Chapter 105

Chapter 105

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 105“No, if the instructor isn't here, shouldn't they just cancel class? Does it make any sense that we have to come all the way outside the Academy for a replacement lesson, Boss?”

Apparently he disliked the Academy's behavior that much, because Jin-woo kept grumbling even after we had come outside the Academy.

“Still, isn't this much better than sitting down and studying?”

I genuinely said that because I was the type who preferred experiential classes like this, but Jin-woo merely looked at me as though he couldn't understand.

“Come on, no matter what, not having to come to the Academy at all would be the best! Ha... seriously, the whole world is screwing me over...”

Why did Jin-woo hate the Academy this much?

“Is it because of mentoring? It's true that the members of Artemis Guild are famous for being beautiful. Did Han Yeo-eun, the guild master, have a fan club with a million members?”

This was a fairly famous story even in the community, so I remembered it clearly.

Because she was always mentioned whenever people were asked to choose the representative beautiful female NPCs in the community.

“What?! That witch has a fan club?! Is it some kind of gathering of every simp in the Republic of Korea?”

At Jin-woo's genuinely disbelieving words, Se-ah, who had been walking ahead, turned around and grabbed Jin-woo by the collar.

“You! What did you just call our goddess Han Yeo-eun!!”

“Huh?! Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“You just said it yourself! You called them simps!”

“You...! You're a fan of that witch?”

“To call the goddess a witch! That's blasphemy!!”...

To think Kim Se-ah was part of Artemis's fan club, the ‘Moonlight Corps.’

I don't have particularly good memories with that woman either, but it seems I'd better watch what I say in front of Se-ah.

“By the way, security is still strict even though we've come outside the Academy.”

Not wanting to keep watching the two of them bicker, I looked around and began noticing many things I normally wouldn't see.

CCTV cameras and drones hidden all over the place, and people from private security companies.

It seemed the Academy had taken separate measures because of yesterday's incident and today's event.

“Ah, those? Apparently the parents' association is providing support too. The families of anyone considered talented at the Academy tend to be pretty impressive, after all.”

Se-ah explained that while still gripping Jin-woo by the collar and shaking him.

“Apparently the parents of the first-years were especially fierce. I heard this from the instructor, but one parent even threatened to half-destroy the Academy if they didn't handle security properly.”

Hm... that's hard to comment on.

Because I probably have some stake in that.

It was something I'd heard from Parnello this morning.

He said Father had shouted angrily at the dean.

My gaze inadvertently drifted toward Black Mist, which I'd newly obtained this time...

I feel bad for the dean.

Still, I sided with him during today's event, so maybe I've repaid a little of the debt?

“Still, I was really surprised. I never thought I'd actually get to see Lord Kwak Chun-sik, someone I'd only heard about in legends.”

“The old man isn't some legendary monster.”

“Of course that's not what I meant! How should I put it. I was deeply moved. Something like that. Lord Kwak Chun-sik has been someone difficult to meet in person because of that incident a few years ago.”

Ah, that.

“He'll be appointed as an instructor soon anyway, won't he? Later, you'll see him whether you want to or not.”

At that, Se-ah, who had been steadily walking without slowing down until then, stopped in place.

“What?”

“Hm? Didn't I tell you?”

That had been the plan from the beginning when he came out, but the terrorist attack had merely delayed it a little.

From what he'd told me, once this incident was wrapped up, he would proceed through the steps one by one and be appointed to the Academy.

From the dean's perspective, with his position having become troublesome at just the right time, Kwak Chun-sik's arrival would probably feel like gaining an army of a thousand men.

Not only was he normally on bad terms with the Association, but the fact that he possessed the power and authority to openly crush them would be a major weapon.

“L-Lord Kwak Chun-sik is being appointed as an Academy instructor. If that really happens, it'll definitely cause an uproar. There's even a saying that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Lord Kwak Chun-sik established most of the modern methods of aura manipulation.”

While Young-je and Jin-woo nodded as though agreeing with Se-ah's words.

“Everyone, halt! Gather around.”

Apparently we'd arrived at our destination, because an instructor's voice came from the front row.

Following the instructor's words, we gathered around.

The instructor swept his gaze over us, then began the lesson in a booming voice.

“Welcome to survival class, brats.”

The entrance to the mountain behind the Academy.

The one speaking to us here was one of the Academy instructors, an instructor known as an expert in dungeon survival, ‘Bear Grizzly.’...

I'd wondered what kind of replacement class it would be, but it was survival class.

Survival class taught students how to survive in any environment, and was one of the curricula designed for heroes who often had to enter dungeons.

“I assume you've already been told separately why we've come all the way outside the Academy for practical training. They're not just anyone, but seniors from a cohort as lofty as the heavens, so the dean and the other instructors couldn't exactly refuse. I ask that you understand this matter.”

Then the instructor snapped into an at-ease posture.

“Therefore, this instructor marched all the way here today in order to build an environment no different from actual combat. So that what you experience today may become flesh and blood for the rest of your lives....

In other words. We will be training a skill closely connected to survival.”

At that, the other students swallowed nervously and began wearing tense expressions.

Because this was the first time Instructor Bear Grizzly had come all the way outside the Academy while wearing such a serious expression.

Most of the students watched him nervously, and Bear Grizzly, who still silently swept his unreadable gaze across all of us, returned to attention before pulling a knife from his pocket and stabbing it into the tree in front of him.

“Everyone. I assume you've prepared yourselves, so I'll tell you what today's class will be.”

At the moment everyone's tension reached its peak.

“...

This instructor will be conducting a cooking class today.”

“““Huh?”””

At the same time, confused voices came from children all around...

A cooking class.

I'd roughly guessed it when I saw we were heading toward the mountain behind the Academy, but now that we'd actually be doing it, I was starting to look forward to it a little.

“As all of you experienced yesterday, there may be times when a dungeon suddenly goes berserk and sucks you inside. And among dungeons, there are also places that form entire ecosystems of their own.”

Just as he said, dungeons came in all sorts of forms.

From tower-shaped ones to the underground dungeon we'd been sucked into yesterday, and even dungeons with their own independent ecosystems.

That was why understanding a dungeon's characteristics and learning how to survive inside one was an extremely important task.

“Surviving in a dungeon is not that difficult! Things you can eat and things you cannot eat! If you can distinguish just those, you're already halfway to success. And delicious food is also extremely helpful for raising morale.”

Saying that, he pulled a baton from his waist and pointed with disciplined posture toward the mountain behind him.

“This is the mountain behind the Academy, which all of you know. There are many practice dungeons here, and because of their influence and the remnants of dungeons subjugated in the past, this place has formed a unique ecosystem. You could call it a kind of demonic region.”

But! he continued.

“Academy staff who can rescue you before anything dangerous happens have already been deployed inside. So you don't need to worry too much.”

I thought there seemed to be a lot of people around since earlier. So they'd planned for this too.

Even in the game, this forest only spawned minor mobs, so it definitely wasn't a particularly dangerous place.

Well, if you wanted students to study dungeon ecosystems, there really was no better place than here.

It was basically a tutorial area.

“Now then, first find a partner to cook with. From this moment on, form teams of two. I recommend teaming up with someone you like. Begin!”

At his words, the other kids began pairing up one by one with the people they were normally close to.

Then I should be able to team up with one of the club kids too.

To gather ingredients and scout terrain in a mountain like this with the least amount of effort, I thought it would be advantageous to team up with Se-ah, who specialized in detection, so I looked toward where she was...

“Team up with me! With me! Without you, I'm screeeewed!!”

“No, why?! I told you to team up with someone else! If I team up with Eugene, a perfect score is guaranteed, so why are you clinging to me?!”

“Have you ever seen the president cook? I can't cook! So save me, please! Huh?! Please! I'll let you meet Han Yeo-eun! Pleeeease!”

Jin-woo was already begging so desperately he might wear out his knees, so teaming up with her seemed a little difficult.

Then I could team up with Young-je...

“You don't have a partner? Sure, let's team up.”

“Wow! Thanks, class president! You saved me!”

It seemed Young-je had also ended up teaming with another student because of his position as class president.

Then the person still left was...

“Um, H-Han Eugene?”

“Hm?”

At my name suddenly coming from behind, I turned around and saw a black-haired girl with a flushed face.

She was definitely...

“Marie Nate?”

“Ah, yes! Y-you remember my name?”

“...

I'm the vice class president, after all. I have all the names of the students in class memorized.”

“Ah...! Right!”

She was a student who normally said almost nothing and had close to zero presence even in the classroom.

Long, slightly curly black hair tied into twin ponytails.

And the doll she always held in her hands.

Although I couldn't see her eyes because they were covered by her bangs, she seemed quite flustered when I called her name.

“...

So, what is it?”

Since we'd never exchanged even a single word before, I couldn't help wondering why she'd suddenly called me.

“Yes... uh... yes?”

“You called my name.”

“Ah, ah. Yes! It's not that... I'm really quite timid... I-I'm sorry! A-actually, I don't have anyone to team up with... so if it's okay with you, I was wondering if you might team up with me...”

Even though she'd spoken to me first, she hid her face behind her doll and asked carefully.

Teaming up with Marie Nate in a survival cooking competition...

“Sure.”

“Ah, I see. As expected... what? R-really?”

Marie jumped in surprise at my answer.

“Hm? Was that a joke or something?”

“N-no! A joke?! Of course not!”

“Then you're asking to be on the same team, right?”

“Y-yes!”

“All right. I'm counting on you. Marie Nate.”

Actually, I needed you too.