Chapter 160

Chapter 160

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 160An A-rank dungeon.

In practice, it was known to be on a scale that required an elite party at the guild level to be dispatched in order to contain it.

“Normally, it would be right for the Boss or one of the other executives to go, but as you know, the Boss went to Russia. And while thinking about it, a pretty good idea occurred to me.”

Saying that, the Consiglière snapped his fingers and grinned.

“Let's use this opportunity for your sake.”

“...

For my sake?”

When I tilted my head, having trouble understanding what he meant, the Consiglière added weight to his voice.

“Symbolism. The symbolism that the Foreigner Area is still protected by ‘Don Vito Calione.’ But what do you think would happen if you showed your face in such a place?”

After hearing his explanation, I understood everything.

The Consiglière approached me with the clicking sound of his dress shoes and placed both hands on my shoulders.

“The people around you will naturally begin to think of you as the master of the next generation. If the Boss were here, he would probably reject it because it's dangerous... but the choice should be yours.”

Pat pat.

He lightly brushed off my shoulders before returning to his seat and looking at me.

“What will you do? If you don't want to go, we can deploy organization members immediately, so don't feel too pressured.”

There was nothing wrong with what the Consiglière said.

After all, it was a famous story that ‘Vito Calione’ had gone around clearing dungeons alone in order to turn himself into a symbol and bring stability to the area.

More importantly, Parnello, who was standing steadfastly beside me right now, wasn't saying anything.

It seemed he also intended to leave the decision purely to me.

In other words, it wasn't that dangerous.

If so...

“If I go, may I ask who the members will be?”

“Members? Hmm, since your safety comes first, we'd compose the party only of reliable people. Of those who can come immediately, about three people come to mind.”

Then three names came from his mouth.

“Parnello, Alessia. And... Antonio Vivald. Probably that man.”

Not only Parnello and Alessia, but even Antonio Vivald, the boss of the Family closest to us.

“With those members, there definitely shouldn't be anything dangerous. But will the Don

of Vivald really come? This has nothing to do with his own territory.”

Knowing his usual personality, I asked that question, but──“──Of course he has to come. Look who's calling him.”

Seeing the Consiglière grin with a red gleam shining in his eyes, I immediately understood...

Right, that man had quite a temper too.

“More importantly, I hear he's been raising a successor lately as well, so he'll probably leave his own territory to his successor and come. There's no need to worry too much.”

Knowing that successor was Jin-woo made those words even more worrying to me, but I still didn't want to throw away the chance to safely run an A-rank dungeon.

High Risk High Return.

It was common knowledge that the higher the dungeon's rank, the better the rewards.

“Then I'll go as well.”

“Good. Then prepare immediately. I should contact Antonio.”

I lightly bowed to the Consiglière as he picked up the phone, then stepped outside.

“To be honest, I'm a little worried.”

The moment the study door closed, Parnello finally spoke.

“If you're that worried, you should've said so inside. Why wait until we came out?”

“Because if I had said I was worried in there, I thought it might cloud the Young Master's judgment. Like the Consiglière, I also believe the Young Master's choice is important, so I stayed quiet... but I suppose I can't help worrying anyway.”

Seeing Parnello speak with an awkward smile, I shook my head as though it were nothing.

“What's the big deal about an A-rank dungeon... no matter what happens, Parnello. You and the others will protect me, won't you?”

When I said that with a playful smile, he eventually chuckled.

“Yes. That's right. Even if it costs me my life, I must protect the Young Master.”

“Then there's no problem. Let's go, dungeon.”

An A-rank dungeon I'd be entering for the first time in reality.

My sense of adventure began to boil.

______________

When we arrived at the scene by car, the area had already been placed under control by organization members who had departed in advance.

“You've arrived, Young Master.”

As if they'd been waiting, they opened the door and greeted me the moment the car stopped.

“You've worked hard. What about the civilians?”

“Yes. All civilians within the danger zone have been evacuated to hotels operated by Calione. At present, you can consider everyone within a 500-meter radius to be one of our personnel.”

Truly thorough work.

It was enough to make me understand why people didn't leave the Foreigner Area.

“What about Don

Vivald?”

“Yes. He is currently standing guard in front of the dungeon.”

The Consiglière had said that if it was him, he'd already be there and there was no need to worry, and apparently that was true.

After confirming that Parnello and Alessia had completely exited the car as well, I slowly began walking.

“Come to think of it, Alessia, have you ever gone into a dungeon before?”

“Me?”

Perhaps she hadn't expected me to suddenly call on her, because Alessia flinched when her name came up.

“I went a few times when I was a trainee. After all, there's no doubt they're one of the best places to experience real combat.”

“A trainee?”

A trainee?

What did she mean?

While I was thinking that.

“Most of the children taken in by the estate were trained by me. Among them, Alessia was an especially outstanding child.”

“Teacher, honestly...”

Embarrassed by the sudden story from the past, Alessia covered her face.

She wasn't wearing her usual maid uniform, but the black suit she only wore when going out on important missions, and seeing her squirm like that felt strangely fresh.‘Whenever Alessia wore a suit before, the situation was always serious...’At that moment, I could see a faint light leaking from the end of the dark alley.

“Ah, looks like it's over there.”

The moment they confirmed the portal's location, both of their expressions changed in an instant.

The transformation happened so quickly it was hard to believe they were the same people who'd been so warm just moments ago.

With terrifyingly serious expressions, the two carefully walked toward the portal.

Wooooong── Wooooong── Wooooong──The sound alone was enough to make my stomach churn, growing louder and louder as though resonating, while the surroundings gradually became brighter.

At the center, a light emitted a brilliant glow all by itself, repeatedly fading and intensifying.

“You've arrived, Young Master.”

And at the entrance to that portal stood a middle-aged man as though he'd been waiting, bowing toward me.

“Don Vivald. It's been a while.”

“Yes. It has been a while, Young Master.”

The sharp-featured man who resembled Jin-woo straightened himself with the same comfortable smile as always.

The head of the Vivald Family.‘Antonio Vivald’.

Although he didn't possess the heavy presence of the other bosses, that only made him feel even more uncanny.

He looked far too relaxed for someone about to enter an A-rank dungeon.

“Now that everyone is here, I suppose we can head inside. Shall I take the lead, Sir Parnello?”

Crack─ Crack─Antonio spoke while tilting his neck from side to side.

Parnello nodded as though he had no objection and took a knife in his hand.

“Yes, let's do that. The Young Master will also have to attend the Academy tomorrow. It would be best to finish quickly.”

“I agree. I'm a little uneasy about the person I left as my proxy too.”

“That proxy wouldn't happen to be...”

“Yes, my son.”

Good lord.

I'd wondered, but he really had left Jin-woo in charge.

I thought I could understand why he felt uneasy.

“Then I'll go in first.”

The moment Antonio stepped into the portal, a brilliant light burst forth and swallowed him.

A brief flash.

By the time I blinked, his figure had vanished, and next, Parnello stepped in front of the portal as though indicating he would go in.

“I'll enter next.”

Parnello followed Antonio and disappeared into the portal.

“The atmosphere feels lighter than I expected.”

Seeing the two of them, Alessia let out a soft laugh.

“That's probably because we're closer to shutting the dungeon down than exploring it. There's no need to go through the entire dungeon. We can head directly into the boss room, so you don't have to think of it as too difficult.”

Closing, not exploring.

Hearing that made the situation easier to understand.

So we were doing it like a speedrun instead of aiming for equipment?

Well, the safety of this area was the highest priority.

If that's the case, we can't just stand around here either.

“...

Shall we head in too?”

“Yes, with this much time, the two of them should have secured the entrance. I'll take the rear, so please go in first.”

After hearing her, I slowly walked toward the portal.

A rim of light surrounding it like the pupil of a human eye, with pitch-black abyss visible within.

I threw myself into that abyss.

Fwoooosh─The sensation had become familiar by now thanks to all the spatial magic and dungeons I'd experienced.

The brief floating sensation covering my body ended, and what greeted us was a forest shrouded entirely in pitch-black darkness, as though every trace of light had been stolen away.

“You've arrived, Young Master.”

And a figure approached me.

Judging by the voice... Antonio?

It was too dark to see properly.

Step. Step.

I heard something being stepped on.

A sound like someone stepping into slightly sticky liquid.

When he came a little closer, I was finally able to make out his appearance clearly.

And I couldn't help being startled.

It hadn't been long since he'd entered first, yet apparently he'd already had a fight, because he was wiping something from his fist with a handkerchief.

“Did something happen in that short time?”

“No. It was nothing much. Just a kind of welcome greeting.”...

A welcome greeting.

I didn't even want to ask what had happened.

And then I suddenly realized something.

“By the way, Antonio. Where did Parnello go?”

Parnello, who had entered first, wasn't there.

When I asked because Parnello, who should normally have been with him, was nowhere to be seen, Antonio slowly raised his hand and pointed behind me.

“He said he'd clean up the surroundings a little and ran off ahead.”

“Ahead?”

Booooooom──!!

At that moment, an enormous roar came from far away, and the ground shook violently.

What the hell do you have to do to make the ground shake like this...?

“He should be back soon.”

But Antonio merely checked his wristwatch and muttered as though this were completely normal.

A little while later, Parnello returned holding a dagger dripping with black blood.

“The surrounding scenery is all the same as well. It seems difficult to wander around looking for another direction.”

Black liquid dripped steadily from the dagger he held.

Judging by its viscosity, it didn't seem ordinary.

“Don Antonio. Have you found the route?”

Parnello asked Antonio first, who still had his eyes closed.

“I've finished identifying the exit and am currently determining the enemies' positions and routes.”

They grasped the dungeon's characteristics in an instant.

Watching them, I could clearly feel it.

Easy.

Too easy.

If there were such a thing as riding a school bus driven by a bus driver boasting decades without an accident, this must be what it felt like.

“I went to inform the staff outside of the precautions...

but it looks like you've already started.”

Alessia, who came in late, instantly grasped the situation as though she was used to it, then relaxed her body and approached me.

“Young Master.”

Then she pulled something from her Subspace Storage and held it in her hand.

“Would you like some coffee?”

Looking at the hand-drip set in her hands, I smiled brightly.

“That sounds great.”

I'm so happy to be the Young Master.