Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Heaven’s Door (14)
***
“Ah… Ugh…”
Five heavy fingers digging into the area above her pelvis. The broad, firm chest felt along her back.
The unfamiliar sensation, something Jin Yeseo had never experienced before, was enough to throw her into confusion.
She squirmed and struggled, then looked up urgently at the man wearing the gas mask.
He wasn’t even glancing in her direction, instead engaged in conversation with the old man.
“If you’re a man, you should protect your woman yourself. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be, hmm?”
“…Indeed.”
‘…?’
Jin Yeseo tilted her head in confusion.
The old man’s words were overly outdated, completely irrelevant in the world of magicians.
However, the man’s response carried a strange, melancholic resonance.
“The young lady must be fortunate. To have such a dependable man as her partner, how reassuring.”
Before she could even ponder the reason behind it, the old man’s pleased smile turned toward Jin Yeseo.
Jin Yeseo hesitated. At first, all she wanted to do was immediately refute the nonsensical statement.
But the words the man had said earlier held her back.
‘Who’s helping whom… I’m just getting in the way…’
He had already referred to her as his wife, and the old man had accepted it without question.
If she were to deny it now, the atmosphere would undoubtedly become awkward.
In fact, it could even draw suspicion.
Besides, she was already feeling guilty for not being of much help despite her confident decision to follow him.
The knowledge she had shared about the cult was something he could have easily figured out on his own.
If she not only failed to help but also disrupted things further…
“Well… That’s… exactly right… Haha…”
In the end, Jin Yeseo could only force an awkward smile that didn’t suit her.
“Isn’t it? But why do you look so unwell? And why are you sweating so much? Are you feeling sick?”
The old man seemed to misunderstand her forced smile as something else.
“No, no… I’m not sick…”
“Well, in this environment, it would be strange if you were completely fine.”
He clicked his tongue and came to a conclusion on his own.
“Look at all this smog and pollution. It seems to be getting worse by the day. These days, if you cough, blood comes up. Even if it’s an industrial city, there’s a limit.”
He gestured toward the street, obscured by the orange haze, and lamented.
“Where are you two from?”
“We came up from the south, looking for work. There wasn’t much available in the capital.”
“Tsk tsk, I can imagine. Because of the chaos in Jinryeong, there are so many refugees. Those magicians… all they do is flaunt their power, but what do they actually accomplish?”
“…”
Unlike Jin Yeseo, who grew increasingly irritated by the old man’s grumbling, the man remained calm.
“Maybe I should just join the Black Magician Society?”
-You’re too old for that! You don’t even have the energy…
“Hey! How dare you slander me! If you knew how much my wife adores me, you wouldn’t say that.”
At the old man’s indignant retort, the cramped shop filled with laughter.
“Hmph. Anyway, you’ve come to the right place. This isn’t a place to stay for long, so make some money quickly and leave. If you head to the plaza at dawn, you should be able to find some work.”
The old man cleared his throat a couple of times and then turned his attention back to the man.
“But don’t even think about going near the outskirts. And try to avoid wandering around late at night.”
“Why is that?”
“The city’s security is getting worse by the day. All sorts of strange rumors are floating around behind the orange smog. People have wandered into the mist, drunk, and never returned. There are even testimonies of hearing strange animal cries.”
The old man’s expression grew serious as he spoke.
“Sometimes, red blood seeps out of the sewers. It’s not uncommon to find bodies that have been gnawed on by something. Everyone agrees that something sinister is happening down there, but no one has the courage to confirm it. What power do people like us, who are not sensitive to magic, have? The Security Bureau doesn’t care about the lower classes…”
Once the old man started talking, it took several minutes for him to calm down.
“Ah, I’ve done it again… Please understand. When you get old, all you do is talk…”
The old man, looking embarrassed, wrapped up the conversation.
The man in the gas mask exchanged a few more words with the old man before stepping outside, letting Jin Yeseo go first.
“Why does he hate magicians so much? I’m disappointed. He didn’t seem like a bad person, even if he is from the lower class.”
Jin Yeseo followed behind him, her voice tinged with frustration.
“If it weren’t for us, this country would have perished long ago. Even now, we’re taking on this mission as a form of dedication to the nation. Even if it was a joke, how could he say something like joining the Black Magician Society so casually…”
“It’s not because they’re particularly evil. People envy what they don’t have. And even though they can’t become magicians, anyone can choose to become a black magician if they want to…”
His voice remained calm.
“…You’re quite understanding. If the successor of one of the Five Families expresses such thoughts, it could raise some suspicions. So, are you saying you’d spare that old man if he became a black magician?”
“Of course, I’d kill him. But before that, I’d torture him to get some information.”
Jin Yeseo was left speechless by his response, unsure of his true mental state.
Unlike magicians, who are born through the manifestation of innate talent and are often said to be chosen by the gods, becoming a black magician is relatively easy as long as one has the will to do so.
All it takes is forcibly injecting demonic energy into one’s body and enduring the backlash.
Of course, nine out of ten people who undergo this process either become mutants, go insane, or have their bodies collapse from being unable to withstand the demonic energy, leading to a miserable fate.
However, due to the increasingly bleak lives people were leading, the number of black magicians was growing rather than decreasing.
“…”
Jin Yeseo mulled over his words.
Even she, born into a prestigious family with no lack of anything, was obsessed with circulation magic, something she could not possess.
To the extent that she was willing to expose her weaknesses to the man in front of her.
“So… is there something you don’t have as well?”
“…”
At Jin Yeseo’s question, the man, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
He turned slightly to look at her.
“W-What is it…”
Although his face was hidden behind the gas mask, Jin Yeseo had the distinct impression that his gaze was directed not at her eyes, but at her dark, dyed hair.
“…There is.”
‘Again…’
After a long silence, the man gave a short reply. His tone carried that same melancholic feeling.
For some reason, Jin Yeseo recalled the sensation of the man’s hand earlier.
It wasn’t the usual roughness she was accustomed to, but rather, it felt almost gentle.
“If you’re a man, you should protect your woman yourself. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be, hmm?”
The old man’s voice, smiling warmly.
For the first time in her life, Jin Yeseo had experienced the sensation of being protected by someone.
Even if it was something imposed on her.
‘…’
A strange feeling briefly enveloped Jin Yeseo. One thing was certain—it wasn’t a negative emotion.
‘No, no! What am I even thinking?’
But Jin Yeseo quickly shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts.
“Stop acting all serious. And who told you to grab my waist like that? Do you even know how startled I was?”
She shot him a belated protest, glaring at him with a pout.
“You’re the one who always says not to touch you…”
“I can tolerate it for a little while, so it’s fine.”
“Huh?”
Jin Yeseo looked at him in disbelief at his nonchalant response.
“Actually, this works out well. If people see us that way, it’s a good thing. We’ll have to keep pretending to be a married couple while we’re in this city.”
“Who said you could decide that…”
Jin Yeseo stopped mid-sentence and clenched her lips shut.
The man’s reprimand from earlier came to mind once again.
And besides, once he made a decision, she had no choice in the matter.
“Sigh…”
She let out a grumbling sigh, barely containing her dissatisfaction.
“Fine. So, where are we going now? Another shop?”
“No need to visit anywhere else. We’ve heard everything we need to from the old man.”
The man answered as he walked ahead into the alley.
“I plan to focus on the places the old man mentioned. Starting tomorrow, since it’s already late today.”
“The places he warned us not to go?”
“Yeah. I have a bad feeling about it. I hope it’s nothing serious, but…”
The man suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He stood staring down at a sewer manhole, lost in thought.
Then, he raised his head and looked around the area.
The orange smog still filled the air, obscuring the view. Only the faint silhouettes of massive factory chimneys, spewing smoke, could be seen.
There were no sounds of birds or wind. Only the eerie mixture of metal clanging and machinery noises echoed in the distance.
After hearing the old man’s words, it really did sound like the cries of some strange beast.
“…That’s enough for now. We can investigate the rest tomorrow.”
The man started walking again, this time heading toward a shabby motel with a flickering neon sign.
It seemed the few extra words he had exchanged with the old man were to inquire about a place to stay. Jin Yeseo had been wondering about that herself.
But seeing the dilapidated exterior of the place, she couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.
‘I’d rather sleep outside…’
The red, dimly lit bulbs, the dusty shelves, the large dead insects scattered around, and the strange, fishy smell tickling her nose.
She was certain that even the servants’ quarters at her family’s estate would be far better than this.
‘Sigh…’
But a poor couple who had come to the city looking for work couldn’t exactly stay at a luxury hotel.
Not that there were any in sight, anyway.
‘At least I’ll have some time to myself…’
Jin Yeseo tried to think positively, holding on to her reason.
“Just return the key by tomorrow morning when you leave… Have a good night.”
“Thank you.”
She heard the man’s voice, along with the jingling of keys, as he exchanged pleasantries with the plump innkeeper.
“Hey. Give me my room key. You did pick the best room here, right…”
But before she could finish her sentence, Jin Yeseo froze.
Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
For some reason, the man was holding only one key.
“…?”
It took Jin Yeseo a few seconds to grasp the meaning of what she was seeing.
***
-Ssshhhh… Drip… Drip…
The cramped, old bathroom was filled with steam.
The black-haired girl was sitting in the bathtub, crouched down.
Her cheeks and ears were flushed red, perhaps from the heat.
She sat there, dazed, for a long time before abruptly standing up and stepping out of the tub.
“…I’ve been had.”
Standing in the middle of the steam, she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Her eyes trembled violently, and her face was filled with dread for what was to come.
“…It’s clear. He did it on purpose. Definitely…”
Jin Yeseo muttered to herself, her voice filled with conviction.
Everything was falling into place.
Normally, she would never have exposed her bare body in such a shabby place.
But after the commotion at the restaurant earlier, her body had absorbed the stench of cheap alcohol and food.
Resting with such filth on her body was unthinkable to her.
Under the guise of offering her the bath, the man had essentially forced her into the bathroom.
And now, they were playing the part of a poor, lower-class couple.
It was only natural for a married couple to share one room.
“…”
Jin Yeseo stared at her reflection once again.
As the steam gradually cleared, her naked body was revealed in the mirror.
Her pale, ivory skin, her unusually tall frame due to her mixed heritage, the smooth curves of her waist, and the two delicate pink buds that bloomed on her chest.
Her body was like a work of art, something that could not be easily valued.
Though she detested the lustful gazes of men, she wasn’t completely ignorant of the reasons behind them.
And right now.
The man outside the door had the opportunity to desire that priceless work of art.
“Ugh…”
Jin Yeseo gently touched the dark bruise below her navel.
It was the spot he had repeatedly struck during their training sessions.
No matter how much she rubbed it, the mark wouldn’t fade. In fact, the sensation only grew clearer.
As if it were a brand, marking her as someone’s possession.
“I was too naïve…”
For a female magician, chastity was both a weapon and a valuable asset.
But in her relationship with this man, such conventional wisdom was meaningless.
Right now, Jin Yeseo was completely vulnerable. There was no family power or Cradle rules to protect her here. She couldn’t even rely on her own strength to fend him off.
In other words, this was the perfect opportunity for him to take her without any interference.
For the first time in her life, Jin Yeseo felt genuine fear at the unknown sensation that was creeping up on her.
Why had she followed him this far? Perhaps even her firm refusal had been a part of his cunning plan to make her anxious.
“Is he… waiting right outside the door…? Ready to… take me the moment I step out…?”
Jin Yeseo squeezed her eyes shut. But there was no way to avoid the inevitable.
In the end, she resigned herself, her voice filled with a sense of hopelessness.
“If that’s the case… at the very least, I don’t want to look pathetic…”
No matter what, she didn’t want to show herself crying in a disgraceful manner.
Jin Yeseo racked her brain, desperately trying to come up with a solution. She cursed her past self for never paying attention to this sort of thing.
She tried to recall the lewd gossip her friends used to whisper about, searching for any clue.
Suddenly, something came to mind, and she lowered her gaze, staring blankly at her lower body.
“Should I… clean up? It seems a bit messy… No, no, no…”
But she quickly snapped out of it and glared fiercely at her reflection in the mirror.
“What kind of ridiculous thoughts… Focus, Jin Yeseo…”
She muttered to herself in a damp voice, steeling her resolve.
“I’m sorry, Seoyeon unnie… It seems this is as far as I go…”
If it was going to happen anyway, it would be better to get it over with quickly. Showing weakness would only play into the hands of the ruthless man outside.
With that thought, Jin Yeseo grasped the doorknob with trembling hands.
She closed her eyes tightly, wrapped her body in a long towel, and stepped out into the room.
“Eek…”
Even the feel of the rug under her toes was enough to make her hypersensitive.
Her blocked vision only fueled her imagination. It felt like something was about to pounce on her and tear her apart.
“…?”
But no matter how much time passed, the scene she had envisioned didn’t happen.
Puzzled, Jin Yeseo opened her tightly shut eyes.
The dark room was completely still.
“Huff…”
As she glanced around, her gaze landed on the window.
By the window sat the man, facing outside, his back to her.
“…Hey. What are you doing…?”
“…”
Jin Yeseo’s voice trembled as she called out to him.
“Hey, hey…”
“…”
There was still no response. Swallowing hard, Jin Yeseo slowly approached him.
Even when she was right in front of him, he didn’t move.
Jin Yeseo crouched down and looked up at him.
“…”
His gas mask was still firmly in place.
And the only sound she could hear was the steady, rhythmic breathing of the man.
“Wh-What…?”
Jin Yeseo’s face filled with confusion.
“…”
A moment later.
Jin Yeseo, still crouched, hung her head low.
“You… you dared… to mock me…”
Her face flushed red with humiliation and anger. Her hands trembled violently.
Large tears welled up in her eyes.
It didn’t take long for Jin Yeseo to realize the meaning behind the sound of his breathing.
The man had already fallen into a deep sleep.
End of Chapter
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Jhonrock
Oh God!!! I laughed sooooo much reading this chapter.
Poor Yeseo, she is dreaming about being pounced by Hyunn but cannot admit it.
And Hyunn, poor Hyunn, seeing Seoyeon on Yeseo all the time. He is still totally in head over heels for her, no doubt.