Chapter 60: How to Use Doppelgangers"That was exhausting."
Early dawn. Seol-hwa dragged her feet back home.
She'd spent the entire day being interrogated in the investigation room. Though she'd gotten enough sleep, her body felt heavy with mental fatigue.
"But thank goodness. Everyone lost consciousness at the end."
Their unconsciousness had allowed her to mix in some lies.
Had everyone been fully conscious, things would've undoubtedly become much more troublesome.
"Looks like Seo-ah went back home."
No signs of life could be felt inside the house.
She must have returned to her own home.
"What will happen to the Guild?"
Seol-hwa sighed as she spoke while sitting on the sofa.
"It'll probably disband, right? The Supporter completely lost his mind. The only remaining member is that advisor who was outside. The Deputy Guild Leader and Guild Leader can't do anything with just the two of them."
She analyzed the situation coldly.
Most of the Guild's combat strength had been wiped out. The remaining members couldn't accomplish anything.
"...I thought I'd finally found a proper job..."
Seol-hwa expressed her disappointment. Having the job she worked so hard to get disappear was more disheartening than words could express.
"It's fine. Your skills haven't gone anywhere. And you still have me."
I comforted her.
"Yes, Master. I'm so grateful to have you."
We spent some affectionate time together.
I could sense what she wanted to do, but I had business to attend to right now.
"You go rest first. I want to check out the Dungeon we obtained this time."
"Understood..."
Seol-hwa trudged dejectedly into the bedroom. I summoned the System and declared my intent to enter the Dungeon.
[Please set coordinates for the Dungeon entrance.]
I set the basement as the entrance.
[You can set up to 5 entrances total.]
Good that it immediately answered what I was wondering about.
The System seemed to read my mind and provided information accordingly.
"Great. Shall we go check if things work as I imagine?"
I arrived inside the Dungeon. It was the room containing the Core. A red glow illuminated the surroundings.
[You have become the owner of a Dungeon containing a Fragment of God.]
[A Dungeon containing part of a God can absorb and merge with other Dungeons. Corrupt other Dungeons' Cores and grow your power. You can build your own world here.]
'Like a game of territorial conquest.'
It reminded me of that old territory-capturing game. The one where you win by obtaining more land.
The difference was that there were no opponents here.
"Hmm... but is that all?"
A function I'd been expecting was missing.
[You can duplicate targets who enter the Doppelganger Dungeon. The duplicates will remain even when leaving the Dungeon.]
'Ah, this! This is what I wanted.'
I cheered. The exact function I desired was perfectly implemented.
"Good. Then create duplicates of the people I name."
I ordered the creation of copies of Isia and Deputy Guild Leader Lee Ho-young.
But two wouldn't be enough. I needed three. I-
Three human shadows emerged from the Core.
Each looked identical to their respective originals.
I threw myself among them. An orgy. With this, I could easily enjoy wild parties.
But contrary to expectations, I quickly grew bored.
"This is boring."
It felt like fucking mannequins.
I dissolved the Doppelgangers back into nothingness.
"Ah... I guess it's only fun when you're fucking real people?"
It seemed my destiny was to fuck actual humans.
"It's about time anyway."
All preparations were complete. Only those I permitted could enter this place.
Neither the law nor prying eyes could reach here.
Moreover, even if people went missing, I could create Doppelgangers to replace them.
"Shall we begin the human hunt?"
The perfect conditions were in place-absolutely zero chance of getting caught.
No more hiding. I'll build my own Kingdom here.
Having established my goal, I immediately exited the Dungeon.
No need to wait. Tonight. The human hunt begins.
*****
There existed a certain world.
This world operated under a peculiar law.
A rule allowing duplication of any target after just one observation.
Ruling over this world was a massive God composed of shadows.
Though the Shadow God dominated one world, he desired to grow larger.
A higher deity ruling countless worlds.
Finally, a suitable opportunity arose.
A civilization had been born in a remote dimension. The God protecting that dimension was too immature.
This was his chance. An opportunity to devour the dimension.
The God immediately sent his subordinates to Earth.
But he encountered an unexpected obstacle.
Earth lacked the power to duplicate targets after single observation like his own world.
A law inapplicable to Earth.
Thus, the Doppelgangers crossed over to Earth in the form of Parasite Worms.
They devoured human brains to duplicate personalities and behaviors.
Possessing some traits of Doppelgangers.
But these were vastly inferior compared to true Doppelgangers.
Still, the God was satisfied. This would suffice to create an opportunity for his descent.
Though his descent was delayed once due to interference from a human named Sword Queen, the God remained patient.
No matter. Another opportunity would come. He watched for chances while sending his subordinates.
Finally, the opportunity arrived. The daughter of the human who'd once obstructed him.
The human named Isia possessed a body perfectly suited to become his vessel.
He would corrupt her and make her his Apostle.
The Shadow God infiltrated Isia's Guild with his subordinates.
Years passed like this until the time finally came to bear fruit.
But utterly unexpected beings appeared and ruined his plans.
A human and a strange mollusk-like Monster.
These two beings interfered with his plans and even stole the Dungeon he'd painstakingly created.
'I must reclaim it.'
The Shadow God grew impatient.
The Dungeon served as a forward base-an extraterritorial area not subject to Earth's laws.
He'd expended considerable power to create the Dungeon while bypassing the Earth God's interference.
Creating another identical Dungeon might cause his status to diminish further.
The Shadow God issued commands to all his subordinates spread across Earth.
*****
"Fucking bastard of a Manager Kim."
A drunken woman walked down the street.
She cursed her superior. Today again, she'd been thoroughly scolded by him. Despite being several years into the job, he'd berated her for still not performing properly. Unable to bear her depressed mood, she'd drunk alone despite no company dinner and was now walking home.
"Fucking shitty company. Do I really have to go to work tomorrow? I wanna die."
Everything was shit. Work, the whole damn world-everything was shit. The thought of having to go to work tomorrow depressed her.
If only the world would end tomorrow... Then she wouldn't have to go to work.
"Hic. Everything's shit... Let's just die."
She sat down on the roadside. She wanted to get hit by a car and die right here.
"Excuse me? Sleeping here will ruin your makeup."
Someone approached. She stiffened, thinking she might get harassed.
But realizing it was a woman's voice, she relaxed.
"Hic. Sorry. Too drunk to control myself... Hehe."
She sobered up slightly.
Her suicidal thoughts vanished completely, replaced by worries about tomorrow's work.
She decided to apologize and head to a nearby-
"Then I'll take you to the nearby police station."
"Hehe. Thank you."
Feeling relieved, she closed her eyes. She didn't let her guard down completely just because it was a woman. But with CCTV cameras everywhere, what could possibly happen?
She lost consciousness.
'Huh? Why do I feel so refreshed?'
Her body felt refreshed. Like she'd slept deeply. Sensing something was terribly wrong, she jolted upright.
'Where is this?'
Looking around, she panicked. Not her home. Not the street. Not inside a police station either. It was a space resembling a giant pupil. A bizarre area with massive crystal spheres floating in the air. Red light illuminated the surroundings. It hurt her eyes.
"Oh... You're finally awake."
"Yes. Glad you woke up quickly. It was tiring waiting."
Voices came from behind the crystal sphere.
Familiar voices. From before she lost consciousness. The woman who'd supported her.
"Wh-who are you? Where is this? Did you kidnap me?"
She trembled in fear.
A person walked out from behind the crystal sphere.
A woman beautiful enough to be a celebrity.
But while two voices could be heard, only one figure was visible.
"A corporate drone worn down by life-quite fitting."
"Who just spoke? Where are you?"
It felt like a ghost was present.
Terrified, she screamed.
"Hmm... I'm right here?"
A bizarre creature leaped out from the woman's clothes.
Crimson skin. A body stretching like a mollusk.
"Eeek! M-monster!"
She curled up in fear. A real monster.
"Since we've met like this, shall we introduce ourselves?"
"I'm Yoo Seol-hwa. Nice to meet you. We'll be seeing each other often, so let's get along."
The woman calling herself Yoo Seol-hwa waved her hand. Carrying a monster inside her body while-
"No! No! Why would I tell a monster my name!"
"Hmm... You'd better tell me... Unless you want to be called Bitch Candidate No.1."
The monster spoke.
"I-I don't know where this is... but your face must be on CCTV! You won't survive in society! If you don't want to end your life as a kidnapper, please let me go! I'll take today's events to my grave!"
Terrified, she tried negotiating. Begging to be released. Though she knew they wouldn't listen, she desperately clung to hope.
"What? Haha, you're negotiating with me? Cute, but there's no way out after entering here."
The monster mocked her. But she didn't abandon hope.
"No good. I'll have to show you directly."
Black shadows coalesced inside the crystal sphere.
The shadows formed a shape. One identical to herself.
"Ta-da! This is a Doppelganger duplicate of you. This friend will live your life in your place."
Yoo Seol-hwa spread her arms wide, pointing at the Doppelganger.
"Ah...ah..."
She despaired. Understanding her situation. Comprehending the monster's words. Realizing she might never leave this place-possibly for life.
"Hmm. Finally realized your position?"
Yoo Seol-hwa curled her lips. It looked like she was mocking her, yet somehow resembled the smile of finding a comrade. She slowly approached.
"No! Don't come closer!"
She scrambled backward. But there was no escape. Her back hit the wall.
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