The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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Under the high arching ceiling reminiscent of a cathedral, a multitude of students sat in their seats.

Is it because this is a world from a game? I catch glimpses of unreal-colored hair: blue, green, purple, even two-tone styles, all vibrant and lively. Everyone seems to be wielding weapons at their waists or on their backs.

Not long after I took my seat, the Entrance Ceremony began.

‘What on earth is going to happen?’

It’s a rule of thumb that at academy entrance ceremonies, a major incident is bound to occur.

There’s no real evidence, but with “me” being a possessed “Awakened One,” anything could happen. After all, there are cases in reality like the Chinese general who died from a meteorite or European nobles who perished after falling into a toilet during a meeting.

‘I have to escape if something goes down.’

Typically, when a monster crashes into the plot of a story, the protagonist vanquishes the foe using known strategies, thus reaping benefits.

Unfortunately, I’m just a cute girl with a unique ability. Monsters like Skullcats or wildlife mutations are the lowest-tier fiends, and if I beat them up, they’ll die, but anything intermediate or higher requires a proper infusion of magical power into weapons; otherwise, it’s hopeless.

Just in case, I scanned for an exit. Long, large windows lined both sides. Good thing I brought my hammer.

Everyone settled into their seats as the entrance ceremony began.

“Welcome, freshmen of the 25th academic year! I am John Wilbur, the headmaster of this school.”

A round, elderly man stood at the podium, beginning to speak. So that’s the headmaster.

“Before we commence, I would like to introduce Polaris Comprehensive Academy. Our academy is one of the prestigious schools of Rustroom…”

Listening to the history of a school that played a background role in the game sounds intriguing. I think I’ll give it a go.

“…We have continuously produced exceptional graduates comparable to the top three renowned schools… With an impressive 90% entry rate into upper clans… The growth rate of Awakened Students is…”

A giant screen displayed a presentation, filling it with graphs.

“Our first principal, Colonel Alfonso, mentioned… The origin of the name Polaris has been upheld for almost a decade…”

It feels rather lengthy.

Is this how entrance ceremonies typically are? My seat is becoming uncomfortable. The chair is too hard, and that headmaster’s voice is making me drowsy.

“The region where Polaris is located owes its development to the sacrifices of courageous hunters… Therefore, the current Board of Directors acquired this area… The main building of the academy was constructed when… The annex was built in…”

I’m losing my mind. Why is the history of building construction being recited at an entrance ceremony? Is that headmaster going senile?

It’s been thirty minutes of just historical recounts of school buildings and graduation numbers.

“…And that concludes the school introduction. Thank you.”

Finally, it’s over.

Glancing at the clock, the ceremony that started at 9 o’clock was nearing 10. Now that it’s finished, I should head out.

“The next order of business is congratulatory messages from local council members…!”

Not yet, it’s still not over. What other speeches are coming?

“Daphne… Do you happen to know what happens after the entrance ceremony…?”

I turned to Daphne, who had been staring blankly ahead. Her surprised eyes sparkled back to life.

“…Ah? It’s you, Rugilinn. Just a moment. There was something in the pamphlet we received earlier…”

She handed me the pamphlet, and I opened it to find a dense schedule of the entrance ceremony events written out.

“Introduction to the school… Greetings from the local council… Sponsors’ congratulatory remarks… Introduction of staff..?”

What kind of schedule is filled with speeches, congratulations, and greetings? Is this really an entrance ceremony?

And then the unimaginable downpour of speeches continued endlessly.

“Our Cascade Clan has prepared internships for the new students…”

“I’m James, from L&L Company… Our firm has specialized equipment for Awakened Ones… The ether conductivity…”

Dressed-up dudes claiming to be from various companies and clans are parading around with speeches that double as corporate promotions.

“The professors joining this time have earned their degrees… and have produced papers on the interaction between ether and monsters…”

“Hello, everyone! I’ve successfully navigated through four different planar regions and conquered fifteen gates…”

“Greetings, students! Through immersive classes… I’ve achieved a 90% entry rate into clans for my students…!”

During the introduction of the faculty, each teacher and instructor paraded out one by one, elaborating on their credentials in great detail. They even turned on presentations showing every aspect of their careers.

Am I in school or some multi-level marketing company?

I simply couldn’t hold onto my sanity during this extended ordeal. Just as I was about to close my eyes, Daphne shook my shoulder.

“Rugilinn? Wake up!”

As I whined, Daphne shook her head firmly to stop me. How sad. I thought she was just a kind girl, but she might have some unexpected authoritarian tendencies.

Give back my right to sleep!

“Open your eyes. And look over there…”

Daphne started to say something while pointing toward the upper part of the auditorium. I turned my gaze that way and flinched slightly. I straightened up and faced forward.

“I felt strange eyes on me for a while. When I turned back slightly, those folks were there.”

Staff members from the upstairs railing were peering down with clipboards, flipping through papers while checking things off.

Were they perhaps grading student behavior?

No way, why on earth are they keeping track of that in a ceremony as absurdly boring as this? I’m losing my mind.

I could feel the burning stares boring into my back. I sat awake, lost in this uncomfortable chair and tedious time.

***

“…This concludes the entrance ceremony.”

“Ugh… Finally over.”

In the end, nothing significant unfolded during the entrance ceremony. I anticipated a blockbuster battle, yet reality was a dull dinner function filled with fanciful advice from an aging principal.

With a clamorous sound, the students began to rise and walk toward the door. I glanced beside me to see fellow dazed individuals slowly staggering to their feet, much like the living dead.

The sight of the students heading towards the entrance resembled a horde of zombies.

‘Now I understand why the monsters in this school are ghouls.’

Yet, whenever it got too tedious or I felt sleepy, Daphne would use her healing ability on my head. Thanks to her, I managed to endure. Long live healers.

“Still, at least the last speech ended quickly. The chairman, right? He wrapped it up in just five minutes.”

The final part of the entrance ceremony was a congratulatory address from the chairman of Polaris Academy. Surprisingly, he had a rather youthful appearance, with long black hair. He finished his speech swiftly.

Whoever he is, seems like a nice person, right?

“Ugh… What time is it now?”

“Just a moment? It’s 12:43 PM.”

“What?”

When I checked my smartphone, the numbers clearly read 12:44 PM. I’ve never encountered a school that stretches an entrance ceremony to nearly four hours.

As I attempted to rise, my legs wobbled. Sitting for so long must have cut off circulation.

“Oh no! Hold on a second. Let me ease your discomfort.”

Daphne’s green, shimmering hands touched my legs a few times, alleviating the numbness. Finally, we could walk toward the entrance.

“Feeling good! My legs are more comfortable now. Thanks again for earlier!”

“Don’t mention it. Just let me know if you feel uncomfortable next time.”

She responded with a gentle smile.

Indeed, my roommate seems like a genuinely kind person.

At the entrance, staff and what looked like upperclassmen wearing name tags hurried us along.

“Okay, okay! Freshmen, please follow the instructions and move this way! We’re heading to the small auditorium! A welcome event for new students is about to begin!”

A welcome event, huh? If the entrance ceremony was this bad, the newcomer welcome must surely be a disaster too.

I tried to pull Daphne along carefully as I attempted to slip out of the line.

“Hey! You there! Come this way! No freshman is allowed to miss the welcome event! Absences are not permitted!”

Oh dear, I got caught while trying to leave. I returned to the line and followed the guidance of the seniors.

I spotted a smaller dome-shaped building compared to the earlier auditorium.

A sudden brilliant idea struck me. I stepped away from the line momentarily. The upperclassmen guiding us called out to me.

“Hey! Freshman! Where are you going!”

“I’ll just run to the restroom real quick!”

The moment I entered, I quickly summoned the Second Clone and sent it out.

“If only I had done this during the entrance ceremony..”

I hid in a stall in the restroom while controlling the clone.

When the upperclassmen waiting outside saw me emerge, they led me straight to the small auditorium. Sorry, Daphne!

After a brief chaos subsided outside, I cautiously stepped out. It seemed everyone had gone into the small auditorium.

I lay back on a bench nearby. Gone were the frigid winds of a few weeks ago, replaced by warm sunlight and a gentle breeze that welcomed me.

“I’m so sleepy…”

Just as I was about to drift off, my curiosity about the welcome event piqued, so I peeked inside.

Through the Second Clone, I transmitted sensations and could see the auditorium filled with students. It resembled an ordinary gym.

-Now, we will begin the welcome event for new students. First, there will be an oath by the top-ranking and second-ranking students.

Finally, this feels a bit like an actual school entrance ceremony. If this were a proper school, they’d have done this during the entrance ceremony.

-Top student: Irene Solstice. Second student: Lucian Blackveil. Please step forward!

Two familiar-looking students walked up to the podium.

Those two—if my memory serves—are playable characters, and not just any, but ranked four and five!

‘Aren’t they also transfer students from Polaris?’

A girl with long purple hair tied up in a ponytail and a dignified aura stepped forward. The headband crossing her hair was impressive. Standing beside her was a boy with dark blue hair, sporting a cool demeanor.

-We swear. We, the freshmen of Polaris for the 25th year, deeply engrave the unique purpose of service and protection in our hearts…

Ugh, this is dragging on. They’re probably expressing some earnest commitment to be diligent or something.

I glanced around. The upperclassmen who had guided us had quietly stepped outside through the door. It didn’t seem like they were monitoring us.

-With the powers bestowed by ether, we shall act not for personal gain but as a beacon of hope for the innocent, a shield for the defenseless…

Daphne was two seats away, looking serious as she stared straight ahead. She appeared quite moved.

I gave a casual command to the clone to stay still, cut off senses, and closed my eyes.

However, I heard a strange sound in the Second Clone’s ear.

-Weeeeeeiiing…

A bizarre noise, almost reminiscent of a vacuum cleaner sucking something up.

“Eh?”

“Wait, what the heck…”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, a brightly colored sphere appeared in the air above the auditorium.

“Holy crap! A Gate!”

“Why is it suddenly here?”

“What did you say?”

From within it, a gigantic dinosaur with a spiked head came bursting out, about the size of a bus.

“C-Cranos?”

“Oh my god! It’s Cranons! A mid-tier monster!”

“AAAAAAH! A monster!!”

That’s Cranons, a mid-tier monster! Why’s he showing up now?

Isn’t this too intense for an entrance ceremony event?

“Get out of the way!”

“AAAAHH! MOM!!!”

“Call the guards!!”

Students plunged into panic, starting to flee.

Smart choice. Those are not something beginners can handle.

“Rugilinn! We need to evacuate…?! Ah!”

First, I dragged Daphne and cautiously retreated towards the windows I had been eyeing. I quickly pulled out my alloy hammer and struck the window.

-CRACK!

A yellow flash burst forth, and the hammer bounced off! What, is it a barrier? I tried hitting it again, but it wasn’t yielding!

“The door! The door won’t open!”

“Break it down!”

Only then did I notice the door was in a similar state. Students screamed, pulling out their weapons and banging on the door, but nothing moved.

BAM! A sound echoed as students struck by Cranons’ tail shot up into the ceiling of the auditorium.

“Everyone calm down! We have no choice but to fight. First, spread out!”

“See, that’s exactly why beginners are… Tch…”

In the meantime, Irene and Lucian had drawn their weapons and engaged with the monster. A student beside them, trembling yet steeling to fight, was indeed remarkable.

I wondered if there was a barrier outside too; I rushed to relocate the alloy hammer from the Second Clone.

-CLANG! CLANG!

As I struck from outside, the glass shattered. The barrier seems to apply only from the inside. The yellow web-like light that had been over the broken window flickered and then went out.

“Finally broke through!… What?! There are two Rugilinns…”

“Explanations later! It’s my unique ability! Get out quickly!”

I swiftly pulled Daphne out through the window. I couldn’t leave my roommate in danger.

“Thank you, Rugilinn! Please go ahead. Also, can I borrow your hammer for a moment?”

“Huh? Here you go. What for…”

I tossed the hammer to the Second Clone and dashed ahead.

-CRASH!

Daphne received the hammer and shattered the remaining window, creating a broader escape route. After breaking off the jagged edges, she draped her blazer over the window frame.

“Everyone! This way! Evacuate here!”

Hearing her shout, the students rushed over.

“We’re saved!”

“There’s an exit here!”

“Victory!”

Seeing students escape, Daphne ran back to join my side with the Second Clone.

“Great idea, but what about your uniform?”

“Let’s worry about that later!”

We hurried and dashed far from the small auditorium. Finally, we leaned against a nearby unidentified building to catch our breath.

“For now, we’re safe…”

-BOOM!

Suddenly, the wall toward the small auditorium exploded.

“What?! Why is it coming this way?”

Cranons had escaped through the glass we had exited from!

-AAAAAH!

-EEEK!

Students fleeing were struck by its head, flying into the air once more. But something about Cranons seemed wrong.

“No way, it’s… hurt…?”

-KROOOOOOOOO!

Now that I look closely, Cranons is covered in blood. It must have fled after being pursued by a group led by Irene and Lucian.

“Everyone! Well done! If we keep this up, we might be able to take it down!”

“Stop showing off, top student! I’ll handle it!”

Cranons was getting pounded from all directions by incoming attacks, thrashing its head around in desperate counterattacks.

-KROOOO!

“Oh no! It’s going to go berserk!”

“Get back! Breath attack!”

A glowing mass of ether had gathered in the wide-open mouth of Cranons. As students began scattering, Lucian stepped forward, extending a hand.

“You think I’ll let a dumb monster go off?”

From his hand, a complex magic circle formed, and a lightning bolt struck Cranons’ head.

-BOOM! BOOM!

Cranons’ head twisted awkwardly. With a shock, it collapsed to the ground.

Wait, why is its head turning this way?

The monster’s mouth gaped widely. The gathered ether was aimed right at me.

I froze at the sight of the breath-ready to fire. What a ridiculous situation.

“Uh…”

“Get back!”

Daphne sprang forward in front of me and the Second Clone.

In the moment a beam shot toward us, a light green translucent barrier sprang up in front of her. When the beam struck the barrier, she grit her teeth, letting out a muffled groan.

Soon, the beam divided into several streams, completely dissipating.

The barrier faded, and she turned back to me, looking tired.

“Haah… haah… Thankfully, I managed to block it.”

“Wow… you actually blocked that?”

I was astonished. I knew her unique ability, but I had no idea it was this powerful. My roommate is truly incredible!

“More importantly, thank goodness. The monster has fallen.”

“Right.”

In the distance, I could see students gathering around the fallen corpse of Cranons. They actually managed to beat it.

“Rugilinn, if it’s not too much trouble, may I take the lead for a moment? I see some injured students over there.”

“Why bother asking that? I’ll go with you.”

I paused, watching her walk ahead.

-THUD!

“Gah!”

I felt a strong impact on the back of my head and fell forward. What the? What on earth?

The Second Clone collapsed after being struck by a large piece of debris. My body wouldn’t move. What the heck is happening?

Looking back, the cracked exterior of the building was shaking uncontrollably. Bricks of varying sizes thudded down one by one.

Is that from the impact of the breath attack?

Upon hearing my scream, Daphne rushed back toward me.

“Rugilinn!”

I struggled to rise. Turning my body, I spotted something white clinging to the outer wall wobbling before it fell.

An air conditioning unit. It was about to crash down on me.

I thrashed around. I was getting back up, wrestling with the ground. I couldn’t move. I was moving. My senses overlapped. The second clone stumbled. I was floundering too.

“What the hell…”

“AAAAAH!”

-THUD!

Everything went black.

On September 2nd, 25 years into the federal period, Violet collapsed after being struck by an air conditioning unit, long burdened by chronic illness.

What a useless fellow.