I Don't Need To Log Out

The woman, who appeared to be a secretary, guided them inside the Citadel.

The interior was as grand as expected, with countless rooms designed for administrators, along with shops and other facilities.

Everything was arranged to ensure that those working here didn't need to venture far for their daily needs.

Looking up, Arlon couldn't see the top of the Citadel. In the center of the towering structure was an elevator-like cabin suspended by magic, slowly moving between floors.

As they followed the guide through the halls, Arlon tuned into the conversations around him.

- "Those damned Keldars attacked Poku town, they are getting more aggressive by the day."

- "These files need to be approved by tomorrow!"

- "Isn't that Lady Rael? Who are the ones with her?"

- "Sigh... I need a vacation!"

Most of the chatter was mundane, but the mention of Keldars attacking Poku Town caught his attention. It was a small reminder of the dangers that still loomed outside Kelta's walls.

"Please enter here," the secretary said, stopping at a door on the first floor. She gestured toward the room. "You will receive an ID inside. Please don't lose it; without it, you cannot stay in Kelta."

Everyone nodded and stepped inside, with Arlon following the players.

Even though he wasn't here as a player at the moment, Arlon still needed an ID, as this was technically his first time in Kelta.

The process was quick and efficient. Each of them received a piece of paper, which served as their identification.

Living on Earth, the players had expected something more advanced, like a plastic card. But in Trion, paper IDs were the standard.

Plastic cards required either advanced magical engineering or enchantments, which were typically reserved for higher-priority uses.

After the secretary distributed the IDs, Lady Rael turned to address them. "We'll part ways here. The meeting is scheduled for next week, so you are free until then. However, I must stress this—please take the rules you'll be given seriously. Breaking them will have grave consequences."

She would be tending to other matters, including reporting to Lord Zephyrion about recent events.

---

After parting ways with the administrators and Lady Rael, the group, including Arlon, continued walking alongside the secretary, Nora.

As they walked, Nora explained the city's rules, detailing the numerous regulations that seemed to cover nearly every possible situation.

While listing the rules, she led them to their accommodations, which was temporarily an inn.

"As Lady Rael mentioned, you are all free until next week," Nora said as they arrived. "I've also been informed that another savior will be entering the city during this time. Please direct them to me when they arrive."

The group thanked Nora before heading to their respective rooms. The players wouldn't actually need their rooms, as they could log out, but they were still provided one each.

Arlon entered his assigned room. It was a modest inn room—not particularly large, but not cramped either.

As he sat on the bed, he silently commended himself for the brilliant plan he had devised while staying in the last town before arriving at Kelta.

Balancing his dual roles as Arlon the player and Arlon the guide was tricky, but this idea made it possible.

Without the plan, things would have been complicated. If he left Kelta to create his copy, and then returned, it could raise suspicion since he had no valid reason to leave the city.

While there was no explicit rule against leaving, Kelta was surrounded by mostly empty plains, a feature designed to enhance the city's defenses.

Anyone leaving the city without a clear purpose might draw unwanted attention.

Another option would have been sneaking out of the city. Kelta's defenses were formidable, but primarily focused on preventing threats from entering.

Exiting unnoticed would be easier. However, sneaking back in was a different story. If caught, he wouldn't have a plausible explanation for his actions, which would be dangerous.

Fortunately, Arlon had come up with an alternative. In the last town, he had used his Doppelganger (Weakened) spell to create a copy of himself.

The spell required a one-time mana expenditure to create the copy, which didn't need a constant supply to remain active.

This meant Arlon could send his copy to Kelta after he left without having to maintain it personally.

Because of the weakened state, the copy couldn't be controlled or contacted. However, it had been given clear instructions and knew exactly when to arrive in Kelta.

Still, the weakened state came with risks. The copy was fragile—so delicate that even a child's punch could destroy it.

To account for this, Arlon had planned contingencies. The copy was expected to reach Kelta by the following evening. If it didn't arrive, he would wait another day to see if it showed up late.

And if it failed to appear even then, he'd have no choice but to find another way to create a new copy, likely by sneaking out of the city.

I don't know if this is related to my intelligence stat, but my brain is working wonders these days, Arlon thought with a small smile, pleased with his foresight.

---

As the log-out time approached, the players logged out from their rooms to rest. Meanwhile, Arlon decided to leave his room and explore the city.

Even though it was evening, the streets of Kelta were just as busy as during the day. The administrators here never seemed to stop, constantly rushing to and fro with their tasks.

Arlon, however, wasn't concerned with their hectic pace. His destination was clear—the food stalls outside the Citadel.

When he reached one of the stalls, the enticing aroma of grilled meat drew him in. The food in Trion had subtle yet distinct differences from Earth's cuisine. Mana influenced every living thing, from plants to animals, and that influence extended to seasoning and sauces, giving Trionian food its unique flavor.

The stall he chose specialized in some kind of kebab. He took a seat at one of the small tables and was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted.

As Arlon ate, the stall's owner, a cat Beastman with sleek fur and sharp eyes, approached him.

Since it wasn't lunch or dinner time and the stall was empty of other customers, the owner likely had time to chat.

"Are you one of the lucky ones?" the Beastman asked, his tone curious.

Arlon looked up, confused. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand what you mean."

The owner chuckled. "You're eating slowly. Only the lucky ones who work in a department with less work can afford to eat that slowly."

"Huh? No, I don't work in Kelta," Arlon replied. "I'm a guest. I arrived with Lady Rael today."

"Oh, you're part of that group?" the owner said, his ears twitching. "I see. Well, it's good that Lady Rael is back. Lord Zephyrion must have been worried all this time."

Arlon felt a slight headache coming on. The Beastman was casually dropping information as if it were common knowledge, but it was new and puzzling to him.

"Sir, what do you mean by 'Lord Zephyrion must have been concerned'?"

The owner tilted his head, surprised. "You don't know? It's well-known in Kelta that Lord Zephyrion and Lady Rael are more than just 'colleagues.' Didn't you hear about that?"