Chapter 116

Chapter 116

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 116Word came in that after Plague's mushroom disappeared, the symptoms of those who had fallen ill were gradually subsiding.

It also seemed that all the remaining Villain Alliance members hiding inside Sector C had been wiped out.

“They probably won't be able to move for a while either.”

‘That’ mushroom Plague had installed wasn't something he could easily create.

Considering its power and versatility, a penalty of this level was only natural.

After confirming that the entire commotion had finally come to an end, I swept my disheveled hair back and got into the sedan waiting outside the botanical garden.

“Good work. Young Master.”

Parnello closed the rear door, then sat in the passenger seat.

“Good work, my ass. There's still a mountain of things left to do.”

I muttered that with a light sigh.

Even just the things that needed to be done right now included cleaning up Sector C, deciding on countermeasures going forward, writing a report about what happened today, and checking on the injured.

Considering my responsibilities, I couldn't simply go straight to sleep.

But.

“You should rest as soon as we return today. Young Master.”

Parnello, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and spoke.

“You've already worked more than enough. Leave the rest to us and get some proper rest.”

“But...”

Just as I was about to speak, I saw the concern in Parnello's eyes.

When I looked at my reflection in the window, I saw a face covered in blood, dust, and wounds.‘I definitely don't look normal.’When I tried moving my aura little by little to check my body's condition, I felt pain as though a knife had been driven into my heart.

It seemed the backlash had finally arrived after forcing my body so hard.

I really did seem to need time to recover.

“...

I'll do that.”

“Thank you.”

I decided to gratefully accept his kindness.

At my answer, Parnello gave a bright smile and turned back around.

In the meantime, the estate had already come into view.

After stepping out of the sedan and looking around, I saw that this place was just as chaotic as Sector C.

The other organization members, including me, had all suffered injuries of varying severity.

Medical personnel were running around, transporting the wounded.

“You've arrived. This way, quickly!”

One of them ran toward me and laid me down on what looked like a medical bed.

Was it the relief of having returned to the estate? The moment I lay down, sleep overwhelmed me.

“You've worked hard. Rest comfortably. Young Master.”

Listening to Parnello's faint voice, I fell asleep just like that.

______________

“Ah, you're awake.”

Feeling someone's presence, I opened my eyes and saw Alessia cleaning the room.

“...

Alessia?”

“Good morning. Young Master.”

Apparently her wounds hadn't completely healed either, as bandages wrapped around her arms and legs stood out.

“...

Are you all right?”

“Compared to you, Young Master, I'm in very good condition. You... pushed yourself quite hard.”

At her words, I looked over the bandages and gauze wrapped around various parts of my body.

I'd tried to endure through Natural Healing and avoid worrying anyone else as much as possible, but it seemed they'd finished treating me while I slept.

Perhaps because of that, my condition was far better than usual.

“I feel much better than I expected.”

“I heard they used every elixir available at the estate....

I suppose that shows just how badly you pushed yourself.”

From Alessia's words, I could roughly guess what kind of treatment they'd given me while I slept.

I'd experienced it countless times during successor training with Parnello.

You immersed your body in a capsule filled with special liquid, like superhumans receiving treatment in movies.

“How much did they burn through this time?”

“According to the warehouse manager, about five hundred million won.”...

Still less than during successor training, I guess.

It's bitter that this is how I'm feeling my growth.

Back then, there wasn't a day when I wasn't pouring elixirs into my stomach, and even my half-baths were done in low-grade holy water, so I suppose it was only natural.

Well, it was true that I was able to grow quickly thanks to that.

“And... right. The Don said that once you woke up, I should tell you to come to the study.”

“You're telling me that now?”

“You only just woke up?”

“...

True.”

The clock on the table showed eleven in the morning.

It was much later than the time I usually woke up.

“Well, he called for me, so I should go.”

Scratching my head, I got out of bed and began preparing to leave. Then Alessia suddenly bowed her head toward me.

“...

Thank you very much for yesterday.”

“Hm?”

“That makes twice now. The number of times you've saved me, Young Master.”

Then Alessia abruptly turned around and spoke.

“You'll be late. Please go see the Don quickly. Young Master.”

With that, Alessia hurriedly left.

“How anticlimactic...”

It was something I would've done anyway, so having her act like this was embarrassing.

Putting the embarrassment aside, I lightly straightened my clothes and headed to Father's study.

The first thing I saw upon entering was Father's exhausted face.

He was reviewing documents while relying on a cigar imbued with an awakening effect.

“Ah, Eugene. Yes, is your body all right?”

Even so, the first thing Father did upon seeing me was worry about my condition.

To be honest, it wasn't bad, though since I'd used my aura so violently, it would probably be better to avoid intense combat for a while.

In any case, I was fine for everyday life.

“Yes. I'm fine now.”

“...

Good. That's a relief. You truly worked hard yesterday.”

“I only did what had to be done. We're family.”

Apparently satisfied by my answer, Father smiled contentedly, set down the documents he was holding, and looked at me.

“For now, the Consiglière and I handled all the urgent matters. Things like cleaning up Sector C and deciding what to do with the villains we captured.”

Then a document envelope was placed in front of me.

“It contains a summary of everything, so reviewing it later should be useful.”

“Thank you. Then I'll check it immediately and prepare the report──”

“No.”

His voice suddenly dropped low.

Father raised one hand slightly to stop me, then looked at me with serious eyes.

“You have something more important to do than that.”

“...

Something more important?”

“Yes, something only you can do. It seems beyond my ability, so I'll have to ask you.”

Something even Father couldn't handle?

What exactly was he planning to order me to do?

The suddenly serious atmosphere made tension sweep through my body.

A brief silence.

I focused on Father's words while trying not to show how tense I was, and then something completely unexpected came out of his mouth.

“...

Your maternal grandfather says he wants to see you and Ji-yoon.”

“What?”

Seriously.

I hadn't expected that at all.

If he was Vito Calione's father-in-law...

Han Jin-wol.

A legendary businessman who had raised Hanwol Group into the very highest ranks of the Republic of Korea's corporate world amid chaotic global conditions.

When dungeons and Awakened appeared, he boldly invested in mana as a new resource. As a result, he built a company possessing the world's finest technology in the IT industry and military technology, becoming a pivotal figure who laid the foundations of the modern market.

Almost nothing else about him was publicly known, but from the image I remembered from the game, he was the very embodiment of an iron-willed, cold businessman.

Anyway, the biggest problem was... that such a person was my maternal grandfather.

“He was already disappointed that he couldn't attend your executive promotion party, and after hearing that you'd come visit later, he waited, only to complain about how hurt he was that you never contacted him...”

“Ah.”

I'd forgotten.

Come to think of it, I'd only sent word that I'd visit and never contacted him even once.‘No, but things have been insanely hectic this whole time.’Meanwhile, I'd been throwing around Hanwol Group's name whenever I needed it, so now my conscience was pricking me.

“...

Then today, as you said, Father, I'll go visit Grandfather.”

When I bowed my head and spoke, Father nodded.

“Yes. I've already told Ji-yoon in advance, so the two of you can go together. Be careful.”

“Yes. Father.”

I left the study right away, checked that no one was around, and grabbed my head...

I knew I'd have to face this at some point, but I never imagined I'd meet him like this.

It was a strangely complicated feeling. On one hand, it was a little anticlimactic that it wasn't anything more serious than this, while on the other hand, it was mentally burdensome.

My grandfather?

Even in my previous life, my grandfathers had passed away early, so I had no idea how I was even supposed to act around one.

What am I supposed to do?

Someone I could ask for advice...

“Ah.”

There was someone.

Someone around me who had probably met my grandfather frequently.

And someone who wasn't part of Calione.

I immediately called that person, and her voice came through before the signal had even rung twice.

-I picked up. This is Lee Haru.

“Can you talk for a moment?”

-Yes. I'm available. And... I think I know why you contacted me.

“Hm?”

-Isn't it because you're going to meet Chairman Han Jin-wol? That's what I assumed...

How does she know that?

Is she a mind reader?

“For now, that is why I called... but how did you know something I only just heard from Father...”

-Ah, I can roughly guess what happened. The one who contacted me was the Chairman himself.

According to her, she'd apparently been told that Ji-yoon and I were coming today, so it would be good for them to see each other while they had the chance.

“Grandfather invited you too?”

-I was puzzled as well... but it's not impossible to understand. Ever since before, whenever there were corporate or family events, I would go with you, Young Master, to greet him.

“...

I think I understand what you mean.”

In the end, she was also a businesswoman and one of the people connected to Hanwol Group.

The fact that I could go together with her made me feel as though I'd gained an army of a thousand men.

“How are you planning to get to Grandfather's place?”

-Yes. My family said they would send a car, so I was planning to take that──“Then just come with us. We'll stop by on the way.”

Since Ji-yoon and I would be traveling together, there would obviously be a massive security team with us, so going together would be more efficient.

-Would that be all right?

“Of course it would. How prepared are you?”

-I've finished all preparations and was waiting. It would be rude to visit too early, after all.

“Send me your home address and we'll go there. It'll probably take an hour or two before we leave... but could I ask you for one favor in the meantime?”

-If it's you, Young Master, anything.

As expected, I liked how quick and efficient she was in matters like this.

“It's been a while since I've visited Grandfather, so there are a few things I need... I'd like you to get them for me. With your resources, they probably won't be that difficult to obtain.”

I said that and began listing the items I'd been thinking of one by one.-...

Will those things really be enough?

“They'll be more than enough.”-...

Yes. Understood. If it's those items, I think I can obtain them immediately.

“Good. Then I'll see you later.”

After ending the call, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

The sudden appointment had left me a little dazed, but I couldn't just brush it off either.

“Right. It's my grandfather, after all. Since I'm meeting him anyway, I should make sure to properly raise his affection.”