Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Friction (3)

The next day after the induction ceremony. It was early in the morning, not even six o’clock.

Throughout the outdoor training grounds of Cradle, the loud sounds of whistles and the complaints of new students echoed together.

“Huff… huff…! Is this what it means to be a sorcerer…?”

“I hate you, mom… You didn’t tell me it would be like this…”

“Are they trying to instill some discipline on the first day… huff…”

The new students had already run dozens of laps around the outdoor training track. All of them had aspired to join the School of Magic.

On their wrists and ankles, they wore heavy-looking black rings. The instructors’ stern warnings were immediate if anyone seemed to lag behind even a little.

“What is this… huff… if we strengthen ourselves with circulation magic, that’s enough… why do we have to do this… phew…”

Guk Jaeryong, a new student from the Guk family of Hwangseong, expressed his discontent with labored breaths.

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“Why the heck are we wearing these things on our wrists and ankles… It’s supposed to be the best academy, yet they’re using such outdated teaching methods… huff…”

“Hey, shut up… You’re not the only one suffering… They said these restraints are to prevent people like you from secretly using magic…! Phew…”

“If they just blocked magic, that would be enough… Why add weights too…! Huff…!”

Moon Yeowool, who couldn’t tolerate the noise anymore, snapped at Guk Jaeryong. Her face was also drenched in sweat and exhaustion. But Guk Jaeryong continued to pour out his complaints, undeterred.
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“Phew…! You’re such a whiner. This is just a morning walk. It feels refreshing and great.”

Choi Woojin, a large male student running beside them, lightly scolded Jaeryong.

“Hey, Jaeryong. That’s why I told you we should work out together earlier. What’s that? The name of the prestigious Twenty-Seven Families of Magic is crying, seriously…”

Unlike the two students before him, he showed no sign of fatigue. A few steps ahead of him, a blonde girl with green eyes, Jin Yeseo, was running silently.

“Shut up! What if we had an incomplete awakening and something happened! Huff…”

“Tsk, tsk, anyway…”

“Phew… Don’t be too harsh… Everyone else is struggling just the same…”

Ryu Seunghun, a male student with a kind demeanor, smiled and tried to calm Woojin. Although his face was slightly sweaty, he seemed significantly more composed than the other two.

Everyone entering Cradle was inherently a sorcerer, but not everyone aimed to join the School of Magic due to differences in natural talent and preference.

Cradle offered various majors besides the School of Magic, including Magical Engineering and Magical Resource Studies, among others. Students chose their major based on the intersection of their talents and preferences.

However, it had long been common sense for new students with exceptional abilities or from prestigious families to aim for the School of Magic.

The School of Magic primarily taught useful military magic for the front lines, and in the current chaotic situation, those specializing in such magic were most needed.

Furthermore, to rise to high positions later, having frontline service experience was essential. Thus, the School of Magic was considered the first gateway for ambitious students aiming for success.

The prestige of the School of Magic was the highest among all the departments in Cradle, and naturally, those from the prestigious Twenty-Seven Families of Magic all aimed to join the School of Magic.

However, even for them, Cradle’s educational methods were proving to be challenging.

“Tsk, tsk, it’s all excuses. Look ahead. Isn’t it embarrassing that even someone like that is running? Huh?”

Even while running, Woojin gestured ahead with his chin. There, the masked freshman from the induction ceremony was running. The girl who had been with him was also there.

“Hmm?”

Observing the masked student, Woojin soon noticed something odd. Despite running dozens of laps, he maintained a very steady breath. His posture showed no sign of breaking.

Only his tracksuit was slightly damp with light sweat. He looked as comfortable as an elderly person taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood.

“…He must have good stamina. Is he a naturally awakened sorcerer from the outskirts?”

Furthermore, the male student would gently push the back of the girl running beside him whenever she seemed to lag behind.

But if he wanted to push her, why would he use just the tip of one finger instead of his palm? Isn’t that too inefficient?

A light curiosity arose but Woojin soon lost interest and looked away. It wasn’t that important.

“When will this end…!”

“Just shut up…!”

The bickering between Jaeryong and Yeowool behind him continued noisily.

***

The morning training ended with the sound of the alarm marking the hour. The students immediately sat down wherever they were on the track, gasping for breath.

Amidst this, water bottles were supplied from carts at various points.

“Tsk, tsk. How pathetic.”

A woman stepped forward and lightly clicked her tongue at the nearly collapsed students. She had been observing us from the outdoor platform the entire time.

“Truly pathetic and pitiful. To think you’d collapse from just a light warm-up. And you still dare to call yourselves students of a prestigious academy. Huh?”

The woman didn’t seem much older than us. She had short hair, with sharply defined muscles visible on her body.
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She briefly introduced herself as she looked around.

“First of all, nice to meet you. I am Shin Jae-yu, who will be teaching you physical training and magical combat for the next year. I have something to explain, so sit down and listen.”

“Hiyah… Hiyah… Hyun-ah… drink this…”

“You should drink it first…”

“Uh-uh, I’m fine… hiyah…”

Ha Yena, constantly groaning softly, handed me a water bottle.
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Apparently, she hadn’t had the chance to put on makeup after being dragged out of bed, as her freckles stood out more than usual. Her face was drenched in sweat.

Her hair, unlike yesterday when it was neatly groomed, was now tied hastily with a string.

When I received the water bottle and handed it back to her, Yena gulped down the water with heavy breaths. Drinking that fast isn’t good…

“Puh! Ugh… ugh…”

Yena, drinking the water, started coughing as if it went down the wrong way. Her face turned red as she lowered her head from the stares she attracted.

Lucky for her, being far enough away meant the professor didn’t notice and continued her explanation.

“From now on, except for holidays, you will repeat today’s routine every morning. For the record, this is basic training separate from the main classes.”

“We have to do this every morning…?”

“This is insane…!”

“Quiet! There are already significant studies showing the correlation between physical activity and the regeneration speed of particles. Basic training is essential conditioning for sorcerers. Not to mention, from the moment your stamina drops, your judgment, magic formula composition speed, and more…”

Hearing grumbling from various directions, the female professor shouted and continued her long lecture.

Yena, who was sitting next to me, whispered in a small voice.

“Hiyah… I feel a bit better now… But Hyun, aren’t you tired? You even have that on your face…”

“I don’t really feel that tired…”

“Really? That’s amazing… I’m really worried… How can we keep this up for three years…?”

Yena briefly marveled, then made a distressed face. But compared to the captain, who made us roll in the mud until we threw up, this was just a light walk.

The captain used to say my body wasn’t suited for magic, so I needed to maintain my endurance in this way.
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At the time, his annoying tone made me grit my teeth, but now I think I understand his words somewhat…

“Oh, I’m so exhausted…!”

“Be quiet…!”

I turned my head at the sudden noise of a quarrel. I soon recognized some familiar faces.

They were the group from the prestigious Twenty-Seven Families of Magic I saw from a distance during the induction ceremony yesterday.

A big guy with a refreshed expression wiping sweat, the blonde girl with a calm face, the friendly-looking guy with a girl glued to his side, and the sneaky-looking guy still panting heavily.

Although most of the other students were lying flat on the ground, they seemed relatively fine.

“It’s okay. You can do it. I’ll help you too…”

“Hey, you there! What are you whispering about? Huh?”

Just as I was about to respond to Yena, a loud voice directed at us made me feel uneasy. The female professor, once standing on the platform, was now walking towards us.

“Come to think of it, you two have been sticking together since the track. Bold from the very first class. I don’t know who you learned it from, but you sure picked up some bad habits, huh?”

The professor looked down at me with a smirk. Yena quickly hid behind me, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze.

Is it just my imagination, or did she emphasize the word ‘who’ particularly?

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Heh, of course, you wouldn’t. Be careful, got it? You’re lucky it’s me letting it slide, but if some grumpy old professors catch you, it’ll be a hassle.”

Instinctively, a sharp tone slipped out in response to my sudden irritation. I regretted it immediately, but surprisingly, the professor just waved her hand and resumed her lecture as if nothing happened. I thought I might get a scolding.

Personality is indeed hard to change. My mom, the captain, and my sisters had all pointed out my short temper, and yet here I was.

Will I end up causing trouble someday…

“…”

“…What?”

I felt someone’s gaze and turned my head. Yena, her face red, was puffing her cheeks slightly and glaring at me.

“…I don’t know. I just feel like I lost.”

***

Various classes continued throughout the day. Cradle’s education rigorously pushed both the body and mind from day one. I think I’m finally starting to understand what the captain meant by being tough.

While the physical training wasn’t too challenging, cramming all sorts of magical theories and formulas into my head was quite taxing.

Even though I had learned a bit from my sisters, I hardly knew anything about magical theory. I had spent most of my life in places completely unrelated to magic…

“…Though we were driven to the brink, the emergence of sorcerers allowed us to rebuild civilization. The name of the current capital, too, is a trace of that chaos. Masada is the name of the final fortress from an ancient scripture. And from that point, the current ten republics system has continued.”

An elderly professor with a dignified beard was giving a humanities lecture from the podium. It wasn’t hard to find students nodding off here and there, probably exhausted from the morning’s grueling schedule.

“However, it’s necessary to view this from a different perspective at least once. Some say magic is a blessing from the gods, but I disagree with such an optimistic notion. While humanity has indeed been able to sustain life thanks to sorcerers, not everything has always worked out for the best.”

“Snore…”

“…”

Yena was already asleep with her face down on the desk. Fortunately, we were in the back, so it wasn’t easily noticeable.

After a brief consideration, I decided not to wake her but instead used my book to block her from view.

“Let me give you an example. In the past, we had aircraft capable of carrying hundreds of people through the sky. We could even send rockets beyond the sky to reach the moon. We could even use satellites to communicate with people on the other side of the Earth without any limitations. But aircraft, rockets, and satellites have long since become mere concepts. Do you know why? Because of the Vessel particles filling the atmosphere.”

The professor continued his explanation.

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“The particles interfere with engine mechanisms and prevent objects exceeding a certain weight from floating in the air, making it impossible for anything larger than a bird to fly. The particles’ properties also disrupt radio waves, making wireless communication impossible in areas without phone lines. If we hadn’t discovered how to tame crows, we wouldn’t be able to communicate with people far away at all.”

Unlike other professors who constantly scolded us, the elderly professor continued his lecture in a calm voice, regardless of whether students were sleeping or paying attention. It was unclear whether he lacked enthusiasm or was simply considerate…

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“As a result, international interactions have reverted to ancient levels. We, who once conversed with people on the other side of the Earth, now barely maintain relations with neighboring countries. Occasionally, we interact with the Union across the distant eastern seas by regular ships…”

“Snore…”

Yena’s snoring punctuated the professor’s lecture.
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“This is our current reality. Additionally, numerous issues caused by the influx of particles and the emergence of sorcerers are scattered throughout our society. Some even claim that humanity is now trapped in a small cage called magic. Though I do not fully agree with that assertion, I encourage you all to consider a critical perspective on the magic you take for granted as a blessing. That is the first step to becoming a sorcerer.”

Suddenly, the alarm signaling 6 p.m. rang out in the lecture hall. The professor checked his wristwatch and prepared to end the lecture.

“Hmm, it’s already time. We’ll stop here for today. In the next class, we will delve into more detailed concepts…”

“Yena, wake up. Class is over.”

“Hiyah…?”

After waking Yena, I left the lecture hall. The sun was setting beyond the horizon.

As I walked along the campus, I pondered the professor’s words. But it was difficult to come to a simple conclusion. I had to reconsider the premise. Had magic ever been an unquestionable blessing for me…

“…Hey, you there!”

Just as I was about to turn onto the path leading to the dormitory, a cheerful voice called out from behind. With no one else around, it seemed directed at me.

Turning around, I saw a girl waving at me. Her refreshing appearance was accentuated by a distinctive tear mole under her right eye. Judging by the badge on her lapel, she was a second-year upperclassman. Her name tag read ‘Kwon Yuri.’

“Did you call me?”

“Yes! I did! Oh, it took me so long to find you. I actually went to your classroom earlier, but it was already closed since class was over.”

“You were looking for me…?”

“Hehe, you heard right! I’m Kwon Yuri from the School of Magic. What’s your name, little chick?”

“…Yu Jinhyun.”

“So you’re Jinhyun! What a nice name!”

She smiled brightly and nodded enthusiastically. She didn’t react at all to my mask, indicating that as a second-year, she was probably more accustomed to seeing oddities than the first-years.

But why would an upperclassman I’d never met before be looking for me? I had no idea.

“It’s nothing big. My friend is hosting a small gathering and wanted to invite you! So I came to extend a personal invitation!”

“Your friend…? Who?”

“Haha, wouldn’t it be boring if I told you in advance? Anyway, how about it? Can you spare a little time if you’re not too busy? It won’t take long and it’ll be fun!”

…

After a moment’s thought, I realized I had no reason to refuse. Though the invitation was sudden, I had no other plans.

There didn’t seem to be any good reason to turn down an upperclassman’s invitation and leave a bad impression…

“…If it’s just for a little while, I think it’ll be fine.”

“Hehe! I like your straightforwardness! Alright! Just follow me!”

Hearing my acceptance, she led the way, guiding me. As the sun set, evening primroses began to bloom in the gardens of the campus. The sound of moths and small insects fluttering around the streetlights could be heard everywhere.

After walking for quite a while, we arrived at a small salon in one of Cradle’s annexes. The door, adorned with carvings of grapevines and butterflies, looked quite luxurious.

“Little chick, your life at Cradle is about to blossom!”

“…?”

The girl standing at the door suddenly whispered something incomprehensible. Then she opened the door and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.

“Um…?”

“Huh?”

The moment I stepped into the salon, I heard a few deflated exclamations from various directions.

The first thing that caught my eye was the large rectangular table in the center, prepared with various refreshments and teacups.

Around the table on the sofas, I soon recognized familiar faces. The students from the prestigious Twenty-Seven Families of Magic I had seen in the morning were all seated.

Judging by their astonished expressions, the owners of the exclamations were likely the sneaky-looking guy and the girl with a ladylike demeanor.

Besides them, there were several other students I hadn’t seen before, making the number of people quite significant.

“Hehe, our junior’s seat is over there!”

Kwon Yuri pointed to the last empty seat. Pushed by her energy, I went to the sofa and sat down.

I could feel the sharp gazes directed at me from all around. What’s going on? These people don’t seem to be fellow freshmen wanting to talk to me.

Everyone seemed confused, likely because the host of the gathering hadn’t arrived yet.

…

And just as I began to wonder about the person who invited me,
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Suddenly, a very familiar voice came from outside the door.

-Yuri, sorry! I’m a bit late, the professor suddenly called me…!

-It’s okay, it’s okay! The juniors just arrived!

“Um…?”

“That voice…?”

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Other students seemed a bit excited as they exchanged words.

Soon, I saw a familiar upperclassman enter through the door.

“Hello, juniors! It’s such a pleasure to meet you…!”

The person who appeared was none other than Baek Seoyeon, smiling brightly.

End of Chapter