I Don't Need To Log Out-Chapter 221: Hope

The symbols on the door shuddered, pulsing faster, as if acknowledging their presence.

June stepped back. "Is it… opening on its own?"

Arlon didn’t answer. He simply watched.

Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, he pressed his palm against the door.

The moment he touched it, the violet runes stopped shifting.

A low rumble echoed through the corridor.

The symbols disassembled, unraveling like thousands of invisible threads being pulled apart. The seal was breaking.

Agema chuckled. "There we go. No need to break it open."

The obsidian doors creaked, slowly pulling apart, revealing a dark, untouched chamber beyond.

A rush of stale air escaped—thick with the scent of lingering magic.

Agema’s eyes shone with excitement. "Now this is what I’ve been waiting for!"

Golden artifacts, magical tomes, and enchanted relics lined the circular room, stacked upon stone pedestals and within glass cases. The walls glowed faintly with embedded runes, preserving the magic of the objects within.

It was a true treasury—one filled with power, not just wealth.

Agema whistled. "Now this is a proper collection. Looks like the Demons had good taste."

June, still standing at the entrance, hesitated. "Are we sure nothing in here is cursed?"

Arlon wasn’t listening.

His eyes had already locked onto something.

Across the chamber, placed atop a carved obsidian stand, was a necklace.

It wasn’t extravagant—a simple silver chain with a dark gemstone at its center.

Arlon’s breath hitched.

A necklace.

Could it be—?

Without a second thought, he moved.

Fast.

June barely had time to react before he vanished, closing the distance in an instant. "Wha—? Hey, what’s he—"

Arlon reached out, fingers grasping the necklace, lifting it carefully from its pedestal.

For a split second, hope surged inside him.

But then—

The truth settled in.

He turned the necklace over in his hands, feeling the subtle hum of magic woven into it.

Then, he activated the Eyes of KET** to see what it actually was.

He was still hopeful even though everything pointed out that he shouldn’t have been.

And... It wasn’t a soul-bound artifact.

It was a mage’s item.

Designed to enhance mana flow, not hold or preserve a soul.

His fingers clenched around the chain for just a second before he let out a slow exhale.

Of course.

There was never going to be another soul item here.

Agema, who had been watching from the entrance, smiled faintly.

She knew exactly what he had been hoping for.

Arlon wasn’t running for just any treasure.

He had thought—just for a moment—that he had found something that could extend her time.

But Agema had never needed it.

Her "death" in three months was nothing more than this part of her soul returning to her true self.

She wouldn’t die. She wouldn’t disappear.

But he didn’t see it that way.

To Arlon, it was still losing her.

And that’s what made her heart ache just a little.

Just like Arlon had become accustomed to her presence, Agema also wanted to spend more time with her disciple.

But it was impossible. At least for now.

Agema cleared her throat dramatically, stepping forward into the treasury with an exaggerated stretch.

"Well, well! I didn’t expect my disciple to be so eager! You nearly tripped over yourself to grab that!"

Arlon glanced at her, keeping his expression neutral. "…It looked important."

Agema grinned, tilting her head. "Important? You mean, valuable?"

She let out a playful sigh, placing a hand on her chest. "Ah, what a relief! For a moment, I thought you were worried about little old me."

Arlon looked away. "Don’t be ridiculous."

June, oblivious to the deeper meaning, snorted. "What, were you hoping it was some secret legendary artifact?"

Arlon didn’t answer, simply closing his fingers around the necklace.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and handed it to June.

"Take it. It’s a mage’s artifact. You’ll get more use out of it than I will."

June blinked. "Wait, seriously?"

Agema took the opportunity to smirk knowingly at Arlon. "Oh, how generous of you! What a thoughtful gift for your dear companion."

Arlon exhaled. "Enough. Just take it, June."

June, still processing, eventually shrugged and accepted the necklace. "Well, I won’t say no to free gear."

Agema clapped her hands. "Perfect! Now, let’s stop getting all sentimental and start looting properly!"

Arlon knew exactly what she was doing.

She was shifting the mood, pulling attention away from what had just happened.

And for that, he was grateful.

She had seen right through him.

***

Despite the grand appearance of the treasury, it didn’t take long for them to realize that—for them, at least—there was nothing truly useful inside.

The room was filled with rare gemstones, money, and valuable armor sets, all of which would have been considered priceless to most players.

But to Arlon and June?

None of it suited them.

June still took something.

Near the edge of the chamber, she found a dark blue robe embroidered with silver thread, its design elegant yet imposing.

"This one looks nice," she muttered, running her fingers over the smooth fabric before shrugging. "Might as well take it."

Agema grinned. "It does suit you. You’ll finally look like a proper mage instead of someone who just throws fireballs for fun."

June rolled her eyes. "I do more than throw fireballs, you know."

Agema winked. "Of course, of course. I’m just saying, the image is important."

With the robe claimed, they divided the rest.

Arlon didn’t need the wealth.

He was already beyond rich, having looted countless Demons’ nests before.

Yet, he still took his half.

Gold, gems, and enchanted weapons vanished into his inventory.

All the equipment he found in this life, except for the few he sold when he was back in Istarra, was stored in the system’s inventory.

Arlon didn’t want to fill out his inventory with them since there were many.

He wasn’t planning to keep them anyway.

Instead, he would sell them all—just like he had with the equipment he had looted from other Demons’ lairs.

There was only one person he trusted for that.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Situ.

As the thought crossed his mind, Arlon suddenly remembered something.

The last time he had returned to Istarra, he hadn’t been able to meet Situ.

The blacksmith had been nowhere to be found, and though it hadn’t bothered him at the time, now he realized—

He missed the young Fhrem.

Situ had always been a relaxing presence, someone who talked about things that didn’t cause trouble or forced him into thinking heavy things.

It was a rarity.

And now that he thought about it, he kind of wanted to see the guy again.

Tch. Arlon shook the thought away.

There was no point in getting sentimental.

He would see Situ when he returned to Istarra again.

For now, he had more important things to focus on.