Chapter 1108

〈 Chapter 1108 〉 1108. Dark Moon

[Ending the game.]

After spending 30 days in the [Dark Moon] game world and automatically returning to reality, I swallowed hard.

Though I spent 30 days in [Dark Moon], not a second passed in real time. Because of that, it felt like the memories of those 30 days were flooding back all at once. My head didn’t hurt, nor was I confused—just a slight sense of alienation.

“Ugh… I had wet dreams about her? Hmmph. Number 31 might be tough, but Instructor Rexi seems like someone I could charm if I tried…”

I clicked my tongue regretfully while organizing my thoughts.

What intrigued me most were the memories of magic.

“…The incantations are clear in my mind, but… still too difficult to calculate.”

Even though I remembered the mathematical formulas, solving them was incredibly hard.

“Astral force and mana circuits don’t exist here. Using magic in reality is impossible.”

Magic in the real world and in [Dark Moon] were fundamentally different. I cleanly gave up on that idea.

“It’s not like I gained nothing, though.”

I raised my hand.

A sapphire current of electricity gathered into a sphere. This was Electric Spark, a Level 2 spell—but no actual magical formula was involved.

“Something resembling lightning-based magic… maybe I can replicate it using raw electrical energy.”

The unstable sphere of lightning flickered before disappearing. Of course, mastering this would require practice.

“The important thing is the feeling of wielding lightning magic.”

Every time my [Dark Moon] self used lightning magic, the sensation grew sharper. Experience lingered through memory.

“With enough time, I might even be able to manifest Thunder Bolt.”

[Available Points: 9,257]

It felt like I’d just stepped in and out of the game world, yet I earned nearly 2,000 points. Due to the penalty settings, I gained more points than in other game worlds.

After pondering for a moment, I reached for my smartphone.

“If I can grow stronger this way and collect plenty of points, it’s such a sweet deal. No way am I wasting my time screwing around in the army. Guess I’ll have to use auto-progression wisely.”

[Selected Dark Moon.]

[Commencing the game.]

•••

It’s been five months since becoming Unit 211. Most of the experimental subject children have reached the Second Rank level.

We’ve gone on missions every two to three months. The frequency of missions has been increasing. Those who fail during missions either die or become cripples. Death was preferable. Without arms or legs, one becomes nothing more than an experimental subject.

I decided I’d rather die than become a cripple. Being locked in a glass cage like a rat isn’t my style.

My rank is now Lance Corporal. Most others remain Privates. Incidentally, Subject 31 is already a Corporal. This unit continues to favor her.

Five months.

A short time, but so much has happened.

Yet when I look back slowly, it doesn’t even feel like two months have passed.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m moving, but it’s as if I’m not the one doing the moving. Strange alienation, huh?”

Right now, I have a few concerns.

One is lust and Subject 212.

Subject 212, who sits next to me in the barracks, has grown rapidly over the past three months—in both physical strength and magical prowess.


Room 212 is a second-class magician and has shown talent in auxiliary magic.

She used to have short brown hair, but recently she’s started growing it out. Should I call it semi-long? Her brown hair has grown down to around her chest. Her chest and hips have filled out, and after many experiences, her acting skills have skyrocketed. Now, I can barely tell when she’s acting.

“Room 211. Counting on you again today.”

After the evening roll call ended and the fluorescent lights on the ceiling turned off, Room 212 quietly whispered. She secretly cast a spell. Magic enveloped her and me. Silence. A spell that eliminates noise.

“Is it really necessary to use the Silence spell?”

“Just in case. We don’t want to inconvenience the others, do we?”

Room 212 intruded her hand into my blanket. Her unhesitating hand firmly grabbed mine. When I turned my head toward Room 212, she pretended not to notice, looking at the ceiling with her eyes closed.

Three weeks ago, I saved her during a mission. Ever since then, she’s been openly trying to seduce me.

“Getting close to the strong increases survival chances in various ways. Even I admit that, so I don’t blame Room 212.”

Room 212 doesn’t cross the line. Subtly showing her chest or, like now, holding my hand while wanting to sleep. There’s nothing wrong with her actions. What’s problematic is my libido.

“…With accumulated libido, I’ve been taking care of it in the bathroom… But lately, even that’s reaching its limit. My libido builds up too fast.”

One cause is Room 212. Another cause is the erotic dreams I sometimes have about Room 31.

“I feel like going to a prostitute just to release this built-up desire.”

However, my status is a slave and an experimental subject. I can’t just leave the base and meet a prostitute.

I confirmed that Room 212 was asleep and let go of her hand. Clenching my eyes shut, I tried my best to fall asleep quickly.

Room 31’s naked body came to mind.

The soft skin and the shape of her vagina I saw when she fell under the waterfall.

“…Shit. Looks like I won’t be able to sleep like this.”

I got up from the bed. The only way to calm this boiling libido was one method.

Before leaving the dormitory for the bathroom, I unconsciously glanced at Rooms 212 and 31.

[Room 212’s erogenous zones: waist, thighs]

[Room 31’s erogenous zones: armpits, butt]

For some reason, months ago, I awakened an ability to know the other person’s erogenous zones.

A completely useless ability.

•••

Other concerns were related to my magical proficiency level.

Right now, I intentionally stopped practicing magic. I could sense that the third rank was just one step away.

“My growth is too fast.”

Room 31, who possesses innate magical talent due to the witch factor, is still second class. If I surpass her and reach third class first, my talent will be exposed. It would be appropriate to reach third class about half a year after she does.

“The mana breathing technique I’ve mastered is the one given by the unit. Though I’ve slightly modified it, hiding my rank is impossible.”

Moreover, I undergo regular physical examinations.

To hide my rank, I’d need special magic or special items. A few items from the game [Dark Moon] came to mind. Items that are impossible to obtain in the current situation.

“This situation is suffocating. Seriously.”

I clenched my teeth without anyone noticing.

“Room 211.”

Room 212 suddenly approached. I stepped back and faced her.

“Room 212. Is something the matter?”

“The mission schedule has come out.”

I took the document she handed over. I’m already familiar with checking the mission schedule. This week, there are five total mission targets in the first squad, including me. The other four are group missions, and I have a personal mission. The exact content isn’t written. I’ll have to hear it from the responsible instructor.

“If the mission starts tomorrow morning, I need to prepare my equipment by tonight. The responsible instructor is Lexi, right?”

If it’s a mission with Lexi alone, it’s obvious. As a sniper supporting allies, it’s a task we’ve done many times before, so I’m not worried.

I passed the document to Number 88, another mission target.


Room 88 sighed as soon as he picked up the documents. No one here liked missions, because every mission carried the possibility of death.

“211. Need help packing?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good. I can handle it myself.”

“Alright?”

212 grinned faintly. There was a hint of kindness in the gesture. I forcibly stopped my gaze from dropping.

After dinner, Instructor Lexi called me to the Office. Her Office had a faint smell of chocolate.

“211. Did you eat dinner?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Sorry to call you during your personal time.”

“It’s for tomorrow’s mission, right? I understand.”

“Don’t bother preparing extra gear. We’ll get support on-site at the mission location.”

“What kind of mission is it?”

Lexi wiggled her finger. Understanding her meaning, I sat on the chair next to her. She pointed at the map on her desk.

“The Rumel Forest in the southern part of the Freesell Kingdom. It borders the Ha-Fail Republic.”

The Freesell Kingdom and the Ha-Fail Republic were currently in a ceasefire.

“Are we supposed to snipe Ha-Fail soldiers?”

“We’re in a ceasefire; that wouldn’t make sense.”

Lexi laughed and waved her hand dismissively. I awkwardly frowned. Everyone knows that unofficial small-scale battles happen daily despite the official ceasefire.

“Captain Olkor from the Freesell Strategic Command was captured by the Resistance while on vacation. They’ve hidden in the Rumel Forest.”

“So this is a rescue mission.”

My expression hardened. I’d done two rescue missions before, both Failures. The hostages died under enemy torture before we could save them.

“This one is different. Rescue is secondary. Primary objective: elimination.”

“…He’s been abandoned by the army.”

“Not exactly. There’s intel suggesting this guy might be a spy for the Ha-Fail Republic. Uncertain info, but… higher-ups decided to cleanly take him out this time. Though, if we have the opportunity, rescuing him would still be the goal.”

The word “capture” seemed more appropriate than “rescue,” but I didn’t press the issue.

Looking at Lexi’s furrowed brow, I could tell she wasn’t thrilled about this mission either.

“What about support?”

“There won’t be any. It’s just us two. The Rumel Forest is near the border, so no backup is possible. And with Ha-Fail watching closely, one wrong move could spark another war. Plus, we’re operating as mercenaries, not soldiers.”

“…This is going to be tough.”

“Not just tough—it’s gonna be super tough. The Rumel Forest may sound like a forest, but it’s practically a jungle.”

I imagined the jungle. Horrible. It felt like being thrown into the depths of despair. The northern snowy mountains suddenly sounded much better.

“Shouldn’t this be handled by the special forces instead?”

I grumbled, already expecting her response. I couldn’t help myself.

“You’re an excellent sniper, so you’ll be joining the special forces. Strategic Command wants to give you some experience ahead of time. It’ll be hard work, but it’s not an impossible mission.”

“How long do you think the mission will last?”

“Two days if everything goes smoothly? Let’s hope there are no variables.”

I slumped my shoulders. Lexi smiled and grabbed my shoulders, kneading them with both hands.

“Why so down? Isn’t this a rare chance for a date with your favorite older sister?”

“…A life-threatening date in a scorching-hot jungle.”

“Hahaha! It’s all experience, kid. Experience. Have a soda and cheer up!”

“Thank you, Instructor Lexi.”

The orange juice that was heading toward me suddenly went back up.

“Can you call me ‘Sis Lexi’?”

Lexi grinned warmly.

“…Sis Lexi.”

The orange juice finally came down again.

I sipped the orange juice while staring at the Rumel Forest map. It looked exactly like the one I’d seen in the game “Dark Moon.”

‘The thing I’m looking for should be hidden somewhere in the Rumel Forest—probably in the exact same spot as in the game.’

I calmed my excitement with the orange juice.

‘The important thing is avoiding Sis Lexi’s sharp eyes… A little unexpected twist in the mission would actually be helpful.’