Episode 52: Infiltration (1)As the Doppelganger vanished, I issued commands to my clones.
"Accumulate power in the Mid-Level Zone."
"Once sufficiently strengthened, advance to the High-Level Zone."
"Report to me after hunting High-Level monsters."
"However, do not provoke conflict with humans yet."
Leaving only a few monsters to guard the Low-Level Zone, the clones scattered in all directions.
"I'll need to visit frequently."
A concrete objective had formed.
Advance to the High-Level Zone.
Acquire High-Level monsters.
Then push further to witness the end of the Hazard Management Zone.
This was instinct.
The primal drive to ascend as a higher being.
The innate instinct of a monster like myself.
"Nnngh..."
Seo-ah awoke from sleep.
"Awake? Let's head to Myohaengseong Guild now."
I clung to Seo-ah's body as I stated our next destination.
The setting sun indicated late hour, making haste essential.
Any later and we might miss Seol-hwa.
"Myohaengseong Guild? That's unnie's guild. Why should I go?"
Seo-ah looked disgusted.
Her expression suggested she'd rather give birth in the wilderness than go there.
"When I say go, you go without backtalk. Stop arguing."
"No way. I'm absolutely not going."
She clung to a nearby tree like a petulant child throwing a tantrum.
"Really? Even when fame awaits?"
Seo-ah's head snapped up at my words.
"What does becoming famous have to do with visiting unnie's guild?"
Hook set. Persuading her proved laughably easy.
"Heard the Doppelganger urban legend?"
I explained about Doppelgangers.
Brain-devouring parasites.
And Seol-hwa's experiences with them.
"Moreover, I possess means to identify Doppelgangers. Tempting, isn't it?"
Gulp.
Seo-ah swallowed audibly, drool practically dripping.
"But... why must we go to unnie's guild?"
Simple. Too simple.
Her softened voice confirmed complete surrender.
"I don't have it currently. Seol-hwa does. We need to retrieve it from her."
"Alright... I'll go then."
Seo-ah stood up resolutely.
Upon reaching the Low-Level Zone, I dispersed monsters there.
These would hunt monsters for me to consume.
"Let's hurry."
With preparations complete, we exited the Hazard Management Zone.
We boarded a taxi waiting near the zone's perimeter.
"I'll be right back. Please wait."
"Understood, miss!"
The taxi driver's booming reply suggested he'd hit the jackpot today.
"Faster! Imagine monsters chasing us!"
The guild building sprawled across cheap land in the city outskirts.
Isia's powerful voice echoed from what appeared to be a training ground, accompanied by faint shouts.
Training continued despite the late hour.
"Welcome. How may I assist you?"
The counter staff greeted us warmly, failing to recognize guild family member Seo-ah - confirming how rarely she visited.
"We're here to see Yoo Seol-hwa..."
"Ah, she's currently training. You'll need to return tomorrow..."
The employee frowned at her watch, clearly reluctant to work past quitting time.
"Wait a moment."
After telling Seo-ah to wait, I transferred into Seol-hwa's body.
"Hngk..."
Seol-hwa moaned from her bed during break time.
The employee had clearly lied about her availability.
"Master...?"
Seol-hwa brightened immediately.
"Seol-hwa. Business. Come outside now."
"Yes!"
She rose without question - polar opposite of Seo-ah.
"Excuse me? You really should come back tomorrow..."
The persistent employee received only indifference from Seo-ah as I guided Seol-hwa to the restroom.
"Huh?!"
Seo-ah startled upon seeing Seol-hwa but entered the stall and locked the door.
The cramped space became stifling with two occupants.
"Undress."
Seol-hwa swiftly began removing clothes.
"Just the top."
I stopped her when she reached for underwear - no time for sex.
"Okay..."
Pouting, Seol-hwa removed only her top, revealing my other half clinging to her body like crimson lingerie.
I extracted tentacles, pressed them against my other half, and absorbed the Doppelganger trait.
"Good. Finished. You may return now."
"Huh? Already?"
Seol-hwa's disappointed expression elicited guilt, but necessities prevailed - both had obligations tomorrow.
"We'll have a threesome after work."
Promising future pleasures, we exited.
The counter employee glared, rightfully annoyed about delayed departure time.
Ding-dong.
We left the guild.
"Whew... glad we didn't meet anyone."
Seo-ah sighed in relief, clearly avoiding someone at the guild.
"So, visiting university tomorrow will reveal all Doppelgangers?"
Freshly showered Seo-ah asked in a strangely excited tone.
"Exactly. Just attend university tomorrow."
My confident reply matched System information.
"Really? Got it."
She immediately lay down, corners of her mouth upturned.
Next morning at dawn, Seo-ah awoke unusually early.
"Woke up early? Considering yesterday's unexcused absence, maybe leave early today?"
Her excitement overflowed despite the university being hours away.
Seo-ah scrambled through morning preparations.
"Nobody here?"
University's deserted atmosphere drew a sigh from Seo-ah.
Other students still dwelled in dreamland.
"Perfect. We can accurately gauge Doppelganger numbers."
"True. You're unexpectedly useful."
Beaming, Seo-ah sat on a bench by the main gate, downloading a counting app.
We idly watched the sky brighten until the first shuttle bus arrived.
Screech.
Doors opened, releasing twenty students.
An alien presence stood out among the crowd.
Click.
Seo-ah pressed the counter.
"One."
I scrutinized the Doppelganger - not the ability user from the Hazard Zone, but a staff member.
"Remember the face?"
"Yeah."
We continued counting until approximately 9 AM.
Horror struck.
"What is this number?"
The screen displayed 300 counts.
Excessive.
This from just one university. Global numbers became unimaginable.
"Can't judge solely by this. This is South Korea's only ability-user university. Higher monster encounters might inflate the ratio."
It could be that there were an unusually high number of Doppelgangers because this place was an Ability User school.
But even accounting for that, the numbers were still too high.
I thought it would only be around ten at most.
"Hmm... This forces plan revisions."
The scheme to capture a few for the NIS required adjustment.
We needed complete extermination to prevent escape and reproduction.
"Seo-ah, ever acted before?"
"No, why?"
"Then let's practice. Don't worry - I've got enough talent for both of us."
Seo-ah entered the department building.
We'd be observing Doppelgangers extensively now.
* * * * *
"Yawn, so boring."
Lee Cheol-su yawned at his solitary reception post.
Lunchtime emptied the office as colleagues left for meals.
"Why'd I get this ordinary human? I want to devour ability users."
Outwardly human, inwardly a monster.
A parasite worm that consumed brains and stole bodies.
Monsters possess singular desire:
Growth through strength.
But Cheol-su couldn't satisfy this - his host had been ordinary.
"Fucking hell."
His irritation was performative - acting based on host memories.
Ding-dong.
A masked, hatted figure entered.
"Yes, welcome."
Instant professional smile - award-worthy acting.
"I wish to meet fellow Kin."
The blunt statement carried familiar resonance.
Kin recognition.
"Yes, whom are you seeking?"
Cheol-su feigned ignorance. Their group couldn't accept anyone without useful abilities or occupations.
"Why act? Aren't we Kin?"
"I don't know who you are."
Understanding the implication, the figure removed mask and hat.
"Huh? Lee Seo-ah?"
The freshman stood revealed.
Cheol-su double-checked, recognizing:
Stiff expression.
Emotionless eyes.
Hallmarks of a fledgling who recently consumed a human.
The Sword Empress' daughter had become a monster.
"Satisfied now?"
The re-masked Seo-ah demanded.
"No. One thing remains."
"What? This should suffice."
"Kid, freshmen should use honorifics."
Chuckling, Cheol-su lifted the phone.
He dialed the Captain.
The Kin's ultimate prey - a top-ranked target - now lay within reach.
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