Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Enrollment (1)

The girl and the frog sat side by side on a low hill.

A pleasant breeze gently tousled the girl’s long hair.

The girl chattered incessantly about the world beyond the well.

Buildings rising high into the sky, city lights that never turned off even at dawn, sturdy ramparts stretching endlessly beyond the horizon.

The frog listened intently to the girl’s words over and over. The long conversation finally came to an end. The girl, having finished her story, turned to the frog.

Her lips, red and luscious like hawthorn berries, finally parted.

“…Someday, I want to show it to you too.”

T hi s w a s c opi e d fro m k in g m t l . org
***

“…Young Master?”

The chauffeur’s voice calling me came from somewhere.

My eyes, which had suddenly closed, snapped open.

It seemed I had dozed off while surrendering to the bumpy vibrations. I felt like I had dreamt of something, but I couldn’t quite recall the contents.

Th i s wa s c op i ed f ro m k in g m t l .o r g
My head was still hazy, the lingering effects of the dream not yet dissipated. Seeing me like that, the chauffeur spoke again.

“…Young Master? Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell anywhere…?”

“…No, I’m fine. More importantly, have we arrived?”

“Yes. The capital’s gate is right ahead. We need to pass through there to enter. However, external vehicles are not allowed beyond this point… I apologize, but…”

The chauffeur spoke with a slightly troubled expression.

There was no reason I couldn’t go alone. My luggage was just a small travel bag.

“It’s alright. I’ll manage on my own from here. Thank you for the ride.”

“Oh no, please don’t mention it…”

As I bowed my head, the chauffeur took off his hat and bowed deeply in response.

T h is was co p ied f r o m k i ng m t l. o r g
I was still not used to such excessive courtesy, so it made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Ah…”

As I stepped out of the car, I was met with the sight of tall and sturdy ramparts, which seemed familiar from somewhere.

The grandeur of the scene left me momentarily speechless.

The ramparts of the capital stretched beyond the horizon, their end nowhere in sight. They were incomparable to the old, shabby walls of the countryside.

“…”

Despite taking in the magnificent view, my mood somehow remained low.

I hastened my steps for no particular reason. After walking along the road for about 10 minutes, the main gate of the capital came into view.

T hi s wa s c op i e d fr o m k i n gm t l . o r g
There were two entrances. One had a long line, while the other was quite deserted, a stark contrast.

At the crowded entrance, strict and thorough inspections were being conducted. Perhaps that was why the line moved slowly.

After much deliberation, I decided to join the crowded line. The quiet entrance didn’t seem to be a place prepared for me.

I could feel the surrounding people glancing at me. I figured it was because of the mask I was wearing. It was an inconvenience I had to endure now.

After standing in line for several hours, I finally came face to face with the guard conducting the inspection.

“ID… Oh, look at this guy. Wearing something strange on his face? What are you, some kind of freak?”

“…”

The guard spoke to me in a rude manner upon seeing me.

It didn’t feel pleasant, but I thought it might be a natural reaction for someone guarding the city.

Instead of retorting, I simply took out my ID from my pocket and handed it over.

“Name… Yu Jinhyun… and…”

It was a new identity the commander had created for me, combining my name with my mother’s surname and an appropriate extra character.

The guard eyed me and the ID suspiciously, alternating between the two. Now, his colleagues beside him were also observing me.

Having finished his inspection, the guard brought his finger to the ID. As he emitted a faint particle from his fingertip, a purple stamp appeared on the ID, reacting to it.
T h i s w as c o p ie d fr o m ki n g m t l . o rg

Upon confirming the stamp, the guard’s face suddenly turned pale.

“Oh my… I didn’t recognize such an esteemed individual… Why didn’t you use the magician-exclusive gate…”

The guard groveled with a completely different attitude from before. So there was a separate gate for magicians. No wonder there was no one passing through the other entrance.

“…It just ended up this way. Are you done with the verification?”

“That… if I may ask, the thing on your face…?”

The guard asked cautiously while gauging my reaction.

“It’s for medical treatment. I have some scars on my face. If you really need to check…”

“Ah, no, no. I couldn’t commit such a discourtesy.”

The guard hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.

“I apologize for the many offenses. Please go ahead. We sincerely welcome your visit to the last fortress, Masada.”

The guard, having returned my ID, greeted me in a much friendlier manner. It felt a bit anticlimactic that my luggage wasn’t even inspected.

I gave a slight nod and passed through the gate. After walking through a dark tunnel for a bit, I could see bright light pouring in from ahead.

As I emerged from the exit, the reality of the capital, which I had only heard about, unfolded before me.

Tall buildings stacked in layers.

Wide, straight roads stretching in all directions.

A clean river running through the city center, with trees lining its banks.

Countless people strolling around with bright, untroubled faces.

I had lived my entire life in a shabby village, having only briefly visited a small satellite city at most.

Afterwards, I followed the commander and my sisters around, wandering through underdeveloped frontiers.

T h is w as co p i e d f ro m ki n g m tl .o r g
To me, the sophisticated scenery of the capital was an overwhelming shock.

‘…Someday, I want to show it to you too.’

For a moment, it felt like someone’s voice echoed in my mind. I shook my head, trying to shake off the melancholy.

But according to what the commander told me, there should be someone waiting for me at the main gate.

Thi s w a s c o p i e d fr om k i n g m t l . o r g
“Hey kid. If you wear such a suspicious mask and look around, the security force will come to arrest you soon, don’t you think?”

I was about to check my surroundings when suddenly a young woman’s voice reached my ears, making me turn my head.

However, behind me, there was only an old gray-feathered crow perched. There was no human figure to be seen anywhere.

I thought I had misheard, but as the crow opened its beak, the woman’s voice from before resonated again.

“You heard it right. I’m the one who came to greet you.”

“Wh…what?”

I had seen the commander and my sisters handle crows many times, but seeing a talking crow was a first. The bizarre sight left me feeling a bit dazed.

“I’ve been sitting here for two whole days. Seriously, that Jaehyuk didn’t even properly inform me of your arrival time.”

The crow suddenly started complaining, even clicking its tongue, which was quite impressive.

“I… I apologize…”

“Never mind. It’s not your fault. More importantly, let’s move to a different spot first.”

Having said that, the crow spread its wings and took off. I hurriedly followed its lead.

The crow guided me behind the large buildings on the main street. It flew past a café district, a brick alley lined with bars, and through several back alleys.

After flying for quite a while, the place where the crow finally landed was in front of a run-down glass greenhouse at the end of an alley.

-Caw!

The crow cried out once, looking at me. It seemed to be urging me on.

T h i s w a s c o p ied fr o m k i n gm t l. o r g
-Click!

After some hesitation, I carefully stood in front of the greenhouse’s entrance. The iron door opened on its own without warning, as if beckoning me to enter.

T hi s wa s c o p i e d fr o m k i n gm t l . o r g
I eventually stepped inside. The crow, which had been watching me all along, finally flew off into the sky.

The interior of the greenhouse was filled with warm air. The faint scent of leaf mold was also subtly present. All around, colorful tropical plants of unknown names were thriving.

I continued walking along the narrow gravel path between the plants. Before long, I reached a space resembling a rest area with a sofa and a table.

And in the corner, I could see the back of a woman rummaging through a cupboard.

“Excuse me…”

“It’s almost ready. Just sit there and wait a moment.”

The moment I was about to speak, an immediate response came, as if she had eyes on the back of her head.

The voice that had been coming from the crow’s mouth was now resonating from the woman’s throat.

Following her words, I sat on the sofa next to the table.

-Clatter

“Huh…?”

After a short while, I turned my head upon hearing a sound. I could see a teacup, a coaster, and a teaspoon floating in the air. Faint steam rose from the teacup.

The floating tableware landed precisely in front of me. The teaspoon jumped into the teacup on its own and started stirring clockwise. The subtle aroma of tea gradually spread around.

“Is this your first time seeing psychokinesis?”

I was watching the scene as if entranced when suddenly a voice spoke right next to me, making me turn my head.

On the adjacent sofa, the owner of the voice was staring at me intently. She appeared to be a young woman, seemingly younger than the commander at a glance.

She was wearing a skirt with a slight sheen and a dark-colored top, exuding considerable dignity. A fragrant and fresh scent also emanated from her.

However, despite her appearance, her eyes seemed to hold a deep, seasoned aura.

“…I’ve seen the commander attempt it a few times. Although he ended up breaking all the cups and causing a ruckus every time…”

“Hohoho… That guy won’t be able to do it even in 50 years. Psychokinesis requires delicacy rather than explosive power. It’s not easy for young magicians to perform. Even more so for powerful magicians.”

The woman chuckled lightly, covering her mouth.

“…Then, the crow from earlier…?”

T h i s wa s c o p ie d f r om k i n g m tl . or g
“I temporarily borrowed its body. No matter what, I couldn’t personally wait there, could I?”

“Borrowed… you say?”

“Yes. It naturally happens as the bond with the owner deepens. You should get used to it. You’ll see even more bizarre things in the future.”

The woman rambled on by herself for a while, changing topics. Through her mouth, I learned about yesterday’s weather and even a traffic accident that occurred today. Fortunately, I was used to listening to someone’s chatter, so I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable.

“Oh my, look at me. I’m sorry. Seriously, this is how I am…”

The woman, who had been talking for a long time, suddenly made an expression as if she had remembered something. Then, clearing her throat and straightening her posture, she looked at me.

“Ahem. Nice to meet you. My name is Hae Wolhwa. I am currently serving as the principal of Cradle. And… I’m also the one who approved your recommendation for admission.”