Zap!
As the yellow sparks flashed in my eyes, I muttered.
‘…Did I get it?’
[….]
Whirrr….
The fly hovered in the air for a moment, then immediately darted into the gap between the capsules.
‘Goddammit!!!!’
[….]
This was the third time.
Yesterday's morning class, the afternoon confrontation with Cho Seo-hyun, and today….
This was the third time I had faced that bug in this VR training room and used magic on it.
Each of the three times, the magic had hit its target precisely.
I never imagined I'd encounter a fly that was immune to magic.
‘Why the hell!! Damn it!!’
[It's just a bug anyway. It would be best to refrain from wasting mana.]
‘It's just sparks anyway…. Ugh….’
I never thought I'd be toyed with like this by such an insignificant creature.
‘Haa… I'll find it and kill it after I get back.’
[….]
Swallowing my frustration, I entered the capsule.
Today, four days after VR classes began, the Cadets' first group training session was held.
The class was about all the Cadets in Class 5 of the Engineering Department learning how to fight and defeat giant monsters.
And what was my job?
‘It's boring when I'm not actually doing anything….’
As an Assistant Instructor, my job was to simply watch classes where there were no safety concerns.
Furthermore, in VR, the cameras were constantly recording, and scores were immediately calculated, so there was even less for me to do.
Still, it wasn't like I could just sit down and rest comfortably.
If I were to sit on a tree stump or similar place to rest, simply because I had nothing to do, I would likely be scolded.
‘That's how it is for temporary workers, I guess….’
And so, the class began with my grumbling and ended with my grumbling.
..
..
“….”
“….”
“….”
The suffocating lunch break returned.
Sung Soo-ah, Cho Seo-hyun, and I ate the food on our trays without exchanging a single word.
But with persistent determination, vowing not to starve even if I suffocated, I diligently shoveled rice into my mouth.
In the end, the three of us finished our meal without any special conversation and parted ways for our respective classes.
As Sung Soo-ah and I headed to the Magic Department, Cho Seo-hyun glared at us from afar, her eyes shining even in broad daylight.
‘A cat, a cat….’
Still, it was much better than when she used to be like a wildcat.
After confirming that Cho Seo-hyun had disappeared from my sight, I bowed my head and apologized.
“I'm sorry. The meal was… because of me.”
“Don't say that. If anything, I think I made it more awkward by being too quiet.”
I could just laugh off Cho Seo-hyun's behavior like that.
The problem now was Sung Soo-ah.
Honestly, unless it was in a game or a confined space, she didn't readily reveal her true feelings.
Still, based on what I saw in my dream yesterday, I could feel that she had decent feelings for me.
‘Pretending to be sleepy again today might be a bit much….’
I wanted to experience the comfort of a lap pillow like yesterday, but doing it two days in a row felt awkward.
More than anything, that action absolutely had to come from Sung Soo-ah first.
As I was thinking that, Sung Soo-ah glanced at me and whispered softly, hesitatingly.
“Today too… would you like to rest your eyes for a bit?”
“….”
It came from Sung Soo-ah's mouth first.
..
..
I expressed my refusal to Sung Soo-ah's suggestion.
However, Sung Soo-ah and I were alone in an empty room.
Even though I had clearly refused, the reason we were alone like this was precisely because I had offered a different suggestion.
Today, Sung Soo-ah was lying face down in the spot where I had been lying yesterday.
And I sat beside her and massaged her….
“How is it?”
“Haa… It's good…. How can you… Ugh! Yes, you're doing well….”
“Thank you for the compliment. Actually… I'm just doing it….”
“Ugh!”
I replied gently, strategically targeting Sung Soo-ah's weak points.
Honestly, I hadn't expected Sung Soo-ah to agree so readily.
I had only said it as a joke.
(No matter how I think about it, sleeping like yesterday feels like a nuisance. I'd rather give you a massage instead.)
I had definitely said it as a joke.
Since we weren't in VR, giving her a massage in our adult forms would surely cause discomfort.
But Sung Soo-ah….
(…Then I'll take you up on that.)
She accepted my massage with a smile.
‘It seems like the dream I had yesterday had a good effect, right?’
[It seems so. Personally, I think it would be good to create an environment where you can consistently have such dreams.]
‘But Sung Soo-ah is a bit ambiguous….’
Even though I was massaging her now, she wasn't the type to usually take naps.
She was a diligent and responsible woman, so there were no openings.
It was only because of VR as a medium that we could get this far.
If VR hadn't existed, our relationship with Sung Soo-ah would most likely still be at the level of mere colleagues.
“Hmph! Haa! Seong Suho! Instructor! Ugh! You're really… doing well! Haa!”
“…Thank you.”
As I was actually giving her the massage, I became curious.
Hand massage level 98…. Armonia said it was a protagonist-level skill.
‘A hand massage protagonist….’
Well, putting those parts aside, I was genuinely curious.
Actually, when engaging in sexual acts, I hadn't been using all of my hand techniques.
After receiving advice from Sonia, I had been restraining myself as much as possible.
But I wondered if the same applied to hand massages.
Until now, I had been roughly adjusting it, and the reason was the same as for adjusting my hand techniques.
‘Wow… touching her directly like this, it's no joke….’
Indeed, VR and reality showed a tremendous difference.
First, I checked Sung Soo-ah's condition.
“Hmph! Haa… Ugh! Hmph!”
Even with a quick glance to the side, I could tell she was feeling good.
‘Alright, let's begin.’
I slowly began to raise the level of my hand massage.
And as I slowly ascended, the form of Sung Soo-ah's voice began to change.
“Ugh! Haa! Ugh!!”
If it had been moans before, now it was closer to screams.
Fortunately, no other restraining sounds came from Sung Soo-ah's mouth besides moans.
But I should ask out of courtesy.
I paused the massage for a moment and carefully asked Sung Soo-ah.
“Does it hurt? Should I stop?”
“Haa… I-it's fine… I've… never received anything like this before… please continue….”
“Then I'll go a bit softer.”
“Haa… Ah, no… at the intensity from just now….”
“Understood.”
Fortunately, it was concluded that Sung Soo-ah's screams were not actual screams, but moans.
“Ugh!”
I began massaging Sung Soo-ah's back and waist again.
Feeling her bare skin through her shirt, I felt the strings of my reason waver.
The desire to move to the next step, just like in yesterday's dream, began to overflow.
[I personally do not recommend it.]
‘Indeed… I shouldn't.’
I considered subtly touching her buttocks, but in a relationship like this, I shouldn't choose a risky option.
Even if it were a turning point to establish a relationship with Sung Soo-ah….
‘Still, if she's willing to accept a direct massage like this, it seems we've grown much closer.’
“Ugh! Haa! Haaang!”
I diligently massaged Sung Soo-ah, using her moans as background music.
..
..
After the Magic Department class ended and I had eaten, I immediately headed to the VR training center.
Then, Cho Seo-hyun and I immediately entered the capsule, trained in archery, and then exited the capsule.
Cho Seo-hyun and I emerged from the capsule and greeted each other.
“You worked hard today.”
“You too.”
Cho Seo-hyun had been laughing heartily inside the VR just moments ago, but as soon as she came out, she immediately treated me with a dignified expression, as if nothing had happened.
However, that doesn't mean she suddenly changed her expression completely.
There was definitely a smile mixed in with Cho Seo-hyun's dignified expression.
After fully exiting the capsule, Cho Seo-hyun looked at me and spoke.
“How about we try something different tomorrow?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Cho Seo-hyun crossed her arms, a smile playing on her lips.
“I want to see it at a real shooting range.”
Cho Seo-hyun had shown quite decent archery skills inside the VR.
Her confidence was soaring. She wanted to try shooting in reality too.
Perhaps thinking about training archery together tomorrow, Cho Seo-hyun smiled and began happily talking about her plans for tomorrow by herself.
“Tomorrow is Friday, so there won't be many people at the training grounds. So….”
But I had an appointment tomorrow. And not just an ordinary appointment, but one with Sung Soo-ah.
“Um… I'm sorry. I have an appointment tomorrow….”
“An… appointment?”
“Yes, it's a prior engagement….”
“Oh, I see…. R-right… it's Friday… you should have plans….”
Cho Seo-hyun, who had been beaming to herself, became flustered, her eyes trembling as she started to ramble incoherently.
Judging by her pattern so far, she must have assumed I would agree.
But when faced with an unexpected situation, Cho Seo-hyun, unlike before, began to panic and then made a tearful face.
‘It'll take a really long time to fix that temperament.’
[If it's that level of negative temperament… it might be easier to give up.]
-[Inadequate Variable Handling]-
My goal was to make Cho Seo-hyun my ally and then fix that temperament of hers.
But to be so flustered by the situation getting complicated like this….
[It's highly likely that she's more agitated because it's related to the opposite sex.]
Because she was a woman who had never shown the slightest interest in men until now….
I calmed Cho Seo-hyun down again.
“Tomorrow will be difficult… but after we eat together on Saturday and come back, I'll have plenty of time.”
“…Th-that's a relief. I, I happen to be free then too! Please help me with archery that day.”
“Understood.”
When I agreed with a smile, Cho Seo-hyun shook off the gloom she had shown earlier and began to smile.
“Alright, then to the dormitory….”
I cut off Cho Seo-hyun, hardened my expression, and spoke.
“Would you like to go first?”
“Huh? Is something wrong?”
“I have something important to take care of for a moment.”
“Oh… I see. The training room locks once you leave anyway, so… be careful going in.”
“Yes, I'll see you tomorrow.”
Cho Seo-hyun left the VR training room, still puzzled after hearing my greeting.
I took a deep breath as quietly as possible.
It definitely wasn't in my sight.
But it was definitely there.
I was sure.
It's there!
In the empty VR training room, I shouted with a voice full of murderous intent.
“Diiiiie!!!!”
Zap!
In the corner of the VR training room, a small yellow light appeared, accompanied by rising smoke.
I was extending my arm towards it, much like Harry Potter fighting a final boss.
‘….’
[….]
A tense communication.
I slowly lowered my arm and headed towards the rising smoke, which looked like it came from incense used in ancestral rites.
The scent didn't stop until I arrived.
And there….
“Got you!!!!!!!!!!”
[….]
There was a fly, its entire body charred like a bean struck by lightning.
***
“Aaaargh!”
A man tumbled and collapsed in the dark space.
The man, who had been struggling violently, finally opened his mouth and began to vomit the food inside him.
“Ugh!”
He was only able to stop vomiting when there was nothing left to expel.
Covered in cold sweat, he began to tremble uncontrollably, as if he were in the middle of the North Pole.
“Wh-what the hell is that bastard…. C-could it be… that he r-recognized me….”
His trembling lips made it impossible for him to articulate his words properly.
As he crouched and trembled, someone entered the dark room.
“Oppa, are you done with work? Wh-what happened!?”
The woman who entered the room ran to the man with a startled expression and began to check on him.
Then she immediately began wiping the sweat from his face with her own clothes.
“What on earth happened!?”
“S-some bastard… recognized me… and killed me….”
“That's impossible! Oppa, your ability isn't something that can be exposed to anyone!”
The woman shook her head and emphasized again.
“Who would know about the ability to control flies….”
The man's ability was a magic called -[Fly Spirit Possession]- which allowed him to swap souls with a fly.
And this absurd ability was a tremendous help in him joining the sect, which was said to be the best in the world.
His ability to secretly observe desired individuals from a distance and extract information was highly valued even within the sect.
And until now, he had never been caught by anyone.
Only after he had calmed down somewhat did the man relax and speak.
“…Now that I think about it, that guy seemed to be muttering something about hating flies.”
“See… you just had bad luck and ran into someone like that.”
“That bastard… I'll remember his face clearly.”
“Phew… Still, it's a relief. It's a relief nothing serious happened.”
“Ugh… If I had been even one second late, I would have really died….”
The man was able to deactivate his skill just as Seong Suho was about to activate his magic.
However, in that brief moment, he was affected by the magic, and feeling the pain of his brain burning, he was able to return to his original body.
The woman supported the man and said.
“Oppa, you haven't eaten anything today. I've prepared food. It's late, but let's eat that at least.”
“Damn it… In this state, I don't think I'll be able to gather proper information before starting the mission.”
“Your health comes first, Go Chung-shin Oppa… Let's eat first and then think.”
“Thank you… Ji-ah.”
Yoon Ji-ah helped Go Chung-shin out of the dark room.