Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 164

Chapter 165

***

In the middle of a garden full of lush greenery, a group of female students in white uniforms were chatting about this and that.

“Where’s Ayun?”

Someone asked, noticing that one of their usual friends was missing.

Another female student gently shook her head.

“She’s still hospitalized.”

“Still…?”

“What do you mean, still? She’s lucky to be alive. Swapping two fingers for her life…that’s a bargain.”

The conversation continued in a generally subdued atmosphere.

Through external requests, they could clearly feel the recent chaotic situation firsthand.

Magical beasts appearing beyond the outskirts and near the capital, black magicians plotting in the dirty and smelly sewers, and mutants with increasingly bizarre appearances being reported every day.

Fortunately, no one had died yet, but some of the students who faced such enemies had to return to the Cradle with serious injuries, almost in critical condition.

“Come to think of it…what’s going to happen to City 1 now?”

“It’s ruined, what else?”

The conversation naturally flowed to the আলোচিত incident.

“My cousin who works at the administrative office said that the purification unit completely blockaded the city. Not even an ant could get out.”

“What on earth is going on…”

Everyone already knew that chaos had erupted in City 1.

The students were naturally curious about the details, but due to strict information control, all they could find out were vague rumors.

Some said the entire citizenry had turned into hideous mutants, others that a secret society that had nested underground and hatched plots had started a riot, and so on.

“I’m curious…should we ask Senior Baek Seoyeon?”

Then.

At the sudden mention of someone’s name, a blonde, green-eyed female student sitting silently in her seat flinched slightly.

It was a well-known fact that Baek Seoyeon, a second-year idol of the Cradle, had been requested for urgent support and headed to City 1 to help stabilize the situation.

“Oh, forget it. Do you think she’d answer?”

“I’m curious…then should we ask him?”

“Him?”

“You know…the one from Heukryeon…”

The masked male student, once known as the oddball.

Along with the rumor that he, who had received the Geumseong Martial Honor Medal for his work in the South, was also deeply involved in this incident.

“Hey, hey…”

The friend next to her hurriedly stopped the female student who was thoughtlessly chattering.

Only then did she turn her head in a hurry, realizing her mistake.

Dazzling blonde hair that scattered the afternoon sunlight, emerald eyes of unfathomable depth.

A female student with an exotic yet extremely beautiful appearance was sitting with her legs crossed, clearly showing her displeasure.

“Ah, ahaha…”

The atmosphere became even more subdued.

Jin Yeseo was someone who didn’t like the very existence of men in the first place.

Among them, the fact that she hated the masked male student, commonly known as the oddball, to the point of disgust was known to almost every student in the Cradle.

Even after it was revealed that he was a direct descendant of Heukryeon and a strong candidate for the next successor, nothing changed.

After all, the one who had constantly stood in Jin Yeseo’s way was none other than that male student.

During their last duel.

The image of the male student beating Jin Yeseo like a dog was still deeply etched in everyone’s minds.

Needless to say, the person involved would feel it even more.

Not only had she tasted absolute humiliation and shame, but due to the aftereffects of the injuries sustained in that duel, she suffered a shocking defeat to Moon Yeowool, who was considered several levels below her.

Thus, her ranking plummeted below the top 10 in an instant, and she failed to obtain the qualification to perform the designated request, which was the first step toward future success.

Although she had recovered quite a bit now, Jin Yeseo had to spend a period of time avoiding people, looking almost like a recluse due to the shock.

Moreover, it is said that the male student not only completed the designated request during this request period but also made a great contribution.

There are widespread rumors that he will receive additional honors for this.

Although they were hospitalized in the same ward, Jin Yeseo, who only suffered minor injuries while performing a mere B-class request, was in a completely different situation.

It was no exaggeration to say that he was the very person who had taken everything from Jin Yeseo.

“Ahaha…Yeseo…”

The female student who first mentioned him tried desperately to take back her mistake.

“Still, it’s a relief you weren’t hurt too badly…right…?”

“Yeah…it could have been really bad…”

“It’s a real relief your face wasn’t hurt…”

The female students’ agreement continued, but Jin Yeseo’s sullen expression did not improve at all.

She narrowed her brows even more and gave a blunt, insincere answer.

“…I guess so.”

In this nutritionally void social gathering, she was just thinking about someone else.

***

-Crack…craaack…

A sudden expanse of ice unfolded before Jin Yeseo’s eyes as she waited for the end in resignation.

Along with it, a terrible chill seeps into her body.

The vicious monsters, which seemed to have crawled up from the depths of hell, were frozen solid and did not move.

“Ah…!”

She immediately recognized it as the Paechun unique magic, Snowfield.

And who had come as support.

-Thud…thud…tap, tap, tap.

Soon, the sound of someone’s footsteps approaching them could be heard.

The footsteps, which had a hint of impatience, soon turned into a frantic sprint.

Jin Yeseo had to quickly swallow the word ‘older sister’ that had risen to her throat.

It was because she immediately realized her situation of being here without telling anyone.

Cold sweat poured down, and her heart pounded in her chest.

Panic filled her.

Her mind froze, and she couldn’t even think of a proper excuse.

-Squish…

But soon, a fishy and lukewarm sensation flowed down Jin Yeseo’s palm.

She quickly turned around.

“Huh…?”

And only then could she recognize the deep hole in the male student’s stomach, gushing out dark red blood.

Along with the fact that he had been attacked while trying to protect her.

Soon, his large, solid body lost its balance and leaned toward Jin Yeseo.

“Hey, hey…! Stay with me…!”

“Move.”

But before Jin Yeseo could take any action.

A familiar voice, with an unfamiliar cold tone, followed.

Baek Seoyeon paid no attention to Jin Yeseo, her gaze solely on the masked man.

She quickly laid the man on the ground.

Then, without a moment’s hesitation, she removed his gas mask and examined his complexion.

His skin was already pale, almost bluish.

A clear shadow of death loomed over him, but the faint breath coming from his lips indicated that there was still a glimmer of hope.

“He’s alive…”

-Swoooosh…

Baek Seoyeon muttered something softly and quickly continued with additional measures.

She froze his wound area to delay the bleeding, then naturally gave instructions to the approaching soldiers.

“Every second counts. Hurry up and transport him.”

“Yes!”

“And…”

Soon, Baek Seoyeon’s gaze turned to Jin Yeseo, who was sitting on the ground.

It was a very unfamiliar coldness to Jin Yeseo, who had always been met with her warm gaze.

However, upon realizing that Jin Yeseo was not an enemy and had no injuries, Baek Seoyeon turned away as if she had no interest at all.

Then, she hurriedly disappeared, following the male student being transported.

“Hey! It’s dangerous here now. Please evacuate quickly…”

And until the approaching soldier tried to pull Jin Yeseo away, she stared blankly in the direction he had left.

***

On the way back from the social gathering, Jin Yeseo kept replaying the situation she had experienced in City 1.

Fortunately, Baek Seoyeon’s attention was focused on the man, so nothing like being interrogated or having her identity revealed happened.

However, the new side of Baek Seoyeon that she showed that day continued to confuse her.

“…”

Of course, considering Baek Seoyeon’s kind heart, it wasn’t an entirely unbelievable sight.

Even though he was a junior she had fiercely clashed with, she was a person with enough compassion to protect him.

“But it still seems a bit…excessive…”

The hurried footsteps, the affectionate touch, the biting of her lips at the sight of his pale face, the expression of joy at his faint breath.

“Haa…what am I even thinking…”

Jin Yeseo, who had stopped walking, let out a deep sigh.

There was a limit to overthinking.

She stared at the Cradle’s infirmary in the distance and fell into thought.

She felt a lingering feeling, as if she had left something behind.

“Miss. This is the medical staff’s opinion.”

A few days ago.

A servant who had been dispatched to monitor her under the guise of assistance handed her a piece of paper.

“It’s just a slight bruise and sprain. They said that even daily life, let alone light training, is not a problem.”

The servant, who served her mother, the head of the family, treated her with a very strict attitude.

“We will proceed with the discharge immediately. Isn’t it time for you to focus on your studies?”

“But…!”

“The master was very disappointed.”

However, despite her protests, a heavy, pointed remark followed.

“Not only did you fall out of the top 10, but you were also hospitalized for injuries sustained in a mere B-level request. She lamented, saying what a disgrace this is…when every minute and second should be spent on training the Black Flame…”

“…”

The voice that parroted her mother’s opinion.

However, the fact that his words were rather reasonable was what made her speechless.

Thanks to the rapid recovery of a magician, she had even stopped wearing a bandage on her wrist.

Moreover, since Jin Yeseo’s relationship with the man and the fact that she followed him to City 1 were all kept secret, it was understandable that someone who didn’t know the situation would think she was faking illness or slacking off.

In the end, Jin Yeseo had to leave the hospital without saying anything more.

Without being able to keep her promise to come see him again next time.

However, she shuddered even more at the stuffy feeling.

It was as if the shackles of the family name were tightening around her neck.

This was a sensation she felt even more prominently after returning.

It was natural to miss the past few days when she lived as a lower-class woman.

At least then, she was free from the family.

Naturally, Jin Yeseo’s resentment turned to the man.

In fact, the confusion she was experiencing these days originated from him.

To be honest, she thought it was a bit too much.

They had overcome numerous life-and-death situations together.

Honestly, she didn’t have any ill feelings toward him anymore.

Jin Yeseo felt even more sorry.

She had saved his life too, but he also ended up wandering between life and death after being attacked by a monster while protecting her.

In addition, the pleasant tingling sensation she felt when she saw him safe, the bitterness that melted away just by exchanging simple greetings, and the unnecessary irritation she felt when he was mentioned by another woman earlier.

They were all sensations she had never felt before.

And after reasoning out the reasons, Jin Yeseo concluded that these feelings were all due to the fact that she and he had become very close ‘friends’.

They had slept in the same room for several days.

One day, she even rolled around in bed in his arms, and in the process, she was able to feel his human side quite a bit.

Dare I say, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she was the closest ‘friend’ to him in the Cradle right now.

After all, even if it was only for a short while, they had pretended to be ‘husband and wife’.

If they weren’t close, would that even be possible?

So that must be why she’s feeling this way.

Why is he treating her like this?

He didn’t even know they were hospitalized in the same ward.

He probably doesn’t even know she’s been discharged.

“…Wait a minute.”

However, in the midst of her pouring thoughts, Jin Yeseo suddenly thought of a possibility.

It wasn’t a very pleasant thought.

It was a delusion with a terribly strong destructive power.

“Could it be…he’s already tired of me…?”

End of Chapter