I Don't Need To Log Out

The Sentinel's Legacy Set was exceptional. Though not considered the greatest due to its low level, its unique feature—immunity to attacks below a certain level—was nearly godlike.

No other armor possessed such a feature, not even those legendary pieces crafted by heroes in the distant past.

Yet, in the end, it was still a low-level set destined to be forgotten as players and monsters grew stronger.

---

Arlon entered Hot Hammer, the blacksmith shop he had been looking for. Inside, chaos reigned.

Most blacksmiths arranged their shops to attract customers, displaying their wares neatly and in an organized manner.

This shop, however, was the complete opposite. Pieces of armor were stacked haphazardly, while swords lay on the ground, their sharp tips pointing dangerously upward.

It wouldn't take much to get injured with just one careless step.

One familiar feature remained: the heat. Waves of it rolled out from a backroom, indicating the blacksmith was hard at work at their forge.

Not wanting to disturb them, Arlon waited at the shopfront, keeping quiet.

He realized he might be waiting a while and decided it was finally time to check the game forums.

Through the EVR system, players could access these forums in-game. No one knew exactly who created or moderated them.

When the game was first released, the forums were already operational.

Over time, players discovered the forums weren't run by humans but were instead an automated feature of EVR, managing itself perfectly.

Of course, like every other forum, the content writers could add entries.

Arlon checked every headline starting from the top:

- The tournament results!

- Is Arlon stronger than Melner now?

- The second tournament reward.

- Why are Ledgar NPCs acting weird?

.

.

.

Arlon remembered these exact ones from the past timeline. He was a dedicated forum reader back then.

Especially since there wasn't anything to do when he was logged out, he was inclined to waste his time here, refreshing for new content.

Skipping the first post, which was system-generated, Arlon focused on the second:

Of course, he didn't open the second one out of arrogance, he already knew the answer.

***

Is Arlon Stronger than Melner Now?

"Since he's level 101 (edited), maybe he can beat Melner. What do you think?"

- Are you an idiot or something? NPCs like Melner aren't that easy to beat.

- LOL! What a funny guy. Are you one of those who were beaten up by Melner?

- I don't know the answer but the AI on that guy is wild. I don't know which developer created that monster but he must have a grudge against the players.

***

Melner was an infamous NPC from another starting town, known for his aggressive personality and brutal combat prowess.

Arlon had met him in the past timeline, though after the starting towns were destroyed, Melner relocated to another city.

I can beat him now, Arlon thought. It wasn't arrogance—it was the voice of experience.

Continuing through the forums, one particular post immediately caught his attention:

***

Is It Possible to Side with the Enemy?

"I received an invitation from a monster today!

I know it sounds crazy, but I was outside Istarra killing some mobs when a group of monsters approached. They seemed angry, talking among themselves like something had gone wrong with their plan.

I attacked them, but I wasn't strong enough to win. Instead of killing me, they asked if I wanted to join them!

I told them I needed to log out, and they said they'd return on Monday to discuss further."

- Cool story, bruh.

- I envy his imagination.

- Hey, I'm serious! This actually happened! (Post Owner)

- Yeah, yeah. I am sure it happened.

***

So it had begun. The Keldars had started recruiting players to their side. Thankfully, most people didn't believe it yet.

Otherwise, players would actively seek out Keldars for the novelty of switching sides since this was a new experience in a game and they would want it.

They wouldn't be a match to Arlon in terms of leveling speed, but it was dangerous.

Players who joined the Keldars gained access to endless resources, leveling up faster than anyone else.

Their boss, Asef, would give more importance to the leveling up of the players on their side than a bunch of unintelligent monsters. So, he would offer those unintelligent Keldars to the players.

Arlon wouldn't let that happen this time. He planned to inform the NPCs, but not all of them were trustworthy.

He would need to speak directly to Zephyrion, the ruler, as soon as the opportunity arose.

Lady Rael was another trustworthy ally, but she lacked real authority, which made her limited in influence.

Arlon still wondered why she had so many guards and required constant escorts.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hammering ceasing in the backroom.

A moment later, a young-looking and handsome male Elf emerged, wiping soot from his hands. He glanced at Arlon with piercing green eyes.

"How long have you been standing there?" the Elf asked brusquely, skipping introductions.

"Not sure—about four hours, I think," Arlon replied. In truth, he had been waiting for precisely three hours and 47 minutes. "I didn't want to disturb you while you were working."

Arlon's words were calculated. He was speaking to the Elf as if he were an NPC in the game, knowing the right approach could unlock unique quests.

The Elf's expression softened slightly. "I like you. What's your name?"

"I'm Arlon. Nice to meet you."

"Nice indeed," the Elf said with a small nod.

Morealis was predominantly inhabited by Elves, which gave it a unique character.

With their long lifespans, Elves often gravitated toward long-term ventures, making them natural merchants.

Over the years, their collective wealth had grown immensely, and many Elves turned to trading for entertainment rather than necessity.

By pure coincidence, this flourishing trade developed near a portal, transforming the area into the bustling city of Morealis. As word spread, more Elves settled there, further shaping the city's identity.

The Elf before Arlon was named Athtar, a skilled blacksmith renowned in Morealis. Though not a legendary craftsman, he was widely respected for his craft.

"And what brings you here?" Athtar asked.

"I'm looking to upgrade my armor. My current set is falling behind my level," Arlon explained, retrieving the Sentinel's Legacy Set from his inventory.

The moment Athtar laid eyes on the armor, he froze, staring at it as though it were a relic of the gods.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice urgent.

"Ah, it's a secret," Arlon replied casually. "But I found it."

"You found it?" Athtar's tone sharpened. "Do you think something like this just lies around waiting to be picked up?"

"Sir, I really did find it. In a cave," Arlon insisted.

Athtar studied him intently, then said, "Name your price. I want to buy it."

"Sorry, but it's not for sale," Arlon replied firmly.

"I'll give you a million gold."

"It's not about the money. I'm not selling it. But I still need a better set—do you have anything for me?"

"A better—A better set?" Athtar sputtered. "Do you even understand what you're holding? This armor is a legendary masterpiece! Even Sato couldn't create something like this with the best enchanters at his side!"

"Ah, that's unfortunate," Arlon said with a shrug. "In that case, I'll take my leave."

"Wait!" Athtar exclaimed, desperation creeping into his voice. "What if you loaned it to me? Just for study. I promise to return it intact."

Arlon grinned internally. This was exactly what he had been aiming for.