I Became a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 232

I knew Michaela would be strong, but I didn't expect her to have such an easy time against the sword-wielding priest that players call "Firestarter".

She was able to put her fist through it, infuse it with her own holy power, and explode it, delivering an explosive deal to an already outmatched opponent.

Of course it's impossible for a priest to hold out.

"Sister is incredibly strong."

After it's all over, Elena and I approach Michaela.

"It's just that the opponent was weaker than I thought. Even Corleone Junior would have been able to defeat him easily."

She glances at me as she says this, and I respond with a shrug.

"It's not over yet, though, because it'll do that, and that, and that, and then it'll absorb all the flames around it and revive."

"What? Isn't that supposed to happen?"

In the game, I'd usually just seal it or ignore it, smash the well, and run away but not in this situation.

"Pen will take care of that now."

The creature was staring into the flames, dripping with a liquid I couldn't tell if it was spit or lava.

-Contractor. Do you mind if I eat it?

"Oh, yes. You can eat it."

-Good!

He begins to consume the remnants of the priest scattered on the ground. I follow him to the trail of the priest, who has already been reduced to a raggedy mess.

"Sister. You're not taking this?"

A red necklace torn from what used to be' a neck.

It looked as if the sun had been molded into jewelry, and at first glance, it seemed like an unusual item.

[You've found a new item!]

[Name: Flame Priest's Necklace]

[Rank: Unique]

[Type: Necklace]

[Description: This necklace used to be worn by priests who worshiped fire giants. When worn, it grants a small increase in fire-based damage and a large increase in fire resistance.]

A useful item in some situations. It was also something that could be sold in the marketplace for a fairly high price.

For some reason, however, Michaela stares at the necklace with a horrified expression, as if she's looking at a bug, and waves her hand away.

"Wearing something used by pagans around your neck, it's blasphemy to even possess such a thing. If this were the Vatican, that would be grounds for expulsion. Junior."

Apparently, she doesn't want to even touch it because of the religious issues.

"Then what am I supposed to do with this?"

"Throw it away or keep it. Just looking at it makes me feel unclean."

"Oh."

What can I do when they say that?

I'll keep it.

I didn't have a necklace I could use, and it looks like I got a good one by the most ridiculous route.

-Belly full.

While I'm fiddling with the necklace, Pen returns, having eaten all the flames around it. His stomach is sticking out even more than usual from how much he ate.

He came right up to Elena's side and purred. Seeing that, I sat down and said to the two of them.

"It's going to take a while for the main squad to arrive anyway, so let's wait a bit."

The condition for defeating the boss is, after all, the destruction of the wells in the Six Peaks.

That means there's no point in going in on our own now.

So the three of us sit down to rest but Elena turns to me curiously.

"Eugene. What's on the fifth peak that you need so many people for?"

"Oh, there? It's just a war zone."

"A war zone?"

Michaela opens her mouth at words?

"I think I've heard of it before. There's a village of fanatics on the fifth peak of the Etna volcano."

"That's right. It's a village of cultists, both those who have come in from the outside and those who have always been here. There are traps everywhere, and they're notoriously prone to suicide bombings."

That's why it was efficient for the army to go there.

If the mages gathered near the town, it would be easier to clear it out with firepower.

Well, it would be easier than they might think, since we already took care of the chief priest.

At that moment, Pen, who had been sitting still, stood up. Elena stood up as well, looking toward the edge of the horizon.

"Huh? I think theyre coming."

Hearing that, I stood up as well, and we could see a large group of them in the distance, heading towards us.

"Well, it looks like they're a little outnumbered. If it's according to plan, shouldn't they arrive without much damage?"

Michaela was right, somehow the numbers were smaller than when they first arrived. Some of them even had some pretty bad looking injuries.

They must have spotted us too, because they approached with Luca leading the way.

"I'm glad to see all three of you seem to be okay."

"What happened? Venezia and their mercenaries should have been able to handle the Fifth Peak without too much trouble."

"Ah. That's the thing."

With that, he explained what happened in the village.

Apparently, while preparing a spell near the village, some of the mercenaries heard rumors that there might be treasure in the village and tried to sneak in before the spell was cast.

Eventually, the village's fanatics realized there were intruders so it backfired.

"Fortunately, no one was killed except for the three mercenaries who went down to the village. Most were lightly wounded, only a few seriously."

"What happened to the well?"

"Fortunately, we only succeeded in destroying the well. We now have a total of thirty-nine people available for the raid. Forty-three, including the three of you."

"That's good to know."

The raid can still be done with these numbers.

I look back with a sigh of relief that we're within range.

"All that's left is the final battle, then."

One last giant peak to go.

"What, do you want to rest a bit?"

"I'll be fine, I healed on the way here. It's not like this is a good place to rest in the first place."

As he says this, he draws his sword from its scabbard and turns his head to look at the crater.

"Let's make a quick end of this and head back, it'll be better for the wounded."

"Then let's do it."

A quick end to the raid wouldn't hurt me.

With the crater just around the corner, I do a final reorganization.

Potions for just in case, enchantments for the rising temperatures, and an escape plan for the worst.

"Well, let's get moving."

Luca's words signal the start of the march, and the main body begins to move slowly.

Fear is already creeping into the air around them, even though they're just walking. Their normal gait has long since turned into a heavy, limp walk.

The monster they are about to face is one that many heroes have failed to defeat.

It was the Fire Giant.

Is that why?

Michaela, who had been walking silently until now, raised her head and began to walk at a faster pace than the others, taking the lead.

Her whole body was filled with divine power, and she walked with a stately stride.

The air is freshened by the holy power, and one by one, the people walking behind her look up and begin to follow her toward the summit.

If she's so brave, we can't be doing this.

The girl we're supposed to be protecting is leading the way, and we're acting like this?

Let's go.

From that point on, the mood of the group changes and the fearfulness begins to fade.

Well, it's her.

They don't realize that the woman in front of them just beat a priest with her bare hands.

If it's good, it's good.

We finally made it to the top of the volcano.

The view down below of the sea of fire and all the peaks we've walked through so far is spectacular.

If you don't look behind you.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

The sound of chains rubbing against each other in a pit where you can't even see the bottom.

I wonder what kind of mass the chains have to be to make that sound.

It was a question that was probably running through everyone's minds right now.

"Let's go."

Michaela, who had been in the lead, stepped into the bottom of the crater first.

She plunges downward in an instant.

Elena, who has been watching the whole time, looks up at me in alarm.

"You mean, we have to go down here, just fall?"

"Don't worry, there's no falling impact. This is the way were supposed to go down."

The boss room gimmick was originally meant to feel like this because it was adapted to the environment.

It's a bunch of unintelligible terms and explanations.

And those details turn into beliefs in situations like this.

"What?"

"We're going down first."

I follow the people who are already jumping downward.

My feet are in the air and my body is free-falling downward.

The strange thing is that instead of accelerating, I slowly slow down.

Finally, my feet touch the ground and I see a huge temple in front of me.

A giant temple made entirely of basalt and granite appeared in front of them.

Raiders regrouped in front of such a temple and as I was about to step forward to join them.

-Ahhhhh!

-Calm down, contractor, we're losing speed

-Don't let go! Don't let go!

A scream from behind spun my head around and my eyes locked with Elena, who was shaking and clutching the tail of Pen.

"Please pretend you didn't see that."

She ducked her head, still embarrassed.

I nodded, saying nothing for now, and together we walked toward the crowd.

People are already beginning to form groups, each with their weapons drawn, ready to enter the temple.

There were three reasons why we decided to move in groups rather than in formation from here.

One is that the inside of the temple is a complex structure.

The second was to minimize space constraints.

And lastly, to move more cautiously due to the numerous traps and enemies inside the temple.

Of course, our combination was a three-person party: I, Elena, and Michaela.

By the time everything was finalized.

-Although it took a lot of sacrifices, we finally made it!

Luca, Venezias representative in charge of this raid, stepped forward to give his final speech.

Well, it's a morale booster, which we certainly need.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang.

I wonder why we have to do it in a place where we can hear the clang of giant chains.

It's not that I don't understand, because it's a scene that will be recorded for the rest of our lives if we succeed, but it's still clumsy.

To this senior' who has been hardened by countless experiences.

Then.

"Elena, Sister. Please cover your ears for now."

"What?"

"Eugene, where are you going?"

"To raise morale."

I'm just showing him an example.

If you're going to raise morale, you might as well do it hot.

I walked past Luca, who was speaking with his fists clenched tightly, and reached into my cube, pulling out a handful of items I'd been saving for just such an occasion.

In Korea, the country of courtesy in the East, it is a national rule to knock when you come to someones house as a guest.

[Name: Gemstone Bomb MK.II]

[Rank: Rare]

[Type: Explosive]

[Description: A bomb that explodes by amplifying the power within by impacting a gemstone. It is so powerful that it requires careful use.]

Traps and lurking minions?

-On my life! Upon honor and faith Corleone Jr. What are you doing

"Excuse me!"

-Aaaaaah

Such things, I would sweep away before entering.