Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 151

Chapter 151

Heaven’s Door (17)

***

The woman’s face, covered by a black veil, was impossible to make out, not even the contour.

Well, it’s not like I have the ability to see through objects, so it’s only natural… But can she even see through that thing?

Maybe that’s why I feel so uneasy.

I don’t recognize her face, of course. Her voice sounds like that of a young woman, but it’s not familiar at all either.

And yet, I feel this strange sense of familiarity. Even though she’s not one of my sisters, just some stranger.

…Could she be a criminal I saw on a wanted poster? A dark mage? A demon spy?

“…”

There’s no way I could know if she’s a wanted criminal without ever seeing her face. And feeling a sense of familiarity with such scum would be even more absurd.

“Uh, um… You’re staring a bit too much…”

The woman, perhaps sensing my gaze, opened her mouth slightly and spoke in a shy voice.

“Even though I serve the gods… such a direct approach is a bit…”

“…Ah.”

Now that I think about it, this place did have an unusually solemn atmosphere. So, it is that kind of place, huh.

“My apologies.”

“Haha, no, it’s fine… My attire is a bit… peculiar, isn’t it?”

The woman, raising her head again, spoke with an awkward tone.

“I’m not very fond of sunlight… The children were scared of me at first, too… but now they’re fine.”

She gently brushed her hand, clad in soft white gloves.

Something she doesn’t want to reveal, huh…

Did she get burned or something? I’ve seen quite a few people with injuries since coming to this city…

“…”

I discreetly shifted my gaze to check the demonic energy gauge I had prepared in advance.

It’s almost useless in the city due to frequent malfunctions, but in one-on-one encounters like this, it’s fairly reliable.

And the needle didn’t budge at all.

In other words, there’s no trace of demonic energy in the vicinity.

If she were harboring any malice, the needle would have moved, even slightly, from the demonic energy leaking out.

At the very least, she’s not a demon or a dark mage…

“…”

I should continue the conversation for now.

“That’s unfortunate. The weather is so nice today.”

“Hehe, it’s fine. You don’t always need to find peace and rest under the bright sun. Sometimes, you can find truth in places as dark as this.”

The woman chuckled softly and shook her head. Now that I think about it, her way of speaking really does sound like that of a religious person.

“Come to think of it, how is it that the weather here is so clear? The other parts of the city I’ve seen were covered in thick smog, even during the day.”

“It’s only when the east wind blows that the smog clears for a while. Once the wind stops, this place is no different from the other districts. I settled here because it’s a bit better than the other areas, though…”

The woman shook her head again.

Then, she raised her finger slightly and pointed west.

“Could you look over there?”

I followed her finger and looked in the direction she indicated.

As the gentle breeze died down, the toxic fog that had been pushed away in the distance began to seep back in.

A massive, dull gray wave, taller than the factory chimneys, loomed from all sides.

It felt like watching the shadow of death descending.

“It breaks my heart every time I see the city covered in that gray fog. It’s truly a tragedy…”

The woman murmured in a sorrowful voice.

“Who could survive in such terrible pollution? This disaster is no one else’s fault but humanity’s. Such a greedy species we are.”

Then, she turned her gaze toward the children playing tag, laughing and running around.

“That’s one of the reasons I like children. They’re innocent. They’re pure, untainted beings, unlike the adults who have sullied their bodies and minds…”

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you something…”

I had forgotten while we were talking.

When she mentioned children, it reminded me of a question I had been curious about.

“Do you happen to know someone called the Eyeless Sister…?”

“Ah!”

The woman, who had been looking puzzled, immediately dropped her head when she heard my question.

So, I was right.

“How do you know that nickname…?”

She spoke in a barely audible voice.

“Children are pure, but… sometimes that makes them a bit mischievous… Even their nicknames are… well…”

“I heard it by chance when I was in District A yesterday. They said someone occasionally takes care of the children.”

“The parents in this city are all worn out and exhausted. They’re too busy worrying about their next meal to pay attention to their children. I just help out a little.”

The woman shook her head vigorously, as if shaking off her embarrassment.

“You seem to have a lot of questions. Are you from out of town?”

“Yes, I came up from the south looking for work.”

“You’re not the only one. More and more people are coming here as time goes on, rather than less.”

The woman nodded.

“People fight over a single ration can, and just by breathing to stay alive, they end up inhaling poison… What a wretched life. It’s as if hell has descended upon the earth…”

Before I knew it, her voice had become slightly choked with emotion.

“God never wanted this unfair world. Magic wasn’t given to us so that wealth and honor could be monopolized by a few. It was meant to be used for the greater good, but because of individual greed and selfishness, things have turned out like this. Sometimes… I wonder if it would be better to return to the beginning…”

“To the beginning?”

“Before men and women were separated, before humans and monkeys diverged. When we were all one. And being one means perfect equality. Not like now, where some suffer while others enjoy wealth and power. In that sense…”

“…”

Before I knew it, the conversation had turned into a long sermon from the woman.

“Oh my, time has flown by…”

It wasn’t until she heard the heavy chime of the grandfather clock that the woman snapped back to reality.

And the fog in the distance was now much closer than before.

“I’ve kept you too long. I’m sorry for holding you up…”

“It’s fine. It was a meaningful conversation for me as well.”

“Hehe, thank you for understanding.”

Then, the woman stepped forward and spoke.

“In return, I’d like to give you a little gift.”

“A gift…?”

“Yes. Could you hold out your hand? Just one…”

The woman kindly urged me again with a gentle voice.

What is she trying to do?

“…”

Her voice was filled with pure goodwill, without any trace of malice.

After a moment of hesitation, I obediently held out my palm.

She doesn’t seem like someone I can’t handle… and if she tries anything suspicious, I can use it as evidence.

The woman carefully placed her hand over mine.

Through the glove, I could feel a faint warmth, along with a slight, unpleasant tingling sensation.

“Just hold still for a moment…”

She whispered softly.

I stayed on guard, just in case.

But after a few seconds, the woman gently removed her hand.

Then, she took a few steps back and clasped her hands together as if nothing had happened.

“There, it’s done.”

“…?”

Seeing my puzzled expression as I opened and closed my hand, the woman added in an embarrassed voice.

“It’s nothing special. I just gave you a bit of good energy.”

“Good… energy?”

I didn’t feel any demonic energy, nor any particle flow, for that matter.

“I know it sounds strange. But I believe that after just one night… you’ll understand what I mean.”

Seeing that I remained silent, the woman hurriedly added, as if making an excuse.

“And… I’d like to ask you for one favor.”

“What is it?”

“If you have a good dream tonight… could you come back to see me?”

“A dream…?”

“Yes.”

The woman nodded with a confident voice.

“I’ll always be here. Tomorrow, the day after, and beyond…”

“…I will.”

“Hehe, thank you. It’s been a while since I had such a pleasant conversation with a kind guest. It’s amazing how enjoyable it is to talk with someone intelligent…”

The woman turned her head to check the west.

“You should hurry back. The fog will roll in again soon. I need to prepare for my afternoon prayers…”

“Understood. Then…”

I bid her farewell and turned to leave.

I hadn’t taken more than a few steps when her voice called out to me again.

“…Wait a moment.”

“…What is it?”

When I turned back, the woman spoke hesitantly, as if she were unsure about something.

“Have we… met before?”

“…”

That’s a good question. I’m curious about that too.

A chill ran down my spine.

So, I wasn’t the only one feeling this strange sense of familiarity?

The woman tilted her head slightly, waiting for my answer.

I took a deep breath and replied.

“…I’m not sure. I can’t tell with your face covered. Maybe if you took off that veil…”

“Hehe, you’re quite the mischievous one, aren’t you…”

The woman laughed softly, covering her mouth as if she were shy.

A gentle but firm refusal.

It seems I won’t be able to get anything more out of her today.

“…I’ll be going, then.”

I gave her one last nod and stepped out through the gate.

As I walked away, I glanced back.

The woman was still standing there, watching me as if to see me off.

Blending into the shadows like camouflage.

And in the next moment.

With the wave of fog that rushed in, the veiled woman vanished completely from sight.

***

I was lost in thought the entire way back.

My mind was filled with the encounter I had with that woman.

She was kind. She empathized with the suffering of the poor, and she didn’t just talk about it; she actually went out and did what she could to help.

Even someone like me, who isn’t well-versed in religious matters, thought that if there were true believers, they would be like her.

But…

“…”

I looked down at the palm I had offered to the woman earlier.

“…Something’s off.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve been chasing after heretics that I feel this way. That strange appearance of hers probably plays a part too.

I recalled the things she said.

That I would have a good dream, that she gave me some energy, and that I should come back to see her.

It could just be an overzealous attempt at proselytizing.

But her earlier sermon…

Was it just my imagination, or did it sound too sweet, too tempting?

It felt like she was speaking directly to the frustrations of those who couldn’t become mages.

Even someone like me, who’s halfway into the mage society, felt that way.

So, for the commoners who have to bow down to them all their lives, it must be even more compelling.

And more than anything, it felt like she shared the same strange sense of familiarity with me…

“…”

I need to investigate this further.

The woman remained shy but maintained a confident demeanor. She even told me to come back to see her.

If she planned to disappear, she wouldn’t have said that.

If she really is suspicious… confronting her outright or questioning her too directly could be a bad move. She might vanish the moment she senses something’s wrong.

Luckily, the start wasn’t bad. I’ll have to approach her gradually.

Lost in thought, I made my way through the fog-covered streets until the flickering neon sign of the cheap motel I was staying at came into view.

I climbed the familiar stairs and headed to my room.

“Why are you so late?”

As soon as I stepped inside, a somewhat curt voice greeted me.

Jin Yeseo was sitting at the vanity, not even bothering to look at me.

She was wiping the soot from her face and carefully brushing her tangled hair.

“…”

The sight had become oddly natural by now.

“I was walking around here and there. District B is bigger than I thought.”

“Really? Did you find anything?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“But I did meet that person.”

“Who?”

“I told you yesterday. The Eyeless Sister.”

“Oh, her…”

Jin Yeseo, who was about to reply, suddenly smirked mischievously.

“So now you’re openly bragging about cheating on your wife?”

“Oh, forget it. Why don’t you tell me what happened today?”

“Pfft… Alright. I heard earlier that there were five more headless bodies found today…”

Jin Yeseo and I exchanged the information we had gathered.

After a brief wash, I was about to lie down near the window again.

Jin Yeseo, seeing me heading for the chair, spoke up.

“Hey, wait a second.”

“What?”

“Are you going to sleep there again?”

“And why not?”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“Of course it’s uncomfortable. What kind of question is that…”

Jin Yeseo shot me a sharp glare.

“Then why are you sleeping there again?”

“What else? I can’t sleep in the same bed as you.”

“Hey! You’re really…! Ugh, forget it…”

Jin Yeseo, who had been about to snap, let out a long sigh before speaking again.

“…You sleep in the bed tonight.”

“All of a sudden? Why?”

“How could I let my hardworking husband sleep in a chair after he’s been out all day?”

“…”

I gave her a slightly annoyed look, demanding an explanation.

Jin Yeseo flinched slightly before raising her hands in mock surrender.

“…Fine, fine. I won’t push it anymore. Geez…”

She really never gets tired of this. She knows I hate it, and yet she keeps doing it on purpose.

“…It’s fine. We can take turns using the bed. I don’t want to owe you for something like that. You sleep in the bed tonight.”

“Well, if you insist…”

There was no need to refuse further if she was that adamant.

I got up and headed for the bed.

As soon as I closed my eyes, Jin Yeseo’s voice drifted over, sounding faint and muffled like a dream.

“You’re seriously not taking that off? You’re so stubborn…”

***

-…Hm, ngh…

Late at night.

Jin Yeseo, who had been dozing off in the chair, slowly opened her eyes.

A faint noise echoed through the room, coming from beyond the walls.

-Nngh, ngh… more, more…

“Ugh, seriously…”

It was the room next door.

There was no way a cheap motel like this would have decent soundproofing.

The sounds of a man and woman in the throes of passion.

Even though she wasn’t interested, Jin Yeseo could easily guess the meaning behind those animalistic grunts.

She muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with irritation.

“Disgusting… filthy…”

She tried covering her ears, but it didn’t help much.

If only the chair wasn’t so uncomfortable, she would’ve fallen asleep by now, and she wouldn’t have to listen to such vulgar sounds.

She regretted her foolish decision.

The noise eventually died down, but by then, she was already wide awake.

After tossing and turning for a while, Jin Yeseo finally got up from the chair.

She turned her gaze toward the bed.

The man was still lying in the exact same position he had been in when he fell asleep, completely motionless.

End of Chapter