Chapter 184: Jinx (4)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 184: Jinx (4)

The rules of the third chapter, the Shadow Altar, were simple: find the member of your expedition possessed by the doppelganger and offer them to the altar. That was it. If we were correct, the doppelganger residing in their body would be removed. But if we were wrong?

They will be incapacitated until the rift is cleared.

In other words, if I played my cards right, I could get rid of someone who could get in my way.

"Dwarf, your face looks off. Is there something wrong with your head?"

"Hmm, seeing as you're trying to oust me from the get-go, you're the one who is more suspicious here." My first target, the dwarf, did not panic and counterattacked. Just as I thought, he was not an easy one to handle.

But the real attack started now. "Suspicious? That's strange. When I first met you, you clearly sounded like you knew nothing about this place. But now you speak as if you know?"

"Oh, you're right." When Raven agreed, Hans G's teammates also began to grow suspicious. This made sense. We had just gotten here, and we hadn't yet discussed what the third stage entailed. So how did the dwarf know to defend himself?

"That's..." The dwarf thought it over for a moment, then without hiding his displeasure, spat out, "I heard from Hans."

"...Lying to get out of trouble, huh."

Hans G stepped in just in time to assist the dwarf. "I-It's not a lie. I told him."

"Told him? When?" Since I'd kept an eye on them throughout the entire journey, I couldn't accept this explanation.

"Y-Yesterday, during watch."

He was indeed out of my sight at the time, but I had assigned Mr. Bear to them for this exact reason. "Abman, is that true?"

"Of course not. The two of them didn't have that kind of conversation."

"Says Abman, who was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with you. Hans Chrisen, why are you covering for the dwarf?"

As I took a threatening step forward, Hans G frantically waved his hands. "I-It's not a cover-up. It's the truth! We used a magical item t-to talk... So Mr. Urikfried couldn't tell!"

A conversation with a magical device... It didn't sound like a lie. Goddamn it, when did they get so close? I would have been in trouble if I hadn't figured that out here. "What did you talk about?" I had to find out.

"Th-that's..." When I intentionally expelled murderous energy, Hans G trailed off, unable to overcome the pressure.

Just when I was about to cut it out, the dwarf stepped in as if to protect Hans. "Why should we tell you that? It was a private conversation. And that seems to have cleared up the question of how I know of this altar." With that skillful argument, he left no room for rebuttal and resolutely put an end to the conversation.

So far, there had been no disruption to my plans. Even without this, I had countless ways to attack these guys. "From now on, let's talk about ourselves." The dwarf was an adventurer from Noark, and Hans G was someone this world considered an evil spirit. If I aimed for these weak points, there would inevitably be inconsistencies in their answers. "Dwarf, what's your adventurer ranking? Do you have family? Siblings?"

"...I don't want to talk about myself."

"So you refuse." I smirked. They had a right to remain silent, but they had a responsibility to answer. In this place right now, all questions were justified.

"Excuse me, I think it's best to do as Mr. Yandel says. I'm not saying that because he's our team leader, but the fact is that there's a doppelganger here, right?" Raven provided supporting fire with logic.

Agreeing that this method was the best, Hans G's wizard also supported our opinion. "Let's do that. We can't just blindly offer someone to the altar. Let's discuss this together. Then we'll know who it is. There are ways to discern even a doppelganger."

The public opinion was swayed in an instant. In the end, the dwarf had no choice but to back off. "...Fine. Then how should we do this?"

It was Hans G who answered the dwarf's question. "I suppose verification magic would be best?" Like a player, he presented the most classic strategy.

But at that moment, the blunt weapon warrior on Hans G's team carefully raised his hand and expressed a concern. "Um, but I heard verification magic doesn't work on everybody?"

It was a sharp question that didn't seem to match his average-looking face. He was right—verification spells didn't work on everyone. For example, me. It hadn't worked on me when I was in the guild that one time. According to Raven, mana resistance was one thing, but it seemed I also had an innately thick mental barrier.

"It doesn't matter if it doesn't work. I heard it doesn't work on doppelgangers, anyway."

"Y-Yes! That's right! We can at least use it to reduce the number of suspects."

"True, even that will be helpful enough."

When the brainiacs Raven and Hans G combined their voices, there were no more objections. And so, the official hunt began.

"Are you a man?"

"...Why are you asking that?"

"Haha, I'm just making sure the spell is working properly, so you can just answer however you want."

"As you can see, I'm a man."

"That's the truth."

The two wizards went around and attempted to verify everyone's words with magic. As a result, nine people were identified as being immune to the spell: on Hans's team, Hans, the wizard, and the elven archer; on the dwarf's team, the dwarf, the archer, the sorcerer, and the priest; and on my team, me and Raven. As a side note, the number far exceeded my expectations. I figured this would be the case for wizards and sorcerers who had high mana resistance and willpower, but there were others here who were also immune to truth spells? Was it because everyone here was a rather experienced adventurer?

I didn't think it would be more than half the group...

Thanks to that, I now had a headache, but my job remained the same.

"Are you a doppelganger?" First, the same question was asked to those on whom the verification spell was working, and everyone answered "no" to greatly reduce the list of suspects.

"So the doppelganger bastard is hiding among the nine of us." Everyone's eyes were much sharper as we all looked at each other. The situation was quite favorable for me, though. "I'll go first."

Once those who answered "no" were removed from the list, I brandished an executioner's sword. I had just two targets: the dwarf and Hans G, who were also the leaders of each team.

"Where did you get the equipment in the backpack?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"Answer the question."

"...I won't tell you."

Exercising the right to remain silent, huh? That's fine with me.

"Hans Chrisen, it sounds like you know a lot about this forest. Where did you get that information?"

"I-I read it in a book."

"What is the title of the book?"

"That's... I won't tell you."

Agreeing that this method was the best, Hans G's wizard also supported our opinion. "Let's do that. We can't just blindly offer someone to the altar. Let's discuss this together. Then we'll know who it is. There are ways to discern even a doppelganger."

The public opinion was swayed in an instant. In the end, the dwarf had no choice but to back off. "...Fine. Then how should we do this?"

It was Hans G who answered the dwarf's question. "I suppose verification magic would be best?" Like a player, he presented the most classic strategy.

But at that moment, the blunt weapon warrior on Hans G's team carefully raised his hand and expressed a concern. "Um, but I heard verification magic doesn't work on everybody?"

It was a sharp question that didn't seem to match his average-looking face. He was right—verification spells didn't work on everyone. For example, me. It hadn't worked on me when I was in the guild that one time. According to Raven, mana resistance was one thing, but it seemed I also had an innately thick mental barrier.

"It doesn't matter if it doesn't work. I heard it doesn't work on doppelgangers, anyway."

"Y-Yes! That's right! We can at least use it to reduce the number of suspects."

"True, even that will be helpful enough."

When the brainiacs Raven and Hans G combined their voices, there were no more objections. And so, the official hunt began.

"Are you a man?"

"...Why are you asking that?"

"Haha, I'm just making sure the spell is working properly, so you can just answer however you want."

"As you can see, I'm a man."

"That's the truth."

The two wizards went around and attempted to verify everyone's words with magic. As a result, nine people were identified as being immune to the spell: on Hans's team, Hans, the wizard, and the elven archer; on the dwarf's team, the dwarf, the archer, the sorcerer, and the priest; and on my team, me and Raven. As a side note, the number far exceeded my expectations. I figured this would be the case for wizards and sorcerers who had high mana resistance and willpower, but there were others here who were also immune to truth spells? Was it because everyone here was a rather experienced adventurer?

I didn't think it would be more than half the group...

Thanks to that, I now had a headache, but my job remained the same.

"Are you a doppelganger?" First, the same question was asked to those on whom the verification spell was working, and everyone answered "no" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to greatly reduce the list of suspects.

"So the doppelganger bastard is hiding among the nine of us." Everyone's eyes were much sharper as we all looked at each other. The situation was quite favorable for me, though. "I'll go first."

Once those who answered "no" were removed from the list, I brandished an executioner's sword. I had just two targets: the dwarf and Hans G, who were also the leaders of each team.

"Where did you get the equipment in the backpack?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"Answer the question."

"...I won't tell you."

Exercising the right to remain silent, huh? That's fine with me.

"Hans Chrisen, it sounds like you know a lot about this forest. Where did you get that information?"

"I-I read it in a book."

"What is the title of the book?"

"That's... I won't tell you."

As my questions continued, the no-comments stacked up. This was all part of my plan. Technically these weren't questions relevant to finding a doppelganger, but anyone who was hiding something would only look suspicious.

"...We may be immune to the verification spell, but I see no one wants to answer truthfully?"

The dwarf burst out laughing at my suspicious muttering. "Like you're any different!" It looked like I had properly attracted his aggro. After taking a beating from my hostile personal attacks, the dwarf refused to hold back anymore. "What essences do you have?"

"...I cannot say."

"Because you can't remember because you're a doppelganger?" When the dwarf opened fire, his teammates joined in and attacked me for doing the same to their own leader.

"Come to think of it, this guy was the one who started drilling people without evidence."

"Almost as if he doesn't care who ends up on the altar..."

"Not only that, but he's too logical for a barbarian."

I just remained silent throughout the assault. Then, Hans G's team began throwing questions at me too. "I heard doppelgangers have flawed memories. Do you remember the last time we met, back in the Land of the Dead? What happened then?"

"That... I don't remember very well."

"Hmm, are you saying you forgot?"

"...I am a barbarian."

"Pft, what a convenient race." When I couldn't answer, the elven archer let out a caustic laugh. It seemed my attack on Hans G earlier had gotten on her nerves... Oh, these newbies.

"The fact that you're insisting that I'm the doppelganger must mean you are the doppelganger! Missha, Ainar! Don't you think so too?"

"Huh? Uh, yeah..."

"B-Bjorn, the great warrior, must be right!"

Even my teammates had a lukewarm reaction to my forceful assertion and did not play along. Thus, the gazes on me grew colder. Then, finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.

When the hands of the clock overlapped at midnight, white light began to emanate from the altar in the center of the space.

[The Stone of Truth has formed.]

This was this stage's key item. Without needing any prodding, Raven explained it to me. "It's the Stone of Truth. It makes it so a person can only speak the truth, but only once. Even if it's the doppelganger speaking."

"...Does it show up again after?"

"I heard it appears every night at midnight. However, the doppelganger's powers grow stronger each time you use it."

"So we have to be careful."

I kept my mouth shut, like someone who was anxious about something. I inspected everyone's faces and met the dwarf's eyes.

"Let's decide by vote. I choose that barbarian. He's obviously suspicious." The dwarf smirked and threw me to the wolves. Without the need for a ballot box, several people raised their hands and eight votes were collected in an instant. That was more than half of us.

"...Think again carefully. I am not a doppelganger." I gave them my sincere advice, but it was ignored.

"How do you use this? Oh, like this?" The dwarf rubbed the Stone of Truth and it emitted a white light. "Barbarian," he asked, "are you a doppelganger?"

My reply was immediate. "I am not a doppelganger."

Pzzzzz.

The Stone of Truth lost power and crumbled.

As my questions continued, the no-comments stacked up. This was all part of my plan. Technically these weren't questions relevant to finding a doppelganger, but anyone who was hiding something would only look suspicious.

"...We may be immune to the verification spell, but I see no one wants to answer truthfully?"

The dwarf burst out laughing at my suspicious muttering. "Like you're any different!" It looked like I had properly attracted his aggro. After taking a beating from my hostile personal attacks, the dwarf refused to hold back anymore. "What essences do you have?"

"...I cannot say."

"Because you can't remember because you're a doppelganger?" When the dwarf opened fire, his teammates joined in and attacked me for doing the same to their own leader.

"Come to think of it, this guy was the one who started drilling people without evidence."

"Almost as if he doesn't care who ends up on the altar..."

"Not only that, but he's too logical for a barbarian."

I just remained silent throughout the assault. Then, Hans G's team began throwing questions at me too. "I heard doppelgangers have flawed memories. Do you remember the last time we met, back in the Land of the Dead? What happened then?"

"That... I don't remember very well."

"Hmm, are you saying you forgot?"

"...I am a barbarian."

"Pft, what a convenient race." When I couldn't answer, the elven archer let out a caustic laugh. It seemed my attack on Hans G earlier had gotten on her nerves... Oh, these newbies.

"The fact that you're insisting that I'm the doppelganger must mean you are the doppelganger! Missha, Ainar! Don't you think so too?"

"Huh? Uh, yeah..."

"B-Bjorn, the great warrior, must be right!"

Even my teammates had a lukewarm reaction to my forceful assertion and did not play along. Thus, the gazes on me grew colder. Then, finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.

When the hands of the clock overlapped at midnight, white light began to emanate from the altar in the center of the space.

[The Stone of Truth has formed.]

This was this stage's key item. Without needing any prodding, Raven explained it to me. "It's the Stone of Truth. It makes it so a person can only speak the truth, but only once. Even if it's the doppelganger speaking."

"...Does it show up again after?"

"I heard it appears every night at midnight. However, the doppelganger's powers grow stronger each time you use it."

"So we have to be careful."

I kept my mouth shut, like someone who was anxious about something. I inspected everyone's faces and met the dwarf's eyes.

"Let's decide by vote. I choose that barbarian. He's obviously suspicious." The dwarf smirked and threw me to the wolves. Without the need for a ballot box, several people raised their hands and eight votes were collected in an instant. That was more than half of us.

"...Think again carefully. I am not a doppelganger." I gave them my sincere advice, but it was ignored.

"How do you use this? Oh, like this?" The dwarf rubbed the Stone of Truth and it emitted a white light. "Barbarian," he asked, "are you a doppelganger?"

My reply was immediate. "I am not a doppelganger."

Pzzzzz.

The Stone of Truth lost power and crumbled.

"Wizard, why did this happen?"

"Why do you think? It means he spoke the truth."

Now that I had what I wanted, it was time to quit the idiot act. I stretched my arms up and loosened my tight neck. "I told you to think again." I had now secured the citizenship I needed for my plan. To put it simply, no one would be able to doubt or attack me from now on. "Dwarf, why did you insist I was the doppelganger? Are you the doppelganger?"

Time to get down to some serious politics.

"That's! Because you acted suspiciously...!" The dwarf shouted like he was making excuses. I got where he was coming from. I was the one who had started attacking left and right from the get-go and had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made several seemingly sloppy moves, but that didn't mean I had to go easy on him.

"What suspicious act? I answered everyone's questions."

"...You didn't tell us your essences!"

"You act like you're from another world. Don't you know how rude it is to ask an adventurer about their essences?"

"Then how about earlier?! What's your explanation for that? The elf asked you—"

"I told you, I forgot." I straightened my shoulders without the slightest hint of shame. The barbarian forgot. What was he gonna do about it?

Realizing he had been fooled by my trick, the dwarf clammed up. Except, I guess it was difficult to watch their leader go through such humiliation because another member of his team chimed in. "That's enough, barbarian. The votes speak to your suspicious behavior."

Correct. They speak to a beatdown from an ignorant barbarian!

"That's because you were all ganging up on me!" the roar of the wronged barbarian echoed through the chamber. The dwarf team's archer tried to say something but their words were buried under my overwhelming voice. "Did you give me time to explain? You're the one who stole the stone Raven was holding and used it!"

"No, that's—"

"I think you guys are suspicious! Own up to it and go to the altar!"

"I'm telling you, I didn't steal it—"

"Own up to it and go to the altar!"

Only then did the archer shout as hard as he could. "Then we'll use the Stone of Truth tomorrow! Is that enough for you!?"

It looked like these guys had started to realize the benefits they could get out of the Stone of Truth. But, uh-oh. They were too late.

"Yes, it is you!" As the line I had been bidding for came out, I reined in my excitement and stomped forward. The air grew tense and hostile in an instant. "Say that again, archer! Not only did you waste it on me, but you'll use it again? Are you the doppelganger?"

I switched targets from the dwarf to the archer. This had been my plan from the beginning. No matter how much of a fuss I made, I knew it would be impossible to get the dwarf or the priest, the key members of their team, on the altar.

"Come to think of it, it was you! Every time I said something, you kept egging the dwarf on!"

"It wasn't just me, everyone—"

"Take responsibility and get on the altar! It's not like it'll kill you. Clearing the rift with one less archer is not a problem!" The furious shout rendered rational thinking difficult. As his attempt to argue with me backfired on him, the archer's face turned white.

But did that seem strange to some of the others? A few on Hans G's team started to switch sides. "Certainly, that might be a more reasonable route than using the stone."

"Wizard, why did this happen?"

"Why do you think? It means he spoke the truth."

Now that I had what I wanted, it was time to quit the idiot act. I stretched my arms up and loosened my tight neck. "I told you to think again." I had now secured the citizenship I needed for my plan. To put it simply, no one would be able to doubt or attack me from now on. "Dwarf, why did you insist I was the doppelganger? Are you the doppelganger?"

Time to get down to some serious politics.

"That's! Because you acted suspiciously...!" The dwarf shouted like he was making excuses. I got where he was coming from. I was the one who had started attacking left and right from the get-go and had made several seemingly sloppy moves, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but that didn't mean I had to go easy on him.

"What suspicious act? I answered everyone's questions."

"...You didn't tell us your essences!"

"You act like you're from another world. Don't you know how rude it is to ask an adventurer about their essences?"

"Then how about earlier?! What's your explanation for that? The elf asked you—"

"I told you, I forgot." I straightened my shoulders without the slightest hint of shame. The barbarian forgot. What was he gonna do about it?

Realizing he had been fooled by my trick, the dwarf clammed up. Except, I guess it was difficult to watch their leader go through such humiliation because another member of his team chimed in. "That's enough, barbarian. The votes speak to your suspicious behavior."

Correct. They speak to a beatdown from an ignorant barbarian!

"That's because you were all ganging up on me!" the roar of the wronged barbarian echoed through the chamber. The dwarf team's archer tried to say something but their words were buried under my overwhelming voice. "Did you give me time to explain? You're the one who stole the stone Raven was holding and used it!"

"No, that's—"

"I think you guys are suspicious! Own up to it and go to the altar!"

"I'm telling you, I didn't steal it—"

"Own up to it and go to the altar!"

Only then did the archer shout as hard as he could. "Then we'll use the Stone of Truth tomorrow! Is that enough for you!?"

It looked like these guys had started to realize the benefits they could get out of the Stone of Truth. But, uh-oh. They were too late.

"Yes, it is you!" As the line I had been bidding for came out, I reined in my excitement and stomped forward. The air grew tense and hostile in an instant. "Say that again, archer! Not only did you waste it on me, but you'll use it again? Are you the doppelganger?"

I switched targets from the dwarf to the archer. This had been my plan from the beginning. No matter how much of a fuss I made, I knew it would be impossible to get the dwarf or the priest, the key members of their team, on the altar.

"Come to think of it, it was you! Every time I said something, you kept egging the dwarf on!"

"It wasn't just me, everyone—"

"Take responsibility and get on the altar! It's not like it'll kill you. Clearing the rift with one less archer is not a problem!" The furious shout rendered rational thinking difficult. As his attempt to argue with me backfired on him, the archer's face turned white.

But did that seem strange to some of the others? A few on Hans G's team started to switch sides. "Certainly, that might be a more reasonable route than using the stone."

"...And it won't kill you, either."

In the end, the dwarf had to step in. "Fine, get on the altar."

"Sorry? What do you mean—"

"Enough. Do as I say. Unless you're the doppelganger."

It appeared the leader's authority was quite strong in his team because the archer couldn't make a single sound.

"Martin! Are you really going to put him on the altar?"

The dwarf nodded his head resolutely despite the uneasy look in his colleagues' eyes. I could clearly see what he was thinking.

He's trying to use this to turn public opinion in his favor.

He was doing exactly what I had done. If he put the archer onto the altar at my insistence, but he was not the doppelganger, then they would have the right to accuse us instead.

Since he can't attack me, he'll probably aim for Raven.

His strategy was to sacrifice his archer in order to force our wizard, an important part of our party, onto the altar. This could be a boon to them later since wizards performed incredibly well in PKs.

Idiots.

They probably thought they had nothing to lose. After all, if the archer really was the doppelganger, things worked out for them either way.

However... You think a doppelganger would willingly go to the altar?

I wiped the smile off my face and watched the archer get dragged over to the altar by his leader.

"Don't worry. Once the guardian is defeated, you will be released safe and sound."

"...I'll be waiting here."

Eventually, the archer stood in front of the altar. Everyone watched in silence.

Shaaaaa!

When the archer touched the altar with a determined look on his face, light burst forth.

[The soul of expedition member Arka Petray has been sealed.]

The soul that was pulled out of the archer's body floated in the air, connected to the altar. His movements and expression clearly looked pained.

"Wizard. No, Hans Chrisen. What does this mean?"

"...H-He's not the doppelganger."

The dwarf let out a long sigh and opened his eyes after a beat. Even though this was his decision, it seemed he was feeling mixed emotions after seeing that. But did he figure that this wasn't the time for all that? "Barbarian, are you ready to take responsibility for your words?" the dwarf growled.

I answered immediately. "No, why should I take responsibility?"

"That's... because of you... my teammate ended up like that! Following your logic, it's time to check your side too!"

Tsk, tsk.

I shot him a look that clearly told him how pathetic I found that logic. "How childish."

"...What?"

"Is finding the doppelganger a joke to you? Stop being emotional and think rationally."

The dwarf did not respond to my calm rebuttal. Well, I was sure he probably hadn't expected he would hear this from a barbarian who had been screaming bloody murder just a moment ago.

"Grow up, dwarf."

Even though your height will stay the same.

"What the fuck!?"

As he cursed, I calmly reached out my hand and stopped him. "Wait, you're not trying to attack me, are you? Unless you're a doppelganger, you have absolutely no reason for that, no?" The dwarf's body began to tremble. And so, I stopped provoking him. "I'm sorry about your teammate. To think he would go like that. He seemed like a nice guy..."

"Enough. Get to the point."

"I made a mistake in a moment of excitement. But why don't we forget the past and focus on clearing the rift? If we lose any more people, there's no telling whether we'll even return alive." This was the reason why I could troll to my heart's content. No matter how angry he got, the dwarf was likely well aware that a fight between us right now would only lead to total annihilation.

"...So, what's your plan?"

"I'm starting to think your priest is—"

"Everyone, stop!" Hans G's wizard shouted then. His name was Parteian, a man who had his own middle-aged charm. "Let's end this meaningless destruction here. I have a way to find the doppelganger."

None of us had expected to hear that.

"What way?" There was no way he was lying given the determined look on his face. "Speak."

When I urged him, the wizard pulled out an item from his sub-space. It was a small disc the size of a compass. As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was: No. 7234, Misplaced Trust—an item that prohibited all lies within a radius of ten yards when activated.

"Y-You had s-something like that this whole...?" Player Hans quivered like he had just encountered his natural enemy. This was a sentiment that I alone could relate to 100 percent.

"This normally isn't an item that gets much use. Well, I figured it would come in handy one day. So this is the day. I'm sorry I didn't bring it out sooner."

I haven't gotten rid of the priest bastard yet...

I let go of my disappointment. Unable to watch our dispute any longer, the wizard had pulled out his prized possession. Not using it at this point would just be strange. Unmasking the doppelganger early on had its own advantages, too, which sounded good to me.

"Fine by me."

"...Same here." The dwarf also set aside his hostility toward me for a moment and made overtures toward peace. It looked like we were thinking the same thing.

"Good choice. Then, shall we all gather over here?"

Everyone whose name had not yet been cleared gathered in the middle and the wizard used Misplaced Trust. The effect lasted only ten minutes. "Then who will start?"

"I will." The dwarf kicked things off. I supposed he really wasn't the doppelganger because he didn't look nervous at all. However, that didn't last long.

"Then I'll ask you a question to check whether it's working." To verify that the magic was active, the wizard casually asked, "What city are you from?"

He had stepped on a land mine.

Goddamn it.

There was no way the dwarf could answer that question. A cold silence fell. The dwarf's curved mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Why aren't you answering? Is there a prob—" The wizard cut himself off and shut his mouth. He had just realized why the dwarf couldn't answer. "Hold on, are you—!"

The moment the wizard's jaw dropped, I shouted with all my might. "Prepare for battle!"

We were fucked.

"...And it won't kill you, either."

In the end, the dwarf had to step in. "Fine, get on the altar."

"Sorry? What do you mean—"

"Enough. Do as I say. Unless you're the doppelganger."

It appeared the leader's authority was quite strong in his team because the archer couldn't make a single sound.

"Martin! Are you really going to put him on the altar?"

The dwarf nodded his head resolutely despite the uneasy look in his colleagues' eyes. I could clearly see what he was thinking.

He's trying to use this to turn public opinion in his favor.

He was doing exactly what I had done. If he put the archer onto the altar at my insistence, but he was not the doppelganger, then they would have the right to accuse us instead.

Since he can't attack me, he'll probably aim for Raven.

His strategy was to sacrifice his archer in order to force our wizard, an important part of our party, onto the altar. This could be a boon to them later since wizards performed incredibly well in PKs.

Idiots.

They probably thought they had nothing to lose. After all, if the archer really was the doppelganger, things worked out for them either way.

However... You think a doppelganger would willingly go to the altar?

I wiped the smile off my face and watched the archer get dragged over to the altar by his leader.

"Don't worry. Once the guardian is defeated, you will be released safe and sound."

"...I'll be waiting here."

Eventually, the archer stood in front of the altar. Everyone watched in silence.

Shaaaaa!

When the archer touched the altar with a determined look on his face, light burst forth.

[The soul of expedition member Arka Petray has been sealed.]

The soul that was pulled out of the archer's body floated in the air, connected to the altar. His movements and expression clearly looked pained.

"Wizard. No, Hans Chrisen. What does this mean?"

"...H-He's not the doppelganger."

The dwarf let out a long sigh and opened his eyes after a beat. Even though this was his decision, it seemed he was feeling mixed emotions after seeing that. But did he figure that this wasn't the time for all that? "Barbarian, are you ready to take responsibility for your words?" the dwarf growled.

I answered immediately. "No, why should I take responsibility?"

"That's... because of you... my teammate ended up like that! Following your logic, it's time to check your side too!"

Tsk, tsk.

I shot him a look that clearly told him how pathetic I found that logic. "How childish."

"...What?"

"Is finding the doppelganger a joke to you? Stop being emotional and think rationally."

The dwarf did not respond to my calm rebuttal. Well, I was sure he probably hadn't expected he would hear this from a barbarian who had been screaming bloody murder just a moment ago.

"Grow up, dwarf."

Even though your height will stay the same.

"What the fuck!?"

As he cursed, I calmly reached out my hand and stopped him. "Wait, you're not trying to attack me, are you? Unless you're a doppelganger, you have absolutely no reason for that, no?" The dwarf's body began to tremble. And so, I stopped provoking him. "I'm sorry about your teammate. To think he would go like that. He seemed like a nice guy..."

"Enough. Get to the point."

"I made a mistake in a moment of excitement. But why don't we forget the past and focus on clearing the rift? If we lose any more people, there's no telling whether we'll even return alive." This was the reason why I could troll to my heart's content. No matter how angry he got, the dwarf was likely well aware that a fight between us right now would only lead to total annihilation.

"...So, what's your plan?"

"I'm starting to think your priest is—"

"Everyone, stop!" Hans G's wizard shouted then. His name was Parteian, a man who had his own middle-aged charm. "Let's end this meaningless destruction here. I have a way to find the doppelganger."

None of us had expected to hear that.

"What way?" There was no way he was lying given the determined look on his face. "Speak."

When I urged him, the wizard pulled out an item from his sub-space. It was a small disc the size of a compass. As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was: No. 7234, Misplaced Trust—an item that prohibited all lies within a radius of ten yards when activated.

"Y-You had s-something like that this whole...?" Player Hans quivered like he had just encountered his natural enemy. This was a sentiment that I alone could relate to 100 percent.

"This normally isn't an item that gets much use. Well, I figured it would come in handy one day. So this is the day. I'm sorry I didn't bring it out sooner."

I haven't gotten rid of the priest bastard yet...

I let go of my disappointment. Unable to watch our dispute any longer, the wizard had pulled out his prized possession. Not using it at this point would just be strange. Unmasking the doppelganger early on had its own advantages, too, which sounded good to me.

"Fine by me."

"...Same here." The dwarf also set aside his hostility toward me for a moment and made overtures toward peace. It looked like we were thinking the same thing.

"Good choice. Then, shall we all gather over here?"

Everyone whose name had not yet been cleared gathered in the middle and the wizard used Misplaced Trust. The effect lasted only ten minutes. "Then who will start?"

"I will." The dwarf kicked things off. I supposed he really wasn't the doppelganger because he didn't look nervous at all. However, that didn't last long.

"Then I'll ask you a question to check whether it's working." To verify that the magic was active, the wizard casually asked, "What city are you from?"

He had stepped on a land mine.

Goddamn it.

There was no way the dwarf could answer that question. A cold silence fell. The dwarf's curved mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Why aren't you answering? Is there a prob—" The wizard cut himself off and shut his mouth. He had just realized why the dwarf couldn't answer. "Hold on, are you—!"

The moment the wizard's jaw dropped, I shouted with all my might. "Prepare for battle!"

We were fucked.