I Become a Mafia in the Academy - Chapter 81: Ray Pendragon
Ray Pendragon. In the Seoul Hero Academy, he was truly a mythic figure, living up to his name.
A scion of a great British noble family, he'd come to study at Seo Yeong-ah—the academy with the finest curriculum—just like all the others. From the moment he entered as a first-year, he grasped the academy's systems, achieved the feat of founding a club in his freshman year, ascended to the Diamond Club tier by his second year, and then steamrolled his way to seize control of the student council. He was the very picture of a web novel protagonist.
"The student council of Seoul Hero Academy welcomes you all! So, the blue-haired one takes first place, and the black-haired one second?"
He glanced back and forth between us, then flashed a bright smile—Ray Pendragon himself.
"Anyway, have a seat first. We didn't call you here to scold you or anything, so no need to stand there awkwardly."
Following his words, I looked at the table in front of us. Every seat except the head where Ray Pendragon sat was clearly meant for those of lower rank than him.
...Interesting.
I pulled out a chair opposite the chairman's seat, just like Choi Yeon, who'd already sat in the nearest empty spot.
"...Oh?"
I placed the chair right across from him and sat down. Ray watched with an amused grin tugging at his lips.
Yuri Rodmang, standing beside Pendragon, flinched in surprise, but I knew better than anyone that he wasn't the type to get mad over something this trivial.
"If we're going to talk, isn't face-to-face better, Mr. Student Council President?"
"Sure. No need to twist your necks around. Make yourself comfortable!"
"Thank you for your consideration."
Only after I sat did the student council members take their seats. Among them was Seo Yeon-su, whom I'd crossed paths with during the all-out battle prep.
In the tense atmosphere, Yuri, seated next to the president, spoke first.
"Choi Yeon."
"Yes."
"You took second in scores during the recent class ranking battles. It says you played the biggest role in placing C-Class overall second?"
"Yes."
"Entrance exam: top score. During the exam, you drew your sword on Instructor Ji Suhyun and went for her throat...? Is this true?"
The council members started murmuring at Yuri's words. Pendragon, meanwhile, kept his amused smile.
"That's correct."
"Mind if I ask why you did that?"
"...She told us to show our best, so I swung my best sword."
Choi Yeon stated it matter-of-factly, leaving Yuri with a baffled expression. Her gaze soon shifted to me.
"Han Yujin. You took first in scores during the recent class ranking battles. It says you played the biggest role in placing A-Class first. Wow, junior. You're a big deal, huh?"
She glanced at me as she said it. I just shrugged lightly in response.
"Let me see... Yeah, it's noted as the academy's all-time highest record. Care to tell us what happened?"
"No."
"Ooh, as expected... Huh?"
Yuri's eyes widened like she'd misheard.
"Wh-what did you just say?"
"I said no."
Why would I tell them? Even if I did, there'd be nothing in it for me. I decided not to answer.
"O-okay? If you don't wanna say... fine. Then, about the entrance exam... Huh? Sniper rifle at point-blank range on Instructor Ji Suhyun's head? No way, who tampered with the entrance exam records...?"
"Oh, that's true."
"Right? It's gotta be a prank... It's true?"
...Human eyes can get that big, huh.
But facts are facts—I couldn't lie about it. I nodded, and Ray Pendragon, sitting next to the flustered Yuri, burst out laughing with a loud "Pfft!"
"Sniping an instructor...! Heh...! Hahaha!! Oh man, I can't hold it in! For real!"
He clutched his stomach, slamming his head on the table as he laughed. Yuri, now wearing a look of resignation, seemed to give up.
"Fine, the top and runner-up from each grade are always weirdos... I get it. Anyway, here's the main point..."
"Yuri, hold on. Let me handle this."
Here it comes.
"You two, how about joining the student council?"
Ray Pendragon's reason for summoning us: recruitment. With next semester being their last before graduating into society, the current council—after two years in office—was grooming successors.
I'd heard about it beforehand, so it wasn't surprising. Just, oh, here we go.
Maybe because we hadn't answered yet, Pendragon kept going.
"Joining the student council comes with benefits you can't even imagine. You'll get a lot of freedom from school rules, manage the student council budget, and most importantly, the outside world will see you differently. Tempted?"
He pitched it with confident flair. He wasn't wrong. In the academy route, centering around the student council was hugely appealing.
As usual in these stories, the council wielded real power—enough to influence the school's systems to some degree. Even in reality, there were urban legends about student council kids driving cars, so with that kind of pull, who knows what else was possible.
If I'd possessed an ordinary character, I'd have jumped at it... But I was the Calione family heir.
For someone like me, the student council route was more trouble than it was worth.
'Money or power... either way.'
Money? With all the council work, scraping together pocket change? My allowance alone dwarfed that—might as well be Bill Gates picking up pennies.
Power? Sure, in the light of day maybe, but in the shadows, the Caliones held absolute sway. No need to build connections in politics or the hunter industry—we had routes ready-made and faster.
And above all.
'I already know your tricks.'
I couldn't play along. I shook my head lightly.
"I'll pass."
"Huh? Why? No reason to refuse, right? It's the student council."
Pendragon stared at me, genuinely puzzled.
"I'm a bit introverted... Standing center stage under the spotlight makes me uncomfortable."
I flashed a smile with my answer. He looked even more confused.
"Then... Choi Yeon. You interested?"
"Not really."
She shook her head, declining as well.
"Hahaha! Didn't expect both to turn it down. You guys are humbler than I thought!"
...He's taking this as humility?
"No need to refuse so hard. Everyone here is trustworthy, so speak freely."
This felt like...
"Join the student council, or else?"
In the original story, joining events only triggered for top or runner-up ranks, but it never got this pushy.
There had to be something behind it.
"Even if we said yes, you'd offer it to the second-years' top and runner-up seniors too, right?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
"So we'd end up under them. You might've heard the rumors, but... I don't like being under anyone."
That should do it. No more pushing now.
Or so I thought.
"President, didn't I tell you? Kids these days don't listen—you gotta make 'em eat dirt."
A man slammed the table and stood. The nameplate before him read [General Affairs].
"When seniors go this far, just take the hint, newbies."
He rose with typical thug talk, glaring at me and Choi Yeon.
"For average joes, maybe, but we're talking to you—the Sword Saint's granddaughter and the all-time record holder. That's why... "
Crunch. His fist clenched with a sound, trembling like it might swing any second.
"You're acting like the student council's nothing."
With a cold glare, he approached and loomed over me.
"...Think the student council's a joke, you punk?"
Meeting his gaze, a chill settled over the room. Unable to stand it, I—
"Pfft!"
Whoops. Laughed.
"...What's so funny?"
"How could I not laugh? You're basically admitting you want us so bad because we're that good, but you say it all aggressive. The situation's just too ridiculous—I couldn't help it."
"...What?"
Ignoring him, I stood with a grin, facing the council execs.
"Anyway, no matter how you pitch it, we're not interested. Oh, and don't get us wrong—we're not looking to make enemies. And like the president said, we didn't come here to get chewed out."
I glanced down at the guy in front of me.
"I'm not the type to get called rude compared to anyone... so show some manners, senior."
"You little... "
Crunch. His fist tightened audibly. But this was an official event—all reports went to the faculty office. Hitting me here would backfire on him and the council.
"General Affairs, enough. Embarrassing yourself against first-years?"
"But President—"
"—I said enough."
The president dropped his smile, and the air grew heavy, like gravity had spiked in the room alone. The general affairs guy's face drained of color from his earlier rage.
He exhaled once, glared at me again, then returned to his seat. Only then did Pendragon smile once more.
"Sorry if things got too heated. We didn't call you here for this. Hope this doesn't sour things between us... What do you think?"
Plan derailed, so pivot to friendly relations instead of enemies. Fair enough.
"Let's grab a meal sometime. I want to get along too."
"...As long as you're not a hassle, I'm fine with it."
Pendragon nodded at our answers and stood.
"Great, this was fun. Hope we can laugh together next time too. Oh, Vice President—mind escorting them?"
"Sure. Juniors, shall we?"
Yuri stood and led the way out. We followed politely, and once outside, she slammed the door shut and turned to us.
"...Juniors."
Her smiling eyes went ice cold.
"You know you almost wrecked your academy life—and outside it too?"
"Us?"
She sighed at my question.
"Don't you know the president's from the Pendragon family? You nearly made enemies of them! Got a family that can stand up to that?"
The Pendragon family. A famed British lineage from the game, claiming descent from King Arthur of legend.
Yeah. That's why the student council route was hot among veterans in the academy path—that halo effect. Major power inside the academy.
Of course, refusing meant backlash. Community posts from newbies who'd turned it down popped up: family ruined, shunned by students, etc.
Replies were usually Hmm~ newbie vibes~ or Yes, you're an idiot for refusing.
...But I'm no ordinary character.
"We do."
"...We do?"
"Huh? You do?"
No issue at all. I'm Calione—even hiding it, Hanwol Group backs me. Choi Yeon has the Sword Saint.
Who could crush us with their family?
"Thanks for today. Let's meet again sometime."
"...See you later."
"Uh? Y-yeah."
We left the dazed Yuri behind and headed back to class. Then I realized first period still had time left, and a great idea hit me. I smiled.
"Choi Yeon."
"...?"
"Come with me somewhere."
"Huh? Where?"
"Good food."
No matter how I thought about it, that president was too cheeky. Time to steal his luck with a meal.