The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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I gently lifted the blanket and looked outside. The corridor beyond the glass door glowed with the dim light of an emergency light. There was no longer any sign of movement.

I glanced up at the surveillance camera above. Aside from the occasional flicker of a red light, its black lens coldly illuminated the room. I wondered what the person behind that camera was doing.

From my experience in a security room filled with cameras during my military days, there was no one who watched all the dozens of screens.

“Hey, Private, if the duty officer comes, wake me up. Got it?”

“…Yes, understood.”

In my unit, eight out of ten duty officers would be reclining in their chairs, sound asleep. That is until one of the sergeants got caught by the division commander who happened to barge in that day. Hehe.

If I could, I would prefer if the guard were a chubby one munching on donuts like in an American cartoon cliché. That way, if I moved a little at night, no one would rush over.

“Of course, this is a different world, so I need to be careful.”

I mustn’t let my guard down. The guard might be diligently fulfilling his duties since this is a large corporate research facility, and they might be using an AI computer to control the cameras.

The good news is that there are no sensors or monitoring devices detecting ether in the room. That was a precious piece of knowledge I gained from previous experiences with electric shocks.

And the knowledge I learned was not limited to just that.

From experience, there were a few restrictions on the conditions for creating clones.

First, clones cannot be generated in a space that is tightly packed.
Second, the maximum distance for creating a clone is 2 meters.
Third, only one can be created at a time.

When I thought of the original Violet, I suspected that the third point would become solvable if my skill level increased later, but I wasn’t sure about the rest.

Anyway, while I was mulling over my abilities and limitations, an idea suddenly struck me.

‘Can’t I send a clone through the ceiling above?’

What caught my attention was the ventilation duct in the lodging room.

It’s often used as a sneaking passage in various media. Since it frequently appears as a gimmick in “Crimson Scholar,” there was a slight possibility of using it in this game-realized world.

Moreover, the vent cover connected to this room was larger than I had expected. It was wide enough for a small girl to crawl into if she tried.

Of course, the cover was securely fastened. With CCTV present, if I tried to rip it off and go into the duct, the guard would rush in and smash my head like a watermelon.

But what if I utilized my unique ability? It could provide a way to move freely without being monitored!

While the ventilation ducts in reality are narrower than I imagined and might be too much to handle, I couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

‘There’s nothing to lose even if I fail.’

I quietly focused on the ceiling’s vent, concentrating my mind.

I moved my magical power; the effect of ether, which disregards the laws of physics, acts upon ordinary walls.

‘Is it here?’

Maybe the duct was too narrow, or perhaps I was aiming in the wrong direction. The first attempt failed. Not being able to see beyond the wall felt like touching an elephant while blindfolded.

After two or three more attempts, when my magical power was nearly exhausted, I sensed the presence of my clone beyond the wall.

I succeeded.

‘Alright. Now let’s see if I can control it.’

From my learned experience, there was another ability of the clone.

My clone could relay the sensations it felt directly to me. The pain I experienced during the morning fight with the monsters was a prime example.

After realizing this fact during the initial experimental process, I pondered whether if the clone could transmit pain, it might also transmit other sensations.

From then on, I practiced a bit whenever the other researchers weren’t paying attention.

Ultimately, my hypothesis was correct.

As I focused on the clone, my vision began to feel as if it was being sucked into another place, and then darkness enveloped me.

Suddenly, my vision illuminated the narrow metal duct.

Fireworks went off in my head.
Congratulations! Violet has obtained a remote-controlled cute VR drone!

After transmitting auditory senses, I concentrated my sensations and moved the clone through the duct. The interior of the duct was dark. Dust stirred with each movement, tickling my nose.

Since I couldn’t see much ahead, I cautiously extended my left hand and released ether.

Faint particles gathered at the tips of my fingers, softly spreading a blood-red glow that illuminated the duct. It seemed the clone could do this as well.

‘By the way, I’m getting a bit more accustomed to using ether.’

It’s true what some famous person once said: the more you use your body, the stronger it becomes. This was a truth that really applies in this world.

But I needed to hurry.
Because I had used ether to maintain the clone’s illumination, the duration of the clone’s existence would be shorter than expected.

Initially, when I first used my cloning ability, the duration was just about a minute, but now it had increased to roughly 30 to 35 minutes. Since I was using ether for illumination, I figured the threshold was around 30 minutes.

I crawled through the cramped duct diligently.

My first goal was to explore the interior of the vent and figure out what this building looked like.

This accursed research facility seemed determined to turn the test subjects into insane people, excluding any elements that could show the outside situation or time, not even a window.

Except for the occasional dates the researchers blurted out while recording experiments, it was hard to figure out the time or precise location.

If I considered taking the elevator down, it was structured with multiple floors; however, whether it was above ground or underground was still a mystery to me.

Not being able to hear outside noises, I couldn’t tell if I was in the city or in the outskirts.

I crawled through the complex passages, getting covered in dust. When I turned a corner, I saw light seeping out from the bottom of the duct. I looked down.

Where was this? I had never been to this place before.

Looking down, I spotted several lab workers with blank expressions tapping away at keyboards in front of monitors. Energy drink cans clattered nearby.

“Team Leader, why does the quarterly support budget keep decreasing?”

“I don’t know! Just spend what you get!”

“I want to go home… I want to go home…”

I passed by that area. As I wasted a few more minutes fumbling around in the darkness, I saw light seeping out again through a gap in the cover.

Looking down, I was surprised to see a guard in black uniform standing there, freezing in place. Thankfully, he wasn’t an ogre guard. He was arguing with some glasses-wearing researcher.

“No, sir. What on earth is that? Why didn’t you submit your smartphone? You have checked the security agreement and electronic device import regulation; this is problematic!”

“Ah… Let’s just let it go. I was just using a messenger… Come on, please!”

“Did you not see the notice from above? Using cell phones carelessly poses security risks. Terrorist organizations supposedly track cell phone locations to ambush facilities…”

“What kind of conspiracy theory nonsense is this…? Ugh, seriously. Here.”

The glasses-wearing researcher threw his cell phone in annoyance. The guard caught it, stared at him, then turned away.

Feeling like I was wasting time for no reason, I was about to return when the moment the guard left, the glasses researcher pulled out another smartphone, chuckling.

“What’s up with you? You’re just a guard, yet you’re acting all high and mighty. That’s an old model, you idiot…”

Wow, our unit’s duty officer sergeant was here too?

Oh no, I wasted too much time. I slithered quietly and quickly through the ventilation ducts. Along the way, I could see various scenes outside the duct cover.

“Hey! What on earth did you order? Wasn’t it the detonation collar? If you pull it, it explodes! Do you know how many test subjects died after going berserk today?”

“The director only gave us a pittance of a budget; what am I supposed to do? You said having just the basic electric shock function was enough! I just did what I was told!”

I observed the arguing personnel about the morning disaster.

“Hehe… little one, are you having fun playing with the uncle…?”

“Wait… uncle… I’m scared…”

When I saw the lunchtime lovestruck pig engaging in some weird antics, I turned away.

“Ah… I want to get promoted!”

“Give it up. This is a place of exile. I heard that director got pushed out of office politics and ended up here.”

I passed by more people lamenting their lives.

And I witnessed a rather horrific sight as well.

“Come on, let’s just finish this and go. Begin the drug injection.”

“AAAh…! I’m not anesthetized! I wasn’t anesthetized!”

On the operating table, a poor man was writhing in pain.

“Okay… starting the injection.”

“Krooooaah!”

These were the cries of a foolish test subject who volunteered for human experimentation. The man twisted his body in pain, then eventually stuck out his tongue and collapsed. The price he paid for such foolishness was far too harsh.

Shivering at the dreadful sight, I headed elsewhere.

The subtle ether light shining from my fingertips gradually diminished. It signified that the time left for the clone to exist was about to run out.

‘What on earth causes people to die like this?’

Ether, the mana of the world of “Crimson Scholar.” Also called magical power—a miracle’s catalyst that distorts the laws of nature, granting humans absurd superhuman strength and reflexes.

In this world, those who gained such superhuman powers are referred to as “Awakened Ones.”

Usually, they’re called without distinction, but to be precise, the energy that flows from the second dimension is ether, and the ether within the bodies of the Awakened Ones is termed magical power. It might be technically the same, but still.

Since the game developers decided to spice things up a bit, they added the setting of “Unique Abilities.”

These are special abilities that can only be used by specific individuals and can be employed intrinsically without learning.

Ordinary Awakened Ones may be comparable to passenger cars, but those with unique abilities are like military armored vehicles, jet-powered racing cars, or construction bulldozers. They possess special features that are not just faster or more robust but specifically innate and unique.

In my case, it corresponded to “Clone Technique.” To be precise, it’s the unique ability of ‘Violet.’

However, most people are ordinary. If they don’t have the luck to awaken even accidentally, they have to live off the crumbs thrown down from above.

In a world ravaged by the invasion of second-dimensional monsters and ether, the value of power has escalated far beyond imagination, and Awakened Ones monopolized wealth and authority. They often abuse their powers, crossing the line.

Driven by their desires, common citizens rush towards the allure of power, only to be horrifically engulfed and turned to ash. The world’s organizations of Awakened Ones move forward fueled by the reckless whims of the weak.

So while living in this place, whenever something gloomy happens, I think to myself.

Right now, I may be in this prisoner state, but being born with a unique ability is a stroke of luck. It’s a body ensured to be rank SS.

‘Before long, the clone will dissipate.’

As the time limit for the clone approached, I was gradually losing strength.

I had taken too long inspecting various things while crawling through the tight ventilation duct. It seems like this is where it ends for tonight.

‘Hmm? What’s that?’

The ventilation duct was narrow. While I could only move in a straight line, I wasn’t able to turn my body.

So, as a way to pass time, I progressed forward, and after rounding a few corners, I saw a vent cover in front of me spilling out red light.

Usually, vent covers are on the ground. So I could look down at the situation from the ceiling.

But this one is directly in front. No, it’s a bit looser, so I should call it a barred window. Come to think of it, the angle of the ventilation duct was also tilted, and I had to go upward.

Unable to resist my curiosity, I advanced.

Peering through the bars, I found a strange room that was different from the previous laboratory. The interior of laboratories usually has a clean design, neatly finished with white tiles and painted walls like a psychiatric ward.

Here, it was the opposite. It was a secret room with rough concrete walls, pipes of various sizes exposed everywhere. Various tools were strewn about nearby.

“Whoa! What the hell!”

As I looked down, I let out a short scream.

Hanging from the wall in front of me was a girl, her arms bound in chains.

She had short pink hair and an androgynous appearance, almost resembling a pretty boy at first glance.

I recognized that girl. Even though the cartoon rendering graphics changed to a real-world perspective, there was no way I could forget!

Her name is Kalia Blaze, the main character who joins the protagonist in the first part of the story.

That’s right, she’s a playable character.

‘Wait! You’re a main character! Why are you here?!’

At that moment, the clone began to dissipate. No! Not now!

Kalia, who had been tiredly hanging her head, raised it. I locked eyes with her green eyes through the bars. Her pupils widened.

I excitedly waved my hands.

“…Hello!”

In an instant, my vision went dark, and I returned to the bed once more.

What on earth just happened?