Sudden Father's Bombshell Remark
I was still flustered by my father's sudden bombshell remark when Parnello Ramichi, who had been standing silently behind him until now, stepped forward and whispered cautiously in his ear.
"Don. These days, that kind of relationship is called a 'girl friend' or 'female friend'."
"Hm? Oh, is that right! Well, I might've gone a bit too far. Just as the world changes, so do human relationships."
Thanks to Parnello's backup, the misunderstanding about Yuri was cleared up.
He even winked at me playfully.
Though that gesture felt a bit outdated too... No, Parnello was still the ultimate, unbeatable butler.
"Alright, since you're here, I should ask. Yuri Rodmang, is your father still sulking over that incident from back then?"
I had no idea what question my father was throwing at Yuri.
What could have happened between my father and Dwight Rodmang?
Yuri scratched his head with a troubled laugh. "......Yeah, seems like it. But after seeing him talk with you earlier, Eugene, he looks a lot better than at first."
"Is that so? Hm, I should drop by to see that guy soon."
"I bet he'd get over it quick if you showed up in person, Don."
Father burst into hearty laughter, clearly pleased by his polite demeanor. "Haha, right you are. I've kept you kids too long when you should be enjoying yourselves. Go have fun, you two."
"Thank you for your consideration, Don Calione."
"We'll be off then, Father."
Staying by Father's side was nice, but the real reason for coming here was to build connections with all these influential people.
As we turned away from the Calione table and headed back into the crowd, Yuri's cautious voice reached me.
"That's one of the living legends. Don Calione......!"
"And my father."
"Meeting him in person, I get it now. My dad was just lucky that day."
"......What exactly went down between your family and my father?"
Dwight had been side-eyeing Father from the start, and Father was like, 'Is that guy still pissed?'
Thinking back, the only recent time Father might've crossed paths with Dwight Rodmang was when he went to Russia for my gift...... Did something happen then?
"I was busy at the academy, so I don't know the details, but I heard Don Calione was looking for something and clashed briefly with Dad. Apparently, a villain who stole an item Don Calione had bought hid out in our family's territory, and Dad took it back from him."
Hold up.
"......Don't tell me. That item was a pistol, right?"
"I think so?"
He even went all the way to Romania. No wonder he was late......
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
"Tell your father I'm using it well."
"Huh? What?"
"You know. That thing."
I use it sometimes at the mansion's shooting range, and the grip feels amazing. Pistols really have their own charm.
"Hey, wait riiight there~!"
Just then, a boisterous voice echoed from the sky, halting our steps.
Wondering what was up, I turned to see a black shadowy figure racing toward us.
That was......
"Peak?"
"Ah! You still remember my name? Right, you're Eugene Han Calione. And you're Yuri Rodmang, yeah?"
She suddenly called out our names, circled around us while scanning the area, then crept closer slyly.
"Truth is, I came rushing 'cause I need a favor from you two. Been looking everywhere, and you weren't showing up—had me worried sick!"
"A favor, ma'am?"
Yuri sounded puzzled by Peak's words.
"Compared to all these gathered elites, we're just your average Awakeners, nothing special."
It was funny hearing the academy's top first-year and student council VP call themselves average, but given the caliber here, we might really be nobodies.
But she shook her head vigorously, refusing to accept that. "No way! I checked everyone else— you're my only option!"
"Only us?"
As Yuri questioned her, Peak glanced around warily and leaned in.
"What I'm about to ask won't work on 'adults'."
"Won't work on adults? What do you── Oh."
Yuri's face flushed as realization dawned.
"W-Wait, what does that have to do with this?!"
"Obviously it does! I'm a fairy! Just like there's magic that only works on adults, there's magic that only hits kids who haven't grown up yet!"
Her explanation made sense. In this world, racial innate magic was determined by origins—nothing new there.
"Before we agree, shouldn't you tell us what the issue is and what magic you're planning?"
"Ahh~ That?"
She snapped her fingers, conjuring a translucent dome around us.
"You're gonna be shocked. Ready or not?"
She grinned mischievously, curling her lips—the picture of a fallen fairy.
Once we nodded, Peak finally spoke.
"──There's a Plague rat bastard hiding in here. Our job is to find and kill that rat!"
Doctor Faust sat in the chair on the party leader's podium, stroking his chin as he mulled over the night's events.
Tonight's Walpurgis Night had been full of surprises.
It was common for invitees to bring their direct subordinates, but when it was Calione, that changed things.
'Who'd have thought he'd bring his son without a word beforehand.'
Eugene Han Calione. He'd heard plenty about him before.
The Calione heir. A thug from the underworld. A punk riding his father's name.
Then, at some point, the rumors shifted.
Calione's enforcer. The rising dark star. The underworld crown prince.
He'd dismissed it as fake news spread by doting father Vito Calione to polish his son's image.
But intel from sources in Korea proved him wrong.
Executed Carlo Blunti, once a Calione executive—though drug-addled and weak.
Took down infiltrating villains Blanca and Jackal.
Perfectly repelled Plague's terror attack on Calione, solidifying his position.
And...... Seeing Eugene here tonight, Faust knew the reports were true.
'I thought he was just strong like his old man, but he's got the cunning of a consigliere too.'
From the start, he'd flaunted his presence by using Faust himself to show who he was.
Then slithered away like a sly fox.
Far from angering him, that masterful play left Faust impressed—he'd been outmaneuvered.
And that wasn't all.
'He knew info even his father didn't. No ordinary kid.'
Meaning Calione had a personal intel network.
In other words, he'd already built his own Famiglia, possibly a massive overseas info org.
'Even standing still, he never dropped his guard—always poised to strike.'
Faust's instinct screamed it: This kid would stir massive waves in Awakener society someday.
So he'd asked a favor.
Of Peak, the fallen fairy—mercenary he hired, Villain Union executive.
Why not use the boy as the star of Walpurgis Night to catch the rat infiltrating this sacred gathering?
She'd zipped off yelling, "Perfect, I have just the spell!"—that was moments ago.
Leaning fully back, he eyed the distant dome Peak had cast and groaned. "She better pull it off."
Doctor Faust.
His real worry wasn't Eugene Han Calione or Yuri Rodmang by his side.
It was Peak.
"There! Magic's on. Feel any different?"
All she'd done was spin over our heads, sprinkling black powder.
It looked like a moth dusting pollen—not pleasant, but she swore no real harm, so no big worry.
"......Kinda itchy around the eyes."
Yuri blinked as he spoke. I felt it too—like wearing contacts.
"Perfect then. The spell I cast is 'Mischief-Maker's Eyes'—like fairy vision to spot folks full of pranks. Useless normally, but perfect for a party like this."
Peak danced in the air, thrilled.
"Whoa!"
Suddenly, Yuri pointed at me. "J-Junior! Horns on your head! Horns!"
"Pardon? Horns? What do you mean all of a sudden."
I patted my head—no horns.
"......Nothing there."
"Huh? Weird. I see them clear as day."
Yuri approached, slowly raising a hand to my head.
"Huh? What? They're really...... not tangible?"
Behind her, her usual red eyes gleamed with yellow star patterns.
That must be the magic...... Subtle unless you looked close.
Stroke— stroke— stroke—
......
"S-Senior."
"Yeah?"
"You're messing up my hair."
"Ah! S-Sorry!"
She yanked her hand back, face red, stepping away.
"Bwahahahaha~! Haha! What are you two doing?! Hot hahaha! Dying laughing! For real!"
Peak rolled in midair, clutching her stomach. After wiping tears from laughing so hard, she caught her breath.
"That's the spell's core. Horn size matches mischief level."
"So we find the biggest horns here?"
"Bingo. I'd love to, but I'm an adult now—can't use it. Though it nails mischief-makers."
She fluttered before me.
"Like spotting you're a huge prankster, Eugene Han Calione."
"......What's that supposed to mean? Physiognomy?"
"Nah, gut feeling from experience? Hehe."
Too much. Where's a guy as serious as me?
Peak spun away, and the dome vanished.
"Alright! Time to hunt! FYI, if you nail this, massive reward awaits. Fairy gifts are suuuper rare."
She grinned expectantly, turning to the banquet spread.
"Now, shall we go catch that rat trying to ruin the party?"