The Conjurer of the Academy

Chapter 95

The torrential rain drummed loudly on the roof, and the flickering lights added to the eerie atmosphere inside the storeroom.

“Who are you?!”

“No, who are you?!”

The two Ise-ahs stared daggers at each other, ready to kill.

‘One is already troublesome enough, and now there are two.’

The third ghost story was about the doppelganger appearing in the storeroom. Before I could explain, Jin So-yul began to lick her lips.

“Let’s explain. There have been reports of students seeing doppelgangers that look just like them while retrieving items from the old storeroom.”

Satisfied with her explanation, Jin So-yul nodded her head.

“By the way, they look exactly alike. Let’s take a closer look.”

“What are you doing!”

“Please don’t touch me without permission!”

“See? Their reactions are exactly the same!”

As Jin So-yul leaned closer, both Ise-ahs scowled at her in unison.

Their speech, actions, and even the emotions they displayed towards specific people were identical.

‘So, it’s impossible to tell them apart just by their appearance.’

Moreover, their external appearances were perfectly copied. From their basic features to the texture of their rain-soaked white shirts and even the smudged eye makeup.

“What do you think, Yomi?”

I took a step back and whispered to Yomi.

[Even for me, it’s hard to distinguish.]

Yomi squinted her eyes and alternately examined the two Ise-ahs, but as expected, the results were inconclusive.

“It’s a perfect duplicate. It even perfectly mimicked the spiritual energy.”

The reason was that the doppelganger had fully replicated Ise-ah’s spiritual energy.

I had hoped things might be easier, but it seemed like I had placed my hopes in vain.

“What on earth is happening?”

“Why are there two of me?”

The voices of the two Ise-ahs grew increasingly louder. Before they could completely panic, I pointed from left to right.

“You’re Ise-ah A, and you’re Ise-ah B. Let’s just go with this for now since it’s hard to tell you apart.”

“Are you serious?”

“That’s so tacky.”

Their attitudes were equally obnoxious. It would’ve been nice if one was kinder, so I could identify the real one that way, but no such luck.

“Listen up, both of you.”

The first priority was to prevent Ise-ah from spiraling into more panic.

“If we can’t identify the real one, neither of you can leave here.”

“Of course, I’m the real one.”

“What nonsense. Can’t you tell just by looking that I’m the real one?”

Both A and B seemed unwilling to give an inch. Jin So-yul bit her lips while watching them.

“Who the heck is the real one? I have no idea!”

It’s understandable.

Though I used terms like ‘doppelganger’ and ‘duplicate,’ the opponent was merely ‘acting’ as Ise-ah perfectly.

Since it wasn’t an absolute duplicate, there were bound to be discrepancies, and I needed something to bring those discrepancies to light.

“From now on, I’m going to ask you both a few questions.”

I unfolded a folding chair that was nearby and sat down on it.

“If you refuse to answer any of these questions, you’ll be treated as the fake. And we all know what happens to the fake, right?”

At my words, Ise-ah A and B glanced at each other. While neither seemed particularly eager, they both nodded in the end.

“What is it?”

“Go on, ask.”

Good start. I decided to ask the first question that came to mind.

“Do you remember the recent exhibition where everything on display was counterfeit? Do you have any thoughts about that event?”

Both A and B frowned simultaneously, as if recalling an unpleasant memory.

“No, I don’t know anything about it.”

A started to speak first.

I deliberately tilted my head while looking at A.

“That’s strange. Someone like Ise-ah wouldn’t come up with nothing. Even if it’s just a hunch, say something.”

“I told you, I don’t know.”

Ise-ah A stubbornly shook her head.

Even if A had found nothing in her investigation, I had given Ise-ah enough hints.

Even without hard evidence, Ise-ah would have some inklings about who might be behind it.

“I do have a hunch.”

B continued after A.

“It’s probably one of my siblings who shares succession rights with me.”

“Perfect deduction.”

The kind of wealth required to create such a massive pile of counterfeit artifacts and hold an exhibition, the connections to invite VIPs, and the purpose of trapping Ise-ah pointed to one conclusion.

The mastermind had to be one of Ise-ah’s siblings, who stood shoulder to shoulder with her in terms of succession rights.

“And if I had to name the most likely culprit, it would definitely be—”

“Shut up!!”

“Whoa, what’s with the sudden temper? People who are lacking often lash out when they’re at a disadvantage. Maybe even a doppelganger can’t copy intelligence?”

B glared at A with disdain for failing to deduce something so simple.

“Ha-baek, can I ask a question too?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I stepped back to let Jin So-yul take the floor. She placed her hands on her hips and, like an instructor, pressed her lips together solemnly.

“Do you ever think about ‘friends’?”

At Jin So-yul’s question, even I couldn’t hide my bewilderment along with A and B.

‘This lacks discernment.’

The questions we needed to ask were those that could identify the real Ise-ah between A and B. But this question was so generic that both A and B would likely have similar answers.

“Only the weak move in groups. A true conqueror stands tall without needing such things.”

A answered first again, and a back-and-forth between A and Jin So-yul ensued.

“Then why did you do that earlier?”

“What?”

“When I tried to be friends with you, you didn’t outright reject me.”

“That’s because you, who don’t even know about Seonjin Networks, were acting strange—”

“I knew. It’s one of the largest conglomerates in the world, right?”

At Jin So-yul’s words, A’s brows furrowed.

“You knew and still treated me like that?”

“I told you, those things don’t matter when making friends.”

Jin So-yul smiled brightly and pointed at her chest with her index finger.

“I grew up in an orphanage. So, would you refuse to talk to me?”

“T-that’s…”

While A hesitated, unable to respond, B took over once again.

“That’s foolish. In this harsh world, everyone needs friends they can rely on.”

“Okay, got it.”

Having heard A and B’s answers, Jin So-yul stepped back. Then she leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“I think I know who the real one is.”

“Well done.”

Surprisingly, Jin So-yul’s question had effectively discerned the difference.

While awaiting the next question, A and B continued to glare at each other with contempt.

“This is the final question.”

I took out the Sain-gum I carried at my waist and held it out to them.

“I’d like to hear your appraisal of the weapon I use.”

B took the sword first and examined it closely.

“It’s pretty good. It must be worth at least tens of millions of won.”

“What nonsense is that?”

A retorted sharply.

“A worn-out sword like this should be disposed of for money. Not to mention it probably reeks of his sweat. I couldn’t touch something like that.”

“You really have no eye for value.”

“What did you say?”

They began to growl at each other again, their appraisals starkly at odds. I picked up the Sain-gum that had been carelessly discarded and fell into thought.

‘Let’s summarize.’

A couldn’t deduce who was behind the exhibition. B was able to deduce it.

A dismissed the need for friends as something only the weak require, whereas B argued that friends are essential in this harsh world.

A mocked my weapon, saying it should be sold for scrap, while B appraised it at tens of millions of won.

[Yomi: So who’s the real one?]

“It’s simple.”

As I took a step closer, A and B turned their attention to me.

“Before I determine who the fake is, let me ask you one thing.”

I twisted my waist to display the sword sheath clearly to both A and B.

“First, A. Hunter weapons aren’t devalued just because they’re worn. You should know that well.”

“Are you calling me fake because I devalued your weapon?”

“Don’t rush. I just want to hear a logical reason for why you considered this sword junk.”

“…”

Ise-ah hesitated but then took a deep breath.

“You’re right. Like artifacts classified as divine tools, hunter weapons that are worn aren’t necessarily bad. But I couldn’t feel any mana from your weapon. That’s why I devalued it.”

A reasonable explanation.

Next, I turned to B. This time, I had a slightly different question for B.

“But B, you felt a great power from my weapon, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s right. That fake just couldn’t sense anything because they’re dull.”

B laughed triumphantly, confident of her victory.

“It’s not because they’re dull.”

I had to shatter that confidence.

“It’s because this power can only be felt by people like you and me.”

“…!”

Ordinary people cannot read the spiritual energy imbued in objects. Only spiritual ability users like me or beings like Yomi and other yokai can sense such energies.

“W-wait, that’s ridiculous! That one couldn’t even deduce the mastermind behind the exhibition, they’re an idiot!”

“It’s not that she couldn’t.”

Seeing A’s lips close over her shoulder, I continued.

“She just didn’t want to think that way. You can read human memories, but you can’t perfectly mimic the emotions felt through those memories.”

Ise-ah isn’t that foolish.

She likely had a rough idea of the culprit even when the investigation turned up nothing.

‘She just didn’t want to accept that as the truth.’

My question wasn’t about the ability to deduce facts but about whether she would continue to deny that truth.

“That’s nonsense! It’s ridiculous! That one doesn’t understand the importance of friends and is completely selfish!”

B flared up, waving her hands in anger.

It was evident who the real one and the fake one were, but B seemed determined not to give up.

“No, our Ise-ah isn’t like that.”

It wasn’t me who countered B’s words. Jin So-yul hugged Ise-ah A tightly from behind.

“Our Ise-ah wants to make friends but just doesn’t know how yet because she’s shy.”

“Let go of me!”

Ise-ah A struggled, but Jin So-yul didn’t let go easily.

Anyway, the quest to find the genuine one was over.

“Reveal your true form. Unless you want to get hit by this piece of junk.”

As I drew the Sain-gum, Ise-ah B’s expression turned icy.

[Ah, I’ve been found out again. I was really confident this time.]

Ise-ah B’s face began to melt, and a sticky voice emerged from her throat.

“A-a monster?”

The real Ise-ah took a step back in shock. Soon, the floor was covered in an unknown green liquid.

[Since the thief hunt is over—]

Zap!

The flickering lights started again.

The creature that had shed Ise-ah’s appearance was a green slime in human form. As it opened its mouth, slime oozed out with a squelching sound,

[—Now it’s time for a game of tag!]

A suffocating second round had begun.