Chapter 131
When I say I have a favor to ask, the eyes of my father and the old man turn to me.
“A favor?”
“Hehe, from both of us?”
The two men look like they didn’t expect me to ask for a favor from both of them at the same time.
Facing them, I smiled brightly and opened my mouth confidently.
“I want to go to Jeju Island.”
“Hmm?”
“Jeju Island?”
Their eyes widen at the mention of Jeju Island.
“No, why would you suddenly want to go to such a dangerous place?”
I had expected this reaction, but it was very unfamiliar to me, as I knew what Jeju Island was like in the original……game.
‘Jeju Island’
While we know Jeju Island as a vacation spot and a beautiful tourist destination, the meaning of ‘Jeju Island’ in the CS universe can be guessed from its nickname alone.
“Devil’s Island,” “Outlaw’s Paradise,” “Hell Island,” and more.
In this world, there’s no real reason why Jeju Island is called that.
It’s just that Jeju Island experienced a major dungeon break, and in the process, the island’s system completely collapsed.
As a result, the island is now a complete lawless zone, completely untouched by the government.
“Wouldn’t it be too dangerous to go to Jeju? It’s not easy to get there.”
“What are you going to do on an island full of rotten people? I know you’re young and full of energy, but it’s not a place where you can go whenever you want, as your father said.”
As they said, Jeju Island was not easily accessible.
Not only were there no flights or ships going there, but even the fishermen didn’t go anywhere near the coast.
But with the help of the two men in front of me: Don Vito Corleone, the ruler of the underworld, and Kwak Chun-sik, the hero of the old country, it’s a different story.
“Dad, doesn’t our family have a ship sending relief supplies to Jeju Island?”
“Hmm? There should be, but……are you really thinking of going on it?”
“I think it’s safer that way.”
Apparently, due to its Italian immigrant base, Corleone used to send relief supplies to the only cathedral on Jeju Island every month as part of a donation for its relationship with the Catholic Church.
With this route, entering Jeju Island would not be a problem.
Even if it was a lawless area, they wouldn’t want to turn on their only source of relief, the church.
Next up was Kwak Chun-sik.
“Elder, don’t you have disciples from the Martial Arts Center on Jeju Island?”
“Huh? There must be some who head there every year for some kind of training.”
“Well, since Jeju is off the grid, I need something to prove it. Can you get me a letter of recommendation?”
“A letter of recommendation?”
“Yes.”
Jeju Island is one of those places that is very wary of outsiders due to the closed nature of the area.
Even in the game, I can’t count the number of times I’ve been attacked for going into Jeju Island and talking to locals for information.
There were many instances where I didn’t even have to do anything, they just attacked me as soon as I made eye contact with them…….
However, it’s a different story if I get a letter of recommendation from Kwak Chun-sik.
“The Awakeners from the Budokan must have been quite a force on Jeju Island, so I’m thinking of getting some help from them.”
In other words, I want to travel with a package course.
Why do I have to go alone, work myself to the bone, farm, and build a faction to go to Jeju Island?
Why not go with a faction that’s already been formed and has a significant amount of power.
“Why not?”
My father and the elderly man hesitate at my question.
“I agree. You’re my student, but you’re not a normal academy freshman, so I don’t think you’ll be in much danger if you’re traveling with the kids from the martial arts center. However, if you have a problem with that…….”
Their gazes meet in the middle.
“You mean you’re worried.”
The identity of the worry is that I am entering the demonic world of Jeju Island alone.
It’s not that I don’t understand their concern, as it’s certainly not anyone else, but the heir to the organization and a disciple going to a dangerous place.
But
“So I have to ask, why do you want to go to Jeju Island?”
My father looks at me with serious eyes and asks.
Somehow, I had prepared a total of six reasons to go to Jeju Island.
I decided to use one of them, which was the most appropriate for the current situation.
“To reach new heights.”
“Hmm?”
“New heights?”
The words every man would recognize.
‘New heights.’
What man wouldn’t be swayed by those words, and the two men in front of me are at the top of their game.
As they asked me to elaborate, I slowly continued my story.
“I recently acquired an item,” I said, “but I need something to use it properly, and I heard that it’s in Jeju Island.”
Despite my boldness, they didn’t ask me what it was or who told me about it.
They were showing me respect.
“So, to get it, I must go to Jeju Island, and……desperately need your help.”
The two men who had listened to my story to the end seemed to think about something in silence, then looked at each other and nodded.
“I don’t know how any parent could not let him go when he’s talking like that.”
“When a man says he’s willing to take a risk to become stronger, you can’t say no to that.”
“I’ll let him go.”
“I’ll let him go.”
It was a conclusion both of them came to because of their characters.
* * *
After my departure to Jeju Island was decided the meal continued. Wine and traditional liquor were served alongside the delicious food, and the mood changed.
“Well, there he is, crushing a kobold with his hands──”
“You mean Eugene?”
“That’s right, he was just like you when you were younger! I felt it then!”
“Sure enough, when I first met you, you were holding the head of a minotaur.”
“Do you know how surprised I was when I saw you crush that hard thing with your bare hands! Hahahaha!”
The corners of my mouth twitched up as I watched the two of them reminisce about the past while talking about me.
Yes, this is what I was hoping for.
It’s like watching a movie where you see heroes from different worlds talking in the same room.
“The first time I fought you, old man, I was terrified, because you were the first hero who made me think I might lose.”
“You don’t think I wasn’t surprised, I was just pretending to be okay because the juniors were watching from behind, but I was actually sick and about to be beaten! Hahahahaha!”
“Really? Hahahaha, I didn’t know that.”
“How many sad thoughts I had in my head.”
Things I’d never know from the game.
“If you hadn’t blocked the dungeon back then, Korea wouldn’t exist today.”
“Didn’t you single-handedly stop the dungeons in Seoul back then, too? I’m still not up to par with you.”
“Indeed, back then I wanted to take you on as a disciple somehow.”
“That would have been unreasonable, but now, hasn’t our little Eugene grown up to become your disciple?”
“That’s right. A child with your blood and talent has become my disciple. Isn’t that something?”
“I agree. Hahahaha!”
For some reason, I feel like it’s through the two of them.
Did they always have this much chemistry?
Not at all, as I recall.
Father had a respectful relationship with Sword Saint, but they always minded their own business whenever they met.
However his relationship with Kwak Chun-sik seems too good to be true.
“Huh……The food was great and the drinks were amazing.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“If I had my way, I’d invite you to my house, but……our location makes that difficult, doesn’t it?”
Kwak Chun-sik, who wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief prepared on the table, smiled wryly when his father said that.
“Yes. Obviously, there are many people watching my movements, so I have to be cautious, but…….”
Father’s voice trails off as he says that.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to visit you once in a while when I need a break.”
I don’t know why he’s looking in my direction and smiling, but I smile along with him.
After all, even the head of the mafia needs a break.
Let’s hang out later when you’re free. Something like this, right?
“Uh-huh. I guess I should get going then.”
Putting down the handkerchief he wiped his mouth with, Kwak Chun-sik stands up and straightens his clothes.
My father and I stand up as well.
“Are you going in already? You can stay a while longer.”
“It’s alright. Don’t make me waste your time when you’re already busy.”
Kwak Chun-sik pats me on the shoulder after saying that.
“I’ll give you a letter of recommendation tomorrow at the academy. Have you decided when you’ll go?”
“Yes. As far as I know, there’s a boat to Jeju Island this week, so I was thinking of going then.”
“This week? Okay, let’s do that. I had a great time today.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
As we leave the mansion to see off Kwak Chun-sik, a sedan pulls up in front of the mansion.
“Tell the man inside where you’re going and he’ll take you there.”
“Thanks for taking care of me. See you later.”
I stare at Kwak Chun-sik as the car goes away.
“Eugene.”
I heard my father’s voice.
“You’ve met the right person.”
“It’s …….”
Definitely. It was a precious connection.
“You said you’re going to Jeju Island this weekend, right? I’ll tell Captain Park about it. But……are you sure you want to go alone?”
My dad asked in a worried tone, as if he was a little worried about going alone, no matter how much he thought about it.
I shook my head.
“The reason I decided to go to Jeju Island is to get stronger, and if it was a risk I couldn’t handle on my own, I would have asked father for help first.”
Well, that’s what I said, but the truth was a little different.
This is me, and this is the only way I can do it.
When I go to Jeju Island, I have to go through dungeons and find gimmicks in all sorts of strange ways, but having people with me would limit my actions.
Apparently taking this as a sign of resolve, my father nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, do as you wish. But I want you to remember when you go to Jeju Island that you are Corleone.”
“Of course, father.”
He was right, in this world, I was Corleone.
