Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

– Hmm, come to think of it, you’re not a sea person, are you?

Kalia tilted her head as she looked at me. Then, with a big flap of her tail, she circled around me once.

‘So, this sea person is the Kalia I’ve heard about?’

I thought she had died long ago. Seeing the room’s scenery clearly visible through Kalia’s projected body, it seemed like a hologram. Was it the same principle as the books I saw in the library?

As I was about to say something to her, a sudden sharp noise made me close my mouth.

Bzzt-

With a grating burst of static, part of Kalia’s body distorted like a television screen with interference. Kalia wrinkled her nose in annoyance and waved her hand dismissively.

With a pop, Kalia’s form became much clearer.

– The interference should be moderate! Oh, sorry. Did you wait long?

– You are…

– You’re not asking because you don’t know, right? Of course, I’m Kalia, the owner of this workshop.

After proudly introducing herself, Kalia abruptly turned away from me and waved her hand as if conducting. Her hands were busy, seemingly manipulating something. It was a familiar movement.

She was probably checking my status window in a way similar to Kallos. Unlike my master, who was gruff but respected my wishes, she forced the viewing.

Kalia, who had been focused on the system window, saw something and made a fuss.

– You’re walking around with such a frail body? Hey, you’ll get into big trouble like that!

– It’s not that bad.

– You’re like a complete paper doll!

– It’s a normal level, really.

– Oh, sorry. Did I offend you?

It wasn’t pleasant to be suddenly called frail, but I wasn’t particularly upset either. To a high-level awakened, I probably did look like a piece of paper. I wasn’t narrow-minded enough to get angry at words without malice.

When I shook my head, Kalia clapped her hands, saying it was a relief. There was something childlike about this sea person.

– I never imagined a player would wake me up.

– Was that not supposed to happen?

– No, no, nothing like that. I don’t care about your affiliation or anything. I prepared this for future craftsmen walking the path of a master.

I was lucky. This was an event prepared by an NPC with an SS-rank trait. It’s highly likely to occur only once.

Whether others couldn’t enter because of the kraken, or because no one had a skill that resonated with the field. I don’t know the reason, but I’ll gladly take this opportunity!

[NPC Kalia views skills. Cannot be refused.]

Without warning, Kalia opened my skill window. Again, my consent wasn’t sought. Her arbitrary behavior rivaled that of Choi Kwon-young.

– Magitech! Ah, so that’s why.

– I’ve just started learning. Oh, I saw the circuit you made, Kalia. Just looking at it was very educational.

– Hoho, is that so? Come to think of it, that thing you’re holding is something I wrote, isn’t it?

– I found it in the library. The circuit in the nest was broken, you see.

– So much time has passed already.

Kalia, who had been chatting with me, suddenly fell silent. Her tail, which had been fluttering restlessly, drooped. She seemed to be thinking about something.

– Enchant, enchant.

– Kalia?

– Bestowing blessings on items, right? Hmm, yes! That’ll do.

Kalia, after spinning around the room once, started rummaging through the shelf on the right. Then suddenly, she used her whole body to open a stiff drawer next to the shelf.

– Oh my, where did I put that thing?

– Shall I help you?

– No, no! Just wait a bit. I know this place, ugh, best!

Dozens of items spilled out of a small drawer attached to the shelf.

Kalia threw a tear-shaped gem, a leather pouch covered in slime, a glass bottle filled with silver powder, and transparent yarn onto the floor. Finally finding what she wanted, she flapped her tail.

It was an antique monocle showing signs of age.

– As your senior, I’m going to give you a gift.

– A gift?

– Don’t refuse. It would have been better if you were an alchemist, but since your skill is rooted in magitech, this will be helpful for a while!

[For the Fourteenth Night (A)

“They say borrowed things are not eternal, but isn’t everything in the world borrowed?”

– Glasses containing a fragment of Kalia, the Sage of the Deep Sea.

※ Wear condition: One who has received NPC Kalia’s recognition]

– Aren’t you going to thank me?

– Ah, thank you very much.

Kalia, who received my thanks as if expecting me to bow deeply, patted my back vigorously. Even as my body kept bowing, I couldn’t take my eyes off the item description.

Glasses containing a fragment of Kalia? It was an incredibly vague description. And that phrase. I had seen it on the conch shell too.

– Kalia, what’s that phrase above the item description?

– Oh my, don’t you even know what an epithet is?

– It’s the first I’ve heard of it.

– It’s a sentence that shows the essence of an item. It only appears on items made by exceptional craftsmen who pour their soul into them. To think you don’t even know this. I guess there’s not a single proper craftsman around you?

There is one, but that person is terribly unskilled at teaching.

Kallos tended to omit explanations excessively. He probably didn’t even think he needed to tell me about things like this.

If he had shown me an item with an epithet, I would have asked about it first, but most of the items used in training were just practice pieces. And that storehouse I saw when I first met him, I haven’t been back there since. He could have shown me at least one.

– If you hone your skills well, you too can make items with epithets.

– Me?

– Of course. Hmm, about 100 years should do it. Not long at all, right?

Lost for words at her different sense of time, I fidgeted with the monocle unnecessarily.

But what exactly is this monocle for? Thinking it might activate after wearing it, I put on the monocle, but nothing seemed different.

Kalia laughed out loud seeing me like this.

– Hey, that’s not how you use it. You won’t see anything if you use it now!

– Then how do I use it?

– Try using it when you use your skill later. By the way, it suits you well, just as I thought! Though it doesn’t really go with those clothes.

That’s true. A medieval-style monocle did look a bit out of place with my near-techwear outfit.

Well, I couldn’t overhaul my entire equipment for just this one item. Even if it looked a bit silly, I had no choice but to wear it as is.

– Oh, right! You should go to where the deep-sea pearl is with that on. That’s the center of the formula surrounding the cradle. It’ll be a good study for you.

– The deep-sea pearl…

– The treasure and source of Badadkkot! The greatest treasure in this sea.

[Do you want to accept the subquest ‘Apprenticeship (C)’?

– Clear condition: Take a look at the protective formula!

– Time limit: None

– Reward: Feather of Eight Colors (B)

– Penalty: None]

Kalia, who had arbitrarily assigned the quest, smiled brightly. Facing her innocent expression, unaware of Badadkkot’s current state, my heart grew heavy.

– Kalia, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can accept that proposal.

– If you don’t want to, don’t.

[Subquest, Apprenticeship (C) has been canceled.]

– No, that’s not it.

I briefly explained the current situation of Badadkkot to Kalia. Contrary to my expectation that she would be very surprised, she remained calm. Kalia, squinting one eye slightly, brought up the quest window again.

[Do you want to accept the subquest ‘Apprenticeship (C)’?]

– The mana circuit should still be there, so go take a look.

– Kalia?

– You know Astrona, right? Ask them to lift the seal. If it’s my request, they’ll listen.

– Is that really okay?

– Why wouldn’t it be? Oh, the Feather of Eight Colors is in the storage, so just take it yourself.

Kalia muttered that she knew this would happen. The previously cheerful Kalia somehow looked lonely.

– You said you’d retrieve the deep-sea pearl, right? I hope you succeed.

– I definitely will.

– Oh, right, right. Just in case, let me tell you something.

Kalia whispered a few pieces of information to me.

It’s useless information now when we don’t even know the whereabouts of the deep-sea pearl, but it might be helpful someday. I expressed my gratitude with a nod.

– Oh my, since it’s come to this, shall I tell you about some things worth taking from my storage?

– That would be much appreciated.

– Well, first there’s the ■■ of ■■■, oh, already■? These ■■ ■■■ ■■■■■!

Bzzt- Bzzt…

Suddenly, Kalia’s body started to become transparent.

Seemingly angry, Kalia violently swung her tail and spat out what I assumed were curse words. Her voice began to be filled with noise too. Biting her lip, Kalia shouted at me.

– G■, I’■■ ■■ ■■■! I’ll ■■ ■■■■ ■■■■!

Even as she was disappearing, Kalia flapped her tail and came closer to hug me tightly. Then, with a small spray of water, Kalia vanished.

Appearing suddenly, tossing people around, and disappearing just as arbitrarily. It was somehow very Kalia-like. I felt as if I’d been caught in a fierce storm.

– She said we’d meet again, right?

I recalled Kalia’s last words. It was disappointing that she left without a proper goodbye when we’d just met. It was an emotion I’d never felt when I was just hunting in fields.

Feeling empty, I rubbed the monocle Kalia had left behind with my thumb.

– No, this isn’t the time for distractions.

It wasn’t the time to be sentimental. We’ll be able to meet again next time.

It took much longer than I expected. I should quickly take the items Kalia mentioned and leave.

I searched for ‘Feather of Eight Colors’ on the crystal ball in the hall. 5th floor, 1st sector? I jumped into the portal that opened behind.

The feather was in the display case at the innermost part of the 5th sector. Checking the item’s description, I once again felt Kalia’s thoughtful consideration.

The Feather of Eight Colors is a special item that permanently increases a desired status. It wasn’t a huge increase, but for a hunter like me with generally low stats, it was more precious than gold.

– This is…

As I was leaving after putting the feather in my inventory, an item in the display case caught my eye.

‘This might be useful.’

The moment of hesitation passed, and I immediately reached for the item. There was no time to deliberate. Let’s take it for now.

– If I have it, I can use it anytime.

Considering that I might get caught by the kraken on the way out, time was really tight. I hurriedly ran out of the castle.

To avoid being caught by the kraken, I used a skill to cling to the castle wall.

But contrary to my expectations, it was quiet outside the castle.

– This can’t be… Why are you here?

Yun Su-ho, with a fierce expression, was sitting atop the unconscious kraken’s head.