Bombs were, by design, one of the most efficient consumables in The Defense.
They could be pre-installed at predicted spawn points for monsters and beasts, and they offered the potential to wipe out large groups in one blast. Even in terms of points-to-kill ratio or credit efficiency, bombs were top-tier tools—commonly used by many players.
But that was under normal circumstances.
For someone like me, with infinite ammunition, bombs were just… unnecessary consumables.
That's why I'd rarely bothered with them—until now.
"...Bombs, you say?"
"Yeah. And a lot of them."
Quartermaster Gedwin's expression turned blank.
Had I just been asking for dynamite or some standard TNT, Gedwin wouldn't have blinked. But if that was all I needed, I wouldn't have come to him in the first place.
"...I'm sorry, but those items require special authorization."
Of course they did.
High-grade explosives could pose a threat to Ark itself, so even someone like Gedwin had to handle them carefully.
"Please wait a moment."
"Sure. I'll wait."
I wasn't too worried.
Since the alliance with Kronos had gone through successfully, Ark couldn't afford to deny my request. Doing so would create a diplomatic issue, not just a supply chain one.
You could even call it my compensation for the hell I'd gone through to forge that alliance.
'Though even without that, Gedwin would probably still approve it.'
Given everything I'd done for Ark, being denied some explosives would be absurd.
Unless I was asking for a molecular disassembler or a tactical nuclear launcher or something…
'He's taking a while.'
Gedwin had disappeared into Ark's inner offices, and he didn't seem in a hurry to return.
It likely meant there was some bureaucratic processing involved.
'Well, I've got time to wait.'
Time was tight, sure—but not so tight I couldn't spare a few minutes here.
And besides, hurrying wouldn't change a thing.
"Move it, now!"
"Medic! We've got a bleeder here!"
"Corpsman!"
The Wave had ended, but Ark's front lines were still in chaos—caught up in the aftermath.
Soldiers carried on stretchers, some dying mid-treatment.
Ark's survival came on the backs of their sacrifice.
'...Tch.'
Even after seeing it time and again, the sight of people dying never sat well with me.
Even more so when those people were Ark's own.
["Still, Master, didn't fewer people die because of you this time?"]
Esther, surprisingly, offered something resembling comfort.
'That's not wrong.'
["Then that's enough, isn't it? Why beat yourself up over it?"]
'I'm not.'
["Anyone could tell you were."]
'Shut it.'
As we bickered meaninglessly, Gedwin finally returned.
"The request has been approved. Please provide the full list of items."
As expected, Ark had given the green light to me handling explosives.
Given that I already used plasma weapons, this shouldn't have been a big deal—but because explosives could be used without direct contact, extra caution was natural.
"Thirty TW-742 Thermobaric Bombs. 300kg of RDX-14. Five TOLMAN15s. 500kg of TNT-778. And also…"
"W-Wait! All of that?!"
I was just listing what I needed, but Gedwin's face went pale.
"Yes, all of it."
"So, you mean… all of it?"
"Yes."
The fact that he asked twice showed just how overwhelming my request must've sounded.
"...Understood. Please wait again."
His panic was understandable.
Under normal conditions, I wouldn't be prepping this many explosives for a boss stage.
But my merit point pool had long exceeded the typical cap, and if I could use that surplus to minimize Ark's damage, I was willing to indulge in a little "excess."
"Oh—wait."
"Yes?"
"There's more."
"More…?"
"Yes."
I listed the remaining supplies I needed, and Gedwin finally gave a small nod.
"That's quite a volume. It may take a while to prepare. Is there somewhere you'll be waiting? We'll contact you when everything's ready."
"I'll be at the Special Purpose Weapons Research Lab."
I didn't have anywhere else to go, and visiting Maybell Pilgrim wasn't a bad idea. I didn't have many credits left, but hey—you never knew.
"Understood."
Gedwin bowed and disappeared again.
I made my way across Ark.
The city looked largely the same as always, though as expected post-Wave, soldiers were busy hauling the wounded and conducting repairs.
"Careful! Slow it down!"
Heavy weapons were being transported from the front line.
No doubt being brought in for inspection after the big battle.
'Ark looks… a lot more intact than I remember.'
I had a lot of memories of Ark.
The ruined version, the flourishing city post–Silk Road episode, the average one, the one under siege… Ark after Ark after Ark.
And this one, right now—this was the most intact, most stable version I'd ever seen.
So, my task was simple.
Do everything I could to make sure it stayed that way.
'No matter how hard I try, I know there'll be limits…'
Ark will be damaged.
Even if I stop the Waves, it'll come, piece by piece.
That's just the kind of trials Ark will face.
But I won't sit on my hands and wait.
I'll prepare, as best I can.
Just like now.
'Here we are.'
Eventually, I reached the Special Purpose Weapons Lab.
As I entered, I immediately ran into someone waiting.
A familiar face.
"Well, if it isn't the rude young man. We meet again."
Commander of the Blue Line Defense Forces.
And a member of Möbius.
Brigadier General Victor.
It was him.
"What brings you here?"
"What do you mean 'what'? Just had some business. And you, rude young man—what's your excuse?"
"I've got business too."
"Haha, still as impolite as ever."
Despite his words, Victor chuckled heartily.
"Hey there, you rude bastard Carl Marcus."
"Talk," I said.
"I heard there was a big incident recently. I also heard you were the one who rescued the Young Lady."
"So?"
"Any thoughts about joining the Blue Line? You've got the manners of a brick, but you seem competent enough. I could set you up with a solid position."
Blue Line, huh? A pretty label—this was clearly just a veiled attempt to rope me into Möbius.
"I refuse."
"Hmmm… Isn't it better to be affiliated with something solid, rather than wandering around without a home? Besides, Blue Line could use someone like you."
"No need to rush. I'll swing by eventually."
It wasn't a lie.
After this next boss stage, I planned to leave the Red Line and move into the next phase—the Orange Line.
"'Swing by,' huh? Now that's a funny way to put it. Alright then. I'll look forward to that day. Go ahead, take care of your business."
With a chuckle, Brigadier General Victor stepped back.
Seemed like our meeting had been more coincidence than design.
'There's no real reason for Victor to seek me out right now anyway.'
After all, me stopping by the Special Purpose Weapons Research Lab had been a spontaneous decision to begin with.
["…I don't like that old man."]
'Neither do I.'
["Then why'd you humor him? You could've just ignored him."]
'He's not someone you can just ignore.'
Commander of the Blue Line Defense Command.
A position that, status-wise, wasn't far off from the Young Lady—Ark's unofficial princess.
In terms of actual power? Arguably, he had more.
'Though the Young Lady has the Shadow Order backing her… then again, so does Victor.'
With that thought, I watched him go, then turned to seek out Maybell Pilgrim's lab.
"Oh? You're here?" she said, surprised, in the middle of her work.
Probably because I didn't stop by this often.
"I need a check-up on my Z-74 jetpack."
"Ah, yes. Regular maintenance is a must. Bring it over here."
She began inspecting the jetpack piece by piece with practiced hands.
"No major issues. Everything looks solid. I've tweaked a few parts too—should feel a little smoother now."
"Thanks."
"No need. I should be thanking you for helping test it."
Then she paused, like she remembered something.
"Oh! That reminds me—about the Ark-34's Railgun mode you left last time. I noticed a few areas for improvement. Mind if I take another look?"
"Improvements?"
"Yeah, mainly around the energy charging system. There's some wasted current we can fix—I think I can make it more efficient."
"Alright."
I unslung the Ark-34 Automatic Conversion Rifle from my back and handed it over.
I'd come hoping something like this might happen—and it actually did. Lucky.
"Give me just a few minutes."
"Sure."
She took the rifle and went to her workbench.
Some time passed.
Eventually, she returned, holding out the modified Ark-34.
"I adjusted the charging inefficiencies I mentioned. And with that excess energy no longer wasted, you'll get a slight boost in power as well."
That was a better outcome than I'd expected.
If she was right, not only would the Railgun mode hit harder, but the recharge speed had also improved.
"Good work."
"No, no. I should've caught that earlier. Stop by again soon, if you can. There might be even more improvements I can make."
"I will."
With my business concluded, I headed back to the lab's lobby.
A staff member called out to me.
"Mr. Carl Marcus?"
"What is it?"
"Quartermaster Gedwin left you a message. Would you like to check it?"
"Go ahead."
The recording played.
["This is Gedwin. The supplies you requested are ready. I'll be waiting in front of Red-17 Gate."]
As expected of Gedwin—faster than I thought.
'Well then…'
It was time to pick up my gear.