Chapter 1459

< Episode 1459 > 1459. The Dark Moon

The city was bustling even from early morning.

Citizens darted around as if they all had urgent errands, roads were filled with galloping horses and carriages, and heavily armed police patrolled the streets, exuding an oppressive atmosphere.

It was lively, but not in the orderly way Neo London usually was.

Of course, I know why this is happening. It’s something that occurs every 100 days—something no one in this world could possibly miss.

And for those who have lost track of time, the recorded voice of a certain famous male celebrity echoes throughout the city.

-“Dear gentlemen and ladies of Neo London! Once again, the day has arrived. Yes, the Dark Moon is rising. Can’t you feel the chill in the morning air?”

Chill.

That wasn’t exactly wrong. Neo London’s mornings are always foggy, which only amplifies that eerie feeling.

I instinctively pulled my coat tighter as I walked down the street. My steps weren’t heading toward home, a shop, or a factory. I was leaving the city.

-“Neo London is safe. The Dark Moon has risen since ancient times. Neo London has survived every Dark Moon so far. But every time it rises, over 100 people go missing.”

The citizens paid no attention to his rambling about the Dark Moon, continuing their hurried pace. Probably only someone as bored as me would listen intently—not because I’m a fan, but just out of sheer boredom. His words naturally caught my ear.

-“At 6 PM, all districts of Neo London will be sealed off. Citizens, please return home and lock your doors. We recommend going to bed early. Can’t sleep? Visit your nearest pharmacy. On Dark Moon nights, pharmacies sell sleeping pills at very low prices—but only one daily dose per person. Married couples… as much as you may want to get frisky tonight, please refrain. A friend of mine tried having sex during a Dark Moon night, and well…”

Sex.

The celebrity spoke without hesitation. Yet, no one criticized him. In this city—in this world—blatant, direct, and crude jokes were almost commonplace.

‘The story he’s referencing must be about that woman who got pregnant during a Dark Moon night and ended up birthing a monster.’

Under the influence of the Dark Moon, genetic mutations occur.

Even though conceived and born from human parents, these beings aren’t quite human—they’re monsters. With just a bit of internet savvy, one can easily find detailed information on such cases.

‘In rare lucky cases, gifted humans or even superhumans might be born.’

Because of this, some people deliberately try to conceive during the Dark Moon in hopes of reversing their fortunes. There are also scientists willing to pay big bucks to conduct experiments.

-“Be sure to lock your doors. Cover your windows with plywood, and avoid turning on lights inside if possible. Unwanted visitors may follow the light. If someone knocks on your door claiming to be a deceased family member, contact the London Guard immediately.”


Very well. Even if an acquaintance asks to open the door, do not open it. If the child is overly excitable, give them a sedative and put them to sleep. Act quietly, like the dead, without anyone noticing. Once again, we remind you. Today is the day the Dark Moon rises. At 6 PM….

It brings back memories of playing the game. At first, I thought the NPCs in the game were overreacting to the Dark Moon.

But after coming to this world, I understood why they had no choice but to panic. To regular people, the Dark Moon is an uncontrollable natural disaster. To avoid being swept away by it, one must prepare thoroughly.

“What was the last Dark Moon like again?”

100 days ago. I experienced my first Dark Moon in Neo London. Nothing happened. I woke up to find the black moon descending from the sky and the usual sun rising.

“At that time, I was so busy adapting to Neo London that I stayed home quietly.

Unlike ordinary people who fearfully await the Dark Moon, those with the power to protect themselves see it as a night of opportunity.

“There are quite a few things you can only get on the nights the Dark Moon rises.”

That’s why I’m leaving Neo London today.

“What I need right now is to restore my Mana Roads. Since my Mana Roads are all messed up, it’s hard to increase them.”

Since arriving in Neo London, I’ve consistently practiced magic, but my Mana Roads haven’t increased at all.

The 16 destroyed Mana Roads are blocking my growth.

“I need those things to find the healer.”

Tonight, I plan to obtain what I need.

I boarded a train leaving the city. The inside of the train was quiet, but there were a few passengers. Most smelled of blood—I was sure they were mercenaries. Of course, just because we’re both mercenaries doesn’t mean I’d go up and talk to them. If I did, I’d likely just get sworn at nine times out of ten.

I sat quietly in my seat, watching the scenery outside the train window change.

Neo London’s Outskirts.

This area, which lies even farther than Zone Z, is larger than all of Neo London combined.

The term “outskirts” refers to all the territories owned by Neo London, excluding the city itself. Unlike the dazzling city, the outskirts are pure wilderness.

“The council completely abandoned managing the outskirts.

It’s excessively dangerous and vast, and the resources gained aren’t worth the investment. For these reasons, Neo London has let go of control over the outskirts, though they occasionally clean it up—very occasionally.

“It’s familiar territory for Dark Moon players.

Leveling up, hidden exploration, hidden quests—it’s also an exciting place for fans of the original game.

“I can’t possibly obtain everything hidden here.

Even with my current skills, there are many things I can’t acquire, and I lack the necessary prerequisites. What I can do here is limited.

“Hmm….”

As I looked around the outskirts, I felt troubled.

Although the general layout of the outskirts is similar to what I know from the game, the details differ significantly.

“The original was a PC game, so this is unavoidable… It’s impossible to fully replicate such a vast environment on a PC…”

Looks like I’m in for some hard work today.

I walked through the streets, looking around. This was a village formed around the train station.

“If you walk a little from the station, you’ll see a tavern… Yeah, this is the same as in the game.”

The tavern was closed since it was morning. As I wandered through the village streets, recalling my memories, I spotted an old man lying in an alley next to the tavern.

NPC Nakario.

Though calling him an NPC feels strange since this isn’t a game.

Nakario, who had his eyes closed, opened one lazily when I approached, speaking in a tone that conveyed sheer annoyance.

“Can you spare a penny….”

I reached into my pocket, having exchanged money beforehand for…


I pulled out a coin. Unlike Neo London, where payments can be made easily with a watch, cash is mainly circulated in the outskirts.

Ding!

I flicked a 10-credit coin at him with my finger. The coin drew a parabola and fell in front of him.

“Thank you. May blessings be upon you.”

Ding!

“Oh… What a generous person.”

Ding!

“Are you giving me 30 credits? Thank you very much.”

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

“…Do you want something from me? You look like a mercenary who came to Neo London for a big score.”

Ding!

Ignoring his words, I continued flicking coins.

A total of 20 times. I donated 2,000 credits to him.

In the game, if you donate 20 times in a row, Nakario thanks you and gives you a bracelet. It’s not a great item. If you dismantle the bracelet, you might get some small profit?

But Nakario reacted completely differently than in the game.

“You bastard! Are you mocking me by treating me like a beggar?! Shitty guy. Do you think I won’t end up like you? Damn mercenary brat. Go die!”

He cursed and quickly fled into the alley. I froze in surprise at Nakario’s unexpected reaction.

Even if I act exactly as in the game, the reactions are entirely different.

‘I knew this already, but confirming it directly… this is going to be troublesome. In the game, just talking could give you simple quests… but reality doesn’t work that way.’

As I was about to pass through the alley, I noticed a crude bracelet lying on the ground. It had the same design as the bracelet Nakario gives in the game. I picked it up. If I take it to the city and dismantle it, I can earn 20,000 credits.

I wandered around the village, checking things out.

At the fountain in the center of the village, I threw coins. One, two, three. Coins kept falling into the fountain.

“Do you believe the rumor that throwing coins into the fountain brings good luck? That’s bullshit made up by the villagers to rip off outsiders.”

As I threw the fourth coin, I glanced sideways, rolling my eyes.

There was a tall woman. She wore a black cap pulled low over her face. Her pumpkin-colored eyes glowed like machinery beneath it. Her sharp gaze cut through the air, and her jet-black hair was cropped short, revealing the elegant line of her neck.

She wore a gray long coat. Between the open coat flaps, black skinny pants and a cropped belly shirt were visible, exposing an abdomen sculpted with clear muscles. Above that, a voluptuous bust asserted its presence.

Around her waist was a belt of ammo pouches. On her thighs were holsters, and inside the coat, part of a knife could be seen.

I was shocked when I saw her. My mind went blank for a moment—not just because she was beautiful. She was…

“Looking like you’ve seen a ghost? I’m pretty confident in my looks, but your reaction makes me feel rejected.”

She was one of the characters I created while playing the game. Using mods designed by users for concept play, I meticulously crafted every detail, from her appearance to her stats, skills, and even intimate physical traits.

“Are you Jjapaguri?”

“Wha—what nonsense is that? Are you mentally ill or something?”

Jjapaguri.

That was the character’s name.

Back then, I was obsessed with jjapaguri, so I unconsciously set it as her name. I thought it was kind of cute, so I played with that name. If I wanted, I could change it anytime.

She scanned me from head to toe. I caught the movement of her mechanical eye.

“Hmm.”

“Did you scan me with that mechanical eye?”

“Eh, you noticed? You’re not ordinary. Sorry, it’s kind of a habit. Like searching the internet for information. You know, that sort of thing? It’s not harmful, so bear with it.”

“Fine. But I’d appreciate it if you told me who you are.”

“Bell Terrier. Just a mercenary.”