TRPM 369

chapter 369

The day after the voodoo-doll-cum-doppelgangers sent by the organization on Mars to kill Chairman Richard, Han Gun-woo, and Oracle were captured,

News about the doppelgangers spread across the globe.

Since the organization could potentially target strong individuals using the same method, Chairman Richard had escalated the situation to prevent future attacks.

It was an issue that could have been resolved simply by asking someone else to handle a doppelganger without seeing one in person. Even if someone accidentally saw a doppelganger, charms like protective dolls could partially block the doppelganger’s curse.

“(I’m not entirely sure… but carrying around a doll that looks like yourself might become a trend.)”

Cheonma muttered this while lying on a luxurious sofa watching the news.

The White Lotus Sect Leader, who served Cheonma, knelt beside him, feeding him grapes.

“(It seems the organization was determined to kill the Artist, Chairman Richard, and me… but they failed rather lightly.)”

Oracle, seated in a relatively high-end chair rather than lying on a sofa like Cheonma, spoke and secretly felt relieved.

If Oracle had seen the doppelganger featured in the news, unlike the Artist—Han Gun-woo—he would have died instantly without any chance to defend against the curse.

“(Heh heh….)”
“(… Why?)”

Observing Oracle, the Grand Sorcerer muttered as if finding him cute.

“(Oracle. Even if you saw that doppelganger, you wouldn’t have died. Didn’t I give you a necklace?)”
“(… This one?)”
“(Yes. I made it as a special talisman just for you.)”

Oracle knew well that a talisman was a kind of protective charm.

“(… Then why didn’t you tell me?)”
“(Heh heh… it’s a type of talisman that works better if the owner doesn’t know about it.)”
“(… Then why tell me now?)”
“(You would have continued worrying if I hadn’t.)”

Oracle fell silent, unable to argue since the Grand Sorcerer’s words were correct.

“(No rebuttal because it’s not wrong, huh.)”
“(… Shut up.)”

Cheonma muttered in amusement, and Oracle grit his teeth in response. Seeing this, the White Lotus Sect Leader brought his hand to the hidden amulet tucked inside his clothing.

“(Both you and Oracle… you never change, do you.)”

But Cheonma noticed and stopped him.

“(… Sorry.)”
“(No, it’s fine. Oracle brazenly defies me, and you hate that behavior—it’s almost become a daily routine now.)”

Ever since Oracle began living in the White Lotus Sect building, this dynamic had continued. Cheonma would tease, Oracle would protest, and the Sect Leader would glare at Oracle. Although things had changed slightly over time.

‘(… At first, if the Sect Leader had actually attacked, Oracle would definitely have died. But…)’

Oracle had grown stronger.

Being relatively free from the constraints of time thanks to his space-time ability, Oracle was now stronger than the Sect Leader.

‘(… Strength alone doesn’t determine the outcome of a fight, but if Oracle and the Sect Leader fought now…)’

The Sect Leader would inevitably lose.

“(Heh heh….)”
“(… What’s with that unpleasant laugh?)”
“(Nothing, it’s just funny. Sect Leader, put the amulet back in….)”

Cheonma said.

“(Funny, isn’t it? That a woman who knew nothing of fighting could become strong enough to beat an Aura Master in just half a year.)”
“(… That’s because of shortcuts.)”

Oracle humbly explained.

“(… Before leaving the organization, I had never properly trained. I was making up for lost time. But I won’t be able to grow this fast going forward.)”
“(Oh? I haven’t heard that before…? Besides, according to me, you couldn’t have done it with just space-time powers, right?)”
“(Yes. The Grand Sorcerer helped me.)”

At that, Cheonma turned his gaze toward the Grand Sorcerer.

“(Heh heh… so you won’t do it for me.)”
“(I have no intention of relying solely on such magic. But….)”

Cheonma watched the Sect Leader feeding grapes to Oracle.

“(… Even you, Cheonma, who treats subordinates like insects, must feel attachment toward someone who serves you wholeheartedly.)”
“(… Attachment… I suppose even I, being human, can feel attachment.)”

Hearing this, the White Lotus Sect Leader froze, clearly moved. Oracle thought he was an extraordinary fanatic and glanced at the talisman around his neck.

It was powerful enough to protect him from the curse that could have killed the Artist.

‘(Of course. It was personally given by the Grand Sorcerer; it can’t be just an ordinary talisman.)’

Then something happened.

“(Hmm?)”

The Grand Sorcerer seemed to sense something unusual about Oracle and approached him.

“(Let me see the talisman for a moment.)”
“(Huh? Yes, here.)”

How could Oracle refuse the creator? Especially since the Grand Sorcerer looked serious. Then…

“(… Huh? What’s this?)”
“(… Ah… so that’s what happened.)”

Oracle felt something strange in his body, and the Grand Sorcerer, observing the talisman and Oracle’s state, seemed to realize something.

“(Um, Grand Sorcerer? Can you explain what’s happening?)”
“(Heh heh… It’s the voodoo-doll curse from the news.)”

Oracle’s face turned pale.

“(Someone… is cursing me?)”
“(… Hmm? You could be mistaken. But it’s not entirely wrong.)”

The Grand Sorcerer paused, then decided to explain what he had discovered.

“(Nothing major. Oracle, it’s just that your doppelganger hasn’t died yet.)”
“(… My doppelganger?)”

Oracle turned his head toward the TV, still showing the news.

“(Heh heh… It seems the Korean Awakened Association decided to keep your doppelganger alive. It’s probably restrained and locked in the association’s underground.)”
“(Restrained….)”

Hearing this, Oracle felt his body was indeed bound by invisible ropes, though he could still move.

“(Now, if you put this back around your neck, you’ll be fine.)”
“(Thank you.)”

Oracle put the talisman back around his neck, and the oppressive energy vanished.

“(… But why is my doppelganger restrained?)”
“(Heh heh… it’s obvious, isn’t it? They’ll probably try to use it against you eventually.)”
“(… Can this talisman block it?)”
“(Such a small necklace can’t completely prevent instant death.)”

Oracle frowned at that.

“(Then we have to deal with it somehow!)”
“(… But don’t try to see the future to locate your doppelganger. The voodoo-doll curse triggers when you see a doppelganger that looks exactly like you. Even seeing a future version might activate it.)”
“(… Ugh.)”

Oracle canceled his premonition attempt.

“(Oh? Grand Sorcerer, that’s a vague statement. What do you mean, ‘might activate’?)”

Cheonma, intrigued, watched the Grand Sorcerer.

“(Heh heh… I’m not omniscient. It’s my first time dealing with a space-time user, so there’s uncertainty.)”

“(… He’s changed. He used to choose the risky path for magic, now he prioritizes Oracle.)”

Cheonma’s curiosity was gone, and he turned back to the TV. Oracle asked the Grand Sorcerer:

“(So, what’s the sure method?)”
“(Wait a bit. It’ll arrive soon….)”

At that moment…

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

“(… Come in.)”

Without even looking, Cheonma said, and the door opened. A slightly tired-looking man stood there.

“(Grand Sorcerer, the task you assigned… is complete.)”
“(Heh heh… You didn’t need to stay up all night.)”
“(I wanted to do it.)”

Oracle recognized him. In the original future, this man would have resurrected the past hero Woo Ji-min instead of the Artist, Han Gun-woo.

“(Report, please.)”
“(Yes. The physical abilities of the doppelgangers implanted with DNA extracted from the jiangshi bodies haven’t changed significantly, but their mimicry skills have strengthened.)”
“(… Hmm? The DNA came from the Artist’s corpse, but the physical abilities didn’t increase?)”

Although the main feature of a doppelganger is mimicry, the result was slightly unexpected. Oracle, the Grand Sorcerer, and Cheonma were all a bit surprised.

“(… No… Actually, it makes sense.)”

The Grand Sorcerer thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

“(… Consider this. The Artist used Aura, magic, psychic powers, and sorcery simultaneously. He seemed like an impossible multiple-ability Awakener, but….)”

Unlike Oracle, the jiangshi didn’t show awareness of space-time abilities.

“So, the Artist wasn’t a multiple-ability Awakener, just a mimic.”

“(… Mimic, huh.)”
“(… Wait…)”

The report wasn’t finished.

“(… Hmm?)”

Cheonma was bewildered but intrigued, as the necromancer continued.

“(… Upon closer investigation of the jiangshi’s body, I discovered something new.)”

The residual energy in the jiangshi’s body… wasn’t Aura, magic, mental energy, or spirit energy.

“(… You can tell what it is?)”
“(… Sometimes, traces of the deceased’s memories and knowledge seep into my mind. That’s how I distinguish Aura, magic, and other energies.)”

“(… The residual energy in the jiangshi’s body is another type of energy, infinitely similar to Aura.)”

And…

“(… The place with the most of this energy in the jiangshi’s body?)”

The Dantian (energy center).