Chapter 93 - Shadow (16)

They said Maladirut rarely grew in places rich with mana gushing from the earth's veins. Georgia advised that while the chances of finding it increased with denser mana, the mana pressure would also be stronger, making it difficult to approach such areas.

A primordial forest zone full of rare vegetation, untouched by human hands, where ultra-high-density mana gushed forth. That place was surprisingly close.

It was the “Forbidden Forest” where my Masters Class entrance ceremony was supposed to be held.

Though Georgia said I should give up finding it at Eternia since it was a strictly forbidden area, that didn't apply to me.

I made my way through the labyrinth. Since it was still long before the time Professor Ella told me to visit the research institute, I set out to find Maladirut first.

Though they said beast appearances were extremely rare in the Forbidden Forest and there weren't many dangerous species, I brought potions and my sapling sword just in case.

After advancing for a while, I finally entered the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, but I couldn't feel any particular mana pressure. Considering the warnings about the Forbidden Forest and mana pressure, it made me realize how high my mana pressure resistance was.

Tremendously dense mana supposedly gushed from this land... Yet I couldn't even detect the presence of mana. I could also keenly feel my terrible magical talent.

Anyway, being able to enter this forest whenever I wanted was an incredible fortune and privilege.

This was because the Forbidden Forest perfectly matched the optimal herb-growing conditions Zverev had described.

In short, it was a treasure trove.

From mainstream alchemy's perspective, this place was merely “good conditions but not worth specifically seeking out”.

Following the theory of an unidentified alchemist while rejecting mainstream theory was like gambling, but I intended to follow Zverev's theory. While interpreting the recipes, I had been unknowingly convinced by his philosophy.

I took out a paper describing Maladirut's appearance and wandered aimlessly through the Forbidden Forest. With my compass, I didn't need to worry about getting lost even without a plan.

Sunlight scattered by fog came down softly, and the trees weren't too densely packed, making it good for walking. There were quite a few sights to see.

Flowers that closed their petals when sensing presence, vines that flickered slowly as if breathing. Soil that glowed white when stepped on.

I inwardly marveled at these mysterious sights.

While moving randomly wherever my eyes led, I accidentally discovered traces of a person.

Because the soil glowed when stimulated, someone's footprints were clearly illuminated on the ground.

The footprints led to a small path in the forest. There was nothing suspicious about them.

They were likely from someone connected to the labyrinth, like a librarian or magic engineering researcher.

Still, just in case, I placed my hand on the wooden sword at my waist and slowly followed the footprints.

Not far ahead, about thirty paces away, a person's silhouette came into view.

A small clearing. And someone stood with their back to me in front of a gravestone erected in one corner.

Long hair half-tied falling down their back. Brown mixed in as if partially dyed into platinum blonde hair. And in their hand, they held a familiar mask.

And I doubted my eyes, wondering if I was seeing things wrong.

Pointed ears. That meant... a different species.

This was the second time in my life seeing someone of a different species, after Erzsebet.

She had been quietly looking down at the gravestone, but sensing my presence, she put on her mask and slowly turned toward me.

Our gazes crossed. Since there was no hostility in it, I slowly lowered my guard.

She turned away without a word and disappeared into the forest.

I slowly approached the gravestone. Its surface was smooth, with no weathering.

A pure white artificial flower, presumably left by that woman, lied in front of it.

I checked the inscription on the gravestone.

[Great swordsman of the Nameless Knight Order. Reclaimed the name Kedwen after death.]

A meaningful inscription. Moreover, Kedwen was the name of a victim like Luna that the Dark Mage had mentioned.

Who is that woman? Was she Kedwen's friend? Or is she another Masters Class member?

***

After easily collecting one Maladirut flower, I turned my steps toward the Magic Engineering Research Institute.

A man wearing a mask and leather apron was waiting to greet me in front of the institute. He introduced himself as the senior magic creature researcher.

"I heard from Professor Ella. That you're looking for a Doppler. Please come in."

"You don't need to be so formal."

Though I was much younger, he treated me with great respect.

"Masters Class members are Eternia's most precious resources. This is proper treatment, so don't feel uncomfortable."

"..."

He guided me through the institute lobby to the magic creature ward. Iron bars lined both sides of the corridor like prison cells, and various magic creatures howled at seeing people.

"May I ask why you're looking for a Doppler?"

"I want to use it in an alchemy recipe."

"Hmm.... Do you know what kind of creature a Doppler is?"

"Besides knowing there was a case where a Doppler infiltrated Eternia... I don't know much."

I had no idea what kind of species it was or what it looked like.

Earlier, Silveryn had said the labyrinth was once devastated by a Doppler. Anyway, it certainly seemed dangerous.

"Ah yes, that did happen. But Dopplers aren't originally such dangerous magic creatures."

They devastated Eternia but aren't dangerous? What does that mean?

The researcher continued, "The name comes from doppelganger. It's because of their characteristic of perfectly copying any form they see. A Doppler's original form has intelligence about equal to a dog or cat, and in the wild, they only use their transformation ability to avoid danger by changing into their predators' natural enemies."

"Then how did it devastate Eternia?"

"Problems arise when they're in human society. They copy human forms and perfectly mimic speech and behavior they've seen once. When you hear a Doppler speak, it sounds plausible on the surface, but examining the content shows no context exists. They can't copy thoughts, they just blindly imitate. So they're easy to catch. However, even though their pattern recognition ability is lower than humans when the process of copying appearance and behavior branches is repeated thousands or tens of thousands of times, Dopplers gradually learn patterns. They become capable of basic interaction with humans."

"..."

"In the next stage, Dopplers slowly blend into human society. That's when problems arise. After a Doppler has blended into human society undetected for about 30 to 50 years."

"Interesting creatures. What kind of problems do they mainly cause?"

"Dopplers have an excellent understanding of relationships. This must have evolved under the pressure of being eaten by predators if they couldn't grasp relationships. The important thing is this ability is actively demonstrated in human society too."

"...?"

"When a Doppler meets someone, it transforms into a person with deep connections to them. Then, it seduces them to taste its secretions. After that, it eventually eats them."

Hearing the explanation... I thought perhaps Dopplers hadn't exploited Eternia's weakness, but rather human weakness.

"What level was the Doppler that infiltrated Eternia?"

"The more humans they can copy, the higher their danger level is measured. That Doppler could copy about eight thousand people. It remembered all their conversation patterns and habits. Additionally, it had enough intelligence to engage in light conversation about social affairs.

"Their innate pattern recognition ability isn't better than humans so growth is slow, but the problem is Dopplers have no growth limit. Once cognitive ability passes a certain point, the rate of increase becomes steep. The Magic Academy is certain Dopplers are scattered throughout large cities like the Empire's capital. Through vast numbers of interactions, the Dopplers there might have evolved to be indistinguishable from humans."

The statement about having no growth limit felt quite chilling.

"How are they with swordsmanship or magic?"

"Dopplers that have blended into human society are truly excellent. Magic was uncertain, but recently there have been reports of Dopplers being discovered using low-level magic. It's a case proving high-level intellectual evolution is possible."

"..."

"Some Magic Academy scholars estimate Dopplers occupy the very top of human society's pyramid. Though it's treated as a conspiracy theory, it's a story with its own basis."

"That's quite an imagination-stimulating story. Is the Doppler kept at Eternia safe?"

"The Doppler we keep is very safe. Since we captured it originally for research purposes, it has only copied two humans. We consider up to two thousand safe. The current Doppler is closer to a mysterious magic tool or toy than a living being."

"I heard Dopplers are otherworldly species, is there any evidence for that?"

"I'm not sure how much you've heard about the Land of Death, but that place is the origin of otherworldly species. Dopplers are extremely afraid of going to the Land of Death because they decompose into their primordial form there. That is, into masses of thought entities. Academia views Dopplers as thought entities drifting in the dimensional realm that manifested in the material realm through some power. What power acted there is still under research."

At the end of the corridor, a square cage made of steel blocked the way. It had just one thick door, with not even a small hole to look inside.

"We keep the Doppler contained in here."

"After hearing about it, I'm very curious what it looks like."

"Unfortunately, you cannot see the Doppler, Damian. Orders from above."

"..."

"It's an unavoidable measure to reduce any possible risk. Please wait in the lobby. I will personally bring you the Doppler's bodily fluids."

***

After sending Damian to the lobby, the researcher gathered his equipment. One was a glass bottle, the other a stone knife brought from the “Land of Death”.

The researcher unlocked the special cage and entered.

The inside was divided in half by pure white iron bars, and inside those bars, a Doppler with chains connected to its limbs sat crouched and greeted him.

"Hello."

He firmly closed the door so no sound would escape.

When seeing masks, Dopplers experience recognition errors and randomly pull out people from their memories to speak.

But since this Doppler only completely remembered all forms of one person. It pulled out all the memories of that one person.

"...When can we see each other?"

A portrait of a boy was placed opposite the iron bars containing the Doppler. The researcher covered that picture with a black cloth.

"Remember when we promised to see the ocean together? We promised to live together in a house with an ocean view."

The Doppler's hair turned silver.

There was a reason why they deliberately emphasized the Doppler's danger to Damian and wouldn't let him in despite wearing a mask that disrupted Doppler abilities.

"I joined the Art Club. If you knew what I was drawing... you'd definitely like it too."

Because this cage was made for a mentally unstable girl.

For that girl's doll play.

To soothe her anxious and painful heart, even if just like this.

The Doppler, transformed into the girl, suddenly buried its face in its knees and began to sob.

It was hard to watch. The researcher drew his knife and opened the iron gate to finish quickly.

Lisa Pascal's shadow sobbed and murmured like this, "Damian... Damian, I miss you... I miss you so much."