I Don't Need To Log Out

The rest of the day passed with players and NPCs exchanging stories, sharing laughs, and recounting the past months.

Some players spoke of their toughest battles, while NPCs reminisced about the changes in Istarra since the saviors arrived.

The blend of perspectives made for an interesting evening—one where the lines between player and resident blurred just a little more.

And with that, Friday came to an end.

For Arlon, the next two days were empty.

He hadn't come to Istarra for any specific purpose, but there was one thing that lingered in his mind—Charon's curse.

He wanted to know more.

But it was still too early.

Whatever secrets Charon held, Arlon wasn't strong enough to uncover them yet.

He needed to level up more, grow stronger, and investigate it himself rather than rely on secondhand information.

So, for the next two days, he simply idled around.

He wandered through Istarra's streets, checked in on Shirl, and observed the world moving around him. For once, he allowed himself to do nothing.

And just like that, Monday arrived.

The moment the players logged in, a system message appeared before them:

"The monthly leaderboard rewards will be given in two hours!"

This wasn't any different from the previous months.

But for Arlon, this month was different.

The sixth-month reward was the only leaderboard reward he had cared about before the first-year milestone.

So, without hesitation, he pulled up the leaderboard—just to be sure.

***

Leaderboard (Level)

1- Arlon (140)

2-June (97)

3- Evan (93)

4- Carole (89)

5- Zack (86)

6- Maria (84)

7- Lei (84)

8- Pierre (84)

9- Carmen (77)

10- Al (75)

***

Gellard's name was gone from the leaderboard.

That meant one thing—he wasn't in the game anymore.

Arlon barely spared a second thought about it. After everything, his removal was inevitable.

Instead, his focus shifted to his own group.

The players who had fought alongside him had leveled up significantly—so much so that even Carmen had re-entered the top ten.

It was expected.

After killing that many Named Monsters, their growth had skyrocketed.

But it also meant that Arlon himself had fallen behind.

He had wanted to hunt Named Monsters too—to push his own level to 150 as fast as possible.

But at the time, he had been preoccupied with Syme.

And that, he knew, had been more important.

Among his group, Carole showed the biggest growth.

Arlon wasn't surprised—he had been expecting it.

Her determination had always set her apart, and it seemed like she had finally broken past whatever limits had held her back.

But June wasn't far behind.

Her steady climb made it clear—she wasn't just strong, she was getting even stronger.

In fact, everything was going so well that it scared Arlon.

Three different Demons—**four in total—had died.

And yet, they hadn't lost anyone.

They had found enchanted equipment.

They had secured Nyx.

The Keldars hadn't attacked any cities yet.

And during the weekend, Arlon had learned something even more critical—

The trap for the Mimes had worked.

Zephyrion had successfully purged Kelta of them.

It was too perfect.

For a moment, Arlon wondered—was this just luck? Or was something lurking in the shadows, waiting to balance the scales?

Because until now, he had never faced a fight that truly threatened his life.

Even his hardest battle had been when he fought "IT" before taking Agema's journal.

---

The morning air in Istarra was crisp, the streets already bustling with players and NPCs moving about their daily routines.

Merchants set up their stalls, blacksmiths fired up their forges, and the faint hum of conversations filled the air.

Arlon stood near the town square, his arms crossed, watching the activity around him. He had no particular destination—just observing.

Then, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

"You never go back to Earth, right?"

He turned to see June stepping beside him, her expression unreadable.
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"You already know the answer," Arlon replied.

June looked out at the town. "Then you probably haven't seen the forums."

He glanced at her, waiting.

She exhaled sharply. "It's bad. Worse than before. Those companies that captured leveling spots? They're not just farming XP anymore—they're selling gold."

Arlon's eyes narrowed slightly. "And?"

June sighed. "'And?' This is going to change the entire balance of the game!

Gold trade means players can just buy power. The stronger guilds will widen the gap even further. The companies will monopolize even more areas."

She crossed her arms, frustration clear in her voice.

"And do you know how players are reacting?"

Arlon remained silent.

"They're joining the other side.

Not because they agree with the Keldars. Not because they believe in their cause. But just to kill off the company employees' accounts—so they can't re-enter the game.

There are already a lot of people thinking this isn't a game. But there are still a lot of people thinking that it is.

And those can still change sides just for the sake of it."

Arlon let out a slow breath. "I see."

"That's all you have to say?" June's voice sharpened.

Arlon shook his head. "What do you expect me to do?"

"Stop it."

He turned fully to face her. "And how exactly do you suggest I do that?"

June didn't hesitate. "You're the most influential person in the game right now. If you speak up, people will listen.

If you take a stand against this, fewer people will switch sides. Fewer people will see killing NPCs as an easy way to punish company players."

Arlon's expression didn't change. "We can't save everyone."

June clenched her fists. "That doesn't mean we stop trying."

Arlon sighed. "The best thing I can do is focus on what I'm already doing. If we solve the Keldar issue at its roots, none of this will matter in the long run."

"You don't get it."

June's voice had a sharp edge to it now.

Arlon raised an eyebrow. "Then explain it to me."

She took a slow breath, trying to collect herself. But when she spoke again, her words carried an unfamiliar weight.

"You're not just some player. You're not just some strong guy who happens to be on top of the leaderboard.

You are the one who has beaten Named Monsters, fought Demons, and won.

You are the only player whose actions have actively changed the course of this world.

When you move, the entire game moves with you."

She turned to face him fully, her eyes searching his.

"People follow you. Whether you like it or not, they look to you for direction. If you say nothing, that silence becomes approval."

Arlon's jaw tightened slightly.

He had never thought about it that way.

He had never wanted to be a symbol for anyone.

All he had ever done was move forward, deal with the next problem, survive.

He wasn't trying to lead.

But June was telling him that—whether he accepted it or not—he already was.

She took a step closer.

"If you do nothing, more people will switch sides. More people will kill NPCs. More people will lose themselves to this war.

And it will be because you were too focused on fighting battles to realize you were the most powerful voice in this entire game."

Arlon stared at her, silent.

Her words unsettled him in a way few things ever had.

For the first time in a long time…

He didn't know what to say.