Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

A small house permeated with a chill.

Atera’s memories began there.

Atera grew up in a world no wider than a hand span, blocked by an iron door. The massive door only opened when meals were brought at set times, or when a middle-aged man occasionally visited.

The man who came with each waxing and waning of the moon would grasp Atera’s chin and scrutinize her. His gaze lingered longest on her two eyes that shone brilliantly even in the dark room.

His eyes flashed with greed for a moment, but then he clicked his tongue upon seeing Atera’s black hair.

“Tch, this is why half-breeds are problematic.”

The man roughly pushed away Atera, who clung to him, making sounds closer to babbling as she hadn’t learned to speak.

“It’s a valuable commodity, so take good care of it.”

On days when Atera rolled around on the cold stone floor, she would listen to the sounds from outside.

Whoosh-

The forest, dense with conifers, was so dark that one couldn’t see an arm’s length ahead.

But if she closed her eyes tightly and concentrated, she could hear an indescribable sound. Hearing that sound would calm her aching heart.

One day, an intense thirst began, so strong she felt like tearing at her throat.

She emptied the entire water jug provided once a day, but still, the thirst wouldn’t subside. Atera swallowed her saliva repeatedly, trying to quench her thirst even a little.

“Hng… ugh…”

With no way to communicate her condition, Atera threw the water jug. But the servant merely took the jug away without taking any action.

As days passed, the thirst grew worse. Even the sound that had always calmed her heart was no longer welcome. Each time she heard it, it felt like her throat was burning even more.

Only when Atera submerged her head in the bathtub did the servant notice something was wrong. For the first time, the man came before the moon was full, but Atera was too busy scratching at her throat.

“What’s going on here? I told you to take good care of it!”

This man, famous for his generosity, was also known for his fiery temper. It was a commodity important enough for this incredibly wealthy man to hide away from everyone. If it were to die…

Unable to overcome his fear, the servant fainted.

“Call a doctor immediately!”

From that day on, doctors frequented the room daily.

But none could identify the cause of the thirst. The doctors all shook their heads, saying they had never seen such symptoms before.

Despite trying all sorts of medicines and treatments, Atera’s condition didn’t improve.

Atera couldn’t take her mouth off the water barrel all day. She often skipped meals, and even when she managed to fall asleep, she would wake up suddenly, complaining of discomfort.

Just as her already small body was reaching the point of skin and bones, a man with a strange smell was thrown into the room. Atera, lying limply on the floor, raised her head at the pungent smell.

A man covered in scars stood there.

‘A smell I’ve encountered somewhere before…’

But the man’s expression was strange somehow. Upon seeing Atera’s eyes, the man’s fingertips trembled in disbelief. Soon, his face contorted, and he shouted at the people who had brought him:

“Are you out of your mind? Putting a young sea person in a place like this!”

“It’s good we didn’t sell it off. Fix it.”

Even as he was beaten by the guards for his insolent shouting at the owner, the man couldn’t take his eyes off the girl. His faded eyes shone fiercely.

Atera, staring blankly at the man, realized that this strange man’s scent was similar to the one she occasionally smelled from outside the window.

From that day on, Atera began living with the man, Paran. With magical skill, he drove away the thirst that had been tormenting Atera.

They moved to a spire near the sea, and just by wetting her body with seawater daily, the terrible thirst disappeared. When he sang to her in a mysterious tune, warmth spread through her body.

Atera, who had been unable to eat or sleep, gradually regained her health.

“That is the sea. Try to say it. Sea.”

“S-sea?”

“Yes, sea. That place where Medina resides is our true cradle.”

But that wasn’t all. Paran gave Atera a name and began teaching her earnestly.

From the language and writing of land people to the myths of sea people, how to converse underwater, and even the songs of Badadkkot. Atera absorbed the knowledge Paran poured into her like a water-soaked sponge.

Among these, what Atera loved most were the stories of Media, who protected the sea. For Atera’s sake, Paran would sing Media’s lullaby every night.

“Shall I bring you the beautiful day when light shines through, shall I scoop up the stars of this night with both hands full.”

“Paran.”

“Hmm? Can’t you sleep?”

“Umm… I saw this in a book earlier, but what are mom and dad?”

Paran held his breath at the unexpected question.

“You’ve had your nose buried in fairy tale books all day…”

As he delayed his answer, Atera snuggled into Paran’s arms and asked again.

“Does Paran not know either?”

“The beings who give birth to and care for you are called parents. Among them, the female is called mom, and the male is called dad.”

“Then is Paran my dad?”

Atera hit and pinched Paran’s arm, but he didn’t answer for a long time. Eventually, Paran spoke as if sighing.

“If you want to call me that, go ahead.”

The clever Atera realized that this was as good as a denial.

But when they were alone, Atera would call Paran dad. When she pronounced “dad” aloud, the loneliness that had made her stay up through long nights would melt away like snow.

“Dad! Tell me about the cradle, the cradle and Badadkkot!”

Time flowed mercilessly, and before long, Atera turned ten.

Her pitifully haggard appearance had vanished without a trace, and her once-gaunt cheeks had rounded out. Her hair, once like a bush, now rippled like waves, and her jewel-like eyes, filled with affection, shone beautifully.

Paran had changed a lot too. The sea person who had been living a half-life regained his will to live while caring for the child.

His faded blue hair and eyes grew more vivid with each passing day. The five-colored luster that had dimmed also regained its former brilliance.

The two sea people, who had been terribly lonely, found stability in meeting each other. Though confined to the top of the spire out of caution for Paran, who could easily handle three or four grown men in the sea, they didn’t mind.

“We can hold the auction soon.”

Their peaceful days were shattered by a single sentence from the man who suddenly appeared.

Paran thought they would have more time. He had been too careless with these men who mercilessly hunted children who needed to bask in the sun.

“Selling off a child who’s only ten years old.”

Paran bit his lip.

He had to save Atera, at least. He would save her.

“Never, ever trust land people. Don’t show them your eyes. And don’t forget you must enter the sea once every ten days.”

Paran recited the things Atera needed to be cautious about. Then he handed her the necklace he had been wearing.

“This necklace can call Astrona once. Call him when you truly need to.”

Paran picked up Atera, who was hopping at the mention of the sea spirit. His heart ached at the sight of the child’s innocent smile.

There was only one way. Sending such a young child alone tore him apart. But this method would ensure Atera’s escape.

Paran revealed the truth about Shella to Atera for the first time. The child, sensing something was amiss, whined. Seeing this, Paran’s eyes sank.

Being a clever child, she would be able to survive. No, she must survive. Paran hugged the child tightly.

“Dad, come with me. Okay? You said we can’t stay here.”

“Athena, don’t cry. You remember everything I told you, right?”

Paran, his eyes reddening, patted Atera’s back. Atera, who had been whining for a long time, finally fell asleep as the night deepened.

Holding the sleeping Atera, Paran hummed a lullaby.

“My child sleeping beneath the vast waters. Our child resting under the shadow of coral.”

In the deep night, another sea person made a wish.

The greedy gods accepted his plea with a wry smile.

His beautiful eyes and hair faded to white, and the two sea people scattered into foam.