Walpurgis Night Revelation
Personally, I thought I'd done a damn good job hiding my identity up until now. My father had wanted me to stay undercover at the academy because he figured I wouldn't be able to handle the external pressure and scrutiny that would come with it. In Korea, the Calione family was untouchable—an existence no one dared approach carelessly, one that always had to be watched closely.
So, to prepare for any contingencies, even while handling Familia business, I'd make a habit of subtly altering my face with Clown-Style Makeup when dealing with outsiders, or at least positioning things so the organization could step in if needed. As Father said, hardly anyone at the academy truly knew who I was, so I figured I'd keep it that way to the end.
……Or so I thought.
"Huh?"
"Ah."
Why the hell was Yuri Rodmang here?
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Dwiche furrowed his brow at his daughter, who had frozen in place. Yuri shook her head as if it was nothing.
"Oh, it's nothing. But Father... who's this gentleman here...?"
"Ah, you mean him?"
His expression brightening as the conversation circled back to me, he opened his mouth with a smile.
"Introduce yourself. This is the man who will become the next Don of the Calione family."
Yuri's eyes widened like they might split open, her previously closed mouth dropping agape.
"C-Calione...?"
"That's right. The crown prince of Calione showed great interest in our family, so we were just having a chat. Haha!"
Ignoring her laughing father, Yuri turned to me, frantically signaling with her eyes. She clearly wanted to say something, but who the hell could read a message from just some eyelid flutters?
With a sigh, Yuri finally turned back to her father.
"He looks about my age... what an amaaaazing coincidence. Mind if I step away to chat with the Calione heir for a bit?"
"Hm? You?"
"Yes. If that's alright with Mr. Calione?"
"Of course."
Sensing something from our exchange, Dwiche nodded and placed a hand on Yuri's shoulder.
"Sure, what a fateful connection. Go keep him company."
"Understood, Father."
She bowed politely to Dwiche before extending her hand to me.
"Might I request an escort, sir?"
……That expression. I knew it. It meant the mischievous Yuri was thoroughly enjoying this situation.
Refusing her escort in front of her father would be tantamount to insulting the Rodmang family. With a sigh, I took her hand and led her slowly to a quieter spot.
"So the person who said they were heading to the main house this weekend ends up at a party? And not just any party—the Walpurgis Night gathering where all the underworld heavyweights from around the world convene? They say you can't even get in without an invite. How the hell did you get here?"
I'd known the Rodmang family would attend, but figured it wouldn't be an issue precisely for that reason. She wasn't an underworld heavyweight.
"……Walpurgis Night allows direct family members to bring a plus-one if they notify a few weeks in advance. Showing up unannounced on the day like you did, junior, is the weird part. It's only possible because your family is Calione! Wait, no—how are you the Calione heir in the first place?!"
She demanded, clearly flustered herself.
"Just as you heard. Eugene Han Calione—that's my name."
"Ha."
I answered matter-of-factly, but she let out a disbelieving scoff, her face a picture of exasperation.
"I thought you were so hostile to the student council president yet unafraid of the Pendragon family because you had Hanwol Group's blood in your veins... but you had something even bigger backing you up?"
I shrugged affirmatively, and she clutched her forehead.
"Agh! Now it all makes sense! Why your club's spending records showed your personal funds, how a freshman like you bosses around seniors, why your club is called Familia! That last one's basically false advertising, isn't it? It's like screaming 'I'm a mafioso!' "
"Er... yeah?"
But no one had caught on. Was it too on-the-nose?
"Seriously... I figured you had some secret, junior, but I never imagined it'd be a nuclear bomb like this. Who'd guess that a first-year at the academy is the son of Vito Calione—a man who commands respect and fear from everyone worldwide?"
"Ooh, that sounds like a novel title."
"I'm not kidding!"
She plopped down on the nearby bench, stomping her feet in frustration.
"Now everything I've done in front of you feels so embarrassing! What do I do? What do I do!"
……Yeah, Yuri had done plenty of cringeworthy things around me. Bragging about her family, talking like she was some massive sugar mama.
"Uwaaaah! This sucks!"
Her dress fluttered wildly as she kicked her feet furiously from the bench.
"……Senior."
"What!"
"You're kicking up dust."
"……This really sucks!"
Finally stopping, she looked up at me standing in front of her.
"This is ridiculous."
"You think I expected to run into you here? I would've altered my face if I'd known."
"……Jeez. Compared to how you look at the academy, your face and hair are all slicked back tight now. Why bother?"
"Doesn't suit me?"
She whipped her head away at my question.
"……It's not that."
Of course not. Our Calione maids had slaved over this look for hours.
"So, do the kids at the academy know you're the Calione heir?"
I shook my head at her question.
"No, no one. There are only a handful at the academy who even know I'm connected to Calione."
"What? Then what about Jinwoo Bivalt? He's Calione too."
"You think that single-celled idiot would act the way he does around me if he knew? The guy's always picking fights."
"Ah. True."
She nodded right away at my explanation. Jinwoo was... well, still one of the academy's official top troublemakers.
"Sigh. So basically, I'm just about the only one who knows you're the Calione heir?"
"Well, anyone I knew before enrolling, maybe. But among the students I've met since? Probably."
"That I like."
"……Huh?"
At my puzzled look, she stood, walked right up to me with deliberate steps, and extended her hand.
"Business partners share secrets to build stronger trust, right?"
……Ha. So even this was just a ploy to solidify our alliance.
As I shook her hand, a thought crossed my mind.
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
"I don't know your secret."
"Huh? Didn't I tell you? My goal is the student council president."
"Is that the same as now? Back then, you told me first to convince me. Now I'm the one exposed—it's not fair."
"……Is it? Fine, I'll share a secret with you, junior. Don't show me the back of your neck when we talk."
"Pardon?"
With that, she suddenly grabbed me, pulled me close, and whispered right in my ear.
"──I'm a vampire."
Snap! Her teeth clacked together demonstratively as she pulled back, giggling.
"Don't worry, I won't suck your blood, junior."
"……Don't say scary shit like that. And you're calling that a secret when you flit around as a bat?"
"Oh, right? Anyway, I shared my secret!"
Good grief.
* * *
The spot Yuri and I headed to next was the now-quiet Calione table.
Father sat there, swirling a wine glass, apparently taking a brief rest.
"J-Junior... you sure it's okay for me to go say hi? I'm a little... no, really scared."
"What's there to be scared of? Just think of him as the parent of your favorite junior."
"That's exactly why! He's not a normal parent!"
"You're the one who said you wanted to greet him first."
Here's what happened.
While chatting idly with Yuri after she learned I was Calione, she suddenly steeled herself and asked if she could go say hello to my father.
Her reason? 'My favorite junior turns out to be the Calione heir—can't I get in on some of those benefits?' Very pragmatic.
I'd never introduced any academy friends or close ones to Father before, so I figured he'd be pleased and agreed.
"Father will like you since you're my acquaintance. Just be polite."
"……Got it. Let's go."
Her face set in determination, fist clenched tight, made me chuckle as I led the way.
We weren't even close yet, but Father had already noticed me approaching, smiling our way. Spotting Yuri beside me, his expression turned puzzled, then he grinned again.
"I'm back, Father."
"Good, you've been mingling busily. And who's the lady?"
Yuri immediately bowed her head and waist in an elegant greeting I'd never seen at the academy.
"Yuri Rodmang of the Rodmang family. It's an honor to meet the great Don Calione."
"Rodmang...?"
Father's brow twitched at the name, his face souring slightly. I quickly added context.
"She's a senior at Seoul Hero Academy with me. Currently the student council vice president, and she's helped a ton with my club activities."
"Ah, a close senior of yours?"
His face lit up then, extending a hand to her.
"I'm Vito Calione, Eugene's father. So, the vice president of the Seoul Hero Academy student council?"
Still bowed, Yuri replied demurely to Father's question.
"Yes. At the academy, I've received much help from your son, Eugene junior."
Father nodded approvingly at her words.
"Good, good. Sit comfortably. Treat me like a friend’s parent. Who'd have thought I'd meet one of Eugene's academy seniors here at Walpurgis? Haha! Eugene, isn't she the first academy kid you've run into?"
"Yes. I was pretty shocked myself."
"Well, your standing in the family is growing, and as you attend more events like this, your identity will inevitably come out... but."
Tap. His hand rested on my shoulder.
"What does it matter? You're already a man who can take responsibility for himself."
In other words, he judged I'd grown enough to weather society's spotlight.
Hm, felt pretty good to be acknowledged.
"Never thought you'd bring a girlfriend! You've grown up, my son! Hahaha!"
"……Pardon?"
What did he just say?!