I Don't Need To Log Out

On Monday, the players logged in as usual. No one was missing.

But the air was different.

There was a heaviness among them, an unspoken tension weighing on their shoulders. They had all accepted what was coming, but that didn't make it any easier.

As they gathered outside their rooms, no one spoke. Their usual chatter, jokes, and small talk were absent.

And so, in silence, they made their way to meet Nora.

She was waiting for them near the escalating platform, her usual presence as composed as ever.

Normally, she would have greeted them with her sharp, analytical tone, offering some remarks about their preparation. But today, she simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Nora had noticed. She wasn't the type to pry into emotions, but she knew when not to push.

Without unnecessary words, she turned and lightly guided them forward.

Their destination: The top floor.

Before heading out, they would first meet Zephyrion.

***

When they entered the top-floor office, they were met with a familiar sight—except this time, there were more people than usual.

They immediately took note of the gathered figures:

Zephyrion, standing with his usual imposing presence.@@novelbin@@

Ben and Lady Rael, standing nearby with measured expressions.

Nova, their instructor, arms crossed, waiting.

Leon, the military commander, his sharp gaze assessing them.

Arlon the guide, sitting calmly at the side.

Seeing so many high-ranking figures in one place only solidified what they already knew.

This was a big deal.

Zephyrion's deep voice echoed across the room.

"Welcome!"

His tone was as steady as ever, but there was a weight behind it.

"Please, come in," he continued. "I will now explain this week's training."

The players stepped forward, seating themselves randomly as instructed.

There was a brief pause, then Zephyrion spoke again.

First, he thanked them.

He acknowledged their determination, their decision, and the difficulty of what lay ahead.

He didn't sugarcoat it—this would be their first time voluntarily killing, and that was something that no amount of training could truly prepare them for.

Thankfully, Arlon had warned him in advance, giving Zephyrion and the others the chance to approach the topic carefully.

None of the Trionians judged them.

Instead, they did their best to ease the players' minds—not by empty reassurances, but by reminding them of why they were here.

Only after they saw some of the tension fade from the players' faces did Zephyrion move on to the details.

"We will send you to hunt Keldars around some towns at first. You will level up and gain experience in fighting as a group.

This will continue until Thursday. And on Thursday, you will fight against a Demon."

Everyone gulped hearing that they would fight against a Demon.

This, again, was Arlon's idea. Thankfully, Zephyrion listened to him. Of course, this was because Arlon had proved his worth more than once.

So, everything would go according to Arlon's plan unless something unexpected happened.

"During this week, you will not be alone."

Zephyrion gestured toward the figures beside him.

"Leon, one of the commanders of our army, Nova, your trainer, and Arlon the guide will accompany you during this period."

At first glance, it seemed like Arlon the guide was only there to offer insight.

But the real reason was different.

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He would be there to maintain Arlon's secret.

At a designated moment, Arlon would "log out"—or at least, that's what it would look like.

In reality, he would simply cancel his Doppelgänger spell, making it seem like he had vanished from Trion.

Meanwhile, he would remain behind, taking on the role of Arlon the guide.

And while the others were resting at night, Arlon had his own plans.

Leon and Nova were both formidable warriors. Arlon had no intention of wasting this opportunity.

He would learn from them.

And when the time came, he would make sure he was ready.

"Please don't be afraid of this week's training." Zephyrion's deep voice carried through the room. "It will be easier than the academy's lessons, easier than memorizing Trion's long history. Your only real challenge this week… is yourselves."

That was the truth.

Killing Keldars was easy.

They had already been doing it before they even came to Kelta.

To them, it had always been just like a game—something necessary for leveling up, for progressing. Monsters were meant to be killed.

But of course… this wasn't a game.

Not anymore.

And that was what made it different.

After that, the conversation moved to the logistics of their mission.

They would be using a carriage, traveling from town to town, eliminating Keldars as they went.

In practice, there wouldn't be much difference between their training and what other players did in the game. They would still move from one area to the next, clearing enemies, growing stronger, sharpening their skills.

But this wasn't just about them.

The Trionian government had another goal in mind—using their training to clear dangerous areas.

This was the real reason Nova and Leon were coming along.

While the players trained, Nova and Leon would focus on clearing out weaker mobs, ensuring that the lands were made safer for the people of Trion.

It was a practical solution. Kill two birds with one stone.

Train the players.

Weaken the Keldars' forces.

Advance both objectives at the same time.

And so, the players weren't just fighting for themselves anymore.

Leon gave a firm nod. "We'll step in if needed, but this is your fight. Your chance to prove that you can handle what's ahead."

Nova smirked slightly. "Try to keep up."

Despite the casual remark, the weight of their words wasn't lost on anyone.

This wasn't about simply gaining experience anymore. This was about proving themselves—not just to Trion's warriors, but to themselves.

Zephyrion continued, "The Demon battle on Thursday will be different. You will fight together, but the enemy will not be like the Keldars.

This will test your ability to face something far stronger than you. But, the saviors will be the only ones fighting the Demons."

Hearing this, some players took a step back. But it was the obvious thing to do. If the players died, they would just go back to Earth.

But the same thing couldn't be said about the Trionians. Once they died, that was it.

"Arlon will be in charge on that day. Please be sure to follow him," Zephyrion said.

No one objected since that was the obvious choice.

Zephyrion's gaze swept over them once more. "If any of you wish to step away, now is the time to say it."

No one moved. No one spoke.

That was all the confirmation he needed.

Zephyrion nodded. "Then prepare yourselves. Your training begins in an hour."

With that, the meeting ended.

The players left the office, stepping out into the morning air, the weight of their choices settling in.

Arlon offered words of encouragement like the time before they left for the academy to ease the mood, "At least you will get back your spots on the leaderboard after this week."

Everyone knew that he meant well by now.

But they also thought, Why can't he always be like this?

They decided that maybe they could change Arlon a bit during this week.

And without realizing it, their mind was focused on something other than Keldars.