_________________________________________________

[At Estel's Orphanage]

[Mahsuri point of view]

Those kids... They're noisy as usual.

"You can't catch me!"

"Wait for me!"

"Run!"

Hyperactive, playing without a care for the world around them, all day long. It's almost an enviable sight from an adult point of view

"I will become the next Avery! Like Sis Farhah did!"

"I'll become the next youngest court magician!"

"I'll become a priest just like Bro Zerolith!"

"I want to open an orphanage like Brother Ash and Sis Diana did!"

Dreaming about what to come even when most likely, this awakening of the fallen god will be... No. I'll make sure the worst won't happen. After all, Goddess Achalasia herself had told me (and Ash) that she herself will...

"Now now, it's time for your homework" [Claude]

"EEH..."

"YES!!!"

The split reaction of them getting their homework will almost always entertain me. They're after all, still a fledgling, so I'll let their behaviour slide. Just like how Vincent and Maria asked me to look after Ash and soon to be born Charlotte... Estel and Kiara as well...

"Mahsuri, just like Ash, can you look after my daughter Diana as well... I get this feeling, you're actually a reliable baby sitter" [Kiara]

"Kahkahakah, I should agree with that statement!" [Traveler King - Kronbir]

Unlike the Traveler king, I am well aware I am not suited to bore such responsibility. After all, a homunculus like me, who slain the God of Water itself, wouldn't be fit with this kind of lifestyle.

"!" [Claude]

"..." (This is...) [Mahsuri]

Claude suddenly felt a sharp sensation, and straight away look at the castle direction. A ghost do have a godly sixth sense after all. I must said, I'm impressed with how he is able to detect what's actually happening inside the castle

"She get up!"

"Can we go! Can we go with you!"

"Pretty please!"

"We want to see the great Mahsuri fight and demolish her opponent!"

"Show us your powerful water sword technique!"

"Next time" [Mahsuri]

"EEEHH..."

Unlike their reaction when getting a homework, their reaction in this one aren't split apart

"Just what is being "summoned" there?" [Claude]

Claude Isn't exactly wrong when he said that those two are summoned

"An old friend..." [Mahsuri]

For now, that answer is sufficient. After all, those two after all, are a mere fake doppelgangers, not the real one. I will not hesitate to kill them

_________________________________________________

[A little bit earlier]

[Inside Estel's castle]

[Samurai Jacks point of view]

A field of doppelganger flower greet us all, inside this once magnificent hall now turn into a flower field of carcass and viscera.

"Oh god..." [Seo Ah]

I won't blame her... This sight make even us, an old hero as well as S rank and SS rank adventure turn their stomach inside out. It's churning enough that I won't even be surprised that this image will be printed as a nightmare fuel on their dream

The Doppelganger flowers, which is a flower shape "thing" that's really, just made out of carcass and viscera of group of human mix and blend together, from their arms to their eyes, form a flowery budding structure, which emit a smell much worse than that of a Raflesia. One of them is gruesome enough, and yet, there are...

"The one on the centre, it feel strange" [Anjin]

"It's bigger..." [Kucin]

"A pod" [Filvisar]

"A what?" [Khamishah]

"That's exactly right, sharp as always, old hero" [First Prince]

"!" [All]

A sudden appearance of the first prince of Estel

"Am I speaking to the real first prince of Estel or is this one of his fake doppelgangers" [Jacks]

Ray and Mile did informed us after all, about how his fake doppelgangers killed Sir Ceanu Reaves

"It is I, real and flesh dear S rank adventure, Galiant Wind Samurai Jacks. You seem awfully angry, perhaps because I killed one of my biggest concern on this whole operation, Sir Ceanu Reaves" [First Prince]

"And that's exactly right" [Jacks]

If I am Ash, I will definitely beat his ass right here and now itself, and truthfully, my patience is walking on a thin thread

"He is the true face of a noble, the very image of what a typical noble should be. Dignify, responsible, and all the charisma that he hold, but alas, our path is a different one, as he continue to support my younger sister, Princess Diana after all. A regrettably heavy price to pay, but for a better future after all" [First Prince]

I can tell from his expression and his words that he meant every last word of it, down to the fact that he lament the fact that Sir Ceanu Reaves supported Princess Diana instead of himself

"And what are your trying to accomplish with all of this doppelgangers? Surely, every army has it purpose" [Jacks]

"Their purpose? To kill the fallen god" [First Prince]

"!" [All]

"That's impossible!" [Seo Ah]

All of us are bewildered by his simple one sentence explanation. So all of this sacrifices, is to kill the fallen god

"Of course, I'm sure the Old Demon King and the meddling third party has a different purpose, but as far as I am concerned, even when our methodologies of producing an army is almost the same, our end goal are different. Alas, shall they have the nerve to even touch Estel, they will know the wrath of the truthful king" [First Prince]

"Truthful king... You... What did you do to Your Highness!" [Jacks]

"But you see, I am the King of Estel right now" [First Prince]

"YOU BASTARD!" [Jacks]

As Birdie about to lend me it mana so that I can create a powerful wind vortex slash, the big doppelganger flower in the middle started to shine, and two figure, of a man and a woman appear before us, and I swear I heard the voice of the first prince saying

"Welcome, dear ancestor" [First Prince]

"!!!" [Filvisar]

Judging by their aura, and how Mr Filvisar reacted, all of us can tell who the two figures are...