Into the Creations 1109

Chapter 1109 – Dark Moon

Before entering the Rumel Forest, Lexi and I went to the 105th Unit to receive support, including equipment and emergency rations.

The 105th Unit was responsible for guarding the Rumel Forest, one of the border areas.

It was a battalion-level unit, not a large one. The Rumel Forest was a remote area even among the border regions, and it had been practically neglected for various reasons.

I quietly scanned the 105th Unit with my eyes. It was different from my 667th Unit. The barracks looked decent on the outside, but upon closer inspection, there were many signs of dilapidation.

‘…The 667th Unit does have a lot of the latest equipment. It’s only natural, considering the amount of funding poured into the unit.’

The 667th Unit was created for the ‘Battle Mage Project.’ The project was already on a successful track, so it was receiving a lot of attention from the higher-ups. Moreover, a large corporation was involved, so there was no chance of funding shortages.

‘Their discipline is a mess.’

Even with visitors at the unit, the soldiers of the 105th Unit were wandering around and working half-heartedly. Their faces were full of annoyance at the scorching sunlight and the tediousness of their duties.

‘I’ve visited units with this kind of atmosphere a few times because of missions.’

In such cases, it was highly likely to be a unit that had been demoted.

A unit that had been demoted after causing trouble during their military service. Even though this was the front line, there were different kinds of front lines. Even if this place were to be devastated by enemy bombing, there was a rear unit just a few hours away, so it could be restored immediately, and there were no important cities or facilities nearby.

The unit members knew this fact, so they lacked discipline and motivation.

‘It’s not my concern.’

Lexi and I checked the equipment we had received. The equipment was all in excellent condition. There were no issues.

We checked the equipment and prepared to leave immediately. It was an unsettling unit. Since they were demoted for causing trouble, they were likely to cause more trouble. There was no point in staying here any longer.

“Is the equipment to your liking? I picked only the A-grade items from what we have in the unit.”

A middle-aged man with a mechanical right arm approached us. A mechanical prosthetic. In this world, it was common to have parts of the body replaced with machines, so it was not surprising.

The middle-aged man was Major Baugh, the commander of the 105th Unit. I sensed an ulterior motive in his coming out to see us off personally.

“Yes, it’s well-maintained. I’ll be sure to mention to the higher-ups that we received good equipment.”

Lexi saw through Major Baugh’s intentions and spoke. Major Baugh smiled and nodded.

“It’s good to be of help to the famous panther of the Ross Unit.”

The panther of the Ross Unit.

That was Lexi’s nickname. I didn’t know much about the name, but I knew that the Ross Unit was a fairly famous special forces unit. I also knew that Lexi’s original rank was lieutenant before she was demoted.

Lexi’s expression hardened for a moment. She didn’t like to talk about her past.

“…I didn’t expect you to know me, Major. Has my reputation spread this far?”

“Just because we’re stuck in a remote corner doesn’t mean we’re deaf. What’s a bit surprising is that you’re still on active duty. If you killed a superior, shouldn’t you be in a military prison at the very least?”

Major Baugh said with a smirk.

I knew that Lexi had been demoted for causing trouble… but she actually killed a superior? I was slightly surprised by this unexpected fact.

Lexi shrugged nonchalantly.

“Unlike some people, I have the ability.”

Major Baugh narrowed his eyes. His dry lips trembled slightly. He hesitated whether to speak or not, then smiled.

“…Good luck on your mission.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll see you again soon after completing the mission.”

“Be careful. The Rumel Forest is not an easy place.”

He turned and went back into the barracks. As soon as he disappeared from view, Lexi’s face contorted.

“Incompetent old man. He’s just trying to get on my nerves.”

She spat on the ground and grabbed my shoulder.

“Let’s go. We’ll probably have to start shooting from the get-go.”

It didn’t take me 30 minutes to understand what Lexi meant.

As soon as we entered the Rumel Forest, someone started following us. Lexi and I were not flustered. We went deeper into the forest, as if luring the pursuers.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. The Rumel Forest was a jungle in reality, not just a forest. The hot sun, the stifling humidity, the insects that could be seen with just a glance, and the plants that obstructed the view. I had expected it, but it was a truly annoying environment.

“Lexi, those guys following us… they’re from the 105th Unit, right?”

“That’s right. You’re getting good at this, even without me teaching you.”

“If we’re being followed less than an hour after entering the forest, it’s obviously them. Their goal is…”

“Me, probably.”

She said it as if it were obvious. However, her eyes were not calm at all. A restrained murderous intent was in her pupils.

I looked at her again. Pink bobbed hair, unbelievably white and soft skin for a veteran soldier, a voluptuous chest, and a slender waist. She was exceptionally beautiful, something rarely seen.

“Your gaze is lecherous. You’re not thinking strange things, are you?”

“You’re the one thinking strange things.”

“It’s natural that they’re after me. It’s happened a few times while working in the military. Of course, I sent them all to the other world.”

“…They might be after your body, but their first priority is probably the equipment we have.”

The equipment we received from the 105th Unit was all A-grade. Some of it was expensive, state-of-the-art equipment.

They were probably planning to kill us and take the equipment. If we were killed by them, it would be treated as a disappearance due to mission failure, and the equipment would officially be lost in the Rumel Forest. It was a perfect way to make money.

“It’s not just that. Major Baugh. He reeks of something fishy. He probably wants to get rid of us just in case.”

“…Just in case?”

“In case we find evidence of his corruption in this forest and report it to the higher-ups? This is just suspicion without any evidence yet… but he’s probably involved in smuggling. That’s about the only way to make money in a place like this.”

For the shady Major Baugh, the best-case scenario was for us to die in the Rumel Forest and fail the mission.

“…What should we do about the guys following us? They’re getting closer.”

“Are you seriously asking me that?”

“It’s not that, but you have the authority to make decisions.”

Just because Lexi was nice to me didn’t mean I should mistake the difference in our positions.

“That’s right. Well, we need to get rid of anything that interferes with the mission. It’s not just us who can have accidents, they can too.”

“What’s the plan?”

“You figure it out. This is easy, right?”

Lexi seemed to have decided to leave it to me without moving herself. She often left things to me, citing her experience, so it was a familiar situation.

I looked around.

First of all, sniping was impossible. There were too many obstacles. Dense trees and unknown plants blocked the view.

Fighting them directly? It wasn’t bad, but it was inefficient.

“I’ll use trap magic.”

“Trap magic? Is it the military arcane magic I know?”

“Yes. It’s Air Trap.”

Air Trap, a 2nd-grade arcane magic, was a military arcane magic of the Freesel Army. It was one of the military arcane magics that Instructor Venus had taught me before.

Air Trap was, simply put, an invisible magic trap. It was a magic that was set in the air, on walls, or on the ground with conditions.

‘At my current level, the time I can maintain an Air Trap without a medium is about 3 hours. That should be enough time.’

The disadvantage of Air Trap was that it was easily detected by those sensitive to mana.

‘I’ve been researching and modifying Air Trap for the past while, so it won’t be noticeable unless you’re a 2nd-grade mage. There are no 2nd-grade mages among the guys chasing us.’

There was no reason for a high-level resource like a mage to rot in a demoted unit.

‘The way they’re tracking us isn’t magical. They’re following the traces left on the ground. There’s a decent ranger among them.’

It was convenient that I didn’t need to predict their path separately.

I opened my astral and activated the mana rods. Mana flowed through the 18 mana rods and transformed into a spell. I smiled as I felt the mana flowing smoothly.

‘I’ve been busy for the past five months. Researching magic, enduring mana essence….’

Having mana essence injected into my body was the worst, but I couldn’t deny that it was helping me grow quickly.

‘With my current mana capacity, 17 Air Traps are my limit. …About 10 should be enough.’

I moved with Lexi and set up Air Traps.

***

First Lieutenant Oloc, the squad leader of the 1st squad of the 105th Unit, frowned at the giggling of his subordinates.

“Shut up. Can’t you see I’m looking for traces with my eyes about to pop out?”

The five subordinates quieted their laughter at First Lieutenant Oloc’s scolding. However, the smiles on their faces did not disappear.

“Haven’t you found them yet?”

“They’re moving in a way that leaves as few traces as possible, probably because they’re snipers. The direction is… this way.”

“Haha. As expected of the squad leader. Even snipers can’t escape the squad leader’s pursuit.”

“I told you to stop laughing.”

“But you’re smiling too, sir.”

“……”

First Lieutenant Oloc couldn’t refute it. He was actually smiling too.

He couldn’t help but laugh. He was desperately trying to suppress it, but his body and mind were in a state of excitement.

It was a rare opportunity to make a lot of money.

And a beauty that couldn’t be found in this godforsaken backwater.

The time to satisfy his hungry greed and lust was just around the corner. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“But the major said she’s not an ordinary woman. What if we get taken down instead?”

A subordinate who was particularly worried said.

“This is the Rumel Forest. What are you worried about?”

They had been wandering around the Rumel Forest to the point of being sick of it. They had been smuggling in the Rumel Forest under the guise of training. Not only that, but they also hunted in the Rumel Forest when they wanted to eat meat. The Rumel Forest was their home turf.

“We have the advantage in this forest. Plus, we received magic bullets from the major. If you want to back out, go ahead. But you won’t get anything.”

“Ah, no. I’m not saying I want to back out.”

The timid subordinate quickly shook his head.

And as if waiting for it, another subordinate spoke.

“But squad leader, about that woman. Isn’t it a waste to just kill her after one go? Can’t we subdue her and take her to the barracks? I’ll take good care of her.”

“Bullshit. Don’t you know the inspectors come by sometimes?”

“Keeping her in the Rumel Forest is also an option.”

“The major told us not to keep her alive. I also think we should keep a woman like that around for a while… but it’s the major’s order, so there’s nothing we can do.”

“Then, can I be the first this time….”

“Corporal Grelton.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Don’t cross the line.”

“…Sorry, sir.”

They kept moving without stopping, even while chatting.

They pushed aside familiar plants and followed the faint traces.

*Whoosh!*

First Lieutenant Oloc stopped in his tracks at the unfamiliar and strange sound. He felt a strong wind pass by his hair.

‘Wind? In this jungle-like forest?’

First Lieutenant Oloc reflexively turned his head to the side, and his eyes widened. Corporal Grelton, whose head was split open, was falling to the ground.

*Thud.*

“……”

Everyone was frozen in shock.