Underworld Heir

Just as I slipped on the ring, an alarm blared from my smartphone.

A notification reading [New Trait Activated!]. Checking my status, a new entry had appeared in the traits section.

The trait Underworld Heir. Who would've thought I'd snag two traits in a single day? Was this game always this generous with rewards?

Musing on that, I tapped the new trait, and its description popped up.

A trait with a whopping three options. The other two were hidden, but Irresistible Offer alone hinted at insane power. In a world where sweet-talking could lead straight to the ending, boosted negotiations were gold.

How had the original Eugene Han Calione, with all his ruthless mafia backing, always washed out midway? It made no sense to me, someone who'd conquered routes with far shadier characters. But that's exactly why hope flickered in my chest.

I was the one who'd achieved what no one else had in this world.

"...I'll survive no matter what."

Vowing to reach Eugene Han Calione's ending, I buried myself in bed for tomorrow's successor class.

"Vito Calione—the boss everyone calls 'Don'—was originally just an ordinary laborer who fled dungeons to Korea."

The world back then was pure chaos. Dungeons, these disaster zones, popped up first in Europe, then spread like wildfire to Asia and the Americas.

"The boss was a refugee who escaped to Korea to avoid them. He opened a bar in the refugee zone and ran an honest business."

Then, one day, dungeons erupted across Seoul in South Korea too.

"The silver lining was that Korea already had awakened heroes when the dungeons hit."

The government deployed them to clear the dungeons. But there were precious few heroes at the time.

"The Korean government faced a choice: save the distant rich districts and citizens first, or the nearby ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠refugee slums?"

"What? That's not what I learned."

I blurted it out before I could stop myself. As a veteran player, I knew most of the lore. Supposedly, the government sealed all the dungeons successfully. A hidden detail like this? Probably exclusive to this route. My gamer heart raced.

"It's a black mark on the Korean government, after all."

The man teaching my successor class—the one who'd shielded me from the Sword Saint alongside Father yesterday—Parnello Ramichi began recounting the events.

"We refugees and immigrants were abandoned. Fighting dungeon-spawned monsters barehanded was suicide."

But the immigrants armed themselves and banded together to survive.

"Don Vito was the first to lead us. Your father, young master."

Father's leadership shone. His decisions were spot-on, and people started calling him 'Don' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Vito.

"And finally, the boss awakened."

A miracle in those dark days—power granted to the strongest man in the toughest hour.

"With his new strength, the boss gathered other Awakeners."

Centering around Calione Bar, they cleared monsters from the immigrant zone, leaving only the dungeon itself.

"But most Awakeners were battered from endless monster waves. Only the boss was unscathed."

Vito Calione was a true hero. No academy meant no official title, but his deeds spoke for themselves.

"The boss declared he'd raid the dungeon solo and stepped inside."

"Solo? No one tried to stop him?"

Parnello chuckled at my question.

"It was the boss. People just cheered and joked around."

Twenty minutes after Vito Calione entered, he emerged unscathed—dungeon cleared. The Calione legend began.

"From then on, the Korean government couldn't ignore us. Few could solo a dungeon."

Plus, abandoning the immigrant zone didn't help their case. Parnello took a sip of water.

"Plenty tried to take the boss down—government, foreign assassins, rival groups. Not one succeeded. That's why Calione became the greatest family."

His history lesson ended. Now I understood Father's high hopes for my academy days. A hero to all, yet unrecognized by the nation. He wanted me to become an official hero.

"Heh, you look bored. I get it. I'm no silver-tongued storyteller."

Parnello gave a wistful smile at my expression. I grinned back.

"Busted? Next time, bring a documentary."

"A documentary? Hm... worth considering. I'll take that suggestion to heart."

Wait, that was a joke.

"Now, time for physical training."

Parnello shed his jacket with elegant flair, draping it over his arm. Stripped to his shirt, his hulking muscles strained the fabric—hard to believe he was middle-aged.

"Outside. This won't be boring."

"Huh?"

Was this payback for my joke? For reference, his codex entry read:

A bad vibe hit me. Sparring Calione's Black Hunting Dog? I regretted yesterday's flag-planting about surviving City of Seoul easily.

"This way, young master."

My attendant Han Seojun took my bag. Academy entrance day had arrived.

The past week's successor classes were hellish: roll, study, get beat, study—rinse and repeat. But I unlocked a new trait, so worth it.

Baby Boss—I grow stronger the more people fear or respect me. A growth-type trait? In a game, I'd be posting screenshots all over the forums.

"Young master?"

"Ah, yeah."

I pocketed my phone.

"Something fun?"

"...What?"

Did he glimpse my screen?

"I used to browse Seed Wiki when bored as a kid. But quantum mechanics? You actually understand it?"

Seed Wiki? So that's what it looks like to others. Good camouflage.

"Just killing time, ended up here."

"Haha, happens to me too."

Seojun chuckled and turned away. No CS leaks—relief.

"Let's go."

Following him out, two black sedans and a limo waited.

"...This?"

"From the boss. To uphold Calione dignity."

Father went all out for my first day. Even using Mother's surname, this screamed overkill.

Five days pre-enrollment, the academy president called Father directly.

'Government got wind of your son's enrollment.'

Father exploded, unleashing hell. Personal info leak. But after apologies, he forgave—inevitable anyway—and scored perks:

1. Dedicated lane to the gates.

2. Keep Eugene Calione's info airtight.

3. Report any incidents with Eugene Han Calione immediately.

Not enough? He pulled me aside: 'Crush anyone who messes with you. Time to show Calione power.'

"Still overkill, no?"

Sliding in, Seojun replied from the driver's seat.

"Boss's orders: maximum security."

Fair enough. Who'd complain about luxury rides?

"Departing."

Seojun radioed, 'Young master en route.' Cars rolled out in sync. Movie-style escort on my first day? Not bad at all.

"Left turn, young master."

Nah, loving it.

Three cars halted at the academy gates. Eyes locked on us instantly.

Seojun opened my door. No Calione badge on his collar.

"Thanks."

Stepping out, every gaze ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pinned me—no exaggeration.

'Whoa, what a show.'

'Chaebol kid?'

'Was he at exams?'

'Who's that?'

Whispers tickled my ears. My body subtly strengthened in response. This much from stares alone? Future potential huge.

Seojun bowed and drove off with the convoy. Sirens wailed as they vanished.

"...Police sirens?"

Not visible, but distant. My arrival warranting cops? Nah.

A white sedan arrived under police escort, stopping at the gates. Jeong Ui-hoon stepped out.

His dad pulled strings too? First day hype.

Gazes shifted to him. He took it in stride, spotting me with a smirk.

Creep. I ignored him, entered the academy, and found Class 1-A with staff help.

Barging in drew stares. Empty seats scattered. I claimed a back row spot.

'That's him, right?'

'The one who shot the instructor?'

'No way, real?'

'Our class?'

Phone-scrolling drew gossip, but no Calione leak—family's doing.

Soon, a blond pierced delinquent type entered, scanned, flopped next to me, and passed out.

Blond piercings at academy? Thug archetype?

"Hey, all. Some familiar faces."

A woman entered with a wicked grin: black hair, white cap, X-scar on cheek. Exam proctor Ji ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Suhyun.

Her?

"I'm Ji Suhyun, your homeroom instructor for the year."

Space magic prodigy. Walking wormhole. Mad space mage. Many titles, but here: Psycho Instructor Ji Suhyun.

Oh boy, semester one already vivid.

"Some faces say you know me. No long intro then."

She grinned evilly.

"Academy days are instructor's whim. Intros, early dismissals—up to me."

Snap.

That pose. Game motion—I sighed, knowing what came.

"You'll teleport to a deserted island. Goal: back by class end, 4 PM."

Space ripped around us. Nausea and floatiness hit. As we hunched over, she smiled.

"Intros there."

Demon. Psycho instructor earned.

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