Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

Once again, I drew back my bowstring and activated my skill.

[Your nimble movements are just like those of a predator!]

As the message popped up, my body felt lighter. Not stopping there, I immediately fired an arrow imbued with the supplementary skill, “Rising Moon.”

[You have disrupted the mana channels of ‘Eight-Legged Guardian’. You recover mana equal to 30% of the damage inflicted on the enemy.]

Due to my poor stats, the mana recovery wasn’t satisfactory, but at this moment, even that much was a godsend.

I pulled out a stunning potion from my inventory and soaked an arrow with it.

‘To think I’d use a B-rank potion like this…!’

It was hard to swallow, but the speed of the tentacle hit by the arrow noticeably decreased, making it easier for me to move.

– This is more manageable than I thought!

As I fought, I realized this octopus wasn’t particularly intelligent. Despite having eight weapons, they kept colliding with each other, and it would often lose track of my location, striking at empty air.

While each attack was threatening, it wasn’t as challenging as it appeared.

Launching myself towards the left side of the castle wall, I drew a dagger from the holster on my thigh and threw it towards the far right of the wall. The low-intelligence kraken’s attention was drawn to the dagger, causing it to be hit by the arrow that followed.

– Yes!

With my stats, it was difficult to inflict significant damage on the kraken. Therefore, instead of trying to defeat it, I aimed to incapacitate it.

It was fortunate that I had memorized mainly debuff-type skills with the intention of supporting Choi Kwon-young.

– I never imagined I’d use them like this!

I darted around the field, dodging the kraken’s tentacles.

Thanks to unleashing all sorts of debuff skills and items, I was managing reasonably well. The only strain was the headache from constantly planning my movements.

‘That tentacle, and then over there on the right…! Turn left, then back here.’

Retreating backwards, I fired an arrow stacked with North Wind. Taking advantage of the slowed tentacle movement, I descended beneath the castle wall.

Then I began circling around the kraken’s head.

My aim was simple: to entangle all eight tentacles. That was the best strategy I could employ in my current state.

It might be an obvious tactic, but the results were certain. Now wasn’t the time to seek style points.

‘If not the best, then the next best!’

The low-intelligence kraken moved according to my intentions.

Before I knew it, three tentacles had become entangled and immobilized. Just wait a little longer! I’ll turn you into a complete kraken gift set. My arms and legs were trembling, but my determination remained unbroken.

– Five more to go!

I passed between two tentacles by a hair’s breadth. The back of my neck felt chilled. I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.

My left arm throbbed, but I gritted my teeth and drew the bowstring tightly.

– Apply Slot 4, Gravity.

An arrow that added gravity to the flailing tentacle tip flew out. I fired a grappling hook at the tentacle that drooped under the suddenly added weight.

As I abruptly rose into the air, the remaining tentacles rushed towards me.

‘3, 2, 1, now!’

The kraken’s tentacle was about to strike the back of my head.

[The special effect of Slot 4, ‘Narrow Escape’ activates!]

[The attack of the Field Boss, ‘Eight-Legged Guardian’ is nullified.]

Or rather, it almost did.

Thanks to the effect of the special slot, Narrow Escape, which I had applied earlier, the kraken’s tentacle passed right through me.

Choi Kwon-young, who was about to fire his gun at the tentacle heading for me, slowly lowered his arm. You didn’t expect this, did you? The tentacles, unable to change direction in time, collided with each other.

I moved my grappling hook to the castle wall on the opposite side.

– Phew, that was close.

Even though I knew the attack would miss, my heart was pounding fiercely.

With this, two more tentacles became entangled. Just a little more to go.

But just as success was within reach, the situation changed.

Woong-

Purple ring patterns appeared on the kraken’s previously all-white body. Simultaneously, its tentacles began to move at a speed of a completely different dimension than before.

– Hunter Yun Gaho!

Moving faster than my eyes could follow, the kraken’s tentacle wrapped around my ankle. Too shocked to even scream, I was helplessly dragged along.

As Choi Kwon-young hurriedly aimed his gun to fire, the kraken showed an unexpected reaction.

Then, an incomprehensible system message filled my vision.

Kyuu-

[The Field Boss, ‘Eight-Legged Guardian’ is reacting to the item ‘Chimera (Haerang) Egg’.]

The kraken made an adorably cute sound that didn’t match its size and nuzzled its head against my body.

– Guild Master, wait, just a moment!

– What on earth is going on?

– I don’t know either.

With its body several times larger than mine rushing at me, I couldn’t gather my wits. I managed to tap the back of my hand to bring up the description window for the chimera egg.

[Chimera ‘Haerang’ Egg (B)

: The greatest masterpiece completed by a black magician in his old age. It grows by consuming its owner’s magical power. (Hatching progress: 15.8%)

: It has absorbed an ancient natural force.

– Astro of the Ocean

※ The final growth form changes depending on the growth environment.

※ Non-tradable item]

Besides the significantly increased hatching progress, the item description had changed quite a bit.

Growth environment? And Astro of the Ocean must be the sea spirit. When did it absorb the sea spirit’s power? Perhaps due to arbitrarily consuming the spirit’s power, the flower petals on the back of my hand had also opened up more than before.

– It must be reacting to the egg that contains the sea spirit’s magical power.

There was no other explanation. Choi Kwon-young nodded his head as if asking for an explanation. I showed him the back of my hand and explained my theory.

– It’s just a guess, but don’t you think the Sage might have been close to the sea spirit? That’s why the kraken is reacting to that magical power.

– That makes sense.

Despite its tentacles being a tangled mess, the kraken kept pressing the tip of its tentacle against my arm as if showing affection.

– Ugh! Hey, not there!

It seemed to be trying to control its strength, but it just had to poke the exact spot where I was injured. When I pulled my arm away, the kraken let out a dejected cry.

Kyuuu- Kyu

The tension suddenly drained from me, and I slumped to the ground. The pain I hadn’t noticed while my nerves were on edge suddenly hit me.

– Whew, I’m dying here.

A groan escaped me involuntarily. The oblivious kraken wrapped its tentacles around my body. I didn’t have the strength to push it away, so I let it be, but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Choi Kwon-young, who had been silently watching, poured a potion on my arm. The wound on my arm healed instantly.

Wait a minute, Guild Master. This golden glow is…

– What kind of hunter uses an A-rank potion for a wound like this!

– Well, here’s one right here.

– That’s a waste, a waste!

– Let’s consider it payment for the good show.

Choi Kwon-young, standing with his arms crossed, let out a chuckle.

– Hunter Yun Gaho never moves according to my expectations.

– Pardon?

– It’s a compliment.

Choi Kwon-young, who had given a somewhat unsettling compliment, peeled off the kraken’s tentacles. The tentacles that hadn’t budged when I struggled fell off easily.

Thanks to my long-sleeved outfit, there were no suction cup marks. It was just a bit unpleasant.

– I’ll untangle your legs later!

Leaving behind the kraken that kept trying to cling to us, we entered the castle. As soon as we went inside, we saw a crystal ball placed on a pedestal.

– Ah, I’ve seen something like that before.

There was something similar in Master’s workshop.

– I can’t believe they have one of these here too.

During my training, I suddenly had a strange curiosity.

“With so many items, how does Master find what he needs?”

“What?”

“You said there’s a separate material storage, right? Wouldn’t that be confusing?”

The magical tool that Kallos showed me back then looked just like this.

After activating Explorer’s Eye and checking, it was indeed similar to that item. Since the mana circuit was similar, the operation method should be the same.

I channeled magical power along the crystal ball’s circuit.

[Please select the desired function. Currently, search and destroy are available.]

– Search.

[What item would you like to search for?]

– The Roaring Conch Shell.

[Searching… Synchronizing space. The item you’re looking for is in Zone 3 of Floor 12.]

There was a faint sound of clockwork gears meshing, and a small vibration centered around where the crystal ball was placed.

As the vibration subsided, a portal slowly appeared behind the pedestal. The wooden frame surrounding the portal was engraved with the number ’12’.

– Shall we go?

Choi Kwon-young’s gaze on me became even more cunning. Trying to ignore it, I entered the portal.

– It must be over there.

Among the display cases filling the high-ceilinged room, there was a signboard. Fortunately, Zone 3 wasn’t far. A corner of a display case painted in deep purple was glowing.

– How considerate.

A faded conch shell showing signs of age was placed on the top shelf of the display case.

Bzzt!

Hearing a sparking sound, I turned around to see Choi Kwon-young shaking his hand. The back of his left hand was red and swollen, looking painful even from a distance.

For the S-rank Choi Kwon-young to get hurt like this. Could it be…

– Did you try to touch an item in the display case?

– I was curious and did it without thinking.

Without thinking? Anyone could see that was the face of someone who touched it deliberately.

– In this kind of space, you shouldn’t touch anything carelessly. It’s likely designed so that you can only take items if you know their exact name and purpose.

– I’ve learned something thanks to you.

– Aren’t you going to treat that?

– This much will heal quickly.

Despite what must have been quite painful, he remained stoic. Yet he had no problem pouring an A-rank potion on me earlier… He was truly an incomprehensible person.

‘Let’s not worry about it. It’s not like I’m the one in pain anyway.’

Turning away from Choi Kwon-young, I reached for the conch shell. It was in a slightly high place, and as I was about to swim upwards, a shadow suddenly loomed over me.

– Here.

– …Thank you.

Why is he suddenly being so kind? With an uneasy feeling, I looked Choi Kwon-young up and down. Noticing my gaze, he raised both hands.

– It seems my image is quite bad.

– It’s your karma, your karma.

– Is that how you speak to your workplace superior?

– You’re not going to do anything about it anyway.

Choi Kwon-young burst into laughter, seemingly incredulous. Unusually, he didn’t look cunning. Seeing his deep dimples, I shook my head vigorously.

‘In the end, he’s still Choi Kwon-young.’

I shifted my gaze to the conch shell.

[Roaring Conch Shell (B+)

“This is the sound of the sea, the sound of benevolence. Beneath this, you shall be at peace forever.”

: An amplification item made by an excellent craftsman. Maximizes the effect of the special skill, ‘Sound Transmission’.

※ Race Restriction — Special Race, Sea People

※ Cannot be used outside of the affiliated floor.]

It was quite a unique item.

Especially that phrase below the item name. I’ve never seen anything like it before…

‘I should ask Kallos about this later.’

I put the conch shell in my inventory and exited through the portal.

Thanks to luck being on our side in many ways, we obtained the conch shell in less than an hour. There was still plenty of time left, and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Before leaving, I unconsciously checked the quest window and gasped in shock.

[Subquest, We Are Still Here (A)

– Remaining time: 50:02:44]

“What, 50 hours?”

The remaining time had significantly decreased.