The Calione Family Banquet
Yes. I had forgotten for a moment.
The Calione family. A worldwide organization that brings countless families under its wing, forging bonds as close as blood.
Their defining trait... was treating fellow family members like true kin.
"Eugene! Remember your uncle? The one who gave you piggyback rides when you were little!"
"Hey! That was ages ago—how's he supposed to remember? Eugene! You remember the pocket money your uncle used to give you, right?"
"You rotten bastards! Can't you see our Eugene's face stiffening up? Shut your traps and sit still!"
The calm atmosphere from moments ago vanished in an instant with my arrival, turning the banquet hall into a rowdy chaos.
As I stood there stunned, unable to react—
Clap clap—
A sharp burst of applause cut through the noisy hall. Light yet overwhelming. It swept by in a flash, but no one missed it.
Silence descended abruptly.
"Enough."
Of course. No way Father would just sit there while they made such a racket in front of him.
"You're scaring our Eugene, you lot. Sit down here, Eugene. You must be hungry—let's eat."
I'd forgotten. Vito Calione was a bigger softie for his kids than I'd realized.
"...Yes."
I slipped through the awkward atmosphere and quietly took the empty seat beside Father.
At the same time, Parnello Ramichi, who had moved behind Father at some point, clapped twice. Doors on either side swung open, and carts laden with food rolled in one after another.
The proper banquet had finally begun.
Dishes piled up on the table one by one. Soon, the entire surface was covered.
Father tapped his glass a few times with a spoon, drawing everyone's attention once more.
"Thank you all for coming to celebrate our Eugene. It's been a while since we've gathered, so you must have stories to share and questions to ask. Relax and speak freely—"
"—Papa! Jiyoon's hungry!"
Jiyoon Han Calione burst through the door mid-speech, her little feet pattering across the floor into the dining hall.
The bosses from the other families melted into adoring expressions at the sight. Father, looking immensely pleased, scooped up the charging Jiyoon into his arms.
"Let's eat."
With that, the banquet erupted into the lively chaos of a family reunion during the holidays.
"Heh, Don. These days, kids call you old-fashioned if you talk too long."
"Hey now! Mind your manners with the Don! More importantly, Don, can I hold Jiyoon for a bit?"
"Jiyoon! Come to Uncle instead of that meanie! That's right!"
Apparently, no one could resist Jiyoon's cuteness—not even the attention that had been fixed on me moments ago now flowed entirely her way.
I watched the scene contentedly while eating, when—
"Isn't it amusing? The bosses of families, reduced to such sycophants."
Father's voice came from beside me.
"It feels more comfortable, like meeting close relatives."
And that was the truth. Who would've thought a family banquet would be this kind of affair?
I'd braced myself for some solemn qualification test or a heavy, formal meal—hell, I'd even packed antacids just in case.
But this... this was so lighthearted. I almost felt silly for tensing up.
"Truth be told, those fools aren't usually this frivolous. When it comes to executive meetings or business, they move like the responsible bosses they are, prioritizing their own families above all. But a 'banquet' like today is different."
A place for people to meet, eat, and talk. Not official business, but a gathering to celebrate.
"Before we're all members of one family, we're kin."
Most of the bosses here had built the organization alongside Father from the ground up, weathering hardships as family.
"They're here purely to celebrate you today—not for work. So treat them at ease."
I could guess what worried Father. He feared I saw Calione merely as an organization.
That I didn't grasp why it was called family.
And I wanted to ease that concern.
"As a member of the family myself, I see them all as kin."
"...I see. That's good, then."
Father patted my shoulder lightly.
A moment later, Jiyoon—stuffed to the gills from all the uncles' haphazard feeding—mumbled, "So full..." and toddled out of the banquet hall. Only then did everyone's attention shift back to me.
"I hear you're in the same club as my son."
The first to approach was Antonio Bivalt, boss of the Bivalt family and Jinwoo's father.
"Yes. You've raised a fine son. He helped me out tremendously today."
At my words, something seemed to click for Antonio, and he chuckled.
"That kid suddenly begged me to teach him how to use his bloodline ability. Guess that explains it."
"Ah, of course, I didn't pressure him or anything."
"Hahaha! No need to explain. I could tell just from what he said. The blockhead hasn't caught on yet... Probably realized something watching you up close. He's got talent—he'll be a big help to you, young master."
Antonio spoke with a fond smile.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked what I'd been wondering.
"One thing I'm curious about."
"If I can answer, of course."
"May I ask why you haven't told Jinwoo about my identity?"
Jinwoo was an academy cadet, sure—but also the Bivalt heir and a Calione affiliate.
Antonio must worry about him slipping up around me. Yet today, like always, Jinwoo acted oblivious to my status as Calione's heir.
"Since you hadn't told him, I kept quiet too. Didn't you have your reasons?"
His tone was utterly matter-of-fact. It told me exactly the kind of man Antonio was.
"...Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
"Haha! No need—it's only natural. Please keep looking after our boy."
With a bow, Antonio returned to his seat.
Next came a middle-aged man—the one who'd just tried slipping Jiyoon a million credits as "pocket money."
"Euhahaha! Niece's kid! An executive already—impressive!"
It was an official organization event? No, Father had called it a family banquet, not Calione business. So hearing "nephew" didn't feel half bad.
"Thank you, Uncle."
This meant no need for false modesty. Right now, I was just Father's son, dining with his old friends.
The man's name was Mikaela Milano. A family operative from Europe, back in Korea at Father's summons.
"Heard you got into the academy on probation? Haha! Good on you! Proud of ya!"
Mikaela slapped my back, laughing heartily—then froze, his expression hardening.
"Hold on... This... Maestro made this suit?"
He'd figured it out just from a few pats? Was the suit that special, or his senses that sharp? Either way, every eye in the banquet hall turned to me.
"Er... yes. Father gifted it to me."
"Heavens... Insane. I haven't even placed an order with Maestro yet. Your father must've pulled some strings."
"Yes. He mentioned putting in some effort."
Mikaela glanced at Father.
"Don, how much do you dote on your son? A Maestro suit? Maestro's health hasn't been great lately—he's been sending us apprentices' work."
Father coughed awkwardly and looked away.
"The apprentices are skilled enough... And you lot don't need that level anymore. Better to give it where it's needed."
"Tch... Knew it—total dad mode. Unfair! Makes my gift look cheap now!"
Wait. Gift?
"We didn't have that back in our day, but academies do a lot of sparring, right? So your uncle here pulled some strings."
With that, Mikaela reached into his suit's inner pocket. A moment later, a large box popped out.
...What? A suit with subspace artifact integration?
Dazed, I accepted and opened the box. Inside were neatly stacked vials of holy water.
"Blessed by cardinals and the saintess in the Vatican. Spritz it on wounds or injuries—they heal right up. No side effects like potions, better for the body too."
I'd used these a few times in the game. Top-tier S-rank holy water among its kind. Rare even there, so I could imagine its value here.
"Truly grateful. I'll repay you someday."
"Repay? Nah, just 'Thanks, Uncle~!' and take it!"
Starting with Mikaela, the other family bosses soon followed, eagerly handing over gifts.
Mostly elixirs and potions—fitting for an academy student.
By the time a mountain of presents towered beside me like a kid's height, the gift-giving finally wrapped up.
What came next wasn't much. "Call us if you need help next time," "Stay healthy," "Anything you need, just say the word"—ordinary chit-chat.
A family event, just on a grander scale.
Of course, the scale made it disorienting at times, and the sheer volume left me a bit drained.
Finally, as the banquet ended and the bosses departed for their territories, a familiar quiet enveloped the mansion.
"You did well putting up with those old timers."
On the way to the study with Father, he spoke up suddenly.
"Today they met you as uncles and nephew, but one day, they'll come to your aid in the name of Calione. See them as your people—and always remember that."
I nodded silently at his words.
The position of Calione's Don—one I had to claim to see this game's true ending.
And as Father said, they would one day move for me.
"Academy tomorrow too? Rest well. If I have a task for you, I'll pass it through Parnello."
"Understood. You rest too, Father."
"Alright."
After escorting him to his bedroom.
I stood blankly in the now-empty corridor, servants gone to clean up the banquet.
Another event down.
But no time to zone out.
Tomorrow at the academy, another big one awaited.
I sighed, thinking of the "Class Ranking Tournament" starting then.
"No days off, seriously."