Chapter 173

Chapter 173

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 173‘On the Development and Application of Strategic Weapons Using Mana Stones.’

There was one technology anyone who had played CS could never forget.‘Mana Stone Reactor’A technology that would later greatly change CS's energy industry, using the energy generated when a mana stone was subjected to a powerful force, something close to a form of nuclear power generation.

If the technologies currently in use relied on the power naturally flowing from mana stones, this differed by amplifying that power to produce tremendous efficiency.

The problem was that this technology wouldn't be commercialized until the latter half of CS.

It was used as a device to give players something new, almost like receiving a new update.

And the person who created the technology that would become the origin of that Mana Stone Reactor was none other than the man known as the eccentric scientist of ‘Seoul Hero Academy.’

Ahn Byung-hoon.

“I figured he'd be starting his personal research around now, but has he already come up with a draft?”

The contents of the report were simple.

Convert the mana generated by a mana stone into impact, then use that impact to cause a secondary impact, greatly increasing the explosive force.

“Easy to say. Easy to say... but the problem is whether scientists today haven't done it simply because they don't know about it.”

It was already a proven fact that applying a tremendous impact to a mana stone could generate enormous energy along with a dungeon.

Would the scientists of today really never have thought of utilizing that?

In practice, this was something experiments had already more or less reached a conclusion on.

But.

“...

Should I support it after all?”

The Ahn Byung-hoon I knew was someone who would conduct his research on nothing but spite and enjoyment even without any support.

Practicality for people?

Something like that wasn't important to him.

He was the kind of person commonly called a mad scientist, someone who researched solely for his own satisfaction.

“A pumpkin rolled right into my hands, so I should obviously pick it up, but that guy is a little dangerous.”

Later, Ahn Byung-hoon became so obsessed with his research that he turned into a villain.

Could I recruit someone like that now and use him as a chess piece long-term?

A brief moment of thought.

That alone was enough to reach a conclusion.

“Haru.”

“Yes. Young Master.”

“Approve this one.”

I handed Ahn Byung-hoon's application to Haru, who was sitting at the table beside me.

She checked the contents and looked at me.

“Are you serious? A strategic weapon using mana stones. The contents make no sense.”

“I know. I know that too, but the issue is how we can make use of whatever comes out during the process.”

“...

Pardon?”

“I have my reasons, so approve it for now. The research funding he's asking for isn't particularly excessive, is it?”

Even thinking of it purely as an investment, I was certain it could generate enormous profits, so I spoke confidently.

“This guy can at least earn back the principal. Approve it, and fund the costs necessary for the technological development from my account too.”

And with someone like this, it would actually be easier to put a leash on him, keep him nearby, and monitor him.

It wouldn't be too late to talk about the details later and decide then.

“...

If that is what you say, Young Master. I will do so.”

Haru eventually accepted it, signed the document she'd received, and placed it beside her.

With this, Calione should be able to secure the technology before anyone else.

As expected, the Academy really was a treasure trove of undiscovered talent.

“Still, with your help, Young Master, it seems we're finishing quickly. I never expected you to process paperwork faster than I do.”

Just as she said, it was visibly true that I had sorted and processed more documents than she had.

“...

My family education is pretty strict. I've been learning the organization's administrative work lately.”

“If it's administrative work, then you must be learning from the Consiglière. In that case, I can certainly understand that speed.”

He was effectively the person responsible for Calione's paperwork as a whole, making him practically a specialist in that field.

Reviewing the documents exactly as he'd taught me certainly helped a great deal.

It let me process this many documents in an instant.

“At this rate, it looks like we'll finish soon. Let's keep at it just a little longer.”

“Yes. Young Master.”

Was it because she was happy to see the end in sight?

Haru faintly raised the corners of her lips and smiled.

I smiled at the sight and continued working.

Of course, even then, we didn't finish until after the sun had set.

______________

The final day of the ‘Reformation’ evaluation.

Evaluation sheets for the students selected for Reformation arrived at the Academy from each school.

“You actually pulled it off? You didn't lock those kids up somewhere and threaten them with a knife, did you?”

“Of course not.”

Ji Su-hyeon shook her head in disbelief while reading the reports on the kids I'd been responsible for.

“Just what the hell did you do for a report to come in saying the Difficulty S kids' evaluations and conduct improved drastically and that they're feeling tremendous guilt over their usual behavior?”

“Isn't that all the result of my efforts?”

The education I'd given them wasn't particularly extraordinary.

The principle was simple.

I merely made them understand what kind of things they'd done until now and live the rest of their lives with guilt and atonement.

“They're even doing volunteer work and using every credit they earn from part-time jobs to compensate their victims? Seriously, tell me the truth. You buried the originals somewhere and brought in similar-looking replacements, didn't you?”

“Say something that makes sense.”

That definitely would've ended things faster, but...

As if I would do something like that.

Ratte and Han Seo-jun handled the important parts of their education, so I didn't know the details, but they probably hadn't buried anyone.

Hmm... probably.

“For the total score, looks like you'll comfortably take first place. And... Jin-woo Vivald?”

“Yees.”

“I don't know what the hell you did, but why is your assigned kid entering a Buddhist temple?”...

Entering a temple?

“I don't know? Maybe he suddenly wanted to leave the secular world behind.”

“You little...!”

I knew in detail what he'd done.

I remembered him posting about it in the group chat.

Something about taking the kid to one of his family's businesses, and going on a three-day, two-night camp together, I think?

“You'll comfortably take second place. The parents and that school are both extremely satisfied too. In all my years, this is the first time I've seen someone send his mentee into a temple, so I was a little thrown off.”

“Yahoo~”

It seemed the other kids had also received comfortably high scores.

But as expected, there didn't seem to be anyone capable of surpassing me after I'd successfully completed an S-difficulty mission involving three A-rank targets.

Rumor had it Jung Eui-hoon had heard I'd taken an S-rank difficulty assignment and challenged one himself... but in the end, apparently it concluded with him mobilizing the police and sending everyone to a facility.

Seriously, the problem is people taking rehabilitation way too lightly.

“Looks like the dean will personally present the rewards for Reformation later, so keep that in mind.”

“Yees.”

And the moment those words ended, a system window I hadn't seen in a while appeared before my eyes.[Hidden Achievement Accomplished!][Achievement: 「Our Child Has Changed!」 acquired!][You successfully reformed delinquent children and took first place in the ‘Reformation’ project!][A special reward is granted!][Trait: 【Orator】 changes!][Trait: 【Eloquent Speaker】 has been created!]

“Ah, there it is.”

Normally, I should have received a trait called 【Persuader】 that increased my persuasiveness toward others, but because I already possessed a similar trait called Orator, the trait had been strengthened one step further.【Eloquent Speaker】[1. People feel extremely strong charm and persuasiveness from your words.][2. People around you become immersed in your words.][3. Your speaking skill increases in proportion to your Charm.]

A trait that became more useful the more skills I had that corrected my Charm, like now.

It was a trait that happened to be very useful, so I smiled and decided to be satisfied with the new change.

With the Reformation Project finished, Academy activities returned to normal.

The kids were saddened by classes returning to normal after the exams, but what could be done?

It was practically a universal rule of every academy and school that finals came after midterms.

“Maybe because it's been so long since we had class, I'm exhausted. I want to hurry to the club room and eat something made by the Recipe Development Club~”

“True, we haven't really been able to do club activities lately. President. We're gathering for club activities today, right?”

Se-ah looked completely exhausted, while Young-je still looked relaxed.

Judging by the two of them, they seemed to have missed ‘Familia’ activities quite a bit after such a long break.

“For now, yeah. There's also something we need to do today.”

“Something to do?”

Jin-woo looked puzzled at the mention of work.

“It's something Choi Yeon and I have to do anyway. You guys can stay in the training room as usual or take any requests that come in.”

If I remembered correctly, just having Choi Yeon with me would make the task easy enough.

After finishing all the remaining classes, we headed toward the Familia club room for the first time in a while.

The door was already open.

When we stepped inside, Choi Yeon had already changed into something like a workout tank top and was using the equipment in the training room.

She was pulling on the machine with intense concentration, almost as though she'd been waiting all this time for the day she could use it again.

After completing about two sets, she raised her head, noticed us, and quietly lifted a hand.

“Hi.”

“Yeah, it's been a while since we met in the club room. Were you warming up?”

“Yeah. On days without Familia activities, all I can do is run around the hills or swing my sword, so it was frustrating.”

Apparently she'd missed the latest equipment, the crystallization of modern science.

“But what a shame. Looks like you'll have to do some work with me today.”

“Work?”

Was it because of the sudden word ‘work’?

Choi Yeon tilted her head and looked at me.

“What do we have to do today?”

“Yeah. I don't think it'll take long. Is that okay?”

At my words, Choi Yeon's expression immediately fell as she put on her outerwear.

“It's fine. I can exercise after we get back...”

It wasn't very convincing when she said it looking like a dejected puppy... she'd really become a complete gym addict.

Even as she left the training room, her eyes wouldn't leave the machines.

“...

Today was upper-body day.”

“I said we'll be back soon.”

Anyone watching would think I was forbidding her from exercising.

I grabbed the hem of her clothes as she gave me a wistful look like a puppy begging for a treat and led her outside.

The place we headed to was called the ‘Next-Generation Mana Stone Research Group.’

Since they hadn't been assigned a club room, it was essentially a small group secretly using an empty laboratory in Building C.

“Anyone here?”

According to what I'd heard, they should be inside, but for some reason all the lights appeared to be off.

No answer came even after knocking several times.

Wondering if no one was there, I gently sent aura inside, and the interior began to vaguely form in my mind.

“There is someone inside?”

Someone was sitting in front of a table doing something.

In other words, they either couldn't hear us or were ignoring us.

I grabbed the doorknob and gently pulled, only to realize it was locked from the inside.

“Choi Yeon.”

“Yeah?”

“Cut the lock on the inside for me.”

“...

Is it okay to cut it?”

“We can just buy them a new one.”

“Okay. Then I'll cut it.”

Choi Yeon coated her index finger in aura and swung it toward the gap in the door.

At the same time, clang! rang out as the latch was severed.

“It's cut.”

“Then shall we go in?”

I grabbed the doorknob and threw the door wide open, and an astonishing sight greeted us.

A vivid blue light shone from a mana stone sitting on the table, and a man was crouched in front of it staring at the sight.

“Huh? What's wrong with this? Why did it react and then suddenly...?”

The man watched the mana stone's color gradually fade, becoming deeply flustered, before finally looking toward us with his eyes growing wide.

“Y-you, you bastaaaaaard!”

Then he suddenly charged toward me and grabbed me by the collar.

“You lunatic! I locked the door specifically so there wouldn't be any outside interference! How! How the hell did you get iiiiin!! Aaaaaaaaagh!”

He shouted with a scream almost like a wail.

“Friend.”

The hand gripping my collar trembled violently.

Haah, I definitely came here today to talk...

“Do you want to die?”

Who the hell grabs someone by the collar the first time they meet?

Are you trying to die?