Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Friction (4)

“Wow, that’s amazing! And I heard you’re almost an expert in demonic language, Senior…”

“Oh, come on. It’s not to that extent. I just self-studied a bit. Once you remember the principle of overlapping diphthongs that demons use…”

“Just being self-taught in something that difficult is incredible! Unbelievable…!”

The conversation in the salon was centered around Seoyeon. The blonde girl with green eyes was particularly enthusiastic. She nearly screamed and nodded rapidly at everything Seoyeon said.

“Oh dear, you’re praising me too much. And calling me ‘senior’ feels a bit distant, don’t you think? Just call me ‘sister’…”

“Then… Se… Seoyeon unnie…?”

The blonde girl looked like she was about to faint. The muscular boy with short hair sitting next to her had a look of disdain on his face as he watched her.

For once, his thoughts seemed to align with mine.

“Senior… if I may ask…!”

“Senior… I have a question too…!”

“Yes? Of course, go ahead. And it’s ‘sister,’ not ‘senior’…”

Though several people were chattering noisily at the same time, Seoyeon, maintaining her smile, calmly led the conversation.

Even though there were several unfamiliar students here besides those from prestigious families, I could easily guess their identities.

They were likely individuals with exceptional talents, who had entered Cradle with high scores in the entrance exams, even if they weren’t from famous families.

Yesterday at the induction ceremony, Yeon Minha had left before Seoyeon’s speech even ended.
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Recalling Yeon Minha’s anxious and restless expression, the sight of sycophants and flatterers surrounding her instead of friends, the Yeon family’s main house being financially devastated by a terrorist attack from a radical group, it was clear her current situation wasn’t good.

Moreover, if the journal’s contents from yesterday were true, Yeon Minha likely didn’t have the mental capacity to carefully manage her surroundings. Such social activities, requiring significant mental effort, would surely be challenging for her.

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Her deteriorating personality would have only exacerbated the situation.

Though I couldn’t know all the details, it was safe to say that this was an opportunity for Seoyeon to expand her influence without interference.

So, she had swiftly reached out to the freshmen. Unlike Yeon Minha, Seoyeon was well-liked by the students.

The way she skillfully controlled the room showed she wasn’t last year’s victor for nothing.

The shy girl who once struggled to talk to others had completely disappeared.

Though the students who didn’t seem to have notable backgrounds couldn’t participate in the conversation, Seoyeon’s kindness soon won them over.

The cozy salon was filled with friendly and warm vibes.
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Except for me.

***

Every time I heard Seoyeon’s voice, laughing and chatting with the girls, I struggled to calm my wildly beating heart.

Coming here simply because a senior called me was a mistake. The thought of leaving early was a mistake.

I should have left the moment I heard her voice.

But my foolish body refused to listen to its owner.

I sat there, praying for the time to pass quickly.

However, cruelly, it seemed God had no intention of answering my prayers.

“Um, our junior’s name is Yu Jinhyun, right?”

Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced my ear.

But the mouth uttering it called out not my real name, but a phantom name that didn’t exist in this world.
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The extreme pain, as if my insides were being torn out, forced me to clench my eyes shut.

“Junior?”

The questioning tone called out again.

And the gaze of everyone around focused on me.

Only after barely calming my pounding heart could I respond.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…?”

As I managed to speak, I met Seoyeon’s gaze.

Hearing my voice, Seoyeon suddenly raised the end of her right eyebrow slightly and tilted her head to the left.

It was just a fleeting moment, but I clearly saw it.

“…”

That peculiar behavior made my heart plummet.

That expression was unique to Seoyeon when she found something puzzling.

Did she recognize me? No, that’s impossible. My voice had grown deeper and lower, my height and build were incomparable to before. The mask concealed my face entirely.

I desperately tried to calm myself.

Whatever misunderstanding it was, thankfully, Seoyeon soon spoke naturally as if nothing had happened.

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“Hmm, it’s a really nice name…! But how about our junior joining the conversation too? Though it’s not for me to say, gatherings like this are really rare. It’d be great if you could get to know your friends better…”

“Well, I don’t really have anything to say.”

“Oh… oh? But still…”

“I honestly don’t even know why I’m here.”

The sudden bluntness froze the warm atmosphere in the salon almost instantly.

Seoyeon’s influence seemed to have spread, as I felt cold, hostile stares from all around.

The most intense hostility came from the direction where the blonde girl had been making a fuss earlier.

“Pfft.”
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A snicker echoed through the salon.

“Well, that’s true. I also don’t understand why such a strange fellow is here. Senior, could you explain the reason?”

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The sarcastic remark came from a boy sitting on the opposite sofa. I remember him being one of the Guk family sons… Jaeryong, I think. His sarcastic tone matched his impression perfectly.

I felt a strong urge to test whether a good beating might fix that tone.

But any such impulse vanished completely with Seoyeon’s unexpected words.

“Oh my, didn’t you know? Junior Yu Jinhyun here was admitted with a recommendation from the Heukryeon Sashi family. You know, the one that received a recommendation after 18 years…”

Seoyeon spoke while slightly covering her mouth with her hand. Her nonchalant manner evoked the expected reactions from all around.

“What? That person is him? This is unbelievable…!”

“I heard the rumor but never imagined…”

“How did a guy wearing such a weird mask get a recommendation…”

“So that’s why he went to the private dorm in the annex yesterday… No wonder… I thought he got lost…”

Though I was admitted to Cradle with a recommendation, I had been told by the dean that it wouldn’t be publicly announced.

Besides some perks like exemption from the entrance exam, I received the same education as other students. It would naturally come out as I built relationships.

But I never expected my background to be revealed in such a manner.

How did Seoyeon know that I was a recommended student from the Heukryeon Sashi family?

Maybe someone from the Baek family, which has connections within Cradle’s administration, leaked the information.

But why did she invite me to this gathering knowing who I was? And why personally reveal my background to others?

As far as I know, the Baek family isn’t on good terms with the Sashi family, much like the Yeon family. The current head of the Baek family reportedly considers the captain a mortal enemy.

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Moreover, the Yeon and Sashi families are supposedly amicable. Seoyeon would certainly know this…

“You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. He must be very talented to have received that recommendation.”

Seoyeon’s soft reprimand quickly quelled the discontent. She appeared quite benevolent.

Our situation of conversing as if strangers was, on another hand, quite ridiculous.

“If I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry, junior. I just invited you to get along. We’re all family here at Cradle…”

After pacifying the others, Seoyeon addressed me again. Her tone was filled with apparent confusion.

However, I no longer wanted to continue this farce.

The esteemed lady of the illustrious Paechun Baek family was you.

Two years ago, you left me like that, yet now, you greeted others with a bright smile as if nothing happened. Words failed me.

For a moment, I wondered if you might have changed your mind since then.

But I quickly realized it was a foolish thought.

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The slight squinting of your eyes while conversing warmly with others was characteristic when you said things you didn’t mean.

Seeing each of these behaviors one by one drove my sanity to its limits.

Trying to maintain my composure was a futile effort long gone.

Talking to Seoyeon as if we were strangers was… too cruel for me.

Thus, my mouth blurted out words I didn’t know were coming.

“…What kind of idiot would believe that?”

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End of Chapter