Avalanche of Riches
As I walked along the icy path, a full-body mirror came into view.
It stood starkly in the middle of the snowy mountain, reflecting both the figure facing it and the background behind.
My doppelganger stared straight at me.
Except its waist was empty.
"Looks like Tyrbing can't be duplicated after all."
Of course. Tyrbing's existence is utterly unique—even a trial created by the gods cannot duplicate it.
"Easy win."
Still, don't get complacent. A doppelganger is a being that has mastered the limits of its flesh. Even if the host's body is pathetic and worthless, it will put on an optimal fight.
"Got some thorns in your words?"
It wasn't wrong, so I couldn't argue back—and that stung.
"Let's just get this over with quick."
I drew my sword, and the doppelganger clenched its fists into a fighting stance.
With no other weapons besides Tyrbing, it had no choice but to go bare-handed.
It looked like I had the overwhelming advantage, but that wasn't the reality.
I was human and prone to mistakes, while the doppelganger was like an efficient AI.
"But damn, even glaring fiercely, my face just looks like total fodder."
I highly commend the master's excellent self-objectification.
"Mirror therapy really works."
I'd have to stop showboating from the front from now on.
Through the doppelganger, I'd gained some new insights with leisure to spare, but the thing hadn't moved.
It knew that in a fist-versus-sword matchup, the fist moving first was a disadvantage.
It showed clear intent not to strike first, since it needed to close the gap in one go.
And it was a rational judgment.
Time was on the doppelganger's side, as I was the one who needed to move on to the next trial.
"Gotta admit, your brain spins fast."
Now it was time to check if it had copied even my original knowledge from the game.
I strolled forward casually.
When the distance had narrowed just enough—
The doppelganger kicked off the ground and charged at me in one breath.
Its speed was slow, but its trajectory was exquisite.
Aiming to knock me out with a chin strike.
But I didn't resist at all and took the doppelganger's fist head-on.
My chin took the hit, and inertia sent shock to my brain.
My vision spun, and just as I was about to black out, I jabbed hard at a specific spot with my finger.
Acupoint strike.
A skill from the Aslan Chronicles, striking acupoints to trigger special effects.
The spot I'd hit temporarily awakened the brain, snapping me out of stun, confusion, or hallucinations.
I hadn't mastered the skill separately, but I nailed the acupoint strike on the first try.
"Oh, it worked?"
That wasn't intentional?!
The developers of Aslan Chronicles, infamous for their detail fetish.
They used the game's stellar graphics to show different acupoints for each effect.
Through multiple playthroughs, I'd seen acupoint strikes used thousands of times, and I recreated it from memory.
And that gamble paid off perfectly.
Master! You could've died pointlessly—how could you take such a gamble!
"You think I did it without thinking? Even if my consciousness cuts out, you can control my body with your will, right? And as a magic sword that's lived as one, you'd handle the sword better than me at least."
……Hearing it out, it makes sense.
"I never bet my life on unproven things. When I gamble, I always have a safety net."
But why didn't you just cleave the doppelganger right away?
The acupoint strike had pulled me out of near-stun.
There had clearly been a chance to slash the doppelganger, but I hadn't swung.
In the end, it backed off and reset its stance.
"Thing is, that brain shock sparked a killer idea in me."
What is it?
"I'll show you now."
I gripped the sword and charged forward.
The doppelganger tensed up, ready for a counter.
I feinted an attack on it and headed straight for the mirror beyond.
Then came Tyrbing's admiring voice.
A strategy to smash the mirror that spawned the doppelganger! Truly brilliant judgment, master!
"Sorry to disappoint, but smashing the mirror was never the plan."
Hmm?
I stopped in front of the mirror, turned my back, and thrust Tyrbing into the snow.
Thinking it wasn't deep enough, I heel-struck the pommel.
Confirming the blade was buried deep in the ground, I gave Tyrbing its orders.
"Tyrbing. Use your power to send an earthquake through the earth."
……That sounds an awful lot like you're telling me to trigger an avalanche.
"Exactly!"
You've got a plan, so I'll do it. Don't blame me if it goes wrong later!
"Quit yapping and do it quick!"
Rrrumble—!
Tyrbing's power activated, and the ground began to shake.
Snow from higher altitudes slid down, swelling in volume.
A small snowball turned into a white tsunami crashing toward us.
I pressed my body as close as possible to the mirror.
"The doppelganger copied me perfectly. And to it, this mirror is priceless treasure!"
That was when the avalanche hit.
A massive boulder stubbornly blocking the slope split the avalanche in two.
It split briefly before merging again and flowing downward, leaving me and the mirror in a tiny gap.
Naturally, the doppelganger was safe too.
Master, looks like the avalanche plan failed.
"Nah, total success."
Ice chunks dropped from above, rolling to my feet.
Inside the ice was a gem I'd never seen before.
Snowballs followed, splitting open to reveal ancient coins.
Both were artifacts of astronomical value.
Enough to more than cover the expenses from climbing the mountain.
N-No way, what you were aiming for was…!
"You figured it out."
But it was too early to celebrate.
The gems and ancient coins were just the start.
Treasures from an ancient civilization buried in the avalanche poured down one after another.
Having planned for this, I spread my arms wide and laughed heartily.
"Right now! My financial luck plus the doppelganger's copied luck is doubled up! Uwahahaha!"
A whopping 4x drop rate event.
Pass this up and you're gay, right?
High above, far from where I was, Cress, the Grand Spirit of Ice, had been monitoring the site ever since sending me off.
It wasn't out of expectation or curiosity.
Knowing my physical abilities were abysmal, how could she anticipate a thrilling fight?
I'd expected as much… but…
As expected, it was pathetic.
Compared to past challengers' battles, it was child's play.
And when I had a chance but didn't land the finishing blow, she nearly burst with frustration.
That weak, and if I'm not there to protect him… Ack!
Cress snapped to her senses and shook her head vigorously.
Protecting a human? What ridiculous thought!
There was no reason for the great Grand Spirit of Ice to guard a non-contractor human.
To clear her mind, Cress slapped her cheeks.
Her flushed cheeks puffed slightly as she kept watching the scene.
What the heck is he trying to do?
Suddenly ignoring the doppelganger to stand before the mirror.
Then the bizarre act of stabbing his only weapon, the magic sword, into the ground.
Cress couldn't comprehend it.
But moments later, the phenomenon Tyrbing caused left her aghast.
H-He triggered an avalanche?
A reckless move that could've swept him to death if mishandled.
Yet I stayed calm, and miraculously, I wasn't caught in it.
Just the doppelganger was outside the range too, making my scheme pointless.
Or so it seemed.
"Huh…?"
I let out a joyful cheer even though the doppelganger was still alive and well.
In my hands were artifacts even Cress hadn't known existed.
She first thought it coincidence.
But as artifacts kept dropping at my feet, she realized it was inevitable.
…The challenger's strength wasn't in martial prowess.
Only then did Cress understand the source of my wealth.
Financial luck that brought money just by breathing.
The very power she'd longed for most, bound to the mountain by the Creator.
She couldn't leave the snowy peaks without earning a certain amount of gold.
My misconception. He never needed my help from the start…
Cress now recognized my financial luck as a true ability.
At the same time, the thought that to him, she might've been just a mere vendor twisted her heart.
"It stings…"
Cress bit her lip hard.
She should've stayed cold like with other challengers, but it was too late.
The time climbing the mountain with me had become far more meaningful than centuries past.
Facing the emotions she'd denied until now, Cress realized she'd grown fond of me bit by bit—and now was head over heels.
But she concluded her feelings wouldn't be reciprocated.
Meanwhile, I scooped up the artifacts and sliced the doppelganger's neck.
"All done."
The challenger's trial—and her own love—ended.
Cress flew slowly toward me.
His bright smile greeting her made her heart ache again.
"Everything's finished. That passes the trial, right?"
"Good work. Now just head to the summit."
Cress gave a curt reply and drifted away gracefully.
Watching her back intently, I crossed my arms and furrowed my brow.
I'd noticed something off with Cress.
She'd dropped from stage 4 to stage 1 right before advancing—impossible not to notice.
Did I do something rude?
On the path to the summit for the final trial, I kept talking to Cress, but her responses were dry.
Each time, I reflected on my actions but found nothing wrong.
Their journey was as cold as the mountain's chill.
Before long, the summit neared, with only the last trial ahead.
Cress hesitated briefly, then set up her stall and received me as a customer.
"The final trial doesn't involve selling tools."
"Then why the stall?"
"This trial changes based on how much gold you offer to Lord Donetoungk."
"Offer?"
"Yes. At the summit is a frozen throne, where the Lord of Frost slumbers. Defeating him is the goal. But depending on how much you offer Donetoungk, you'll get blessings—or curses will afflict the Frost Hero."
I nodded like I'd understood perfectly and pulled a pouch from my bundle.
Unlike before, it was suspiciously slim.
Cress checked the contents and realized it held 10 platinum coins.
Platinum, worth 100 times gold.
Offering 10 was the highest ever.
"At this amount, the Lord of Frost'll be a total pushover."
The final trial would be a breeze too.
As Cress nodded and moved to dismantle the stall, I suddenly held out another pouch.
"Didn't you hear? That's more than enough already."
"No. This one's for you, Lady Cress."
"For me…?"
"Yes. Gratitude for being my companion this far. And…"
I gestured for Cress to check it.
Reluctantly opening the pouch, her eyes went wide.
Twice as many platinum coins as the offering pouch.
And atop the coins sat a snowflake-shaped ring perfect for Cress.
"I was hoping you'd maybe contract with me and protect me forever, so this is tribute… but. Uwack!!"
Seeing the contents, Cress shoved me down flat.
The snow cushioned it, but my back went numb from the cold.
As I tried to sit up from the chill, Cress straddled me.
"I was gonna give up…"
"Cr-Cress?"
Her head hung low, murmuring ominously.
Seeing a reaction from her I'd never witnessed, I knew something was wrong.
Was the ring too much?
Among the avalanche artifacts was the snowflake ring, so I'd gifted it to max her affection to stage 4.
Her response didn't fit any stage, tensing me up.
Finally, Cress lifted her head and met my eyes.
"I really tried to let go. But pulling this makes it impossible to give up now, doesn't it?"
"That glare is scary, though…?"
"You wanted a contract with me? Fine! But in return, we're never separating ever! Doesn't matter if you hate it. It's your fault for staying so sweet even when I was cold the whole time!"
Her disheveled clothes revealed cleavage and soft, supple underboob.
Cress's eyes had long gone mad with overflowing affection.
"You made me like this. You seduced me! Got it? Answer, unless you wanna be half-human half-spirit."
"Uh…"
Cress's affection: stage 5.
At the end of tsundere lay yandere.