Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 114: Relief of Accomplishment

-ey! A...ou...kay?!

Ugh... What hit me?

-amn... -ha...ons...real...it...u hard...

I try to shake off the sudden dizziness as the voice begins to grow clear. I open my eyes and see a familiar face right in front of my face. Literally.

[Oh. Looks like you're finally awake, Half-Sign.] Acutus stands up and sighs. [I thought I would spend my entire fortune healing you up. Of all things I do, [Restoration Magic] isn't one of them.]

I can tell. But [Restoration]...

I quickly gasp and stand up as I realize something.

"Hang on! The doppelganger! What happened to him?!" I quickly flinch as I feel a shot of pain in my chest. Okay, bad idea to stand up too quickly...

[Hey! Easy there. You beat him,] Acutus answered. [The <Door of Reflection> can only be open to us if the participant managed to complete the last trial.]

It took me a few seconds to process the realization. But I let out a big sigh when I see my status window.

[Wind]

[Stats]

[Race: Human]

[Total Mastery Level: 16]

[HP: 182/630]

[MP: 98/240]

[SP: 59/310]

I guess they aren't the healer type of NPC, but I'm grateful for their help regardless.

"In other words, I managed to defeat him. With my own two hands." I start to chuckle dryly. "To be honest, I thought I would have died from his insult than his copied arrows and sword. I'm glad I'm still alive after all that trouble..."

[I'm just surprised you kept your sanity after that. [Shadow Doppelgangers] are notorious for their sharp tongue and torturous illusions. Not many Insignis barely survive with their sanity and if they do... Let's just say it changed them for the better or worse. Thank the gods I didn't have to put up with it.]

Are they saying that it's not limited to non-[Insignis] like me? More importantly, I'm concerned about their wording.

"Are you saying those doppelgangers are dangerous? Why did they even put them in the trials anyway?!"

Acutus shrugs. [Don't know. Tradition or something? Either way, the Sages will do something about it. I heard some doppelgangers are getting more and more aggressive and it might be too dangerous if we keep their core for too lo- Huh?]

They quickly stop when they turn to me. I'm confused at their sudden interest until I noticed something shining inside my right fist. I open it and find...

[Shadow Doppelganger Core Piece]

[A part of the core that was used to summon a [Shadow Doppelganger].]

<This is a Key Item. You cannot sell it to shops or trade it with other players.>

I gasp when I see this strange small black gem in my hand. I'm not the only one as Acutus stares at it in awe.

[No way. That's the part of the core I was talking about! Where did you get it?!]

Now that I think about it, my doppelganger gave me something before he died. Could it be that he gave me his core?