Choi Yeon became a mafia in the academy, Chapter 82
The place we are heading to now is a spot I've been saving to visit once I get a bit closer to Choi Yeon, a place that can't even be attempted without her.
"…A garden?"
"Have you never been here before?"
"Yeah, I've never seen this place before."
The garden of Titanian, located inside the academy.
After Ray Pendragon became the student council president, he created this garden as a welfare facility for students, an artificial forest made by countless spirit mages, wizards, and Awakened.
It was about the size of a typical university campus and was also a popular dating spot among academy couples.
"Then why are we here? Surely…."
What is this kid thinking now—
"Sparring?"
Yeah, that's the kind of character Choi Yeon is.
Does she only think about sparring no matter what?
I sighed and pointed to the map at the entrance.
"I want to go there."
"…Vivian Lake?"
"Yeah, we're planning to go there."
To be precise, it's more like a storage for elixirs.
The forest created by Ray Pendragon was a public place funded by membership fees, intended to provide a resting space for students.
All students can use it freely and rest here.
However, one day, a player who enrolled in the academy received a mysterious note, and by following the trail of the note and completing a linked quest, they would learn the truth about the student council and Ray Pendragon—
This place is one of the locations that serves as the climax of the student council route.
And I plan to ignore all of this and just take the reward.
By using Choi Yeon.
"Choi Yeon, just to be sure, can you use Water Splitting?"
"Water Splitting? I can use it, but…?"
"Good. Then follow me."
As we entered the forest together, the clear air and the fragrant scent of the flowers planted around tickled our noses.
Butterflies and bees flying around, and occasionally fairies could be seen.
Choi Yeon was busy looking around, clearly amazed by the scenery.
"It doesn't seem like Korea."
"Of course not. This is a kind of mana spot artificially created by Pendragon to recreate a myth."
"…A mana spot?"
"Yeah, a mana spot."
And there was also a dungeon beneath this place, in the basement of our club room.
"Inside the academy, when students use their abilities, the mana is not scattered but gathered here. To be precise, it's gathered in the lake at the center of the forest."
And that mana, influenced by the forest created based on the myth, is reborn as an elixir.
That elixir is called 'Vivian's Spring Water.'
It's an elixir that significantly boosts mana and aura, and since it raises current stats to their maximum, its value is practically immeasurable.
Well, it's made from the mana gathered from the Seoul Hero Academy, a place where the world's most talented gather, so it's not surprising.
"Is this place similar to our ancestral mountain?"
Choi Yeon muttered this while listening to my explanation.
The 'ancestral mountain' she mentioned seems to be a place owned by her family, the Changcheon family, and used as a training ground.
Well, it's based on a similar principle, so it's correct. Still, I should pretend not to know.
"Ancestral mountain? You mean the mountain your Changcheon family owns?"
"Yeah. I heard that Changcheon family members all train there because it's a place where mana gathers."
Huh? Wait a minute.
"…Is it okay to tell that to outsiders?"
"Oh, right."
As far as I know, the ancestral mountain owned by Choi Yeon's family, which gathers mana, is a family secret.
But the kid in front of me is now casually revealing it.
"Forget what you just said. If Grandpa finds out, you'll get in trouble."
…You'll get in trouble, but I'm the one who will be killed and erased!
I sighed and nodded.
"I didn't hear anything."
"Yeah, thanks."
Surely, she didn't tell other kids about this….
No matter what, I doubt Choi Yeon would do that.
She's just a bit absent-minded, not stupid.
"…Butterflies. They're pretty."
Choi Yeon, following the butterflies fluttering around, smiled.
…She's not stupid, right?
But seeing her catch the elusive blue fairy butterfly with her bare hands, it seems her skills are still intact.
"That's a school property. If you catch it, you'll get a demerit."
"Oh."
Choi Yeon, looking disappointed, released the butterfly she had caught.
Then she waved at the butterfly as it flew away.
If we keep going at this pace, we won't reach our destination even after the first period ends, so I grabbed Choi Yeon's sleeve.
"Hey?"
"Follow me. We can look around while walking."
"Oh, okay."
Thanks to Pendragon's unnecessarily large creation, it takes about 10 minutes to reach our destination even if we walk briskly.
Since we'll be in the forest for a while, there shouldn't be much of a problem with sightseeing.
But….
"I've never seen that flower before."
"The butterflies are sparkling…?"
"Is that a snake? If I catch it, Grandpa will be happy."
"There's a stream too."
"Maybe they're playing hooky."
Choi Yeon's mouth, which I practically had to drag along, didn't stop moving.
Was this kid usually this talkative?
No, Choi Yeon is definitely not an NPC with a lot of lines.
"Do you usually talk this much when other kids are around?"
"Yeah…? No, I don't think so."
"But you're talking a lot now."
Choi Yeon tilted her head, thinking, "Hmm… Maybe I'm just excited because there are so many new things to see."
"Many new things?"
"Yeah. Usually, I just swing my sword at home. When I come to a new place like this, I get excited without realizing it."
At that moment, I remembered that in the game, the most efficient way to increase Choi Yeon's affection was through travel and sparring.
I wondered why traveling increased her affection so much, but it made sense now.
In a game with set routes, this was an unknown aspect.
So.
"…We have plenty of time before the first period ends. Take your time and look around."
"Okay, thanks."
I slowed down a bit.
* * *
Before long, the sound of flowing water started to become audible.
The giant blue lake 'Vivian' at the center of the forest.
This is the place where Pendragon hid the elixirs.
"Choi Yeon, do you know anything about the myth of King Arthur?"
"…A little. I learned it from my family. Is it related to this place?"
"Of course. According to the myth, King Arthur received Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, and one theory is that her name was Vivian. And the name of this lake is…."
"…Vivian?"
"Yeah, and we're about to enter the inside of this Vivian."
As I said this, I approached the lake and glanced at the sign that read 'No Swimming.'
It looked like an ordinary sign.
But.
"Is this the spot?"
It wasn't difficult to deactivate the security totem disguised as a warning sign.
"Alright."
I pulled out the sign and placed it neatly to the side.
"…Is it okay to remove that?"
"It's a security device. I just turned it off temporarily."
"Security device?"
It was a simple security device that sends a signal to the mage when someone enters the water, but since it's a totem installed on the academy grounds, it couldn't have complex spells, making it easy to deactivate.
Of course, this is only possible if you know that this seemingly trivial sign is actually a totem.
"…How much should I use Water Splitting?"
"Full power."
"But I might only be able to do it once. Is it okay if it breaks?"
A rare item with 'Durability Enhancement' wouldn't break just from one swing, right?
"…Try to use Water Splitting without causing too much damage to the surroundings."
"Don't worry. Water Splitting is a quiet technique."
Choi Yeon, holding the machete I handed her, took a stance.
At the same time, aura gathered around her.
Then she swung her sword decisively from top to bottom.
With a 'click,' the tip of the machete gently touched the water's surface.
At the same time.
──────!
The water split widely, revealing a hidden staircase.
This is why I brought Choi Yeon here.
Vivian loves talented swordsmen.
Thus, only swordsmen who have reached a certain level can access the space inside 'Vivian.'
Probably, among the current students in the academy, only Ray Pendragon and Choi Yeon can open this place.
I, who mainly use firearms and fists, could never have reached here on my own, but to come here so quickly, I couldn't help but feel excited.
At that moment, Choi Yeon, walking slowly, handed me something with a gloomy expression.
"I tried, but it broke. I'm sorry."
Bowing her head, she handed me the machete, which was now just a handle.
But compared to the key to open this Vivian Lake, this piece of metal was nothing.
"No, it's really fine. I found it on the ground, so don't worry. Just opening this place is enough for me to be grateful."
"…Really?"
She suddenly straightened her chest.
"Then thank you."
"…What is this kid?"
"Yeah, thank you."
Feeling proud, Choi Yeon followed me down the stairs.
The walls of water on either side.
Fish could be seen swimming in the water, as if they were released for decoration.
Walking through the water like this, I feel like Moses.
"Pretty."
Choi Yeon, amazed by the water walls she split with her technique, poked them with her fingers as she followed.
Standing in front of a pure white temple that seemed to be made of marble, I pushed the white door and entered.
A heavy sound echoed as the temple's interior slowly revealed itself.
The ceiling, walls, and floor were densely covered with runes and spells.
They emitted a faint light, making the empty temple seem sacred.
And in the center of the temple, there was a small spring emitting light….