I Don't Need To Log Out

Arlon sat by the window in his room, watching the setting sun dip below the horizon. The day had been more exhausting than he anticipated, leaving him with a strange mix of frustration and unease.

---

During lunch...

Arlon's expression darkened as Zack's outburst echoed through the room. The silence that followed was suffocating, and the tension was palpable. Even the other diners paused mid-meal, turning their attention to the confrontation.

Shirl glanced nervously between Zack and Arlon, unsure of how things would escalate. The Gamers froze, their eyes darting back and forth as they waited to see what would happen next.

Arlon stood slowly, his movements deliberate and imposing. Though he didn't raise his voice, his presence alone was enough to make the room feel smaller. "Zack, was it?" he said, his tone calm but icy. "Do you know what happened to Jack?"

Zack, sensing danger but unwilling to back down, scoffed. "All the evidence i—"

Before Zack could finish, Arlon was in front of him in a flash, his speed unnatural. In one swift motion, he grabbed Zack by the collar and hoisted him into the air with surprising ease.

The rest of the group jumped to their feet, alarmed, but none dared to intervene.

Arlon's fists flew. Zack grunted with each punch, the pain dulled by Zeno's 90% damage reduction system. Arlon, knowing this, didn't hold back. If Zack only felt 10% of the pain, Arlon decided he'd hit 90% harder to make up for it.

Zack's bravado crumbled as he struggled weakly. "Alright, alright! Let me go!" he shouted.

Arlon tossed Zack aside like a ragdoll, letting him crash onto a chair that splintered under his weight. The sound echoed through the inn, but no one moved. Scenes like this were almost commonplace, and the innkeeper barely looked up from wiping the counter.

Zack groaned, clutching his bruised ribs, but it was clear Arlon had held back enough to avoid serious injury.

"Listen closely," Arlon said, his piercing gaze sweeping over the group. "Shirl is under my protection, and you will treat her with respect. There is nothing between us beyond that. If I hear another word about baseless rumors or insults, you'll wish I was just a glorified NPC."

The moment he said that he realized his mistake. But he still didn't change his act. Even though no NPC knew they were NPCs, they could have learned by now since players called them that.

Everyone also thought so, except for June. She decided to test him soon. But, now was not the time.

Shirl stood, her face pale but determined. "It's true. Sir Arlon saved me from my fate, and that's all. I appreciate your help with the escort mission, but if anyone doubts my intentions—or Arlon's—you're free to walk away now."

Pierre was the first to step forward, bowing deeply. "I apologize, Sir Arlon, Lady Shirl. We let our imaginations run wild and made assumptions we shouldn't have." He turned to Zack, glaring. "And you owe them both an apology."

Zack hesitated, his face swollen, before muttering, "Sorry. I got carried away." His voice was low, but the defeat in his tone was unmistakable.

Arlon crossed his arms, giving a curt nod. "Good. Now let's move past this and focus on the task at hand."

Despite his commanding demeanor, Arlon's mind was in turmoil. He panicked and didn't know what else to do. His social anxiety had taken over, and beating Zack felt like the simplest way to regain control of the situation. At least with violence, there were no gray areas.

Pierre broke the lingering silence, trying to ease the tension. "We'll head out for a bit and give you two some space. Let us know if there's anything you need before tomorrow."

Arlon waved them off, and they filed out of the room. Once the door closed, Shirl sighed heavily. "Well, that was… eventful."

Arlon shook his head. "Gamers," he muttered under his breath, before sitting back down. "Let's just hope they can keep their focus during the mission." He thought that it was unfair to request more from them.

This was a game for them and they didn't have any legendary fame yet. All they wanted was to have fun. The competitiveness would come later.

The group spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through Oceina, stopping at various shops and marveling at the town's idyllic beauty. Despite Zack's earlier complaints, even he couldn't help but enjoy the day.

As they walked, June noticed Arlon's subtle behavior. He always let Shirl take the lead in conversations with townsfolk, nodding and responding minimally.

---

As tensions settled at the inn, elsewhere in Oceina, another story was unfolding...

"

Corven leaned back against the tavern wall, swirling a drink in his hand. His lackey burst through the door, panting heavily as if he'd just sprinted across town.

"Corven! You were right," the lackey blurted.

Corven smirked. "I usually am. What about?"

"The guy from yesterday—he's not just any NPC. He's the Legendary Guide! He's been missing from Istarra for some time now."

Corven straightened, his smirk fading. "The Legendary Guide, huh? Are you sure about this?"

"Positive," the lackey said. "I overheard some townsfolk saying he gave an escort quest to a group. Good thing we didn't attack him yesterday."

Corven frowned. "Yeah, real smart of us." He hated admitting relief about avoiding a fight. Players weren't ready to face NPCs of that level. Even if they were, the consequences for attacking townsfolk were steep.

"Follow the players," Corven ordered. "The moment they leave town, I want to know."

The escort mission rewards were generous.

---

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the group returned to the inn. They were greeted by the warm glow of lanterns and the smell of baked bread wafting from the kitchen. Everyone was downstairs, chatting while Arlon was seated by the window in his room, his eyes fixed on the setting Sun.

June decided it was time to test her theory. She knocked lightly on his door. "Sir Arlon? May I come in?"

Arlon's gaze shifted to the door, and after a moment, he responded, "Enter."

June stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She noted the simplicity of the room—a stark contrast to the commanding presence of the man sitting in it. Arlon didn't move from his spot by the window, his silhouette outlined by the faint starlight.

He had removed his Sentinel's Legacy Set, getting ready for sleep.

Actually, this was June's first test. If he was not an NPC, he would still be wearing armor. Of course, Arlon didn't know that. He just unequipped it since he always slept if he found time.

After a short moment of silence, Arlon told her to enter, wondering what she would talk about.

"I wanted to thank you," June began. "For earlier. Zack can be... impulsive. But I also wanted to ask you something."

Arlon turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Go on."

June hesitated, then decided to be direct. "You're not like the other NPCs."

Arlon's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he said nothing, prompting her to continue.

"Other NPCs don't know they are NPCs, how do you know?"

Arlon's heart raced. He had been meticulous about maintaining his cover, but his earlier comment about NPCs had been a slip. He met June's gaze, trying to gauge how much she knew.

He was actually hiding two things. First of all, no one was an NPC. None of the players knew this but everyone was real.

The second was he was also a player and not a Trionian. So, there were two factors separating June from the full truth.

Since this was their first time in an immersive game with such developed AI, they didn't know how much was possible. But June didn't think the developers would let NPCs realize what they were since this was the most dangerous thing about the AIs, gaining self-awareness.

"I don't understand what you are talking about. Since our saviors called me that name, I assumed that was what I was thought of as." He blurted some lies instantly. If he had more time to think, he could find better excuses, but if he thought more, he was sure that June would catch him.

June smirked faintly, sensing the subtle crack in his composure. "Maybe. Or maybe you're something more."

Arlon stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over June. "What are you implying?"

June didn't back down. "Nothing yet. But if there's more to you, I'll find out." She turned to leave but stopped at the door. "And don't worry. I won't share my suspicions with the others. For now."

As she left, Arlon sat back down, his hands gripping the windowsill tightly. He couldn't afford to slip up again. These Gamers were sharper than he gave them credit for, and June especially was proving to be a potential threat to his carefully constructed facade.

He wouldn't mind letting them know, but it was too early. They needed to find their path first.

---

Downstairs, the group had settled into a quieter rhythm. Zack nursed his bruises. He actually drank a potion to heal himself after lunch, only to be beaten again by Arlon. He didn't like the fact that Zack healed fast. So, this time Zack didn't drink a potion and healed naturally, shooting occasional glares at Pierre, who ignored him.

Shirl was seated by the fireplace, chatting softly with Lei and Carole. She seemed lighter now, her earlier grief momentarily pushed aside.

June rejoined the group but kept her encounter with Arlon to herself. If Arlon wasn't just an NPC, what was he? A developer? A GM? Maybe even another player?

And more importantly, what role would he play in the story they were unraveling?

As the night deepened, the group retired to their rooms, but the tension from the day lingered in the air. For Arlon, the stars outside his window offered no solace. The Gamers had already logged out. Arlon wasn't sure why those idiots paid for rooms anyway. He slept while planning the next day.

With that, the morning came.