I Become a Mafia in the Academy 117
“Oppa! Ready? I'm all ready~!”
While I sat waiting for the others to finish preparing, I heard the pattering of little feet from the hallway, followed by Jiyoon's voice.
Already done getting ready? I turned toward the door—and there she was, peeking her head through the slightly ajar opening, our eyes meeting.
“Hehe.”
A pastel pink hat, sky-blue dress, and a sturdy little bunny-shaped backpack slung over her shoulders. It was obvious at a glance that Alesia had put real effort into dressing her up.
“You look cute.”
“Cute? Am I cute, Jiyoon cute?”
Jiyoon spun in circles as she came into the room, beaming at my compliment. I stood, ruffling her hair affectionately.
“Yeah, super cute. Grandpa's gonna love it. Do you remember Grandpa, Jiyoon?”
“Grandpa? Hmm... a little bit?”
She didn't seem to have a clear memory of him. It had been quite a while since they'd last met, after all.
“Right? But no getting scared just 'cause it's been so long, okay?”
“Okaay~ Oh! Alesia says she's ready now!”
“Alright, let's go out together then.”
“Yay!”
Holding Jiyoon's tiny hand, we stepped out of the mansion to find eight black sedans lined up in perfect formation.
“...It's always such a sight.”
A presidential motorcade didn't hold a candle to this. Each sedan was a luxury model reinforced with magic to withstand all but the heaviest attacks.
“Oppa! Alesia's over there!”
Looking where Jiyoon pointed, I saw Alesia waiting in front of one of the sedans—not in her usual maid outfit, but dressed in a sharp suit.
Alesia in a suit... huh.
As we approached, she opened the back door and bowed her head.
“At your service, Young Master.”
“You fully recovered?”
“Yes. I didn't sustain much damage in the fight to begin with. No lingering effects—I'm at full strength.”
“Good to hear.”
The car didn't move until we were all settled inside.
“Hm-hmm~♪”
Jiyoon hummed a little tune, peering out the heavily tinted window at the passing scenery, while Alesia silently scanned our surroundings. The car glided silently down the road.
Come to think of it, does Jiyoon know about Haru?
“Jiyoon, do you know Big Sis Haru?”
“Big Sis Haru? Big Sis Haru!”
At my question, Jiyoon shot her arm up in the air.
“The pretty big sis who plays with me whenever lots of people are around!”
So they were acquainted after all.
“Is Big Sis Haru coming too?”
She looked up at me, thrilled. I couldn't help but chuckle and nod.
“Yeah, she's coming with us.”
“Yay, Jiyoon loves it!”
Since they got along well, there wasn't much to worry about.
“Oh, there she is.”
We'd arrived at the pre-arranged address. Haru stood there demurely, holding what looked like the items I'd asked for, gazing quietly in our direction.
“Waaah! Big sis!”
“Please wait just a moment, Miss.”
Jiyoon bounced excitedly, ready to dash straight to Haru, but Alesia held her back. Calione security protocol: no wandering into unvetted areas.
Instead—
Ziiing—
A black curtain rose around the cars, the magic barrier I'd seen a few times in the game completely blocking line of sight from outsiders. No one would know which vehicle we were in.
Once the barrier was fully up, Alesia stepped out, greeted Haru, and opened the door on my side.
“Big siiis—!”
“Haru. Long time no see?”
Jiyoon waved enthusiastically toward her from the open door. Haru approached, bowing politely.
“It's been a while, Young Master, Miss. May I join you for a moment?”
Haru handed her bags to Alesia and slid naturally into the seat beside me. She was dressed in a modern, neat outfit fitting for the occasion.
“Suits you, even in casual clothes.”
Her academy uniform wasn't ordinary to begin with, but she looked different in civilian attire.
“Thank you. And you're... wearing Maestro's work?”
“Best suit I own. Gotta show Grandpa I'm doing well since it's been ages.”
Plus, with my skills not at full capacity yet, the gear's performance mattered a lot.
“Big sis! What about me? My clothes?”
“Yes, you look absolutely adorable, Miss. It suits you perfectly.”
“Hehe. Big sis looks super pretty too.”
The mood brightened the moment Haru got in. Alesia wasn't much of a talker, and things had been awkwardly quiet except when Jiyoon spoke up. Now it felt a bit less strained.
“Then we'll depart again.”
As Alesia boarded, the barrier dropped, and the convoy rolled forward.
“Calione security is beyond imagination. I never dreamed this many people would be mobilized.”
Haru glanced at the tightly packed escort vehicles front and back.
“Probably because Jiyoon's with us. Father's being extra careful.”
I could handle combat or assassination attempts on the fly, but not Jiyoon.
“Makes sense. With the future heirs of Calione traveling together... I get it.”
“Yeah?”
Her point reminded me how messed up this world was—plenty of lunatics out there.
The cars sped through the concrete jungle of skyscrapers, heading toward the outskirts, before pulling up to a massive mansion.
“Grandpa's house is so biiiig...!”
It stood in what used to be Bukaksan area, now Seoul's priciest neighborhood—and the grandest estate there belonged to Hanwol Group.
“Calione prioritizes security, so our place can't compare in sheer size.”
Alesia smiled at Jiyoon's exclamation.
Our house wasn't exactly small, though. It was so big it was a hassle to maintain daily.
Jiyoon nodded with an “Ooh...!” but she clearly didn't grasp it.
We entered the grounds and disembarked one by one, eyeing the mansion's entrance. Servants from Hanwol Group stood in formation, waiting for us.
At the front was a middle-aged man.
Whoa, it's been forever.
The butler chief of Hanwol Group—arguably the toughest guy in the neighborhood. Kim Kangcheol.
“Greetings to the Young Master and Miss.”
“““Greetings to the Young Master and Miss!!”””
Who'd have thought I'd see Kim Kangcheol bowing to me...
Back when I was pulling off thefts as the “Magical Girl (Old Man)” concept? I nearly got deleted switching between transform and normal forms for perfect crimes. Raiding this top mansion got me caught by that guy—I was terrified.
Even with game specs matching an S-rank hero, I failed to escape and almost lost the fight that followed.
I bluffed my way out back then, but I really thought my character was toast.
The rich district was no place for average players, and info on him was scarce. Community posts from failed escapees flooded the forums.
And now that guy was bowing before me, calling me Young Master. You learn something new every day.
“Hello!”
Jiyoon responded to their greetings with her signature belly bow.
Alesia had said this was my first time here too, so I figured acting normal was fine.
“Eugene Han Calione.”
I stepped forward to the lead servant, Kim Kangcheol—who was bowing—and offered my hand. He glanced at me, straightened, and gripped it firmly.
“I've heard much about you from the Chairman. An honor to serve you, Young Master.”
His grip felt rough and unyielding.
...No wonder getting punched by this would've deleted my character.
Old PTSD kicking in.
As I internally nodded to myself reminiscing—
“Impressively strong. I heard you're vice-top at the academy, but it's hard to believe you're not number one.”
He eyed me with surprise, gauging my strength just from the handshake. No aura or mana flowed through, so he must have his own technique.
“Top spot's a monster on my level. Ah, shall we head in?”
I released his hand and suggested moving inside. He nodded.
“Yes. This way, please. I'll escort you to the Chairman.”
Kim Kangcheol led us into the slowly opening mansion. Before following, I reached for Jiyoon.
“In a big place with lots of people...?”
“Hold Oppa's hand!”
“That's right. Good memory.”
As I took her hand to go in, Jiyoon tugged me toward Haru instead.
“Other hand for Big Sis!”
“...May I hold your hand, Miss?”
“Yes!”
Did Jiyoon's smile have some heart-melting superpower? Even stoic Haru cracked a small grin and took her hand.
“Alright then, shall we go in, Miss?”
“Yes! Big Sis, don't get lost—hold Jiyoon's hand tight, okay?”
...So she wasn't holding on to avoid getting lost herself, but to keep Haru from wandering off?
Haru nodded with a smile anyway.
“Yes. I'll trust you, Miss.”
“Hehe. Oppa! Let's go!”
“Sure, sure.”
And so we entered, three abreast, hands linked.
The grand lobby opened up right after the entrance, adorned with artwork. The layout matched what I knew from the game.
Oh, that's the painting I chucked at Kim Kangcheol while fleeing.
Appraising the pieces' values as we walked, we soon came to a halt.
“This is the Chairman's study.”
Unlike the other doors, this one was etched with intricate runes. The mana radiating from it felt artifact-level.
Kim Kangcheol knocked casually and spoke.
“Chairman, the Young Master and Miss have arrived. Also, Inomiya Group's Inomiya Haru.”
—Let them in.
A cold baritone voice echoed from within.
Finally meeting the man called Hanwol Group's overlord. Tension mounting, we prepared to enter—
“Graaandpa~!!”
Our team's secret weapon fired first. Jiyoon took the initiative.