Thinking carefully, I recall the very first scene I encountered after the possession.
When I opened my eyes, numerous people were sitting crumpled like cargo under dim lights.
'Where is this place...?'
My last memories are fragmentary. Screaming, looking up to see an air conditioner's outdoor unit falling toward my head, then darkness.
I feel hazy, like being drunk. I stood up for a moment to look around. Other than being packed with people, I can't tell much. Looking closer, they seem to be teenagers younger than me.
There were no clues to deduce anything. I only guessed it was inside a vehicle because the place was slightly shaking.
Shortly after, the vibration stopped and there was a lurching sensation. The vehicle stopped. The doors opened wide, and under the dark night, the lights of an unfamiliar city were visible.
"Come on, everyone out!"
"Hurry up and get out!"
Large, fierce-looking people outside the vehicle started forcibly pulling out the young teenagers inside. The atmosphere was hostile.
'Damn! Could this be human trafficking?'
Though I don't know why I'm here, I instinctively sensed this was something illegal.
As I cautiously got out, thugs covered in tattoos were lining people up and leading them somewhere else. Clean-looking vehicles were waiting at the end of the line, and people were starting to get in.
I instinctively realized that if I got in those vehicles, I'd never see the outside world again. While the thugs' attention was elsewhere, I quickly broke from the line and ran into an alley.
"Huh? Hey! One's running!"
"Hey! Catch them! We can't have missing numbers!"
I ran with all my might. If I'm caught, it's over!
However, the thugs caught up to me instantly.
'Was I this slow?'
"Got you!"
I was caught by a large thug and lifted into the air. I screamed.
"Ahhh! Let me go!"
I froze mid-scream. An unbelievably clear girl's voice had come out.
While I was struggling in this bizarre situation, another thug who had followed struck my stomach.
Thud!
"Ugh..urk..."
"Hah... little brat causing unnecessary trouble."
"Got her? Then hurry and load her up. We're leaving soon!"
Everything went dark.
When my vision brightened again, this time I was lying in a space with bright lights shining from above. In contrast to the light source above me, the surroundings were pitch black.
When I tried to move my body, my arms and legs wouldn't budge. Though I couldn't see them, my ankles and wrists seemed to be bound by something cold.
When I slightly lifted my head, I could see my body was covered with a green cloth.
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"Help! Is anyone there...huh?"
I stopped mid-shout. This thin, delicate girl's voice wasn't mine.
While looking around in confusion, people wearing masks approached from the darkness.
"Hey! Please untie me!"
"That one's noisy, gag her."
"What? Wait! Mmph! Mmmmph...!"
I struggled in various ways. Nothing moved. They're approaching. I saw something glinting.
Whirrrrr!!
"Now beginning the Sigma-6 procedure. First..."
A green cloth covered my head. I hear sharp mechanical sounds. The sound keeps getting closer.
I can't see anything. What is this? What's happening? No. I don't want this. Stop-
==
Hmm, what was it? Something was about to surface but stopped. I can't remember anything.
Nothing comes to mind, as if erased with an eraser. What could have happened? I think that place was a laboratory.
Well, what happened afterward isn't so vivid. Imagine a flashback-filled movie made by a poor art film director using damaged film played on a dusty projector.
Falling into darkness and being pulled back into light several times.
"Proceeding with the procedure."
'Ahhh!'
Once again bound in the same place.
With each flash of light, it feels like important parts of me are being cut away one by one.
"...Beginning second frontal lobe augmentation procedure on test subject 10-6-8. The neuron modification through multilayered enhancement..."
'Aaaahh!'
What was it? Noise, screams, I think I cried a lot. I can't remember.
It feels like something keeps being carved out.
"...Federation Year 24, April 27, proceeding with neuron-ether expansion on test subject 10-6-8. Method is..."
'Uwaang...'
It feels like my existence has turned to clay, being kneaded at will by malicious elementary school children.
Again in darkness, I heard murmuring voices around me.
"...Ether-signal response transmission levels within neural pathways are normal, test subject's consciousness is sequentially transitioning from comatose to drowsy state. Awakening expected soon."
My vision brightened again. I was standing in green liquid where air bubbles were bubbling.
"...Federation Year 025, Month 13, Day 3, 12:13, test subject 10-6-8's current consciousness state,"
"...Awakening complete."
Strange things were attached all over my mouth and body. I was in a giant test tube. Around me, several people in lab coats were surrounding me and talking.
When I started to fall forward, the people in lab coats supported me. They removed various devices attached to my mouth and body.
'Huh... was I naked?'
It's cold. Something feels empty about my lower body. The surroundings are noisier than expected. My head turned on its own and looked around.
'I'm not the only one in this state.'
Large test tubes were lined up in a wide room. For each person who came out of a test tube, two or three researchers were attached, checking something before taking them somewhere else.
Led by their hands, I was taken to what looked like a shower room. After being thoroughly drenched in water again, I dried off with a towel.
Then I received and put on a loose dress-like hospital gown. They took my picture.
Click!
Light flashed again.
This time I was standing in some wide space.
"Test subject 10-6-8. Execute instructions. Penalty will be applied if not carried out within 60 seconds. 60, 59, 58..."
A speaker on one side gave me orders.
'I' stood still until the countdown ended. When the countdown finished, suddenly my neck started beeping.
I unconsciously touched my neck and realized something hard like a choker was wrapped around it. At that moment.
Bzzzzt-!!
"Kyaaah!"
An intense electric shock struck my body. I jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on and collapsed to the floor.
They urge me on. I cry. Once again pain strikes my body.
I unconsciously stretched out my arm.
Something invisible and warm flowed from my arm into the air. Something started forming before my eyes. It was like watching a 3D printer creating an object at triple speed.
The form built up from feet, legs, to waist, and before I knew it became a girl.
I forgot the pain and stared at this strange phenomenon. There stood a girl with blonde hair reaching her shoulders and red eyes, wearing a thin hospital gown.
When I stretched out my arm, that child stretched out hers. When I turned my head, the girl turned hers. The girl moved following my movements.
After a while, the girl slowly decomposed into powder and disappeared like scattering dust.
Light flashes.
I'm lying bound again. Once more I hear something whirring.
Another test chamber... lying down. Flashing...
When I opened my eyes, the world flashed again. It keeps flashing. Flashing...
'I' walked down a long corridor led by researchers. After passing through several doors, we entered what looked like an office for someone of high position.
The researchers approached someone sitting in a chair and said something. A man with a shiny scalp got up from his seat and approached me.
The bald middle-aged man seemed to be in a good mood, similar to the expression that greedy parents obsessed with grades at school often make when their child brings home top-grade report cards.
"What's your name?"
The bald man opened his mouth, and my mouth moved on its own.
"...I don't know."
'I' shook my head and answered. He turned around and started asking his subordinates various things.
"Team leader, does this test subject not have a name?"
"Director. In case of 10-6-8... ah, that one was probably one of the samples brought in from outside Rustrum..."
"A refugee...? Well, it doesn't matter."
During their brief conversation, the one called Director motioned to me. 'I' walked toward the Director.
"Weren't there some cover identities we were going to give to some of the verified test subjects? If not... well, those things..."
"You mean the disposed test subjects? We've just selected some suitable cover identities."
"Perfect. They were useless insects anyway, might as well let their names be used."
The Director tapped on a tablet PC a few times and made a sweeping gesture. An ID certificate with a photo of an unknown girl appeared on the large monitor mounted on the wall.
"Violet... Violet Dunhind..Rugil..Rugilinn? Rugelin? What a strange name. Good. Let's go with this. 10-6-8?"
"...Yes."
The Director looked down at me arrogantly.
"From now on you're Violet. Understand? Repeat it."
"Vi..o..let..?"
The Director slightly frowned and struck my head with a thud.
"Oh my, did the procedure reduce linguistic ability? Repeat after me. Vi-o-let."
"Vi...o...let.."
'I' slowly and clearly pronounced the name properly. Only then did the Director's face slightly relax.
The bald Director exchanged a few words with other researchers as if everything was done and slumped back into his seat.
'I' was led out into the corridor by researchers. A bright red logo was attached to one wall of the corridor.
It was a familiar logo.
'What was it.'
Hmm, I can't remember.
The researchers told me to wait, and while waiting, I saw a large mirror hanging on the wall.
In it stood a pretty girl. A beautiful girl with blonde hair and ruby-red eyes.
I instinctively sensed this was me and was amazed.
"This is me? This is amazing!"
It feels like I should be surprised, but I'm not. Rather, I'm excited. Why? Right! Because I was a pretty beautiful girl. No. Was I always like this?
It feels like something's missing in my head. Like the part responsible for 'surprise' is gone.
"Hehehe..."
No. Still, I'm cute! Anyway, it doesn't matter, right?
Wait. Who was I? Why am I here?
I'm dizzy. Suddenly became confused.
"Ugh..."
While groaning and holding my head, a translucent blue screen appeared before my eyes.
──────────────
Name: Violet Dunhind Rugilinn
Alias: Test Subject 10-6-8
Status: Laboratory Test Subject
Health: 1000
Magic Power: 1500
Unique Ability:
■■■■:???
Lv1 Clone Technique
...
──────────────
I read the floating letters in the air.
"Violet..."
My mind started to gradually become clear like a blue sky after clouds cleared.
Yes, I'm not Violet. And I am Violet!
Actually, I'm not from this world. I just realized.
But anyway, the reality now is that I'm Violet. A pretty beautiful girl!
Yes, come to think of it, this is when my world started becoming clear again.
From that moment when I faced the mirror and the status window appeared before my eyes. Even though there are many blanks in my head and parts that seem forgotten.
After recalling up to here, I closed my eyes.
"Ungh... why are there parts I can't remember?"
Ah, forget about worrying and let's just sleep. It's not coming back clearly anyway.
I closed my eyes.