Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

The first thing I saw was a long corridor. With the passage in the middle, cells barred with iron gratings lined both sides. Cha Taeyang and Atera poked my back, asking why I had stopped.

The malice emanating from the mana circuits covering both walls was suffocating. Every single formula was designed to harm people.

The focus of this vicious circuit was the door at the end of the corridor.

– No, I’m fine. You should escape quickly!

The voice was coming from behind that door. As if noticing us, blue eyes flashed from inside.

A sea person in a pitiful state was staring at us. Though their appearance was a mess, their aura was fierce. The blue eyes, shining brightly even in the darkness, were sharp as if ready to devour me at any moment.

“I’ll go first.”

I stopped Cha Taeyang from illuminating the passage and approached the door alone. This was not a sight the children should see. I hoped this conversation would end with me.

“This circuit seems to have been installed some time ago…”

It wasn’t a particularly sophisticated circuit. However, its purpose was malicious. Its main objectives appeared to be disrupting mana circulation and inhibiting physical recovery. There were also knots that looked like offensive formulas interspersed throughout.

As I approached the door, the sound of metal clashing came from inside. The goblin fussed, asking what was happening. But I couldn’t say anything.

The sea person’s appearance up close was even more pitiful.

Haphazardly cut hair, sunken cheeks, iron chains on both arms, a blood-filled tank, and a large scar on the neck. Not a single part was unscathed. I was glad I had left the children behind.

“Have you brought another child! What are you planning to do this time…”

The sea person shouted in a cracking voice.

I barely managed to stop Cha Taeyang, who was trying to come this way, unaware of the scene ahead. The sea person thrashed about, twisting their entire body. To avoid provoking them, I lowered my posture and spoke in the gentlest tone possible.

“No, we’ve come to rescue you.”

“Ha, do you think I’ll fall for that?”

“Please don’t move. Your wounds will open.”

Judging by the thick layer of dust on the door leading to the basement, no one had come for quite a long time. Yet, blood was dripping from various parts of the woman’s body. It must be due to the formula preventing healing. Despite what must be intense pain, the sea person didn’t seem to care.

“The child, the children are innocent. Play with me. Play with me as you always have!”

“Your wounds are opening. Please, please stay still. Astro sent us. We’re not here to torment you.”

“Astrona?”

At the mention of the sea spirit’s name, the woman stopped struggling. But sharp suspicion still hung in her gaze.

“Yes, Astro of Badadkkot. We’ve brought his message.”

“Badadkkot, is Badadkkot still there?”

The sea person’s eyelids fluttered, seemingly greatly surprised.

With small footsteps, two people ran towards me. Atera, who had groped her way through the darkness, spoke.

– Badadkkot has not yet withered.

– You, were you the one who called me?

“Yes, I was looking for you. Galatea.”

The sea person, Galatea, reached out towards Atera. But her hand was blocked by iron chains and the thick door. Cha Taeyang asked in a small voice.

“Unni, can I turn on the light now?”

It wasn’t a particularly good sight for their emotions, but we couldn’t keep going like this. Reluctantly, I nodded. Blue goblin fire illuminated the basement.

Despite my warning not to be surprised, the children’s eyes wavered upon seeing Galatea.

This is why I didn’t want to show them… Galatea, belatedly realizing her own appearance, smiled awkwardly.

“Child, how did you know my name?”

“I heard it from Paran. He said there was a female companion with a beautiful voice among the sea people who came up to land…”

“Paran? Child, how do you know Paran? Where is Paran now? Is he already at Badadkkot?”

Atera struggled to answer the barrage of questions.

Galatea sighed upon hearing that Paran had died long ago. Perhaps due to having experienced so much, she showed no signs of heartbreak.

“Hey, should I give you a potion?”

Shaking her head, Galatea answered in a calm tone that these weren’t wounds that could be healed by such things. She seemed to know about the formulas in this room designed to harm her.

It must have been an excruciatingly painful time, but since seeing Atera, the woman had been acting cheerful.

“Child, you mentioned Astrona’s message? Is he doing well?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Excuse me for interrupting. Galatea, as I mentioned earlier, we came to deliver Astro’s message. He told us to tell the delegates trapped on land that Badadkkot has not yet withered, and to bring back an answer.”

Galatea wiped the smile off her face and looked at me. It was a completely different attitude from when she was talking to Atera.

“Why would Astrona make such a request to players?”

“We intend to save the sea people, and Badadkkot.”

“What? That’s nonsense…”

The delegation had been betrayed most severely by the people of Shella.

It was understandable that she couldn’t believe us. She must be wondering what we’re up to all of a sudden. I couldn’t tell her it was because of a hidden piece, so as I was choosing my words, Atera stepped forward.

“The players took me to Badadkkot.”

“Child, tell me honestly. Haven’t these people harmed you?”

“Not at all!”

Atera turned her head slightly to look at Cha Taeyang and smiled.

“My, my friend here grew up with goblins, I mean, spirits. So she knows. She knows how much people torment those who are a little different from them. That’s why she wants to help me.”

Atera waved her hands widely, defending us. Happy that Atera had called her a friend, Cha Taeyang smiled brightly and held her hand.

Watching this scene quietly, Galatea sneered.

“Land-dwellers are all the same. They betrayed us. In return, our people were violated, and young children were treated as rare spectacles and sold off.”

“Galatea…”

“There were even people who paid money to watch sea people trapped in tanks. To avoid starving to death, we had to perform tricks and swim in narrow boxes as they commanded. All for a piece of rotten fish.”

This was a story the sea spirit hadn’t told us. It seemed to be the first time Atera had heard it too, as her face turned pale.

“I still can’t trust land-dwellers.”

“But…”

Galatea closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and continued.

“But I’ll trust your decision. I can’t stop you from starting your journey. We made the wrong choice, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow the same path.”

“We won’t do that!”

“You must. Land child, the grudge of sea people is deeper than the sea. Please make sure this child doesn’t regret her choice. That would be good for us, and for you.”

The sea person with lowered eyes warned Cha Taeyang. Cha Taeyang, disregarding this, smiled brightly at Atera.

It was a scene that didn’t fit the gloomy underground prison, but what of it? It was such a pleasant sight. The goblin seemed to think so too, laughing so hard it could bring down the basement.

“Tell Astrona. We’ll be back soon, so tell him to wait eagerly.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure to tell him.”

“Hey, Unni. Can’t we break this door?”

Cha Taeyang, who had already rolled up her sleeves to her elbows, swung her arms around.

The mana circuit focuses on weakening Galatea. Cha Taeyang should be able to destroy it without much difficulty. There doesn’t seem to be any alarm system either.

“Alright. Since we’ve come this far, let’s go back together.”

But we had to leave without her.

It was because of a message from Choi Kwon-young. The executives of the Shipowners’ Association were coming to this area soon to show Choi Kwon-young their ships. He said they promised him a good sight, but there was a possibility it wasn’t just ships they wanted to show.

We had to leave quickly.

From the executives’ security personnel to the people who would follow to see Choi Kwon-young. It might be possible with just me and Cha Taeyang, but escaping with Atera and Galatea was impossible.

“If only I had a little more strength…”

As I bit my lip, Cha Taeyang patted my back, telling me not to blame myself.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’ve endured like this for decades here. I’m an expert at waiting.”

“I’ll come back to get you soon. I promise!”

Atera kept looking back, seemingly reluctant to leave. I felt heavy-hearted as well.

As we were about to climb the stairs, a sudden thought struck me, and I ran back towards Galatea.

“What now? I told you to hurry and go.”

“Just a moment. If I do this here…”

Thanks to my diligent studying, it didn’t take long to find what I was looking for. I infused mana into my finger and cut off a part of the circuit drawn above the door. Fortunately, it was a simple circuit.

I took out the highest-grade potion I had from my inventory and handed it through the bars.

“I’ve blocked the formula that was hindering recovery. You should be able to use the potion now.”

“That’s… possible?”

“Unni, I hear footsteps! Hurry, hurry up!”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. We’ll come back soon.”

Urged by Cha Taeyang, I ran through the long corridor to the stairs leading to the ground.

I hoped his pain would be eased, even if just a little. Once again, I felt grateful for Explorer’s Eye.

Galatea’s gaze, which I couldn’t quite interpret, clung to the back of my head.

◆◇◆◇◆

On a warm, sunny morning.

A man with green hair was dozing, leaning against the temple wall. Hugging a broom to his chest, the man traveled through dreamland, undisturbed by the surrounding noise.

“Mmm, it’s all mine…”

“Hey, you there! How many days has it been, and you’re already slacking off!”

At the priest’s shout, the man, Lee Kang-to, groggily got up and waved his hand.

“Good morning.”

“The sun god Helium only blesses the diligent. Get up now, will you?”

“Helium? Diligent?”

Walking in a zigzag while nodding off, Lee Kang-to suddenly started grinning.

“To think such a thing would be here. Ah- it was truly fantastic.”