The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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Meanwhile, the Third Clone was silently crawling along the second floor ceiling like a snake. I, the main body, lay on the bed in the room, remotely controlling it like a drone.

‘This is really tricky.’

The Second Clone was struggling its way with the smartphone towards Kalia, crawling from the vent above my head, while the Third Clone was heading towards the central control room from down below.

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

Nothing is easy.

‘Please just eat a donut…’

There’s no time when people are more off-guard than just before sunrise. In my experience, security guards during this time usually either slept or slacked off.

I’ve reached the ceiling of the target location. I could hear a humming song through the gaps of the cover. I took out a screwdriver and started to unscrew the bolts holding the vent cover.

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

Though it’s called the central control room, it’s really just a larger duty room and guard room. One guard was sitting in front of several monitors displaying closed-circuit screens, munching on a donut while watching TV.

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

I landed on the floor. The guard, startled by the noise, turned his chair around, donut crumbs on his mouth.

“Huh? What’s that… Ugh! A ghost!?”

“Yep, it’s a ghost!”

I swung the alloy hammer I received from the Second Clone and struck the guard’s forehead with all my might.

– Clank! Clank! Clank!

“AAAH!”

Oops, I made a mistake!

I hit him in the front, so the back injury skill didn’t trigger!

Hearing him scream, I hurriedly jumped onto a chair and covered his mouth with my left arm. However, even injured, he tried to push me off and bit my arm to escape. I was losing strength! He was reaching for the gun on the desk.

“Die! Die! Die!”

I swung the hammer again, this time using the pointed end to strike down on his head. With a crunching sound, the hammer lodged into the guard’s skull.

As I pulled the hammer out, thick blood poured down the handle.

‘This is disgusting…’

The guard was dead. It was a horrific sight.

But, is it really okay to just feel ‘horrified’ while looking at someone whose eyes are rolled back, limp, and bleeding from the head?

I don’t know. I definitely feel like I’ve become strange.

Worried that the scream might have leaked out, I cautiously opened the door and surveyed the area. No signs of movement.

While searching the guard’s body, I found the keys and keycard I was looking for. I headed towards the large key cabinet on one side of the control room’s wall that I had been keeping an eye on.

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

Using the guard’s key, I opened the cabinet and found the items I needed.

‘Necklace switch! Restraint release key!’

Now that I’ve obtained these, I can say the first button of the plan has been properly pushed. I quickly sent the items to the Second Clone.

There was something else I gathered too. While searching the desk, I discovered a white first aid kit.

I opened my status window to check my items.

<ITEM STAT>
[Self-defense handgun ☆]
A cheap handgun available for purchase.
Used to drive away low-level monsters.
Many consumers who bought this product
utilized it to alleviate their inner pain.

….

[Emergency recovery potion ☆☆]
A cheap recovery potion kept by companies and police stations.
Enhances cellular regenerative capabilities and has pain-relieving effects.
Even in dire situations, it’s best not to rely solely on medicine and go to a hospital.

*Reduces immediate pain by about 30%.

…

‘I can also view the explanation.’

I was able to grab two ten-round magazines of loaded bullets, aside from the one already in the gun. The recovery potion came in a bundle of five small bottles. You simply opened the cap and jabbed it directly into your body.

‘First, I need to buy some time.’

Killing the guard wasn’t the end of it. I needed to take some measures for later. However, I didn’t know how to deal with the surveillance camera systems or the overall system.

Instead, there was a good solution.

‘Since the system runs on electricity, I just need to break it.’

After unplugging the power, I used a cutter knife to slice the connection terminals and wires. Then, I packed the items into a plastic bag and locked the door.

This should buy me some time.

‘Ah, donuts!’

I climbed up into the vent with a leftover donut in my mouth.

***

While the Third Clone dealt with the guard and gathered the items, the Second Clone also arrived at Kalia’s room. I unscrewed the secured vent grills and jumped down.

“Um… Are you already here?”

Kalia opened her eyes at the sound. I grinned and showed her the restraint release key.

– Clatter!

As I inserted the key into the restraint, the sound of a machine activating echoed from inside. Moments later, the tedious restraints that had been holding Kalia for so long finally released.

“Ah… It’s been a while. Yeah. This feeling of magic circulating…”

She stretched her arms and legs with a relieved expression, the sound of her joints popping.

From the angle in the vent, I hadn’t noticed, but Kalia seemed to be a head taller than me. I must just be short for a girl.

“Let’s get rid of this too!”

I held up the cursed black switch that researchers had used on the test subjects. I pressed the button against Kalia’s neck.

With a click, the bothersome fastening device came loose.

“What about you?”

“I released it earlier!”

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

“Wait, you got that? With this, we can contact them now!”

She quickly dialed the Brotherhood. Since it was early morning, I was nervous they wouldn’t pick up. After a moment, the call connected.

“Yeah, it’s me. Kalia. Sorry. I should’ve listened to you… Where are you? I’m right now…”

Kalia was eagerly explaining her location to the person on the other end, based on the information I had gathered.

A while later, Kalia hung up, bringing some good news.

“Great! They say there’s a location that matches what I described. They’ll gather some people and come straight here.”

“Wow! That’s amazing. They found it surprisingly fast. Did they do some location tracking or something?”

“The Brotherhood had chosen a few specific locations from the enemy’s laboratory to track my whereabouts. Apparently, the spot we’re in is currently on the outskirts of the eastern region.”

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

At times like this, we need to unite even more.

I spread my arms wide and jumped around.

“Kalia…? Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Let’s do this! This!”

Kalia, who had looked a bit confused for a moment, awkwardly approached and hugged me tight.

In an instant, I was embraced by Kalia. She didn’t stop there and slowly started to stroke my hair. I was slightly taken aback.

But it didn’t feel bad.

“Wait… I never asked to be hugged…”

“What? Then what was with the open arms earlier?”

Seeing my expression, Kalia released me from the brief hug and questioned.

“I meant I wanted to do a high five!”

She shook her head.

“Kalia, a high five is done by putting your palm out in front, not spreading your arms wide.”

“Uh… Is that how it was?”

She demonstrated the pose in front of me, and my head went blank. Is that how it’s done?

Now that I think about it, it’s been years since I did a high five with someone.

Kalia smiled brightly.

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

“What? No! I’ve done it plenty with friends in the past!”

“Sure, I believe you.”

She bumped her shoulder against me, and I crawled back up the vent. I guess Kalia was strong because she climbed up the vent with ease. Maybe it was tight; as she looked up, her head bumped against something, and she let out a yelp.

“Ouch! What the heck…? Violet, can’t we go another way?”

“Sorry! You can’t open the door from the inside. Coming out this way is the best option…”

As I moved through the vent, I sensed something suspicious. My body froze.

“Kalia? Is there a problem?”

“Just a sec, can you go back? Something feels off.”

I signaled Kalia to step back. I sensed something strange from the second floor.

“What are you talking about?”

“The researchers have already come in at this hour! Just stay here! Wait! Don’t come out!”

As I moved the Third Clone to get a grasp of the situation, suddenly the door where the main body lay opened with a creak.

“Wake up~ Violet. Your sister is here~”

I hurriedly recalled the Second Clone. When I opened my eyes, a girl with a ponytail was waiting inside the room, holding a yellow envelope in her arms.

‘AAAH!’

***

The Third Clone had just exited the vent and landed on the floor, approaching the holding pens for the monsters. Suddenly, with a click, the dark corridor lit up brightly.

The elevator doors, which had been quietly waiting against the wall across the corridor, lit up, and I could hear the sound of an elevator coming up through the calm atmosphere.

The doors opened, and researchers poured out in droves. A moment later, the guards also came up.

Why are people coming in so early?

“Is there really a need to gather people this early? Is it because of the test subject going to that school?”

“It’s the Director’s orders; what can we do? They’re moving the schedule a day ahead and wrapping up the existing project today.”

“Alright! Attention! You all received the message, right? Check the distributed materials and let’s head upstairs!”

I moved the Third Clone quickly, hiding behind the wall. The researchers crossed the corridor and boarded the elevator heading upstairs.

‘Right. There’s a corpse left in the control room!’

That’s bad. I moved the Third Clone quickly to hide it.

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening was picked up on the main body’s hearing.

I hurriedly recalled the Second Clone, and when I opened my eyes, the ponytail girl was standing next to the bed.

Calm down. I must not forget the act of being a fool.

“Ugh… sis… weren’t we supposed to go tomorrow…?”

“Yep, our Violet’s schedule got moved up so she can enter society faster!”

“Wow…”

The area outside the glass door was chaotic. There were loud footsteps.

Researchers and guards armed with shotguns were hurrying back and forth in the test subject lodging area.

Alright. Let’s find out what exactly is going on.

I tightly grasped the hammer I received through the clone, hiding it beneath the blankets.