Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Predator (3)

The place where the girl led the boy was a high hill filled with white cosmos flowers. There was no sign of anyone else around them. The sky was perfectly clear, and a pleasant breeze was blowing gently from below the hill.

“Close your eyes, quickly…!”
T h i s wa s c opied f ro m k i n gm t l. or g

The girl urged the boy in an excited voice. Her face was slightly flushed for some unknown reason.

“Oh, come on. Why do I have to close my eyes? I told you, you don’t have to give me a birthday present…”

T his w a s c o p i ed fr o m ki n g mt l . o rg
“I-I already prepared it… Now close your eyes…!”

“What are you going to give me…”

The boy grumbled but closed his eyes as the girl requested. He could never refuse a request from the girl he loved.

But even after a while, there was no sign of the girl giving him a present. All he could hear was the rustling sound of the cosmos stems swaying in the wind.

“Are you trying to prank me or something…”

Just as the boy, tired of waiting, was about to open his eyes, he felt something soft and moist touch his right cheek.

-Smooch

Feeling a strange sweetness and warmth for the first time, the boy turned his head to the right to identify the sensation.

“Oh…?”

In his view was a pair of large, clear eyes, as big as a deer’s. So close that he could feel the downy hair on her skin and hear her breathing.

“Huff… huff…”

The girl’s face, meeting the boy’s gaze, turned bright red like a freshly harvested carrot.

“Uh… what is this…?”

“I told you to keep your eyes closed…!”

Unable to overcome her embarrassment, the girl turned her body and covered her face. But the boy was equally embarrassed. His face was filled with an unfamiliar feeling of excitement and ticklishness.

“Idiot… you’re really an idiot…”

“…Sorry. I didn’t expect the present to be this…”

“I told you to keep your eyes closed… huff…”

All the boy could do was repeatedly apologize shortly.

The two sat quietly side by side for a long time. Eventually, the girl, unable to endure the long silence, spoke again.

“…Did you like it…?”

“Huh?”

“Did you like it… my birthday present…?”

The boy turned his head again. He saw the black-haired girl staring at him with her face buried between her raised knees. There was a faint look of anticipation in her eyes.

All the boy could say was a short answer.

“…Yes. I liked it… really…”

“…I’m glad…”

The girl finally relaxed and melted into a puddle. Then, with a determined expression, she looked at the boy again and said,

“If you liked it… can you do it for me too…?”

“Huh…? But it’s not my birthday today… You said it was a birthday present…”

“Still… I’m curious too… Can’t you…?”

Faced with the unexpected request, the boy’s face was filled with confusion. But the conclusion was always the same. Refusing a request from the girl he loved was impossible.

“…Alright. Close your eyes.”

“…Okay.”

The girl immediately closed her eyes, her lips almost curling up to her ears in happiness.

The boy, hesitating, fulfilled his duty. Up close, the girl’s cheek was slightly trembling with nervousness and excitement.
T h i s w as c o pied fro m k i n gm t l. or g

The boy brought his lips to her cheek.

“…Hee.”

The moment he kissed her cheek, the girl shivered and made a peculiar sound. Although he quickly pulled away, the girl kept her head down without saying anything.

Did he do something wrong? Just as the boy began to worry, the girl suddenly leaped and hugged him. She naturally ended up in his arms.

The girl looked like the happiest person in the world. Only then did the boy relax and speak again.

“…Did you like it?”

“…Yes. I really liked it. I was so happy…”

“…That’s a relief…”

They lay entwined in the flower field for a long time. Suddenly, the girl seemed to remember something and spoke,

“Hey…”

“…Yes?”

“Do you want to try it somewhere else…?”

“Huh…?”

T his w a s c op i ed f ro m k i ngm t l . o r g
Lying down, the boy looked down at his chest.

What he saw was a pair of moist eyes and something that looked like a sweet fruit.

It was tempting enough to stir impure impulses, but the boy managed to overcome his desire without much difficulty.

“…No.”

“…Why?”

The girl asked in a dissatisfied tone. The boy just smiled and stroked her hair.

“A kiss on the lips is something adults do. Let’s wait a little longer.”

“…Tsk.”

The girl briefly pouted and puffed her cheeks.

“Well, there’s no need to rush.”

But then she seemed to change her mind and burrowed back into the boy’s arms with a happy smile.

“After all, I’m yours. Body and soul, all of me.”

“…Yes.”

“And you are mine too.”

“Yes.”

The girl had a knack for saying the most embarrassing things without any hesitation. All the boy could do was respond with short answers.

The girl looked up at the boy. The air was filled with the scent of grass and the sweet fragrance of forget-me-nots. Finally, her small lips parted.

“I love you.”
Th i s wa s c o p i e d fr o m k i n g mt l . o r g

***
Th is w a s c op i e d fr om k i n g mt l . o r g

“Hah… hah…!”

I opened my eyes to find it was dawn. I was drenched in sweat, and my mouth was gasping for breath. It was as if I had just woken from a nightmare.

“Ugh… ugh…”

I felt a wave of nausea for some unknown reason. I got up, grabbed a water bottle, and drank deeply for a long time. Only after half of the large bottle was gone did I finally regain my composure.

Tomorrow was the day we were leaving for the Celestial Basin for the exam, but I was already wide awake.

The captain’s words about being able to calm my mind by diligently attending the meditation classes were clearly a lie.

Since there was no chance of falling back asleep, I decided to spend the night organizing my thoughts.

I turned on the dim bedside lamp and sat back on the bed.

My immediate goal was to achieve a good rank within the top 10% on the upcoming exam and choose Yeon Minha as my mentor.

Then, somehow build a connection with Yeon Minha, help her regain her position, and restore some balance.

Initially, it seemed overwhelming, but now I had at least a few clues.

The main reason Yeon Minha lost her position was undoubtedly her nasty personality.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k in gmt l . o rg

It could be an innate trait or something acquired over time.

But if the descriptions in Yeon Jayu’s diary were accurate, the most likely cause of Yeon Minha’s twisted personality was her powerful talent as a spirit mage.
T h i s w as c o pie d f ro m k in g mt l . o r g

Being constantly exposed to things she shouldn’t see due to her ‘path’ being open, she must have suffered significant mental stress, leading to her current state.

If my ability to seal could somehow alleviate those side effects, it might help her.

Sealing calms the movement of particles around, and the biggest reason spirit mages suffer side effects is the communication with spirits via particles.

While maintaining my ability all day is impossible, creating a temporary safe haven might bring some improvement.

Fortunately, Yeon Minha’s skills are not an issue. In fact, her exceptional talent is the very problem causing her current situation.

Both the mage society and Cradle prioritize skill. If she could fix her personality, there’s a good chance she could reclaim her position.

From what Yena told me, none of the prominent students mentioned Yeon Minha’s name.

Most of them had already formed bonds with Seoyeon from the previous social gathering. Even if they didn’t choose Seoyeon as their mentor, they wouldn’t want to create friction by choosing Yeon Minha.

This also means that Yeon Minha’s public image is poor, and her influence is waning.

Although Choi Woojin seemed unusually intent on choosing Yeon Minha as his mentor, the maximum of two mentees per mentor shouldn’t pose a problem.

“…”

But that doesn’t mean everything is resolved.

First, there’s the possibility that Yeon Minha’s personality is too far gone to be corrected.

If she has been exposed to harsh conditions for over a decade, unless she has an exceptionally strong will, she may have already crossed the point of no return.

Many of the Yeon family’s direct line had short lifespans due to the collapse of their mental barriers from excessive communion with spirits, leading to various psychological issues.

Given Yeon Minha’s abundant talent, she might be experiencing severe side effects even her ancestors didn’t face.

If she’s already irreparable, I won’t be able to help her.

Moreover, there’s currently no trust between Yeon Minha and me to reveal my ability.

Unlike the captain or the sisters, Yeon Minha doesn’t even come close to that level of trust.

Far from having any personal trust, I currently only evoke unpleasant feelings in her.

“…Hah.”

I paused my thoughts and sighed.

The conversation with Seoyeon from last week kept replaying in my mind, perhaps because of the dream I had.

At least I hadn’t run into her since then, allowing me to regain some peace of mind.

But in my current situation, I was essentially marked as Seoyeon’s enemy.

I thought the rumor about me being from the 66th Squadron might spread from her side, but surprisingly, I hadn’t heard any such talk.

Considering her hostile attitude, it felt more like she was waiting for a decisive moment than showing mercy.

Seoyeon has already moved on with her life, forgetting about me.

Th is wa s c o pi e d f r o m kin g m t l .or g
I, too, must not ignore what I need to do.

Even if memories hold me back and the sorrow makes my heart ache.

I have no choice but to move forward.

In my current situation, helping Yeon Minha has become inevitable.

For her to regain her position would restore balance, prevent any harm to the captain and the sisters, and fulfill the captain’s order to graduate from Cradle with honors.

Yeon Minha doesn’t know it yet, but she and I are now essentially in the same boat.

I have no other choice.

I must achieve a top 10% rank in the exam.

T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r o m k i ngm t l .o rg
Then, I will approach Yeon Minha as her mentee and somehow correct her.

Even if it means using rough methods.

End of Chapter