Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

The sea spirit and the children were waiting for us in a tower at the center of the city.

“Over here, over here!”

Cha Taeyang waved from the terrace. As Choi Kwon-young and I entered the room, the sea spirit, sitting in a grand posture, began to speak.

“Now, let’s start the real story.”

The sea spirit revealed the truth about Shella.

Just fifty years ago, the people of Shella were unaware of the sea people’s existence. Occasionally, kind-hearted sea people would rescue shipwrecked humans, which became the root of the problem.

“Sea people can breathe comfortably both on land and in water. But children with underdeveloped gills sometimes need to come up for air.”

Young sea people are fragile, so caretakers always accompany them. Loving and protecting children is both instinct and purpose for the sea people.

Perhaps because of this, the caretaker sea people’s scales naturally become more vibrant. It’s said to be for attracting attention in dangerous situations.

“One day, a soft-hearted child rescued a land-dweller struggling in a storm.”

From that day, rumors of mermaids with beautiful, colorful scales began to spread on land. People yearned to see these mermaids with scales more brilliant and mysterious than any jewel in the world.

“Not long after, children taking in air were kidnapped. The caretakers who went searching for them also disappeared.”

“So that’s why Badadkkot fell…”

“No, that’s not all.”

The sea people decided to negotiate with the land-dwellers. They found an old spell in the archives to gain legs, and representatives set off for land.

They returned with bright smiles.

The sea people agreed to exchange the “deep-sea pearl,” Badadkkot’s treasure and source of power, for the safety of the captured children. Without the pearl, Badadkkot would lose its power for a while, but they could get the children back.

Children were more precious than any treasure. Everyone agreed to this deal.

“But the land-dwellers didn’t keep their promise.”

“They stole the pearl and imprisoned the delegation that came up for the exchange.”

As the sea spirit struggled to recall that day’s sorrow, Atera continued the story.

The land-dwellers grew more cunning by the day. Not only did they continue kidnapping children coming up for air, but they also used the children as bait to capture sea people.

Once they learned that caretakers had the most beautiful scales, they forced captured sea people to raise children. Then, before their brilliance faded, they auctioned them off as playthings.

“That’s how I was born.”

“Unable to bear this any longer, the children broke taboo and made a wish. But you all…!”

Choi Kwon-young beside me had been the main player in that subjugation. I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t exactly explain it was because of the main quest.

Choi Kwon-young, who should have kept his mouth shut more than anyone, asked with an insolent expression.

“Why didn’t you do anything all this time?”

“I cannot leave the cradle.”

“I see.”

“It’s not like I wanted to sit idly by…”

Choi Kwon-young stood up and approached the sea spirit.

“What if I bring back the sea people trapped on land in your place?”

“Nonsense! You think I’d trust you?!”

The agitated sea spirit pointed at us accusingly. Atera, who had been sitting quietly, clung to its arm.

“A-Astrona. These people are different! They kept their promise to me. Thanks to them, I was able to come to Badadkkot. I-I’ll vouch for them.”

“Athena, you’re still young and naive. Didn’t Paran tell you? You can’t trust land-dwellers.”

This situation was clearly a crucial turning point on the path to the hidden piece.

If we couldn’t persuade the sea spirit here, all our efforts so far would be for naught.

‘Is Atera’s trust from the prerequisite quest not enough? At times like this…’

“Then let’s put it to the test.”

“What?”

“I understand your feelings, Astro-nim. But we’re different from the residents of Shella. Please give us a chance to prove our sincerity.”

When one prerequisite quest isn’t enough, you add another one!

Hearing my words, Choi Kwon-young smiled unpleasantly and mouthed something.

“Hidden pieces are meant to be seized. Sounds good.”

◆◇◆◇◆

When we returned to the house, the moon was already high in the sky.

“You lose all sense of time underwater.”

Still, we achieved our goal, so I suppose that’s fortunate.

“Please give us a chance to prove our sincerity.”

Despite the sudden proposal, the sea spirit threw us an A-rank quest as if it had been waiting for this.

“There were three more sea people who went as delegates with Paran. Tell them that Badadkkot has not yet withered, and bring back their answer.”

Bring back their answer? Easier said than done. How are we supposed to find people who disappeared 50 years ago in just three days?

‘Sea people live longer than humans, so they shouldn’t be dead, but still…’

I could only sigh at the situation I’d created. This opportunity was only gained through Atera’s desperate pleas.

My mouth went dry as I watched the time ticking down by the second.

[Subquest, We Are Still Here (A)

– Remaining time: 71:08:49

– Clear condition: Deliver Astro’s message to the delegates (0/3)

– Reward: ???

– Penalty: Closure of Special Field ‘Cradle of the Sea People’]

“How am I going to explain this to Hunter Han Cha-hyun?”

“Why so gloomy?”

Cha Taeyang approached, tossing and catching the goblin. Wait, is that okay?

“…Goblin-nim?”

“Yahoo! Hahaha, hello Mr. Kim!”

Contrary to my worries, the goblin burst into laughter with a tinkling voice.

“Unni, is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

Cha Taeyang sat next to me, staring intently.

“I heard you sighing like the world was ending. You always do this. Worrying alone, deciding alone, jumping in alone.”

“Me?”

Cha Taeyang wrinkled her nose in disbelief at my question.

“Think about the field. You tried to go in without me, and the chandelier too. Suddenly using some skill out of nowhere. Even earlier! You rushed forward without me, even though I’m close-combat specialized.”

“That’s because you’re still a minor, Hunter Cha Taeyang…”

“Didn’t you say age doesn’t matter much for hunters?”

I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t deny it since I had said that myself.

As if that wasn’t enough, Cha Taeyang listed a few more observations about me. I hadn’t realized it, but despite talking about equal hunters, there were quite a few times I hadn’t properly sought Cha Taeyang’s opinion. How rude of me.

“Look, I know you’re doing it because you’re thinking of me. But still. Treat me like a colleague, not a child.”

“Hunter Cha Taeyang.”

“We might get better results if we think together, you know.”

“I’ll try to do better.”

“Aw, come on! That’s so bland!”

Deflated by my response, Cha Taeyang grinned and stood up.

“I’ll let it slide for today.”

With that, Cha Taeyang strode off to her room. As if on cue, Choi Kwon-young came down from the second floor.

“What’s with that expression?”

“Isn’t this just a normal smile? Is there a problem?”

His contented smile, as if he’d just watched his grandchild’s antics, irritated me.

‘How many years older than me is he…’

Choi Kwon-young quickly wiped the smile off his face and got to the point.

“Check your hunter watch.”

Hunter watch? While I was talking with Cha Taeyang, Han Cha-hyun had sent a message. It seems he messaged first because I hadn’t sent my report.

“It’s quite interesting content, isn’t it?”

“What are the chances that this Media is not the same person as the Media from Badadkkot?”

Choi Kwon-young answered with silence.

There are no coincidences in the World Tower.

A greedy Media? At first glance, it seemed completely different from the Media we’d heard about, but it was probably the same person.

We needed to learn more about Media and the sun god Helium.

“Fortunately, we have a good source of information.”

“I’ll bring Atera.”

While the sea spirit was preparing its nest, Atera had agreed to stay with us for a few more days. In exchange, she promised to tell us everything she knew, but I didn’t expect to use it so soon.

Atera, who had been chatting with Cha Taeyang, came out startled at the mention of Media.

“That’s impossible! Everything is the opposite!”

Atera shouted after hearing the myth of Eidolon.

“It’s all wrong from start to finish! Where on earth did you hear such a story?”

Atera spoke in an unusually loud voice. Then, trembling all over, she explained the myth she knew. It was completely different from what Han Cha-hyun had heard.

“In the beginning, there was no land. Media gave up her territory for Helium, who was born by the sky god’s mistake. But Helium betrayed Media.”

After hearing Atera’s story, I sent a message to Han Cha-hyun.

I wrote about what happened today, the subquest that would open the path to the hidden piece, and the sea people’s myth. I also mentioned that Choi Kwon-young had arrived as reinforcement.

Lastly, I added a postscript suggesting we look into Helium. Unsure if it was an overreaching suggestion, I wrote and deleted it several times before finally hitting send.

“Not a bad suggestion.”

“The answer might be in unexpected places. Well, the decision is up to Hunter Han Cha-hyun.”

I retorted to Choi Kwon-young, who was peeking at my message, then sank into the sofa.

It suddenly hit me how much had happened today. Events that an ordinary C-rank hunter couldn’t even imagine had unfolded one after another without a moment’s respite.

“Are you tired?”

Choi Kwon-young asked, standing slightly askew.

For someone used to just farming lower floors or running fields, being caught up in quests all day like this was exhausting. Even now, my overworked body was screaming in protest.

I thought I had managed my expression, but it must have shown.

But I had no intention of stopping here.

“Of course not.”

This is what I’ve been longing for. How could I be tired already? If anything, I was excited.

‘If I didn’t have this much fighting spirit, I might as well quit being a hunter.’

As I grinned, showing my teeth, Choi Kwon-young shook his head slowly and went up to the second floor.