Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

Dark blue hair fluttered in the sea breeze.

Atera, having finished her song, waited for a response with her eyes closed.

“Ah, I can’t hear anything. Did my voice not reach them?”

After waiting for a long time, Atera turned around with tearful eyes.

No answer? My heart sank. Was this not the right method? I tried to hide my unease as I comforted Atera.

“It must be because of my insufficient ability. Because I’m only half…”

The girl’s eyes wavered like a candle in the wind. Cha Taeyang, watching from right beside her, grasped both of Atera’s hands.

“Atera. Let’s try again.”

“But…”

“We’ve only tried once, just once. Maybe they didn’t hear it. They’ve been on land for so long, they might have thought it was an auditory hallucination.”

Meeting Cha Taeyang’s resolute gaze, Atera lowered her head.

I understood. An ability never used except in early childhood, days spent pushing it to the back of her mind while struggling to survive.

The girl, not fully belonging to either land or sea, seemed to have completely lost herself. Without self-confidence, she couldn’t have certainty.

But that wasn’t the only reason. Above all…

“It’s alright, Atera. Didn’t the spirit say? They’re all strong people.”

Above all, she must be afraid that they might already be dead.

The system doesn’t give impossible quests. That’s why we can be certain they’re alive. But Atera didn’t have that assurance.

She probably didn’t want to confirm the worst. If she stopped here, she could blame her own inability and end it. She could live on, comforting herself that they might be alive somewhere in this world.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to save them as soon as possible? We’ll help you. So, take courage.”

I placed my hand on Atera’s shoulder. She slowly raised her face. But doubt still lingered in her eyes.

The goblin, who had been hiding in Cha Taeyang’s hair, rolled onto Atera’s head.

“Young Mr. Kim, I’ll help you.”

The goblin transformed into a small human shape. As it hummed a little tune, small fragments of light fell around Atera.

“Do you know? Goblins love songs. And I’m the goblin who loves songs the most among all goblins in the world!”

“Sori, you’ll get scolded by the Great King if you do that!”

“Mr. Kim from the sea, you have quite a talent for singing. I really like Mr. Kims like you!”

The goblin urged Atera, bouncing its shoulders.

“Come on, little Mr. Kim, I’ll help you, so sing quickly. It’ll be different from before.”

“Cha Sori. I definitely warned you. I won’t help you later.”

“Eck, how stingy!”

Cha Taeyang pressed her index finger on the goblin’s head. It was a rare sight to see her angry. But she soon softened her expression and encouraged Atera.

“You know, despite how it looks, this goblin does what it needs to when the time comes. Trust it.”

“Why are you helping me like this?”

“Why? Because you’re our friend! Do we need any other reason?”

Tears welled up in Atera’s eyes. But her gaze no longer wavered. The goblin jumped up and down on Atera’s head, urging her to start.

Atera put the conch shell to her lips once again.

– I’m here, I’m right here. Please come and get me quickly!

It was a different song from before.

An urgent rhythm as if being chased, a high tone that pierced the ear immediately, direct lyrics. It was a song that demanded attention, a desperate cry.

Perhaps thanks to the goblin, Atera’s song sounded even louder and clearer than before.

As the song reached its climax, Atera suddenly closed her mouth. Then, blinking rapidly, she pointed somewhere.

“There, over there! They’re calling me from there!”

A smile bloomed on Atera’s face. The goblin danced proudly.

“It’s all thanks to me!”

“If it’s in that direction, that’s where the Shipowners’ Association is. The darkest place is under the lamp…”

The Shipowners’ Association is near our house. To think they were so close.

“Let’s hurry!”

We quickly descended from the belfry. I could hear the children whispering behind me.

“Atera, Atera, what was that song just now?”

“It’s a song we sing when we’re lost.”

“There’s a song for that?”

“They say young sea people often get swept away by waves. It’s a song they sing then.”

“The sea people are so kind!”

Clear laughter like small bells ringing spread through the street. The goblin, back in its bell shape, jingled incessantly, seeming to enjoy itself.

“The Shipowners’ Association, isn’t that the organization of the wealthiest people in this city?”

“Yes. It’s called the Shipowners’ Association, but it’s closer to a gathering of local influential figures. They control Shella, the center of maritime trade. I hear their influence is so great that even the central government can’t ignore them.”

The land-dwellers who negotiated with the sea people were probably this Shipowners’ Association.

I quietly hushed the children following behind.

Judging by how the scenario was unfolding, it seemed we would clash with Shella’s Shipowners’ Association, and perhaps even higher-ranking figures. But there was no need to make enemies of them early on. So, from now on, things needed to proceed discreetly.

Shella’s NPCs are player-friendly. We should make the most of what we can use until the very end. Choi Kwon-young seemed to share this thought, as he advised us:

“Remember, today’s goal is just to deliver the message. Rescue is a matter for later.”

Choi Kwon-young, the greatest contributor to the 16th floor’s conquest, was acquainted with the executives of the Shipowners’ Association. While he drew their attention, I, Cha Taeyang, and Atera would secretly infiltrate the premises.

“Atera, can you still hear their voice?”

“Yes, yes! They keep talking to me.”

“Good. Then please guide us.”

We parted ways with Choi Kwon-young near the Shipowners’ Association’s property.

When passing by without thought, I hadn’t noticed, but the scale was quite large. From buildings for external affairs to warehouses, ornamental greenhouses, and even a private dock for unused ships.

As Choi Kwon-young approached the main gate, a security guard who recognized him jumped in surprise and ushered him inside. Taking advantage of the NPCs’ attention being focused on Choi Kwon-young, we secretly climbed over the wall.

As soon as we entered the premises, Atera pointed somewhere.

“Over there! Near the dock. I can hear the voice from there.”

After confirming no one was around, we moved towards the dock. About a dozen ships were moored along the wharf.

Unlike the heavily guarded area around the buildings, the dock was quiet. There was no sign of people even in the wooden building inside the dock.

‘These ships must be their greatest assets. Why is security so lax?’

Cha Taeyang also seemed to sense something odd, remaining vigilant.

“I’m the toughest, so I’ll take the lead. Atera, which way?”

“No. Hunter Cha Taeyang, please wait a moment.”

Even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing. Just in case, I activated Explorer’s Eye.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene that unfolded before me. As expected.

“There are devices to detect intruders.”

“Eek! Have we been caught?”

“Not yet.”

Red squares were visible here and there on the ground.

Do alarms go off if we step on those? The simplest method would be to destroy the magical tool that should be nearby. But that would leave traces of our presence.

“Atera, where exactly do you hear the voice?”

“From that building over there. I can hear the voice from inside.”

Of all places. It was deep inside the dock, quite a distance away.

“I’ll lead the way. Just follow the path I take.”

“Okay!”

I approached the building while checking if Cha Taeyang and Atera were following properly. As we got closer to the pier, the traps became more densely placed.

Towards the end, there were even sections so narrow we had to walk on our tiptoes.

“Phew, now just come straight ahead from there.”

I entered the building a step ahead, before the other two arrived.

While all the buildings on the premises were uniformly impressive, this one was exceptionally shabby. The old building, without even a common window, looked like it might collapse if pushed, worn down by the sea breeze.

As I turned the doorknob, the door opened with a sharp creak.

“Atera, are you sure it’s here?”

“Yes. The voice has stopped for now, but it was definitely here!”

“Gaho-unni, what’s wrong?”

The building was completely empty inside.

Atera, who had followed me in, fidgeted with her fingers in confusion.

“Did I, did I hear wrong?”

“Atera, try calling out to them again.”

At first glance, it seemed there was nothing, but it could be a trick. Atera, who had been looking dejected, hastily picked up the conch shell.

– I’m here!

– Child, quickly escape to the sea. There are land-dwellers nearby.

– Now, I’m coming right now.

This voice? This time, we could hear the sound transmission too. A woman’s voice with a metallic tinge flowed into our minds.

“Unni, this is…!”

“Yes, I heard it too.”

“Mr. Kim, it’s below. The owner of this voice is right below us!”

The goblin on Cha Taeyang’s shoulder rolled towards a corner of the building. Cha Taeyang created a small goblin fire to illuminate the floor.

As we brushed away the dust accumulated on the floor, a rectangular groove became visible. It was a type of door that lifted upwards. Carefully opening it, we saw a dark passage leading underground.

We descended the stairs, lighting the way with the goblin fire. There was a possibility of traps here too, so I took the lead again.

The stairs weren’t very long.

And the sight that followed left me speechless.

“What in the world…”

The basement should have been dark without a single light.

But the scene before my eyes was different. Red mana circuits crawled up the walls, illuminating the end of the corridor brightly.