TSDSE 12

Chapter 12: Killing Two Birds with One Stone (1)

Two men and women were conversing in the guild master’s office of the Bihon Guild building.

“Lady Yuhwa. A lecture request has come in from the Academy.”

At the report from her secretary, Kim Shinwoo, Yuhwa let out a sigh.

“Please decline it. I don’t have the leisure to prepare a lecture in this situation.”

It wasn’t a sigh born of annoyance.

Rather, it was a sigh of regret.

“Please add that if another opportunity arises later, I will certainly come running.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Lectures were an opportunity to make an impression on prospective Superhumans, and also a venue for scouting promising talents.

It was unconditionally beneficial to accept.

However, as she’d said, the situation wasn’t good right now.

All because of a certain villain.

“…More importantly, have we gathered any information on the Doppelganger?”

Villain name: Doppelganger.

As the name suggested, it was a villain with the ability to transform perfectly into another person’s appearance.

“I apologize. The bastard is so elusive.”

“I see.”

It could copy fingerprints, irises, and other unique physical wavelengths, even mana.

After killing an ordinary person and disguising itself as them, it could leisurely board a plane and enter another country without any way of being detected.

“That bastard must be caught by us, Bihon.”

“I’m aware.”

That Doppelganger had appeared in Seoul last night.

It had been disguised as a member of the Bihon Guild, and just yesterday it had caused a horrific massacre.

Thirteen Bihon Guild members were killed in that incident.

“Is the report finished?”

“Ah. There’s one more thing.”

Kim Shinwoo began manipulating his portable terminal.

“It’s the report on Shin Jia’s activities that you requested last time.”

“Ah. That’s right.”

She had forgotten about it, having poured all her attention into the Doppelganger incident.

Yuhwa checked the terminal her secretary handed her.

Shin Jia’s activities since the Piale Allo incident were briefly recorded.

“…Shin Jia is following around a male student?”

“Yes. Recently, it seems she even prepared expensive equipment for him.”

“What kind of man is he?”

“His name is Kang Seoyul. He’s an archer.”

“An archer…?”

“Yes. He handles the bow quite admirably. In terms of technique, he seemed superior to our guild members.”

“…Is there a video?”

“Yes. The report contains recorded footage from the physical test.”

“Play it.”

“Yes.”

A hologram rose from the terminal.

Footage of Kang Seoyul shooting arrows in succession played out.

Yuhwa’s expression gradually filled with admiration.

“…Why isn’t this student on the scouting list?”

She wanted him.

Her skill was so outstanding that she thought this unconsciously.

“There was no information on him before enrollment. He appeared suddenly, as if dropped from the sky.”

“…An archer with no information whatsoever.”

Yuhwa’s eyes filled with doubt.

“Surely this student isn’t the unidentified Superhuman who resolved the Piale Allo incident?”

It was a reasonable suspicion.

The unidentified archer who had dealt with Piale Allo.

And ironically, Shin Jia was following around a cadet who had no information before enrollment.

And that cadet was an archer.

Didn’t everything fit perfectly?

“That’s probably not the case.”

“Why not?”

“I hear that male student’s stats are F-rank.”

“F…rank?”

Yuhwa’s eyes went wide.

* * *

“Fifteen years ago, a Great Monster Outbreak occurred. This incident, which broke out simultaneously across the world…”

While listening to Tuesday’s boring lecture, I was thinking about something else.

I was formulating a plan for the future.

Until now, I’d had too many questions about my ability to make detailed plans.

But those questions had all been resolved as of yesterday.

First, my ability is ‘late-game oriented.’

An extreme late-game all-in type that completely abandons the early game.

Having lost even to Choi Jihoon, whose stats were merely average C-, said it all.

The problem was the weakness in the early game.

With only my own power, I couldn’t overcome the early scenarios.

Starting with the villain attack in two days was already a problem.

Even with the equipment I received from Shin Jia, I absolutely cannot win.

Then there’s only one method.

Compensate for the early weakness with other factors.

Fortunately, I have information about the future.

Naturally, I know the upcoming crises inside and out.

I just need to create a situation where I don’t have to step forward myself.

At the same time, I prepare for acquiring ancient artifacts.

Alright.

So the course of action is set.

The priority right now is stopping the academy attack incident in two days.

Fortunately, this attack should be easy to stop.

The villain who will carry out a solo attack on this academy has the ability ‘Doppelganger.’

It kills one of the cadets and infiltrates by disguising itself as them.

That’s the starting point of the scenario.

But so what?

I already know exactly which student it will disguise itself as to infiltrate.

The rest is simple.

I just tell Shin Jia.

Shin Jia would believe me even if I said red bean porridge was made from meju, so she’ll definitely move as I say.

With this, the first incident is safely resolved.

“That concludes today’s morning class.”

The class ended just in time.

“Seoyul. Let’s go eat lunch.”

Shin Jia approached me with a smile.

“Sure.”

I still felt heated gazes from the surroundings. Everyone was watching with eyes that asked, ‘What exactly is the relationship between those two?’ At least it was a relief that no one approached us directly.

“Let’s go.”

We left the classroom under fervent gazes.

“Jia.”

“Yes?”

While moving, I spoke in a whisper too quiet for others to hear.

“Could you gather some information on the cadet Choi Gangim?”

The Doppelganger infiltrates by disguising itself as cadet Choi Gangim.

I remembered it because the name was unusual.

“…What?”

Shin Jia’s footsteps stopped for a moment.

“Wh-why that student?”

She looked incredibly flustered.

“…Hmm. How should I put this. Should I say there’s a high probability she’ll cause trouble. Anyway, something’s been bothering me.”

“Ah ha. So you already knew.”

Shin Jia’s flustered face changed to a smug expression.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

She looked like a puppy wanting praise.

“Choi Gangim. Kang Hanhim. Both have already been expelled.”

“…What?”

* * *

Things got tangled.

I never imagined something like this would happen.

“…To think Choi Gangim was that muscle pig who picked a fight with me back then.”

And to think that Choi Gangim had already been expelled.

“…It’s this tangled?”

A so-called butterfly effect.

The aftermath caused by the protagonist being different.

Because I became weaker, those two picked a fight with me.

Because my relationship with Shin Jia became more favorable, Shin Jia couldn’t leave those two alone.

Shin Jia personally investigated them and learned of their trash-like behavior.

As a result, Choi Gangim and Kang Hanhim were expelled early.

The scenario had changed.

My single change had created this situation.

“Ah.”

My head hurts.

Now it’s impossible to know what form the villain will take to infiltrate the academy.

“No choice then.”

If that’s the case, the only remaining method is to deal with it before it infiltrates.

* * *

Tuesday, after all classes had ended.

I headed off campus.

My destination was a legal gambling den near Seoul.

—Those two enjoyed gambling at the gambling den every day.

The objective was to search for the Doppelganger by tracing Choi Gangim’s movements.

There was a high probability the Doppelganger would appear at this gambling den he frequented.

“Ticket verification, please.”

At the entrance, burly men in suits blocked my way.

“Here.”

The ticket was one Shin Jia had procured for me.

When I said I had something to investigate, she handed it over without hesitation.

“Verified.”

With a slight bow, they stepped aside. I gave a small wave of thanks and went inside.

The interior looked like a typical gambling den. People spinning slots, playing card games, spinning roulette.

“Welcome.”

A man who appeared to be a dealer approached me.

“Where can I exchange chips?”

“I’ll guide you. This way.”

Following the dealer, I kept scanning the surroundings.

The Doppelganger is definitely in here.

If nothing had happened to Choi Gangim, he would have been enjoying gambling here today as well.

“All in on 23!”

“Will you raise?”

“Take 4000. 6000 more.”

Where could it be…

“Huh?”

Then, a woman suddenly caught my eye. I was sure I’d seen her on the world Superhuman ranking list somewhere.

“Are you also interested in the Bihon Guild Master, sir?”

Perhaps because I was staring at her so intently.

The dealer guiding me spoke up.

“Bihon Guild Master… you mean Yuhwa?”

She was one of the fairly significant supporting characters, and she and Shin Jia were like oil and water.

I never expected to run into Yuhwa here.

“Yes. Like yourself, she’s a VIP visiting for the first time today.”

“…VIP?”

Me?

“Yes. VIP.”

The dealer smiled at the gold-leaf-decorated ticket in my hand.

“…”

This was a VIP ticket?

I thought it was just fancy-looking. Jia must have put some thought into it.

“If you’d like, sir, I can request to join Lady Yuhwa’s table.”

I subtly turned my head to look at Yuhwa.

Perhaps feeling my gaze, Yuhwa looked at me too.

A brief exchange of eyes.

Was it my imagination, or did Yuhwa’s eyes seem to widen slightly?

“No. It’s fine. I doubt she’d accept a join request from over there anyway.”

Of course, establishing a connection with Yuhwa now would make many things easier, but

There’s no way she’d be interested in someone like me.

“Haha. You’re cool-headed.”

“I’m just being rational. More importantly, please guide me already.”

“Yes. Understood. This way—huh?”

The dealer pulled a phone from his pocket.

“Well, this is interesting.”

He smiled looking at the phone.

“Sir. A message has come from Lady Yuhwa’s side.”

Yuhwa smiled as she looked at me.

“She says, ‘Let’s have a brief word.'”

In that instant, my mind spun like a top.

* * *

The VIP room at the center of the gambling den.

Yuhwa and I sat facing each other across a table.

“Is it acceptable for a freshman who just enrolled in the Academy to already be visiting places like this?”

“So you know who I am.”

“Yes. I know you quite well.”

It was obvious.

If she didn’t know me, she wouldn’t have called me aside like this in the first place.

Then the question was through what route she’d taken an interest in me.

Well, this is also simple.

“…You investigated Jia separately.”

Interest flickered in Yuhwa’s eyes.

“Clever. As expected of the written exam top scorer.”

Yuhwa smiled.

“That’s right. Shin Jia. I dug up some information on that girl. And that’s how I found you.”

As expected.

This made the reason Yuhwa called me aside guessable too.

My relationship with Shin Jia. And she must harbor suspicions about me as an anomalous existence.

“You’re bold. Digging into the Shinwha Group’s affairs, no less.”

“Oh my? Are you threatening me?”

“Of course not.”

A brief silence followed, and Yuhwa spoke first.

“What’s your relationship with Shin Jia?”

“Just classmates.”

“These days, classmates apparently give each other expensive equipment as personal gifts.”

“Who knows. I’m guessing she gave it to me like a donation to an unfortunate F-rank neighbor.”

“F-rank.”

The air grew heavy.

“More importantly, are you really F-rank?”

Doubt settled in Yuhwa’s eyes.

“You don’t need to probe like this. You’ve probably already received confirmation from Instructor Pi Jinho.”

Yuhwa’s eyes sharpened.

Her gaze seemed to ask how I knew about the relationship between Pi Jinho and herself.

Yuhwa was probably thinking something like this:

‘As expected, there’s something about this one.’

Right now, in this moment, I had become a ‘mysterious existence’ to Yuhwa.

This was enough.

I smiled leisurely.

“Let’s set aside such unproductive talk. Let’s discuss something more important.”

“…Something more important?”

Meeting Yuhwa here was an opportunity.

If Yuhwa hadn’t known me.

If she hadn’t harbored doubts about me.

My words would have been nothing but the ravings of a madman.

But the brief conversation just now had given my words ‘credibility.’

“The Doppelganger is in this establishment right now.”

Yuhwa’s eyes flew open and she rose from her seat.

“…What? You. What did you just say…”

She was so flustered that she even dropped formal speech. I pressed on.

“You’re looking for it, aren’t you? The Doppelganger.”

Yuhwa’s eyes trembled.

“I can find it.”

I crossed my legs and tilted my head arrogantly.

“I’ll help you catch it.”

“…What’s your objective?”

Yuhwa’s killing intent pierced through my entire body. So dense that cold sweat ran down my spine without my meaning it to.

“It’s nothing much.”

I hid my alarm as best I could and smiled leisurely.

“In return for my help, just give me one item.”

“…An item?”

“Yes.”

Interest flickered in my eyes.

“An ancient artifact that’s rotting away in your guild. Let’s settle it with just one of those.”