I Don't Need To Log Out

There were seven classes a player could choose from when starting the game: Warrior, Mage, Priest, Assassin, Summoner, Necromancer, and Archer.

However, almost no one chose Necromancer or Archer.

The reason was simple: Necromancers were difficult to play. Their abilities relied on reviving the dead, but there weren't conveniently placed corpses lying around for them to use.

Archers, on the other hand, were challenging for a different reason. Unlike other classes, archers required precision and skill to aim effectively.

While none of the classes had auto-aim, the mechanics for warriors or mages didn't demand the same level of accuracy as an archer's bow.

As a result, in the previous timeline, only a handful of archers ever gained recognition.

---

Arlon glanced over the loot but found nothing he needed.

"You can take these. I'm not interested in the rewards either. If there's nothing else, I'll head back first." He had no desire to run into Zack before June had a chance to talk to him.

"Can one of us send you a friend request so we can contact you?" June asked hesitantly.

"That won't be necessary. I'll see you in Kelta soon." Without waiting for a reply, he left the passage.

---

Zack came back when the others were sharing what they found with the administrators. Arlon the guide was also there.

The Gamers believed it was part of an event, so they simply recounted what had happened. But to the Trionians, this was a major victory.

Although the Gamers didn't downplay Arlon's contributions, the administrators noted that since he (as a player) wasn't present, he couldn't claim any rewards.

Instead, Pierre and Lei received rewards for discovering the monster, and June was awarded two rewards for defeating it as a member of Arlon's group.

The players around were heartbroken since they couldn't get any rewards. The Gamers Guild's name was already spread through the forums.

However, the that wasn't their main focus at the moment. Carole was visibly distraught.

"Zack, we need to talk," June said sharply, pulling him aside.

---

Meanwhile, Arlon's copy, disguised as the guide, went to Leon's tent to report on the operation's success.

Ben and Leon both breathed sighs of relief upon hearing the news. The threat to Istarra had been eliminated.

"I'll send someone to investigate the tunnel," Leon said. "We need to figure out how they managed to bring the monster into the city undetected."

Ben was also thanking Zephyrion. No matter how strong the military was, their numbers were limited. So, it was impossible to look everywhere to find where the monster lived.

Especially since it was in the city. If the military entered the city looking for the monster, it would scare the people living there.

And if they couldn't find it, both trust in the military would decrease and people would be scared enough to move to other cities.

But with thousands of players, it was found so easily that some, still, could question the military's might.

That didn't bother Leon and Ben a bit, though, since Istarra was now safe.

"I wonder who's behind this," Ben mused aloud. "Not all the administrators aiding the Keldars have been caught. Some had justifiable reasons, like their families being threatened, but others helped willingly."

Arlon interjected, "I may have some new information."

"Oh? Let's hear it," Leon replied, his interest piqued.

Arlon explained, "Many of the saviors knew about the two-person team requirement before it was announced. I contacted a trustworthy savior, and it turns out an administrator accepted a bribe to leak the details."

Leon's eyes narrowed. "Do you have proof?"

"I don't, but I don't need any. His name is Joseph, and all the saviors know about him. You can confirm it with them."

Arlon wasn't worried about revealing this. In Trion, even minor corruption was treated with the utmost seriousness.

To maintain the government's integrity, any wrongdoing had to be addressed swiftly.

Arlon knew the government couldn't punish the players who offered the bribe, but the one who took it could be punished.

There were no small crimes when it came to the government. So, even if this person wasn't related to the monster incident, it was necessary to punish him.

---

June led Zack to a secluded spot, far from the other players.

"What you did back there was unnecessary and stupid," she said angrily. She hadn't been with the group long, but she cared about all of them. Seeing Carole in tears had deeply upset her.

"I don't care," Zack replied coldly. "It had to be done."

June stared at him in disbelief. "What do you mean, 'It had to be done'? Nothing needed to be done!"

Realizing it was time to lay everything out, she decided to be honest, no matter the consequences.

"You won't deny you and Arlon's relation, right?" Zack scoffed. He couldn't understand why June was snapping. "Is this actually about Carole? I told her I wanted to handle the monster alone but she still interfered."

"Listen to me, Zack," June said firmly. "Not that it's any of your business, but Arlon and I just met. And unlike what you're thinking, people need to get to know each other before entering that kind of relationship."

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Zack, I don't want to be with anyone right now. Not you, not Arlon, not anyone else! I didn't want to say it since I was an outsider to your group and I didn't want any friction in it. But you need to accept this.

If you want, you can wait, and hope I change my mind someday. But I could also end up with someone else after a few years. And you don't get to say anything about that."

It felt right to be open about everything. I should have done it before.

June paused for a moment to let her words sink in. "One last thing: if anything like this happens again, I'll leave. Not just the guild, but the group. So go and apologize to Carole."

Zack stood frozen, processing her words. He hadn't expected such a blunt rejection. In his mind, his actions had been justified because Arlon was an outsider.

But the threat of June leaving their group felt like a betrayal to him.

Even though he didn't understand his mistake, he reluctantly nodded. He couldn't risk her leaving.

When they returned to the others, Zack unwillingly apologized to Carole, but she turned her back to him, rejecting the apology.

Her shoulders trembled, and it was clear she was still trying to hold back tears.

The Gamers Guild's bonds had been strained thanks to Arlon, or that is what Arlon thought. But the group needed to move to Kelta together tomorrow.

---

Arlon was talking to Charon and Shirl back in the potion store after the players logged out.

Ben had already invited Arlon to Kelta, so they would go together.

Since all the other players refused to go, only the ones Arlon suggested would be going including:

Arlon (the guide), Shirl, Gamers Guild, Evan, Carmen, Lady Rael, and administrators.

While some of the soldiers would go with them, Leon and his team would go to their next mission.

Since the monster issue was solved, they could focus on the other things that were imperatively ignored.

So, Arlon thanked Charon for letting him use one of the rooms.

The next day, they departed from Istarra to Kelta.