mtl008 Chapter 565 - 565
Chapter 565 - 565
"Mi-Miss Claire? What are you doing? Put your clothes back on!"Yamada, as the guard of this floor, quickly arrived at the scene, only to be met with a blinding expanse of pale skin. Though his words were full of righteous indignation, his eyes remained unblinkingly fixed on her.
"Someone, kill Claire immediately! She attempted assassination—don't let her escape!"
Before Claire could explain, the King caught up from behind.
The guards Yamada had brought exchanged uncertain glances. The idea that Claire would attempt assassination was something they instinctively refused to believe. She was the eldest daughter of the kingdom's Grand Duke and had always been fiercely loyal to the princess. Why would she suddenly try to kill the King?
Their hesitation gave Claire time to react.
"Mr. Yamada, a doppelgänger used a body-swapping necklace to steal my body! I have to escape now—you must restrain that fake version of me!"
"What?"
Yamada's expression immediately changed.
Before he could ask further, Claire had already rushed past him and dashed into the nearby stairwell.
"What are you all standing around for?! I told you to capture her—are you deaf?!"
The King stormed over, pointing at Yamada and the others while shouting furiously.
"Wait—are you really the King?"
Yamada subtly gripped the cursed blade at his waist, eyeing him warily.
"So they already knew about me!"
The King's heart sank.
Though he didn't know how he had been exposed, years of espionage had prepared him for situations like this. His face betrayed no panic.
"I know you doubt me, but I really am the King. The doppelgänger took Claire's form to ambush me, but she failed, which is why I'm chasing her!"
"Uh..."
Yamada froze.
Both sides' explanations made sense. He couldn't tell who was telling the truth and had no idea how to proceed.
Taking advantage of his hesitation, the King rushed past him toward the stairs.
"Captain, what do we do?"
The other guards looked to him in confusion.
What doppelgänger?
What body-swapping necklace?
What assassination?
The guards were completely lost. It sounded like Claire wasn't Claire, and the King wasn't the King?
"After them!"
Yamada scratched his head helplessly before charging up the stairs as well.
Top floor of the castle.
"Iris! Iris! Mr. Nangou! Come out—I've been hit!"
Claire shouted as soon as she reached the top.
"We heard. You were making enough noise downstairs—it was impossible not to notice."
Eiji stepped out, his eyes sweeping over Claire with an impressed hum.
"But this is really something. A doppelgänger's mimicry is this flawless?"
Even to his eyes, Claire's muscle structure, blood vessels, and everything else were identical to the real thing. Not the slightest discrepancy. The sheer perfection of the mimicry sent a chill down his spine.
"Mr. Nangou! Please hurry and capture that thief! Ah—but don't kill them, or I won't be able to switch back!"
Seeing him, Claire sighed in relief and rushed over eagerly.
"Wait, don't come any closer. Stay right there."
But Eiji suddenly raised his hand, stopping her from approaching.
"Why?"
Claire froze, then her face darkened.
"You don't suspect I'm a fake, do you?"
"In a way, you really are fake."
Eiji shrugged. "But honestly, even I can't tell you apart, so just wait a moment. Don't worry, I'll ensure your safety."
"Claire? Why aren't you wearing any clothes?!"
A startled cry came from behind as Iris, clad in pajamas, came into view, staring at them in shock.
Claire awkwardly covered herself, wanting to explain but finding it strange to do so in Claire's form to her own daughter, so she chose to stay silent.
"Stop right there!"
At that moment, the King stormed up the stairs, furious.
"Alright, both sides are here now."
Eiji clapped his hands, trying to draw their attention.
"Die!"
But the King ignored him, raising his sword menacingly and slashing at Claire.
Claire jolted in alarm as the King grinned viciously and swung down.
"Huh?"
After a long pause, he let out a confused sound.
The sword in his hand had somehow vanished.
"Your Majesty, please do me this favor."
Eiji twirled the jeweled sword in his hand, its blade engraved with several magic spells—clearly an expensive piece.
"You...!"
The King glared at him furiously.
But then, as if remembering something, his expression shifted strangely, and he fell silent.
Soon, even Yamada and the others arrived at the scene.
"Yamada, perfect timing. Seal off the area and make sure no one escapes."
"Got it."
Yamada and the others exchanged glances.
Though they weren't sure when Nangou had taken charge, now wasn't the time to question it.
The three of them, along with guards from each floor, surrounded the area tightly.
The King's face instantly broke out in cold sweat.
"First, both of you hand over the body-swapping necklaces."
Eiji glanced at Claire and the King before him.
Outwardly, neither seemed suspicious, but Claire had to be the shapeshifter—though it was unclear who was inside now.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Nangou!"
The King suddenly adopted a stern, authoritative tone.
"As the King, why should I obey your orders? You've overstepped!"
"Oh? You didn't know?"
Eiji raised an eyebrow, smirking playfully.
"We agreed earlier today that if the King were swapped, I'd take charge. You really didn't know?"
"O-of course I knew! I just thought it was unreasonable..."
The King panicked, scrambling to recover.
"Hold on!"
Claire, now dressed in clothes handed to her by a guard, raised her hand in frustration.
"When did I ever say that?"
"What?"
The King froze.
"Father never said anything like that."
Princess Iris also frowned, eyeing the King warily.
"And Brother Eiji never made such a suggestion either!"
"What?!"
The King's face twisted in shock and fury as he glared at Eiji.
"You tricked me!"
"Blame your own stupidity."
Eiji smiled with evident delight.
That's right.
At noon, after he and Iris, along with the others, deduced that the truth behind this series of events was the invasion of the Shapeshifting Demon, they reported it to the king, the prince, and Yamada, among several other reincarnators.
These individuals were undoubtedly the primary targets of the Shapeshifting Demon and were highly likely to be mimicked.
However, no prior arrangements had been made for "who would take charge if the king were replaced." Without the king's memories, the Shapeshifting Demon was easily exposed.