Chapter 1098 – 1098. The Dark Moon
It has already been a week since I entered the game called ‘Dark Moon’.
Did someone say that humans are creatures of adaptation? That’s right. I have adapted to this life.
It’s all thanks to Instructor Lexi. As word spread that he was a genius in marksmanship, he was treated in various ways and his life became easier. Even if you make a little mistake, it goes over to some extent.
‘My value has gone up. Even if I can’t become a Battle Mage, I can use it as a sniper.’
Instructor Lexi explained the importance of snipers whenever he saw me. One veteran sniper makes 1,000 allies at ease. It seems that the word is a bit of an exaggeration. Anyway, it seems to be true that the value of a sniper is high.
Yesterday, I heard that No. 31 had risen to rank 2. The instructor and children are also number 31. They all responded.
When No. 31 became the second class, she, who had been receiving preferential treatment, began to receive better treatment.
‘The difference between 1st and 2nd grades is quite large, so it’s not strange.’
I wasn’t talented in martial arts, and I had no talent in all physical actions except shooting. Swordsmanship, spearmanship, etc.
What was shocking was the fact that he couldn’t do swordsmanship at all.
‘On Earth, he was still an F-class hunter who used a sword….’
No. 211 had the same face as mine, but had no motor nerves at all.
Tiri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri.
A cheap melody rang from the ceiling. It was a melody announcing the next schedule. The children who were sitting in the office went out into the hallway and lined up.
“Let’s go to the mana training room.”
Unit 205, the head of the Internal Affairs Office, led us. I can feel your gaze as I walk down the hallway. When I glanced around, I saw two soldiers wearing military uniforms and holding guns in their hands. I realize anew that this body’s identity is that of a slave and a test subject.
As soon as I entered the mana training room, I felt the thick mana. I don’t know the detailed principle, but the mana training room was full of mana more than other places. As the name suggests, it was a space created for mana breathing.
‘Room 211 passed out after experiencing a backflow of mana here.’
And I woke up in room 211.
I sat cross-legged in the designated seat. The most basic posture for mana breathing was cross-legged.
Close your eyes and focus on contemplation.
‘The cause of mana regurgitation in room 211 was breathing. I open the astral, paying special attention to breathing.’
Astral was opened, and the presence of Mana was clearly felt.
5 mana rods started working. Contrary to when using magic, I draw mana from the outside into me. More than 99% of the mana absorbed like that comes out again, but a very small amount of mana remains in my body and accumulates.
This accumulated mana will become my asset.
“Gagging! Big!”
I opened my eyes, which had been closed at the sound of a voice that broke my concentration. A man, positioned some distance away from me, clutched his chest and collapsed to the floor. It was a mana regurgitation. Soldiers rushed in and took the man to the infirmary.
‘Three people suffered from mana regurgitation in one week. It’s strange anyway. Did you intentionally cause a backflow of mana?’
As word spread about me, the perception of mana regurgitation changed a bit. If you gain enlightenment through mana regurgitation, you can rise to a higher level. It was bullshit.
‘You seem to be misunderstanding something. Mana backflow can only be a trigger. That’s also an opportunity with a very low probability of success.’
Well, it wasn’t that I didn’t understand those who deliberately suffered from mana reflux in hopes of luck. It means that it is so desperate.
‘Our status is slaves and experimental subjects. If your grades are bad, you’ll be disposed of right away.’
I closed my eyes again. It was someone else’s business whether or not he intentionally caused the backflow of mana. I’m not the type to go around for others, and I didn’t have the time to do that.
•••
In the afternoon, instead of practicing swordsmanshipheheaded to the shooting range with Instructor Lexi. The instructors recognized my talent and made a schedule to focus on marksmanship.
“Hi. No. 211. How are you feeling today?”
Lexi smiled and said. On the desk next to her were over 10 firearms, starting with her handgun.
“It is normal.”
“You’re not in bad shape, are you?”
“Yes.”
“Today I am going to try out different guns. Interestingly, everyone has a different preference for firearms. Well, it doesn’t matter what kind of gun it is if you’re skilled enough.”
Silently, I followed her instructions and started shooting with the pistol. Admire yourself every time you shoot. If it is a short distance, it will hit the target even if you pull the trigger roughly without calculating the wind.
‘Is this a talent?’
I thought talent was efficiency.
Geniuses are those who get the most out of the least effort. Called.
‘But now that I’m a genius, I understand. It’s minimal effort and nothing. Genius is impossible.’
I erased all unhelpful thoughts from my head. I just worked faithfully on this talent now.
“I know that? For a wizard, the higher the shooting skill, the better.”
“… Do wizards often use firearms?”
“Yes? It’s not that, magic is also a ranged attack after all. If you don’t get it right, it’s useless.”
It was not wrong.
It’s not just long-distance attack magic, but the image of a wizard itself is an image of attacking with magic from behind. Actually, there’s not much of a difference.
‘Battle Mage is a bit of an exception. A mage’s fighting style is based on distance.’
Wizards in this world don’t bother to fight. As long as you have level 3 or higher magic skills, you can enjoy the life of an elite, but would you want to do something dangerous?
Taang. Bang. Bang.
Pull the trigger and savor the gunfire. I shot more than 300 shots, but I didn’t get tired of it at all, perhaps because I hit the target with my feet.
“Do you remember what I said last time?”
“… Did you mean to give me a reward?”
“Right. Just in case, what kind of award do you want to receive? Be honest. I rarely give someone a prize?”
“…….”
I was told to be honest, so I didn’t mean to foolishly reveal my true feelings. Just because the other person is good to me, I shouldn’t be mistaken about my current position.
“I will take as you give.”
“That is a boring answer. Don’t you want to go out and take a look?”
“…… Will you let me out?”
“Sorry. I have no right to do that. But the chance to go outside will come next week.”
“What’s happening next week?”
“This is your first mission. No I’d rather call it practice. You guys are still trainees.”
“I want to know the contents of the practice.”
“I can’t tell you because it’s confidential. Actually, I shouldn’t have disclosed that there was practice… I inadvertently said It’s a secret to everyone else.”
I really wouldn’t have said it carelessly. There is practice, so prepare your mind. Well, that would mean I picked up my gun again and tried to focus on the shot, but her hand grabbed my wrist.
She put one of her bracelets on her hand. It was a clunky metal bracelet.
“This is my award. It’s an artifact enchanted with level 4 barrier magic. The cutie who saved my life more than 10 times.”
Artifact.
It is a word that refers to a magical object.
“Thank you.”
Accepted the artifact without rejecting it. A level 4 barrier could be my lifeline.
“You can fail this practice. Everyone has already checked your shooting skills. Even if you fail, you won’t be disposed of.”
“… Okay.”
“Oh. Instructor Vinubis has his eyes on you. I heard that the magic expression is very neat. But your marksmanship is better than magic. Don’t forget you were born to be a sniper.”
“… Yes. Thank you.”
I treated Lexi without showing my inner feelings.
To be honest, I’d rather be a wizard than a sniper. This body was as good at magic as it was at shooting.
•••
The practice day is approaching.
I sat down on the toilet bowl.
Wherever you go, other people’s eyes follow you. There are other children in the office, and soldiers in the corridors. Same goes for the shower room. There was only one manager. At least, the only thing I could get out of the gaze of others was the bathroom.
‘Even this is limited to 15 minutes. If I stay here longer, they’ll attack me.’
I tried to commit suicide, but I couldn’t. A slave seal engraved on his right forearm does not permit suicide. It’s okay to think of suicide, but if you try to act, the seal glows and gives you pain. Ignoring the pain is a way to pass out.
I entered the bathroom not to commit suicide, but to check my magic.
‘Light.’
Unleashes magic with a shadowless spear. An orb of light that appeared on the palm lit up the bathroom.
‘Fire.’
A flame burned in the place where the sphere of light had been.
‘Ice.’
The flames disappeared, cold air gathered, and ice was created. Holding a fist-sized piece of ice in my hand, I dropped it into the toilet bowl, frowning at the coldness.
With a plop.
The ice began to melt rapidly.
‘Wind.’
The wind blew. Hair was shaking
The magic of the earth attribute passed. I knew the technique, but it wasn’t suitable for use here.
‘Water.’
Water pooled on top of my palm and then dripped down. Water and ice magic are similar but different.
‘… Spark.’
Grip support.
A blue electric current bounced on the palm of my hand.
I blankly stared at the current. It was much more convenient to use the electric type magic, Spark, than the other attribute magic, Light or Fire. No, I would say it feels familiar.
‘Am I specialized in the electric type attribute? Other than that, it didn’t feel like other magic was difficult.’
He folded his palms. Current is gone.
In that state, I closed my eyes and sorted out magic and attributes. The characteristics of the attributes I felt were as follows.
Light mana spreads in all directions, fire mana is hot, and ice mana is cold. The mana of water flows, and the mana of wind is light. The mana of the earth is hard, and the mana of darkness is heavy.
‘And the mana of lightning… Pure.’
It was the moment when the properties were established. Astral, called the wizard’s spirit, reacted. Astral is about to expand rapidly. I knew that my level was to go up to the second level.
‘Not yet.’
With willpower, I forcibly blocked Astral’s expansion.
‘If you go up to the second level now, you will stand out too much. Even if I can’t, I’ll go up in a month.’
Forcibly prevented the rise of the realm. Normally this is impossible, but my magic talent made it possible. At this point, even I, who is unfamiliar with magic, have no choice but to know. My magic talent goes beyond shooting.
‘The road to level 2 isn’t blocked. I can go up whenever I want.’
I looked at the palm of my hand.
The attribute I am most comfortable with. It was absolutely certain.
Paper weave.
‘Well?’
An electric current bounced from the palm of my hand. I was puzzled. I remembered the current, but I didn’t activate the spell. Right now, the current was flashing only with mana and will without any magic.
‘This… Extraordinary ability?’
Several ways to use this ability in magic came to mind. I left the bathroom thinking about how to do it.
•••
“Rooms 211, 72, 54. Room 105, Room 14.”
Instructor Vinubis called me and five others.
“You are on mission #11. Deal with Dan Neros under the guidance of Instructor Belhar. Belhar needs to hear the details of the operation from the instructor.”
We headed to Instructor Belharga. Instructor Belhagar briefed the operation in a businesslike manner.
The core of the mission was one.
Dealing with a band of bandits named Neros hiding in the ruined city.
