I Don't Need To Log Out-Chapter 183: Syme

In the past timeline, people didn’t know how Zeno worked at first.

So, when the players started switching to the other side, they started their complaints about their Zeno not working.

Since no Demon had been killed yet, or no player was killed by a Demon, they didn’t know the rules.

But when the players switched, they became Demons in name.

As per the rules, when a player killed a Demon or a Demon killed a player, the one that was killed couldn’t enter the game ever again and their Zeno would die.

This was the first spark that helped people on Earth realize that this was not a game.

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Arlon and Syme sat across from each other, the faint crackling of torches the only sound besides the steady tapping of chess pieces against the board.

"I didn’t know any other race would know about our game," Syme said, studying the board with mild curiosity.

"Well, we also have this game in our world," Arlon replied, moving a knight forward.

Neither of them acted as if this was unusual. They played chess like two old acquaintances rather than enemies meeting in the midst of a battlefield.

"Do you trust your friends to win the fight outside?" Syme asked, her crimson eyes flickering toward him.

"Yes." Arlon barely hesitated. "I don’t know if they all will survive, but I am sure that they will win."

Syme leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "I see. You don’t seem afraid of me. Is there a reason? I am the second strongest Demon, after all."

Arlon placed a pawn forward and met her gaze without hesitation. "I’ll be honest with you—I came from the future."

A brief silence stretched between them before Syme chuckled. "What? Do you actually think anyone would believe that?"

"You will." His tone was steady, unwavering. "Because I know that you won’t fight me."

Syme arched an eyebrow. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Because even if you don’t believe me now, I know you, Syme. I’ve fought you before. No... that’s not quite right. It’s more accurate to say that I never actually fought you."

Syme’s smirk faltered.

Unlike Asef, the leader of the Keldars, she wasn’t driven by blind destruction. Unlike the other Demons, she wasn’t fully committed to their cause.

She wanted to help her race.

But she hated how they were going about it.

Arlon knew this.

But she could never say it aloud.

If Asef even suspected her loyalty wavered, she would be killed.

That was why, instead of outright rebelling, instead of fleeing, she maintained the illusion of loyalty—playing her role carefully, walking a thin line between survival and treason.

Syme picked up a rook, twirling it between her fingers before setting it down. "Even if what you’re saying is true, what if I just run away and tell Asef about this?"

Arlon exhaled slowly. "Sigh… I know you won’t because you don’t like what they’re doing. You never have."

She watched him carefully, fingers still resting on the rook.

"Also," he added, moving his bishop forward. "I’m strong enough to defeat the strongest Demon, so I don’t think I’ll lose to you."

Syme let out a small, dry laugh. "Well, whether you’re telling the truth about coming from the future or not… what you said is correct."

The game continued, pieces shifting, the battle on the board mirroring the unspoken battle between them.

"So, while we play," Arlon continued, "will you answer my questions? If you do, I’ll help you."

Syme narrowed her eyes. "If you’re from the future, why do you need to ask me anything? Didn’t you ask me in the future you came from?"

Arlon smirked slightly, moving his queen forward in an uncoordinated attempt at an attack. "I didn’t trust you back then, so I did my best to win before you changed your mind."

A flicker of something passed through Syme’s expression—curiosity, perhaps amusement.

Arlon wasn’t a chess player. He knew the basics but had only played ten, maybe twenty times in his life. Syme, on the other hand, seemed far more familiar with the game, though she wasn’t playing aggressively.

She moved a piece, tilting her head. "I see. Then, go ahead. I’ll answer your questions. But how will I know you’ll actually help me?"

"Won’t you make me swear or something?" Arlon asked. "I remember there was a written oath."

For the first time, Syme looked genuinely surprised. "Oh? You know about that… So, you really are from the future, huh?"

"I told you I am." Arlon leaned back, eyes scanning the board absently. "Anyway, I’ll start with my questions now. I prepared today and tomorrow for our talk."

This was the reason they had arrived on Thursday and not Friday.

One more day of leveling up would have helped the players immensely, but this opportunity—this chance to gather information—was worth far more.

Arlon moved a piece, then looked up.

"What is Nyx—I mean, the dragon that came out of the egg I got from Draco’s treasury?"

---

Arn sidestepped just as Zack’s twin swords slashed toward him, the wind from the strike brushing past his face.

Without missing a beat, he swung his blade upward, forcing Zack to retreat before he could press the attack.

A moment later, a fireball roared toward him.

Arn barely had time to pivot. The heat licked at his arm as he twisted away, the spell exploding behind him.

June didn’t give him a second to breathe. She was already preparing another spell, her hands glowing with intense energy.

Sparks crackled in the air as a series of ice shards materialized above her. With a flick of her wrist, they shot forward.

Arn dashed sideways, dodging the first wave, but Zack was already closing in again, his swords flashing under the moonlight.

Arn caught one of Zack’s blades with his own and knocked it aside, but the second sword came from below, slicing toward his side.

Before he could block it, a golden light surged from behind Zack.

Carole.

Her healing spell wrapped around Zack, reinforcing his body mid-strike. But Arn wasn’t surprised.

Instead of blocking, he twisted his body just enough to let the blade pass by him, feeling the edge scrape his armor.

Using Zack’s momentum against him, Arn delivered a swift counterattack, slamming the hilt of his sword into Zack’s ribs.

Zack staggered, coughing, but Arn didn’t have time to follow up.

June’s ice shards struck the ground near his feet, spreading a thin layer of frost. Arn’s foot slipped slightly, and at that moment, a golden blur rushed at him.

Carole.

She wasn’t holding back.

Arn’s sword clashed against her staff as she swung with surprising force. He pushed back, but her determination burned in her eyes.

She struck again, not stopping even as she lost ground.

She’s not hesitating at all.

Arn parried her last strike, but at that moment, another blast came from behind her.

A pillar of flame erupted from June’s hand, forcing Arn to leap back before it could consume him. The second his feet touched the ground, Zack lunged again, pressing the attack.

Arn blocked the first sword. The second scraped against his shoulder.

He grimaced but didn’t falter.

His sword swung in a wide arc, forcing Zack back, but just as he was about to regain his stance, golden chains erupted from the ground.

Carole.

The magic-bound chains coiled around his legs, locking him in place.

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June finished her next spell.

The temperature dropped instantly, frost forming in the air as an enormous ice spear materialized above her.

Zack smirked. "Nowhere to run."

Arn exhaled slowly.

Then, as the ice spear descended, he moved.