Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

Chapter 230 The Cursed Shapeshifter

"In fact, besides having the same name, there is another possibility," Quest coughed lightly, "that is our brother Andre."

"Some time ago, he converted to the God of Justice."

"It's really him?!" Ron was stunned, "But, why?"

"I don't think there is any place in the world that would allow the paladins of Tyr to fight with fists and feet. It can't be that they are coming for me, a lord who is in league with the devil, right?"

"That's not the case," Quest smiled and shook his head. "He still respects you very much. He told me that when he made a mistake in judgment, it was you who helped him correct it, and Andre also fulfilled the promise he made to you. At least up to now, he has no opinion on you."

"Then why did he..."

"The secondary reason is probably that when you went to Rose City, he went to listen to a few sermons by Tyr's followers," Quest shrugged. "The main reason is probably that they were attacked by monsters in the swamp a few days ago. In order to protect his companions, he chose this path."

"Thanks to him, otherwise you would have a few more reports about casualties - male owlbears are not beasts that can be easily dealt with."

"Andre killed the owlbear?" Ivy asked curiously, "This kid is growing up really fast."

Quest hesitated for a moment. "No, he just saved the other militiamen who were traveling with him. Owlbear fled deep into the jungle after being injured."

"I actually didn't intend to tell you this - my compatriots need to increase their presence from time to time to gain their trust."

Ron understood: "Are you prepared to help with this? Are you sure?"

"I will lead the team myself, and we will be ready to set off when we return tonight," Quest nodded solemnly, "We have twelve adult doppelgangers, eight of whom have combat experience. Even if the owlbear has a mate, we can handle it."

Ron could certainly trust Quest's help. This monk, who often appeared as a tiefling, was trustworthy in both his skills and mind. He believed that within a few days, he would hear the good news of their triumphant return.

However, reality is always full of surprises.

Two weeks later, Ron was taking Professor Masarino's arcane course as usual. He used a thin piece of lead as a spell material and cast a spell on a newly built wooden house outside the trading post. He was very proficient in using Mordenkainen's private chamber. The series of effects provided by this protective spell were very suitable for building a wizard's workshop, and if Ron could continue to cast spells on the same area for a year, these effects would be permanent.

It blocks sound and sight, and can even block prophecy spells, teleportation, and plane travel. Under the protection of these effects, Ron can study arcane, enchantment, and alchemy with greater ease.

But when he finished a day's classes and walked out of the cabin, he saw a person who was not usually easy to see. On a stretcher beside her feet, lay a scarred shapeshifter that could no longer maintain its transformation.

The shapeshifter's eyes were tightly closed, and its mouth was slightly moving, indicating that it seemed to be still alive. "Annie? What's going on?" Ron looked at the person in surprise, then looked at the shapeshifter on the ground, "Why not send him to Boone or Victoria? Miss Lavinia should be able to treat him."

Although he carried several bottles of healing potions with him, looking at the condition of this shapeshifter, he was afraid that the reserves he had might not be enough to do anything.

"I've been to all of them, sir," Anne said, bowing to Ron with a sad face, "but they all said there was nothing they could do about it."

"Miss Victoria said that he wasn't just injured, but was cursed. Some kind of evil power enveloped him, making it impossible for this poor man's injuries to heal forever. All they can do is stabilize his condition, but they can't solve the problem fundamentally."

"I went to look for Mr. Arcane Advisor, but I don't know where he went. The Great Exuri doesn't know where he went either. I have no choice but to come and disturb you..."

"Can't Exure remove the curse from him?" Ron motioned the two people behind Annie to carry the shapeshifter into the cabin first. "Come in first and tell me what happened from beginning to end."

"Let's start with the simplest one: Can the identity of this... doppelganger be confirmed?"

"They all have nameplates written by themselves," Anne handed over a pinewood nameplate. "His name is Sebach, and he's a carpenter. A week ago, Mr. Quest led people to explore the deep swamp, and he was one of the eleven people who accompanied them."

"Where did you find him? Were the others there too?"

Speaking of this, the girl with the innate earth and wood body looked even gloomier: "I didn't see any trace of the others. In fact, even for Mr. Sebach, we don't know where he was found."

Annie pointed to a wound on the monster's waist and abdomen. "He somehow appeared in the tree trunk. Our lumberjacks chopped it down with their axes, but found that blood was gushing out of the trunk. They thought they saw a ghost at the time."

"We were very close to Green Swamp Town and New Green Swamp Town at the time, so we immediately carried him to the Black Dragon's lair, but neither Lord Axuri nor the banshee had a good solution. Miss You helped him dilute the curse a little, so that the healing spell could have some effect on him. Thanks to her power, Mr. Doppelganger has been able to hold on until now."

Ron had the doppelganger placed on his laboratory table for inspection. Under the illumination of the enchanted shadowless lamp, he noticed that although the injuries on Seebach's body were still horrific, the degree of healing had almost saved him from the brink of life and death. He was just still in a coma, with symptoms such as high fever and dehydration.

Beneath the gray skin on his chest, Ron noticed some vague black lines, as if some kind of living thing was constantly moving under the skin of the doppelganger.

"What is this? Have they come to a conclusion?" Ron pointed at the part that looked like a bruise. "You are a spellcaster yourself, so tell me what you think."

Annie was startled and twisted her hands in embarrassment: "I'm sorry, sir, my ability to cast spells is innate, I don't have this ability..."

"Since you have talent in this area, why not consider taking it a step further?" Ron shook his head helplessly. "What about others? What do they think?"

(End of this chapter)