Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

“K-Kallos-ssi?”

I sprang up, startled, and the man nodded slightly.

With a rugged face, standing a head taller than me, and sporting a disgruntled expression and poor posture, he was an utterly intimidating figure.

“Where’s this letter from?”

“It’s from Violetta in Florence Village. Oh, I’m Yun Gaho. I came at the request of Violetta’s daughter, Charlotte.”

At the mention of Violetta’s name, Kallos’s face visibly softened.

Looking again, I realized he was quite handsome, despite his fierce expression earlier.

Kallos, who could make even a carelessly thrown-on shirt look like a designer piece, appeared even more handsome as the coldness left his expression. If he weren’t an NPC of the World Tower, he might have been a famous celebrity.

“I can’t turn away her guest. Come in.”

“Thank you!”

Is he going to give me the reward inside?

I tried to calm my excitement as I followed him in.

‘Something’s odd here.’

The interior was unreasonably spacious compared to the exterior. The ceiling height was different from what I saw outside too. As expected of a hidden quest NPC! His appearance wasn’t the only extraordinary thing about him.

Kallos seated me in the reception room and brought some refreshments from somewhere.

While he read Violetta’s letter, I sat quietly, nibbling on the snacks.

They were delicious even to my palate, which usually dislikes sweets as much as his keen aesthetic sense.

As I was finishing the plate of snacks, he addressed me.

By now, Kallos’s expression had become as fierce as it was at first.

“Gaho, was it? Answer honestly. How is Violetta doing now?”

“I don’t know Violetta well. I’m only acquainted with her daughter, Charlotte. I occasionally help her find five-leaf clovers because she wants to cure her sick mother.”

“Tsk, I see. How foolish.”

Kallos looked somewhat disappointed.

He neatly folded the letter and carefully tucked it into his breast pocket, then after a moment’s thought, he spoke.

“Thank you for delivering her letter. I’ll handle the reply myself.”

[Hidden Quest ‘Violetta’s Letter (?)’ has been completed.]

‘So, what’s my reward?’

As if answering the question in my mind, Kallos led me out of the reception room.

“Thanks to you, I learned about Violetta’s current situation. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have known she was ill.”

There was a hint of bitterness in Kallos’s tone.

He led me into the living room and stopped in front of the fireplace.

“You must not tell anyone about what happens from here on. Can you promise that?”

How amazing must the reward be for him to build up suspense like this?

As I nodded, Kallos reached out over the fireplace. He turned a candlestick once, and my vision shattered into pieces.

Simultaneously, the space around us flipped.

My mouth gaped open at the sight I’d never seen before.

‘What on earth is this NPC?’

“This is all I can give you as a reward, Player.”

The warm-colored living room had vanished without a trace, replaced by a room filled with items of all shapes and colors.

At a glance, extraordinary items lined the shelves surrounding all four walls, and the floor was so cluttered with items that it was difficult to take a step.

“It should be better than what most others can make. Take whatever you want from here.”

“A-Anything?”

Kallos chuckled at my dumbfounded question and nodded.

Everything exuded an exceptional aura. Is he really giving this to me?

I found myself biting my lip unconsciously. Forget A-rank, if I looked carefully, there might even be S-rank items.

“I never thought such luck would come my way.”

S-rank items that even S-rank hunters desperately seek due to their extremely low drop rates! Am I about to turn my life around with this late-found silver spoon?

I could clearly feel my heart pounding.

“Stay calm, Yun Gaho.”

Getting too excited never leads to anything good. I took a deep breath, trying hard to calm myself.

‘Let’s look around calmly, calmly.’

The most valuable-looking items at first glance were those displayed in the cabinets. As expected of items made by a craftsman with extraordinary aesthetic sense, they boasted splendid appearances.

That longbow over there? No, it might be too precious for me to use. Should I go for that armor, which seems more versatile? My eyes darted back and forth.

Kallos waited for my choice with narrowed eyes.

“What catches the eye isn’t always the best.”

Suddenly, I recalled something I’d heard long ago.

As if someone had poured cold water over my head, I came to my senses. So much for staying calm. I almost did something stupid in my excitement.

“They say you can recognize the real deal without even looking.”

Restraining my impatient heart, I closed my eyes.

Instead of relying on my easily deceived sight, I extended my magical senses to probe the surroundings. Each item I brushed against made my mana channels tingle, indicating they were all extraordinary.

After searching for a while, I found a spot that emitted noticeably powerful magic.

As I probed that area, the item repelled my magic, which was unusual. Instinctively, I felt it must be something extraordinary.

“This is it!”

I picked up a dagger that had fallen in a corner, wading through the sea of items.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Are you serious?”

Instead of answering, I nodded emphatically.

Honestly, when I opened my eyes and saw that the item in my hand was a worn dagger that could be found anywhere, I wondered if I had made a mistake.

But a hunter’s instinct shouldn’t be ignored. Even if it leads to rock bottom, when a chance for a jackpot comes, you have to take it.

Just as I was about to put the dagger into my inventory, Kallos suddenly snatched it away.

What’s this? Why give it and then take it back?

“Choose again.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll give you one more, so choose again.”

I don’t know the reason, but there’s no need to refuse if he’s offering one more. I closed my eyes again. It felt a bit easier now that I’d done it once.

‘Hmm, this time it’s that one!’

This one was gentle enough to willingly accept even my paltry C-rank magic. It felt promising. I reached my hand into the pile of items.

“This is… a monocle?”

Kallos, who had been staring at me intently, clicked his tongue as if exasperated.

[NPC Kallos requests to view your status. Do you accept?]

“Accept quickly.”

A system window I’d never seen before popped up out of nowhere.

Urged by Kallos, I unconsciously said I accepted, then belatedly looked at him in surprise.

‘Wait, is this even possible?’

NPCs aren’t supposed to know about the system. I’d never heard of them requesting to view status windows. My thoughts halted at this deviation from common sense.

‘Hold on. Could this be…’

[Player Yun Gaho’s trait ‘Your Blessing (C)’ responds to NPC Kallos’s trait ‘Blacksmith Transcending the World (SS)’.]

[A new possibility opens for the trait ‘Your Blessing (C)’.]

A new… possibility?

As incomprehensible events occurred one after another, I couldn’t gather my thoughts. But seeing this latest window, I was certain.

All these indicators converged on one conclusion.

A Hidden Piece.

A term referring to special NPCs and items hidden in each level.

Some call it a fateful encounter. Hidden Pieces can only be obtained through very special routes. According to circulating rumors, there are even people who have overcome innate talent barriers and reached A-rank thanks to Hidden Pieces.

That Hidden Piece has come to me? Impossible. Why me, of all people?

I couldn’t believe this sudden stroke of fate.

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“You have talent.”

“Me? Isn’t mana sensing something everyone can do?”

Kallos snorted as if he’d heard something ridiculous.

I couldn’t relate to Kallos’s words at all. Mana sensing was something I could do as naturally as breathing since I first awakened.

‘What’s the big deal? Surely others can do what I can do!’

“My, you think such mana sensitivity is common? Stop talking nonsense and check the options on the equipment you chose.”

Kallos, who said I wouldn’t say such things if I did that, turned his gaze towards my status window.

Ignoring him as he tapped the air, I viewed the options of the two items.

[Argonaut (S)]

[Eye of Vulcanus (SS)]

SS-rank? I hurriedly checked the ranks of the items displayed in the cabinet. Most were A-rank. Kallos patted my shoulder as I stood there with a dumbfounded expression.

“Well, want to learn? Since your innate attributes are different, you’ll become a different type of craftsman than me, but I can show you the way.”

[A catalyst for trait evolution sprouts.

Your Blessing (C) → Eternal Blessing (S)

– Additional Skills (Expected):

Attribute Bestowal (C) → Enchant (S)

Marksman’s Eye (C) → Explorer’s Eye (A)…

※ Some additional skills of the current trait ‘Eternal Blessing (S)’ cannot be viewed.]

I was stunned by the popup that appeared as soon as Kallos finished speaking.

“S-S-rank trait?”

I looked at Kallos, stammering like a broken machine. Kallos gazed at me with a mischievous smile.

There aren’t even ten S-rank hunters in our country yet. An S-rank trait with S-rank additional skills! It was a condition anyone would covet.

‘At this rate, A-rank, no, even quasi-S-rank might be possible…!’

Moreover, that bit at the end. Judging by the message saying some skills couldn’t be viewed, it seemed like other skills might unlock if certain conditions were met.

There was no reason to refuse.

“Of course…”

“But if you take lessons from me, you’ll have to give up the equipment.”

“What? That’s different from what you said earlier!”

“Giving you both items and traits would exceed my authority. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to choose one.”

Before Kallos could finish speaking, a system window popped up, forcing me to make a choice.

[Choose your reward for the Hidden Quest ‘Violetta’s Letter’:

Argonaut (S), Eye of Vulcanus (SS)
Trait Evolution: Eternal Blessing (S)]