Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

‘An SS-rank item or an S-rank trait.’

My mouth went dry at this once-in-a-lifetime choice. It was clear that either option would pave the way to a golden future.

Selling an SS-rank item could earn me more money than I could spend in a lifetime. How many weapons of this caliber even exist?

When C-rank equipment fetches millions of won, an SS-rank item is beyond compare.

It’s an opportunity to leave behind the perilous life of a hunter and live in ease.

On the other hand, the trait option, whose purpose was unclear from its name alone, could be all or nothing.

“But…”

Yet, for some reason, I found myself leaning towards the trait evolution.

‘If I gain an S-rank trait, couldn’t I create items like Kallos does?’

Even with just the trait of buffing my own equipment, which was considered rare, I received better treatment than hunters of the same rank.

The world’s only S-rank crafting trait. If I hone it properly, I could live comfortably for the rest of my life. Perhaps I could even earn more than from selling the equipment.

The trait might not be as useful as I imagine, but… it’s worth a shot.

“You seem to have decided.”

“Yes. I look forward to your guidance, Master.”

“Huh, how brazen. Follow me.”

◆◇◆◇◆

After beginning my apprenticeship, the first thing I realized was that Kallos wasn’t exactly a kind teacher. They say geniuses often lack talent in teaching. He was the epitome of that.

From the day after I became his disciple, Kallos had me observe his work.

[Entering Special Field, Song of Fire and Anvil (S).]

Pouring sizzling hot metal into molds, hammering, engraving mana circuits. His supreme craftsmanship was like magic.

Kallos’s workshop, a special field I’d never seen before, was fascinating. Fires burning without firewood, all kinds of minerals, sparks adorning the ceiling. It felt like entering another world.

But the novelty of watching wore off after a day or two. After a week, it started to get boring.

“Kallos, Kallos. Oh, I mean, Master! Say something, anything.”

“Come here and watch properly.”

“But how am I supposed to learn by just watching?”

“Don’t just look with your eyes. Read the flow of magic. Then you’ll be able to do everything.”

I don’t understand any of this.

“This is why geniuses…”

Kallos smacked the back of my head, perhaps hearing my quiet grumbling.

“Ouch! I thought my neck was going to break! I’m only C-rank, you know!”

You’ll hurt me if you hit so recklessly!

I shouted, half exaggerating and half serious, but he didn’t even pretend to listen.

Well, I complained, but honestly, it wasn’t such a bad time.

Kallos was gruff and didn’t explain anything properly, but the days spent buried among rare items and attending to him were enjoyable in their own way.

Had I ever been this relaxed during my life as a hunter? It stung a bit to use up all my remaining vacation days, but I welcomed this time.

◆◇◆◇◆

About two weeks into our life together, Kallos suddenly declared:

“Gaho, it’s time for you to go back.”

“What? What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“I’ve shown you everything there is to show.”

I whined that I hadn’t learned anything yet and it was too soon to leave, but Kallos was adamant.

Fearing I might cling to him, Kallos quickly shoved me out of the house. Even so, he packed a basket of the cookies I loved to eat.

‘This makes it hard to complain about him being cold-hearted.’

In the end, I waved goodbye while hugging the basket.

“Master, you must stay healthy! I’ll come back!”

Kallos closed the door with a thud, without answering.

I know you’re not as cold-hearted as you pretend to be. Munching on the cookies he gave me, I walked towards the square.

‘Now a golden road of success will unfold before me!’

I might not be able to use the skill as proficiently as Kallos, but didn’t he say I had talent? I felt a baseless confidence.

‘Plus, I have the system. There’s no way I can fail.’

Just as I became a marksman overnight without ever having held a bow, with this trait, I could become a skilled blacksmith.

First, I’ll try with C-rank weapons as a test. Then I’ll sell them to build my reputation…! My heart swelled like freshly baked bread.

‘Goodbye to the mediocre C-rank dealer Yun Gaho! From today, I’m S-rank!’

The days of being looked down upon as C-rank flashed through my mind. Now, no one would be able to disregard me.

“Even those haughty S-rank hunters will come begging to me, won’t they?”

With the talent Kallos recognized and this trait, there was nothing to fear. I couldn’t help but smile at the bright future unfolding before me.

◆◇◆◇◆

“It should have worked. It should have!”

[Enchant ‘Tear-stained (B)’ has failed.]

[Failure penalty incurred! ‘Lucky Revolver (C)’ is destroyed.]

The remnants of burst items littered the room filled with acrid gray smoke.

It began grandly but ended miserably.

Destroying six C-rank pieces of equipment. Thinking about the money that had vanished into thin air, I just couldn’t calm down.

“That damned failure penalty!”

Unable to contain my frustration, I pounded the floor.

“Don’t tell me it’s another scam contract… No, that can’t be.”

With trembling hands, I grasped the C-rank item, Ruby Staff. It was the last weapon left.

“I still have this one.”

Having drawn the sword, I must cut something. Moistening my parched lips, I channeled mana into the staff.

“This time, for sure…!”

‘God, Buddha, Heavenly Deities, whatever divine being is out there. Please, help me!’

[Choose an effect to apply to ‘Ruby Staff (C)’:

– Innate: Pure (B), From the Depths (C), Sturdy (E)

– Acquired: Selection not available]

“Apply ‘Sturdy’.”

I closed my eyes tight and selected the lowest grade effect.

After six consecutive failures, my confidence had hit rock bottom. Surely I couldn’t fail with an E-grade effect, right?

“Enchant!”

Please, please…!

A gray light enveloped the staff. Then, with a bang! Smoke rose from the staff.

[Enchant ‘Sturdy (E)’ has failed.]

After seven failures, all that remained in my hand was one ash-covered staff.

Furious, I threw the staff onto the bed.

“What good is getting an S-rank skill if I can’t use it!”

My already small and cute bank balance had become even more pathetic. I had scraped the bottom of the barrel to buy this equipment, thinking it was an investment in a rosy future…!

“Why is this one still intact?”

I shuffled towards the bed and caressed the soot-covered staff.

‘Well, I suppose it’s something that at least this one wasn’t destroyed. Just chalk it up to another World Tower quirk.’

But the more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

When I first obtained the S-rank trait, I thought a path of flowers would unfold before me. It wasn’t just any S-rank trait, but a skill that permanently enhances equipment.

What flower path? I thought a golden road would be laid out.

“I had no idea it would turn out like this.”

Blinded by the S-rank trait, I must have missed the most important information.

I thought I just had to activate the skill, but what a disaster this turned out to be.

‘I should have chosen the items instead of the trait evolution back then!’

Recalling the moment of choice, I felt like I might cry.

While at Kallos’s house, I was too busy attending to him all day to have the leisure to check my status window.

After repeated failures, I belatedly realized that a new section had been added to the status window I opened by chance.

“Open status window.”

[

Player Name: Yun Gaho

Overall Evaluation: C

– Health: 27 (+13)

– Strength: 30 (+7)

– Mana: 45 (+22)

– Agility: 36 (+19)

– Dexterity: 3

Traits: Eternal Blessing (S), Marksman (C)

– Additional Skills: Enchant (S), Explorer’s Eye (A), Bow Assistant (C) …

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

(Viewing condition: Successfully enchant once)]

Having seen this status window countless times since becoming a hunter, I immediately noticed the new ‘Dexterity’ section.

That glorious dexterity score of 3. In terms of rank, it didn’t even reach F-grade.

Swinging a sword increases strength, getting beaten up increases health. So I tried folding 100 paper cranes, even tried knitting, but this damned dexterity stat remained stubbornly unchanged.

And what puzzled me even more was:

“What’s this ‘Item Understanding’?”

[Attribute Bestowal (C) → Enchant (S)

– Your items are imbued with special power. (Slots: 5)

– The power of blessing is strengthened through the master’s teachings. Items are permanently imbued with special power.

(Success rate increases in proportion to Item Understanding and Dexterity.)]

I scoured Towers.com thoroughly, but couldn’t find any information about these two attributes. I’d heard that information about crafting hunters was treated as top secret, but I never imagined to this extent.

It seemed I had made a seriously wrong choice.