I Don't Need To Log Out

"Would you like to form a group with me?" June asked.

Huh? So that is what she wanted. Should I accept?

Arlon didn't mind either waiting or joining the quest. However, he knew the quest would involve the monster the soldiers hadn't been able to find. Since his departure for Kelta was fast approaching, resolving this issue beforehand was crucial.

June misinterpreted his silence and continued, "You can have the reward for yourself if you'd like. I just want to learn from you by watching. I'm sure you can handle whatever this quest is."

She was wrong. This quest was hard and only numbers could solve it since it was not just a quest.

"I don't need the rewards. You can take them," Arlon said. "I'll join you."

"Ah, thank you so much! I will tell the others to come here. We can wait for the quest to be given."

"Wait a second! How did you know this was a two-person event?" Arlon asked.

He knew since he was one of the administrators behind the implementation of this quest. But she shouldn't have known that.

"Ah, I thought you knew since you didn't say anything. Haven't you seen the forums? Someone at last succeeded in bribing one of those NPCs and received this information. The administrator didn't give more information about the quest, though."

"Ah, the forums". He decided to check the forums before but forgot later. He would definitely do it soon. "I didn't see it."

"So, did you accept without knowing it needed two-person groups? It seemed like you knew."

"I knew, but I have my own sources." Arlon avoided elaborating. The more lies he wove, the harder it would be to keep them straight.

Moments later, the other members of the Gamers Guild arrived at the corner where Arlon and June were waiting.

"Ah, Mr. Arlon, you're here as well," Pierre greeted him politely, his demeanor earning Arlon's respect yet again.

"Yes, he is! And we've already formed a group!" June said happily.

"Huh? You did what? Why did you do that? We don't even know him," Zack snapped, his irritation written all over his face. "We were supposed to group together!"

"Who said that? We hadn't decided yet," Lei countered, her tone sharp. "Besides, it's harder for priests to find groups, so we should prioritize teaming up with Carole."

Arlon remained silent, observing the chaos. It was obvious that Zack wanted to group with June, but the others were pushing him toward Carole instead.

Carole, meanwhile, looked disheartened, knowing Zack's feelings were elsewhere.

Also, it was obvious that he was both angry at Arlon and a bit jealous even though Arlon and June didn't have that kind of relationship.

The tension lingered, with Zack shooting angry glances at Arlon, who stayed quiet.

To any onlooker, Arlon might have seemed cool and composed, but in truth, he was hesitant and unsure of what to say.

After a while, the ground began to tremble. In the center of the area, a section of earth rose dramatically, creating a platform upon which the announcer stood.

"Everyone, please listen! Thank you for joining us today!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Arlon wasn't aware of it, but the announcer's deep, calming voice was the second-most-discussed topic on the forums.

"As you all know, we have a special quest for you today. Here are the details:

- The participants must form groups of two.

- While different groups can collaborate, only four rewards will be given.

- The objective is to find a hidden monster. Somewhere in or around Istarra, we hid a strong monster. You will receive two rewards for locating the monster and two more for defeating it.

- The monster could be anywhere: underground, in the forest, or elsewhere.

- We won't tell you what the monster looks like, but it will have snake-like features.

However, be warned—defeating this monster won't be easy. You may need several groups working together to succeed."

Arlon nodded to himself. The organizers had handled the situation well. By framing the monster as something hidden by them, they avoided giving the impression that the government or military was incapable.

"The event will begin in one hour. In the meantime, please register your groups," the announcer concluded before leaving the platform.

June and Arlon quickly registered. Normally, the Gamers Guild would have acted as a single unit, but Arlon convinced them otherwise.

"We can cover more ground by splitting into smaller groups. If anyone finds the monster, they can alert the rest of us, and we can regroup to defeat it," he suggested.

Though Zack wasn't happy with the plan, especially since June had already paired with Arlon, the others agreed. Reluctantly, Zack joined Carole's group.

Despite Zack's obvious annoyance, the groups split up and registered, preparing to search for the monster.

An hour later, the event officially began, and players scattered in all directions.

Arlon and June set out together, ready to uncover the hidden threat.

---

Zack and Carole moved towards the Great Forest.

The Great Forest stretched out endlessly around Zack and Carole, sunlight filtering through the dense canopy above.

Zack led the way, his sword drawn and his expression tense, while Carole followed a few steps behind, her staff glowing faintly as she kept an eye out for trouble.

"This is ridiculous," Zack muttered, kicking a loose branch out of his path. "How are we supposed to find a monster in all this? It could be anywhere."

"We'll find it," Carole said softly, her voice calm as always. She adjusted her grip on her staff and smiled at Zack's back. "We just have to keep looking."

Zack huffed but didn't argue. It was obvious that Zack wasn't angry at the snake, but because he wasn't with June unlike Arlon.

The silence between them stretched as they trudged deeper into the forest, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional bird call.

"Why'd you even agree to come with me?" Zack asked suddenly, glancing over his shoulder. "Wouldn't it have been easier to pair with Lei or Pierre?"

Carole tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "They were already grouping up, and besides… I thought you might need someone to heal you. Just in case."

Zack scoffed. "As if I'd get hurt fighting a stupid snake monster."

Carole chuckled lightly, her laughter carrying a warmth that made Zack pause for a moment before shaking his head.

"You've got a lot of confidence," she said. "But I think that's one of your strengths."

Zack shrugged, trying to brush off the compliment, but his ears turned slightly red. "Whatever. Just don't slow me down."

Carole hid a small smile, her eyes lingering on Zack a second too long before turning back to the path ahead. "I'll try my best," she said softly.

As they continued, Carole found herself noticing little things—how Zack muttered under his breath when he got frustrated, or how he instinctively checked to make sure she wasn't lagging behind.

Her heart swelled slightly every time he stopped to hold back a branch or cleared a path without a word.

"Do you think the monster could be underground?" Carole asked, breaking the silence.

"Maybe," Zack said. "But there's no way to know without a lead. For now, we keep moving."

Though they didn't find the monster, the time they spent searching felt less tedious to Carole.

To Zack, it felt like just another mission—but one where he didn't seem to mind Carole's company as much.

---

Lei and Pierre walked side by side through the quiet streets of Istarra, their eyes scanning every shadow and corner for signs of the hidden monster.

"Do you think it's really in the town?" Lei asked, her voice low as she adjusted the grip on her sword.

"It's possible," Pierre replied. "The announcer said it could be anywhere, so we shouldn't rule it out. Besides…" He glanced at Lei with a small smile. "I trust your instincts."

Lei felt a slight heat rise to her cheeks but quickly looked away, focusing on the cobblestones beneath her feet. "Don't say things like that. You'll jinx us."

Pierre chuckled softly. "Jinxing isn't real, Lei. You're just making excuses."

This was one side of Pierre he only showed when he was alone with Lei.

They paused at the edge of an alleyway, scanning for anything unusual.

Pierre stepped forward, one of his hands resting on the hilt of his sword and the other holding the shield, while Lei remained a step behind, watching his movements closely.

"You're too careful," she said teasingly. "It's just an alley."

"And you're too reckless," he countered, glancing back at her with a grin. "That's why we work well together."

Lei rolled her eyes but didn't argue, the corners of her lips twitching upward despite herself.

As they moved further into the alley, Pierre noticed something odd—a section of the wall that seemed out of place. He knelt down, brushing his fingers over the surface, and felt a faint draft coming from a crack near the ground.

"Lei, over here," he said, motioning her closer.

"What is it?" she asked, crouching beside him.

"There's a draft," Pierre said, his voice hushed. "I think there's a hidden space behind this wall."

The two exchanged a look, their unspoken understanding clear. Together, they began searching for a way to open the concealed entrance.