Chapter 1108 – 1108. Dark Moon
[The game is terminated.]
[Dark Moon] After spending 30 days in the game world and automatically returning to reality, I took a breath.
Although I spent 30 days in [Dark Moon], not even a second had passed in real time. Perhaps because of this, it felt like the memories of those 30 days were flooding in all at once. My head didn’t hurt, nor was I confused. I just felt a slight sense of incongruity.
‘Hmm. I had a wet dream. Even if 31 is difficult, I think I could easily seduce and sleep with Instructor Lexi…’
Clicking my tongue in disappointment, I organized my memories.
The most interesting thing was, of course, the memories about magic.
‘…The formulas are coming back to me… they are… but the calculations are difficult.’
I knew the mathematical formulas, but solving them was incredibly difficult.
‘There’s no astral or mana road. It’s impossible to use magic in reality.’
Magic in reality and magic in [Dark Moon] were clearly different. I cleanly gave up on magic.
‘It’s not like there’s no benefit at all.’
I raised my hand.
Blue currents gathered in the lightning, forming a sphere. It was Electric Spark, a second-tier spell. To be precise, none of the magic formulas were included.
‘If it’s something similar to an electric-type spell… I think I can manifest it using lightning.’
The sphere of lightning flickered unsteadily before disappearing. It goes without saying, but training was necessary to manifest it skillfully.
‘The important thing is the sensation of using electric-type magic.’
The more I used electric-type magic in [Dark Moon], the clearer the sensation became. Experience was being retained through memory.
‘I think I’ll be able to manifest Thunder Bolt later on.’
[Available Points: 9,257]
It felt like I had only briefly entered the game world, but I had accumulated about 2,000 points. Because of the penalty I had set, I was earning more points than in other game worlds.
I pondered for a moment before reaching for my smartphone.
‘I can get stronger like this and earn plenty of points. This is great, isn’t it? I don’t want to waste my time pointlessly in the military, so I should use auto-progress appropriately.’
[You have selected Dark Moon.]
[The game will now begin.]
***
Five months had already passed since I became Number 211. Most of the project’s test subjects had reached the second tier.
We went on missions two or three times a month. The frequency of missions was increasing. Those who failed missions either died or became disabled. It was better to die. If you became a cripple without arms or legs, you were only left with value as a test subject.
I decided I would rather die than become a cripple. I refused to be a rat trapped in a glass cage.
My rank was now Sergeant. Most of the other kids were Privates First Class. By the way, Number 31 was a Staff Sergeant. This unit still showed her favoritism.
Five months.
It was a short time, but a lot had happened.
But when I slowly looked back, it didn’t feel like even two months had passed.
‘Sometimes, I feel a strange sense of incongruity, like I moved, but it wasn’t me who moved.’
I had a few concerns right now.
One was my libido and Number 212.
Number 212, who was next to me in the barracks, had grown rapidly over the past three months. Both physically and in her magical abilities.
Number 212 was a second-tier mage and showed talent in support magic.
She used to have short brown hair, but recently she had started growing it out. I guess you could call it semi-long hair. Her brown hair had grown to about chest level. Her chest and hips had filled out, and after having various experiences, her acting skills had improved tremendously. Now, even I had trouble distinguishing her acting.
“Number 211. Please, again today.”
After evening roll call and the fluorescent lights on the ceiling were turned off, Number 212 whispered quietly. She secretly used magic. The magic enveloped her and my body. Silence. It was a spell that eliminated noise.
“Is there really a need to use Silence magic?”
“Just in case. It’s a nuisance to the others.”
Number 212 slipped her hand into my blanket. Her hand, moving without hesitation, tightly grasped mine. When I turned my head towards Number 212, she pretended not to notice, looking at the ceiling with her eyes closed.
Three weeks ago, I had saved her on a mission. Since then, she had been openly seducing me.
‘If you get close to the strong, your chances of survival increase in many ways. I acknowledge that, so I don’t blame Number 212.’
Number 212 didn’t cross the line. She would subtly show her chest, or hope to hold hands and fall asleep like now. There was nothing wrong with her actions. The problem was my libido.
‘…When my libido builds up, I take care of it in the bathroom… but even that’s reaching its limit these days. The rate at which my libido builds up has increased.’
One of the reasons was Number 212. The other reason was the erotic dreams I occasionally had featuring Number 31.
‘I’m at the point where I want to go find a prostitute to release my libido.’
But my status was that of a slave and a test subject. I couldn’t just sneak out of the unit and meet a prostitute.
I made sure Number 212 was asleep and let go of her hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to fall asleep as quickly as possible.
The image of Number 31’s naked body flashed in my mind.
The soft skin and the shape of her vagina that I had seen when she fell under the waterfall.
‘…Damn it. I can’t fall asleep like this.’
I got out of bed. There was only one way to calm my boiling libido.
Before leaving the barracks to go to the bathroom, I unconsciously glanced at Number 212 and Number 31.
[Number 212’s erogenous zones: waist, thighs]
[Number 31’s erogenous zones: armpits, buttocks]
Somehow, a few months ago, I had awakened an ability that allowed me to know the other person’s erogenous zones.
It was a useless ability.
***
Another concern was about my magical abilities.
Right now, I was intentionally stopping my magic training. I could feel that the third tier was just one step away.
‘My growth is too fast.’
Number 31, who had a natural talent for magic due to her witch factor, was still only at the second tier. If I were to reach the third tier before her, my talent would be exposed. It would be appropriate to reach the third tier at least half a year after she did.
‘The mana breathing technique I’ve learned is the one the unit gave me. Although I’ve modified it a bit, it’s impossible to hide my tier.’
Moreover, I had to undergo a physical examination at regular intervals.
To hide my tier, I needed a special magic or a special item. A few items from the [Dark Moon] game came to mind. They were items that were impossible to obtain in the current situation.
‘This situation is so frustrating. Seriously.’
I gritted my teeth without anyone knowing.
“Number 211.”
Number 212 suddenly approached. I stepped back and faced her.
“Number 212. What’s wrong?”
“The mission schedule is out.”
I took the document that Number 212 handed me. I was now used to checking the mission schedule. This week, the mission targets for the first squad were a total of five people, including me. The other four were on a group mission, and I was on an individual mission. The exact details of the mission were not written. I would have to go to the instructor in charge to find out.
‘The mission starts tomorrow at dawn, so I need to pack my gear by tonight. The instructor in charge is Lexi.’
If it was a mission with just Lexi and me, it was obvious. It would be a mission to support the allies as a sniper. I had done this mission several times, so I wasn’t worried.
I handed the document to Number 88, who was another mission target. As soon as Number 88 received the document, he sighed. No one here liked missions. There was always a possibility of dying on a mission.
“Number 211. Do you want me to help you pack?”
“Thanks for the offer, but it’s okay. I can do it myself.”
“Really?”
Number 212 smiled. I could feel her goodwill. I forcibly stopped my gaze from going downwards.
After dinner, Instructor Lexi called me to her office. There was a faint smell of chocolate in her office.
“Number 211. Have you had dinner?”
“Yes, I have.”
“I’m sorry for calling you during your personal time.”
“It’s because of the mission tomorrow, isn’t it? I understand.”
“Don’t pack your gear separately. You’ll receive support in the mission area.”
“What kind of mission is it?”
Instructor Lexi flicked her finger. Understanding her intention, I sat on the chair next to her. She pointed to a map on the desk.
“It’s the Lumel Forest, south of the Freesel Kingdom. It’s where the border with the Hapeil Republic overlaps.”
The Freesel Kingdom and the Hapeil Republic were currently in a truce.
“Is it a mission to snipe Hapeil Republic soldiers?”
“We’re in a truce, so that’s not likely.”
Instructor Lexi laughed and waved her hand. I made an awkward expression. Although they were officially in a truce, everyone knew that unofficial small-scale battles were happening all the time.
“Lieutenant Olkor of the Freesel Strategic Command was captured by the resistance while on leave. They’ve hidden in the Lumel Forest.”
“It’s a rescue mission, then.”
My expression hardened. I had done rescue missions about twice, and they had all failed. The hostages had died from enemy torture before they could be rescued.
“This time is a little different. Rescue is the second priority. The first priority is to kill.”
“…He’s been abandoned by the military.”
“It’s not just for that reason. There’s information that this guy is a spy for the Hapeil Republic. It’s unconfirmed information, but… the higher-ups have decided to kill him cleanly this time. Well, the goal is to rescue him if we can do it easily.”
The word ‘capture’ seemed more appropriate than ‘rescue,’ but I didn’t argue.
Looking at Lexi’s furrowed brow, I could tell that she didn’t like this mission either.
“What kind of support will we have?”
“None. It’s just the two of us. The Lumel Forest is a border area, so support is impossible. It’s also within the sight of the Hapeil Republic. If we’re not careful, a war could break out. And we’re carrying out this mission as mercenaries, not as soldiers.”
“…It’s going to be quite difficult.”
“It’s not just quite difficult, it’s going to be very difficult. The Lumel Forest is called a forest, but it’s actually closer to a jungle.”
I imagined the jungle. It was terrible. It felt like I was falling into the abyss. I would rather go to the northern snowy mountains.
“Isn’t this a mission that a special forces unit should be doing, not us?”
I grumbled, even though I expected the answer. I couldn’t help it.
“You’re an excellent sniper, so you’ll be assigned to the special forces. The Strategic Command is trying to give you experience in advance. It’ll be tough, but it’s not a very difficult mission.”
“How long do you think the mission will take?”
“Two days at the earliest? We’ll have to hope there are no variables.”
I slumped my shoulders. Instructor Lexi smiled and grabbed my shoulders with both hands, massaging them.
“Why are you so down? Don’t you like going on a date with this older sister for the first time in a while?”
“…It’s a life-threatening date in a hot forest.”
“Hahaha. It’s all experience, experience. Drink some juice and cheer up.”
“Thank you, Instructor Lexi.”
The orange juice that was coming down in front of me went back up.
“You can call me Lexi, you know?”
Instructor Lexi said with a friendly smile.
“……Lexi, noona.”
The orange juice came back down again.
I drank the orange juice while looking at the map of the Lumel Forest. It was the same as the map I had seen in the ‘Dark Moon’ game.
‘The thing I want is in the Lumel Forest. It’s probably hidden in the same place as in the game.’
I calmed my excited heart with the orange juice.
‘The important thing is to avoid Lexi’s eyes… it would be good if there were variables in the mission.’
