The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City

Chapter 14: The Research Lab – Violet Fights for Freedom! (2)

The room I entered was a server room.

A narrow and dark space, cluttered with numerous cables and servers.

As soon as I entered, I used a clone to overturn any nearby furniture or drawers to block the way.

That bought me a very brief moment of respite.

After retrieving the clone to conserve magic, I immediately took out two remaining doses of the recovery serum and injected them into Kalia.

Kalia’s condition looked extremely dire.

She survived that blow only because she’s a main character.

A normal person would’ve died.

When the medicine took effect, she regained consciousness after a few seconds.

“Violet..? That thing earlier, what was that… and where are we now?”

“I injected you with the serum. You’ll be fine now. This is their server room…”

“…Ah, that’s why there are so many cables.”

Beyond the door, I could hear the sounds of several people moving.

I had bought only a brief moment of peace.

But I had one solution.

“What’s the plan now?”

“I’ve got a little idea.”

I pointed to the ventilation duct cover on one side of the server room.

“No way… Is there any place you haven’t been?”

“For now, let’s crawl through there.”

Kalia staggered as she stood up.

The serum’s effects were surprisingly quick.

The bald director, who had been quietly observing, started laughing to himself.

“You think this will let you escape? It’s all over! You’ll never get out of here!”

“Bald men don’t have speaking privileges!”

I grabbed and yanked at the director’s side hair.

“Ahhh! You ungrateful wench! It’s all over anyway!”

“Shut up!”

“You thankless wretch! Do you know how much I’ve suffered for you? Begging those shady admission brokers to get you into the Academy! Diverting the lab’s budget to create opportunities for you! And now you cause a riot? If the lab gets this chaotic, the higher-ups will definitely be informed! Gaaah! Stop pulling!”

The bald man, seeming to have nothing left to lose, began rambling nonsense.

The kind of trash whose conscience matches the number of hair follicles on his head!

“I didn’t even report this to HQ! If I had, I’d be living the good life right now, waiting to reveal you all to the world! But it’s all ruined! Do you know how thoroughly I kept this secret… My career…! My life! You two wrecked everything—both a lab rat and a street urchin!”

“Be quiet!”

I couldn’t stand to hear any more, so I struck his forehead with the alloy hammer.

The pain shut him up.

“Kalia! Any more calls?”

I referenced the smartphone I had handed her earlier in the sealed room.

Kalia shook her head.

“There was one text. They said they’d arrive in about 20 minutes.”

“Wow. So, we just need to run around for 20 minutes! Maybe that ogre… the big security team leader guy could be taken down if those people join forces?”

She shook her head.

“…That’s unlikely.”

“Why?”

Kalia’s expression darkened.

“You remember how I said I was caught here while

‘Each of them feels stronger than that ogre from before!’

Who were these intruders?

Their shoulder patches bore a symbol of several crimson rectangles.

‘No way…’

To my knowledge, there was only one group in this world that used such a symbol.

The Obsidian Legion.

A terrorist organization from the Deep Crimson Academia’s world.

These lunatics flaunted their emblem wherever they went, despite being terrorists.

“But why the hell are they suddenly barging in here?”

This felt like being struck by lightning out of nowhere.

Why now, of all times?

Did someone tip them off to attack this place?

The intruders moved swiftly, as though gliding, deeper into the research facility.

Their movements were highly professional.

I quickly hid behind a trash bin.

It was terrifying.

Soon, loud explosions and gunfire filled the facility.

‘Oh no! Kalia!’

Once the intruders disappeared, I hurried back toward the server room.

‘The floor… it’s blown apart!’

It wasn’t just a small hole—it looked like something had exploded, leaving a massive breach.

I could see the first floor below.

Could Kalia be down there?

Nearby, I spotted the bodies of guards, either killed by the terrorists or caught in the blast.

“I’d better take this with me.”

[P-15 Automatic Rifle ☆]

A standard automatic weapon used by military and police.

Capable of easily killing low-level monsters.

Its high modularity, affordability, and durability are its greatest strengths.

…

I picked up an intact rifle.

It looked similar to the ones I had used during my military days.

I removed the magazine to check for bullets and pulled the charging handle to inspect the chamber.

I also fiddled with what looked like a selector switch.

After tinkering with it for a while, I got a sense of how to use it.

‘It’s heavy…’

The rifle felt heavy in my small, girlish hands.

Then, I noticed a fairly long sword strapped to one of the guards.

[Mass-Produced One-Handed Sword ☆]

A metal one-handed sword crafted in an outer district workshop.

Aside from its low price, it lacks any exceptional qualities.

Once popular among those who dreamed of becoming hunters, it’s often worn for show.

…

‘It may not be as good as Kalia’s custom weapon, but it could be useful.’

I descended to the first floor with my clones.

‘If only I had more time to scout the area.’

This was my first time on the first floor.

From beyond the corridor, I heard a sudden crash.

‘Could that be Kalia?’

I sprinted toward the source of the noise.

There, I found Kalia fighting an ogre.

She staggered to her feet from the floor.

“Kalia! I’m here!!”

I dashed forward to save my friend.