I Don't Need To Log Out

Zephyrion gave everyone time to think. Of course, this meant that they logged out.

Everyone should have believed that this was real now. So, they would meet again the next day.

Arlon didn't log out, though. He wouldn't log out even if he needed to.

Now, only Zephyrion, Arlon, Lady Rael, and Nora had remained in the room.

"Rael, Nora, you can leave. I need to speak to Arlon alone," Zephyrion said. His tone carried authority, and for the first time, he dropped honorifics, even with Lady Rael.

"Understood," they both replied before exiting.

Zephyrion stood and gestured toward a nearby door. "Come with me," he instructed.

Arlon followed without hesitation, entering the same room where his copy awaited, casually holding a cup of tea.

The moment they entered, the copy rose from its seat out of respect. Zephyrion approached immediately, scrutinizing it with sharp eyes.

"What is this? A clone?"

"Doppelganger," Arlon replied plainly before dispelling the Doppelganger spell.

"Hmm. Who is your master, Arlon?"

Arlon hesitated for a moment. "I'm not sure I would call her my master, but... Agema."

Zephyrion's eyebrows rose in interest. "Agema, you say? You won't tell me she was actually alive, right?"

Arlon explained further, "I found one of her bases and a book she left behind. In it, she claimed that whoever possessed the book was her disciple."

"I see," Zephyrion said, his tone curious. "Then you must be a magic swordsman, yes?"

Arlon blinked. Though he knew Zephyrion was powerful and perceptive, he hadn't expected him to deduce his class without seeing him fight.

"Yes, I am," he admitted.

"Good. Then let's have a duel later," Zephyrion said, smiling slightly. "But first, we have matters to discuss. Don't feel pressured—speak freely."

With that, Zephyrion started.

"Do you know why I brought you here?" He meant sending the copy to this room.

"No idea," Arlon said talking in a bit more relaxed way.

"Follow," Zephyrion led Arlon toward the back of the library-like room. As they walked, he gestured to the shelves lining the walls.

"The history of this world is lost," he began, "as though someone deliberately erased it. But there are fragments—clues—scattered across the books here."

Zephyrion also spoke in a more friendly manner, even smiling while talking.

Since his glasses were still on, he didn't seem scary at all.

"None of these have copies, and their authenticity as well as the information the contain can't always be trusted."

He paused, pulling out a book with a faint smirk. The title read Agema is a Villain.

"Take this one, for example. One of Agema's suitors wrote it after being rejected. He even says that Agema was a narcissist, can you believe it?"

"Haha... No, I can't!" Arlon answered, though deep down, he knew the book might not be entirely wrong. So his answer came out a bit nervous.

"Anyway, here is another book. This might be interesting." He took out another book and gave it to Arlon.

Arlon froze reading the title: How to Use a Zeno Capsule

"What? Where did you find this?" he asked urgently.

Zephyrion handed him the book calmly. "It's been here as long as I can remember. Most of these books were gathered when Trion was united under one government."

"But then, this means..."

"You are correct. Here is some extra information. Do you know about the heroes of the past? This book is from back then." Explore hidden tales at empire

"The story goes like this:

In ancient times, Trion was neither a world of magic nor swords. There were no monsters, and no one knew the concept of heroes.

Then the Zeno capsules arrived. We don't know how—whether they were sold by some store or simply appeared out of thin air.

Then, people started using it. Thanks to the instructions, they thought they were in a game. And one day, they learned that they weren't.

We don't know much, but they were sent on a quest to save another planet.

Of course, Trionians successfully achieved it. And, in the end, the one who defeated the final boss was granted a wish by the highest-level existence: EVR.

But the victor's greed became our curse... Since he was the strongest in the game, he wasn't happy about it ending.

Then, he had an idea and wished for one thing:

'Let Trion have swords and magic as well as monsters. Let us retain our strength from the other world!'

In short, he wished this world to be like the one they saved and wanted players to retain everything they had in the game.

With that, they also brought skills. That is why skills were mentioned in some other history books even though we don't use them.

Heroes rose, monsters thrived, and magic swordsmen emerged where none had existed before.

So, Trion has already experienced what you are experiencing now.

This brought the heroes of the past.

They could make enchanted equipment because they had jobs like enchanters. Of course, anyone can be an enchanter in Trion but it is not the same as a player being one.

Eventually, the heroes wiped out the monsters, making Trion livable again but this time with magic, swords, and heroes.

But, we were already on the radar. We learned that a civilization with mana is targeted by other civilizations.

And that is why Keldars are attacking us.

This is also a warning for you. It seems like you are the pioneer of your world. If you one day win, don't wish for something like it."

Arlon listened in stunned silence. Every word challenged his understanding of Trion and its history as well as EVR.

"Is the name of the person who wished for it written?" He asked, wondering.

"Hmm." Zephyrion hesitated for a bit but then requested a pen and paper from the butler. "I don't think you can hear the name, but let us try if you can read it."

Arlon wondered why he couldn't hear the name, but then immediately remembered the time he fainted by not being able to hear a name.

Was it possible for him to see the same name here?

Arlon's heart raced as Zephyrion handed him the paper. When he looked, the name written there was Karmel.

A sharp pain pierced his head, but it wasn't debilitating. Unlike the last time, he didn't faint.

Notifications rang in his mind, but he ignored them for now.

Karmel... Is he the same existence I saw in the darkness? The one who wished for Trion's transformation?

But, how is he connected to Charon, then? Also, how could I read the name?

Arlon thought about the difference between then and now. He had only leveled up once, and it didn't cause his existence to level up.

But, was that correct? His title changed not when he became level 100, but when he became level 101.

Maybe he needed to step into the new existence level for it to take effect.

He still had a lot of questions, but with the amount he learned today, he could wait a bit more for more information.

"Is it possible for me to read the books here when I have time in the future?" Arlon needed to check them all. Even though they weren't necessary information, they could help.

He also wanted to learn more about the threat that went after the civilizations with mana.

But Zephyrion refused, "They belong to the government and not to me, so I can't let you."