Chapter 79

Chapter 79

I Became the Academy Mafia Chapter 79Kim Si-ah and Kim Si-woo.

I had wondered when I first heard their names, but after confirming that these two young children had been added to the <​Character Encyclopedia>, I had no choice but to be certain.

Anti-heroes. The ‘VenDetta Duo.’They were anti-heroes who ruthlessly judged and punished public officials involved in corruption and scandals.‘Ven,’ the woman, was a spatial mage, while ‘Detta,’ the man, was an Awakened with enhanced physical abilities.

Their real names, revealed in the original story, were Kim Si-ah and Kim Si-woo. The reason they were called a ‘Duo’ was also because they were twins.

The reason they had gone down the path of anti-heroes was never revealed, so I had simply thought it was part of their concept, but to think...

“They're my siblings, but they're really admirable, you know?”

Those children had been Se-ah's younger siblings.

At the same time, everything began falling into place in my head.

What if I hadn't possessed this body and become close to Se-ah? What if Se-ah hadn't joined our club?

In the end, the villains would've come to Bucheon through ‘Elusive,’ and during that process, Se-ah would've fallen into the prepared trap and been arrested by the police without any chance to do anything. With fabricated documents and evidence, she would've obviously been sent to Niflheim.

Then what about the children left behind?

They would've inevitably come to resent the organization that did that to their older sister, and they would've built up their own strength and taken revenge themselves.

And that was how the anti-heroes known as the ‘VenDetta Duo’ were born.

That would explain why I didn't remember Se-ah even though I had played through the Academy route.

Because she was someone who ultimately disappeared halfway through.

“Oops, did I talk too much about myself? Sorry.”

Perhaps misunderstanding because I was spacing out, Se-ah suddenly apologized.

“No, something suddenly came to mind, so I was organizing my thoughts.”

“Something came to mind?”

“Si-ah and Si-woo. Have you ever thought about enrolling them in the Academy?”

“...

What?”

But now that the world of the game had become reality.

Now that I had protected Se-ah from them, the children's future could surely change.

“Si-ah and Si-woo...?”

“I heard the Academy is opening preschool and elementary divisions this time. If they're your siblings, I think they'd be able to enroll proudly.”

“But my siblings aren't Awakened...?”

According to the information from the game, the trigger for their awakening was ‘a certain incident.’

And that incident must have referred to Se-ah being taken away by them.

I had stopped the ‘incident’ itself midway, but the two children had personally witnessed their sister being dragged away by detectives right in front of them, so they would soon awaken.

That was because.‘It looks like their shells have already cracked.’<​(N)

Character Encyclopedia>[Name: Kim Si-woo][Affiliation: Republic of Korea][Description: Kim Se-ah's younger brother. Stimulated by the recent incident, he is preparing to sprout.][Name: Kim Si-ah][Affiliation: Republic of Korea][Description: Kim Se-ah's younger sister. Stimulated by the recent incident, she is preparing to sprout.]

I hadn't expected them to appear in the Character Encyclopedia already.

It seemed this incident had greatly stimulated both of them and become the foundation for their awakening.

“Of course, I'm asking under the assumption that they awaken, so you can answer comfortably.”

“Ah, is that what you mean? If that's the case, well... of course I'd like the kids to receive an education in a better environment. Our dismissal times would be similar, and we could go to school together. But... if there were a problem...”

Se-ah hesitated for a moment.

“Tuition. Is that it?”

“...

Yes. Thanks to my parents, I receive tuition support, but according to the Association's support policy, only one person per household receives tuition assistance. If the kids said they wanted to attend the Academy...”

Se-ah gave a bitter smile as she spoke.

She didn't say it out loud, but I didn't need to hear what came next to know.

She was probably thinking about quitting herself and earning money for the children's tuition.

Seeing Se-ah like that, I briefly remembered my past self.‘...

College? You don't even go where I tell you to, but you still want money?’‘You shameless bastard.’‘Figure it out yourself.’‘Failed child.’...

She's really different from someone else.

“There are countless foundations in the Republic of Korea. If it's your siblings, I'm sure they'll be able to receive scholarships. I'm certain.”

“...

Do you really think so?”

“Of course.”

If they can't, I'll make it happen.

Si-ah and Si-woo's abilities had been thoroughly proven in the game.

Calione also had a scholarship foundation, so by using that, the two children should be able to enter the Academy without much difficulty.

On top of that, the VenDetta Duo were even rumored to become S-rank anti-heroes in the future, so they were basically guaranteed-success stocks.‘You'd be an idiot not to buy in.’And these kinds of promising sprouts weren't limited to Si-ah and Si-woo. There were plenty of other children too.

Should I make a separate list of future prospects?

As I was thinking that,“If the kids can live like everyone else, I'd absolutely love that.”

“That's good. I'm sure they will.”

Se-ah also reacted positively, so I smiled and was able to talk with her about the children for a while.

How long had we been talking?

When I checked the time, I realized much more time had passed than expected.

“...

It's already this late. We've finished all the tea too, so I'll head back for today.”

“Oh, you're right. I should go to bed too... I went through all sorts of things today, so I'm really tired...”

Before getting up and heading outside, I spoke to Se-ah as though reminding her.

“I'll keep receiving reports about this incident through the law firm... but if anything happens, contact me immediately like you did today. Understood?”

“Yes...! I definitely will!”

Now that I'd even warned her like this, nothing major should happen.

“Get home safely, Eugene.”

“You sleep well too.”

I quietly closed the door so the children wouldn't wake up and came outside. Then I got into the car that had been waiting in front of the gate.

“Good work, Young Master.”

“Yeah... let's go straight home.”

“Yes.”

Right, I wanted to go straight home and get some proper rest too.

Gangwon Province, then Bucheon, and now back to Incheon. I'd really been running all over the place.

Tomorrow was Sunday too... let's rest.

______________

The matter involving Se-ah was being resolved smoothly.

First, in order to prove Se-ah's innocence, the organization secured testimony and evidence from the two villains we were holding, packaged it anonymously, and submitted it to Dike.

Then, once my testimony as one of the people who had personally captured Elusive was added, the police and prosecution hurriedly began moving to shut the situation down.

Well, I had no intention of letting it end easily...

In any case, things were being resolved very favorably.

“Seriously, back then Eugene went bam!! Then the lawyers threw open the police station doors and came pouring in! If it hadn't been for Eugene, I seriously thought I'd rot in prison for the rest of my life! They said they had evidence and witnesses. Does that even make sense? I didn't even do it!”

And because of that, right now, the moment we arrived at the Academy, Se-ah was pouring out all of her pent-up resentment.

“Looks like someone higher up was moving separately. Did you tell Instructor Ji Su-hyeon?”

Young-je shook his head as he listened to Se-ah.

“Yes. I told her yesterday... but she left me on read.”

“Left you on read?”

“Yes.”

“...

That's strange.”

The club members, who knew Ji Su-hyeon's personality far too well to believe she'd do something like that, tilted their heads...

Of course, I knew the truth behind that incident very well.

According to Han Gwang-gi, who had been at the Prosecutors' Office because of Se-ah's case, Ji Su-hyeon had gotten furious and stormed in there with a formal demand for an investigation signed by the Academy faculty, the dean, and the head of the Association.

Since it involved a student from her class and her own mentee, she must have been extremely angry.

And true to her temper...‘The Prosecutors' Office's special ability unit mobilized in full force, so that says everything. They were facing off at the entrance of the Prosecutors' Office... I seriously thought something was about to happen at the slightest provocation.’Apparently, she had charged in without any brakes at all.

Hadn't they said she showed the true nature of a spatial mage specialized in offense rather than support?

Fortunately, it hadn't escalated into bloodshed, but apparently she overturned the place, rooted out the people involved in this incident, and caused one hell of a scene.

Even Han Gwang-gi said that thanks to her, progressing with the case had become much easier, so Ji Su-hyeon truly was Ji Su-hyeon.

“But Jin-woo. Is my story boring?”

“...

Uh. Huh?”

“Wait. What's wrong with this guy's eyes?”

“...

Uh. Huh.”

“Y-Young-je. Eugene. Jin-woo's eyes look weird right now.”

At Se-ah's words, I turned my head and looked at Jin-woo.

Instead of his usual lively, needlessly sparkling eyes, Jin-woo had the eyes of a dead fish.

Looking closely, he was even making an unpleasant laugh. ‘Ha. Haha. Ha. Haha.’

“...

What the hell did you do over the weekend?”

Even I'd never seen him like this before, so I cautiously asked, and he slowly opened his mouth.

“...

Training.”

“Training?”

“...

I hunted and butchered animals all day. She said I couldn't hesitate when hunting.”

“Ah.”

So he did that. I knew this training method too.

One of Han Yeo-eun of the Artemis Guild's training methods, killing emotion.

More precisely, it was a training method for eliminating hesitation from the tip of the blade, and it showed what kind of person she was and how she had grown stronger.

Well, things had already seemed unusual when he said she'd stabbed him in the thigh during his very first mentor session, but seeing as she was already making him butcher animals, she must like Jin-woo quite a bit.

That's something even players couldn't do until the later stages.

Because the training he was doing right now was something you could only receive after raising Han Yeo-eun's favorability considerably.

“Then what about you, President? What did you do? Your mentor is none other than Sir Kwak Chun-sik, right? One of the greatest heroes in the Republic of Korea.”

Young-je's words suddenly redirected the arrow of questions toward me.

At the same time, the kids' gazes gathered on me.

All I'd really done this time was receive a bizarre pink bracelet... how am I supposed to explain that? Just as I was wondering.

“Good morning. Did everyone have a nice weekend?”

Like a savior, Ji Su-hyeon kicked open the front door and entered.

“Hmm, looking at your faces, I can clearly tell the difference between those who played all weekend and those who trained. Especially Jin-woo. Never thought I'd see that look on your face. I like those eyes.”

“...

Pardon?”

“Try living like that normally too. Alright, I'll start with the announcements. First period today is self-study for everyone because of a faculty meeting. And... Han Eugene.”

My name was suddenly called.

I had a bad feeling.

“Yes.”

“During first-period self-study today, the student council said they're recruiting new members, so they asked us to send the top-ranked and second-ranked students from each year to the student council room. Once the first-period bell rings, go to the student council room.”

I'd forgotten.

After the current student council was established, they had strengthened the student council's power in this way.

At least the fortunate thing was that normally there was no penalty even if you didn't go.

“Do I have to go?”

“Yeah, apparently attendance is mandatory this time.”

What? No way?...

Damn butterfly effect.

“Phew.”

Realizing I'd entered the route I'd feared, I unconsciously ran a hand through my hair.

“Mandatory attendance was the head of student affairs' opinion, so just show up for now. Once you're there, you can cause a scene or whatever you want. Doesn't matter.”

Is that woman telling me to go die?

The title of Seoul Hero Academy Student Council President was by no means something easily obtained.

The seat of student council president, reachable only by the greatest, strongest monster among all first-, second-, and third-year students.

What were that guy's stats around this point again...

Even as I was now, fighting the student council president would be fairly burdensome.

“...

I won't do anything like that.”

“Really? That's a shame. I was looking forward to it.”

What the hell was she looking forward to?

Did she seriously expect me to go there and turn the Academy upside down?

Ah... this woman already did that herself last night, didn't she?

I'd forgotten that Ji Su-hyeon was more than capable of doing exactly that.

“Anyway. I've delivered all the announcements and more or less checked attendance. Once the bell rings, handle self-study yourselves. Class president, remember anyone who talks during self-study and report them to me.”

“Yep.”

“Yaaawn~ Okay. Morning homeroom over. Good work.”

With that, Ji Su-hyeon swept right back out of the classroom.

As I sighed and pressed a hand to my forehead after the storm that had swept through the class once.

“Eugene. If the top-ranked and second-ranked students are going together, doesn't that mean that person will go too?”

“What?”

“You know! The person who keeps sending you challenge letters. Choi Yeon from the prestigious swordsmanship family!”

“Ah.”

I'd forgotten.