Chapter 1459
Chapter 1459
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1459
Chapter Title: Dark Moon
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The city had been bustling with an unusual, frantic energy since the clock struck midday.
Citizens rushed about as if they all had urgent, life-or-death business to attend to, while horses and carriages raced down the streets with reckless abandon.
Heavily armed police units patrolled the main roads in armored squads, exuding an intimidating presence that discouraged any lingering on the sidewalks.
It was lively, yet it was fundamentally unlike the usual orderly and cold vibe that typically defined the atmosphere of Neo London.
Of course, I knew exactly why the populace was on edge; it was a phenomenon that happened every 100 days without fail.
Anyone who had lived in this world for more than a few months would know the signs of the coming celestial event.
And for those few who lacked a sense of dates, a famous male celebrity's recorded voice echoed from public speakers throughout the city districts.
"Dear gentlemen and ladies of our beloved Neo London! That dreaded day has finally come around again. Yes, it is the night the Dark Moon rises. Doesn't the morning air feel chilling already?"
Chilling, huh. The word choice wasn't wrong at all, as the temperature always seemed to drop a few degrees when the cycle neared its end.
Neo London's mornings were always shrouded in a thick, industrial fog, which probably made the anticipation feel even more oppressive than usual.
I pulled my overcoat tighter against my chest unnecessarily and kept walking the gray streets with a steady, rhythmic pace.
My footsteps weren't leading me toward home, to my chicken shop, or even to the food factory; I was heading straight out of the city limits.
"Neo London is safe, for the most part. The Dark Moon has risen since ancient times, and we've managed to survive it every time so far. But remember, every Dark Moon, over 100 people are officially reported missing."
The citizens hurried on with their heads down, appearing to ignore his ramblings about the dangers of the Dark Moon.
I was probably the only person in the vicinity paying close attention to the broadcast, not because I was a die-hard fan, but simply because I was bored.
His dramatic tone and the gravity of his warnings naturally drew the ear of anyone who knew what was coming when the sun went down.
"From 6 p.m. sharp, all districts of Neo London will be sealed off for your protection. Citizens, please return home and lock your doors. I highly recommend turning in early tonight. Can't sleep? Head to your nearest pharmacy immediately. On Dark Moon nights, they sell sleeping pills at rock-bottom prices. One dose per person, of course. Hot-blooded couples, no matter how passionate you feel, please hold off tonight. A buddy of mine was doing it on a Dark Moon night and..."
Sex. The celebrity didn't mince his words or try to use flowery metaphors for the warning.
But no one in the crowd called him out for his vulgarity, as blunt and crude jokes were everyday fare in this city—no, in this entire world.
'He's probably talking about that urban legend where a woman got pregnant with her husband on a Dark Moon night and gave birth to a monster.'
It was a documented phenomenon of genetic mutations triggered by the concentrated Dark Moon's influence on the human reproductive cycle.
Creatures born from a human womb and fertilized by human seed, yet fundamentally not human—monsters that required immediate disposal.
A quick search on the local internet revealed all the gruesome details and historical accounts of such births.
'Of course, if you're exceptionally lucky, you might actually get a superhuman or a powerful psychic instead.'
That's exactly why some desperate people gambled on life-changing odds, deliberately having sex under the Dark Moon to conceive a gifted child.
Scientists and high-end laboratories were known to pay massive sums for such test subjects as well.
"Lock your doors tight. Board up your windows, and if possible, do not light any fires inside. Uninvited guests are always drawn to the light. If someone knocks, or you see a deceased family member through the glass, call London Guard immediately. Do not open for friends or acquaintances. If your kid's extra rowdy, dose 'em with the sleeping pills. Stay quiet, play dead, and act like no one's home. Once more: today is Dark Moon night. At 6 p.m..."
Memories of playing the original game flooded back into my mind as I listened to the instructions.
At first, the NPCs' terrified reactions to the Dark Moon seemed over the top and dramatic, but now that I was here in person, I finally got it.
To the average civilian, it was an unstoppable and terrifying natural disaster that came for them every few months.
Proper preparation was the only real key to survival for those without mana. 'How was the last Dark Moon, anyway?'
It had been exactly 100 days ago, during my very first month in Neo London. Nothing significant had happened to me then.
I had simply slept through the entire night and woke up to find the black moon gone and the familiar sun back in the sky.
'I was too busy adjusting to the city's mechanics back then, so I just hunkered down at home like everyone else.'
Unlike the fearful civilians, those with actual power and combat skills saw the Dark Moon as a rare, golden opportunity.
'There is plenty of high-tier loot that is only available to be harvested on Dark Moon nights.'
That was the primary reason why I was leaving the safety of Neo London today. 'What I need most right now is to repair my damaged Mana Roads.'
They were currently wrecked, making it physically impossible for me to expand them further. Since arriving, I'd trained my magic steadily.
But my Mana Road count hadn't budged at all, despite my efforts. The 16 ruined ones were stalling my growth as a battle mage.
'To find that specific legendary healer, I need those rare quest items.' Tonight was the only time I could get them.
I boarded a steam train heading out of the city gates. The interior was sparsely populated, but a few other passengers rode along in silence.
Most of them reeked of iron and old blood. They were mercenaries, no doubt. I didn't approach or attempt to chat with them.
It wouldn't go well anyway; nine times out of ten, a conversation with a merc on a hunt ended in curses or a fight. I sat quietly and watched the scenery whip by.
I finally arrived at the Neo London outskirts. Beyond Z District, this wild area dwarfed all the inner city zones combined in terms of sheer scale.
The outskirts encompassed every scrap of territory owned by Neo London, minus the city itself. Unlike the metropolis, it was raw, unfiltered wilderness.
'The Parliament has basically given up on managing it long ago.' It was too vast, too dangerous, and offered very low tax rewards.
There was zero investment value for the wealthy elites, so they let it slide into lawlessness. Occasional cleanups happened, but they were very rare.
'This is familiar turf for any high-level Dark Moon player.' It was a world of leveling spots, hidden explorations, and secret quests.
It had always been a thrilling playground for the original game's player base. 'Of course, I can't grab everything hidden here in one go.'
Many of the secret areas were far beyond my current level, and I lacked the necessary prep items for specific environmental conditions.
My options here were currently quite limited. 'Hmm...' Surveying the outskirts, I immediately hit a major snag.
While the big picture matched the game world perfectly, many of the fine details differed in ways I hadn't expected.
'It's a PC game, after all. The reality can't replicate that pixelated scale perfectly...' It looked like today would be more of a grind than I thought.
I began to wander the area around the station, which formed a small village hub for travelers and scavengers.
'There should be a pub a short walk from the station... Yeah, that matches the game's map.' Recalling the layout, I strolled down the dirt streets.
The early morning meant the pub was still shut tight. Spotting an old man slumped in the alley beside it, I approached him cautiously.
This was the NPC Nakario. Calling him an NPC felt very off in this physical world, but that's what he was in my memory.
He cracked one bloodshot eye as I neared, grumbling a weary request. "Spare a coin for an old man, traveler..."
I fished out a bag of coins I'd exchanged in advance. Unlike Neo London's digital watch payments, physical cash ruled the outskirts.
Ding! I flicked a 10-credit coin his way. It arced through the air and landed in the dirt before him. "Thanks. Bless your soul."
Ding! "Ooh, a truly generous soul." Ding! "30 credits? I'm much obliged to you, sir." Ding! Ding! Ding!
"...Is there something you want from me? You look like a mercenary from Neo London out for a big score today." he noted suspiciously.
Ding! I ignored his question completely, continuing to flick more coins at his feet. I did it twenty times in total, giving 2,000 credits in charity.
In the game, 20 straight donations got you a unique bracelet from Nakario as thanks. It was nothing special—just minor gains from dismantling it later.
But this reality's Nakario reacted in a way I didn't expect. "You fucking prick! Do you think I'm some beggar here for your humiliation?!"
"You think you're better than me?! Are you jealous of my life? Damn mercenary scum. Go die in a ditch somewhere!"
He spat out a string of curses and bolted deeper into the dark alley. I stood there, stunned by the mismatch of behavior, and froze.
It was the exact same action as the game required, but a totally different emotional response. 'I knew it intellectually, but seeing it firsthand is a shock.'
'This is going to be a hassle. Game quests triggered with a single chat; reality's social cues are not so simple.'
As I moved past the alley, I spotted a crude metal bracelet lying on the ground. It was identical to the game's item. I picked it up.
It was worth about 20,000 credits if I dismantled it back in the city. I continued to roam the village, checking other known secret spots.
I tossed three coins into the central fountain. One, two, three. They plinked into the water. "Do you really buy into that crap, kid?" a voice asked.
"Do you think coins in the fountain actually bring luck? The village folk just made that up to fleece the naive outsiders."
On the fourth toss, I glanced sideways with rolled eyes to see the speaker. A very tall woman was standing there watching me.
She had a black cap pulled low over her brow. Her pumpkin-orange eyes gleamed with a mechanical light. She had sharp features and a short black bob.
She wore a grey long coat open over black skinny pants and a crop top that bared taut abs etched with muscle. Her ample chest asserted itself above.
She had an ammo belt at her waist, a thigh holster, and a combat knife peeking from her coat lining. Seeing her shocked me—my brain went blank.
It wasn't just her striking beauty that threw me off. She was... "You look like you've just seen a ghost, traveler."
"I consider myself a knockout... Kinda hurts getting that reaction from a handsome guy." She was one of my own original game characters.
She was made with a user mod for a specific concept play. I had designed her from head to toe: looks, stats, skills, and even her intimate details.
"...Are you Jjapaguri?" I asked before I could stop myself. "What the hell kind of nonsense is that? Are you some kind of psycho?" she replied.
Jjapaguri. That was her original character's name. I'd named her that on a whim during my Jjapaguri-eating phase. I thought it was cute back then.
Names were always changeable in the settings, anyway. Her gaze scanned me from top to bottom. I caught the mechanical glint in her artificial eyes.
"Hmm." she hummed. "Did you just scan me with that cyber eye of yours?" I asked. "Yeah, you noticed? You're definitely not your average joe."
"Sorry about that, it's a professional habit. Like searching someone's profile online. No harm done, right?" "Fine. But tell me who you are."
"The name is Bell Terrier. I'm just a bit of mercenary riffraff looking for work."