Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 173

Jupiter, so it was two hours after that when Ellie got out of the capsule.

“Huh, huh-uh…”

She looked like melted 떡 (rice cake).

I looked down at Ellie, who was sprawled over the chair.

She was drenched in sweat, and the capsule she crawled out of was releasing white steam like it had been heated up.

Ellie’s body was the same. Steam was visibly rising from her.

Especially around her armpits.

Sohee said Ellie was so amusing that she wanted to extend the playtime.

That was true. Ellie had played for a full two hours without taking a break.

“Are you okay now?”

It was unlikely that anything had changed after just one test, but I cautiously asked.

Ellie nodded, trembling at my question.

After about five minutes, as Ellie remained collapsed on the chair, Sohee approached.

In her arms was a thick stack of papers.

In this day and age, to handle documents that way was really surprising.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel a lot better…”

Responding to Sohee’s question, Ellie managed to sit up with great difficulty.

Droplets of sweat fell, soaking the chair.

“Right now, it might not have a big effect. Can you come consistently?”

“Consistently…? How often…?”

As Sohee was about to answer Ellie’s question, she stopped moving.

Her gaze turned to me.

No way, me too?

I looked at Ellie with a reluctant expression.

I had only planned to help her once, but if it became a daily thing, it would be troublesome.

Considering my school study and thoughts about playing Deron, wandering around like this was clearly a waste of time.

Ellie was quick to catch on. She suddenly stood up and grabbed my hand tightly!

Her warm, soft, and damp hand was massaging mine.

“Ugh…!”

Thinking it was all sweat, I didn’t feel too pleasant.

I recoiled in shock.

“Blood Demon King! No, Hayun! Help me! Please!”

Ellie clung to me like she was begging.

Her sweat-soaked clothes stuck to her, revealing the smooth curves of her body.

Beyond her thin T-shirt, I could see the little depression of her belly button.

I shook my head and stepped back.

“Not every day. I have my own time too.”

I wanted to help, but that’s just how reality was.

Once or twice a week would be fine.

“Max twice a week.”

“If that’s the case…!”

“Well, it’s not bad. I also don’t have enough time to spare.”

*

December 26th.

Ellie woke up from the bed, mumbling.

It was an ordinary day, but the symptoms of the white pain creeping into her head were slow.

There was definitely an effect. That was an undeniable fact.

Ellie frowned as she recalled the memories of that day.

Since logging into the virtual world, Ellie had moved as someone else in someone else’s body.

Her body moved freely, while her mind felt like it was hit by bizarre waves, which was truly uncomfortable.

It felt like she was becoming that person instead of herself.

Ellie got off the bed, clicking her tongue in disappointment.

[Ellie, there are missed calls again today…]

“Did it come from Dad? Just ignore it.”

[But…]

“I’ll put it on silent.”

Having finished her breakfast, Ellie logged into the game as usual.

With familiar light, she crossed into the world of Deron.

It was time to become a knight of light, not a weak and frail small girl.

Ellie, no. Jupiter opened her eyes and felt the familiar sensation.

The vast Solaris Capital City welcomed Jupiter.

Jupiter waved her short arms.

There was no sense of estrangement like usual. Of course. She had transformed back to her original form.

No need to sit on the fountain and wait to get used to her body, like she usually did.

Jupiter immediately checked her mailbox.

There were plenty of reward items sent from Deron.

A character appearance change ticket that allowed for freely setting her character’s appearance and in-game cash of 400,000 won. Plus, a special costume.

“Hmm…”

For a reward from Deron, which was famous for its stingy payouts, this was quite decent.

Jupiter examined the newly received costume.

[Platinum World]

Adds a special effect to the equipped weapon.

※ This item was given to users who were hurt at the offline event on December 25th.

※ Not exchangeable.

The moment Jupiter equipped the item “Platinum World,” a platinum aura began to flow around the holy sword hung at her waist.

It wasn’t a weapon enhancement skill effect that came with being a Paladin.

“Whoa…”

Swoosh-!

The white blade drawn from its sheath blazed with a platinum aura.

It was truly magnificent. Jupiter smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

With a reward like this, she felt she could laugh it off.

Did they not also give her a character change ticket?

Jupiter forgave the operators of Deron with a generous spirit.

Right after that, Jupiter lifted the character model item in her hand.

Now it was time to use this item to return to her original form.

Not as a small and frail girl, but as a sturdy male body.

However, Jupiter couldn’t use the item.

Her hand holding the item fell weakly.

“Ugh…”

Jupiter fell into deep thought with a serious expression.

Was it really necessary to fix it now? Choosing the body of an adult male when creating the character was solely for smoother gameplay. The whole knight of light setting was added much later.

The knight of light didn’t necessarily need to be in a male body.

If she hadn’t met Blood Demon King Yeo and Witch Helena, Jupiter would have modified her character model without hesitation.

But now, things were different. She saw hope. The symptoms had improved to a point she could feel.

Jupiter quietly slid the item into the corner of her inventory.

Since she could return at any time, there was no need to rush right now.

Jupiter thought about it that way.

*

“What is this…?”

After logging into Deron, I unexpectedly received an item.

As I checked the contents of the mailbox, it seemed that among those who participated in that day’s offline event, there had been errors for users who used bracelets.

Though I didn’t suffer direct damage since I was using the same character model as in real life, compensation had been sent to me as well.

By the way, I can’t believe such an item really existed.

Wouldn’t it be released as a cash item?

[Appearance Change Ticket]

Allows a single free change of the character’s appearance.

※ Not exchangeable.

This was perfect. My short height had more disadvantages than advantages. This was a golden opportunity to have a tall body with long arms and legs.

Just as I was about to use the item.

A tall figure with a small beam of light appeared before me.

Helena had used a warp skill to cover a long distance.

“Helena?”

I tilted my head while checking the time. I logged in earlier than usual. Shouldn’t she be busy right now?

“Yeo…!”

Helena grabbed my shoulder with a frantic expression.

What on earth was going on with her?

I took a step back and replied, “Why…?”

“Did you, did you receive that thing?”

“That thing? Oh, the reward item?”

“Yes, the character model reset item was included, right?”

“Yeah. It seems there were some issues with those drawn at the offline event.”

“Are you, are you going to use it?”

“Character model reset item?”

When I asked back, Helena nodded her head vigorously, looking worried.

Of course, I was going to use it. I had painfully learned through many battles.

Just having a tall height could give me a huge advantage in fights.

“Yes. You won’t use it, right?”

“I’m going to use it.”

“No way!”

Helena suddenly shouted. Her wide eyes started scanning my body.

I asked back, making a confused face, “Why, why? I’m going to use it. Being tall will be advantageous in fights.”

“You must absolutely not do that. Yeo, it will be a big deal.”

“A big deal?”

What kind of big deal could cause such a fuss?

I frowned and looked up at Helena.

Is it really that dramatic if I grow taller?

“Guild members will hate you!”

“Guild members?”

I frowned at Helena’s words.

If I was going to grow taller, how many people would actually be against it, especially the guild leader?

“No way? The guild members will hate that?”

“I’m right. Yeo, if you grow taller, the guild members will be sad.”

“Alright, Helena. Let’s ask the guild members then.”

Yeo-[Attention, guild members.]

Since I logged in a bit early, there weren’t many people around. But that was fine. I could ask here and then pose the same question in the guild chat.

Attracting the guild members’ attention, I carefully typed out the question.

Yeo-[What do you think if my height suddenly increases?]

Was it a bit random?

The guild members didn’t respond.

Helena, standing next to me, stared at the guild chat with a tense expression.

Iyap-[Increased height? Are you doing growth exercises, guild master?]

Growth exercises? What am I, some kind of child?

Coming from a lineage like Hwarang, I would definitely grow into a tall adult in the future.

I didn’t need that kind of thing.

Yeo-[I received a character model reset item. It seems being tall is advantageous in battles.]

Iyap-[I’m against it. Absolutely not a good idea. If you fight in an unfamiliar body, your skill will definitely drop.]

Snow Mage-[Absolutely not!]

Chloe-[Definitely not a good idea.]

Many others joined in, saying it was absolutely not a good thought.

The guild members’ backlash was harsher than I expected.

I looked up at Helena with a shocked expression.

“See? Everyone hates it.”

“Ah, not yet. I’ll ask in the chat room too.”

“Go ahead.”

Helena, who had been anxious, regained her confident smile.

I bit my lip and asked the same question in the guild chat.

But the result was the same this time too.

Even more people protested, causing the chat room to become noisy.

Some even sent personal messages pleading with me not to change.

“See?”

“Ah…”

“A good guild master does what the guild members want.”

“Right, a good guild master…”

“You’re a good guild master, right? Always thinking of your guild members, a truly great guild master. Isn’t that right?”

“Huh, hmm… that’s right… there’s no guild master like me.”

“Then, put that away.”

Helena’s gaze turned to the character model item in my hand.

I obediently nodded at her words and stashed the item into the corner of my inventory.