The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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The first close combat class began.

I sensed that this instructor was different from the other salary thieves I had encountered. It wasn’t just because he slammed my head.

“Ugh… so annoying… I wish this orientation would end quickly…”

“Do you want to grab a sandwich later? They say the one at the cafeteria is really tasty.”

“This initiation ceremony is such a drag… geez…”

In the gym, students were huddled together chatting away. It was only the first week, yet they were already getting chummy; everyone was moving at lightning speed.

Sadly, as a Violet, I was an outsider, and besides Daphne, there was no one I could talk to. How lonely it is to start this vibrant school life after ten years and feel so isolated; it’s just so sad…

-It’s okay! We’re here for you!-

-Yeah, yeah!-

I comforted myself. After all, the only one I could rely on was me.

-Boom!

While the students prattled on, the instructor slammed the tip of his sword sheath onto the floor. It seemed to be just a casual hit, but a heavy wave rippled throughout the entire gym.

“Ugh!”

“What was that? A bomb?”

“Oh no! Instructor…?”

The flustered students’ gazes instantly turned to the instructor, who had a head of white hair standing in front of them.

“Freshmen! Time is precious, so let’s get straight to the point. I’m the instructor responsible for this [Weapon Techniques and Close Combat Course], Frederick.”

He raised his head high and scanned the students with piercing eyes. Maybe it was the shockwave from earlier, but a wave of tension filled the air as the students were subjected to his cold, gray gaze.

Oh, he made eye contact with me just a moment ago.

Did I catch his attention for not greeting him?

“From now on, you and I will be facing each other for at least three years, or until you graduate. So, it would be best for you to get used to my methods.”

He pointed to the back of the gym. I could see the assistant instructors pushing carts loaded with boxes filled with various types of weapons.

“Before I explain the details of the class, there’s something you need to do. Put down your personal weapons and line them up in the back. I don’t know about other classes, but for this close combat class, we will be using the practice weapons provided by the school.”

A few oblivious students grumbled.

“Can’t we practice with the gear we already have?”

“But… this was custom ordered…”

Frederick walked up to one of them and shouted.

“What? Are you the instructor here!! Who told you to open your mouth!!”

“Ugh! No! No way!!!”

“Fool! Can’t you even speak properly!”

“I’m sorry!”

Frederick left the terrified student alone and turned away, tossing out a remark.

“Oh, and let me tell you the first rule of this class. My instructions take priority. You can ask questions later!”

The students followed Frederick’s orders and put down their personal weapons, picking up weapons from the boxes. In the midst of checking on the students, Frederick called over those heading straight for the weapon box with empty hands.

“Wait a minute, why don’t you have weapons? You didn’t bring any?”

“I don’t have a weapon.”

“What? How do you not have a weapon?”

“The upperclassmen said not to carry one…”

Frederick sighed lightly, as if he was dumbfounded.

“Again..? I’m going to lose my mind…”

He clicked his tongue and waved his hand dismissively.

“Alright, anyway, pick up one weapon each. Just one you’re comfortable with.”

Finally, I was getting my hands on a weapon. I could feel my heart racing.

After all, the cliche of a hunter and academy setting is the weapon selection in the training hall.

There were so many swords, but all kinds of equipment from all around the world were present. Swords, spears, daggers were the basics, and there were shields of various sizes, flails, and even morning stars.

-What weapon should I pick?-

-Just grab whatever you can!

-A spear suits Violet better than a sword!-

-Anything is fine! Prepare for transport!-

With so many swords, surely no one would notice if I just snagged one. I hung around until the other students each picked one weapon, slowly swiping one for myself.

When I opened my status window, the familiar phrase I had seen in the game popped up.

[Polaris Training One-Handed Sword (Arming Sword) ☆☆☆]

A training sword provided by Polaris Comprehensive Academy.

It’s a weapon for aspiring hunters that balances both quantity and quality.

Inheriting the oppressive atmosphere of the academy,

it is sharpened to be no different from a real sword.

…

[i][Polaris Training One-Handed Battle Hammer ☆☆☆]

[i][Polaris Training Spear ☆☆☆]

[i][Polaris Training Shield ☆☆☆]

[i][Polaris Training Round Shield ☆☆☆]

-Finally! A 3-star weapon!-

-Say goodbye to the 2-star alloy hammer!-

The Violets, waiting back in the dormitory, were delighted to check out the various weapons they had received.

It’s a shame to be excited about things that should be sold or used as materials, but it’s not like I can help it.

I picked up a one-handed sword and returned to my spot.

“Alright, have you all gathered your weapons?”

In the middle, Frederick began his explanation, flanked by several assistant instructors.

“The reason I had you put down your personal equipment is simple: you have gotten too used to those personal weapons.

If anyone here went to an academy before entering here, or received private lessons, raise your hand.”

‘Academy? This is an academy, right? What are you talking about…’

Almost all the students raised their hands, except for me.

“You’ve mostly all had experience. But what you learned there was just useless trivia! All they did was suck money from you like a bunch of retired hunters picking at the nose of aspiring students? Is that it? Private academies with nothing but shallow experiences?

I know better than those instructors! So, forget everything you learned! We’re starting from the basics again!”

The students were shocked by Frederick’s firm declaration. Some whispered amongst themselves.

“All weapons up! Today, we will correct your posture!”

Thus, the first lesson continued without respite.

That old instructor, Frederick, with the assistant instructors, went around among the students one by one. After observing each with their weapons and lightly swinging them, he corrected their postures.

However, Frederick’s declaration of ‘I know better’ seemed to be more than just empty words.

I was swinging the sword back and forth.

Thinking vaguely of a pirate movie, I swung it, and suddenly the gray-eyed instructor with a scarred face was watching me with hawk-like intensity.

“Ah, it’s that rude kid again! One would think you’re the commander! Did you come from music school? People would think you’re playing in an orchestra!”

“Ugh!”

He tapped my arms and wrists with the sword sheath.

“Strength! Don’t use power! You don’t swing a sword with power. Try again. Watch the way I do it closely. Yes, slowly…”

I slowly mimicked the movements of Instructor Frederick.

“Good. Now try doing it quickly!”

I swung the sword once more.

“No! What did you just shove into your ear? Don’t flail it around!”

While I was earnestly being berated, somehow my form changed. Even someone like me, a novice with swords, could tell that my posture had improved.

-Ding!

[Congratulations! You have gained insight into swordsmanship. Weapon Techniques – Swordsmanship Lv1 has been unlocked.]

-Woo! What! It’s here!-

-The Weapon Techniques category! It’s opened!-

How fascinating. It seems like I have something new to showcase, besides just my unique ability. I felt a smile creeping across my face, but Frederick gave my head a light knock.

“You idiot. Are you really pleased just because your posture improved a little? You’ve still got a long way to go, you dummy!”

And so, the lecture continued.

On the first day, it seemed like we would exceed the three-hour mark for class. Frederick’s guidance was meticulous for each student, but there was one commonality to it.

It was extremely harsh.

“Fool! How could you swing a sword with your wrist? Did you suddenly decide to be funny? Go do that nonsense somewhere else, moron! Yes! Use your whole arm when swinging!”

“Yes..!”

Remarkably, Frederick seemed to be capable of teaching not just swords, but all varieties of weapons.

“Stretch your arm out! If you’re focusing on a blunt weapon, think of your whole arm as a whip! If you handle it like this, will the monsters go ‘Oh! I got hit so I guess I should fall over!’? A blunt weapon is all about a one-hit kill!”

“Are you holding a staff? It’s a spear! Pierce properly!”

“Are you kidding? Why are you doing staff techniques with a halberd? Is the axe blade just decoration? Did you think the hook was for scratching your back?”

After some time, the command to stop was finally given.

“Alright, stop! I’ve taken a rough measure of your basic stances… Your levels make me want to die from frustration! What on earth did you learn outside? All you show is a ridiculous mimicry of strange trash postures…”

Frederick briefly uncrossed his arms and gave a new command.

“Well, from now on, you should properly learn the basic stances. Now I will check your basic Ether manipulation ability. Aim your weapons straight ahead and infuse them with sword energy.”

-Swoosh!

-Swish!-

As all the students infused their weapon with magical power, sword energies of various colors, thicknesses, densities, and lengths materialized.

But I couldn’t pull out a sword energy.

-Huh? What do I do?-

-I don’t know!-

I at least tried to move my Ether. Blood-red sparks leaped from my fingertips, but there seemed to be some blockage that prevented it from moving. From a distance, I could see Frederick’s sharp gaze directed toward me.

-What do I do? The instructor is watching! Just try various things!-

-Let’s focus more on the tips of my fingers!-

I concentrated my power in the familiar way.

“Hiieek! Why did it generate?”

“What are you doing? Don’t push me!”

I failed!

Suddenly, the Eighth Clone appeared. Startled, the Eighth Clone backstepped and bumped into the student in front of it. As the chaos grew, Frederick walked over.

“Is it you again? Rude brat? I told you to generate sword energy, not to use your unique ability!”

“Ahaha… It was a mistake…”

“Really? Let’s see. Try using your sword energy.”

As he glared at me like a predator, I hastily tried to summon sword energy. However, the only thing that erupted from my hand was still sparks.

The instructor held his head in frustration.

“Hey, what on earth are you doing?”

“Actually, I don’t know how to create sword energy!”

I confessed the truth. The gray eyes between the scars widened in surprise.

“You really don’t know how to generate sword energy? Really?”

“I truly don’t know.”

“How on earth did you enroll? How did you pass the entrance exam if you can’t even form basic sword energy?”

-What was the admission process again? Something about dungeon exploration… service… unique ability… something like that was written down…

-But I’ve never experienced any of that, right? I’ve been at the research lab the whole time…

-That bald director must have bribed the broker with money. It must be made up…

“…Special Admission.”

Now that I think back, I did enroll with forged records.

Frederick, who had been glaring at me, looked utterly horrified as if he couldn’t believe his ears.

“This is unbelievable… What on earth did you learn outside?”

“I didn’t learn anything…”

I trailed off, unable to properly finish my sentence. The instructor turned his back coldly.

“Good grief… how have such ridiculous kids crept in…? What a world…”

Frederick muttered to himself as he walked away. I felt a momentary flare of irritation at the part where he called me ridiculous.

“But this is an academy!

“What did you say?”

“I came here to learn because I don’t know anything; isn’t that the point?”

He lowered his head. Our eyes met at the level of my height.

“Really, you don’t know anything at all? All you can do is use that strange unique ability of yours?”

“Yep.”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

The instructor’s demeanor became a bit cautious. He slightly bent his knees.

“You can release Ether, right? Go ahead.”

As he watched the sparks erupting from my fingertips, his fingers dashed back and forth between my hand and sword, poking at it.

“Oh dear… you idiot. Don’t pour out so much power all at once; tone it down a bit.”

“Like this?”

“Don’t just pour it all out! Like when you twist a hose, put pressure on the hand holding it to control the flow of water. Good. Like that…”

As I followed his instructions, the erratic ethereal flames began to flow out slowly, a thin, long gas flame.

“Good, your progress is faster than I thought… Now, increase it little by little, little by little. Think of wrapping it around your sword!”

Now a thin, glowing red veil began to rise along the handle of the sword.

“Great! The beginning is half the battle, so slowly increase that… Hey! You foolish kid! Don’t waggle it suddenly! Yes, slowly. Focus…”

After several attempts and corrections, the glowing veil started to climb higher along the entire surface of the sword.

Eventually, the sword was enveloped in a brilliant red shade, flickering like flames.

“I did it! Hehehe…”

Frederick’s previously menacing face was nowhere to be seen as his jaw dropped in awe, staring at me.

Finally having succeeded in generating sword energy, I was elated, bouncing with joy. However, perhaps my concentration broke, the sword energy flickered out like a flashlight running out of batteries.

-Snap!

“Ouch!”

Suddenly, the instructor gave my head a light thump. Why was he hitting me when I had succeeded?

“Geez… you brat! Are you causing a fuss over what others are doing? Don’t go off and play this weekend; practice that instead. Got it? I’ll test you on it!”

“Y-yes…”

I was going to practice it anyway, whether I was told or not. The instructor called the students and declared the class over.

“Alright, that’s it for today’s class. Return everything you need to, and gather your things quickly and get out!”

***

The next day, on the first weekend morning at school, we once again headed into the forest with our weapons. With seven of us armed with 3-star weapons, we wouldn’t go down as easily as before.

As we entered the deep area of the forest, presumed to be where the Crystal Flowers were, the Pelinot appeared again, howling with its ugly face.

“Kyalu-rung!”

“Everyone, charge!”

“Yahh!”

Unit 1 and Unit 2 charged forward with suppression shields. As the Pelinot swung its arms, the sound of metal clashing rang out. We were knocked off our feet.

However, Unit 3 jumped out from behind and charged at the Pelinot.

“I can’t maintain it for long. We need to finish in one hit!”

Following the instructor Frederick’s instructions, I swung my sword with grace, putting into practice everything I had practiced until dawn the day before.

A flash of Ether erupted from the sword I was holding. Unit 3, despite being inadequate, executed a stabbing motion with precision.

“Kaek?..Kyaluung!!”

Thanks to the effect of the sword energy? I felt the sensation of piercing through flesh with almost no resistance. The one-handed sword pierced through the creature’s chest and came out its back.

It writhed in pain and collapsed.

“Now’s our chance! Let’s beat it down!”

“Die! Die!”

-Slash! Slash!-

We mercilessly hacked at the Pelinot to finish it off.

[*Level up!]

[Congratulations! You have gained insight into Ether manipulation. Ether Release Lv1 has been unlocked.]

“We won!”

“Hooray!”

We cheered exuberantly. Now, there’s nothing to fear!