Chapter 5

　　Khan’s pride was wounded. Through countless enhancements, he understood intellectually that there were days when things just didn’t work out, but it was impossible not to be affected.

　　‘Only +4…’

　　He had used ten whole enhancement stones. If it had been five, he could have understood. Two failures out of five attempts were something that could easily happen. But this was ten. Seven failures out of ten could only be interpreted as a 30% success rate. To get only a 30% success rate on attempts that should have been 90%, 85%, and 80%… Setting aside any guilt, for Khan, who prided himself on being quite skilled among enhancement masters, it was an unacceptable outcome.

　　“This time, my disciple will do the enhancement.”

　　“…Isn’t he an adventurer?” the woman asked.

　　“He is an adventurer.”

　　“Then how…?”

　　The woman scanned Han Simin with a questioning gaze. No matter how she looked at him, his attire screamed ‘beginner’. A player like that was going to perform an enhancement? For someone who had diligently played Fantastic World for ten days and gathered a fair amount of information about the enhancement content, it was an incomprehensible statement. As Khan had said, the enhancement master job was extremely rare in the game.

　　“He is my disciple, so you need not worry about that.”

　　“I understand.” The woman nodded agreeingly, seemingly thinking that as long as the enhancement succeeded, it didn’t matter.

　　Han Simin interjected into their agreement.

　　“Hey, mister.”

　　“What?”

　　“What is this sudden development? Why am I doing the enhancement?”

　　He could do it, of course. Today was the tenth day, and it was the moment he had planned to succeed in a straight shot to +10 in front of Khan, as promised, and show off his fraudulent, probability-defying ability to his heart’s content. But not like this.

　　“You have to prove it anyway, don’t you?”

　　“That’s true.”

　　“Then is there a problem with proving it using this adventurer’s weapon?”

　　“Of course there is.”

　　It wasn’t just a problem. It was a very big problem.

　　“What’s the problem?”

　　“It’s a bit hard to say here…”

　　Han Simin glanced at the woman. Khan was an NPC, but the woman was a player. One must distinguish between public and private matters. He subtly led Khan to the front of the anvil.

　　“With you, Master, it’s a give-and-take where I show you the enhancement and can give you the weapon, but that woman is an adventurer. My secret technique can’t be bought for a mere 50 silver.”

　　He then spoke seriously. The gravity in his tone was more profound than ever before, leaving Khan at a loss for words.

　　“…Are you being serious?”

　　“Of course.”

　　During the ten days he had spent with Han Simin, Khan had asked him various things, mostly about the unbelievable claims he had made.

　　A 100% enhancement success rate. It was tantamount to ignoring the rules set by the gods, so while it was absurd, he couldn’t help but be curious. He had many conversations to resolve his curiosity, and the conclusion Khan reached was to wait and see. For him, it was a huge decision. It was like presenting a mathematician with a formula that completely overturned existing ones and asking them to accept it, but he had done so. If Han Simin hadn’t been an outsider from another world, if he had been someone living by the rules of the continent, it was something he would never have accepted.

　　“I’ve become curious. Can’t you show me?”

　　Khan’s resolve had tilted even further due to the recent enhancement failure. It was an unknown world that he couldn’t understand, even after decades of enhancing. It was a realm of dreams that he had, of course, thought about at least once while enhancing.

　　The probability that it was just the delusions of a rookie adventurer who had just started his journey was higher, but Khan decided to trust his judgment of character. On the other hand, there was also a sense of resentment and rebellion against the gods who still granted him such unlucky days despite having performed so many enhancements. These complex emotions created a rare opportunity, and Simin took it. He might be unemployed, but he was sharp and quick-witted in situations like this.

　　“Well, if you want to see it that badly, I can show you. But what will you do for me?”

　　Khan was confused.

　　“I mean, think about it. Our deal is that you teach me the enhancement skill, and I show you my unique talent for guaranteed enhancement. If I suddenly enhance an unrelated adventurer’s item, isn’t that a loss for me?”

　　“If you become an enhancement master, that’s something you’ll have to accept…”

　　“Even if I charge at least three times the normal enhancement fee when I become one?”

　　It was an absurd argument, but he pushed it. In any case, it was far more advantageous for Han Simin not to enhance the woman’s weapon. He didn’t need to use a player’s weapon to show Khan his ability to succeed up to +10.

　　“Why do you insist on using that woman’s weapon? Don’t tell me it’s because she’s pretty…”

　　“Ahem. It’s not like that.” Khan stated.

　　“Looks like it to me.”

　　“I said it’s not!” Khan insisted.

　　“If it’s not, it’s not. Why are you getting angry? It’s suspicious.”

　　“…Are you going to do it or not? To be honest, as an enhancement master, this failure hurts my pride, so I wish to compensate her.”

　　Khan, his true intentions exposed, hurriedly made an excuse. But Han Simin was not one to be easily swayed.

　　“What are you going to do if my words turn out to be a lie?”

　　“Even so, it’s a matter of probability, so it won’t be a big problem.”

　　So it was because the woman was pretty. Han Simin sighed. After a moment of thought, he decided to refuse.

　　‘Who am I doing this for?’

　　She was certainly a beautiful woman, and Simin was attracted to her. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to make a good impression. But that was a separate issue; she was a stranger. It was pitiful that she had wasted ten enhancement stones to get to +4, but it wasn’t his fault. To donate his talent for a woman who hadn’t contributed a single cent to his life—such ridiculous logic did not exist in Han Simin’s dictionary.

　　“Still, I won’t do…”

　　“If you really succeed up to +10, I will give you all the money received for the enhancement fee. And I will give you 20 enhancement stones separately.”

　　“I was planning to do it all along, Master. I will restore your shattered pride!”

　　He hadn’t been, but Khan’s words engraved the intention into his mind. Once the deal was struck, Khan placed his hand on Han Simin’s head and, just like when enhancing, drew up his mana.

　　Vwoom!

　　Simin was confused.

　　“Temporary bestowal of the enhancement skill,” Khan said.

　　[You can now use the ‘Enhancement (F)’ skill.]

　　[Time Remaining: 2:59:59]

　　Han Simin now had the wings he needed to show off his talent.

* * *

　　Jeong Seolah was displeased. It was because of the rookie player and the NPC whispering in front of her.

　　‘This is costing more than I expected.’

　　She had brought extra enhancement stones just in case, but she hadn’t thought she would have to use them all. But now it seemed she would. No, she had a feeling that she might not be able to make the +10 she had planned, even after using them all.

　　‘If the success rate is only 30%…’

　　To have such luck at a stage where she needed to climb up quickly. She had a strong desire to do the enhancement herself, but there was nothing she could do. In Fantastic World, confronting an NPC only resulted in a loss for the player. She endured it and calmed her mind. A little more money wouldn’t be a problem. It was just annoying that her plan was going awry, and the time it would take to get additional enhancement stones was a waste. She just hoped she could finish with this enhancement attempt.

　　“Alright. I’ll begin the enhancement.”

　　Then, as if their conversation had ended, the player who was called a disciple approached the anvil with a wide grin. Since he had just learned the skill, there was no way he would have any additional probability bonuses. Without much expectation, she crossed her arms and sat down in the provided chair. When it came to enhancement, expectation leads to disappointment. She assumed the worst and closed her eyes.

　　Clang! Clang!

　　The refreshing sound of a hammer striking filled the air.

　　Even with her eyes closed, a faint light that pierced through her eyelids told her the result.

　　‘Plus five.’

　　It was to be expected with a 70% probability, but after what had just happened, even this was a relief. Still, she didn’t rejoice. This was just the beginning. From +6, a new chapter of enhancement began. The prelude to suffering starts with a 50% chance of a level drop upon failure. This was where it truly began.

　　“Then I’ll go right ahead.”

　　Whether he knew it or not, the rookie enhancement master immediately began to strike with the hammer.

　　Clang! Clang! Clang!

　　Success! A brighter light illuminated the inside of the enhancement shop. The sword’s options would have been improved.

　　“Going for plus seven.”

　　Simin shouted loudly as if for her to hear and began hammering again.

　　Flash!

　　“Going for plus eight.”

　　Clang! Clang! Clang!

　　Flash!

　　An intense light that could warm a player’s heart even for a moment penetrated her closed eyelids, and only then did Jeong Seolah open her eyes.

　　‘+8? In one go?’

　　Was this the same weapon that had failed seven times to get to +4? Could he have switched it with another weapon? Even though she knew that the effect that burst out upon a successful enhancement was different for higher levels, she had her doubts. He could have succeeded by luck. It was better to be grateful and think of it as beginner’s luck rather than being suspicious. But Jeong Seolah was not that kind of sentimental woman.

　　‘The probability of succeeding consecutively is…’

　　She didn’t need to calculate it to know that it was low. What was more surprising was that when she opened her eyes and turned her gaze to the anvil.

　　She stared in disbelief.

　　“Ah. Damn it. It always starts acting up from plus nine,” he grumbled.

　　“Wh-what are you doing?” the enhancement shop NPC, also flustered, asked the rookie player who was about to start hammering.

　　This wasn’t something they had discussed beforehand. The rookie replied nonchalantly.

　　“It enhances better this way.”

　　Both Khan and the woman were speechless.

　　The player, lying flat on the floor, began to hammer with both hands. And then.

　　Flash!

　　Light burst out once more. Jeong Seolah was already on her feet. The NPC also had his mouth agape in surprise. The player who had gotten up met her gaze and smiled awkwardly.

　　“I’ll begin the final enhancement.”

　　‘…The final one?’

　　His words were filled with conviction as if he would definitely finish it. It was as natural as saying he would wash his hair after a haircut at a salon. Jeong Seolah nodded before she even realized it. Her eyes then fell upon the sight of the enhancement master, now lying on his back, gripping the hammer with his toes as he struck the weapon. The ritual was so bizarre it made her wonder if he was a psychopath, but the enhancement had already begun.

　　Flash!

　　The moment a deep, pure white light burst forth, Jeong Seolah was captivated, as if by a spell that made even the enchanter’s form seem sublime.

　　She was too stunned to speak.

　　It had taken six enhancement stones to go from +4 to +10. Jeong Seolah stared intently at the man approaching with the sword, which now emanated a soft, pure white light like an aura.

* * *