Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 140

“Alright, here’s the promised gold.”

“Huh…”

I plopped down in my seat, receiving the massive bag of gold that Hwarang handed over.

The weight in my hands was incredibly heavy.

Thanks to Hwarang’s victory, we were able to collect all the gold from the Gold Rush raid.

Dividing 55,000 gold among four of us meant I’d pocket 13,750 gold.

With Hwarang adding his share to my portion, my inventory now held 27,500 gold.

For a single wagon heist, that was an astonishing haul.

The anxiety I felt over Hwarang’s sudden actions had completely vanished.

Not only had I secured an incredible amount of gold, but one of the strongest dealers in our guild had also obtained a world item.

Worrying about the past was hardly a guild leader’s behavior.

“Alright, this is Iyap’s share.”

“Huh…”

I handed over the promised gold to Iyap as well.

He stared blankly, clutching the huge bag of gold.

I could roughly guess what was going through his mind.

I beamed as I checked my inventory.

At this rate, I felt I could repay all the gold I borrowed from Helena before this season ends.

It was a truly happy thought. If I could use the chat system, I would immediately share this joyful news with Helena.

But for now, I couldn’t. The raider penalty was still lingering.

Users who succeeded in the Gold Rush could not leave this village for the next two days.

No, to be precise, they could leave, but the moment they did, the bounty system would reactivate, and they’d be chased by countless players once again.

*

Maybe it was because I successfully finished the Gold Rush. Or perhaps it was because I had a deep sleep for the first time in ages.

It might also be thanks to the aromatic scent that Sohee gifted me.

My steps were lighter than ever as I headed to school. It felt like I was walking on clouds.

While walking along the long road, I thought about how I would boast to Sohee that I had already amassed over 80,000 gold.

Imagining how I’d prove my credit and abilities to her kept a smile on my face.

“Hehe~”

I hummed a little tune as I passed the school gate, climbed the stairs, and entered the classroom.

Inside the class, as always, Sohee was seated, having arrived first.

I quietly approached her, observing the way she held her phone in one hand and a small notebook in the other.

“Hayun.”

“Uh, huh?”

Even though I approached without making a sound, Sohee somehow sensed my presence and turned to greet me.

“Sorry…”

“Wh-why suddenly?”

“About that Gold Rush…”

“Ah…”

“I didn’t know it was you and blocked you… They said they’d give me coins for catching raiders…”

I nodded with a frown at Sohee’s words. I wasn’t really planning to make an issue out of it, but since she was apologizing first, I felt a bit weird about it. After all, I hadn’t been caught. Isn’t it all good?

“I’m really sorry… Your disguise was just so perfect…”

“Hehe… Right? It was quite a perfect disguise.”

Of course, only Sohee could recognize my disguise’s true value.

I had covered my face with a red mask and donned a giant cowboy hat that hid even my horns.

There was no way to see my guild, nickname, or title. Everything that symbolized me was concealed; how could she recognize me?

I nodded, crossing my arms.

“It’s okay.”

“Wh-what if you failed?”

Did she mean to ask about the success of the Gold Rush?

Sohee was looking at me with anxious eyes.

“No! I succeeded.”

“Ah…”

I succeeded. I succeeded big time. Plus, Hwarang got a world item, so I could call it a grand success.

“W-well, you must’ve earned a lot of gold…?”

“Yep, I earned a ton. Ah, I’ll pay back the gold I borrowed as soon as the penalty lifts.”

“You… already earned gold?”

“Yep. Once I clean out all the junk, I think I can repay around 90,000 gold this time.”

“Isn’t that pushing it?”

Pushing it? No way. I shook my head and thumped my chest lightly.

“Just trust me. I’ll pay back all of Sohee’s gold before this season ends.”

Sohee fell silent at my confident reply.

She looked a bit touched.

“You really don’t have to… Overdoing it in other ways…”

Sohee began to mumble with a somewhat dark expression.

I shook my head at her.

There was no way I could repay that huge amount in ways other than gaming.

In reality, I was just a small, cute middle school girl.

“Hayun… When the new expansion comes out, you’ll need more gold.”

“That’s true.”

“What will you do then… If you give me all your money…”

“I’m not just giving it! I’m repaying it, you know? It’s not my money anyway.”

“B-but…”

“When the new season comes, I’ll farm hard again.”

“What if a new world item comes out?”

I briefly pondered Sohee’s words but soon shook my head and dismissed my hesitations.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want the world item representing Deron’s single season.

However, if the world items that will come out in the future needed to dump such huge amounts of gold into them to buy, then I’d have to pass.

“I’m fine.”

“W-well, we could capture some from the human clan…!”

“I’ll win anyway.”

“With that, you could grow stronger.”

“That’s true, but…”

“The one who deserves a world item is someone special like you, Hayun. An item for someone special and cool.”

I let out a small laugh at Sohee’s words.

She seemed to think I’d acquire a new world item every season.

Sohee’s thinking was wrong. I might not even get a chance next season.

I shook my head. When money issues get tangled in human relationships, it often doesn’t end well.

Sohee was just too kind-hearted. Wasn’t she acting like she didn’t want the gold back she’d lent me?

It was undoubtedly a result of Sohee’s kind nature mixed with her consideration for me.

“Thank you for thinking of me as special. But I’ll repay the gold steadily.”

“Ugh… Uu…”

“Sohee…”

Could it be that my words moved her?

Sohee let out a whimper, her face scrunching up as if she were about to cry.

Such a middle school girl moment.

I chuckled softly and hugged Sohee.

My small stature made me fit perfectly in her embrace, but it wasn’t such a bad picture after all.

“Sohee.”

“U-uhm…”

“Do you have time tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow…?”

“Yeah. Would it be okay after school until late dinner?”

I peeked up with my head slightly raised to look at her face.

Sohee, clearly affected, slightly reddened her face and nodded.

Great. I received confirmation that she had time.

With a bright smile, I spoke.

“Then let’s go raiding for the Gold Rush together!”

“Y-you mean raid… Gold Rush…”

“Yep, if you’re with me, we can rob any wagon. That way, I can pay back the gold even faster.”

Sohee’s bright smile slowly faded at my words.

For some reason, that expression felt a bit scary.

*

After the raider penalty disappeared, the first place I headed was the big police station in the capital city.

“Um…”

The sheriff NPCs cast sharp glances my way. Even though I wouldn’t get caught because the raider penalty was lifted, my friendly level with them had dropped permanently after the successful Gold Rush raid, so I wasn’t receiving any friendly vibes.

“Come in.”

Their attitude was as cold as ice.

I followed the sheriff’s lead into the area where raiders were imprisoned.

“GUILD LEADER!!! BLOOD DEMON KING!!! DEMON KING OF THIEVES!!!”

The moment I stepped inside, an ear-piercing shriek echoed.

I frowned and turned my gaze towards the source of the voice.

There, a Snow Mage with shackles on her hands and feet was clinging to a cell and crying.

“How long is your detention left?”

“24 hours!”

I nodded and handed a small bag of gold to the sheriff.

It was the bail for the Snow Mage.

After receiving the 500 gold bail, the sheriff nodded and moved inside the cell to release the Snow Mage.

“Thank you!!!”

Once freed, the Snow Mage sobbed, hugging me tightly.

How much had she suffered?

I let out a small sigh and patted her head.

Since she had died just before the raid, her detention period wasn’t long, and the bail was comparatively cheap.

If she had died after a successful raid, her detention would have been over ten days.

The Snow Mage stuck to my side, whining until we exited the police station.

Why was this grown adult acting like this?

I clicked my tongue at her behavior and pulled out a bag of gold from my pocket to hand to her.

“Here you go.”

“What is this…?”

“Your share, Snow.”

13,250 gold.

That was the Snow Mage’s share, aside from the 500 gold bail.

“Is it okay for me to take this…?”

“Yeah, we’re on the same team, right?”

“G-guild leader…!”

The Snow Mage looked at me with shining eyes as if deeply moved and hugged me again.

Her hug lasted only until we encountered Helena waiting right in front.

The gazes of the Snow Mage and Helena tangled in the air.

In that instant, the Snow Mage cleared her throat and quietly pulled away from me.

“H-Hello, Helena.”

“Hello, Snow.”

“Nice to meet you.”

The two mages of fire and ice had gathered.

With this, we were ready to go.

I left the village with the strangely quiet Snow Mage and the seemingly displeased Helena.

After riding for a while on my pony, I spotted Iyap and Hwarang approaching, riding on their horses at the fork in the road.

With my red mask still on, I asked Iyap.

“Did you find the raiders’ locations?”

“I located them just now.”

I nodded and turned to Hwarang.

Hwarang nodded back, and in a quiet voice, he spoke.

“Two groups have started their Gold Rush.”

His low voice was unpleasant to hear.

Hwarang’s immersion in the game had deepened after acquiring the [Twilight and Dawn].

I asked again with a frown.

“… Which one is the biggest?”

“This one.”

Hwarang pointed and sent the coordinates through party chat.

When I checked, it was in a nearby area.

I gleamed as I pulled out my big cowboy hat.

Imagining the gold I would earn made a wicked grin naturally emerge.

“It’s time to return as a fearsome wild raider!”