The First Recruit
After Kim Sea-a and Kim Young-je's duel wrapped up, the rest of the matches were all pretty much par for the course. Fights between kids with decent talent—nothing groundbreaking, but entertaining enough to see why each one had caught Ji Suhyun's eye.
Except for one guy.
Choi Kang-hyeon. The one who'd shown up in the classroom right after me, fresh off that helicopter ride yesterday. The second the duel started, he splashed seawater from his water bucket straight up his opponent's nose, forcing an instant surrender with the most absurd tactic imaginable. His signature weapon, that trident of his, barely saw any action—might as well have been a walking stick. The whole thing was over in under a minute.
Guess that's what it means to be blessed by the sea. As I mulled over recruiting him someday for those dungeons we'd tackle later, the instructor clapped her hands to grab our attention.
"You've all worked hard with these morning duels. Today marks the second day of orientation, and it's within my discretion, so class dismissed here. Head home and review today's matches on your own."
Can't complain about that. Finish the job, and she lets you go early— she'd be a hit at any normal school.
As students started packing up at Ji Suhyun's dismissal, I pulled out my phone to call Han Seojun for a ride home. Then Jinwoo popped into my head, laid up in the infirmary.
"...Still, better swing by."
He was someone I'd eventually bring into the fold. As the boss, building goodwill early made sense. I pocketed the phone, deciding on the infirmary first.
But...
Where the hell is it?
Ji Suhyun had already dipped out ahead of the students. No sign of her, and scouting around yielded zilch. Guess the game's layout didn't match the real thing perfectly—bound to get turned around sometimes.
I stood there in the hallway, pondering blankly, when—
"Hey, you lost or something?"
Someone approached and spoke up.
"...?"
Hold up. Why's she showing up now?
Sharp eyes, long black hair cascading down, pristine academy uniform with a black name tag. She looked just like someone from my memories.
"...You?"
She tilted her head at my dazed stare, picking up on the weird vibe.
"Oh, not lost exactly... Looking for the infirmary."
We were strangers. She might as well be a senior I was meeting for the first time, so I kept it polite.
She let out a sudden pfft, bursting into laughter.
"Isn't that just lost? Infirmary's straight down the left hallway."
"...Thanks."
"No need. Student council duty. You look like a freshman—hurt or something?"
"Nah, a buddy of mine got banged up."
"Gotcha. Hope you find it easy. Don't get lost again. See ya."
She turned and headed off.
What the hell just happened?
Never figured I'd run into a student council member this soon after enrolling. As a newbie stranger, it passed without issue, but...
"Better keep it late if we cross paths again."
No telling what our dynamic would be down the line. Not eager for a repeat anytime soon.
I followed her directions, and sure enough, the infirmary sign appeared quick.
Normal schools have a tiny room with one nurse on standby. But this was Seoul Hero Academy, boasting Asia's top facilities. It felt like a full hospital ward transplanted—pro gear everywhere.
Scanning inside, I spotted Jinwoo on a bed, fiddling with his smartphone.
"Whoa, you're cracked. This god-tier movement? Nah~ weave it—movement—weave~"
Giggling away, totally fine now.
"Ha."
Seeing him geek out, oblivious class was over, cracked me up.
He caught my eye from his screen and jolted.
"H-Hiiik!"
Like he'd seen a ghost, he plastered himself against the bed's headboard.
"Wh-Why again?!"
I hadn't done jack, but he was shaking and muttering nonsense.
"We had a deal before the duel."
"Huh? What?!"
"The club."
"...Club? Oh, that 10 million credits! You're here for that?"
I nodded at his question.
Freshmen could start clubs starting tomorrow for a week—locking in commitments early was key.
"I won the duel, so you're under me now, right?"
"...Lost fair and square. No choice. Ah...! My 10 million credits!"
Surprisingly chill about owning the loss. Good—no sore loser vibes.
"Could've gotten all-skins with that..."
Or just petty?
"...It was club funds from the start anyway. Welfare pot for everyone—no big loss."
Jinwoo snapped his head up.
"What? Just dumping 10 million into club stuff? No skimming?"
That surprising?
"Got plenty. No reason to pocket it. Plus, bonuses based on performance—no worries about pay."
"B-Bonuses?! Sold! Dad always said: a boss worth following's loaded and strong. You're good. Call you Boss from now on? Boss?"
Eyes sparkling at the money talk, pure admiration. Corner of my vision lit up.
Baby Boss
Baby Boss trait firing—he was legit starstruck.
"Boss, huh... Whatever floats your boat. But aren't you Bivalt family heir? Mafia successor should have pocket change covered—why so money-obsessed?"
Genuine curiosity. Bivalt was Calione underling—plenty loaded. So why?
"Our fam's vibe is 'earn your own cash.' High school? Lived off cafeteria and shaking down weirdos claiming turf. But academy? Tougher."
So that's what Kim Sea-a meant. Mugging fake gangsters? Absurd.
"...Rough life."
"Right? So, what's this club do that pays?"
"Club? Nothing hardcore. Actually, a force for good."
"Huh?"
He was in already. No harm spilling academy plans.
"We're gonna be the club that protects other clubs."
"...Protects clubs?"
"Yeah. Know anything about academy club scene?"
Wary check.
"Nada."
"Figured. Quick rundown: clubs run on power logic. Only the strong survive."
Hero Academy's core—strength. Power to shield everyone, citizens included. Clubs turned cutthroat.
"Only strong clubs survive? Way off from what I pictured..."
"Obviously."
This was Hero Academy, not some regular school. Pumped out world-savers, not desk jockeys.
"Here, it's allowed. We're heading to real battlefields where power rules."
That's where I saw the opening.
"We'll exploit the system's gaps."
Protection fees from weak clubs, shield from strong ones. Rack up 'club wars' wins to climb ranks. Top dog gets ultimate pull—key to conquering the academy.
"Exploit? Like hacking?"
Way off-base. No clue.
No point spilling endgame here—repeat it for full crew later. I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Save it for after club's official."
"Aw, now I'm hooked. Spill?"
"You'll hear it twice anyway. Patience."
"...Cliffhanger jerk. So, recap: we protect clubs, collect fees. Mafia racket?"
"Sharp ears."
"Feels like Dad's gig."
Mafia kid intuition—nailed our inspiration.
"If you say so. Foreign Quarter runs similar."
"True, but... you know that, right?"
Eyes narrowing.
"Protecting means outmuscling other raiders."
"Duh."
"Foreign Quarter works 'cause Calione family's got overwhelming force."
"Yep."
"So you're saying your club's gonna dominate all others?"
"Getting it now."
"...Possible?"
"Why not?"
"Even so—"
"Trust me."
"—Huh?"
"I'll put our club at the top. Guaranteed."
Voice heavy now, not casual.
"You'll see the view from the peak—right beside me. So—"
—trust me.
Locking eyes, pouring conviction. Trust my skills—the ones that dropped him in one shot.
This moment, I wasn't just Eugene Han Calione. I was the player who'd saved the world multiple times, plunged it to chaos others, cleared nearly every achievement. CS rank 2.
I can do this.
I extended a hand to Jinwoo, still sitting stunned.
"Stick with me, and it's possible."
Jinwoo had talent. Background. Leveling characters like him? My specialty. Done it hundreds of times.
"Tempting, right?"
My read on him, short as it was, screamed he'd grab it.
"Ha, haha! Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA!"
Laughter erupted as I finished. Shaking, twisting, tears welling—losing it.
"Haha, ha! Total pipe dream."
"...Is it?"
"That's why I dig it!"
Wiping tears, he stood.
"Top of the academy? Me? Haha! Dad'd flip. Deal—your way."
He gripped my hand.
"Good."
Sincere.
"Jinwoo Bivalt. I'll take you to Hero Academy's summit. Help me get there."
"...Ambitious. Sounds like a hassle, but fun."
"Definitely fun."
He grinned, quick shake.
"Deal."
"Deal."
And just like that, Jinwoo Bivalt became the first member of my organization.