The Human Totem's Influence

Lately, I'd started feeling like life at the academy was getting a bit strange.

"You just need to substitute here, right? Alright, then who wants to tackle the problem next to it? As expected, our──."

──Zap.

"Seok is busy? Then how about Jinwoo Bivalt, dozing off over there? Come up here and solve this one."

"Huh?"

"Solve it."

I was just sitting there with my arms crossed, doing absolutely nothing, yet the instructors' questions kept swerving away from me.

"Pass! Pass it here! There's space right here!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Over to Han Yujin! Han Yujin's covering defense!"

"Ah! Pass it back, pass the ball back!"

"Nice one, boss!"

Even during PE class, the ball and everyone else went out of their way to avoid me.

"Boss! If you hadn't blocked that properly, we would've been in real trouble. Thanks~"

Really. I wasn't doing a damn thing, but somehow I felt like the team's star defender──a sensation no one else had probably ever experienced.

"What the hell is this? Why are people going this far?"

It wasn't just today. The Human Totem trait proved pretty useful in all sorts of situations. There was that incident at the dojo not long ago, and just wandering aimlessly during a night walk boosted my influence within the organization.

And thanks to that, my influence in one of the main storylines, Gangs of Calione, had gone up too. It was definitely one of the traits I'd made the best use of lately.

Which was why I'd decided to do a little research on it. I experimented on Jinwoo, and the results were...

"What do you think the boss is doing right now?"

"Huh? Just sitting there."

"What are you talking about? He's sitting there pondering the future of the club."

There was a problem. No matter what I did, people interpreted it as me doing something important.

Luckily, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it all worked in my favor so far, but if this kept up, it'd be harder to play weak and bluff or catch opponents off guard.

"Young master, this won't do! Boss! You need to rest properly when you're resting! Have some coffee and take it easy here!"

During a break from club activities, I'd stopped by the cafe Cielo Notturno. Even here, they saw my break as work. I sighed, picked up my coffee, and──

"Huh?"

I spotted a woman with a familiar face sitting at a terrace table. She was idly stirring her drink with a straw, looking utterly thoughtless. It was Yuri Rodmang, vice president of the Seoul Hero Academy student council and someone I'd been working with lately.

She must've sensed my gaze because she looked up. Gone was that listless expression from moments ago──like I'd imagined it──as she stood with a welcoming smile.

"Whoa, what brings you here at this hour, junior? Managing the shop?"

"......Just cooling my head a bit. What about you, senior?"

"Ah, something similar."

She set her coffee on the table and naturally took the seat across from me.

"Still, seeing something cute helps melt the stress away, right?"

Leaning forward slightly, she spotted a hamster cleaning the floor and gently stroked its head with her index finger.

"Yeah, that checks out."

I'd come here to get some air, after all.

"What's stressing you out so much, senior? The student council president?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

She gave a wry smile and shook her head at my question.

"If it were school stuff, I could handle it myself. But this is family business."

"Ah."

When she said "family," she had to mean the Rodmang family based in Romania. What trouble could they be in right now?

Honestly, I wanted to ask, but since it was her family's affair and not mine, I hesitated. She was drawing a line by calling it family business, so she probably wouldn't tell me even if I asked.

So I figured I'd just offer some encouragement...

"Can you believe it? In this day and age, still nagging his daughter for losing a brag-fest with his friends about their kids."

Huh?

"His friend's son did this, did that, what have you done? Got a boyfriend? When are you coming home? So annoying. For real!"

Uh?

"And then? This weekend's important, so come home. I said no, and he pulls the family name card──don't come, and forget about any support."

Crunch──the ice in her mouth shattered in an instant.

"You get it, right, junior? Being from a famous corporate bloodline. The higher-ups think the bloodline exists to serve the family as it grows greater."

Crunch──

"I hate that."

Her expression had turned fierce compared to earlier, but her touch on the hamster's head remained incredibly gentle.

Of course.

-Squeak......!

The hamster looked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠utterly terrified, though.

"So, you're heading back to the main house this weekend, senior?"

"Yeah. Probably?"

"Perfect timing, then. Take care of that while you're there."

"Huh? What 'that'?"

She tilted her head, asking what I was on about.

You seriously forgot?

"The spirit medicine you promised from your family. Did you really forget?"

She flinched as it hit her.

"R-Right... was it?"

"Was it? You said you'd give it after a month. Do you even know how long it's been?"

Truth be told, I'd forgotten too. With all the spirit medicines pouring in lately, who could keep track?

I still had several I couldn't consume yet because the conditions weren't met or the right situation hadn't arisen. No time to micromanage the small stuff.

But now that it was on my mind, time to apply some pressure.

"You're going to Europe to see family. Have a great time, chat with the family head, grab my spirit medicine, and come back safe. Senior."

"Feels like you put extra emphasis on that last part?"

"Misunderstanding?"

You need to come back safe if I'm getting that medicine.

No way that'd happen.

"Sigh... Don't worry. Like you said, I'll make sure to grab the spirit medicine when I go home this time."

She leaned back in her chair with a defeated sigh, tilting her head back.

"Ah~ What a pain~"

......That was definitely said for me to hear.

* * *

The evening Walpurgis Night began.

"Brush."

"Yes."

"More spray to hold it here."

"Understood."

"The handkerchief's too much. Bring something simpler and more elegant."

Right now, I was surrounded by several maids, getting dressed up──or rather, fussed over.

"Shave the back of my head with a razor."

"I'll tidy it up, young master."

"Your skin really is flawless, young master. No need for concealer anywhere."

"Ah, there. That's perfect. Hold it right there."

"Yes."

Was this how Hollywood actors felt in those old documentaries during makeup? With my eyes closed, surrounded by people applying makeup, it brought more unease and humiliation than any sense of superiority.

But I couldn't complain because...

"A bit more color on the lips would be good. Not tint, just some lip gloss."

Alesia, their leader, was personally overseeing my makeover.

"Mm. Looks good, young master. Can you do that lip-smacking thing? Mwah-mwah."

I rolled my lips inward like she said, letting the color spread more naturally.

This scent... black cherry?

"Yes, perfect. Anyone would show awe and respect at this."

Alesia finally nodded in satisfaction. The maids lined up behind her nodded too, thumbs up.

"Perfect, young master!"

"You look beautiful, young master!"

"No one there will outshine you!"

It sounded like cheering, but as the subject, it just made my face heat up with embarrassment.

"Got it, so enough already......"

"The young master's embarrassed!"

"Heehee. So cute."

"Then we'll take our leave."

"Have a safe trip, young master!"

They giggled and complimented each other as they left, and I couldn't help but chuckle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠despite myself.

The atmosphere wasn't half bad.

"Young master. I'm here to escort you."

I was checking the mirror for any flaws when Parnello's voice came from outside.

The clock on the table read 21:00.

"Yeah. Let's go."

I opened the door and stepped out to see Parnello in slightly different attire than usual.

Unlike his normal suit, this one felt familiar. The crest on the button was one I knew well.

"Maestro's suit?"

"Yes. I'm going as a member of Calione too. Can't let my outfit affect our image──might as well wear the best."

I smiled and nodded at his grinning explanation.

"Good call. Where's Father?"

"Outside, waiting for the witches."

"Let's join him."

"Yes, young master."

Following Parnello to the garden, I saw Father's back as he gazed at the sky, already out there.

"Don, I've brought the young master."

Parnello greeted Father first. I followed, bowing slightly.

"I'm here, Father."

"Good."

Father turned slowly at my voice, looking me over.

"Looks like the maids put in real effort today."

He smirked, patted my shoulder, then turned back to point at the sky.

"See that?"

"Pardon?"

I followed his raised finger upward.

Gray clouds floated in the night sky, but piercing through them, asserting itself defiantly, was a bizarre red glow from the Red Moon phenomenon.

"Walpurgis Night with a Red Moon. This'll be an interesting night."

A black dot appeared at the center of the crimson light.

A dot? No, it was something else.

It grew larger over time, approaching with cackling laughter and a jaunty hum. No way that was just a "dot."

"Parnello."

"Yes, Don."

"Prepare to receive the witches."

Tonight.

Calione moves.