I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 48

Thus, after successfully holding the first Familia meeting.

Only after everyone had left did the expressions of the three people who headed to the sparring ground show evident tension.

As the kids fumbled to take out their weapons and entered the sparring room, I entered wearing only gloves.

And, outside the sparring room, Ji Soohyun was smiling as if she was dying of anticipation.

[I didn't expect you to prepare for an all-out war this early... If only the other kids were as diligent as you, it would be good.]

Ji Soohyun's voice came through the speakers.

[Since the field you mentioned is a forest... think of it as starting when the trees rise up. Then, everyone, get ready.]

In the distance, I could see the figures of the kids ahead.

'Still, since the field is a forest, wouldn't it be worth a try? There are two mages and one assassin here. The boss isn't even using a gun.'

Before the sparring began, Jinwoo seemed to recall his experience fighting in the forest and spoke as if there was a possibility for the kids.

'The field is in our favor. Since we're doing this, wouldn't it be nice to beat the boss once?'

Of course, I was also looking forward to it.

Isn't the field practically more advantageous for the kids?

With two mages and an assassin, it seemed like it would be a very annoying battle for me at the front line.

But.

[Start!]

For some reason, the smile wouldn't leave my face. The skills that Youngje and Seah showed during their sparring, the mental strength that Jinwoo showed.

Indeed, how would those be displayed against me?

A dense forest began to form in front of my eyes as the field started to change.

The sounds of birds and the chirping of insects could be heard around me.

Since it was my first time experiencing a forest field, I was amazed at how real it looked even though it was a sparring ground.

"The size of the sparring ground must have expanded significantly."

Usually, when a field changes like this, its size changes too.

According to the game's settings, it was a technique created using spatial magic, but I couldn't quite gauge how much it had expanded.

"First, I'll secure a high place."

Considering the kids' characteristics, they wouldn't stay in one place, so I decided to go up to a high place first to determine their locations.

I kicked off the ground and used the branches as footholds to climb the tallest tree around.

"Ha... Is this also a function of the sparring ground?"

The forest was spread out widely all around. No matter how I looked at it, it seemed much larger than the size of the sparring ground.

It could only be thought of as a result of Ji Soohyun's greed.

In this case, the kids with Seah, who is a spatial mage, would have the advantage in the search.

Alright, then...

I gave up on the initial plan, came down from the tree, and closed my eyes.

The scent of earth rising into the air from the landing, the sound of fallen leaves crumbling on the ground.

I could feel everything, from running over the leaves to the scent of grass being carried.

As I concentrated to the point where I could feel every hair on my body, I tried to estimate the kids' positions.

──────!!!

"...As expected!"

When I swung my fist at the sound of the wind coming from behind, the note that touched my fist shattered into pieces.

Then, I immediately stayed alert to the back, but I couldn't feel any presence.

"Is that so."

I began to understand the situation immediately.

Youngje, an excellent mage capable of using various spells, and Kim Seah, who freely uses spatial magic.

The attack just now was definitely a collaboration between the two.

"Youngje uses magic, and Seah adjusts the trajectory. Certainly, with this method, it would be difficult to pinpoint the location of the caster."

In a field full of obstacles like this, it was a very useful attack method.

Since I decided not to use weapons, is this how they plan to proceed?

"Interesting."

At that moment, arrows of light flew at me from the front, simultaneously from both sides.

I shattered them with my fist again.

Tat─

I ran to where the kids might be, but it was already empty.

At this rate, it would be nearly impossible for me, unable to use magic, to find the kids' locations.

...Or so I thought, considering the kids.

──!!

In the distance, fake birds arranged to match the field's background took flight.

And a few seconds later, magic came rushing at me from behind again.

This time, I tried to block it, but it grazed my cheek.

"Ugh!"

But there was no injury.

──!!

Next to where the birds had flown, more birds took off.

And then, magic shot at me again. I swung my fist, but it didn't shatter, only bounced off.

"Look at this."

The intensity of the magic had increased compared to the first time.

It seemed like they were testing how much magic I could block, as the intensity was gradually increasing.

But this game was about to end.

"──Found you."

As another bird took off, I ran towards it with all my might.

And at the same time, through my [Smart Lens], a notification appeared indicating that [Trait: Baby Boss] was activated.

It meant there was someone nearby who felt fear towards me.

In this forest, with only four people including me, who else could feel fear towards me?

It must be the kids whose positions were revealed.

"No, how did you figure it out?!"

A huge shield made of ice unfolded in front of me, blocking my path.

"After firing the magic, Kim Seah used her magic to change its path and hide their location. It was a good plan. But──"

No matter how much they did that, there was one fact that couldn't be hidden.

"After all, magic always has a starting point."

The fluctuation caused by the creation of magic must have been a very alien phenomenon to the surrounding birds.

So, as soon as the movement of magic power was detected, they flew up into the sky.

"Next time, it would be better to include living creatures in the surrounding environment."

As my fist and the shield collided, the ice shield shattered instantly.

There was no way a shield made with sudden magic could block my fist.

"Jinwoo Vivaldi!"

As Youngje shouted, Jinwoo, who had been hiding behind, lunged at my neck.

It was a good attempt. If only he hadn't felt fear towards me.

I took advantage of the moment Jinwoo hesitated and kicked out at him.

-Pang!

A sound that was hard to believe came from a human body.

"Ugh!"

Jinwoo, barely blocking my kick with his crossed daggers, flew backward.

If he had been hit, a couple of ribs would have been broken, but he managed to block it with his exceptional reflexes, which he occasionally showed.

Jinwoo was not only an assassin but also a warrior responsible for the team's vanguard.

Naturally, I tried to target Youngje, the mage, first, ignoring Jinwoo, but Jinwoo, having forgotten the pain, quickly regained his stance and charged at me.

"Without a gun, I can take on the boss too!"

"Is that so?"

I read the path of the dagger swung by Jinwoo.

Fortunately, having faced many armed opponents in the decisive battle with the Blunte Family, dealing with Jinwoo's attacks was not difficult.

I moved, calculating the reach of the weapon and the timing to dodge.

Of course, Jinwoo was no fool, occasionally launching irregular attacks, but each time, I raised my hand to block them.

"No way, how tough are these gloves!"

At a glance, Midas's Gloves looked like ordinary leather gloves, but Jinwoo had no way of knowing that they had the effect of being indestructible.

"You should have taken better care of your weapons."

Saying that, I grabbed Jinwoo's dagger as he thrust it towards my abdomen and pulled it towards me.

"Huh?!"

Jinwoo, who didn't expect his blade to be caught, was pulled by my grip.

I threw a punch with all my might towards his solar plexus.

"One down."

"Why me again?!"

"Fine!"

'Fine.' In music, it's a term that indicates the end.

As Youngje's voice came from behind, the ice shield I had seen at the beginning blocked Jinwoo's body.

So, this was what blocked my first attack.

Not missing the opportunity, Jinwoo ducked and fled towards where Youngje was.

I turned to not lose sight of him, but at that moment, Youngje's voice rang out again.

"Forte! (Loudly!)"

With a bang, an invisible wave hit me.

I quickly spread out my palms to block the attack, but the recoil pushed me back.

However, judging that I could catch up with one leap at this distance, I was about to kick off the ground.

"Kim Seah!"

Kim Seah, who had been hiding until now, appeared.

"I'm ready! I'll mix it!"

Huh? Mixing, what exactly...

And as soon as she finished speaking, strange phenomena began to occur.

It was as if the surrounding terrain started moving like a jigsaw puzzle.

"Ha! Hahahahaha!"

So, this is what she was preparing all this time?

It was beyond imagination.

The reason Kim Seah had been hiding and observing all this time was to prepare to hack into the control of the field forming the sparring ground.

Normally, it would have been impossible. The sparring ground system of the academy isn't that easy to tamper with.

But what about now? Isn't this the field that was excessively amplified by the power of Ji Soohyun, a spatial mage like Kim Seah?

As much as Ji Soohyun's power was involved, there must have been a flaw in the system of the sparring ground. That's what Kim Seah had been targeting.

The surrounding space continued to change rapidly.

I must have been moved to a place far away from where I originally stood.

As a result, I lost the position of the children I had just found.

Since I had already said I found them thanks to the birds, the children would attack me in a different way from the beginning.

Had they been discussing among themselves while watching me fight from the side?

Even though I was caught in a trap, the children seemed admirable.

But.

"That's that, and this is this."

I can't explore anymore, and soon, my coordinates will be marked by Kim Seah, leaving me open to attacks.

"Look at this."

As soon as I found the shaking ground, I stomped my foot, and a white beam of light shot towards the sky in front of me.

"It's starting already."

The magic rising from the ground continued fiercely, as if trying to pierce me.

So far, I still had some leeway, but if I kept dodging the magic, my stamina would gradually decrease.

Now, what should I do?

Should I break through the magic to find the children? No, that's not my style.

Then...

I had a good idea.

"If the forest is in the way, just erase it."

I immediately punched the tree in front of me.

────!!

The tree fell helplessly due to my punch.

-Thud! -Thud! -Thud! -Creak thud!

And then, several more trees fell like dominoes in the direction I punched, creating a small path.

And.

-Swoosh

Since the trees were fakes formed by the field, they slowly disappeared upon touching the ground.

In such a situation, this was rather a good phenomenon.

"This might be fun."

I punched another tree, and it fell instantly.

As expected, they're softer than I thought.

Confirming that the strength of the trees wasn't as strong as I expected, I smiled and prepared for the next punch.

"Shall we move diligently?"

The task ahead was simple.

I intended to turn this field full of forest into a wasteland.