Chapter 33: Doppelganger

I went to the castle and immediately looked for Baron Rebrandt. But he was nowhere to be seen. I tried barging into the bedroom, but the result was the same.

'Where on earth did he go?'

How could the lord disappear at night? While I was wandering around, a servant suddenly appeared.

He looked like he was going somewhere with an oil lantern. Night patrol was something that could be done other than being a soldier, so it wasn't that strange.

The servant bowed his head as we briefly met in the hallway.

"Oh, you are a guest."

"I don't think we've ever met before, so why don't we introduce ourselves first?"

"What would you do with the name of a worthless thing like me?"

"I can't keep calling you 'servant.'"

"Then please call me Irving."

It was a question aimed at finding at least a small clue.

But just then, something surprising happened.

I nodded leisurely and tried to activate the system… but it wouldn't open. This was already my second time coming to Rebrandt's territory.

Isn't it strange that something like this is happening again?

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Irving quietly, trying to understand what kind of trick they had used.

'If it was a fake name, the system should have notified me, like when Keyshawn used a fake name.'

But this time, there was no response. Wasn't there one more time that resulted in a similar outcome?

"Baron Relbrandt."

"Yes, yes?"

I was just muttering to myself, but Irving answered without thinking. Even though he himself was not Baron Rebrandt.

I smiled brightly and held out my hand.

"I just wondered where he was."

"I guess he's in the bedroom by now?"

"Well, I guess so. Anyway, this is our start relationship, so let's shake hands."

"It is an honor, majesty."

Irving bowed with a sad expression. The moment our hands touched, a red ghostly fire rose up.

『The Beast's Heart Activates』

**Tsutsutsutsu!**

"Eww!"

Irving's whole body was shaking.

It was a sight of someone struggling to escape from extreme pain.

But surprisingly, the guy's face started to distort.

The change instantly spread throughout his body.

Irving woke up with his skin distorted, and soon he became a completely different person.

Brilliant crimson skin, golden eyes. Overall, it was an appearance that seemed like it belonged in the demon world.

"Ugh! Uh, how?"

"There is a way to know everything. By the way, does anyone know what this is called?"

I looked back and asked a question. Immediately after that, Keyshawn came out.

"I think it's a doppelganger."

It was a type of monster I knew, famous for pretending to be a human being.

'Ah! That's why the information window didn't pop up.'

Of course, I've never tried it on monsters or animals. I just made a rough inference based on what just happened.

"You must answer the question properly. Where is the real Baron Relbrandt?"

"The, the dungeon…"

"This kid really doesn't understand what I'm saying."

"Kwaaaah!"

**Tsutsutsutsu!**

I unleashed the beast's heart to the max.

Then the flames grew tenfold.

A force of pure energy would have been coursing through his entire body. Whether human or monster, they cannot help but feel transcendent pain.

'It's a perfect and easy torture method. But is it okay to do this?'

A man who claims to uphold law and justice acts like this...

No, this guy isn't even human anyway, right? Then I don't have to stick to the limits.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

"Speak quickly Or else you die." Searᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I, I'm in the dungeon…"

In the end, the doppelganger had no choice but to give in. Whatever it is he's trying to protect isn't more important than his life.

"Guide me."

Soon we reached the deepest part of Castle.

A damp and luxurious dungeon.

'What's wrong with the mood all of a sudden?'

The first thing that caught my eye was the spotless floor and the long sofa.

Magic lanterns hung here and there gave off a warm and mysterious light. It was too comfortable an environment to be considered a prison.

"Haa!"

I laughed and continued to look around, checking to see if there was anything strange.

Then the doppelganger rubbed his hands together and let out a meaningful laugh.

"My lord, you are in good health. The problem is that you are doing so well."

"Baron Rebrandt is in there?"

"That's right."

"Then you go in first."

"Of course. There are no traps here."

The doppelganger walked proudly while tied to a rope. I followed him, keeping an eye on his actions.

Soon, an even more absurd scene came into view.

A middle-aged man grinning as he gorged on food, he was clearly Baron Rellbrandt.

Although he had gained a lot of weight, his face was very similar to the fake one.

'But can I express that he's doing well? Anyone can see that it's abnormal?'

I said, hitting the back of the doppelganger's head.

**Bam!**

"I don't know what you did, but let go right now. You're going to end up like that too?"

"Ugh! What are you going to do when you don't even know the secret art of doppelgangers?"

"Why can't you do it? I think that's exactly what it would look like if I crushed half of its head, right?"

"… I will solve it."

Soon, strangely colored powder began to fill the air. Then Tyree and Keyshawn, who were standing behind, collapsed helplessly.

**Thud! Thud!**

But I was just staring at the doppelganger.

"Why on earth don't you fall down?"

"Because I knew it would be like this."

Isn't he a crazy person who imprisoned the lord and pretended to be the lord?

Of course, I thought he had hidden a secret.

That's why I held my breath as soon as I saw something that looked like powder. I twisted the corners of my mouth and clenched my fists.

"You seem to be using full power a lot today."

**Paaaaak!**