"So, I'm a Doppelganger."
"So, I'm a doppelganger."
"……This is driving me nuts."
Watching Han Ji-woo introduce himself as a doppelganger, the real Han Ji-woo shuddered.
The doppelganger was a perfect copy—not just in appearance, but in voice, speech patterns, and even subtle gestures. The only difference was that it was trembling like a leaf in front of the Ogre King.
"You know everything about the Ogre King's situation?"
"That's right."
"……Sorry, but could you maybe turn into someone else? Not me?"
Han Ji-woo now understood just how chilling it was to face an exact copy of yourself.
The doppelganger pondered for a moment before shifting into Osgeelro's form.
"How about this?"
Osgeelro immediately grabbed his axe.
"I'll kill you!"
Han Ji-woo had to restrain the furious dwarf and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah! So, what's the Ogre King's story? Spill it."
"Let go of me!"
Osgeelro thrashed wildly, but Han Ji-woo pinned him down with sheer strength and urged the doppelganger on.
It continued.
"Actually, this isn't just the Ogre King's problem—it's an issue for all the monsters trapped here."
Having two Osgeelros was a bit surreal. But once Han Ji-woo thought of them as twins, the unease faded.
"A problem for all the monsters?"
"Five years ago, we came from the Bryunak Continent. Humans lost a bet with the gods, the continent was destroyed, and every living creature there became a slave."
"Hold up. What was this bet about?"
The doppelganger shook its head.
"No idea. We only heard the outcome. Because of it, all the monsters were locked in this Dungeon Prison. Different species couldn't mix, and with their naturally violent natures, wars broke out almost daily in the early days."
As it spoke, the doppelganger glanced at the Ogre King.
"Of course, no species dared mess with the ogres, the top predators among the imprisoned monsters."
In typical fantasy tales, ogres were pushovers for stronger beings. But the qualifier "among the imprisoned monsters" suggested that even mightier creatures hadn't been locked up here.
The doppelganger's tale pressed on.
"Anyway, with constant fighting, the Dungeon Prison was piled high with monster corpses. Yet one species didn't dwindle much: the orcs."
"Orcs?"
"Yeah. Their numbers were so vast, it seemed like they'd dominate the prison eventually. But then that incident happened."
The doppelganger shot a quick look at the Ogre King.
"For some reason, the Ogre King went berserk and slaughtered every orc he saw. That balanced the power among the species."
"Ah."
That explained the incident where orcs nearly got wiped out just for calling the Ogre King's name.
Suddenly curious, Han Ji-woo interrupted again.
"Where are the Ogre King's kin?"
"Scattered to the four cardinal directions, guarding their respective zones. The west is the Ogre King; east, south, and north are other ogre clan members on watch."
"Guarding what?"
"To keep the monsters from harming each other."
Finally, Han Ji-woo grasped the Dungeon Prison's ecosystem completely.
"They realized they'd all go extinct at this rate, so they made rules."
"Exactly."
That was the answer to why the monsters, who once slaughtered each other freely, now refrained.
"That solved the biggest issue, but now another problem looms."
This was likely what the Ogre King wanted to ask for help with.
The doppelganger's words grew heavier than ever.
"Food shortage. Edible things in the Dungeon Prison are dwindling. If it continues, wars will erupt again, with everyone eating each other. The end? Mutual destruction."
The Ogre King nodded in agreement.
"So the Ogre King's request to you……it's tough, but solve the Dungeon Prison's food crisis."
"Ha!"
As soon as the doppelganger finished, Osgeelro snorted derisively.
"Knew it! Another absurd request! This quest's been toying with dwarves from start to finish!"
He was right. It dangled a sliver of hope only to crush it with despair.
Solve the food shortage for a key? From an impossible clear condition? Shameless.
But.
"Sure, let's do it."
Han Ji-woo felt he could fix the Dungeon Prison's food shortage.
"What? Are you insane?"
"Nah. I can do it."
He had his Inventory stuffed with food supplies and the Growth Acceleration skill.
An astonishing scene unfolded in the Dungeon Prison.
The Ogre King and leaders of various monster packs had gathered at the Orc Village.
They'd rushed over at the Ogre King's summons. They eyed Han Ji-woo and Osgeelro with clear hostility or drooling hunger.
But once the Ogre King declared them friends, attitudes flipped instantly.
They knew touching the Ogre King's friends meant certain death.
The Ogre King had the raw power to coerce and dominate other monsters.
Anyway, with all the monster leaders assembled, Han Ji-woo directed Turkan and 300 orcs in vigorous farming.
With so many strong laborers, vast fields sprang up quickly.
Meanwhile, Han Ji-woo used his Creation skill to craft enormous rice paddies.
Luckily, the Dungeon Prison was lush with vegetation, dotted with lakes and flowing streams—perfect for crops.
Channeling water into the paddies was a breeze.
Once fields and paddies were ready, it was planting time.
Han Ji-woo eyed the potatoes and rice seeds in his Inventory, smacking his lips.
"Wish Pao were here."
With Great Harvest, he'd turn seed potatoes and rice into flawless crops without fail.
But without farming skills, Han Ji-woo had to manage alone.
First, make seed potatoes and rice seedlings. If that failed, he'd just plant watermelon seeds en masse.
Drawing on his scant 24 years of agricultural trivia while fiddling with potatoes, he missed Pao even more.
Wait. He's my pet, right? In games, you summon pets to your location. Does that work here?
As Han Ji-woo grumbled inwardly.
Summon 'Pao' here?
"……!"
Jackpot.
He could summon Pao!
Yes!
Pao appeared beside him instantly.
"……Huh?"
Pao, mid-slicing fish sashimi, panicked at the sudden scene change.
Looking around in confusion.
"Gah!"
Surrounded by monster leaders radiating menace, he collapsed in shock.
Then someone hugged him tightly.
"Pao!"
A familiar, longed-for scent filled his nostrils.
"M-Master!"
"Yeah, it's me, you rascal!"
"Master! Masteeer!"
Pao clung to Han Ji-woo like reunited family, sobbing.
"What happened?"
"Details later."
Pao nodded eagerly.
Whatever—didn't matter. The monsters didn't seem hostile.
For now, emotional reunion time.
Rumble rumble rumble!
"……?"
Potatoes and rice seeds poured out before Pao.
Han Ji-woo grinned, resting his chin on Pao's shoulder.
"Plant the potatoes first."
As expected of Pao.
The moment he touched them, potatoes became seed potatoes, rice seeds became seedlings.
With orc help, they planted everything. Then Han Ji-woo activated Growth Acceleration.
Great Harvest plus Growth Acceleration made crops shoot up.
Meanwhile, Han Ji-woo dumped all his watermelons from Inventory, smashing them open.
He distributed chunks to monsters, instructing: save the seeds, don't eat or discard—give to Pao.
The monsters eyed the strange fruit warily.
But one bite.
Rawr!
Kyaang!
Grooo!
Grooong!
Ecstatic, they roared in joy and danced grotesquely.
As they munched, Pao's farming lecture began.
Han Ji-woo doubted if these monster leaders could learn from Pao.
His worries proved unfounded—they hung on every word, ears perked.
Thanks to the Ogre King's one line.
"Forget farming methods……you die."
No bluff.
Still, teaching farming to these dim monsters seemed impossible.
So Han Ji-woo assigned each leader a species-specific role.
Mastering one thing as a group? Easy.
Lecture done, Pao planted all the watermelon seeds.
Han Ji-woo hit them with Growth Acceleration.
Soon, the vast Orc Village would brim with paddies and fields; penned animals would breed.
Follow Pao and Han Ji-woo's guidance, and a granary bigger than the village would form.
Monsters cooperating on farms and livestock? Bonds would strengthen.
Turkan smiled at the sprouting crops.
"Thank you, Master! Squeee! No more food shortages in Dungeon Prison. Squeee!"
The 300 orcs bowed with him, shouting in unison.
"Thank you, Master! Squeee!"
"Thank you! Squeee!"
Han Ji-woo beamed proudly, then asked Pao.
"Pao, any thoughts?"
"Yes!"
"O! What?"
"My face better!"
"……."
Expecting manners from him was futile.
Han Ji-woo shook his head as Osgeelro approached.
"How do you befriend such beasts so easily?"
Orcs as minions, ogre as friend, now a goblin calling him master.
Beyond Osgeelro's comprehension.
As Han Ji-woo opened his mouth to reply.
"Thanks……for granting my request."
The Ogre King's resonant voice boomed.