Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 4

To check the overall market prices of items, I manipulated the Auction House a few more times to confirm the prices.

As a result, it turned out that items related to combat were forming a high market price, while those for mundane tasks like living and gathering were actually priced lower.

Could it be that the workshop has bots running around?

It was a story that had enough plausibility.

Having gathered the necessary information, it was now time to head to the Lunaris Capital City.

There, I needed to acquire the required profession and embark on the main story quests.

As I began to move along the road, many gazes flew towards me.

Envy, jealousy, and admiration.

It was a gaze I’ve not received except for that one time long ago when I achieved the Perkle achievement against a raid boss.

Such gazes were directed at me.

After a brief moment of thought, I realized why their stares were fixated on me.

The game had already crossed into the realm of the senses. It’s said that it’s tough for ordinary users to equip such gear, no matter how basic it may be obtained in the beginner area.

The tokens obtained from hunting Orcs also command a high price since they are needed for repeat quests.

As I walked along the well-maintained path, a sudden message popped up before me.

[Guild Membership Invitation]

Guild Name: Starlight

YES/NO

Surprised by the unexpected invitation, I looked around.

Then, a knight adorned in splendid full plate mail waved at me.

“Hello~”

With a refreshing voice, brimming with confidence. The nickname and guild name floating above his head caught my eye.

He was the one who sent me the guild membership invitation.

“What’s your purpose?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I mistakenly clicked while trying to view information.”

Could his words be true? But there’s no good in arguing.

I nodded and pressed the NO button.

[Guild membership has been rejected.]

I dismissed the message that popped up before my eyes, but the knight was still blocking my way.

I wished he would move aside. As I looked up at him with that intention, the knight smiled and said.

“Aha! Are you perhaps playing solo?”

He asked about my party.

I took a deep breath and drew my sword. Was he trying to prey on a solo player?

During my online research, I had already confirmed that random attacks targeting solo users were prevalent.

But the knight’s intention seemed different.

As I drew my sword, he noticeably panicked and opened his mouth.

“Oh, that’s not it. I was just curious. We’re recruiting guild members, you see.”

“Recruiting members?”

“Yes, there aren’t many 10 level players around.”

I looked around in response to the knight’s words.

Besides him, there were other high-level players waiting in this passageway.

Their gazes were all focused on the 10 level players passing through this path.

“There seem to be other 10 levels too, though?”

The knight only chuckled awkwardly at my words.

He was openly showing me favoritism. But his purpose was obvious, making it rather comfortable rather than uncomfortable.

It was much better than those disgusting folks hiding their true intentions.

I checked my surroundings once more.

10 level users receive guild membership proposals while walking along the road. Yet, there was a common trait among those who received such proposals.

They were all donned in full sets of gear obtainable from repeat quests, or had very few party members.

In other words, they pulled in those who could afford both skills and finances into their guild.

I wondered how I appeared to this knight.

Acting solo without a party. Yet I had equipped every piece of gear available in this area.

“Do you think I qualify to join your guild?”

“Of course. Someone with a wealth like you, Yeo, would be welcomed with open arms in any of our other guilds.”

I sheathed my sword at his reply.

At that, a larger smile spread across the knight’s face, as if he believed I would accept his proposal.

But no, I still had no intention of joining a guild.

With my memory of knowing a future—no, a somewhat similar other world—Starlight was not a very famous place.

There weren’t any impressive occurrences to remember. It was just an ordinary, friendly guild.

“I’m not really considering it right now…”

As I trailed off and turned my head away, he waved his finger in the air.

Immediately then, a translucent window popped up before my eyes.

[Friend Request.]

Nickname: Nakbi

Level: 22

Profession: Knight

YES/NO

“Could you accept my friend request? If you change your mind, please leave me a message.”

It seemed like a good idea to accept it. If I rejected all of his proposals, the others behind him would surely come and annoy me.

I nodded my head.

Soon after, my friend list got updated. Regardless, he would be someone I would forget after today. His nickname wouldn’t stick in my memory.

The friend request was valid. Even as I walked down the road, others didn’t cling to me.

However, friend requests kept coming in. Not wanting to deal with the hassle, I accepted them all.

By the time I arrived at Lunaris Capital City, my friend list had surpassed 20 names.

As its name suggests, the Lunaris Empire is a nation that reveres the moon.

It is a place where myths and religions related to the moon can be found, as well as where one can acquire professions.

The buildings, said to have been crafted from the soft moonlight, captivate the eye with their appearance.

Manipulating the mouse and keyboard, not merely viewing through a monitor screen, but seeing and feeling it with my own eyes was an experience.

In reality, it was just the signals from the capsule deceiving my brain, but it didn’t feel bad.

It was time to decide on a profession. As I had already mapped out the job route in my mind, I moved forward without much thought.

Entering the capital for the first time rewarded me with a small potion added to my inventory.

I skipped over the jobs that could be quickly obtained in the capital. The Swordmaster, Wizard, Archer, Warrior, Knight, etc.

There were many others, but the profession I chose was located a little way up the mountain beside this place.

Exiting the capital, I ascended the small mountain next door.

It was a map prepared for gathering, so there were many people, but my aim was higher up.

It wasn’t a hidden job or anything. It was just that the job change NPC was slightly inconveniently located.

Arriving at the middle of the mountain, I spotted a man perched on a broad rock.

[Valtheim]

Highlander Job Change NPC.

Highlander. That was the name of the profession I would take.

The requirements for the job change were very simple. Just talk to him and pay a bit of silver, and the job skills would be unlocked immediately.

“Are you interested in becoming a Highlander?”

I nodded my head.

Valtheim stood up at my response and drew his sword.

Whoosh— The bright light reflecting off the sword scattered everywhere. I frowned at the sight that blurred my vision.

“To become a Highlander, you must first pass a simple test.”

The test, of course, was well-known to me.

Just paying him a bit of silver would suffice.

As I was rummaging through my inventory to take out the money, I noticed a spark in Valtheim’s eyes, and suddenly he lunged at me.

An upward attack, his sword traced a blue arc that stretched long.

Instinct kicked in at the sudden attack.

My gaze shifted quickly, reading the trajectory of the strike.

An attack was coming towards my head! If I stood still, I’d be split open starting from my chin.

I took a step.

A step intended to evade the attack.

That slight sidestep was just enough for the thin arc of light to graze past my forehead.

“Passed!”

Just after dodging the attack, a translucent message popped up in front of me.

I could only make a dazed expression. Had the test content changed?

Of course, it was possible. It was the same yet different world. I could acknowledge that subtle differences might exist.

But it was just so sudden. Had it been ordinary folks, they would have been killed before even attempting a job change.

I was gifted a weapon as a commemorative gift for the job change.

It was a weapon that could be donned right away at level 10 and could also be repaired, meaning it would serve me well for some time.

[Highlander]

Attack Power +65

Level Restriction: 10

A weapon obtainable upon job changing to Highlander. It boasts excellent basic performance and a significant durability.

The weapon can be wielded both one-handed and two-handed, varying in effectiveness depending on the user’s ability.

It was longer and heftier than a one-handed sword.

I drew it out and swung it with both hands, resting it on my shoulder.

It felt quite stable.

Then without delay, I checked the skills.

[Winning Streak]

When defeating monsters and users, a stacking buff will be generated.

Every stack increases movement and attack speed by 1%, with a maximum of 10 stacks.

The buff lasts until the end of combat.

[Unyielding Spirit]

Reduces physical damage taken by 10%.

[The Non-Believer of Abilities]

Increases magic damage taken by 10%.

[Counterattack]

Counters an opponent’s attack.

If used at the precise moment, it can deal a fatal blow.

[Threatening Roar]

Provokes all opponents within a certain range.

Provoked opponents receive a debuff that increases damage taken.

[Vitality]

Increases natural health recovery speed.

[Charge]

Rushes forward with great speed.

If an opponent is struck at the end of the charge, they will become stunned.

During the charge, the character is in an unstoppable state.

This is not a job suitable for beginners.

While the passives and charge skill of a Highlander were appealing, it lacked active skills that could deal powerful damage.

Upon unlocking advanced jobs, it would be a profession chosen to acquire passives, but for this season, it would be one to avoid.

Now that I had changed jobs, it was a chance to experiment with new equipment and skills.

Thoughts of Harang that had been floating in my head had long disappeared.

The hunting grounds easily accessible near Lunaris Capital City were a field known as the Verdant Forest, where animal-type monsters like Dire Wolves and human-type monsters like bandits could be found.

At the forest’s entrance, many people were wandering around.

Those looking for party members and those heading out for hunting. All had shabby equipment.

It seemed rare to meet someone like me, fully equipped.

Due to the appearance of my gear, people’s gazes were beginning to converge on me.

I hurriedly took my leave.

As I entered the actual hunting ground, vibrant skill effects erupted everywhere.

There was no space.

A party was stationed at each spot, waiting for monsters to respawn.

Monsters were killed the moment they respawned, their throats cut.

I frowned at the sight. Was that really enjoyable?

I passed them by and headed deeper into the forest.

Finally, I arrived at the bandit’s domain.

Like the Orcs, they were human-type monsters.

It was quiet here. Very few hunting parties, and those who were there were just circling the outskirts, occasionally hunting down the few bandits that wandered out.

A savage smile crept onto my lips, as if I were eager for what was to come, my heart began to pound.

In response, my legs moved forward, tension building in my waist.

A strange power began to surge from the ground as my feet pressed down.

I was preparing my stance to activate the skill.

The sword trailing behind me stretched out like a tail.

The blue light of mana enveloped my body, protecting me and increasing my speed.

[Charge]

With an overwhelming speed greater than running, I launched towards the bandits.

It was at that moment.

[Shutdown Notification]

You can no longer play the game.

The connection to the server has been terminated.

“Ah…”

With a short exclamation, the game ended.