Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 104

Having received the main quest from the Elf Queen, I immediately left the city.

The quest’s content was to find a portal to another realm.

“Beep beep beep!”

I soared through the sky on my Windwalker mount.

As the acceleration kicked in with each flap of its wings, the scenery around me stretched out.

Following the quest marker, I continued my flight, and soon I noticed the scenery starting to change.

The bright sunshine and the cool breeze vanished.

The densely packed trees noticeably began to thin, and the lush leaves took on a dull hue, as if smeared with red rust.

What stood out were the strange objects set up throughout the forest.

Seeing monsters that resembled Eastern shamans dancing near the objects, it was clear that this transformation of the forest was due to them.

However, the quest was guiding me deeper into the woods, not to this spot.

As I ventured further according to the quest directions, signals started rising from below.

It seemed I couldn’t find the portal to another realm while airborne.

Reluctantly, I landed with my Windwalker mount.

Unlike when I could observe the surroundings from the sky, the forest below felt shrouded in a thick fog that limited my vision.

I began to look around, trying to find the portal as the quest instructed.

Yet, I saw nothing resembling a portal.

It seemed I needed to explore the area surrounding this forest.

“Come forth!”

I immediately dismissed my Windwalker and summoned a battle-hungry hell wolf.

The massive summoning circle revealed the wolf, which scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes and let out an impressive howl.

“Awrooo-”

As I raced through the fog-choked forest with the wolf, I spotted a green exclamation mark far off.

It was the quest marker for a side quest.

Could I actually start a side quest here?

With a flicker of hope, I urged the wolf towards that spot.

Thud-thud-thud!

Arriving swiftly, I found an NPC named Jeoksurin standing there.

A deeply pulled-down straw hat and a tattered cloak hung over her long frame.

Her robes were wide overall, yet the strings wrapped around her arms and legs restrained the fabric’s excessiveness.

She didn’t quite fit the theme of the fantasy game Deron.

According to the setting, this NPC had clearly crossed over from another realm.

However, unlike other visitors from different realms, Jeoksurin didn’t radiate any violet energy.

As I urged my wolf closer to Jeoksurin, she slightly lifted her hat and met my gaze.

Unlike other monster-class visitors, her eyes weren’t vacant or dull.

“Do you happen to know anything about a portal to another realm?”

I asked this out of curiosity, but she redirected the question back at me.

“Are you a resident of this world?”

“Yes.”

“I hate to impose, but could you help me?”

“What kind of help do you need?”

“I’m looking for something that was lost in this world.”

“Something lost?”

“An old book. It’s of no use to the people of this world.”

Jeoksurin’s words reminded me of the Suspicious Book I had tucked away in my inventory.

Could she be asking for that book?

At that moment, a quest notification popped up before my eyes.

[Help a Suspicious Individual]

Bring ‘Suspicious Book’ to Jeoksurin 1/1

Upon accepting the quest, I had already fulfilled the condition.

I pulled the book out of my inventory and handed it to her.

“Is this it?”

“This is…”

Jeoksurin carefully accepted the book and started skimming through its contents.

I waited with my wolf until she finished reading the book.

“Thank you…”

As soon as she confirmed the book, a massive amount of experience points flooded in.

But that wasn’t the end of the reward.

Jeoksurin handed me a pouch filled with small pills.

[Vitality Pills] x20

A potion that restores health when consumed.

Brought over from another world.

Restores 40% health.

Cooldown: 10 seconds

“If you find any other books similar to this one, bring them to me. I promise a good reward.”

[Help a Suspicious Individual]

Bring ‘Suspicious Rare Volume (Upper)’ to Jeoksurin 0/1

Bring ‘Suspicious Rare Volume (Middle)’ to Jeoksurin 0/1

Bring ‘Suspicious Rare Volume (Lower)’ to Jeoksurin 0/1

As expected, a connected quest existed.

I searched for the items in the auction house, but I couldn’t retrieve any information about them.

They were items that couldn’t be registered in the auction house.

“Where can those books be found?”

“I don’t know either, that’s why I asked for your help.”

After saying that, Jeoksurin leaned back against the tree again.

I flipped on the quest guide feature just to check.

However, nothing appeared before my eyes.

It seemed this quest would be pushed down the priority list for a while.

“Let’s go!”

I started running again with my wolf.

Thud-thud-thud!

How much time passed? When I felt the violet aura around me intensifying, a massive portal finally appeared ahead.

[Frideri’s Request]

Find the portal to another realm 1/1

I found the requested portal.

However, it wasn’t just the portal that awaited me.

Warriors stood guard around it, along with shamans wielding long staves.

[Frideri’s Request]

Clear the area around the portal and gather clues 0/1

The quest had been updated. It seemed I could not avoid a fight with the enemies in front of me.

I silently drew my sword.

The wolf lowered its body in sync with my movement, holding its breath.

Waiting for the right timing as I watched closely, I spotted a light breeze flowing my way.

I dashed forward with the wolf, turning my back to the wind and swung my sword.

Tatata-tatak-!

Swoosh-!

“Cough…!”

“Ambush!”

I quickly scanned my surroundings.

There were ten warriors.

Five shamans capable of ranged attacks.

I maneuvered my wolf to create distance from the warriors.

At that moment, the shamans began unleashing their skills.

Clumps of violet energy slowly chased after me.

Even as I redirected my wolf back and forth, they followed relentlessly.

It was a homing skill.

After shaking off the warriors, I swiftly charges through the gap between the shamans.

Before the startled enemies could create distance, I jumped off the wolf and slammed down onto the ground.

Boom!

Immediately after, I reached high into the sky.

I was about to trigger the Demon Lord’s skill [Lightning of Annihilation].

Kaboom!

At the moment I unleashed the skill, a massive black lightning bolt fell across a wide radius.

That powerful strike left the shamans utterly broken.

After that, dealing with the warriors was not difficult at all.

Using the [Azathoth’s Blade] buff, I beheaded each warrior with my extended reach, neutralizing the situation.

“Hm…”

I let out a brief sigh as I surveyed my surroundings.

The main quest asked me to find some valuable information, but there didn’t seem to be anything special.

As I continued to look around, my gaze suddenly fell upon the portal to another realm.

[Portal to Another Realm]

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed suspicious.

I was told to bring something back as evidence, yet there was nothing nearby.

I swallowed dryly and reached out towards the portal.

As I did, the portal rippled slowly, as if my hand were entering the water, and engulfed my hand entirely.

I realized that I could directly cross into another world through the portal.

There was no hesitation. After all, it was just a game. If the portal suddenly disappeared, I could use a Return Stone.

I stepped into the portal.

With a brief flash of light, my body was sent somewhere.

I blinked, waiting for my vision to clear.

As the foggy sight returned to normal, I became aware of my surroundings.

The first thing that caught my eye was the wide sky and the lush forest sprawling beneath it.

I lowered my head and examined where I stood.

I found myself atop a sacred altar for special rituals.

The altar was cleanly polished, and blood flowed beneath it in a bright red stream.

Strange markings decorated the braziers all around, and instead of ordinary fire, purple flames roared up.

At that moment, something that had fallen beneath the altar emitted a shimmering light.

It was a quest item indicator.

I descended from the altar and picked up what had fallen beneath it.

[Ritual Dagger]

A ceremonial dagger used in another realm.

It radiates a sinister energy.

As that occurred, the quest updated.

[Frideri’s Request]

Clear the area around the portal and gather clues 1/1

I had fulfilled the main quest’s conditions.

Hoping against hope, I attempted to leave the altar, but it felt like an invisible barrier stopped me from moving forward.

Blocked from leaving. Unfortunately, it was time to return to where I came from.

With that, just before I passed through the portal again, I took a moment to absorb the scenery around me.

The architecture of the distant buildings undoubtedly exuded an Eastern atmosphere.

Exiting the portal of another realm, I returned to the World Tree’s Resting Place.

Thanks to the Return Stone, I quickly made my way back.

“This is…”

Returning to the temple where the Elf Queen awaited, I presented the ritual dagger.

Elf Queen Frideri began an uninterrupted conversation with the Elf elders, droning on.

It was an unskippable segment.

I slumped down on the floor, absently letting time pass by.

Every now and then, stimulating words like “military” or “war” would pop up.

How much time had passed?

Just as I was yawning out of boredom, the main quest updated.

[The Start of War]

Help Frideri persuade the elders who are against the war. 0/4

“What?!”

I jumped up in shock as the Elf elders turned crimson and drew their weapons.

Bows, swords, and staves, all ready.

Contrary to their calm demeanor, the elders that supported war began to aim their weapons at one another, creating an intense atmosphere.

“A war? Are you all insane?”

“It’s you who’s insane! Do you think we can avoid war in this situation?”

“Are you going to break the laws of the elves?”

“The forest is crumbling! We can’t wait any longer for the World Tree’s command!”

Some of the elders glared at each other and began to turn away, exiting the temple.

Those were the elders opposed to the war.

On the contrary, those advocating for war remained by the Queen’s side.

Seeing this, it seemed the Queen also favored the war.

“O outsider…”

The Elf Queen began to speak, and at that moment, I got up in a hurry.

An updated quest meant I didn’t need to stay here any longer.

I bolted out of the temple.

The quest was clear.

War, the start of war.

I needed to quickly persuade the stubborn old-timers and kick off a thrilling war.