NOVEL WEB Chapter 216: Mask Of Doppelgänger
Haruto stood in front of The Love Kingdom hotel, where Crown of Ito operated, his black jacket hood pulled over his head and a mask covering his face added with a black backpack.
He looks like a robber.
Tonight was the night. He was going to steal the data from an office that even Ayaka couldn't touch.
And yet…
He couldn't focus.
Haruka's reaction to Chiyo's pregnancy kept replaying in his mind.
"Oh wow, good for both of you."
She had smiled when she said it. But Haruto knew better—her heart wasn't smiling at all.
Ever since then, she had been avoiding him. No words, no glances, not even acknowledging his presence.
Just this morning, he had seen her struggling to reach the flour in the kitchen. She was tiptoeing, stretching her arm as far as it could go.
Naturally, as her brother, he grabbed the flour for her.
But instead of thanking him, she simply turned and left—abandoning the half-prepared pie she had been baking.
Haruto exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead.
It frustrated him. He didn't know how to fix this.
No one knew about his relationship with Haruka, so he couldn't just shower her with affection.
Chiyo and Asuka would find it weird if he suddenly started treating her differently and would probably freak out when they knew what he did to her.
"Damn… What should I do?"
He pulled out his phone, but Haruka hadn't even read his messages.
Not a single one.
"Oi, Haruto, what are you doing? Get inside, man. Before Ren comes back."
Arataki's voice rang in his ear from the earpiece he used, snapping him back to reality.
'Focus, Haruto. Focus.'
Shaking off his thoughts, he responded, "Sorry, I'm going in."
'System, activate Mask of Doppelgänger.'
[Mask of Doppelgänger activated!]
[Effect: To those who see you, your appearance and voice will change to resemble someone familiar to them. However, it only lasts one minute per person, with a two-hour cooldown per target.]
[Your ERS will be reduced by 5 per person.]
Haruto smirked.
This was why he was the only one who could pull off this mission.
To every person he encountered, he would appear as someone they recognized—whether a coworker, a superior, or even a janitor.
If multiple people saw him at once, he would default to the first person who made eye contact.
It was an incredibly useful skill. But it wasn't without risks.
Cameras wouldn't be fooled. In photos, CCTV footage, or any form of digital recording, his true appearance would remain unchanged.
That meant he had to move fast—no hesitations, no second chances.
His gaze flicked toward the hotel's structure.
'Fifth floor… and no lift? Seriously?'
What kind of multi-story building didn't have a damn lift?
When Haruto stepped inside, his eyes twitched at the garish pink walls and the over-the-top chandeliers that cast a sickly glow over the lobby.
The whole place reeked of cheap perfume, the kind that clung to the air like a desperate attempt at sophistication.
It was ugly, not extravagant—whoever designed this place clearly had no taste.
At the front desk, a heavyset man lounged in his chair, barely looking up from his phone until their eyes met. His brows furrowed in recognition.
"You. Aren't you on vacation today?"
Haruto stopped in his tracks, forcing himself to stay calm. "I forgot something."
The man squinted but didn't press further. Instead, he grabbed a bright pink bento box from the counter and shoved it toward him.
"Take this to Ryouta. His girlfriend dropped it off."
Haruto took it without a word and headed up the stairs. The moment he reached the first floor, he tossed the box into a garbage bin.
He had more important things to deal with.
The building was unusually quiet, just as Ayaka had mentioned.
Some nights, it would be swarming with staff preparing for high-profile guests, but tonight wasn't one of those nights.
By the time he reached the fifth floor, the air felt heavier. The walls had shifted to deep red, the floor covered in an equally crimson carpet.
The entire corridor was empty, save for a single luxurious door at the end. There weren't even windows—just a long, suffocating hallway lined with security cameras.
His eyes narrowed. 'So that's why, from the outside, the building looked like it only had four floors.'
Haruto took a step forward, but his body tensed as the door suddenly swung open.
Daiki.
Without hesitation, he turned on his heels and bolted down the stairs. But just as he reached the third floor, he collided with someone, sending them crashing to the ground.
Haruto instinctively reached out, catching their arm before they could hit the floor too hard. His breath hitched when he saw who it was.
Erika.
"Ah… thank you," she said softly.
His eyes widened in horror. Erika, however, immediately paled, her body tensing as if she had just seen a ghost.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Erika stammered, her voice trembling. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire
"I won't slack off again! I swear!"
Her hands shook as she clutched the fabric of her dress, her entire body rigid with fear.
Haruto blinked, his mind racing. Who did she think he was? He had no idea whose face she was seeing right now, but that didn't matter.
He reached out, resting his hands gently on her shoulders, his grip firm but careful. "Look at me," he said, his voice softer than before.
Slowly—hesitantly—she lifted her head, her lips pressed into a tight line. That's when he saw it.
Beneath layers of makeup, bruises. Faint purple splotches marked her cheekbones, and a fading cut lingered near her lips.
Her dress—a tight, golden one—felt wrong on her, as if she had been forced into it.
Haruto's grip on her shoulders tightened, his jaw clenching as he fought back the surge of rage rising within him.
His expression darkened. "Where's your room?"
Her voice cracked. "403."
"I see…" He let out a slow breath. "Go rest for now."
As he turned away, a system notification flashed in his vision, reminding him that his disguise would soon wear off.
But right now, he didn't care.
'Erika… Wait for me. I'll save you.'