I Don't Need To Log Out

Chapter 194 Sixth-Month Rewards

Arlon sat in silence.

June's words still lingered in his mind, playing over and over like an echo he couldn't quite shake.

He had spent his time in EVR pushing forward, fighting battles, and making decisions based on what needed to be done—never considering the weight of his actions on the world itself.

Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

He had never tried to lead.

But had he been leading all along, without realizing it?

Her words had filled his heart with something he couldn't quite define.

And at the same time, they had left it feeling empty.

He couldn't tell if the weight on his chest was responsibility... or hesitation.

---

Time passed, and the countdown for the six-month leaderboard rewards ended.

Arlon and his group were gathered inside a small café in Istarra, tucked away from the noisier parts of town.

The air smelled of brewed tea and fresh bread, and the soft murmur of other players filled the space.

The group had been chatting about various things—fights, training plans, what they would do next.

But June wasn't fully engaged in the conversation.

She sat across from Arlon, glancing at him every so often.

She didn't say it, but it was clear—she was scared she had said too much.

Had she overstepped?

Had she pushed him too far?

She had spoken from her heart, trying to make him understand his influence.

But what if she had only burdened him instead?

Despite this, Arlon wasn't thinking that way at all.

He wasn't angry. He wasn't annoyed.

He was simply thinking.

But then, a glowing screen appeared before him.

"Leaderboard rewards for the sixth month of EVR are now distributed!"

Arlon received two notifications.

The first was for being ranked first place on the six-month leaderboard.

A small, spherical object materialized before him, floating slightly above his palm.

It pulsed with a faint, unstable energy, shifting in color as if adapting to something unseen.

Arlon inspected it.

[Adaptive Skill Core]

Carole rolled her eyes. "I got a Divine Sigil. If I attach it to my staff, it permanently increases my healing range and efficiency."

Maria gasped. "Wait. Permanently?"

Carole nodded. "Yeah. It has a limit, but once I reach that cap, it's permanent."

Zack groaned. "Of course, the healer gets stronger while the rest of us still have to dodge attacks."

Carole smirked. "You could just stop getting hit, you know."

Zack ignored her and turned to Evan. "Alright, what did you get?"

Evan grinned and held up a small dagger with a violet glow. "Assassin's Remnant. It lets me mark an enemy I hit and recall to them instantly. Basically, teleportation."

He now had two good knives.

Lei tilted her head. "That's... actually really good."

"I know, right?" Evan twirled the dagger between his fingers. "Imagine stabbing someone, running away, and then—bam! You're right back in their face."

Carmen crossed her arms. "That sounds annoying."

"It is going to be annoying. For my enemies." Evan winked.

Pierre tapped the table. "My turn. I got something called Enduring Fortitude. It passively reduces all damage I take by a small percentage. The effect gets stronger the lower my HP is."

Zack groaned again. "Oh great, now you get to tank even better while I just have to hope I don't get hit."

Pierre grinned. "Maybe you should learn how to dodge."

"Why is that suddenly everyone's advice?!" Zack threw up his hands.

Lei giggled before showing her own reward. "Mine's called Elusive Grace. It makes my movement smoother and harder to predict in combat. Perfect for a sword wielder like me."

Zack gave her a blank stare. "So you get better dodging abilities, too? Is this a conspiracy?"

Maria chuckled. "Mine is Elemental Imprint. It lets me imbue my summons with elemental properties. I can give them fire, ice, or lightning attributes, depending on what I need."

Carmen nodded. "That sounds like a big power boost for you."

Maria smiled. "It is. But I'll need time to master it."

Carmen sighed. "Well, compared to that, mine is pretty simple. I got Summoner's Pact. It lets me form an extra contract with one more spirit."

Evan snapped his fingers. "Wait. You were already struggling with the ones you have. What makes you think you can handle another?"

Carmen glared. "I'll manage."

Evan grinned. "Can't wait to see you summon something you can't control."

June smirked. "If she does, we'll throw you in front of it as a test dummy."

"WHAT?!"

Laughter filled the café as the players exchanged banter, each of them processing their rewards in their own way.

Arlon, watching them, couldn't help but think—They were getting stronger.

Even though most of them received skills that they decided not to use before, these skills wouldn't prevent them from getting better with their abilities.

They were more like supportive gears.

So, he didn't prevent them from learning/using their rewards.