Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 329

Late evening time.

It was almost time for Sohee to return, but today was different; I wasn’t waiting inside the house.

Of course, today was the second day of the official opening of the test server.

Naturally, I was out to hunt with Sohee.

Brrrrr—!

While speeding in the car, I looked out the window.

As I blankly stared at the blurred scenery passing by, before I knew it, we arrived at our destination.

I rolled down the window and surveyed the surroundings.

The city was brightly lit by lavish neon signs, even as the sun had completely set.

People were heading home after a long day’s work.

Amid them, my gaze fixed on a woman who was walking slowly towards me.

The opponent I had been waiting for.

It was Sohee.

“Sohee!”

Despite the considerable distance, it seemed my voice reached her, as Sohee lifted her head and flashed a bright smile.

I eagerly waited for Sohee to come closer, squirming a bit in excitement.

“Why the sudden welcome?”

As she came closer, Sohee asked with a happy laugh.

Honestly, if the usual person who just stayed at home had come out like this, I’d be touched too.

I picked up the small bracelet I had set down next to my seat and held it out to Sohee.

“This!”

“D.R…?”

“Hurry and wear it!”

I shouted as I opened the car door for her.

There’s no time to waste. Other users are busy hunting monsters even now.

Sohee nodded, looking a bit reluctant, and got into the car.

Then, off we go.

I set the navigation system and asked Sohee.

“Did you eat?”

“I haven’t eaten…”

I figured as much.

I took out the lunchbox I had prepared earlier and held it out to Sohee.

“Tada!”

“A lunchbox…?”

“Yes, I prepared it with great care.”

Inside the box was kimbap filled with my affection.

Now that Sohee’s dinner was sorted, it was truly time to head to the hunting ground.

As soon as the navigation was all set, the car took off.

Our destination was the entrance of a hiking path not too far from here.

“Hey, Hayun.”

“Hmm? Why?”

I turned my head at Sohee’s call.

Sohee, who had been quietly munching on the kimbap, looked at me with a frown, as if something was bothering her.

“Where are we going?”

“Of course, to the hunting ground.”

“To the test server’s?”

“Yep.”

I nodded as if it were obvious.

“Hmm…”

What’s with that reaction?

I held my tongue, watching Sohee sigh.

Could it be that the kimbap didn’t taste good?

No, that can’t be. Sohee always praised my kimbap as delicious.

I made it just the same as before, so there shouldn’t be anything wrong with it.

As a subtle silence lingered between us.

Sohee chuckled softly and ruffled my hair.

“Do you like Deron that much?”

“Uh, yeah…”

“More than me?”

“Th-that’s not true!”

“Then, can you go home right now?”

Home?

I glanced at Sohee.

Her earnest gaze looking down at me felt intense. I knew from experience what that desire hinted at.

“Uh… um…”

I looked down at the D.R on my wrist.

The past me, who thought Deron was everything, was long gone.

Now, Sohee undoubtedly occupies most of my life.

If I weighed Deron and Sohee on a scale, the balance would definitely tip towards Sohee.

It felt like my heart was burning.

But if that’s what Sohee wants, there’s no helping it…

“Do you want to go home…?”

I asked one last time.

Perhaps she might change her mind right now.

But Sohee was resolute.

“Yes.”

“W-well then, let’s go home…”

I mumbled and nodded.

I reached out my fingers and began adjusting the navigation system.

Just as I was about to input my home address, Sohee looked surprised.

“Are you really going home?”

“Aren’t you the one who said to go home…?”

Why is she so surprised?

You were the one who suggested it.

I pouted and turned my gaze away.

“Deron’s wishes come first, huh?”

“Uh… yeah…”

“If it were like before, I would have told you to go by yourself.”

“Um…”

That seems about right.

I used to think Deron was everything for me, after all.

As I quietly nodded, Sohee gently laughed and pulled me into a hug.

The position changed naturally.

Sohee moved to the driver’s seat and sat me on her lap, softly whispering.

“Do you really want to go?”

“I’m fine…”

I buried my face between her breasts, eyes closed.

After waiting quietly in her embrace for a while.

Beep beep— the navigation was set.

It seems Sohee fiddled with the navigation system again.

As the car started moving, it began racing down the road.

After fidgeting for a while in her lap, I slightly lifted my head to look out the window.

Absorbing the quickly passing scenery, as time drifted away in a daze.

I noticed one odd thing.

“Hey?”

“Now you notice?”

“W-where are we going?”

I checked the destination set on the navigation, just in case.

The place appearing on the screen was the entrance to the hiking path I originally set.

Which meant this car was not headed home at all.

“Not going home?”

“I think it’s okay to come back a little late today?”

“Hu-huh…?”

I slumped in Sohee’s lap, panting.

Could it be, for me?

Sohee looked down at me, chuckling lightly.

“If you go home, you might not be able to sleep until morning.”

“Y-yeah, yeah!”

That’s not hard at all. I nodded, confidence showing on my face.

*

The car, speeding rapidly, reached our destination in no time.

I immediately opened the door and jumped out.

“Hmm!”

As expected at the mountain’s entrance, the breeze carried a rich smell of grass.

Even late in the evening, there were many people using the hiking path.

Standing proudly in front of the entrance, Sohee approached me.

“Is this it?”

“Yep. According to the map, this is the place.”

I nodded, looking at the D.R’s map.

While the navigation labeled it as the entrance to Seongsan hiking trail, Deron’s map showed it as [Black Drake Habitat].

[Level Restriction: 80]

[Black Drake Habitat]

Before entering the hunting ground, I began the final checks.

I made sure I was in comfortable clothes and sneakers.

I checked the D.R system and confirmed my character’s information.

“Did you set everything up, Sohee?”

“Yeah.”

If that’s the case, then everything was ready.

Sohee and I stepped directly onto the hiking path.

The moment we did, a brilliant light erupted from the D.R, enveloping our bodies.

The first to change was Sohee.

A red hologram wrapped around her clothes, transforming her into a wizard clad in a red robe.

Next was me.

The particles of light covering my body slowly converged to form a red robe.

The completed appearance of the wizard was not my main character, Yeo, but rather my alternate character, Princess Yeo.

“Are you not using your main character?”

“Melee is tough.”

I responded to Sohee’s question, adjusting the D.R system.

Had I had enough health, I would have continued playing my main character, Yeo.

But now, I was merely a pathetic owner of a stamina that would leave me gasping after just two minutes of running.

How could I lead party members with such a close-combat character?

It was only natural to change jobs.

“Everyone’s staring.”

I looked around at the sound of Sohee’s words.

Most of those wandering near the entrance of the hiking path were looking at us.

It was better than in the morning.

Right now, I wasn’t alone; I had Sohee with me.

Holding Sohee’s hand tight, we entered the hunting ground.

The moment we stepped in, beams of white light shone down from above, illuminating the entrance of the hiking path.

Here it comes.

Swirling—

The white particles of light shot down from the sky, forming a translucent Drake.

I pulled out my staff, watching the spectacle.

“Be careful, Sohee.”

“If I get hit, it’s not really painful, right?”

“Not at all.”

“Hmm…”

Sohee nodded at my reply and immediately hurled a fiery red mass.

Whoosh—

Particles of hazy flame blossomed in the air.

The spreading hologram flames bloomed like a vibrant flower, covering the massive body of the Drake.

[Kieeek!]

In agony, the Drake charged towards Sohee.

“Sohee!”

I called out to her frantically.

Sohee didn’t even try to evade.

Of course, she wouldn’t take direct damage, but if she stood still like that, she’d get hit by the damage assessment system.

[Kieeek!]

Just as the Drake got nearer, the translucent particles of light crashed into Sohee.

“Ah…”

Sohee let out a breathy sigh, opening her mouth late.

I checked Sohee’s health.

The health lost from the Drake’s charge was 5%.

It was fortunate that the monster was from the old version, so its attack power wasn’t very high.

If we had gone to a recent expansion pack’s hunting ground, that strike would have cut Sohee’s health to below half.

“Take this!”

I summoned a duck bomb and threw it at the Drake.

Quack quack!

Boom— splat!

After finishing off the Drake, I approached Sohee.

“Why didn’t you dodge?”

“Blink…”

“Blink…? Ah…”

I opened my mouth in shock at Sohee’s words.

Right, the Blink.

For wizards, there’s a skill called Blink.

It’s a mobility and survival skill that all builds of wizards can use as it’s attached to the basic class category.

“I couldn’t use it.”

That’s right. This is not a game.

There was no way to use a skill like Blink.

Even if they pulled the data from the game, its foundation is reality, not virtual.

“Hmm…”

I sighed, crossing my arms.

Melee characters are forcibly sealed off.

The survival skill for wizards, Blink, is also sealed.

Then, how should a raid proceed?

My head was already starting to ache.

Sohee and I continued hunting for about an hour.

But the more we hunted, the more disappointment I felt.

On the way home, I cautiously opened my mouth, stealing glances at Sohee.

“W-was it fun…?”

“Hmm…”

Sohee didn’t answer.

She simply frowned and unwound the D.R wrapped around her wrist.