The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City-Chapter 105: Violet’s Invitation… Fails!

The truck came to a stop, and the students stepped off.

When the gates opened, a small factory and several attached buildings came into view.

This was one of Violet’s barracks, recently purchased to accommodate more members.

Though smaller than the first factory we acquired, this one had several buildings and was built more recently, making its facilities superior.

It also boasted a spacious basement, making it less populated with Violets for the time being.

People’s reactions varied.

“Is this Violet’s house?”

“It’s not a house; it’s a factory.”

My friends marveled at the surroundings, clearly intrigued.

“When you say house, you mean the dorms or offices inside, right?”

“Exactly, we live there too.”

Those areas were primarily used as an internet café or kitchen.

Lucian eyed me skeptically.

“So, all of this is yours?”

“Yep! This is my house.”

“No, it’s… a factory, not a house.”

“A factory is my house!”

“…If you say so.”

Lucian trailed off.

The usually cheeky, blue-haired boy seemed a bit softer than before.

Perhaps it was because I mentioned I didn’t have parents.

It was understandable. Calling it a barracks would be more accurate than a factory, but there was no need to correct him.

We Violets were legitimate property owners.

To feed, shelter, and sustain a population in the hundreds while carrying out various tasks, an ordinary house wouldn’t suffice.

We needed parking space for trucks and buses, as well as storage for awkward or oversized items that didn’t fit in inventories.

Fortunately, the outskirts of the central district, where Kalia’s vigilante group operated, were full of medium-sized factories and warehouses.

Pooling our resources, we bought abandoned properties and converted them into Violet barracks.

It might look like a factory to outsiders, but to us, it was a cherished headquarters.

Every one of those buildings was bought with the blood and sweat of countless Violets who died in dungeons.

Though the exterior was worn, it had electricity and running water, thanks to Kalia’s network of construction veterans.

With a few touches from seasoned workers, it became a livable space.

“There are rooms here, right?”

“Of course! You see that two-story building up front? It used to serve as a dorm for factory workers. It’s got bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen. The renovations were finished recently. Let’s check it out!” ℝãƝỘ𝐁ΕS

Levi asked with a worried expression, and I responded with a smile.

Showing was better than explaining a hundred times.

We climbed the stairs, and I opened one of the rooms.

“It’s… better than I thought. It’s nice!”

“It’s a bit rough-looking, but considering our situation, we can’t be picky. The rooms are also bigger than expected.”

“Originally, it was designed for four people per room. On the first floor, there’s a lounge, a kitchen, and bathrooms. You can cook for yourselves, or I can make food for you.”

“That’s fine. Honestly, this is already luxurious. But how will you manage? Aren’t you staying at school?”

“There’s a way. But if you’re not interested, that’s fine.”

The building had been unusable at first, but the investment in new wallpaper and repairs paid off.

Granite, who had been scanning the area, hesitated before speaking.

“Uh, Violet?”

“What is it?”

“Um… there won’t be any bugs, right?”

He scratched his head awkwardly after asking.

“Oh, none at all. Don’t worry about that.”

I dismissed their concerns.

Granite’s worry wasn’t unfounded, though.

In the past, centipedes, cockroaches, and silverfish infested this dormitory.

There were even bedbugs.

Eventually, we gassed the entire building to get rid of them.

The fumigation was so intense that one of the Violets suffocated during the process, but it solved the problem.

“Oh, by the way, don’t go into the dormitory basement!”

“Why not?”

“It’s under renovation! There are leaks, mold, and probably bugs, too.”

“Ugh!”

That was a lie. The truth was different.

The basement held dozens of unconscious Violet bodies in storage.

“Good thing we already moved the barrels out.”

“I’ll shift the rest to another factory later!”

I had forgotten to clean up a critical detail in my rush to hide Lucian’s teammates.

I’d deal with it after sending them shopping.

After the tour, everyone seemed to have a positive reaction.

“I thought you were just an oddball, but you’re rich. So, how much is the rent?”

“Rent? You don’t have to pay! You can live here for free. There’s just one condition.”

Lucian’s expression filled with doubt at my reply.

“So, it’s not really free. Well, that’s more believable than free housing. What’s the condition?”

He bit the bait.

I looked at the other two; their curious eyes mirrored his.

“It’s simple. Whenever I go to the dungeon, you have to help me. Deal?”

“That’s not hard at all.”

“Sure, why not?”

“Alright, I’ll help!”

They agreed without hesitation.

Pride, perhaps, kept them from mooching entirely.

Perfect. I’d work them hard little by little.

“You guys can keep exploring. I need to talk with my friends.”

“Got it.”

Leaving the three to wander the dormitory, I headed elsewhere with my friends.

“Where are we going now?”

“To my home! I wanted to show you around.”

“Home? Isn’t this it?”

“This one just finished renovations. I live in a bigger place now. And I want to introduce you to someone.”

The dormitory factory was small and needed many upgrades.

Few Violets stayed there for now. Eventually, it would be a bustling training and living area.

“What about explaining the clones?”

“I’ll dodge the topic for now and properly explain later when they’re part of our plan.”

Most Violets still stayed at the first barracks, a larger factory with dorms, a warehouse, and an office.

It had better parking and was close to Kalia’s house, the Osprey Brotherhood’s building, and brokers’ offices.

Even Ulric’s confinement room was nearby.

“What’s he up to these days?”

“Busy unlocking game achievements.”

“No chance of escape, then.”

I opened the folding gate and stepped into the factory site.

A girl with pink hair and a white jumper was sorting boxes near the main building.

“97th, are you done already?”

“I’m 363rd! She’s not finished yet.”

“You all look identical. How am I supposed to tell you apart? You’re all just Violets to me. But…”

Kalia’s emerald eyes shifted behind 363rd to the two girls standing there.

Her gaze narrowed.

“Who are those behind you? They must be something special to get here.”

“They’re friends from school! Meet Irene and Daphne!”

Kalia studied them, her face a mix of caution and curiosity.

She had heard me mention meeting people but never met them herself.

Being far away, such visits were rare.

Cautiously, Kalia extended her hand.

“So, you’re the friends Violet mentioned. I’m Kalia.”

“I’m Irene. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Daphne. Please take care of me! What’s your relationship with Violet?”

When Daphne greeted her with a bright smile, Kalia awkwardly responded.

“Friends, you know. Hold on, let me talk to Violet for a bit. I have something to ask.”

“Sure, don’t mind us!”

Kalia briefly took No. 363 with her to a place out of sight. She looked around a few times before whispering into my ear.

“Hey, No. 363—or rather, Violet as a whole. You said they’re friends you made at school, right?”

“That’s right. They’re my friends. But why? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

Kalia glanced back toward them and spoke cautiously.

“This is your home, you know. Even if they’re friends… how are you going to explain the clones?”

Ah, so that’s why Kalia was wary after seeing my friends.

“Don’t worry about that. They know what my Unique Ability is all about. They’re trustworthy!”

When I spoke with certainty, she replied in a slightly reluctant tone.

“Well, if you say so… fine.”

Once the conversation ended, I led Kalia back to my friends.

“Sorry, it took a bit longer than expected. Let me show you my place now!”

“There was just a small misunderstanding with Violet. And, since we’re the same age, feel free to speak casually.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll do so.”

“Alright, Kalia!”

“No need to be so formal with me, seriously.”

While Kalia and Daphne debated the nuances of formal versus casual speech, I opened the factory door and led the three of them inside.

“Welcome to my home!”

Irene’s golden eyes widened in amazement.

“Violet…”

“There are so many of you!”

The gray epoxy floor was covered with numerous mats, along with two-story and three-story bunk beds. On those beds, Violets were either lounging around or engaging in small tasks.

In one corner of the factory, Violets were sweating and swinging swords.

Others were sitting at dining tables, eating or cooking. Still others were cleaning or inspecting weapons.

Far away at a large table and chalkboard, a group of Violets was holding a discussion at what looked like a temporary command center.

“What should we have for dinner tonight?”

“Let’s eat French fries!”

The entire area was filled with girls with golden hair and red eyes.

“I’ve never seen so many Violets at once…”

Irene was so stunned that she couldn’t close her mouth.

“That’s odd.”

“What is?”

“Last time, when we fought Crawltide together, you didn’t react like this. We even had meals at your place.”

Irene replied, “Well, that’s because, in the dungeon, you were covered from head to toe, so it didn’t really hit me that it was you.

This might sound strange, but… exploring the dungeon with you felt like working alongside a combat robot army. Don’t get me wrong—it’s just that seeing you all so lively now feels surreal.”

Unlike the other two, Kalia, who was a regular visitor to the Violet barracks, remained unfazed.

“Yeah, it’s amazing, isn’t it? I couldn’t wrap my head around it the first time either. A hive mind, but each with their own personality? It’s dizzying, I tell you.”

“I see… It’s just that I’ve never seen this many Violets in daily life before.”

“There are Violets everywhere!”

Irene looked around curiously, and Daphne did the same with great interest.

Oh, I forgot to greet them.

The Violets turned their heads in unison and waved.

“Welcome to our home!”

“Hi! Hi!”

“Nice to meet you!”

Irene flinched and took a step back. Daphne let out a short scream, “Eek!”

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Kalia pointed her finger and scolded.

“Seriously! Did you really have to scare our guests who came all this way? I told you last time not to look at people all at once!”

“Sorry! It’s just how we move.”

“You said they’re Violet’s friends, right? I’m sorry. She does that a lot. Even I find it creepy sometimes. Imagine how you must feel. I understand.”

“No, it’s fine, Kalia. I was just a little… startled.”

I felt bitter that my friends were so shocked because of us. It was embarrassing—these were my guests, after all!

Determined to make up for it, the Violets quickly stood up and began preparing snacks.

“Sorry! Sorry!”

“Here, have some of this instead!”

One minute later, a mountain of snacks, tea, and drinks was laid out on the table.

“Oh, what a life…”

Kalia held her head in her hands. Irene, watching her from the side, had a somewhat sympathetic look in her eyes.

“No matter where you go, Violet is still Violet…”

“Huh? Irene, did you call me?”

“Just talking to myself. Don’t mind me.”

A brief silence fell over the table.

The sudden tea party felt awkward.

After some hesitation, Daphne spoke up.

“Um, you’re Kalia, right? Can I ask you something?”

“I told you not to be formal with me. So, what’s your question?”

“You said you’re friends with Violet. How did you two become friends?”

Irene, intrigued, turned her attention to Kalia. Hearing Daphne’s question, Kalia paused, as if recalling old memories, before she began to speak.

“Well, it’s a bit of a long story. A lot happened.”

“Then, could you summarize it for us?”

Kalia started her tale, and I suddenly had a feeling I’d forgotten something.

“First, I should start with how I met Violet at the research lab. In the beginning…”

“Research lab?”

The word, seemingly out of nowhere, caught Irene’s attention.

Wait, have I ever mentioned my lab days to them?

“As you know, Violet used to be at a research lab. I was there too.”

“What do you mean? Violet was at a lab?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it. A research lab? Violet? Don’t tell me…”

Both of them started questioning with growing suspicion. Feeling cornered, Kalia turned to me.

“Huh? You never told them?”

“Yeah, I left that part out.”

I realized things were going off the rails.

“A research lab? Violet, this isn’t what I think it is, right?”

“No, it’s not a big deal. It’s just something from the past…”

Then Daphne grasped my hand tightly.

“I’m not angry. I just… want to know. Can you tell me honestly?”

“Ah… uh, okay. I’ll tell you.”

I felt like sharing more would ruin the mood, but their earnest gazes made it impossible to refuse.

“Well, the truth is…”

I began explaining. Where the lab was, how I met Kalia, and how we destroyed the lab and escaped in the chaos.

As I spoke, I realized—it was quite the heroic tale, even to me.

“…That’s how I managed to take down that hammer-wielding ogre. Then, after stealing a car and shaking off the other pursuers, I escaped with the help of Kalia’s Brotherhood contacts. How about that?”

I expected them to be impressed.

‘Wow, Violet, you’re a genius at combat!’

‘Amazing, Violet!!’

But the situation didn’t unfold as I’d imagined.

By the time I noticed something was wrong, their expressions had already darkened significantly.

“Laplaxia… human experiments… oh my god…”

Irene covered her mouth in shock.

Daphne was even more shaken.

“So… all this time… I had no idea… sniff… sniff…”

She froze like a statue before tears began streaming down her face like a waterfall.

“D-Don’t cry!”

As the nearby Violets gathered to comfort her, Daphne hugged me tightly and sobbed even harder.

“Sniff… how much it must have hurt…”

“I’m fine!”

Feeling flustered, I met Kalia’s gaze.

“Kalia, why did you even bring up the lab story?!”

“Hey, I thought you’d already told them about your Unique Ability, so I assumed the lab stuff was included…!”

Kalia protested, looking aggrieved.

I was at a loss for words.

Inviting my friends to my home.

Total disaster!