Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

“We are truly sorry. Our deepest apologies.”

“We’re so sorry!”

As soon as we exited the field, two people bowed deeply as if they had been waiting.

A woman with a ponytail who looked like a senior, and a man with a somewhat youthful appearance. The man wore a trainee necklace. So that’s how it is.

I restrained Jo Sung-hyun, who was about to raise his voice angrily. Seo Young-woon exchanged glances with me after seeing the haggard appearance of the man, no less disheveled than us.

‘The situation is pretty clear.’

Jo Sung-hyun might not know yet, but it was an open secret that the Anomaly Management Bureau overworked new recruits during their training period under the guise of education.

If any of us had been injured, I would have been the first to get angry, but in this situation…

Knowing the circumstances, I couldn’t bring myself to be too harsh. The guild would surely extract ample compensation anyway.

“We were lucky this time, but it could have easily resulted in casualties. Please be more careful in the future to prevent such incidents.”

“Yes, we’re truly sorry. We’ve prepared medical staff over there. Shall we go?”

“Whew, how cool.”

Ignoring Gyeon Ji-woon, who was whistling and chatting, I headed towards the tent where the medical staff was waiting.

Everyone seemed fine, but it’s common to forget pain during the excitement of battle. I quickly had Cha Taeyang and Jo Sung-hyun examined by the doctor first. Fortunately, both were just tired from the long battle, with no major injuries.

Rather, Seo Young-woon, who had been at the forefront of our group, was treated for wounds all over his body.

‘This is why defensive types are… Foolishly enduring without saying they’re in pain…’

While treating him, the doctor, upon hearing my rank, rushed over to me in surprise.

“Why didn’t you say something earlier! These A-rank hunters don’t get hurt easily, and even if they do, they recover quickly! You might be tougher than ordinary people, but compared to them, you’re like a paper doll. A paper doll!”

“I was just providing cover from afar…”

“Oh my, come over here quickly.”

The doctor pulled my arm and began the examination.

“You were only worried about us!”

Cha Taeyang and Jo Sung-hyun giggled as they watched me getting scolded. The doctor lectured me while disinfecting minor wounds.

“I know hunters are careless, but you need to be more careful! The human body isn’t an eternally regenerating resource. Don’t rely too much on potions.”

“Ah, yes.”

I sent distress signals with my eyes to the others, but everyone ignored me.

After quickly treating me, the doctor scurried back to Seo Young-woon.

“Mr. Kim, are you okay? I didn’t know you were so fragile.”

“Yes, I’m fine. They’re all minor wounds.”

“Hey, unni. Is this how hunters always are?”

Cha Taeyang, perched on the bed, asked. I was about to say that today’s events were extremely rare, but I held my tongue.

While such incidents were uncommon for lower-ranked hunters like me who patrol low-level fields, it might not be the case for Cha Taeyang. She showed exceptional skill despite this being her first battle.

Ji-hwa probably brought Cha Taeyang with the intention of having her join a conquest team. If she becomes part of a team exploring unknown floors, such incidents might become frequent.

So, I chose my words carefully.

“Interferences are very rare phenomena.”

“That’s a relief, Taeyang!”

“But dangers always lurk around hunters. In that sense, yes, hunters work in such uncertainty every day. It’s never a safe job.”

After pondering for a while, Taeyang smiled brightly and said:

“…Everyone is amazing!”

“Did you become a hunter without knowing this?”

“That’s possible too! I’ll learn from now on. And they said I could quit anytime if I don’t like it!”

“Are you crazy? You’ve just joined Hwangya and you’re talking about quitting?”

“Who said I’m quitting!”

Seo Young-woon, who had finished his treatment, separated the bickering pair.

Amidst the commotion, Gyeon Ji-woon poked his head through the tent flap. When is that person planning to leave? Isn’t he busy?

Despite everyone in the tent not welcoming him, Gyeon Ji-woon was all smiles.

“We’re planning to return now. Guild Master, perhaps you should head back too…”

“How cold. Are you kicking me out?”

“I’m saying Hwangya will handle its own affairs, so don’t worry.”

When I spoke up instead of Seo Young-woon, who couldn’t respond, Gyeon Ji-woon narrowed his eyes at me.

“How picky. I promised Ji-hwa I’d help ensure you all return safely. I can’t face her if I just send you off like this.”

“…Just to the front of the guild, then.”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

True to his word about helping, Gyeon Ji-woon took the wheel instead of me. Well, I’m happy not to drive.

Thanks to him, I could sit in the back with Cha Taeyang and Jo Sung-hyun. As soon as I sat comfortably, fatigue washed over me. Ignoring Gyeon Ji-woon’s chatter, I closed my eyes and sank deep into the seat.

‘Seo Young-woon will handle him.’

Then suddenly, I remembered I had many things to check. I forced my eyelids open.

[

Player Name: Yun Gaho

Overall Evaluation: C+

– Health: 27 (+13)

– Strength: 30 (+7)

– Mana: 45 (+22)

– Agility: 36 (+19)

– Dexterity: 4

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

– Additional Skills: Enchant (S), Magitech (A), Explorer’s Eye (A), Rising Moon (B), Bow Assistant (C)]

My dexterity increased, if only by a sparrow’s tear! And two new additional skills.

I can guess what Magitech is, but what’s Rising Moon? I immediately checked the skill window.

[Magitech (A)

: You’ve tasted the essence of magical engineering! Enables the interpretation of magical formulas.]

[Rising Moon (B)

: Inflicts continuous damage by touching the target’s mana channels. Recovers 30% of the damage dealt as mana.]

A mana recovery skill! With this, I should be able to replenish some of the mana consumed by stacking enchants. I secretly bit my lip at this skill that felt like rain in a drought.

Though there was only one S-rank, all the other skills seemed useful too. I’d have to test them to know for sure.

‘I should check the quest rewards too.’

Cha Taeyang, as the top contributor, would have taken the best item, but… it’s a main quest reward, so I could look forward to it.

[C-rank Mana Stone × 7]

[Umanta Petal]

[One-time Use Maze]

[Stunning Potion × 2]

[Chimera Egg]

‘What? It’s more ordinary than I expected.’

I was pleased to see the valuable Umanta Petal, but just as I was about to feel disappointed that it didn’t meet my expectations, an unfamiliar item called ‘Chimera Egg’ caught my eye.

‘Hwolbin, who conquered the 19th floor, never mentioned obtaining such an item…’

I bit my lip at the uneasy premonition that flashed through my mind.

‘Surely it won’t hatch?’

“Hey, is something wrong?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

How perceptive. Though he was clearly facing forward while driving, Gyeon Ji-woon sensed something amiss and asked.

Calm down, Yun Gaho. It might not be what I’m thinking. There’s no need to worry until I check the item information.

[Chimera Egg (B)

: A black magician’s greatest masterpiece, completed in his old age. Grows by consuming mana.

(Hatching progress 0.1%)

※ Untradeable item]

Aaargh! It really does hatch! And it’s even an untradeable item.

‘Come on, World Tower. Shouldn’t you consider my circumstances a bit?’

When I think of chimeras, all that comes to mind is the patchwork creature from that animation. Plus, aren’t undead the ingredients? I’d rather pass on that.

And it’s B-rank. Even in egg form, it’s stronger than me.

‘If it hatches when I’m alone…’

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

It was too much of a reward for a fragile C-rank.

“What should I do with this.”

Is there a hunter skilled in black magic somewhere? As I searched through my pitiful network, I caught Gyeon Ji-woon’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

‘There he is, a black magic expert.’

And not just any expert, but one of the world’s top dark wizards. When would I ever meet Gyeon Ji-woon again? I cautiously broached the subject.

“Um, Guild Master Gyeon Ji-woon. May I ask you something?”

“Ask away, ask away. I was just getting bored.”

“Can black magic create things like chimeras?”

Gyeon Ji-woon was silent for a moment.

This wasn’t like him. Wondering if I had asked something wrong, I hastily covered:

“Something’s been bothering me. Most of the monsters on the 19th floor were animal-type, but it was strange. Animals from different environments were mixed together. As if someone had artificially collected them.”

“Interesting. Tell me more.”

“There were traps set up on the third floor, but thinking about it again, that’s suspicious too. If they were meant to stop intruders, they should have been on the first floor, not the third.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

As I spoke, I became more convinced by my own logic, and my voice grew louder.

“The forms of the undead were unusual too. There were many monsters wrapped in bandages or with parts of their bodies cut off. That’s not normal, right?”

“And so?”

“Couldn’t a black magician have been conducting some kind of secret experiment?”

Seo Young-woon nodded as if it made sense. Gyeon Ji-woon’s eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, sparkled with interest.

“You think it was a chimera experiment?”

“It could be.”

Though it was a hastily made-up story, it seemed to fit together quite well.

Could it really be true? The chimera egg that dropped as my reward was decisive evidence.

But for some reason, I felt I shouldn’t reveal the existence of this egg right now. A hunter’s instinct shouldn’t be ignored.

Although I left out any mention of the chimera egg, Gyeon Ji-woon seemed to accept my theory. He tapped the steering wheel with his index finger, pondering, then spoke:

“It’s not impossible.”

“Then…”

“But creating a chimera is extremely difficult. The chances of him succeeding are slim.”

Should I say more or not? Gyeon Ji-woon hummed with an odd tone. When I looked at him with a sullen expression, he chuckled.

“Oh my, if you look at me with such passionate eyes, I’ll get embarrassed. I thought you were cool, but…”

“Guild Master Gyeon!”

“To stitch monsters together, you need highly precise magical formulas. A magical formula is like… well, a one-time use mana circuit. Even if you succeed, it’s more like a forced patchwork that breaks down quickly. Creating a properly functioning chimera is nearly impossible.”

Of course, I haven’t tried it myself, Gyeon Ji-woon added.

What an utterly untrustworthy statement. I’d bet my wrist that this guy has tried it.

I asked a few more questions after that, but Gyeon Ji-woon evasively avoided answering. Understandable. If word spread about chimeras made from monsters, it would face tremendous criticism.

‘I should be grateful he told me this much.’

Still, it was a relief to hear they break down quickly. Even if the chimera shows aggression towards me, I should be able to avoid it for a while.

‘I’ll have to examine it more closely when I get to the dorm.’

I might learn more if I use my newly acquired skills.

Lost in thought, I didn’t notice the van had already arrived near the guild. Feeling cramped, Cha Taeyang jumped out as soon as the car stopped.

Ding-

Someone caught the goblin that almost fell from Cha Taeyang’s shoulder due to her hasty exit.

“Taeyang, you should be more careful.”