Academy's Top Spot

A fleeting sense of buoyancy washed over me, and in the next instant, the scenery around me shifted dramatically. It was the unaltered outer field, just as we'd left it.

I turned my head to survey the surroundings and spotted the kids—some slumped over in pre-arranged spots, others sprawled out catching their breath.

'So if you get eliminated inside, they transport you out here.'

I shook my head to clear it and stepped out, immediately feeling the eyes of the surrounding students lock onto me.

There was that massive monitor from the last all-out battle. Most of the crowd gathered here must have been watching the matches through it.

At that moment, the dark screen flared to life, and grandiose music blared from the speakers.

The other kids' attention snapped to the screen.

“Oh.”

Choi Kang-hyeon had snagged third place, even though his survival score alone shouldn't have been enough. Looked like targeting me mid-exam—and taking out everyone else in the process—had netted him enough points to pull it off.

At the same time, a system window popped up in front of me.

It was the most overpowered trait you could get inside the academy—the infamous one.

The second perk, Topper's Talent, boosted growth rates for learning all sorts of things in the academy. Sure, it was limited ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the academy grounds, but that made it basically equivalent to an experience multiplier. No wonder it ranked tier 1.

'Combined with Choi Yeon's ability, the synergy was insane. But this time, it's mine.'

Of course, I had no intention of stunting her growth. I planned to suggest a new path tailored just for her.

And with this, my total traits hit eight.

“Just looking at it feels reassuring.”

Had anyone ever collected this many traits in such a tight timeframe? If I posted it on the community forums, I'd get accused of faking it, told to stop pulling aggro—total flame war material.

“Eugene. Congratulations.”

“Ah. Choi Yeon.”

Speak of the devil, huh? She'd snuck up and now offered her hand for a shake, smiling more relieved than usual.

“You don't hate me for it?”

I had to ask—the girl who'd just lost her spot at the top was extending her hand like it was nothing. She just tilted her head, like I'd said something weird.

“Why? I lost because I'm weaker.”

“……Yeah.”

That's right—you're that kind of person.

I took her hand and flashed a grin back.

“Thanks.”

“I'll beat you in the finals.”

“Looking forward to it.”

I couldn't predict how strong she'd get by then, but I sure as hell wouldn't be slacking either. Now that I'd claimed top spot, I intended to hold it till the end.

“Eugene~!”

“Congrats, boss!”

“The boss is a god! The boss is a god! The boss is a god! Long live! Long live!”

Off in the distance, the Familia crew came charging my way. From the rankings on the monitor, they'd all landed safely inside the top 20.

“You all did great.”

And with that, the Seoul Hero Academy's 1st Year 1st Semester Midterms were officially over.

* * *

“I'm home.”

After dragging myself back for some rest post-exams, a pop! sounded, and confetti burst into the air.

“Oppa! Congrats!”

“Congratulations, young master.”

Jiyoon Han Calione and Alesia shouted amid fireworks meant for birthdays, beaming ear to ear. Looked like word of the results had already reached the mansion.

“News travels fast. I just got home.”

I stroked Jiyoon as she hugged me naturally, and Alesia smiled brightly.

“The moment midterms ended, a direct line came from the Don. We could hear his joy from the study.”

“Ah.”

The rest was obvious. Dad had spread the news throughout the mansion, Jiyoon had bounced around insisting we celebrate, and Alesia had joined her to greet me.

“Thanks, Jiyoon.”

“Hehehe. Oh, right! Oppa, Papa said to go to the study when you see him.”

“Dad did?”

Alesia nodded this time.

“Yes. Orders to escort you straight there upon arrival. I know midterms were exhausting, but please bear with us.”

“Nah, it's fine. If Dad calls, of course I go.”

Son comes home first in exams, and Dad wants to see him? Anyone could tell this was about a reward.

I headed to the study with light steps, checked my posture in the full-length mirror outside, and adjusted once more.

“Ahem.”

Good news or not, facing the study door where Dad always was still tensed me up.

A light double knock. Knock knock.

“Dad, it's Eugene.”

A deep voice rumbled from inside.

-Come in.

I eased the door open. There was Dad, same as always, puffing a cigar.

“……I'm home.”

“Yeah. Sorry to call you here when you're beat.”

He exhaled smoke and rose. The desk was buried under reports from around the world.

“No, I'm grateful you made time despite being busy.”

Dad chuckled at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my reply.

“Good, thanks. The president told me—you took first in midterms? That old swordmaster texted a storm about his granddaughter losing her spot... Gave me a good laugh.”

……That geezer sent texts like that? Figures—the doting grandpa must've been gutted by Choi Yeon's loss to me.

“Just got lucky.”

“Haha! If your win's just luck, no one in the world has any. Well... my son's the academy topper. What should I give you?”

Joy seeped from every word, like he was humming a tune. Feeling love in these little things was downright wondrous.

He rummaged through reports, pulled one sheet, and handed it over.

“Take it.”

“Pardon?”

I took the paper in a daze and looked down.

“……This is?”

“Official business rights for Seoul Hero Academy. We barely snagged it in a recent bidding war. Figured it'd suit you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠best, operating in academy territory.”

Academy business rights? I'd never even seen them in the game.

The academy was like a sanctuary there—external businesses couldn't easily muscle in. No wonder clubs skirted around it. Like a greenbelt zone, almost.

That alone was shocking, but Dad wasn't done.

“I pondered other gifts, but for something worthy of you, looks like I need to head overseas myself. Bear with me—the real present will take a bit.”

“You're going personally?”

The Calione boss traveling abroad for a gift? What the hell was he fetching?

“Yeah. Consigliere will handle things here. Tell him if anything comes up. It's just Russia—not far, won't take long.”

“Understood, Dad.”

“Good. Rest up—you must be drained.”

Back in my room, I flopped onto the bed and examined the business license.

“How'd he even get this?”

Mind-blowing, no matter how I looked. Rights to open shops inside the academy—like the canteen.

In the game, outsiders handled it by default, so I'd assumed that was the system. Turns out, not so.

'Or maybe reality made it possible.'

This was basically a license to print money. Captive audience of future elites—easy to lead trends, build connections.

The game had backroom bribes and corporate wars for it. Doing it openly? Massive profit potential.

Problem: Friction with existing clubs. Rights let you operate, not survive.

Price wars or blue ocean strategy?

'In-game, it was a cafe and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠practice weapon shop, I think.'

Commodity shops weren't useful for players, so I'd ignored them. But...

A good idea hit.

“This could work.”

I rushed to the desk, pulled up a business plan template, and started drafting.

“Approach it in a way only academy students can...”

A method possible because I was both a business holder and a student.

A plan to seize influence and profits inside the academy.

The first button toward total academy domination was now fastened.