Chapter 2

Episode 2. Kidnapped by a Crappy Game (2)

By the time my confused mind began to settle, I vaguely realized where this scene I thought I was seeing for the first time actually was.

‘What the hell, isn’t this the command center used in *Astral Lagrange*?’

Of course, I didn’t figure that out on my own.

<Astral Base - Central Command Center>

A semi-transparent status window was shimmering above my head, making its presence known.

Thanks to that shimmering status window and the surroundings visible in my field of view, I also realized that I had been transported into the game I’d only heard about.

‘…Is this a dream?’

Since the situation felt utterly unreal, I tried to pinch my cheek, but at that very moment, I felt someone grab my hand.

‘?!’

The touch was smaller than my hand, yet firm and soft. Feeling bewildered, I glanced to the side, and there, as if to prove that I really was inside the game now, was…

“Welcome back, Commander!”

“…”

Jessica, the character I had set as my adjutant in the game, was holding my hand tightly with both of hers, beaming a bright smile.

==========

“I never thought you’d come back, Commander!”

“Uh… yeah.”

Jessica, who had some kind of rabbit-human hybrid setting, seemed overjoyed to see me. She was hopping around excitedly in front of me.

I nodded at her lively demeanor and decided to check the notification message that kept flickering in front of my eyes.

—————————————-

<Message for the Returning Commander>

While Commander *Icarus* was away, the fleet’s situation has deteriorated.

There are also a ton of quests, missions, and events piled up, so it’s best to start with the returnee-exclusive quests to regain your understanding of the game.

—————————————-

—————————————-

<Resource Mining Initiated!>

<The fleet and base, left unattended for years, have even halted basic resource mining operations.>

<In this game, the most important thing is, above all else, abundant resources.>

<Let’s use the remaining resource mining ships in the fleet to restart full-scale resource mining!>

<Reward: All resources will be replenished>

—————————————-

‘So, in conclusion, they’re just telling me to do what they say.’

Though the message was long-winded, the gist was, “You’ve forgotten everything since you’ve been gone, right? Just do what we tell you.”

Of course, even though there are a lot of quests piled up, my account, which I abandoned three years ago without even doing a proper wipe, should still have my fleet, characters, and superhumans intact.

As I looked at the message, I immediately decided to use the familiar command system in this command center to handle the dozens of quests, including resource mining, all at once.

But the moment I picked up the command console with that thought…

<Current Available Fleet Power: 1>

<Current Mobilizable Superhumans: 0>

‘???’

The sight of the vast, empty command console made my mind go completely blank in an instant.

‘No, no, there’s still a chance for a miraculous comeback…!’

Despite that, I managed to hold onto my sanity and decided to ask Jessica, the only person who could explain the situation to me right now, about this incomprehensible mess.

“Jessica, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Yes! Ask me anything!”

“Where the hell did all the personnel and my fleet go?”

I was referring to the numerous ships and characters that should have been left in my account when I quit the game three years ago.

Of course, some might say, “You quit the game, so why would they still be there?” But back then, my love for the game had faded in a different way, and I didn’t even do the usual account wipe that people do when they quit.

Unless the developers deleted the data of long-inactive accounts, there’s no way my characters and ships could have disappeared.

So, I had to ask…

Meanwhile, I made a face that clearly showed I couldn’t understand a thing.

Seeing me like this, Jessica hesitated for a moment.

“Um, Commander? Please don’t be too shocked, but…”

Then, she began to deliver a truly shocking report to me.

==========

As soon as I finished listening to Jessica’s report, a simple situation explanation message also popped up in front of me.

—————————————-

While the Commander was away.

The fleet, left unattended for far too long, had no choice but to take a defensive stance against continuous aging and pirate attacks.

As a result, the only ship left now is a single patrol ship.

The superhumans who should be commanding or fighting for the fleet are all in hibernation or have scattered away from the fleet.

But if the Commander can steadily clear the return quests and make a name for themselves in the galaxy once again…

Perhaps the scattered subordinates of the Commander might return with the fleet!

<Main Quest: Secure a spot within the top 3 ranks in the game>

<Sub Quest: Normalize the Fleet>

—————————————-

Along with such a message, all I had left were the basic ‘Resource Mining Ship’, ‘Repair Ship’, ‘Patrol Ship’, and ‘Transport Ship’ given for free at the start.

And finally, this ‘Base’ where Jessica and I are now.

With only the most basic things left, I couldn’t help but sob, shoving my fist into my mouth.

‘No, damn it, my fleet!’

Not only did the fleet disappear, but all the characters evaporated too?

‘My, my hundreds of millions worth of in-game purchases!’

Seeing this crazy mess, I genuinely felt like quitting.

‘Sigh… Logout.’

<In the newly updated game, logging out is not possible.>

‘Ah, damn it.’

Unfortunately, this crappy game wasn’t satisfied with just kidnapping people.

It went ahead and imprisoned me inside the game, aiming for a grand slam in crimes.

Thanks to this sudden disastrous situation, I felt a headache coming on and held my forehead.

Seeing me like this, Jessica, who had been fidgeting, urgently continued speaking to me.

“Commander! There’s still hope!”

“…Really?”

Hearing Jessica’s urgent words, I felt a surge of vitality returning to my soul, which was about to leave my body.

“That’s right, as they say, even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out.”

Indeed, hope is everywhere.

Could it be that they expect me to play with a setup that was close to ‘endgame’ three years ago, even though it’s all gone?

With such thoughts, I looked at Jessica with expectant eyes and opened my mouth.

“Then Jessica, is there still a fleet or superhumans waiting?”

In response to my reaction, Jessica made a face as if she was struggling with how to say it.

Then, she carefully showed me the tablet she had.

“W-we have the blueprints…”

“…”

Of course, I couldn’t see my own expression, but judging by Jessica’s sympathetic look… it must have been truly pitiful.

Anyway, with only the blueprints left of my fleet that had suddenly disappeared, I slumped into the commander’s seat in despair.

-Ding! Ding! Ding!

“…Huh?”

Hearing the cheerful alarm sound in my ear, I tried to lift my head and look around.

At that very moment.

-[God☆Tier Astral Lagrange level!]

-[Is anyone there?]

-[What the heck, why did I suddenly end up in this weird place?]

-[Survivors needed 1/100000]

Looking at the ‘chat window’ that appeared before my eyes, I wondered what on earth was going on.