TSDSE 13

Chapter 13: Two Birds with One Stone (2)

At my sudden proposal, Yuhwa narrowed her eyes sharply and fell into thought.

Her head must be spinning.

Honestly, mine was spinning too.

This unexpected encounter with Yuhwa would likely have changed the future significantly.

It might even be an act of destroying with my own hands the advantage I held—knowing the novel’s story.

But I was certain.

This was the best path.

Trying to perfectly control everything about the future is arrogance.

Even with knowledge of the future, it’s impossible.

Just as a butterfly’s tiny wingbeat becomes a typhoon on the other side of the world.

No matter what I prepare and how, the future will surely change in directions I never anticipated.

Just look at this doppelganger attack incident.

The story had been completely twisted simply because my ability had changed.

This novel had already begun to diverge from its original track.

And the changes would only accelerate.

That’s why I’d made up my mind.

Rather than hesitating in fear of the future changing, I would choose the best means available in the present.

“…How am I supposed to believe what you say?”

This point of contact with Yuhwa was the best choice for a better future.

I believed that.

“There’s no way to prove it. My words could be lies, or I could even be a doppelganger myself.”

“……”

Yuhwa’s eyes grew even thinner.

“Therefore, all I can say is the cliché—please trust me.”

The Nonhons Guild massacre incident was not known to the press.

However, rumors had spread to some extent among the guilds.

If the Nonhons Guild couldn’t handle this incident, her position would narrow.

“…Is the doppelganger really inside this gambling den?”

Yuhwa had no choice but to believe my words, grasping at straws.

“Yes. It’s here.”

I’d spotted it by chance on the way to the VIP room.

It wore the appearance of a kindly middle-aged man, but the doppelganger’s unique habits remained intact.

Of course, these were trivial habits only someone who’d read the novel would know.

“…Even if what you say is true, how do we arrest it? Doppelgangers don’t show up on any detection or biometric scans.”

Yuhwa bit her lip in frustration.

“We make it confess with its own mouth that it’s a doppelganger.”

“Easier said than done.”

“There’s a way.”

A method only I could use, knowing the novel’s story.

“There’s no way such a method could exist…”

“Five minutes.”

I spread all five fingers.

“I’ll extract a confession within five minutes. After that, I’ll leave handling the doppelganger to you.”

“……”

“Are you still doubtful?”

Yuhwa’s emotionless gaze pierced into me.

“If you fail to draw out its confession within five minutes, the proposal never happened. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Precisely.”

“On top of that, you’ll hand over even the honor of having dealt with it to me?”

“Yes.”

Yuhwa’s brow furrowed.

She seemed irritated that she couldn’t read my thoughts.

“There’s no time. Any later and it might leave the gambling den.”

In the end, Yuhwa had no choice but to accept my proposal.

With everything set up favorably for the Nonhons Guild,

there was no way Yuhwa would refuse.

“…The price is really just the ancient relic our guild is storing. That one thing is enough?”

“Yes. That’s sufficient.”

Silence flowed as our eyes met.

About five seconds passed like that.

“…Fine. I’ll accept the proposal. Nothing to lose. There’s no reason to refuse.”

Yuhwa answered as if sighing.

“An excellent choice.”

I’d thought I’d need to persuade her more, but it was faster than expected.

She seemed more pressed for time than I’d imagined.

“Then I’ll move to action right away.”

“What’s your plan?”

“I’ll leave this room now, bring the bastard back here. Then I’ll make it spit out with its own mouth the proof that it’s a doppelganger.”

“…You’ve been talking so easily since a while ago.”

“Because it’s genuinely not difficult.”

Yuhwa tilted her head with a skeptical expression.

“Anyway, Yuhwa-ssi, just turn on the pen’s recording function and stay hidden in this room. It’s your specialty, isn’t it? Stealth.”

Yuhwa’s eyes widened slightly.

“Stealth aside… you even knew about the pen?”

“Basic stuff.”

I shrugged and made a show of it as I rose from my seat.

“Oh, and please make sure to delete our conversation.”

“I was planning to delete it without being told, once things are resolved.”

Yuhwa’s expression turned a bit blank. Her bewilderment must have been so great that she could no longer maintain her poker face.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

“Yes.”

I stepped out of the VIP room.

And approached a man inside the gambling den.

“Excuse me. Could I have a word?”

“And who might you be?”

The kindly-faced middle-aged man—the doppelganger—turned to look at me and tilted his head.

I brought my mouth to his ear and whispered.

“El Ferze Enan Dorma.”

“…!”

I recited the secret code of the organization to which it belonged.

“The boss is waiting.”

The man’s eyes flew wide open.

Let’s see if I can reel in a big one.

* * *

Left alone in the VIP room, Yuhwa was thinking about Kang Seoyul.

The mysterious man she’d learned about while investigating Shin Jia.

His past was utterly ordinary except for being an orphanage child.

‘And you call that an ordinary twenty-year-old man?’

Yuhwa scoffed.

Those deep eyes that seemed to see right through her.

That confident, persuasive way of speaking.

Even the composure that emanated faintly from him.

Far from ordinary—he was extraordinary itself.

‘I need to look into him more.’

That was when the VIP room door opened.

‘Already!’

Yuhwa suppressed her presence even further.

“Where’s the boss?”

The middle-aged man who entered with Kang Seoyul scanned the room and asked.

“He’s watching us from nearby.”

Yuhwa’s eyes sharpened.

‘The boss?’

It had definitely said that.

Which meant the doppelganger belonged to some group.

“…Hmph. Just like the boss.”

It was a sneer that didn’t suit its kindly face at all.

“So why did you call for me?”

Kang Seoyul stared at the man with a cold, expressionless face.

“Doppelganger. New mission.”

“A new mission? What about the academy?”

“That’s on hold for now.”

Yuhwa’s expression was colored with shock. The doppelganger had been trying to infiltrate the academy?

“Hmm. Well, fine. You must have your reasons.”

The man scratched the back of his neck.

“Has the target I’m to impersonate already been decided?”

“Hmm.”

Silence flowed after those words.

Kang Seoyul didn’t say anything more, and the man didn’t ask anything further either.

That was when it happened.

“Excuse me. Isn’t this enough evidence?”

Kang Seoyul said casually.

“…What are you talking about?”

“Ah.”

Yuhwa snapped to attention at Kang Seoyul’s words.

Focused on the conversation as she was, she’d forgotten the objective.

“Sorry. I was spacing out.”

Yuhwa released her stealth and walked out.

“…Yuhwa? Why are you—?”

The man’s pupils trembled.

“Why? Because you fell for my trap, that’s why.”

Kang Seoyul shrugged and took a couple of steps back.

“As promised, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“…Thank you.”

Yuhwa’s expression as she glared at the doppelganger twisted like a demon’s.

“You fucking bastard. You’re dead.”

With a harsh curse, Yuhwa’s form vanished.

* * *

The doppelganger was easily subdued by Yuhwa.

It was a doppelganger with virtually no combat ability compared to Yuhwa to begin with—there was no way it could block her attacks.

“Is it alive?”

I asked, looking at the bound doppelganger.

It was thoroughly battered.

“Of course.”

Yuhwa looked at me with a subtle expression.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“How did you fool this one?”

Since we’d already talked about the boss and all, it’d be hard to hide it entirely.

Can’t be helped.

“I baited it using the name of the organization it belongs to.”

“The organization it belongs to?”

“Yes. You probably know it too, Yuhwa-ssi. The ‘Saviors of Truth.'”

Yuhwa’s eyes widened in shock.

“The d-do-oppelganger belongs to the Saviors of Truth?”

“Yes.”

“How did you…”

She must be asking how I knew such top-secret information.

“My intelligence network is rather outstanding.”

I smiled leisurely.

“No, even if it’s outstanding, that’s…”

“Anyway, I kept my promise. So you keep yours. You know what I mean?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I’ll have it ready for transfer right away.”

Good.

That’s one ancient relic acquired.

“Clean handling. Please hurry as much as possible. Ah, and one more thing.”

I subtly lowered my gaze to the doppelganger.

“As I said earlier, please keep it a secret that I helped with this incident.”

“…Are you really sure that’s okay?”

I nodded wordlessly.

“Then I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”

I turned and waved my hand.

“Oh, wait!”

“See you next time.”

Leaving Yuhwa’s voice behind me, I slipped out of the VIP room.

“Hurry! Before the other broadcasters get here!”

“Yes!”

Near the gambling den entrance, people who looked like broadcasting station employees passed by me.

* * *

Wednesday, 2:30 AM.

—Breaking news. At approximately 11:23 PM today, the villain ‘Doppelganger,’ who had been shrouded in mystery, has been arrested.

Back at the guild, Yuhwa was watching the news with an utterly exhausted expression.

“Guild Master. You worked hard.”

“Yes. I did. Reporters never change, do they.”

At her secretary Kim Shinwoo’s words, Yuhwa replied weakly.

“…Honestly, fighting disaster-class monsters back to back would be easier.”

“Haha.”

Kim Shinwoo smiled wryly.

“Still, the Nonhons Guild’s brand reputation has risen greatly thanks to this incident. It’s all thanks to your insight, Guild Master. How did you find the doppelganger there…?”

“My insight?”

Yuhwa let out a hollow laugh.

She hadn’t done anything but stop by the gambling den.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Today’s events were a secret shared only between Kang Seoyul and Yuhwa.

“There’s something I need to ask.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Do you remember Cadet Kang Seoyul from the Shin Jia report you handed me last time?”

“Yes.”

“Could you look into that student’s past in more detail?”

Kim Shinwoo tilted his head.

“If it’s that cadet, wasn’t it already proven through Instructor Pi Jinho’s confirmation that there were no issues?”

“That’s true, but I’ve got a feeling about something.”

“Ah! I see! Understood.”

“Thank you. Then go home and rest for today. You can come in during the afternoon.”

“Yes. Understood. Please rest well too, Guild Master.”

With those words, the secretary left the guild master’s office.

“…I’d like to rest, but I still have work left.”

Yuhwa let out a deep sigh and rose from her seat.

She left the guild master’s office and headed to the warehouse at the heart of the guild.

It was to retrieve the ancient relic she’d promised to give Kang Seoyul.

‘By the way, what is he planning to do with an antique like an ancient relic?’

He was a man of questions from beginning to end.

* * *

Wednesday, 6:30 AM.

Knock knock knock—

I woke from sleep at the sound of someone knocking on the door.

Who the hell is it when I’m dead tired?

Knock knock—

I rubbed my sleepy eyes and walked to the door like a zombie.

“Who is it?”

I opened the door while yawning.

“Aren’t you carefree? Some of us have been hounded by reporters and up all night preparing this—couldn’t sleep a wink.”

Yuhwa was smiling frighteningly. She looked utterly drained.

“What brings you here at this hour…”

“You told me to prepare it as fast as possible, didn’t you?”

Yuhwa handed me an iron carrier.

“…Don’t tell me this is.”

Already?

“Yes. My motto is knife-like efficiency.”

Yuhwa crossed her arms and looked smug.

“The ancient relic you requested. It’s the Tiger’s Gauntlet.”