The dwarf said that they would have a much bigger advantage if I weren't there.
Now that I see it, he wasn't entirely wrong.
Whoosh!
My body shoots through the air like a cannonball, resisting air resistance.
I can see the entire battlefield at a glance from up high.
"Just hold on until Mr. Yandel gets here!!"
Although no one is seriously injured or dead, my companions are struggling.
The burden on them has increased several times over since I, the wall, am gone.
Woongie has been unsummoned, while the undead summoned by the priest of Karui are swarming from all directions.
"Huh?"
That's when I make eye contact with Misha.
"Uh, uh?"
"Miss Kaltstein! Where are you looking... Huh?"
I also make eye contact with Raven.
Although we're quite far apart, I can tell from her gaping mouth that she's thinking,
Why is the barbarian flying?
To be precise, I'm not flying.
It's more accurate to say that I'm falling.
It's the Barbarian Meteor.
Kwaaang!
I land on both feet, tightening my core muscles to maintain balance, and a footprint that's more like a crater is carved deep into the ground.
And...
Crackle.
...I feel a tingling sensation in my legs.
If I hadn't invested in Bone Density, my bones might have shattered.
I check the surroundings with that thought.
Whoosh!
A ring of dust spreads out from the landing point.
It's an additional effect of Leap, which is used as a movement skill.
「Jumping Power is temporarily increased by 10 times, and a powerful shockwave is released upon landing.」
AoE damage to the surroundings.
Of course, the damage itself is negligible.
Why else would I classify it as a movement skill?
Except for the small area I crushed, it's safe to say that there's no widespread damage.
Swaaaaaaaa!
The undead army is blown away by the wind pressure.
The dwarf bastards are just flustered by the sudden intrusion, standing still despite being hit by the strong wind.
But...
「Character's total weight is over 500 kg.」
「The special terrain effect [Recoil] is additionally applied to the damage radius.」
Sorry, but I'm in [Gigantification] state.
Thud!
Just like how you hear thunder after seeing lightning...
...the ground shakes as soon as the wind pressure disappears, throwing everything that was standing on it into the air.
"Kyaak!"
"What the...!"
Hundreds of undead and the dwarf bastards are floating in the air.
The corners of my mouth curl up into a wide smile at the overwhelming sight.
'Fortunately, my weight worked.'
I was secretly worried.
Although my equipment is also affected by [Gigantification] thanks to [Unification], there are still many parts that I haven't equipped yet.
Well, even if that weren't the case, the biggest advantage of the [Leap] skill is something else.
「Threat level is temporarily greatly increased.」
The threat level bonus that's applied for a short time after landing.
This is significant for me.
It means I have another skill that can increase the fixed value of my threat level, on top of [Gigantification].
"Th, the fact that he's here means..."
"Ba, bald bastard! That guy... is he dead?!"
"You said you could hold out!!"
I shout, looking at the dwarf bastards whose morale seems to have already been broken by my appearance,
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Because it's also the activation condition for [Wild Release].
「Character's threat level is temporarily tripled, and physical stats increase proportionally.」
Physical bonuses proportional to the threat level increase.
Right, this is it.
It feels like I've really become an ogre.
[Grrr!]
The summoned creatures, which are classified as monsters, start swarming towards me like crazy.
However, the intelligent ones are different.
"Re, retreat! Retreat!"
"Ru, run away!"
They abandon their formation and run away as if they've been afflicted with the 'Fear' status effect.
Hmm, is this just a rational judgment, not threat level?
Kwaaang! Kwaang! Whoosh! Thwack!
Giant mace and shield.
And my two legs, which have already become weapons, crush and deflect the undead summons as I chase after the dwarf bastards.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
I hear the footsteps of a giant monster with every step I take.
"Block him! Block him! You're the warrior!!"
"Crazy, how can I possibly block—"
The fairy archer, who was running away, stabs the beastman swordsman in the thigh with her dagger.
"Aak! You bitch...!"
The beastman swordsman rolls on the ground from the momentum.
"Uh, uh...?"
And then he ends up in my grasp.
My hand is big enough to hold a human head with room to spare.
"...Su, surrender. I surren—"
I slowly increase my grip.
But is it because of [Wild Release]?
He must have invested in Physical Resistance and such.
Kwagic!
It feels softer than a watermelon.
'Next.'
Although the insane vitality I felt from [Wild Release] disappears, it doesn't hinder my pursuit.
After all, the third chapter hasn't even ended yet.
We're trapped within a 500-meter radius barrier.
And I even have a movement skill now.
Kwaaang!
I use [Leap] to block their path, and the dwarf bastards throw down their weapons and surrender without hesitation.
They judged that it's better to just beg for mercy.
Well, they have a reason.
"Pl, please spare us. We'll do anything. You'll ne, need us to defeat the gu, guardian. Right?"
I'll have to think about this.
Anyway, I disarm them with the help of my companions who arrived later.
Then I guess I can deactivate [Gigantification] now.
"Bjorn! What the hell was that?! Me too! I want to do that too!!!"
Is it a barbarian's instinct?
Ainar's eyes are filled with greed after witnessing [Leap]. It's an incomparable greed compared to when she sees cotton candy.
I hide my smugness and promise,
"Huhu, I'll find something similar for you later."
"Really!! You promise!!"
"Yeah, I promise."
There's a skill similar to [Leap] in Ainar's build tree. It's a 3rd-grade essence, though, so it will take a few years to obtain.
Damn right, if you're a barbarian, you should at least be able to jump.
"Um, he, help me!"
Huh?
I hear those words while stripping the dwarf bastards of their equipment.
I turn my head and see a woman.
'Ah, she was alive too...'
The newbie Guide from Hans G's team.
So, her name was...
I'm too lazy to ask, so let's just call her Guide Girl.
"Potion! Please, lend me a potion. I already gave him what I had..."
I follow Guide Girl's gaze and see the mace warrior collapsed on the ground.
"Is he alive?"
"Ye, yes!"
Guide Girl nods enthusiastically, as if seeing a glimmer of hope.
I hesitate for a moment.
It's only natural to save him, but using a potion might be a waste.
In the end, I grab the priest of Karui.
"Hi, eek!"
Geez, he's easily scared.
Who said I was going to kill him?
I carry the priest to the mace warrior and put him down.
"Heal him."
"Ye, yes!"
Although he serves the evil god, a priest of Karui can also use ordinary divine power.
Well, if he couldn't, it would be impossible for him to maintain his disguise.
Swaaa.
The mace warrior's burns slowly disappear as divine power is imbued into his body.
His breathing has stabilized considerably.
"Thank you. Thank you. Truly..."
"More importantly, what happened to the mage?"
"He, he's dead."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. When I, I checked, his heart had already..."
"I see. We'll take care of him, so stay by his side until he wakes up. He must be confused."
"Okay, okay! Thank you...!"
When I return to where my companions are, the process of taking the dwarf bastards prisoner is complete, and they're all practically naked.
"...Where did you get the gags?"
"I brought them."
What? Why gags?
I ask out of pure curiosity, and I get an unexpected answer.
"I'm also interested in this field."
"Uh... I, I see?"
I'm genuinely flustered.
But this kind of reaction might hurt Raven's feelings.
"Right, that's also... not, not bad?"
I express my lack of objection to avoid any misunderstandings.
But what's this again?
"Not bad? Mr. Yandel, are you also interested in monster studies?"
"Monster studies?"
Raven also tilts her head as I tilt my head in confusion.
A hypothesis suddenly comes to mind.
"Don't tell me... those gags are for monsters?"
"Yes, but...? I was thinking of capturing one and studying it later when I had the chance. Wait, then who were you planning to use those on...?"
Raven trails off, her face turning red in an instant.
"...Don't come near me."
"How far?"
"1 meter."
"...Alright."
And so, our half-joking agreement to maintain distance is made, and I approach the prisoners.
And I remove Hans G's gag.
Because I have a question.
"I have something to ask."
"Yes? Ah, yes! An, anything!"
"How did the dwarf find out that you're an evil spirit?"
"...Yes?"
Hans G looks at me as if I asked a strange question. But he obediently answers without offending me.
And the truth is completely unexpected.
"Th, that guy is also a pl, player... No, I, I mean, an evil spirit."
The dwarf was also from Earth.
That's why he was able to figure out Hans G's identity just by his behavior.
"Tell me exactly what happened between you two."
I listen to the details of the situation.
It's not a long story, except for the fact that he keeps stuttering.
The dwarf used a magic tool to talk to Hans G during their watch. And he came out, talking about things that only someone from Earth would know.
Hans G, happy to meet a fellow countryman, admitted it.
But it was a trap.
The magic tool the dwarf used recorded their conversation.
Hans G, caught by his weakness, accepted the dwarf's threatening proposal to pull off a big heist after defeating the guardian.
For reference, there was also a carrot along with the stick.
He promised to split the loot fairly and even take him to Noark if things went wrong.
"I, I re, refused. Bu, but... Ugh, ugghh!"
I end the conversation and put the gag back in his mouth, as if expecting him to make pathetic excuses.
I've already found out everything I needed to know.
'What the hell, there are four players out of fifteen?'
The fairy archer, Hans G, the dwarf, and me.
Although it's ridiculous, I'm the final winner.
...Well, there's still the final battle left.
In that sense, I move on to the next topic.
I activate team voice magic and then...
"I want to hear your opinions."
"On what to do with these people?"
"Yeah."
It's not that I'm going to decide by majority vote.
If I make a decision, my teammates will all follow my lead.
But I want to hear their opinions first.
"They attacked us! We have to kill them!"
"Hmm, I don't know. If we can clear the rift on our own, then of course we should kill them... but..."
"Do you think they'll actually cooperate?"
Most of the opinions are similar.
That they're not trustworthy.
"There's a saying, 'An untrustworthy ally is more dangerous than an ogre'."
Even if we fight together, if we can't fight properly because we're worried about them betraying us, it would be putting the cart before the horse.
"Still, the Noark side is a bit better."
"Better?"
"As soon as we leave the rift, we won't see them again, right? If we promise to spare their lives, there's a chance they might try to side with us."
Raven's gaze turns towards the fairy archer and Hans G.
"But those two are different."
Evil spirits.
They're beings that feel even more sinister and unsettling than explorers from the underground city.
"That's right! The chieftain said so too! That we have to kill evil spirits on sight!"
"Yeah... I didn't know before, but after experiencing this today, I understand. Why people told us not to trust evil spirits..."
"They'll do anything to hide their identity. It's wise to eliminate them when we have the chance. The result of trusting an evil spirit is right there."
Every word feels like a dagger piercing my heart.
What if my teammates found out about my identity?
Would they look at me like that too?
"So, Mr. Yandel, what do you think?"
I dismiss the meaningless thought and tell them my conclusion.
"I think it's better to kill them now."
I never intended to spare them in the first place.
It was just a matter of whether to kill them now or after defeating the guardian.
I've already adapted to this world.
"Can we defeat the guardian with just the five of us?"
"We'll have to try."
Although it sounds reckless, it's not entirely without basis.
First of all, the mace warrior survived.
Our strength has increased to six people.
And there are other useful items among the loot, like the Guardian Corps Insignia I obtained this time.
And most importantly, if my prediction is correct, we'll have one more mage.
"Then we just have to find the Doppelganger."
"Yes. It will take a while for the Stone of Truth to appear, and we agreed not to cooperate, so I think we can just kill them all. They'll be released once they're offered to the altar, right?"
"Deactivate the Voice Control spell."
I have Raven deactivate the team voice magic and then approach the prisoners.
A silence filled with a strange mix of hope and anxiety.
"..."
Their questioning gazes, filled with both hope and fear, are focused on me.
Well, they should know, right?
That the meeting is over and a decision has been made.
There's no need for long words.
"It won't hurt."
Probably.
"Ugh, ugghh! Ugghh!!"
The prisoners, who were waiting for me to open my mouth, start struggling and shouting.
Like flickering candles longing for life.
I swing my mace without hesitation.
First, the priest of Karui at the very end.
Kwagic!
Then the sorcerer.
Kwagic!
Hans G.
Kwagic!
And lastly, the fairy archer.
I smash their heads with enough force to kill them instantly, even if they're possessed by a Doppelganger.
Kwagic.
The whole process takes less than 5 seconds.
These people, who were struggling more fiercely than anyone else just a moment ago, are now silent.
Four corpses with their heads crushed, lying on the ground.
I only have one thought as I look at them.
It's a good thing I gagged them.
"Mr. Yandel! How could you just smash them like that?!"
Huh?
"Even if they're for monsters, they could break! What if they're damaged?!"
Ah...
But that's not what's important right now, is it?
"You're calm."
"Yes? What do you mean..."
"You're the only Doppelganger candidate left."
Nine people were immune to the verification magic.
And only Raven and I are still standing.
But I'm excluded since I used the Stone of Truth.
Did she finally realize the situation?
"Ah...!"
Raven shouts with wide eyes.
"It's not me! Why would I be a Doppelganger! No, this can't be...? There's some kind of mistake..."
Right, that's how it is.
"Raven is the Doppelganger. Everyone, step back!"
The three flinch and retreat at my shout.
"So, so you were the Doppelganger... I never even dreamed of it."
"Give me back Aruru!! She's human and a mage, but! She's still my precious companion!!"
The melee damage dealer duo is shocked.
And...
"I, I'm not... Believe me. I'll use the Stone of Truth tomorrow to prove it! Okay?"
"To make us waste the Stone of Truth even after everything is over, you're a cunning monster."
The bear-like man raises his crossbow and enters a wary state. Raven's expression turns into one that's about to cry.
"N, no..."
I can't believe she can make that kind of face.
"I, I'm really not!!!"
Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen her shout this loudly.
'This is... precious.'
It's not a common sight, so I feel a bit greedy...
...but if I push it any further, she might actually cry.
So I end the prank here.
"You're the only one left. But if it's not you, then who is it?"
"Th, that's...!"
"You were the one who said that the Doppelganger is released when the host dies, even if they're not offered to the altar, right?"
I subtly give her a hint while cornering her.
I judge that our mage will be able to figure out one possibility just from this.
"Ma, maybe!! Someone might still be alive!! Doppelgangers are good at pretending to be dead!"
It's the line I've been waiting for.
"Someone is alive..."
"Wh, where are you going?"
Raven shouts in confusion as I start walking.
Thud.
I stop.
It's the spot where Parteian, the mage who lost his shoulder to the dwarf, is lying.
I bend down and check his pulse.
"...Is, is he alive?"
"Be quiet."
His heart isn't beating.
And he's not breathing either.
Thump, thump.
I get up and kick the wound with my foot.
"..."
There's no reaction.
Hmm, is he enduring this much?
I take out a potion and pour it on him.
Sizzle.
The wound bubbles and heals.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
Right, even you can't endure a potion.
-x-X-x-
The Shadow Altar.
In this chapter, the Doppelganger acts solely to achieve two goals.
To make the expedition party waste the Stone of Truth.
And if that fails, to continuously cause conflict and reduce the number of party members.
In that sense, there was one prime suspect.
[Where are you from?]
Kyleman Parteian.
The mage from Hans G's team who split the expedition party in half with a single sentence.
I also thought it was just an accidental landmine at first.
The mage team, including Hans G, didn't seem to know that the dwarf's party was from Noark.
But...
[Dwarf, are you the Doppelganger?]
I persistently attacked the dwarf's party.
Asking him where he got the equipment in his backpack, what exactly the official said when he received the identification tag, and so on, throwing countless questions he couldn't answer to make him look suspicious.
However, I didn't consider one thing back then.
How did the dwarf, struggling to answer those simple questions, appear to the Doppelganger?
'He must have seemed suspicious. And then he would have wondered why.'
It's the body of a smart mage.
The Doppelganger must have realized the truth about Noark through the questions the dwarf couldn't answer.
He must have been tempted too.
He just happened to have a suitable item in the body he possessed...
...and it would be easier to hide his identity if he used it well.
[He's, he's dead.]
The Doppelganger bastard knows how to play dead.
I've been tricked by it several times in the game.
Unless you kill them instantly, this bastard enters a hibernation state, maintaining life and toying with the player.
Just like this.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
The Doppelganger convulses as soon as the potion is poured on him.
If I hadn't known about this element, I would have had no choice but to use the Stone of Truth on Raven even after beating up all the remaining candidates.
"It's a Doppelganger!!!"
Raven, finally cleared of suspicion, shouts in a voice that's more joyful than ever, and the Doppelganger bastard denies it while screaming.
"No, no! Hey! I! Kyaaaaaak!!"
Just how much is he looking down on us?
It's ridiculous, but it's also pointless to argue with a monster.
I just grab him by the neck and walk towards the altar.
His struggle intensifies as we get closer to the altar.
"How... did you...!!"
He finally gives up on making excuses and expresses his doubt.
I chuckle.
Actually, there was another decisive reason.
'At least act properly.'
A mage's biggest weakness is close combat.
But he blocked the dwarf's axe, which was aimed at his head, with his shoulder.
It's impossible unless he predicted the attack.
And in the first place, it's ridiculous that he died from that.
If he had died from excessive bleeding, it might be different...
But he stopped breathing before Guide Girl could even give him a potion?
「Successfully discovered the marauder possessing the expedition member.」
A white light starts emanating from the altar as soon as I press the Doppelganger's head against it.
And the forest trembles as if there's an earthquake.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
Something in the shape of a shadow is extracted from his head and lets out a terrifying scream, darting between the trees.
And...
"Oh! It's running away!!"
...it disappears in one direction.
There's no need to panic.
It means the third chapter is over.
「1 Stone of Truth used.」
「Unsealing rate 10%.」
「Quickly pursue and kill the marauder before it regains its sealed power.」
It's time to fight the final boss.
"Bjorn, let's chase after it!!"
"Stop. We have things to do first."
I first calm Ainar down and check Parteian's condition.
Ah, of course, Raven does it, not me.
"How is he?"
"His injuries are mostly healed, so he should regain consciousness soon."
"I see."
Raven, who rushed over to check on Parteian as soon as I called her, finally relaxes.
It seems like her runaway mental state has returned, and her strength has left her.
"Whew..."
The melee damage dealer duo and the bear-like man approach with awkward expressions and each say something.
"Wow, so he really was a Doppelganger..."
"I told you, it wasn't me!"
"Ahem, mages are mages after all? To think of the possibility that someone might still be alive in that situation."
"Ha, what would have happened if it weren't for me..."
"Aruru! You know? I believed in you!"
"Believe my ass... No, wait, where did 'Aruru' even come from?"
"Uh?! Don't tell me you don't like 'Aruru'?"
Ainar looks dejected as if she's hurt.
Of course, Raven isn't the type to be swayed by something like that.
"Would I like that? Arrua Raven! Please call me by my name properly. I really hate this kind of—"
"I, I wanted to call you by your name, but it's hard to pronounce..."
Raven shuts her mouth as Ainar hangs her head low.
And she asks cautiously,
"You wanted to call me by my name? What do you mean?"
"Because you're a precious companion, even though you're human and a mage."
Ainar says something embarrassing without changing her expression, as expected of a barbarian.
"Ha, seriously, that pronunciation..."
Raven sighs incredulously and then turns her head away.
"Whatever. Call me whatever you want."
"Really?!"
"Yes. They call me that at the school anyway, so it would be weird for me to get angry, wouldn't it?"
"Thank you! Aruru!"
It's a heartwarming scene where companions deepen their bond after overcoming adversity.
I think to myself as I watch them,
She's weak to this kind of thing, even though she doesn't seem like it.
'I should use this later if I do something wrong.'
I make a mental note and then we have some time to reorganize after the brief conversation.
There are a lot of things to do before the boss battle.
"Both of you, come here."
First, I call Guide Girl and the mace warrior who regained consciousness.
"You heard what happened, right?"
"...Yes."
Their eyes are vacant, as if they're still in shock from the fact that Hans G and the fairy archer were evil spirits.
"Get a grip. You can do that after we get out alive."
"What should we do?"
"Tell me what you can do first."
I check the mace warrior's combat power first.
What kind of essence he absorbed, what kind of combat he's capable of, and so on.
Normally, it would be personal information that he wouldn't reveal to outsiders, but considering the situation, the mace warrior cooperates with me.
"I see. And you?"
"I, I'm not helpful in battle except for finding the way. I'm sorry."
One 6th-grade warrior and one ungraded Guide.
"But Mr. Parteian will be a big help to you. He's a 5th-grade mage."
"What? 5th-grade?"
"That's right. Although he's specialized in support magic rather than attack magic... he's the one who usually plays the biggest role in our team. It's better to hear it from him directly when he wakes up."
I'm truly surprised.
Because Raven is still a 6th-grade mage.
How the hell did that Hans bastard persuade such a talented person to join his team?
'So we have to defeat the guardian with seven people, including a 5th-grade mage...'
I can't see the whole picture yet.
I don't have enough paint to fill it in.
Therefore, I thoroughly search the loot left behind by the dwarf bastards while Parteian is regaining consciousness.
"Check everything. Have Raven examine anything that looks suspicious. We have to use everything we can."
Hans G, the fairy archer, the beastman swordsman, the dwarf, the sorcerer, and the priest of Karui.
The archer who was offered to the altar has become a spirit, so we can't loot him until after clearing the rift.
"Aruru! What about this?"
"I can sense mana. But I can't read the spell structure, so it's not a magic tool... It's highly likely a Numbered Item."
"Ooh! These boots! They're perfect for me!"
"They're boots made of Half-Troll leather. They're enchanted with the 'Acceleration' spell. They're expensive, so be careful. We have to include them in the settlement later."
Useful items appear every time we open a bag, as expected of experienced explorers.
It feels like we've opened a treasure chest.
"Raven, can you check this too? I know it's made of Laetium, but why would they make a necklace out of this?"
"It's because of mana conductivity. The efficiency of the same spell is different. So let's see, this necklace is..."
Raven assesses the value of various items at an incredible speed, as if she's found her calling.
But even so, it takes longer than expected, and Parteian also wakes up.
"Uh, uh..."
The middle-aged mage is confused as he looks at the forest filled with corpses and equipment.
I send the mace warrior to explain.
"So, so a Doppelganger possessed my body?"
"Noark... Right, I thought it was suspicious that his bag was full of unused equipment. It makes sense if they're from that place."
"Mr. Krisen and Miss Meilin are evil spirits...?"
The mage's face turns pale as he listens to the explanation. But as expected of a mage, he approaches me and expresses his gratitude even in this situation.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, something terrible would have happened."
"If you're grateful, go help Raven. It's not the time to relax."
"Alright."
The process speeds up significantly after Parteian joins us.
Unexpectedly, he's an expert in this field.
"...Appraisal magic? Were you from the Narman school?"
"Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves. That's right."
"I'm Arrua Raven from the Artemion school."
"Haha, I know. There's only one place that engraves such a beautiful pattern on their robes."
"My master is a bit eccentric..."
A mage from the Narman school who can use special appraisal magic.
With Parteian, we can now classify not only Numbered Items, but also items we couldn't identify before.
After some time...
"It seems like we've found everything useful, so let's gather everyone."
We finish sorting and gather in one place to begin a temporary settlement.
"Just so you know, I've written down everything you're taking, and we'll have a proper settlement later. If you want to keep using it, you'll have to pay for it then. Got it?"
"Got it!"
"Then Ainar, come here."
I look at the organized list and distribute the acquired items to each person.
The only criterion is this:
Who will be most effective using it?
"Take off your shoes and give them to Misha."
"Th, there's no way! They won't even fit me!!"
"Don't worry, I confirmed that they're enchanted with the size adjustment spell."
Although there are some complaints about my somewhat arbitrary decision, the leader's authority exists for times like this.
"Ainar."
"Alright, just give them to me..."
Starting with Ainar, my companions each take the useful equipment.
From one to four or five items per person.
I wonder how much this would all sell for?
Every time I fight explorers, I feel it deep down.
Why they all loot.
"Then that's settled."
I store the remaining loot in my and Raven's subspace pockets.
It's not just for safety reasons.
There's just too much.
Smirk.
I can't stop smiling as I look at my newly acquired equipment.
Is this the law of the Hans backlash?
「Character has equipped No. 2988 Guardian Corps Insignia.」
「Total item level increased by +1,485.」
「Character has equipped No. 8667 Outlaw of the Wasteland.」
「Total item level increased by +315.」
「Character has equipped Idium greaves.」
「Total item level increased by +400.」
That Doppelganger bastard is dead.
__________________
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 5
Physical: 560 (New +5) / Mental: 213 (New +15) / Ability: 191
Item Level: 3,068 (New +2,200)
Total Combat Index: 1,731 (New +570)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Manticore - Rank 5 (New)
-x-X-x-
I'm walking through the dark forest.
Endlessly following the direction where the Doppelganger disappeared from the Shadow Altar.
"...."
I move my feet in the tense atmosphere.
For reference, I'm at the forefront, and the others are following a few meters behind.
It's a bit of a distance for a typical formation...
But what can I do?
This is the life of a carry tank.
"Battle stations!"
The moment I sense a presence ahead...
...dozens of Doppelgangers appear from the darkness beyond the reach of the light orb spell.
It's a change that occurs when you enter the fourth chapter.
Once the Doppelganger's seal is released, the number of clones in the field increases exponentially.
And...
"Enemies of the, the Empire...!"
"Kill... them!!"
...they no longer transform into our appearances.
At least not until we meet the main body.
I don't know why.
I just accepted it when I played the game.
Well, I guess there must be some hidden background to this phenomenon...
But that's not what I should be thinking about right now.
「Character has cast [Leap].」
I jump and land in the middle of them before they get any closer.
Kwaaang!
The ground shakes as soon as I land, and the special terrain effect [Recoil] follows. Dozens of Doppelgangers are thrown into the air simultaneously.
Kwagic!
I swing at one of them like I'm swinging a baseball bat and cast [Wild Release].
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
My threat level is tripled.
The Doppelgangers, disguised as soldiers, charge towards me like beasts with their eyes rolled back.
They can't ignore the taunt since they're classified as monsters.
"For... the Empire..."
Although the Doppelgangers disguised as soldiers don't have any skills, they're still formidable opponents.
Because their base stats are incredibly high.
Just by looking at the shield warriors enduring my mace swings, I can tell that each of them is at least as strong as Ainar.
And the fact that they're composed of various classes like archers, spearmen, swordsmen, mages, crossbowmen, and shield warriors also contributes to the increased difficulty.
But...
Kwagic! Kwagic!
Although they block what they need to block...
...they never dodge.
In the first place, dodging is pointless.
We're surrounded.
I have no choice but to tank the hits and wait for my companions' support.
「Arrua Raven has cast the 5th-grade attack spell [Lightning Bolt].」
The long-awaited magic is finally completed.
Lightning bolts rain down from the sky.
「Kyleman Parteian has cast the 5th-grade support spell [Spell Enhancement].」
The power is about twice as strong as usual, thanks to Parteian's support.
Therefore, I pause for a moment to avoid getting hit by the magic.
Kwaaang!
The 'Lightning Bolts', which resemble a natural disaster, strike for about 5 seconds, but it's enough to cripple half of the Doppelganger army.
'As expected, hunting is all about mob farming.'
We take care of the remaining stragglers with the help of my companions, who were waiting in the distance.
And so, one battle ends.
The mace warrior wipes the blood off his weapon and mutters,
"...Mr. Parteian, Miss Sarman will be alright, right? I'm worried."
"Didn't you see? The Doppelgangers couldn't even get close to the altar. She'll be fine as long as she doesn't go outside."
"Still, wouldn't it have been better to bring her with us...?"
It seems like the mace warrior is still worried about Guide Girl, whom we left in the safe zone.
But it was an unavoidable choice.
Although there might be a way to utilize Guide Girl considering the Doppelganger's characteristics...
...that's only if we use her as a disposable pawn.
If we bring her along as someone we need to protect, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.
"Stop it. Miss Sarman also agreed. We'll all die if we fail anyway."
Parteian, observing my expression, ends the conversation, and I resume exploration without saying anything.
There's no point in wasting time.
Rumble!
As we continue fighting and moving through the dark forest, I feel a slight tremor beneath my feet.
It means the unsealing rate has reached 20%.
Well, it increases by about 1% every 10 minutes, so it was about time.
"Mr. Yandel, can we go a little faster?"
"Alright."
We increase our speed as if being chased by time.
And...
"We're here."
...we finally reach our destination.
It's a sinkhole that we didn't see when we were searching the forest for the mid-bosses.
If we go down here, the boss battle will begin.
But first...
"Let's search the vicinity before we go down."
We follow Raven's instructions and search the area around the sinkhole.
It doesn't take long.
"As expected, the book was right. There's always one hidden near the entrance."
A white stele emitting an eerie sound.
In the game, it was called a 'Sealing Stone'.
But it's not really a hidden piece on its own.
They appear all over the forest once the fourth chapter begins...
"The book was right?"
...and you can naturally learn about the Sealing Stone through the [Record of Offerings] that's generated at the Shadow Altar after the third chapter ends.
Well, even so, it just tells you to find and activate it.
"The record didn't mention anything like that."
"It's a different book, not the record."
Raven doesn't answer Parteian's question in detail and places her hand on the Sealing Stone.
Swaaaaaaaaa!
A black light shoots up into the sky like a pillar.
「The Sealing Stone has been activated.」
「Unsealing rate decreased by 10%.」
With this, the Doppelganger's unsealing rate has decreased by 10%.
Of course, it doesn't really matter in our strategy...
...but there's no reason to skip it since it's on our way.
"Then we've finished all the preparations we can do here."
We then return to the sinkhole.
"Everyone ready?"
It's time for the boss battle.
___________________
「Character has entered the Marauder's Hideout.」
___________________
The boss battle, the flower of a rift.
However, the boss battle in the 'Doppelganger Forest' is a bit unique.
First of all, the expedition party has to be split into two.
One team fights the boss...
...and the other team searches for Sealing Stones in the forest filled with Doppelganger soldiers and manages the unsealing rate.
It's the standard strategy written in the [Record of Offerings].
'What an annoying concept.'
You can only clear this place if you trust each other and fulfill your roles.
We would have also split into two teams, each with two or three members from each team, and fought the boss.
If that landmine hadn't exploded.
[We can't use that method anymore. There are only seven of us.]
Things went wrong as the expedition party was halved.
We don't have enough people to split into teams.
Then what should we do?
I came up with an answer after checking the loot left behind by the dwarf and Hans G's teams, and I subtly hinted it to Raven so that she would reach the same conclusion.
All-in.
Instead of splitting our already small number into two and achieving nothing...
...we'll focus all our strength in one place and aim for a quick victory.
In short, it's the veteran player strategy.
[It might be a bit risky, but is everyone okay with this?]
[There's no other choice, is there?]
And so, the foundation for the strategy is laid.
I estimate the success rate to be 90%.
Of course, probability is just a number, so we have no choice but to try it and see.
Life isn't something that always goes according to Plan A.
Thud!
I jump down the hole first, like a barbarian, to check if it's safe. And when I give the signal, the others follow one by one.
"The air is chilly."
It's a cold cave.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak—!!]
It seems like he also sensed our presence, as he lets out a grotesque howl from inside.
I chuckle.
This is one of a barbarian's roles.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go get him."
To encourage my companions.
I take the lead without hesitation and enter the straight passage, and the others, who were hesitant, regain their composure and follow.
Thud, thud.
After walking for about forty steps...
...the fog that was scattered throughout the cave clears, revealing the boss room.
A cavern with a giant magic circle drawn on the floor.
Stones of Truth are scattered around like toys, and something in the shape of a person is crouching in the center, its back to us.
And a sniffling sound.
"You, you too... came to kill me...?"
Something turns its head and looks at us.
The face that's revealed isn't any of us.
It's just an ordinary child.
If it weren't for the fact that his eyes, nose, and mouth are upside down.
"I, I didn't do anything wrong..."
The child glares at us with resentment.
And then the emotion in his eyes turns to anger.
It's a common intro to a boss battle.
"I'm the same as you—!"
Therefore, I skip it before he can finish his line.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Since it's not a good environment to use 'Leap', I just dash forward and swing my mace.
Thwack!
The child's head is crushed while he's still sitting.
But it doesn't feel like the usual impact.
It's like hitting a sandbag filled with water.
[Kyaaaaaaaaak!!]
A scream echoes throughout the cave, and the child turns into a black slime.
Bubble, bubble, bubble!
It expands and contracts like sea urchin spines.
'I'm the first one, huh.'
When the process is over, another me is standing there.
Mimicry.
It's a unique skill possessed only by Doppelgangers, something you can't obtain even by absorbing an essence.
But it's a bit different from the field.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak!!"
He no longer imitates my words and actions.
And...
「The nameless marauder has cast [Swing].」
...he's not just mimicking, he's stronger than the original.
It's like a 5th-grade monster's stats are added to the stats and skills of the mimicked target.
He's not a 4th-grade monster for nothing.
Whoosh!
I first dodge to the side as a test.
His mace crashes into the ground...
Kwaaang!
...and creates a crater, shaking the entire cave.
It's a level of power that I wouldn't be able to achieve until my Strength stat increases by at least 200. I feel a sense of pride, thinking that this is my future self.
However...
'I can definitely block this.'
I can just make up for my lacking stats with items.
I block him with my shield, preventing him from reaching my companions.
Kwaaang!
I don't hear the clear sound of impact I was expecting.
And the weight I feel through the shield is beyond imagination.
This is 50% reduced impact?
"Raven!!"
I call for support, like a cunning explorer.
Magic flies towards me immediately.
It's mostly curse magic with short casting times since our opponent is a high-grade monster.
Kwaaang!
His attacks are a bit easier to handle now.
But it just means the first prerequisite for the strategy has been met.
The real first phase starts now.
「The nameless marauder has cast [Flesh Explosion].」
Black slime splatters from the Doppelganger's body, which is mimicking me, and falls to the ground. They're small particles, too many to count.
"Iherno Haindar!"
Raven's staff spews flames and melts the particles, but it's impossible to eliminate them all.
The particles that stubbornly crawl on the ground start to mimic our appearances after going through a transformation process.
"There are four of them!"
Raven calmly informs me, and…
…I make a quick judgment.
Since they're clones, they won't be as strong as the original.
Therefore, the plan continues.
"Ignore me and defeat them!"
I decide to focus on the main body and leave the clones to my companions.
That's when…
"They're all Hans Krisen!"
…I freeze at Raven's additional briefing.
'What?'
I check my surroundings, even though we're in the middle of a battle. Of course, Raven didn't give me the wrong information.
'…Damn it.'
How can they all be Hans G?
They should transform into one of the fifteen people, whether dead or alive.
Then what the hell are the chances of this?
Raven shouts, oblivious to my thoughts,
"It's a good thing there's no Mr. Yandel among the clones! Let's hurry up and take care of them!"
Her voice is as if she's delivering good news.
I can understand her feelings.
Hans G's combat power is relatively low among us, and having four summoners would be a bad combination.
It's definitely a good thing for us.
But…
Thump.
…my heart starts pounding like crazy.
-x-X-x-
Doppelganger clones are different from the main body.
They can only use the mimicked target's abilities, and the ones that are newly summoned in the boss room have low intelligence.
No, should I say proficiency?
Unlike the real Hans G, who summoned all his summons simultaneously at the beginning of the battle…
…the clones stutter and summon them one by one.
"One down."
The bear-like man's crossbow pierces one of their foreheads before they can even do anything.
The rest follow a similar fate.
"We defeated them all!"
We hear the victory cry in less than 30 seconds.
I was worried that something crazy might happen since there are four Hanses, but it was easily resolved for now.
Therefore…
"Now's our chance!"
…we have to pour all our damage into the main body before he summons more clones.
Well, it won't be easy…
"Kyaaaaaaaaak!!"
The main body starts rampaging as our attacks are focused on him.
[Leap], [Swing], [Gigantification]…
And…
「The nameless marauder has cast [Flesh Explosion].」
…even that skill he hasn't been using since losing his regeneration.
The bastard, with my physical abilities and the average stats of a 5th-grade monster added on top, boasts the power of a true boss monster.
"Everyone, fall back!"
In the end, Raven pulls the melee damage dealers back.
It's not a bad judgment.
We already have enough damage with two mages and one archer.
There's no need to risk having the melee damage dealers on the front lines. And besides, the efficiency of physical damage is low while the Doppelganger is mimicking me.
"The three of you, protect us!"
Misha, Ainar, and the mace warrior.
As the three melee damage dealers change their positions to escort the damage dealers, the backline starts bombarding the enemy from afar.
'Geez, where do you think you're going?'
The main body tries to ignore me and charge towards the backline as the high-powered ranged attacks continue, but I draw aggro and keep his attention with [Wild Release].
After some time…
Crackle!
…a 'Lightning Spear' pierces the head of the bastard, whose body is battered from spamming [Flesh Explosion], and the Doppelganger turns into a black slime.
'I guess we overcame the first hurdle.'
Of course, the first phase is far from over.
The first phase only ends after everyone in the boss room has been transformed in order.
But…
"Oh! It's me this time!!"
…it won't be as difficult as me, no matter who it is.
Indeed, the battle with Ainar, who's next in line, ends before we even encounter the clone summoning pattern twice.
It's because the melee damage dealers don't have to stay in the back anymore.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak!"
That's when, as we defeat the Doppelganger who transformed into Ainar…
Rumble!
…the magic circle on the ground starts glowing, and the entire cave trembles.
Ah, it's not an ultimate move or anything.
It means the unsealing rate has increased by 10%.
「Unsealing rate 20%.」
It hasn't even been a few minutes since the boss battle started…
…but there's nothing I can do about this.
The unsealing speed increases significantly once the battle begins.
'It was about 5% for every 10 summoned clones.'
It's the most frustrating part of this strategy.
There's no way to prevent the summoning pattern, so the increase in the unsealing rate is inevitable.
Well, if we had a second team outside activating the Sealing Stones, it would be less burdensome, but that's not our case.
'We have to finish it before then, somehow.'
It's game over if the unsealing rate reaches 100%.
Because from then on, each clone becomes as strong as the main body.
And the clones can even use [Self-Replication] to multiply.
"It's my turn."
Raven is next.
Unexpectedly, there's a slightly dangerous moment.
I was planning to finish it quickly since magic has a casting time…
But the summoned clones were the problem.
Two out of four were me.
"Behel—laaaaa!"
"Behel—laaaaa!"
I don't know what kind of magic the Doppelgangers were trying to cast.
But Raven shouted that we would all die if this continued, so it would have been a disaster if the spell had been completed.
Well, I smashed their heads before that happened.
Kwagic!
After that, the Doppelganger transformed into Misha, the mace warrior, Parteian, and the bear-like man in order, and we defeated them as quickly as possible.
It means the first phase is finally over.
Rumble!
I click my tongue, looking at the magic circle on the ground, which is glowing again.
'40% unsealing rate in the first phase…'
It's the number I expected.
Tsk, I wanted to reduce it as much as possible.
"Everyone, get into the formation we discussed!"
I dismiss my regret and give the order.
The Doppelganger, having finished the first phase, is in the center of the cave, expanding and contracting as it transforms.
"If, if it's something… no one, knows…"
The Doppelganger's voice echoes throughout the cave.
It means the next phase is about to begin.
"What's the difference… between that… and the truth?"
The Doppelganger finishes transforming.
「The nameless marauder has cast [Swap].」
It's time to start the second phase.
_____________________
One of the Doppelganger's abilities, [Swap].
Its effect is very intuitive.
It switches the location of the main body with a clone created with [Self-Replication].
But…
…that's only when you obtain the skill through an essence.
"…Why me from the start?"
"…Why me from the start?"
There are two Ravens now.
Their faces are identical, and I can't feel any difference in their tone or expression.
For reference, it's impossible to tell them apart by location.
'I lost a mage I raised diligently because of this.'
I think it was the first mage I successfully recruited in [Dungeon and Stone].
I was very shocked back then.
Swoosh.
I move my gaze and look at the Stones of Truth scattered on the ground like toys.
Originally, the standard strategy is to use this to distinguish between the real one and the fake.
Well, the unsealing rate increases as a result.
But we can't use this since we don't have any outside support.
Then how do we tell them apart?
Smirk.
I smile and look at the two Ravens.
Their lines were identical at first, but now their words and actions diverge.
"Do, don't shoot!"
"What are you guys doing! She's the fake!"
One is speaking defensively, and the other is defending herself with a somewhat aggressive attitude.
I mutter briefly,
"What are you waiting for? Shoot."
I hear the bear-like man pulling the trigger of his crossbow behind me.
And…
Boom!
…a giant arrow, like a siege weapon, is shot and smashes Raven's small head.
Thud.
A small body collapses limply.
"Uh, don't tell me… she was the real Aruru…?"
"Murderer!!! You killed Aruru!!!"
Everyone, including Misha, freezes.
But…
"There's no way. Everyone, calm down."
…Raven's body, which collapsed to the ground, soon turns into a black slime and floats in the air.
It means we got the right answer.
Ah, for reference, the aggressive Raven was the real one.
"Now, go to your spot."
I send Raven, whose position has been switched with the Doppelganger, towards the wall and then approach the transforming slime.
"You're next."
I raise my mace and wait for a moment, and the Doppelganger finishes transforming.
"Hiik! Pu, put that down, you barbarian!"
What is he talking about?
Thwack!
I smash his head with my mace without hesitation.
And as expected, it's the right answer again.
It's only natural.
Doppelgangers can't copy Numbered Items.
"Uh, but shouldn't you at least hesitate a bit since it's me…?"
Misha is the owner of No. 5991 Viper's Fang.
"Miss Kaltstein, what are you expecting from a barbarian?"
Raven received 'Misplaced Trust' from Parteian and has been holding it in one hand throughout the boss battle.
"It's finally my turn. I'll take care of this."
The bear-like man is wearing 'Deceiver of the Necromancer'.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
And Ainar is wearing a ring called 'Foxfire Knot' that she obtained from the fairy archer.
Although it doesn't have any useful options, so we'll sell it later.
Kwagic!
The Doppelganger's second phase is a cakewalk if you have good items.
And did he finally realize it?
「The nameless marauder has cast [Swap].」
The Doppelganger, transformed into the mace warrior, immediately ambushes us without a word of complaint.
He's aiming for the mage, who has the lowest defense.
If we were in a tight formation like before, it would have been difficult to avoid that attack…
"I'll block it!!"
…but we spread out and stuck to the walls as soon as we entered the second phase.
In other words, we have enough time to prepare for a surprise attack.
Kwaaang!
Ainar's greatsword clashes with the Doppelganger's mace, and an explosion occurs.
Misha stabs him from behind in that gap.
And then it's finished off by the bear-like man and Raven's interception.
"Everyone, go back to your positions!"
After one turn, I have the team members who were transformed by the Doppelganger gather in one place and form a tight formation.
"What are you doing? Go!"
The mace warrior hurriedly moves as if coming to his senses at my words.
A faint light is emanating from his shoes.
It's a cheap 9000-series Numbered Item called 'Path of Abundance'.
It has a decent option for warriors.
It's not something we looted and lent him, he originally owned it.
Did he diligently save money and buy it?
「The nameless marauder has cast [Swap].」
Anyway, Parteian, the middle-aged mage, is next.
Although he lent 'Misplaced Trust' to Raven, it's not a problem. Because the magic staff he's carrying is a Numbered Item.
Kwagic!
It doesn't take long to defeat the bastard after he finishes transforming since the mimicked target is a mage.
Now only I'm left.
"Mr. Parteian."
"That? I'll prepare right away."
The mages, who suffered greatly from the Doppelganger who transformed into me, are already preparing their strongest spells.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
As soon as the Doppelganger finishes transforming, I push him back with my shield.
"The one in the back is the fake!"
The mages, who instantly made their judgment, unleash their prepared spells simultaneously.
Of course, he doesn't die in one shot, as expected of a tank…
…but there's no interruption to the magic this time since there are no summons in the second phase.
Crackle! Kwaang! Whoosh!
High-powered attack magic is literally poured onto him.
He eventually collapses, unable to endure.
I feel a strange sense of bitterness as I watch him.
'I need to work on my magic resistance setup too.'
I still have a long way to go as a tank.
____________________
The Doppelganger's third phase.
In other words, we've finally reached the last phase.
"Everyone, come here!"
Raven quickly gathers everyone and forms a new formation without me even having to give an order.
And at that moment…
Rumble!
…the cave shakes violently as if there's an earthquake.
Dust falls from the ceiling.
"Kihihi, hihi, kik, kihihihi!"
The Doppelganger, which has returned to a slime-like form, lets out a grotesque laugh.
Honestly, I'm not even creeped out anymore.
I just have this question.
Where the hell is he talking from when he doesn't even have a mouth?
"Be careful! If Mr. Yandel is defeated—"
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
I briefly dismiss Raven's anxiety.
It's not that I'm completely confident in victory.
It would be a lie to say I'm not nervous.
It's a long-standing habit of mine to always assume the worst and be wary of potential variables.
But sometimes, a leader has to show confidence and lead the team.
Clench.
I put strength into my hand, holding the mace, maintaining just enough tension to get my blood pumping.
The last phase is a kind of 'berserk mode'.
Every second is precious from now on.
Because he summons an incomparable number of clones compared to the first phase.
Boom!
The black slime, which had expanded to a size that would make anyone think it was about to burst, explodes.
Black particles scatter throughout the cave.
The two mages, as if they've been waiting, unleash flames to eliminate them…
…but they can't even erase half of them.
And explosions continue to occur in the meantime.
「The nameless marauder has cast [Self-Replication].」
「The nameless marauder has cast [Self-Replication].」
「The nameless marauder has cast [Self-Replication].」
The particles gather and take shape, mimicking our appearances.
There are dozens of them, just by looking.
Hans G, the fairy archer, the dwarf… they all appear, as if to remind us that we'll never see them again after today.
The once spacious cave is now completely filled.
"Don't be too scared. The clones that appear here aren't as strong as before!"
As Raven said, these guys are much weaker than the ones we saw before. They'll probably explode into smoke after just one or two hits.
However, there's another reason why 'berserk mode' is scary.
「Unsealing rate 50%」
「Unsealing rate 60%」
The magic circle on the ground flashes repeatedly, indicating that the unsealing rate is increasing.
At this rate, the seal will be broken in a few minutes, and the Doppelganger will regain his full power.
Therefore, it's time to take it out.
「Character has used [Outlaw of the Wasteland].」
「Melee physical damage temporarily increases in proportion to the number of humanoid monsters.」
It's the item that gave me the confidence to defeat the Doppelganger bastard…
「Current increase rate 112%.」
「Current increase rate 157%.」
「Current increase rate 278%.」
「Current increase rate 342%.」
「Current increase rate 4....」
…and the one that allowed me to estimate a 90% chance of winning.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Items are also a skill.
-x-X-x-
No. 8667 Outlaw of the Wasteland.
It's a Numbered Item that the beastman swordsman from the dwarf's team was wearing. As expected of a low number, it doesn't have any stat boosts, and it's relatively cheap.
It's because its usage effect is a bit ambiguous.
Increased melee physical damage against humanoid 'monsters', and the increase rate grows with the number of enemies?
There's no way it would be in high demand among explorers.
There aren't that many humanoid monsters in the labyrinth, and even those rarely travel in groups.
'And it even has a one-day cooldown.'
It's an item that's difficult to utilize properly unless you're specifically targeting Doppelgangers or that bastard on the 5th floor.
Thanks to obtaining this item, our chances of winning increased significantly.
Would it have been about 50/50 without it?
「Unsealing rate 70%」
The magic circle on the ground glows again, indicating that we're running out of time.
Since it increases by 5% for every 10 monsters, it means that over 60 clones have already been summoned.
「Current increase rate 401%.」
But it's not enough yet.
Therefore, we get into a tight formation against the wall, as planned.
And...
"Barhatun Wiar."
...Raven summons a stone wall with her magic.
It's a judgment to endure until that moment arrives.
However, she didn't completely seal off the wall. She left a gap big enough for two or three people to pass through on one side.
It was Raven's idea.
She said they would try to break through if it were completely blocked, but if there's a path, they'll try to go that way.
'It actually works.'
I block the only passage.
If I swing my mace in this state, the clones, including the one mimicking me, will all die in one or two hits...
...but I suppress the urge.
Our goal isn't to hunt clones.
Kwaaang!
The clones charge towards me, pushing and shoving each other as if protesting.
Of course, not all of them are like that.
"There's a hole over there!!"
A clone is breaking through the stone wall and creating a path.
I glance over, and it's the one mimicking me.
"Mr. Yandel, focus on that side! We'll handle this!"
The melee damage dealers and Woongie, summoned by the bear-like man, quickly form a human wall and block the clones, but it's not an easy task.
Because we have a huge penalty.
"Ack! Don't kill them!"
To block without attacking.
It's a condition that's difficult to fulfill unless you're a professional tank. I keep hearing the sounds of a difficult battle from behind.
But there's nothing I can do.
Things will just get worse if I try to help.
Rumble!
After about 2 minutes...
...the cave trembles again.
「Unsealing rate 90%」
It means it's finally time for the showdown.
"Mr. Yandel!"
I lightly jump in place since the ceiling isn't high.
It's a 'short jump' in technical terms.
「Character's total weight is over 500 kg.」
「The special terrain effect [Recoil] is additionally applied to the damage radius.」
The clones, including my companions, are all thrown into the air simultaneously. Therefore, I charge forward as soon as I land, stepping on the clones.
「Threat level is temporarily greatly increased.」
Thanks to the increased threat level, the clones hurriedly get up and charge towards me like zombies, and I soon feel a tremendous resistance from beyond the shield.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
After about 10 seconds...
...I finally reach my destination, pushing everything aside like a bulldozer.
Boom! Boom!
The main body, mimicking me, is continuously exploding and using [Self-Replication].
I swing my mace without hesitation.
Thwack!
It feels like hitting tofu.
But it's enough to deal damage.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak!!"
The main body, which finished its infinite [Self-Replication] and transformed into me.
It's a bit different from before since it's in berserk mode.
There are two heads on its neck.
'Me, Ainar...'
Damn it, why her of all people?
The Doppelganger is using the essences Ainar possesses, on top of my skills.
「The nameless marauder has cast [Swing].」
「The nameless marauder has cast [Double Slash].」
The impact itself is different.
I would have definitely been blown back if it weren't for the Guardian Corps Insignia.
And the summoned clones are surrounding and attacking me from all sides.
But...
Whoosh!
...I ignore them all and swing my mace.
The two barbarian heads on the main body's neck smirk.
It's a mocking smile as if saying, 'You think that will work?'
I just smile back.
「Current increase rate 771%.」
Because you're not the only one who received a buff.
It's Extreme Damage Barbarian Mode.
Kwaaang!!
I use [Swing] with all my might, and the Doppelganger, who blocked it with his shield, staggers.
And a gap appears.
I swing my mace again without giving him time to recover.
Kwagic!
Ainar's head is crushed with a single blow.
But he doesn't collapse, since he has two heads.
It's not a problem.
I can just hit him again.
Kwagic!
The Doppelganger, having lost both of its heads, immediately turns back into a slime.
And then it hardens.
「Doppelganger has cast [Crystallization].」
It's his last resort.
Well, it's a very troublesome pattern, even if you call it a last resort.
「Magic damage reduced by 99%.」
「Physical damage reduced by 90%.」
It's practically immune to magic damage.
And it reduces physical damage by 90%. It's an OP skill.
And if you don't break it within the time limit, you have to repeat this whole process again.
It's ridiculous, but that's the original strategy.
Mass summon, transformation, crystallization.
You have to repeat this sequence and accumulate damage on the 'crystal' to shatter it.
Kwaaang!
But we have to bet everything on this one attempt.
That's why we didn't even bother killing the clones.
"Raven!!"
Raven and Parteian immediately cast their magic as soon as I shout.
It's not attack magic.
It's 'Mana Shield', which we also used when we were fighting the dwarf's team.
Raven shouts urgently,
"We can't hold out for long!"
I know without her telling me.
Just look at how many clones are around me.
It's a magic spell with a high consumption cost, so the two mages' mana will be depleted in less than a minute.
Therefore...
Kwaaang!
...I focus solely on smashing the crystallized Doppelganger, trusting in the thick mana barrier that's protecting me.
Kwaaang!
It's a tactic I wouldn't have even considered if it weren't for 'Outlaw of the Wasteland'.
I would have probably cleared the clones first and then focused on dealing damage together.
While worrying that we might not have enough damage.
Crack!
A crack appears on the crystal on the fourth [Swing].
It's strange.
I've experienced the [Crystallization] pattern several times, but it's already at this point?
Just how much damage are we dealing right now?
I can't tell the exact number, but it's truly astonishing.
Because we still have something we haven't used yet.
「Character has cast [Leap].」
Another 'short jump'.
「Threat level is temporarily greatly increased.」
And...
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
...immediately [Wild Release].
「Character's threat level is temporarily tripled, and physical stats increase proportionally.」
A powerful force erupts from my entire body.
Of course, this feeling of exhilaration only lasts for a short time.
But I judged...
...that it's enough.
「The destructive power of blunt weapons is greatly increased in proportion to Strength.」
The miraculous law of exchange where threat level is converted to Strength, and Strength is converted to the destructive power of blunt weapons.
「Current increase rate 771%.」
And on top of that, we add 'Outlaw of the Wasteland'?
I don't even have to worry about the 90% physical immunity.
Kwaaang!!!
Because my damage is being duplicated right now.
_____________________
「Killed Doppelganger. EXP +6」
「Guardian Kill Bonus. EXP +3」
_____________________
How long have I been smashing the crystal with my mace like a madman?
I don't know, but around the time my body starts to accumulate injuries rapidly because the 'Mana Shield' has ended...
Crackle!
...the crystal, cracked like a broken mirror, finally shatters like an exploding grenade.
It's not even a close call.
'About a minute...'
It broke much faster than I expected.
I was even considering gathering everyone and pouring all our damage into it...
But there was no need to use Plan B because of the variable that appeared at the end.
'Right, there should be days like this too.'
Although I'm happy, I also feel a strange sense of emptiness.
No one would call it lucky if no unexpected incidents happened.
'No, it's too early to relax.'
I clear my thoughts and come to my senses.
Four Hans Gs appeared in the boss room at the beginning, defying all odds.
'Could it be a variant rift like the 'Crimson Fortress'—'
Swaaaaaaaaa!
That's when the shattered fragments of the main body turn into particles of light and scatter in the air. And it's the same for the clones that were filling the cave.
Whoosh!
And a portal connected to the 4th floor opens in the center.
It really means the rift has been cleared.
"Huh! What! Did we defeat it?!"
"Ugh, I thought I was going to die. Aruru, can you give me a potion?"
"Later. You're not even seriously injured. We have to check that first! Essence? Numbered Item? Rift Stone? What dropped—"
Ah, right, we have to check that too.
I didn't even look properly because I was wary of something else happening.
Now it's time to collect the guardian's reward, the flower of a rift.
I gulp and look at the spot where the Doppelganger was.
"..."
"..."
There's nothing there.
'Don't tell me, this is the Hans effect?'
That thought briefly crosses my mind, but it's not good to blame everything on Hans. The drop rate for essences or Numbered Items is only 33%.
Well, it's a bit disappointing that even the Rift Stone, which has a 66% drop rate, didn't appear...
'...It's common.'
This happened often in the game too.
You struggle to clear a rift, but get no rewards.
"...Mr. Yandel, get a grip. These things happen."
"Th, that's right! We already got a lot, didn't we?"
My companions offer words of comfort as I stand there, frozen.
Tsk, it's not like I'm angry.
'...So the only reward is from the PK?'
Although it's a bit empty, it's ridiculous to even feel disappointed when I think about it.
I can't even imagine how much all this equipment would sell for.
We've already broken our previous income record, and I even absorbed the Manticore essence.
'...Right, this alone is practically like getting a Doppelganger essence.'
Hmm, is this the effect of positive thinking?
I suddenly feel energized.
"Misha, are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah. I just got grazed. Grazed!"
"Drink a potion first."
I dismiss my disappointment and start cleaning up after the battle, checking on my companions.
Raven chuckles, looking at me.
"Indeed, you seem like a leader when I see things like this."
"Are you making fun of me?"
"No, I was being serious this time."
"..."
"Aruru, don't do that. You're making Bjorn embarrassed."
What is she talking about?
"Then let's go back up."
We return to the forest after cleaning up. The Doppelgangers on the upper level have already disappeared.
"You're safe! I'm so relieved!!"
"Sorry for making you wait, Miss Sarman."
I hand Guide Girl, whom we left behind, to the mace warrior.
For reference, the archer from the dwarf's team, whom we offered to the altar, is already dead.
"But how did this man...?"
"Uh, that's... I was worried he might wake up..."
It seems like they killed him before he regained consciousness.
It's a bit impressive.
This guy is also an explorer, after all.
I check the archer's equipment and backpack just in case, but it doesn't seem like Guide Girl took anything.
Then our business is concluded.
"Ah, here, you should take this. I used it well."
"You keep it."
"Really?"
Parteian gives Raven the 'Misplaced Trust' he lent her as a gift. Although it's out of uses, it's not a worthless gift.
There's a way to recharge it.
It would sell for hundreds of thousands of stones even if we just sold it.
"Thank you for saving us. If you need my help, come find me anytime."
I was thinking it was just empty words...
...but Parteian gives me a business card with the Narman school emblem on it.
Hmm, so he really meant it.
I should keep this and visit him when I need something.
'This feels like completing a side quest.'
After a brief farewell with the mace warrior and Guide Girl, I escort them to the portal.
"But you guys aren't leaving?"
"It's a rift we finally entered, right? We're going to look around a bit more and do some research."
"Hmm, I see?"
Parteian nods meaningfully as if he understands, and Raven smiles awkwardly.
"Then we'll be going."
They then enter the portal and return to where they were before.
"Will they... be okay?"
"What are you worried about?"
"Mages usually look after each other."
"That's not what I meant. I meant it was an unnecessary worry. It's the 4th floor, after all."
Although Hans G and the fairy archer died, the Tower of Heaven is a floor where you can wait if you want to.
They'll probably kill time like we used to and then return to the city.
"Well... that's true."
We turn away from the portal and climb back up to the forest.
Because there's still something left to collect.
-x-X-x-
7:00 AM on Day 11 of the labyrinth expedition.
We returned to the forest after sending the three of them out of the rift.
And...
"Um, how about we eat something?"
"That would be good."
We finally felt hungry and gathered to cook. But as is human nature, drowsiness follows a full stomach.
"...Let's sleep today and do it tomorrow."
We set up camp and fell asleep without even deciding who would sleep first, feeling exhausted.
After all, it wasn't just one night we stayed up.
We wasted our mental energy playing the mafia game in the third chapter and had a massive PvP battle.
And then the Doppelganger boss battle.
Snore!
Sleepiness washes over me as soon as I close my eyes.
When I open my eyes again, a whole day has passed.
[07:12]
We went to sleep past 8:00 AM, but the hour hand on the clock has moved back an hour.
It means we slept for almost 24 hours.
"Oh, you're awake?"
"...Why didn't you wake me up?"
"We just woke up too."
So it wasn't out of consideration for me.
I wash my face with water from my canteen, and I smell something delicious nearby.
"Come over and get a bowl when you're awake. Ah, and wake Ainar up and bring her too. She wakes up easily when you wake her up, right?"
We then wake Ainar up and eat together, and then we wander through the forest, collecting what needs to be collected.
"Don't just follow me, check the ground carefully. One of these roots is worth 10,000 stones."
Herbs that grow naturally in the Doppelganger Forest.
"Mr. Yandel."
Kwaaang!
'Sealed Shard of Evil', which drops from the Sealing Stone with a certain probability when you destroy it, now that it's useless.
"How much is this worth?"
"About 1 million stones each."
"I see. I'll buy up to five."
I take five out of the seven shards we obtained.
Because there's no effect after that.
「Character has consumed 'Sealed Shard of Evil'.」
「Magic Resistance permanently increased by +1.」
For reference, I have Misha buy and consume the remaining two shards.
"Huh? Me?"
"You earned a lot of money, didn't you? Don't be stingy."
"No, it's not that I'm being stingy..."
Misha looks at Ainar with an apologetic expression.
Geez, she should be more selfish as an explorer.
Ainar's future essences will have a lot of Magic Resistance, so it's more rational for Misha to absorb them.
And she's not even getting them for free.
"Phew, but I can't find it, no matter how much I search."
"It's fine if it takes a day, let's keep looking."
Although there are no monsters, it takes a whole day to find it since the forest is so vast.
But we invest another day and search the entire forest once more, and finally find what we were looking for.
"Everyone, cover your ears... no, just stay far away. I'll pull this out."
It's a Mandrake, one of the ingredients for an elixir.
Raven uses magic to protect herself and pulls it out of the ground, and with that, everything we can do in the 'Doppelganger Forest' is complete.
However...
"I'm really sorry, but could you give me a little more time? I want to look around this place a bit more."
"Why?"
"It's purely personal curiosity."
We decide to stay a bit longer at Raven's request.
Unexpectedly, no one objects.
"Well, even the person who wrote the Compendium of Rifts wouldn't know everything, right?!"
"Maybe we'll find something else."
I see a glimmer of hope in my companions' eyes.
Well, I know that there's practically no chance of finding a hidden piece that I don't know about...
'But it's better than nothing.'
When we first met in the 'Crimson Fortress', she didn't even apologize. She just made the dwarf and me help her with her research.
"So where do you want to start looking?"
"First, that cave from the beginning."
We meticulously search everything, starting from the Shadow Cave, the first chapter, to the Marauder's Hideout, the boss room...
In other words, we smash anything that looks suspicious.
As expected, there are no hidden rooms or items.
However, we encounter countless questions in the process.
"Why a cage?"
"Because we had to wait until all the other teams entered?"
"Then it would be more rational to just synchronize the time. Like when we enter and leave the labyrinth."
Why does the 'Doppelganger Forest' start with us trapped in a cage?
What is the [Record of Offerings] we obtained from the altar, and why is it called 'offerings'?
Why did the clones transform into imperial soldiers after the third chapter?
No, in the first place, what is the 'Empire'?
"Now that I think about it, that's also a shame. He could talk, even if it was broken. We might have been able to get some information from him..."
Although we discuss Raven's question, we can't come up with a proper answer to any of them.
Therefore, the rift exploration ends here.
"I'm sorry, everyone. We wasted two days because of me."
"Don't apologize. You're our mage. It was a legitimate request. And we agreed to the search."
"That's right. And I actually enjoyed it, it felt like a real exploration. Right, Ainar?"
"Huh? I was bored."
"Please, read the room. Okay?"
Ainar looks dejected as Misha, who's been acting like her older sister lately, scolds her.
Raven chuckles, watching them.
"Thank you, everyone. But come to think of it, I don't think I need to apologize. Just selling one Mandrake root is enough to cover several days of hunting, right?"
"Our mage is finally back to normal."
"Back to normal? Mr. Urikfrit, what does that mean?"
The bear-like man shrugs and avoids answering, and Raven just looks at him suspiciously without prying further.
「Entered 4th Floor Tower of Heaven.」
We return to the labyrinth through the portal in the boss room on the afternoon of Day 14 and continue exploring. It takes about 6 days to reach the 5th floor.
Then, as originally planned, we pretend to focus on hunting while taking the 'Hellfire Canyon' route and search for 'Millarodden'.
Ah, for reference, it was a piece of cake once we found the black moss. I didn't even have to tell her to use the detection spell first.
It's because Raven, who enjoyed it last time, used detection magic every 5 minutes throughout the exploration.
"...It didn't appear again."
As a result, we were able to hunt a total of three Millarodden, but they were all duds.
Well, this is actually more common.
The success rate of the Distortion spell on Millarodden is 20%.
'I guess it's not happening this time.'
We didn't bother looking for Millarodden with only 5 days left until the labyrinth closes.
We wouldn't be able to achieve much even if we entered.
Tsk, I was planning to clear the areas we couldn't before since we have the 'Orb of Fire'.
「Killed Stoneburn. EXP +4」
「Killed Fire Wraith. EXP +2」
「Killed Red Mud. EXP +3」
「Killed Hellflame. EXP +5」
But the hunting itself isn't bad.
It's the only advantage of the Noark subjugation's failure.
The 5th floor is teeming with monsters since over 90% of the clans that were controlling the fields are gone.
Of course, this situation won't last long.
The clans that suffered losses will recover in a few months, and there are quite a few clans that didn't enter because of the unstable situation.
And so, time passes...
「Character is being transported to Lafdonia.」
...and the day of our return arrives.
__________________
Warm sunlight embraces my skin.
As always, I stand there blankly, basking in its warmth. I look around, and I see explorers doing the same thing everywhere.
'Alright, let's go.'
I head towards the checkpoint for our rank, and my companions are already there.
Well, everyone except for one.
"It seems like Avman isn't here yet."
"Ah, he's coming now. With someone else."
It's a sight that amazes me every time I see it.
How can he get lost here when the plaza is so big?
"Haha, the line is short this time."
"It's not because you came early, but because there are fewer explorers who entered the labyrinth this time."
"Ahem, who said anything?"
Anyway, the line disappears quickly as we wait.
The magic stone exchange income is much lower than before.
"It's 7,080,000 stones."
Divided by five, it's 1,416,000 stones per person.
It's almost four times less than last time.
But it can't be helped.
We didn't even enter the other world, and the Doppelganger Forest, where we invested our time, isn't a place where you can earn a lot of magic stones.
"So that's it?"
"Yes, good work this time as well."
The employee doesn't look at us suspiciously since we didn't earn an absurd amount of money.
But just as we're about to leave after the exchange...
"Ah, please wait a moment!"
Huh?
"...Is there a problem?"
The employee hurriedly stops us.
And he speaks rapidly,
"Team Apple Nark, and the leader, Bjorn Yandel. Is that correct?"
"So?"
"...Please wait here for a moment. This also applies to your team members."
Although I'm not grabbed and restrained by guards with scary faces like last time, I can feel that something is wrong.
Is it the same for our mage?
"Excuse me, shouldn't you at least explain what's going on?"
Raven speaks aggressively on my behalf, as if I'm about to have a PTSD episode.
And at that moment...
"Inspector, are these them?"
"Ah, yes! That's right!"
A knight enters the checkpoint.
Raven's face hardens.
"...Why is the Moselan here?"
Moselan.
An enforcement agency composed solely of knights of noble birth, and a group with a notorious reputation.
"Bjorn."
Even Misha, who witnessed Dwarkey being arrested before, is trembling.
But unexpectedly, the knight is kind.
At least compared to those arrogant bastards we saw before.
"Greetings. I'm Elmeras from the Moselan Enforcement Division."
Although he's speaking casually as if we're his servants, it's a characteristic of nobles, so it's only natural.
This is actually considered gentle.
And most importantly, he's even offering a handshake.
It means he's not hostile towards us.
"...Bjorn, son of Yandel."
I let out an inward sigh of relief and shake his hand.
But my anxiety hasn't completely disappeared.
Why did the inspector detain us, and what business does the Moselan have with us?
"Hello."
"Hmm, and you, miss?"
"I'm Arrua Raven from the Artemion school. I'd like to know why Sir Elmeras is looking for us."
The knight smiles and answers Raven's question,
"There's only one reason why an inspector would detain explorers. You guys have a warrant out for your arrest."
It's news that's like a bolt from the blue.
"Yes? What do you mean..."
"Don't be too surprised. Judging by the disciplinary action, it doesn't seem that serious."
"No, more importantly, what's the reason?"
The knight grins and answers,
"Using abilities within the city. And entering the labyrinth without permission, disobeying the officials' orders."
Ah, that...
Raven and the rest of us all shut our mouths. We completely forgot about it because of all the things that happened in the labyrinth.
In the first place, I thought it would just end with a fine.
"I don't understand at all. Wouldn't it normally be just a fine for something like that?"
I can't help but ask in a slightly questioning tone.
No matter how I think about it, there's no reason for a warrant to be issued, and even less so for the Moselan to be involved.
Then what's going on?
"Considering the situation, it can't be treated as a simple misdemeanor. It can also be interpreted as disobeying the royal family's orders."
Right, so that's how it is.
I roughly understand the situation.
It seems like Raven also understands.
"...They're trying to tighten the reins on explorers."
"What's there to hide in front of a mage? You're right. It's only been a day, but your story is already spreading among explorers."
"Our story?"
"They're saying they should have just ignored the orders and charged in, that it was stupid to wait. The higher-ups judged that if it just ended with a fine, similar incidents would happen again."
In short, it's to make an example out of someone.
To punish one person and instill fear in the hearts of a hundred.
"Please understand, if we don't control the explorers now, something worse might happen."
I think I understand why they chose me.
I've gained some fame, and I even became a hot topic because of the unauthorized entry, so they probably judged that the story would spread quickly.
"So, what's going to happen to us?"
The knight corrects one thing before answering my question.
"To be precise, it's not 'you guys', it's 'you'."
Only I'll be punished.
He said the rest will just get a fine.
They seemed to be caught up in the situation, and there's no need for everyone to suffer when it's just a symbolic punishment.
"Ooh, rational! Right, it's a rational decision!!"
My heart aches, seeing Ainar so happy.
Even Raven isn't objecting, and the bear-like man is relieved that he won't be beaten up by his wife.
Am I really the only one who can speak for myself?
That's when, as that thought of distrust towards humanity is lingering in my mind...
"Um, sir? Since it's just a symbolic punishment, can I take it instead?"
Misha is the only one who steps up for me.
"What are you talking about?"
I chuckle and push Misha away.
I appreciate the thought, but there's no way that would work.
In the first place, I'm the main culprit in this incident.
And besides, judging by what he's saying, the punishment doesn't seem that severe...
"It's fine, I'll take responsibility. So tell me, what's going to happen to me?"
The knight says casually,
"You'll be living in Bifron for 20 days."
It's a temporary exile.