Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 308

“Um…”

The first thing I checked after logging into Deron was the connection status of my guild members.

I had left the management to Hwarang, Iyap, and the Snow Mage, but I was still worried.

272/300

The Soft & Chewy Cow Guild, which always maintained a full roster of 300 members, had shrunk.

On top of that, the connection status of the guild members was dismal.

Even though it was a weekday afternoon, the concurrent users were only 30.

Snow Mage – [Blood Demon King!]

The few people currently logged in were desperately calling for me, but there were piles of things to check first.

Just like the mountain of unread mail that had accumulated over the past month.

From messages about guild members dropping out due to personal reasons to inquiries from friends asking why I hadn’t been online.

Having ceased my connection to Deron for a month, my world had become a complete mess.

After hastily sorting the mailbox, I began typing in the guild chat.

Yeo – [Long time no see, everyone.]

Snow Mage – [Did you enjoy your trip?]

I didn’t ask why the guild members were so scarce. I slowly started to chat with those who were logged in, trying to piece together the rough reasons behind the drop in numbers.

Currently, Deron was nearing the end of its season.

No matter how many new contents and maps appeared, without regular raids, it was impossible to keep players around for long.

I nodded to myself with a groan.

Yeah. It was something experienced every season.

But this time, it felt worse than usual.

I started kicking out the long-term inactive members one by one.

Snow Mage – [Have you heard that news, Blood Demon King?]

What news?

I raised an eyebrow at the Snow Mage’s chat.

Then she started spilling information I hadn’t even asked about.

Snow Mage – [It seems like they’ve started developing a new game in Deron. There are all sorts of rumors going around on Blind.]

Yeo – [A new game?]

Snow Mage – [Yep, and apparently the development team from Deron has switched departments.]

The sudden news of a new game left me dazed.

The reason Deron had been able to last this long was because of its talented developers.

To move those developers to another department—what would happen to Deron?

Yeo – [Then what about Deron…?]

Snow Mage – [Well… It’s been a hot topic among the users. The announcement for the next season should be coming soon, but right now, there’s nothing, right?]

A sense of foreboding washed over me.

I hurriedly logged onto Deron’s website.

I had been absent for about a month.

During that time, there had been several server maintenance updates, but there was nothing new added within the game.

The developer notes were empty as well.

Only then did I realize the reasons behind the increase in long-term inactive guild members and why I couldn’t fill the 300-member capacity.

At the end of the game’s season, players naturally started losing interest. This rumor must have started circulating.

Consequently, player attrition must have accelerated.

I rubbed my chin with a serious expression.

Yeo – [You’re still looking for new guild members, right?]

Snow Mage – [Yeah, but since you’ve been inactive for so long, inquiries for joining have really dropped.]

That makes sense.

This Soft & Chewy Cow Guild was built with me at the center.

Given that I had been inactive as well, the guild members must have felt uneasy.

It was common for a guild leader to go inactive or quit while on a trip.

Yeo – [Let’s focus on reviving the guild first. Now that I’m back, it will bounce back.]

Snow Mage – [Yes!]

I started to play more diligently, compensating for the month I hadn’t played Deron.

Even cutting down on sleep. I began to play Deron at school again and started recruiting guild members.

One week after summer break ended, my Soft & Chewy Cow Guild had regained 300 members, and the guild chat was bustling with activity just like before.

Of course, there were some guild members who hadn’t returned, completely leaving…

One month after summer break ended, Deron’s final content was still the Ruins of Destruction raid.

I had played everything I could during that time.

I used new weapons to freely navigate the Ruins of Destruction, playing both space raider and space cop.

But Deron was still the same.

There were still no updates, and developer notes hadn’t been posted.

Two months after summer break ended, a video appeared on Deron’s YouTube channel.

A flashy video seemingly promoting the new game.

Snow Mage’s words were true.

It was revealed that all the skilled developers had indeed started working on a new game.

[The emergence of a next-generation game that merges virtual and reality.]

I spent time blankly watching the promotional video.

*

Three months after summer break ended, there was still no update from Deron.

It’d be nice to at least get news about the next season…

No, even just news about the next season expansion pack or a release of concept art would be welcome…

I sighed and checked the state of the guild.

220/300

A truly wretched situation for the guild.

The situation was hardly better for other guilds as well.

I walked toward the bustling metropolis, the Solaris Capital City.

In front of the fountain in the city center, a place that was always crowded with users, stood empty.

In the past, no matter which channel you were in, you could witness a massive crowd, and now, it was a clear sign that the number of users had greatly diminished.

Of course, you could still see plenty of users if you went to channel 1…

“Blood Demon King!”

Then, I heard a voice calling me.

With soft patter – the sound of small footsteps.

Turning my head, I saw Jupiter, who was wearing angel wings, running toward me.

Like me, she was one of the characters living in Deron.

Jupiter hadn’t left Deron.

She was enjoying her own role-playing by logging in every day and completing all quests.

“Jupiter.”

“Are you going farming today again?”

“Umm…”

Farming.

I need to go.

I hadn’t done today’s routine yet.

But for some reason, I felt drained.

“I’m not sure.”

“Ah… Are you thinking of not going? I was hoping to go together since I need Fire Stones…”

“I’m not really in the mood.”

“Hmm… Is it because of Deron’s update cycle?”

I turned my gaze away without answering.

Jupiter, who had been staring at me, sighed and plopped down next to me.

Her short legs dangled beneath the bench.

“I think it may be time to let it go.”

Sticking to a game that the developers have given up is a silly thing to do.

No matter how much I loved Deron, the life span of a game that has stopped updating ends there.

It’s impossible to live a lifetime in an unchanging world.

“Blood Demon King!”

“Yeah…”

“Don’t give up!”

“I want to…”

“Eee…!”

I let out a small laugh as I sighed and looked at Jupiter.

I knew she loved Deron as much as I did.

What would she feel when I was voicing my dilemma about quitting the game?

I stood up, shaking off the worries I had been holding on to.

“Uh, where are you trying to go?”

“I said let’s go farming.”

“Wait… are we leaving right now?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Time is gold.”

Of course, the gold prices had crashed, but…

Still, today I would go farming.

I am the Blood Demon King.

The one and only beautifully cheeky Demon Lady in Deron.

If I were to quit the game, how many people would be sad?

As the guild leader, I couldn’t show irresponsible behavior as the party leader.

Yeah, Deron is running a bit late.

Sometimes, delays happen.

So let’s be patient.

If we wait and welcome those who return, it’ll be fine.

I would always be here, and I would continue to be here.

“Come forth!”

Piyaak–!

“Let’s go!”

Kwaaaak–!

The moment I shouted as I burst out of the capital city, two griffins revealed themselves.

My griffin Piyaki and Jupiter’s griffin Julius.

*

Four months after summer break ended, the number of Soft & Chewy Cow Guild members had dwindled to 200.

With no newcomers and only departing users, it was an unavoidable situation.

While passing through the ordinary days, a small message arrived through my phone’s screen.

A notification about Deron’s announcement popped up at the top.

Right now? It wasn’t the date for regular maintenance—what was going on?

“Huh…”

Could it be…

“Hayun?”

Please, don’t let this be.

I jumped off Sohee’s lap, catching my breath.

My heart was pounding like crazy.

My breath was naturally quickening.

Blood started rushing through my whole body.

A thrilling sensation spread through my arms and legs.

“Hah… Hah…”

“Hayun, what’s wrong…?”

“Th-the announcement was posted on Deron.”

“Really? Come here and let’s see it together.”

“Ah, okay.”

I nodded at Sohee’s words and sat back on her lap.

I was now used to sitting on Sohee’s lap, even at school.

I carefully placed my phone on the desk and logged onto Deron’s website.

Sohee naturally rested her head on my shoulder.

It felt slightly heavy, but it wasn’t greatly bothersome.

The familiar scent wafted from her.

Now, I even felt a sense of stability from Sohee’s breathing.

I shifted slightly to make her more comfortable against me.

[Client Update Notice]

Hello, Adventurer.

An update for Deron Online is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7th.

New Expansion Pack Update

[Where encounters across dimensions cross paths]

[New Area: A place where warm sunlight shines]

[New Area: Deep Rock Valley]

[New Area: Beast’s Resting Place]

[New Area: A place bustling with people]

[Cross Area: Seoul added]

[Cross Area: Manhattan added]

[Cross Area: Opera House added]

[Cross Area: Stonehenge added]

[Cross Area: Coliseum added]

[Cross Area: Eiffel Tower added]

[Cross Area: Pyramid added]

[Main Quest Update]

[New Equipment Added]

*See details

[New Items Added]

*See details

[Job System Overhaul]

*See details

[Major Balance Patch]

[Two New Raids Added]

[New Raid ‘Dreamlike World’]

[New Raid ‘A Place Where Everyone Comes Together’]

“Huh… h-how…”

“Hayun, breathe…!”

I grabbed my chest and leaned my head on the desk.

I knew this would happen.

My Deron couldn’t possibly fail.

How many had flocked to the Deron gallery claiming the game was about to die, recommending switching to other games?

I pressed play on the video that was placed at the bottom of the announcement.

[The emergence of a next-generation game that merges virtual and reality.]

[Deron Online]

[Update for New Expansion Pack ‘Where Encounters Across Dimensions Cross Paths.’]

As soon as it played, familiar wording appeared.

But the video didn’t end there.

What I thought was a promotional video for a new game was actually a promotional video for Deron’s new expansion pack.

“Yay!!!”

I leaped up from my seat and hugged Sohee.

When everyone was leaving Deron, I always stood my ground.

I had defended Deron, as the guild leader.

As a responsible party leader.

I hurriedly opened the guild chatroom.

Most had already quit, but I had left the ones in the chatroom untouched.

Yeo – [Your guild leader commands you! Come back quickly! A new expansion pack has been released!]

Yeo – [Your party leader commands you! Log in right now; we are preparing for the new raid!]

I didn’t have time to waste like this.

I broke away from Sohee’s embrace and dashed out of the classroom.

“Ha-Hayun! Where are you going?”

“I’m going home early because I’m not feeling well!”