episode_0032

It had already been five days since Director Vance attempted to trap Commander Gideon and was arrested instead.

During that short time, the Icarus Far East Branch was utterly turned upside down.

Inappropriate connections with Nemesis, a conspiracy to steal the Genesis Seed Project, and even an attempt to oust the commander.

Faced with undeniable evidence, Vance confessed, and his custody was transferred to the special inspection team.

To borrow Gideon’s words, he would spend a terrible time for the rest of his life, and I didn’t even want to imagine it.

After all the incidents were concluded, I received a summons from Gideon and went to see him.

“Come in.”

We sat facing each other on opposite sofas.

“It seems the Vance matter has been well concluded. It’s all thanks to you.”

“It’s because we all worked together.”

Gideon chuckled and got to the point.

“Do you have no intention of joining us officially? It’s a great pity to keep talent like you as a mere guest.”

“I’m truly grateful for the offer. However, I think being free suits my aptitude more.”

Gideon was silent for a moment at my reply.

I could read the regret that flashed across his face.

“That’s truly a shame.”

He no longer tried to hold me back or persuade me.

Instead, he wore a gentle expression, as if respecting my choice.

“I owe you a great debt. If you need my help in any form, don’t hesitate to contact me. I won’t spare any support within my capabilities.”

His last words contained warm encouragement and a genuine desire to maintain a good relationship in the future.

Gideon handed me a credit chip after saying that.

“All I can give you is money.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll accept it gratefully.”

“So, when do you plan to leave?”

“I plan to leave today.”

I had received word from Scarlet that the Bugbear’s modification was almost complete.

There was no longer any reason to remain here.

“You’re leaving already?”

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Yes, it’s about time I went to pick up my gear.”

“I’ll be looking forward to your exploits as a free mercenary. I hope we don’t meet as enemies.”

Then, as if a thought suddenly occurred to him, he added,

“If I need help in the future, would it be alright to contact you?”

“If you provide a generous reward, you’re always welcome.”

At my playful remark, Gideon grinned, nodded, and remained silent before opening his mouth again.

“About Yuna,”

he said in a low voice.

“That child, she wasn’t always one to smile so much.”

At the sudden change of topic, I looked at him.

“Yuna is from the planet Elysia, which was ravaged by war in the past. She was a war orphan who lost everything in the terrible resource wars that took place there.”

‘A war orphan…’

This was a setting that didn’t exist in the game.

Or perhaps I had missed it, but she was such a mysterious character that other players could only speculate.

“For such a child to grow up and become an Icarus ace pilot, time truly flies.”

He let out a pleased snort and continued.

“Recently, that child has been smiling a lot more. Her expression has also become much softer. Perhaps it’s since she met you.”

“Is that so?”

“You wouldn’t know.”

He smiled faintly.

“Yuna sometimes acts impulsively due to her strong sense of responsibility as an ace pilot for the Icarus Corporation, but she’s a child who hides a tender heart.”

Gideon spoke with a melancholy expression.

He seemed to be lost in sentimentality, like a father sending his daughter off to marriage.

“I hope you continue to have a good relationship with Yuna in the future. Someone she can lean on, someone she can truly smile with…”

He stopped speaking, cleared his throat, then gestured.

“You may go now. Thank you once again.”

“I will keep Commander Gideon-nim’s words in mind.”

He had explained it in such detail that I couldn’t pretend not to understand, so I said it out of politeness.

After saying that, I left the office and walked down the hallway.

“Jinwoo. Did your talk go well?”

Yuna was standing there, as if she had been waiting.

“Yeah, more or less.”

Her voice was calm, but her silver eyes were shining with curiosity.

“Scarlet contacted me. She said your Bugbear’s modification work is almost complete. Only the final test and inspection remain.”

Yuna naturally stood beside me and started walking.

“She’s truly amazing, to be able to finish such a major modification so quickly.”

“Right, it’s only been a few days.”

“Then, are you returning to Terminus today?”

“It’s about time I went.”

“I’ll go with you.”

When I looked at her with a questioning expression, Yuna added an explanation.

“I’m genuinely curious how perfectly the modification was done. And I also promised Scarlet before that I’d properly show her my Silvera.”

“Is that truly all?”

When I teased her with the question, I could see her face flush slightly.

“Of course! That’s all. There’s no other intention.”

“Well, it would be reassuring to ride along in Silvera. Let’s go together.”

Saying that, I operated my personal terminal and transferred credits to Yuna.

[250,000CR has been transferred from Kang Jin-woo-nim to Yuna-nim.]

Yuna, who confirmed the notification, looked at me with surprised eyes.

“You don’t have to pay me back.”

“Then give it back.”

“Sh-should I?”

“It’s a joke.”

Yuna smiled faintly.

We returned to our respective quarters, finished preparing to leave, and arrived at the Icarus Far East Branch’s main hangar.

“Are you really leaving?”

Titan lifted his sunglasses slightly and said with regret,

“Aren’t you leaving too soon? To just drink our alcohol and leave.”

“I think Yuna drank all the alcohol though.”

“Haha! That’s true too.”

“I’ll be looking forward to your combat records as a free mercenary.”

Doctor said with a faint smile.

“Kang Jin-woo, you still haven’t told me the secret of your strength. You stubborn guy. Be prepared, because next time we meet, I’ll definitely win.”

“If it’s a simulated battle, you’re always welcome.”

“Even if we meet on the battlefield, I’ll win.”

“You can’t win, dummy.”

Titan put a hand on Lazer’s shoulder and added,

“Let’s not meet as enemies, it’ll only hurt our feelings.”

After a brief farewell, Yuna and I boarded the Silvera.

The Silvera left the Icarus complex and turned its nose towards Terminus.

Watching the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, I closed my eyes.

*********

As I opened the door to Scarlet’s workshop and stepped inside, welding sparks flew in all directions accompanied by loud rock music assaulting my ears.

She was engrossed in her work beneath the gear, which was raised on a massive lift.

“Scarlet!”

When I called out, she pushed up her welding mask and turned to look at us.

She greeted us with a face stained with sweat and grease.

“Perfect timing. I just finished the final system linkage test.”

She proudly pointed to the gear behind her.

“I only intended to do what you asked, but I ended up messing with everything without realizing it.”

“Oh my goodness—”

I took a short breath and looked up at the Bugbear.

What stood there was no longer the Bugbear I knew.

The original clunky and heavy frame was replaced by a gear with a much sleeker and more aggressive silhouette.

From its overall skeletal structure to the material and design of its armor, and even the aura it exuded, everything had changed.

“She really changed everything.”

The Bugbear’s boxy and clumsy-looking head was gone, replaced by a sharp, angularly designed head.

With a satisfied smile, I examined the gear, then looked at the GX-Final Impact Pile Bunker mounted on its right arm.

“How is it? Perfect, isn’t it?”

“What’s there to say? It’s perfect!”

Now, I felt one step closer to the gear from my game.

Yes, this is it.

The fun of customizing it however I want!

My heart pounded with the desire to pilot the gear right away.

“This can no longer be called the Bugbear.”

Scarlet smiled and stood beside Yuna and me.

“We’ll have to decide on a new name for the gear, right?”

The name was already decided.

But I didn’t utter it aloud.

“Rather than me deciding the gear’s name, others will decide it.”

Yuna chuckled at my reply.

“Jinwoo is right. A gear’s name isn’t something you decide yourself; it’s earned on the battlefield.”

“Go on, climb aboard.”

Even if Scarlet hadn’t said it, my body was itching to ride it.

I immediately climbed into the cockpit, sat down, and moved the gear.

[System synchronization complete. All devices normal.]

A new system voice greeted me.

My hand gripping the control stick tightened.

As Scarlet opened the workshop’s massive main gate, the external scenery of Terminus came into view.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

I sent a short message, then slowly moved the gear out of the workshop, flew into the sky, and ignited the boosters.

From the first step, it was different.

The trash-like stability that used to sway unstably and cause motion sickness while flying in the sky was gone.

I moved to a wide, abandoned lot and began to familiarize myself with the feel of the gear.

I repeatedly made sharp turns and sudden stops, and slowly moved the pile bunker.

The heavy sensation of its weight was directly transmitted through the control stick, but perhaps thanks to the gravitic damper, controlling it was easier than I expected.

“There’s also an interception system…”

After a final check of the missile mortar system on the shoulder, I pondered what else needed to be added.

Money was overflowing.

It would be good to use the shop to purchase long-range weapons for deterrence.

“But before that.”

I held the system reward from the last simulated training with Lazer in my hand.

‘Precision Strike Assistance System.’

I inserted that system chip into my gear.

[System checking.]

[Precision Strike Assistance System has been updated.]

[Please operate the layer.]

As I pressed the button to change the layer in the cockpit,

my vision turned black and white, revealing areas highlighted in yellow.

“It’s just like in the game.”

A skill that highlights the weak points of a target.

“Alright. Let’s go back.”

By earning more money,

I set a new goal: to create the strongest gear.