Chapter: 427
Arthur, having broken through to the 100th floor, couldn’t help but blame himself for not putting in enough effort during vacation as he faced off against his doppelgangers waiting beyond the boss room.
Just as he had become a completely different person before and after vacation, the doppelgangers blocking his path were also entirely different creatures.
“Is there even time to think about anything else?”
“Damn it!”
What irritated him the most was that the doppelgangers perfectly pierced through the party’s weaknesses.
For instance, when Molly pushed Arthur into losing his composure, he could no longer take charge.
Trying to juggle both magic and swordsmanship together was already a feat by itself; he couldn’t afford to pay attention to his surroundings.
Aware of this, the doppelgangers assigned someone imitating Frey to take care of Arthur, effectively shutting him up.
The situation wasn’t any better for Frey either.
Her swordsmanship was undoubtedly powerful. It was less about what she could achieve and more about what she couldn’t.
However, if she couldn’t unleash the might of her sword, Frey’s strength would inevitably wane.
The doppelgangers relentlessly targeted this very weakness.
Through Joy’s magic, they kept avoiding any situation where they would clash swords from the very start.
Even so, Frey tried with all her might to swing her sword despite the constant suppression, but each time, Phoebe’s divine magic stood in her way.
What had once been a source of reassurance for them became their biggest barrier.
Joy was also in a bind.
Although she had become accustomed to close combat from training in the Allen Knights, it was merely to buy time for using larger spells.
As Arthur, who possessed the skills to somewhat fend off Frey, charged at her while using spells, she found no room to breathe.
While all members were desperately holding on amidst the unfavorable situation, the reason the frontline was maintained was due to Phoebe.
While all the doppelgangers displayed similar or greater power than Arthur, Phoebe’s counterpart didn’t quite replicate her abilities perfectly.
Even though the level of divine magic she wielded seemed similar, the outcomes were entirely different.
Understanding this, Phoebe did her best to turn the tide with her own powers, but as time passed, the feeling of defeat grew stronger.
What loomed large was that the opponents had a perfect strategy prepared to take them down, whereas they had no plan at all.
In fact, even considering the existence of a strategy was utterly absurd.
Who would even think of a way to defeat oneself?
In the continued war of attrition, Arthur’s party was gradually pushed back until they ultimately faced defeat.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere among Arthur’s group wasn’t excessively bleak. They had simply lost due to unforeseen circumstances.
Knowing what awaited them on the 100th Floor changed everything.
If they understood they were facing themselves, all they needed was to prepare a fitting strategy.
What was even more hopeful for Arthur’s group was that, for some reason, Phoebe had a clear upper hand over her doppelganger.
As long as one perfect counterpart to the doppelganger existed, they could formulate a strategy for victory starting from there. Arthur was confident that if they fought again, they could defeat the doppelgangers.
“But, if it’s ourselves waiting on the 100th floor, does that mean Lady Allen will fight herself?”
Just before re-entering the dungeon, Joy’s sudden comment caused the party to stop in their tracks.
“Seems that way.”
“The sight of the Young Lady fighting herself would be something to see.”
“I’m not sure, but it sounds entertaining.”
Arthur wholeheartedly agreed with Frey’s sentiment that it would indeed be entertaining.
Seeing Lucy and Lucy hurl insults and ridicule at each other was something he desperately wanted to witness.
That damn brat should experience what it’s like to be taken down by someone similar to him. Only then would he realize how much the people around him were taking care of him.
“…Oh.”
While everyone was in similar thoughts, Phoebe’s eyes widened.
“What’s the matter, Saintess?”
“If my assumption is correct, the doppelganger of the Young Lady will be much weaker than her. I can’t explain it exactly, but I’m certain.”
“That means…”
“It means that if it’s the Young Lady, she can easily defeat her doppelganger.”
Knowing Phoebe wouldn’t speak nonsense, Arthur immediately urged his party to dash into the dungeon.
With Lucy Allen visible arriving at the 100th floor, there was no time for them to rest.
*
“Are you okay? If you keep frowning like that, you might turn into an old hag faster!”
Seeing the doppelganger snickering at having to lift her up, I let out a long sigh.
Taking her down wasn’t going to be difficult at all.
That brat, who couldn’t replicate the Lord Jushin’s grace, would never defeat me.
But you know…
If I charge in now, it’d feel like losing!
That would mean falling for the opponent’s provocation!
I don’t want to lose in a verbal battle against such a brat!
“Hehe~ What’s the problem? Even if I become an old hag, I’ll still be much prettier than a fake like you~”
“You prefer old hags over young people? Haha, quite a unique taste!”
“Didn’t your brain get too hard to understand my words?♡ I’ll explain it specially for you!♡ My point is that you, shaped by sloppy trash, can never beat me!♡”
The doppelganger in front of me did mimic me well, but it wasn’t perfect.
She had many lacking aspects.
With my aesthetic sense, I could clearly see the numerous flaws.
“Your eyes are dull♡ Your nose is flat♡ Your fingers are chubby♡ Even your voice is unbearable♡ You can’t even recognize these differences?♡ The person who made you, and you, have pretty poor taste~♡”
As I sneered and shrugged my shoulders, the doppelganger bit down on her lips and glared at me.
Ha! You think you can win a verbal battle against me when you can’t even properly use Mesugaki skills?
Just admit defeat and start crying, brat.
“Hmm. The cute sister has exceptional taste, huh?”
“Have you finally realized your position?♡ It’s good that you’re quick to accept your fate!♡ An ugly girl like you should know how to play your cards right!♡”
“If you’re that sister, you should realize the fundamental differences between us! Why aren’t you mentioning them? Ignoring them doesn’t change reality!”
Different parts? What does she mean? Nonsense…
Oh.
Ohhhh!
“What? Have you finally caught on? Hahaha, the cute sister must be too small to look up, huh?”
The crucial difference between the doppelganger and me.
It was none other than height!
The doppelganger Lucy was taller by about half a head and had longer limbs!
I had many retorts swirling in my mind. With my aesthetic sense and the ability to pinpoint weaknesses, I had plenty of avenues to strike.
But my mouth wouldn’t budge.
…Honestly speaking.
I’m jealous!
I’m sooooo jealous!
The fact that the doppelganger is somewhat taller than me isn’t even that significant! It’s merely a few centimeters!
But that just frustrates me! It’s precisely because it changes reality so subtly!
I could’ve looked down on Frey if I were even that tall!
I’m so mad! Why does some doppelganger possess what I don’t have?!
“Jealous? Do you want to grow taller like me?”
Damn it.
“Maybe I’m not as pretty as you because I breathe higher air than you~ If I had been stuck below like you, I would’ve turned out pretty too~”
Damn it.
“I’ll share my height with you, so do you want it? I’d rather live in a low place like you~ Why not take it? Oh, you can’t take it, huh?~ Oh well~ You’ll have to look up at others for the rest of your life~”
Jeepers.
“Bull. Shit.”
Finally unable to hold back, I charged forward, accepting the doppelganger’s ridicule.
“You little sis has a tiny heart, huh? You’re throwing such a big fit over a little teasing~”
The doppelganger jeered as she raised her shield, but that shield was a mere ordinary object compared to what I wielded, and the divine nature that supported her was no different from that which ordinary clerics used.
That’s why, as I thought it’d be easy to smash the shield, magic infused into it at that very moment.
TINK!
The doppelganger staggered back from the impact, trying to move her trembling hands while forcing a smile.
“Really~ such a tiny heart must mean you can’t grow taller! Little sis!”
“Sorry~♡ Looking at a brat sloppily imitating me, I just couldn’t hold back the displeasure!♡ How can you keep getting uglier the more I see you?♡ In some sense, that’s truly remarkable!♡”
Responding to provocation with provocation, I observed the doppelganger’s body.
The one who created my doppelganger must have known that it wouldn’t perfectly imitate me.
That’s why they forced her to use magic.
Just looking at how they made her taller than me tells me a lot.
If they didn’t know I was sensitive about height, such a thing wouldn’t be possible.
In other words, someone close to me was involved in making my doppelganger.
While recalling all the suspects, I charged on toward the doppelganger and exchanged blows.
In a situation where I could easily overpower her, I refrained simply because I thought I could narrow down the suspects by observing the doppelganger’s movements.
My thoughts were spot-on.
The doppelganger’s movements were strikingly similar to how I learned to handle a mace alongside my grandpa.
Even the various habits I had once possessed.
And that narrowed it down to just one suspect.
“Shoddy Dog♡…”
No one else knows me this well.
Once, he fought me countless times with swords, but of late, he has been too busy to join me. That damn bastard.
Karl.
Shoddy Dog. You just wait.
As soon as I get out of this dungeon, I’m coming for you.
Today, I’ll shred your knightly honor to pieces!
Grinding my teeth, I took a deep breath, channeling the divine into my entire body.
It was time to smash that doppelganger!
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