Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Doubt (4)

“Aha… This is… quite embarrassing to show a student…”

T h i s was c o p i e d fr o m k i ng m t l . or g
Professor Shin Jae-yu chuckled awkwardly as she handed me a can of energy drink.

Being served an energy drink instead of tea felt a bit strange.

I glanced around the room.

Stacks of boxes with the same brand as the can in my hand were piled high all over the office.

“My sponsor sends me so many of these… No matter how much I drink, the stock never seems to decrease… Sigh…”

She also pulled out a can, the condensation dripping from it, and sank into the sofa with a plop.

“Would you like to take a box with you?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Why not? It’s really good stuff. Lots of flavors, packed with vitamins and essential nutrients…”

Thi s w as cop i e d f r o m k in g m t l . or g
“I’m not really into drinks…”

“Is that so? Well, that’s a shame…”

She looked genuinely disappointed when I refused.

It wasn’t like she was a shady merchant trying to push a product or anything.

She popped open the can and took a few big gulps before getting to the point.

“So, what kind of consultation does our young master of rumors want?”

“Before that, I have something to ask you.”

“Oh?”

There was something I needed to confirm before solving my question.

“Professor, what’s your relationship with our Commander… I mean, the Heir?”

“What?”

Her eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected the question.

Then, she let out a small laugh.

“Oh my, I was wondering what kind of consultation you wanted…”

I was anxious, hoping she might answer me.

But instead, the professor responded with a tone full of interest.

“Well? What kind of relationship do you think it is? Care to take a guess?”

“What? How would I know…”

“Come on, give it a shot. It’ll be more fun that way, don’t you think? Hmm?”

She leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on me like a predator watching its prey.

I quickly averted my eyes from her top, which naturally sagged with gravity.

“…”

This was not the kind of situation I had anticipated.

I never thought she would have this side to her.

Regardless, I racked my brain.
T his w a s c o p i e d f ro m k in g mtl . o r g

Judging by her reaction, they definitely knew each other.

She seemed to be around the same age as the Commander and my sisters. The Commander, known for his rowdy and licentious reputation. And my sisters, who still followed him around.

Putting all that together…

“Uh… Could it be that you also… like our Commander…”

“Pffft… Hahaha!”

She began to shake with laughter as soon as the words left my mouth.

She initially tried to stifle her strange laughter, but soon tilted her head back and burst out in a loud guffaw.

Then, out of nowhere, she playfully smacked my head.

“You cheeky rascal. How dare you say that to a professor?”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Pfft… It’s fine. What are you sorry for? I was the one who asked. This is killing me, seriously…”

She waved her hand dismissively, still chuckling before she even finished her sentence.

“We’re just close upperclassman and underclassman. Actually, we weren’t that close at first. Quite the opposite, actually.”

Professor Shin Jae-yu sank comfortably back into the sofa.

She narrowed her eyes, reminiscing.

“That guy was such a jerk back then. He’d look down on people just because he came from a prestigious family. He’d even treat the girls poorly… You know what I’m talking about, right?”

“…”
Th i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g

I didn’t know.

So, those weren’t just malicious rumors but actually true?

“Oh? You didn’t know…? Oops.”

Seeing my reaction, the professor seemed a bit startled but quickly shrugged it off and continued.

“Well, anyway, that’s how it was back then. We even dueled a few times. The guy was such a terror to my friends.”

She gulped down the remaining contents of her can, then casually tossed it behind her.

The sound of the can rolling on the floor, instead of landing in the trash bin, caused her to furrow her brows.

“…Oh, well. Anyway, after bumping heads like that, we became close. The guy eventually matured over time. It’s still surprising to think about how that reckless brat managed to turn things around…”

“Then, do you also know my sisters?”

“Of course. We even did our military service together in the North. I’m in the same class as Jin. You know Jin, right? The other two are my seniors.”

The other two must be Yoon Chaewon and Ryu Sehwa.

By now, I was certain.

If she was close to the Commander and my sisters, then she must know about the woman in my dreams as well.

They were close enough to take a photo together, after all.

I was still haunted by that unsettling memory.

That strange dream where unknown women gathered and had conversations about Polaris and Spica that I couldn’t understand.

At first, the dream was so vague that I could barely remember it.

But seeing a certain photograph at the Heukryeon mansion brought those memories back vividly.

It was already odd enough that someone I’d never seen appeared in my dream, but to find out she was a real person, someone who was close enough to the Commander to put her arm around his neck… How was I supposed to process that?

In the dream, the woman wore a face so wicked that it was almost repulsive.

But in the photo, she was smiling sweetly, with a serene and clear expression in her eyes.

The stark contrast between the two versions of her only added to my confusion.

The investigation I had asked Muyoung to carry out was also to address this strange sense of unease.

I sincerely hoped it was nothing, but that’s why I needed to be certain.

Perhaps I could even resolve that question today.

I swallowed nervously and asked her the question.

“Then… do you happen to know someone named Seol Yujeong?”

“What…”

But the moment I mentioned the name that was written on the photo,

The once friendly atmosphere turned cold in an instant.

***

It was only for a brief moment, but I could clearly feel it.

Her once lively and light demeanor now felt as if it had been locked down tight.

Professor Shin Jae-yu, who had been sitting in silence, now looked at me, her expression serious.

“…From the fact that you’re asking me, I guess you haven’t heard anything about her directly?”

“That’s right…”

“Is that so? Then I’m afraid our conversation will have to end here.”

She abruptly sprang up from the sofa with exaggerated motions.

Her sudden change in attitude left me bewildered.

“What?”

“The truth is, I’m quite busy. We’ll have to continue this consultation another time.”

“What? All of a sudden, what is this…”

“Come on now, off you go. Take care of your health, and prepare well for your duel!”

-Bang!

By the time I came to my senses, the only thing in front of me was the firmly closed door of her office.

I considered knocking again… but the determined look on her face flashed in my mind.

T hi s w as c op i e d f ro m k in gmt l.o r g
In the end, I turned around and left.

The unresolved unease seemed to cling even more tightly to my mind.
Th i s w a s c o p i e d from ki n g mt l . o r g

The mystery had deepened, but at the same time, I was more certain that there was something to uncover.

What should I do now?

Professor Kwon Chanyul seemed even more tight-lipped.

Then suddenly, I stopped in my tracks as a thought occurred to me.

That woman named Seol Yujeong. I believe she was a former Vice President of the Student Council.

If that’s the case, maybe I could check her records in the Cradle’s archives.

“…”

But going through the complicated process of accessing the records would be tough, especially with other pressing matters at hand.

The Festival of the Falling Star, the duel with Jin Yeseo, and the upcoming ranking match.

I guess I’ll have to put this on hold for now.

***

A loud humming and vibration filled the air from early in the morning.

The excitement of the Festival of the Falling Star in the capital seemed to have spread all the way to the Cradle.

This year had been especially fraught with incidents and accidents from the start. With deteriorating public safety and worsening food supplies, public sentiment was on the verge of exploding.

While there were criticisms about the waste of budget, everyone agreed that a grand festival was actually a cost-effective way to calm the people.

And the reason Yeon Minha was thinking about it… was because she herself had unexpectedly gotten involved in that excitement.

“Finally…”

Yeon Minha let out a sigh of relief, her eyes sunken from exhaustion.

T hi s wa s c o p i ed f r om kin gm t l . o r g
In front of her, on a metal tray, were several sticky lumps covered in white sugar powder.

T his w a s co p ie d f r o m k in g mt l .o rg
All different sizes, colors, and irregular shapes.
T h is w as c o p i e d f r om k in gm tl .or g

And these were the best results after discarding many failed attempts.

She looked around with a weary expression.

The kitchen was a mess, with pots charred black, sticky remnants clinging to the sides, and kitchen tools strewn everywhere.

“Sigh… Seriously…”

Her frustration boiled over, and Yeon Minha unknowingly clenched her fist.

The spatula in her hand crumpled like a piece of paper.

She had never cooked before, not even attempted anything like it.

Not to mention, she had never done any baking.

And she couldn’t just go to the baking club either.

They were always crowded with people seeking one-off lessons during the Festival of the Falling Star and the Foundation Day.

The former for the girls, the latter for the boys.

It was unthinkable for her to mingle with that vulgar crowd.

Buying store-bought candy was also out of the question, no matter how high-end it was.

There was an unspoken rule that always accompanied the candy given during the Festival of the Falling Star.

If it’s just for a friend, it doesn’t matter… But if you want to express something more, you have to make it yourself.

“Why am I even doing this… Ugh.”

Yeon Minha muttered to herself in frustration.

It was a pointless, ridiculous, and annoying rule.

But of course, she didn’t have much of a choice.

With no time to spare, Yeon Minha began wrapping the candies in crinkly paper.

At least they looked somewhat presentable once they were wrapped, which was a small consolation.

Half excitement, half worry.

With a fluttering heart, Yeon Minha left the kitchen.

She carefully hid the bag of wrapped candies in her coat and casually walked toward the main building.

It was about time for him to be attending a Magic Mathematics lecture.

She had memorized his entire semester schedule a long time ago.

As she got closer, the number of students milling around increased, and the sweet smell in the air grew stronger.

Yeon Minha decided to wait for him outside the lecture building.

She planned to hand him the candy with a nonchalant expression and casual tone.

“…?”

As she mentally rehearsed her plan,

She felt a strange presence, detected by the spirit she had sent ahead, and furrowed her brows in confusion.

Spirits don’t have sight like humans, but they can sense the forms of energy bodies around them.

She had placed the spirit in front of his locker, the one he always used during his practical classes.

It was a solution she had come up with after struggling to get the spirit to attach itself to him.

Even though it was time for him to be in class, the locker area was buzzing with small, round energy bodies.

“These vulgar girls, how dare they…”

Realizing what was happening, Yeon Minha muttered angrily.

Using the festival as an excuse to approach or befriend someone you liked was a common occurrence.

She severed her connection with the spirit and hurried up the stairs.
T h is w as co pie d f r o m k ing mt l .o r g

It was an impulsive move fueled by rising anger.

She wanted to tear apart all those annoying things before he could see them.

Yeon Minha shot fierce glares at every girl she passed on her way up.

Some of those girls might have been the vulgar ones who had just put candy in his locker.

“…?”

But as she rounded the last staircase, Yeon Minha suddenly froze.

She caught sight of something, just for a moment, that she shouldn’t have seen.

A figure with black hair swaying as they quickly descended the stairs in the opposite direction.

And for a brief moment, she clearly saw the golden glow in their eyes.

The corridor was filled with a lingering presence that was undeniably not her own.

End of Chapter