Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

“How did you come up with this idea, Hunter Han Cha-hyun?”

Lee Kang-to, now dressed in plain clothes instead of his resplendent robe, stirred a pale soup. Sitting across from him, Han Cha-hyun smiled brightly as he answered the question.

“To catch a tiger, one must enter the tiger’s den.”

Lee Kang-to shuddered. These were the kind of people one should be most wary of.

Though he appeared to be a person of common sense, Han Cha-hyun was indeed a member of Hwangya. Hwangya members always pointed fingers at Baekya for being out of their minds, but in Lee Kang-to’s eyes, they were no different.

Going undercover among NPCs for quest hints was not normal behavior.

‘They say all graduate students are strange, is that why?’

The night before, Han Cha-hyun had shown him a notice seeking devotees to serve at the Great Temple of Helium during the festival period. As soon as morning broke, he dragged Lee Kang-to to the temple.

Thanks to Han Cha-hyun, who had somehow memorized Helium’s religious rituals and rules perfectly, the two were able to blend in among the volunteers without arousing suspicion.

“Impressive infiltration skills…”

Lee Kang-to sighed quietly, out of Han Cha-hyun’s earshot.

“So, Lee Kang-to-ssi, nothing unusual on your end?”

“It’s only the first day. I’m busy just getting through the assigned tasks. Even doing menial work for the first time is quite challenging. How about you, Hunter Han Cha-hyun?”

“Same here. However, there’s something strange…”

Han Cha-hyun lowered his voice.

Blending in with the NPCs, the two were assigned to different areas. Like most servants, Lee Kang-to was tasked with cleaning the Great Temple. Perhaps due to his trustworthy appearance, Han Cha-hyun was separately assigned to clean and move ritual implements.

“Do you know about my skill?”

“You said it was related to old places or objects, right?”

“Yes, I can read the stories of things with long histories. I can even gain special effects from very old objects.”

“But why bring that up suddenly?”

“My skill doesn’t activate within the Great Temple.”

Lee Kang-to leapt to his feet at Han Cha-hyun’s words.

“Your skill doesn’t work?”

“Calm down. Are you trying to spread rumors to the whole neighborhood?”

“S-Sorry. I was just so surprised. Is, is there a problem with your skill?”

Han Cha-hyun shook his head and explained what he had felt.

He sensed something off the moment he stepped into the Great Temple. As the temple of a god old enough to feature in creation myths, he should have been overwhelmed by the power originating from its long history upon entering.

But in this temple, he couldn’t even read proper memories, let alone experience special effects.

At first, he thought something was wrong with his skill. But after checking with items in his inventory, he confirmed there was nothing wrong with the skill itself.

If so, there was only one answer.

“It’s not the skill that’s strange, it’s this temple.”

Han Cha-hyun’s skill, ‘Learning from the Past,’ was a skill that could converge to a maximum of S-rank, but it wasn’t an ability that could be easily used. It required objects at least 500 years old to manifest usable effects. Reading memories was a bit easier, but still needed at least 100 years.

According to the literature he had read in the old bookstore, this floor had a history of at least 2,000 years. Logically speaking, Han Cha-hyun’s skill should have activated.

“I had the same reaction when touching the ritual implements.”

“Which means…”

“It means there’s not a single old object in this temple.”

“Of course, we might have missed something,” Han Cha-hyun added.

They couldn’t jump to conclusions based on just a few hours of observation.

However, such religious buildings typically place ancient symbols in visible locations to inspire awe for the god and priests.

Yet everything—the statues, altar, ritual implements, even the temple building itself—was new. Add to that the different version of the myth that Yun Gaho had sent…

It was worth investigating.

“Actually, I saw something earlier…”

Suddenly remembering something, Lee Kang-to explained what he had witnessed.

While cleaning outside the temple, Lee Kang-to had seen an elderly woman in shabby clothes being dragged away by temple knights.

“The old lady was saying things like, ‘How can you believe in some unknown god from who-knows-where?’ She also called the people ungrateful.”

“How did the people around react?”

“They said she must have gone senile from living too long.”

After pondering for a moment, Han Cha-hyun took out a notebook from his pocket. He tore out a page, wrote something on it, and handed it to Lee Kang-to.

“If you see that person again, ask her these questions.”

“These questions…”

“It seems that old woman might be a crucial clue.”

Han Cha-hyun smiled faintly, then looked at his hunter watch and fiddled with his glasses frame.

“By the way, it’s time for the report, but there’s no contact.”

“Ah, is it that time already?”

“I wonder if something happened.”

“Didn’t you say Guild Master Choi Kwon-young arrived? I’m sure everything’s fine. Maybe they just forgot.”

“Hmm, let’s wait a bit longer.”

The two stood up as they finished their conversation.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t wander around unnecessarily and go to bed early.”

“Of course. What am I, a child? I’ll go straight to bed.”

Han Cha-hyun eyed Lee Kang-to suspiciously before leaving the dining hall first.

Once Han Cha-hyun’s presence faded, Lee Kang-to grinned and disappeared into the shadows.

◆◇◆◇◆

– Guild Master! Check the quest, check the quest window!

[Subquest, We Are Still Here (A)

– Remaining time: 50:02:43]

What’s going on here? Even including the trip to the house, less than two hours should have passed.

Choi Kwon-young clicked his tongue after checking the quest window.

– It’s my oversight.

– Pardon?

– This happens occasionally. I should have checked in advance, but I was careless.

According to Choi Kwon-young’s explanation, this field, the Sage’s Workshop, was a space with a different time ratio compared to the outside. It was a phenomenon rarely seen in high-ranking special fields.

– About ten times. This isn’t bad.

This isn’t bad? As if sensing my thoughts, Choi Kwon-young added:

– Have you heard about the Russian conquest team that went missing for three months?

– Of course. It caused such an uproar at the time. Don’t tell me…

– Your guess is correct. They said they spent just under a full day in a special field they stumbled upon.

That’s a ratio of nearly 100 to 1. Choi Kwon-young looked at me as if asking if I understood now. I reluctantly nodded. Compared to 100 times, 10 times seemed almost cute.

– Let’s return quickly. We don’t have much time left.

Before leaving, we didn’t forget to untangle the kraken’s tentacles. Though I didn’t expect him to help, thanks to Choi Kwon-young lending a hand, we finished quickly.

Evading the kraken trying to cling to me, we exited the field to find, as expected, that it was already dark outside.

Perhaps the special field’s interior was a no-communication zone, because as soon as we left, my hunter watch rang loudly.

[- From: Cha Taeyang

We’re going out for dinner, when will you be back?]

[- From: Yun Su-ho

(Photo)

Found this on the beach. Do you have these there too?]

[- From: Cha Taeyang

I’ll go ahead first (^0^)/]

[- From: Han Cha-hyun

It’s past the agreed time, but there’s no report.

Please respond.]

Zing-!

[- From: Cha Taeyang

Unni! Did something happen? Should I come over there?]

I replied to Cha Taeyang’s message that had just arrived. No sooner had I replied than Cha Taeyang urged us to come quickly.

‘Yikes, they must have been really worried.’

I’d have to answer the other messages after getting back to the house.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Unni!”

“We’re late without any contact, aren’t we? Did you eat dinner well?”

“We thought the kraken had gotten you, Player!”

Atera shouted, peeking out from behind Cha Taeyang.

“The young Mr. Kim was so worried! Said he’d put you in danger by telling unnecessary things.”

“Sori, when did I ever?”

“You’ve been saying that all along. I thought my ears would fall off.”

“There were circumstances. Will you forgive us since we’ve returned safely?”

Atera nodded, wiping her face with her sleeve.

After sending a message to Han Cha-hyun explaining the general situation, we gathered in the living room to share the day’s events. Except for the excessive attention I received thanks to Choi Kwon-young mentioning my encounter with the kraken, the meeting proceeded smoothly.

“This is the conch shell.”

“Is this all we need?”

Cha Taeyang asked, her eyes shining.

Well, I wish that were the case. Somehow, since climbing the World Tower, things never seem to go smoothly. I hope nothing else comes up…

“It’s too late today, so tomorrow…”

“I-I’m fine with today too!”

“Atera?”

“I want to save people as soon as possible.”

I looked at Choi Kwon-young, who nodded as if to say, “Do as you wish.” Cha Taeyang also gave an okay sign with her fingers, saying it was fine.

Since we had just returned from the field, we decided to use the conch shell an hour later.

“The closer to the sea and the higher the elevation, the better.”

“There’s a bell tower in front of the harbor! Isn’t that perfect?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Hunter Yun Gaho, is there a problem?”

Choi Kwon-young smiled innocently. That man… He knows why I’m uneasy.

Cha Taeyang, unaware of the story behind the bell tower, asked if there was something wrong with it.

It does meet the conditions perfectly. But taking Atera there seems a bit…

“No. It’s fine.”

I couldn’t think of any other options. Though part of me felt uncomfortable, what could I do? Atera, being an NPC, wouldn’t know the circumstances, so I just needed to shake off my unease.

We had only eaten a quick dinner and rested a bit, but the promised time was already approaching.

Unlike the bustling daytime, the streets were quiet. The area around the secluded bell tower was even more so. My worry about potential onlookers proved unfounded; there wasn’t a soul in sight, not even a mouse.

“Atera, hold on tight!”

With the entrance to the bell tower locked, we had no choice but to enter through the belfry. Cha Taeyang carried Atera, who lacked a movement skill.

In the center of the belfry hung a plain bell without any decorations.

“It feels quite nostalgic seeing it after so long.”

“Huh? Have you been here before?”

“This is the Bell of Calling for the 16th floor.”

“The Bell of Calling?”

The Bell of Calling that announces the completion of a floor’s conquest.

This bell rang the moment Choi Kwon-young shattered the wishes of countless sea people.

And now, a child with blood from both sea people and land-dwellers stood before the bell that had divided the fate of the two races.

Atera took a deep breath and put the conch shell to her lips.

– My child, asleep beneath the vast waters.

The youthful voice reverberated in my head. It was the same song she had sung before the sea spirit.

Perhaps, just perhaps, could this bell have rung for the sea people? Even knowing it was a vain thought, I couldn’t help but think so in that moment.

– Dream beneath the cradle through the long, long night.

The gentle lullaby echoed through the night sky, replacing the cruel toll of the bell.

It was the night with three days left until the shortest night of the year.