Picking the Worst of the Worst
“I’m home.”
By the time I got back from the Oresik assembly, the sun had already set. Thanks to the spiritual medicine, my body felt reborn, light enough to float away. But mentally, there was no helping the exhaustion.
It couldn’t be helped—too much had happened in a single day.
I trudged into the mansion, and as always, the servants came out to greet me.
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
“Welcome back, Young Master!”
Alesia and the other servants who’d gathered on the first floor bowed their heads in welcome. I gave a light “Hey” in response and walked on slowly.
The servants giggled and beamed as usual. But then Alesia tilted her head, looking puzzled, her eyes widening as she asked me,
“Young Master, have you grown taller by any chance?”
“...Yeah. That obvious?”
I hadn’t expected her to notice so quickly, so I stood there awkwardly, and she let out a sigh.
“I’ve heard kids grow fast these days, but I didn’t think you’d shoot up like this overnight. What, did you pop some kind of spiritual medicine on the way?”
“Huh? How’d you know?”
She’d nailed it just from my height? Curious how she’d figured out about the medicine, I asked—but,
“It’s not exactly out of character for you, Young Master.”
“...Fair enough?”
Her answer made perfect sense right away. I had been hauling in all sorts of miraculous items from everywhere lately.
“In that case, we’ll need to overhaul all your clothes. I’ll come by your room later to collect them.”
She was right—my growth spurt had made my outfits too short. Couldn’t wear them like this; time for a full replacement.
“Sorry.”
“Why should you apologize, Young Master? Your growth is the family’s joy. No need to worry.”
Alesia smiled brightly, said that, and left. Watching her go, I let out a small sigh.
I’d been pretty shocked myself when I first realized I’d grown. Spiritual medicine causing growth spurts was rare but not unheard of. It was basically the ‘bone cleansing rebirth’ stuff from wuxia novels.
So I’d asked the elder, ‘Isn’t this bone cleansing rebirth?’—but he’d flicked my forehead hard, like I was talking nonsense.
‘You think bone cleansing is something any mutt can pull off? Looks like your posture got corrected along with your frame. No big deal.’
In other words, it was a major posture fix. No idea how that led to such drastic change, but good was good.
Back in my room, I changed into Dis Pater, which was basically my combat uniform.
‘Hmm... this still fits fine.’
I’d worried a bit before putting it on, but as expected from Maestro’s work. Even with my bigger frame, it adjusted perfectly. Good thing—I’d been stressing about having nothing to wear right away.
Now then... time for some mafia business.
“Consigliere. It’s Eugene.”
—Come in.
Lately, the consigliere had been teaching me how to handle the organization’s affairs. Prioritizing tasks, rejecting others—it was the basics, the core of running the family.
“Consigliere, a request from the Move family to increase their luxury relaxant budget arrived.”
“Reject it. Always buying those overpriced brand relaxants... There’s tons of cheap, good stuff at the mart...”
Most of it was like that for now, of course.
“Oh, Eugene. Your father’s return is delayed a bit.”
As I quietly reviewed documents, the consigliere casually dropped news about Dad.
“Dad? Did something happen in Russia?”
That guy wasn’t the type to run into trouble there, so a delay? Sensing my expression, the consigliere waved it off hurriedly.
“Nothing major. Something came up in Europe, apparently. He said he’s grabbing souvenirs there too, so it should be fine. Here, look.”
He pulled up a photo on his tablet. There was Dad, grinning atop a house-sized bear, vodka in hand.
“...Looks like he’s enjoying himself properly. That’s a relief.”
“Right? Dumps all the work on me... Sigh...”
—Crack.
The two glass marbles he’d been rolling in his hand turned to powder in an instant.
“...Oops.”
But like it was routine, he wrapped them in paper, tossed them in the trash, dusted his hands, and grabbed new ones. Beyond the bin, I could swear I saw hair clippings—victims of his stress.
...Ah.
“Let’s get back to work.”
“...Yes.”
I was glad I could help with the load.
“What happened to your face this time?”
The next day at the academy, Jinwoo greeted me with one eye swollen like a raccoon’s.
“Well, see—”
“I punched him. Gotta keep the bitching in check. For real.”
Sea-a grumbled from the front seat like it was no big deal. From her tone, I could guess why he’d gotten hit.
“Let me guess—you said something weird about Dragon’s Edge again?”
“Oh, you heard too, Eugene? But why didn’t you hit him?”
“I was about to, but got sent out for mentoring.”
“Ahh~ That’s why you weren’t here yesterday.”
Sea-a nodded like it clicked, but Jinwoo just frowned in confusion, rubbing his eye like an egg.
Come to think of it, I was curious.
“So, how’d you score that Dragon’s Edge anyway?”
Antonio must’ve said something to hand it over.
“Ah, Boss was wondering too? So, like~ Oof. Heh heh.”
I considered blackening his other eye, but curiosity won—I could punch him anytime.
“Anyway, I was dozing in Dad’s study at night when this chill killing intent hits me, right? I snap my eyes open—Dad’s looming over me with a knife.”
Huh?
“At first, I couldn’t move or speak—thought I was paralyzed or something, groaning alone. Then Dad suddenly hurls the knife at my head! It embeds right by my ear. Nearly pissed myself, and as he walks out, he says—”
—Here, I picked this up.
“Thought it was a dream at first, but cold sweat pouring, dagger dangling by my head—no dream. Finally move, grab it, and there’s an appraisal scroll on the hilt. That’s when I knew it was a Dragon’s Edge~ Yeah~”
...So he really did just ‘pick it up and give it.’ Not quite how I imagined, but Jinwoo’s thrilled, so mission success?
“Then what? Your dad say anything else after?”
“Nah? Just ‘Guess you got lucky on the road’ or whatever.”
...This guy’s brain is pure as hell.
Emotionally constipated Antonio and thoughtless Jinwoo—insane synergy.
Wonder if I said the right thing.
—Slide!
The front door opened, and Youngje entered with stacks of flyers. Wait, booklets?
“Oh, everyone’s here. Perfect timing. Front row, pass these back?”
Youngje handed booklets to the front of each row. When one reached me, I had a pretty good idea what event this was.
“Forgot we had this.”
A staple event post-midsems: academy students go out to mentor elementary/middle school Awakeners. Straight-up reforming delinquents. Hero’s duty, or whatever.
“Instructor said we need to start filling service hours—prep now. Inside’s the mentee list, sorted by behavior, with points by difficulty.”
Flip the booklet, and there: mentee info, conduct, difficulty, points.
“Heard the top mentor gets special rewards, so scout ahead and pick early.”
Kids flipped open booklets, eyeing their choices. Title suggested our class got first pick as 1st-place perk from the class ranking prelims.
“Whoa, extortion, manslaughter, threats... What’s with kids these days? Scary as hell.”
Jinwoo Bivalt—extorter of rival school villains—shivered, forgetting his past.
“Didn’t you skip the reform program in middle school?”
Youngje asked, back at his seat, exasperated.
“Huh? Me? Nah, did it. Middle school second year? Pretty guild lady...”
Jinwoo grinned, reminiscing.
“Then why’re you still a mess?”
Sea-a dropped a fact bomb; Jinwoo shook his head like ‘what?’
“After her, I only beat up bullies. She was my life’s turning point.”
...That’s why he targeted villains. Mentor was a legend.
“What was your difficulty back then?”
“Me? Heard it was A.”
“A?”
Checked other As: assault, arson, special assault, telecom obscenity... Heavy crimes.
How much of a punk was he?
“Inspired, I’ll reform an A too! What about you guys?”
“Dunno... Gotta look more.”
“Aiming for A myself? High points, and doable.”
Kids busied picking mentees. Then Jinwoo eyed me.
“Boss? Picked yours yet?”
Oh, decided ages ago.
“Me? If you’re asking, yeah... but...”
“Who? Who?!”
Sea-a bounced excitedly. Nothing special, so I pointed to the photo at the front.
“These guys.”
My fingertip landed on photos of kids with delinquent vibes oozing from every pore—prickly as hell.
(Difficulty: S)
[Name: Han Jiyeon]
School: Jiggle Middle School | Age: 15
Special Notes: Special assault x15, extortion x32, assault x18, arson x2, threats x14, fraud...
Individual Difficulty: A
*Appears closely tied to external organization. Caution advised if selected as mentee.
[Name: Ki Minho]
School: Jiggle Middle School | Age: 15
Special Notes: Special assault x23, extortion x12, assault x38, threats x14, fraud x8.
Individual Difficulty: A
*Appears closely tied to external organization. Caution advised if selected as mentee.
[Name: Kim Hyunsoo]
School: Jiggle Middle School | Age: 15
Special Notes: Special assault x2, extortion x8, assault x54, threats x31. Attempted murder x2.
Individual Difficulty: A
*Appears closely tied to external organization. Caution advised if selected as mentee.
You’re going to be good kids starting today.