Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 305

“Ugh…”

The battle in the sticky liquid continued for 20 minutes.

How many times was I caught and dangled by those tentacles?

Though it was frustrating that my party members paused the fight every time Jupiter and I got dragged up into the sky, we nonetheless managed to thoroughly beat down the enormous octopus and kill it.

“Eek…”

Jupiter shook off the liquid covering her body, looking like she was about to cry.

I felt the same way.

Our party members were also covered in the sticky substance, sitting on the ground, gasping for breath.

“Yeo, come here.”

I turned my head at Helena’s call.

There she was, perched on the corpse of the oversized octopus, tapping her knees.

Was she telling me to sit over there? Now?

In this sticky liquid all over my body?

I shook my head and turned away from Helena.

“I bet the battle isn’t over yet. We have no time to rest…”

Honestly, if there were no eyes watching nearby, I would’ve rushed over and hugged Helena immediately.

Clearing my throat, I stood up.

Though my body felt sticky and unpleasant, I wasn’t hurt enough to halt the fight.

“The healers should resurrect the fallen and organize the display. We don’t know what’s ahead, so check for buffs.”

“Yes!”

Naturally, the one with the best response was the Snow Mage.

I was starting to get curious about the outside situation.

No news means good news, they say—but it had been quite a long time without any reports.

I sent messages to the guild leaders.

Yeo – [Please report on the situation outside.]

Turtle – [Nothing unusual… Just other forces watching from a distance.]

Yeo – [Any special movements?]

Subtle – [They seem like they’re about to attack; wouldn’t it be better for us to strike first?]

Yeo – [How many do you think there are?]

Subtle – [At least 10 large ships observed with the naked eye.]

Ten large ships?

They’ve got more large ships than our alliance.

We’d lose if we fought. 100 percent.

Our alliance’s numbers are split.

We’d have to clear this entire map first before considering a fight.

Yeo – [For now, maintain your positions. If they come closer, let me know immediately.]

Subtle – [Yes!]

I closed the message window and sighed.

We were in a raid in a war zone.

Like we attacked and pushed back other forces, we could also be attacked here.

“Let’s hurry.”

“What’s happening outside…?”

“Uh… I think something might happen.”

I nodded at Helena’s question.

My gamer instincts, built over decades, were telling me that a battle was about to break out outside.

So we needed to clear this map quickly.

“Let’s go!”

Once the repairs were done, we would set off immediately.

Leading the alliance members, I approached a new spawning ground.

This time, both ranged dealers and melee dealers would attack.

If we left the giant eggs to hatch, they would spawn annoying monsters.

“Phew…”

After about 5 minutes, we managed to smash all the eggs without taking any damage.

At that moment, a message alert indicating urgency sounded.

Beep-!

A message arrived for the guild leaders in our alliance.

Hurry checking the message revealed yet another force was attacking us.

Cheon-풍 – [We’re being attacked!]

Subtle – [Blood Demon King!!! We’re at a disadvantage!!!]

I grabbed my head in frustration.

Though I couldn’t get a detailed understanding of the situation outside, the fact that no more messages had come in suggested things were dire.

This won’t do.

I halted my steps and spoke to the alliance members.

“Our main force is under attack. We’re heading out.”

“Out… outside…? Was there an exit here…?”

What was that about?

I tilted my head, looking at the Snow Mage.

We had entered through the mouth of a giant whale.

Naturally, when exiting, we’d have to go through its mouth too.

“Isn’t it possible to exit through the mouth?”

“Huh? There wasn’t an exit function, though?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I checked the entrance thoroughly. Didn’t the Blood Demon King check?”

I nodded at the Snow Mage’s question.

I hadn’t thought about leaving since entering, so I hadn’t examined the entrance area closely.

I couldn’t believe there might not be an exit at all.

I sighed.

At this point, we’d have to head toward the end of the map.

“Then let’s clear this map as quickly as possible.”

“Alright!!!”

I drew my Demon Sword from behind.

Moments later, my senses sharpened, ready to rise.

Every nerve in my body stood on end as my vision expanded.

“Match my pace.”

Leaving that one sentence for my party members, I was about to jet forward when Helena blocked my way.

“Helena?”

“Are you worried about what’s outside?”

“Yeah. So step aside. I’m planning to rush out quickly.”

“You don’t have to overexert yourself.”

“You think it’s fine? They’re being attacked outside.”

“It’s fine. Trust me.”

What was she talking about?

I stared blankly up at Helena.

In that moment, another message notification arrived.

I hurried to check the message sent to the guild leaders.

Turtle – [Reinforcements have arrived!]

Cheon-풍 – [Did Yeo call us? There’s a huge number… What should we do about distribution?]

Reinforcements?

I frowned while reading the message.

Asking for help meant only the alliance members here.

So it meant reinforcements couldn’t appear without my knowledge.

I swiftly typed a message.

Yeo – [Reinforcements? What faction are they from?]

Subtle – [It’s the Babel Alliance. They’ve come in huge numbers.]

Babel, Babel…

I mulled over the word Babel and recalled something.

It was the human clan faction that fought against Satan.

The group my friend Arthur belonged to.

Why are they…

“Now you don’t have to worry.”

“Helena?”

Did Helena call them?

But how? I couldn’t see the connection between Helena and the Babel Alliance.

“Let’s take it slow and steady. Let’s proceed safely.”

“Uh, uh…”

If the danger outside was gone, then I’d agree.

I nodded blankly at Helena’s words.

And on a hopeful whim, I typed out another message.

Yeo – [Is it really safe? Are we winning?]

Cheon-풍 – [It’s an overwhelming victory. The number of reinforcements is incredible.]

Then I could relax.

I sighed and started walking alongside Helena.

“Hey, Helena.”

“Yeah?”

“How did you summon them?”

“If there’s something that goes, something must come too.”

“Something coming…?”

“That sort of thing exists.”

Helena said that with an enigmatic smile.

It was frustrating, but did that mean everything was settled?

I nodded, moving forward with Helena toward the end of the map.

Having gotten news that it wasn’t dangerous outside dulled my urgency.

We easily handled a swarm of monsters blocking our way and a new boss, finally arriving at the map’s end.

“What’s this…”

What lay before my eyes was a gigantic heart.

Thump-thump-thump- Thick veins danced around, and its massive body expanded and contracted in a way that threatened the surroundings.

“An evil heart!”

It was Jupiter who conclusively dealt with the heart.

Before I could say a word, she dashed out and plunged her sword into the giant heart.

Pwoosh-!

“Hey…!”

Fwoosh-shooosh!

Blood burst forth from where she stabbed, dousing her in vivid red.

“Hehe…”

I had expected this.

I sighed and retrieved my Demon Sword.

[A strange flow of magic has been corrupted.]

[You will be moved outside in 10 seconds. Prepare for the shock.]

It seemed like the system message signaled the end of our duties inside.

Immediately after the 10 seconds passed, our alliance was catapulted out into space.

“Ugh!”

The sudden move caught many off-guard.

I quickly snatched up Helena and Jupiter, shouting at the alliance members.

“Everyone summon your ships!”

Everyone who arrived here had to be carrying small ships.

At my words, alliance members started summoning their small ships one after another.

Swish-!

Dozens of ships lined up in formation.

I grabbed the closest ship, tossing Helena and Jupiter inside, then hopped in myself.

As I caught my breath and scanned the surroundings, I began to comprehend the overall situation.

Massive ships surrounded us.

At a glance, the number of ships exceeded a hundred.

I marveled at such a tremendous sight and checked the position of the Observer of Chaos.

Having burst its heart, it must’ve suffered a significant blow as well.

[….]

As I had predicted, the gigantic whale was flailing its fins, looking utterly drained.

It lacked the strength it had before.

What remained there was merely a battered, weak whale.

The Babel Alliance, which had pushed back the enemy forces helping us, was also assisting with the raid.

As countless gunfires rained down from the ships, covering the whale, a message appeared before my eyes.

[Great Achievement Unlocked!]

[World Boss Defeated: Observer of Chaos]

[Title: ‘Ruler of the Ruins of Destruction’ Acquired!]

A message announcing the defeat of the boss monster.

The raid was a success.

I exhaled with a small smile.

“Ha…”

But I was worried.

While I appreciated Babel for helping us, they too would need to get a share of the loot since they participated in the raid.

However, contrary to my worries, the Babel Alliance began to turn their ships and move away as if their role had concluded.

Among them was my friend Arthur’s ship.

A blonde Paladin stood above the Saint Eagle, scattering radiant light, waving her hand with a bright smile toward me.

“Arthur!”

Though my voice wouldn’t reach her, I jumped up from my seat, waving back.

“Blood Demon King!!! Do you know the Babel Alliance?”

I shook my head at the Snow Mage’s question.

Helena was behind all of this.

Though I didn’t know the details.

“Helena summoned them.”

“Whoa…”

Now.

After clearing the raid boss, there was one remaining procedure.

That was to check the drop items and proceed with the auction.

Gripping my thudding heart, I firmly held Helena’s hand.

[Chaos Orb]

An orb born from the Ruins of Destruction.

It has the power to freely change its form according to the user’s will due to its lack of a fixed shape.

Currently, it is an item that cannot be equipped.

It can be equipped after inheriting Ether from the same type of equipment.

Inherits Ether Grade: All stats + 35%

Bound upon World Acquisition.

All types of weapons.

Level restriction: 85

Attack speed +30%

Movement speed +10%

Casting speed +30%

All damage +50%

All class skill effects +20%

[Chaos Gaze] Skill available.

[Ruins of Destruction] Skill available.

When equipped, [Aura of Destruction] activates.

When equipped, [Dimensional Ability] activates.

[Bid: 0 Gold]

Remaining time: 1:00

The emergence of a new world item.

I swallowed hard and opened my inventory.

Gold held: 321

A natural frown appeared on my face.

“Yeo.”

“Yeah…”

“Do you want it?”

Want it, huh?

If I nodded here, Helena would gladly part with her gold for me.

But I couldn’t go further into debt.

Holding back tears, I shook my head.

“I’m fine…”

“Your voice is shaking. Do you really not want it?”

“Yeah…”

In truth, I wanted it.

I wanted it so much that I felt I might go insane.

This was a chance to make my character stronger.

How could I give that up?

“I’ll buy it for you.”

“I-It’s really okay…!”

I shook my head at Helena’s words.

Even at this moment, the auction price for the item was still rising.

The current bid had surpassed 10,000 gold.

I licked my lips, watching the scene unfold.

“I can’t keep taking your gifts…”

“Um…”

I shook my head firmly.

How much gold had I received from Helena so far?

What about the help she had given me?

If I kept taking, I would be overwhelmed with weight.

“How about Yeo gives me a gift in return?”

A gift, huh?

What could that be?

I tilted my head, peering up at Helena.

She gazed down at me, smirking slightly.

Leaning down, she whispered softly in my ear.

“What I want is…”