Doppelganger
A post that had gone up on the gallery.
I'd seen it while devouring info on difficult customers.
It seemed perfect for learning real-world cases from these jerks, so I dove right in.
Already dozens of comments.
Doppelgangers that copy the target's exact appearance.
Every damn kind of asshole exists, I thought, closing the gallery.
Then.
That doppelganger showed up as a customer in our store.
Worn silver breastplate, shallow scar on the right cheek, bloodshot eyes.
Two identical hunters glaring at each other, growling.
One was the guy who'd ordered the holy sword that came in yesterday.
The other was the doppelganger who'd copied his face and memories.
"I'm the real one, I swear! This bastard was in my party, spent a week with me copying all my biometrics!"
"Bullshit! That's my line! You scamming fuck!"
"Order number A-1185243! Choi Deok-pal! That's my name and order, right?"
"This fake's stealing my line? Hey part-timer, take this. Receipt from when I ordered."
Both insisting they were real, coming at me.
But I can't tell which is which.
Now I got why gallery folks called 'em one of the toughest assholes.
How the hell do you even sort this?
No way a mere convenience store clerk like me could.
Right.
Call the manager.
She'd sort it for sure.
Not my solo fix.
"Could you wait a sec?"
I grabbed my phone and called her right away.
Riiiing.
"Ughhh, what is it."
Voice thick like she'd just woken up.
"Manager. Customer here for the holy greatsword from yesterday... but one seems like a doppelganger. Both claiming they're real, waving receipts. Call the cops?"
"...Doppelganger?"
Response sluggish, still sleepy.
"......Ugh. Huh? Doppelganger's here?"
"Yes. Can't tell who's real, so calling you first."
"Grr, arrogant devils. Daring to scam while Jinjo's away."
"You coming?"
"Jinjo would love to, but impossible."
"Can't?"
"Look out the window. See the outside?"
I did as she said.
The window that usually showed the city street reflected the store interior.
Me at the counter, two guys in front.
"Just the store inside."
"Doppelganger's power. Isolates space for scams, cuts off outside contact."
"What now?"
"Two ways. Rip the barrier by force, or spot the fake by piercing disguise."
"Can't you break it and come in?"
"Sorry, no. Promise made when setting up the store."
Her voice sank.
"So I gotta spot the fake."
"Yes."
A heavy sigh over the line.
"Jinjo managed personally, no doppelgangers before. Got careless."
"Lucky the original's here too. Ask questions, find inconsistencies. Even doppelgangers can't copy everything."
"Anything else?"
"Jinjo can't say more. Doppelganger hears now."
I glanced at the two bickering at the counter.
"Hand it over now! I'm real!!"
"You fuck, still delusional!"
Identical guys.
Both looking frantic over the sword.
"It's listening to Jinjo and servant now."
Hearing us.
So it'd counter any solution she gave.
"Can't speak aloud. But servant, you have a way to learn countermeasures."
"A way?"
"The gallery. Community you joined starting at Jinjo's store."
"How'd you know..."
"Jinjo knows all. Hehe!"
Smug voice over the line.
"Ask users there for help."
"Got it. Leave it to me, I'll handle it right."
"Counting on you."
"Manager."
"Hm?"
"You active there too?"
"Secret."
Call ended.
Confirmed no outside help.
I checked my reflection in the window.
Thick fog blocking the street.
My face sharp as a mirror.
Find the inconsistency.
Manager's hint.
I sighed, opened the gallery.
Two customers in the store, look identical. One real, one doppel for sure. Fighting calling each other fake. Tips plz.
Comments exploded in under a minute.
Tips pouring in.
But problem: Never met this customer, Choi Deok-pal, before.
I inspected them.
Checked engravings, buckles, partings, item placements per advice.
All identical.
No inconsistency, perfect work.
"Hand for a prick?"
Drew blood as suggested.
"Ow!"
"Guh!"
Both bright red.
Fucked.
Now glaring like they'd draw swords any sec.
No fix, they'd fight in the store.
Blood red, items/behavior same. Shit what now?
No other ways, comments said.
First time for them too.
Transformation.
Monster mimicking target perfectly.
Memories, looks.
Even blood color.
What'd be hardest for it to copy?
Shadow.
Unlike fixed form, shifts with light.
I quickly posted.
How 'bout blast both with light at once, check shadows? Doppel's shadow monster-shaped or missing?
Strong light for sure.
Scanning the store then—
Ding!
The helpful anon who'd given me the asshole list and gallery tips for Taepyeong City life.
Hold up.
How'd they know we had a holy greatsword?
New stock yesterday.
For this customer.
Only one who'd know to suggest it now.
...Manager?
Had to be.
Dodged my gallery question earlier with "secret."
But didn't blurt it out.
Reason for not telling direct.
This message confirmed: Manager Jinjo was sure it'd work.
Grabbed the greatsword on the counter.
"Freeze."
They stopped growling, I raised the sword.
"???"
"What?"
"Found a way to spot real from fake."
"You ain't slicing us with that?"
"No way."
I shook my head.
"Not that."
Actions over words.
I swung the greatsword.
Whoosh!
Light flooded the store.
"Argh!"
"Wh-what!"
Their shadows sharpened.
And.
There.
One shadow wasn't human-shaped.
"Guess even perfect transforms can't fake shadows."
The doppelganger, shielding eyes, saw its shadow.
Face twisted seeing the non-human shape.
"Ah... Shit, busted."
Its face warped slowly.
"You fake fuck! Knew it!"
Deok-pal grabbed the fleeing one's collar.
"Gack!"
Barrier lifted.
Outside view returned.
At the door.
"Police here. Doppelganger Levrira. Arrested for face phishing in progress."
Two golem cops in uniform.
"Phew."
Solved safe.