I Don't Need To Log Out-Chapter 181: Demons (3)

As Arlon disappeared into the next room with Syme, the six remaining players stood motionless for a moment, listening to the distant echo of their footsteps fading away.

Then, the silence broke.

"Well, well, well…"

A playful voice rang out across the room.

Lying on his sunbed, still half-reclined as if none of this mattered, Arn stretched his arms lazily and let out a yawn.

His child-like appearance made him seem harmless—small and fragile, with a face that belonged to someone no older than ten.

He had yellow hair and a black tail. His teeth seemed like they belonged to a shark, pointy and sharp.

There were black lines on his face that extended under his chin. And when he smiled, even with the black lines and pointy teeth, he looked innocent.

But the aura around him was anything but innocent.

"So, the saviors finally came," Arn murmured, swinging his legs over the side of the sunbed. His tone was mocking, dripping with amusement.

He tilted his head, eyes scanning the room.

"Hmm… what’s this? Arlon left already? That’s not very nice," he pouted. "I wanted to play with him too. Our Lord praised him a lot."

Nobody answered.

Zack cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "You talk too much for a kid."

Arn’s eyes lit up. "Oh? Are you mad, Mr. Big Warrior?"

Zack rolled his shoulders. "Nah. Just tired of listening to brats." He seemed mad, though.

Arn giggled. "Hehe! That’s funny. I bet you’re the kind of guy who gets mad when a kid beats him in a game."

"Not really."

"Are you sure?" Arn’s grin widened. "Because you’re about to lose."

Then—

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He vanished.

Zack barely had time to react before Arn reappeared behind him, crouched low, his fingertips nearly grazing Zack’s ankle.

Zack jumped back, barely dodging Arn’s claw-like nails, but the child Demon was already gone again.

"Too slow!" Arn’s voice rang out from the other side of the room.

Zack spun around, but there was nothing there.

Then—

A sharp gust of wind.

A flash of silver.

Arn struck from the side.

Zack barely lifted his sword in time to block, but even then, he felt a numbing force travel up his arm from the impact.

The Demon hadn’t even used a weapon. Just his bare hands.

Zack gritted his teeth. "What the hell—"

"Hehehe!" Arn reappeared again, sitting on his sunbed once more, swinging his legs. "See? You can’t touch me."

Zack’s jaw clenched.

He knew Arn was fast, but this was something else entirely.

His movements were like lightning, flickering in and out of sight before anyone could properly react.

And he wasn’t even serious yet.

"Zack, don’t fall for his taunts," Carole said calmly.

She wasn’t standing still.

While Zack was dealing with Arn’s teasing and quick attacks, she had been watching carefully.

She had seen how he moved.

And she was ready.

"June, get ready," she whispered.

June nodded, gripping the Infernal Spire tightly. "I’m always ready."

Carole took a deep breath.

Then—

She slammed her staff onto the ground.

A golden glow erupted beneath her feet.

"Holy Shield!"

A barrier of divine energy expanded in all directions, forming a shimmering dome of light.

Arn, who had been dashing in to strike Zack again, suddenly slammed into the shield mid-step—his body hitting it like a bug against glass.

"Kh—?!"

The force stopped him cold.

For the first time, Arn didn’t land gracefully. He stumbled, nearly falling back, his expression flashing with genuine surprise.

June didn’t waste a second.

"Flame Bind!"

A circle of fire erupted beneath Arn’s feet.

The flames exploded upward, threatening to engulf him, but at the last second, Arn twisted, using his speed to escape the center of the blast.

Still, he hadn’t fully dodged it.

A portion of his sleeve burned away, and a thin line of red appeared on his cheek—the first injury they had inflicted.

Arn touched his face.

Then—

His grin vanished.

The playfulness in his eyes faded, replaced by something sharp, cold, and lethal.

The act was over.

Arn cracked his neck, standing up straighter than before.

"So," he murmured. "That’s how it is, huh?"

His voice had changed.

It wasn’t child-like anymore.

It was deeper. More mature.

More real.

"You really want to do this?" Arn asked, brushing the remaining dust from his clothes. "Fine. No more games."

A dark aura began to surround him, flickering like a storm of black lightning.

Carole lifted her staff again, standing her ground. "So now you’re serious?"

Arn’s eyes gleamed.

"Heh. You should’ve let me play."

He vanished again.

But this time—

He was even faster.

The real fight had begun.

---

While the battle against Arn raged on the other side of the chamber, Evan, Carmen, and Maria remained on the sidelines, observing.

But then—

A new presence entered their vision.

A man, standing with an air of calm confidence, as if he belonged there.

The final Demon in the room.

He was Gellard.

Unlike the grotesque, monstrous forms of other Demons, Gellard looked human—because he was.

A European man, tall and well-built, with short blond hair and piercing gray eyes that carried an unsettling sharpness.

His posture was relaxed and his expression was unreadable as if he were amused by their presence.

The trio immediately changed their stances, their eyes locking onto him with undisguised judgment.

They didn’t speak at first.

They just stared.

Gellard tilted his head slightly, taking in their expressions with a knowing smirk.

"Ah," he murmured, "I take it you’re not here for friendly conversation."

Evan was the first to break the silence.

"You must be Gellard," he said coolly, stepping forward slightly.

Gellard nodded, completely unfazed.

"Indeed, I am," he replied smoothly, slipping his hands into his pockets. "And you are?"

Evan didn’t hesitate.

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"My name is Evan."

At that, Gellard’s eyes flickered with recognition.

"Ah," he said, letting out a soft chuckle. "Evan, huh? Also on the Leaderboard."

His smirk widened slightly.

"Sorry for taking your place."