Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Infiltration Targets
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Always handling things fair and square with the methods of light. How wonderful it would be if we could resolve matters that way and keep other factions in check.
‘Adults aren’t such clean-cut folks, young master.’
Adelrian probably had no idea just how devastating it was to use doppelgangers as spies.
Or even if he knew, he just didn’t want to go that far.
‘They’re not the type to waste as mere rank-and-file agents.’
Absorbing the memories of devoured humans to become them. What a terrifying ability.
With just a bit more intel supplemented, they could become daggers under the chin that no one would ever suspect.
Using such beings as ordinary folk scraping together info safely in plain sight was no different from plowing the earth with a prized sword.
Alkaido pulled five envelopes of documents from his bosom and placed them on the table.
“You’ve all had a rough time down here in this basement.”
“No, not at all, steward.”
“No need for such words……”
“Finally, a chance to repay the favor.”
“Hmph, my body’s been itching for action.”
“Damn, it’s finally starting.”
“Hmm… Everyone’s brimming with enthusiasm.”
The six doppelgangers standing before him. Five of them would soon scatter to different territories or even countries to gather information.
Disguised as the lowliest of folk, biding their time to climb one rung, one step at a time. And eventually devouring someone in a key position to impersonate them.
Even if they failed midway, they could change their appearance, giving them one or two extra chances. A method only doppelgangers could pull off.
Alkaido opened his mouth slowly.
“Even after fully devouring a target, their memories aren’t absorbed at 100%—we’ve confirmed that multiple times. So gather as much intel as possible before the hunt, memorize it perfectly, and then act.”
Alkaido tapped one of the five envelopes on the table with his fingertip.
For the people’s convenience, a single temple might enshrine multiple gods, but there was always one dominant faction among them.
“Archbishop of the Sun God. Hamid.”
The most powerful and vast empire. At its very heart, where only pure humans were recognized as nobles, stood the royal family.
“Royal of Taitria, Elwin Taitria.”
Cradle of knowledge. City of the Mage Tower and Alchemy Tower. And at its center, the continent’s premier academy, judging solely by talent regardless of origin or race.
“Chairman of Kimisutri. Jenowin.”
Ruler of lands harsher than Chabid’s north. Grand Duke Gedman’s sole weakness, the one companion to whom he swore to devote everything.
“Ice Elf Lrshyola.”
Predator of the southern isles, said to cleave through storms and tidal waves, wielding massive warships like tamed steeds.
“Pirate Queen Elis.”
Alkaido pushed the five envelopes on the table in different directions, adding in a cold tone,
“These are the individuals you must ultimately target. No contact with each other until you become them. And if.”
A brief silence. They all knew what would come next from Alkaido’s lips.
“You fail, end your own lives.”
Before the very existence of doppelgangers was exposed.
At his words laced with intent, they all let out laughs.
“What do you take us for? Of course.”
“Don’t worry about that. Just take good care of the lord.”
“No worries.”
“Finally, a chance to shift into a female form.”
“We monsters know a thing or two about repaying favors.”
Alkaido watched them each snatch up the envelope they desired, then locked eyes with the swordsman Tey, who held nothing in his hands.
“And you, from now on, serve as my bodyguard. Guard me at all times and memorize me. My habits, my speech. My entire way of thinking.”
To prepare for the unforeseen, ensuring no gaps even if memories weren’t fully absorbed.
With those words to the man who might one day become himself, Alkaido turned away.
* * *
[Bahadi Agtarita—Owner of the Starlight Spring]
Representative Traits: [Spirit(SS)] [Imperturbability(S)] [Appearance(S)]
Hidden Traits: [Low Sorcery(B)] [Acting(D)]
I watched the high elf Bahadi sitting with unnaturally perfect posture, lifting her teacup at an angle straight out of a drawing and taking a sip.
Thanks to her Imperturbability, her expression hadn’t changed once since earlier. With her flawless white skin and blank face, she almost seemed like a mannequin.
“I told Zero to go to the market too.”
“Good call. And could you take Kane away? He’s been pretending to train while glaring at us this whole time.”
“Ahh. Yeah… Sure……”
I glanced out the window at Kane, nerves on edge as he watched Bahadi and me, and let out a sigh.
Knowingly or not, from Kane to Luna and Zero, they all felt overprotective of me.
‘Well, I did cause some trouble.’
Still propped on my chin in the rocking chair, I swung my feet to jostle it. Bahadi silently set down her teacup.
She folded her hands neatly in her lap, looking for all the world like a placed doll, then spoke.
“Since we’ve had tea, shall we get to the point?”
“What’s the rush? You’re here—why not eat too and talk once we’re full?”
“I’ll pass.”
Fine, I tried cracking a joke.
Unlike Valbus, Kaiman, or Alkaido—people I had some prior knowledge of from the game or source material—Bahadi was someone I had to handle purely on instinct.
‘In the original story and game, the entire Spirit Forest got blown away.’
Even the few survivors weren’t major players.
Feeling like it was time for a real clash of swords, I took a sip of the fragrant tea.
“Then let’s get to it. I heard why you’re here. Naturally, you want info on the traitor. So what are you offering me?”
At my words, Bahadi closed and opened her eyes at a steady pace, replying in an even, unchanging tone.
“Gold, jewels, elven artifacts, spirit stones, or magic crystals. Name what you want.”
At her words, I deliberately snorted like a total scoundrel.
“The one trait I can somewhat boast about is my wealth.”
Wealth. Imagine its value if it’s etched as a trait.
With a touch of arrogant flair, as if scoffing at her meager offerings, Bahadi spoke.
“I see. In that case, you first. What do you want?”
You first, huh.
A familiar phrase flickered in my mind.
Playing the spoiled rich brat, I lightly drummed the table, flashed a grin, and tossed out a playful line.
“You?”
For the first time, Bahadi’s expression shifted. Seizing the moment as her brows furrowed slightly, I pressed on.
“Kidding, that’d be rude, right? What I want isn’t much. First off, a private audience with your grand elder, plus there’s a ruin around here, yeah?”
At my quick deflection, Bahadi seemed to peg me as just another spoiled human noble with some money and status, and opened her mouth without much fuss.
“You’ll have to ask the elder himself about a meeting. As for that place, it’s an ancient ruin open anytime for a small entry fee.”
Her words drew an exaggerated bored look from me as I kicked the floor hard, roughly rocking the chair.
“Who doesn’t know that? I mean the other one.”
She’d written me off as some lecherous noble drooling over elven beauty, but hitting her blind spot made her expression waver.
“…I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh? Then talks are off. See ya.”
“Luna, the guest is leaving!” At my shout, Bahadi’s face crumpled further, and Luna came scampering in with a delighted grin.
“Shall I show you to the central avenue on your way out?”
As Luna beamed and cracked the door, Bahadi hurriedly added,
“That’s rude. You can’t demand what doesn’t exist……”
I waved her off like goodbye, then grinned at her words.
One more poke at the blind spot here.
“Oh, really? You fairy folk can swear mana oaths, right? Swear on it that what you just said is true.”
My casual bombshell shattered Bahadi’s composure. Her eyes widened a bit more, lips trembling.
“…How do you.”
A mana oath must be upheld no matter what; breaking it incinerates all your mana, leaving a fate worse than death.
How unreasonable is that.
And who’d like such unfair terms? Anyone who knew would wish they’d all just vanish.
If unused, it’s forgotten. If it doesn’t rise above the surface, it sinks.
Without oaths, eventually someone forgets and lives on, letting it fade away.
Most fairy folk are long-lived, so those in the know die off bit by bit, and now hardly anyone even knows such a thing exists.
‘You think I’m some casual otaku?’
Fandom runs on nanoseconds. So even dropped into this world without the source material or game, I still remembered the trivia.
“…It’s true there’s one ruin beyond the open one, but no one can enter. It’s barely even a ruin—just a vague space.”
“No one can enter? You sure?”
At my question, Bahadi reverted to her doll-like face.
“It’s been a thousand years since discovery. No elf, no human. Not even a wind spirit. It’s not a ruin, merely a nebulous space.”
I chuckled into my tea at her words.
“Watch your words.”
I’d been playing it straight from way back. Thought my concept was wastrel, but turns out it’s competent guy?
Flashing a smile fitting that concept, I mouthed the words.
You lot can’t get in.
Hope you can read lips.
“Anyway, if you want info, you’ve gotta offer something. Meeting the grand elder and passage to that ruin. Nothing less.”
At that, Bahadi stared at me with green eyes for a long moment before slowly speaking.
“Then you’re saying you can enter it?”
Eyes full of doubt. Makes sense—they’d probably tested a human or two out of curiosity.
But no one got in, and they couldn’t just open it up publicly—what if something amazing lay in a space even spirits couldn’t breach?
But there’s a separate entry condition.
“Wanna bet?”
Catching my grounded confidence, Bahadi paused, held her breath in thought, then slowly rose.
“I’ll visit again.”
“Don’t come empty-handed next time. At least grab some fruit.”
Skipping dinner? It’ll be tasty. At my words, she glanced at the kitchen, replied “No thank you,” and turned to leave.
“Smells really good, though.”
“She said she wanted worldly flavors today, so it’s steamed fish.”
The moment Bahadi left, Luna and Zero emerged from where they’d been eavesdropping.
“Worldly flavors are tough with standard camping gear, so I figured, young master.”
“Handling such a big fish was fun. I deboned it all in advance, so it’ll be delicious, Adelrian.”
As Luna and Zero sidled up expectantly for praise, I burst out laughing.
Arm-thick fish piled with spices and veggies, steaming—my mouth watered.
Kane returned from escorting and surveilling Bahadi, sat at the table, and I opened casually.
“Let’s go buy Zero some clothes later.”
Gonna meet my soon-to-be mentor—no, the elf. Can’t have her in rags, right?