Transferred to an SSS-rank Production Class

‘I’d rather pass on this kind of surprise.’

Since I couldn’t blurt out my true feelings, I gave a noncommittal response.

“Ah, yes.”

“I hear you two have a very special relationship. Are you pleased?”

Instead of answering, I downed the cold water in one go. Even as Shin-ju, oblivious to the situation, kept poking my side asking what was wrong, I remained silent. Choi Kwon-young shrugged at my reaction and continued the conversation nonchalantly.

“I’ve received a written report about Hunter Park Shin-ju’s experience. The reason I called you here separately today is that I have a request related to that matter.”

“Can I hear what the request is before deciding?”

“That’s not a problem, but before that……”

Choi Kwon-young, who had been resting his chin on his hand, took out an item from his inventory and placed it on the desk. I narrowed my eyes at the familiar shape. ……Isn’t that Eternal and Unforgettable?

“We’ll need you to contract with us.”

Us? Why am I being dragged into this? Though he must have noticed my displeasure, he calmly smiled with his eyes. Right, let’s not say anything. I let out a small sigh.

I wasn’t the only one who reacted to the word “us.”

“Hmm?”

Shin-ju, who had been twirling her hair with her index finger, looked back and forth between me, Choi Kwon-young, and the Eternal and Unforgettable. Then, without even asking about the conditions, she abruptly dropped her blood onto the item. Although they say the item won’t activate without mutual consent, it was an incredibly impulsive action.

This time too, Choi Kwon-young’s blood seemed to have been pre-applied, as the shapes of a bell and a bird immediately appeared. The two then entered into a contract with confidentiality as a condition.

“Don’t look at me like that. I thought it through before acting,”

“It doesn’t seem that way.”

“I know how devious that man can be. But this involves you, doesn’t it? At least it can’t be something bad. That’s what I think.”

Despite being criticized to his face, Choi Kwon-young didn’t stop smiling. If anything, his smile deepened. Probably because of me, frozen by Shin-ju’s groundless trust.

“So what’s this all about that you’re using such an expensive contract item?”

“There’s a high possibility that the series of events Hunter Park Shin-ju experienced could be the starting point of a hidden quest.”

Choi Kwon-young then explained the connection between the 76th floor conquest, Kallos, and me. True to his reputation as an eloquent speaker, I found myself focused even though I already knew the story.

As the explanation continued, Shin-ju’s gaze on me grew increasingly intense.

“So this is why you’ve been scarce lately?”

“……That’s how it turned out.”

I had felt uneasy about keeping everything secret from Shin-ju all this time. I was worried she might feel betrayed, but fortunately, Shin-ju was overjoyed at the thought of having an S-rank friend. Seeing her reaction, the unease that had been building up inside me dissipated.

“To think our Gaho would be working on equipment. It’s really amazing, just as you said.”

“I’m glad you’re pleased.”

“But Guild Master, what do you want to ask of me? I’ve already told you everything I know.”

As if he had been waiting for this question, Choi Kwon-young pulled up the corners of his mouth meaningfully. I fiddled with the rim of my glass, feeling an inexplicable anxiety creeping in.

“I’ll cut to the chase. Hunter Park Shin-ju, I’d like you to join the hidden quest conquest team.”

“Huh?”

Shin-ju looked at me as if asking if this was agreed upon, and I shook my head. Although Choi Kwon-young added the condition that it was limited to the 24th floor, it was still surprising.

‘Having one more A-rank member is good, but…….’

Given the complications we faced in the Sea People’s level, it was worth considering. Still, shouldn’t he have given us some warning? I shot him a look of protest, but Choi Kwon-young continued speaking, unfazed.

“If Hunter Park Shin-ju joins, not only will our combat strength be reinforced, but we’ll also be able to move quickly to Cheonsan. There are many advantages, so we’d very much like you to join us.”

“What do you mean by movement?”

“I have a marker placed near Cheonsan.”

Shin-ju, who answered instead of Choi Kwon-young, subtly moved closer to me as if gauging my reaction. I was about to casually push her away when I noticed a contradiction and stopped mid-motion.

“When was the last time you went to that level?”

“It’s been at least two weeks.”

“And the marker is still there?”

The skill ‘Favorites’ allows instant movement to any location where a marker is inscribed, regardless of distance or place. But even this convenient skill had a drawback: the markers only last for about half a day.

Yet the marker had remained for not just a day, but two weeks. This was unprecedented. As if reading my thoughts, Shin-ju twirled her hair and replied.

“I don’t know why either, but it’s been strangely maintained? So I just left it.”

“Was there anything unusual about it?”

“Not really. I just placed it on a wooden pillar by the road.”

A wooden pillar. Knowing that even small clues could lead to hidden quests, I made a mental note of Shin-ju’s words. Meanwhile, Shin-ju resumed her conversation with Choi Kwon-young.

“So how much are you going to pay for this?”

Shin-ju’s hand, forming a circle with her thumb and index finger, waved up and down. Choi Kwon-young, smirking at the sight, gave an answer that he had clearly prepared in advance.

“We’ll forgive the entire amount of the recent loan you took out as a guild member benefit, Hunter Park Shin-ju. Furthermore, the guild will cover today’s enhancement costs as well.”

“Really? That’s quite generous of you.”

Pleased by this welcome news, Shin-ju clapped her hands and smiled with satisfaction.

As item prices kept rising due to supply and demand imbalances, most guilds supported their members with loans as part of their welfare programs. The materialistic Shin-ju used this system better and more frequently than anyone else. Judging by her reaction, it seemed she had borrowed no small sum.

‘And the enhancement costs on top of that.’

It appeared the guild was more eager to have Shin-ju join than I had thought. I could understand, given how delayed the 76th floor conquest had become. If not that, then this amount must be nothing to them. Considering our guild’s reputation for having the highest commission fees of any, the latter seemed more likely.

After that, everything proceeded smoothly. Shin-ju signed the contract before Choi Kwon-young even finished his explanation and threw herself into my arms.

“Show me that new ability of yours quickly. I’m dying of curiosity!”

“Oh, okay. Take out your weapon.”

Since Shin-ju often changed her equipment, there were plenty of items to use as sacrifices. Choi Kwon-young’s gaze when I explained about the sacrifices was far from pleasant, to put it kindly, but fortunately, he didn’t comment.

‘If I had broken Manpa, the story might have been different……’

Perhaps due to my recent successes, I wasn’t worried about failure. No, I was even somewhat excited. After all, I had put my heart and soul into it, given that it was Shin-ju’s weapon.

‘I hope it gets an additional skill this time too.’

And some time later…

The third system window that appeared in succession blinked before my eyes as if mocking me.

[Enchant ‘Pulsing Steps’ has failed.]

[Failure penalty incurred! ‘Eternal Sword (A)’ is destroyed instead of ‘Atempo (A)’.]

‘Is there a mouse hole I can crawl into?’

It was a debut as miserable as could be.

◆◇◆◇◆

“The faster and stronger Park Shin-ju Express! We’ll provide a comfortable journey!”

Shin-ju, standing in the center of the waiting room, swung her tone wave above her head.

Normally, I would have told her to stop being so rowdy, but seeing the tone wave engraved with red patterns, I found myself at a loss for words. Three sacrifices had been destroyed to create that. Even though it was already in the past, I still felt uneasy.

“Unni, unni! What’s that outfit? You look like a guard!”

“Taeyang, you know your stuff. I splurged on this!”

“Wow!”

Cha Taeyang gave a thumbs up to Shin-ju, who was wearing a black hanbok reminiscent of a royal guard. Emboldened, Shin-ju lifted Taeyang and spun her around in a big circle, eliciting clear laughter.

“Gaho-ssi, please take this.”

Han Cha-hyun approached me as I watched the two, offering a face covering. The black covering, semi-transparent at the back, had strings attached at both ends to secure it behind the face.

“Equipment with detoxification capabilities. It’s something we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago.”

“Well, it’s Ishikawa Hayato after all.”

Han Cha-hyun nodded and gazed at Shin-ju. Though he must have noticed this, Shin-ju didn’t spare him a single glance. Despite having worked together on several occasions, they didn’t seem to get along well.

“Hmm, there was no need to go to such lengths.”

“That’s just how she is. She probably got it as a hobby.”

“Is that yours, Gaho-ssi?”

Han Cha-hyun glanced at the ribbon tied to the end of my hair.

Not just me, but all of our companions looked a bit different from usual.

Lee Kang-to wore a wide-brimmed bamboo hat, while a folding fan hung at Han Cha-hyun’s waist. Even Yun Su-ho, sitting in the corner, was wrapped in a durumagi. True to his dislike of constricting clothes, he hadn’t tied the strings, though.

“Black Mr. Kim! Why is everyone dressed like this today?”

“The NPCs in the 24th level are extremely wary. They won’t even listen to us unless we have something like this.”

“Hmm?”

The goblin rolled around on the floor, seemingly unsatisfied with the explanation. Han Cha-hyun bent down to pick him up and elaborated.

“How should I put this so Sori-ssi can understand? Ah, the Joseon era, that’s a good comparison. The 24th floor is similar to ancient Joseon.”

“Jo-seon?”

“Yes, though there are many differences. If we went there as we are, we’d look very strange, wouldn’t we? So to lower their guard…”

Han Cha-hyun paused and tapped the folding fan with his palm. Seeing this, the goblin in his other hand jumped up and down, shouting:

“You’re in disguise!”

“Correct.”

“That’s why you didn’t say anything to Taeyang. She already wears hanbok normally.”

Han Cha-hyun and I nodded simultaneously. The goblin, who had been bouncing excitedly, suddenly stopped as if struck by an idea. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into human form.

“To leave the goblin out of such a fun thing. Really, you Mr. Kims know nothing!”

“Sori-ssi, what do you mean……”

“Just trust me, Mr. Kim! I vividly remember the Joseon era!”

The goblin leaped into the air above us, somersaulting, and a small mallet appeared in his hand. Before Cha Taeyang could even shout, the goblin swung the mallet downward.

Ding! The sound of a bell followed, and white mist filled the waiting room.

“Little clothes, come forth, presto!”