by consuming mana.’

Surely not… I closed my eyes and focused on my body’s mana channels.

Since awakening, hunters accumulate mana in their bodies, and mana channels develop based on this. Generally, the heart or brain is the center of the circuit. In my case, it was the heart.

“Found it!”

From the center of the circuit to my wrist, and then through the marking to the chimera egg. My mana was leaking out along the blue pattern.

I tried to forcibly block that passage, but it wouldn’t budge.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a large amount. It was minimal, even less than the amount of mana automatically generated in my body.

“Feels like I’ve become a potion.”

It wasn’t a particularly welcome treatment. The only consolation, judging from the term ‘parent’, was that it probably wouldn’t threaten me.

As soon as I took out the egg to examine it again, a system window popped up.

[Please name ‘???’.]

Talking about names at a time like this. I grumbled and closed the system window.

[Please name ‘???’.]

[Please name ‘???’.]

[Please name ‘???’.]

[Please name ‘???’.]

.

.

Then, as if hearing my words, windows demanding a name frantically filled my vision.

“Ah, you startled me.”

A name for the chimera. I really don’t want to. I stared intently at the egg.

Blue, round, with silver patterns engraved like waves.

“Parang or Dongle… that’s a bit too much, right?”

Even though I was forced to name it, my sense wouldn’t allow such tasteless names.

“Haerang.”

A name derived from the wave-like pattern resembling ocean waves. Was it too half-hearted? I pondered for a moment, but soon shook my head vigorously.

“At least I gave it a name.”

Satisfied with my answer, the system windows cluttering my vision smoothly disappeared.

Looking at the egg in my hand, the patterns engraved on it seemed to shimmer more than before. Was it my imagination?

“Just drained my energy before work.”

Neither the enchant nor the chimera went as I wanted.

Feeling dejected, I flopped onto the bed, and immediately my hunter watch rang. It was the alarm for 30 minutes before work.

“Let’s just focus on work, work.”

◆◇◆◇◆

“Unni, we meet again!”

“Mr. Kim, hello!”

“Looks like we’ll be working together for a while. I look forward to it.”

Cha Taeyang, who had been bustling around the waiting room cheerfully, spotted me and waved.

“I hope Hunter Yun Gaho can be Taeyang’s guide.”

Minor hunters need to accompany a mentor called a guide for a certain period.

Usually, hunters of similar rank are assigned, but Cha Taeyang must have spoken well of me, as Kim Ji-hwa asked me to be her guide.

I had been secretly worried, so I agreed, and seeing her delight, I found myself smiling involuntarily.

“I’m so glad you’re here, unni!”

Despite having worked together only once, Cha Taeyang was noticeably friendlier towards me.

“Doesn’t Hunter Cha Taeyang find me difficult?”

Due to my blunt manner and appearance, I’d never heard anyone say I made a good first impression, even as a polite lie. I casually asked without much expectation, but Cha Taeyang shook her head vigorously.

“Of course not! But why do you ask suddenly?”

“I’m not exactly an approachable type, am I?”

As if not understanding, Cha Taeyang wrinkled her nose. I patted her shoulder and sat down.

“I wonder what field we’ll have today.”

Perhaps because of the extraordinary events yesterday, I didn’t have a shred of worry about the fixed field assigned today. Quite a few people were assigned, suggesting it was a fairly large-scale field.

“Hello everyone. I’m Han Cha-hyun, and I’ll be the party leader.”

As the appointed time arrived, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses entered.

“Looks like it’s a field near the National Museum of Korea.”

Seeing that Han Cha-hyun was the party leader, I could roughly guess the nature of the field.

“Please be seated, everyone. I’ll start the briefing.”

Han Cha-hyun, with a somewhat tired expression, began explaining about the field.

Today’s site was the B+ rank fixed field ‘Ancient Ruins Lamenta’. It was a field that wasn’t dangerous as long as you followed the set rules.

Especially with Han Cha-hyun present.

“Lamenta is an adventure-type field where you clear it by exploring the interior of the ruins, collecting scattered artifacts, and offering them to the central altar.”

Han Cha-hyun divided the party members into four groups. I was assigned to the same group as Han Cha-hyun and Cha Taeyang.

Kim Ji-hwa must have been quite worried after yesterday’s incident. Although our group had one fewer member than the others, the safety was certainly guaranteed with this lineup.

After the briefing, we moved to Yongsan-gu in cars prepared by the guild.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Hunter Cha Taeyang, there’s a trap on the right.”

“Ah, thank you, unni!”

As expected, our group found artifacts quickly without much difficulty.

Han Cha-hyun, an all-rounder in this setting, and Cha Taeyang with her overwhelming destructive power, made a good combination.

We could save even more time by avoiding traps set up here and there with Explorer’s Eye.

“Leave this to me!”

When we placed artifacts on the altar, a group of ghosts appeared. Each time, Cha Taeyang would dash out and incinerate the evil spirits with blue flames. She seemed to have gotten the hang of it in just a day, moving more lightly than yesterday. The battles ended in an instant without needing cover.

She was a hunter with a frighteningly promising future.

“Mr. Kim, are there only dead things in fields?”

The goblin jingled noisily, as if dissatisfied.

“Not necessarily. It’s rather rare. We just happened to face dark attribute monsters two days in a row.”

“I heard there was a big incident last night. It must have been about Yun Gaho’s party.”

“Phew, we really, really almost died yesterday!”

Since Cha Taeyang had dealt with the evil spirits, we should be safe for a while.

We took advantage of the break to sit around the altar and chat.

Han Cha-hyun’s complexion had brightened since entering the field. He even seemed to be enjoying himself.

Cha Taeyang, with a flushed expression, explained what had happened yesterday. After hearing the incantation for Gate of the Dead, Han Cha-hyun pondered for a moment before speaking.

“That incantation resembles the songs sung in Saenam-gut.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a ritual for guiding the dead. It’s related to Princess Bari… I only heard about it briefly in college, so I don’t know the details.”

“You majored in archaeology, right?”

Han Cha-hyun nodded, fiddling with his glasses frame, seemingly embarrassed.

The story of Han Cha-hyun awakening at a museum while pursuing graduate studies in archaeology was well-known. Usually, people awaken during outdoor activities. Even I awakened at an archery range I visited for fun.

Even among our guild, which has many people with rare skills, Han Cha-hyun’s skill, which converges to a maximum of S-rank depending on the field, was unparalleled.

‘Han Cha-hyun might know how to handle high-ranking skills.’

With this sudden thought, I bombarded Han Cha-hyun with questions.

Let’s ask our king if he’s Princess Bari. I faintly heard the goblin and Cha Taeyang chattering.

“No, I never had any problems handling my skills from the start.”

But I couldn’t get the answer I wanted.

I sighed as Han Cha-hyun answered nonchalantly, as if used to such questions.

I need to visit Master as soon as possible. My mind was completely filled with thoughts about skills.