Dangerous? What Do You Mean?
I knew from the start that this was the student council's trap.
But after hearing about today's club battle results, shouldn't they know better?
"Famiglia is different from the other clubs."
"I know. But that's why I think it's not enough."
Her face was serious, unlike her usual playful expression.
"Senior, what happened?"
"……It seems the president caught on that we've joined hands."
"That guy?"
"Yeah. During today's meeting, he warned us to let bygones be bygones and start fresh. He probably thinks it's just you and me scheming a little."
My goal is hardly that small.
Yuri turned her head with a bored expression as she said that.
At the same time—
-Click. A plump furball entered through the pet door in the door, carrying a tray with our drinks on its back. It was a guinea pig.
"Haa~ Seriously. These furballs are the only thing keeping me going."
Is this why people keep pets? Her tense expression melted away at the sight of something cute.
This business idea was bound to succeed.
"Still, Senior, you never planned to hide it from the president in the first place, right?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Yuri turned her gaze back to me from the guinea pig.
"The academy is crawling with student council eyes. Whether in your true form or as a bat, you moved that way because you figured getting caught wouldn't matter."
"Me? On purpose?"
"Because…… that's how you'll make the president fear you."
She froze at my words.
"A first-year upstart force controlling the clubs' funding allies with the second-year vice president. From the president's perspective, nothing could be scarier. A blade that could turn on him at any moment. So, didn't you induce this flow? To make the president cling to you."
──Offering even more carrots so he won't come to me.
"The rest is obvious, isn't it? He'll shove an enormous carrot into your hands and say something like, 'Don't trust me. Trust my family. I'll give you even more wealth and glory. Think of your family!' Or whatever. Am I wrong?"
I took a sip of the espresso the guinea pig had delivered.
……Maybe it's because I'm half Korean, but Americano suits my taste better.
"So, what did you say back, Senior?"
"……You. You have someone else planted in the student council besides me, don't you?"
I shrugged at her question.
"Secret."
She let out a hearty laugh and shook her head.
"Fine, I won't pry. Everyone has their secrets. But…… I'm one of the few at the academy who knows yours, right?"
Her eyes narrowed slowly.
"The legitimate heir of Calione is sitting right in front of me. Who cares about some Pendragon heir candidate?"
In other words, she chose the Calione family over the Pendragon family.
"I thought you'd need time to think it over. Unexpected."
"I make decisions quickly. So, ideological vetting's done. Shall we get to the main point, Junior?"
The main point being what she'd mentioned earlier—that Famiglia was in danger.
I nodded affirmatively for now.
"You know about the clubs you'll face tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. Two small groups and one club, I heard."
"Precisely, the small groups 'Domino' and 'Ice Tag,' and the club 'Paper Airplane.' That's the three."
This was all public knowledge.
Domino lived up to its name, playing dominoes. Ice Tag developed ice cream. Paper Airplane…… made the strongest paper airplanes, I think?
But Yuri continued.
"Among them, Domino and Ice Tag hired mercenaries. External ones, not academy students."
"……External mercenaries?"
"Yeah. Per the rules, non-combat clubs can field proxies up to E-rank heroes."
……This trap's a bit spicy.
"You could argue that's fine. But the real problem is—"
"That those mercenaries are delaying promotions and are essentially D-rank heroes, right?"
"……Spot on. The president pulled strings to insert heroes who are basically D-rank."
D-rank heroes were active professionals, full guild members.
In academy terms, upper-mid second-years.
And knowing that president, they weren't random—they were probably holding back promotions just for this.
"If you go in like today, you might get hurt bad. That's why I wanted to warn you."
"Hmm……."
Her warning was incredibly helpful.
Without it, the kids would've had to face D-rank heroes head-on.
But…….
"Well, it'll be fine."
"What? Didn't you hear me? Tomorrow there'll be D-rank heroes—"
"──Famiglia's kids are stronger than you think, Senior."
They weren't the type to falter at that level.
Take Sea-a, who shone beyond expectations today. She now seamlessly hijacked and remodeled enemy spells, even using rudimentary CTC. Objectively, her power rivaled D-rank heroes.
And.
"If we just wanted to win, we could've done that. I have the money and connections to hire mercenaries too."
Even in Calione, there were B-rank caliber heroes registered as E-rank on paper.
We could've taken the easy route anytime.
But I sent out Famiglia's kids one by one for a simple reason.
"Our Famiglia must be peerless, even among other clubs."
We weren't just another combat club.
"We must be overwhelmingly stronger than anyone else."
Our target wasn't the academy's top club.
"Others must feel awe and fear just watching."
Famiglia's kids…….
"That's Calione."
They were already practically Calione family.
"……."
A clink came from her glass as she silently drank her tomato juice—the ice cubes colliding after she'd finished.
She slowly removed the straw from her lips, now redder than usual from the juice.
"……Calione. The academy's internal Calione."
And then.
"Kuh! Kuhaha! Hahahahaha!"
She suddenly clutched her stomach and burst into mad laughter.
"Hahaha! Is that it? For real? That's what it was? You're insane, Junior!"
Tears welled up as she doubled over laughing, then looked at me with a face still flushed from mirth.
"Seriously. You planned to establish a Calione branch inside the academy? Or wait, have you already?"
She wiped her tears and asked.
"You've been watching the results unfold, Senior."
We formed the club in a day, gathered talents, built influence in the academy overnight.
"Calione doesn't dodge fights that come knocking."
And in those fights, we savagely tear into our foes—that's the Calione way.
"We'll fight our best and hardest—making it the worst for them."
"And that's why one-on-one per club? Not because of the rules?"
"I believed it was possible."
And this whole scheme worked because I knew Ray Pendragon's type.
They get cocky and overconfident when they think their plan's perfect, blind to the enemy's intent once the trap springs.
"First-years beating active heroes? Perfect spectacle for the audience, right?"
And that sight would spread—from the academy, to all of Korea, to the world.
"Seoul Hero Academy's Calione Branch. Another line in Famiglia's history. Truly grateful to our student council president."
I downed the last of my espresso.
Bitter liquid for sure, yet its aroma lingered heavily, subtly, in my throat and mouth.
"I get your plan now, Junior. Holding your hand was definitely the right call."
"I'm glad you'll be with us, Senior."
"Then my role's set. I'll stick to the president's side, dig up info on you. Slowly earn his trust and get close."
"Best way to assassinate a king."
And here, we extended hands once more.
"Yuri Rodmang. Heir to the Rodmang family. Everything from now on is premeditated betrayal with you. Will you accept?"
"Eugene Han Calione. Heir to the Calione family. I'll gladly accept your betrayal, Senior. Though it'd be better if you vet the info on me once before handing it over."
She grinned and took my hand.
"Not a bad deal."
"Generous terms."
Vice president x campus mafia.
The day we vowed to betray each other—and protect each other.
* * *
"Water."
"Yes sir!"
The next day, the classroom was weirdly peaceful.
"Oh, boss is here?"
Youngje was already seated, fiddling with his phone as usual.
"Why are they like that?"
Sea-a struck a haughty pose beside me, while Jinwoo rushed to fetch water from the dispenser.
"From Sea-a's match yesterday? They swore not to mess around after seeing it."
"Ah."
Sea-a's image flashed—unpredictable ambush with CTC.
Yeah, she was scary yesterday. Their reaction made sense now.
"You saw the info I posted in the group chat yesterday?"
"Yeah, our opponents? Kinda intimidating knowing they're active heroes…… But my mentor said if we lose today, don't call myself her mentee. Said she'd hang me from the top of Lotte Tower."
Uh…….
"She's serious."
"……I know. That's what scares me."
This had turned into a life-or-death match for them.
Then I spotted Jinwoo trembling at the back.
"Jinwoo, what about you?"
His mentor's personality—surely said something.
"……Said to prepare for a knife stab per effective hit. Han Yeo-eun's definitely crazy."
"Don't call our goddess crazy, you psycho! Blasphemy? Huh?! Wanna die?!"
"Sorryyy!!"
Worse than Youngje, maybe…… Whatever.
Jinwoo trained under Antonio and Han Yeo-eun. No big worries.
Han Yeo-eun would use safe stabs.
Last was Choi Yeon…….
Yeah, she'll handle herself.
She worried me the least, honestly.
Waiting without much concern for the club battles…….
-Aaah! Choi Yeon! Major crisis! Pinch! Will the pure silver bellflower finally break?!