Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Commander's Invitation
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“Would you ever consider joining our side?”
Speaking frankly, when the Commander stepped up to help, I hadn’t held even a speck of hope.
I could handle it on my own just fine, so what difference would one extra spoon in the pot make?
But once the lid was off, things were a whole different story.
“Right flank, 3 o’clock! Two tentacles!”
Before the things could even twitch, the Commander’s orders came crashing down.
Where they’d pop out from, who to hit first, the angle to dive in at.
He even accounted for my breathing, my stride, the arc of my sword swings.
He picked out the perfect paths for me to slice through with the least effort—how could I not be impressed?
‘He’s really something else.’
I’d figured “Commander” was just a fancy title with no substance.
But he was charting the absolute optimal routes tailored to my every move.
The Commander from the original story. The player’s proxy.
I thought he was just a shell riding the protagonist’s coattails.
Turns out, that badge wasn’t for show.
“Use your skill now. What’ve you got?”
The Commander’s order rang out.
Skill?
My mind blanked for a second.
What the hell did that even mean here?
In the game, it was simple enough.
One button press, flashy effects explode across the screen, damage pops up.
But this was reality—no keyboard, no smartphone.
‘Screw it, whatever happens, happens.’
No time to overthink. Better to swing the sword.
I drew in a deep breath and stomped the ground hard enough to crush the earth.
Lowering my center of gravity, I swung my twin greatswords in a wide horizontal arc.
Wooong!
Black waves erupted from the blade tips, fanning out like a crescent.
Inky trails splashed across the air like spilled ink.
Kwaaaaang!
The moment I swung, explosive sword energy surged forward.
Even in broad daylight, the area plunged into darkness.
Like the night sky had been forcibly dragged down and slammed into the ground—pure blackness.
Everything visible in that darkness was erased in a straight line.
Hundreds of trees straight ahead were sliced clean through like blocks of tofu, without a sound.
Their tops exploded as if hit by cannon fire, debris raining down like a storm.
The black tentacles caught in the arc vaporized in an instant.
Their severed ends bubbled and crumbled like foam, the survivors hunching over in what looked like agony.
No, less agony—more like panic.
‘Panic?’
An unbelievable sight unfolded.
The Abyss turned tail and fled.
‘The Abyss is running away?’
Monsters that didn’t even know death, now fleeing in fear of it.
Even though they shouldn’t feel terror.
Did my sword just etch fear into them?
It was a bizarre scene I’d never witnessed before.
Shooooaaa...
The belated shockwave roared in.
“……”
I glanced down at the twin greatswords in my hands.
Was this kid human, or a walking catastrophe?
Asrania.
It was my body, but I had to admit it—this was a monster.
“Just now...”
The Commander’s voice came from right beside me, though he’d snuck up without a sound.
His eyes still fixed ahead.
“Was that your skill?”
“Guess so.”
I couldn’t quite bring myself to say a flat “Yeah.”
“Ha, man...”
The Commander shook his head in disbelief, even after seeing it with his own eyes.
“Never seen anything like that in my life.”
“……”
“Take a look up ahead.”
I followed where he pointed.
There had definitely been a forest there. Now? Gone.
The dense underbrush was swept away without a trace, leaving bare, dark soil exposed.
Stumps of severed trees dotted the area here and there.
The only proof this had ever been woods.
“Anyone’d think a war broke out here. Gonna have to report to the higher-ups that it was an airstrike.”
“……”
No arguing that. It felt exactly like one.
I sheathed the twin greatswords on my back.
“Anyway, uh, Asrania?”
“What.”
“Aren’t those heavy?”
“……What?”
I tilted my head.
What was this guy even saying?
“Didn’t you see me swinging them just now?”
“No, I saw. Saw it crystal clear.”
The Commander stroked his chin, eyeing the massive blades slung over my back with wonder.
“But that doesn’t make sense. Even one would take three grown men to lift, and you’re carrying two.”
“……”
“And you’re twirling them around like chopsticks at dinner. Beyond my comprehension.”
He’d been a battlefield tactician moments ago—now he looked like an awestruck circus-goer.
“If it’s beyond your common sense, time to study up.”
“I’d snap my back before picking one up, sprain my wrists twice, dislocate my shoulders three times.”
“How many breaks is that?”
“Realistic estimate.”
The Commander said it dead seriously, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Seemed the tension had eased, judging by the jokes.
“But still.”
He pointed at my back again with his index finger.
“Just curiosity, but could I try holding one just once?”
“Curious, huh?”
“I’m a Commander, after all. Gotta assess my ally’s capabilities.”
“Don’t cry to me if it crushes you.”
“Gotta stretch first then. Might die today, but I’m saving my back.”
“Forget it. Don’t touch them.”
If the protagonist herniates his disk and retires, the genre changes.
Amid the light banter, the Commander suddenly cut to the chase.
“Asrania.”
“What.”
“Would you ever consider joining our side?”
“Your side?”
“The group I belong to. I’m on temporary leave, but I’ll rejoin soon.”
After witnessing firepower like that firsthand, I got why he’d want to recruit me.
I shook my head right away.
“No.”
The Commander’s eyes went wide.
“That’s a quick rejection! At least hear the terms first?”
“Wrong address, sorry.”
“Pardon?”
“Saving lives isn’t my specialty.”
That kind of thing didn’t suit me.
I didn’t know how to protect.
Only how to cut, smash, and kill.
“……Do you know much about us?”
The Commander narrowed his eyes.
“Not nothing.”
I said it casually, but an ambiguous smile tugged at his lips.
“I see. That’s a good sign, then?”
He seemed a bit awkward himself, scratching the back of his neck with his knuckles.
“Not that you’re infamous or anything.”
I looked up and scanned the surrounding woods.
No Abyss presence right now.
Still, these things came without warning, just like before.
Too soon to let my guard down.
“More importantly.”
I turned back to the Commander.
“You planning to keep wandering alone like this?”
He blinked.
“Well, circumstances right now leave me no choice.”
“Doesn’t matter the situation—plenty of people gunning for you.”
Without guards, he was prime bait for an ambush.
The Commander ran a hand over his nape and let out a dry chuckle.
“True. My head’s worth a fortune.”
“Then stay cautious.”
“That’s just it.”
He took a step closer, eyes calculating.
“Moving solo in this situation is inefficient. On a tactical level, teaming up makes more sense.”
“I prefer alone.”
I cut him off sharply, and he waved his hands in mild panic.
“With my command—”
“Don’t need it.”
“W-Wait. You can’t just ditch me.”
At least he was honest about wanting to live.
“There’s a village nearby.”
“Ha…… Really?”
Life flooded his face in an instant. Hard to believe this was the same guy who’d looked doomed moments ago.
“Follow me.”
“Thank you. I’ll stick close so I don’t lose you.”
“Stick too close and I’ll cut you.”
“……I’ll keep a proper distance.”
“She’s really late.”
Esira’s gaze drifted to the firmly shut door.
Normally, by now, the door would burst open with familiar footsteps clicking across the floor.
The ticking clock sounded deafeningly loud.
It was just a little late.
Yet a chill seeped into her chest.
Her head knew better.
Asrania was strong.
Not just strong—beyond this world’s standards by miles.
She knew better than anyone that Asrania wouldn’t go down easily, no matter where she fought.
That only made her more anxious.
Overwhelming power naturally drew countless enemies.
Assassins after her head, hunters blinded by honor, now even the Abyss.
Despite her infamy as a merciless monster, a cold-blooded killer.
Offer her a sandwich, and she’d fidget endlessly over whether it tasted good.
A tiny cut on Esira’s finger, and she’d look like the world ended, repeating “You okay?” over and over.
She might look like a monster to others, but to Esira, she was endearingly clumsy in her kindness.
What if that kindness became a weakness someday?
What if someone exploited her starting to trust people at this timing?
What if she was the one stabbed in the back?
She’s strong, so she’ll be fine?
No.
Because she was endlessly vulnerable with Esira, the worry wouldn’t stop.
Every tick of the second hand birthed another grim imagining.
Finally, Esira shoved her chair back and stood.
‘I need to go find her.’
Blackjack’s sword was right there in her hands.
It would know best where Asrania was.
Follow the blade, and she’d find her quick.
She hated just sitting here waiting like an idiot.
This was far better than that foolish choice.