Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Doubt (8)
***
“I’m insane…”
Yeon Minha muttered to herself repeatedly, her eyes vacant.
T h i s wa s c op i e d f r o m ki n g m t l . or g
Though the intoxication had worn off, the memories remained as vivid as ever.
“How could I act so disgracefully…”
Rubbing her thighs, moving her fingers lewdly, whining pathetically.
Even she had to admit, her behavior from the previous night was more fitting for a harlot than a noble lady.
The thought of seeing him again tomorrow made her feel as though darkness was closing in around her.
“Sigh… huh?”
In the middle of her sigh, Yeon Minha noticed the warm sensation enveloping her right hand.
She also heard the rhythmic breathing of someone else nearby.
Startled, she turned her head but quickly relaxed when she saw the familiar male student sitting on the stool, his head drooped.
His strong hand had been gently covering hers, as if protecting a precious treasure.
When Yeon Minha slipped her hand out from under his, his arm slid down and fell limply by the side of the bed.
Though she found it odd that he was here in her room, the memories from the previous night quickly provided the answer.
‘Don’t leave… I said, don’t leave…’
‘Stay with me…’
“…”
Yeon Minha’s face flushed red as she remembered the childish tone she had used to plead with him.
All her dignity as a senior had vanished without a trace.
For a moment, she had a look of bitter disappointment on her face, but then her eyes widened as if she had suddenly remembered something.
She quickly checked her appearance.
Her jacket, shirt, skirt, even her stockings.
“My underwear… is intact too…”
Aside from a few wrinkles in her outer clothes, she looked the same as she had when she walked into the banquet.
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There were no signs that anything had come undone, shifted, or torn.
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Even her sheer white stockings remained intact, without a single run.
“…Is he really an idiot?”
Yeon Minha muttered in a displeased tone after confirming everything.
She had completely forgotten the time she had begged him in just a chemise back in the south.
All she was left with now was a deep sense of regret.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f r om k i n g mt l.o r g
Yet, she also knew very well that he wasn’t the type to do such things.
Yeon Minha sighed deeply, her emotions swirling.
She glanced to the side, then quietly got out of bed, careful not to make a sound, and stood before him.
“…”
On the small side table next to the stool lay the mask he always wore.
Though he typically used that mask to keep others at a distance, he increasingly showed a more relaxed side when he was with her.
In a way, it was a sign of the deep trust that had formed between them, and she didn’t mind it at all.
Yeon Minha wanted to see his face, hidden beneath his lowered head.
She crouched down and looked up, finally able to take in his entire face.
Time seemed to stop as Yeon Minha silently watched him sleep.
His delicate and sharp features were completely at odds with his usually rough and hot-tempered nature.
Remembering the firm sensation of his embrace made her blush slightly.
Even if he had been the ugliest man in the world, she wouldn’t have cared anymore.
After seeing his true face multiple times, there was no need to say anything further.
In some ways, she felt sorry for him.
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r o m k i n g m tl . o rg
No matter how awful the scars might be, they were merely decorations that added to his character.
And yet, he was wasting his potential, bound by something as trivial as that.
“…”
Suddenly, Yeon Minha had the thought that she wanted to make him feel at ease.
But if she tried to lay him down, she might end up crushed under him again.
And if that happened, she would undoubtedly die of a heart attack.
Even the faint scent of his sweat was far too stimulating for her.
In the end, she decided that simply removing his outerwear would suffice.
His clothes were much more wrinkled than hers.
Since he had a spare outfit, she resolved to take his clothes to the laundry room later.
After all, it was her duty as a senior to look after him.
Before tossing his jacket into the laundry bin, Yeon Minha dug through the pockets in case there were any personal items.
Aside from a few pieces of candy that annoyed her, there was nothing of note.
She checked the inner pocket of the jacket one last time.
Contrary to her expectations, something fell to the floor when she turned the pocket inside out.
“…?”
It was a small, rough card, thick but of poor quality. The paper was stiff and yellowed with age.
T h i s w a s c o pi e d fro m k i n g m t l.o r g
Curious, Yeon Minha bent down to pick it up.
She flipped it over to check the front.
“What is this…?”
It was a hand-drawn portrait of someone.
The sketch was done entirely in pencil, without any fancy techniques, and it was clumsy at best. Yet, there was an unmistakable sense of affection in the strokes.
The figure was a girl, somewhere between adolescence and womanhood.
She looked younger than Yeon Minha, perhaps just a few years below her.
The girl depicted seemed sickly, painfully thin.
But the smile on her lips.
It was as if the girl was proclaiming herself to be the happiest person in the world, her bright smile suggesting that pain meant nothing to her.
That strange sense of familiarity unsettled Yeon Minha.
“…”
Her brows furrowed slightly.
She flipped the card over and over in her hands, but there were no clues as to who the girl in the portrait was.
The only hint she had was the nagging feeling of discomfort that the girl’s smile invoked.
Like she was in a staring contest, Yeon Minha glared at the portrait, refusing to blink.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly.
“…!”
Then, her pupils dilated as if she had just realized something.
***
The one night of rebellion had ended with the banquet. The Cradle returned to its usual routine as if nothing had happened.
Thi s w a s c op i e d f r o m k i n g m t l.org
This week, in particular, was busy as the second ranking battle was approaching, and students had to juggle their studies with preparations for the upcoming matches.
And among them, I was one of the busiest.
Not only did I have to study and prepare for the ranking battle, but I also had to track Seol Yujeong’s movements and prepare for my duel with Jin Yeseo for student council membership.
“Sunbae, I’m done brushing your hair.”
“…”
“Sunbae?”
“…”
“Yeon Minha Sunbae.”
“…”
“…Yeon Minha?”
“Ugh…”
It wasn’t until I called her name that Yeon Minha jolted and gave some sort of response.
Despite my hectic schedule, I had been faithfully keeping my promise to her.
Even if it was a promise made while drunk, a promise was still a promise.
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“You… You’ve been getting cheekier lately… Do you think your Sunbae is easy to take advantage of?”
Yeon Minha shot me an accusing look from behind.
Even then, she couldn’t help but run her fingers through her perfectly brushed hair.
“If you don’t like it, you could just answer faster. Or are you still half-asleep?”
Given her habit of sleeping in, it wasn’t an unreasonable assumption.
“W-What nonsense is that…”
She turned to glare at me more fiercely before quickly looking away again.
Just as she was about to leave the dormitory, after adjusting her appearance one last time, she suddenly stopped.
T h is w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n gm t l . o r g
She hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance at me before speaking.
“Um… listen.”
“? Yes, what is it?”
“Well… it’s just…”
“…”
She stammered for a long time, which was unlike her, then shook her head vigorously as if to clear her thoughts.
“It’s nothing. Just… make sure you’re ready for the duel…! I’ll see you later…!”
“Wait…”
Before I could respond, Yeon Minha hurriedly rushed out of the dormitory.
I was still trying to figure out the reason behind her strange behavior throughout the week, but no clear answer had come to mind.
She had claimed not to remember anything from that night due to the alcohol…
***
The shouts and cheers filled the air, heating the atmosphere.
The arena was packed to the brim with spectators.
Among them were many of the top-ranking students, all present without exception.
After all, for those who might face Jin Yeseo or me in the upcoming ranking battles, this was the perfect opportunity to analyze our strengths.
I scanned the surroundings before the duel.
In the central seats were the members of the Duel Committee, serving as the judges.
To their left were the student council members from Paechun who supported Jin Yeseo.
Among them were some familiar faces.
T his w a s co p i ed f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
Choi Ireh, a second-year girl with braided hair, was eyeing me warily.
Next to her was a delicate-looking girl with a gentle smile—Kwon Yuri—who, for some reason, gave me a soft, friendly smile when our eyes met.
“…”
Though I thought her personality was remarkably laid-back, I couldn’t bring myself to look at the person sitting next to Kwon Yuri.
On the opposite side, Yeon Minha sat glaring at someone with a discontented expression.
I didn’t need to follow her gaze to know exactly who she was staring at.
But there was something different about her eyes today.
It wasn’t the usual coldness born from differences in ideology or status… there was something more intense, almost clinging, in her expression.
I was lost in thought, trying to grasp the source of this change, when a sharp, irritated voice snapped me out of it.
“…You seem pretty relaxed.”
I turned toward the voice.
Two green eyes filled with competitive fire were staring back at me.
End of Chapter
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Jhonrock
Hell yeah!!! Its beating time!!!