I Don't Need To Log Out

It was finally time for the players to say their farewells.

They hadn't gotten to know everyone in the academy, so they kept things simple, starting with the professors.

They met them on the exam field, thanking them for their lessons and guidance throughout the past week. While the players hadn't been formal students, the experience had been valuable nonetheless.

Once that was done, all that remained was saying goodbye to the students.

Even though their time here had been brief, it still felt strange to leave.

The players had spent most of their days training and competing, yet somewhere along the way, they had formed connections.

Especially with five students who had been with them the entire time—Alia, Mei, Sia, Leafa, and Mirek.

The five of them had become familiar faces to the players. Of course, they weren't all equally close—some bonds had grown deeper than others—but compared to the hundreds of other students at Cardon Academy, these five were the ones who had stood beside them the most.

But before they could say their goodbyes, they noticed something unusual.

There was a commotion.

A rather large crowd had gathered in front of them.

A very large crowd.

It didn't take long to realize why.

They weren't here for the players.

They were here for Arlon.

Lei let out an amused sigh. "I was just joking when I said he could create his own harem..."

"I also thought these things only happened in novels," Evan muttered.

June, who had spent more time listening to students talk, simply shrugged. "It's not weird. This is like a novel for us. And the people of Trion admire strength."

Lei gave her a skeptical look. "And how do you know that?"

June smirked. "Some of the girls told me in the last few days. Didn't they ask you if Arlon was single?"

The players blinked at each other.

No, they hadn't been asked anything like that.

Apparently, all the girls had gone to June—probably because she seemed closer to Arlon than the others.

Meanwhile, Arlon himself was under siege.

A horde of girls and even a few boys had surrounded him, each trying to either woo him or pay their respects.

It was chaotic.

"Arlon, will you be back next year?"

"Please duel me once before you leave!"

"If you're single, could you—"

"Teach me that counterplay technique!"

"At least take my contact stone!"

Arlon had no idea how to answer all of them. He didn't even have time to answer.

While he was still thinking about what to do, he suddenly felt someone tugging at his arm.

He turned and saw Mei.

Then, in a clear, confident voice, she declared:@@novelbin@@

"Everyone, slow down! I'm sorry, but he's already taken! So, please let us through!"

The effect was instantaneous.

A wave of disappointment passed through the crowd, followed by a few audible 'tsk' sounds of frustration.

Yet, despite their grumbles, the students reluctantly stepped aside, giving way for Arlon and the others to pass.

As the path cleared, Mei turned around to glance at the players and students behind her.

Their shocked expressions were priceless.

But instead of saying anything, she merely winked at them before pulling Arlon forward, leading the way.

And just like that, they escaped.

---

Once they escaped the crowd, the group moved away from the busy courtyard, heading toward a quieter location where they could properly say their farewells.

The energy from the exam hall and the announcement ceremony still lingered, but here, in a small clearing near one of the academy's outer courtyards, things felt calm.

The sky was darkening, the floating island drifting gently above the endless sea of clouds, while the academy's towers stood illuminated against the twilight.

As they came to a stop, Evan was the first to break the silence.

"So…" he crossed his arms, looking directly at Mei. "Should we congratulate you?"

Mei blinked. "For what?"

"For you and Arlon," Zack added with a smirk. "I mean, you were very clear back there. 'Sorry, but he's already taken'—ringing any bells?" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

The others turned to Mei, curiosity all over their faces.

Mei, however, remained completely unfazed.

"Oh, that?" she waved a hand casually. "I was just doing a public service."

Evan raised an eyebrow. "A public service?"

"Yeah," Mei nodded, dead serious. "If I hadn't said that, we'd still be standing there, buried under the horde. Do you know how much worse it could have gotten?"

Alia let out a short laugh. "She's got a point."

"I mean, if you wanted to claim Arlon, you could've just told us sooner," Sia teased.

Mei placed a hand over her chest dramatically. "How could you accuse me of something so scandalous?!"

Sia sighed. "You're not denying it, though."

Arlon, who had remained silent throughout this, finally exhaled. "Are we actually saying goodbye, or is this just an interrogation?"

Mei grinned but said nothing more, clearly enjoying the moment.

Once the laughter settled, the farewells began.

For the past week, they had trained together, fought against each other, and pushed themselves through some of the toughest lessons Cardon Academy had to offer.

They weren't all best friends, but they had gone through Hell Week together—and that meant something.

"I hope you guys don't slack off just because we're leaving," Lei said, looking at the students.

Leafa scoffed. "Please. We were training long before you got here."

"Just checking," Lei smirked. "Wouldn't want you to miss us too much."

Sia shrugged. "If you visit again, I'll fight you seriously again."

Zack grinned. "I'll hold you to that."

Carmen and Maria gave their own farewells to Alia, thanking her for helping them improve as summoners.

Even Mirek, who had been quiet for most of the week, smiled slightly as he nodded at the group. "You weren't as bad as I expected."

"I think that's a compliment," Carole muttered.

"Just take it," Mirek said, "But I still can't go out with you."

"No one asked you to!"

Finally, Mei turned to Arlon, her expression a little more serious than before.

"You haven't forgotten your promise, right?" she reminded once again.

Arlon knew exactly what she meant.

But he didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he held her gaze for a moment before nodding.

Mei smiled. "Good."

What exactly that promise was, no one else knew.

But from the way Mei looked satisfied, it was clear—she expected him to keep it.

With that, they parted ways with the students.

---

The students would use the same portal outside the academy doors—this had been planned from the beginning.

As they walked, June suddenly turned to Maria. "Hey, why do you think Alia tripped and fell when we first arrived?"

Maria blinked at the random question. "Huh?"

"Back then, I thought she was just a klutz," June continued, "but now that I think about it… that doesn't really fit. Especially with how she ranked first in every exam."

Maria tilted her head. "You know… I was wondering the same thing. Maybe she did it on purpose?"

Carmen, who had been listening in, immediately narrowed her eyes. "Hah. That's exactly the kind of thing a secret villain would do."

June raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You know," Carmen gestured vaguely. "Like in movies. The ones who pretend to be super nice, but they're actually hiding something."

Maria laughed. "Hehe! So you think Alia's a spy from the enemy, blending in with her innocent 'good girl' act?"

Carmen nodded seriously. "It's always the quiet ones."

"In any case," June smirked, "if that was her plan, it worked. It definitely eased the tension at the time."

Maria hummed. "If she really did fake it just to make us feel comfortable, that's honestly… kind of sweet."

Carmen scoffed. "Or high-level manipulation."

Before they could continue the discussion, they arrived at the academy doors where Nora was already waiting for them.