The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

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Violet asked, “What’s that?”

“I think it’s essential to have certainty.”

Daphne cleared her throat for a moment and said, “Certainty?”

“Well, I don’t know what prompted your question, but you have to make a choice, right?”

“…That’s true.”

“Based on what Rugilinn said, you either run away or confront, right? There’s no right answer here.

If you run, you might be safe. If you confront, you could win, and even if you lose, you can uphold your pride or something like justice.”

“But… I’m scared… I don’t want to do anything!”

“Then, there’s really no need to worry.”

Daphne gently took Violet’s hands, which had been trembling slightly, and slowly calmed them.

“Are you perhaps afraid of regretting your choice?”

“…Yeah. I’m scared. What if I make a choice and it’s the wrong one? What if it’s a mistake?”

Daphne shook her head.

“That’s not true. There’s no such thing as a ‘wrong choice.’ If you did your best, and didn’t deceive yourself, and put your truth into it, what would you regret? It’s not your fault; it’s other people or circumstances, or maybe just bad luck, right?”

Violet’s dull red eyes carefully studied her.

“The only truly bad choice is the one made for the wrong reasons. Those are the ones made out of self-doubt, being hasty, or being scared and then turning a blind eye and mumbling.”

Daphne smiled brightly.

“In that sense, I don’t think Rugilinn will make a ‘wrong choice.’ Rugilinn is plenty brave. If she hesitated even a little, she would have run away instead of coming to save me, right?”

“That… was something I could do. But…”

“I said it before. If you think you can’t, it’s alright to run. What’s so wrong with that? Just if Rugilinn chooses to run, run with all your confidence and all your might.”

“I don’t really understand what you mean. But I don’t want to create something I’ll regret.”

Daphne continued calmly.

“I once told you my family passed away. Actually, they died in a monster raid.”

What on earth does this mean?

Surprised, Violet looked at her face. Her blue eyes briefly gazed into the distance.

“But just before that, I had a huge fight with my parents and said terrible things to my younger sister.”

“…!”

“So, I struggled a lot in my childhood. I either annoyed the relatives or didn’t go to school, spending entire days locked in my room. I thought it was all my fault.”

Violet thought. Daphne had such a past.

“As time passed, it gradually got better, but until I entered this academy, I also had the same worries you do, Rugilinn. But my teacher… the one who helped me learn to harness my unique ability and magical power, said this.”

She quietly but firmly began to speak.

“Look up and face your regrets boldly. Whether it was a mistake or not, you have to carry that with you. Because whatever you do, you’ll inevitably regret something in life, so you must learn how to live with it. Honestly, I’m still sorry to my parents and sister. But I can’t throw away those regrets. They’re mine after all.”

“So, Violet. Whatever choice you make, go forward confidently with your whole heart. Even if you might regret it…”

Violet quietly opened her mouth.

“I’ll be by your side then. I’ll help you. You asked because of the duel you had, right?”

“Ah, that’s…”

“Right! That was totally reckless. Let me tell you something else Rugilinn missed. Why did you fight without asking anyone around for help?”

Violet felt embarrassed. Was there really no one nearby that she could ask for help?

I didn’t accept Irene’s offer to help like an idiot or even think of asking Kalia for water. Even if I had gone to Instructor Frederick, I could have asked for some advice.

“…Yeah. That’s my fault.”

“So, next time, please ask people around you for help. Don’t just focus on moving forward or backward. When you have time, look to the side. I’ll be there.”

Seeing Daphne’s gentle smile, Violet felt her frustration melt away.

“I’m your friend.”

Hearing that, Violet quietly repeated the word “friend” in her mind.

Yeah, at some point, Daphne was no longer just a character in a simple story. She wasn’t just someone close. She was a friend with whom she could talk and laugh.

“That’s right. We…”

“Why didn’t I realize it?”

Violet felt the dark clouds in her mind clear away.

“Thank you, Daphne. You’ve helped me a lot.”

“What do you mean, Rugilinn? If you ever need help, just tell me…”

Even amidst her emotions, Violet felt a bit awkward. Is it right to call her a friend?

“Wait, Daphne. We are friends, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then why do you keep calling me ‘Rugilinn’? That’s something strangers do!”

Daphne appeared flustered by the unexpected remark.

“Ah, it’s just a habit of mine… Is it uncomfortable?”

“Violet! Call me Violet!”

With Violet throwing a tantrum, Daphne opened her mouth with difficulty.

“Um… V-Violet-san?”

“No, that’s still weird. Can’t you drop the honorific?”

“…Violet?”

“That’s it!”

The Violets were elated.

Daphne cautiously opened her mouth.

“And, it’s late, but I want to tell you. You saved me when I was captured.”

“Thank you, Violet.”

The door opened carefully. A girl with purple hair slowly walked in.

“Um, are you still talking? I didn’t interrupt, did I?”

“No, it’s fine. We were about to leave.”

In the hospital room, looking at the two girls, Violet realized.

We realized.

That some people in our lives have become so close that we can’t detach them from our hearts.

The will of the awakened Violets slowly gathered and began to sharpen into a blade.

Daphne was right. Let’s move forward proudly, without regrets.

Until now, it had just been a life of running away and running. Just avoiding and reluctantly fighting. Having become so lazy, they ultimately faced defeat.

Even now, Martina’s words echoed in my ears.

“…You keep putting coins in, with those dull eyes, again and again. Every day. ‘This time, I’ll win! Just this once!’ you say. But in the end, you fail. Just like someone.”

“…You!”

That’s right, it wasn’t wrong. I had been living without a sense of crisis.

But I won’t run away anymore. I’ll confront.

The Violets have just made their resolution on what to do next.

This crazy school, the disaster to come, I won’t think of it as someone else’s problem and run away.

Because my friends are here. This isn’t a game. This is proper reality.

So I have to become stronger. There’s no room for leisure now.

If the information we gathered is correct, we have a three-month limit.

Let’s train and secure every relic or weapon of 4 stars or higher that we can find. Even if it’s a one-time use weapon that appears as an event, let’s search for it. Although the situation is different from five years ago, the knowledge stored in my head will surely help.

We need more magical power, more weapons, more strength. And lots of gasoline and explosives too.

We need even more numbers than we have now.

Even though the Student Council President is formidable, the chairman and the people around him will be orders of magnitude stronger than Martina. Barely a hundred won’t be enough.

We need a swarm of Violets that can cover the entire school.

So we can’t afford to be lazy anymore.

I won’t die. I can push myself till I break. It’s about time to confirm that advantage until I can cry.

For what?

The will of the hundred and nine Violets combined and determined a single target, sharp as a sword.

Everything is for one goal.

To destroy the academy.

To completely bring down Polaris Comprehensive Academy, leaving not a single cornerstone behind.

Let’s burn the ruins and sprinkle salt on the land.

I’m sorry, Irene, but that academy can’t be normalized. It’s rotting from the ground up in my eyes. Soon it’s destined to be swept away by the experiments.

Then, wouldn’t it be better for me to bring it down first?

Isn’t it a better ending for only the bad guys to die than for everyone in the school to become ghouls? So let’s strengthen ourselves and strike first to smash everything about the academy, both tangible and intangible.

The board of directors? They will die. The Student Council? They’re in the same group. I’ll kill them all, without exception. I’ll clear out any hindrances as well. All the experimental equipment will be destroyed, and the data disposed of. Since it’s located underground, burying it whole might not be a bad idea.

Of course, this is something that anyone can see is insane.

Right now, it might be too much for me. I don’t have that strength at present, and even if I could, I might have to turn the entire school city against me, if I’m unlucky.

I’d be branded a terrorist.

But I don’t want to bow to those unlucky bastards.

It’s not for justice or morality. It’s just that I want to clear them out because they’re such shitheads.

So after I bring down the school, what should I do?

“When Polaris falls, Irene transfers to Aegis Academy.”

“Let’s transfer to another academy too!”

It’s simple. I will transfer to another school with my friends. Leaving behind their corpses and ruins.

Maybe we’ll be faster or slower than that. The key is to grow rapidly before their project is completed.

“Guys, I actually have something to confess.”

“…?”

I decided to share the truth of the school with these reliable friends.

Meeting the eyes of the two girls who looked at me with confusion, I vow once more.

The deadline is three months.

Let’s go, let’s run. Burn and break as we dash forward.

After wandering, the Violets finally found the path we must take.

Once again, I declare to myself. Let’s destroy the academy.