Chapter 1103 – 1103. The Dark Moon
The unit I belong to is officially an unnamed unit.
The Battle Mage Project is a secret project. In this world, there are no human rights, but with the development of civilization, there were minimum human rights beyond the Middle Ages. It is illegal to use humans for human experimentation, no matter how enslaved they are.
‘There aren’t many people in this world who work while abiding by the law.’
The biggest reason for hiding this project is to avoid being criticized by politicians. Ambitious politicians want to rise to the top with achievements even if they sacrifice the military.
This unit does not have an official name, but an unofficial one exists. 667 troops. I don’t know what 667 means, but it’s a unit that exists only for the Battle Mage Project.
A private in unit 667, a slave, and an experimenter, I was looking at a map.
A map that Instructor Vinus gave each squad one.
A portion of the terrain near the unit was drawn. As if to prevent people from understanding the facility properly, the unit was roughly expressed by writing letters in a single circle.
I rummaged through my memory and drew an imaginary unit blueprint in my head.
There is a shooting range to the south, and an infirmary to the west. The west side is where project-related materials are kept. Therefore, the western boundary is the most strict. At the center of the unit, there is an internal office where we stay, a mana training center, and a restaurant.
There are training grounds for martial arts, swordsmanship, and spearmanship in the east. The morning roll call and morning canter were in the east.
The north is a place I don’t remember, but it is presumed to be a lodging for unit officials.
I memorized the terrain near the unit. Someday this information will surely come in handy.
‘This map only contains information related to the mission. In other words, the other squads are similar to the maps we’ve been given, but with different information. I want to see that map… It will stand out too much in the instructor’s eyes.’
CCTVs are installed throughout the unit, and soldiers standing guard move back and forth periodically. We must not forget that there are surveillance eyes everywhere. I had to move carefully so as not to raise suspicion as much as possible.
“Room 211. When are you going to do the operation briefing?”
Room 212 approached me and asked. She slightly sticks her head out and looks at the map in her hand.
This time the instructors do not intervene. From setting up the strategy to preparing equipment, all the squads had to do.
“We’ll have lunch and decide in a meeting. If you have any opinions about the operation, let me know then.”
The start time of the mission is when the sun begins to set after dinner. There is no training today, and there is quite a lot of time left.
“Okay. By the way, do you know what’s for lunch today?”
“Well. I think it’s time for seafood to appear.”
Room 212’s face frowned.
“Please, I hope it doesn’t come out with fried fish. That’s really bad.”
I agree with that opinion. And fried fish came out for lunch.
•••
After lunch, we gathered in the office and started the meeting.
I put the map on the wall of my office and said.
“Our mission is to occupy this area and hold it until tomorrow morning. At dawn tomorrow, the instructors will go around to figure out the status of the mission and score it. I’m not sure what the standard is. However, if you get a failing grade…. Do you know even if I don’t tell you?”
Some children trembled. Fear was on their faces.
Administer mana essence.
It was something no one here liked.
I looked at number 31’s eyes. It is certain that she was also receiving mana essence, but there was no change in her expression.
And here the opinion of No. 31 is the most important. No matter how good the strategy is, the moment Unit 31 says they don’t like it, the strategy is in vain.
Fortunately, Unit 31 quietly watched the meeting. He doesn’t seem to want to troll.
“Room 211. I heard you were good at sniping in the last mission. Are you going to shoot me again?”
“No. As you can see from the terrain, the place we need to occupy is near the top of the mountain. There are no decent sniping points nearby. We will all move together without scattering.”
The mountain was no match for the snipers. Because the dense trees hinder sniping. I don’t know if it’s in a high altitude place. This mission had to go up a mountain.
‘Besides, today is the day the Dark Moon opens. It’s more dangerous to move alone.’
The meeting about the operation lasted about an hour. Opinions were similar, probably because everyone had been trained in operational techniques.
“What about equipment?”
Room 212 asked. Each gave his own opinion. Opinions were divided here. The side that it is better to bring as much equipment as possible, including bombs, and the side that only takes the minimum necessary equipment.
I raised my hand to the latter.
“The core of this mission is hiking. I like that the equipment is light. And while the bombs are powerful, they’re too loud. There is no need to attract the attention of other monsters. We must not forget that tonight is the Dark Moon.”
And, of course, there was a backlash.
“I’m not trying to fill my luggage with bombs. You want to take only what you need. In the worst case, we need to wipe out all the monsters with bombs in order to survive.”
No. 88.
There were only four men in the first squad, including me, and he was a fan of the bomb. Normally a quiet person, he tightened his eyes and spoke without showing any signs of backing down.
Apparently, he survived the last mission by wiping out enemies with bombs.
‘My bones hurt.’
I think of words to persuade Room 88. Looking at those stubborn eyes, I think I will have to persuade him for more than 30 minutes even if I can’t do it. It’s painful because it’s a squad leader position without power. Even if I can’t do it, I don’t know if I had a higher rank. Everyone here was a private.
“I agree with Room 211’s opinion. Let’s do what Room 211 said.”
Number 31, who had been quietly observing the meeting, spoke.
“Yeah, yes.”
No. 88 relaxed his eyes. He glanced at number 31 and lowered his eyes. My feelings were complicated. I’m grateful that she helped me, but I’m no different from #88. When #31 did something troll, he had no confidence to stop it.
After the meeting, everyone had their own time.
I put a list of equipment I needed on a piece of paper and met Instructor Vinvis. Instructor Vinubis glanced through his equipment list and nodded his head.
“Efficiently well organized. However, explosives including grenades cannot be used. The same goes for flash grenades.”
I requested a grenade for emergency use, but it was rejected. Instructor Vinubis explained to the Dark Moon that loud attacks are not good. I didn’t seem to be the reason, but I nodded roughly.
“… Okay. I’ll just go.”
“For a moment. I have something to tell you.”
Instructor Vinubis pulled out a Coke and handed it to me. It was lukewarm Coke.
“…… May I use ice magic?”
“Okay. I hope your skills are better than last time.”
“I practiced.”
I opened a cola can and used ice magic.
Last time I froze half, but this time I froze 20%. I drank the Coke in one gulp. Intense carbonation hits your throat. Right now, this feeling makes me want to drink Coke every day.
‘I’m in a situation where I can’t eat as much as I want even a Coke…. It makes me feel bad.’
I put down the Coke can. Until then, Instructor Vinubis had been watching me silently, twisting his lips.
“I am in charge of your first squad.”
“… Okay. The instructors are following you.”
It was natural. What would you trust to set the slaves free? It was natural for the slaves to have managers. Even if the slave dies, the manager will not step out.
“Say it straight-forward. In the event of an accident, protect Unit 31 at the cost of your life. Don’t ask for much until I arrive You only need to hold out for 30 seconds. It won’t be difficult since you have the level 4 barrier artifact you got from Sergeant Lexi.”
Outright favoritism towards #31. Now, there was no excitement at all.
“According to your order, I will protect Unit 31 no matter what. Even at the cost of my life.”
“That’s my favorite answer. Room 211, I think you are competent.”
Instructor Vinubis handed me two packs of six Coke cans. 12 pieces. It means to eat with your squadmates.
“This award is for efficient operations and equipment support. Share it with your squadmates.”
“… Thank you.”
Regardless of whether this is really a prize, I received it because it was given.
‘Are you giving Coke to No. 31?’
The prediction was right.
As soon as No. 31 took the cola, he made it cold with ice magic and drank it. Number 31 seemed to like Coke.
•••
I ate dinner and went out of the camp.
A total of 156 people.
It was the number of privates in Unit 667. When I first entered the unit, the number, which was originally close to 300, was reduced by almost half. They died because they couldn’t stand the mana essence injection, died at the mission, and died because they rebelled.
‘Probably more than 30 people will die in this mission too.’
I had no intention of dying among those 30 people.
‘In this respect, it is fortunate that we are in the first squad. Because Number 31, the strongest among us, is stuck. Her presence alone makes her survival rate higher than the rest of the squad.’
We looked up at the sky and waited. The blue sky gradually darkens, and a round white moon rises.
Originally, today was the cycle of the half moon. But today is the Dark Moon. The full moon rises regardless of the lunar cycle.
The moon is centered in the night sky. The white moon’s surface turns black. It was a dark night sky, but strangely, it was as clear as the Dark Moon.
“The dark door is open.”
Instructor Vinubis said with a grin.
I held my breath.
The mana in the air, which had been calm until just now, ran wild.
The astral is opened and the mana rod is stimulated. I felt a strange longing rise in my heart.
‘Is this the Dark Moon….’
Looking around, it seems that I am not the only one affected. In particular, the reaction of #31 was quite intense. A faint smile settled on her always expressionless lips, and her cheeks turned red.
Could it be the influence of the Dark Moon? I was curious about the 31st. I lowered my gaze to the ground, killing my curiosity.
She doesn’t like being deeply involved with her. That thought is still the same.
“Start the mission. I wish you luck.”
Said Instructor Vinus.
Everyone slips away like the ebb tide.
I led a squad and stopped at the beginning of the mountain. It was to wear the equipment.
The most important equipment in this operation were night vision goggles and silencers. Move stealthily, discover the goblin colony first, and deal with it quietly. It was the core of the operation.
I put on my night vision goggles and started hiking. Step on the fallen leaves carefully and move forward.
I didn’t just focus on the visuals. I was very careful to use my senses of hearing and touch. It would be best to feel the mana around you, but the Dark Moon makes the mana in the air ferocious, so you have no choice but to focus on your physical sensations.
As I walked ahead, I raised my hand. The movement of the squad stopped.
