“Ugh… my head…”
I dreamt of someone jabbing a skewer under my eyes and stirring my brain.
Perhaps because of the nightmare, my head throbbed and ached.
It seemed I had woken up a bit too early.
Though there was no clock, the extinguished lights suggested it wasn’t time to wake yet.
Soon, the ceiling lights flickered before turning on brightly.
The small room surrounded by tiled floors and white walls greeted me.
A modest space with just a bed, a mirror, a toilet, and a sink.
Above me, a surveillance camera mounted near the ventilation shaft glimmered silently as it observed.
Maybe they were satisfied with how proficient I’d become with my unique ability, as my treatment improved marginally.
Previously, they’d trigger my collar to deliver electric shocks or whack me with a baton at the slightest provocation, but now they only grumbled or cursed occasionally.
To summarize, the living conditions for test subjects were like privacy-free dormitories.
After a few months of consciousness, I grew accustomed to the routines here.
I even came to terms with my own existence to a certain extent.
Though I still wasn’t used to some things—like using the toilet or the oddly curvaceous features of my body.
A shrill and abrupt siren blared, serving as the morning bugle.
When the speaker announced, “Wake up, wake up!” we had to stand ready by the door.
Footsteps echoed, and guards passed by, inspecting the rooms through the transparent bulletproof glass doors.
A loud thud suddenly resounded, making the floor shake.
A burly guard strode past my door.
‘It’s the Ogre.’
It was a metaphor.
One of the guards was exceptionally huge.
I called him Ogre.
He was an awakened being.
His presence and demeanor were unmistakably different from ordinary people.
Though I couldn’t be certain, his strength likely matched a field boss from a beginner’s village.
The test subjects here were awakened beings who had survived inhumane experiments and gained power.
They could easily snap a human spine like a twig.
That’s why the regular guards were equipped with automatic rifles or shotguns as a basic measure.
Occasionally, awakened guards appeared with ether-infused maces to instill “etiquette.”
After a brief roll call, meal time began.
The guard from earlier reappeared with a bag and lazily tossed a meal into the slot.
A bottle filled with white powder slid into the room.
“Milk powder again?”
A few deceitful researchers, like the one with the ponytail, described it as a “specially formulated nutritional food for our valued participants.”
But I knew better.
The bottle contained a mix of powdered milk, protein supplements, and crushed vitamins—human fodder.
One evening, after returning from a physical examination, I witnessed a researcher scooping powder from a plastic container labeled “Protein” and another with a baby image into a large bowl.
They even added crushed pills, mixed everything, and filled the bottles lined up on their desk.
This was the only meal we test subjects received thrice a day.
Sure, it’s something to eat, but it digests too quickly, so I was always hungry.
I opened the bottle cap, poured water to the indicated line at the sink, and shook it.
Drinking it in one gulp concluded the meal.
Whatever supplements or formula they used, the stuff was utterly tasteless, leaving no reason to linger over it.
After months of eating only this, I began craving something sweet.
So hungry…
After the meal, I waited for the researchers to come and escort me.
The day’s activities varied depending on circumstances.
Previously, mornings involved drawing blood and channeling mana as instructed.
Afternoons were spent wearing a helmet fitted with electrodes, entertaining them with clone displays without complaints.
Recently, they started conducting what seemed like training sessions outside regular health check-ups.
For instance, they’d pit us against monsters.
At first, they had us swing clubs or stab dummies.
But lately, we were made to fight living creatures.
Though unsettling at first, I got used to it after a few rounds.
It seemed like the typical combat data collection trope from comics.
“Violet! Good morning. Let’s work hard at training today. Fighting!”
The ponytailed woman was supervising me again today.
“Fighting…”
I vaguely reciprocated, with the implied meaning that her parentage might include ringed worms.
I disliked her.
Initially, her kindness led me to cautiously ask for simple personal items or preferences.
But she stonewalled me and spouted predictable responses.
‘Really? But I believe Violet is such a good girl that you can endure it.’
‘Oh dear! That happened? But I trust Violet will cooperate better in the experiments.’
And why does she call herself “big sister”?
Given the age difference, she’s old enough to be my mother.
What annoyed me most was the way she looked at me.
Even now, her gaze swept over my body, like the male researchers do…
Forget it.
Happy thoughts… happy thoughts…
We entered an elevator operated via fingerprint recognition and descended to a floor divided by steel partitions.
This lab seemed much larger than I imagined.
Bang! Bang!
-Screeeech!
The moment the door opened, a cacophony of violent noises greeted me.
“Hiya! Haaah! Hiya! Haaah!”
“Argh! Die! Dieeee!!”
“Aaah! My leg! Help me! Let me out!!!”
“Kyarrroo!”
Inside, other awakened test subjects were battling various monsters, each massive and unique.
Researchers filmed the scenes with cameras or operated equipment, while more guards than usual stood watch.
Nearby, a loud crash and human screams came from one of the rooms before abruptly falling silent.
Moments later, guards entered and carried out a person on a stretcher.
Though bloodied, they were trembling, which meant they were still alive.
Poor thing.
“Violet! Don’t be scared. Big sis is watching over you. You’ve got this~”
She gave my rear a little pat.
“Thank you…”
‘Remember this, you…’
I stood before the test chamber door from which that person had been dragged out.
“Get in!”
A guard shoved me roughly, forcing me into the room.
A metal grille divided the chamber in the middle.
The floor was smeared with the remains of some strange creature and fresh blood, presumably from the previous occupant.
Shortly after, a mechanical whir sounded as a box descended from the ceiling.
“Test Subject 10-6-8, open the box and take out the equipment inside.”
I opened the box to find a single dagger.
“10-6-8, hold the weapon and prepare. The grille will open in 30 seconds. 30, 29…”
Across the grille, mechanical noises repeated as a gate opened.
A growling wolf-like monster appeared, its skeletal, white exoskeleton-covered head distinctive.
This was a Skullkit, a beastly scout from another dimension.
Known for its powerful bite that could sever steel and its durable skull, it was cunning like a hyena.
It particularly favored the flesh of cowards and young girls.
The Skullkit spotted me through the grille and roared ferociously, clawing violently at the barrier.
I conjured a clone in front of me and readied for battle.
‘This is my first time facing a real monster…!’
Until now, I’d only fought dummies or ether-corrupted oversized rats.
Though I’d experienced killing before, this was my first real fight against an interdimensional beast.
Could I win?
-15, 14, 13…
But I had the greatest trump card of a possessor: the status window.
Status window, show me the way…!
I pointed my knife at the creature.
* * *
<ITEM STAT>
Mass-Produced Dagger ☆
A metal dagger crafted in a back-alley workshop.
Aside from its low price, it had no outstanding features.
However, for those at the lowest position in the world,
there would be no one closer than a comrade.
* * *
‘What? Wait! Not this!’
Ah, right. My status window isn’t some kind of cheat.
It’s just a lousy interface that shows stats.
And the dagger I’m holding is only a one-star item.
Honestly, I’m weak.
With this kind of weapon, there’s really nothing I can do.
Other than screaming and crying, I have no idea what to do…!
“Raaaawr!”
As the bars lifted, the starving Skullkit growled and charged at me.
But I had a plan.
I quickly sent my clone charging in.
The clone, a girl, scurried toward the beast.
When the Skullkit opened its jaws wide, the clone thrust her left arm in. Clone punch!
“Raaaaargh!”
Of course, nothing happened.
The Skullkit’s sharp maw tore into the clone’s left arm.
“Aaaah! My arrrrrm!”
Hold on, there’s a problem with my clone technique.
That is, it shares sensations with me.
Pain is no exception.
The sensation of having its left arm bitten transmitted directly to my own, and I collapsed in agony.
My fragile clone flailed, but it couldn’t shake off the beast.
However, that was precisely my intention.
“Aaaaargh!”
I forced the clone to shove its left arm deeper into the beast’s mouth.
It hurt like hell, but now the creature couldn’t easily pull its teeth out!
I gasped for breath and lunged at the beast.
I had to attack before it completely severed the arm!
“Grr?”
The beast finally noticed me, but it was too late.
The clone wrapped its remaining limbs tightly around the Skullkit.
“Aaah!! Die!! Die! Grrraaah!”
“Screeech!”
Through my tears, I drove the dagger into the back of the Skullkit’s head.
That spot wasn’t protected by its exoskeleton.
Even with my feeble strength, I could land a critical blow.
Once, twice, three times!
It looked like a sandwich: the Skullkit on top of the clone, and me on top of the Skullkit.
-Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The beast thrashed, but I held its head firmly and kept stabbing the back of its skull.
Just die already!
At some point, the Skullkit’s movements stopped.
Panting heavily, I toppled sideways.
‘I did it… Ah…’
However, the clone paid a price.
Its left arm was shredded, and its entire body was slashed to ribbons.
The battered clone soon turned into glimmering dust and dispersed.
Goodbye, my lovely clone…
At that moment, a notification appeared before my eyes.
* * *
* Level up!
* Congratulations. You have acquired your first “Synchronization Aptitude”!
* * *
‘What…?’
Through the pain of feeling my arm being torn apart, I checked the status window.
* * *
<CHARACTER STAT>
Name: Violet Dunhind Rugilinn
Alias: Test Subject 10-6-8
Status: Research Subject
Lv: 2
HP: 850/1200
MP: 1000/1800
Unique Ability:
■■■■: ???
Lv1 Clone Technique: ???
Synchronization Aptitude:
* Backstab Advantage: Increases damage when attacking from behind.
* * *
My level had risen.
More importantly, I gained a synchronization aptitude, something I hadn’t expected at all.
‘No way, a non-playable character like me got something like this?’
“Synchronization Aptitude” is the term for unique passive skills possessed by characters in Deep Crimson Academia.
They usually enhance the use of unique abilities or complement other skills.
For example, an extra attack when swinging a sword, or a higher success rate when concocting potions.
I’d been too busy scraping by in this world to remember they even existed.
Though it’s my first time seeing the skill itself, it seems unexpectedly useful.
‘…Perfect for aiming at the back of the head.’
As a bonus, my health and mana slightly increased with the level-up.
‘Lucky…!’
My left arm hurt so much it felt like it might fall off.
Since the clone’s pain transmitted directly to me, I couldn’t even get up and was drooling on the floor.
“Test Subject 10-6-8, continue the test. Stand up. Repeat twice more under the same conditions.”
‘I’m in pain… I don’t want to fight anymore…’
‘But I feel like I can pull this off…!’
“Hehehe…”
I staggered to my feet, raising the dagger.
I had leveled up and gained a new skill.
“10-6-8, since you appear functional, we’ll proceed with the test.”
It hurt like hell, and I felt like I was dying.
But I had leveled up and gained a new skill.
For the first time since becoming a girl, I felt like I had gained something.
Yeah, from now on, I’ll grow stronger.
Alright, come at me!
* * *
After facing the Skullkit two more times, I succumbed to unbearable pain and collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
I was carried out of the testing chamber on a stretcher.
I shouldn’t have been so cocky… It hurts…