Episode 23 – Twin Trouble?
Han Jin-woo sat stiff and quiet, still shaken by what just happened. The contract was there, signed and sealed. But his mind wasn't on the paperwork. It was on the two boys standing in front of him identical. Same face, same voice. Not a difference in sight.
One of them, the one wearing a yellow hoodie, walked over to the coffee machine like he owned the place. Adjusted the settings like he'd done it a hundred times. The other stayed put, calm and cool, watching Han like he was the one being evaluated.
Han finally cleared his throat.
"So… you two. Are you twins or something?"
The one sitting leaned forward, a grin tugging at his lips, eyes full of mischief.
"You could say that," Kim Do-hyun answered, pointing at the version of himself now sipping coffee. "But that one? He's my clone."
Han blinked. Again. Then again.
He sat back slowly, eyes fixed on the so-called clone.
The clone Number 1 walked over and gave Do-hyun a light tap on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, boss. I went through the contract. Everything's solid."
"Boss?" Han echoed, uncertain.
The clone turned to him, smiling with a kind of warmth no robot should have.
"He looks the same," Do-hyun said, arms stretching behind his head. "But he's mine. Just one of me. There's another one of us at the gym right now."
Han's mouth felt dry.
"You have another clone... at the gym?"
Do-hyun nodded, like he was talking about the weather.
"Yeah. Bench presses. Might break his personal best today."
Han's voice pitched up.
"Why the gym?"
Do-hyun nodded again, like it should've been obvious.
"Because when my clone gets stronger, so do I. We're synced. Everything he feels, everything he learns it all comes back to me."
That got Han's full attention. He leaned in.
"You can boost your own stats through your clones?"
"More or less. It's like one body, split across a few lives."
Han stared at him. His mind struggled to catch up. Most skills had costs. Summons drained mana. Illusions needed constant focus. Healing wore you out. But this? This was clean. No waste. A shortcut wrapped in genius.
He stood, walked over to the window, and stared at the skyline. Didn't really see it though. His thoughts were somewhere else.
"That's not an F-rank skill," he whispered.
Behind him, the clone coughed politely.
"Sir, if I may. Maybe go a little lighter on the sugar next time. He doesn't like it that sweet."
Han turned. "He?"
The clone smiled. "Me."
That's when it hit Han. This wasn't just some skill. It wasn't just copying yourself. The clone had personality. Memory. Opinions. It might even have wants of its own.
And if it was getting stronger by the day…
Han walked back to his chair. Sat down slow.
He was quiet for a long time.
Then he looked up.
"Have you told anyone else about this?"
Do-hyun shook his head.
"Not yet. Still figuring out how far it goes."
Han tapped the contract. His voice dropped.
"If this is real, you're about to flip the whole system. Everyone else trains solo. You're about to train as a team. A team made of you."
Do-hyun just smiled.
Han looked at the clone, then back at the boy. Then at the paper again.
He rubbed his temples, shaking his head.
"This kid's got real potential."