I Become a Mafia in the Academy 182
“Kuh!”
Blood sprayed from the guy's shoulder. He flailed his arms in the air, reaching out as he shouted.
“Quickly! Execute it now……!”
I didn't stop there—I kept pulling the trigger.
Bang—!Bang—!Bang—!
The Tokarev spat fire relentlessly. But.
Clang!!
A metallic ring echoed as the bullet ricocheted away. Clutching his shoulder in the meantime, the guy caught his breath and barely composed his panicked expression.
“Hoo, haa…… Haha, I didn't expect you to start shooting right off the bat. I almost got seriously hurt there because I let my guard down.”
He grinned without flinching, even with a gun firing right in his face. Trying to act calm now was just pathetic. Anyway, as expected of an arms dealer? Or maybe he figured he was safe now—he quickly regained his composure. In that short time, he'd already cloaked himself in a mana shield.
No, had he prepared it beforehand? There was no way he could conjure something this sturdy in an instant.
At the same time, a chill crept up from below. I shoved Yuri aside and rolled my body laterally, just as pitch-black thorns erupted from where we'd been standing moments ago.
“Eugene Han Calione. I already know all about you from Joo Young-dal. Started as a Calione hitman at a young age. Took out a former Calione executive and the Triad's Awakeners, and lately, you've been solidifying your position as the heir to the Calione family.”
Huh? My public image is that good?
“My original target was just Yuri Rodmang alone, but if I can plant a ‘seed’ in you too, it wouldn't be bad…… No, it might even create a better situation.”
Seed……?
Ah, no way?
“You mean the Seed of Explosive Evil?”
At my words, his feigned composure cracked for the first time, his face twisting in shock.
“H-How do you know about that?!”
“Ha, now it's starting to make sense.”
The first time I met Yuri at the academy, she tried to avoid me, calling me a “crazy bitch”—and it wasn't just empty words. She really was a crazy bitch back then. Sure, she still loved pranks and had wild mood swings now, but that was on a cute level. In the latter half of the academy arc, she went berserk, awakening as a True Ancestor and injuring or killing a ton of people.
In the game, it seemed like she just couldn't control her bloodlust. But now, with this guy targeting her and preparing the Seed of Explosive Evil, everything clicked into place.
So that's the reason? These guys were behind it?
“Perfect timing. I was just agonizing over this.”
Lately, I'd been racking my brain about how to prevent Yuri's rampage. But if this was the cause, no more worrying needed. Just eliminate the source right here.
“Perfect timing? What do you mean by that?”
“Heh, just that things are working out nicely!”
I aimed the gun at him again. But he just looked incredulous.
“Didn't you feel it from that last attack? Your attacks can't touch me—”
“Does this look like a pistol to you?”
Even seeing this massive barrel?
Boom——!!
A deafening explosion far louder than before rang out, thick smoke billowing up.
“Gaaah!”
Unlike his casual block earlier, he staggered back, body reeling.
“You damn brat, what the hell—”
“It's double-barreled.”
Boom——!!
His shield shook violently. It didn't pierce, but the impact forced him back. A shrill scream came as a bonus.
Watching him, someone behind let out a sigh, unable to hold back.
“I did tell you, didn't I? No matter how young, he's Calione blood. Don't let your guard down.”
“You……”
“Don't forget our goal, right?”
Her eyes sharpened piercingly. He shut his mouth at the sight. She smirked in satisfaction.
“I'll handle him from here. You capture the Rodmang girl.”
“Tch! Fine.”
“Alright, then. Let's do this.”
With that, she slowly turned, blocking the line of fire between me and Yuri.
Joo Young-dal of the Triad, the mage, formed a staff in her hand and pointed it at me.
“Slowly, carefully, without dropping your guard, and crush him. Why rush so much?”
“Crush? Who? You guys?”
I wasn't worried about Yuri. She might look it, but she was a hero seed—vice student council president level talent. She'd hold her own against a guy with a shredded shoulder from bullets.
I just sneered, watching their show. Since he talked about erasing memories, her magic was probably mostly mental manipulation.
“Shall we start light? Eugene Han Calione.”
──Panic.
Her staff tip glowed purple. A sharp sting like lightning flashed in my head, making me grimace instinctively.
“Hahaha! This magic forces your most horrific memory to the surface. Enjoy the terror!”
……What the hell was she babbling about?
“My most horrific memory?”
“Wh-What?”
“Sorry, but it doesn't work on me.”
The trait that kept me calm in any situation. The Hitman effect had kicked in.
“Fine. You want a taste of lead too, huh?”
Not actual lead since it was aura bullets, but…… it hurt the same, so close enough?
“No problem. I've got plenty of aura left…… Guess I'll just keep hammering until it works!”
I swung my fist with all my might at her shield, gloved in Midas's Gloves.
Thud—!
But it just vibrated the surface like hitting thick reinforced glass—no give at all.
“Kyahat! Kwahaha! What can you do with those feather punches?!”
She got cocky, taunting me instead. Nothing had built up yet, so no Calione buffs to count on.
But did that mean I just sit on my hands?
No way.
“I can do this.”
I planted myself in front of her shield and steadied my breath.
And then.
Aura Style.
Ki-sik.
Not Calione's ‘power,’ but Aura Style's ‘technique.’ I unleashed it at full force.
As I channeled ki-sik through my hand, red flames bloomed from my palm.
Anxiety flickered across her face.
“What the hell is that……”
“Wanna bet on it?”
I pressed my glowing hand to the shield's surface, and it began reddening.
“It melts dragon scales. Perfect for turtles like you hunkered down.”
Grind…… GRIIIND!Crack!
With enough time, ki-sik could melt any shield—that was its other strength.
Soon, sizzling sounds came from her shield, cracks visibly forming. It'd break any second.
Realizing the urgency, she kept casting mental spells at me, but minor headaches weren't enough to stop me.
Matchups are great.
Even superiors like her could be dragged down.
“Hang on a bit. I'll smash that face soon.”
Only now did real fear emanate from her.
“G-Get away!”
In the midst of defense, she focused new mana at her staff tip.
Can't play nice anymore, huh?
Unlike her mental magic before, flames gathered at the tip, unleashing a scorching blast—but
“But I was faster, right?”
With a shatter, my ki-sik-wreathed fist broke through the crumbling shield.
“Kweeeek!!!”
It slammed into her face. She convulsed, then went limp like all strength had drained out.
“Should've learned some other magic.”
Impressive she'd climbed this far from street origins…… but specialized characters crumple to counters.
“Whew.”
I brushed back my battle-mussed hair and checked behind me.
Yuri was locked in a fierce clash with Gerr Pranche.
Her massive hidden wings unfurled, letting her maneuver midair. The barrier limited her, but the one-armed guy was struggling.
Dodging his energy blasts one-handed was like watching a bullet hell game.
“Wow, really. Gotta be that good to be vice president, huh?”
I lucked out with the matchup, but Gerr Pranche was a war mage—serious firepower.
Tougher than she looked. But Yuri held the edge because……
“If she wasn't such a third-rate villain type, she'd be way stronger.”
Magic draws from mental focus. Calm over rage.
But him? Current situation? Personality?
Every cast attempt or mana surge twisted his face. The initial ambush had landed solid.
“Yuri Rodmang! You damn mosquito spawn!!!”
He finally snapped at her nimble dodges. Focusing mana on his left arm, golden lightning wrapped it as he thrust toward her airborne position.
“Thought I'd spare that pretty face…… Die burning!”
BOOM——!!!
Thunder roared toward her. But Yuri spread her arms wide, red eyes gleaming.
“Blood Shield.”
Blood extended from her arms, coalescing into a massive shield.
The two spells collided in a shockwave and monstrous screech.
“Ooh……”
Cool.
Wanted to watch more, but Yuri's strained grimace said otherwise.
Time to jump in?
I channeled aura into my legs and stomped the ground hard.
──Aura Style.
Paji.
The earth shook massively. His focus wavered, creating an opening. I hurled aura at him.
Suddenly, mana exploded from his body.
“Gaaaaah! Don't interfereeeee!!!”
He raved like a madman. Power dwarfing Calione aura surged from him, devouring everything.
“CalioneCalioneCalioneCalioneCalioneCalioneCalione!!! Damn Caliones! Everything goes wrong when you show up! Why! Why can't you leave people alone?!”
Traces in his mouth. Still chewing something.
That was…… the Seed of Explosive Evil? Eating them?
“Ha. Must've stressed you out plenty.”
What was it? Corrupts mana for instability, grants explosive power at the cost of corruption. Cliché item.
But not planting it—swallowing handfuls like pills?
The result was right here.
Fwoooom——!!
“Kyaaaak!”
His bunched mana detonated like a shockwave. Yuri blocked but plummeted.
And.
“Gaaaaah! Raaaaagh!! Keeek!!”
His body bulged grotesquely, spewing beastly howls. Rising, his eyes blackened.
Of course, he wasn't wrong. Even if things went our way, we'd have to explain our wounds.
He was cornered—process fast and flee.
……Didn't expect him to gobble that many, though.
“Kahat! Kahahaha! Because of you bastards! My plan's ruined! All that long prep, trashed!”
Black tears of corrupted blood streamed from his fully tainted eyes.
“Yeah, you'd have succeeded without me. Blame bad luck.”
I eyed his movements carefully, checking Yuri sprawled on the ground.
“……Senior, you okay?”
“Ugh, I was handling it…… What the hell is that?”
“What you almost ate today.”
“What?”
I'd stopped it, of course.
“No way to handle him like that. Already tough opponent, now rampaging.”
His shoulder wound had healed long ago.
“Th-Then what do we do, Junior? You have a plan, right?”
“A plan? Obviously. We wait quietly.”
“……What?”
Yuri stared like I'd lost it.
“Junior. Joking in this situation……?”
“Would I joke now?”
I knew it was dangerous—even for me. War mage-level powerhouse exploding his mana and life force.
Way too harsh for a regular student like me.
So.
“Senior. When students like us can't handle it……”
Crash——!!!
Glass shattered, and the dim surroundings lit up brilliantly.
Colorful lanterns and fairies illuminated everything. A blood-red moon shone on Yuri.
“Eugene!”
“Yuriiii!!!”
Sturdy voices from behind. I grinned at the sound.
“We call the parents.”
That was the strongest move for kids like us still.