Dark Moon
I entrusted the three Dark Holes extracted from the black mage's body to the masked man who never gave his name. Bringing them back to the 667th Unit was out of the question.
To cover my tracks, I deliberately shredded the black mage's corpse into ragged pieces.
A week later, I was awarded a lower-class medal for killing three terrorists. The medal resting on my palm gleamed silver.
"......"
My face stayed blank as I looked at it. A lower-class medal normally came with a modest cash reward. All I received was the medal itself. The prize money had vanished without a sound — most likely Vinous had pocketed it, or someone higher up had taken their cut.
I couldn't protest.
I was a soldier, a test subject, and a slave all at once. The slave brand carved into my shoulder made me less than a soldier. Raising a fuss would only earn me mockery.
...Irritating.
Losing the prize money was one thing, but the fact that a medal had been handed down for merely catching three terrorists left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I had completed dozens of missions — some far more dangerous and critical than catching terrorists — and I had succeeded at every one of them. Yet I had never once been rewarded.
There's only one reason I got this medal. The king is paying attention to this incident.
In about half a year, the success of the Battle Mage Project's first generation would be announced, and I would receive an official unit assignment. Would my situation change? Not a chance. The upper brass would keep the slave brand. They'd pretend to treat me like a soldier while wringing every last drop of value out of me.
And when I hit my limit, they'd discard me like trash. As high-value personnel, I'd probably get decent treatment until then — but that was all.
I have no interest in the scraps they toss me like charity.
I closed my eyes.
The phantom sensation of Mana Essence being injected flooded my body with pain. I savored the phantom ache and cultivated the rising thirst for revenge.
Everyone connected to the Battle Mage Project dies. Especially Instructor Vinous...!
Instructor Vinous was the field supervisor of the Battle Mage Project. He used his authority to work me and the others like draft animals. He put on a stern, dignified act, but the stench of corruption around him was overwhelming.
"A Lily Medal, huh."
Lexy had appeared at my side without me noticing, looking down at the medal. I snapped back to the present. I'd been so lost in thought I hadn't even registered her approach.
"Lexy..."
"You looked pretty serious. Feeling sentimental about getting a medal?"
She grinned as our eyes met, hung her coat on the office wall, then dropped into her chair and powered on the computer.
"...I was wondering what the point of it even is."
"Well, lower-class medals don't come with much. At best a three-percent discount at the PX, maybe. Still better than nothing. Even a medal with barely any perks looks good on your personnel evaluations."
"How many medals do you have?"
"Four. That's a lot for a soldier... but this big sister of yours has caused enough trouble that she couldn't get promoted."
She said it playfully, then set a printed document on the desk. I glanced at it and my eyes went wide.
It was a transfer order — report to the 2nd Division by next month. The 2nd Division was a military unit based in the capital region.
"Looks like I'll be operating as special forces. And... ta-da!"
Lexy showed me another document with a flourish. A promotion order. Next month she would transfer units and be promoted to Major at the same time.
"...From Sergeant to Major?"
"Oh, did I never mention? My original rank was Captain. I got demoted to Sergeant for causing trouble and reassigned to the 667th. Most of the instructors here are in a similar boat."
"Is Instructor Vinous the same?"
"That guy's a bigger fish. I heard he was originally a Colonel... demoted over military procurement corruption. Apparently he skimmed three hundred million credits."
"...Procurement corruption on that scale should get you discharged, shouldn't it?"
Three hundred million credits. Given that the average monthly salary in this world was a hundred thousand credits, it was an astronomical sum.
"Vinous is competent. And he's a 5-Class Battle Mage — a 5-Class who can literally dominate small-scale combat. Given everything he's done for them, Command couldn't just throw him away. Though from where I'm sitting, it looks like he cut some kind of deal with someone at HQ."
"......"
I watched Lexy quietly. She moved with purpose, more energetic than usual.
"...You're not thinking about mustering out?"
"Muster out? I used to think about it sometimes. But now I've finally got a path upward. No matter how shitty it is, I've got to claw my way through."
"......"
I closed my mouth.
I'd planned to persuade her today — to start a rebellion with me and leave the military. But watching her eyes sparkle as she hammered at the keyboard, I couldn't bring myself to say it.
I'd gotten too close to Lexy over this time.
I knew from the start that Lexy and I stood in completely different positions...
Lexy had built her life around the military. Being a soldier was her career, and the Freesel Kingdom was her homeland.
Pulling her into my orbit meant asking her to throw everything away.
I couldn't bring Lexy in. Whether she'd even join my plan was uncertain. I kept my mouth shut.
"Mmm. Sorry. Too busy for sex today. I've been slacking on too much stuff... need to get it all sorted."
"No, it's fine. But thinking about parting ways with you like this... I feel pretty empty."
"Well, we've known each other for years now. I'm used to this kind of thing, but... you wouldn't be. Don't worry though. We'll meet again. The military's surprisingly small. And you remember my number, right? Once you get your unit assignment, give me a call. This big sister will buy you a proper drink!"
"...I'll look forward to it."
After meeting Lexy, my fellow trainees looked different.
Unlike me, they seemed content with their current situation.
No. 202 was researching military-related information in anticipation of the unit assignments half a year from now. No. 88, the firepower enthusiast, was looking into ways to get assigned to a tank unit. No. 52, who loved exercise, was deep into self-training. No. 166, with her pink braided hair, was writing in a diary. No. 99, the biggest-chested among the trainees, was maintaining her appearance with cosmetics.
They were different from me. Unlike me, who researched magic and built power at every opportunity, they were enjoying the present and looking forward to the future. They didn't carry the same thirst for revenge.
What made the difference?
...Is it because I'm a foreign body — a modern person who entered this game world?
I was standing blankly in the hallway when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to find No. 212 with her long brown hair. She grinned and started walking down the corridor. It was a signal. I quietly followed her to the baths.
I stripped in the women's changing room. Having sex with my female fellow trainees in the baths had become routine. As I undressed, I called to her.
"No. 212."
"Yeah?"
"If — hypothetically — you could successfully desert from the unit... would you?"
"Desert? Don't even joke about that. You know as well as I do that desertion is impossible."
She pointed to the slave brand on her shoulder and the tracker embedded in her neck.
"I'm saying if. If you could successfully desert... would you?"
"Hmm. No. I was basically sold off and dragged here, but... honestly, this life isn't bad. If I hadn't come here... what do you think would've happened to me?"
"...I don't know. You'd probably be doing fine."
No. 212 unhooked her bra. Her full breasts swayed. Had she felt my gaze? Her soft-looking nipples gradually swelled and hardened.
"My mom's a whore."
"......"
"If I hadn't come to this unit, I figure I would've become a whore too. This place is a bit stifling, but the food's decent, they give you clothes and a place to sleep. More than anything, you don't have to worry about getting raped. And they teach you magic."
She pulled off her panties. Looking at her large, white ass sent blood rushing downward.
"...And getting injected with Mana Essence is fine with you?"
"I hate that enough to die. But even that passes. Once we get unit assignments, no more Mana Essence injections. Well... the generations after us won't be so lucky... but that's their problem."
"...Do the others think like you?"
"About deserting? Probably not. This is a secret, but No. 52 almost got beaten to death by beggars, No. 99 almost got raped by her father, and No. 166 almost got kidnapped by a black mage and turned into a test subject. But right now we're fine. We even have the power of magic. So."
Naked, No. 212 threw herself at me. Her arms wrapped around my body. Her body heat melted the tension, and her warm breath stirred arousal.
"Don't think weird thoughts, No. 211. You're talented. You could probably aim for officer rank. If you hate the military, just serve about ten years and muster out."
Her lips approached. I didn't pull away — I claimed them. Our tongues tangled. A faint orange taste lingered in her saliva.
My mind was complicated, but my body hungered for her. I kneaded her full breasts, groped her ass. My erect cock pressed against her lower belly.
"No. 211. I'm going to become an officer."
"...An officer?"
"Yeah. Bossing people around seems pretty cool. What do you want to do with your future?"
I thought carefully, then answered.
"...Business."
Military power. Wealth. Political power.
I wanted all of it in my hands. Becoming an officer would be the easiest path, but soldiers had far too many pointless things to worry about. I was sick of the shackles of military duty.
"I want to run a business. I don't have a product idea yet, though."
This world was fundamentally capitalist. With enough money, power would follow naturally.
"Hmm. Somehow that suits you."
No. 212 laughed and led me into the baths.
The moment she entered, she braced against the wall and pushed her ass toward me.
"I want it from behind today. That okay?"
With one hand she pulled her own cheek aside. Her ass spread open, fully revealing her pale pink pussy and anus. Her tightly closed slit glistened with arousal.
I strode forward, gripped her hips, and thrust hard.
Schlick!
My cock plunged into her in one stroke.
"Aaaahn!"