Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 331

First try, and just in the first area of the raid, most of the team got totally wrecked.

The second try that followed wasn’t any different.

Actually, the rate of total wipeouts got even faster this time.

“Ugh…”

[Aww…]

After the wipeout, the naturally ensuing break time arrived.

Ragged breaths and groans flowed freely from the party members gathered in one spot.

Even the Snow Mage, who usually boasted endless stamina, seemed a bit worn out; pushing on with this raid any further would likely be too much for us.

“Everyone…”

[Gasp…]

[Let’s take a longer break!]

[Just 5 more minutes! Please!]

I merely opened my mouth to speak, and party members started freaking out.

A twinge hit my heart. Where did the party members who had been trying nonstop for 12 hours vanish to?

We had just bodies made of flesh and blood, yet why did everything feel so different?

I shook my head and opened my mouth.

“I’m not saying we should start… just…”

Should we give up?

Most of the party members would probably welcome abandoning this raid.

I examined the exhausted faces of my fellow party members one by one.

Those sitting on the ground were at least somewhat dignified. Some were sprawled on the floor, showing no signs of getting back up.

Everyone was just waiting.

Waiting for the word “give up” to spill from my mouth, as the party leader.

“Then, one last time…”

[Gah…]

The moment I tried to suggest we give it one last go, the breaths of the party members grew even louder.

Their faces reflected the struggle and fatigue.

If this were a game, they would never let anyone see such expressions.

While observing this new side of my team, a striking thought began to etch itself in my mind.

Surely, organisms made of flesh and blood can never beat machines.

Shedding the corporeal form and entering the virtual world could very well be the ultimate evolution and happiness humanity could achieve.

Perhaps Deron invented D.R. to reveal this very truth?

“Ha…”

No, that’s not right.

I shook my head to clear the newly blossomed thoughts.

It seemed I had zoned out for a moment due to sheer exhaustion.

With effort, I slowed my racing brain and finally spoke.

“Alright. For today, let’s call it quits.”

The moment my words hung in the air, vitality began to flow back into the faces of my party members.

It was akin to seeing reservists returning home after all duties were fulfilled.

“So, how did everyone feel about today’s raid?”

The raid strategy concluded well before the promised time.

So, the right course of action now was to gather feedback.

I threw questions to my party members.

“Feel free to speak up.”

[Um… it was physically too hard.]

“I agree… Maybe because I’m short, but I seriously couldn’t pick up speed.”

A light self-deprecating joke brought faint smiles to my party members’ faces.

It seemed their mental state was looking good.

[This wasn’t Deron.]

“I think so too…”

I nodded vigorously in agreement with a party member.

This wasn’t the Deron we all cherished.

As conversation began to flow, grievances and complaints started pouring out from every direction.

It was merely a rant, but since most feelings aligned, I found myself automatically nodding along.

[Hah… I think this one might be beatable… but the next part looks tricky.]

[I think so too. It’s not a particularly difficult pattern, but if we bite down hard, clearing seems possible.]

[My knees…]

[My back…]

[To clear raids going forward, it seems real-life physical abilities might become more important than the game specs…?]

“Should we only take top-tier warriors when recruiting party members…?”

Though it was said in jest, the party members didn’t outright deny it.

They simply awkwardly laughed and looked away from me.

With a sigh, I leaned against Sohee’s shoulder.

“Ha…”

“When expectations are high, disappointment runs deep.”

“Just like that, huh? I really set my hopes too high?”

Seemingly feeling sorry for me, Sohee patted my head.

After a long moment of comfort from Sohee, I nodded and rose from my seat.

For now, let’s at least try to move forward.

After all, I’m the party leader. The people gathered in this place trusted me and followed my lead.

As long as even one person doesn’t give up, I won’t either.

“Tomorrow… um…”

As I was about to set the date for the next raid, I fell quiet.

These were the same people who had just laid down on the floor, groaning after a bit of movement.

The likelihood of them waking up the next morning complaining of muscle soreness was high.

A decline in physical condition directly leads to a decrease in raid success probability.

Rubbing my forehead, I said, “Next week, Saturday. Same time as now.”

[Do we have the week until then free?]

“Yeah. You’re free to do anything until then. But please take care of yourselves so you’re in good shape come Saturday.”

That was the extent of my speech.

And with that, I turned to leave.

“See you all next week!”

As the party leader’s farewell hung in the air, my party members also exchanged their goodbyes and vanished in a flash of light.

All that remained were a few stragglers.

One of them was Jupiter.

[Ahem… Blood Demon King…]

Jupiter approached cautiously, looking a bit timid.

Seeing that little Paladin girl, I couldn’t help but smile.

“What’s up?”

[Oh, I’m sorry about today…]

It seems this little Paladin takes her blunders quite seriously.

But it’s alright. How many others were worse than Jupiter?

I was no different from her, honestly.

I dodged around rocks, running helter-skelter during the raid and got scattered.

A disqualification as a party leader.

“It’s okay. You did well.”

[Hmm, really?]

“Yep. So please come again next week.”

If Jupiter doesn’t come, the raid itself wouldn’t even take place.

I recalled the face of the supporting tank member who had shown deep regret right until the end.

I figured that next week I’d probably get a private message asking if they could join as a ranged character instead.

After years of experience as the party leader, I could roughly predict what would happen simply by looking at my party members’ faces.

[Just trust me!]

Jupiter seemed to gather courage from my praise, nodding before vanishing with a flash of light.

Next, I turned to Hwarang.

Hwarang had shown the highest damage output throughout this raid.

Since he had started exercising regularly lately, his physical abilities appeared to have skyrocketed.

I had no particular words for him.

Our translucent gazes locked in silence.

We weren’t the type to engage in lengthy conversations usually, so at this moment, I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Hwarang seemed to be the same, as he soon disappeared in a flash as well.

All the remaining members had left.

Now, only Sohee and I remained in this place, along with a translucent hologram monster.

I powered down D.R and reached out to Sohee.

“Let’s go back.”

“Don’t forget the promise we made?”

“I-I won’t forget…”

I nodded as I brushed Sohee’s cheek.

Tonight didn’t seem like it would be easy.

*

A considerable amount of time had passed since the new test server for Deron opened.

It had been enough time for information, not shared with ordinary users, to seep out slowly.

The largest Deron community in Korea was ablaze with discussions about D.R.

[Deron Online Gallery]

────

[Why even attempt D.R?] [12]

I saw the D.R testers hunting today, and honestly, it was just hilarious.

Running around in reality and panting like crazy, LOL.

[Comments]

[Isn’t it embarrassing? If I were them, I’d feel so defeated I wouldn’t want to play again.]

ㄴ[Reports say the login rate for testers has been plummeting as time goes on.]

[Isn’t it just jealousy?]

ㄴ[No way, LOL.]

[D.R development time would’ve been better spent on a new expansion pack.]

ㄴ[Isn’t it about time for that?]

ㄴ[I heard rumors that D.R development delayed the expansion pack.]

ㄴ[Really? Where did you hear that?]

ㄴ[Blinds]

[D.R should be a technology used for military purposes, right? If it were me, I’d just sell the tech instead.]

ㄴ[I’ve actually seen articles about interest from the US.]

────

[Aren’t the gallery owners testers too?] [22]

Didn’t they mention registering as testers for the Blood Demon King?

Anyone met them?

[Comments]

[I think there’s a video on YouTube.]

ㄴ[Really? Link please.]

ㄴ[Just search it… if you search for ‘filming a movie in the park?’ it’ll come up as shorts.]

[Quick question: Is it okay to say bad things about pictures of the Blood Demon King during D.R testing?]

ㄴ[???]

ㄴ[I meant just on game screenshots.]

ㄴ[D.R isn’t a game? Isn’t it set up like a hologram from the game?]

ㄴ[Oh…]

ㄴ[Don’t you just ask the involved parties?]

ㄴ[I saw those American guys during a raid, and they were sweating a ton. The Blood Demon King probably sweats buckets too.]

ㄴ[Gah, LOL.]

ㄴ[Tweet, LOL.]

ㄴ[I wish I could be part of that, LOL.]

ㄴ[I want to wipe the sweat away for them, LOL.]

ㄴ[Soggy LOL. Oh LOL! Haha.]

ㄴ[You can see they’re not confident, LOL.]

ㄴ[Ah, LOL.]

ㄴ[Aren’t you watching the Blood Demon King gallery? If you see this, respond, LOL.]

[Heard that they just recently gathered party members and tried a raid.]

ㄴ[Really? Got any videos?]

ㄴ[Doesn’t seem like it. But I heard they couldn’t clear the raid.]

────

[Got proof I’m a D.R tester] [26]

(Proof shot with D.R)

This is honestly boring. If released like this, I doubt anyone will play it?

You can’t even fly or move fast.

Wizards can’t use their blink spells.

It’s just like a lame simulation.

Developing another game for dieting would probably sell better, LOL.

Honestly, the real winners are those who sold their testing rights on the first day of announcements.

[Comments]

[Did you buy testing rights?]

ㄴ[Yeah.]

ㄴ[How much did you pay?]

ㄴ[120 bucks.]

ㄴ[LOL.]

ㄴ[That’s hilarious, LOL!]

[The first one sold for 500 bucks, and this one got it for cheaper.]

ㄴ[I wonder what that first person is thinking now.]

[Was hopeful, but every review coming out is negative now;;]

ㄴ[Can’t help that. When you’re playing Deron and then try this, your physical form feels like a prison.]

ㄴ[For real, blood and flesh are shackles.]

ㄴ[LOL. That’s too funny, LOL!]