The next morning, we started moving diligently.
As soon as I woke up in the dormitory early in the morning, I also woke up in a shabby motel far away in the southwestern region.
-“It’s nice because when one wakes up, the other wakes up easily too.”-
-“It’s strange. When one sleeps, the other can still move separately.”-
Living as clones that share each other’s emotions and sensations was a strange feeling I had never experienced before.
It was similar to moving units in a strategy simulation game when multiple clones scattered and moved in all directions.
However, each of those numbers was “me.”
I could perceive my existence scattered and moving within distances ranging from hundreds of meters to hundreds of kilometers.
Even now, despite being accustomed to this ability, it still felt alien.
“You too, take care!”
While Violet No. 10 departed for the Novastia Mines, No. 11 took the high-speed train heading for the central region.
The destination was the Brotherhood’s office located on the outskirts of the central district, where Kalia lived.
-“What should we do there? Explore a dungeon? Take a quest?”-
-“Just get a part-time job at a convenience store. Gate-related quests or dungeon raids in the central region are beyond our current level.”-
-“Don’t forget you’re a spare life and a teleport marker!”-
As long as an adequate caloric intake was maintained, clones would persist unless they suffered fatal injuries.
Moreover, clones could create additional clones as long as magic power permitted.
Based on this concept, we decided to spread ourselves widely across the entirety of the Academy City.
-“Don’t forget to make a new clone whenever you get a chance!”-
We planned to borrow an empty warehouse near Kalia and the Brotherhood with their help and establish a Violet barracks there.
The gathered Violets would be deployed to dungeons or scattered again to form individual bases.
“Geez, some people just eat and play, or zone out in the classroom, while I’m stuck doing grunt work…”
Violet No. 10 grumbled as she returned to the dungeon she visited yesterday.
-“Don’t worry! You confirmed last night that your unique ability had leveled up. We’ll switch consciousness on time.”-
The other Violets comforted No. 10.
During yesterday’s quest to obtain the inventory, we went through numerous battles.
Perhaps due to the frequent use of the clone ability, the Clone Technique leveled up, and a new capability emerged.
[Dynamic-Consciousness/Ego Link Clone Technique Lv2]
└ Mutual consciousness transfer between clone bodies is now possible.
└ Pain and other sensations felt by one body can be dispersed to other clones at will, reducing their impact.
└ The degree of sensory dispersion depends on the number of clones, ranging from 2–5% per clone.
Sensations dispersed from one body cannot be further redistributed.
The first new feature was the transfer of consciousness between clones.
Now, each clone could switch its consciousness with another’s body.
This was easy to test.
However, the second feature was a bit harder to understand.
“Dispersion of sensations? Isn’t that an ability we already have?”
“The word ‘dulling’ is added. Doesn’t it mean the pain is reduced relative to our numbers?”
It was worth testing.
The critical issue with clones was that all of us felt pain equally.
Even in synchronized formation and seamless combat, if one clone was severely injured, the coordination among the clones quickly collapsed.
-“Let’s address this before class. What do we do if it hurts?”-
-“Sit at the back of the classroom and head to the restroom if it gets too much. Honestly, apart from a few classes, there’s no reason to focus too hard.”-
Violet No. 7 began her first morning lecture.
“The mechanism by which ether affects living cells… is incredibly complex… Therefore, little is known yet…”
While the boring lecture dragged on, the others passed through yesterday’s checkpoint and entered the Novastia Dungeon.
To test the new ability, we engaged the beasts once again.
“Charge! Charge!”
“…Alright! I’m going in!”
Violet No. 4 spread her arms and leapt into the midst of the Skrax horde.
Immediately, a Skrax spear pierced No. 4’s stomach.
“Ahhh!”
The searing pain swept through all of us, regardless of distance.
We activated the ability, praying for even slight relief.
[The pain felt by an entity is dispersed among clones, reducing its intensity – Dullness Index: 5%]
“Ugh… huh? It’s actually better than before!”
No. 4, bewildered, picked up her weapon.
Surprisingly, the pain No. 4 experienced had significantly lessened.
The fiery agony was reduced to a sensation akin to someone pressing firmly against her abdomen.
Freed from the overwhelming pain, No. 4 raised her hammer and struck a Skrax on the head.
After the battle, No. 4 grabbed the spear embedded in her stomach with both hands and yanked it out without hesitation.
“It doesn’t hurt as much anymore! Ugh… My vision’s going dark…”
“How could you pull it out like that! You’re losing too much blood. Let’s reverse-generate quickly.”
We tested the ability through several more battles.
Later, we even tried slicing an arm or leg with a blade.
“The pain is definitely reduced. But don’t you feel something strange?”
No. 2 pointed out.
“Previously, when one clone got hurt, the pain was transmitted to the others.
When that clone disappeared, the pain vanished instantly too.”
“But dispersing the pain feels different.
It’s like the injured clone’s pain is directly brought to me.”
“Oh, so when the injured one reverse-generates, a faint residual pain lingers with the others?”
We had a brief discussion.
“Then, if there’s a massive bombardment or too many get injured, this won’t help much.”
“In that case, we just have to run.”
Regardless of the drawbacks, it seemed that a single clone getting beaten up would no longer cause the others to writhe in shared pain.
“That means the role of No. 11, who went to the central region, becomes very important now.”
“Right, absolutely.”
We realized yet another reason to keep increasing our numbers.
In the distance, another horde of Skrax loomed.
The Violets launched another charge.
“Let’s go!”
“I’m not scared of pain anymore!”
Without hesitation, we fought head-on.
Now, even in a critically injured state, we could battle without shedding tears.
“Look! My leg got cut off. I’ll regenerate it!”
“I can’t see in front of me! Hahaha…”
“Be careful. Even though you recover half the magic power when you reverse-generate, remember there’s still a limit to your total magic power.”
We fought with reckless abandon like berserkers.
Eventually, it was lunchtime, and we paused for reorganization.
“Why am I so tired? I got reverse-generated and recreated, though.”
“It’s less painful than before, but I feel so drained…”
Even when fingers were torn off, spears impaled us, or explosive blasts blew off limbs, it became bearable.
Severe injuries healed after reverse-generation and regeneration, eliminating both wounds and fatigue.
Yet, we grew weary of it.
It felt like our minds were sinking into a mire.
“Why do I feel so exhausted?”
Perhaps it was the gray atmosphere unique to the Novastia Dungeon.
After finding a safe clearing, we prepared for lunch.
A clone transmitted sandwiches bought from the school cafeteria, but no one had an appetite.
Everyone slumped down in exhaustion.
-“Guys! Check the inventory! The transmission failed because it’s too heavy!”-
No. 11, who had arrived in the central district, seemed to have bought something peculiar.
When we retrieved an item from the inventory, we found an icebox filled with cans and ice.
“It’s beer!”
No. 5 raised a can of beer.
Droplets of water glistened on its icy surface.
When the lid popped open, foam hissed out, accompanied by a thin white mist.
Without hesitation, we drank.
“Ahhh!”
“It’s delicious!”
The ice-cold, bitter beer sliding down our throats washed away all the lingering fatigue.
All thirteen of us downed the beer together, and the refreshing sensation burst like an explosion.
Even the two Violets on standby inside the school, drinking only water, felt as if they had drunk beer.
We marveled at the icy canned beer in the dungeon.
-“No. 11! Where did you get all this?”-
-“I saw something cold-looking at a nearby stall, so I bought the whole thing and sent it over! How is it?”-
-“It’s the best!”-
The unexpected beer party lifted everyone’s spirits.
It seems like the inventory should be used like this more often.
More beer! More drinks!
11! Let me know once you secure the hideout later! –
Okay! –
With renewed energy, we got up and continued hunting.
Meanwhile, while the dungeon team was diligently auto-hunting and the school team was attending classes, 11 headed to a familiar place on the outskirts of the central district.
The late afternoon sunlight painted the multi-family housing and deserted alleys in golden hues.
As she walked through the streets, a familiar shabby building came into view.
It hadn’t even been two weeks since I left, yet it felt nostalgic to be back.
“Kalia! I’m here!”
When I rang the doorbell, footsteps sounded from inside.
A moment later, the rusty hinges creaked as the door opened, revealing a tall girl with pink bobbed hair dressed casually.
“Wow, Violet. You actually came back as you said you would? Didn’t your school term just start?”
“Yeah! I’ll explain why I’m here later. But Kalia, aren’t you going to school?”
“Me? Classes ended early today. Anyway, come in.”
A little later in the living room, I explained my ability to Kalia in detail.
Since we escaped from the same research lab, I trusted her enough to share this much.
After listening to my explanation, she clutched her head.
“So, the you standing here is indeed Violet, but a clone? You’ve multiplied yourself? Weren’t your clones mindless puppets before? What kind of bizarre…”
“I get that it’s confusing. But anyway, I’ve multiplied myself. This is reality!”
When she declared that she couldn’t understand and clicked her tongue, I brought two clones from the dungeon to demonstrate and repeated my explanation.
After explaining it twice, Kalia finally seemed to understand a little.
“So, you’ve split into multiple selves, but they’re all connected. Did I get that right?”
“Probably.”
“That’s likely.”
“Correct!”
When the three of us answered consecutively, she waved her hands in exasperation.
“Hey! Enough! Could all three of you shut up? Answer one at a time. Seeing multiple identical girls is making me dizzy…”
“Here, have some water!”
After gulping down a glass of water, Kalia sat silently, lost in thought.
Eventually, she spoke again, her tone more cautious.
“The principle behind your ability? I don’t care anymore! But there’s one thing I really need to know. You have to answer this.”
“What is it?”
“Among the three of you here and the rest elsewhere, are you still the Violet I escaped with?”
“Yes! I am that Violet!”
“Can you prove it?”
The three of us stood and eagerly recounted events from the lab.
Kalia, overwhelmed, raised her hands to stop us.
“Oh, my head… I told you to speak one at a time.”
“Sorry.”
“Well, at least I think you’re the Violet I know.”
It was a relief I hadn’t mentioned that I’d died and awakened this unique ability.
After some back-and-forth, Kalia and I got to the main point.
“Whatever the case, it’s good to see you again after so long. But Violet, why did you come all this way back? You said you had something you wanted to discuss?”
“It’s nothing big! I just need you to find an empty building nearby and a truck or two! I have money!”
“A warehouse? Trucks? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I heard that some Brotherhood members do vehicle repairs or work in real estate. It’s not impossible, right?”
Personally, I believed it was entirely possible.
Before turning into a violent organization, the Osprey Brotherhood had been a vigilante group formed by local laborers, small business owners, and low-level hunters.
Kalia rested her chin on her hand and thought for a moment before answering.
“Well, it’s not impossible. If I contact Brotherhood members or other acquaintances, I should be able to find what you’re looking for. But it might take a few days. Is that okay?”
“More than okay!”
She picked up her smartphone and started making calls.
Between calls, she asked me about my specific needs.
“Used trucks are fine, but make sure they’re large! And the building should be nearby; size is the only important factor. I’ll handle the rest!”
After several calls, Kalia told me that she had found what I needed and that I could check it out in three days.
“It’s done! Thank you!”
“You’re not planning something weird, are you?”
“No! What I’m doing is perfectly legitimate. And…”
I cautiously brought up a sensitive topic about Kalia and the Brotherhood.
“I heard you still haven’t found your uncle, Kalia. And that hiring people to search for him has been expensive…”
Her expression darkened.
Kalia tried to dismiss my suggestion with a serious look.
“Violet, that’s something the Brotherhood has to handle. It could be really dangerous.”
“But still! I want to help you, Kalia!”
“Me too! Me too!”
The three of us clung to Kalia’s sides, whining incessantly.
In the end, Kalia surrendered.
“Ugh! Fine! Alright, helping would be nice. But don’t do anything dangerous! Got it?”
“Got it! But you have to help me too, Kalia!”
We chuckled together.
I genuinely wanted to help Kalia.
However, the only thing I could do was provide money or other resources.
I had no idea where her uncle, the leader of the Osprey Brotherhood, might be.
Kalia, looking drained, stood up and shook her head.
“At this rate, it feels like raising a bunch of puppies…”
As I sat on the sofa looking up at her, I realized how much taller she was than me.
She was probably around 170 cm tall.
Turning to leave, she paused and glanced back at us.
She stared at us for a moment, then smirked.
Her long, slender arm reached out and touched one of our heads.
“Uh, what?”
Her long, thin fingers gently patted my head.
For some reason, it didn’t feel unpleasant.
“Huh? Why did I do that… Anyway, I’m going grocery shopping. Stay put and don’t go anywhere!”
“Okay! Bring back some pizza!”
Looking slightly bewildered, Kalia left the house.
Well, it was fine.
Being patted on the head didn’t feel bad.
I sprawled out on the sofa.
Somewhere far away, another me was still diligently attending afternoon classes.
-Good luck!-
-Sigh…-