episode_0105

As the truck stopped, the students got off. When the large gate opened, a small factory and several attached buildings appeared.

This is one of the Violet barracks. It was recently purchased to expand their numbers.

Though smaller than the factory they first bought, it had multiple buildings and was more recently built, so the facilities were better. It also had the advantage of a spacious basement. That’s why not many Violets lived here yet.

People’s reactions varied greatly.

“Is this Violet’s home?”

“It’s not a home, it’s a factory.”

All the friends looked around with curiosity.

“If you mean home, are you talking about the dorms or offices inside?”

“Yes, we live there too.”

Those are mainly used as internet cafes or kitchens.

Lucian asked with a doubtful expression.

“So, all of that is yours?”

“Yep! That’s our home.”

“No, wait, it’s a factory, not a home.”

“The factory is our home!”

“…Is that so.”

Lucian trailed off. The attitude of that rude, blue-haired boy had softened slightly compared to a moment ago. Was it because I said I didn’t have parents?

It was certainly surprising. Actually, it would be more accurate to call it barracks, not a factory, but there was no need to correct him.

We Violets are respectable building owners.

For a population numbering in the hundreds to eat, sleep, and perform various tasks, an ordinary house wouldn’t even come close. They also needed a place to park vehicles like trucks and buses, and to store miscellaneous items that were too big or awkward to fit into an inventory.

Fortunately, on the outskirts of the central district, where Kalia’s vigilante group was located, there were many small and medium-sized factories and warehouses. We pooled our money, acquired properties waiting for owners, and renovated them into Violet barracks.

Although they looked like factories to others, to us, they were precious headquarters. Who knew how many Violets had died in dungeons to buy these things. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every single building was soaked in the blood and sweat of Violets.

Though the exterior was a bit old, electricity and water were available. This was all thanks to Kalia’s vigilante group’s connections. After being handled by the uncles who had rough experience on construction sites, it became a reasonably livable place.

“Th-there are rooms, right?”

“Of course! See the two-story building in front? That used to be the factory dormitory. It has bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen. The repairs just finished recently too. Let’s go inside right now!”

Levi asked with an anxious expression, so I answered with a smile. Seeing it once for themselves would be quicker than a hundred words.

I walked up the stairs and opened one of the rooms to show them.

“It-it’s better than I thought it would be.”

“It looks a bit rough, but given our situation, we don’t need to be picky. The room is also quite spacious, more than I expected.”

“Apparently, it was originally a four-person room. On the first floor, there’s a lounge, a kitchen, and a bathroom. You can either cook your own meals, or I can cook for you, but…”

“It’s fine. This much is already quite luxurious for us. But how? You’re going to stay at school, aren’t you?”

“There are ways. If you don’t want to, then, okay.”

It was originally an unusable building, but spending money to replace the wallpaper and repair it was worthwhile.

Granite, who had been looking around, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Um, but Violet.”

“Why?”

“Uh, perhaps… there won’t be any bugs, right?”

He scratched his head, seemingly embarrassed after saying it himself.

“Oh! Not at all, don’t worry about that.”

I dismissed their concerns.

Granite’s concern was plausible. In the past, this dormitory used to be infested with centipedes, cockroaches, and camel crickets. There were even bedbugs.

Eventually, we picked a day, set off gas bombs throughout the entire building, and only then were we freed from the bugs.

The insecticide gas was so potent that there was a minor issue of one Violet suffocating to death during the process, but well.

“Oh, right. Don’t go into the dormitory basement here!”

“Why there?”

“It’s currently under repair! Water is leaking and there’s mold! There might be bugs too.”

“Ugh!”

That was a lie. The truth was different. Dozens of unconscious Violet bodies were packaged in the basement.

[It’s a good thing we quickly moved the drums out of the way.]

[Move them to another factory complex later!]

I only thought about hiding Lucian’s teammates, but I forgot to clear out the important stuff. I’ll send them out later under the pretense of going shopping, then restore their consciousness and move them myself.

After looking around the place, everyone’s reaction was positive.

“…I just thought she was unique, but she turned out to be rich. So, how much is the monthly rent?”

“Monthly rent? You don’t have to pay! It’s true that I’ll let you live here for free. But there’s one condition.”

Lucian’s expression filled with doubt upon hearing my answer.

“I guess it wasn’t really free after all. Well, it’s more plausible this way than just outright free. So, what’s the condition?”

He took the bait I threw. I also looked at the other two besides Lucian; their eyes were filled with curiosity.

“The condition is simple. You have to help me whenever I go to a dungeon. Understood?”

“Well, that’s not difficult.”

“I can do that.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll help!”

Everyone answered without hesitation. Perhaps because of their pride, none of them seemed to intend to mooch off me.

Good. I’ll have to work them hard, little by little!

“Do you want to look around? I have something to talk about with my friends.”

“Alright.”

I let the three of them look around the dormitory and headed somewhere else with my friends.

“Where are we going now?”

“To our home! I want to show you around there.”

“Your home? Isn’t it over there?”

“Repairs on that place just finished recently. We currently live in a larger place. And there’s someone I want to introduce you to there.”

The factory with the dormitory was small. There were many places that needed to be renovated. That’s why there were hardly any Violets there, so I readily gave it to them. Someday, Violets would play and train there too, but.

[How are you going to explain the clone issue?]

[For now, just make excuses, and later, when they become part of our plan, I’ll explain it properly.]

Most of us are still at the first barracks. That place is a factory with integrated dormitories, warehouses, and offices. Its scale is larger than the other one, making it good for parking, and Kalia’s house, the Osprey Brotherhood building, and the brokers’ detective agency offices were all within easy reach.

The room where Teacher Yurik is confined is also right nearby.

[What’s he been doing lately?]

[He’s been busy achieving game accomplishments.]

[He won’t escape then.]

I opened the folding door and entered the factory grounds. In front of the large factory building, a slender-looking girl with pink hair, wearing a white jumper, was organizing various large and small boxes. What else had Kalia brought this time?

“Number 97. Did you just arrive?”

“I’m Number 363! She hasn’t finished her work yet.”

“Hey! You all look exactly alike, how am I supposed to tell you apart? To me, you’re all just the same Violet. But…”

Kalia, who had been grumbling, had her emerald eyes turn towards the two girls standing behind Number 363. Her eyes narrowed.

“…Who are those people behind you? If they’ve come all this way, they can’t be ordinary people…”

“They’re my friends from school. Say hello! This is Irene and Daphne!”

Kalia examined them with a mix of wariness and curiosity. I had occasionally told her about meeting people, but this was probably the first time she’d met them in person. Besides, it was a long distance, so they wouldn’t come often anyway.

Kalia cautiously extended her hand.

“So you’re the friends Violet mentioned. I’m Kalia.”

“I’m Irene. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Daphne. Please take care of me! What’s your relationship with Violet?”

As Daphne also greeted her with a bright smile, Kalia replied awkwardly.

“Well, we’re friends, of course. Um, excuse me, I need to talk to Violet for a moment? I have something to ask.”

“Yes, please don’t mind us!”

Kalia briefly took Number 363 to a place where the two couldn’t see them. She looked around a few times then whispered into my ear.

“Hey, Number 363. No, I’m asking all the Violets. You said they were friends you made at school, right?”

“That’s right. They’re our friends. But why? Is there something bothering you?”

Kalia glanced back at where they were, then spoke cautiously.

“This is your home, after all. No matter how close friends they are… how are you going to explain the clones?”

Ah, I understood why Kalia had been wary when she saw my friends.

“Don’t worry about that. They already know what my unique ability is. They’re trustworthy people!”

When I asserted this, she replied in a somewhat reluctant tone.

“Well, if you say so… Alright.”

Once the conversation finished, I led Kalia back to my friends.

“Sorry, the talk took a bit longer. I’ll show you our home right away!”

“Violet and I had a small misunderstanding. And, you two seem to be around the same age, so feel free to speak informally.”

“I’ll do that if you wish.”

“Yes, Ms. Kalia!”

“No, I’m fine, I told you to speak informally!”

While Kalia and Daphne briefly debated the meaning and scope of honorifics, I opened the factory door and went inside with the three of them.

“Welcome to our home!”

Irene’s golden eyes filled with surprise.

“There are so many…”

“Violets!”

Countless mats, bunk beds, and triple bunk beds were laid out on the gray epoxy floor. Violets were doing odd jobs or lounging around on them.

In one corner of the factory, Violets were sweating as they swung their swords. There were also Violets sitting at tables eating and cooking, and Violets cleaning or inspecting weapons. At a large table and whiteboard stretched out in the distance, Violets from the temporary command center were holding a discussion.

[What should we have for dinner tonight?]

[Let’s have french fries!]

It was entirely filled with red-eyed girls with blonde hair.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen so many Violets…”

Irene was so surprised she couldn’t close her mouth.

“That’s strange.”

“What is?”

“You didn’t react like this when we fought Crawltide together last time. We even ate together at your place.”

Irene replied.

“Well, in the dungeon, you were covered head to toe, so it didn’t really register that it was you. It might sound strange to say this, but… when I was exploring with you in the dungeon, it felt like I was working with an army of combat robots. Please don’t misunderstand. It just felt strange because there was more vividness.”

Unlike the two, Kalia, who frequently visited the Violet barracks, reacted calmly.

“Yeah, isn’t it strange? Even I didn’t understand it when I first saw and heard about it. The idea of a ‘hive mind’ is already confusing, but they all have individual personalities? It’s dizzying, really. Ugh.”

“I see, I just… it’s my first time seeing so many Violets in everyday life.”

“It’s full of Violets!”

Irene stared around with wonder. Daphne also looked around curiously.

Oh right, I forgot to greet them.

The Violets simultaneously turned their heads and waved.

“Welcome to our home!”

“Hello! Hello!”

“Nice to meet you!”

Irene flinched and took a step back. Daphne let out a short shriek.

Kalia pointed a finger and angrily said.

“Oh, seriously! Hey, do you really need to scare our friends who came all this way? I told you last time to refrain from looking at them all at once!”

“Sorry! But we naturally move like this.”

“You’re Violet’s friends, right? I’m sorry. She often does that. Even I find it creepy sometimes, so imagine how you two must feel? Please understand.”

“No, it’s alright, Ms. Kalia. I’m fine. It’s just a bit…”

To think my friends would be startled because of us. How bitter. They’re guests, after all, it’s so embarrassing!

Thinking they should at least treat them properly, the Violets jumped up and quickly prepared snacks.

“Sorry! So sorry!”

“Instead, have this!”

One minute later, a mountain of snacks, tea, and drinks was prepared on the table.

“Ugh, what a fate for me…”

Kalia clutched her head. Irene, looking at her from the side, had a hint of sympathy in her gaze.

“Violets are Violets, no matter where you go…”

“Huh? Irene, did you call me?”

“It’s just me talking to myself. It’s nothing, so don’t mind it.”

A moment later, silence fell over the table. It was because enjoying a sudden tea party felt somewhat awkward for everyone. Daphne, who had been observing the mood, spoke up.

“Um, you’re Ms. Kalia, right? May I ask just one thing?”

“Oh, right, I told you not to use honorifics… So, what are you curious about?”

“You said you were friends with Violet. How did you two become friends?”

Irene, intrigued, turned her gaze towards Kalia. Kalia, upon hearing Daphne’s question, was silent for a moment as if recalling past memories, then soon opened her mouth.

“It’s a long story, if I were to tell it. There were just so many incidents.”

“Then please explain it briefly.”

Soon, as Kalia began her story, I felt like I had forgotten something important.

“First, I’ll have to start with the story of how I met Violet at the research facility. At first…”

“Research facility?”

Irene, feeling something strange about the word that suddenly popped out, interjected.

Wait, had I ever talked about my experiments?

“As you two know, Violet was in a research lab. I was there too.”

“What are you talking about? Violet was in a lab?”

“I’m hearing this for the first time. A research facility? Violet? No way…”

The two, sensing something amiss, began to probe. Kalia, in a difficult spot, asked me.

“Oh? You didn’t tell them?”

“Right, I didn’t tell them that part?”

I realized the situation was going wrong.

“A lab? Violet, it’s not what I’m thinking, is it?”

“No, it’s nothing big. It’s just old news…”

Then Daphne squeezed my hand tightly.

“I’m not angry. I just… want to know. Can you tell me honestly?”

“Ah… Hmm, alright. Then, I’ll tell you.”

I felt that if I said anything more, the atmosphere would be ruined, but with my two friends looking at me with such earnest eyes, I couldn’t refuse.

“So, actually, I…”

I began to explain. Which research facility I was in, how I met Kalia, and how I smashed up the facility and escaped amidst the chaos.

As I spoke, I realized it was quite a splendid tale of heroism, even to me.

“…That’s how I managed to defeat the ogre with the hammer. Then I stole a car and drove away, shaking off the other pursuers, and escaped with the help of Kalia’s brotherhood uncles. How was that?”

I thought the two of them would be impressed.

‘That’s amazing, Violet. You’re a combat genius!’

‘Well done! Violet!!’

However, the situation unfolded differently than I imagined.

By the time I noticed things had gone strangely awry, the expressions on their faces were already seriously distorted.

“Rafflesia… human experimentation… Oh my goodness…”

Irene, in shock, covered her mouth.

Daphne’s reaction was even stronger.

“So… without even knowing that…” she choked out, her voice breaking with sobs.

She froze like a statue. Soon, tears streamed like a waterfall from her clear eyes.

“D-don’t cry!”

As nearby Violets surrounded her, Daphne hugged me and sobbed even more intensely.

“Sob… How much it must have hurt…”

“I’m fine!”

In that awkward moment, my eyes met Kalia’s.

“Kalia, why on earth did you bring up the research lab story!”

“Hey, I thought you had explained everything about your unique ability, so I assumed you’d also told them about the lab…!”

Kalia protested with an aggrieved expression.

I was speechless.

Violet’s invitation to her friends’ home. It was a failure!