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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Logout
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Logout
'Hydragon's Soul!'
The names were vividly etched into my eyes.
I couldn't tear my gaze away from the rewards floating in the air.
『Hydragon's Soul (Raid)
Summons and controls a Hydragon (Lv.5).
Can be enhanced by the hidden trait 'Beast Lord.'』
First, the soul of a raid boss monster.
I'd known it existed, but this was my first time seeing one.
Even after hunting over a thousand times, it had never dropped once.
An artifact of the highest grade that allowed summoning a Hydragon using a stone containing its soul!
The 'soul' of a raid boss monster was the treasure with the most abysmal drop rate. You could equip it or summon it to aid in battle, but due to its rarity, not even a single one had ever been put up for sale.
'Only one in five years since launch.'
Among them, Hydragon's Soul was even rarer than souls from other raid boss monsters. Just one had dropped three years ago—that was it.
Even that had only been indirectly mentioned on community forums via a photo. It belonged to an unknown player, and this was my first time seeing the character too.
'Rumors swirled that it was a dev account.'
In a way, this soul was harder to obtain than a unique-grade item.
Overwhelmed with emotion. Normally, I'd have posted screenshots all over the community.
The fact that it could be enhanced by a hidden trait was the icing on the cake. Electricity coursed through my entire body.
'And Michella's Sword on top of that.'
Was that all?
A massive two-handed sword. A blade that looked like it weighed well over 10kg gleamed brilliantly.
『Michella's Sword (Raid) (Set)
The sword of the giant knight Michella, who slew the first Hydragon. Imbued with the Hydragon's curse and Michella's spirit.
Required stats for use - Strength 20+
Activates 'Michella's Power (Strength +3)' when used by one who knows honor.
Collect three pieces of Michella's gear to use 'Heavenly Dragon.'』
There was no better sword for getting through the early game.
Especially for sword users, it boasted the best cost-performance. Gear that boosted stats usually piled up in the mid-game.
It even had a set bonus.
Collecting the sword, armor, and helmet unlocked 'Heavenly Dragon,' a transformation skill. Dragon wings sprouted from the back, allowing flight for extended periods.
'Michella's set is essential for skipping those hellish sections. But getting it early is like reaching for the stars...'
It helped locate grind-heavy quest sections, hidden dungeons, and hidden quests.
But acquiring it was like reaching for the stars. All three pieces were needed to activate it, and drop rates were brutally low.
Michella's Sword was the hardest piece to get among them. I got lucky.
'But what's this Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule?'
I knew the two above well.
But this. This golden coin was new to me.
『Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule (???)
A fragment of the broken Golden Rule.
Enables 'synchronization' between reality and Pangeniar. Can be toggled On/Off (remaining time: 24 hours).
Usable at the 'Golden Rule Shop.'』
All of it was unfamiliar. The Golden Rule, the Golden Rule Shop—none of it rang a bell.
Most of all, synchronization with reality.
"Insane...?"
The Snake Princess frowned upon hearing my mutter.
"...It's not insane. Snake Princess Isabella."
I hurriedly scooped them up.
Snake Princess Isabella von Dersian.
She gave me a brief odd look before speaking to the white knight.
"Escort him."
"Yes? But the queen said to kill them all..."
"He is a Returned One. We must treat him with utmost hospitality."
*
Paysalmer, the great desert city.
A world of absolute monarchy ruled by the queen!
There, I'd suddenly become a noble guest and rented out an entire luxurious palace.
'Who'd have thought the character I raised became Paysalmer's number two.'
Lost in thought inside the palace, gazing out.
On the way here, I'd learned Isabella was one of Paysalmer's real power players. I'd realized it instantly from how even the great warriors treated her with respect.
Desert great warriors followed only the queen or those she acknowledged.
"Shall we wash you?"
Turning at the voice behind me, five beautiful women stood in a line.
The palace was mine to do with as I pleased. Rented out entirely, yet full of women. Beautiful women in their prime, no less.
...This was a harem.
The realism was impossible for a game. Every vein was vividly clear. Every breath felt utterly natural.
The women wore only thin silk, fully revealing their voluptuous figures.
Even with the Iron-Blooded Lord's Heart, the dizzying instinct of a male was unavoidable.
"Just wash my feet."
"Yes."
I spoke as emotionlessly as possible.
They fetched water in clay basins and knelt gracefully before me.
Washing the feet.
A Paysalmer ritual for receiving outsiders.
Don't wash an outsider's feet upon entry? They're a slave. Washing them means they're a guest.
I was a guest. An extremely important one to the Snake Princess.
'Paysalmer's test.'
This whole situation was a test from Isabella.
A Star Awakener wouldn't lose to lust. She'd report my reaction. But refusing the foot wash would mark me as ignorant of desert etiquette.
Thus, the correct answer: accept the foot wash while maintaining composure.
Splash.
Gentle water sounds accompanied soft skin touching my feet.
Flawless hands. Skin directly against mine.
Ten hands melted away the tension in my feet.
Like being tickled by soft down.
I forcibly shifted my thoughts.
'Is there no way back to reality?'
I'd been pulled in while creating a character.
Yet mentions of reality kept popping up in this world too.
That meant there was a way back.
'No logout function visible. Can't force quit either... Hang on.'
A sudden thought hit me. I opened my status window.
Level: 2
Strength: 24 Stamina: 24 Agility: 24
Intelligence: 24 Mana: 24
...
[Time until Pangeniar Collapse: 7.66%]
<[As collapse progresses, the boundary between reality and Pangeniar crumbles.]>
<[When collapse exceeds 10%, the first rift occurs.]>
I scowled.
Stat growth was abnormal enough, but the real focus was below it.
It had been 6.12% at first glance.
Completing the main quest had increased it by about 1.5%.
Would Earth and Pangeniar truly collide at 100%?
'There was mention of the Hall of Fame too. What was that?'
Not the only question.
But the Hall of Fame mystery resolved surprisingly quickly.
Thinking of it summoned a window.
<[Hall of Fame has opened.]>
<[Rank on the main quest leaderboard to leave your name.]>
<[Rankings for 'Main Quest 1 - Survival' updated.]>
[1st, 220 points. Randolph]
[2nd, 195 points. Gracia]
[3rd, 187 points. MintChocoDelicious]
[4th, 170 points. Black Night]
[5th, 163 points. Massacre]
...
<[Enter the 'Survival' rankings to unlock the 'Logout' function.]>
<[Caution: Logging out leaves your character defenseless.]>
'...What?'
Familiar names.
Especially 2nd 'Gracia' and 3rd 'MintChocoDelicious'—longtime Pangeniar playmates.
I'd thought they'd quit when they vanished.
'Not quit, but summoned to Pangeniar like me?'
My head rang like I'd been clubbed.
Not just my character was here.
People I'd played with were too.
And.
'Logout...'
Logout.
Meaning, I could leave. Escape this hellish game!
"Stop."
The women washing my feet froze at my heavy voice.
"Yes...?"
"Everyone out. I need time to commune with the stars."
"But..."
Confusion crossed their faces. Foot washing was Paysalmer etiquette. Refusing wasn't a good sign.
I knew, but no choice.
"Failing to commune with the stars in time weakens the Star Awakener. Ask the Snake Princess if that's truly what she wants."
"Ah..."
The women nodded.
As expected, all spies from the Snake Princess.
I already knew why she'd brought me here.
"May your communion be comfortable."
They bowed solemnly and left.
...Phew. Lucky. That lame excuse worked.
Alone in the room, I sat in position. Then I pressed the red logout button at the edge of my 1 o'clock vision.
<[Logging out.]>
<[Place your character in a safe location.]>
<>
My vision flickered.
And.
<[Logout complete.]>
The world changed.
*
"..."
I stared blankly downward.
Computer chair. Faded white short-sleeve tee, cheap black track pants from the market.
Mountain of cigarette butts in a plastic bottle.
Same clothes, posture, environment as before playing.
'A dream?'
Had I dreamed it all from living like a shut-in?
But too vivid for a dream.
Besides.
"No way I'd have a golden coin like this..."
Something else on the desk.
Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule!
The radiant golden coin sat before me.
A small leather pouch beside it.
The logout button's spot now blazed red with 'Login.'
I slowly rummaged in the pouch. Two items tumbled out.
"Urgh!"
Thud!
A massive sword. The pouch stretched, spitting it out.
Hitting the floor, the house shook with a boom.
...No doubt, Michella's Sword.
Plus the artifact with a rune on a small stone: Hydragon's Soul.
"The game?"
The game window was closed. No— the game was gone entirely.
I grabbed the mouse, opened the internet.
Searched Pangeniar, went to the site.
[This homepage does not exist.]
...The site was gone.
Perfectly fine just moments ago.
I checked for news articles, just in case.
Not a single article about service end. YouTube searches only showed videos at least two years old.
'When the hell did service end?'
Videos remained, proving service had been live. The game existed.
People had logged in and played.
But at some point, uploads and players vanished.
Fine. All good.
One assumption: if summoned to Pangeniar like me, others could logout too. Traces should exist.
'Only top rankers can logout.'
But if numbers were limited?
If extremely few?
Many might still be trapped in-game.
Remaining info would be scarce or none.
'Should've exchanged SNS at least.'
I was a thorough solo player. Even raids, solo. Greetings at most, never real playtime.
No emails or messengers exchanged.
Damn mysterious loner vibe. I cursed my past self while typing.
'Comatose patients, missing persons lists...'
Fingers flew.
Comas and missing persons had exploded in recent years.
Tons of speculation. Maybe tied to Pangeniar.
Rumble!
Then it hit.
A vibration lifting my body slightly, floor shaking.
"M-monster!"
"Save us!"
Chaos outside.
Monster? What monster?
I yanked open the curtains and window. Cigarette smoke billowed out, revealing hell outside.
A grotesquely huge mantis, at least 4m tall, massacring the city.
Long antennae like tentacles snatching people, scythe-like forelegs slicing everything.
Eerily familiar. I muttered unwittingly.
'Giant Mantis...?'