Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 291

I accepted the challenge for a winning streak and stepped into the arena.

My opponent was a knight, a class known for its strong balance in the game.

Just like many players choose, there are various strategies for playing a knight.

The opposing player was set up for mobility, sporting only minimal armor.

The only parts that could be called iron armor were the gauntlets and boots.

He wore a light gambeson on his upper body.

During the pre-match waiting time, as I scanned my opponent, he returned the favor with a sharp gaze.

That unnerving look, as if he was inspecting me from head to toe, didn’t sit well with me.

“Whew…”

I let out a low sigh, checking my body’s sensations.

Lack of sleep had left my brain foggy.

Naturally, my physical senses were dulled compared to usual.

Just as I thought that, the brief waiting time ended, and the match began.

However, my opponent remained still.

I did too.

In my case, I was simply zoning out and missing my chance to engage, but the knight seemed to be deep in thought.

As this tense standoff continued, it was I who made the first move.

My long legs propelled me forward.

A strange sensation of misalignment tingled within me.

But my speed was no different than before.

Tada!

The moment I began to sprint, my opponent also moved.

His hands were pulled back while his limbs extended.

This wasn’t a posture for swinging a sword.

It was the stance for preparing to throw something.

Could it be?

The sword in his hand?

Whoosh-!

As his upper body shot forward, the sword he held spun rapidly and flew towards me.

Immediately after, he began to sprint towards me.

I readied my nodachi and deflected the incoming sword.

Clang!

A blue flash lit up at the tip of my sword.

A brilliant spark filled my vision.

In that instant, as my opponent rushed at me, he drew a sword stuck in the ground.

The current map was set in a circular arena where many fighters had fought and fallen.

Naturally, weapons discarded by them littered the ground.

It was a place where merely reaching out could net you a new weapon; losing your current one didn’t mean you couldn’t fight.

I bit my lip.

Without slowing my speed, I swung my claymore up to deflect the nodachi.

That clearly wasn’t a good defensive posture.

This was my opponent’s ploy.

Tada-!

The knight rushed in at high speed.

I immediately stopped, twisting my posture awkwardly.

Clang!

The knight swung their sword fiercely.

A sharp flash aimed for my neck, but my nodachi barely managed to protect me.

“Ugh…”

My body swayed.

It was the expected outcome for someone lacking in strength stats.

My opponent was aware of my weak stat.

They didn’t cease their assault.

As my strength waned during our clash, my opponent leaned slightly, their leg shooting up quickly.

A powerful kick aimed at my abdomen made me instinctively recoil.

Whoosh-!

Heavy steel boots brushed through the air.

That was the end of their attack.

It seemed they knew that advancing further would lead to their downfall.

I glared at my opponent, furrowing my brow.

I knew the timing of attacks and how to gauge the distance between us.

Underestimating me because I’m younger was a mistake.

At this moment, I was convinced.

The person standing in front of me was one of the strongest contenders for victory.

I assessed my opponent’s expression.

Without a helmet, their face was fully exposed.

Slightly furrowed eyebrows and a smirk pulled at the corners of their mouth.

They seemed unable to contain their joy over the situation.

“Hah!”

The instant I read my opponent’s expression, they found their breathing and charged forward.

The sword swung widely.

An instinctive move driven by confidence in their strength stats and talent.

It was an uncoordinated flurry of swordsmanship.

Clang!

I blocked it.

I gently deflected their strike.

Calmly, I read their attack and flowed past it like water.

Suddenly, I felt my grip on the nodachi loosen slightly.

Why? I didn’t know. My intent to battle had dimmed just a bit.

Clang! Clang!

There was an opportunity for attack. More would come.

Yet, my hands didn’t move.

I didn’t wish to stall time. I wanted nothing more than to end the match and lie down on a bed.

But what was this?

This subtle feeling.

Was it sympathy towards my opponent?

No. This feeling was directed inward.

But I couldn’t understand it now.

As I continued to mindlessly deflect my opponent’s attacks, a critical strike I couldn’t ignore came flying towards me.

In that moment, my body moved.

Like instinct carved into my soul, my body acted on its own.

I swiftly bent forward, avoiding the sword.

Right after, white-hot pain flared up.

As my vision started going white, my hands unleashed an attack.

Shwaaa!

A wave of blue light shot forward.

My opponent quickly raised their arm to defend, but the blue flash danced gracefully and altered its trajectory.

Like a white snake.

The smoothly executed swordsmanship passed over their arm and grazed their delicate neck.

Slash-!

The sensation at my fingertips was vivid.

The conclusion of the anticipated match.

I stood dazed, watching my opponent’s expression.

They looked somewhat relieved, but I could read the humiliation and frustration etched into their eyes.

“Hah…”

Before the blood gushed forth.

It was a sigh that escaped my opponent’s lips.

Was it directed at themselves? Or was it meant for me?

Thud-

Victory.

Current match situation.

2 to 1.

Two players remained on their side.

On our side, aside from me, only Ellie was left.

Naturally, I proposed a winning streak.

My current health was at 100%.

Meaning I hadn’t taken a single hit.

The opponent, showcasing overwhelming skills, suggested a winning streak.

They might refuse. If the goal was overall victory, there was a reason to decline.

But the opposing team accepted the winning streak.

A flutter in my chest began.

I didn’t know why. No, I didn’t want to know was the more accurate expression.

I remained silent, waiting for my opponent.

This time, the opposing player was a paladin.

A class known for its sturdy defenses.

Their chosen weapons were a mace and a kite shield for protection.

Unlike before, they were fully clad in armor.

I understood the opponent’s strategy.

They intended to whittle down my health, relying on their robust defenses.

As the waiting time ended and the match began, my health dropped to half in an instant.

The paladin charged straight towards me.

The sound of their footsteps grew closer.

I steadied my breathing, concentrating on the match.

I strained to ignore the fluttering nerves in my chest.

Clang!

My wildly swung nodachi skimmed harmlessly off their armor.

Whoosh-!

I dodged the heavy mace aiming for my head.

Thus began the exchange of attacks—scouting.

30 seconds.

A time to decipher my opponent’s patterns and the gaps in their armor.

Once those 30 seconds passed, my nodachi found a gap and pierced through their vulnerable skin.

Thud-!

The nodachi’s blade kept going.

Red blood began to seep through the gaps in the armor, trailing down the blade.

Again, victory.

Naturally, I suggested a winning streak.

While proposing, I thought.

I hoped they wouldn’t accept.

But the opposing team accepted my proposal.

And thus the third match began.

This time, my opponent was a samurai with the same setup as mine.

Current health: 45%.

The moment the next match began, my remaining health dropped to 22.5%.

With my diminished health, my vision turned red.

Through that haze, I caught a glimpse of my opponent’s expression.

A faint smile paired with eyes reflecting both fear and excitement.

However, excitement outshone fear.

All the opposing players wore expressions like that.

The paladin I fought earlier was likely no different.

As the waiting time ended, the match began.

Due to the nature of deathmatch mode, the pacing is usually quite rapid.

This time was no exception.

Swoosh!

The nodachi stretched out widely.

The opponent also swung their nodachi but barely grazed my cheek.

Their sharp strike failed to land.

In contrast, my nodachi cleanly severed my opponent’s neck.

Thud-

The head fell behind, delayed.

I shook the blood from my nodachi, watching the rolling head.

It was dirty, covered in dirt and blood, but it wore a persistent smile.

It was fun.

That’s a relief.

I exited the game and stepped out of the capsule.

Standing guard before the capsule, naturally, was Sohee.

“Good job.”

“Yeah.”

I confidently reached out towards Sohee.

She tilted her head, looking at me.

Then suddenly realizing something, she slipped her hands under my arms and hoisted me out of the capsule.

She really is quick-witted.

We had also clinched victory in the round of 16.

The tournament staff came into our team booth, handing over the paperwork just like yesterday.

Yeah, just another ordinary day.

For some reason, my head felt hazy.

I held Sohee’s hand as we exited the booth.

At that moment, I spotted the opposing team emerging from across the way.

Their faces were flushed.

They looked like they were desperately trying to hold back tears, wearing suppressed expressions.

Of course, not everyone felt that way. Among them, some wore relieved expressions and broad smiles.

In that moment, I realized what was churning in my chest.

It was—

Regret.

The VRS tournament. A school rivalry, no less.

This is a stage where those who truly love and enjoy VRS, while aspiring to become pros, can spread their wings.

And here I was, participating.

I didn’t even enjoy VRS or dream of going pro.

I was merely partaking to skip class.

Sohee and Ellie also didn’t have much interest in the tournament itself.

Neither did Seongsin-senpai.

Her main game wasn’t VRS, after all.

Of course, the opposing team wouldn’t know this.

But my heart felt uneasy.

“Hayun, are you tired?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“You won, but you don’t look that happy. I guess you’re tired, huh?”

I didn’t bother answering Sohee’s question.

Silently, I gazed at the defeated opposing players.

They were leaving glumly after the loss.

Had our team not participated, maybe they would have been the victors.

Hmm…

If we got to the round of 16, that’s decent, right?

I tightened my grip on Sohee’s hand as we left the tournament venue.