Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

‘I thought the name “Western Garden of Flowers” was just a metaphor.’

The landscape of the afterlife mocked my meager imagination that had conjured images of hellish scenes. It was breathtakingly beautiful, making the presence of Yun Su-ho and Han Cha-hyun, who had entered just before me, seem like ink splatters on a blank canvas.

Low-growing flowers undulated to the horizon, each unique in color and shape, yet all exuding an intoxicating fragrance.

I wanted to admire it more, but unfortunately, we were on duty.

“Wait. Before we move, there’s something we need to check.”

I stopped the two who were about to scout the immediate area. I couldn’t be caught off guard this time like before. Checking my Hunter Watch, as expected, communication was cut off.

“Quest window.”

[Hidden Quest, Great Fortune (S)

– Clear Condition: Guide the soul butterflies to the afterlife

– Time Limit: 61:49:12

– Reward: ???

– Penalty: Outbreak of the Great Human-Yokai War]

Just as I thought. The time in the quest window was rapidly decreasing. If I hadn’t recalled this when hearing about the special field, we would have been in big trouble.

“It seems the flow of time here is different from the outside.”

“Really? Ah, now that you mention it, didn’t you say this happened in that special field you visited before?”

“Yes, the rate is… roughly 2 times faster, I’d say.”

Han Cha-hyun, who had been staring into space for a moment, let out a short sigh. He must have confirmed the truth of my words by looking at the quest window.

“In that case, we need to hurry even more.”

I agreed with Han Cha-hyun’s opinion. The already tight time limit had been cut in half. Now we had at most a day. We couldn’t afford to waste any more time, especially since we needed to prepare for potential yokai attacks.

However, we couldn’t easily start moving. Although our goal of finding Baek-a was clear, we didn’t know the exact destination.

The surrounding environment didn’t help either. There wasn’t a single NPC in sight, and without any suitable objects, Han Cha-hyun couldn’t use his skill. Moreover, with flowers blooming extravagantly in every direction, it was difficult to even gauge our orientation.

“Yun Su-ho, can you sense anything?”

“Not at all.”

“I tried using my ability on the flowers just in case, but it’s no use. Gaho, can you see anything with your eyes?”

Han Cha-hyun, who had been bending down to touch the flowers, tapped around his eyes. But even the Explorer’s Eye, which had always shown the way, was useless today. Well, this was proving to be quite challenging from the start.

“We have no choice. We’ll have to split up and scout the area.”

“In that case, we should leave a marker here…”

“Yun Gaho, that suggestion is overruled.”

Right, I wondered why he’d been so agreeable lately. Yun Su-ho, interrupting Han Cha-hyun’s words, stared at me with a blank expression. He went on to say that there were too many dangerous elements.

“Here we go again with your safety obsession?”

“Anyone would say the same in this situation. Hunter Han Cha-hyun, you don’t have the combat ability to safely explore an unranked field, do you?”

“Haha, I can’t deny that.”

“Rushing could lead us to cross a river of no return. Yun Gaho, that’s not what you want, is it?”

I nodded with a sigh. For once, Yun Su-ho was right. If either Han Cha-hyun or I encountered something like a Kraken while exploring alone, we could be in grave danger.

Having overcome several urgent situations recently, it seemed I had become a bit too relaxed. I had developed an unfounded confidence that I could somehow resolve any crisis. Even with nine lives, that kind of attitude was dangerous.

‘To think Yun Su-ho would be the one to pour cold water on me.’

Thanks to him—though I’m reluctant to say it—my head cooled off at the right moment. But my gratitude was short-lived. Yun Su-ho’s unnecessary addition twisted my mood.

“Remember, if I judge you to be in even the slightest danger, I’ll return immediately.”

“…Huh, how thoughtful of you.”

“Glad you understand.”

Whether he mistook my sarcasm for praise or not, a look of satisfaction crossed Yun Su-ho’s face. It was truly exasperating. How does he manage in social situations with that level of perception?

As I turned my gaze towards the horizon to calm my anger, I spotted something like a small flame in the distance. Looking closer, I saw a single red butterfly flying alone.

‘A soul butterfly?’

It looked completely different from the soul butterflies in Cheonsan, which were covered in white powder. But there was no way an ordinary butterfly would be flying around in the afterlife like that.

“Let’s follow that.”

“Pardon?”

“That butterfly over there. We have no other leads, so let’s follow it.”

Even as we spoke, the butterfly was rapidly moving away, fluttering its flame-like wings.

Since the other two agreed that we had no better options, we quickly began to move, tracing the butterfly’s path.

Whether it knew it was being pursued or not, the butterfly was busy flying towards some unknown destination. We ran across the flower field endlessly, not knowing where we were headed.

“It’s definitely not an ordinary butterfly, is it?”

After some time, Han Cha-hyun, who had been quiet all along, spoke up. Yun Su-ho, running at the front, seemed uninterested in conversation, so I answered instead.

“Ah, yes. I didn’t expect it to be this hard to catch up.”

“It’s also strange that there’s only one soul butterfly. Considering the number we saw in Cheonsan, it seems unnatural, doesn’t it?”

“Well, the last Month of Purification was 20 years ago by this place’s standards. Who knows what happened in between?”

“Hm, that’s true. Let’s keep observing for now.”

Noticing something off about his voice, I turned back to see his face flushed with exertion. That wasn’t all. Although he was trying his best to keep pace, his shoulders heaved with labored breathing, and his feet were dragging half a step behind.

‘Come to think of it, he’s a wizard-type, isn’t he?’

I clicked my tongue, belatedly recalling what I’d heard before. He had even joked about hearing for the first time since his awakening that he was frail, making me laugh. Why had I forgotten?

‘Even at B-rank, he must be heavily specialized in magic.’

I should have been mindful instead of the insensitive Yun Su-ho. Being used to always being in the weakest position, I hadn’t thought about having to consider someone else’s physical limitations.

Han Cha-hyun was at fault too. I understand not wanting to show weakness, but at this point, he should have said something. I thought he was intelligent, but he seems to have a surprisingly stubborn side.

Thinking I had merely caught his eye, Han Cha-hyun smiled nonchalantly. He clearly had no idea what he looked like.

“Gaho-ssi, did you want to say something?”

“It might not be the most stable, but it’ll be better than this.”

“Pardon?”

There was no point in asking first; he would have refused, saying he was fine. From what I’d experienced before, it wasn’t an unbearable weight either.

Without further ado, I scooped up Han Cha-hyun. He tried to wriggle free in surprise but stopped at my next words.

“Your glasses will fall off. Please stay still.”

“Gaho-ssi, what are you…”

“If this position is uncomfortable, should I carry you on my back? Though with our height difference, that might be more awkward.”

“No, that’s not the issue…”

Han Cha-hyun looked like he had a lot to say, but he only fiddled with his glasses frame, holding back his words. He’s usually hard to read, but this time I could tell.

‘He must be embarrassed about receiving help from someone much smaller and lower-ranked than him.’

Although the situation was a bit different, I could understand, having been carried by Lee Kang-to before. But I couldn’t let Han Cha-hyun push himself like this.

“I may be one rank below you, but I’m still sturdier than a wizard-type hunter.”

“Gaho-ssi, even so, I can’t impose on you like this.”

“Impose? You’re as light as a feather, you know?”

Han Cha-hyun finally relented at my joke, delivered with a shrug. Though he did ask me to retract the feather comment. Anyway, I was glad to have persuaded him quickly.

While Han Cha-hyun and I were having this exchange, the indifferent Yun Su-ho had moved far ahead. Still, by picking up our pace, we were able to catch up to him.

Yun Su-ho only turned back when I got close behind him. And then he said:

“Refrain from personal activities during work, will you?”

Well, this is something. Was that an uncharacteristically crude joke? No, his expression was far too serious for that.

‘Surely his hearing is good enough. He must have been paying remarkably little attention.’

Glancing down, I saw Han Cha-hyun just smiling as if he found the situation amusing. Or perhaps he had resigned himself to it. Either way, he didn’t seem inclined to clear up Yun Su-ho’s misunderstanding. I had no choice but to explain.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. It’s an efficient method for preserving our strength, that sort of thing.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, that’s what it is. Now that you understand, let’s… What now?”

I thought he’d start moving again now that he had the answer he wanted, but Yun Su-ho couldn’t take his eyes off me. To make matters worse, he started rubbing his brow with his fingertips.

‘What’s he getting worked up about now?’

That was a gesture Yun Su-ho only made when he was anxious or extremely displeased. Given the situation, it must be the latter, but I couldn’t fathom what had triggered him this time.

Not satisfied with just staring, Yun Su-ho strode towards me. Though I’d seen him countless times, up close his imposing presence was newly intimidating. Instinctively, I tightened my grip on Han Cha-hyun.

“What is it? Use your words, man.”

“I don’t understand.”

Yun Su-ho furrowed his brow slightly. It was incredibly frustrating that he wouldn’t explain properly. All the while, the soul butterfly was getting further and further away.

I was about to lose my temper out of habit when I remembered what had just happened. Could there be a valid reason for this too? It wouldn’t be the first time this guy had left out crucial parts of his thoughts.

‘If it were anyone but Yun Su-ho, I’d at least ask for the reason.’

Deliberately softening my tone, I asked:

“What don’t you understand?”

“Isn’t there a more efficient method?”

“Don’t skip the subject. Say it properly, from start to finish.”

Yun Su-ho tilted his head slightly as if wondering why I didn’t get it, and held out his hand. Ah, so that’s what he meant?

“In an emergency, I can fight while carrying Hunter Han Cha-hyun. But you can’t, can you? You can’t shoot a bow one-handed, after all.”

“Tch, you should have said that from the beginning.”

If that was the reason, I could understand. As always, Yun Su-ho’s problem was his communication. Shaking my head, I transferred Han Cha-hyun to Yun Su-ho. Of course, I didn’t forget to ask Han Cha-hyun’s permission first.

“Well, this does look more appropriate.”

Although Han Cha-hyun was quite tall and well-built, he was no match for Yun Su-ho. They made an oddly stable pair. Seeing them like that made me realize how ridiculous I must have looked carrying Han Cha-hyun.

“Can you keep up, Yun Gaho?”

“Of course. I can use my skills, so let’s hurry.”

To make up for the distance we’d lost during our brief commotion, we increased our speed even more as we chased after the butterfly. It was about an hour later when the butterfly’s destination finally came into view.

“That’s…”

As the butterfly passed a certain point, a modest thatched house appeared on what had been just a flower-covered hill. It was the moment my judgment proved correct.