episode_0011

Meanwhile, the third clone was silently crawling across the second-floor ceiling like a snake. I, the main body, was lying on the bed in my room, controlling it remotely as if operating a drone.

‘This is really tricky.’

The second clone was diligently squirming and crawling through the ceiling ventilation shaft above my head, holding the phone for Kalia, while the third clone was heading towards the central control room from below the floor.

Controlling multiple clones simultaneously feels akin to playing a two-player game with two gamepads, using both hands and both feet. What if the main body had to move as well? It would get even more complicated.

Nothing is easy.

‘Please just be eating donuts…’

There’s no time when people are more off guard than dawn, just before the sun rises. In my experience, guards at this hour were usually sleeping or slacking off.

I reached the ceiling of the target location. The sound of humming could be heard through the gaps in the cover. I took out a screwdriver and began to loosen the screws holding the ventilation cover.

As the last screw came loose, I opened the cover and looked down.

Though it was called the central control room, it was actually more like a slightly larger duty room and guard station. A single guard sat in front of several monitors displaying CCTV footage, eating a donut and watching TV.

Last time I came, there were two, but today there’s only one.

I landed on the floor. Startled by the sound, the guard with donut powder on his mouth spun his chair around and looked back.

“Hm? What the… Ugh! A ghost!?”

“That’s right, a ghost!”

I picked up the alloy hammer that the second clone had sent me and forcefully struck the guard’s forehead.

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Aargh!”

Oops, I messed up!

I hit him from the front, so the Ambush skill didn’t activate!

Since he was screaming, I quickly climbed onto the chair and covered his mouth with my left arm. Yet, despite being injured, he tried to push me off and bite my arm to get free. I was outmatched in strength! He reached for the pistol on the desk.

“Die! Die! Die!”

I spun the hammer handle and struck the top of his head with the pointed back end. With a cracking sound, the hammer embedded itself in the guard’s head.

As I pulled out the hammer’s edge, thick blood ran down the handle.

‘This feels awful…’

The guard was dead. It was a gruesome sight.

But, was “gruesome” really the only emotion I should feel witnessing someone with rolled-back eyes, slumped over, bleeding profusely from their head?

I don’t know. I definitely seem to have changed.

Fearing that the scream might have escaped outside, I briefly opened the door and surveyed my surroundings. No one seemed to be there.

Searching the guard’s body, I found the key and keycard I was looking for. I headed to the large key cabinet on one side of the control room wall, which I had noticed before.

‘It looked like they kept security-related items there.’

Using the guard’s key, I opened the cabinet and found the items I was looking for.

‘Necklace switch! Restraint release key!’

Having obtained these, the first step of the plan was well underway. I quickly sent the items to the second clone.

Besides these, there were other gains. While searching the desk, I found a white first-aid kit.

I opened the status window and examined the items.

[Self-Defense Pistol ☆]

An inexpensive pistol available on the market.

Used to repel lower-level magic beasts.

Not a few consumers who purchased this product

used it to end their inner suffering.

….

[Emergency Recovery Potion ☆☆]

An inexpensive recovery potion stocked by corporations and police stations.

It enhances cell regeneration and has pain-relieving effects.

Even if the situation is dire, it’s better to go to a hospital rather than just relying on the medicine.

*Reduces pain experienced in a short period by approximately 30%.

…

‘I can see descriptions too.’

Besides the loaded one, I could take two 10-round magazines for the pistol. The recovery potion consisted of a bundle of five small bottles. They were designed to be immediately injected into the body after uncapping.

‘I need to buy some time first.’

Killing the guard wasn’t the end of it. I had to take some measures for later. However, I didn’t know how to operate surveillance camera systems.

Instead, there was a good solution.

‘Since it’s an electrical system, I’ll just break it.’

After unplugging the cords, I ripped the connection terminals and wires with a utility knife. Then I packed the items into a plastic bag and locked the door.

This should buy me some time.

‘Oh, the donut!’

With the guard’s half-eaten donut in my mouth, I climbed back up into the ventilation shaft.

***

While the third clone was dispatching the guard and gathering items, the second clone also arrived at Kalia’s room. I unscrewed the fixed ventilation grate and leaped down from beneath it.

“Hm… you’re already here?”

Kalia opened her eyes at the sound of my presence. I grinned sheepishly and showed her the restraint key.

-Clink clank!

As I inserted the key into the restraints, something activated with a whirring mechanical sound from inside. A moment later, the tiresome restraints that had held Kalia for so long opened.

“Ah… it’s really been a while. Yes. This feeling of magic circulating…”

With a relieved expression, she stretched her limbs and loosened her body. I heard her joints pop and crack.

I hadn’t realized it when I was watching from the ventilation shaft, but Kalia seemed to be a head taller than me. It’s probably because I’m small for a girl.

“Let’s unlock this too!”

This cursed black switch that the researchers had pressed against test subjects. I put it against Kalia’s neck and pressed the button.

With a click, the annoying locking device was released.

“What about you?”

“I already unlocked mine!”

I handed Kalia the smartphone. Her eyes widened like lanterns.

“Huh? You got this? With this, I can finally contact them!”

She quickly called the Brotherhood. I was anxious, wondering if they’d pick up since it was dawn. A moment later, the call connected.

“Yes. It’s me. Kalia. I’m sorry. I should have listened to you… Where am I? I’m currently…”

Kalia diligently explained her location to the other party, based on the information I had roughly gathered.

A moment later, Kalia hung up and delivered the good news.

“It’s good, they said there’s a place that matches my description. They’re gathering people and preparing to come here right away.”

“Wow! That’s great. They found it surprisingly fast. Did they track your location or something?”

“The Brotherhood members have been looking for me by pinpointing a few specific locations among their research labs. From what I hear, our current location is on the outskirts of the eastern region.”

Wow! I don’t know why, but everything seems to be going really well.

The more things go well like this, the harder we need to work together.

I spread my arms wide and bounced up and down.

“Violet…? What are you suddenly trying to do?”

“Let’s do this! This!”

Kalia, momentarily puzzled, awkwardly approached and hugged me with both arms.

I was instantly enveloped in Kalia’s embrace. She didn’t stop there, slowly stroking my head. I was a little surprised.

But it didn’t feel bad.

“Huh…? Wait… I didn’t ask for a hug…”

“What? Then what was that arm-spreading for earlier?”

Seeing my reaction, Kalia momentarily released her hug and asked.

“I meant to high-five?”

She shook her head.

“Violet. A high-five is done by spreading your palm forward like this, not by spreading both arms.”

“Oh… was it?”

As she demonstrated the pose in front of me, my mind went blank. Was that how it was done?

Come to think of it, it had been years since I last high-fived someone.

Kalia grinned.

“Is this your first time doing something like this?”

“Huh? What? No! I’ve done it a lot with my friends before!”

“Right, I’ll believe you.”

She offered her shoulder, and I climbed back into the ventilation shaft. Kalia, perhaps due to her strength, climbed into the shaft herself without help. Perhaps because it was narrow, she hit her head while lifting it and cursed.

“Argh! Damn it…! Violet, everything’s fine, but do we really have to go back out through the ventilation shaft?”

“Sorry! We can’t open the door from the inside. This is the best way to get out in the middle of it…”

While moving through the ventilation shaft, I noticed something suspicious. My body stiffened.

“Violet? Is there a problem?”

“Wait, Kalia, could you go back for a moment? Something’s wrong with the situation.”

I gestured for Kalia to step back. A strange sensation was detected on the second floor.

“What do you mean?”

“The research lab staff came to work at this hour! Just stay here for a moment! Wait! Don’t come out!”

I was moving the third clone to assess the situation when suddenly the door to the room where my main body was lying burst open.

“Wake up~ Violet. Unnie is here~”

I quickly recalled the second clone. When I opened my eyes, the ponytail woman was waiting for me in the room, holding a yellow envelope in her arms.

‘Aargh!’

***

Having just emerged from the ventilation shaft on the second floor and landed on the ground, the third clone was approaching the pens housing the magic beasts. Suddenly, with a click, the darkened hallway lit up brightly.

Lights came on in three elevator doors that had been silently sitting on the wall beyond the corridor, and the sound of an elevator ascending could be heard over the quiet atmosphere.

The doors opened, and researchers poured out in a rush. A little later, guards also came up.

Why did everyone come to work so early?

“Is there a reason to call everyone in so early? Is it because of the test subject they’re sending to that school?”

“It’s the director’s order, so what can we do? They’re moving the schedule up by a day and wrapping up all existing projects.”

“Alright! Listen up! You all received the message, right? Everyone, confirm the distributed materials and let’s go up!”

I quickly moved the third clone and hid it behind the wall. The researchers continued across the hallway and took the elevator up to the higher floors.

‘That’s right. The corpse is still in the control room!’

This is bad. I quickly moved the third clone to hide.

On the main body’s side, my hearing suddenly picked up the sound of a door opening.

After hastily recalling the second clone, I opened my eyes to find the ponytail woman standing beside the bed.

Calm down. I mustn’t forget my act as a fool.

“Ooh… Unnie… weren’t we going… tomorrow…?”

“Mmm, the schedule has been moved up by a day so our Violet can enter society sooner!”

“Wow…”

Outside the glass door, something was chaotic. Footsteps were noisy.

Researchers and guards with shotguns were frantically moving back and forth through the test subject dormitory area.

Good. Let’s find out what’s going on first.

I tightly gripped the hammer, which had been sent to me by a clone, under the blanket.