I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 105

"No, if the instructor isn't here, shouldn't we just cancel the class? Does it make sense to go out of the academy for a replacement class, Boss?"

Jinwoo, who seemed to be displeased with the academy's behavior, kept grumbling even after coming out of the academy.

"Isn't it much better than sitting and studying?"

I, on the other hand, preferred this kind of experiential learning, so I genuinely said so, but Jinwoo just looked at me with an expression of incomprehension.

"No way, not coming to the academy at all would be the best! Ha... really, the world is out to get me..."

Why does Jinwoo hate the academy so much?

"Maybe because of mentoring? It's true that the members of the Artemis Guild are famous for being beautiful. Wasn't Han Yeoeun's fan club membership at a million?"

I remembered this clearly because it was quite a famous story in the community.

It was always mentioned whenever the community was asked to choose the top beauty NPC.

"What?! That witch has a fan club?! Is it like a gathering of all the water buffaloes in the Republic of Korea or something?"

Seeing Jinwoo speak as if he couldn't believe it, Seah, who was walking ahead, turned around and grabbed Jinwoo by the collar.

"You! What did you just say about our goddess Han Yeoeun!!"

"Huh?! Why are you suddenly acting like this?"

"You just said it! You called her a water buffalo!"

"You... are you a fan of that witch?"

"Calling our goddess a witch! That's blasphemy!!"

...I never would have thought that Kim Seah was part of the 'Moonlight Unit,' the fan club of Artemis.

I don't have good memories of that woman either, but I should be careful with my words in front of Seah.

"By the way, the security is tight even outside the academy."

Not wanting to keep watching the two bickering, I looked around and started noticing things I hadn't seen before.

Hidden CCTV cameras, drones, and people from private security companies were everywhere.

It seemed that the academy had taken extra measures due to yesterday's incident and today's event.

"Ah, those? I heard that the parents' association also provided support. The families of some of the academy's prominent students are quite influential."

Seah explained this while shaking Jinwoo by the collar.

"Especially the freshmen's parents were very proactive. I heard from the instructor that one parent even threatened to half-destroy the academy if they didn't improve security."

Hmm... that's hard to comment on.

I probably have a stake in it too.

It was something I heard from Parnello this morning.

My father had yelled at the dean, I was told.

My gaze inadvertently went to the Black Mist I had recently acquired.

...I feel sorry for the principal.

But since he supported me during today's event, I guess I've repaid the debt a little.

"Still, I was really surprised. I never thought I'd actually see Gwak Chunshik, whom I've only heard about in legends."

"The old man isn't some legendary monster."

"Of course, I didn't mean it that way! How should I put it... it was an emotional moment. That's because Gwak Chunshik had become someone hard to meet in person due to the incident a few years ago."

Oh, that incident?

"He'll be joining the faculty soon anyway, right? You'll see him whether you like it or not."

At this, Seah, who had been walking steadily without slowing down, stopped in her tracks.

"Huh?"

"Hmm? Didn't I mention it?"

It was my original intention to come out, but it was delayed a bit due to the terrorist attack.

From what he told me, after resolving this matter, he plans to join the academy step by step.

From the principal's perspective, with his own position becoming difficult, having Gwak Chunshik join must feel like gaining a thousand troops.

Not only is the relationship with the association usually bad, but also having the power and authority to openly suppress them would be a significant asset.

"Gw, Gwak Chunshik joining the academy as an instructor... If that happens, it'll definitely cause a stir. Most of the modern Aura techniques were established by Gwak Chunshik, after all."

As Seah spoke, Youngje and Jinwoo nodded in agreement.

"Everyone, halt! Gather around."

Had we reached our destination? The instructor's voice came from the front row.

We gathered around as instructed by the instructor.

The instructor looked us over and began the lesson with a loud voice.

"Welcome to the Survival class, rookies."

At the entrance to the hill behind the academy.

The one addressing us here was one of the academy's instructors, known as a specialist in dungeon survival, 'Bear Grizzly.'

...So, it was a Survival class after all.

The Survival class teaches how to survive in any environment, and it's one of the curriculums for heroes who often enter dungeons.

"You must have heard why we're having field practice outside the academy. Given that you're not just anyone but seniors of the same caliber as the sky, the principal and other instructors had no choice. Please understand this situation."

Then, with a snap! The instructor assumed an at-ease stance.

"Therefore, this instructor has marched all the way here to set up an environment akin to real combat. What you will experience today will become the flesh and blood of your future life. ...In other words, we will hone skills closely related to survival."

At this, the other students began to swallow hard, showing tense expressions.

It was the first time Bear Grizzly had come out of the academy and shown such a serious expression.

Most of the students were tense, watching his expression, and Bear Grizzly, still unreadable, silently scanned us all before shifting to an attention stance and pulling a knife from his pocket to stab it into the tree in front of him.

"Everyone. I assume you're prepared, and I will now explain today's lesson."

At the peak of everyone's tension.

"...This instructor will conduct a cooking class today."

"Huh?"

At the same time, puzzled voices from the kids came from here and there.

...A cooking class?

I had a rough guess when we headed towards the hill, but now that we're actually doing it, I started to feel a bit excited.

"As you felt yesterday, if a dungeon suddenly goes berserk, you might get sucked into it. And some dungeons have established their own ecosystems."

As he said, dungeons come in all shapes and sizes.

From those shaped like towers to the underground dungeon we got sucked into yesterday, and those with their own ecosystems.

Therefore, understanding the characteristics of dungeons and learning how to survive in them is a very important task.

"Surviving in a dungeon isn't that hard! Just distinguishing between what you can eat and what you can't! Doing just that is half the battle. And delicious food greatly boosts morale."

With that said, he pulled a baton from his waist and, with a disciplined posture, pointed to the hill behind him.

"This is the hill behind the academy that you all know. It has many training dungeons, and due to the aftermath of past dungeon raids, it forms a unique ecosystem, a kind of demonic realm."

But! He continued.

"Inside, academy staff have already been placed to rescue you in case of any dangerous situation. So don't worry too much."

I thought there were a lot of people around earlier, but was this what they had planned?

Since it's a forest where only minor mobs appear in the game, it's certainly not a dangerous place.

Well, to study the ecosystem of a dungeon, there's no better place than here.

It's like a tutorial area.

"Now, let's start by finding a partner to cook with. From now on, form teams of two. I recommend pairing with someone you like. Begin!"

At his words, the other kids started to pair up with their usual friends.

Then, I should team up with the club members.

To gather ingredients in this hill and scout the terrain with minimal effort, it would be advantageous to team up with Seah, who specializes in detection, but...

"Team up with me! Me! I'll be ruined without you!"

"Why?! Go with someone else! If you team up with Yoojin, you're guaranteed a perfect score, so why cling to me?!"

"Have you seen the president cook? I'm terrible at cooking! So save me! Hey?! Please! I'll introduce you to Han Yeoeun! Pleaseee!"

Jinwoo was already begging on his knees, so teaming up with him seemed a bit impossible.

Then, perhaps teaming up with Youngje...

"No partner? Sure, let's team up then."

"Wow! Thanks, Class President! You saved my life!"

Youngje also seemed to have paired up with another student because of his position as class president.

So, the remaining person is...

"Uh, H, Han Yoojin?"

"Hmm?"

When I turned around at the sound of my name, I saw a black-haired girl blushing.

This girl is definitely...

"Mari Nate?"

"Ah, yes! You, you remember my name?"

"...Well, since I am the Vice President of the class. I have memorized all the names of the class members."

"Ah...! That's right!"

She was a student who usually didn't say much, almost nonexistent in the class.

Her long, curly black hair and ponytail tied on both sides. And the doll she always held in her hand.

Although her eyes were hidden by her bangs, she seemed quite flustered when I called her name.

"...So, what's the matter?"

Since we had never talked before, I was curious why she suddenly called me.

"Yes... uh... yes?"

"You called my name."

"Ah, ah. Yes! It's not that... I'm just really scared... I'm sorry! Actually, I don't have a teammate... If it's okay with you, could you please be on the same team as me...?"

Despite being the one who spoke to me first, she asked cautiously, hiding her face behind the doll.

Being on the same team as Mari Nate in the Survival cooking contest...

"Let's do that."

"Oh, I see. As expected... What? Really?"

Mari was startled by my answer.

"Hmm? Did you think it was a joke or something?"

"No, no! A joke? That's not appropriate!"

"So, shall we be on the same team?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Okay. I'm counting on you, Mari Nate."

Actually, I needed you too.