Chapter 1111 – Differences

000

In order to prepare the vessels needed for the selection sacred sword ceremony, the plan to create clones of Albain was divided into three stages by Darwin, the general manager.

First, in order to check compatibility with the clone production technology, the body is cloned without any modification.

This was because if the technology to create clones and the body did not match, there was a possibility that variables that even Darwin, the creator, could not control would arise.

Of course, since Albaine was one of the vessel candidates that Adam personally filtered out to some extent, there was no incompatibility with technology –

The problem is that the clones created have not been properly identified.

First, because Albain’s brain was copied, he had all of his memories.

Nevertheless, they produced clones in the form of ‘dolls’ that carried out commands as input, showing little emotion.

There would be no problem if it were simply used as a tool, but the power of the holy sword becomes stronger in response to the owner’s emotions, and eventually awakens.

Therefore, clones that completely lacked emotions and ego were unsuitable as vessels.

It would have been necessary to resolve that issue at the point of cultivation somehow, but Darwin was given the next, urgent task.

That is, ground support for the air fortress ‘Vajra’, which was scheduled to be dispatched to the capital of an eastern country.

She herself went to Asteris, but she was so busy that she wanted to borrow the help of a cat, so she quickly sent the early clones mentioned above to her mission.

The clones of Albain that Cleon met during the Five Elements Festival were basic clones created at that time.

And, if something Darwin didn’t expect happened there – one of the individuals awakened emotions upon contact with Cleon, as if a blocked blood vessel had been opened.

Darwin converted the process by which the individual expressed emotions into data and used it to cultivate clones several times.

Thus, after several trials and errors, a ‘type A clone’ was created that acquired emotions at the time of cultivation.

From there, additional attempts were made to improve performance, and clones were created, each with different characteristics.

Clones endowed with special abilities, along with artificial holy swords, cost a lot of money to produce.

However, the ‘Type A clones’ were still within the realm of ‘consumables’, which had many problems to use in the selection sacred sword ritual.

The reason was, as Darwin told Descartes, not enough combat data had been collected to teach the clones.

Basically, it is possible to swing a sword, but the skills accumulated through experience are literally in a state of being non-existent.

In addition, the biggest drawback is the instability when using an artificial holy sword.

It strengthens one’s special abilities and temporarily greatly increases combat power, but unlocking the limiter of the Holy Sword, which also serves as a kind of body safety device, causes a fatal collapse of the unstable physical structure and magical nerves of the ‘clone’. Weakness.

If this is not resolved, the Holy Sword Selection Ceremony will degenerate into a worthless event with repeated failures.

What Adam wanted were 7 excellent holy sword users with ‘100 percent power’.

So, type A clones are the beings that correspond to the ‘second stage’ of Darwin’s three-stage clone production plan.

Step-by-step strengthening of abilities and stabilization of the body using Type A clones.

What was needed for that was, of course, data on various dramatic changes that occur in actual combat.

The core of the second stage of the plan was the prototype of the Type A clones.

Type A clones’ bodies collapse on their own when the two conditions of ‘destruction of the holy sword’ and ‘depletion of magical power’ are met.

The reason is simply that ‘since it was defeated, it is no longer useful’ and ‘this is to prevent the minimal information the clone possesses from falling into the hands of the enemy.’

So, where does the data accumulated by the collapsed clones go?

Will it be sent straight to where Darwin is?

No, unfortunately for Darwin, it wasn’t that easy.

‘Data’ is ‘memory.’

Memories that have become formless and mixed with magic cannot travel that far and fall apart.

So, there must be a ‘relay point’ in the middle where the memories must be accepted and safely transported to where Darwin is.

In other words-

Suddenly!

When Cleon’s sword swung once more, the metal clawed arm that had been sticking out of the wall and continuing to resist was completely severed, writhing and disappearing beyond.

Cleon looked meaningfully beyond the hole where the mechanical arm disappeared, then looked back and spoke.

“That’s what you are.”

“…”

In response to Cleon’s question, the longsword clone a short distance away slowly nodded, just as he said.

As a type A prototype clone, the reason she has strong defense power was so that she could survive and deliver data to Darwin even if all other clones were annihilated.

“You knew… That you were expendable.”

Cleon said this while wiping the blood from his cheek.

“Well, that’s… Even if I die, Madame… If I retrieve the data, she will create a new body based on that data…”

At her words, Cleon could not help but sigh.

“Even if that’s the case, is it really you? Even if the memories are transferred to a dead body, it’s not you that’s there, it’s another you. … It’s like I’m repeating my past life.”

“…”

Turning his gaze away from the longsword clone who could not respond, Cleon returned his swords to their scabbards.

The reason is that I heard footsteps coming towards this direction.

“Cleon!”

When Laila’s voice was heard, as expected, the four people who had fallen and Kshat, with Kuon supporting them, were coming towards us.

On the way here, Cleon had told them everything he had heard from her longsword clone, so there was no need for her to tell them.

Upon arriving, Lila pulls out her staff and aims it at the longsword clone sitting against the wall.

An expression full of life, and a glimmer of magical power.

Seeing that, Longsword’s clone took a deep breath and stepped back slightly from his sitting position.

But Lila didn’t even blink at the clone’s reaction.

“Okay. Let’s burn this guy too. If what you just said is true, this guy has all the data of the other clones.”

When Lila said that, Cleon quietly turned towards the long sword clone.

“… That’s right. It’s just as Lila said. If we eliminate this clone here and now, it might be better to prevent the data from being stolen by Darwin.”

When even Cleon said that, Lila nodded her head.

With a ‘Ki-i-ing’ sound, red magic will gather at the tip of her staff.

‘Ah.’, Longsword’s clone realized.

This wizard is just like the magic swordsman.

With her full power and sincerity, she can pierce through without even caring about her own defenses.

No, maybe she has dozens or hundreds of ways to take her own life, not counting her simple attacks.

That may have been because she absorbed her ‘experience’ from the ‘dagger clone’.

So-

The long sword clone raised both hands and raised his voice towards Cleon’s party with an urgent expression.

“Wait…!”

“Ha?”

At her reaction, Lila, who was preparing her magic, also sounded embarrassed.

Kuon, who was quietly watching the scene from behind, must have slightly trembled his eyebrows.

To that extent, the current clone’s appearance overlapped that of ‘Alvain’.

Of course, not in a good way, but in an unreliable and somewhat pathetic way.

“Now, what is it?”

If Laila asks her that question-

“Please… I don’t want to die yet…!”

“…”

Longsword’s clone was simple and straight, showing his obsession with life without hesitation.

The attitude was obviously servile, and the voice was subdued, but in a way, the plea was even confident.

However, if Lila was someone whose heart could be swayed by such things, she wasn’t one.

Laila clenched her molars and injected more of her magic into the staff she held in her hand.

Then, the wand would emit greater light.

Jikgeom’s clone, who became even more impatient, opened his mouth and defended himself without hesitation.

“I thought that if I did as Madame said, I could save the world! Together with the other clones, I would defeat you…! I heard that doing so would be an honorable thing to do and contribute to creating a new world. .!”

“Wrong.”

However, Cleon will immediately deny her words.

Despite Cleon’s answer, Jikgeom’s clone continues her words.

“Ah, I understand. What Madam said was a lie. I won’t attack you anymore, and I won’t hand over your data to Madam! So, please…!”

“… That’s not it.”

Cleon will shake his head once again.

Now, just before Lila’s staff starts spewing fire.

Then, Longsword’s clone tries to move her legs, wanting to somehow escape from the spot.

“Uh, at some point…!?”

A black chain was tied to her legs.

That it was caused by Cleon’s magic could be seen just by looking at the magic attribute of the chain – ‘dark magic’.

“I hate it… I haven’t been able to do anything yet…! From the time I was born until now, I’ve been living in a culture capsule…! I was just waiting for my turn to come…! Well, that’s how it ended. Dani…! Not yet…! I’m still in an ’empty state’…!!”

“…”

Unfortunately. That’s it.

Life doesn’t always happen the way you want.

Cleon looked at Longsword’s clone, stained with regret, despair, and fear, with somewhat mixed eyes.

Clearly, she may not have even had a chance.

This is her chance to prove that she is different from the original.

So, Cleon himself.

Even though I know this is close to meaningless.

Did you feel a sense of kinship between a ‘clone’ and a ‘pre-life’?

In her frustration, she ruffled her own hair and spat out to her.

“What you have to say is not begging for your life. There is something else. What you have to say to us, to Kshat.”

“──.”

At Cleon’s words, Longsword’s clone fell silent for a moment.

If.

Here, if she gives the wrong answer.

In the end, she is also the same as ‘Albain’.

In the end, they just come to recognize that they are something that must be defeated.

The ‘thing’ that ‘Albain’ was unable to do until the end.

Her doubts about whether she can really do it-

“──I’m sorry…!”

A voice that came out as if it had been squeezed out of the mouth of the long sword clone.

“!”

At that moment, Cleon’s surprised hand rested on Laila’s staff.

No, it wasn’t just Cleon who was surprised.

Lila and Kuon must have had the same expression.

At the same time, the magic power that had gathered in Lila’s staff disperses as Lila’s murderous intent fades.

“I’m sorry…! For attacking you…! For believing that killing people is a good thing…! Even if I apologize in these words, no one will believe me…! I’m really… Sorry. I do it…!”

When the longsword clone lowered his body to the ground and spoke like he was sobbing, Cleon kept his mouth shut for a moment.

“─Laila.”

“… Ha.”

Lyla withdrew all of her magic from her own wand, stopped aiming at her, and struck the ground with the tip of her wand.

“I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to apologize.”

And, Lila muttered like that, as if she was surprised.

“Yeah…”

Kuon would probably have the same reaction.

“It’s like proving it just now. She’s different from ‘Albain.'”

“… What does it mean?”

When Amelia questioned Cleon’s words, Cleon answered.

“… As for Alvain. She never once, ever ‘apologized’.”

From the time we first met and hung out at the Adventurer’s Guild.

Aside from mistakes that can be laughed off, this also applies to other big and small things.

That’s right.

Albaine, she didn’t think she had done anything wrong.

Even Cleon thought at the time that the twisted and runaway positive emotions toward himself, amplified by the Holy Sword, were the cause.

No, Albain was that kind of person from the beginning.

Even everything that happened in Elesia – until Cleon’s revenge was over.

Albaine never truly tried to take responsibility for what she did.

It was the same with the other clones that Cleon’s group defeated.

A guy who had no qualms about killing people.

A guy who insults and looks down on others, but gets angry when he gets hurt.

A guy who was oppressed by laziness and even denied the actions of others.

A guy who showed off his unpleasant lust.

Because they all thought they were right, they never tried to take responsibility for their actions.

Alvain’s greatest sin, and the most twisted part of him.

That is a fundamental evil that is different from the seven sins engraved on people.

“Irresponsible…”

Amelia listens to Cleon and nods her head as if she understands.

And, I will be looking at the clone of the long sword.

“Whether your apology is sincere or not… I’ll have to wait and see. At least, I know well that you’re different from Albain, who couldn’t even imitate something like that.”

“…”

At Cleon’s words, Longsword’s clone raised his head and looked at him.

Her face was already covered with her tears and snot.

After seeing her face, Cleon lifts the binding spell by snapping her fingers.

“Well, then…”

“Yes. If you are not Alvain and have no intention of working for Darwin anymore, then there is no reason to kill you. But that does not mean we can leave you free like this. So, at least you have to stay here with us.”

“…”

At Cleon’s words, Lila let out a small sigh of her own.

The long sword clone slowly stood up, nodded his head, and looked at Cleon with fearful eyes.

To her like that.

Cleon speaks to her now that she has finally reached her starting point.

“If you really want to change ‘your empty self’, what should you do? It would be better to think for yourself. Just like you proved that you are different from Albain.”

“… Ah.”

At Cleon’s words, she nodded, feeling something in her and speaking in that voice.

“?”

“… And the other clones that remained below…”

“I see.”

Probably, all of her A-type clones except her have been eliminated.

Cleon turned her body and spoke to her companions.

“Let’s go downstairs and join them. It’s late, but… Finally, we can face Darwin.”