Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

“Here. Stop crying and eat some Cheonsan peaches.”

“Do you think I can eat at a time like this?”

The goblin, whose face had turned red from crying in such a short time, stomped his feet. Sarome, unfazed, extended a peach he was holding with his tail towards me.

“Since this one refuses, you might as well eat it.”

“Hm?”

I took a bite of the peach I had received without thinking, and juice flowed out. But it was so sweet and fragrant that such a thing seemed trivial.

Until I finished the entire peach, the goblin was busy sniffling, as if he hadn’t noticed me. Listening to the words mixed in with his sobbing, it seemed he was worried that Cha Taeyang might hate him now.

“That’s not possible, Sori.”

“Sniff, Mr. Kim-. Do you really think so?”

“Even now, she wanted to come to you right away, but I offered to come instead.”

Only then did the goblin raise his head and look at me. I knelt down, lowering my body, and carefully wiped his tear-stained face with my fingertips.

“I didn’t realize you were such a crybaby.”

“Sniff, I’m not always like this.”

The goblin, who had been obediently letting me wipe his face, said he was going to the water’s edge to wash up. Meanwhile, I had nothing particular to do, so I looked around while sitting.

Suddenly, I remembered what Sarome had said when we first met.

‘He definitely introduced himself as the lantern keeper who guards Cheonsan’s fire, right?’

The seven lanterns surrounding this island must be the “lanterns” he said he was guarding. Thinking about it that way, I felt as if I could sense a divine energy emanating from the flames.

Activating Explorer’s Eye out of curiosity proved that this wasn’t just a feeling. The lanterns were connected to the Heavenly Emperor’s energy pooled deep in the mountain range.

‘If I had to make a comparison, it would be like sprinklers, spreading the energy far and wide.’

Perhaps because we were right next to it, the density of the energy felt incomparably thicker than at the foot of the mountain. This seemed to be why Sarome was sprawled out with such a comfortable expression.

“What are you glancing at so intently?”

“Ah, I apologize if I was being rude.”

“On the Sak month night, the young medium will be here on this island with me. Judging by that young medium’s demeanor, she’ll surely give it her all… but it will likely be too much for her.”

Sarome shared his thoughts without being asked. Though it was an abrupt change of topic, it seemed like something I shouldn’t dismiss lightly, so I listened carefully.

“So you lot should also receive power from the lanterns to face the yokai.”

“Pardon? Could you explain that in more detail? It’s difficult to understand what you mean.”

“It would be better than me, with my diminished strength, running wild alone.”

Ah, right. He wasn’t one to give straightforward answers. Completely ignoring my question, Sarome gazed at the approaching goblin with an enigmatic look.

“Moreover, there’s that bell spiritual beast.”

“I’m not a spiritual beast, I’m a goblin!”

While the goblin’s abilities were indeed remarkable, Sarome’s words seemed to imply something more. I wanted to probe further, but he wasn’t one to give proper answers even if I did.

‘I suppose I’ll find out when the time comes.’

There were barely three full days left until the Sak month. Besides, Sori wasn’t the type of goblin to ignore our danger, so there was no need to worry in advance.

There was something more pressing to do now.

“Sori, can we talk for a moment?”

I called out to the goblin, who was bickering with Sarome about whether he was a spiritual beast or a goblin. Only then did the goblin’s eyes narrow again, realizing why I had come.

“Even if it’s the black Mr. Kim, Sori’s mind won’t change!”

“Sori’s mind is Sori’s own, so do as you please.”

“Hmm?”

The goblin tilted his head, perhaps because it was an unexpected response. He probably thought I would try to persuade him somehow.

‘Well, I will in the end, but I can’t approach it that way from the start.’

I know well because there are several stubborn people around me. If you try to forcibly bend or coax such people, they tend to rebel even more. Clumsily asserting only my position would be poison.

“But if you want us to do as you wish, you should have tried to persuade us instead of just leaving like that earlier.”

“That’s true…”

“I understand. It’s all because you care for Hunter Cha Taeyang, right?”

“That’s right! I love Taeyang so much. She’s more precious than all the songs in the world.”

The goblin’s voice rose a pitch, thinking I understood his feelings. His expression also brightened incomparably to a moment ago.

“Yes, while not as much as you, her family, I like Hunter Cha Taeyang too. I wish she could live without dangerous or difficult things.”

“Then is Mr. Kim on Sori’s side?”

“I’d like to say ‘yes’ right away, but that’s a bit difficult.”

I then carefully explained to the goblin why we needed to go to the afterlife. I didn’t leave out how important Cha Taeyang’s role was in this matter.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the success of this mission hinges on Hunter Cha Taeyang.”

“Still, I can’t…”

“However.”

As the goblin was about to cry out in opposition before I could finish speaking, I showed him my palm to stop him. The most important words were yet to come.

“However, if that task would endanger Hunter Cha Taeyang, I—no, we will look for another way.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. So if there’s really some circumstance, please tell me now, Sori.”

The goblin seemed quite shaken by my persuasion. But even so, Sori couldn’t easily open his mouth. I didn’t rush him, standing patiently opposite the goblin, waiting for his response.

“Listen, Mr. Kim.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to say. That includes Taeyang, of course.”

The goblin’s tone as he said this was quite heavy. And soon, my expression grew heavy along with his following words.

“Taeyang has lived her whole life walking on a line. If we disrupt the balance she’s barely maintained, something truly irreversible will happen.”

“By irreversible, you mean…”

“If she goes to the afterlife, Taeyang will never be able to return. In other words, she’ll die.”

Cha Taeyang will die? I had guessed there might be some circumstance, but I hadn’t anticipated this. I couldn’t understand what he meant by lines and balance, but one thing became clear.

‘The plan to go to the afterlife to find Baek-a is scrapped.’

It didn’t make much sense logically. Even if it’s called the afterlife, it’s still a ‘field’ within the World Tower, isn’t it? Whatever constitution Taeyang was born with, normally, events within the tower shouldn’t have much effect on her.

However, the goblin, who cherishes Taeyang dearly, wouldn’t talk nonsense about Taeyang’s life. It’s not like we don’t have alternatives, so we should change course here.

“If that’s the reason, I understand. Let’s not go to the afterlife. I’ll persuade the others to find a way here somehow.”

“Phew, I’ll trust only you, Mr. Kim.”

Given this situation, it means we have to fend off the yokai attacks during the Sak month by ourselves. Though I made a bold decision, having seen how strong the Three-Headed Nine-Tailed Fox was, I felt quite uneasy.

“Who knows what that nation-devouring creature will do this time, geez.”

At that moment, Sarome, who had seemed oblivious to our conversation as he licked his fur, suddenly interjected.

“Your going to the afterlife and that medium’s birth have absolutely no connection, you know?”

“How can they not be related? Hunter Cha Taeyang can’t go to the afterlife due to her constitution, and without her, we can’t return from the afterlife to this world, can we?”

“Can’t you just meet my daughter in the Western Garden?”

“…?”

Is there something that can be resolved by meeting Baek-a? Sarome sighed as he looked at me and the goblin, who were bewildered.

“What that young medium can do, my daughter should be able to do as well.”

“Ah, if that’s the case…”

“My child will open the way back, so stop worrying needlessly and hurry to prepare for your journey.”

In stark contrast to the morning’s commotion, the resolution was embarrassingly simple.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Souls everywhere, souls all around!”

Just before the sun reached its zenith, Cha Taeyang began her incantation. Unlike me, the party members seeing this spectacle for the first time watched with wide eyes as Gate of the Dead activated.

‘If even Yun Su-ho, who prides himself on being second to none in insensitivity, couldn’t take his eyes off it, that says it all.’

Thanks to Sarome’s advice, it was good that we could find Baek-a in the afterlife. However, one big problem also arose.

“I never thought the team composition would end up like this.”

“Do you have some complaint?”

“Yes, very much so.”

With Cha Taeyang staying in this world, the personnel arrangement I had originally planned was completely disrupted. Instead of Lee Kang-to, Yun Su-ho was now going to the afterlife with me.

‘To divide into three, three, and one, this is the best option, I suppose.’

I looked over Yun Su-ho and Han Cha-hyun standing on either side of me and rubbed my face.

For balance, it made sense for Yun Su-ho to come along if I and Han Cha-hyun, who have lower ranks compared to the other party members, were to be in one team. One of us could have stayed in this world, but neither I nor Han Cha-hyun wanted that.

‘If it weren’t for that, I would have tried to push Yun Su-ho out somehow.’

The moment Yun Su-ho revealed he had a special item that could designate a saving point, the team was completely finalized. Even if we couldn’t meet Baek-a, we could still get out of the tower with that item.

Well, at least we avoided the worst possible combination, so that’s fortunate, I suppose. Suddenly, the thought that I could have been moving with Lee Kang-to and Yun Su-ho sent a chill down my spine.

‘I’m a bit worried about the other team, though.’

Cha Taeyang decided to stay in Cheonsan to continue her training. Thus, the team staying in this world consisted of Park Shin-ju, Lee Kang-to, and Sori. With such strong personalities gathered, there was bound to be some discord. But since we hadn’t assigned them a particularly difficult task, I thought they’d manage somehow.

Tong-, terdeng. I pushed aside my stray thoughts as I heard the sound of a large door falling from the sky. It was time for us to depart.

“Everyone, take care and come back safely!”

With Cha Taeyang waving behind us, I and the other two headed towards the large door.

[Entering special field, Western Garden of Flowers (?).]

Perhaps because I had witnessed countless chimeras being sucked into this door, I couldn’t shake off an eerie feeling as I took my first step.