Chapter 160: Virtual Love Interest × Legion Commander (17): Affinity Reaches 100, A Gaze That Follows Like a Shadow

[Morris?! What did you eat? An Ultra S-Class Male Zerg! A milk tea-flavored Ultra S-Class Male Zerg!?]

[That must taste incredible.]

[Drooling is understandable. Overflowing with pheromones is understandable too.]

[I can't even imagine how beautiful Lord Roy must be as an Ultra S-Class, or how amazing his pheromones smell.]

[Morris is living the dream.]

[This is the most I've ever wanted an upgrade gift pack (tears of envy dripping from the corner of my mouth).]

[This is going from E-Class all the way to Ultra S-Class! Even in novels and games, that's ridiculously satisfying!]

[As expected of An-shen, a science fiction author. We've gone from the present, the past, the future, to parallel worlds, and now there's even a virtual world.]

[Without realizing it, An-shen's sci-fi novels have actually become a complete five-part series!]

[Every book is more sci-fi than the last. Every time I worry An-shen is running out of ideas, he somehow proves he can make it even more sci-fi!]

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Garuda readers felt conflicted as they read.

[Did this chapter mention Heavenly Garuda eggs?]

["Instead of taking the shortcut, take the Heavenly Garuda egg"... Is that insulting us? It has to be, right?]

[Those damn Zergs are insulting us again in such a roundabout way!]

[Not roundabout at all. They're insulting us right to our faces. (Sarcasm)]

[Damn it, take our Heavenly Garuda egg back.]

[Give Lord Axel back!]

[This proves once again that An-shen really is a Zerg. I'm never giving him a friendly face! (Cold expression)]

[When His Majesty our Emperor breaks through the Zerg borders and conquers the Federation Capital Star, we'll capture An-shen, throw him in prison, and make him write Heavenly Garuda novels every day!]

[???]

[Keyboard, come here €€€€]

[You've really got some nerve, Heavenly Garuda. Not even bothering to pretend to be Zergs anymore? Say goodbye to your accounts.]

[An-shen only writes novels where the Marshal beats your Heavenly Garuda Emperor into the ground!]

[You want to throw An-shen into prison? Dream on! Our An-shen has the Marshal protecting him. There's no way he'll ever end up in prison in this lifetime!]

An Ruo, who had absolutely no desire to ever leave prison for the rest of his life, continued typing away in his little nest.

...

【This time was even worse than the week of his physiological awakening.

Morris had almost completely lost his reason. All he wanted was to die beneath a Male Zerg.

His pheromones poured out without stopping. Worried he'd become dehydrated, Roy even fed him water several times.

Morris couldn't even remember what he'd eaten. Whatever Roy brought to his lips, he'd obediently open his mouth.

The gap between different ranks was simply too enormous.

When Roy had still been low-ranked, Morris had managed to retain a sliver of reason. It had felt wonderful, blissful—he'd thought that was already the limit.

Only after meeting the truly high-ranked Roy did Morris understand what it meant to lose all control.

He wanted to give everything to him.

He wanted to open every part of himself to Roy—from his brood pouch to his Psychic Domain—longing to be completely possessed and marked by this Male Zerg.

In the end, it was Roy who carried the female, dazed from overwhelming pleasure, back to the villa bedroom.

He let Morris sleep in his bed.

Then he gave him some time to calm down.

They both needed time to rethink what their relationship meant.

Roy stood before the mirror in the walk-in closet, looking at his reflection.

The Male Zerg in the mirror was nearly perfect.

Even Roy himself couldn't look away.

Maybe an appearance like this would make the female stay by his side longer.

He hesitated for a moment.

If that were true... then did Morris like him, or did he simply like this face and this body?

He quickly gave up trying to answer.

No matter what...

This appearance was already part of him.

It was a weapon he could make use of.

Roy returned to the bedroom.

Morris was still lying there, half-asleep.

Roy reached down, feeling warmth and lingering pheromones. Supporting himself, he eased himself back into place.

Morris twitched.

A heavy breath escaped him, accompanied by a faint sound he couldn't suppress. He slowly opened his hazy eyes, only to see the beautiful Male Zerg in his arms.

Seeing Morris stare blankly as if his mind had gone completely empty, Roy raised a hand to his chest, intending to pat him awake.

Instead, the female suddenly recoiled in panic.

In the process of scrambling backward, he ended up pushing Roy right back out.

Roy: "?"

That wasn't right.

Did he really change his attitude the moment they finished sleeping together?

Roy became angry.

"Morris!"

Hearing Roy's voice, Morris finally stopped retreating—he'd nearly rolled right off the bed.

Looking up in confusion, he uncertainly called,

"Roy?"

Roy became even angrier.

So this female hadn't even recognized him just now.

"Who did you think it was?!"

Of course it was Roy.

It could only ever be Roy.

Morris finally relaxed.

He moved back over and hugged him ingratiatingly.

"I just woke up... My brain was still foggy... You're so beautiful my whole mind turned into a haze..."

The moment he'd opened his eyes and found a breathtaking Male Zerg in his arms, his brain hadn't processed what was happening. For an instant, he'd thought someone had set him up.

His reputation as a lifelong bachelor was well known.

It wasn't as though Male Zergs had never tried using underhanded methods to force him into submission before.

He'd simply always been vigilant—and strong enough—that none of them had ever succeeded.

Roy was still somewhat unhappy.

Back when he'd been low-ranked, Morris had never pushed him away.

Now that he'd become prettier, Morris actually shoved him?

Yet beneath his annoyance...

There was another feeling.

Morris wasn't the sort of Zerg who lost his head whenever he saw a beautiful Male Zerg.

Compared to beauty...

What mattered to him was that Roy was Roy.

Roy couldn't stay angry.

He lightly touched Morris's head, making him lie back down.

"I'll perform Psychic Soothing for you."

Morris instinctively thought Roy couldn't possibly do it.

Then he remembered Roy's new rank.

But...

This was a game.

Could a game really simulate Psychic Soothing?

He had heard that the military research institute had recently made progress with related technology.

But his own psychic values had already exceeded every measurable range.

Seeing Roy genuinely wanting to try, Morris couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"I'm military personnel," he said. "It might be more difficult."

"I know. I'll have to break through first."

Roy had actually paid attention in class.

Even though his Psychic Power had once been weak, his theoretical knowledge had always been excellent.

Morris fell silent.

Given how much he trusted Roy, Roy could enter his Psychic Domain even without physical contact.

If it failed...

Then it was simply because this was a game.

Compared to Psychic Soothing—which honestly didn't seem likely to work—

He cared much more about simply being close to Roy.

Morris obediently let Roy break through.

During the process, he nearly climaxed all over again.

Roy waited until he'd calmed down.

Lying over him, he wrapped his arms around Morris's head, kissed him gently, remained silent for a while, and finally said,

"If Psychic Soothing doesn't work... then I'll let you go.

We won't get married."

Morris's eyes flew open.

He grabbed Roy's hand, staring at him in panic.

"What do you mean we won't get married?

What do you mean you'll let me go?"

"I can't hold you back."

Roy answered quietly.

Morris didn't think this counted as holding him back.

He'd always intended never to marry.

He would never marry an actual Male Zerg.

Roy...

Was the only exception.

He wanted no one but him.

"I'm not leaving.

Whether the Psychic Soothing succeeds or not...

I'm not going anywhere!"

As he gritted out the words, Morris tightened every muscle around Roy, trapping him from every direction, pouring all his determination into entirely different places.

He wasn't leaving.

Ever.

Morris's eyes reddened.

Roy wasn't in much better shape.

The female refused to let him go, making it impossible for Roy to concentrate on the Psychic Soothing.

Normally, he should first pleasure the female until he completely lost himself, then break open his Psychic Domain before carrying out the soothing process.

But Morris's words made him hesitate.

Of course he wanted Morris to stay.

But if...

If the Psychic Soothing truly failed...

He didn't want to hold him back.

Suppressing his own impulses by sheer force of will, Roy released his Psychic Power and began performing Psychic Soothing.

There was almost no resistance.

Morris welcomed him directly into his Psychic Sea, all the way to its innermost landscape.

Am I really just game data?

For a brief instant, Roy was dazed.

If he were merely a string of data...

Then why could he see Morris's psychic landscape?

Roy had never believed he was fake.

Now, it seemed something was confirming that belief.

Within Morris's psychic landscape, he saw his own little cottage.

There was a fence.

Flowers.

Grass.

A small courtyard.

But beyond the cottage...

Everything was unfamiliar.

Cold.

Solemn.

Filled with unmistakable military architecture.

Were those projections of Morris's real world?

It looked like a military district.

A military base.

Possessing a psychic landscape like this meant Morris strongly identified with being military personnel.

It also meant the military occupied an enormous place in his life.

Yet...

That little cottage existed there too.

A tiny, shabby house standing proudly among massive military buildings, completely out of place.

Didn't that also prove...

That Roy himself occupied an important place in Morris's heart?

The realization made Roy unexpectedly happy.

His Psychic Power spread outward from the little cottage, meticulously carrying out Psychic Soothing for Morris.

Outside the Psychic Domain, his body moved in tandem.

Roy held Morris's head and kissed him.

Morris had originally been suffering because the Male Zerg refused to move.

Suddenly receiving such passionate treatment left him completely bewildered.

Only after a while did he finally realize...

Roy's Psychic Power had truly entered his mind.

Roy was actually performing Psychic Soothing!

Morris's eyes widened in shock.

How was that possible?

Wasn't this just a game?

How could a game perform Psychic Soothing?

Had gaming technology really advanced this far?

"Don't get distracted."

Roy punished him with a light bite.

Instead...

He accidentally bit through Morris's lip.

Roy froze.

That wasn't how he'd imagined it.

Before, no matter how hard he'd bitten, it had only left a pale mark that vanished almost immediately.

Now...

He'd ranked up.

The changes weren't limited to his appearance and Psychic Power.

His physical strength had increased as well.

He could now physically injure even a high-ranking female like Morris.

Realizing he'd made a mistake, Roy guiltily and tenderly licked away the bead of blood.

By the time he looked again...

The wound had already healed completely thanks to the female's astonishing regenerative abilities.

Morris hadn't even realized his lip had been bitten.

Roy's pheromones and Psychic Power left him pleasantly dazed.

His vigilance had dropped by at least ten thousand times compared to normal.

He was still desperately trying to understand how a virtual Male Zerg could possibly perform Psychic Soothing.

Was the Psychic Soothing performed by a virtual Male Zerg itself virtual...

Or real?

Before he could reach any conclusion...

Another thrust shattered every coherent thought in his mind.

He couldn't concentrate anymore.

...】

The readers all exploded into discussion, completely forgetting to pay attention to Roy and Morris's intimacy.

[A game can perform Psychic Soothing? No way.]

[Definitely fake! It's just simulating the appearance of Psychic Soothing!]

[A game is still just a game. Even if Morris marries Roy inside the game, he'll still need a real Male Zerg to perform Psychic Soothing in reality.]

[What you're saying makes sense, but An-shen writes science fiction. You can't judge it by normal logic.]

[Even science fiction has basic rules! If virtual Male Zergs could perform Psychic Soothing, then once open beta launches and countless Zergs enter the game, wouldn't every female be able to solve their Psychic Soothing needs through this virtual game alone?]

[Hahaha. That would be the ultimate all-species sci-fi ending.]

[No matter what, Lord Roy is different. From the very beginning, he never felt like a virtual program. He's too intelligent... no, "intelligent" isn't the right word. He's too real. Like an actual living Zerg standing before us. It wouldn't surprise me if someone like him could perform Psychic Soothing. I'm willing to believe he's the special exception.]

[He's like a true lifeform born inside a virtual world.

A lifeform with its own consciousness.]

...

【Morris had begun questioning his entire life as a Zerg.

He felt...

His mental condition had improved.

This was bad.

Maybe he was becoming addicted to the game.

Maybe he could no longer distinguish reality from fantasy.

Supporting his head with one hand, Morris wondered if he'd become addicted to electronic opium.

Was this what happened when someone became too immersed in a game?

Roy walked in from outside.

Above his head floated a brand-new number.

 The instant Morris saw that dazzling number, he felt as though his entire body had become weightless.

Yes.

He liked this game.

He loved this place.

"Feeling better?" Roy asked as he sat beside the bed.

"Mhm. Much better."

Morris looked at Roy.

Then looked at the glowing 100.

He couldn't stop himself from wanting to grin like an idiot.

For the sake of maintaining his image, he barely managed to suppress it.

Right...

Now that it had reached 100...

Didn't that mean...

Morris hurriedly checked the reward.

He received a brilliantly colorful sparkling gift pack.

This package differed from all the previous ones.

It didn't have the words "Upgrade" written on it.

So it wasn't an upgrade pack?

Unsure, Morris handed it to Roy as usual, letting him open it.

Roy was already Ultra S-Class.

He could already mark Morris and perform Psychic Soothing.

He no longer cared much about upgrading further.

Still, since Morris handed it over, Roy accepted it and opened the package.

It was completely empty.

Roy didn't feel anything either.

Tilting his head, he asked Morris,

"Did I get prettier?"

Morris studied him for a while before firmly nodding.

Roy: "...You're lying."

He'd clearly felt every previous upgrade.

This time...

There seemed to be absolutely nothing.

Turning the package upside down, Roy shook it several times.

Nothing fell out.

An empty gift pack?

Roy looked puzzled.

Still...

It wasn't important.

Once he'd confirmed there was no further upgrade and nothing inside the package, he tossed it aside and continued talking with Morris.

Morris said he needed to log out for a while.

"Oh?

Then... you'll come back, won't you?"

Roy leaned over to kiss him, his hands already wandering over him.

Before, whenever Morris might leave, Roy had responded by avoiding the issue altogether.

Now...

He had completely changed his strategy.

He took the initiative, making full use of his beauty as temptation, clinging to Morris without letting go.

Morris couldn't even get out of bed.

He could only promise over and over again that he'd return.

Very soon.

He silently thought...

At the rate this Male Zerg was clinging to him, he might actually need to apply for marriage leave.

Roy looked at him for a while before finally choosing to believe him.

"Go on."

Morris opened the game interface to log out.

Looking at Roy beside him, he took his hand and promised once again,

"I'll come back to keep you company very soon."

"Mhm."

Roy simply responded, his expression remaining unchanged.

As Morris selected Log Out and his body disappeared, Roy also felt a faint pull somewhere deep inside.

Morris sat up inside the game pod.

The room was filled with pheromones.

His own pheromones.

He'd played a game...

Until his pheromones overflowed.

His face immediately flushed red.

He hurried into the bathroom to wash himself.

During the shower...

He vaguely caught a faint fragrance.

It seemed as though Roy's pheromones were mixed together with his own.

When he tried to smell more carefully...

There was nothing.

Morris laughed at himself.

I'm really losing it.

This is reality.

How could Roy's pheromones possibly come out of a game?

Standing beneath the running water, Morris rested a hand against his abdomen.

Even though the overwhelming pheromones embarrassed him...

Unexpectedly...

He didn't feel empty.

Instead, he felt strangely fulfilled.

Maybe he really had become stupid from playing games.

After changing clothes, Morris stepped out of the bathroom.

The moment he opened the bedroom door...

He sensed a faint but unmistakable gaze.

As though someone were watching him.

Without changing his expression, Morris walked to the desk and set down his towel.

No other Zerg was in the room.

Yet the feeling of being watched was unmistakable.

Had surveillance equipment been installed?

Had the military network been hacked?

Although he sensed no hostility from the gaze, he remained fully alert, utterly perplexed.

Who could possibly tamper with a military space training base?

Thinking this over, Morris opened the door and decided to have the technical department investigate.

As he stepped outside...

The sensation of being watched didn't disappear.

Instead...

It continued following him.

No matter where he went...

It remained with him like a shadow.

"..."

The military base had actually been infiltrated like a sieve!】