I Don't Need To Log Out

Arlon knew that administrators were always busy. Especially now, they likely didn't even have time to use the restroom, let alone travel to another city for inspections.

"Do you know which administrator she is?" Arlon asked.

"Yes, her name is Shirl. She came from Kelta and all she did was stay cooped up in the inn, but she left once in the evening yesterday," Edrich answered.

"Interesting..." Arlon mused. It was around that time he had seen her. "Do you know where she went?"

"Yes, I do. She went to the cliff and came back without doing anything. I've seen plenty of administrators, being a merchant myself. Their duties usually involve inspecting trade routes, enforcing levies, or settling disputes. They come here, do their job, and leave. But her...," Edrich trailed off, as if unsure how to finish.

Arlon decided to follow her the next time he saw her. "So, you think she's suspicious?"

"She doesn't seem to be here on official business—or if she is, it's something much bigger than usual. She didn't even meet with the important people in this town, like the town's council members," Edrich said, adding, "Don't get me wrong, administrators always have their reasons, but they're rarely this secretive."

The words hung in the air, and Arlon couldn't help but think back to their brief encounter on the stairs. They had merely nodded at each other. Of course, he hadn't used something like Eyes of ***** on someone he was simply passing by, but habitually, he had checked her face. Now, thinking back, the memory of her gaze felt sharper, as if she had been quietly assessing him.

"I wonder what she's after," Arlon murmured.

"Could be anything," Edrich replied. "Maybe she's tracking savior activity to keep things from spiraling out of control. Or perhaps she's looking for someone—or something—important. Either way, if I were you, I'd keep my distance. Administrators like her don't involve themselves lightly."

"Thanks for the advice, Edrich. You've helped me a lot today. I promise I'll come back to buy what I need before leaving town. Also, I've got some loot that might interest you," Arlon said before leaving the shop.

Now, he had a lot to think about, but it was nearly time for the players to log in.

It had only been a week since the players arrived, so most of them were still in their starting towns. Arlon didn't know anyone starting in Oceina, so he decided not to act as a guide this time. Instead, he wandered around, keeping an eye on Shirl to see if she'd do anything unusual.

---

Arlon spent the entire day exploring the town, but he found no clues about Shirl's activities. She stayed in her room at the inn, not emerging once.

A few players recognized him—mostly those from Istarra. Traveling between starting towns was challenging for low-level players, but some managed it by persistently dying along the way. With no penalties for dying at low levels, it was an oddly practical method.

Some players came to Oceina for its stunning views or to start fresh. Others had friends who had been placed in different starting towns, so they moved to join them.

Arlon gave advice to those who approached him but asked them not to spread the word since he was "on a mission."

Strangely, the whispers about him had stopped entirely. Arlon suspected it was Edrich's doing. He was already grateful to the merchant, who seemed like a more sociable version of Charon.

That evening, Arlon returned to the inn around the same time as the day before. Just as he reached the stairs, Shirl was descending them.

From his conversations with locals, Arlon learned that people had tried to approach Shirl at the inn, but she refused to meet with anyone, claiming to be on an important mission. Arlon suspected this was a lie—he'd used the same excuse himself to dodge players seeking advice.

This was only the second time she'd left her room. Determined to learn more, Arlon activated Eyes of ***** to gather information about her.

***

Shirl Delvi

Race: Magus

Level: 85

HP: 6400

MP: 15600

VIT: 22

STR: 15

INT: 238

AGI: 27

"Administrator of watering in Kelta. Member of the Magus Council."

***

It was Arlon's first time using the skill on a person rather than a monster. He was shocked to see not only stats but also titles. He wondered how the skill worked and whether the information was entirely accurate. Perhaps the titles shown were simply the official records.

The words Magus Council caught his attention, but before he could dwell on it, Shirl turned her head toward him. Arlon doubted she could sense him analyzing her stats, as her level wasn't high enough to detect that.

'She must have felt my gaze. I need to be more careful in the future.'

To deflect suspicion, he waved casually at her. Shirl studied his face for a moment before turning and walking away.

Naturally, Arlon followed.

Shirl didn't stop at any roadside stalls or enter any shops. She walked straight to the cliffs, just as Edrich had said.

'Maybe she really is on an important mission and just needed a break,' Arlon thought as he followed. He had always liked the cliffs for their stunning views, so it wasn't an unusual destination.

Just as he was beginning to think he was wasting his time, Shirl pulled something small from her purse and quickly tossed it over the edge of the cliff.

'Now that was suspicious', Arlon thought.

After Shirl left, he waited a few minutes before approaching the edge of the cliff himself.

Looking down, Arlon saw there was a small ledge with something shining on it. He didn't waste time and started descending the steep cliff. 

When his feet touched the ledge, he realized that this wasn't just a ledge, but a cave entrance.

After Shirl left, Arlon lingered near the cliff for a few moments, scanning the area to ensure no one was watching. Once he was certain he was alone, he cautiously approached the edge.

Looking down, he spotted a small ledge jutting out from the cliffside. Something on it caught the light, glinting faintly. His curiosity piqued, Arlon didn't hesitate—he began descending the steep cliff face with practiced care.

The climb was precarious, the rock slick in places and jagged in others. But Arlon's balance and focus held steady. When his boots finally touched the ledge, he realized it was more than just a narrow outcrop. Hidden beneath an overhang was the dark mouth of a cave, almost invisible from above.

The air near the entrance was damp and carried an earthy scent, mixed with the faint tang of salt. Arlon crouched, peering into the shadowy void. The glint he'd seen from above lay just a few steps inside—a small, metallic object.

'This must be what Shirl threw down,' thought Arlon.

Reaching down, he picked it up carefully. The object was a small silver medallion, engraved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift subtly as he tilted it in the light. It felt unnaturally cold to the touch, as though it had been lying in ice rather than on the warm rock.

'What is this? And why did Shirl throw it down here?'

The discovery deepened the mystery. Arlon pocketed the medallion to check it later, then turned his attention to the cave itself. He could feel a faint breeze emanating from within.

'This isn't a random act. It is the second time she has come here. Did she also throw something yesterday? If she did, where is it?'

His instincts urged him to proceed with caution. Resting a hand on his weapon, Arlon took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness of the cave.

---

At the same time, in one of the rooms at the inn in Oceina:

"Yes, the plan is proceeding as expected. There shouldn't be any problems." Shirl's voice trembled slightly as she spoke into her communication crystal, betraying her underlying fear.

The response from the other end was cold and cutting. "There better not be. If anything goes wrong, your family will pay the price."

Shirl flinched, gripping the crystal tighter. The person she was speaking to was a Keldar, one of the dreaded invaders bent on annihilating all life on Trion. She despised them—but her hatred was powerless against the crushing weight of their threats. Her family was imprisoned, held as collateral. She had no choice but to comply.

Shirl wasn't anyone important, just a low-ranking administrator from Kelta. Her role, overseeing affairs related to watering, was a trivial position, hardly noticed in the midst of the continent's turmoil. It was precisely why the Keldars had chosen her: someone insignificant enough to manipulate, someone whose absence would barely register.

Though she was technically a member of the Magus Council, it was a hollow title granted through her father's influence. Seeking their help was out of the question. The council wouldn't risk resources or attention on someone like her.

As the communication crystal dimmed, Shirl let out a shaky breath and slumped into her chair. The brief exchange replayed in her mind, her terror and guilt intertwining.

Her thoughts drifted back to the boy she'd seen earlier at the inn. Something about him unsettled her. His gaze... it was as though he had been looking straight through her, peeling away her composure layer by layer.

'Civilians don't act that way,' she thought. Even the most skilled warriors wouldn't dare openly scrutinize an administrator; they knew better than to provoke the ire of the nation. Yet, there was something unnervingly deliberate about him.

But she couldn't afford distractions. Hoping for rescue was a fantasy. The Keldars were merciless, and her family's lives were on the line. All she could do was follow their orders, survive the ordeal, and bear the weight of her sins.

Just as she steeled herself, a sharp knock echoed from her door.

Her heart skipped a beat.