I Don't Need To Log Out

The details of the divination were not fully disclosed, even to Zephyrion. Lady Rael shared only the essential information to ensure everyone would act accordingly. For example, if the natives were to kill a player repeatedly, knowing it was just a game to them, it could drive the "saviors" away.

Therefore, Lady Rael and Zephyrion chose to introduce the players as "saviors" and instructed the people to act only if a savior did something truly unacceptable. This approach protected both the saviors and the Trionians since the saviors, able to grow stronger even after dying, might one day seek revenge against a Trionian.

The disclosed information served as a guideline for the natives, especially in frontline areas known as "starting towns," helping them know what to expect. Each town, village, or city could decide how to interact with the saviors on its own, as long as they followed the rules, such as avoiding unnecessary harassment.

---

Arlon began running around Istarra, his mind buzzing with questions. As far as he remembered, there hadn't been any issues on the second day of the game in the previous timeline. Had his regression already caused such a big change? His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed someone standing in front of the Moonlight Potion Store.

"Excuse me, can you tell me where everyone is? Has something happened?" Arlon asked.

The man looked startled until he recognized Arlon. "Are you Arlon? We've been waiting for you. Why are you so late for the meeting?"

Arlon quickly realized that something was going on that he wasn't aware of, but he couldn't let the others realize he was out of the loop. "Something came up, so I got delayed, and it seems I mixed up the meeting place. Could you guide me?" he replied smoothly.

"Ah, that explains it. No need for a guide—just go to the back room behind the mirror and head down the stairs. You'll find old Charon and the others there."

Arlon thanked the man and went inside. He didn't know there was a space behind this mirror before. He descended the stairs. As he approached what seemed like a large conference room, he could hear the sound of people talking.

"I think it was fine to rough him up a bit; I only wish we could banish some of them on the spot! I didn't even kill him," said one elf to Charon. This was the elf who had been approached by the ruffians with bad intentions.

"Ah, don't worry. I'm not blaming you," Charon replied. "You're far stronger than they are, and you could have easily killed them. You did well to hold back—unlike someone who didn't!" Charon turned his gaze to Arlon, who had just entered the room.

Arlon sensed Charon's disapproval and quickly began to explain. "I'm sorry I was late; something came up, and I also forgot the meeting place..."

Before he could offer more excuses, Charon cut him off with a slightly raised voice. "Being late isn't the issue. Why did you kill that savior today? Don't you know we need to be extra lenient in the starting towns, especially on their first day? I don't believe you've received any separate guidelines from ours."

Arlon felt a wave of nervousness. He had no idea what a guideline was, nor had he received any, since he wasn't actually an NPC. He decided he'd need to ask someone about it later, someone who wouldn't suspect him. For now, he chose to defend himself.

"I don't think I did anything wrong. As a guide, that was part of my guidance," he replied firmly. "We may call them saviors, but they're weak—not just physically, since they'll get stronger even without skills thanks to their ability to respawn. I mean they're mentally weak. Did you see how they acted? They treat this like a game. Sure, it's fine to have fun, but they also need to understand why they're here. Some of them practically fainted when that savior 'died,' even though he just respawned. I know we need them, but I think they should start getting used to these things."

"I don't care if you think you were right. This order came directly from our ruler, Zephyrion. If he'd done something truly unacceptable, I'd understand—but all he did was badmouth you. If you'd waited a bit longer, he probably would've attacked you anyway, giving you a reason to kill him. As it stands, you didn't just risk your own life, but you also put the entrance guards in danger since they had to play along."

Everyone around lowered their heads; most had thought about killing some of the saviors at least once or twice. Not all players were bad, of course, but with thousands starting in this town, there were bound to be a few bad apples.

"And if you really wanted to teach them a lesson, why didn't you kill the first one who mocked you?" Charon went on. Arlon was shocked that Charon knew he punished Gellard. "Surprised? Did you think I wouldn't notice you sent him on a dead-end mission? That old miser in the forest won't even give him a reward for his trouble. But, we can accept that kind of punishment."

Arlon realized that while imitating NPCs, he'd overstepped his bounds since he hadn't received any of those "guidelines." Remembering NPCs killing players in his past timeline, he'd assumed he could do the same. But to his surprise, the Trionians were more lenient than he knew—they truly needed the saviors. He also thought about the entrance guards; if Jack decided to retaliate, they'd be at risk too, as they were mortal here, unlike him.

"I'm sorry. I think I acted out of line," Arlon said. "You're right—I'll apologize to the guards and make sure they're safe."

"Hah! Alright, I think we can overlook today's incident just this once," Charon replied. "Go ahead and apologize, but don't mention 'ensuring their safety.' They're ten times stronger than you. If they needed your protection, this town would be overrun in no time," he added with a smirk.

Charon looked human, though he actually belonged to the Magus race. Yes, Magus was a distinct race in Trion. They resembled humans in appearance, but with powerful magical vessels, so most were magicians. Of course, unlike in games, magicians in Trion weren't only warriors casting fireballs or ice shards; a whole service sector relied on magicians, including alchemists and magic device producers.

"With that, let's conclude this first-day meeting. Overall, I think things went well—we didn't face any major issues, and it seems everyone enjoyed the festival. Our next meeting will be held next week. Apart from the soldiers, everyone is dismissed. We'll move on to a tactical meeting now," Charon announced.

Arlon felt a wave of relief. It seemed he was off the hook for the earlier incident. He made a mental note to better understand the NPCs going forward since he needed to blend in seamlessly. Still, his curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "Can I also join the tactical meeting? I think I could be of help."

"Absolutely not!" Charon snapped, not even pausing to consider. "You're far too weak. Even though I can see you've grown stronger over the past two days, you're only as strong as a three-year-old Fairy. Do you see any three-year-old Fairies among the soldiers?"

Arlon didn't take offense. In Trion, being compared to a Fairy wasn't an insult, even if it was a child. Power was what truly mattered. Age or status only carried weight if backed by strength. Charon, for example, wasn't respected because he was old but because he was powerful. While Arlon wanted to learn more about the war between the Trionians and the Keldars, he realized he wasn't ready to join the soldiers yet.

The idea of using the Eyes of ***** on Charon crossed his mind, but he decided against it. Charon was far too strong—there was a high chance he'd notice the appraisal attempt, which would strain their already tenuous relationship.

After thanking Charon, Arlon left with the other natives. On his way back to his room at the inn, he reflected on the day's events. The festival had been enjoyable, and despite one hiccup, he felt he'd done well imitating an NPC. He'd helped a lot of people, and he was certain that when the time came, he'd reap the rewards of his efforts.

At the inn, Arlon opened his inventory and reviewed the items he'd gathered throughout the day. He started with the Wandsword. He needed to familiarize himself with its weight, as he'd also use it as a staff. In Trion, magicians didn't require a staff or wand to cast magic—magic originated from their magical vessels. However, these tools enhanced the potency of their spells. While he couldn't quite understand how a sword could function as a staff, he decided not to dwell on it. There were plenty of mysteries in this world he didn't yet comprehend.

Next, he examined the spellbook, A Magician's Secret. He decided to read it gradually, tackling a page or two at a time and mastering each section before moving on. This method was even recommended on the book's first page, reinforcing his decision.

Finally, Arlon pulled out the coal-like shard. He turned it over in his hands, but no matter how closely he inspected it, he couldn't discern its purpose. Frustrated, he activated the Eyes of *****. To his surprise, an information bubble appeared over the shard.