Father of Darkness: God's Shadow, Devil of Devils, Ruler of the Underworld

A man known by countless titles: Father of Darkness, God's Shadow, Devil of Devils, and Ruler of the Underworld.

Don Vito Calione.

Even those who didn't know him could sense the shift in the parking lot's atmosphere from the dozens of black-suited men who arrived with him. Just standing there, they filled the air with tension.

"You've arrived, Don."

I bowed my head as I spoke, and my father grimaced.

"That's creepy. This isn't some formal occasion—family doesn't need all that 'Don' nonsense."

"Still, we're outside..."

"Ahem!"

"...Yes, Father."

Things had felt off ever since he told me not to use formal speech, but it seemed this family just didn't care for stiff atmospheres.

"Good work. Let's head home."

"...Yes."

Not even asking about the results, he patted my shoulder and reached for the rear door handle. Then, suddenly, his movements froze.

"Parnello."

"Yes, Boss."

The moment Father called the name, the middle-aged man in the driver's seat stepped out and positioned himself in front of me.

"Father?"

"Eugene, stay put for a moment."

Father stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the man called Parnello, as if shielding me from something. Cautiously, I followed Father's gaze.

A chill ran down my spine.

It felt like electricity surging through my entire body. An elderly man with sky-blue hair walked silently toward us, holding the hand of a girl who looked embarrassed.

I couldn't see the old man's expression, but I knew his eyes were locked on us.

As the distance between Father and the old man closed, the air grew heavier.

Parnello slipped a hand into his pocket, while the old man subtly rested his on the sword at his left hip.

In this powder-keg moment, I finally recognized them both.

A man who could exude such pressure in front of Father, with his signature sky-blue hair and a reputation for doting endlessly on his granddaughter.

Sword Immortal Choi Seonho.

Officially 94 years old, but his 40s-looking appearance and perfectly honed physique spoke volumes of his realm.

Their distance shrank bit by bit until they were less than three meters apart. Choi Seonho released the door handle and slowly raised his hand, pointing right at me.

"There."

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faint click echoed from Parnello's pocket, like gears locking into place. Silence crashed down like a wave.

Breaking it was the girl behind Choi Seonho—Yeon.

"Grandfather..."

She tugged at his right hand, mumbling, and his shoulders visibly relaxed. She must have sensed it too—that things could go south any second.

Choi Seonho's stern face melted into a smile as he turned to her.

"Don't worry, dear. Nothing like what you're thinking will happen."

Then he pointed slightly off to the side of where I stood and addressed us.

"We're just trying to get in our car. Mind stepping aside?"

...Car?

I glanced back and spotted a pristine white SUV parked next to Father's black sedan. That was his car?

A low chuckle came from up ahead.

"I was wondering whose it was. Yours, I presume, old timer. My apologies."

Father, who had been blocking me with his body, stepped aside with a grin at Choi Seonho.

The old man shrugged.

"Your son?"

"That's right. The firstborn of the Calione family."

As if the earlier standoff had been an illusion, both men relaxed and started chatting.

"Calione's heir entering the academy. Interesting."

"I might not need it, but my son deserves the best education."

"Hahaha! Indeed—parents will do anything for their kids."

Choi Seonho headed to his SUV, pausing beside me to look down.

"Well then, son of Calione. You've got my expectations."

"Yes, safe travels, sir."

"What? Hahaha! He takes after you completely! Hm."

He clapped my shoulder a couple times with the hand that had been on his sword hilt, then climbed in. The girl, still holding his hand, stared blankly at me and Father before following.

The white SUV pulled out of the lot. With the clash of titans over, Parnello withdrew his hand from his pocket and bowed to Father.

"Ready to depart, Boss."

"Good work, Parnello."

Parnello returned to the driver's seat, leaving just Father and me.

"Eugene."

Father, his face still impassive, called my name.

"Yes."

"Do you know who that old man was?"

"...Sword Immortal. Choi Seonho."

"Ho, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you held up against his pressure despite knowing that. Impressive."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

His thick hand rested on my head.

"Never buckle before any foe, no matter how strong. You're my son—Vito Calione's son."

"...Yes, Father."

For my first encounter with a heavyweight outside the family, his words were worth a thousand troops.

"Heh, Calione's son is already that grown up. Saw him at the academy today—he must be in your class."

Heading home with his granddaughter, Sword Immortal Choi Seonho grinned from the back seat at Choi Yeon.

"Yes, I think he took the exam right after me."

Yeon, staring at her phone without reading his mood, answered flatly. Choi Seonho tilted his head.

"Really? What'd you think? Worth watching?"

Yeon glanced up, pondering.

"Gun."

"...A gun?"

"Yes. He ordered one of his subordinates to shoot the instructor."

"He had an instructor shot?"

"Yes."

Her deadpan delivery made Choi Seonho burst out laughing as he gripped the wheel.

"What a character that kid is!"

"...Is he?"

Yeon cocked her head, puzzled. Wiping the grin away, Choi Seonho grew serious.

"Yeon."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Watch out for him at the academy."

"Pardon? He didn't seem dangerous."

Shaking his head at her surprise, he explained.

"It's not that. It's the scent... He reeks of it."

"...Scent?"

"Yeah. The same scent that young Calione punk gave off way back when."

Recalling the man who'd once rattled him, Choi Seonho chuckled.

"Your academy days are gonna be fun."

Finally, the academy mail arrived.

I already knew I'd passed, but the anticipation was real.

"What're you waiting for? Open it."

Father prodded me.

"It's obviously a pass. No need to get worked up."

"Still, it's your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠academy acceptance letter."

Despite his casual facade, Father's on-the-rocks glass trembled slightly. Was he... nervous?

"Sigh, fine. It's not a big deal..."

I slit the envelope with a paper knife. A single sheet inside. Lifting it slowly, [Acceptance Letter] appeared first.

Expected that much. But below it...

[Second Place]

"Second place?"

"What? Second?!"

Father shot to his feet at my slip.

"Wait—"

He snatched it anyway.

"My son's second place! What fortune! Amazing!"

Pattering footsteps approached as a cute girl rushed in.

"Second? Fortune! Fortune! But Papa, what's second mean?"

She hopped onto Father's lap like it was hers.

Then my smartphone chimed.

Seemed she was my little sister.

"Fortune good? Fortune nice?"

Jiyoon looked up at Father innocently. His intimidating aura melted instantly.

"Yes, very good thing."

The heartwarming father-daughter chat began. I stared, dumbfounded, at the underworld boss grinning like a fool.

An alert popped up: achievement unlocked? Tapping it auto-launched the game app.

A locked achievement had unlocked. Tapping Academy's Second Place to clear the (N) triggered another alert.

A new trait for second place? Exiting achievements, I checked my info.

A trait I'd never seen in-game. Probably a gimmick for roleplay.

This meant accelerating my plans.

"Father?"

"Hm? Oh, right."

He snapped back, still stroking Jiyoon's hair.

"I have something important to discuss."

"...Now?"

"Yes."

Reading the gravity in my face, he stopped petting her and tapped her waist.

"Jiyoon, sweetie. Papa needs to talk with big brother. Go play in your room."

"Okaay~"

She hopped off obediently. Good listener, at least.

Once her door clicked shut upstairs, Father lit a cigar. His eyes sharpened.

"What merits such seriousness? Demanding a reward for second place?"

Thick smoke billowed from his mouth. His eyes glowed red. Intimidating as hell.

But I had to say it. Essential for my plan.

"...I'm an adult now. I want heir training."

He stared blankly, then puffed again.

"You serious?"

"Dead serious. It's time I started heir lessons."

He drummed fingers on the table—a habit when calculating or brooding, I'd seen in-game.

Soon, he tapped harder and looked up.

"Fine, if that's your will. No idea what changed your mind—you always dodged them before..."

Original Eugene sucked up perks without responsibility. But I was different.

To survive this damn world, I needed the Calione family. I'd inherit it, by any means.

Smoke wafted between us, his red eyes piercing through. Swallowing hard under the pressure, I waited. Finally, he spoke.

"Once you start heir training, no turning back. You know that?"

"...Yes."

"Very well, then."

He rolled a ring from his left ring finger toward me.

I caught the slowly rolling band. An engraved C—for Calione.

"Made it for the heir. Planned to give it when you turned adult... Didn't expect you'd ask first."

As I went to slip it on—

"Once it's on, no going back."

His cold warning lingered. But my resolve was set; it was just fatherly concern.

I slid it on silently and met his gaze.

"No regrets."

Satisfied, he smirked.

"Good. I believe you. Week till enrollment?"

"Yes."

"I'll teach basics: combat, management. Plenty to learn. Commute for the rest during term."

"Understood."

He rose majestically and headed upstairs.

His heavy footsteps faded, the oppressive aura lifting. I sighed in relief.

"Phase one cleared, huh?"

Whew, tense. Wiping sweat, I slumped. Still couldn't fully withstand Father's presence.

Truly Don Vito Calione...

Then a voice from upstairs:

"Papa stinky smoke hate!"

...Father had been scorned by Jiyoon.