Chapter 131

Chapter 131

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 131At the mention that I had a request, Father's and the Elder's gazes gathered on me.

“A request, you say.”

“Hoho, to both of us?”

Perhaps because it was a request directed at both of them at once, the two wore expressions as though they hadn't expected it at all.

I smiled at them and spoke boldly.

“I want to go to Jeju Island.”

“Hm?”

“Jeju Island?”

At the words Jeju Island, both of their eyes widened.

“Why would you suddenly want to go somewhere that dangerous?”

I'd expected this kind of reaction... but to me, who knew what Jeju Island was like in the original world rather than the game, it felt extremely unfamiliar.‘Jeju Island.’The Jeju Island we knew was an island thought of as a resort or beautiful tourist destination, but in the CS world, the meaning of ‘Jeju Island’ could be guessed from its nicknames alone.‘Island of Demons,’ ‘Outlaws' Paradise,’ ‘Hell Island,’ and other vicious nicknames just from hearing them.

There wasn't any grand reason Jeju Island came to be called those things in this world.

A massive Dungeon Break had simply occurred on Jeju Island, and in the process, Jeju's entire system collapsed.

Thanks to that, the present-day Jeju Island could be called a complete lawless zone beyond the reach of the government.

“Jeju Island? Wouldn't that be too dangerous? More importantly, it won't be easy to get there.”

“What do you intend to do on an island full of rotten bastards? I understand you're young and hot-blooded, but just as your father says, it isn't somewhere you can go simply because you want to.”

As they said, Jeju Island wasn't a place one could easily reach.

There were no flights or ships heading to Jeju Island, and even fishermen avoided going anywhere near its coast.

That was how this world was set up.

But who were the two people in front of me?

Wasn't one ‘Don Vito Calione,’ called the ruler of the underworld, and the other ‘Kwak Chun-sik,’ regarded as a national hero, at least within Korea?

With the help of these two, it was a different story.

“Father. Doesn't the Family have a ship that sends relief supplies to Jeju Island?”

“Hm? We do... don't tell me you're planning to ride that there?”

“I think that would be the safest way.”

Since Calione's foundation lay in Italian immigrants, it maintained ties with the Catholic Church, and as part of its donations, it sent relief supplies every month to the only cathedral on Jeju Island.

Using that route, simply entering Jeju Island shouldn't be too difficult.

No matter how lawless it was, even they wouldn't want to turn the cathedral, the island's only relief center, into an enemy.

Next was Kwak Chun-sik.

“Old Man. Don't you have disciples from the martial arts hall on Jeju Island as well?”

“Hm? There are some brats who head there every year saying they're going for training.”

“Since Jeju Island is a place where radio signals don't work, I need something to prove myself. Could I receive a letter of recommendation from you?”

“A letter of recommendation?”

“Yes.”

The Jeju Island Area was one of the places most wary of outsiders due to being an isolated region.

Even in the game, there were countless times when I'd entered Jeju Island and been attacked just for speaking to a local to gather information.

There were even plenty of times when they attacked the instant our eyes met even though I hadn't done anything...

What are they, monster trainers?

But if I had Kwak Chun-sik's letter of recommendation, the story changed.

“If they're Awakened from the martial arts hall, they must have formed a fairly large faction on Jeju Island. I was thinking of getting a little help from them.”

In other words, I wanted to take a package tour.

Why would I go alone, suffer to the bone farming and building up influence just to travel around Jeju Island?

If I could move together with an already established faction, one with considerable force at that, I could enjoy a comfortable trip.

“Would that not be possible?”

At my repeated question, Father and the Elder fell into thought.

“...

Jeju Island is certainly dangerous, but if that's the case, I don't think there would be any major problem.”

“I agree. He's my disciple, but he's hardly a normal Academy freshman. And if he's moving together with the kids from the martial arts hall, nothing too dangerous should happen. The only problem would be...”

Their gazes crossed in the middle.

“You're worried.”

“You're worried.”

The source of their concern was that I would be entering the demonic realm called Jeju Island alone.

It wasn't as though I couldn't understand their worry. I was both the successor of an organization and the sole inheritor of a martial lineage heading to a dangerous place.

But.

“That is why I want to ask. Why exactly do you want to go to Jeju Island?”

Father looked at me with serious eyes and asked.

I had prepared a total of six things I could say in order to get to Jeju Island somehow.

And among them, I decided to use one of the lines best suited to the current situation.

“To reach a new realm.”

“Hm?”

“A new realm?”

Words any man would acknowledge.‘A new realm.’What man wouldn't have his heart stirred by those words?

And the two people in front of me were men who could be called the pinnacle of the martial faction.

At the look in their eyes asking me to explain further, I slowly continued.

“I recently obtained something, and in order to use it properly, there's an item I need. And I heard that item is on Jeju Island.”

Even though I spoke openly, neither of them asked me what the item was or who had given me the information.

The fact that I'd brought this up here at all was enough for them to show me respect.

“So if I want to obtain that item, I absolutely have to go to Jeju Island. And... I desperately need both of your help.”

After listening to me until the end, the two silently seemed to think about something, then looked at each other and nodded.

“If he says it that strongly, as a parent, I can't exactly refuse to let him go.”

“A man says he's willing to take risks to become stronger. We can't deny him that.”

“Let's allow it.”

“Let's allow it.”

It was a conclusion only two men who were warriors to the bone could reach.

______________

After my trip to Jeju Island was decided.

The meal continued.

Wine and traditional liquor joined the delicious food on the table, and the atmosphere changed considerably.

“So there, that brat crushed a kobold with his bare hands──”“Eugene did?”

“Exactly! He was just like you when you were young! That's when I thought, Hah! That brat! He's definitely that guy's son!”

“Come to think of it, when I first met you, Elder, you were holding a Minotaur's head.”

“Do you know how shocked I was watching you crush something that hard with your bare hands?! Kahahahaha!”

Watching the two happily chat about me while reminiscing about the past made the corners of my mouth rise without me realizing it.

Right.

This was what I'd wanted.

As a fan of this game, how could I possibly resist?

It was the same feeling as watching heroes from different cinematic universes sitting together and talking.

It was a scene that was simply enjoyable and fascinating to listen to.

“When I first fought you, Elder, I nearly panicked. You were the first hero who made me think I might actually lose.”

“You brat! You think I wasn't surprised too? The juniors were watching from behind, so I pretended I was fine, but the truth is I was in so much pain I nearly passed out! Kahahahaha!”

“Is that so? Hahahaha! I never knew.”

“Of course. I thought of all kinds of sad things in my head.”

Stories I could never have learned in the game.

“If you hadn't stopped that dungeon back then, the Republic of Korea as it exists today wouldn't be here.”

“Didn't you stop almost all the dungeons in Seoul by yourself at the time as well, Elder? Compared to you, I still had a long way to go.”

“Truly, back then I wanted to somehow make you my disciple.”

“That would've been difficult. Still, now our Eugene has grown up this well and become your disciple, hasn't he?”

“Right. To think a child who inherited your blood and talent so thoroughly would become my disciple. How fortunate is that?”

“I agree. Hahahaha!”

For some reason, it felt like the two of them had really clicked.

Had their chemistry always been this good?

As far as I remembered, not at all.

Just like with the Sword Saint, they respected each other, but whenever they met, they always scattered killing intent everywhere.

For a relationship connected only through me, didn't they seem unusually close?

“Whew... the food was incredible, and the liquor was incredible too.”

“I'm glad.”

“If I had my way, I'd invite you to my home... but given your position, that would be difficult, wouldn't it?”

Kwak Chun-sik wiped his mouth with the handkerchief prepared on the table and spoke, and Father smiled awkwardly.

“Yes. There are quite a few people who watch my movements, so I have no choice but to be cautious. But...”

Father trailed off.

“It might not be a bad idea to visit you occasionally when I need a little escape.”

I don't know why he smiled while looking in my direction, but for now, I smiled along and laughed it off.

Well, even the head of a Mafia organization needed rest.

He probably meant we should hang out sometime if we had the chance, right?

“Ugh. Then I should get going first.”

Kwak Chun-sik set down the handkerchief he'd used to wipe his mouth, stood up first, and straightened his clothes.

Father and I rose with him.

“Are you leaving already? You're welcome to stay longer.”

“Enough, man. You're already busy enough. I can't have you wasting time because of me.”

Kwak Chun-sik said that, then lightly patted my shoulder.

“Right, I'll give you the recommendation letter at the Academy tomorrow. Have you decided when you're leaving?”

“Yes. As far as I know, there's a ship heading to Jeju this week, so I was planning to go then.”

“This week... good. Let's do that. Then I'll take my leave. I had a very~ good time today.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

When we went outside the estate to see Kwak Chun-sik off, a sedan stopped in front of the mansion.

“Tell the person inside your destination and they'll take you there.”

“Thanks for being considerate. Right, I'll see you next time.”

I stared blankly as Kwak Chun-sik got into the car and left.

“Eugene.”

Father's quiet voice came from beside me.

“You've met a precious connection.”

“...

Yes.”

Certainly.

He was a precious connection.

“You said you're going to Jeju Island this weekend, right? I'll speak to Captain Park. But... do you really intend to go alone?”

Apparently still worried about sending me off alone no matter how much he thought about it, Father asked in a concerned tone.

I shook my head.

“I decided to go to Jeju Island in order to become stronger. If it were a danger I couldn't handle alone in the first place, I would've asked you for help first, Father.”

Well, that was what I said, but the truth was a little different.

This was something only I could do precisely because I was me.

If I went to Jeju Island, I was obviously going to have to clear dungeons through all kinds of bizarre methods and hunt around for gimmicks.

And if someone came with me?

That would only restrict my actions.

Perhaps taking my expression as determination, Father nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Very well. Do as you wish. But I hope you won't forget even when you go to Jeju Island. You are the future Calione.”

“Of course. Father.”

Just as he said, in this world, I was Calione.

But...

“If you move your aura like that, you'd lose even to a Jeju pony! Can't you control it properly?!”

“It won't move properly! What do you want me to do?!”

“What do you mean what?! Squeeze out more!”

Why am I, a Calione,

“Do you think the ghost tangerine trees are just standing around doing nothing?! While you're resting, tangerines will keep flying at you!”

“Tangerines are for eating!”

“The tangerine tree will be eating you, you brat! Move, move!”

doing this at the Academy?