Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

BOOM!

The kraken’s tentacle slammed into the castle wall. I barely managed to dodge by extending my grappling hook, but debris from the wall struck my left arm.

“Damn, that hurts!”

Strangely enough, the kraken seemed fixated solely on me, allowing Choi Kwon-young to observe the scene at his leisure.

“Right, I didn’t expect you to help anyway.”

My breath came in ragged gasps, but there was no time to catch it. Another tentacle was already swinging towards my head.

‘How did I end up in this situation?’

Facing off against a giant kraken? The difference in our power levels was beyond ridiculous. Even I had to chuckle at the absurdity.

‘Atera’s worries have become reality.’

Back then, I hadn’t planned on this. As I recalled my conversation with Atera, I drew back my bowstring.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Without the special token the Sage left before his death, you can’t approach the workshop. A ferocious kraken guards it.”

Atera added that the whereabouts of this token were currently unknown. All the sea people in Badadkkot had turned to sea foam.

“First a giant whale, and now a giant octopus?”

As the guardian of a special field, its rank would undoubtedly be high. The chances of me defeating it alone were slim. If I were alone, that is.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“Surely you’re not planning to go to the workshop?”

When I didn’t answer, Atera’s face turned pale. She pressed me, asking how I intended to face a kraken that had lived for hundreds of years.

‘I have my reasons for confidence.’

After reassuring the worried Atera, I sent a message on my hunter watch.

[- To: Choi Kwon-young

How about octopus hunting instead of whale hunting?]

[- From: Choi Kwon-young

It seems you’ve stirred up something interesting again. I’ll be there soon.]

The reply came almost instantly.

Great! Honestly, when Choi Kwon-young first arrived, I felt uneasy. But now that things had come to this, there was no one I could rely on more.

This was Choi Kwon-young, who even the sea spirit couldn’t budge. How strong could the kraken be in comparison?

“Surely it can’t be stronger than Choi Kwon-young?”

In water-based fields, he was an unparalleled hunter. All I had to do was follow his lead. It was an unexpected windfall in life. Yes, indeed.

“Since you’ve come all this way, you’ll have to work properly, Guild Master.”

◆◇◆◇◆

After a brief explanation of the situation, Choi Kwon-young and I headed straight for the sea. Cha Taeyang continued searching the city in case we couldn’t find the workshop.

According to Atera, we could access the Sage’s workshop through a coral forest near Badadkkot. At Choi Kwon-young’s insistence, we left the circuit in the coastal cave as a backup and swam towards Badadkkot.

“Do we really have to go like this?”

“This is all for preserving Hunter Yun Gaho’s stamina.”

To be precise, only Choi Kwon-young was swimming. I was merely clinging to his waist, being dragged along. He swam so fast it felt like being pulled by a motorboat.

I might have saved my stamina, but my human dignity was in tatters.

Eventually, we descended into the water with scales in our mouths. Thanks to possessing sea people’s scales, the barrier allowed us through without resistance.

The first time we came, we had crossed this barrier without knowing anything…

– We could have been in serious trouble.

Touching the barrier without permission would have triggered merciless attack magic. When I heard that from the sea spirit, I broke out in a cold sweat. We had been incredibly lucky.

We swam straight to the coral forest.

– It was a golden coral branch, right?

Choi Kwon-young and I split up to search for the golden branch.

The thought of having to search this entire coral forest was daunting. But it was better than combing through Shella. I steeled my resolve.

– Wait a moment.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind.

The golden branch must have a transportation formula inscribed on it to open the path to the workshop. Like a switch for the formula.

‘This is just like that!’

– The candlestick in Master’s house!

Wouldn’t it be similar to the formula for moving to Master’s workshop? If so, there was no need to search every nook and cranny. I spread my magical senses wide to detect the surroundings.

Sure enough, I picked up a familiar wave of magical energy nearby.

– Guild Master! It’s here!

By the way, this Sage person must have been incredibly skilled.

According to Atera, they had died long ago, yet the formula was still functioning perfectly. Judging by its condition, it seemed it would continue working flawlessly for hundreds more years.

– I wonder who’s more skilled, Kallos or the Sage.

After calling Choi Kwon-young, I headed towards the source of the magical energy.

Hidden deep in the coral, almost invisible at first glance, was a golden branch. Choi Kwon-young approached and casually placed his hand on it.

– It seems I have quite a capable guild member. It’s reassuring.

– We don’t have time. Let’s go in quickly.

At my curt response, Choi Kwon-young smiled silently and infused mana into the branch.

The surrounding scenery warped as if stirred by a whisk, and in the blink of an eye, the coral forest vanished, replaced by a pure white castle filling our vision.

[Entering Special Field, ‘The Sage’s Workshop (A)’.]

In front of the fairytale-like castle, a white octopus was coiled. The kraken positioned before the castle gate turned its head towards us, seemingly noticing our arrival.

‘We have to face that?’

From its aura to its size, it seemed to rival even the toughest floor bosses.

I summoned my bow from my inventory, preparing for the impending battle.

– Hunter Yun Gaho, stay here.

What? Choi Kwon-young, drawing out Manpa, approached the kraken, leaving me behind. When I tried to follow, he shot me a stern warning glance.

– I understand your intent, but you’ll be a hindrance.

His nonchalant retreating figure was infuriating.

It was the first time I felt such humiliation since acquiring my S-rank skill. Ever since meeting Kallos, Choi Kwon-young had shown great interest in me.

That’s why I had forgotten.

Originally, he was someone so far above me that he wouldn’t even cross paths with a hunter like me.

– A C-rank dealer is of no help, is that it?

Eight tentacles lashed out at Choi Kwon-young. Perhaps due to his skill’s effect, he seemed lighter than on land. His movements were so high-level that I couldn’t fully grasp them with my eyes.

Watching from afar, I felt my blood begin to boil.

Could I dodge all those attacks? Even if I managed to evade and counterattack, would my attacks inflict any meaningful damage on that kraken?

Choi Kwon-young’s order was rational. Watching his battle scene made me realize this even more.

‘I don’t understand why I’m C-rank. It’s just dragging down the guild’s rank.’

‘Yun Gaho-ssi, please step aside.’

‘What? The pay’s not enough? Be grateful we’re giving this much to someone like you!’

‘Isn’t this a bit too much for Hunter Yun Gaho?’

It was familiar treatment.

C-rank dealer. An ambiguously mediocre ability. Just slightly better than D-rank, the minimum requirement for World Tower access. Just an average level hunter.

That was the evaluation attached to Yun Gaho the dealer. To an S-rank dealer like Choi Kwon-young, my assistance was likely negligible.

‘No, it might even be bothersome since he has to protect me.’

Even though I knew Choi Kwon-young’s words were reasonable, a part of my heart seethed.

Yun Gaho, are you really going to stand idle? Is there truly nothing you can do?

– That can’t be right!

Impulsively, I nocked an arrow to my bowstring.

There was no need to activate Bow Assistant. The target was so large. How could I miss? Choi Kwon-young might not acknowledge it, but I too had accumulated experience.

– Stack Slot 1 ‘Condensation’ and Slot 2 ‘North Wind’!

My target was the kraken’s tentacle swooping down towards Choi Kwon-young’s head.

The arrow hit exactly where I aimed.

– Release!

But the kraken didn’t even flinch.

– Not yet!

I fired another arrow, this time stacking enchantments. It hit the same spot as before.

Crack-

Following that, one of the kraken’s tentacles froze solid.

I couldn’t hold it for long. Just one out of eight tentacles. And only for a moment. That was all.

But it would be enough for Choi Kwon-young. Multiple magic circles unfolded before Manpa’s muzzle.

Bang!

With a single shot, two tentacles were left in tatters. The kraken let out a pained cry. Choi Kwon-young, who had been activating his next skill with fluid motions, briefly glanced in my direction.

‘Useless action…’

That’s what his look seemed to say. But I didn’t care. I was just doing what I could.

Staring directly into Choi Kwon-young’s eyes, I murmured an activation phrase.

– Apply Slot 5, Narrow Escape.

I plunged the newly created arrow into my own body. Choi Kwon-young narrowed his eyes, watching me.

There was no pain. Instead, a familiar system message greeted me.

[The special effect of Slot 4, ‘Narrow Escape’ has been applied. (Remaining uses: 0)]

– Over here!

Then, activating Master of the Hunt, I climbed onto the castle wall behind the kraken.

The kraken’s tentacles, having changed targets, flew towards me with ferocious momentum. Choi Kwon-young stood with his arms crossed, watching me as if to say, “Let’s see what you can do.”

Even a graze from those tentacles would crush a C-rank like me.

But somehow, I found myself smiling. It was fine if I looked pathetic.

A C-rank should fight like a C-rank.

– This is how I fight!

Yes, this is my way.