The Returning Commander of the Gacha Game

Chapter 4 – Commander, and Commander

Just before my brain, which had detected its own doom, was about to go through the five stages of denial on its own, I gently grabbed Lucy’s hand.

“…Hm? Commander?”

It was an impulsive action with no time to consider the circumstances, but I succeeded in diverting Lucy’s attention.

Moreover, perhaps thanks to the unexpected third-party intervention? The chilly atmosphere also softened considerably.

I’m not sure why the two were having a power struggle… but whatever.

“I want to get up….”

“…Huh?! Y-you do?”

Taking advantage of her attention turning to me, I asked as naturally as possible, and Lucy surprisingly helped me up without resistance.

There was a slight delay, and her hand lingered around my waist a bit longer than necessary… but that’s fine.

I was worried she might push down on my shoulders to keep me from getting up, but that was needless concern.

If that had happened, I might not have had a chance to talk today. What a relief….

‘Whether it’s a misunderstanding or whatever… I need to clear it up quickly.’

I don’t want to get arrested under child protection laws after finally possessing this body.

You might ask, why do I need to resolve now something that could wait until later? There’s a reason I’m in such a hurry.

Though I feel sorry for Lucy, if her feelings are genuine, this is an issue that needs to be resolved as quickly as possible regardless…

…and because I couldn’t just dismiss it as a joke when Rielli’s expression, which I caught a glimpse of, was growing colder by the second.

…It’s scary. I need to do this quickly.

First, I cleared my throat with a ‘ahem’ to compose myself, then while roughly fixing my hair that had become disheveled from lying down, I asked Lucy.

“Lucy, what did you mean by that just now?”

“Thief cat? Well, because I’m going to be the Commander’s groom?”

“No, no, not that! Before that!”

Trying hard to endure Rielli’s increasingly cold gaze, I urgently pressed Lucy.

I’m sorry, Rielli. But if I don’t correct this now, I don’t know how it will come back to haunt me later.

If this were simply my overreaction, that would be wonderful, but looking at Lucy’s confident expression… well. At least it doesn’t seem like she’s lying.

…By the way, she says she’ll be the groom, which means I’m the bride? Strictly speaking, since I’m her superior, shouldn’t I be the groom? And since I was a man, being the groom would feel more natural than being the bride.

…Wait, that’s not the important thing here.

“M-marriage? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“…Commander?”

“You’re joking, right? Right?”

Yes, it must be a joke. For it to be serious, there are too many issues.

The age difference between a minor and an adult, different species, and even the vertical relationship of boss and subordinate in the workplace.

And most importantly… we’re both women, aren’t we?

‘Then, from the beginning… isn’t it impossible?’

The marriage I know is usually between a man and a woman.

I don’t particularly have prejudice against homosexuality, but there are universal common sense norms in the world.

Even if this isn’t reality but this place, it shouldn’t be much different.

So, regardless of how Lucy came to have such thoughts… I need to correct her now….

“Commander.”

Uh, huh?

Don’t tell me, you forgot?

…what’s going on?

Don’t pretend you don’t know. You promised, didn’t you?

W-what are you talking about?

Something about her reaction seems… strange?

Her cheerful smile had somehow become similar to Rielli’s, and with that expression, she approached me.

Her voice tone was the same, but… that alone wasn’t enough to feel at ease, as it seemed to contain emotions slightly different from before…

Somehow, it gave me goosebumps.

“For two years I’ve been so worried, and the Commander just completely stopped caring?”

“Huh, Lucy…?!”

“You said you’d think about it… that you’d seriously consider it…!”

With a scream-like shout, she suddenly grabbed both my shoulders.

The strength she used when laying me down earlier was really nothing in comparison.

If she applied just a little more force, it felt like my bones would immediately be crushed.

If by any chance I foolishly tried to escape… then today might be the day I lose both my arms.

‘Ugh….’

I’m acting like it’s nothing, but honestly, it hurts.

Ominous cracking sounds were starting to come from my shoulders, so you can imagine how bad it was.

Fortunately, she still seemed to be controlling herself, but was she getting swept up in her emotions? Little by little, her grip was getting stronger.

‘Was it all a lie?’

‘Lu-cy….’

‘Why aren’t you saying anything?’

I couldn’t speak properly.

But in the midst of this unprecedented pain, what I actually felt wasn’t fear or terror.

“Answer me…”

“…”

“I said answer me…!”

Bewilderment.

The fact that I couldn’t answer her question despite her asking so desperately filled me with bewilderment.

No, I couldn’t even be sure if I had the right to answer.

After all, I wasn’t the ‘Commander’ himself.

Lucy, who had maintained a bright smile throughout, even when facing Rielli’s vicious glare.

Now she had erased even that smile, unleashing her uncontrollable anger at me.

Even as I faced that raging torrent of emotions… I could do nothing.

Because I knew nothing.

‘…Ah.’

It was then that I think I truly realized it.

That here, I was a complete outsider.

The ‘Commander’ who had achieved victory in every battlefield based on brilliant tactics and strategies at [Firma], and earned everyone’s trust with his unique eloquence and demeanor, was now gone.

The person sitting here right now is just an ordinary individual who fell into this world unknowingly due to forces beyond control.

…What good is being a ‘possessed person’ or whatever.

I don’t know anything, and I can’t do anything.

“Miss Lucy, that’s enough.”

As I was gradually being consumed by helplessness, Rielli grabbed Lucy’s wrist, allowing me to breathe a little easier.

Though I didn’t like the situation at all, I had left it to my discretion, but it seems she judged the atmosphere to be concerning.

It was perfect timing.

Just as the arrows that were aimed solely at me were about to turn toward her.

“The Commander… has no memory of being with us.”

Rielli suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“…What?”

“It’s true. You seem to recognize our existence in your mind, but you don’t remember anything about what you did with us.”

With those words, the surroundings fell silent.

I had nothing else to say, so that was that.

Lucy, who had been the instigator of this situation, froze where she stood, and Rielli… seemed to be giving Lucy time to regain her sense of reality.

How much time passed like that?

‘…A lie.’

Lucy’s single word, like a death rattle, broke the thick silence that had settled.

“A lie… then why only now?”

“Because there wasn’t time to tell you. The Commander was only discovered late yesterday.”

“…”

…As she said, I hadn’t yet gone around telling people I had amnesia.

Of course, I did walk around the company with Rielli yesterday, but time was tight, and… when someone is holding onto you and sobbing, saying ‘Actually, I have no memories’ would be too much to handle.

I was planning to announce it soon, or gather everyone and tell them directly.

The problem was that this worked against Lucy…?

“Ah… ugh…”

Lucy, who had suddenly committed insubordination against a superior with a mental disorder, soon turned ashen.

The hands that had carefully released me wandered here and there, and her lips quivered slightly.

In the end, unable to figure out what to do and hesitating, she chose to flee.

“Sorry, Commander. I need to go.”

“Lu… Lucy?”

“I’m really sorry. Then, excuse me…”

Before I could even grab her, she ran out with a whoosh, and I couldn’t even say anything.

Well, I’m fine.

I feel a bit disappointed, but I’m not hurt, and anyway, I achieved my goal.

She probably won’t bring up marriage for a while. Besides, even if she tries to help me recover my memories, she’ll eventually feel like I’m a completely different person.

Of course, I am a completely different person, but saying that would only add to the confusion. If I’m not careful, I might even get stabbed.

…More than that, the droplets that rolled down her cheeks at the end… I hope they were just my imagination.

“Phew…”

“Commander? Are, are you alright?!”

“It’s okay. It’s fine…”

Due to the tension suddenly releasing, all strength left my body and I collapsed onto the sofa.

…I was a bit tired, but truly, I was fine.

The only part that could have been not okay was my shoulder, but since Lucy had successfully controlled her strength until the end, there was no notable pain anymore.

So I stopped Rielli who was about to pick me up, and slowly closed my eyes as if falling asleep.

“Just a moment… I’ll stay like this.”

Leaning against the soft sofa, I calmly organized my thoughts.

While Lucy’s actions weren’t without excess, thanks to them I clearly realized the reality I was facing.

No matter that I was someone who had possessed this body, had played Firma countless times, and had progressed through the entire story on a screen that fit in my hand… that was all useless right now.

Those were things of the past, and future developments were literally unknown territory to me, which was only natural.

Apart from the incident with Lucy, fortunately I managed today’s work with abilities ingrained in the ‘Commander’s’ body… but whether that would work for matters beyond paperwork was also uncertain.

…Yes, I should acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.

Although I have the appearance of the ‘Commander,’ that’s merely a shell.

Not being the ‘player’ of [Firma] but failing to become the ‘Commander’ of [Military Corporation Firma]… I’m still just an outsider.

…At least ‘for now.’