Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

“Those who disturb my rest, this is the punishment I bestow upon you.”

Blue weapons aimed at us. The sea spirit chanted a spell in a low voice. Powerful mana, strong enough to make our skin tingle, filled the cavern.

A spell cast by such a formidable being.

We had no means to block it with our power.

I never thought it would come to this. We should have waited for support to arrive. With belated regret, I traced back to the beginning of this catastrophe.

The necklace, yes, it all started with the necklace Atera gave us last night.

◆◇◆◇◆

[Tears of Media (A)

: A necklace gifted by Media to her beloved child. (Remaining uses: 1)

※ Quest item. Will be destroyed when all uses are exhausted.]

I sat on the windowsill, gazing at the necklace.

Cha Taeyang and Atera had long since gone to bed. Atera, who had nowhere else to go, had decided to stay with us for the time being.

We wouldn’t be able to go to Badadkkot until support arrived. Instead, we planned to use this necklace tomorrow to summon the sea spirit.

“I suppose this ‘Media’ is the spirit’s name.”

If it truly knows everything, meeting it should answer our questions about the coastal cave and the merfolk. It was fortunate that we found a clue on the first day. I had thought we might wander for days without results.

Things were progressing so smoothly it was almost disconcerting.

“It’s suspicious how favorable the situation is.”

This couldn’t be how the World Tower usually operates.

Not only did we discover Badadkkot in a single day, but we also found a related NPC.

Our luck seemed too good. I felt we shouldn’t let our guard down.

The others who had gone elsewhere hadn’t made any significant discoveries yet.

Han Cha-hyun and Lee Kang-to were said to be infiltrating somewhere… Compared to that, clues had practically fallen into our laps. We might even solve this before they uncover anything.

“Well, we won’t know until we try.”

Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch. Thinking about the sea spirit reminded me of the egg that was draining my mana. I tapped the pattern drawn on the back of my left hand with my index finger.

[Egg of Chimera ‘Haerang’ (B)

: The black mage’s greatest masterpiece, completed in his old age. Grows by consuming mana. (Hatching progress: 5.8%)

※ Non-tradable item]

When the hatching progress surpassed 5%, a small flower bud-shaped pattern appeared on the back of my hand. Thanks to this, I could check its status without taking the egg out of my inventory.

The flower bud had opened slightly compared to before. I suppose the chimera will hatch when this flower fully blooms.

“I hope it turns out normal, whatever it becomes.”

I wasn’t expecting any extraordinary abilities from something growing on the mana of an unremarkable C-rank. I just hoped it wouldn’t have any patched-up or decayed parts.

“Come out slowly, take your time.”

As if responding to my words, the pattern on the back of my hand shimmered faintly.

◆◇◆◇◆

Atera insisted that we should never use this necklace where other people were present.

I agreed that it wouldn’t be good to show the sea spirit to the NPCs of Shella, who seemed suspicious in some way, let alone to players.

However, finding a deserted sea in a port city where ships came and went ceaselessly even at night was no easy task.

“Ah, I know a place that’s definitely going to be empty of people.”

Remembering the coastal cave, I led the group to the cliff. The wind atop the cliff was still blowing fiercely today.

“Atera, from here it’s dangerous, so maybe we should go alone…”

“No.”

Atera kept her lips tightly sealed and avoided my gaze. She had been stubborn ever since hearing about the cave connected to Badadkkot.

Considering that Atera’s trust was listed as a reward, she would likely be involved in future quests as well.

‘So I can’t force her to stay behind either. This is troublesome.’

My skills weren’t suitable for moving while carrying someone. If my hand were to slip…

Noticing my hesitation, Cha Taeyang made a suggestion.

“I’ll take Atera!”

“Are you sure you can?”

Cha Taeyang nodded with a mischievous smile. Does she have another skill I don’t know about?

“Of course! Our Taeyang can do anything!”

The goblin cackled, seeming to have an idea of what was coming. Cha Taeyang lifted Atera up.

“Atera, are you afraid of heights?”

“N-no. I lived on top of a spire for a long time, so I’m fine.”

“That’s great!”

Surely not.

An ominous premonition flashed through my mind.

And before I could stop her, Cha Taeyang leaped off the cliff with a cheer.

“Yahoo!”

“Hunter Cha Taeyang!”

“Kyaaaa! D-Dad…!”

Atera’s scream faded into the distance. I peered down, but all I could see was the violently churning seawater.

Cha Taeyang is an A-rank hunter. The probability of what I feared happening was very low.

‘But you never know with people.’

I hurriedly descended the cliff, prepared for any unexpected mishap. Halfway down, I heard Cha Taeyang’s voice.

“Unni, should I come up to meet you?”

“Hunter Cha Taeyang! Are you alright?”

“Of course!”

“I’ll come down on my own. So please wait there quietly!”

I thought my heart was going to drop.

Seeing such recklessness, I realized Cha Taeyang truly was an A-rank after all.

“Hunter Cha Taeyang, don’t act recklessly. You need to inform your party members before making such moves.”

“Yes…”

“Even an A-rank hunter can drown if they fall into water. Moreover, you had Atera with you, didn’t you?”

To find the cave while falling from the cliff, and then teleport inside – if she had made a mistake, Cha Taeyang and the goblin might have been fine, but Atera could have been in danger.

Upper-rank hunters who transcend human limits often do things incomprehensible by common sense.

This was my first time teaming up with such a young hunter, so I had unconsciously been acting like Cha Taeyang’s guardian. But now I truly felt that Cha Taeyang was a high-ranking hunter different from me.

“Atera, are you alright?”

After cautioning Cha Taeyang, I approached Atera, who had slumped against the wall.

She was trembling violently, apparently quite shocked.

Atera raised her head at the sound of my voice.

“…!”

Due to the cliff jump, her bangs, which usually covered her face, had been pushed back. When our eyes met, Atera startled and quickly covered her face with her bushy hair.

But I had seen it clearly. Eyes that shone like five-colored jewels.

Atera buried her face in her knees, not satisfied with just covering her eyes with her hair. Then, as if I might harm her, she curled up tightly and remained motionless in that position for a while.

Sensing something odd, the goblin rolled over to her feet.

“Young Mr. Kim, why are you suddenly like this? Were you that scared?”

“Atera, Atera! Is it because of me? I’m sorry if you were really frightened. You said you weren’t afraid of heights…”

Cha Taeyang and the goblin hovered around Atera.

Thinking it best not to pry hastily, I quietly stepped back. Sensing my presence moving away, Atera cautiously raised her face.

“Well, shall we head inside?”

Cha Taeyang looked back and forth between me and Atera. It was evident that Atera was wary of me.

Reluctantly, Atera slowly stood up and stuck close to Cha Taeyang’s back, furtively glancing at me. Pretending not to notice her gaze, I led the way into the cave.

Cha Taeyang created a small will-o’-the-wisp to light our way.

“It’s like the explorers I’ve read about in books.”

“Mr. Kim. How much further do we have to go?”

“We’re almost there. Ah, can you see it over there?”

Unlike yesterday when we had to search every nook and cranny of the walls and floor, we reached the lake quickly since we had a clear destination.

“Wow…”

The lake shimmering with blue light was still a spectacular sight even on second viewing.

An excited Cha Taeyang rushed towards the lake, dragging Atera along. Atera, who had been staring at the lake in awe, was pulled along. The sound of the excited goblin clanking and rolling behind them echoed through the cavern.

“So it really exists.”

Atera, who had declined Cha Taeyang’s offer to explore the cave together, sat by the lakeshore and dipped her hand in the water. Her eyes wavered intensely as she gazed at the lake.

I quietly observed her.

‘As I thought, this child knows something.’

Although Atera had said she wasn’t a resident of Badadkkot, every one of her actions was tinged with longing.

Needing to complete the subquest quickly to gain her trust, I called Cha Taeyang, who had been wandering around the cave. I took out the necklace from my inventory and took a deep breath.

“Your child has come, braving rough waves. Open your eyes, Medina.”

Reciting the words Atera had taught me, I placed the necklace in the lake. The necklace dissolved and disappeared, and the magic stones in the cave began to flicker.

Goooo-

An unidentifiable cry rang out. Then, the lake surged as if hit by waves. The ripples grew larger, and water overflowing from the lake wet our feet.

And then, an immense magical power was detected.

I unconsciously gripped my bow tightly. It was a sensation I had never felt before.

“M-Mr. Kim! What on earth did you summon!”

“Hunter Cha Taeyang, protect Atera!”

A chill ran down my spine.

A huge whirlpool formed in the center of the lake, and a massive shadow appeared beneath the water. With an ominous feeling, I moved to block Atera and Cha Taeyang.

The owner of the tremendous magical power raised its head above the water’s surface.

‘Blue, a whale?’

“Paran? Is it Paran!”

The booming voice pounded inside my head. The sound was so loud that my temples throbbed. Just as the headache was subsiding, the giant whale leaped out of the lake.

‘No, can that even be called a whale?’

The blue, translucent whale that seemed to be made of water changed its form as soon as it emerged. The upper body that protruded above the water was of enormous size, but it at least resembled a human shape.

“Where is Paran!”

Who is Paran that it searches so desperately? Atera, who seemed to know something, was frozen in place, overwhelmed by the spirit’s presence.

“Are you Media?”

“That is not a name for land dwellers to utter! You’ve finally invaded even this place!”

Along with the spirit’s shout, soldiers made of water were created. There seemed to be well over thirty of them. The hostile soldiers lined up in formation, ready to charge at us.

And then, a quest window appeared.

[Subquest ‘The Sea Spirit’s Wrath (A)’ has begun.

– Remaining time: 00:20:00

– Clear condition: Atera’s survival

– Recommended number of people: 5

※ This quest cannot be abandoned.]

A quest began with Atera’s survival as the condition.