Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Exposure (18)

“Ah…!”

Yeon Minha’s face brightened immediately, and she let out a small, joyful gasp at the presence of someone familiar.

It was almost absurd to see her go from spitting venom to acting like a tragic heroine in an instant.

But even Baek Seoyeon couldn’t help turning toward the direction of the voice.

A masked male student was approaching them with slow, heavy steps.

Even though his expression was completely hidden, the anger and hostility radiating from him were palpable to everyone present.

The first person to face his wrath was Chun Harin, who had been spouting insults just moments ago.

“W-what’s this about…?”

Chun Harin’s face turned white as she felt an overwhelming killing intent she hadn’t noticed during their previous encounter.
T h is w a s c o p i e d fr om k i n g mtl .o r g

“D-don’t come any closer…!”

She shrieked in panic, backing away, but the male student closed the distance without a care.

She looked like nothing more than a trapped mouse before a cat.

“You dare pull this kind of crap again…”

He strode right up to Chun Harin, glaring down at her and speaking in a low, menacing tone.

The bulging veins in his clenched fists made it clear that he intended to use force.

“Heuh…”

Seoyeon couldn’t stop a small whimper from escaping her lips.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over her again.

In her mind, she could already see Chun Harin battered and crushed on the ground.

However, physical violence without a formal duel was strictly prohibited at the Cradle.

While scuffles weren’t entirely uncommon, this was the hallway outside the student council office, a public space.

The sharp exchange between Chun Harin and Yeon Minha might have been tolerated, but the moment he laid a hand on Chun Harin, severe punishment would be inevitable.

“Hey, hey… wait…!”

Seoyeon quickly tried to intervene.

She reached out her hand slightly, her voice softening instinctively.

But it seemed her words didn’t reach him at all.

He ignored her entirely, continuing to threaten Chun Harin.

“Heeek…!”

Chun Harin, feeling the cold wall against her back, realized she had nowhere left to run.

She looked ahead in terror, her eyes fixated on his fist, which was now surrounded by condensed particles, creating a faint shimmer.

Her mind filled with the impending pain she was about to endure.

Then, just as the situation reached a critical point, another voice rang out, trying to stop him.

“Stop… Stop it.”

Seoyeon couldn’t believe her eyes.

Yeon Minha had stepped between Chun Harin and the male student, desperately trying to hold him back.

They were so close that it looked like she was practically clinging to him.

“Calm… Calm down…”

When he tried to lift his hand, Yeon Minha grabbed his wrist firmly, shaking her head.

“Why are you so angry…? Hmm?”

She looked up at him with pleading eyes, her voice gentle as she tried to soothe him.

“Look at me… Look into my eyes… That’s it…”

What happened next was truly astonishing.

The male student, who had completely ignored Seoyeon’s words, began to calm down under Yeon Minha’s persuasion.

“Ah…”

Seoyeon, who had been holding out her hand, let it fall limply as she let out a sigh of frustration.

A dull ache began to settle in her chest.

It was a sharp, intense pain, as if a scythe were tearing through her insides.

The sight of Yeon Minha in his arms was nothing compared to this feeling.

“Hoo…”

T his w as c op i e d f r om k i n gmt l .or g
The male student finally exhaled deeply, as if he had regained his composure.

Yeon Minha also breathed a sigh of relief and released his arm.

T h i s w a s co p i e d f ro m k i n g mt l . o r g
After confirming that he had calmed down, Yeon Minha turned to look at Chun Harin.

She was still trembling on the floor in a pitiful state.

“…Chun Harin.”

Yeon Minha, who had been playing the role of a benevolent senior just moments ago, now wore an arrogant expression.

Her face was filled with genuine disgust as she looked at Chun Harin.

T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k i ng m tl .o r g
“You look ridiculous. Anyone would think you’d wet yourself. Hmm?”

“…Ugh.”

Even as Yeon Minha mocked her, Chun Harin could only lower her head and tremble in silence.

“…Hah.”

Yeon Minha watched her silently for a moment before letting out a scoff.

“Let’s go.”

Without even glancing at Seoyeon, Yeon Minha turned and headed down the stairs.

The masked male student remained standing in place.

Since he had his back to her, Seoyeon could only see his broad back.

“No matter… no matter what…”

“Huh…?”

His voice, cold and devoid of any warmth, flowed out dryly.

“I never expected you… to stoop this low.”

He was clearly reproaching Seoyeon.

He believed that she had orchestrated the entire scene that had just unfolded.

For a moment, Seoyeon was too stunned to react, but she quickly came to her senses.

“N-no… I didn’t…!”

She tried to explain herself frantically, but he was already long gone, following after Yeon Minha.

“Ah…”

Seoyeon stood there, staring blankly at the spot where he had disappeared.

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***

Seoyeon’s mood was at an all-time low.

She couldn’t even remember how she had managed to apply for student council membership.

The vibrant happiness she had felt earlier wilted like wet paper.

She wandered aimlessly like a ghost as the surroundings grew dark, and the light of the moon and stars filled the sky.

Without realizing it, she had arrived at a garden on a hill connected to the forest path beside the main building.

“Ah…”

The wide flower field on the hill here was strikingly similar to that lost paradise.

Walking alone in this place was one of the few things that brought her any joy.

Strolling through the gentle slopes of the hill helped ease her troubled mind.

Even though her memory was hazy, it seemed her body had remembered this place instinctively.

After a moment of hesitation, Seoyeon stepped onto the forest path.

It was already late at night, close to curfew, but she didn’t care.

T h i s w a s co p i ed f r o m k i n g mt l .or g
What mattered more to her was shaking off this lingering sadness.

But even after walking for a long time, her mood didn’t improve.

The awful encounter from earlier still haunted her.

“No… it’s not like that…”

Just as she was about to sink back into her despair, Seoyeon suddenly shook her head and washed her face with her hands, as if she were cleansing herself.

“It’s just a misunderstanding that can be cleared up…”

Even though there was no one around to hear her, she spoke out loud to give herself some courage.

“It was a situation that could easily be misunderstood… If I see him again… next time…!”

It was almost an act of self-delusion, but it was enough to comfort her.

Anything was better than the terrible time when there was no hope at all.

With her resolve restored, Seoyeon finally took in her surroundings.

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She had wandered deeper into the garden than she usually did.

Ahead of her was an area blocked off due to a cliff, with several thick chains barring the path.

Just as she was about to turn back.

She heard something rustling in the leaves, carried by the gentle breeze, that sounded like a faint murmur.

When she listened carefully, she realized it was a human voice.

It sounded like a conversation between a man and a woman, as if they were close companions.

“…”

They, like her, had likely broken curfew.

She was about to walk away without looking back, but an ominous feeling crept up her spine, rooting her to the spot.

After a moment of deliberation, Seoyeon reached a decision.

“I’ll just… I’ll just check who it is…”

She then adjusted the particle array on her wrist, creating a thin barrier around her body.

She even layered it under her feet to minimize her presence.

It wasn’t very effective in combat, but it was the best trick for temporarily concealing herself.

T h i s w as co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg
Seoyeon began to move toward the source of the voices.

It wasn’t a particularly large garden, so it didn’t take long for her to reach them.

Soon, she found herself in the center of the garden, nestled among the surrounding hills.

The walking paths formed a loop, with benches placed in various spots for students to rest.

The voices were coming from near the end of this path.

Seoyeon carefully hid herself among the trees beside the path as she moved closer.

She soon saw the shadows of two people.

“…!”

And the moment she realized who they were, Seoyeon was struck with shock.

She raised both hands to desperately cover her mouth and hid behind a large tree.

A pair of red eyes glowing ominously in the darkness and a smooth mask reflecting the moonlight.

There was no mistaking who it was.

***

‘Why… why is he here…’

Seoyeon couldn’t take her eyes off them.

The features were so distinctive that she couldn’t even convince herself she was mistaken.

They were sitting side by side on a bench as if they were a couple.

To be more precise, it looked like Yeon Minha had moved her body close to his.

While the male student sat at the edge, occupying only his own seat, Yeon Minha was pressing herself against him.
Th i s w a s c o p ie d fr o m k i ng m tl . org

Seoyeon’s chest tightened painfully at the sight.

But even so, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from them.

She could easily hear their conversation.

“…Senior, it’s already past curfew… We should head back…”

“They said it’s fine as long as you’re with me.”

“But…”

“…What? Do you not want to be with me?”

Yeon Minha looked up at him with slightly damp eyes, her voice tinged with sadness.

Seoyeon found that sight utterly repulsive.

At the same time, she desperately hoped he would agree with Yeon Minha’s suggestion.

But a moment later, the voice that emerged from behind the mask shattered even her last bit of hope.

“How could that be the case? I’m just worried your reputation might suffer…”

“It’s fine. It can’t fall any lower, can it? Let’s just stay like this for a little while…”

“Then, at least… Could you move your shoulder…? It’s a bit too close…”

“…You said it was okay to show a vulnerable side sometimes.”

“That’s different… Sigh… Alright.”

In the end, the masked male student gave in to Yeon Minha’s stubbornness.

With a resigned sigh that was almost an acceptance, Yeon Minha burrowed even more into his broad shoulder.

He no longer made any attempt to push her away.

For some reason, even just witnessing that scene caused Seoyeon immense pain.

Despite that, they continued their conversation.

“…By the way, why were you so angry earlier today…?”

“I wasn’t angry…”

“Are you going to lie to your senior…?”

“…I’m sorry. I was just really stressed out this morning. I wasn’t in a good mood.”

“…I suppose, given your personality, it must be hard for you. But… is that really all?”

Yeon Minha nodded her head but then suddenly asked the question.

There was a strange mix of dissatisfaction and expectation in her voice.

“And… seeing you being bullied… it made me a bit angry…”

“So you’re saying… you were worried about me?”

After a brief moment of hesitation, the male student finally spoke.

“…Yes.”

“…”

The moment Yeon Minha heard his answer, her cheeks flushed so red that Seoyeon could see it clearly from where she was hiding.

She was immensely relieved that the male student had turned his head away and couldn’t see her.
T hi s w a s c o p ie d f r o m ki ng m t l . o r g

“…Hmph. You’re saying embarrassing things now… While your sentiment is sweet, there’s no need to get so angry next time.”

Yeon Minha, who had been staring at the ground in silence, finally spoke again, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Someone like Chun Harin wouldn’t stand a chance against me even if there were ten of her. It would only tarnish your dignity.”

“I’m sorry. I acted impulsively out of anger…”

Hearing the male student’s remorseful voice, a look of deep contemplation crossed Yeon Minha’s face.

She shook her head as she looked at him.

“Well, that’s not really it. To be honest, it felt a bit refreshing. Chun Harin won’t be causing trouble for a while.”

She lifted her right hand and gently caressed his masked cheek, her voice soft and shy.

“And… thank you… It was reassuring…”

“Is that so…”

The male student finally let out a deep breath of relief.

“Hmph. Of course. Anyway, let’s stop talking about this…”

“…Ugh.”

Seoyeon couldn’t bear to listen to their conversation any longer.

The walk she had taken to clear her mind only left her feeling more miserable.

She deeply regretted not just returning to the dormitory.

She was about to turn around and leave the garden when Yeon Minha’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

“More importantly… Could you take off your mask just once?”

End of Chapter