I Don't Need To Log Out-Chapter 180: Demons (2)

A faint blue glow flickered atop the table as a communication crystal activated.

Birna, the head of the Magus Council, leaned back in her chair as Zephyrion’s voice came through.

"Zephyrion," she greeted casually, barely glancing at the crystal. "You don’t contact me much. Did something happen?"

"Is that how you answer the lord’s call, Birna?"

"Lord my ass." Birna snorted. "You still need at least fifty more years before I call you that."

Zephyrion chuckled. Same old Birna.

She tapped her fingers on the table. "Besides, it’s only been what? Two, three weeks since we last saw each other? You’re getting clingy. So? Spill it!"

Even though decorum was expected in public, Birna and Zephyrion were close.

That was why Zephyrion never minded the way she spoke to him in private. He wasn’t the type of leader to demand formalities behind closed doors.

In fact, if possible, he would have preferred if no one called him "lord" in private.

But most Trionians—including Ben—wouldn’t accept that.

"Alright, alright," Zephyrion relented. "One of my men brought me a report."

Birna raised an eyebrow. "One of your men? You don’t have men running around. Do you mean the players?"

"Come on, Birna," Zephyrion sighed. "Leave me some face."

Birna smirked. "Nope."

"Fine. Yes, one of the players—Arlon, specifically—reported something."

Birna’s interest piqued. "Oh, if it’s that boy, the report must be important."

"Yes, it is." Zephyrion’s voice grew more serious. "He visited Dita recently."

Birna folded her arms. "I see. And?"

"According to his report," Zephyrion continued, "one of your councilors is acting as a leader in the anti-saviors’ headquarters in Dita."

Birna’s fingers stilled.

She was no stranger to dangerous allegations, but this one…

"And which one would that be?" she asked, her tone unreadable.

"Asmond."

For a brief moment, the room felt colder.

"Asmond," she repeated slowly.

"He’s also hiding his face."

Birna exhaled, rubbing her temple. "That’s a serious accusation. Is there any proof?"

Zephyrion leaned back. He expected this.

"Birna, you know I trust Arlon. But he’s not bringing this to me as an accusation—he knew you wouldn’t believe it outright."

Birna raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"He didn’t give me a guarantee," Zephyrion continued. "Instead, he asked me to pass the information to you so that you could investigate it yourself."

Birna let out a low chuckle.

"Heh. That’s clever. He knows how to work around people’s biases."

"He’s sharp."

Birna’s mind was already turning.

"Is it safe to even share this information?" she asked.

"Only with trusted people."

Birna rolled her eyes. "Who do you think I am? Of course, I won’t spread it carelessly."

Zephyrion smirked. "Good."

Birna tapped her fingers on the table again. "I’ll only tell two others. One of them will begin an investigation."

Zephyrion nodded. "While you’re at it, keep an eye on what they’re planning."

Birna scoffed. "Now you’re giving me orders?"

"In return," Zephyrion added, ignoring her, "I’ll give you the floor plan and the secret entrance to the anti-saviors’ HQ."

Birna paused.

Then, she narrowed her eyes.

"…Are you trying to dump your responsibilities onto us?"

Zephyrion chuckled. "What would the Magus Council do with a floor plan and a secret entrance?"

Birna sighed. "You tell me. We don’t even deal with them."

"Birna," Zephyrion said calmly, "I am the lord of all Trionians, including the Magus Council. And this is a threat to all of Trion."

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"Tch." Birna leaned back. "Fine. I’ll see what I can do—but I’m not making any promises."

"That’s more than enough."

"Good. Is that all?" she asked, already half-distracted.

"Actually," Zephyrion said casually, "I almost forgot to mention something."

Birna sighed dramatically. "Of course, you did. What now?"

"I’m getting married."

Birna froze.

The room went silent.

The words hung in the air.

Then—

"WHAT!?" Birna shot up from her chair.

Zephyrion smirked at the reaction. "I see I got your attention."

"Why the hell did you wait until now to say that?!"

"I just remembered."

"Remembered!?" Birna ran a hand through her hair. "Who—No, wait, don’t tell me! It’s Rael, isn’t it?!"

"Yes."

Birna groaned. "Oh, that poor woman."

Zephyrion chuckled. "Thanks."

"I wasn’t complimenting you," Birna huffed, but there was genuine amusement in her tone.

Then her expression turned serious.

"Listen. If those old council bastards try anything, tell Rael that I’ll handle them."

"As always," Zephyrion mused, "you show favoritism."

Birna grinned. "Damn right."

Zephyrion’s smirk softened slightly. "Still… thank you, Birna."

Birna sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Now, go. I have things to do."

The crystal’s glow dimmed, and the connection cut off.

---

The players entered through the hole-like entrance.

No one spoke.

There was no need to.

Each step carried them deeper into enemy territory, past the point of no return.

At the end of the corridor, the path split into two directions.

Arlon didn’t hesitate.

"This way," he said, leading the others toward the right entrance.

Without a word, Pierre and Lei stayed behind. Arlon had told them what to do before.

The two warriors exchanged a glance, then nodded to each other before continuing downward, deeper into the lair.

Their mission was different.

While Arlon and the others dealt with the Demons, Pierre and Lei would hunt the Named Monsters lurking below.

Their paths diverged.

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And with that, the battle truly began.

---

The moment Arlon and the others entered the room beyond the right entrance, they were met with a presence.

A figure stood before them, waiting calmly.

She was beautiful, but in a way that felt unearthly—long silver hair, serene yet piercing eyes, and wings that seemed far too divine.

But the aura she carried…

Overwhelming.

The players froze, instincts screaming that they were standing before something far beyond them.

Because they were.

Arlon remained calm.

He had met Syme before.

The second-strongest Demon.

The third-strongest entity in the entire Keldar army.

And yet…

In his past life, Syme had invited Arlon into another room.

And now, she was doing it again.

Syme’s gaze swept across the group before settling on Arlon.

Her voice was calm and composed.

"Come. Let’s talk elsewhere."

Arlon gave a small nod.

"Lead the way."

The others looked at him in shock, but he didn’t explain.

"Stick to the plan," Arlon said before following Syme.

The players hesitated but ultimately turned away—each preparing for their own battle.

As Syme led Arlon into the next room, her voice softened slightly.

"Are you up for a game?"

Arlon smirked. "If you’re offering, I won’t refuse."

She was wondering why he was doing everything she asked without question, but she didn’t ask.

A flicker of curiosity passed through her expression before gesturing to a table at the center of the room.

A chessboard.

The same one from his past life.

For now, it was time to play.

---

Pierre and Lei ventured deeper into the lair.

The tunnels here were darker, the walls lined with crude markings, symbols carved in a language neither of them recognized.

But they weren’t alone.

As they entered a vast underground chamber, a voice echoed from the darkness.

"You should not have come here."

Pierre and Lei instinctively drew their weapons.

Emerging from the shadows were three figures—each exuding an aura that sent a chill down their spines.

They were Named Monsters.

"You smell like warriors," one of the figures hissed, its voice like grinding metal. "Good. That means you won’t break too fast."

Another, taller and leaner, gave a slow tilt of the head, their eyes gleaming in the dark. "We are not mere beasts… but you already know that, don’t you?"

Lei smirked, gripping her sword.

"Finally. A challenge. This time, we won’t stop midway."

Pierre raised his shield, eyes sharp.

"Let’s see if you can back that up."

The monsters attacked.

And the fight began.