Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 170

“Sorry, sorry…!”

“Tsk…”

Jupiter looked disdainfully at the GM groveling in front of him.

After taking his medicine, he waited for quite a while during the GM call and was finally able to face the operator character.

“Well, it seems that everyone who used that bracelet at the offline event that day…”

Jupiter crossed his arms and nodded.

Just as she had guessed, it appeared that the physical scan data had synchronized with the server data that day.

“So, how are you going to compensate us?”

“Um, for now… please log out and wait…”

“From when to when?”

“That, um…”

“Is my character data still intact?”

“Uh, we’ll try to keep it as close to that character as possible…”

“Sigh…”

“It seems there are also issues with the backup data…”

“Are you calling that an excuse?”

“I’m sorry…”

Jupiter turned her gaze away from the GM, who was still bowing to her.

After all, what could this person have done wrong?

She must just be a simple counselor.

Jupiter let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll prepare an item with character creation functionality as soon as possible… please wait a little longer…”

“Is that the only compensation? You wiped out a user’s character data…”

“No, that’s not the case. After an internal meeting, we’re planning to provide substantial compensation to everyone who participated in that event.”

Jupiter nodded, remembering the small girl.

The Blood Demon King. Her rival, the only one she recognized as an equal.

For someone like the Blood Demon King, who walked around with an identical appearance in both reality and the game, this kind of incident wouldn’t have been an issue at all.

“Is there any way to temporarily change my appearance right now?”

“It is, uh, possible… but would that be okay?”

Jupiter nodded. For a smooth gameplay experience, she needed a body that was completely different from reality.

“It might be uncomfortable, but… please use this. It’s a transformation item made for the event… it randomly takes on the appearance of an NPC.”

Jupiter received a small card-shaped item.

[Event Transformation Card 02]

For event use.

The item name and description were concise.

“How long does this last?”

“As long as the server is open, it will keep going, and you can undo it whenever you want.”

“Hmm…”

Jupiter nodded and used the card.

Suddenly, her previously low view raised up, and her short limbs grew longer in the blink of an eye.

“Whoa…”

Her voice changed, and her equipment started to grow in size to fit her new body.

After a brief moment, Jupiter examined her new form and nodded.

She wasn’t particularly pleased with the character’s face, but the physique looked fairly convincing.

If she wore a helmet, no one would recognize her altered appearance.

“Do, do you like it?”

“… The compensation had better be good.”

“Y-yes!”

A strange silence hung between the two.

Jupiter sighed heavily and ordered the GM to leave. It was really awkward to see an adult looking at her for cues.

“Please go now.”

“Y-yes!”

After the GM disappeared, Jupiter sighed once more.

If she hadn’t received the transformation card, she wouldn’t have logged into the game until the issue was resolved.

Playing the game while looking like her real, frail self would unintentionally trigger that pain. The uncontrollable acceleration of those memories felt agonizing.

So, she had to confuse her brain this way.

With a body that differed from reality, as if she were dreaming.

Jupiter had no choice but to make that decision to play the game.

“Ugh…”

The heavy voice of a man, completely different from her, made her head spin.

Yet, amidst that chaos, Jupiter felt a slight comfort.

She let go of her worries. It was time to become a knight of light once again.

Slowly catching her breath, she began to walk forward.

The more she moved, the more her body adapted. She was no longer the weak little girl, but a grown man with a sturdy physique.

The old map in her hand shimmered with holy light, guiding her path.

No one knew what awaited her at the end of this road. She took advantage of the pause to look up the item’s information, but Jupiter found nothing.

Following a quest that no one had made public felt familiar.

“Ah…”

While focusing on the map and walking, Jupiter spotted an NPC resting slightly off in the distance.

A green exclamation mark was floating above his head. That meant he was someone in need of help.

A knight of light does not turn their back on those in need.

Creak- creak-

“Good sir. Do you need help, perhaps?”

[Wandering Merchant]

[Plate]

“Oh, are you an adventurer? How did you know I needed help…?”

“Speak. I will assist you as much as I can.”

Jupiter said, tucking the glowing map back into her pocket.

“Oh, thank you! Then could you bring me the blood of a Vampire Clan bear that can be found around here?”

[New Business Opportunity]

Obtain Blood of the Vampire Clan Bear 0/20

“Trust me and wait.”

Jupiter thumped her chest confidently.

The full plate mail she was wearing had also grown to match her enlarged body.

As the massive gauntlet thumped against her chest, a heavy sound echoed.

The Vampire Clan bear was classified as quite a strong monster.

But Jupiter wasn’t worried. Wasn’t that why she had raised her character’s stats in preparation for moments like these?

With a confident smile, Jupiter made her way to the Vampire Clan bear’s habitat.

Vampire Clan bear habitat.

It wasn’t a particularly popular hunting ground. It didn’t yield high efficiency for party hunting, and the monsters were too strong for solo play.

“Hmm…”

A knight of light does not back down.

Jupiter drew her Holy Sword and charged forward.

“Waaah!”

The heavy footfalls echoed all around. The rough shout that broke from her mouth caught the Vampire Clan bear’s attention.

“Huaah!”

Jupiter swung her sword with all her might. But her timing was off. The sword swung too close, and the power didn’t translate.

Thwack-!

“Ugh!”

The bear retaliated immediately, slashing with its sharp claws and sending Jupiter flying.

Even though she had powered herself up significantly using the Transcendence Stone, the damage she took was still quite severe.

But she would not give up. She would not retreat. She could win.

Jupiter pulled herself up from the ground, aiming her sword.

“O beast who has embraced the fallen power. I, Jupiter of the Holy Sword, offer you rest.”

Boom-!

“Graaaaaah!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The giant bear’s claw swipes came in waves, but Jupiter held her shield up, bracing herself over and over.

Monsters are different from users. When you hide behind a shield and observe their patterns, a gap will surely appear.

Just like right now.

“Now!”

Whoosh-!

The lengthened Holy Sword glinted with golden light, piercing through the Vampire Clan bear’s neck.

“Haha!”

She thought she had won.

But the next moment, a massive bear paw hit Jupiter’s face, sending her flying back.

Boom!

“Ugh…!”

It was a critical hit aimed precisely at her weak spot, causing her to become momentarily stunned.

Jupiter grasped her spinning head and looked around.

The bear, with its neck pierced, was motionless. That meant another one had attacked her.

“Y-you cowardly beast!”

Yes, the Vampire Clan bears had called in reinforcements in the most cowardly manner.

Jupiter couldn’t tell when it appeared, but a new Vampire Clan bear was now huffing right next to her.

It was a bear walking on two legs. Its sharp claws aimed straight for Jupiter.

“Uhh!”

Jupiter wouldn’t back down. She thought she could win.

But in the end, she collapsed.

Her legs buckled, and she knelt on the floor.

The number of cowardly beasts had increased from before.

“Three… three…”

Boom!

Grrr!

Grrr!

Burst-! Burst-! Burst-!

Attacks rained down from all directions, making her body sway weakly.

Eventually, her vision turned gray.

[You have died.]

[Cause of Death: Attack by Vampire Clan bears]

Jupiter calmly walked out from her place of resurrection.

Her specs should have been enough. But her body couldn’t keep up.

“I guess there’s no helping it…”

The knight of light needed companions.

At the foot of the massive Rock Mountain, under the pale moon hanging above.

In front of the Vampire Clan bear habitat.

Jupiter sat down and began to call out.

“Hey! I’m looking for someone to join me in defeating the evil beasts!”

Very few users were passing by. But Jupiter didn’t give up.

She kept switching channels, continuously recruiting party members.

“Join me! I need people to defeat that evil beast bear!”

Did it seem very ridiculous to others?

Other users laughed lightly at Jupiter’s appearance.

Jupiter was accustomed to their ridicule. She kept shouting.

How much time had passed? Suddenly, a very familiar figure appeared on the road a bit away.

Long, flowing black hair, with small horns sprouting atop.

“Y-you, Blood Demon King…!”

Her rival. That terrifying Demon Lord had appeared.

What, was she targeting her?

Jupiter hurriedly moved her giant body to hide behind a rock.

She was finally accustomed to the changed body shape, and wouldn’t make the same mistakes as before.

“There are two…”

Jupiter muttered while watching the Blood Demon King, Yeon.

Just as she had said, the Blood Demon King was not alone.

A powerful witch clad in a red robe was accompanying her, assisting the Blood Demon King.

“Ugh…”

A 2v1 situation. With numbers like this, victory was not guaranteed.

As disappointing as it was, it was time to withdraw.

Jupiter cautiously began to crawl back.

“Why is it always the Vampire Clan bear habitat?”

“It can’t be helped.”

“Too much wasted movement.”

Jupiter held her breath, eavesdropping on the conversation between the Blood Demon King and the fire witch.

It seemed her rival had returned to this area to clear a quest.

At that moment, Jupiter recalled her previous encounter with the Blood Demon King in reality.

Despite being wrapped in a blurry hologram, she had still stood tall as the Blood Demon King.

Soft and warm, the Blood Demon King.

“Hmm…”

Then, suddenly, a strange movement caught Jupiter’s eye.

A blurry movement followed the party of the Blood Demon King as they headed toward the Vampire Clan bear habitat.

That movement seemed suspicious.

Jupiter crawled along the ground, following behind.