Chapter 184

Chapter 184

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 184What was sitting blankly inside the box was a single note that looked as though someone had torn up a sketchbook and drawn on it with crayons.[ጿOne Free Use of Midsummer!ዽ]

The doodles drawn on both sides of the writing looked as though a kindergartener had scribbled them, but amusingly enough, that was also the signature proving Peak herself had issued it.

“Oh, a free-use voucher for Midsummer. You've obtained something precious.”

“Yeah, she certainly repaid us properly.”

In a way, it was merely a voucher that allowed me to hire a mercenary group once, but what mattered was that the group in question was ‘Midsummer.’

The combat strength of fairies who had crossed hundreds, thousands of battlefields was truly impossible to measure.‘I think there was even someone who half-destroyed a city with this before.’In fact, after that incident, the community had even started calling the Midsummer voucher a ‘Strategic Fairy Weapon, Buster Call.’

“You will certainly have an opportunity to use it later, so I believe it would be best to keep it.”

Of course. Just as Parnello said, I quietly placed the thing that looked like a scrap of childish doodling yet resembled a nuclear launch button into the Cube.

Whew, I haven't even eaten anything, but I already feel full.

“What is the other one?”

The opening was already amazing, so I'm looking forward to the next one even more.

When I immediately opened the next box, I saw a golden brooch.

A brooch that seemed to depict a butterfly. This was also an item I knew.[A new item has been discovered!][Name: Fairy Brooch][Rank: Rare][Type: Pass][Description: A pass that allows entry into the ‘Fairy Forest,’ said to have been visited by only a tiny handful of humans. When equipped, affinity with the fairy race temporarily increases greatly.]

It was a pass to the ‘Fairy Forest,’ which had been called a ‘Secret Realm’ in the game.

A place said to be filled everywhere with precious elixirs, items, and monsters, practically comparable to Utopia or Atlantis in reality.

“A golden brooch? This is the first time I've seen such an item.”

It was still such a rare item that even Parnello tilted his head, unsure what it was.

“They say it's a pass to the Fairy Forest?”

I smiled at the unusual sight. When I explained the item's information to him, Parnello's eyes widened even further.

“The Fairy Forest? Hoho. It seems Lady Peak truly felt sincerely apologetic toward you, Young Master. To personally invite a human into her own land.”

Oh, his reaction is different from before. He looks like he actually knows something this time. Could it be?

“Parnello, have you been to the Fairy Forest too?”

“Me? No. Even within Calione, I imagine only a handful of people have ever been to the Fairy Forest. The only person I know of is... Antonio Vivald.”

Ah, so he hasn't been either. Well, fairies are normally like th... wait.

“Hm?”

What did he just say?

Vivald?

Antonio Vivald?

“That man went to the Fairy Forest?”

“Yes. I only vaguely heard about it myself, but he once said with his own mouth that he had been to the Fairy Forest. From what I heard, he also said that he trained the Vivald family's Bloodline Ability there... or something along those lines.”

If that was true, then his absurd strength made sense.

Fairies were a race extremely skilled at handling elemental magic and power.

“Then what I received from Lady Peak this time is basically the Midsummer voucher and the Fairy Forest pass.”

“Yes. You have no idea how nervous I was. I have heard that every fairy treasures different things, so there are even fairies who give candy as payment for requests.”

Making someone suffer that much and then giving them candy...

If I were the person involved, I don't think I'd ever let that fairy off.

At that moment, the sound of wind being cut began coming from above.

“Ahahahaha! Everyone! The closing ceremony will begin shortly!”

“Honored guests, unfortunately, please stop your conversations and gather at your respective tables~!!”

The witches flew busily above the party grounds, spreading the announcement to everyone.

Looking toward the far end of the forest, it was clear dawn would soon arrive.

“...

Time really flew.”

“That means a great deal happened. Ah, the Don is coming this way as well.”

Just as he said, I could see Father walking toward us from far away.

Judging by his brow being raised just slightly higher than usual, it seemed he'd finished his conversation well.

“You're here, Father.”

“You're here, Don.”

When we stood and bowed, Father waved his hand and immediately sat down.

“Yes, how are you feeling now?”

The first thing Father worried about after arriving was my physical condition.

“Yes. There isn't anywhere that hurts badly or aches.”

Faust, one of the world's greatest doctors, had personally treated me. There was no way I'd still be hurting.

Father nodded at my answer, spread a sheet of paper across the table, and continued.

“This is the compensation proposal Faust's side agreed to provide us.”

“...

This is?”

It's a slave contract.

A contract stating that if anything happened to Ji-yoon or me, anywhere and at any time, Faust would rush over as our personal physician.

The duration was even five years, and aside from support for transportation, travel expenses, and reimbursement for supplies necessary for treatment, it stated that he would accept no payment whatsoever.

“It seems he became interested in the fact that you and Lady Rodman held out against those two. After all, those two were both fairly well-known strong individuals on the world stage.”

One was a member of a long-established Triad faction, while the other was a rising force who had recently been gaining prominence in conflict zones.

Well, in reality I had only barely managed through compatibility advantages and endurance, but considering even that wasn't easy, it wasn't that strange for him to take an interest in Yuli and me.

“Then Lady Rodman... Senior Yuli also gets Faust as her personal physician?”

“Yes. He signed the same contract with their side, so probably.”

The greatest doctor of the modern era, rumored to be capable of reviving anyone so long as they still had breath left, even undead.

Who could possibly dislike having a doctor like that personally attached to them?

From Father's perspective, there probably couldn't have been better terms.

“Ah, and I also received quite a substantial amount in compensation, so I'll send your share to your account.”

You even squeezed money out of him? And you're giving me my share too?

As expected. Father is the strongest!!

I was barely managing to suppress a grin as I already imagined the money entering my account when.

Ting──!

A clear sound, like a wineglass being struck briefly, rang through the forest and drew everyone's attention.

When I turned my head, I saw Faust standing on the platform looking at the others.

“There is not much time left before sunrise. Although there was an unfortunate incident today, thankfully, thanks to two brave young people, we were able to resolve the situation quickly. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again.”

He began speaking with words of thanks directed toward Yuli and me as the closing ceremony began.

“We are those who cannot stand beneath the light. More precisely, we are those who become stronger when beneath the darkness. The world always wishes for light to shine and believes that only light protects them.”

But they forget.

The atmosphere instantly settles.

After exhaling once, he quietly recited.

“In the end, they rest beneath the darkness. We are the cradle forged from darkness. A sanctuary where the lambs may rest. I hope that when each of you returns to your place, you will continue striving for the world. With that, this Walpurgis Night will come to an end. Thank you, everyone.”

And so, the first Walpurgis Night of my life passed.

______________

“I'm tired.”

Was it because of all the events and work that had continued recently?

I could tell that the stamina that once let me stay up all night without issue had been gradually declining lately.

The proof was the dark circles reflected in the mirror.

For now, I was somehow covering them with the skill 【Clown Makeup】, but seeing the dark circles grow deeper made me wonder whether the time had come for some rest.

“But it's not like I can complain or declare a strike either. Haa, Uncle Parker wasn't wrong when he said that with great power comes great responsibility, was he?”

But if I threw away responsibility and only tried to take the power, I'd become no different from the original owner of this body, so I couldn't just laze around either.

And since even energy tonics haven't been working as well lately, that's even more concerning. Have I built up a resistance?

“...

Then as expected.”

Should I eat something expensive?

Even the elixirs currently sleeping inside my Cube numbered in the double digits. A few of them ranked fairly high even within the world's setting.

And among them was one elixir whose effects became even greater if cooked rather than eaten raw.[Name: Golden Tangerine][Rank: Unique][Type: Elixir][Description: A Golden Tangerine said to be borne only once every ten years, and only one at a time, by the oldest ancient tree among Ghost Tangerine Trees. Upon consumption, the recovery speed of Aura and Mana permanently increases.]

It was the Golden Tangerine I'd secretly pilfered when I went to Jeju Island.

“I should stop by the Recipe Development Club for the first time in a while.”

Time to nourish my body.

They had also been frequently bringing snacks for our club lately, and I'd always received nothing but things to be grateful for, so if I gave them compensation along with this request, it would probably be very welcome news for them too.

After washing my face with cold water in the restroom and returning to the classroom, the class was still as noisy as ever.

“What are you doing not healing there!”

“You crazy bastard, it's on cooldown! How am I supposed to heal!”

“Jin-woo, stop yapping and do some damage!”

The members of our Familia were gathered around my desk side by side, enjoying a mobile game.

Seriously, do these kids even know how much hardship I'm going through?

“Boss, I told you to play this with us too. It's a four-player party max, so if Boss joins, we're good to go! But...”

“I don't have time to play games. I don't particularly want to either.”

I'd probably get so bored playing a mobile game like that I'd want to die.

“Jin-woo.”

“Hm?”

“You don't have anything to do today, right?”

At my question, the bastard who had been frantically moving his fingers froze.

“Uh, uh huh?”

“So you don't.”

“Nooo! I have lots to do! I have lots to do when I get home!”

This bastard. He's lying even while his pupils are shaking like crazy?

“Why are you reacting that strongly?”

“Because every time Boss asks me like that, something insanely difficult happens?”...

I can't argue with that.

Still, this time was different.

“That's too bad. I had business at the Recipe Development Club and was going to ask you to come with me.”

“If that's what it was, you should've said so earlier! I'm free. Super free!”

“...

Didn't you say you had lots to do when you got home?”

“Come on. Cleaning my room and playing a new game can be done later.”

So that was what you meant when you said you were busy if I didn't take you?

My fist instinctively tightened, but I barely held back and looked at the others.

“Why aren't you taking me?! I want to eat food from the Recipe Development Club too!”

Se-ah, one of the people in our club who ate the most food from the Recipe Development Club, pouted and asked.

“There's plenty of food in our club room anyway.”

“That's true, but...! It's basic common sense that food tastes better when you eat it right after it's made!”

“...

We're going because of work today anyway, so there won't even be time to eat. Let's go together next time.”

“Ah. Then I don't want to go.”

The moment she heard there wouldn't be food to eat, she immediately refused, leaving me dumbfounded.

Seriously, every one of them is so transparent...

“I'd like to go help too, but I have mentoring scheduled today, so I'll go next time.”

Young-je said that even while still moving his fingers busily.

Meanwhile, a voice saying ‘Victory’ came from their phones, and everyone leaned back in their chairs.

“Ah... we barely won. Admit I carried?”

“Yeah, denied~ Anyone can see I carried. Is it for real that the healer has the highest damage?”

“All right, all right, everyone did well. Good job. First period starts soon, so let's get ready for class.”

How could each of their personalities be so obvious just from their reactions after a game ended?

Seriously, they're such easy kids to understand.

Yeah, I suppose that's an advantage in its own way... right?

______________

Class itself passed extremely quickly.

Half practical lessons. Half written lessons.

And in an instant, it was club activity time.

Together with Jin-woo, who had even skipped lunch just in case, I headed toward the Recipe Development Club room we usually visited...

“What the hell is this?”

“Ohhh. Familia President and Mr. Jin-woo. Welcome! To our ‘NEW! Recipe Development Club’!”

Uh... hasn't a lot changed?

And in a strange direction, too.