I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 101

Amidst the excited chatter of students looking forward to the Freshman Welcome Party.

As usual, Jisuhyeon, holding the attendance sheet, entered with a look of exhaustion and slammed the sheet on the teacher's desk.

"Our class is great because we don't have to call out attendance one by one."

She glanced around the class once, smiled, and placed the attendance sheet on the teacher's desk.

"Is there about an hour left until the Freshman Welcome Party? I'll tell you what to be careful about, so everyone pay attention."

As the students began to show interest in the story related to the Freshman Welcome Party, Jisuhyeon, seemingly pleased with their response, continued her explanation.

"Given yesterday's incident and the fact that external guests are coming today to meet the freshmen, the atmosphere will be quite stiff. So, there are a few things you need to be careful about."

First, avoid unnecessary contact with external guests during the event.

Second, avoid disruptive behavior in the presence of external guests and seniors.

Third, do not leave the banquet hall after the event when lunch is served.

"Well, is that about it? I believe you'll handle the rest well... But since many of you seem anxious, I'll give you one piece of advice."

After taking a brief moment to catch her breath, Jisuhyeon, now with a serious look, spoke up, having discarded her playful demeanor from moments before.

"──Don't be scared. Today, all the heroes of the Republic of Korea are watching over you, striving to protect you. You just need to quietly enjoy the event while receiving the welcome from your seniors. Got it?"

Her words were true.

Even now, dozens of heroes who graduated from Seoul Hero Academy were voluntarily guarding the surroundings for their juniors.

If we're just talking about the Academy's current strength, it could be said that even if all the villains from the Villain Alliance came, they would be annihilated.

"Then wait until the broadcast starts, and everyone head to the auditorium. Oh, Han Yoojin, did you practice the oath?"

It seemed she suddenly remembered that I was to read the oath today, as she looked at me and spoke.

"Yes. I did practice."

"Really? Don't mess up, and think of it as leaving an impression on the big shots. Though, it might not meet your standards. Heh heh."

Given that Jisuhyeon knows about my family background, it's natural for her to have such a reaction...

She must have had something to prepare for, as she left the classroom after saying that.

Perhaps because it felt like the event was just around the corner?

The atmosphere in the classroom, now only with students, was strangely subdued compared to usual.

[Announcement from the broadcast room. Announcement from the broadcast room. All freshmen, please gather in the main auditorium. We repeat, all freshmen, please...]

"Wow, it's actually nerve-wracking now that it's here. Did they say the big shots from the Association and representatives from each guild are coming today?"

Jinwoo, who had seemed fine until now, stood up from his seat and swallowed hard, seemingly nervous.

"You don't need to be that nervous. Our mentors are already impressive enough, aren't they?"

"......That's why. That crazy woman is coming to the Academy! We need to evacuate the kids right away!"

I thought it was unusually quiet, but was it because of something else other than nervousness?

It seems like they still have the leisure to joke around.

As Jinwoo said, it's likely that heroes we've only seen in games are gathered in the auditorium to check on the freshmen.

And I'll be making my first public appearance.

In other words, making my official debut in the CS society.

My mental preparation is already done.

"Let's go."

With me leading, Class A began to move towards the main auditorium.

The corridor was bustling with students heading to the auditorium.

As soon as we stepped into the corridor and started moving, the noisy corridor suddenly became quiet.

At the same time, the fear around us felt through the Bloodline Ability.

It was probably because of the rumor that spread about how we subdued villains among ourselves even during yesterday's terror attack.

Yesterday's commotion was indeed something that an ordinary student would find unbearable.

And that was the same for chicks aspiring to be heroes.

Their reactions weren't incomprehensible.

"Yoojin."

Amidst the silence, someone raised their hand and called my name.

"......Choi Yeon."

"Hi."

Other students showed signs of surprise at this.

Seeing Jung Euihun mixed in the middle, it seemed like Choi Yeon was from Class C.

"Yoojin. Are you going to the auditorium?"

"Didn't you hear the broadcast?"

"Are you doing the oath today?"

"......Because someone refused to do the oath."

"Who? Oh. Me?"

It seemed she had forgotten that she herself had refused to do the oath, as she hadn't even considered it in the first place.

No, it seems she didn't even think it was her fault.

"Let's go together."

"......Really? Can't you go with your class?"

"Why? Really?"

Choi Yeon always had a way of leaving me speechless. Eventually, giving up on countering her, I sighed and said.

"Do as you please."

"Okay."

The Academy's main auditorium was about a three-minute walk from the main school building.

A huge building capable of comfortably seating thousands.

The last time I was here was during the entrance exam, so it's been a while, a very long while.

It felt like it hadn't been long, yet it felt like an eternity. Why was that?

"Wow, look at the reporters at the entrance. Is this really the Academy?"

At the entrance of the main auditorium, reporters with large cameras were stationed, diligently taking photos of the entering students.

"There's Choi Yeon!"

"Choi Yeon from the Cheongcheon Sword Family!"

The reporters, spotting Choi Yeon walking beside me, turned their cameras away from the students entering and towards us.

Something felt like it was about to become troublesome──

"......The boss of the Academy! Han Yoojin!"

"What?! Han Yoojin, the second place at the Academy? The one who's doing the oath today?"

"Han Yoojin, look this way!"

Suddenly, all the attention was directed towards me.

The boss of the Academy...?

"Who on earth came up with such a nickname──."

"As expected, I did well to distribute the pre-briefing materials to the reporters. I did a good job, didn't I, boss?"

"......Was it you?"

Crazy guy.

"Boss, aren't you too moved? I'm your right arm, after all, so I had to do at least this much. Come on, say cheese. Cheeese~"

If it weren't for the reporters, I might have punched him in the head for real.

For now, I decided to hold back and enter the auditorium...

"Reporters, you can't interview first-year students yet!"

Thanks to the intervention of the employee guarding the front of the auditorium, we quickly slipped inside while the reporters hesitated.

"Wow, being hounded by reporters is so exhausting. Is this why celebrities hate paparazzi?"

Amidst all this, Jinwoo spoke as if he had enjoyed it.

"Jinwoo."

"Yeah. Boss?"

"Shut up."

"Hmph."

After telling Jinwoo off, I looked around the auditorium.

It seemed that the first-year students were lining up in front of the stage by class, while the seniors and external guests were taking seats on both sides and at the back of the auditorium.

"Wow, the scale is really impressive. They usually live-stream it on the internet, but I guess they're not doing that because of yesterday's terror attack."

Seah, who had done some research on the Freshman Welcome Party, said this while looking around.

Indeed, in the original story, the Freshman Welcome Party was quite the spectacle with broadcast vans and whatnot.

Of course, that ended up giving the Villain Alliance a good show when their terror was live-streamed, but that's not something to worry about now.

[Announcement from the Student Council. Announcement from the Student Council. All freshmen, please take your assigned seats.]

The voice of Yuri Rodmang, the vice president of the Student Council, is heard through the auditorium's speakers.

It seems that all members of the Student Council have participated, as it's an event for the entire academy.

Perhaps feeling my gaze, Yuri, who had been holding the microphone, looks this way and smiles lightly.

Hm? What is she saying right now?

I try to read her lips as they move, saying something.

'Work hard, juniors.'

It seems they have their own expectations as well.

...Even though it's obviously going to be nothing special.

As more and more people enter, the previously empty auditorium starts to get noisy.

Despite hundreds of people gathering, there are still plenty of seats left, making me acutely aware of the scale of this facility.

Well, there are not just one or two events happening here, after all.

As everyone takes their respective seats and the noise begins to settle down.

[We will now begin the annual event of Seoul Hero Academy, the Freshman Welcome Party.]

With the voice announcing the start of the event, applause fills the auditorium, and I look at the event program placed on the chair.

1. Greetings and exhortation from the Principal of Seoul Academy.

2. Exhortation from the representative of external guests, the President of the Association of the Republic of Korea.

3. Congratulatory speech from the representative graduate of Seoul Academy, 'Lee Won-ho'.

4. Oath from the representative of the Academy freshmen.

5. Celebration and lunch.

6. Closing ceremony.

"That's quite a long list."

From item 1 to 3, all are exhortations and speeches, making me think that if things go wrong, all the freshmen might fall asleep.

And I'm sitting in the front row because of the oath.

The thought of nodding off in the front row is something I don't even want to imagine.

Maybe the best thing is to hold on to my consciousness tightly.

"Jinwoo. What are you doing?"

While I'm steeling myself with such thoughts, Youngje's voice comes from behind.

Glancing back, I see Jinwoo half-lying on his chair.

"Huh? Getting ready to sleep."

"...What will you do if the Instructor catches you during the event?"

"Hey, don't worry. I won't get caught. If I rest my chin and tilt my head down a bit, it's perfect."

So, I wasn't the only one worried about falling asleep...

Still, it's not good for him to sleep like that. Because...

"Jinwoo, there's a pretty woman behind you glaring at you."

"What? A pretty woman is looking at me? Where── Eek!"

Following the terrified gaze of the sweating Jinwoo, I see a woman glaring at him with a look of disbelief.

"Is she here too?"

Han Yeoeun, the head of the Artemis Guild, one of the major guilds in the Republic of Korea.

It seems that other heroes, who are mentors to the other kids, have also attended the welcome party.

Among them, there was also Gwak Chunshik, who was looking this way with a pleased expression.

And.

Among those heroes, there's a man sitting silently in a black suit and sunglasses.

"Hmm..."

Dominic Adanbanto, the consigliere of Calione.

Just like in the original story, I thought it would be difficult for his widely-known father to come here, but I never expected the consigliere himself to show up...

It's truly a gathering of capable individuals who can make a stir in both the light and dark sides of the Republic of Korea.

[Now, we will have the greetings from the Principal to mark the beginning of the Freshman Welcome Party. Please pause your conversations and direct your attention to the podium.]

And then, a man confidently steps onto the podium in front of these people.

"It seems we have many esteemed guests today. Welcome. I am Heo Seokgi, the Principal of Seoul Hero Academy."

With the greeting from the man once called The Silent, the Freshman Welcome Party finally begins.