Chapter 63

Chapter 63

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 63“Looks like that fellow's embarrassed.”

“...

That's him being embarrassed?”

When I asked that, the two men chuckled and offered me handshakes.

“Of course, of course. Most of the people who asked that old man to take them as a disciple or become their mentor either got beaten by us or failed to meet his passing mark and went home. But then someone shows up and subdues the two of us in an instant? That's a passing grade, isn't it?! How happy do you think he is? Right?”

“Exactly, exactly! Even half-decent active heroes get beaten black and blue when they face the two of us, yet you beat us... Student, looks like you're not ordinary either, huh? Ahahahaha!”

Come to think of it, I don't think I'd ever seen that old man look embarrassed in the game either.

He always had a wistful expression or just laughed moderately, didn't he?

“So that's what it was... By the way, thank you very much for the spar. I learned a lot.”

“No, no. We had fun too.”

“We only fought for a short while, but I can tell. You're going to become someone great. Let's see each other often from now on, eh?”

“Yes, I'll see you next time.”

After shaking both of their hands, I bowed and thanked them before following Kwak Chun-sik, who had already walked ahead.

Soon, Kwak Chun-sik entered a building.

The building he entered was a mansion that clearly stood out in size compared to the others.

“What are you doing standing there? Are you surprised the house is so big?”

Seeing me standing still in front of the house, Kwak Chun-sik smiled with a smug expression.

“I was only thinking that it's different from the other places. Besides, why would I be surprised when my house is bigger?”

When I said that sincerely, he frowned before sharply turning his head away.

“Grr...! Hurry up and get inside, you brat!”

In the end, though he grumbled, he gestured for me to come in, so I entered as well.

The interior of the mansion where he lived had quite a luxurious atmosphere.

It really made me think that when a person has ability, even exile means living in a palace.

“Here.”

“Ah, yes.”

The place I followed him to seemed to be the study he normally used.

Medals, plaques, and photographs hung along one wall.

The countless items seemed to show what kind of person he had been in the past.

“I only need to fill out the mentor consent form, right? Let's see... Here, take it.”

Clicking his tongue as though dissatisfied, he placed a sheet of paper in front of me.

“Seriously, I never thought I'd end up mentoring some Academy brat at this age...”

“Still, wouldn't someone like me count as a blessing? I handle aura well, my family is wealthy, and I'm skilled too.”

“Ha! Arrogant as well!”

“Isn't that simply good self-awareness?”

In the end, Kwak Chun-sik couldn't help but chuckle at my words.

“Fine, fine, everything you say is right, you brat. Thanks to you, I suppose I won't be bored in my old age.”

No matter what he said, in the end he was satisfied.

At that moment, Kwak Chun-sik's phone, which had been lying on the study table, began vibrating.

He glanced at the screen, grinned, and nodded.

“Ah, it's about time.”

Kwak Chun-sik turned off the continuously vibrating phone, stood up, and looked at me.

“Let's go.”

“...

Pardon? Where?”

“Gangneung! We have a dungeon to clear.”

“...?”

Wasn't this old man exiled here as punishment for cutting off a villain's head?

And now he suddenly wanted to go clear a dungeon?

“Why do you look so surprised?”

“...

As far as I know, you've retired from active hero work and only hold an honorary director position. Is it really okay for you to go clear a dungeon like this?”

“What? Hahahahaha!”

Kwak Chun-sik burst out laughing at my words.

“Of course it isn't, if we're going strictly by the law. But Gangwon Province is simply too large. There's hardly anyone around, while the land itself is vast, so when dungeons appear in unexpected places like this, I often go.”

“...

You do?”

“Yes. I often receive requests like this through the Association... but today, since a guest who wanted me as his mentor was coming, I postponed it.”

If what he said was true, then there wouldn't be any problem.

In the game, you couldn't meet Kwak Chun-sik until late in the story, so I hadn't known... but I never imagined he'd been doing things like this even in Gangwon Province.

Now I understood why Kwak Chun-sik could receive this kind of treatment even after coming here.

“...

Then the other elders living here must be similar.”

Build a care facility for retired heroes in a remote location, provide top-tier service, and request their help whenever needed...

The Association had put some thought into this.

And if there was anyone in the Association capable of coming up with an idea like this.

It was probably that person.

“Now, enough chatter. Let's go. They should be coming to pick us up soon.”

“Understood.”

When I followed Kwak Chun-sik out of the mansion, I saw a man in a black suit standing with his arms crossed.

Judging from the employee badge hanging around his neck, he seemed to be from the Association.

“Sir! Over here!”

The moment he saw Kwak Chun-sik, he waved and smiled brightly, but when he noticed me behind him, he flinched and trembled.

At the same time, a transparent quest window appeared before me...

Huh? This appears here?

“Um... Sir. May I ask who the person behind you is?”

At the Association employee's question, Kwak Chun-sik casually placed a hand on my shoulder and answered.

“My disciple.”...

It seemed he was saying that because if he called us mentor and mentee, he wouldn't be able to take me along on something this unofficial.

I understood what he meant and simply nodded, but Kwak Chun-sik's eyes were showing not pride, but the smile of a victor.

No, is he really that happy just because I acknowledged being his disciple once...

The Association employee also saw his smile, nodded, and approached us.

“To think you're Sir's disciple, you must be someone who'll become a great hero in the future. I look forward to working with you.”

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

I smiled and accepted his handshake, and the Association employee smiled back before grabbing both me and Kwak Chun-sik with his left and right hands.

Judging from the badge pinned to his chest, was he a nationally certified spatial mage?

The handshake was probably to teleport us.

“From now on, you will be heading to a newly formed dungeon in Odaesan National Park. Association staff are stationed nearby, so you should be able to clear it immediately and return. And as for the disciple... since none other than Sir Kwak Chun-sik is by your side, there shouldn't be much to worry about.”

With this old man beside me, I'd probably be safe no matter what happened inside the dungeon.

“Then I'll transport you right away. Please take care.”

And with that, my vision inverted.

_______________

“Seriously, spatial magic is convenient and all, but after moving, it always makes my stomach churn.”

The moment we arrived, Kwak Chun-sik rubbed his stomach with a grimace.

“Isn't that just because you're old?”

At that, he glared at me through narrowed eyes and shouted.

“I've always had severe motion sickness! You think I get carsick because I want to?!”

“Yes. Hang in there.”

“You young people these days... Grr!”

Then just say no. Why do you react in a way that makes it sound true?

Apparently realizing that if he kept talking to me, he'd only end up hurting himself, Kwak Chun-sik eventually gave up on the conversation and started walking ahead.

Between the trees in the direction he was heading, I could see a simple camp that had been set up.

As we approached, two men came out from inside a tent.

“We've been waiting, sir.”

“The dungeon?”

“Yes. It appeared inside this cave, and its danger level is C-rank. Since several kobolds crawled out, we believe it's a kobold dungeon.”

“I see. Understood. I'll finish it quickly.”

“Thank you. But the young man behind you is...”

“My damned disciple.”

“Ah... yes.”

The man who had been smiling while calling me his disciple just moments ago was now clicking his tongue and calling me his ‘damned disciple.’

Seriously, just because someone's a hero doesn't mean they're broad-minded.

“Let's go, Master.”

“Sh-shall we? Watch carefully from behind and learn. Ahem.”

And yet, the moment I called him Master once, he immediately cheered up and took the lead...

He gets this happy over nothing but words. Seriously, he's easy.

The dungeon I entered while following Kwak Chun-sik had every feature a kobold could possibly like.

It stretched deep underground, making it dark and damp, and the narrow passageways were easy to defend.

But the fact that they were this careful about their habitat also proved how weak their group was.

“Do you know the characteristics of kobolds?”

As we walked side by side without saying anything, Kwak Chun-sik was the first to speak.

“Their characteristics? You mean things like they're good at digging, have an extremely developed sense of smell, and absolutely hate intruders entering their territory?”

“Yes, yes. Things like that. Then do you have any idea why kobolds like that aren't attacking us?”

Kwak Chun-sik was already trying to test me the moment we entered the dungeon.

This time, I decided to surprise him a little.

“Isn't it because you're killing every kobold hiding underground every time you take a step?”

“...

You noticed that?”

“Didn't I tell you my talent isn't ordinary either?”

Truthfully, I hadn't noticed when we first entered the dungeon.

I'd only thought, Why aren't any kobolds showing up?

But as we slowly advanced, I began feeling fear from beneath the floor, where I shouldn't have been sensing any emotions, and realized there were kobolds lying in ambush underground.

I also noticed that with every step Kwak Chun-sik took, one source of fear disappeared.

“Then does that mean you're already capable of spreading your aura out to detect your surroundings?”

“Something like that. Though I still don't know how you're killing the kobolds right now.”

“Is that so? Hmm, then it'll be best to start from the basics and work your way up.”

“By the way, how are you killing the ones underground? From behind, it looks like you're merely walking with your hands behind your back.”

“This? It's nothing special.”

Saying that, Kwak Chun-sik lifted one foot and showed me the sole of his shoe.

Blue aura clung to the bottom of his worn dress shoe.

“I just keep it like this while walking, and whenever I detect them, I extend the aura like spikes. Like this.”

Pshk!

With a sound, a spike shot up from the sole and stretched almost all the way to the ceiling.

Then the aura naturally returned to the sole.

Even though I didn't fully understand aura yet, I could immediately tell how absurd the technique unfolding before me was.

“This will be a little too difficult for you right now, so let's start by shaping your aura first. Let's see... Ah, can you feel what's beyond that corner?”

“Yes. Judging by the fact that there seem to be around fifty of them, I think there's a large cavern there.”

Kwak Chun-sik smiled and nodded as though my answer was correct.

“Your first lesson. Deal with them without using a weapon. But under no circumstances may they touch your bare body.”

“...

Pardon?”

With a light tap, a hand made of aura wrapped around me.

And.

“Ah.”

“Then, off you go.”

“...

Damn it.”

Once again, my body goes flying.