SGB: Episode 187
Episode 187: Item Power (2)
The Shadow Altar.
In this chapter, the Doppelganger acts solely to achieve two goals.
To make the expedition party waste the Stone of Truth.
And if that fails, to continuously cause conflict and reduce the number of party members.
In that sense, there was one prime suspect.
[Where are you from?]
Kyleman Parteian.
The mage from Hans G's team who split the expedition party in half with a single sentence.
I also thought it was just an accidental landmine at first.
The mage team, including Hans G, didn't seem to know that the dwarf's party was from Noark.
But...
[Dwarf, are you the Doppelganger?]
I persistently attacked the dwarf's party.
Asking him where he got the equipment in his backpack, what exactly the official said when he received the identification tag, and so on, throwing countless questions he couldn't answer to make him look suspicious.
However, I didn't consider one thing back then.
How did the dwarf, struggling to answer those simple questions, appear to the Doppelganger?
'He must have seemed suspicious. And then he would have wondered why.'
It's the body of a smart mage.
The Doppelganger must have realized the truth about Noark through the questions the dwarf couldn't answer.
He must have been tempted too.
He just happened to have a suitable item in the body he possessed...
...and it would be easier to hide his identity if he used it well.
[He's, he's dead.]
The Doppelganger bastard knows how to play dead.
I've been tricked by it several times in the game.
Unless you kill them instantly, this bastard enters a hibernation state, maintaining life and toying with the player.
Just like this.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
The Doppelganger convulses as soon as the potion is poured on him.
If I hadn't known about this element, I would have had no choice but to use the Stone of Truth on Raven even after beating up all the remaining candidates.
"It's a Doppelganger!!!"
Raven, finally cleared of suspicion, shouts in a voice that's more joyful than ever, and the Doppelganger bastard denies it while screaming.
"No, no! Hey! I! Kyaaaaaak!!"
Just how much is he looking down on us?
It's ridiculous, but it's also pointless to argue with a monster.
I just grab him by the neck and walk towards the altar.
His struggle intensifies as we get closer to the altar.
"How... did you...!!"
He finally gives up on making excuses and expresses his doubt.
I chuckle.
Actually, there was another decisive reason.
'At least act properly.'
A mage's biggest weakness is close combat.
But he blocked the dwarf's axe, which was aimed at his head, with his shoulder.
It's impossible unless he predicted the attack.
And in the first place, it's ridiculous that he died from that.
If he had died from excessive bleeding, it might be different...
But he stopped breathing before Guide Girl could even give him a potion?
「Successfully discovered the marauder possessing the expedition member.」
A white light starts emanating from the altar as soon as I press the Doppelganger's head against it.
And the forest trembles as if there's an earthquake.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
Something in the shape of a shadow is extracted from his head and lets out a terrifying scream, darting between the trees.
And...
"Oh! It's running away!!"
...it disappears in one direction.
There's no need to panic.
It means the third chapter is over.
「1 Stone of Truth used.」
「Unsealing rate 10%.」
「Quickly pursue and kill the marauder before it regains its sealed power.」
It's time to fight the final boss.
"Bjorn, let's chase after it!!"
"Stop. We have things to do first."
I first calm Ainar down and check Parteian's condition.
Ah, of course, Raven does it, not me.
"How is he?"
"His injuries are mostly healed, so he should regain consciousness soon."
"I see."
Raven, who rushed over to check on Parteian as soon as I called her, finally relaxes.
It seems like her runaway mental state has returned, and her strength has left her.
"Whew..."
The melee damage dealer duo and the bear-like man approach with awkward expressions and each say something.
"Wow, so he really was a Doppelganger..."
"I told you, it wasn't me!"
"Ahem, mages are mages after all? To think of the possibility that someone might still be alive in that situation."
"Ha, what would have happened if it weren't for me..."
"Aruru! You know? I believed in you!"
"Believe my ass... No, wait, where did 'Aruru' even come from?"
"Uh?! Don't tell me you don't like 'Aruru'?"
Ainar looks dejected as if she's hurt.
Of course, Raven isn't the type to be swayed by something like that.
"Would I like that? Arrua Raven! Please call me by my name properly. I really hate this kind of—"
"I, I wanted to call you by your name, but it's hard to pronounce..."
Raven shuts her mouth as Ainar hangs her head low.
And she asks cautiously,
"You wanted to call me by my name? What do you mean?"
"Because you're a precious companion, even though you're human and a mage."
Ainar says something embarrassing without changing her expression, as expected of a barbarian.
"Ha, seriously, that pronunciation..."
Raven sighs incredulously and then turns her head away.
"Whatever. Call me whatever you want."
"Really?!"
"Yes. They call me that at the school anyway, so it would be weird for me to get angry, wouldn't it?"
"Thank you! Aruru!"
It's a heartwarming scene where companions deepen their bond after overcoming adversity.
I think to myself as I watch them,
She's weak to this kind of thing, even though she doesn't seem like it.
'I should use this later if I do something wrong.'
I make a mental note and then we have some time to reorganize after the brief conversation.
There are a lot of things to do before the boss battle.
"Both of you, come here."
First, I call Guide Girl and the mace warrior who regained consciousness.
"You heard what happened, right?"
"...Yes."
Their eyes are vacant, as if they're still in shock from the fact that Hans G and the fairy archer were evil spirits.
"Get a grip. You can do that after we get out alive."
"What should we do?"
"Tell me what you can do first."
I check the mace warrior's combat power first.
What kind of essence he absorbed, what kind of combat he's capable of, and so on.
Normally, it would be personal information that he wouldn't reveal to outsiders, but considering the situation, the mace warrior cooperates with me.
"I see. And you?"
"I, I'm not helpful in battle except for finding the way. I'm sorry."
One 6th-grade warrior and one ungraded Guide.
"But Mr. Parteian will be a big help to you. He's a 5th-grade mage."
"What? 5th-grade?"
"That's right. Although he's specialized in support magic rather than attack magic... he's the one who usually plays the biggest role in our team. It's better to hear it from him directly when he wakes up."
I'm truly surprised.
Because Raven is still a 6th-grade mage.
How the hell did that Hans bastard persuade such a talented person to join his team?
'So we have to defeat the guardian with seven people, including a 5th-grade mage...'
I can't see the whole picture yet.
I don't have enough paint to fill it in.
Therefore, I thoroughly search the loot left behind by the dwarf bastards while Parteian is regaining consciousness.
"Check everything. Have Raven examine anything that looks suspicious. We have to use everything we can."
Hans G, the fairy archer, the beastman swordsman, the dwarf, the sorcerer, and the priest of Karui.
The archer who was offered to the altar has become a spirit, so we can't loot him until after clearing the rift.
"Aruru! What about this?"
"I can sense mana. But I can't read the spell structure, so it's not a magic tool... It's highly likely a Numbered Item."
"Ooh! These boots! They're perfect for me!"
"They're boots made of Half-Troll leather. They're enchanted with the 'Acceleration' spell. They're expensive, so be careful. We have to include them in the settlement later."
Useful items appear every time we open a bag, as expected of experienced explorers.
It feels like we've opened a treasure chest.
"Raven, can you check this too? I know it's made of Laetium, but why would they make a necklace out of this?"
"It's because of mana conductivity. The efficiency of the same spell is different. So let's see, this necklace is..."
Raven assesses the value of various items at an incredible speed, as if she's found her calling.
But even so, it takes longer than expected, and Parteian also wakes up.
"Uh, uh..."
The middle-aged mage is confused as he looks at the forest filled with corpses and equipment.
I send the mace warrior to explain.
"So, so a Doppelganger possessed my body?"
"Noark... Right, I thought it was suspicious that his bag was full of unused equipment. It makes sense if they're from that place."
"Mr. Krisen and Miss Meilin are evil spirits...?"
The mage's face turns pale as he listens to the explanation. But as expected of a mage, he approaches me and expresses his gratitude even in this situation.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, something terrible would have happened."
"If you're grateful, go help Raven. It's not the time to relax."
"Alright."
The process speeds up significantly after Parteian joins us.
Unexpectedly, he's an expert in this field.
"...Appraisal magic? Were you from the Narman school?"
"Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves. That's right."
"I'm Arrua Raven from the Artemion school."
"Haha, I know. There's only one place that engraves such a beautiful pattern on their robes."
"My master is a bit eccentric..."
A mage from the Narman school who can use special appraisal magic.
With Parteian, we can now classify not only Numbered Items, but also items we couldn't identify before.
After some time...
"It seems like we've found everything useful, so let's gather everyone."
We finish sorting and gather in one place to begin a temporary settlement.
"Just so you know, I've written down everything you're taking, and we'll have a proper settlement later. If you want to keep using it, you'll have to pay for it then. Got it?"
"Got it!"
"Then Ainar, come here."
I look at the organized list and distribute the acquired items to each person.
The only criterion is this:
Who will be most effective using it?
"Take off your shoes and give them to Misha."
"Th, there's no way! They won't even fit me!!"
"Don't worry, I confirmed that they're enchanted with the size adjustment spell."
Although there are some complaints about my somewhat arbitrary decision, the leader's authority exists for times like this.
"Ainar."
"Alright, just give them to me..."
Starting with Ainar, my companions each take the useful equipment.
From one to four or five items per person.
I wonder how much this would all sell for?
Every time I fight explorers, I feel it deep down.
Why they all loot.
"Then that's settled."
I store the remaining loot in my and Raven's subspace pockets.
It's not just for safety reasons.
There's just too much.
Smirk.
I can't stop smiling as I look at my newly acquired equipment.
Is this the law of the Hans backlash?
「Character has equipped No. 2988 Guardian Corps Insignia.」
「Total item level increased by +1,485.」
「Character has equipped No. 8667 Outlaw of the Wasteland.」
「Total item level increased by +315.」
「Character has equipped Idium greaves.」
「Total item level increased by +400.」
That Doppelganger bastard is dead.
The Shadow Altar.
In this chapter, the Doppelganger acts solely to achieve two goals.
To make the expedition party waste the Stone of Truth.
And if that fails, to continuously cause conflict and reduce the number of party members.
In that sense, there was one prime suspect.
[Where are you from?]
Kyleman Parteian.
The mage from Hans G's team who split the expedition party in half with a single sentence.
I also thought it was just an accidental landmine at first.
The mage team, including Hans G, didn't seem to know that the dwarf's party was from Noark.
But...
[Dwarf, are you the Doppelganger?]
I persistently attacked the dwarf's party.
Asking him where he got the equipment in his backpack, what exactly the official said when he received the identification tag, and so on, throwing countless questions he couldn't answer to make him look suspicious.
However, I didn't consider one thing back then.
How did the dwarf, struggling to answer those simple questions, appear to the Doppelganger?
'He must have seemed suspicious. And then he would have wondered why.'
It's the body of a smart mage.
The Doppelganger must have realized the truth about Noark through the questions the dwarf couldn't answer.
He must have been tempted too.
He just happened to have a suitable item in the body he possessed...
...and it would be easier to hide his identity if he used it well.
[He's, he's dead.]
The Doppelganger bastard knows how to play dead.
I've been tricked by it several times in the game.
Unless you kill them instantly, this bastard enters a hibernation state, maintaining life and toying with the player.
Just like this.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
The Doppelganger convulses as soon as the potion is poured on him.
If I hadn't known about this element, I would have had no choice but to use the Stone of Truth on Raven even after beating up all the remaining candidates.
"It's a Doppelganger!!!"
Raven, finally cleared of suspicion, shouts in a voice that's more joyful than ever, and the Doppelganger bastard denies it while screaming.
"No, no! Hey! I! Kyaaaaaak!!"
Just how much is he looking down on us?
It's ridiculous, but it's also pointless to argue with a monster.
I just grab him by the neck and walk towards the altar.
His struggle intensifies as we get closer to the altar.
"How... did you...!!"
He finally gives up on making excuses and expresses his doubt.
I chuckle.
Actually, there was another decisive reason.
'At least act properly.'
A mage's biggest weakness is close combat.
But he blocked the dwarf's axe, which was aimed at his head, with his shoulder.
It's impossible unless he predicted the attack.
And in the first place, it's ridiculous that he died from that.
If he had died from excessive bleeding, it might be different...
But he stopped breathing before Guide Girl could even give him a potion?
「Successfully discovered the marauder possessing the expedition member.」
A white light starts emanating from the altar as soon as I press the Doppelganger's head against it.
And the forest trembles as if there's an earthquake.
"Kyaaaaaaaaak—!!"
Something in the shape of a shadow is extracted from his head and lets out a terrifying scream, darting between the trees.
And...
"Oh! It's running away!!"
...it disappears in one direction.
There's no need to panic.
It means the third chapter is over.
「1 Stone of Truth used.」
「Unsealing rate 10%.」
「Quickly pursue and kill the marauder before it regains its sealed power.」
It's time to fight the final boss.
"Bjorn, let's chase after it!!"
"Stop. We have things to do first."
I first calm Ainar down and check Parteian's condition.
Ah, of course, Raven does it, not me.
"How is he?"
"His injuries are mostly healed, so he should regain consciousness soon."
"I see."
Raven, who rushed over to check on Parteian as soon as I called her, finally relaxes.
It seems like her runaway mental state has returned, and her strength has left her.
"Whew..."
The melee damage dealer duo and the bear-like man approach with awkward expressions and each say something.
"Wow, so he really was a Doppelganger..."
"I told you, it wasn't me!"
"Ahem, mages are mages after all? To think of the possibility that someone might still be alive in that situation."
"Ha, what would have happened if it weren't for me..."
"Aruru! You know? I believed in you!"
"Believe my ass... No, wait, where did 'Aruru' even come from?"
"Uh?! Don't tell me you don't like 'Aruru'?"
Ainar looks dejected as if she's hurt.
Of course, Raven isn't the type to be swayed by something like that.
"Would I like that? Arrua Raven! Please call me by my name properly. I really hate this kind of—"
"I, I wanted to call you by your name, but it's hard to pronounce..."
Raven shuts her mouth as Ainar hangs her head low.
And she asks cautiously,
"You wanted to call me by my name? What do you mean?"
"Because you're a precious companion, even though you're human and a mage."
Ainar says something embarrassing without changing her expression, as expected of a barbarian.
"Ha, seriously, that pronunciation..."
Raven sighs incredulously and then turns her head away.
"Whatever. Call me whatever you want."
"Really?!"
"Yes. They call me that at the school anyway, so it would be weird for me to get angry, wouldn't it?"
"Thank you! Aruru!"
It's a heartwarming scene where companions deepen their bond after overcoming adversity.
I think to myself as I watch them,
She's weak to this kind of thing, even though she doesn't seem like it.
'I should use this later if I do something wrong.'
I make a mental note and then we have some time to reorganize after the brief conversation.
There are a lot of things to do before the boss battle.
"Both of you, come here."
First, I call Guide Girl and the mace warrior who regained consciousness.
"You heard what happened, right?"
"...Yes."
Their eyes are vacant, as if they're still in shock from the fact that Hans G and the fairy archer were evil spirits.
"Get a grip. You can do that after we get out alive."
"What should we do?"
"Tell me what you can do first."
I check the mace warrior's combat power first.
What kind of essence he absorbed, what kind of combat he's capable of, and so on.
Normally, it would be personal information that he wouldn't reveal to outsiders, but considering the situation, the mace warrior cooperates with me.
"I see. And you?"
"I, I'm not helpful in battle except for finding the way. I'm sorry."
One 6th-grade warrior and one ungraded Guide.
"But Mr. Parteian will be a big help to you. He's a 5th-grade mage."
"What? 5th-grade?"
"That's right. Although he's specialized in support magic rather than attack magic... he's the one who usually plays the biggest role in our team. It's better to hear it from him directly when he wakes up."
I'm truly surprised.
Because Raven is still a 6th-grade mage.
How the hell did that Hans bastard persuade such a talented person to join his team?
'So we have to defeat the guardian with seven people, including a 5th-grade mage...'
I can't see the whole picture yet.
I don't have enough paint to fill it in.
Therefore, I thoroughly search the loot left behind by the dwarf bastards while Parteian is regaining consciousness.
"Check everything. Have Raven examine anything that looks suspicious. We have to use everything we can."
Hans G, the fairy archer, the beastman swordsman, the dwarf, the sorcerer, and the priest of Karui.
The archer who was offered to the altar has become a spirit, so we can't loot him until after clearing the rift.
"Aruru! What about this?"
"I can sense mana. But I can't read the spell structure, so it's not a magic tool... It's highly likely a Numbered Item."
"Ooh! These boots! They're perfect for me!"
"They're boots made of Half-Troll leather. They're enchanted with the 'Acceleration' spell. They're expensive, so be careful. We have to include them in the settlement later."
Useful items appear every time we open a bag, as expected of experienced explorers.
It feels like we've opened a treasure chest.
"Raven, can you check this too? I know it's made of Laetium, but why would they make a necklace out of this?"
"It's because of mana conductivity. The efficiency of the same spell is different. So let's see, this necklace is..."
Raven assesses the value of various items at an incredible speed, as if she's found her calling.
But even so, it takes longer than expected, and Parteian also wakes up.
"Uh, uh..."
The middle-aged mage is confused as he looks at the forest filled with corpses and equipment.
I send the mace warrior to explain.
"So, so a Doppelganger possessed my body?"
"Noark... Right, I thought it was suspicious that his bag was full of unused equipment. It makes sense if they're from that place."
"Mr. Krisen and Miss Meilin are evil spirits...?"
The mage's face turns pale as he listens to the explanation. But as expected of a mage, he approaches me and expresses his gratitude even in this situation.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, something terrible would have happened."
"If you're grateful, go help Raven. It's not the time to relax."
"Alright."
The process speeds up significantly after Parteian joins us.
Unexpectedly, he's an expert in this field.
"...Appraisal magic? Were you from the Narman school?"
"Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves. That's right."
"I'm Arrua Raven from the Artemion school."
"Haha, I know. There's only one place that engraves such a beautiful pattern on their robes."
"My master is a bit eccentric..."
A mage from the Narman school who can use special appraisal magic.
With Parteian, we can now classify not only Numbered Items, but also items we couldn't identify before.
After some time...
"It seems like we've found everything useful, so let's gather everyone."
We finish sorting and gather in one place to begin a temporary settlement.
"Just so you know, I've written down everything you're taking, and we'll have a proper settlement later. If you want to keep using it, you'll have to pay for it then. Got it?"
"Got it!"
"Then Ainar, come here."
I look at the organized list and distribute the acquired items to each person.
The only criterion is this:
Who will be most effective using it?
"Take off your shoes and give them to Misha."
"Th, there's no way! They won't even fit me!!"
"Don't worry, I confirmed that they're enchanted with the size adjustment spell."
Although there are some complaints about my somewhat arbitrary decision, the leader's authority exists for times like this.
"Ainar."
"Alright, just give them to me..."
Starting with Ainar, my companions each take the useful equipment.
From one to four or five items per person.
I wonder how much this would all sell for?
Every time I fight explorers, I feel it deep down.
Why they all loot.
"Then that's settled."
I store the remaining loot in my and Raven's subspace pockets.
It's not just for safety reasons.
There's just too much.
Smirk.
I can't stop smiling as I look at my newly acquired equipment.
Is this the law of the Hans backlash?
「Character has equipped No. 2988 Guardian Corps Insignia.」
「Total item level increased by +1,485.」
「Character has equipped No. 8667 Outlaw of the Wasteland.」
「Total item level increased by +315.」
「Character has equipped Idium greaves.」
「Total item level increased by +400.」
That Doppelganger bastard is dead.
__________________
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 5
Physical: 560 (New +5) / Mental: 213 (New +15) / Ability: 191
Item Level: 3,068 (New +2,200)
Total Combat Index: 1,731 (New +570)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Manticore - Rank 5 (New)
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 5
Physical: 560 (New +5) / Mental: 213 (New +15) / Ability: 191
Item Level: 3,068 (New +2,200)
Total Combat Index: 1,731 (New +570)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Manticore - Rank 5 (New)
Thanks for the chapter
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