The Returning Commander of the Gacha Game

Chapter 5 – Commander, First Steps

Back when I was working before the possession, the protagonists in possession novels that I read for fun were as diverse as the number of works themselves.

Some would possess someone in a reasonably high position and exploit all the knowledge in their head to coast through life…

While others would fall into completely unknown worlds with nothing, barely surviving after all kinds of hardships until achieving human triumph.

For a genre that had been milked dry, each story still had its own unique material and development that made them enjoyable to watch.

‘…Little did I know it would be my future.’

Anyway, in that sense, I can say I’m quite fortunate.

I possessed someone in a game I know inside and out, I don’t have to dig in the dirt to survive, and I’m essentially in a position with full authority.

Thanks to the skills ingrained in this body, I don’t have to worry about handling work, plus the incredibly friendly attitude of my squad members.

At least I don’t need to crawl up from the bottom. This much is heavenly luck.

Of course, it’s not completely safe in a world where bullets are common and all sorts of superpowers rain down…

But for living in a world completely different from where I originally lived, this is an environment that couldn’t be better.

…Yes, ‘for now.’

‘…Nobody knows what will happen in the future.’

Thanks to pushing through both the main story and sub-stories, the risk factors have decreased exponentially, but paradoxically, that makes things unpredictable.

To put it bluntly, I could be assassinated by a rival force, or exaggerating a bit, there could be a large-scale attack on Firma.

Well, one might say what’s there to worry about when all such organizations have been crushed… but you never know what might happen.

…There’s a clear example of that right here.

Seriously, what kind of nonsense is it to get possessed just because I didn’t play a game? I need to make a living too…

Anyway… if I had been possessed at the beginning of the story, I could have at least set a clear direction.

Even then, one wrong move could still lead to trouble… but wouldn’t my mind be a bit more at ease?

Right now, it’s like holding a bomb that could explode at any time, but I don’t even know where the bomb is—a hopelessly unclear situation… but I can’t just sit back and do nothing.

I don’t have a hobby of watching my home blow up.

So, first things first.

Let’s start by filling in the two-year gap.

—–

The first step is to check my cards.

“A roster… you say?”

The next day.

While handling my work like yesterday, I asked Rielli for a complete roster of all Firma members.

If the story had proceeded as normal, everyone would still be employed, but since I possessed my own account, I needed to check if only the members I recruited were present.

If only the members I recruited were here, I’d have to figure out how to find the missing ones.

Why is this important? Well, first of all, I was a veteran player in Firma…

So if there are members I couldn’t recruit, they would only be the highest 6-star grade, and in this world’s setting, each 6-star is closer to a strategic weapon than a human.

They might even put a knife in my neck depending on the circumstances, so I need to recruit them as quickly as possible.

Not in a physical sense, but they’ve already stabbed me once.

Making me eat nothing but human feed for a whole month, the enemies of my wallet…

Ah, that’s not it.

“Yes, a roster. Do you have it?”

“Yes, I do have it, but…”

However, Rielli, who actually received the request, opens her mouth with a disgruntled expression.

What’s this? Don’t tell me the member list hasn’t been updated? No, that can’t be.

Even without a chief manager, that kind of task is quite minor. They should be able to handle it themselves, right?

This game alone has enough things that haven’t been updated… right?

“Um… won’t that be too difficult for you?”

With those words, Rielli’s gaze shifts slightly.

Ah, so that’s what this was about.

Dozens of file binders piled like a mountain on one side of the desk.

Materials containing the trends across the continent for the past two years, which I had barely managed to get from the Information Department this morning after pushing them hard.

Of course, I didn’t bring them just for decoration, and I’ve pulled some in front of me to examine thoroughly.

I need to understand how things are playing out before I can make any plans, so even if it’s annoying, what choice do I have? I have to check and judge each one personally.

…And in the midst of that, I’m also continuing with my existing work, so she might be wondering what this is all about.

But when I think about it, it’s not really that much…

…’It actually is a lot.’

…Looking again, the volume is quite substantial. I feel a bit sorry now.

I just thought of it lightly when I spoke, but the materials that the Information Department staff brought were anything but light.

…’I mean, physically heavy.’

No wonder, they even made a thud when put down.

How did they manage to carry all that… If it were me, I would have collapsed before making it here.

I’ll give them a special reward later, so if they’re imagining stabbing me in their minds… please don’t…

Well, actually, managing information only on paper is a bit outdated… naturally, all information is digitized.

So I could access it separately with my authority, but I’m not the type to dawdle after getting things started.

I need to use time as efficiently as possible.

“I asked for it because I can handle it. I have a favor to ask.”

“…Understood. Please just don’t overdo it.”

“Come on… I’m not a child. I’ll take care of everything.”

After waving my hand dismissively to indicate not to worry, I focused again on processing today’s documents.

Of course, not forgetting to check the materials our Information Department people brought.

Now then… shall we put our brains to work?

***

I almost blushed at the protest from the Information Department who received work again, but thanks to the Information Department head who intervened just in time, it passed over adequately.

However, given her personality, this couldn’t be simple consideration, so I’ll need to be careful about what she does from now on.

– Can you speak nicely to the Commander?

‘…Unpleasant woman.’

Well, she was someone who openly pestered even that cold Commander from before, so how much worse would she be after two years?

Of course, like everyone else, her success rate was rock bottom, but in terms of frequency, she was among the top in Firma.

It would be nice if she had corrected her habits during those two years… but it would be fortunate enough if they hadn’t gotten worse.

‘…I’m not one to talk.’

Pausing my hurried footsteps for a moment, I let out a small sigh.

I was too hasty.

Overstepping my bounds to satisfy my selfish desires… I ended up having a personal quarrel in front of the Commander.

That little lady from the reconnaissance battalion must have been at fault too… but if I had to say, my mistake of doing something I normally wouldn’t do is probably greater.

But it’s the Commander who’s wrong.

How can I forget when she stirred up my feelings like that and then suddenly disappeared?

If she’s going to do something like that, I wish she would at least be aware of her actions… but now she has no memory of it, so I guess it’s too much to ask.

‘Haah….’

And another sigh escapes.

I know it’s not good if this becomes a habit, but I can’t help it.

In fact, regardless of everything… the Commander’s return has become this year’s greatest gift for everyone, including myself.

However, there was a slight accident.

It’s truly fortunate that she returned safely without any injuries….

But that alone doesn’t mean my… no, our Commander has returned completely.

‘Memory loss, of all things.’

What on earth did she do and where?

It was somewhat fortunate that she still had partial memories, but that fact wasn’t much consolation to Rielli personally.

The distance between them had become subtly easier to close compared to before, but that was all.

The feeling that memories they created together had suddenly become one-sided… honestly, it wasn’t a very pleasant experience.

Moreover, while her appearance was clearly that of the Commander, there was something off about her occasional behaviors.

Rielli herself began to doubt whether this was truly the Commander she knew.

Of course, as a member of the team, Rielli would do her best to help her recover her memories.

But if, if despite everything…

If in the end, she couldn’t recall even a single moment of the countless hours they spent together….

Then it might be a little sad.

‘…Ah.’

When Rielli snapped out of her thoughts, she had already arrived at the command office some time ago.

She had definitely stopped walking at some point, but her body had found its way to the destination on its own.

She hurriedly smoothed her face.

…Fixing her somewhat distorted expression back to normal, and after taking a calm deep breath.

– Knock knock

“Commander, it’s Rielli.”

She carefully asked for permission with a knock, but there was no answer.

Just as it had been for the past two years, only a deathly silence hung in the air.

‘…It’s okay.’

Just a few days ago, she would have been overwhelmed with despair and helplessness at the fact that there was no one beyond this door… but now there’s no need for that.

Even if she’s not exactly the same as before, the Commander has definitely returned.

Surely, she wouldn’t leave again without saying anything.

“…May I come in?”

But contrary to that thought, anxiety crept up, and only after adding words she normally wouldn’t say did she open the door.

– Creeak─

And then.

Looking at the scene unfolding before my eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to take a step.