Chapter 176

Episode 176 Doppelganger (1) Short

red hair that goes down to his shoulders.

A tattoo under the eye.

A little over 170, with a lean, muscular body.

“…….”

Standing in front of the mirror, Amelia tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing the scar on her half-cut ear.

A wound that will surely be a flaw if you want a woman’s life.

At that time, I didn’t have money to buy a bottle of potion, so I had no choice but to leave it alone.

Of course, it wouldn’t be impossible to treat her cleanly with her now… but

she didn’t dare.

“We’re almost there.”

This wound always reminds me.

who is your enemy.

“The lord of Amelia Rain Wales is calling.”

She put on her bag and went outside.

An unexpected person was waiting.

“I didn’t know you would come.”

A member of Orcules.

The most well-known evil spirit both above and below ground, and a big-time criminal called a corpse collector in the world.

“Because the situation is so urgent.”

“How bad is that?”

“The royal family had a superpower. I never thought they’d release that madman from prison.”

“……Could he come out?”

Amelia, who has always been expressionless, could not hide her embarrassment this time.

If the ‘corpse collector’ is a known evil spirit, then the man is the opposite.

Few people know its name… but

to those who know even a little bit of its identity, it is an existence that cannot but be feared more than anyone else.

“Yeah, he’s here. Thanks to him, things got a little messy. We’re dying a lot right now.”

The man with glasses grinned and patted Amelia on the back.

“So, let’s go. Everyone has already gathered, and it’s over when noona comes?”

“…Okay. Let’s move on.”

Soon, Amelia followed the man.

A quiet hallway where only the sound of quick footsteps could be heard.

“Did the Dragon Slayer participate in the battle?”

“Huh? Oh, he’s… he’s an asshole. What are he going to do? He’s probably resting in his room right now?”

“……Right.”

Amelia cautiously asked one more question.

“Has there been any relief?”

“I wonder why?”

A man who suddenly stops and turns around.

As he is famous for being smart, he may be related to the incident where the dragon slayer’s equipment was released on the black market.

‘I made a mistake.’

Belatedly, I think I was impatient, but Amelia answered as calmly as possible.

“If it’s no longer useful, I’m going to kill it.”

“… Huh? Do you have a bad relationship with him?”

“I don’t like your eyes.”

A moment of silence followed Amelia’s answer.

It wasn’t long.

A man bursting into laughter as if he had heard a pleasant story.

“Ahahaha! Indeed! Those snake eyes are a bit annoying. Especially since I don’t even know the subject.”

The stopped man’s steps moved again.

“But bear with it. It seems that the body will heal in half a year to a year.”

“The Dragon Killer Sword? Without it, wouldn’t he be of no use at all?”

“Oh that. I’ll have to look for it. The alchemist grandpa said there’s no way to restore memories?”

“……Right.”

A way to restore memories?

I wanted to ask what it was, but I held back.

Aren’t you the one who wasn’t interested in other people?

If you’re this quick-witted guy, you’re sure to feel uncomfortable.

‘I’ll have to find out about this part later.’

After passing through the hallway for about three minutes, a huge door fell in front of my eyes.

A white door leading to the Great Hall of the castle.

Upon entering, I saw the lord of the castle sitting on the throne.

“long time no see.”

“Welcome, Amelia Laneways.”

Taking a short salute, Amelia inspected the other four figures in the Great Hall. Three were familiar and one was a stranger.

“I’m an explorer on the Orculis side. But I’m short on time, so I’ll say hello later and move on to the main topic.”

She also erased her curiosity and listened to the words of the castle lord.

“You can tell just by calling you guys, but the situation is not good.”

“Hehehe! I heard that crazy man came down here?”

“That’s right. Miss Carmilla. The captain is dealing with him now, but he says he won’t be able to hold on for long.”

Seongju smiled bitterly and continued.

Eventually, the city was shut down.

So for two years no one will be able to go outside or come inside.

“I’ll activate the sealing magic circle as soon as you guys get out through the secret passage. Do you have any questions?”

“No.”

“See you in two years! Handsome Sungjoo oppa!”

“What is the habit of saying that to Lord Carmilla?”

“What are you talking about, a stinking old man?”

After the short conversation, Amelia moved to the secret passage on the floor with four companions.

Soon there was a spot where the red flag was planted.

[It has arrived.]

[I wish you luck.]

As soon as we made contact through the message stone, a huge amount of magical energy was emitted from the city.

“Wow, it’s amazing. You really can’t get over it?”

A huge barrier made of blue magic.

‘I didn’t expect to leave this city like this.’

Amelia recalled this mission, trying hard to get rid of the strange feeling.

“I heard that you are the commander. What should we do now?”

The mission is really simple.

Information gathering in Lapdonia.

This is the main mission, and if possible…

‘I’ve finally come this far.’ Sёarᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Killing one explorer.

A long arc was drawn at the corner of her mouth as she recalled the second mission ordered by the lord of the castle.

***

All sorts of rumors circulated in the city, indeed.

From the conspiracy theory claiming that the subjugation failure was the result of the royal family’s intention, to the end theory that the city will be destroyed by the war with Noark.

‘This world is no different.’

I toured the tavern for several days and heard such absurd stories over and over again.

A tedious and stressful job.

But it was also an inevitable choice.

I don’t know if it’s the mask of an investigator of the round table.

What would a bare barbarian do?

I have no choice but to run with my own body.

“Bjorn, are you going out for a drink today?”

“It will be late, so go to bed first.”

Less than a week left before entering the labyrinth.

Today, as soon as the day was over, I went out to the street without fail and drank alone.

Even then, I heard the information on my own.

“They said the payment of compensation for the death would be delayed until next month.”

“Well, if you die that much, the royal family won’t be able to handle it.”

“Haha, it’s the other way around. There’s enough money, but there are so many deaths that it takes time to count.”

In a way, it was similar to the early days.

Well, I didn’t have money back then, so I couldn’t go to the pub, and I kept my ears open when I ate.

‘No big deal today.’

After the failure of the subjugation, because the royal family did not properly express their position, rumors were reproduced infinitely as if they were copied literally.

However, if we try to organize only the things that are close to the facts, it is like this.

1. Noark also suffered considerable damage, and died on the verge of defeat with a superpower called blockade.

This part is certain because there are many witnesses.

No matter how many people participated, how many people participated, and how could that be hidden?

2. There is a great explorer unknown to the royal family.

It was a story I heard directly from a drunken survivor.

How did Derbes, whom I met at the meeting, come back alive and well?

Did you say that you fought on an equal footing with the leader of Orculis?

Well, it’s a royal family, so it’s not strange to have at least one master like that.

Anyway, next on this.

3. Three teenage clans were disbanded in this subjugation.

In fact, it is not disintegration, but destruction.

With less than 10% survivors, recovery is impossible.

For reference, more than half of not only the teenage clans, but also the 5th and 6th floor level small and medium clans were dismantled.

‘Still, thanks to that, the hunting ground control will be a little less.’

It is the only positive factor in the current situation.

It must be that the issue that came with the counter-payment is too serious to be happy about it.

‘If we go to a long-term battle, we will have no choice but to end up in the labyrinth.’

It’s something I’ve been worried about ever since the signs of war appeared.

To be honest, it just makes me laugh.

‘Infinite PK content……’

Isn’t it content that you haven’t experienced in the original work?

If the labyrinth turns into a battlefield, I, who has to earn money and grow there, will have no choice but to get involved.

‘If the supply and demand for magic stones decrease, it is certain that inflation will begin.’

Sadly, it was hard to hear about these troubles even in cheap taverns.

Well, if there is an explorer who is already worried about inflation, he should start by suspecting evil spirits.

‘Now I have to make a decision.’

Slowly, the time for decision arrived.

Do you stop exploring until you calm down or just enter the labyrinth as usual.

In fact, the answer was fixed.

‘……As expected, going in would be the right thing to do.’

There is no word on when this chaos will end.

Taking a break is more like a handshake.

The bad relationship with the dragon slayer is not over.

Be as strong as possible before the vine ring breaks.

that’s the only way to live

‘Anyway, if I’m forced to conscript later, I’ll have to participate in the war after all.’

Above all, Noark suffered significant damage in this battle.

Simply put, you will need maintenance time too.

Even if it’s not, we’re better off than other explorers.

Also, the first floor can be penetrated with bugs.

The 4th floor is an independent dimension, so even on the 5th floor outside of the field, once you enter through the mirror, you can hunt free from PK.

‘The problem is how to convince the two of them…’

Wizard Raven and Mr. Bear who had a 10-year meal.

I don’t know yet if those two will tell me that they will enter the labyrinth.

‘I have no choice but to bump into it myself.’

As soon as the decision was made, I emptied my glass and left the bar.

A barbarian has his own way.

“I’m sorry, but the business is closed today… Oh, Mr. Yandel. What’s going on here? Because of him?”

“Is Abman there?”

“He’ll be drunk and sleeping. Wait a minute. I’ll wake you up and make you a colonel.”

Is it because you got the financial treatment right this time?

Mrs. Gom seems to have become several times more kind than before.

I sat down at a table that had not been cleared and waited for a while, and soon Mr. Bear was dragged in rubbing his eyes.

“What the hell is going on in the middle of the night at Yandel?”

“I have something to tell you.”

“Hmm, okay? Let’s get drunk for a bit. Honey?”

When Mr. Bear called, the lady gave me honey water as if she had been waiting.

“Drink all the way.”

Looking at that hospitality, it seems that he has regained the authority of the head of the family before he knew it.

“Keuh yes this is it. So what are you trying to say?”

“I ask straight forward. Are you going to participate in the exploration this time?

” “Hmm, seeing you say that, you’ve already made up your mind?”

“I’ll go in.”

Mr. Bear smiled as he nodded without looking back.

“Really? Then I’ll join.”

“The decision was quick. Do you know anything?”

“It’s not like that, but first of all, aren’t we a team? If the leader decides, you have to believe and follow it.”

It was a completely unexpected kind of answer.

I never thought he would respect the leader’s authority!

This man was actually conservative in this way.

“Then, this is the end of the story.

” Do you want to go get a drink or something?”

“Okay. Your wife needs to rest too. You’re the one who wakes up and helps with the cleaning.”

He finished the conversation in an instant and left the bar.

It’s a bonus that Mrs. Gom’s eyes softened even more, as if she had just scored a few points with her comment.

[03:24]

It’s past three o’clock in the morning . It was the hour, but I headed for the Mage Tower without hesitation.

Anyway, these guys are no different from daytime.

In fact, Raven was also stuck in the lab doing experiments.

“Huh? Mr. Yandel? Why at this hour?”

“I came to ask you something.”

“Really? Just finish what you’ve been doing Please sit somewhere and wait for me for a while.”

I wondered if this was rude at night and said something, but surprisingly nothing was said.

Is it because we’re co-

workers

? What do you want to ask?”

After waiting for a while, Raven tidied up the surroundings and sat down in front of me. I just said plainly this time,

“Are you going to enter the labyrinth?”

What about the rest?”

The way he said he must have come to ask himself at the very end.

Somehow his pride hurts… But

since it’s true, he had nothing to say about this part.

“Everyone except you agreed to enter. .”

“Really? Then I’ll go with you.”

“The decision was quick. Do you know anything?”

I repeated the same thing I said to Mr. Bear and received a different answer.

“Yes .

”

Huh?”

“Official letter?”

“Originally, when something dangerous happens, the word comes first to the Mage Tower. This time, don’t go in or something like that.”

My head went blank for a moment, but I was convinced.

Should I say it’s a kind of VIP treatment?

As a wizard who is classified as a top-notch manpower, the royal family directly cares about safety.

“So don’t worry too much . . The royal family led the subjugation, but there is still no such official document? In fact, it means that the royal family has judged that it is not dangerous.”

“…I see. If there is such a thing, tell me in advance.”

“If the leader wants it.”

With a teasing smile, I left the tower and returned home.

Then I woke up Misha and Einar

. I was sleeping.”

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol!! Did you go for a drink without me again?”

“It’s okay, eat this.”

He handed over the wrapped chicken legs one by one and notified the result.

“We are entering a labyrinth.”

He exhaled deeply.

“……Eh, I knew that. It

would be nice if all the members of the Hu team were like them.

“So that’s the end?”

“Yeah, that’s the end. Go to sleep.”

“Oh, really, just tell me about this tomorrow……”

Misha went back to her room complaining, and the same goes for Einar.

“Sleep well! Bjorn!”

I also took the key and went to the door But

just as I turned it sideways to unlock the lock,

I heard the sound of footsteps going up the stairs

.

White noise, which isn’t particularly strange considering it’s an inn.

But for some reason, today, that sound sticks in my ears.

Again and again.

In the end, I unintentionally turned my back to check the stairs, and thanks to that, I made eye contact with the person who was

coming

up .

come out?’

Once in the land of the dead, once in the sewer,

in total, an 8th-floor explorer from an underground city who made me feel like a wall.

Commonly known as a psychopath.

Gulp.

As soon as I saw that face imprinted in my mind, I unknowingly put my head in it. I swallowed.

But I wonder if

it

was the same on the other side as well

?

You put one foot back and took a stance.

He seemed to have figured out a solution

already

.