I Don't Need To Log Out

June wasn't just watching the match; she was also preoccupied with her lingering suspicion that the two Arlons might be the same person.

She had come across plenty of clues that suggested they weren't. Still, for reasons she couldn't quite explain, the feeling persisted.

This uncertainty gnawed at her, and she found herself studying both Arlons whenever possible—whether it was during their guidance sessions with Arlon the guide, while Arlon the player was competing in the tournament, or even when helping him with guiding the players that came to Istarra for the tournament.

The most baffling part was unfolding right now. As Arlon the player fought in front of her, she could see Arlon the guide seated among the NPCs in the audience.

He was sitting beside Charon and Shirl, mingling with the higher-tier administrators, as calm and composed as ever.

Her mind spun with the contradiction. How could they possibly be the same person if they're both here at the same time?

Even though Arlon the player was wearing a mask, he was similar in build to the Legendary Guide. Their names were the same, they were both warriors using two-handed swords.

Were these enough to prove anything when her eyes were telling otherwise, though?

June's thoughts were interrupted by Zack's voice, loud and tinged with unease.

"What... are you doing?"

Only one second passed and Arlon uttered the spell's name: Flame Pillar.

---

Crimson flames erupted in a towering column around Zack, ascending from the ground to the sky in an instant. When the fire subsided, nothing remained but scorched earth.

A stunned silence filled the arena. No cheers, no applause—only the collective question echoing in every viewer's mind: "Wasn't Arlon supposed to be a warrior?"

As a player, there was only one plausible explanation. Arlon wasn't a warrior at all but a mage in disguise, using a sword for some unfathomable reason.

Of course, this assumption couldn't have been further from the truth. However, since players shared a limited set of class options, the theory seemed logical.

If there were extra classes only some people could choose, at least one of them would be leaked.

Still, confusion lingered. If he's a mage, how has he won so many matches with nothing but punches and sword slashes? Could his STR stat be just as high as his INT?

Whispers rippled through the crowd, but no one dared voice their thoughts aloud.

It wasn't until Arlon calmly left the arena, ascending the stairs to the participants' area, that the referee announced the winner and the spell over the crowd broke.

A wave of cheers and applause erupted, the noise almost deafening as admiration overcame their shock.

Despite the roaring crowd, the questions remained unanswered.

Arlon took his seat in the participants' area, his expression unreadable.

With only three matches left for the day, he settled in to watch, his thoughts already shifting toward what lay ahead.

---

When the last match started, everyone was getting ready to leave the arena. The quarter-finals would only start the next day.

In the meantime, Zack came back with a defeated face.

"Hey, you cheated!" he said to Arlon.

Arlon glanced briefly at him but then turned away without saying a word.

This is bothersome, Arlon thought, his irritation rising at Zack's continued antics.

Luckily, his friends in the Gamers guild immediately intervened, keeping Zack from doing anything rash.

Zack had lost the bet—he had barely lasted thirty seconds in the match and hadn't managed to land a single hit on Arlon.

Now, he had to fulfill his end of the wager, granting June two wishes.

"Why aren't you answering? Are you really ignoring me?" Zack snapped, his patience wearing thin. His hot temper flared as he couldn't get a response.

"Next time, I'll win for sure. Now that I know you're a mage, I'll be ready!" Zack declared, his voice laced with renewed confidence.

Arlon, standing up from his seat, turned to him once more. He offered a simple reply, calm as ever. "Next time, don't make me wait," and left the arena before the match ended.

---

The announcer's voice boomed, signaling the end of the day's event.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming today! Congratulations to those who won, and condolences to those who lost. I'm sure you'll all try harder and win next time."

The crowd clapped politely, the day's excitement winding down.

"Remember, the tournament continues tomorrow, and we'll have another event the day after! So, don't leave Istarra yet, for a grand prize awaits!"

The names of the players advancing to the quarter-finals were displayed, sending a ripple of anticipation through the crowd.

"Here are the names of the participants qualifying for tomorrow's matches: Arlon, June, Evan, Pierre, Maria, Aedar, Liyam, and Crag. We'll see you all tomorrow!"

With that, the event officially ended. The audience began to trickle out of the arena, and the participants prepared for the next day's matches.

---

Outside the arena, Arlon was heading back to his room when someone called out to him.

"Mr. Arlon, please wait... haah."

Arlon turned to see a winded messenger, likely from running to catch up.

"Mr. Arlon, I'm here on behalf of Lady Rael. If you're available, she would like to speak with you over dinner today."

"Sure, I'm available," Arlon replied, his tone casual.

"Thank you, Mr. Arlon. Do you know the inn on the west side of the city?"

"Yes, I'm familiar with it." Of course, Arlon wouldn't make it obvious he was there the day before.

"Perfect, Lady Rael will be waiting for you there in one hour."

Arlon felt a wave of mixed emotions. He was going to speak with Lady Rael for the second time—but this time, as Arlon the player.

He would have to stay in character, ignoring everything he already knew about her. It would be a challenge, but one he was prepared to face.

---

"It's nice to meet you again, Sir Arlon."

"Again? Ah, do you mean the first day of the tournament or when we spoke through telepathy?" Arlon replied with a smile. "It's also an honor to meet you!"

Lady Rael watched him carefully, gauging his response.

She'd tried to test him, but whether because Arlon was too cautious or there was nothing to uncover, she hadn't gotten the answers she was looking for.

"Please, sit down," she said, gesturing to the chair opposite her. "You can order anything you want."

Arlon took a seat, keeping his guard up. He knew this dinner wouldn't be just about casual conversation. Lady Rael was a master at getting what she wanted.

"Please, order whatever you like," she said again, as though making it clear he had the freedom to choose. "Do you fancy the food here?"

"It's my first time here, actually. I'd like to see the menu if possible," Arlon replied, doing his best to play the part.

Lady Rael's gaze sharpened slightly. "It seems like you know who I am, but I don't know much about you."

Arlon smiled faintly. "Ah, there's not much to know. I'm Arlon, and I like to win. That's all."

"I see," Lady Rael said, her voice laced with curiosity. "So, I suppose I won't be able to see your face today."

Arlon chuckled softly. "I think some secrets add charm to a man."

"Unfortunate," she mused, though there was no judgment in her tone. "Anyway, let's order. I don't like to talk business while eating. Perhaps some drinks first?"

"That sounds good, but as you know, I can't stay for too long. When the time comes, I need to go like everyone else."

This was the log-out time or pause time as known in Trion.

He could log out when the time came and log back in later, but he didn't want to do it since this would cause his "Continuously logged in" status in his title, Unfair Regressor.

So, he wanted to get out of here before the log-out time.

Arlon kept his voice casual, though internally he was focused. He needed to keep his cover intact, and that meant avoiding any questions about his status as a player.

"I know," Lady Rael replied, her voice surprisingly understanding. "Don't worry. Our talk will end before that time."

They placed their orders, and the conversation flowed to other topics.

Arlon remained guarded, answering her questions but carefully steering the conversation away from anything too revealing.

Lady Rael, realizing she wouldn't catch him off guard, or maybe deciding there is nothing to catch, eventually gave up on trying to expose anything and shifted the conversation back to lighter matters.

But as dinner came to a close, she finally leaned forward, her eyes glinting with intent.

"Sir Arlon, it seems like you know more than the other saviors."

Arlon was shocked she understood that just through their talk during the dinner. His guard was always up but she had deduced this much already.

"Ah, you are wondering what I know. I know that this is just a game for the other saviors."