Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 285

As I opened my eyes, I felt a warm sensation and a heavy weight.

Turning my head, I noticed Sohee, who was embracing me.

I was sure we had slept separately before, but when did we end up like this?

I removed Sohee’s limbs and got out of bed.

My arms and legs felt light. There was no headache, so I could say today’s condition was at its peak.

I pulled back the curtains covering the large window, and stepped out onto the terrace, where the cool morning air enveloped me.

After standing there for a while, lost in thought and enjoying the morning breeze, I heard some rustling behind me.

Sohee must have woken up from the chill of the morning air.

I slightly turned my body to see Sohee sitting up on the bed, rubbing her eyes.

“Did you wake up?”

“Hayun…”

Her voice was low.

Sohee stared at me blankly for a moment before suddenly breaking into a bright smile.

She sometimes looks at me and smiles for no reason.

It wasn’t an unusual situation at all.

“Let’s go eat.”

“Uh-huh…”

Sohee shook her head at my suggestion to eat.

Is she feeling unwell?

As I looked at her with concern, Sohee flopped down, lying back on the bed.

Seeing the smile still on her face, it didn’t seem like she was sick.

I approached Sohee and shook her arm.

“Get up quickly. If you don’t, I’m leaving without you.”

“Ugh…”

Why is she acting like this?

Sohee pulled the blanket over her head like a child who didn’t want to go to school.

I guess I really might have to leave her behind.

“Then you stay here. I’m going to eat.”

As I turned to walk away, Sohee suddenly popped out from under the blanket and reached out for me.

But who do I think I am? I’m a beautiful girl with totally different senses from ordinary folks.

I had already caught on to Sohee’s prank.

Swish—!

As I lightly ducked my head, Sohee’s arm swept above me.

She had intended to grab me, but there was absolutely no chance of that happening.

I crawled forward, escaping her territory.

“Ah…”

Sohee’s voice faded in disappointment.

With my hands on my hips, I grinned victoriously.

“Hmph.”

“Just let me catch you…”

“You were thinking about grabbing me and dragging me into the bed, weren’t you?”

“Yeah…”

“Then it would delay us from going to eat.”

So I hoped she would stop the teasing and join me.

I reached out my hand toward Sohee.

Together, we left our room and headed to the adjacent one.

That room was where Seongsin-senpai and Ellie were.

Knock, knock, knock!

I tiptoed and knocked three times.

I wondered how long I waited. The door cracked open, and Ellie’s white hair popped into view.

“Who is it… Hayun?”

“Let’s go eat.”

“W… wait a minute!”

After Ellie’s response, the door closed again.

After about three minutes had passed, Ellie and Seongsin-senpai finally appeared.

I crossed my arms and examined the two’s condition.

Their eyes were sparkling.

They moved lightly.

Both seemed fit enough to compete without issue.

Just like yesterday, we headed to the buffet inside the hotel.

The breakfast was quite satisfying.

Once we finished our meal, there was a designated place to go.

It was the tournament venue where the next match would start.

As the team leader, I led my teammates out of the hotel.

However, something felt off. Unlike yesterday, today, I didn’t feel the gazes of many people.

What was going on?

I had even packed a pen in my pocket just in case, but the number of people wandering around the hotel had significantly decreased.

“Fewer people, huh…?”

Ellie also seemed to sense something unusual, glancing around and murmuring.

It wasn’t just an illusion. It had definitely decreased.

The foot traffic along the passage leading from the hotel to the tournament venue was lower.

“Maybe the event staff took some measures?”

“Staff?”

I frowned at Sohee’s words.

Such access control should’ve begun on the very day the tournament started, shouldn’t it?

If they restricted access in the middle of the competition, there would be a significant backlash.

For now, I tossed this small doubt aside.

What was important was the match that would take place today.

As I entered the venue, I showcased my identity as a competitor.

Soon enough, we moved to the location where yesterday’s match had been held.

Now it was a familiar space.

In front of the shabby game booth made of tent material, the opposing team had already arrived and was waiting.

Had they all eaten breakfast?

As I considered this while looking at the opposing team, I locked eyes with a male student opposite me.

Overflowing confidence. And curiosity.

The two emotions tangled together, and our gazes remained locked.

I can’t lose. Placing my hands on my hips, I looked down at him.

Who does he think he is, looking at me like that?

“Hayun?”

“Ah.”

“The match is about to start. Come on.”

“Okay.”

Regrettably, that concluded my showdown of momentum with the opposing team.

I was pulled into the tent by Sohee’s hand.

The waiting time before the first match was five minutes.

During that time, we had to select our first representative.

I folded my arms and glanced at my teammates.

Everyone looked in good shape, so it didn’t matter who went out.

They were all waiting for my word as the team captain.

“Seongsin-senpai.”

“Ah…? Me?”

“Yes. You’re going first today.”

“Is that okay…? This team seems pretty strong…”

I nodded at Seongsin-senpai’s words.

From the videos I watched yesterday, it was evident that this opposing team was slightly different from the ones we had faced before.

So if Seongsin-senpai asked if she could win, I would say it wasn’t impossible.

“It’ll be similar.”

“Similar…?”

“Yes. You’re about the same level, I think?”

“Hmm…”

“So have confidence.”

Maybe my words lifted her spirits.

Seongsin-senpai seemed determined as she headed for the capsule.

Once we decided on our player, the opposing team also appeared to have made their choice, as information began to pop up on the screen.

“Oh…”

“This person didn’t have match footage?”

I nodded at Ellie’s words.

Nickname: op299

Height: 175 cm

Job: Samurai

Weapon: Katana

The number of videos available for viewing on the tournament site was three per team.

However, there was no footage to be found for this player.

I was slightly worried, but once the order was confirmed, there was no changing it now.

Ultimately, the match began.

Seongsin-senpai chose the knight class.

Having selected the longsword and round shield, she continued the match in a very defensive manner.

But…

Whoosh—!

In just 50 seconds after the match started, Seongsin-senpai went down.

It was a loss due to a significant gap in skill.

“I’m sorry…”

Unlike before entering the capsule, Seongsin-senpai emerged looking deflated.

Her first words were an apology.

It didn’t matter. Ellie, Sohee, and I weren’t overly invested in Seongsin-senpai’s win or loss.

I maintained a calm demeanor as I spoke.

“You did well.”

“Yeah…”

“The opponent was pretty strong, right?”

This was the emergence of a player we hadn’t encountered yet.

And their skill level was significant.

It indicated that the opposing team’s ace had entered the fray.

But is it okay? Using the ace so early in the tournament like this.

As I was pondering this, a message appeared on the large screen from within the venue.

[Challenge for a Winning Streak]

The opposing team has proposed a challenge for a winning streak.

Winning streak?

What is that?

I tilted my head at the message on the screen.

“Oh. This…”

Sohee nodded, as if she had recalled something upon seeing the message pop up.

It seemed she was familiar with this winning streak challenge.

“Do you know what a winning streak is, Sohee?”

“Yeah. It’s a method proposed by the winning side. If we accept the challenge for a winning streak, the opposing team’s players will start with half their current stamina. Of course, we can decline.”

“That existed?”

“Yep. Did you ever check the tournament rules…?”

At Sohee’s question, I swiftly turned my head.

The winning streak…

In short, it’s a rule created to allow the ace card to be used once more.

I completely understood.

“So we could just decline without any issue?”

Sohee’s eyes widened in surprise at my question.

She nodded, taking a deep breath.

“You’ve never been through the tournament rules, have you…?”

I hadn’t checked. That was true.

While it was clearly my mistake, I didn’t want to admit it.

I intentionally ignored Sohee and asked Ellie for her opinion.

“Ellie, what do you think?”

“Hayun. I believe the opposing team is taunting us right now.”

“Taunting?”

“Isn’t it? Suggesting a winning streak implies they have the confidence that whoever comes forth can win, even with only half of their current stamina.”

Indeed, listening to Ellie made sense.

I recalled the gaze of the male student I had encountered before entering this tent.

Thinking back now, his look seemed rather arrogant and cocky.

“Then I’ll step up.”

Ellie walked past me.

However, I couldn’t just let Ellie go like that.

I reached out to her.

As she was about to take a step forward, Ellie found herself suddenly pulled back and sitting on the ground.

“Ugh…”

“I’ll go.”

How dare they provoke our team like this; I couldn’t stand for it.

I passed by the seated Ellie and headed toward the capsule.

“Sohee.”

“Yeah?”

“Accept the winning streak challenge.”

“Hayun… you can only accept the challenge from inside the capsule…”

“…”

My cheeks burned.

I turned away and hopped into the capsule.

Once I connected to the game, the message before me appeared.

[Challenge for a Winning Streak]

The opposing team has proposed a challenge for a winning streak.

YES/NO

The answer was already decided.

With a smirk, I pressed the YES button.

With a bright light, my body was transported.

I arrived at the large circular stadium.

Immediately, I glared at my opponent across from me.

A samurai equipped with basic armor and a katana.

Stamina: 45%

I was going all out from the beginning.

As the waiting time ended, I kicked off the ground and rushed forward.

What my lacking strength stat lacked, my overwhelming agility stat compensated for.

I charged forward like the wind.

I wouldn’t stop. I wouldn’t hesitate.

Since we were quite far apart, just moving in got me using a considerable amount of stamina.

It seemed the opponent was aware, as they started to retreat, trying to make me exhaust my stamina.

But it didn’t matter.

Having retreated all the way to the far end of the stadium, the opponent now had their back against the wall, aiming their katana at me.

My legs wouldn’t stop. Instead, I picked up the speed.

Right before entering the opponent’s guard, a burning pain consumed my head.

Whoosh—

The opponent’s katana came flying at me as I slipped forward.

But the blade narrowly missed me by the thickness of a piece of paper.

I sensed the confused gaze of the opposing player.

Now it was my turn.

Using the momentum from my forward charge, I extended my legs out wide.

Boom—!

The moment my extended leg became my pivot, all the power built up in my body flowed through my legs, waist, and arms.

Whoosh!

From below upwards, a piercing blue light shot through, breaking into the opponent’s space.

As the tip of the nodachi pointed skyward, the opponent’s head soared into the air.

My remaining stamina was 100%.

A number that was possible since I hadn’t taken a single hit.

With this state, I proposed a winning streak.