Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

– Are you telling me to follow?

The book that had been fluttering in front of my face disappeared behind a bookshelf. As if confirming my guess, the book that had been waiting for me motionless soon flapped near a ladder leading to the second floor.

– You want me to go up?

When I hesitated, the book rammed its spine into my back.

– Alright, alright! I get it!

Though it didn’t seem necessary to use the ladder underwater, I climbed up, unable to resist the book’s pestering.

The scene on the second floor was quite different from the first.

While the first floor had books with vibrant personalities – some zipping by so fast their wings were invisible, others lazily drifting in the water, and some even trying to cozy up to me – the books on the second floor had a certain gravitas about them.

– I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to describe books this way, but…

As I followed the book around a corner on the second floor, I saw a familiar crystal ball. Though smaller than the one in the hall, its purpose was likely the same. So this is what it wanted to show me.

– Thank you. You’re a good book.

When I stroked its spine in gratitude, the book happily swam around me. Glowing fragments of text fell from its fluttering book-wings.

Leaving the book dancing behind me, I placed my hand on the crystal ball.

[Please enter keywords for the book you’re searching for.]

The method of use was slightly different from the crystal ball I had used earlier. A parchment and quill appeared in the air for me to write keywords.

I suppose I should write in the common language of the 16th floor? Let’s see.

[Cradle, Nest, Movement Formula, Mana Circuit]

[Searching… One exact match and three partial matches found. Would you like to view them?]

‘I’ll view them all.’

[Please wait a moment.]

Shortly after, three books and one rolled-up scroll flew towards me.

‘How convenient that the books come to me on their own.’

I reached for the scroll first, thinking it would be quicker to look through.

As I unrolled the transparent film-like scroll, I saw scribbled writing and mana circuit diagrams. I skipped over the illegible text anyway.

Though many parts were difficult to identify due to scribbles here and there, this was clearly…

– Lucky from the start.

The shape was very similar to the circuit I had seen at the bottom of the lake. The one in the nest was much more intricate, but the basic structure was similar.

Is this the prototype? There were clear signs of efforts to make it usable even after a long time. The creator’s meticulousness was evident in the circuit that had been redrawn dozens of times.

This was helpful in its own way. Though it fell short compared to the formula in the nest, it was still impressive on its own. As a diagram showing the development process of the formula, it would be good for study too.

But this wasn’t what I was looking for.

– What I need is a diagram of the perfectly completed mana circuit.

I put down the scroll and started reading the books. Since I couldn’t read the text and only looked at the pictures, I got through one book faster than expected.

This isn’t it. It’s a book about movement formulas, but the circuit is completely different. There’s no way they’d use a circuit with electric attributes underwater.

I moved on to the next book.

– This is it!

About halfway through the second book, I saw a familiar circuit. I was certain. This was the circuit under the lake.

– So this is the original form.

Seeing the complete form of the circuit, I could understand exactly why the formula I had repaired only worked three times.

– That part I glossed over was related to mana supply.

If I had to compare it to something, it was similar to the role of a fluorescent lamp ballast. No wonder the circuit didn’t work properly when I had handled that part carelessly.

The more I looked, the more amazed I became. Not only had they calculated the corrosion rate considering the underwater environment, but look at this perfect circuit that even conserves mana when many people move at once!

– This is at the level of a masterpiece.

If the movement formula is this good, what about the protective formula circuit that envelops all of Badadkkot?

After a brief moment of admiration, a practical concern arose.

– Can I take this book out?

The circuit structure was more complex than I thought. I could try, but it would be difficult to memorize it all. I went down to the first floor with the book and scroll tucked under my arm.

Thunk!

As a test, I tried to leave the library with the book, but my hand holding the book was blocked by a transparent wall-like barrier. Sighing, I went back into the library.

– So it’s not possible after all.

The parts of me not holding the book could pass through… Wait? Come to think of it, the hand holding the scroll passed through without issue.

– What’s the criteria here?

The scroll can be taken out, but the book I actually need can’t. And the hunter watch doesn’t work properly in this special field either. What should I do?

The gods in the ceiling painting laughed mockingly. How irritating.

– Should I just take the scroll out?

I unrolled the scroll. A circuit drawn with mana on a transparent film-like board. It’s not perfect, but it should help. Wait a minute. A circuit drawn with mana?

– I can just copy the circuit from the book onto the scroll!

Because it wasn’t an ordinary complex mana circuit, I hadn’t even considered drawing it on blank paper. In this place where time flows quickly, such an attempt would take until tomorrow.

But if I draw it over this scroll with the prototype already on it, I can do it quickly. A circuit drawn with mana should be easy to modify too.

I opened the book to the page with the circuit and placed it on the floor. I put the scroll next to it. Before starting to draw the circuit in earnest, I stretched widely.

– Focus. I need to do this properly.

If I miss even one part, the formula won’t activate properly.

First, I erased all the parts that had been deleted from the original circuit. I see, it was originally designed as a circuit that only sea people could use. In the final version, there was no race restriction.

‘Ah, this part was erased too. A formula that produces a nice fragrance? Why did they include something like that?’

After removing all such unnecessary parts, I concentrated mana at my fingertips.

– Alright, Yun Gaho. Focus, focus.

Starting from the inner patterns, I examined the parts that needed to be added. There weren’t many changes. It seemed I could mainly copy the parts I had glossed over before.

Kalia’s craftsmanship was evident throughout the circuit.

Not only had they strived to minimize the side effects of the movement formula, but the safety measures for potential accidents were also perfect. The consideration for water-attribute casters to save mana when using it was also noteworthy.

– So this is what it takes to be called a master.

It felt like I was drawing with nerve fibers rather than mana. The thought that I couldn’t make a mistake weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Finally, I added the circuit responsible for mana supply that I had omitted. After checking for any mistakes, I rolled up the scroll.

Phew, I had concentrated so hard that my whole body felt stiff.

[You have grasped the implementation process of a high-level formula.]

[Dexterity increases by 1.]

Huh? What’s this all of a sudden?

A system message I occasionally saw while training at Charlotte’s house appeared. It used to pop up once in a while, as if giving out favors, when I stacked books into towers. My dexterity increased just from this one thing?

– Quality over quantity, I guess.

I thought that perhaps it was because I hadn’t just looked at a single circuit, but had examined how it developed through various stages.

– Well, the circuit I saw today was of an extraordinary level.

I’m not sure of the exact reason, but it’s good either way, right? There’s no harm in having my stats increase. With a happy heart, I put the book back and left the library.

– It’s already been over 30 minutes.

I had been away for more than five hours, so I needed to return quickly. Setting aside Yun Su-ho, who had been separated from me without knowing why, wasn’t I still in the middle of a quest? With time running short, I needed to hurry.

I took out the map and pressed firmly on the spot marked with a blue dot. The library door vanished, and in its place appeared a green door leading to the Sage’s workshop.

Across the entire world, there were only three production-type hunters with high-rank skills, including myself. Among them, I was the only S-rank.

With such small numbers, information about production-type skills and traits was scarce. This was even more true in South Korea, where equipment was mass-produced in factories. So even a small piece of information was crucial to me.

This was the workshop where the master had stayed. There might be information that could help me.

To be frank, I was going there purely out of self-interest.

– I’ll just take a quick look. Just a very quick one.

As I opened the door, admonishing myself, I was immediately captivated by the colorful scene inside the room. The hexagonal room had completely different appearances on either side of its center.

The left side was filled with all kinds of reagents. Unknown materials floated in water droplets suspended from the ceiling, and the cabinets were packed with glass bottles containing various potions. There was even a cauldron large enough for a person to fit inside.

The right side seemed to be for metalworking, densely packed with minerals and tools for refining them. A forge that produced flames even underwater and self-sharpening knives shook their bodies as if begging to be used.

– This is… the first time I’ve seen anything like this.

As I was gawking at the workshop, suddenly, with a noise like a broken radio, several system windows popped up.

Bzzt- Bzzzt

[Special Field, The Sage’s Workshop (A) reacts to Player Yun Gaho’s skill, ‘Magitech (A)’.]

[The rank of Special Field, The Sage’s Workshop (A) temporarily increases. (A→S)]

[Field Effect, ‘Kalia’s Will (?)’ activates. NPC Kalia is summoned.]

Water spray rose in the center of the workshop.

As the small whirlpool subsided, a woman appeared. She was small, maybe 160cm tall, with short hair fluttering like flames, and cheeks dotted with freckles. She even had a blue tail with a slight purple tinge.

The youthful-faced sea person waved her hand.

– Oh my, what a pretty child. Hello there!

As she poked the air with her index finger, two system windows appeared.

[Player Yun Gaho’s trait ‘Eternal Blessing (S)’ reacts to NPC Kalia’s trait ‘World-Shaping Alchemist (SS)’.]

[NPC Kalia views status. Cannot be refused.]