Dark Moon
Roll call ended, and lights-out arrived.
I laid my head on the pillow, pulled the blanket up to my neck, and stared at the ceiling with wide-open eyes.
...This is driving me insane.
The potency drug Lexi had forced on me a few hours earlier was still raging through my system. Even after coming nine times, the erection refused to go down.
They said it used to be a famous black-market drug... but the effect is way too good.
I bent my knees. That way no one would notice the tent in the sheets.
"211."
212 spoke quietly from the bunk beside mine. She had already cast Silence so her voice wouldn't carry.
"You're different today. Something bad happen?"
She turned toward me as she spoke. The brown-haired woman carried the full presence of an adult now—nothing left of the girlish air she once had. It hit me all over again how long we had known each other.
Throb.
My cock twitched. One more spark of stimulation and I would blow right here.
"Just tired today. Sleep's already dragging me under."
"Guess we won't talk much like usual, then. I'll keep it short. I overheard something while walking past this afternoon... half a year from now the project ends and we'll be officially assigned to a unit."
The end of the Battle Mage Project.
I snorted inwardly. The second this project succeeded, a new Battle Mage Project would start. Hell, maybe a new one was already running somewhere else.
Ends in half a year? Don't make me laugh. Even if the project ends, my need for revenge won't. I will get my revenge. On this goddamn unit and on Alpha Tier Pharmaceuticals for proposing the Battle Mage Project in the first place!
Under the blanket I clenched my fist so no one could see.
Even if, like 212 said, the project wrapped in six months and we received ranks as full battle mages, there was no guarantee the surveillance would stop. Odds were high we would spend the rest of our lives inside the military.
I have no intention of staying in the army forever. When the chance comes... I run.
For that, the slave seal branded into my right forearm had to go first.
"After half a year we won't need the mana essence anymore, right?"
"Probably. The intervals between doses have been getting longer lately. Last one I got was... two months ago?"
"I got mine a month ago. 211, you're really something."
"......"
I shut my mouth. I wasn't in the mood for playful bragging. Revenge boiled in my head while my cock ignored every command and drooled. I could feel pre-cum soaking my underwear.
When I closed my eyes without answering, 212 rolled over and stared at the ceiling.
"211."
"...What?"
"Last time Instructor Binus said once we're assigned to a real unit we'll get to use names. What name are you going to pick?"
"...No idea. Haven't thought about it. ...You? You said you already had a real name, right?"
I still didn't know 212's original name. She had never told me.
"I do. But I won't use it. That name's already discarded. I'm starting over with a new one. I've already decided. Daphne. It's the name of a tree spirit. Pretty, right?"
"...So I call you Daphne from now on?"
"Later. Once we get out of here."
The moment her words ended, the Silence spell lifted. 212 had fallen asleep.
......If I succeed in my revenge and escape this place... what then?
I had never thought that far. I didn't know.
But one thing was certain: I refused to live as disposable meat under someone else's command like a common soldier.
If I was going to be a consumable, I would rather be the one who used them.
I closed my eyes. Shoving the endless stream of thoughts aside, I finally managed to drift off.
"......!!"
Flash!
My eyes snapped open and I sat bolt upright. My whole body shook. Pleasure crashed up from my lower half. I clenched my teeth.
This fucking potency drug... the effect is way too strong.
The orgasm lasted a full ten seconds before it finally stopped. My crotch was soaked. A brief post-nut clarity arrived.
......First wet dream in a long time.
I recalled the dream I had just had. It was still vivid.
The setting was a room. In the middle of a reasonably spacious chamber, a naked woman lay on a massage table. I coated my hands in oil and began working her legs.
She was an absolute beauty. Long black hair, pale skin, a face that was both pure and haughty. Full breasts and a sexy ass. She looked like someone had drawn my ideal type and brought her to life. Dream-me continued the massage in earnest, then openly groped her breasts and sex.
The woman never refused my hands. She moaned and enjoyed the lewd massage. Eventually dream-me climbed onto the table, mounted her from behind, and drove into her. Beast-like fucking began.
...Shit.
My cock stood at full attention again.
I cut the recollection short, carefully got up, and headed for the bathroom.
Under the bright lights the wet stain on my pants was obvious. Click. I locked the door, washed the pants and underwear in the sink, then dried them with a first-class magic heater that blew hot air.
Thanks to the magic it took less than three minutes.
All I had to do was go back and pretend nothing happened. But looking at the cock still standing stiff, I knew a good night's sleep was out of the question.
At the very least I need to calm this thing down.
The best method would be to fuck Lexi. Right now that wasn't possible. As a stopgap I opened a stall door, sat on the toilet, and took my cock in hand.
No need for shame. Right now I just wanted this swollen thing dealt with. Recalling the filthy dream, I gripped my cock and stroked.
I'm pretty sure we talked in the dream... Her name was Han Harin, wasn't it?
Her bouncing breasts, the pussy dripping with juices, that pretty face twisted in lust—I pictured all of it and finally came. Semen shot from my urethra like a water gun and spattered the bathroom wall.
......Fuck.
Emptiness, shame, self-loathing, and every other ugly feeling climbed my body. What made it worse was that my cock was still half-hard and twitching for more.
I jerked off twice more after that before returning to the barracks. I lay down to sleep, only for 212 beside me to cast Silence again.
"211."
"...You weren't asleep?"
"Just woke up. Where'd you go?"
"Bathroom."
"Don't lie. You snuck off to eat snacks."
"What?"
212 turned fully toward me. Her eyes sparkled; anticipation colored her voice.
"You know I love sweet food, right?"
212 adored sweet snacks and drinks. Mention cake and she went crazy.
"Sorry, but I really just went to the bathroom."
"Liar. You can't fool my nose. You smell sweet. How good was the food you just ate?"
I was about to lose my mind from frustration. I hadn't eaten a single thing—I had just jacked off three times.
"I really went to the bathroom."
"You didn't eat something in the bathroom?"
"...Haah. What do I have to do for you to believe me?"
"Give me your hand. Earlier I thought the sweet smell was coming from your hand."
I hesitated a moment, then held out my hand. Come to think of it, I had only rinsed roughly on the way out of the bathroom.
Sniff. Sniff.
212 buried her nose against my hand and inhaled.
"This is the smell. It was coming from your left hand. It smells this sweet and you're saying you didn't eat anything?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Memories from a few hours earlier surfaced. Lexi, while sucking my cock, had said something similar—that the smell of my semen was delicious. That even the taste was good. I had dismissed it as a joke. My cum only ever smelled faintly fishy. Honestly, calling that a good smell was a stretch.
Lick.
212 stuck out her tongue and lapped at my fingers.
I jerked in surprise and tried to pull my hand back, but she wouldn't let go.
"212! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Just a little... just a little more. It tastes too good..."
She ended up licking my hand for a full five minutes. Then she closed her eyes with a satisfied expression.
"Next time don't eat alone. Give me some too."
212 fell asleep.
I sighed, got up, and went back to the bathroom.
Sitting on the toilet, I squeezed a bit of the fresh cum onto my palm and sniffed it.
"Delicious smell my ass..."
I washed my hands thoroughly and returned to the barracks.
The next day I met Instructor Lexi, who was unusually full of energy. I, on the other hand, looked gaunt enough that my cheeks were hollow.
"What the hell, 211. What's with the state of you today? Your big sister shows up and you're not even getting hard properly?"
"Can't today. Seriously."
I shook my head with a haggard face and desperately hid the half-erect cock. Looking into Lexi's seductive eyes, I half expected to die of overexertion.
"Hmm. Should I get more Viagra?"
"...Viagra?"
"The potency drug from yesterday. It was hard to get... I'll check if I can find more."
"No. Don't. Tomorrow. I can do it again tomorrow. Do you know how much I suffered because of that stuff?"
"Mmm. Fine. Honestly the price is steep enough that it's a bit of a burden."
"...But big sis, you look insanely happy today."
"My condition's great. Feels like I doped with some expensive potion. Mmm. Maybe thanks to the cum I swallowed yesterday?"
I snorted at her words.
"No way that's true."
Instructor Binus summoned every member of the unit to the operations room and spoke.
"Two weeks from now, the Presel Royal Army will hold a commemorative ceremony for the eighty-second anniversary of the founding. His Majesty the King and other distinguished guests will attend."
Sitting in front of him, I already guessed Presel Kingdom's intent. They wanted to flex military power. Citizens who saw that strength would raise their support, and neighboring countries would receive a clear warning.
"In addition, a diplomatic mission from our primary enemy—the currently ceasefire-bound Hapeil Republic—will also attend. And that is not all. Two especially precious guests will be present at the founding anniversary."
Binus slowly surveyed the room.
"You are probably wondering. We are an unofficial unit—what does a commemorative ceremony have to do with us? Think of the countless missions you have carried out. We are far more famous than you realize."
That made sense. For nearly three years we had executed every order from above. Most of those missions had been difficult; it was no surprise rumors about us had spread.
"Command has ordered us to attend the ceremony. We will be introduced as a magical special forces unit. Of course we wear masks and conceal our identities. Do not speak a single word during the event. Your only job is to display force. And while I am on the subject—six months from now you will become true battle mages."
"......"
No one answered Instructor Binus. Yet a strange hunger burned in their eyes.
True battle mages. In other words, this goddamn lab-rat existence was finally ending.
I hid the murderous intent that surged up and raised my hand.
"211. You have a question?"
"Who are the two precious guests attending the ceremony?"
"Ah, I have not said yet. You have all received basic education, so you know there are two city-states that do not lag behind our Presel Kingdom."
"Don't tell me the guests are coming from those two places?"
"Correct. Two dignitaries are coming from Divine France and Neo London—nations that may become allies of the kingdom in the future. In a way, they are the most important figures at this ceremony."
Instructor Binus brought up information on the two guests via hologram.
From Divine France, one of the Divine Saints—Guardian Saintess Martha—would attend.
From Neo London, a member of the Neo Round Table and the man called Neo London's Number One Sword, Sir Percival, would attend.