I Become a Mafia in the Academy Chapter 225
"It's been a while since I fought heretics, and it feels refreshing."
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a beaming smile on her face.
"Sister Elena, are you alright?"
Her expression turned worried as she glanced behind me at Elena, who was panting like she was on the verge of collapse.
"No...! I feel like I'm gonna die. They barely take any damage even when I hit them properly. Isn't this too hard?"
Most of the monsters in this dungeon were fire salamanders, spirit-type creatures with bodies made of pure mana. They halved damage from non-elementally compatible attacks or those from the same spirit realm—like hers.
That made them a hard counter for a spiritist like her, who specialized in wind.
"The best way to damage them properly is with aura or raw mana blasts... but your attacks come from spirits you summon. Bad matchup means you're gonna struggle."
Which was exactly why I hadn't brought her along in the first place.
"But your attacks land just fine, Eugene! You're just casually popping off shots!"
"My gun doesn't shoot bullets—it's aura or mana bullets from the start. And I keep telling you, you can't pull it off like I do."
"Indeed, and it's not as 'easy' as you think, Sister."
Mikaela nodded in agreement with my words.
"A gun that fires aura as ammunition isn't your average firearm. Given its destructive power and firing rate... I'd wager you couldn't even hold the trigger for ten seconds."
"Even you, Sister... That's harsh."
"What can we do? It's the truth. This is all because Calione Junior here is a monster."
A monster, huh... Couldn't argue with that.
"Um... could I try pulling the trigger once?"
"This?"
I'd been the only one using it so far, so yeah, I was a little curious how it'd go for someone else.
"Give it a shot."
"Alright then... excuse me."
She approached with an excited glint in her eye and took the Tommy gun from my hands.
"It's kinda heavy."
"That's how this gun is."
She slowly aimed it in a clear direction, away from us.
"Uh, is this how you hold it?"
She'd pressed the stock right against her cheekbone—perfect way to shatter her face on recoil.
"Stock goes to your shoulder. Nestle it wherever feels most comfortable."
"Like... this?"
"Good. Now pull the trigger once. No need to aim at anything."
"Got it. Here goes."
The moment her finger moved—
──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──! / ──!
A barrage of bullets erupted forward. The deafening roar lived up to its nickname: Chicago Typewriter.
About five seconds later...
"Ughhh..."
I caught her as her strength gave out and took the Tommy back.
"How was it?"
"How the hell do you wield this thing like a broom?!"
Talent from a gifted bloodline, insane aptitude, and a veteran's know-how made it possible for anyone... but around here, I'd just say:
"Get lucky enough, and it works."
Life's all about luck in the end.
"Looks like chit-chat time's over. I hear a second wave coming after that noise."
The one who'd been watching us with amusement up to now turned back, raising her fist toward the peak.
Monsters were charging straight at us from that direction, for some reason.
"Sister, doesn't something feel off?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"The dungeon's difficulty seems way lower than I remember. No mid-tier spirits like the strong ones, and monsters fleeing the boss room like that? Doesn't add up."
Monsters spawning en route to the boss room? Sure. But running like they were chased by something? Weird.
"You're right, Calione Junior. They don't seem targeted at us either. From here, it just looks like they're scattering everywhere."
Just as she said, they were fanning out in all directions, so none swarmed us.
"Elena. Can you move?"
"Y-yeah! I'm good."
"Sister and I'll clear the path. Follow slow from behind. Use your spirit magic to protect yourself."
"Got it!"
Anyone else might've insisted on fighting out of pride, but Elena realistically gauged her remaining stamina and mana, nodding and sticking close behind us.
"I'll take point!"
And so our advance began.
Mikaela's kick smashed into the head of a charging fire salamander.
Kwazig───!!
The impact sounded impossible for a human foot against a monster.
She followed up with a punch to the next one, which exploded on impact, oxidizing mid-air.
All without flinching, she kept marching forward.
Yeah, this is knight commander level.
I swung the Tommy at the ones lunging at me, pushing ahead.
Our blitz was lightning-fast.
"Straight to the boss room like this?"
"Yeah. Identify the boss type and position on entry, then decide."
"Understood."
We crested the peak, and the vista below unfolded.
A sight I'd never seen before.
"Calione Junior, that's..."
"Yeah, I see it too."
A massive creature huddled in place, munching away.
Its back gleamed like a lump of iron, reflecting the surrounding flames.
"What... the hell is that?"
Mikaela peered down with half-lidded eyes at the newcomer.
Wolf-sized adult frame, devouring flames. Iron-clad body. It reminded me of something from my knowledge.
"A starfish."
"...A starfish?"
She tilted her head at the unfamiliar name.
Made sense—Western legends barely mentioned it, let alone basic info. Rare even among Koreans.
"A monster from Eastern myths. Stories say it dies in fire, eats iron... but this one's swallowing flames too. Probably gets stronger the more it eats, per the lore."
Red flames flickered through gaps in its shell, confirming it.
"Immune to fire, iron body... Any weaknesses or counters you know, Calione Junior?"
"Of course."
The universal weakness of all creatures.
"──Overwhelming firepower."
"...Pardon?"
"Sheer, brute-force firepower. That's all it takes. Sister and I could take it down easy."
Luckily, it didn't look too powered up yet. Better to end it here before it grew unpredictable.
"Let's handle it now. Sister."
As I stowed the Tommy and reached for the shotgun—
It twitched.
Turning low with wary eyes fixed on us.
-Grrrrrrr...
"Sensitive one. I'll pin it down first."
Mikaela stepped up with me, but—
"Wait, hold on."
Elena shuffled forward, blocking our path.
"Sister?"
"Why?"
"Um... before we catch it, can we talk to it first?"
"...Talk?"
Talk to a starfish? What fresh nonsense was this?
"Sister, calm down. These are heretic minions. Questionable if it'll even listen."
I'd phrased it diplomatically, but she just shook her head vigorously.
"I mean... I can't speak to it, but... I get a feeling!"
"A feeling?"
"Yeah. Like... Tinkerbell! Before I contracted her. Like it'll understand if I talk!"
"...That 'inner intimacy' kids these days talk about?"
No idea why that popped up here, but... intriguing.
Her words clicked with my hunch.
"Alright then. Go for it."
"Calione Junior?"
"Sister and I'll cover you from behind. Anything goes wrong, we intervene. Cool?"
"Yeah! It'll be fine, for sure."
She sounded confident, but Mikaela shot me a concerned look.
"Isn't that too risky?"
"Nah. Spiritist intuition nails it in moments like this."
We slowly approached the flame-devouring wolf.
Steel-like fur, flames peeking through, blue eyes. Like a giant wolf.
-You smell friendly.
A voice echoed from its direction.
"Calione Junior? That's..."
"Just as I thought. It's a spirit."
"Pardon? That's a spirit?"
"Mythical beings showing up as spirits is common. From what I know, ones without fixed elements are called void spirits."
And this was a new, undiscovered type. Like a hidden achievement unlocking post-possession—with a new monster.
"It's okay. Hang on. Can I get closer?"
-...You're not here to attack. Fine.
Elena approached slowly, placing a hand on its head.
"...Looks cold outside, but it's warm."
Seeming to enjoy the touch, it nuzzled her hand naturally and sat.
"What's your name?"
-Wadou. I am Wadou.
"Wadou. What were you doing here?"
-Don't know. I was born here suddenly. The fire lumps attacked... so I ate them all.
"How long?"
-Very long...
...That explained why the dungeon felt drained. Intelligent ones attacked first; it devoured them all.
Odd. It screamed Eastern origins, yet here...?
Some kind of anomaly?
While I pondered, Elena kept chatting.
"Wadou. Wanna come outside with us?"
-Outside...? Impossible. My name is bound to this land.
"Then I'll give you a new name."
-You name me?
"Yeah. My friend became my friend that way too."
...Didn't expect intimacy to max out that fast.
Naming it meant one thing: a spiritist contract.
"Seeing rare sights left and right today."
"No kidding. Spirit contracts are priceless spectacles."
Wonder how my game-raised spirits were doing. Reddie, Bluey, Greenie, Brownie, Blackie, and Whitey. Miss ya, kids.
-Of course. I want out. Plenty to eat, but nothing exists here.
"Then come with me. Can I name you?"
-Yes.
"Your name will be... Fen! How's Fen?"
-Fen. My name is Fen...
A pure white light enveloped its body.
It shrank gradually.
Finally, down to normal puppy size. I let out a hollow chuckle at the sight.
"Seriously. Life really is all about luck."
Looks like the truly lucky one here wasn't me—it was that pup.
* * *
[Abandoned Cathedral. Meeting. Two Villains. The Whole World. Declaration. Mountain of Fire. Entity. Periphery. Investigate.]
"Decryption of Mikaela's report done?"
"Yes. As expected. Key intel hidden in the 'hymn lyrics' she sent."
The priest handed over a single sheet.
It listed keywords from yesterday's events.
"...Front matches what we knew. Back?"
"Seems Calione Junior's searching for something on the Mountain of Fire. Even teaming with the Medici Family... suggests it's important. 'Periphery investigate' probably means probe Calione's surroundings now. Photo analysis complete too."
He slid over photos: Medici mafia grunts and their gear.
"Jackpot. ID these guys, catalog 'em. Deploy believers to Mikaela's village—no Awakened, nothing to draw Calione's eye. Have 'em scout the area."
"Yes, Father. What for the reply?"
"Reply? ...Something innocuous, so others don't notice. 'Send intel, not this crap.' Oh, and note talents accrued."
"Got it. What about today's arrival?"
"Chain it right after this decryption. Overtime again..."
"Can't be helped. Our work demands sacrifice."
The priest smiled and vanished.
Stroking his chin at the retreating figure, the father scanned the contents again.
"Hah, double-reporting for deniability. Talent like hers is unreal."
He nodded, impressed once more by Mikaela's skill.
Whether that's what she'd intended? Who knew.