Suddenly gaining a new skill?
And a Mythic rank, the highest tier?
Startled, I looked at the doll. The light from my hand had long since transferred to it.
Transparent ice crystals bloomed around the doll like frost, and in response, the unpainted gray skin of the doll flushed brightly.
The boundaries of the doll's joints blurred, transforming into soft, fair skin like that of a real person!
Literally, like a real person!
[Clone – Instructor Gerard]
-Skills-
[Ice Magic Lv.60]
[Cold Control Lv.42]
[Severe Cold Lv.40]
[Mana Detection Lv.27]
[Mana Expansion Lv.27]
[Instruction Lv.22]
-Combat Power: 80.0%
[You have successfully created the first real-life clone summon.]
[You can use commands such as 'Summon' and 'Return,' and the maximum number of clones that can be summoned is currently '1'.]
"A Crafting Hunter with a Mythic-grade summoning skill, what the heck is this…"
Both the Mythic rank and the skill that deviates from my aptitude…
How lucky do you have to be for such coincidences to overlap twice?
'No, I went through hell for months, so I deserve this much, right?'
That thought also crossed my mind, but it's still an absurd situation.
I shouted 'Return' as a test, and the clone in front of me instantly lost its vitality and returned to the form of a cold wooden doll.
Conversely, when I shouted 'Summon,' it transformed back into Instructor Gerard's perfect appearance.
The ability to summon a clone of the observed subject into reality using a doll as a medium.
This was the reality of the incredible ability I had newly acquired…
Gulp.
Then I have to ask here.
Does it speak?
Can it converse?
If so, how will the Instructor in front of me accept this situation?
"U-um, Instructor?"
"What is it."
"Ah."
"If you have something to say, say it, Leo. Why are you looking at this Instructor like an animal in a zoo?"
"S-sorry! I was just too surprised."
It was real after all!
Not only could it converse, but it also remembered my name.
'It really feels like I'm being scolded by Instructor Gerard…!'
She continued coldly.
"I asked what your business was. Don't tell me you summoned me without thinking?"
"N-no! That's not it! I, well, I was just testing it out?"
"Testing?"
"Yes, ah, I was trying to see if the skill worked properly…"
Her brow furrowed slightly at my stammering answer.
That was the exact expression she made when I made a stupid mistake.
Damn it, I know I summoned a clone, but it's so real it's scary!
"...Treating me like some kind of machine part, how unpleasant."
"N-no, that's not what I meant at all! This situation is so surreal that I don't really know what's going on."
"How amusing. Are you trying to say that you don't know what you've done?"
"I know it's strange, but, well, do you understand the situation, Instructor?"
Does she even have the awareness that she was summoned by me in the first place?
Fortunately, Instructor Gerard answered my question without any problems.
"I am a clone summoned by you. Is any further explanation necessary?"
"W-well, what about your thoughts or memories?"
"I was in the middle of eating a hamburger steak for dinner when I was summoned… The sweet flavor of the demi-glace sauce still lingers. Considering the word 'clone,' it's not something I can't understand."
"S-sorry for summoning you in the middle of your meal…"
"Hmph, good to know."
Instructor Gerard crossed her arms, looking sulky.
It really seems like she was copied and pasted directly from the moment of summoning…
Still, my thoughts are somewhat organized.
Whatever the reason, I ended up obtaining a clone summon of an elite Hunter who is an Instructor, and this means that I can put into practice what I asked Instructor Gerard for a few hours ago.
That is, to cross the Rift with the Instructor's help.
Her scornful gaze was still vivid in my mind, but anyway, what's in front of me now is my summon, right?
She seems very angry, but I have no choice but to ask again here.
"Instructor, please, help me conquer the Rift!"
"...Again."
The clone Instructor frowned at my question.
My heart sank for a moment, but the answer that came back was different from what I expected. She swept her long hair back and grabbed my collar.
"Haa, let's get this straight beforehand. Leo, this body is not my main body. The current me is strictly a summon summoned by you."
"Y-yes! That's right!"
"Summons follow the orders of their master. Is this rule difficult?"
"B-but, Instructor. Are you really okay with this?"
"Hmph, don't think useless thoughts. The reason I refused during the day was because I couldn't stand to see a student I was teaching acting spoiled. However, this is within the realm of skills allowed by the system. Since I have been summoned as your summon, it is my role to fight according to your orders. Do I have to explain even such trivial things? Were you just sleeping in class?"
"N-no, I'm sorry!"
The clone Instructor then smiled in satisfaction and nodded briefly.
"One less thing to die for. I'm satisfied if the academy can produce even one more warrior."
I felt strange.
Even if there were commands to control the summon, whether she sincerely helped me or not was another matter.
I had committed an act close to illegal summoning.
'I thought she was just a strict person, but she has a surprisingly warm side.'
Anyway, there's no problem using this clone in combat.
But there is one thing I'm worried about.
That is, no matter how much permission I received, she is not a summon that I can show to others.
Summoning a clone of a real person as a summon. If it were discovered, it would inevitably cause a huge controversy in the entire Hunter society.
Maybe I'll be dragged to the front lines against my will…
A Mythic-grade skill that can create anyone as a clone summon.
It really was that powerful.
When I cautiously mentioned these concerns, the Instructor nonchalantly retorted as if it were nothing.
"Hmph, it's fine as long as you don't get caught."
"That's easier said than done."
"There are various ways to avoid the government's eyes. The important thing is your skill in reaching that level. What you need to worry about right now is not that, but your status as a student."
"Ah."
That's right. It was the rule that students belonging to the academy must obtain a permit for Rift raids.
"Hmm, but I'm enrolled in the dropout program, so there shouldn't be any problem with issuing a permit."
It should come out in about two or three days.
"That's enough. Is there any need to wait? I can just write the documents in my handwriting."
"Excuse me?"
"My will is my main body's will. Is there any need to go through a cumbersome process?"
"Well, yes, but what about your ethics as an Instructor?"
"Don't cross the line. Isn't this what you ordered me, a summon, to do?"
"T-that's right…?"
Instructor Gerard, now that I see it, you're a Hunter who's not very close to the law…
I think the corners of her mouth are subtly rising.
Oh well, whatever.
The Instructor said it's okay, so it must be okay, right?
Strike while the iron is hot, I immediately used her handwriting to fill out the documents.
'Now that it's come to this, let's challenge it right away.'
It might be a little rushed.
But, a whole year.
I've lived through a year of nothing but failure.
I even received a de facto death sentence.
Even though I obtained this skill, if I endured and pondered any longer, my heart would burst.
I want to prove it.
That I can now conquer the Rift too!
Taking advantage of the late night, entering the Rift was not particularly difficult.
With the Instructor and the permit, what could they do even if they recognized my face?
Except for some Rifts controlled by large guilds, there weren't many places with strict security.
Since humanity's domain shifted from Earth to the super-giant Rift, 'Tartarus,' humanity was already struggling to manage the large-scale Rifts.
"It's no different from when I was active. The work is slow."
"That's how civil servants work, I guess."
The place I chose was one called 'Eleven-Eleven (11-1),' a nationally designated number.
All Rifts have such numbers.
In my memory, this was the easiest Rift near the academy.
"Hoo, shall we go in then?"
"...."
"D-don't go first!"
"What's with you being so scared from the entrance and dawdling like a slug?"
You're not even giving me time to take a deep breath!
I fixed the low-grade academy equipment I had packed from the dormitory and hurriedly ran after the Instructor.
The closer I got to the entrance of the Rift, the faster my heart beat.
Yeah, to be honest, I have PTSD.
Honestly, after repeating failures for months, wouldn't anyone be sick of just looking at the entrance of the Rift?
'Get a grip.'
Anyway, a Rift is still a Rift.
This land I live on is also a Rift.
I swallowed hard and stood next to the Instructor.
The Instructor walked towards the pitch-black entrance of the Rift without a word. Of course, there was not a trace of tension to be found.
Actually, this should be natural.
"Let's go in."
"Yes!"
She stepped into the darkness first, and I followed behind.
Closing my eyes tightly.
One step, then another.
The moment I crossed the boundary line.
Whoosh, a completely different air pierced my lungs.
A damp, fishy smell completely different from the outside. And the sight that unfolded before my eyes was…
"Hoo, it feels so real…"
Giant trees so densely packed that they blocked the sky. Under my feet, the squishy sensation of damp leaf mold being trampled. And the cries of unknown beasts echoing from afar.
The theme of this 'Eleven-Eleven' Rift was the primeval forest!
[Entering Rift, Eleven-Eleven.]
-Name: Leo
[Current Area: 1]
I stopped for a moment at the overwhelming green curtain.
The feeling of seeing a place that I had only seen on a monitor unfold in reality was something I couldn't get used to even after months.
"It's so wide. Is a Jjangryong going to come out or something?"
Well, it actually does come out in the later parts.
The theme here is literally a primeval forest.
It's not just that there are many trees.
From the size of the leaves, which are large and full of more oxygen than necessary, to the primeval grasslands.
It was a dungeon of nature where everything from insects and beast-type monsters to mutant dinosaurs appeared.
The Instructor lightly climbed onto a huge cliff rock covered in green moss, as if she was used to it. Then she looked down at the primeval forest below.
"It's been a while. It's the same as always, with no landmarks to use for the cover."
Unlike the Instructor, who lightly jumped several meters, my physical abilities were the worst.
I barely managed to climb up, panting, and walked to her side.
"This kind of scenery, huff, is going to continue steadily, right?"
"That's right."
"Then how should we conquer this place? First, some kind of strategy…"
In fact, the strategy for Eleven-Eleven is simple.
Find the path and just walk it.
Approximately 1 area per 10 kilometers.
It can be seen as a dungeon consisting of a total of 20 areas.
The problem is that even that simple thing is an extremely difficult level for me. In fact, the strategy was to leave everything to the Instructor's clone.
When I cautiously asked about this, the Instructor snorted lightly and said.
"Strategy, there's nothing for you to do. Just hide quietly and follow me secretly."
"Excuse me?"
"Is there any need for questions? This is the virtue of a summoner."
"W-well, even so—"
"There's no 'even so.' Leo, are you even aware that you're a summoner?"
She came right up to my face and poked my forehead with her finger.
"Ugh."
"Right now, it's not the relationship between Instructor and student, but the relationship between summon and master. If you're not just trying to gain experience, you'd better behave."
"Ugh… I understand."
I don't think I can do anything in particular either.
Even though I obtained a Mythic-grade skill, it's the summon that's strong, not me. I knew my place best after 30 failures.
'But it feels a bit like that.'
The appearance, the memories, the way she speaks are all Instructor Gerard herself.
To be honest, it's hard to give orders, and I felt bad saying I'd just hide and freeload…
Whether I do or not, the Instructor doesn't seem to care at all.
"Then I'll open the way."
The Instructor, who came down from the rock, opened the power of Ice Magic with a wave of her hand.