I Became a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 285

The initial impact we had planned was successful.

It was unexpected that the character ended up in underwear, but that made the impact even stronger, and the reaction from the venue and the chatroom was very enthusiastic.

[Panty Man]

[Fan]

[Tee]

[Fan]

[Man]

[pan]

[T]

[man] [man]

[ohhhh]

After Panty Man, the match went smoothly. With overwhelming strategy and skill utilization, I easily advanced to the quarterfinals.

As a result, there was only one game left before the final.

"They’re not giving it all they've got."

"Well, they're just being conscious of us."

Ray Pendragon and the general manager are playing in the quarterfinals match on the monitor.

-ah! Decisive penetration here! With this, it is certain that Pendragon and Podish will advance to the semifinals!

The way the bracket is set up, we'll eventually meet in the final.

In other words, we must win the upcoming semifinal match.

Our opponent is a team from Europe, and apparently they're quite famous over there and are nicknamed "Grandmasters".

Well, that's……probably because we weren't in Europe.

They were pretty strong, for sure.

It was quite surprising to see them using clean skill usage and practical tactics that real-world community rankers would use.

But that was it.

In the end, my brute strength and Jegal Hyun-ho's scheming brought them to their knees.

It's not that I didn't see this coming.

Even within CS, Pendragon's skill was rated as [High], and most of the people here were [Medium].

-After a 15-minute break, we'll be back for the finals!

The moderator's voice came from the speakers connected to the monitors, and we walked straight into the VIP room and settled down on the couches.

"Still, it's exhausting to play so many matches in one day."

Although I wasn't physically moving, the nature of the game means that I had to use aura for a long time.

Mental fatigue is bound to build up.

At this point, it's almost as if I'd rather be physically active.

"It's not like they say that eating too much sugar will take most of your brain. It's natural to get tired if you use your brain a lot."

As he said this, Jegal Hyun-ho munched on the chocolate that had been piled up.

At that moment, a knock sounded outside the room.

"Hmm? Who is it?"

"It's Mr. Silverman Shoes, isn't it? I'll go out."

He put down the chocolate he was holding and headed for the door but beyond it stood an unexpected man.

"……Ray Pendragon."

"Jegal Hyun-ho, long time no see."

Ray Pendragon stood in the doorway with a cool smile on his face. Hyun-ho immediately slams the door shut with a bang and turns to look at me.

"What's he doing here?"

"I don't know."

Then a voice from outside.

-I need to talk to you for a second. Can you open the door?

I don't know what the hell he's talking about, coming to my door before finals, but……I'm certainly curious.

“Open it.”

"Huh? Really?"

"What can he do? If he tries something he’ll be eliminated."

"That's true……right?"

He finally nodded and opened the door again.

"Come on in."

"Okay, thanks."

Once inside, he looked at his surroundings and let out a laugh in disbelief.

"This is a VIP room? It's definitely not like a regular player's waiting room. Can I have a seat?"

Before I could reply that he could do whatever he wanted, the guy sitting across from me ate one of the candies on the table and smiled.

"The reason I came to you is to make you a proposition."

"A proposal?"

Slowly, he pushed himself up from his lying position, sat up, and crossed his legs.

"I don't think you're here to ask us to lose the match……or anything like that. What kind of favor?"

He looked quite surprised to hear my words.

"How do you know? That's what I'm asking."

"……?"

No way, he's asking me to rig the match.

At that, Jegal Hyun-ho, who was behind me, grabs Ray Pendragon by the collar.

"Are you insane, asking for a favor in a game tournament I created?"

"──Why don't you let go of your hand? Jegal Hyun-ho."

In response, he scatters aura and threatens Jegal Hyun-ho.

Jegal Hyunho cowered from the momentum.

"Senior, hold on to that thing. If he does something that will get him grabbed by the collar, it’s right to hold on to it.”

"……."

I immediately used my aura to push away his.

“……Okay. Did you hear? If you tease me, blame my junior.”

"What? Hahaha, you guys are really sensitive about this stuff."

The guy finally bursts out laughing.

"Okay…… you seem to want me to say it like this, so I'll say it again. All I'm asking is that you give it to me, because I really need the prize for this contest."

"You mean the ‘Green Belt'?"

"I know it well. And I'm sure you know what it has to do with my family."

A relic of Sir Gawain from King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

It is said to increase the wearer's strength according to the height of the sun.

How could he not know of its power?

"Of course, I'll give you anything in return. Whether it's money or something else."

He spoke as if he would give anything.

"This is a good enough deal. You get fame and money, and I get what I want, so it's a win-win, right? I don't have to gamble, right?"

He said it proudly, as if it made sense.

But there was one thing he had forgotten.

"Mr. Ray Pendragon."

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry, but I have more money than you."

"……what?"

"My family has more money than yours. What kind of bargaining chip is that?"

It turns out that my family is also quite wealthy.

Even the Hanwol group alone, which is not the Corleone, but a front, has more money than the Pendragon family.

The Pendragon's advantage is not wealth, but authenticity.

It's ridiculous to even compare them in terms of money.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot for a moment that you were well off. But I'm serious, we Pendragon clan have the best use for the Green Belt, so what are you going to do with it anyway?"

"I'm going to use it as an anti-fatigue potion."

"……what?"

"I've been feeling so tired lately when I wake up in the morning. I thought it would be better if I wore it."

"What does that mean──?"

"──Didn't you understand yet?"

At that moment, Jegal Hyun-ho sighs and says something.

"My junior just said he doesn't want to give it to you."

Jegal Hyun-ho understood my meaning right away.

"So stop bullshitting and prepare for the finals. You deserve the second prize, a trip to Jeju Island, not the Green Belt. I heard Jeju Island is getting better these days."

A smile spreads across my face when I hear this.

Jegal Hyun-ho, who until recently ran a Bronze Club, was taking a jab at Ray, one of the academy's skies and the president of the student council.

"Of all things."

I declared, shaking my head.

"We're going to win without that shit, so why bother making a deal?"

"Ha……Yeah. If that's what you guys want, I'll head back."

Finally, he stood up, not with a wry smile, but with a cold look on his face.

"I hope you don't regret that decision. You better look forward to the finals."

"You don't scare me one bit when you put it that way~ You better start fighting hard if you don't want to be stuffed into the bud wiki as the guy who got his ass handed to him by Panty Man."

Jegal Hyun-ho, who had taunted Ray who was talking as if he wouldn't give up until the end, replied by raising his middle finger.

At the same time, the door closes with a loud bang.

"Kwak! Kwahahahahahahaha!"

Jegal Hyun-ho laughed for a long time.

He finally caught his breath and looked at me.

"Ah, that's so refreshing. I really suffered from that guy for three years……."

After saying that, he slowly walked over and extended his hand to me.

"Hey, junior. Let's give those guys a good shake."

"Sure. Not just brush them off, but stomp on them."

I grin as I stand up, holding his hand.

***

-It's time for the final!

-Isn't time flying by so fast? We've been playing for so long and it's already the final! It's a shame! It's such a shame!

-But there's only one sun in the sky! There can't be two teams, can there?

A cheerful song echoes throughout the venue as the screens display information and photos of the teams participating in the finals.

Two pictures in particular are greeted with cheers.

It was me and Ray Pendragon.

"……You're definitely a favorite, junior."

"I'm embarrassed."

I wonder if it's because the trait that makes charm and notoriety proportional [bad guy] has been working hard lately.

I feel like this has been happening a lot lately.

Apparently, lately, whenever I try to duel, someone calls my name and cheers me on.

It's not bad, but I can't help but feel overwhelmed.

Ray Pendragon and I eventually face off across the field.

We stand at our respective tables, ready for battle. The tables began to shift and the terrain began to change.

┌──▼▼▼───┐

│Mountain Flat Flat│

│ River River River │

│ Flat Flat Forest│

┗──△△△──┛

"A river?"

A river runs through the middle of a field.

A wooden bridge lies in the center of it.

"In a case like this, isn't the one who attacks first at a disadvantage?"

"Yes. Once we cross the narrow bridge, the enemy will surround us in a large area and attack. By the time we cross the river, our soldiers will be exhausted."

This meant that you could end up with a boring picture of a bunch of guys on the defensive, shooting arrows at each other.

As if to prove it, the mood in the stands was pretty saggy right now.

"So we have two options, then."

"Yeah. We can either keep it small and elite, or we can go all in on you like last time."

"What do you think Ray Pendragon would do?"

"Ray Pendragon? Maybe he’ll just come armed with weapons?”

"I bet he would, wouldn't he?"

Then we have no choice but to plan accordingly.

"Yes. We'll go with that."

"That?"

"You know, the plan we made earlier, Operation Slaying the Dragon."

Jegal Hyun-ho asks me if I'm serious.

"You're going to……that from the beginning? Seriously?"

"Yes. Wouldn't it be easier if I completely destroyed his mind from the beginning?"

How can we treat a guy who dared to suggest match-fixing in a sacred game like a normal opponent?

I was planning to trample on him as cruelly and horribly as possible from the first round.