Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

– Enchant!

A blue-violet light blossomed from the circuit that had spread its branches throughout the sea people’s cradle. Violent water spray erupted around the spear where the circuit had taken root. The white mist of water droplets tickled our companions.

And then the message appeared. I bit my lip hard.

[Enchantment successful!

– Special Item, ‘Spring of the Sea, Astrona (?)’]

[Qualification updated! Some information is now revealed.]

[Spring of the Sea, Astrona (?)

“My little sea, will you protect the children’s spring days?”

: A spear that realizes Media’s will. Created to protect the sea as the sun’s adversary.

: Shows exceptional effect on all kinds of curses and pollution.

※ Currently, rank assessment is impossible due to source depletion.]

– This feels strange.

The Sea Spirit’s voice echoed in my mind.

Only then did it sink in that I had succeeded. I wanted to respond, but couldn’t find the words, my mouth opening and closing silently as my party members approached. I unconsciously stroked Cha Taeyang’s head as she threw her arms around my waist.

– Unni, unni! You did it!

– Well done. Please leave the rest to me. Lee Kang-to?

– Here you go.

Lee Kang-to, who had been clutching the jewel box tightly as if afraid someone would snatch it away, handed it over at Yun Su-ho’s word. Han Cha-hyun, who was picking up the spear from the ground, burst into laughter at the sight.

The spear stood upright, its blue-violet curtain-like decorations swaying.

Then Han Cha-hyun activated his skill, Learning from the Past. The field, born alongside myth, resonated with Han Cha-hyun’s skill that responds to ancient history.

As Han Cha-hyun swung the spear once, blue light poured over him, enveloping his entire body—no, the entire field. The torrent of mana, even more intense than in the coastal cave, made my mana channels ache.

– Ugh, this is a bit overwhelming. I’ll hurry. Yun Su-ho!

Following Han Cha-hyun’s direction, Yun Su-ho opened the box and stepped back.

As if it had been waiting for this moment, a heat that could sear skin slithered out of the box like a snake.

But that wasn’t all.

With my Explorer’s Eye activated, I could see it. The dark red mana that had accumulated over a long period was swelling up, about to overflow.

The mana, flowing like lava, took shape as Han Cha-hyun approached with the spear. In the blink of an eye, the figure of a giant man holding a bow materialized.

– Is that… He-Helium?

– Mr. Kim, look at that!

By the time the man’s figure had grown larger than the tree in the center of the tower, everyone could see it.

The water temperature around us rose sharply. The terrified children shivered violently.

At that moment, a blue wave emanated from Han Cha-hyun. A cold yet gentle energy enveloped our group.

– Please, Lord Astrona.

– I shall gladly assist.

When Han Cha-hyun tapped the ground with the butt of the spear, power rose from the cradle and enveloped the weapon. Han Cha-hyun began to pant from the overwhelmingly powerful mana that exceeded his limits. Nevertheless, he continued to draw out more power.

– Does he have something in mind?

Sensing danger, Helium’s figure drew his bowstring and aimed at us.

– Yun Su-ho, please give me one minute.

– Everyone, get behind me.

Han Cha-hyun grinned at Yun Su-ho’s nonchalant tone, as if he were asking for something obvious. Standing at the forefront to protect everyone, Yun Su-ho uttered an activation phrase.

– Last Bastion.

A translucent wall of mana rose from the ground as if erupting. Simultaneously, arrows wrapped in ominous energy came flying.

BOOM!

An ear-splitting explosion rang out.

BOOM, KABOOM!

Unlike the first shot, which had a slight delay, two more arrows followed in quick succession. But thanks to the sturdy wall that didn’t even allow heat to penetrate, let alone explosions, no one was hurt.

– Mr. Kim! You’re not just all brawn after all!

Ignoring the goblin’s rude compliment, Yun Su-ho spoke indifferently.

– Twenty-six seconds have passed.

– Yes, please hold on for 34 more seconds like this.

He’s going to protect us as long as he can even if the promised time passes, yet he acts like this. I couldn’t understand Yun Su-ho’s mindset.

– I wish I had a skill like that. With that, I could protect everyone…

Cha Taeyang, who had never seen such a large-scale skill before, didn’t hide her admiration. Listening to her chatter, it seemed she didn’t realize how amazing her own Gate of the Dead skill was.

– Hunter Cha Taeyang, you already have an excellent skill.

– …What good is that if I can’t use it properly?

– You still have plenty of time. Don’t be impatient.

It was unlike the always positive Cha Taeyang. Despite her innate talent, it seemed Cha Taeyang wasn’t content to rest on her laurels.

I tried to comfort Cha Taeyang, telling her not to rush since she had just started her life as a hunter.

– Eek! Player, over there!

Akis, peeking out from behind Galatea, pointed upwards. Following his finger, I turned my head to see seven enormous arrows hovering above us, their appearance unnoticed until now.

The arrows, created so stealthily that they had evaded even Yun Su-ho’s senses, rushed in to exploit any openings. The blazing arrows approached at a terrifying speed.

I shouted while instinctively shielding Cha Taeyang in my arms.

– Damn it, Yun Su-ho. Do something!

Yun Su-ho, rarely showing his dismay, belatedly stretched out his arm to create a barrier.

Just as I bit my lip in helplessness, the heat pouring down on us vanished like a lie.

– It seems I’ve kept you waiting.

A gentle voice, unfamiliar yet nostalgic, resonated through Badadkkot.

Following the voice, I turned to see the figure of a woman with flowing dark blue hair. Wearing a circlet adorned with blue gems, she held a trident in her right hand.

The woman, who had been gazing down at us with kind eyes, changed her expression.

– How impudent. Daring to take root in my pearl.

– Media!

– You insolent creature! How dare a mere fragment utter Medina’s name!

– Astrona, I see you’re as rigid as ever.

Media smiled softly as she dispelled the incoming arrows with a single gesture. Her smile fading, she then swung her spear horizontally. Though it didn’t make contact, Helium’s left arm was severed.

– This is my cradle.

Despite being unable to draw his bow, Helium didn’t give up. A red aura rose around him.

– It seems your stubbornness takes after your true self.

Media, with a somewhat complicated expression, approached Helium’s figure. Helium retreated hesitantly, but the seawater coiled around his ankles.

– Sleep until you repent, just as your true self did.

Without hesitation, Media plunged her spear into his left eye. An indescribable, chilling sound erupted.

– Now, return.

And with a hiss, Helium’s figure disappeared like fire doused with water.

Media, once again wearing a benevolent smile, turned towards us. Astrona, back in his whale form, nuzzled her arm.

– Medina. I’ve waited for you for such a long, long time.

– Though we have much to catch up on, I fear the body of the child who summoned me cannot endure much longer. I shall return soon. Can you wait just a little longer?

I shifted my gaze to where Media’s figure had appeared.

Han Cha-hyun was leaning against the tree, his body swaying. Even at a glance, it was clear he was struggling.

The Sea Spirit, his eyes brimming with tears, reluctantly nodded. Media stroked his head once and spoke in a melodious tone.

– Let’s meet again when Badadkkot is in full bloom.

Media’s figure gradually faded. Just before she completely disappeared, Atera shouted in a voice louder than I had ever heard from her.

– I’ll be waiting!

– Thank you, my little one.

Atera waved her arms widely towards Media. Seeing this, Cha Taeyang followed suit with a hand wave. Media, beaming brightly, finally vanished into sea foam.

Han Cha-hyun, holding the faded pearl and spear in each hand, collapsed to the ground.

– I’m going to the cradle.

The Sea Spirit broke the brief silence. Shaking off his tears, he took the pearl in his mouth.

‘Ah, this is no time to be standing around in a daze.’

I hurriedly approached him.

– Lord Astrona, please take me with you. There’s something I need to do.

Perhaps due to the trust we had built up, the Sea Spirit allowed me to ride on his back without much resistance and opened the door to the cradle.

As soon as we entered the cradle, I stopped the Sea Spirit from immediately returning the pearl.

– Please wait a moment.

The Sea Spirit silently watched as I approached the cradle at the center of the protection formula. His eyes showed not even a speck of doubt.

I poured a liquid I had taken from my inventory into the pure white cradle, which looked like a cocoon or basket. It was the item I had impulsively packed when I last visited the workshop.

– What is that?

– It’s an enhancer used for water-attribute items. When I met Kalia, she mentioned that the pearl’s energy might have weakened after being on land for so long.

– So you brought it just in case?

– Yes, I thought it might be needed.

Judging by the pearl’s condition, it seems I made the right choice in bringing it.

The Sea Spirit patted my head approvingly before placing the pearl in the cradle filled with the enhancer.

The circuit drawn on the floor flickered a couple of times, emitting a gentle wave. It seemed to recognize that its long-empty cradle had found its owner again.

– Thank you for keeping your word.

Astrona, his irises tinged blue-violet perhaps due to the enchantment’s influence, gazed at me. It was the same warm look he gave the sea people.

Knowing the weight of his words, I found it difficult to speak.

– It wasn’t just my doing.

– But without you, none of this would have been possible.

His words made a lump form in my throat.

Whether he noticed my reaction or not, the Sea Spirit immediately swam up to the surface.

[Hidden Quest, ‘Will Spring with Blooming Flowers Come? (A+)’ has been completed]

As soon as we reached the surface, the long-awaited quest completion window appeared. But my attention was drawn elsewhere, preventing me from seeing the message.

‘How could I look anywhere else when such a scene is before me?’

People with beaming smiles tugged at my arms.

– Unni, quick, quick! Come and see this!

– Gaho, did everything go well?

– Player, flowers, flowers have bloomed on the guardian tree!

The guardian tree, which had been bare and sickly, was now covered in transparent flowers in full bloom.

The glass-like petals resembled magnolias but hung downwards like bells. Only a single water-colored flower at the very top faced the sky.

Ching-a-ling! Clear chimes rang out from the flowers as they swayed with the colorful ornaments hanging from the branches. Every time the opalescent petals fluttered in the current, they sparkled like stars.

– I shall give you the most precious thing in this sea.

The Sea Spirit, who had suddenly disappeared, reappeared through the branches and placed something in my hand.

It was the blue flower that had been blooming at the very top of the guardian tree.

[Clear reward has been distributed.]

[Additional reward given to Player Yun Gaho, the quest’s greatest contributor:

: Badadkkot (S)]

Even just holding it, I could feel a refreshing energy.

As I quietly gazed at it, the Sea Spirit, now in human form, patted my head.

– I hope this will be of help to you, Gaho.

– …Thank you, Astrona.

The sea people danced and sang beneath the fluttering flower petals. The five-colored scales and flowers brilliantly illuminated the deep sea.

The song resonating from all directions sounded like gentle chimes.

– On the day when flowers bloom, we will meet again.

After a long, long wait, spring had finally arrived.