I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 80

I headed towards the student council room and saw a familiar color of hair in front of me in the hallway.

Choi Yeon.

One of the greatest heroes in the current Republic of Korea, a successor of the renowned swordsmanship family, Cheongcheon Sword Family, and the top student at Seoul Hero Academy.

Her light aquamarine hair, distinctly different from other children, proved that she was of the Sword Saint's lineage.

"It must be because of her family environment that she developed the habit of sending challenge letters."

The two challenge letters I recently received from her gave me an insight into her family's atmosphere.

"......She must have grown up sparring with people she considered equal or stronger than herself."

Considering the family motto of the Cheongcheon Sword Family, 'We will harvest with blood,' shedding blood was a natural way for her to become stronger.

Moreover, it seemed as if she was blessed by the world, having several unbelievable traits.

And among them, there was one trait that had the greatest impact on her growth.

[Combat Race]

[1. The more one fights and survives against opponents of equal or greater strength, the stronger they become.]

The description was simple, yet it was incredibly powerful.

Getting stronger with each fight?

With an environment full of sparring partners, a talent for swordsmanship, and a personality that doesn't fear challenges.

It was a trait that could give monsters like Choi Yeon wings and even a booster.

"......?"

Suddenly, Choi Yeon, who was walking ahead, stopped.

Since there was no need to talk to her or walk beside her, I kept my distance and stopped to observe her.

Without turning back, she stood there blankly for a moment before starting to walk again.

Thinking it was nothing, I started to move again as well.

But then, I felt that the distance between Choi Yeon and me was gradually getting closer.

......Is she slowing down her pace to match mine?

To test it, I slowed my pace even more, and I could see that Choi Yeon's walking speed also noticeably decreased.

No, is she really doing this to walk with me?

Eventually, I sighed and approached her first.

"Why are you slowing down instead of just asking to walk together?"

Only after I went beside her did Choi Yeon return to her original pace.

Even then, she still didn't look my way, keeping her gaze forward.

"......That's not it."

"If that's not it, then why won't you even meet my eyes?"

"Grandfather told me not to make eye contact when I'm sulking."

Huh?

"Are you subtly saying you're sulking now?"

Her profile started to turn red as she heard my words.

"......Anyway, don't look into my eyes."

She's more prickly than I thought. Why was she trying to match my steps then?

"Then I'll walk a bit further away."

Finally, I took a step back and stopped first, and Choi Yeon, who was walking fine, suddenly slowed down significantly.

"I kept my distance because you said not to look into your eyes, so what now?"

"......That's all."

"What?"

As she mumbled something, I approached closer and finally heard her properly.

"I just don't know where the student council room is."

"Ah."

Ah, right, she's directionally challenged.

Remembering her characteristic that I had forgotten, I shook my head and said.

"Then just follow me quietly."

"Okay."

And so, we started walking side by side in the hallway again.

But for some reason, I kept feeling an uncomfortable gaze from beside me.

When I glanced over, I could see Choi Yeon glancing at me.

Ah, our eyes met.

"What now?"

"What?"

"Aren't you glancing at me constantly?"

"No, I'm not."

"What do you mean, no? We just made eye contact."

When I pointed out what had just happened, Choi Yeon nodded her head, seemingly accepting it.

"I was just curious why you didn't show up at the place written on the challenge letter last week."

"......Ah. The challenge letter? I threw it away."

"What?"

Choi Yeon's steps stopped.

"You threw it away?"

"I don't recall ever agreeing to accept your challenge. Just because you sent a challenge letter doesn't mean I have to go."

"That's true, but...... it rained that evening."

"I know."

"I waited at the sparring ground in the rain."

"But the academy's sparring ground is indoors, right?"

"......I walked home in the rain because I didn't bring an umbrella."

It seems like her story keeps changing.

And there's something strange about it.

In this world, especially in Seoul, the weather forecast has an accuracy rate of 99%, almost like a prophecy.

So, most people check the weather right after waking up, which is part of this world's setting.

And yet, she walked in the rain?

"Did you perhaps forget to check the weather forecast and not bring an umbrella?"

Her eyebrows twitched.

"......I believe you won't avoid the sparring this week."

Right, it seems like she forgot to bring it herself and is trying to use it to make me feel guilty.

It's so clumsy it's obvious.

It made me realize that she's truly the opposite of me in personality.

And, I tend to be weak against people like her.

"......I'll try my best."

"I'd prefer a definite answer, not just trying."

In the end, she's telling me to be her [Combat Race] sacrifice as soon as possible.

It's not bad for Choi Yeon to get stronger, but I couldn't just watch her grow alone, so I needed to prepare in advance. So, I slightly changed my words.

"I have a schedule to keep, so I need to check. To be frank, your challenge to me was more like a notification than a request."

First method. Beat them with facts.

What would happen if you just notify me and then blame me for not following your schedule? That was the method.

It might work on those with a bad nature or the shameless, but...

For someone like Choi Yeon, who has an extremely good nature but can't lie, this method is the best.

Upon hearing my words, Choi Yeon stood still.

I thought something was up, and I could see her pupils trembling side to side, even though she seemed expressionless.

But knowing that she had no malice, I felt guilty just seeing her like this.

"I'll contact you next time if I have time. Will that do?"

Only after I said that did Choi Yeon let out a sigh of relief.

Then, she looked at me and suddenly thrust something towards me.

"......Huh?"

"I don't have it. Your number."

"Ah, you want my number."

......It's my first time exchanging numbers like this.

As I wrote down my personal number, Choi Yeon put her phone back into her pocket.

"I called, so if there's anything, contact──"

"──Ah, here it is, here!"

At that moment, a woman far away started jumping and waving her hands at us as we were exchanging numbers and walking together.

"This, it seems like the top student and the second place get along well, so the senior is happy~ But... huh?"

It seemed she had been watching us from a distance, and she covered her mouth, smirking mischievously.

When she finally recognized my face, she paused for a moment before smiling broadly.

"What's this. You were the freshman who got second place? What a coincidence~ We've met before, haven't we?"

Sharp eyes, long black hair, and a neat academy uniform with a black name tag attached.

"......Yes. It's been a while. Senior."

She was the senior who offered to show me the way to the infirmary after sparring with Jinwoo in the past.

"To think that a junior would be the first-year's second place. That's quite surprising. Ah, and the one next to you is the top student, Choi Yeon, right?"

Choi Yeon bowed her head as the senior spoke as if she knew her.

"Yes. I'm Choi Yeon."

"As expected. There aren't many girls with that hair color at the academy. So... the male junior's name must be Han Yoojin? I was disappointed not to catch your name properly back then, but this works out well.

Actually... I would have preferred not to remember.

She reached out her hand to us with a smile, suggesting a handshake.

"I'm Yuri Rodmang, the vice president of the student council. Nice to meet you. Juniors."

As I took her slender hand, I felt a chill.

Though she appeared as just a kind senior now... in reality, she was anything but that.

She was a noble from Romania who chose to study abroad to enter the academy from Europe.

She was even the next head of a family that could be considered direct descendants of Count Dracula.

Of course, she didn't cause big trouble recklessly... but knowing that she occasionally had random outbursts made her someone I found slightly awkward to meet often.

She isn't usually like this, so why is she acting so friendly?

Still, since she offered a handshake, I should accept it.

"......I'm Han Yoojin."

"Yes, yes, nice to meet you too, juniors. Then, before we go in, shall I tell you a few things to keep in mind?"

After accepting the handshake, she quickly dropped her smile and, as if to admonish, raised her finger.

"First of all, it's okay to express your intention to refuse. But you must never do anything rude. Got it?"

Choi Yeon tilted her head, not understanding the meaning of Yuri's words.

As someone already familiar with the student council at the academy, I nodded in understanding at the warning.

"Good, then the second one. This is really important... the president might play mischievous pranks. Of course, there's no malice behind it, it's just like a tradition of the academy, so just take it as 'Oh, they're playing a prank~' and respond lightly. Got it?"

"Mischievous pranks, you say?"

Again, Choi Yeon asked, not understanding.

In response, Yuri simply said, 'Yes, there are such things.' and smiled.

Of course, I could guess what those pranks might be, and I knew that smile was poisonous.

"Well then, shall we go in? Yeon can stand behind me, and Yoojin can stand behind her."

Saying so, Yuri stood in front of the student council room.

Before entering, she tidied her clothes and knocked, speaking in a businesslike and calm voice unlike her playful tone from moments ago.

"This is Yuri Rodmang, the vice president of the academy's student council. The top student and the second place of the freshmen. We will enter now."

There was no response from inside.

Click─

But Yuri turned the doorknob and entered anyway.

When the door opened and Choi Yeon followed her in.

"......Wow."

I could see her, who had been blunt until now, looking around in admiration.

Seeing her reaction, I also entered the room and looked around.

The room was adorned with a vintage chandelier, a red carpet, numerous framed pictures, and trophies decorating the walls.

It was a grand room with artworks as if they had researched how to express power and wealth.

One could hardly guess how much money was spent just on this room.

And in the middle of such a room, there was a huge table with four people seated at it.

These were the power holders of Seoul Hero Academy's independent student administrative body.

"Welcome! The top student and the second place of the freshmen!"

The man seated at the head of the large table in the center of the room stood up abruptly with a bright smile.

With golden hair reminiscent of the radiant sun, clear blue eyes, and a refreshing smile.

He was the man at the pinnacle of Seoul Hero Academy, who would cause a great impact on the Republic of Korea as soon as he graduated.

"My name is Ray Pendragon. I'm the president of this student council."

And.

"All of us in Seoul Hero Academy's student council welcome you!"

He was a man who would one day become my enemy.