The Academy Life of a Sick Mafia

Chapter 04

“…”

I, Sigrin, stood before Angel to have my core checked.

‘Where’s he looking?’

He stood still, his face fixed toward me.

His long bangs covered his eyes, so I couldn’t be sure where his gaze was directed, but it was definitely on me.

“So, the famous Ebenkera Family bloodline. I don’t sense any aura outwardly, but I’m very intrigued.”

“Is the Ebenkera name well-known among Imperial citizens too?”

“…Well, anyone interested in core studies can’t help but know about Nipi Island’s mafia.”

Nipi Island was a cursed land strangely prone to attracting magical beasts, and perhaps because of that, those born and raised there had an unusually high rate of ability manifestation.

Abilities developed during one’s lifetime were mostly passed down genetically, and over generations, Nipi Island’s residents grew stronger.

Thus, mafia members who experienced the constant battles on Nipi Island typically possessed great power.

Among them, rumors about the Ebenkera Family boss’s strength were legendary.

They said he could rip off the head of an upper-tier magical beast, Cerberus, with just the strength of his grip.

People claimed he was a triple-core user, capable of utilizing cores in his brain, heart, and dantian.

Angel Wizael looked at me through his bangs.

Objectively, my harmonious features were easy on the eyes for long periods.

My aristocratic appearance hardly fit the image of a rough mafia member.

‘A storm-like wind is bound to rise, right?’

The ether wind caused by Luca Drümuel, a high school freshman earlier, was impressive, but the ether wind of a Nipi mafia member would surely be stronger.

Since sprinkling a little powder wouldn’t reveal where such a strong wind was headed, he brought an entire sack of fairy powder.

“Please put on the wrist device.”

Picking up a large scoop, he handed me the ether visualization device.

As soon as I put it on…

Whoosh!

He scooped a heap of fairy powder from the sack and flung it at my face.

“…”

“…”

The blue powder didn’t budge, making a mess of my hair and the floor.

Covered in powder, I raised a hand to brush back my disheveled bangs.

An awkward exchange of glances followed between me and Assistant Angel.

“That was rather dramatic. So, where’s my core?”

“…”

Angel, with a dumbfounded expression, reached toward me.

…No wind was felt at all. This shouldn’t be possible.

“…I don’t know.”

“What?”

Maybe some powder got in my eyes, because they stung.

I furrowed my brow, trying to keep my eyes open.

“Do I not have a core? At least tell me about a potential core.”

I asked, my bloodshot eyes glaring.

The menace emanating from my beautiful face felt doubly intimidating.

Angel rubbed his chin.

‘Is she hiding her power on purpose? Mafia are sensitive about their information being exposed.’

What incredible control.

The ether visualization device converts even the tiniest ether flow into wind, causing a breeze even around ordinary people who’ve never held a weapon.

Yet, around this student, who should have abundant ether, the air was as still as if frozen.

“I understand wanting to hide your core, but don’t suppress your ether. This is a mandatory process for all Panoplia students.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t.”

With a sarcastic tone, Angel fetched a higher-performance device and fastened it to my wrist.

And then…

Whoosh!

“…”

“…”

Now, with powder even inside my clothes, I frowned, irritated.

“…Can you tell me where my core is now?”

“Don’t provoke me.”

“What?”

Angel switched the powder this time.

He had been using lower-grade fairy powder, but now he pulled out golden, high-grade fairy powder that reacted more sensitively to ether.

Like sprinkling holy water on a demon, he doused me with the powder.

This time, the entire sack.

Whoosh!

Still, no reaction.

Brushing off the powder stuck between my hair, I asked again, my voice laced with suppressed frustration.

“…Was all this really necessary?”

“…”

For two years, Angel had been forced to check the cores of his advisor’s acquaintances for free.

Honed by unpaid grunt work, his sharp eye for core detection was a source of pride.

Feeling an unfamiliar sense of powerlessness, his eyes twitched.

“…It’s hard to determine now, but I’ll definitely figure out your core’s location.”

At that, my expression brightened.

I had been a bit discouraged, thinking I might not even have a potential core.

But having someone so eager to help with my problem was comforting.

“Oh, you’d go that far? Thank you for your care.”

“…”

Angel’s brow twitched again.

What?

✦ ✦ ✦

‘I thought he was some jerk for dumping powder on me, but he’s actually kind.’

I smiled, thinking of Angel.

His effort to help me, anxious about my lack of a core, was touching.

Since he offered to keep helping me find my core after the ceremony, I was deeply grateful.

I fiddled with a plain black band.

This was supposed to have a town emblem, but as a coreless individual, mine had none.

‘Honestly, I expected this. If you’re a failure, you’re a failure to the end. This rotten world.’

The excitement I’d felt, hoping for a hidden ability, cooled completely.

I sat on a bench along the academy’s promenade, clicking my tongue in irritation.

‘Why’s it so dusty here?’

Under the sunlight, I could clearly see particles floating in the air.

Golden powder danced annoyingly before my eyes.

It looked like the second powder Assistant Angel had sprinkled.

The unknown particles kept getting in my eyes, making them sting.

‘Pollen?’

I waved my hand to grab the floating powder, but there was too little, and the particles were too small to catch.

‘What? I’m still wearing the device.’

Waving my hand, I noticed the device on my wrist.

The stadium had already been cleared, and everyone had left.

To return it when I saw Angel later, I took off the ether visualization device and put it in my violin case.

“Alright, students assigned to Cardia, follow me!”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing students’ chatter, I looked up to see those assigned to towns leaving the stadium, heading toward the teleportation magic circle room.

Cardia students wore bands near their chests, indicating they were Cardia town residents.

The bands had Cardia’s emblem in the center.

‘I don’t see Apple.’

She was supposed to have been assigned to Cardia.

Since she was my first friend here, I was worried.

I craned my neck toward the Cardia group but still couldn’t find her.

“Sob… Hic… Sob… Whimper…”

Whirrr. Whirrr.

A sorrowful cry came from across the way.

It was a familiar voice.

✦ ✦ ✦

Whirrr. Whirrr.

“Oh, life’s always been a mess.”

“Sob. Hic. But, but… I have to go to Midriba and apply for Swordsmanship… Sob.”

Following the crying, I found Apple, as expected.

She was sobbing alone, so I reached out and patted her back, feeling sorry for her.

I tried to comfort her, but it didn’t seem to work.

Maybe I should offer some practical help?

“If you’re really worried about the future, I can introduce you to a good job on Nipi Island…”

“Waaah! No, I haven’t given up on life yet!!”

Oh! Looks like my comfort helped. I’m glad!

But to think she’d give up on life over this seemed a bit dramatic, though her disappointment was clearly immense.

That’s unfortunate.

“Yes, don’t give up. I’m rooting for you.”

“…”

Suddenly, Apple stopped crying and looked up at me with tear-filled eyes.

Did she think I’d marked her as a slave to sell if she fell behind? Typical mafia, even her comforting style felt like a loan shark’s.

The job agency comment was probably meant to strengthen her resolve.

It better be.

“Right, I won’t give up!”

Thanks to me, Apple regained her energy and wiped her eyes with her uniform sleeve.

“If I can’t go to Midriba, I’ll follow you to Lemaos and learn ki training!”

“Wait. Follow me to Lemaos?”

I frowned.

What’s that place?

I memorized all the major regions mentioned during the orientation, but I’d never heard of it.

“Yeah, weren’t you pretending to be coreless to go to Lemaos?”

“What?”