Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Gambler's Challenge
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"Let's fall back for now, regroup, and head in again."
How could there be such an outrageously infuriating act?
I led Luna—who was backing away while warily eyeing the bewildered Zero—and the others out of the fog.
As we retreated, I glanced toward the burrow. Far off at the entrance, a pale face was peeking out.
It had probably been chased off by the orcs and lizardmen, fled into the burrow, and was now lying in wait for us to rush in. A bit of psychological warfare might be fun—let's see how long it waits.
I cleaned the dirtied Cain and Luna with Clean, then lit a campfire and spoke up.
"We might not get a chance to eat once we're inside, so let's fill our stomachs first."
And while we're at it, time to talk, you two outlaws.
Crackle, crackle—the twigs burned, popping crisply as the moisture inside expanded.
In any other situation, it'd make for decent ASMR.
I pulled out a log, sat astride it, and looked at Cain and Luna.
"It just occurred to me, so I have to ask—back in the labyrinth..."
Even as the words reached my lips, a chill ran down my spine.
"There was this weird nickname attached to Luna."
At my calm question, they both stared at me like they had no idea what the issue was.
"Monster vital..."
"No, I mean, what made you give her that nickname in the first place?"
I cut off Cain's explanation. Doesn't this guy feel the same pain as a fellow male?
"Uh... well, young master. Humanoid races and monsters usually have their vital points clustered along the body's centerline."
Luna tilted her head as she explained.
From a fighter's perspective, it's only natural for vitals to be there, and Cain nodded in agreement.
Ah, sure, efficiency-wise, that makes sense! But there's such a thing as national tropes!
I deliberately seated Luna in a straight line toward the burrow, pretending to scold her while keeping an eye on the burrow behind her ear.
That white thing kept popping in and out—seemed anxious for us to enter.
I skewered some fresh liver on a stick, roasted it over the open flame, had Zero whip up a fragrant sauce to baste it, and soon the delicious aroma filled the air.
I wondered if it'd carry through the fog, but the wind was blowing from behind me toward Luna?
"Yeah. So unless it's a really strong foe, I show mercy..."
Luna nodded, enjoying her skewer.
Good. Watching the white silhouette pace just beyond the burrow's range—apparently unable to exit—I chewed on bite-sized pieces of meat.
"By the way, since Hulrad isn't here to say it: Zero, you formed that body without swallowing someone whole, just with a certain amount of blood and flesh, right? Is that possible?"
"Ah, that's... I have a communion ability that lets me read a bit of other doppelgangers' emotions and memories. I used that to pull the most common image from everyone's memories for this form."
"But when you revived this time, you came back in that body without any materials."
Even asking other doppelgangers via Siren, they didn't have a clear answer.
Zero scratched his brown hair at my words, then spoke.
"I'm not entirely sure, but you said you soaked my core in a mana stone potion... Maybe I absorbed a lot of mana from that? Just a guess."
I pondered for a moment.
Fair enough—doppelgangers are a special race, so they might need more MP than expected.
I waved my hand, pulled a mana stone from thin air, slipped it into a spare pouch, and tossed it to Zero.
"Try absorbing it—see if you can take in inanimate objects, or just the mana from mana stones. Oh, and how much of a body do you need to transform into someone?"
"The more body you absorb, the more intact the memories. Half or less, and you can only maintain the appearance. Maybe later when I'm stronger."
"Then what if you absorb just a tiny bit?"
"Hmm... depends on the amount, but for someone you've seen in person, you could reconstruct the body for a very brief appearance change."
Usually, a fistful of hair would hold the form for 1-3 minutes.
That's standard for doppelgangers, so I looked at Luna and Zero.
"Doppelgangers don't have a gender?"
"More precisely, they can become whatever they absorb, regardless of male or female. They usually prefer one, and that's considered their gender."
Nope, none here. With Luna's permission, I took one of her hairs and gave it to Zero.
"When else would we test this if not now? In a big city?"
"Even among ourselves, we rarely show our transformations..."
Like changing clothes in front of others, I guess.
No choice—I pitched a tent for privacy. While we waited for Zero to emerge transformed, we tidied up the skewers.
"Young master, why pack the leftovers? They taste weird in sub-space..."
"I'm carrying them by hand. If we wander lost in the fog for long, we'll get hungry. Better than hardtack anyway."
I glanced sidelong at whoever was still waiting outside the burrow, then turned—meeting Cain's eyes.
"You..."
"Shh, man."
Cain, about to say something, shut his mouth at my words and looked away.
"Oh, it's similar?"
"Isn't it exactly the same?"
"Ugh... seeing my form like that feels weird..."
Zero emerged from the tent, his appearance a perfect match for Luna's.
The clothes were what Zero had worn on his original male body, so the sleeves and pant legs were rolled up high.
Pink hair barely reaching the shoulders, slightly darker pink eyes.
Even the details: soft white fur on the ears, slightly folded and drooping.
But the walk was pure Zero. What's the point of just the looks? The gestures and posture screamed Zero.
That clumsy gait from the start—unlike Luna's timid, cautious movements, it was all sloppy and awkward.
He held the form for about five minutes before reverting to his original self.
Guess no tent needed next time.
"For someone you've transformed into before, I think you can manage briefly without body parts. Practice might extend the time."
Zero gazed at his palm as he spoke. I thought to myself.
Who knows how things will play out, but there might come a time when we need doubles for me, Luna, or Cain.
'Especially me. Feels like Kai Man's gonna try to kill me at least once.'
Zero could die in my place then... No, better not plot something so devious already.
I smiled, plucked one of my hairs, and handed it to Zero.
"Practice."
"Huh?"
"I said practice."
Might as well—Cain's hair too. I grabbed Cain, who was dodging, yanked out a chunk, and gave it to Zero. But Zero's expression had turned odd.
"Uh... I can't do Adelian, sir."
"What?"
"I can't read the info."
What does that mean?
Zero looked at me in confusion, shook his head, and handed back Cain's hair entirely.
"Cain senior too. With him... it just feels like something I shouldn't do."
What the hell.
* * *
I couldn't force Zero, who looked pale and refused, so we packed up and reentered the fog.
'Might just be a delay.'
This time, Cain led us naturally, fighting lightly in the direction I indicated, until we reached the burrow.
"This seems to be it... I used to come to this area sometimes as a kid to graze, but I've never seen a burrow like this."
Inside the burrow, no fog—just a few faintly glowing stones embedded in the walls.
"Doesn't feel like a ruin. The ruins in books were temples or buildings made of stone... right?"
At Zero's curious glance around, I replied casually.
"Ruins aren't anything special. Any ancient structure with magical power—not made recently—is called a ruin."
Cave-like ruins like this collapse naturally without inhabitants, while stone buildings last longer even abandoned, so discovery rates differ.
"Light."
Even with the glowing stones, it was dim inside the burrow.
To secure visibility, I tore a page enchanted with 2nd-class Light and tried to float a light orb—but it flickered out.
"Like in that fog, something's disrupting mana flow. ...Someone's coming."
At Cain's words, I exhaled softly. If I were a real mage, that'd be trouble. I closed the codex, held it in one hand, and peered down the dim passage.
"Kekekeke. Bursting into someone's home and casually using magic? Tsk tsk."
From the dark passage's end, white smoke-like haze rippled, gradually taking human form as it approached.
Or rather...
'Like an old goblin.'
Not the pretty fairy image—not even the elegant kind. More like the earth sprites from Western tales.
Less grotesque than a goblin, but short and stocky, with long ears.
Dressed in white, hair fully white—clearly advanced in age.
Unlike humans, it gripped a staff with four-fingered hands. Zero slipped behind me.
"Who might you be, elder?"
Better if I spoke first, rather than Luna or Cain.
Pushing past Cain gripping his sword and Luna leaning forward, I stepped upfront. It chuckled.
"Didn't you hear? I said this is my house."
"Are you the ruin's master?"
"Polite words, arrogant face—human brat. Yes. I am what you call the ruin's master."
Ugh, arrogance trait.
Feigning maximum surprise, I continued.
"The rumors were true! So, does that mean we can obtain anything we desire from this ruin?"
"Indeed. My treasure vault holds even records of this land's secrets. Provided you beat me."
Gambler Balbus—I chuckled lowly at his fidgeting fingers eyeing the skewer in my hand.
* * *
Following him led to a small, round chamber dug wide from the burrow.
Walls adorned with lamps that burned without oil or wood, bamboo tubes wafting clean forest air, mirrors that looked like windows but randomly reflected distant lands.
In the center: a large round table and chairs.
"I've lived for ages untold. Tasted every delicacy, claimed countless treasures—but it all grew dull in time."
Yet his eyes kept drifting to the skewer I'd casually placed on the table.
"The only thrill for my boredom: gambling, gambling alone. Turns out it's what I do best. Kekeke."
I know, I know. Very well.
I hadn't delved deep into the Balbus event, but I'd seen it in a conceptual post on the Innocent boards once.
A video of someone miraculously fleecing Balbus.
'Luck traits are blocked, but miracle traits aren't—leading to that exploit.'
Who'd gather five ultra-rare miracle-trait units just for one event?
Thanks to that hero's shared Balbus secrets, here I was, leisurely facing him.
"So, any game—you'll wager artifacts against me if I win?"
"Exactly! And call me Balbus, not elder. How about it? Shall we play? Kekeke. But first, I'd like to try that. Haven't had outside food in ages. Cough cough."
Leaving Luna, Cain, and Zero—who'd never gambled and now wavered—with their shaken eyes behind.
I sat before Balbus, slid the skewer toward him as if offering—then yanked it back as he reached.
"Ah, before that, one small request."
"Hmm! What is it? Let me taste that first while you speak."
Unwrapping it slightly, the aroma of the still-warm skewer filled the chamber.
"Nothing major—just want to summarize your offer and my terms on a contract before we start."
As I opened sub-space and pulled out the divine contract, the anxious glints in my three party members' eyes eased slightly.