The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

---

The space of the stagnant corridor, devoid of any human presence, was enveloped in a dead silence as if time itself had come to a halt. The fluorescent lights flickered intermittently, casting ominous shadows, and the damp air made even breathing a struggle.

Unit 4662 cast a wary glance around. It had certainly thought it was hidden within the walls, yet here it was, out in the open.

As the reactivation process unfolded, the space appeared to morph like a living creature. The structure and arrangement of the walls and ceiling had subtly shifted since the last visit.

However, one thing remained the same: the horrific stillness that pierced the ears.

Violet imagined how an ordinary person would react if they fell into this place.

Initially, they would be shocked, frantically searching for an escape. Later on, they would wait in despair for the rescue team to arrive.

Yet this isolated space, removed from the world, was akin to a design flaw existing between the first floor and the basement. Even with a multidimensional signal device, tracing it would be quite challenging.

“Careful, there seems to be someone nearby. Approach cautiously… Huh?”

“Eek! It’s a skeleton!”

The yellowed bones rolling in front of them were grim evidence. Judging by the moldy, antiquated attire with a vintage style, it was likely a soul unfortunate enough to have fallen here decades ago.

Unit 4662 recalled the memories of the Foundation’s interrogators. Records of ordinary people occasionally falling into this space due to spatial anomalies unfolded in its mind.

“Don’t worry! If you’re lucky, the Foundation personnel might find you. You’ll live, although your memory will be erased.”

Unit 7200 spoke nonchalantly, as if recounting a mundane event.

“Sounds like you’ve been through this a lot… Ah, I see.”

“I am Violet, an interrogator from the Enforcement Department. I’ve sent a couple of them home!”

Of course, that only applied to a very small number of the fortunate few.

Most would end up falling into this place without warning, ultimately succumbing to starvation and madness.

In this labyrinthine space devoid of humanity, they would endlessly flounder through the thick fog of the unknown, their fears and loneliness gradually breaking their spirits.

“Eek! To die of starvation in a place like this is terrifying!”

Fortunately, this fate did not apply to Violet.

She was too naïve and clueless to comprehend existential dread, and most importantly, she couldn’t even be lonely if she wanted to be.

“First, let’s search the area. Stay alert for Rumyx!”

“Stay alert, stay alert!”

The Violet squad swiftly deployed, initiating the setup of a forward base.

**

Numerous hypotheses abound regarding the origin of the stagnant corridor. Given the Academy City’s nature, where Awakened Ones are densely packed, there is a theory suggesting that the weak human unconscious coalesced and materialized here. Others claim it’s evidence of instability in our dimension after the intrusions from another realm.

In this case, the stagnant corridor becomes a mouse hole inadvertently created by the monsters and Aedos. Thus, we’d be the crafty mice utilizing that hole.

“Mice? Are we being hunted, Captain?”

“Not you guys!”

After shooting a resolute gaze toward the animal network, I surveyed my surroundings with a wary eye. Debris beneath my feet crunched ominously.

This place, where people occasionally flowed in, was overflowing with all sorts of rubbish. Odds and ends of unknown origin lay scattered about, creating an eerie atmosphere.

“The more I look, the more fascinating this place is!!”

The scientists can figure out the principles. I can only lament that our so-called Violet Research Institute has nothing but experts on Awakened studies.

Whatever, it’s good to have unexpectedly gained entry into the stagnant corridor.

There’s no need for a full-frontal assault from the outside. We can identify infiltration routes here and break into their stronghold, leaving some troops behind to block any reinforcements traveling through the corridor.

“It’s a perfect plan!”

The one issue is that we don’t know how to move. Unit 7200 could not escape this dilemma.

They only knew how to enter or exit from a few spots scattered around the city. It was said that at the research facility or stronghold, the doorway to the stagnant corridor could be flung wide open with a technique.

“There might be other shortcuts, but those are the responsibilities of the department concerned with the study of space-time. All I got were instructions to use during missions!”

They couldn’t replicate those strange techniques.

But Violet had her own way.

“Do you hear that? Hide!”

We immediately flattened ourselves and peeked our heads around the corner. From far down the corridor came a fluttering sound. It was a drone.

I quickly draped myself in the camouflage and concealed myself among a pile of miscellaneous junk.

The drone passed by first, followed by the sound of wheels rolling closer from beyond the corridor.

A procession of small vehicles appeared. Had there not been machine guns and heavily armed soldiers, they could have easily been mistaken for leisurely golf carts.

Heavily armed patrols bearing the Rumyx mark on their shoulders passed through the stagnant corridor.

Drones and Mech Hounds were a given, and new enemies, unseen before, caught our eyes.

“Is that a Proxy?”

“No, it’s a bit bigger than that.”

—Zing!

A sharp motor sound sliced through the air. Among the crowd, a human figure slightly taller than the ordinary soldiers caught my eye.

It was a being of a different dimension from a cyborg thug. A pure mechanical form towered among the throng, scanning the surroundings with the eyes of a beast.

A combat humanoid robot. A pure electronic weapon of murder, devoid of a biological control unit.

“Are they searching for us?”

A sudden rush of memories of being kidnapped here with Enrique flashed through my mind.

Back then, I had caused a commotion while escaping. They might have heightened their vigilance upon realizing that we had pinpointed this location.

Or maybe it was just a routine patrol.

“They’re passing by. They don’t seem to be aware of us.”

It seemed the complex camouflage provided by Helios tailored for the Special Operations Division was serving its purpose quite well.

It apparently blocks infrared and X-rays, and even dampens the sound of the wearer. It wasn’t just talk.

For a fleeting moment, I contemplated an ambush but decided against it. First, I had to grasp their patrol patterns: when, where, and where they were headed.

“Let’s see, if I knock three times on the wall and throw my body with force—Ugh!”

Just then, reinforcements arrived. They were other Violets who had successfully infiltrated through the Circliff shortcut. We cautiously set down our bags.

As the bag’s opening was revealed, small cloth bundles and multi-tools emerged, springing up like eager little mice.

“Blueberry and 15 others! Ready for action! Snap!”

The mice saluted, raising their tiny front paws. Seeing their bright eyes full of discipline made me smile uncontrollably.

“Do you remember the instructions? Your mission is to trail the paths taken by Rumyx and leave indications there. If discovered, just pretend to be foolish and run away. Restrain your magical power as much as possible, and if you must use it, report to me and get permission. Got it?”

“Understood! Boss!”

The stagnant corridor seemed to breathe like a living maze, changing its shape and configuration every so often.

Finding a path was as hard as finding a star in the sky, but thankfully, nothing completely transformed or disappeared.

“What would it feel like if a stranger slipped through when I opened my front door?”

All we had to do was one thing: wait.

**

As I plotted, I kept pushing back the plan I thought would only take two weeks. Summer vacation had come swiftly, now at the doorstep of July.

“So, I decided to come and play every day from now on!”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

Ariel in the hospital room was having a lively time with the other children.

Though outings outside the hospital were prohibited, they would take walks within and participate in various events.

However, the recurring headaches and fevers were still a troublesome issue.

“Is it because of that Apostle? It’s still happening.”

The patients in the Erosion Zone were riding the rollercoaster of health and illness. Even asking the Scholarship Officer yielded no satisfying answers.

Only vague hopes existed, suggesting that solutions might surface through research on the Apostle.

The expertise of professionals was desperately needed.

“It feels like our junior’s health hinges on that wicked Ponytail…”

In the Joint Research Institute, there were Walnut and Raspberry. I should pass on queries to Bernike through them.

That Ponytail received a high ranking from Cordoba, that bald guy, so he probably knows most of the secrets.

Anyhow, I should have a way.

“So, let’s play from today! I’m on vacation!”

However, an unexpected answer came back.

“Oh, that won’t do, sister. I have a lot to do.”

“Huh? What do you mean by ‘things to do’?”

Ariel’s sharp rejection of my suggestion was answered unexpectedly from outside the hospital room.

“Because the patients in this hospital room are about to enter advanced learning courses.”

A blue-haired boy leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

The faces of Ariel and the little patients lit up with joy the instant they saw him.

“Hey! Brother!”

“Did you come?”

The kids appeared even more excited than when I arrived, causing a strange discomfort, but I chose to ignore it.

“Ah! It’s Lucian! Why are you here?”

He replied while lifting the bag at his feet.

“Nothing much, just finished my exam, right? I brought the educational materials and what you requested. Here are snacks and books, and this is—”

“Wow!”

“Line up! Line up! If you don’t line up, I won’t give it!”

Since when had he captured the hearts of the children? Lucian grumbled in his usual blunt tone, yet he meticulously attended to them.

Every time I saw him, I was struck by how he consistently looked after the kids from the very first time he had brought them in.

It genuinely amazed me to see him spending his own money and gathering various things.

Seizing a moment during a brief break, I approached him slowly.

“What’s up?”

“You’ve been taking care of Ariel longer than expected! I was going to thank you. I hadn’t realized you would also take care of the other kids like that.”

“Is that so…”

His expression turned momentarily blank, seemingly caught off-guard by my words, before he chuckled. He then gazed blankly at a corner of the hallway.

“…there isn’t anyone.”

“What do you mean there isn’t anyone?”

Reluctant Lucian finally answered.

“…I don’t have parents. Neither do Ariel nor the kids in this hospital room.”

It felt like a bolt of lightning struck me with that realization.

I had thought only Ariel was in such a predicament.

“The kids, they’ve all disappeared during a visit to some science and technology expo with their parents. Those lucky enough to have relatives at least have someone to come and visit them occasionally… Sigh.”

Following Lucian’s sharp gaze, I caught a glimpse of the opposite hospital room. A little one in patient clothing was playing with toys alongside their parents, giggling and laughing, the sound spilling into the hallway.

“The kids in other rooms have parents and relatives surrounding them daily… But if I don’t come, not a single ant goes to visit those kids. It’s ridiculous that so many kids in this situation are gathered here, isn’t it? Damn it.”

“Ah…”

Now that I think about it, Lucian was an orphan too. Suddenly, he glared at me with a frustrated expression.

“Damn it… Violet, it’s all because of you!”

“Huh? Why me?”

“Bringing in a girl asking to be taught out of the blue meant I had to take on these little kids who are just troublemakers. Unlike someone with many bodies, I have my own important matters to take care of. Such a nuisance…”

Is that so? When I thought about it, visiting Ariel once or twice a week was indeed a paltry effort. From that arrogant magic boy’s perspective, it made sense to be angry. Moreover, he had willingly taken on at least ten kids.

“Ugh… Got it. Then I’ll visit more often from now on! I’ll bring snacks and necessary tools!”

“That’s not what I meant…”

That can be regarded as a solution to their worries. Time passed carefreely, and I spotted Lucian leading the little patients dressed in hospital garb out of the room in a line.

“Where are you going?”

“Oh, Violet! We’re going to the training ground!”

A training ground? In the hospital? That was a first for me.

“It’s a space that previously functioned as a rehabilitation facility for hunters, and since they knew our circumstances, the hospital side decided to allow us to use it whenever there is free time. The kids can’t go outside, after all.”

Considering this, it was a pretty decent space for a makeshift training ground. And of course, a genius student instructor must be present.

“Oh, then I’ll help out!”

“No need!”

That was nonsense. There was no such thing as a right to refuse.

Thus, I spent some time tending to Ariel and her little friends while they practiced drawing out their magical power in a very rudimentary way.

“Ha ha ha!”

“Here! Receive my sword imbued with magic!”

Suddenly, the thought of asking Instructor Frederick crossed my mind. I had no idea why that thought popped in now, but it could be helpful.

As I was directing the training of the fledgling ones, a sudden realization struck me.

“Rumyx and Laplacian must be harassing kids like these, right?”

I found myself gazing blankly into space.

“Sister?”

“Yeah, Ariel. It’s nothing! I was just cooking up a genius idea.”

“Yeah, right, quit kidding…”

It seemed she was perceptive. I smiled wryly.

“That’s right! Innocent dreams and hopes might be disappearing even now!”

Our plans and this operation might just be to protect those innocent junior prospects.

To punish the bad guys and grant freedom and liberation to the aspiring superhuman heroes of the academy and future.

We are the guardians of children, Violet.

“That’s what clone democracy is all about!”

Watching the children play joyfully, our Violets solidified our resolve anew.

**

“The facilities and strategic locations of the Rumyx Foundation are organized in a semi-independent point-organization manner, but there aren’t many significant fixed locations. The estimated locations of key facilities are—”

The Scholarship Officer’s explanation kept flowing without pause. On the screen, expected points obscured or disguised as ordinary buildings were indicated one by one on the map. Momentarily, the screen transitioned.

“And, the Foundation is managing the academies indirectly across various locations. Each academy—though to varying degrees—is no different from a petri dish for the Foundation and its affiliated enterprises. As for the level of such relationships, it remains uncertain.”

In summary, it implied that the head of the Laplacian Laboratory sometimes sold me to Polaris for a profit.

“It isn’t merely to achieve results. The academies serve as petri dishes under various experiments or management to measure the abilities of the Awakened students.”

Seijis’s words, spoken in a calm tone, caused Older Sister Sophie to clench her fists tightly.

“It’s madness! How can they shamelessly partake in such acts? Students are not tools!”

“Unfortunately, some people seem to think otherwise.”

Seijis’s sharp gaze shifted toward me.

“That’s why your role as an elder sister is crucial. Though it might feel burdensome to step right into this role right after becoming a Scholarship Officer, I ask you.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll shake down the academies.”

Watching cautiously, Unit 8021 raised a hand.

“What’s up?”

“Given that the Inspection Bureau will know that you’re moving, our plans for what I and the others have to do are already in motion. But what about you, Seijis?”

I was curious. Just what was he up to?

The Scholarship Officer gave a brief reply.

“I’ll do what I must.”

That was the end of the explanation.

“Does he plan to kill someone?”

We said we would take care of important figure assassinations, and he was entrusted with that task. Was he intending to knock down some other dangerous presence like we did during the raid on the Navy Base against the monsters?

“No way he’s just goofing off. Let’s trust him!”

Eventually, to set the operation in motion, the Inspection Bureau commenced a large-scale investigation targeting western academies.

It was around that time when a green-haired, weirdly annoying man came into our sight.

“A gourmet meal at a restaurant? With an actress?”

“Clearly money wrung from the blood of the people!”

Unit 541 squinted through a reconnaissance telescope. I wondered if it was this effortless to manage things, but it didn’t matter.

“I want to shoot! Let me shoot!”

“Hold on, not yet!”

Before dealing with the Foundation, now was the time to take the knife to the governing structure of the Laplacian.

The time for physical reorganization had arrived.