episode_0197

Before the training officially began, the Instructor-nim declared,

“I’ve heard all your stories. You want to become stronger than you are now, right?”

My friends all nodded.

While we were doing other things, they had a serious conversation with the Instructor-nim. It seems they asked about that.

“The teaching methods and atmosphere will be very different, but ultimately, no matter which academy you transfer to, the fundamental differences won’t change much. Extensive real-world experience is important.”

Saying so, the Instructor-nim raised a sword.

“And to gain real-world experience, you have no choice but to fight a lot.”

I asked with a puzzled expression.

If it’s real-world experience, my friends and I should already have enough.

Besides, we’ve had many duels.

When I explained that, the Instructor-nim firmly shook their head.

“Duels are important. But Violet. I’ve heard everything from your friends already. Those were merely training sessions with reduced intensity due to agreement. You can’t unleash your full potential with just that. You need training that’s closer to real combat.”

The importance of real combat, that we agreed with.

“Training must be like real combat. This is not just a simple rhetorical flourish. No kidding, if you don’t genuinely feel like you’re in danger, you won’t truly grasp it.”

Then, the Instructor-nim added a question, asking if the rapid speed at which I grew stronger was related to my ability.

The Violets assented to that question.

“Ultimately, there’s only one important thing. You have to kill and be killed many times.”

“Ah, so he’s emphasizing realistic training!”

The Instructor-nim’s words were reasonable.

The reason Violet became stronger was because she had killed so much. It was perfectly logical that killing a lot would make one stronger.

“I see. Why didn’t I think of that?”

The reason my friends were weak was because they hadn’t killed many people.

“I understand your intention, Instructor-nim!”

“…?”

“You just need to kill us?”

That’s strange. Is that not it?

We Violets could be excellent target practice.

“No, that’s…”

The Instructor-nim made a troubled expression.

Irene shook her head with a look that said, ‘Of course not,’ while the other friends sighed.

“No matter how invincible your unique ability is, that’s not it. Consider the feelings of the other students too, you idiot!”

“Ugh…”

“And the rest of them aren’t invincible like you, are they?”

Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Other people only have one life.

“Then that’s strange. Why did he bring up real combat?”

Soon, I understood the reason.

**

The Instructor-nim had been making diligent phone calls for several days.

And then, they carefully showed us a bundle of catalogs and introduced them.

“Aha! Such a method? Then I can kill without worry, can’t I?”

“You really have a way with words…”

On the day of the training, we headed to a building located in the central district.

“This is the training ground?”

“It’s a place I was introduced to through an acquaintance. The facilities are old, but it should be useful for many people to move around in.”

“I forgot about the virtual reality training ground.”

What unfolded before our eyes was a comprehensive product of Aether engineering, magic, and hologram technology.

It was something that even the Polaris Academy, which was now in ashes, possessed.

I used to duel Martina in a place like this.

Of course, the reason we hadn’t trained here all this time was simple.

First, we thought duels were sufficient.

And second, it cost a lot of money. Reservations were also full.

“I spent too much money on weapons…”

But how were we poor Violets and our friends able to rent a training ground within a reasonable budget?

It was thanks to the connections of our revered teachers.

“Tsk… it’s a bit disappointing that it’s an old model with lower performance, but it can’t be helped. Please understand. Among training grounds that can accommodate large groups of a hundred people, this was the only affordable one you could get within your budget.”

“It’s okay! We’ll just work harder.”

The facility itself was old.

Unlike the academy’s dueling grounds, we had to wear strange headgear and bracelets to enter.

Just seeing this, it was quite crude.

However, compared to the academy’s dueling grounds, it had several advantages.

Firstly, the virtual reality space was incredibly vast. Coniferous forests, urban areas, jungles, deserts. And even grasslands!

It supported dozens of different terrains.

And all sorts of weapons could be used.

“Can I use magic?”

“Well, let’s test it first. We can’t know how your ‘vision memory’ will operate inside…”

I tested a simple fire magic spell.

When real magic erupted, Instructor Frederick, who was watching the virtual reality, was horrified and shut down the simulation.

“…It seems this simulation cannot reflect that. It’s dangerous, so don’t use that for now.”

Sadly, the Violets’ vision memory was sealed.

There was a risk of accidentally injuring someone.

Fortunately, heavy weapons like mortars could be implemented.

They were originally used by the enemy AI bots within the simulation. We were using something similar to what they used.

“This means self-destruction is possible too! There are bomb vests among the items the bots use.”

“Yay!”

We tried activating the simulation as a test.

“Yahoo!”

As the virtual reality unfolded, the tiled arena transformed into a beach.

If you looked closely, there were some awkward parts, but it was decent performance for its kind.

Thus, the Violets entered actual combat.

What was needed to help our friends grow was extensive experience.

It couldn’t be helped, but I had to kill and be killed by my friends. Sorry, Daphne!

“First, I need to see your current skills. Fight with all your might. Use every means at your disposal.”

“Can we use guns and bombs?”

“…Yes. And Violet, operate the maximum number of personnel within the training ground’s capacity. I need to observe something.”

Hmm, considering the training ground’s limits, a company at most would be the limit, but I should try. If the numbers become insufficient, I can just continuously generate more.

When preparations were complete, Instructor Frederick threw a handkerchief, signaling the start of combat.

“Now, kill each other.”

A curtain unfolded, and the interior transformed into a rural landscape of forests and hills. One hundred Violets advanced.

“Attack! Attack!”

Hundreds of meters away, on a hill, our entrenched friends were visible. All of them had serious expressions.

“First, a frontal assault!”

The Violets ran forward, howling indiscriminately.

“Kuaaaang!”

This was the battle cry of us murder-genius Violets. It would be optimal for breaking the enemy’s morale!

“Why are they doing that?”

Our friends’ expressions wavered slightly.

They seemed to be trying to hold something back, their expressions hardening, but it was hard to understand why they were doing that.

From the hill, a barrage of glowing arrows poured down.

“Kyaaang! Levi is shooting!”

“Get down! Hyaaaak!”

“Heek heek heek! The shield is pierced!”

A cackle echoed from afar. The Violets scrambled to the ground.

“Kyahahahaha!!!!” A girl wielding a gigantic ballista was cackling and firing continuously. We quickly returned fire.

“Fire!”

We shot with small arms, but they were all blocked by a light green protective barrier.

Before we knew it, something like a smoke screen exploded in front of us. Was that Lucian’s doing?

He seemed to have used his head. But the Violets had artillery.

“Mortar team! Return fire!”

Mortars pounded the surroundings. While they were pinned down by artillery, Violets armed with rifles and crossbows encircled them and poured fire.

“Fire!”

If we kept up this barrage, they would eventually be trapped inside their shield. It was obvious that the melee team members would then charge in.

While the firing squads unleashed bullets and bolts, a series of phalanxes advanced.

“One, two! One, two!”

Bombardment, phalanx, flanking, encirclement!

We pressured our friends relentlessly.

Twenty minutes later, the first victory was decided. It was a Violet victory.

**

Afterward, we fought with all our might about two more times.

The attack methods varied, but the essence was the same: long-range sniping, artillery, close combat, pursuit, encirclement!

Our friends fought seriously and well.

One or two companies were insufficient, so we had to generate them multiple times.

Perhaps because of the previous duels, everyone was accustomed to fighting us.

Fighting with knowledge of our unique abilities and fighting without it was a world of difference.

However, was it because we had become much stronger than before?

Defeat was inevitable.

“Violet really likes self-destruction.”

“I agree. I think I can understand how the academy collapsed.”

Daphne and Irene, caught in three consecutive Violet self-destruction explosions, let out short sighs.

“But you’re too sturdy! It couldn’t be helped.”

This mysterious virtual reality training ground adequately reflects the user’s stats and unique abilities.

While other friends were eliminated early by snipers, being sliced, or beaten, Irene survived until the very end with her absurd durability.

If anti-tank weapons also didn’t work and sword energy barely scratched her, then explosives were the only option left.

Irene ended up being the first among our friends to receive a full baptism of self-destruction.

By the way, what would the Instructor-nim’s reaction be?

“Indeed, I see. As expected, then…”

Surprisingly, the Instructor-nim was not surprised by the results of the practice battles.

Our friends looked a bit tired, but they didn’t seem as depressed as before.

For a moment, I felt the gazes of the team members and the instructor subtly intersect. Why was that?

“Alright, I’ve seen your skills. It’s good that you don’t go easy on your friends. But… as expected, there’s still much lacking. As I informed you earlier, we will go back to basics and review how to act in real combat.”

“Yes!”

“And Violet. How many clones can you operate right now?”

The Instructor-nim suddenly asked about my clones.

“Well, half of the ones I’ve already generated are studying with Professor Albert, so about a hundred.”

“Good. Let’s assume there’s no rest. Are you ready?”

“Kyaaaak!”

**

While Violet and her friends trained in their own ways, other Violets were tailing someone.

“My body aches!”

The Violets suffered.

The professors, having learned about Violet’s unique ability, devised optimal methods to efficiently teach the Violets.

It was a truly efficient but brutal learning process.

“Ugh… this is annoying, should I just not do it?”

“No! It’s better to deal with this quickly.”

Currently, the Violets were observing the vicinity of the Helios Clan.

With the Magnarvis problem resolved, the Violets, having found some余裕 (leisure), turned their attention to their friend’s problem.

It was foolish to leave potential threats behind while preparations for transfer enrollment were in full swing.

Though not confirmed, Irene, based on various circumstances and the testimonies of collaborators, suspected not only her uncle but also other relatives.

The Violets agreed with that conjecture.

Apparently, the power struggles within the clan were very dirty.

It was said that they were incomparable to the internal conflicts of 21st-century conglomerates or corporations.

Murder was common, and horrific acts like limb dismemberment or eye gouging frequently occurred.

Perhaps because it was a world with artificial prosthetics and healing magic, the world was more brutal than Earth.

Number 621 thought that since awakened individuals were fundamentally robust, such acts might be intended to inflict more terrifying pain.

Violet pointed at the target they were monitoring.

“Why is that old man doing that?”

The Violets tilted their heads.

Their friend’s uncle was gulping down alcohol, seeming depressed about something.

Thinking that they should kill him immediately if he caused trouble, the Violets whispered within their network.

“Should we plant a bomb in his car?”

“You still have missiles left! Let’s deal with it then.”

As the radical Violets discussed methods of assassination, the moderate Violets dissuaded them.

The consensus was to first learn the detailed circumstances before making a decision.

Then, they could present Irene with the highest position in the clan as a transfer gift.

“After that, let’s ask her to buy us an airplane!”

“Wow!”

Thinking it was a truly rational decision, the Violets imagined Irene ascending to the head of the clan.

“She’ll surely be incredibly happy, right?”

“It’s fulfilling her father’s legacy!”

The Violets resolved to plant Violets in the homes of those on the suspect list, just as they had done when they killed the Magnarvis executives.

“We are Princess Makers!”

The fate of the Helios Clan and its relatives was thus decided.

December was approaching.