A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

[Proliferation-Infected Mutant Destruction Fungus: 6N1535]

“…Is that what they’re called?”

[That’s correct. They’re a completely different type from the existing Destruction Fungus.]

“What does ‘Sub-Colony’ even mean?”

[According to the Legion’s analysis, they are entities just beginning to develop a proper Collective Consciousness.]

They sounded like quite the troublesome foes.

The Mutant Destruction Fungus is essentially a species of Destruction Fungus that has undergone a prolonged period of growth. The cause of its mutation is believed to be none other than Cannibalism.

[Due to the inability to sustain themselves with nutrients during extreme dormancy, they resorted to repeated Cannibalism, resulting in the birth of mutations. These mutation entities, instead of being dominated by a single Destruction Fungus Colony, are now controlled by two or three colonies together, causing their bodies to twist and grotesquely transform.]

“Why don’t they eat each other anymore?”

[They’ve evolved through mutation.]

The Mutant Destruction Fungus had apparently stopped engaging in Cannibalism among themselves.

Instead, they survived by devouring other Destruction Fungus Infected Entities.

Of course, if they were ever on the verge of starving to death again, who knows what might happen. But for now, it hadn’t come to that.

“We can win against them, right?”

I clicked my tongue and switched the screen.

The war was in full swing.

Amidst it all, my younger sibling was fighting against the monsters.

Wielding a sword imbued with Dark Crimson Power, their mask glowing with intensity, it was hard to just sit idly by and watch.

Especially knowing that they’ve been fighting for over 24 hours without rest.

[That remains uncertain. According to the analysis, the ones being faced right now are merely Sub-Colonies. The possibility of the emergence of a more advanced Great Colony is always considered. More importantly, the energy reserves of the Legion are gradually declining. A more efficient method of energy utilization or additional supplies will be necessary.]

“Ha, that’s hard to manage right now.”

I focused my attention on the surrounding sounds.

Yells and shouts were echoing from all directions.

Although none of them were directed at me, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Is my brother going to be okay?”

“I’m more worried about you right now.”

“I’m… I’m fine.”

Kang Do-Yeon temporarily withdrew from the battlefront.

It was entirely thanks to the consideration of the Legion.

“Pass on my thanks. Oh, they might understand, right?”

“Yeah.”

It was a meaningless gesture.

Still, it could be effective.

Even though their body was no longer that of a human, and the mask alleviated much of the mental fatigue, their face still looked somewhat gaunt, making me frown.

“You know, if I asked the Legion to pull my sibling out of combat, do you think they’d agree? Maybe they could use them in a role like a strategist or something.”

[Would they really? From the Legion’s perspective, having Kang Do-Yeon as the Commander of the Legion is not a problem at all. Growth through Voracious Appetite is the ideal the Legion holds. This is a Grand Premise that applies even to you, and Kang Do-Yeon is no exception. Under the Legion’s care, she is free from death and can grow infinitely stronger through endless battles. To the Legion, this is absolute common sense and the law of the world.]

“Damn it.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

I had encountered various Players and Units up until now.

Their relationships varied greatly, regardless of whether they were Players or Units.

Some were reliable comrades who supported each other, some were mere pawns, and others were cherished beings cared for deeply.

One thing was certain: unless some extraordinary method was used, simple words alone could not enforce anything.

Even if the Legion deemed my words crucial, there was no way to stop them from interpreting it to suit their preferences.

To the Legion, which had already established its foundational values, that interpretation would be the correct answer.

So another approach was necessary, but for now, I had no clue where to begin.

“They must be stalling for time, damn bastards.”

[Do you have anything else to say to your sibling?]

…Whenever I cursed at them, they feigned ignorance and acted as if they hadn’t heard.

“By the way, how does this even work? Do you have Wi-Fi there?”

“Of course not. It’s the power of the app.”

Hearing Kang Do-Yeon’s words, I glanced around.

This place, filled with hastily constructed encampments, was the designated outpost decided by the Allied Forces for initial occupation.

It was built to protect the Gate connected to Earth, with troop deployment and encampment construction still underway.

“I wish I could take a picture and show it.”

I muttered absentmindedly.

Setting aside the fact that this was the stronghold of those monstrous creatures, it was a truly surreal experience.

After all, I had set foot in an Otherworld where spacesuits weren’t even needed.

The barren land, covered in Strange Rock Formations, was illuminated by countless stars and the Three Moons, bright enough to light up the night.

For a moment, I was speechless, as if I were gazing at a scene from a fantasy world.

“I want to see it. The sky.”

“…You want to see the sky.”

I flinched for a moment.

Who truly yearned to see the sky, I wondered.

Was it Kang Do-Yeon, who had been living in a cave for weeks?

Or perhaps the Legion, who had never once seen the sky above?

“But what if your mobile phone runs out of battery?!”

“Don’t worry. A solution came up just before.”

Around the time the Legion first fought against and defeated the Destruction Fungus.

My Account Level reached 5.

Honestly, I hadn’t paid much attention to leveling up, as it only increased the slots I could send or the amount of food I could provide.

However, when I reached Level 5, a new function was added.

[From now on, even without a mobile phone, you can use the app through your corneas.]

“Ahhh!”

The first time I used that feature.

I had fallen on my backside, startled by the giant screen that appeared before my eyes and the Legion’s movements displayed within it.

“…It didn’t make sense that everything relied on a mobile phone in the first place. Aliens wouldn’t use mobile phones, after all.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Anything else you want to say?”

The question was directed at both Kang Do-Yeon and the Legion.

I wanted to communicate with the Legion directly as soon as possible.

For now, though, I had to rely on this indirect method because they refused to engage directly.

“Well…”

That guy hesitated before speaking.

I realized it was the Legion’s message being conveyed.

*

“You seem bored.”

“Well… There’s nothing to do.”

“We can’t do anything until the encampment construction is complete. A safe base is essential, after all.”

Robert chuckled as he fiddled with a deck of cards.

I looked outside with an uneasy expression.

Even now, the soldiers and other personnel were working tirelessly.

All we were doing was resting idly in our tent.

“Our job is to fight when necessary, not to dig with shovels. We’re mercenaries, not soldiers. We do what we’re paid to do.”

“Ah, I see.”

The mercenaries seemed unfazed, as if they were used to such situations.

I sat by them quietly but couldn’t stay long.

Cha Jiyeon had called for me.

“Huh? That Lightning Woman?”

“Yes. I’ll head over now.”

“That’s unusual. Is our mission tied to that Lightning Woman…”

Robert widened his eyes in surprise, as if to say, “What’s the big deal?” Meanwhile, another member, Sneaky, smirked and whispered to him.

Robert glanced at me and Sneaky, lifting the corners of his mouth and eyes in a mischievous grin.

Judging by his expression, it seemed he had completely misunderstood something.

“Have a good trip. Just, uh, don’t make it too obvious. Ahem.”

“…Please don’t get any strange ideas. That person is a true professional.”

Knowing Cha Jiyeon’s personality, I found such a misunderstanding absurd.

She was undeniably beautiful and charming.

However, after spending a few days together, I could confirm that absolutely no incidents had occurred.

She was busy and always dedicated herself to training, even at home.

Park Jun-Seok once said that he felt such reverence for her that he couldn’t even look her in the eye.

“I called you because I wanted to see you.”

However, as soon as I arrived at her encampment, I was met with an unexpected remark.

“I also need to assess the results of your training. You’re still keeping up with your personal regimen, right?”

“Ah?! Oh, yes. Of course.”

“Still, you seem a bit more relaxed now.”

She offered a faint smile.

I had heard that the members of Evolution moved separately.

It was undoubtedly under the Player’s orders, but in any case, her role was to hustle around to fulfill those tasks.

“Relaxed, you say?”

“Not long ago, I was just an inexperienced 24-year-old C-Rank Hunter. But now, I’ve advanced to the point where I’m assigned a separate squad in a large-scale operation. Honestly… it’s still awkward and challenging to sit in meetings with people like the President or the Commander.”

“…That’s true.”

I kept forgetting that she was only a year older than me.

She was just one year older than my female classmates who had graduated from university this year.

“In that context, talking to someone my age like Shin Woo makes me feel a bit more at ease. Park Jun-Seok is 29, but he’s overly sly.”

“Then, would you like to speak informally from now on?”

I blurted it out without thinking.

Honestly, the formal way we spoke to each other had been bothering me.

But when I saw her wide-eyed expression, I immediately regretted saying it.

“…Shall we?”

But she smiled and dropped the formalities.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile as well.

At this point, I couldn’t deny it anymore.

I definitely felt an affection for her…

[The Legion has detected your emotions.]

“Pfft.”

But then, a hologram-like text suddenly appeared before my eyes, making me cough awkwardly and flinch.