Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

– I told you to wait with bated breath, and you actually did! Oh, do whales even have necks?

– Galatein, is that really the first thing you say after we finally meet?

– You missed my nonsense, didn’t you?

– Hmph, as if.

The sea children giggled as they watched Galatea and Astrona’s reunion. A smile bloomed on Taeyang’s face at the sight.

Yun Su-ho abruptly approached Astrona and held out the box.

– This is the item you’ve been searching for.

– You mean…

– Spirit, our companion has found the Deep Sea Pearl!

At Taeyang’s exclamation, Astrona hastily accepted the box. His eyes trembled violently. The sea people, too, couldn’t tear their gaze from the container. They had thought it would take much longer to reclaim the Deep Sea Pearl.

Only Berben, who knew about this beforehand, smiled faintly.

– They say it was found in Helium’s temple. I don’t know the details myself.

Astrona, who had transformed into human form with a somersault, bowed deeply. Following his lead, the surrounding sea people also lowered their heads.

– I’m at a loss for how to express my gratitude.

– We only did what needed to be done.

– Taeyang, thank you so much! Th-thank you, Player. Thanks to you, Badadkkot has been revived.

Atera, who had somehow made her way closer, hugged Taeyang tightly. Other children swam over and clung to her as well.

Taeyang’s face contorted as she felt something hot welling up in her chest. It was a sensation she had never experienced before.

– I’ll go to the cradle now.

Astrona smiled at Taeyang and the children before disappearing with the box. He seemed eager to return the pearl to its cradle as soon as possible.

– Astrona has been pushing himself quite hard lately.

– The Spirit has?

– If it weren’t for his efforts, Badadkkot would have become ruins long ago.

Taeyang nodded in understanding at Galatea’s words.

The children tugged at Taeyang, eager to show her around Badadkkot.

Yun Su-ho, who had been sending a message, gestured for her to go ahead. He clearly thought it was fine, given that they had just completed their first major conquest—one that would be remembered for a lifetime.

Just as an excited Taeyang was about to leave with the children, her Hunter Watch chimed.

Ding, ding-ding, ding!

[- Sender: Yun Gaho

If the pearl enters the cradle, Badadkkot will be destroyed.

Retrieve the pearl immediately!]

[- Sender: Han Cha-hyun

I’m on my way now. Please secure the pearl.]

[- Sender: Yun Gaho

Don’t tell me it’s already been taken to the cradle?]

Taeyang’s eyes met Yun Su-ho’s.

The messages were incomprehensible, but it was clear that something had gone wrong.

– Spirit, we need to go to the Spirit!

– There seems to be an issue with the pearl. Please call Astrona.

– Astrona?

Galatea looked at the two with a troubled expression. Sensing that something must have happened to prompt such urgency, he quickly explained.

– Right now, only Astrona can open the door to the cradle. The door only opens when four sea people who have undergone the coming-of-age ceremony activate the formula engraved on the guardian tree.

– Is there really no other way? They say Badadkkot might be destroyed.

At Yun Su-ho’s mention of destruction, the surroundings erupted in commotion.

– If only Paran were here…

Galatea gestured for the children to be quiet. Their newly reclaimed home was proving to be tumultuous from the very first day. Taeyang clung to Galatea’s shoulder and asked.

– Can’t we call the Spirit through telepathy?

– We can try, but don’t get your hopes up too much. The cradle has a formula that blocks interference from the outside.

– I’ll do it, Galatea.

Akis, who had the strongest mana among the sea people present, stepped forward.

– Astrona!

– Can you hear my voice?

– Something terrible has happened! If you can hear me, please come up quickly!

Akis called for Astrona several times, but the spirit did not respond.

– This method doesn’t seem to work.

– Should we force the door open?

– Mirei, come here. You’re the oldest among us, right? Help us…

– Um…

– Atera?

Just as they were about to resort to teaching Mirei the door-opening spell as a last resort, Atera hesitantly stepped forward. As Atera tried to brush it off as nothing after speaking up, Taeyang encouraged her.

– It can’t be nothing. What is it, Atera?

– Well… um, couldn’t we use this?

Atera timidly held out the conch shell hanging at her waist. Akis brightened as he took the shell.

– The Roaring Conch Shell!

– Oh, that’s right. We had this.

– Akina, hurry!

Akis immediately put the conch shell to his lips and shouted.

– Astrona!

There was no response.

– I’ll try calling once more.

Undeterred, Akis was about to call for the spirit again when suddenly, a blue whale poked its head out from beneath the ground.

– Akina, my ears are not deaf.

– Astrona!

Everyone cried out Astrona’s name and rushed towards him. Astrona, with the box balanced on his head, found himself enveloped in everyone’s embrace, his eyes darting around in confusion.

◆◇◆◇◆

As I was descending the cliff, I checked my Hunter Watch in response to a vibration.

[- Sender: Yun Su-ho

Secured the pearl.

Explain why Badadkkot would be destroyed.

How are you feeling?]

It was the message I had been waiting for. I let out a sigh of relief.

“It seems we weren’t too late.”

Han Cha-hyun also seemed relieved, placing a hand on his chest.

With the immediate crisis averted, I belatedly thought about Han Cha-hyun’s condition.

“Are you comfortable?”

“It’s a bit embarrassing, to be honest.”

Han Cha-hyun, tucked under my arm like a package, smiled sheepishly. He didn’t seem particularly displeased.

“What about you, Gaho-ssi? Is your injury alright?”

“It’s a bit sore, but I’m fine.”

We didn’t have time to return to the sea, so we came to the coastal cliffs. However, Han Cha-hyun didn’t have a suitable movement skill. As a result, I had no choice but to carry him.

Ignoring the dull pain radiating from my arm, I continued down the cliff.

The pain was bearable, but I was on edge, worried that my hand might slip and I’d drop him. Fortunately, I managed to reach the coastal cave without letting Han Cha-hyun fall.

As soon as we arrived at the cavern, we bit into our scales and entered the water.

– It’s been a while since I’ve been somewhere so full of mythical power.

Han Cha-hyun stopped me as I was about to touch the teleportation formula.

He wiggled his index finger and muttered something, causing a blue light to flow from the stone structure submerged at the bottom of the lake. The lights, like shooting stars, were absorbed into Han Cha-hyun.

It was Han Cha-hyun’s skill, Learning from the Past.

He had been impressive in the adventure-type field we entered before coming to the World Tower, but now Han Cha-hyun seemed even more energetic than before.

– Do I infuse mana here?

Lost in the mystical scene, I belatedly nodded. Han Cha-hyun pushed up his glasses and placed his hand on the circuit, infusing it with mana.

I closed my eyes just before my vision flipped.

– Gaho-unni!

– P-player, welcome!

– You’ve come.

Before I could even open my eyes, someone threw themselves at me. It was a familiar voice. As if competing, several others clung to me afterward, and I slowly opened my eyes.

Through my blurry vision, having just opened my tightly shut eyes, I could see the people who had come to greet me.

Cha Taeyang and Yun Su-ho, about twenty children, the three members of the delegation, and a blue whale.

Faced with eyes full of concern and welcome, I couldn’t help but smile.

This was the scene we—I—had restored.

– Yes, I’m fine. Let’s go.

– Yun Gaho, are you really alright?

The moment our eyes met, Yun Su-ho approached with an intimidating aura. He stared intently at the arm where I had been shot. If I showed even the slightest sign of discomfort, he seemed ready to forcibly send me away.

– Why are you out if you’re still a patient? Go back…

– I told you, I’m fine. I came out because I’m well enough.

– I can’t trust your word.

– We’ll talk later, later. This isn’t the time for this.

I pushed Yun Su-ho’s shoulder, which had subtly moved closer, to create some distance. Despite his sullen expression, Yun Su-ho obediently moved away from me.

Something about consideration for the injured, or so he said. The Sea Spirit, who had somehow become more lenient, carried me all the way to Badadkkot.

Galatea, who had been swimming close to the Sea Spirit’s side, approached me to inquire about the situation.

– There was something like that in the cradle?

– That Kalia. Causing trouble even after death.

– You haven’t opened the box yet?

Instead of answering, Galatea held out the jewel box.

As if telling me to open it, he nodded, so I quickly lifted the lid of the box. As soon as I opened it, I recoiled from the rush of mana that hit me. It was a mana that felt intensely hot even underwater. I hurriedly closed the box.

– No doubt about it. It’s Helium’s mana.

– That was a close call.

While the NPCs were relieved, it was a troublesome situation for us. The quest wouldn’t end unless we returned the Deep Sea Pearl to its cradle.

‘What should we do?’

We desperately needed Kalia, who was asleep due to the penalty. I checked my inventory on the off chance, but there was still a long way to go before the penalty time was up.

– Are you saying we need to do something? Are we just going to sit around and wait?

If there really was no other way, we might have to, but it was too early to give up.

‘Neither option seems feasible, but let’s try to find a way, whether it’s rewiring the circuit or purifying the pearl.’

As I was lost in thought with my eyes closed, someone poked my cheek firmly. It was Cha Taeyang, who was riding on the Sea Spirit’s back with me.

She had been chattering with Atera just a moment ago. What was this about?

– You know, unni. I heard an interesting story.

– An interesting story?

– I met Metea earlier on the way to pick up Galatea.

– Wasn’t she supposed to be trapped in the tower?

Cha Taeyang scratched the bridge of her nose as she continued.

– She escaped with Minerva’s help.

– That’s a relief.

It had been weighing on my mind.

If Gorgon had found out that Metea had given us information, he wouldn’t have stayed quiet, even if she was his beloved daughter. They said she was a wise child, and it seems she had fled to safety.

– But that’s not all.

Despite being surrounded only by allies, Cha Taeyang whispered in my ear, as if being overly cautious.

– Metea is going to bring down the Shipowners’ Association.