I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 137

"You were ordered to kill the dragon... You do understand that this is a story that's hard to believe, don't you?"

I let out a small laugh and shrugged my shoulders at her, who spoke with a very serious expression.

"Considering the information Don provided and my identity, isn't it something you ultimately have to believe? After all, there isn't anyone else who knows about your promise with Don."

She pressed her lips tightly together at my words.

The father in her mind would never go around telling such stories to just anyone, so it was only natural.

Not believing my words now would essentially make Vito Calione, who made a promise with her, a liar.

"Fine... Let's assume what you're saying is true. Then how exactly do you plan to kill Fafnir? No matter how much of a Hitman from the Calione family you are, just having Ascalon won't be enough to kill it."

Her words were, of course, reasonable.

If it were possible to kill it just by having the sword, it would have been dealt with long ago.

However.

"Of course, I know that. That's why I plan to tweak Ascalon a bit."

"...Tweak it a bit?"

"The Lava Cave. I plan to seek help from the people there."

"──Rejected."

The bishop firmly declared.

"Don't spout nonsense. Convince them? Do you even know who those people are?"

"I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't mention them if I didn't know. Isn't it the place where the best blacksmiths in the Republic of Korea gather?"

Blacksmiths who use the Lava Cave, where lava constantly flows, as their base to craft equipment using materials and goods from Jeju Island.

Their skills were beyond doubt, to the point that the items they made were known to sell at exorbitant prices on the Black Market.

However, if there was an issue.

"If that were all, others would have sought them out to make weapons as well. But they're lunatics. If something doesn't meet their standards, they melt down the weapons of their clients. There's a reason even Radars, Scavengers, and Villains avoid going near them!"

They weren't ordinary blacksmiths. If there were people in Jeju Island, filled with lunatics, that others avoided, it only meant they were even crazier.

Not fake madness, but genuine insanity.

They were all masters who could freely manipulate Aura, using it to gather materials, forge solid castings, and melt them down.

They were practically human combat weapons.

They were the Lava Cave Clan.

"The only reason they don't mess with us now is that I don't leave the territory of our parish. If I vacate my spot, they'd even take the bells from the cathedral. And you're asking for their help?"

Her eyes turned cold as she spoke.

"In the end, your plan is nothing but an unproven idea, merely a plan you came up with in your head. You may indeed be a skilled individual here to kill Fafnir... but the responsibility and duty I bear can't be swayed by such words."

"I see."

I thought it would be difficult to convince her with words alone.

The vows and promises binding her were far stronger than I had imagined.

"So, you're saying I just need to prove it?"

"What?"

"I'll be back by evening. If I prove myself, I'd like you to trust me and entrust Ascalon to me."

"What are you even..."

"Oh, and I'll need to borrow a motorcycle. As you know, the one I seized was completely wrecked by someone."

Leaving her standing there, seemingly unable to follow my words, I walked in the direction of the cathedral.

Then, a door creaked open.

Sister Maria peeked her head out, her eyes filled with concern.

"Did your conversation with the bishop go well...?"

"Ah, Sister Maria."

Judging by her worried expression, it seemed she had witnessed what had happened earlier.

"I'm relieved to see you seem unharmed. You weren't hit or anything, were you?"

"Of course not. There's no way that could happen."

Although I did almost get crushed...

"The bishop is truly a good person, but when it comes to matters related to us, her eyes sometimes turn cold. I hope you won't end up disliking her because of this."

"You don't need to worry. We've already talked it all out."

Perhaps relieved by my answer, Sister Maria smiled brightly, clasping her hands together.

"Oh, is that so? That's a relief! But, where are you going now? It seems like you're heading somewhere other than here."

"Ah, yes. I have a place I need to stop by for a bit."

"A place to stop by? It's dangerous outside the cathedral..."

As someone who knew Jeju Island's dangers better than anyone, her concern was understandable.

But I was someone she didn't need to worry about.

So I smiled and said.

"It's fine. The people at the place I'm going to are kind."

Very much so.

* * *

──Boom!

──Crash!

──Thud!

Arriving at one of the locations known as the Lava Cave in Jeju Island, I got off the motorcycle and looked at the entrance.

A massive cave where lava, seemingly deadly to the touch, was boiling over.

From within, the sound of what seemed like continuous thunder echoed.

I wondered if I had come at the wrong time and they were out 'patrolling' for materials, leaving no one here. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.

"Well then, let's go."

As I slowly entered the cave, the thunderous sounds grew closer.

It was a signal that my destination was nearing.

And those sounds, at a certain point.

Bang──.

Stopped as if it were a lie.

The cave, which had been filled with noise, suddenly became silent, as if all the sounds had been hallucinations.

Only the bubbling sound of lava releasing gas bubbles as it flowed down the walls echoed.

Without stopping my steps despite the abrupt change in atmosphere, I walked forward until a spacious cavern revealed itself.

There.

"If you're lost, get out of here. We're busy."

Dozens of men, exuding hostility, clenched their fists and glared at me.

Shirtless, their bulging muscles akin to bodybuilders, these mysterious men.

Dripping with sweat from head to toe, all of them were wielding Aura in their hands.

Confirming from their appearance that I had come to the right place, I smiled faintly.

"Is this the Cheongyacha Workshop?"

The men fell silent again. The first to speak was a man with a dark beard.

"Judging by the fact that you know that name, it seems you haven't come to the wrong place. But what were you thinking, coming to us?"

...Speaking informally from the start?

"If someone comes to the workshop uninvited, wouldn't that make them a customer?"

I responded in kind, standing firmly in front of him.

As he stared at me, his gaze eventually fixed on one spot. A little below my face.

"W-Wait. That button craftsmanship... Is that Maestro's Work?"

"What? Maestro?"

"That guy's wearing Maestro's Work?"

It seemed the 'DisPater' I was wearing had successfully drawn their interest, as they began gathering around me one by one.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by muscles.

About... 20 of them? It seemed like nearly everyone was here, except for a few.

Even if the purpose varied, the work of someone who had mastered their craft was bound to attract attention.

Of course, for them...

"What kind of item could we make with that..."

"Boss, if we process that, we might actually break through our limits, don't you think?"

"Heh, this is killer. An item like this in such a form."

Their interest was slightly different.

Even though I hadn't said a word yet, they were already thinking of 'DisPater' as their material.

Indeed, it was exactly as I had known it to be.

Those who felt the wall of martial arts that they could not surpass with their own combat power and sought answers through items.

These were the 'Cheongyacha Workshop.' Despite their appearance, they were a force that thoroughly pursued martial arts.

"Hey. If you take off all the clothes you're wearing and just leave behind your belongings, I won't kill you. This should be a deal that benefits you too, right?"

A guy grinning and cracking his joints, already full of thoughts about stealing my belongings.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the one who came to make a proposal."

"What?"

And another characteristic of these guys is...

"I came here under the orders of Great Master Gwak Chunshik."

They were the ones who had been learning the Aura Technique.

I reached into the Cube and unfolded Gwak Chunshik's Recommendation Letter toward them.

"I am Yoojin Han Calione, the legitimate successor of the Aura Technique and the direct disciple of Master Gwak Chunshik. My proposal is very simple."

──Kneel, you brats.

How dare you, who are far below me in hierarchy, try to stand on equal footing?

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

* * *

In the Aura Technique, hierarchy is absolute and must be adhered to as if it were an unbreakable oath.

This was an unwritten rule that even applied to disciples who were no longer attending the dojo.

And because of this, I could comfortably reveal my face and name while talking to them.

If they betrayed me, other disciples, not me, would come to punish them. And they'd grind them into powder until they couldn't use their muscles anymore.

That's why I can do things like this.

"The water is lukewarm."

"I-I'm sorry! It seems the surrounding temperature is too high, so the water quickly──"

"The water is lukewarm!!"

"I-I'm sorry! You crazy fools! Bring the Eternal Snowflower you have as a material!"

"B-but, Boss! We were planning to use that to make armor later──"

"The 'Great Master' said he wanted to drink cold water!!"

Yeah, this is what a properly functioning society looks like.

Perhaps Gwak Chunshik thought this kind of environment was natural, which is why he became such a stickler? That thought crossed my mind.

Look at this, isn't it comfortable?

"Hey. The one they call the boss over there. Your name is... Yoon Gwangsoo, right?"

"Yes. Please feel free to call me Gwangsoo, Master."

"Alright, Gwangsoo. I'm just asking out of curiosity, but you're not thinking something like, 'If we kill him here, no one will know,' are you?"

At my playful question, the guy jumped up in place.

"N-no, what are you talking about! How could I ever have such an awful thought about you, Master!"

"No, no. I was just worried. I even told Master Gwak Chunshik personally that I was coming to meet you and received your address. If I lose contact, Master Gwak Chunshik might get worried, so I was just asking, just in case."

"......Excuse me?"

"What? Is it difficult?"

Should I explain it more simply?

"Twice a day. If I lose contact with him, Master Gwak Chunshik himself will come to deal with you. So, our dear Gwangsoo, you have to make sure I don't get hurt, right?"

"O-of course. Naturally."

At my threat-laced joke, the guy barely managed to smile, trembling.

What I had asked Gwak Chunshik for was nothing complicated.

I simply requested him to write a Recommendation Letter using ink imbued with his Aura.

The moment they saw the ink infused with Aura, they would realize it was not something that could be forged.

"So, Master, I heard you have a request for us."

"A request? Ah, yes, I do. One or two things, actually."

"T-two things? Yes, please go ahead."

Gwangsoo, whose beard was slightly scruffy, rubbed his palms together and asked me.

There weren't many things I wanted from them.

The first was.

"I want to make an item with you."

"......An item?"

"Yes, an item. There's no one else around who can do it besides you. I absolutely need you and your apprentices."

To receive manpower from them.

"If it's about making an item, that's something we usually do, so it shouldn't be a big problem... But what is the other request?"

"Ah, the other one. It's more of a favor than a request... Hmm. It might actually be easier."

"A favor, you say? Please, tell me. If it's something I can do, I'll help with anything."

"Really?"

Then I won't hold back anymore.

"Give me your Secret Technique."

"Excuse me? What do you mean──"

"Give it."

Ah, I'm asking for a new technique.