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Doctor Sturgis unexpectedly committed suicide, leaving us momentarily confused.

As a bad guy, he should have met a horrible end, but he ran away to the afterlife instead.

“Ahhh! He ran away! He escaped to hell!”

“We should’ve chopped him up instead!”

Because we killed that student council president too quickly, I had hoped to torment him for a bit longer but failed.

We grumbled while contacting Uncle Yurik at headquarters again.

I can’t help but wonder if something he said had triggered the doctor’s trauma.

“Uncle! What are we going to do? Your anger made him kill himself!”

As soon as I answered the phone, I expressed my dissatisfaction. I heard a short sigh from the other end.

-…Oh my, is it true…

After a while, a trembling voice came through. I protested against Uncle’s blunder.

“I should’ve tortured him, but because of you, I couldn’t give him the punishment he deserved. This is too much!”

“Right, right!”

We grumbled. Uncle, feeling embarrassed, responded in a somber tone.

-That was something I also didn’t foresee. I was angry and let it all out, but I didn’t think he would be so shocked… He was a good person, but he had immense confidence in his research. I should have considered that.

There was a hint of bitterness in Yurik’s voice.

-I… killed the professor.

Suddenly feeling guilty, I comforted Uncle.

“Don’t be too down! You didn’t kill him, he made that decision himself. Besides, he was going to die anyway. Don’t stress over it too much.”

-Thank you for saying that…

What had the doctor and I talked about right before he died?

It seemed Uncle Yurik had received a favor from Dr. Sturgis during his graduate student days. His feelings must be quite complicated.

“It would be terrible if such a mentor ends up like this.”

I imagined a scenario where Professor Albert and Instructor Frederick turned into Evil Villains.

It sent shivers down my spine.

“Ugh…”

“I get Uncle Yurik’s feelings.”

Our innocent researcher uncle was the only one feeling gloomy.

The fault lies with the one who committed suicide!

“By the way, what about the two professors?”

“Instructor is currently on his way to our base. The professor… let’s see. He just left the hospital? Seems like he plans to walk directly to our house. I’m glad I gave him the address.”

There’s much to talk about and ask regarding blowing up the academy. Either way, it’s going to be a noisy day.

While we were discussing various matters, we Violets had an ominous feeling.

What’s this feeling of forgetting something? There’s definitely something important I’ve overlooked, but I can’t recall it.

“What was it? I’m sure I remembered something!”

“I can’t remember!”

Even realizing I had gone on a long business trip and left the gas stove on wouldn’t be as spooky. I felt unsettled.

The cause of my unease was soon revealed.

“Right, what about our friends…?”

“Oh. Uh…”

The Violets fell into a massive dilemma.

How on earth do I explain that I went solo on the island to my friends?

This is bad; I messed up, but it’s already done…

I checked my messenger. Before I even clicked, I saw an unread message count glaring in red on the messenger window.

[…I saw your declaration. Let’s talk when you come back. :<]

[You jerk! How can you just leave without a word!!!! What’s with the Mushroom Cloud!!! You’re really driving me insane-]

[Where are you, Violet? Please contact me, check your messages! You had to leave at least one clone behind, right? Please-]

[I’m sorry for disappointing you. I can fight, I assure you! I practiced sniping diligently!]

Oh, what do I do? I’m scared to click.

Each message feels spine-chilling.

“Let’s contact them…!”

Violet 1 hurriedly called Irene.

A long dialing tone; the message said the call couldn’t be connected. I panicked.

“What’s going on? Why?”

I called each of my other friends one by one.

No one is answering. Why could that be?

A terrifying possibility crossed my mind.

Could the Magnavis guys have harmed our friends?

“Looking at the time the message was sent, it hasn’t been long. If they were in danger, they would’ve called us!”

“But why aren’t they answering now? They might be retaliating!”

The Violets rushed to break the drums we buried on Cascadia Island.

120 struggled to dig its way out and ran toward the villa.

“No one is here! It feels like they packed everything and left? Did they really go outside the island?”

As 120 reported, a Violet from headquarters responded.

“It’s impossible to leave the island! Why? Look at this!”

The Violet pointed to the news screen.

Against the backdrop of the collapsed Magnavis headquarters and the mushroom cloud over Polaris Academy, the announcer was excitedly talking.

-To prevent further damage, the Inspection Bureau has temporarily suspended all maritime and aerial traffic near Rustroom in cooperation with the Federal Army. All academies are currently in temporary closure…

“Then they must be inside the island?”

“They might have left before the traffic suspension. That’d be a relief, but…”

As I contemplated the whereabouts of my friends, suddenly my cellphone rang.

Wait, this is my work phone…

“Adela! Why the sudden call?”

As soon as I picked up the phone, a bright, smooth voice rampaged out without waiting for a greeting.

-Violet! I saw everything. You’ve had a tough time! I called to say that the preparations with the small clan alliance have finished. The plan will soon be executed. The clan elders are actively participating now.

“Really?!”

-At the very least, starting from the afternoon, a comprehensive pressure and offensive will be put into action from tomorrow. Everyone was surprised, right? Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be this serious. However, thanks to your efforts, everyone has united to ensure the success of this plan. Really… to push that huge clan this far…

I felt a warm glow from Adela’s praise for a moment.

However, regardless of compliments, my Violets faced a serious dilemma.

I immediately asked the question.

“Um, sister… do you happen to know where our friends are?”

As soon as Adela heard my question, she answered as if she had been waiting.

-My friends, you say?… They called urgently asking if there was a way back. They requested help. So I lent them our family’s helicopter. Considering the takeoff time, speed, and distance, they should have arrived by now.

As soon as I heard that, I felt relieved. My friends were safe. But the next moment, Adela spoke in a very serious tone.

-Violet. It’s great that this operation is successful, but I think you’ll need to have a deep conversation with your friends for a while. They must be greatly disappointed. I don’t think it was done with bad intentions, but leaving without a word is wrong. Do you understand?

“Yes…”

-Then, I’ll tell you the detailed plans later when I meet you in person. Until then…

The call disconnected. Adela was right. What should I do next?

My friends are definitely going to be greatly disappointed. But…

-BOOM!

A loud noise erupted. Someone burst through the factory door.

Above the ceiling, tearing noises cutting through the air echoed all around.

The Violets from headquarters were startled and stood up.

“…What the hell?”

“It must be the Magnavis guys!”

The Violets drew their weapons. To ambush us while our main base is empty!

I climbed up and looked out the window. Armed people in dark outfits were positioned at the entrance.

“Let’s protect our home!”

The Violets from headquarters aimed at the factory door. With a loud crash, the door was ripped off. The Violets fired warning shots.

“Stop! Don’t move! If you move, we’ll shoot-”

Suddenly, a Violet, who was aiming her gun, collapsed in an instant. A Violet who lost her gun looked up. What caught her eye was a familiar face.

“…Violet Dunhind Rugilinn.”

It was the same face I had seen on the night the Aegis Academy was attacked. The Scholarship Officer!

“…Gah!”

Then, the vehicles and people outside must be from the Inspection Bureau, right?

“We’re here to investigate the Polaris Comprehensive Academy explosion. You are-”

My head was spinning. I was already worried about how to explain to my friends, and now this Scholarship Officer? It was all too dizzying.

Forget it! When in doubt, retreat!

The Violets ran without looking back.

“Run!”

“It’s from the Inspection Bureau!”

**

Seijis was startled to see the Violets rushing out of the factory.

“…What the?”

“Ahhh! Let go of me! Hey!”

A Violet, who was caught, thrashed around before giving up and slumped.

As the girl scattered into red particles and disappeared, the Scholarship Officer stepped outside.

“Screech! Run away!”

“Let’s get out of here!”

Blonde girls poured out through the factory windows and back doors.

Just as expected, she was indeed the Violet with clone powers captured in his memory.

“Surround them! We can’t let a single one get away!”

While giving orders to the Inspection Bureau members, the Scholarship Officer himself felt a sense of doubt about his words.

It was clear that they’d be scattered all over the area. It’s questionable whether the real one is even here, is this even meaningful?

But still, he had to ask. He needed to know why they committed such an act.

Why had their conduct changed?

A Violet rushing toward the back door collided with someone.

The girl fell backward.

“Are you Violet?”

“Ow…”

The Violet lifted her head.

There stood a woman with an intelligent appearance and black hair, resembling the Scholarship Officer.

Memories from before the possession flickered back to me.

Familiar hair, familiar outfit. Sophie El, the female Scholarship Officer!

“YAHHH!”

The Violet caught sight of the sword in Sophie’s hand. Falling back, she stumbled again.

She collided with another Violet rushing to the back door.

Seijis’s gaze shifted toward the girls.

‘…Why are the clones moving like this?’

Setting aside his confused thoughts, the Scholarship Officer pulled out a black pistol and aimed it at the Violet’s head. The smooth black surface glimmered.

“Surrender. You are a clone, but Violet Dunhind Rugilinn, we have some questions to investigate. Come with us.”

“Ugh! No way!”

Panicking, the Violet lunged forward with the sword.

Seijis lowered his gun and raised his left hand.

A magic circle flashed, and a shockwave rippled. The advancing Violets were thrown back.

“Eeeek!”

“Aaah!”

“I don’t intend to kill you. Just answer a few questions, and…”

Just as Seijis leaned in, a loud, disruptive noise filled the surroundings from the sky.

The sounds generated by helicopter blades.

“Sister, did the Inspection Bureau request support?”

“No, it can’t be? That’s…”

Feeling something strange, Seijis tried to approach the Violets.

“YAHHH! No!”

Then a greenish barrier appeared, blocking the path between him and the Violets.

The Scholarship Officer’s eyes shook like there was an earthquake. No sooner had the barrier expanded than three people dropped from the helicopter.

“,,,!”

-Bang! Bang!

Gunfire whizzed dangerously close to Seijis. The ground cracked, sending dust flying.

With pink hair, a slim girl glared at Seijis like a lioness protecting her cubs.

“You bastard! You better get away! If you so much as touch my friend, I’ll kill you!”

“K-Kalia…”

The Violet quickly hid behind the girls who had just landed.

A relatively smaller girl with violet hair stepped forward, wielding a spear, and gasped upon recognizing Seijis.

“Scholarship Officer…? What are you doing here…”

“Irene…”

As the two exchanged bewildered looks, the Violets hid behind the girl with silver hair.

“I don’t know who you are, but step aside.”

The girl surrounding Violet took a firm stance. Seijis’s face twisted.

“Daphne, w-what the heck is going on…?”

The shocked Scholarship Officer wore a blank expression.

“YAHHH! They hit me!”

“Wow! I’m alive!”

As the commotion grew, people began to reveal themselves near the Violet Barracks.

“Uncle!”

Ospri appeared with people from the Brotherhood.

“You all. What are you doing here? Is it okay for the Inspection Bureau to behave this way?”

While the Brotherhood members unexpectedly confronted the situation,

Two older men with a wealth of experience approached the Scholarship Officer. Violet waved her hand in greeting.

“Professor! Instructor!”

“Hey, you said you were the Scholarship Officer of the Inspection Bureau? You must be here because of our incompetent disciple. You all have your reasons…”

Suddenly, the unfamiliar faces made Seijis feel a new question arise in his mind.

‘Who are these people?’

Sophie approached to assist Seijis. She suddenly turned around. In view was a yellow-haired girl hiding behind her friends, trembling.

She recalled what her twin brother had said.

‘So that girl… destroyed Magnavis and that large Awakener Academy under them. And later, she becomes a terrorist committing mass murder across Rustroom in five years?’

Sophie couldn’t comprehend it. How could someone so insignificant appear that way?