Is There A Romance Subplot In 'Auto Hunting With My Clones'?

Absolutely! The romance in 'Auto Hunting with My Clones' sneaks up on you like a stealthy side quest. The protagonist's dynamic with the sharp-witted guild officer Elise starts as pure professional rivalry—she thinks his clone ability is cheating, he thinks her rule-stickling is annoying. But as they keep being thrown together on high-stakes missions, their banter turns into something warmer. The real kicker? His clones develop slight personality variations, and one particular clone starts flirting with her independently. It creates this hilarious tension where she can't tell if she's being wooed by the original or a copy.

What I love is how the romance doesn't overshadow the hunting action. Their relationship grows through shared battles—like when Elise abandons protocol to save a wounded clone, realizing she cares more about him than the rules. The author drops subtle hints about deeper feelings during campfire scenes between missions, where they discuss their pasts. It's slow-burn done right, with just enough teasing moments to keep you invested without derailing the main plot.

As someone who binged the entire series last weekend, I can confirm the romance subplot is way more complex than it first appears. The story initially focuses on the protagonist mastering his clone abilities to climb hunter rankings, but around volume 3, relationships take an intriguing turn. What starts as standard will-they-won't-they tension with Elise evolves into a fascinating exploration of identity and affection.

The clones add layers to the romance that I've never seen before. Some copies develop unexpected traits—one becomes more courageous, another more emotionally open—and these variations affect how they interact with Elise. There's a heart-wrenching arc where a badly injured clone confesses feelings to her before dissolving, leaving both Elise and the original protagonist grappling with whether those emotions were 'real.' The author cleverly uses this to explore what makes love genuine when multiple versions of a person exist.

Later volumes introduce a love triangle twist when a female hunter from a rival guild starts showing interest. This isn't your typical annoying third-wheel drama though—she actually bonds with a specific clone variant, creating this philosophical dilemma about whether different versions of the protagonist could reasonably have separate relationships. The romantic subplots consistently tie back to the series' core themes of self-discovery and the nature of consciousness, making it feel integral rather than tacked on.

If you enjoy romance that challenges conventions while delivering solid emotional payoff, this series nails it. The relationships progress naturally through shared trauma during S-rank hunts and quiet moments of vulnerability between battles. By the latest volume, the protagonist and Elise have developed this beautiful partnership where she strategizes around his clone abilities in fights, showing how deeply they understand each other now.

The romance in 'Auto Hunting with My Clones' hits different because it's woven into the power mechanics. Protagonist's ability creates this unique dating scenario—imagine going on a date with five versions of the same guy, each slightly altered. The guild officer Elise initially hates his guts for exploiting loopholes in hunting regulations, but her frustration slowly morphs into respect when she sees how he risks clones to protect civilians during monster attacks.

Their chemistry shines during downtime between hunts. There's this recurring motif where Elise teaches different clones how to cook, unaware that skills learned by copies sometimes bleed into the original's muscle memory. When he suddenly prepares her favorite dish perfectly one day, it shocks both of them. Moments like these make their connection feel earned.

The series also plays with romantic tropes in fresh ways. Instead of amnesia plots, we get emotional whiplash when a clone disappears mid-conversation, leaving Elise talking to a blank spot. Jealousy takes on new meaning when she wonders if the original is ignoring her while other clones are off flirting elsewhere. What could've been a gimmick instead becomes a thoughtful examination of how superpowers would realistically complicate love.