The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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The Violets had to lament the disaster they had brought upon themselves.

“Kyaaaak! Why did we do that!”

The idea our Violets came up with was, to put it in gaming terms, about as impactful as a measly ‘Research Power +1’ event.

However, whatever happened in the laboratory, Bernike had seized Uncle Yurik.

“It’s a witch! It’s a witch!”

As a horrifying master-servant reversal ensued, Uncle Yurik (Doctor) was demoted to Uncle Yurik (Slave).

Because of this terrifying fiasco, our Violets had to suffer.

“Uaaang! That old maid’s gaze on us is suspicious!”

Remember that Ennis we had captured before?

That lady was a well-behaved obedient slave, and not just that?

She made all sorts of fun magic staves for us.

Yet that old maid witch would ramble nonsense at the drop of a hat.

“I’m telling you to open your head! You’re a clone, right? You won’t die, right?”

“No way!”

Making that crazy lady a slave was a reckless choice.

Realizing our mistake, we decided to quickly detach her from the laboratory.

“Can I come again? Even remotely?”

“Ah, enough of that, just do your job for now!”

I couldn’t comprehend why I had such a bizarre idea. I must be out of my mind.

What I needed to do now was to take care of the various odds and ends before the professor entered long-term research.

The moment I stepped into the western district, I frequently felt suspicious gazes.

“Feels like someone is following us!”

“Could it be recognition interference? That person’s features are indistinct! Something feels off.”

Recognition interference magic is tricky to get past if you don’t know the strategy.

It’s a complex cloaking device designed to create a highly sophisticated optical spectrum distortion and strange white noise to avoid detection by CCTV and surveillance systems, while also subtly affecting the mind with ether waves.

Naturally, the Federal Army really disliked this, and only those looking to profit through collusion among clans would deal in them due to the risks involved.

Our Violets found it hard to procure unless it was through smuggling.

But of course, there’s a way around it. Since we Violets are numerous, searching the areas with recognition gaps could yield something.

Recognition interference starts to unravel at the moment it’s recognized.

Those who have used it more often can decipher it faster.

So the gazes directed at our Violets were far from ordinary. Fortunately, they weren’t hostile, though.

“By the way, ma’am. Just how long do we have to wrap things up?”

Bernike, sipping the coffee I gave her, answered curtly.

“Aside from the university, this is the last place. We’ve been in the selling process for a few months anyway, so once a few handover procedures are completed, I won’t be seeing you again.”

“It seems small for a research facility.”

From the perspective of experts like our Violets, this place felt humble.

Compared to the secret laboratory in Laplacian or the massive research facility in Magnavis with brains lined up, this was barely at the university club level.

“Correct. Even a broken clock is right twice, and that saying is about you, huh?”

“No, is this seriously the level of a university club?”

“It’s run by a pitiful idiot who couldn’t get a job after earning a doctorate, so I picked it up.”

Surprisingly, Bernike turned out to be quite the shrewd one. Just because she was a professor didn’t mean she only conducted research.

In this context, she could be mistaken for a business person. Maybe it’s because she’s older that she had managed to pile up various experiences in her life.

“Efficient. I take my share of the money, and the graduates just get positions as CEOs, research facility heads, or team leaders, so everyone’s satisfied. It’s even better that it can be treated as an extension of graduate school!”

To put it simply, Bernike’s method of operation involved exploiting her graduated students repeatedly. Truly a diabolical witch indeed.

“So I have lots to do. Once I return to the university, I have to deal with that fatso’s thesis and keep an eye on the research facility as well. Got it? Don’t move slowly.”

Because of that, our Violets were endlessly nagged and had so many tasks to handle. I have no idea how much longer we’ll be stuck doing this.

“Let’s wrap it up for today. Next, we need to head over there.”

“Fine, ma’am.”

“…”

That girl kept her mouth shut every time I called her ‘ma’am.’

“Hold on a second, I’ll go send them off.”

Occasionally, suspicious figures followed us around.

About two or three groups of people were sticking around—one seemed to be Federal agents. The other was from Restraid.

Figuring it out was simple; after some cautious initial encounters with Federal agents and Restraid, they would approach our anonymous network line cautiously and send semi-coercive messages regarding the professor’s main schedule, requesting smooth cooperation.

This time, once again, the ones wearing suits with the Restraid logo approached openly.

Given their size and armament levels, they seemed to be armored knights not wearing their armor.

“We don’t have time, professor. When will the cleanup finish? We need to join the project quickly. We can provide security for you.”

“Enough, when Cascadia comes to rescue you, where will you be? I have my bodyguard, so I don’t need your help yet.”

When the professor replied as we had agreed beforehand, the knight nodded and seemed to recognize the importance of treating him as someone significant.

Considering those knights were even being polite was telling.

“I followed Sageis’ orders, but it feels uneasy.”

It was indeed unsettling. It felt like I had stepped into the middle of a spy movie.

“Do our disguises hold up?”

“I don’t know, we changed our outfits and put on silicone masks… Should we increase the intensity of the recognition interference?”

Still, the two of them seemed fine from a Violet’s objective perspective. They first made contact before revealing themselves, and aligning with our goal of protecting the doctor.

The problem lay with the third group.

“Uagh! My vision is going dark!”

“Emergency! Emergency! Unit 1442 is down!”

The 1442 unit that had just taken the professor to the hotel collapsed. Relying on my senses pointing towards the clone and the Violet tactical map, we hurriedly dashed in one direction.

The ones who grabbed 1442 were unknown figures.

Five minutes later, in an alley, we encountered someone dressed as a pizza delivery person, removing something from 1442’s body.

“Waaah! I’m dead! Why am I dead? Someone tell me!”

“What’s going on, are you Federal? Restraid? Who are you guys!”

“Tch, we’ve been discovered…”

The pizza delivery guys chuckled disdainfully and went into battle stances, pulling out submachine guns and daggers from their pockets.

“If you don’t reveal your identities, you won’t make it back alive!”

“Doesn’t matter. We’ve secured a sample. Now… hey, why are there so many of you?”

“Uwaaah!”

Suspicious pizza delivery men were seized by the Violets jumping in from all sides.

“Who are you? You won’t talk?”

By smartly avoiding killing them, I tapped their heads gently with a hammer, changing their expressions.

“We can’t do this! Use that thing!”

“Huh? Ugh?”

Their arms twisted grotesquely and began to mutate.

Like the sharpness reminiscent of a mantis’ arms! Overwhelmed by sudden brute force, we fell.

“That looks familiar? Wait, isn’t that from the event Rigel had with the mercenaries from Laplacian at the year-end party?”

In a flash, they transformed completely into insect-like human monstrosities.

“They transformed! They transformed! Gregor Samsa this!”

“No! That’s a Kamen Rider!”

“Are you guys from Laplacian?”

“Graahhh!”

The ones who grabbed them seemed to deny my answer with violent arm swings. It was a truly ghastly sight; cheap knockoffs of those evil Kamen Riders HAD to be dealt with.

Fortunately, I had a magical trick up my sleeve. Time to test out that recently learned magic.

“Vision Memory Chip, deploy!”

With the staff raised, Unit 5032 summoned thin beams of light from the tip, intertwining them to create a massive thunderbolt. 5032 swung it.

-Kwaaaack!

As the gigantic lightning whip struck the enemies, the human monsters lay charred on the ground.

What we had just used was Adriana’s lightning whip.

That was a powerful mid-range attack spell, leading to the Flashstorm magic. It was the devastating firepower Leira used.

“That’s incredibly strong!”

The next moment, they began to tremble. Suddenly, steam rose up. Was it from the lightning?

“Huh? Their bodies!”

They seemed to dissolve into steaming puddles, leaving only a black goo on the ground.

“Used a concealment method?”

“That seems very likely.”

I had a hunch, but I couldn’t find any clues.

After finishing up the remaining tasks, I returned the professor to the central area.

In a few days, I’d take them to the southern district and hand them off to Restraid.

**

On the first weekend of April, the Violet faced unexpected news.

“The project has been delayed, and just when I had everything organized, what is this nonsense?”

Bernike grumbled upon hearing the latest situation. Important personnel, aside from her, suddenly fell ill or got injured, leaving their plans for the west postponed by one or two weeks.

Of course, she didn’t mind too much. She had gained as significant a research material as an Apostle.

She was honored to take part in the initial stages of a colossal project that could turn the world upside down, possibly even better than the Apostle.

“Well, no matter. I still have tons of time. You all can be examined more. Today we have ultrasound tests and observations of nerve stimulation.”

A little Broca slipped out behind her. The Violet flinched away from the disgusting mechanical tentacles.

“What? No way. You wanna taste electrical shocks?”

“Calm down and put that down. It obviously isn’t free.”

Bernike felt no need to further insult the girl right in front of her. After so much time, she had discovered more rational and useful ways to persuade this Violet.

“Instead, I’ll buy you anything for dinner. How does that sound?”

Bernike played her trump card. For a moment, the Violet rolled her eyes in contemplation. The professor was not only wealthy but also had a knack for gourmet food.

Upon seeing the Violet hesitate, Bernike chuckled inwardly.

During their time together, she’d managed to figure out this Violet’s personality.

While incredibly stubborn to the point of being dense, that also left a lot of vulnerabilities. Once you recognized the gaps, it was easy to advance.

“Um… fine, but it’s gotta be for ONLY one hour! And I want something very expensive! Like a buffet!”

“A buffet? It’s not really my taste, but I know a good spot. Then let’s get started.”

Seeing the Violet beaming with excitement, Bernike smiled.

Currently, it was all non-destructive testing, but one day, wouldn’t it be possible to start with dissections and all sorts of experiments?

“Ma’am, you’re not thinking anything bad, are you?”

“Does it look that way?”

As Bernike, who seemed oddly cheerful lately, was looking forward to the buffet, the Violet suddenly snapped back to her senses.

After hearing the concept of the Violet Network, this lady was so ecstatic that she insisted on dissecting her.

“You said Violet, right? Professor Albert, conducting research the way you are is tantamount to skimming the surface. Time is short, let’s extract the brain.”

“What? Professor, I hope I didn’t hear wrong.”

“Using the surgical equipment rented from my lab and mobilizing the supercomputer from Eckhart University, we can connect the life support systems of the clone and neatly separate both the brain and nervous system to construct a connectome while it’s still alive. Not only that? We can also measure and simulate the activities between neurons and ether with greater precision. Pereira Army, what do you think? Don’t you think it’s necessary?”

“Um, Professor, that’s not correct…”

“Not correct? She isn’t dying, after all.”

The Violet considered. If Professor Albert hadn’t tried to intervene and if her military capabilities hadn’t been enough to stifle Bernike’s rampage…

Bernike would have most likely grabbed a hibernating Violet right away and torn out its brain and spinal cord.

“Have you lost your mind? Violets are not lab rats! They’re my students! Do you even know what kind of things that kid went through in that hellish laboratory to make such statements?”

As Professor Albert exploded in anger and deployed a melting laser spell right in front of her, only then did the professor take a step back.

“…This is something that will eventually need to be done, Professor Albert.”

“Make sure you come back after getting permission. Until then, do not ever bring that conversation up in my presence again!”

Thanks to the professor, I was able to avoid a disaster, the Violet thought.

However, the troublesome issues the Violet was facing didn’t end there.

While concerned about the professor, another problem was brewing elsewhere.

“Uh, how do I teach studying?”

“Ah, this is tough!”

That was the tutoring problem she had carelessly taken on for prospective juniors.

**

Our Violet is a genius girl from Aegis Academy. She gets all the problems right, and her practical abilities in swordsmanship, various close combat techniques, shooting, and magic are flawless.

Not only that, but she possesses the best unique ability, and she also has combat experience that even the older students and graduates don’t have.

“There isn’t anyone in this world who has killed more than us!”

“True, no one has killed more!”

If any students had killed more people than us, they certainly wouldn’t be students; they’d surely be wicked communist terrorists threatening democracy.

In any case, because of this experience, our Violets always maintained the highest grades.

Headmaster Brecht recognized them as jewels of the Aegis Academy.

However, our Violet reached her limits in front of Ariel, who was asking a question.

“Sis, I don’t get it. Why is this problem like this?”

“Well… um…”

We were top students with perfect scores, but teaching someone is a whole different realm from merely solving problems.

Initially, when teaching, we only tackled easy problems, but as we advanced, we faced more difficult ones and wondered how to convey them.

“That’s weird…”

Teaching problems weren’t limited to theory.

In the hospital’s rooftop park, I was teaching Ariel about magic power.

“Okay, like this, put strength into your arm! Now move the magic power! Then, the sword energy will come out!”

“…I don’t get it.”

Ariel didn’t grasp our lessons on magic control.

“Ariel! Focus on what I’m saying. Like this! Like this! When you move the magic power!”

“…It’s not working.”

At first, I thought Ariel was just slow. But that wasn’t the issue.

“Sis, I think the way you explained the formula is wrong.”

“Huh? Really?”

“If you recalculate the equation, a different solution comes out. Look, from here, if this function goes like this… do you see?”

“Ahahaha… I see; I must have made a mistake.”

“Ariel…?”

Seeing Ariel looking at me with suspicious eyes made me feel a headache.

I had to admit that our Violets lacked the talent to teach.

What are we to do about this?

“Should I ask my friends for help?”

Irene was busy with clan matters, so I dismissed that idea. Kalia’s grades were just average, so I dismissed her as well.

Daphne is smart, but she has a lot of studying to do, so that’s out too.

I couldn’t think of anyone among those I knew who would be able to help.

“How about I ask Instructor Frederick for the hands-on training?”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

After all, unlike Uncle Yurik or the crazy lady working with Professor Albert, Instructor Frederick simply oversaw my duels and training.

As such discussions were happening, one Violet came up with a bright idea.

“Wait! There’s someone nearby who excels at studying!”

“That’s right! They haven’t been doing anything lately!”

The solution was close at hand.

“The Violet Command Center orders! Execute Violet Emergency Deployment!”

Violet Emergency Deployment, the secret administrative tactic to swiftly move personnel and materials for important matters.

Through a mandatory administrative procedure, crucial personnel and materials are executed in an instant.

The power of emergency deployment is invincible.

Thus, it took us less than an hour to drag Lucian over to Ariel’s hospital room.

“Ariel! I brought a new tutor for you!”

“Violet! You lunatic! I’m not letting go of this!”

Upon seeing Lucian being dragged over, Ariel quietly murmured a line.

“Who’s this older bro?”

“Um, he’s going to be your upperclassman! He’s my friend from Aegis Academy!”

“Upperclassman? What nonsense are you talking about—”

Observing carefully, Ariel took a quick glance at Lucian, and with a slightly surprised face, mumbled.

“Wow, he’s a handsome older bro…”

As Lucian, who was grumbling and trying to shake us off, paused for a moment.

“Well, Lucian. This is going to be your prospective junior! See? Her name is Ariel!”

With a sigh, Lucian asked.

“…So, Violet. What do you want me to do?”

“Please tutor her! She’s preparing to enter Aegis Academy!”

“Sure, let’s give it a shot.”

And just like that, the problem was solved. Awesome!