The Returning Commander of the Gacha Game

Chapter 2 – Commander, Starting Work

To get straight to the point, the amnesia cosplay operation was very effective.

After all, I was able to decide on an immediate course of action in less than a day. Obviously, planning for the distant future would still be difficult.

The problem is… perhaps it was too effective.

“Ughh…”

As soon as I returned to the room designated as the commander’s quarters, I threw myself onto the bed.

Disrespectfully, I hadn’t even taken off my uniform yet, but I didn’t care about such things at all.

No, to be precise… it would be more accurate to say I couldn’t care.

‘I’m going to die at this rate…’

I was so tired that I didn’t care whether dust got on the neatly arranged bedding or not.

And for good reason—being led around by Rielli’s hand, touring the company all day was more grueling than I had imagined.

It’s not like I could say ‘let’s stop here’ because Rielli had such a determined expression at the time… it was hard to stop her.

…If it had just been that, only my body would have been tired.

Meeting other members during the process was inevitable, and their reactions were… well, not much different from my first experience.

And that’s where the problem lay.

‘What on earth did this person do…?’

Even though I’ve only been in this body for less than a day, I can’t help but wonder.

No, how is it that everyone I meet has exactly the same reaction? Did they use some kind of hypnosis app?

Otherwise, how could everyone from familiar faces to extras all hug me and cry? Even if it has been 2 years, still.

2 years… is that why?

“…It’s been… 2 years.”

Since I returned to my account.

The members I met all unanimously said that my return was exactly 2 years after the ‘Commander’ had left.

…Coincidentally, it was exactly 2 years ago that I quit the game too.

If I couldn’t remember the date, that would be one thing, but before turning on the game, I joked to myself that since it was the 2nd anniversary, maybe they’d give something away. But that can’t be it.

…I never thought they’d play such a trick on me as a return gift. What kind of nonsense is this?

“Sigh.”

Even the heavens are indifferent.

If they were going to make me possess someone, they should have done it at the beginning of the story, not thrown me into my account where I’d cleared everything including the side stories. What am I supposed to do?

In novels, even if people don’t have special abilities, they at least know the future, but I have to forge my own path.

They could have at least shown me the update content before the possession. What kind of situation is it to bring me here without even letting me see the main screen?

…Enough complaining. Still lying down, I slowly turn my head to look around the room.

Though it’s spotlessly clean as if it’s been steadily maintained during my absence, it’s a strangely desolate space.

Perhaps my predecessor wasn’t the type to decorate either, as there are absolutely no decorations or such things to be found… that kind of room.

By the way, this is definitely a place that didn’t even appear in the game… why does it feel so familiar?

Have I already become assimilated with ‘her’ just because I entered the Commander’s body? That’s strange.

…When in reality, I can never become her.

“…Haah.”

A sigh escapes me as a sense of overwhelming emptiness rises from deep within.

In two years, people would have started to adapt to someone’s absence. Haven’t I just given them false hope out of nowhere?

I made an excuse about memory loss, but in the end, everyone in this company would subconsciously project the ‘Commander’ onto me.

Normally, no matter how much they tried to approach me, it would be right for me to clearly draw the line.

Setting aside the fact that she and I are clearly different people, above all, I’ve fallen here for unknown reasons, so it wouldn’t be strange if I returned to reality at any time.

Rather than making someone develop lingering feelings, it would be better not to get close in the first place.

Yes. I know that’s right, but still…

“…That would be cruel.”

I remember the dying eyes of the squad members I saw while walking through the company, brightening up again.

I remember the warmth when they embraced me, and the tears they shed.

Having felt that weight, I simply can’t bring myself to push them away.

To destroy the hope of life they’ve barely regained with my own hands… that’s too harsh.

…So.

“A little bit… should be fine.”

Rather than blindly rejecting their gestures, I decided to accept them to some extent.

Of course, I’ll have to restrain them if it seems excessive… but would they really approach that much given our superior-subordinate relationship?

Besides, who knows? If I treat them as ‘me’ rather than the ‘Commander’… they might understand that I and the ‘Commander’ are different people.

If that happens… a happy life in another world might not be just a dream. Despite complaining about various things, I’m at least inside a game I liked.

Even if I leave, we could part with smiles.

‘…I should wash up and go to bed now.’

I need to rest first to be able to do anything tomorrow.

Groaning, I raised my exhausted body, unbuttoned my uniform, and walked toward the bathroom.

My shirt and pants were soaked with sweat, making them difficult to take off… but they came off when I forced it.

I’m completely drained, but there’s no helping it. Sleeping like this would surely backfire.

-Zing─

…It would be much later that I learned someone had been watching all of this.

—–

“Mmm…”

…How long have I slept?

Having had a deep sleep after a very long time, I struggled to resist the temptation of the bed urging me to lie down a little longer and got up.

Perhaps thanks to the bed that was incomparably softer and better than in reality, there was no stiffness in my body, and my fatigue had completely disappeared.

So this is what it feels like to sleep well and wake up. It’s nice.

“The time is… still plenty.”

Lifting my eyelids lightly to check the clock, the current time was 6:30 AM.

From what I’ve been told, I need to arrive by 8 AM, so there’s more than enough time.

Not having to worry about being late even if I prepare leisurely is something I couldn’t even dream of in reality. It’s true that as your position rises, your body becomes more comfortable.

…The direction of the rise is a bit strange, but whatever.

When I return to reality, all of this will disappear anyway, so I might as well enjoy everything I can.

…Though I’ll have to work just as much.

“…Work even here.”

Still, I should go do it.

As I pulled back the soft, fluffy blanket still covering my body, my pajamas were finally revealed.

I found this while rummaging through the closet after showering yesterday, and it feels nice when I tried it on. The fabric feels good against my skin too.

And it has long sleeves.

‘…That’s the most important part.’

I should have noticed from the lack of decorations in the room. Whoever the original owner was, I’m really grateful they didn’t decorate the place.

…You might think I’m making a fuss over pajamas, but it’s a major issue from my perspective.

In that sense, it’s fortunate. I don’t need to forcibly adapt to clothes with minimal coverage.

How could I wear something like a negligee that passes for women’s sleepwear while in my right mind? I’d rather sleep in a shower robe.

“…What am I thinking.”

…I should get ready for work.

After finishing various preparations including a quick shower, I stood in front of the full-length mirror positioned in a corner of the room.

What I see is… a beautiful woman with dark black bob-cut hair.

Wearing a neat uniform on top of that gives off quite an impressive atmosphere.

In a word…

‘Perfect.’

Although I struggled a bit, I somehow managed to put everything on. And it looks decent from the outside too.

…I don’t mean that ‘this should be good enough’ feeling you get before submitting an assignment, but genuinely well-dressed.

Putting on underwear was a bit of an ordeal… but I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s worn strangely since no one will see it anyway…?

“Phew.”

Finally, I slap both my cheeks with my hands to focus my mind.

I need to remember.

Although I’ve decided to somewhat open my heart to the squad members… that’s just pulling back the line I’ve drawn a little, but I still need to maintain distance from them for the time being.

At least until I’m convinced I’ll live here forever, I absolutely must not cross the line.

Because I’m essentially a foreign substance that shouldn’t exist here, an outsider who might return at any moment.

As a commander, I shouldn’t stab my squad members’ hearts twice.

“Let’s do well.”

Above all, so that no one gets hurt.

—–

…That’s what I resolved just this morning.

“Um… Rielli?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Could you, um, let go now? I’m having trouble concentrating…”

“No, I cannot.”

How did it… come to this…?

The beginning was certainly smooth.

On my first day at work, there were piles of unfamiliar documents… but how to handle each task and in what manner naturally came to mind.

Is this also an effect of becoming the ‘Commander’?

Between the déjà vu in my room and this, I keep thinking that it’s not purely ‘me’ existing in this body.

Well, that’s an issue to figure out gradually.

There was no need to adapt to the work specifically. I was briskly handling the backlog of tasks, on pace to finish by noon.

– Excuse me for a moment.

– Huh?! Ri, Rielli?

…Until Rielli, who had been quietly observing the whole process, took my place.

Wait, then where am I working?

“Um, you don’t have to do this… please put me down…?”

“I’m perfectly fine, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

“That’s not the issue…!”

…On Rielli’s lap.