Equipment enhancement.
In many games, this moment has made countless people either laugh in joy or cry in despair.
The Defense was no exception.
Especially in The Defense, where failing an enhancement could mean losing the equipment entirely—which often led directly to a failed game run.
It was, quite literally, a moment that could decide everything.
'Normally, I'd keep at least one backup weapon before attempting an enhancement…'
Unfortunately, the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher was not the kind of item I could just have two of.
The achievement points required to obtain it, its sheer power, and the fact that it wasn't even supposed to be available this early in the stage all made it an incredibly rare piece of equipment.
Maybe that was why—
My hands trembled slightly as I handed it over to Maybell Pilgrim.
I could say it was just a minor tremor, but honestly, I knew the real reason.
'...It'll be fine, right?'
The reason I was this worried was simple.
The Ark-15 Automatic Conversion Rifle, being a standard-issue weapon, had an extremely high success rate for customization and upgrades.
When upgraded by someone like Maybell Pilgrim—especially when I had [Beginner's Luck]—the success rate was practically above 90%.
That was why I hadn't been too concerned when I entrusted my Ark-15 to her before.
But the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher was different.
It was already fragile by default, and enhancing it only increased the risk of it breaking.
And now, the Beginner's Luck effect that had always supported me was gone.
There was no reason not to be nervous.
"Uh…"
"Something on your mind?"
"...Do your best."
["Pfft!"]
Esther's laughter echoed in my ears.
But I couldn't help it.
Whenever I stood in front of Maybell Pilgrim, I became weak—it was practically a reflex built on past experiences.
"Wait here. I'll need to concentrate."
"Got it."
Even though she had successfully upgraded my Ark-15 without any proper tools back at Mount Noah, she was taking extra care with the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher.
I understood why.
So, I just watched from behind the transparent glass, observing her every move.
Maybell gently placed the BLT-47 onto the workbench—
And then picked up a hammer.
"Wait. A hammer?"
…Did she always use something that aggressive for enhancements?
Just as I started to feel uneasy—
Maybell swung the hammer down onto the BLT-47 without hesitation.
CLANG!
The loud metallic impact echoed through the lab, and I involuntarily flinched.
["Oh my."]
Esther flashed a mischievous grin.
No—actually, it wasn't "as if" she was mischievous.
She was a full-blown menace when it came to messing with people.
"…What?"
["Oh, nothing~ You just seemed a bit startled. Were you worried she'd break it?"]
"No."
["You totally were, weren't you?"]
"I said no."
As I was having this petty argument with Esther—
CRACK—!
A sharp snapping sound made me whip my head around.
For a moment, I feared the enhancement had failed—
But thankfully, judging from Maybell's expression, it seemed to be just part of the process.
"Ah."
Too late, I realized—
Esther's grin had grown even wider.
She had definitely caught me flinching just now.
["Hehe."]
"..."
["Oh, nothing~ You weren't nervous at all, right? Yep, totally calm."]
"Shut up."
["Sure, sure~"]
As Esther and I exchanged pointless banter, Maybell Pilgrim worked tirelessly.
Watching her now, I understood—
This is what mastery looked like.
A human who had fully mastered a craft.
'…It'll be fine, right?'
Even knowing this, I still couldn't shake my anxiety.
Bzzzt…!
Clang! Clang!
Sssssshhhh—!
Beyond the glass, I could hear the sounds of various tools at work—
The hiss of thermal cutters.
The glow of superheated metal.
The flickering sparks flying in all directions.
This was nothing like upgrading an Ark-15.
The BLT-47 Plasma Launcher was a far more complex piece of tech, requiring extreme precision.
Screeeeech—!
The screech of grinding metal.
The sweltering heat of the plasma cutters.
The flashing sparks.
Time dragged on.
'…Does it usually take this long?'
Just as I started to wonder—
Maybell finally put down her tools, half-unzipping her protective suit as she stepped away from the workbench.
"It's done."
"...And the result?"
"Here."
She handed me a pitch-black lump of metal.
"…What?"
A charred, coal-black hunk of metal.
It looked nothing like the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher I had handed her.
Hell, I couldn't even tell what it was anymore.
"…You're saying this is my BLT-47?"
"Yep."
"So, you're telling me… this—this thing—was my BLT-47 Plasma Launcher?"
"That's right."
"...Hah."
My voice trembled.
How could it not?
What Maybell Pilgrim had just handed me was a complete disaster.
'It's over.'
I wasn't saying Ark was doomed.
But I had certainly screwed myself over.
'What the hell do I do now?'
I had known there was a chance of failure.
But I had never truly believed it would actually fail.
Like most gamblers, I had made my plans assuming success.
'Usually, when this happens… this is where I'd just close the game and restart.'
Not that I had any choice but to move forward.
Enhancing the BLT-47 had always been a risk I had to take.
"...It is what it is."
"Huh? What do you—oh."
Maybell suddenly frowned, looking at the hunk of metal in her hands.
"Wait a minute."
"...What?"
"Give me a second."
Frowning, she began brushing off the blackened exterior of the lump.
I stood there, dumbfounded, watching as Maybell Pilgrim wiped away the charred residue from the object in her hands.
And as the true form of the weapon emerged, I couldn't suppress my shock.
"This is…!"
"Did you think it was a failure?"
"...Are you saying—"
"It's a success."
A success?
With trembling hands, I took the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher from her.
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[BLT-47 Plasma Launcher MK.II] [★★★★★★(+★) (7-star)]
— A plasma launcher refined with Ark's cutting-edge technology.
— Enhanced by weapon engineering authority Maybell Pilgrim, it boasts significantly improved performance and durability.
— Extra care was taken to reinforce its structural integrity, further increasing its durability.
"View Details"
──────────────
A 7-star weapon.
Not only that, but the usual "fragile durability" warning was gone from its description.
And the line about special durability reinforcement—
This wasn't just a normal upgrade.
Because of my relationship with Maybell, the enhancement had exceeded the standard process, resulting in an even greater improvement.
"So? I put in some extra effort—how is it?"
Maybell looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for praise.
Of course, I had no choice but to give it.
"…It's perfect."
"Right? I don't usually do this for other people, you know. But since you saved my life, I made an exception."
She flashed a playful smile.
For a moment, I nearly grabbed her and spun her around in celebration—
But with great self-restraint, I held myself back.
If I did anything weird here, the security sensors would instantly mark me as a threat and turn me into dust.
["Creepy."]
"I wasn't thinking anything."
["Liar."]
"..."
Ignoring Esther's accusations, I carefully secured the BLT-47 Plasma Launcher MK.II and organized my thoughts.
'Even with the upgrades, it's still not something I can use as a primary weapon.'
No matter how much its durability had improved, the BLT-47 was still a delicate weapon.
If I used it recklessly, it would still break down eventually.
Meaning—
Until I secured another primary weapon, I would still rely on the Ark-15 Auto-Conversion Rifle for general combat.
There was a reason the Ark-15 was considered the go-to staple weapon in The Defense.
'Still, just having this for emergencies and high-firepower situations is a game changer.'
Even though the BLT-47 wasn't large, its burst firepower surpassed the NOA-8 Heavy Machine Gun.
Used wisely, it could inflict massive damage, even against enemies as powerful as Turncoat Rook.
"Now then… there's just one more thing left."
"One more thing?"
"Payment, of course."
"...Right."
I handed Maybell Pilgrim my Honorary Citizen ID, which also functioned as a credit card.
Running off without paying was obviously not an option.
Even if I somehow managed to escape the lab, I would be blacklisted from ever using Maybell's services again.
And more realistically—
I would be hunted down as a fugitive.
Meaning, paying was my only choice.
As I pondered this, Maybell took my ID and made a strange expression.
"I'd heard that you became an Honorary Citizen, but… seeing it for myself is something else. That's impressive. It's not easy for an outsider to achieve that."
"Just luck, really."
"Yeah, I said the same thing when it happened to me."
Maybell gave me a knowing smile.
It was clear she wouldn't forget that I was her lifesaver.
'Maybe she'll give me a discount…?'
Beep—
As soon as my ID was processed, a new message popped up.
[9,785 credits have been deducted.]
…Yeah, no discount.
I had hoped, but of course, reality was cruel.
Almost 10,000 credits.
With this one upgrade, I had spent nearly all of the credits I earned from the last wave.
Maybell's enhancements had a much higher success rate than normal upgrades—
But the cost was also far from normal.
"…I need to start making credits again."
There were three main ways to earn credits:
Converting achievement points into credits (which had terrible exchange rates). Defending Ark's frontlines against waves (which paid in credits). Trading with Ark's economy (selling resources and materials).
'The first method is a waste, so the second is my best bet.'
Fighting outside Ark on Horus' back was great for earning achievement points, but it didn't pay in credits.
Now that I was a legitimate Honorary Citizen, I could work inside Ark and earn credits properly.
And since I had already proven my worth—
'I won't be working for free this time.'
It was time to meet Lieutenant Colonel Banol again.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah."
With everything settled, there was no reason to stay.
Especially since I was now broke.
"Ah, wait a second."
As I turned toward the elevator, Maybell suddenly stopped me.
After rummaging through her workbench, she handed me something.
"This is…?"
"A thank-you gift for saving me. It's not much, but… take it. It's a new prototype model that just finished testing."
The shape and color looked familiar.
I knew this item.
In fact, I couldn't not know it.
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[Z-74 Jetpack] [★★★★★★ (6-star)]
— A new-generation jetpack developed by Ark.
— Designed by Maybell Pilgrim, a leading expert in specialized weapon engineering.
— Allows high-speed flight.
"View Details"
──────────────
My first jetpack.