I Don't Need To Log Out

With so many players in attendance, the administrators had brought their own tents to alleviate accommodation issues.

The military was also present, tasked with protecting the administrators and ensuring the tournament ran smoothly. But their presence had another, more secretive purpose—one known only to a handful of senior administrators and military officers.

The military tents were set up in a separate area, with the commander's tent positioned prominently at the front.

Arlon's copy followed Ben, Charon, and the other officials to the commander's tent.

Rather than using magic, the copy relied on Silent Step to approach unnoticed. Fortunately, no guards were stationed outside the tent—likely because of the confidential nature of the meeting. The copy moved closer and began to listen.

"Thank you for responding to my request, Sir Charon," a muscular man said. His tone was respectful, and the copy immediately identified him as the commander. "I am Leon, commander of Trion's forces. It is an honor to meet you."

The copy was taken aback. Leon was clearly the highest-ranking officer present, yet he spoke to Charon with such deference.

Charon, however, seemed unimpressed. "Let's skip the pleasantries. You wouldn't have called me here unless it was urgent. What's the issue?"

"Sir, thanks to your report, our forces cleaned out at least one Keldar that was being raised in each city. But the problem is..."

Leon hesitated for a moment before Ben stepped in.

"Sir, thanks to your report, our forces were able to eliminate at least one Keldar in each city. But there's a problem," Ben said, his voice steady but serious.

Ben glanced at Leon before continuing. "We couldn't locate the Keldar in Istarra. We believe the city might still be in danger."

Charon's brows furrowed. He had assumed the matter would be resolved once the military intervened.

Trion's forces were strong, even stronger than Keldars' Demons. If Keldars didn't have Zeno, this wouldn't even be a real fight.

The fact that even the military hadn't found the Keldar was concerning.

"And why are you telling me this?" Charon asked, his tone sharp.

Ben and Leon exchanged uneasy glances. While their official purpose was to inform Charon, they had secretly hoped he might offer his help.

Charon sighed heavily. "Sigh... Kid, come here!" he called loudly.

Both Ben and Leon looked around, confused. There were no children present, and they couldn't understand whom Charon was addressing.

Moments later, the tent flap shifted, and someone stepped inside.

He wasn't a child but a tall, lean man with black hair and piercing purple eyes. Despite his striking appearance, the man scratched the back of his head sheepishly, grinning in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop," he said, attempting a lie.

"Cut it out," Charon snapped, turning back to Leon and Ben. "This is Arlon. He's the one who brought the Keldar information to me."

Ben's demeanor immediately softened. "Ah, so you're Arlon. Nice to meet you," he said warmly, showing no concern that Arlon had overheard their conversation.

Leon, however, was less forgiving. As the commander, he couldn't ignore the fact that someone had eavesdropped on a confidential discussion under his command. But with Charon present, he held his tongue.

The copy, meanwhile, was stunned. Although it shared many of Arlon's traits, it hadn't expected Charon to detect it so easily, even while using Silent Step.

"You heard the situation, didn't you?" Charon asked, his tone calm but direct. "Do you know anything about the monster in Istarra? Or if there's even one here?"

Arlon immediately answered, "Yes, there is." But, he realized he shouldn't have answered that way.

He needed to do something about his mouth, this was the second time he blobbed out something he shouldn't.

Leon's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that? If you're so certain, you must have some kind of information," he pressed, his suspicion evident.

The copy, or Arlon's mind, didn't have a plausible explanation for this. And, unluckily, he couldn't create a lie in time. So, he stayed silent.

"Why aren't you answering?" Leon demanded, his tone growing harsher. "Are you one of those who betrayed Trion?"

He obviously didn't like Arlon, but more importantly, he couldn't understand why those who betrayed Trion weren't punished with death.

He didn't care about mitigating circumstances; betrayal, in his eyes, deserved the harshest penalties.

So, he would have a reason to act if he could be sure Arlon betrayed Trion.

"No, it's not that..." the copy stammered, unable to explain its knowledge. He couldn't say he regressed since it would also bring other problems.

He knew that Leon actually wasn't a bad person. He did his job well and was loyal to Trion. Maybe a bit too royal...

That was why Arlon still tried to explain instead of storming off, thinking that 'they treated him like a traitor when he was trying to help'.

"Are you going to speak, or—" Leon began, but Charon cut him off.

"It doesn't matter how he knows," Charon said firmly. "Kid, tell us what you know. We don't care about your source."

Relieved by Charon's intervention, the copy quickly replied, "I don't know exactly where it is or what it looks like. But I know it will evolve into a snake with nine heads, each the size of a house. Its full body will be as large as three houses combined."

He paused before adding, "Since it's a snake, I'd guess it's hiding underground. But I don't know of any tunnels beneath the city."

The room fell silent.

Leon, Ben, and the others exchanged confused glances. How could Arlon know about the monster's evolution?

Even the Keldars themselves couldn't predict the specific evolution of their kind.

But no one dared to ask. Charon had made it clear that questions about Arlon's source were off-limits.

---

Meanwhile, back in the arena, Arlon was waiting for his turn to fight in his fifth and final preliminary match.

As he stood near the edge of the bustling grounds, his mind split its focus.

Part of him listened to the copy's conversation with the administrators and the commander, monitoring the situation through their shared connection.

Although the copy was perfectly capable of handling itself, Arlon remained ready to intervene if things took a dangerous turn.

He couldn't afford to let something crucial slip through the cracks.

While he waited, a figure approached him.

Arlon was no stranger to this. Throughout the tournament, players often came up to him, either to introduce themselves or to invite him to join their group.

Being swarmed by people was already exhausting in his role as Arlon the guide, and he wasn't keen on repeating that experience as a player.

As a result, he rarely acknowledged such attempts.

This time, however, the man who approached had a different purpose.

"Hey, are you hungry for a hotdog?"

The unusual question made Arlon raise his head, his curiosity piqued.

The man standing before him was short, with chubby cheeks and a rotund build. His round face held an easy smile, and he carried a basket filled with freshly made hotdogs.

Arlon blinked in surprise. I didn't think I'd see him here.

This was Merlin, a player Arlon recognized from his past timeline.

Merlin had chosen the cooking profession and, instead of focusing on leveling up, had dedicated himself to mastering the culinary arts while leveling up his Cooking skill.

In the previous timeline, Merlin's skills had become legendary. By combining cooking and alchemy, he created dishes that offered incredible enhancements to those who ate them.

His legendary meals became sought-after by top-tier players, cementing his reputation as the go-to chef in Trion.

Arlon recalled that while eating wasn't necessary for players using Zeno capsules, the option to taste and enjoy food still existed.

For those who pursued cooking as a profession, it wasn't about sustenance—it was about crafting unique experiences and providing powerful buffs.

"Sure, I'll buy one," Arlon said, taking out some gold.

As Merlin handed him a hotdog, he tilted his head and asked, "By the way, are you Arlon?"

"Yes, I am," Arlon replied. He paused briefly before adding, "If you're planning to invite me to level up, I won't accept."

Merlin let out a hearty laugh. "Haha! No, no, I'm not here for that. I don't think I'll be leveling up anytime soon, to be honest."

Merlin's easygoing response caught Arlon off guard. Most players were obsessed with leveling up and gaining an edge in combat, but Merlin seemed to have a completely different perspective.

"This game is incredible," Merlin continued. "We're the first ones in our world to experience it, and all anyone cares about is rushing to level up. But you can do that in any game! Where else can you actually taste food like this? Or experiment with recipes in a world as real as this one?"

Arlon couldn't help but be surprised. The truth in Merlin's words resonated with him.

Even though Arlon knew this wasn't just a game, he had been so focused on leveling up and defeating the last boss that he rarely stopped to appreciate the unique experiences Trion offered.

He'd explored parts of the world, and tried things that couldn't be done in other games or even the real world—but he hadn't truly thought about them.

Merlin's perspective reminded him that there was more to this world than simply grinding and fighting.

Still, Arlon had no choice but to stay focused on his mission. He needed to defeat the final boss and ensure the safety of Trion.

Luxuries like savoring food or indulging in side activities would have to wait.

"Your take on this is interesting," Arlon said as he took a bite of the hotdog. The flavors surprised him—Merlin's skill was already evident even at this early stage. "You've got talent. I'll be keeping an eye on you."

"Glad you like it!" Merlin beamed, clearly pleased with the compliment. "And hey, if you ever need more food, look me up! I'm planning to travel around and set up shop wherever the action is."

"Noted," Arlon said with a small smile.

The two continued chatting for a while, discussing Merlin's plans and Arlon's thoughts on the tournament so far.

Merlin shared how he'd been experimenting with alchemy to enhance his dishes, on his way to eventually crafting legendary food that could rival potions in their effects.

Arlon listened with genuine interest. While he had no intention of forming a guild or recruiting allies, it wouldn't hurt to keep in touch with someone as promising as Merlin.

Their conversation was cut short when Arlon's name was called. It was time for his final preliminary match.

"Good luck out there!" Merlin said cheerfully as Arlon stood up.

"Thanks," Arlon replied, glancing back as he walked toward the arena.

Merlin's enthusiasm was infectious, and for a brief moment, Arlon felt lighter—reminded that Trion was more than just a battlefield.