Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I Became the Academy Mafia, Chapter 10“As announced in advance. Today, we’ll be sparring using your unique weapons.”

Following Instructor Ji Su-hyeon’s lead, we moved to a sparring arena located inside the Academy.

A place that could be said to contain every technology of this era.

According to the game’s setting, this sparring arena used mana stones to distort space, allowing you to feel pain without actually being injured.

In other words, it meant that, under most circumstances, you wouldn’t die inside.

“Instructor. I have a question. It seems the number of classmates who were with us yesterday has decreased quite a bit... Did something happen?”

Certainly, the number of people gathered in the sparring arena now was much smaller than the number I had seen yesterday.

If there had been around 20 yesterday... there were about 12 now?

“Through yesterday’s events, I sent everyone I judged unsuitable for our class to other classes. Does that answer your question?”

“...

Yes. Thank you.”

In other words, sending us flying to a deserted island yesterday had actually been a test.

Meaning what she said yesterday hadn’t been a joke.

To think she would actually send students whose classes had already been decided to other classes...

It was probably only possible because it was Ji Su-hyeon, of all people.

“The ‘unique weapons’ you’ll be handling from today onward are, quite literally, armaments.

In other words, tools required for combat.”

As she said that and snapped her fingers, the ring on her index finger flashed and transformed into a purple automatic pistol.

That was Ji Su-hyeon’s ‘unique weapon.’

“In other words, the tools you’re holding right now are tools that, depending on the situation, can kill people.”

She spoke in a terrifyingly cold voice and aimed the pistol toward us.

At the same time, the students’ expressions stiffened completely.

Probably because, just like me, everyone had seen her unique weapon and recognized it as ‘a weapon that kills people.’

And Ji Su-hyeon, who had been watching us expressionlessly, soon spread her hand wide, making the pistol disappear, and gave a faint smile.

“And they are also tools that will protect your bodies from your enemies.”

She pointed behind herself.

“This is a place designed to help you efficiently and skillfully fight using such armaments. So, at the very least while you are here, I trust that you won’t do anything stupid. Now, take out your respective weapons.”

At Ji Su-hyeon’s instruction, all 12 students gathered here took out their unique weapons.

Guns, swords, staffs, bows, spears, wands, and more. It was truly a collection of every kind of weapon.

And among them was one weapon that displayed an overwhelmingly imposing presence.

A heavy black barrel and drum magazine. Even the stock and grip were made from luxurious wood.

The moment the Thompson submachine gun commonly known as the Chicago Typewriter appeared, all the surrounding gazes gathered on me.

No, they gathered on my Tommy.

“...

Han Eugene. What is that weapon?”

Even Ji Su-hyeon apparently hadn’t expected me to bring something like this, because she stared at me with an incredulous expression.

“My unique weapon.”

“You know the disadvantages unique firearms have, don’t you?”

“Because the bullet spins along the rifling, the mana gathered around the bullet scatters more quickly.”

Of course, this too was a setting created in accordance with the long-standing tradition that ‘you can’t load mana into a gun.’

However, according to this setting, it merely meant that mana was difficult to keep on a bullet, not that it couldn’t remain there at all.

“You know it well. And you still intend to use a gun?”

“Yes. Because I like guns.”

At my answer, Ji Su-hyeon raised the corners of her mouth in understanding and gave a faint smile.

“In that case, I don’t care. It looks like everyone has taken out their unique weapons, so let’s start right away. Anyone want to be the first to spar?”

While everyone remained silent, I raised my hand.

“...

Han Eugene? Fine, is there someone you want to spar against?”

At Ji Su-hyeon’s question, I nodded and placed my hand on Jin-woo’s shoulder beside me.

“I’ll choose this guy.”

“Huh? Already?”

Apparently, even he hadn’t expected that we would go first, because he looked rather flustered.

Even at that, Ji Su-hyeon nodded with an expression that said it wasn’t a bad choice.

“Jin-woo Vivald, is it. Fine, then both of you move onto the field.”

“Huh? Ah, yes!”

Jin-woo, still flustered by Ji Su-hyeon’s words, hurried into the field.

The dagger in his hand was probably his ‘unique relic.’

I likewise silently picked up the Tommy I had set down. [Al Capone’s Tommy]

and entered the field with it in hand.

“Hey, you’re seriously planning to fight me with that antique? Does that thing even work?”

Was that line the catalyst?

When I checked my smartphone as it suddenly vibrated, a new quest alert had appeared.【Hidden Quest】[Chicago Typewriter][They have forgotten the fear of the ‘Chicago Typewriter’ that once ruled the city nights. Properly engrave the terror of the ‘Chicago Typewriter’ into them!][Objective: Make at least 5 people feel the emotion of ‘Fear.’][Reward: Enhancement of Al Capone’s Tommy’s abilities][Progress: 0 / 5]

Oh, so this connects like this?

When I glanced at him, I saw him spinning the dagger in his hand and sneering.

Certainly, the [Al Capone’s Tommy]

I held was an artifact from an old era worthy of being called a relic.

But a relic wasn’t merely an old object. It was an object imbued with mysterious power.

Apparently, he didn’t know the weapon I was holding was a relic.

Well, the most famous relics in each country were given first to heroes belonging to their respective nations, so when would the son of the Vivald Family have had a chance to see a relic?

“Fine. Experience it for yourself.”

You don’t know what a relic is?

If you don’t know, you need to get hit.

Huff, huff── Along with the sound, Instructor Ji Su-hyeon’s voice came through the speakers installed inside the field.[Are both of you ready.]

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Yup~”

Before we began, I tucked the stock beneath my arm, pushed the bolt forward, and aimed at Jin-woo.[Then, fight with the resolve to kill each other.]

That was probably her signal to begin.

“Shall we see who’s better?”

“I exercised a little too hard yesterday. Let’s finish this quickly.”

“Don’t underestimate me!”

Jin-woo gripped his dagger in reverse and charged toward me.

On the other hand, what I did was nothing special.

I simply held the Tommy with both hands and pulled the trigger.─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!

The barrel began jumping wildly as it burst with red flashes, and a sound like a typewriter being struck began echoing throughout the sparring arena.

“You crazy───!!”

Unlike an ordinary weapon, the weapon I held. [Al Capone’s Tommy]

worked by shaping my mana into bullets and firing them instead of using actual ammunition.

In other words, until my mana ran out, I could keep firing bullets continuously without ever changing magazines.

Was that all? [Al Capone’s Tommy]

also had an additional effect.[3. Mafia Exclusive: This weapon is practically a symbol of the Mafia. When equipped by someone affiliated with the Mafia, overall abilities increase.]

Thanks to that effect, I could continue spraying bullets at him in a state that was practically recoil-free.─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!/─!

The field instantly filled with smoke coming from the barrel.

When I slowly took my finger off the trigger, the field instantly sank into silence as though the noise from moments ago had been a lie.

“Jin-woo Vivald?”

I called his name through the thick smoke, but Jin-woo’s voice couldn’t be heard anywhere.

Instead.[...

Sparring over. Han Eugene. Take Jin-woo Vivald and leave the field.]

The instructor’s voice coming from the speakers made me tilt my head automatically.

The spar was over?

The gunpowder smoke slowly began to fade.

Beyond the smoke was Jin-woo Vivald, sprawled on the ground with the clothes he had been wearing reduced to rags.

It definitely hadn’t even been ten seconds since I pulled the trigger. He entered a groggy state from just that?

Since the instructor had given an order, I approached Jin-woo while still holding the Tommy.

“...

Are you okay?”

“...”

He didn’t answer my question. Judging by the whites of his eyes showing, apparently he had passed out from the pain.

Well, his chest was moving up and down, so he was probably fine.

I slung him over one shoulder with one hand and stepped off the field, where I felt the gazes of the others around me.

Fear, respect, and astonishment.

As I stood still feeling their gazes, Instructor Ji Su-hyeon approached and looked at Jin-woo hanging over my shoulder.

“Haah, passing out in the sparring room. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that.”

“...

What should I do with him?”

“Hm? Him? Just throw him into the infirmary and come back. Since he was injured in the sparring room, there’s no way he has any internal injuries or serious wounds. He must have passed out from the pain.”

Just as I expected, apparently he had fainted from the pain. There was just one problem.

“...

I don’t know where the infirmary is.”

“Huh? Ah, right. You’re freshmen.”

Ji Su-hyeon muttered as though she had forgotten, then called over a nearby Academy employee.

Soon, Jin-woo was carried on the Academy employee’s back to the infirmary.

After watching that and letting out a sigh, Ji Su-hyeon shook her head as though she couldn’t understand it.

“To think he dropped after one second, lost consciousness after three seconds, then got beaten for another seven seconds while unconscious. Seriously.”...

Did I overdo it a little? I was starting to feel unnecessarily sorry.

“Han Eugene.”

“Yes.”

The instructor suddenly called me and let out a sigh.

“...

What the hell did that old man put in your hands?”

“...

Pardon?”

“I mean your father. To think he would give a national-treasure-class relic to his son who’s attending the Academy... Was that old man in his right mind when he gave you that weapon?”...

Seeing her call my father, who wasn’t some ordinary father but the Boss of the Calione Family, ‘that old man,’ it seemed Instructor Ji Su-hyeon had some personal acquaintance with him.

“...

I obtained this weapon myself through my own ability. I never received Father’s help.”

“...

What? Your father didn’t give it to you? A weapon of that caliber?”

“Yes, I obtained it entirely through my own ability.”...

More precisely, I received a little help from ‘Calione,’ but what could I do when I was also a Calione?

“...

Huh, if you say so, then I’ve got nothing to say. Fine, good work. Next time, I’d like to see you fight without your ‘unique weapon.’”

“I’ll do that next time.”

“...

No fun.”

Instructor Ji Su-hyeon muttered that while looking at me, then turned away as though losing interest.

Looks like I’ll have to ask Father what kind of relationship he has with Instructor Ji Su-hyeon.

While I was thinking that.

Buzzzzz───At last, an alert announcing the quest reward appeared.【Hidden Quest Complete!】[Chicago Typewriter][They have forgotten the fear of the ‘Chicago Typewriter’ that once ruled the city nights. Properly engrave the terror of the ‘Chicago Typewriter’ into them!][Objective: Make at least 5 people feel the emotion of ‘Fear.’][Reward: Enhancement of Al Capone’s Tommy’s abilities][Progress: 9 / 5 ][Objective Overachieved!][You have instilled fear of the Chicago Typewriter into countless classmates!][Reward Details]

-Al Capone’s Tommy Enhancement Ticket[1. Relic. An enhancement ticket that can enhance 「Al Capone’s Tommy」. When used, it adds the new ability ‘Mana Suppressor Equipped’ to 「Al Capone’s Tommy」.][Mana Suppressor: Creates a suppressor using mana. When the mana suppressor is used, the gunfire from 「Al Capone’s Tommy」 is greatly reduced, and the mana waves generated when firing are also greatly reduced.]

“...

Seriously?”