Chapter 25

Chapter 25

I Became the Academy Mafia, Chapter 25As I trudged down, I could feel the gazes around me focusing on me one by one.

But none of that mattered. The only person here who posed a threat to me was the man right in front of me.

Kang Seung-tae, Head of the Incheon Branch of the South Korean Hero Association.

“Wahahahaha! It’s been a long time, Eugene.”

The moment I stepped onto the stage, Kang Seung-tae slapped me on the back and laughed loudly as though delighted to see me.

Judging by the way he spoke, it seemed we had known each other in the past. For now, I answered in line with his words.

“...

It’s been a long time.”

The people around us might find it strange that Kang Seung-tae and I had known each other before, but it wasn’t much of a problem.

Considering the wealth I had already displayed around them, it wouldn’t be strange for me to be acquainted with Kang Seung-tae.

“Now then, with this, all the representatives from each class are gathered.”A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, Z.

All ten class representatives stood before Kang Seung-tae. Judging by where Jung Ui-hun was standing, he seemed to be the representative of Class D.

Kang Seung-tae swept his gaze over our faces, nodded once, and began explaining.

“The game I’ll play with you from now on is arm wrestling.”

“...

Arm wrestling?”

Another student questioned the fact that, after calling us all the way down here, the game he had prepared was merely arm wrestling. Kang Seung-tae nodded and gestured toward the back of the stage.

Then four students walked toward us carrying a heavy-looking steel desk.

“Yeah, arm wrestling. Simple and nice, isn’t it?”

The moment the desk was set down on the stage, a heavy thud─ echoed.

Kang Seung-tae then naturally sat in front of the desk and prepared for arm wrestling.

“As all of you know, my ability is called ‘Fair and Square,’ an ability that makes my physical capabilities equal to those of my opponent. And from now on, when I arm-wrestle you, I’ll be using that ability.”

At Kang Seung-tae’s words, the students began murmuring.

Arm wrestling with equal physical capabilities. If that happened, then victory really could no longer be guaranteed. That was what they were thinking.

“On top of that, during the arm wrestling match, no matter what ability or technique you use, I promise I’ll only defend. What do you think? Doesn’t that sound doable? Hahahaha! Now then, since I’ve explained the rules, is there any brat who wants to challenge me first?”

The first to raise his hand was the class president of Class C, a guy whose height and build stood out even among the others.

“You look like you’ve got some strength! Sit across from me and grab my hand.”

As Kang Seung-tae instructed, the Class C representative sat across from him and clasped his hand.

“May I really use any ability?”

“If you can.”

The moment Kang Seung-tae gave permission, white steam began pouring from the guy’s body.

“Guaah...!”

As the guy’s muscles slowly began swelling, Kang Seung-tae briefly showed an interested expression.

“Didn’t I tell you? Our physical capabilities will become equal. And arm wrestling isn’t something you do with strength alone.”

The moment Kang Seung-tae bent his wrist and shouted, “Hup!” the guy’s arm instantly slammed against the desk, ending the match.

“Not bad. But it would’ve been even better if you had thrown away your pride and tried interfering with me instead of competing through strength.”

Kang Seung-tae cracked his neck from side to side and raised the corners of his mouth as though amused.

Perhaps impressed by his kind feedback, the others began challenging Kang Seung-tae one by one as well, but no matter what method they used, they were all miserably defeated.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk... I had high expectations because you were supposed to be representatives of the young ones, but there’s nothing much to you, huh?”

Only Jung Ui-hun and I remained.

While I was wondering whether I should step forward next, Jung Ui-hun took a step forward first.

“I’ll go next.”

“Oh, yes. Ui-hun. Someone at your level should be able to entertain this old man, right?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Jung Ui-hun immediately sat down and grabbed Kang Seung-tae’s hand. At the same time, he struck the desk with his knee, trying to tilt it sideways, but.

“Khup!”

The desk remained firmly rooted in place without moving an inch.

“You tried to move the desk so the back of my hand would touch it?! Ahahahahaha! Indeed! That was entertaining!”

“...

It’s not over yet.”

Apparently judging that moving the desk was impossible, Jung Ui-hun immediately began attacking Kang Seung-tae.

But Kang Seung-tae merely yawned leisurely while looking at Jung Ui-hun, who was breathing heavily.

“Want to keep going?”

“...

I concede defeat.”

In the end, he released Kang Seung-tae’s hand and stood from his seat.

His head was bowed deeply, so I couldn’t see his expression, but I had a feeling it was probably worth seeing.

“Now then, next is Eugene. I heard from your father that you’ve changed a lot. Will you show me how much you’ve changed?”

“...

I’ll do my best.”

I sat across from Kang Seung-tae, immediately rolled up my sleeve, and grabbed his arm.

Kang Seung-tae looked at me with a broad smile, seemingly anticipating what method I would try.

But I had no intention of playing along with his game.

I took a deep breath, put strength into my arm, and pushed against Kang Seung-tae’s arm using my body weight and arm strength.

Information about Kang Seung-tae that none of the others here knew, information only I knew.<​Character Encyclopedia>[Name: Kang Seung-tae][Affiliation: Head of the Incheon Branch, South Korean Hero Association][Description: The head of the Hero Association branch located in Incheon. Having grown up in Incheon since childhood, he is said to have countless connections there. The things he values are ‘fairness,’ ‘grit,’ and ‘strength.’ Because of these qualities, he is also famous as an icon of incorruptibility.]

The important keywords were these. ‘Grit’ and ‘fairness.’

Until now, whenever the others used their abilities, Kang Seung-tae had also used his own and absolutely refused to lose.

But if it was a contest using only pure ‘muscular strength’? Then he would not use his ability and would face his opponent using nothing but his natural strength.

“Kuhahahaha! Interesting! How interesting!”

As though proving my prediction correct, Kang Seung-tae’s arm began trembling without him using his ability.

It was proof that he was enduring my strength using only his own muscular power.

“So, you thought you could win if you fought using only your own strength without using any abilities?”

“...

Who knows?”

Of course, with only my raw muscular strength, it might have been impossible for me to defeat Kang Seung-tae, someone who stood at the top in terms of physical capabilities.

But.

“...

May I ask you just one thing?”

“Haha! Sure, I’ll humor you!”

“You came here today as the Head of the Incheon Branch of the Hero Association, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Then if, not as Kang Seung-tae but as the Head of the Incheon Branch of the Hero Association, you encountered my father while on duty, what would you do?”

“...

I suppose I’d have to arrest him first.”

“Thank you for your answer.”

At the same time, Kang Seung-tae’s arm tilted slightly.

“Huh, what did you do? I didn’t feel you using an ability.”

“Perhaps I was holding back.”

I said that, but immediately after Kang Seung-tae’s answer, a new interface appeared in one corner of my vision.[Trait: 【Enforcer】 activates.]【Enforcer】[1. Enforcer

– Those who confront the enemies of the organization. When fighting an opponent recognized as an enemy of the organization, physical abilities increase by 1.5 times.]

My trait 【Enforcer】, which could only activate when facing an enemy of Calione.

Because of that, Kang Seung-tae’s physical abilities would also rise, but before he could adapt to the sudden increase in his physical capabilities, I gathered all my strength and tried to slam his arm down.

However, Kang Seung-tae skillfully lowered his center of gravity and redirected my attack.

“Grrh... Looks like I’ll have to take this more seriously than I thought.”...

What a monster of an old man.

Apparently he had succeeded in gauging his own strength in that brief instant, because he began pushing back against my wrist as though already accustomed to it.

As expected, this alone still wasn’t enough to receive a passing grade from him.

“You’re not going to interfere with me separately or use another ability?”

“I don’t believe you were simply arm-wrestling the other students normally, Branch Head.”

“Hmm?”

“The ‘Fair and Square’ ability you mentioned. It doesn’t actually make your physical capabilities equal to your opponent’s, does it? It synchronizes your mana with your opponent’s mana.”

Kang Seung-tae’s eyes shook at my words.

“Did your father tell you that?”

It was information I knew through the game, but I obviously couldn’t say that directly, so I answered with as relaxed an expression as possible.

“I felt your mana flowing into my body. I also noticed that you were naturally circulating the mana in my body so that it could become accustomed to the pathways.”

“...

If what you’re saying is true, that’s astonishing. It’s difficult for anyone short of a fairly accomplished mage to even notice that I’ve interfered with their mana.”

“Perhaps it’s talent? Blood doesn’t lie, after all.”

At my words, Kang Seung-tae let out a chuckle.

“Ha! When you put it that way, I have nothing to say. Then do you know the most efficient way to accept this fortuitous opportunity?”

“Isn’t it to squeeze out all my strength and resist you?”

“...

If you know, that’s enough. Now, resist with everything you’ve got! Hahaha!”

“I will.”

After answering Kang Seung-tae, I immediately showed why I had refrained from stepping forward until the very end for this moment.

With every person who had come out as a class representative so far having been defeated, I had become Kang Seung-tae’s only remaining opponent.

In other words, I was practically the final representative of the students.

From this point on, regardless of class, the other students had no choice but to start cheering for me, knowingly or unknowingly.

And right now, I was pushing Kang Seung-tae harder than anyone else had.

That clearly showed that I was their final hope and that I was different from the other students...

And that would soon turn into respect.[Trait: 【Heir to the Underworld】 activates.]【Heir to the Underworld】[2. Baby Boss

– Your overall abilities increase slightly in proportion to the number of living beings that feel fear or respect toward you.]

If 【Enforcer】 and 【Heir to the Underworld】 activated simultaneously like this, my muscular strength would become incomparable to normal.

“Huuup...!”

I put the weight and strength of my entire body behind it and slowly pushed Kang Seung-tae’s arm down. Kang Seung-tae’s arm began to give way little by little. At the unbelievable situation, Kang Seung-tae’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Hyah!”

With a thunderous shout, he... instantly forced my arm down...

I lost. But it wasn’t entirely bad.

Because I had achieved my objective in the end.

“Whew. That was close. Seriously close.”

Kang Seung-tae stood from his seat while wiping the sweat from his forehead and lightly patted my shoulder.

Then his body began trembling.

“Kuhah! Kuhahahahahahaha! You truly have changed a great deal, just as your father said.”

“...

You flatter me.”

My wrist was tingling from nearly being driven into the desk, and when I shook it with a smile, Kang Seung-tae grinned broadly.

“It’s been a long time since I was startled like that. Even I was surprised. So, do you know what kind of change has happened in your body?”

Of course. There was no way I wouldn’t.

Because a new window was floating right in front of me like this.[Explosive mana sweeps through your body.][It feels as though your mana manipulation has become smoother.]

“It seems my mana manipulation has become smoother.”

“If you understand that, then that’s enough! Hmm, judging by the others, it seems they only achieved minor results. I’ve tuned up the bodies of the representative-level brats once each, so this should be enough.”

This was another ability that had allowed Kang Seung-tae to rise to the position of ‘Branch Head.’[Mana Shower]

A technique only he could perform using his explosive mana and insane level of mana control.

Apparently, because its performance was so absurdly powerful, he couldn’t use it frequently.

As far as I knew, even at the branch, he only used it on particularly talented heroes, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I had gained an unexpected fortuitous opportunity.

“Now then, with this I’ve fulfilled all the requests from those damn friends of mine. Unfortunately, none of you managed to beat me, so it looks like I’ll have to proceed with the lecture. Hahahaha!”

At the announcement that the lecture would proceed after all, the students began murmuring again. At that sight, Kang Seung-tae placed his index finger against his lips.

“Everyone, quiet.”

As though his ridiculous behavior until now had all been a joke, Kang Seung-tae spoke in an extremely cold tone, and the convention hall instantly fell silent.

“Now that the simple event before the lecture is over, let’s begin the lecture. The children who came forward may all return to their seats.”

Kang Seung-tae, who had transformed from the image of a friendly uncle into that of a cold superior, immediately picked up a board marker and stood in front of the whiteboard.

“As you all just saw, the difference between me and the other brats was overwhelming. But each of them still tried to defeat me in their own way... and Eugene succeeded in making my blood run cold.”

Kang Seung-tae began speaking by comparing the brief arm-wrestling matches from moments ago to battles between heroes and villains.

“But the villains you’ll meet in the future won’t go easy on you like I did. Instead of laughing because you’re cute, you’ll have to face bastards who laugh while massacring civilians beside you. And I want to talk about the mindset you need when facing people like that.”

The atmosphere of the convention hall changed in an instant.

As though the heat from moments ago had been a lie, the atmosphere sank into cold silence, and the students stared at Kang Seung-tae with tense eyes.

“Then, shall we begin?”

What he spoke about wasn’t particularly difficult.

Information and attitudes that everyone would know if they were aware of them. But perhaps because the one speaking was none other than ‘Kang Seung-tae.’

Every word that came from his mouth seemed sincere, and sounded like the truth.[Notification: You feel as though you’ve gotten smarter!]

The increase in intelligence was merely a secondary gain.

And so, after finishing all the classes on the Academy’s third day and returning home.

“Young Master. All preparations for the hunt are complete.”

At last, night arrived.