Violet’s daily routine went on like a hamster wheel.
She attended classes, hunted, purchased necessary items, and repeated this cycle every day.
In this manner, a week had passed before she knew it.
“Ugh… I want to have fun…”
“No!”
At night, after a monotonous day, we held meetings.
Using thoughts, we could transmit not just words but also images and specific details from our memories, making the discussions concise and to the point.
On Friday afternoon, with classes ending early, the meeting started sooner.
The day’s agenda began with a brief review of the week’s progress.
– Not yet. I’ve seen a few decent ones, but we haven’t saved enough money. On the bright side,
I secured a building. It’s old, with no electricity, but it doesn’t leak, and it’s cheap. –
The clone stationed in the central district summarized its actions over the past few days.
The three-story, abandoned building, previously used as a warehouse, was completely empty.
After confirming its condition was decent, a contract was signed immediately.
Now, Violet clones packed their belongings and laid mats inside to stay there.
It seemed intact, but it needed a good cleaning.
– Hey! Why’d you buy a motorcycle? We need a truck! –
– It’s for deliveries and as a transport! –
– Deliveries? Seriously? –
– The more transport options we have, the better. –
Despite conserving mana to prevent excessive deaths, over ten members were already stationed in the central district.
Once we increased our levels or obtained items that efficiently boosted mana, the number would grow even more.
We decided to diversify our income sources outside the dungeon.
The funds would support clones working externally, covering their living expenses.
It was a form of self-sufficiency.
Most importantly, with student IDs now in hand, even part-time or contract jobs became accessible.
However, our appearance posed a significant issue.
– Look at us—we all look identical. One or two might pass as twins, but more would raise suspicion. –
– Exactly! I checked, and duplication abilities are pretty rare. –
– Everyone should wear masks or disguises when outside. Also, dress differently! –
If identical girls were spotted all over, anyone would find it suspicious.
Modern civilization in this world had social media and the internet.
If rumors about “identical pretty girls working everywhere” spread, it wouldn’t bode well.
Such rumors could draw attention from city-managing clans, corporations, federal agents, or secret organizations operating within the city.
– So, no jobs that involve meeting people for extended periods. Loading and unloading packages is too physically demanding for us. –
– Do you think deliveries don’t involve meeting people? –
– You can cover up with a helmet and mask! Plus, face-to-face time is short. Apparently, they’re so short-handed, they’ll take anyone who can ride a motorcycle. They don’t even ask for IDs! –
Despite being a beautiful girl now, all we could do was 3D labor jobs.
I wanted to live the easy life through internet streaming or social media…
– We need to get those disguises soon… –
– That dungeon is swarming with mid-tier beasts. We’re not ready for it. –
The discussion shifted topics.
The dungeon team, eating combat rations on the outskirts of the Novastia Dungeon, voiced their thoughts.
– When are we heading to another dungeon? I’m sick of killing those damned dwarven pests. –
– Let’s gear up first. We need to learn body reinforcement techniques to be effective in the next dungeon. –
– We also need guns and crossbows! And a tent! –
As usual, the primary topics revolved around growth, dungeons, and equipment.
– I asked Kalia about buying guns and got scolded. “What do I look like, a general store?” she said. I did find a second-hand weapons shop on the outskirts. I’ll check it out. –
– Three-star weapons! At least three stars! –
– Can’t we get gear from clans or major corporations? –
– You can order online, but it’s expensive! –
New ideas were suggested.
– How about training the central district members during their downtime? We’ll practice at the gym, too. –
– Sure. What should we start with? Martial arts? Swordsmanship? –
– All of it! –
What would happen if we trained together?
Could there be some sort of group experience bonus?
It seemed worth trying.
– By the way, how’s school going? –
– Actually, I found something odd just now! –
Those stationed at school displayed books and online articles.
– I sent my thoughts earlier, but since everyone was busy, I’ll explain again. Something strange is going on. –
Seventh’s perspective showed a smartphone displaying a <Polaris Comprehensive Academy
Introduction Booklet> and a search engine filled with news articles.
– Wow, you’re finally doing something useful instead of reading novels at the library. –
Fifth teased Seventh. Most data-gathering team members spent their time browsing books or computers in the library but often used it as an excuse to slack off.
– You all looked at it with me! –
– Ugh! –
Seventh’s retort left us momentarily silent, feeling guilty.
It was true.
Our ability to share thoughts and perspectives made playing games or multitasking incredibly convenient.
When bored or tired, a little focus shift to the Violet Network let us play games while studying or read books while fighting.
– Wait, who decided to call our thought-sharing system “Violet Network”? –
– Last night! Twenty-five out of thirty clones agreed. Eleventh was asleep. –
– Democracy, huh? Guess I can’t argue. –
After some small talk, Seventh began explaining immediately.
– We’ve all noticed it—Polaris Academy is bizarrely large. Didn’t it feel weird during the entrance ceremony? –
– Yeah. Thinking back, why are there so many students? –
In the game, the academy’s focus was on students and teachers fighting monsters.
But school events were also highlighted—beach trips, hot springs, and excursions were essential for selling student characters.
Typically, awakened academies were described as high-school-sized.
But this one was oddly massive, more like a university combining college and high school systems.
– I looked into it. Polaris Academy in the western region is the largest awakened academy. Do you know how much bigger it is compared to others? Three to four times. –
– Damn, that’s huge. Are there that many young awakeners? –
– It’s as if they combined all nearby academies into one. –
– Exactly, First! That’s the answer! –
– Huh? –
Everyone’s focus turned to Seventh’s view.
Thin, pale fingers tapped the screen, bringing up a map application.
It displayed the large diamond-shaped main island of the Academy City and its surrounding archipelago.
Seventh’s thumbs typed “awakened academy,” populating the map with red dots.
– Wow, there are so many academies. –
– Now, compare the numbers in the east, west, south, and north. –
Comparing the number of academies in each region, we noticed something strange.
Even at a glance, the west had significantly fewer academies than the other regions.
– What the…? Other regions look similar, but why is the west so sparse? –
– Is it a bad district? –
– It’s suspicious, right? Look at this, and you’ll see why.
The smartphone screen switched to a search engine displaying articles sorted by date.
<Arcainum Magic High School is scheduled to merge with Polaris Integrated Academy starting next year.
The student transfer process is expected to proceed smoothly. FE.17.10.12>
<Martea Autonomous Private High School and three other academies have signed a student transfer and facility relocation agreement with Polaris Integrated Academy after discussions with its board of directors. Vice Chair Balefor: ‘We expect significant enhancement of students’ abilities.’ FE.19.05.12>
<On the 36th anniversary of its founding, Polaris Integrated Academy, now the second largest in Academy City, makes significant strides – Chair Balefor: ‘We will nurture outstanding talents to lead humanity’s future.’ – FE.21.06.03>
Words like “merger,” “transfer,” and “students” were unavoidable in the headlines.
It was strange.
“I was curious, so I looked it up. That’s how I found these articles. I searched further, just in case.”
“What? They’ve absorbed several schools in just a few years. Is that even possible?”
“I don’t know. Are the clans just letting this happen? Maybe they were bribed?”
Polaris’ expansionist behavior filled us with doubt.
There was clearly a reason for this academy’s large scale.
“Look at the photo! Isn’t that the guy from the entrance ceremony?”
No. 11 briefly seized control of No. 7’s body to scroll through the screen.
A picture of a young man with long black hair tied back, giving a speech, came into view.
“That guy’s the chairman who gave the speech at the entrance ceremony!”
“The one who kept the address short and sweet! He looks young for someone with the title of chairman.”
“He must be an Awakened. They age slower, don’t they?”
It was odd how the academy had grown so much.
It felt truly bizarre.
“Is that why all sorts of random people have gathered here?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they’re just trying to drain money from the students.”
I knew that five years from now, in the main story, this academy would become a ruin. Yet recently, its size had suddenly increased.
Something about it gave me a strange feeling.
Am I being too suspicious?
Perhaps I was just being overly paranoid.
“For now, let’s not leave this to chance. Let’s thoroughly investigate this. Focus on the academy’s history and check who the board members are.”
“Got it!”
“Understood. Now, let’s move on to the final agenda of the meeting: who took the ‘Multidimensional Storage Bag’? The inventory thief, who could it be?”
As I was about to dive into the last topic of our meeting, a sudden message came through.
-Bzzzt!
[Notice: All students of the Dungeon Strategy and Management Department who receive this message must gather immediately at Classroom Building 3, 3rd Floor. We will be holding a belated freshman welcome party. Attendance is mandatory!
-Signed, Your Dungeon Strategy and Management Seniors]
“What the heck is this?!”
After nearly two weeks of silence, the inevitable had come. Our department, which had been relatively calm compared to others, was finally calling us in.
“Meeting adjourned! Meeting adjourned! Seven, what will you do?”
“I don’t know! I guess we have to go, right? It might actually be a real party this time.”
“If anything happens, use pain distribution, check your mana, and prepare your weapons. Dungeon team, retreat immediately!”
With a firm resolve, I, No. 7, stepped out of the dormitory.
As I walked through the campus, distant, thunderous noises reached my ears. Was there a fight going on?
-KABOOM!
-BANG!
Dust and smoke filled the field. Unfortunately, it seemed like the fight had already ended.
What a shame to miss such an entertaining spectacle.
Surprisingly, the scene before me was a reversal of senior-junior dynamics.
“Aaaargh! Freshman, calm down! Aaagh! Junior, I’m sorry!”
“Waaaaah! Help! Someone call the disciplinary committee!”
A cool-looking, blue-haired male student seemed to have stepped out of a light novel.
It was Lucian.
True to his nature as someone who thrived on his own glory, it seemed he had mercilessly taken down the seniors. What a standout talent.
“Ha! You seniors strut around just because you entered a little earlier, but you’re utterly useless.”
“Hey… but we’re still your seniors…!”
One senior grumbled indignantly, surrounded by several unconscious upperclassmen piled up like sacks.
Lucian perched on top of them, mocking the trembling seniors.
“I don’t listen to anyone weaker than me.”
“Wow, Lucian, you’re amazing!”
First-year classmates standing nearby cheered.
Though dust-covered themselves, it seemed they’d joined in on the scuffle with Lucian as the main force.
As I resumed walking, I noticed a group of black-uniformed enforcers rushing toward them at high speed.
-Thud thud thud!
“Everyone freeze! Disciplinary Committee!”
“Stop right there!”
The enforcers quickly surrounded Lucian and the first-years.
Some of the frightened first-years were immediately grabbed.
“We heard reports of violence. Come with us!”
“What? Do you want to end up like those guys on the ground?”
For a moment, a standoff ensued between Lucian and what seemed to be the enforcer leader.
“Unauthorized violence is prohibited on school grounds.”
“Ridiculous. When seniors force weird traditions on us, you’re nowhere to be seen. But now you show up right on time.”
The stalemate ended as the enforcer stepped back first.
“…Enough. Just come with us. You can leave after we investigate.”
“Yeah, right! A freshman hitting a senior… wait, why me too?!”
The disciplinary committee marched off, dragging along both first-years and third-years alike.
Lucian shook off their grip, declaring, “I’ll walk on my own.”
“What a mess.”
I hadn’t even known this school had a disciplinary committee.
What a puzzling world.
After walking diligently, I arrived at the classroom building where the party was supposed to be held.
Inside a large room, a bright banner read, “Welcome, Freshmen!” Balloons and festive decorations were everywhere.
Most importantly, the contents on the large table caught my attention.
Fried chicken, pizza, and an assortment of delicious dishes were piled high.
“Wow!”
It really did seem like a genuine party.
Maybe the seniors in this department weren’t so bad after all.