Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Physical Bond (1)

Three days after the first exam. Hwayangkwan Hall at the Cradle was packed with students.

Today was the day to announce the results of the Celestial Basin practical test for the freshmen, and it was also the day of the mentor selection ceremony.

The students were buzzing about the incident during the practical. Many students had been injured that day.

It was fortunate that no one had lost their life, considering the severity of the incident.

However, the Cradle’s announcement left some feeling uneasy and uncertain.

The report concluded that a few high-level monsters, pushed out due to territorial disputes, had crossed into the northern sector and attacked the students. The swift response prevented any significant casualties.

There were also testimonies of seeing the shadow of something enormous. But no concrete evidence was found, and it was deemed an overinterpretation of visual information during the chaos.
T h i s w as co p i e d f r om kin g m tl . o r g

Though the exam had been interrupted, the Cradle announced that they would assign rankings to the freshmen based on the observations made up to that point.

This first ranking would be a crucial milestone in their future at the Cradle, so the students awaited the ceremony with anxious expressions.

Except for three students who looked particularly displeased.

“What was that guy really?”

Woojin glanced sideways, catching sight of the masked male student standing alone. Strangely, the brown-haired girl who always accompanied him was nowhere to be seen.

“They say he just happened to find an injured monster, but he looked utterly exhausted. He was covered in its fluids. Could it be that he really…”

“Hey, I told you to stop talking nonsense.”

Yeseo abruptly interrupted.

“This isn’t a matter of being skilled or not. Aiteranus is a monster that even veteran hunters find tricky to catch. And that one was a mutant. It even got an identification name, Toad Serpent. How could a student take down something like that? Especially alone?”

Her face was filled with unresolved questions, which the three of them shared.
Th i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i n g mt l . o r g

The image of the masked student leisurely resting on the giant monster’s corpse was deeply etched in their minds.

“The monsters we saw along the way could have been hunted by him. Last year, even Baek Seoyeon and Yeon Minha handled that much without trouble. Let’s assume we didn’t recognize a truly skilled guy. But catching the Toad Serpent is just impossible! How many times do I have to say it…”

“Enough, enough…!”

Seunghun, standing between them, interrupted Yeseo.

“It’s already over. Stop thinking about it. We swore to keep silent about what we saw that day. So let’s…”

“Tch…”

Yeseo reluctantly closed her mouth. Seeing this, Seunghun sighed.

“Haah. And didn’t Baek Seoyeon say last time? He got in by recommendation because he’s skilled. And from what I’ve seen, Hyun is really…”

Th i s w a s c o p i ed f r om k i n gmt l . o r g
“Alright, did everyone get enough rest for three days?”

A loud voice from an amplifier interrupted Seunghun. The ceremony was about to start on time. The group stopped talking and faced forward again.

On the podium stood Professor Song Daewon, wearing a monocle.

T h i s w a s c o p ied fr o m k i n g m tl .o r g
“First, I express my deep condolences to the students injured in the accident during the exam. The Cradle will spare no effort in their recovery and ensure they face no disadvantages in the future…”

After summarizing the outline of the accident, the apology, and future measures, he began announcing the individual rankings of the freshmen.

“…Although the exam was stopped midway for safety, it was almost at its end. We have calculated the rankings based on the data collected up to that point. The rankings were determined in the fairest manner under the supervision of all members of the Education Committee, and any objections can be filed within three days…”

He started calling out the students’ rankings one by one. The first name called, that of the last-ranked student, brought visible embarrassment.

The ranking, which changed bi-weekly, could be found in various places around the Cradle. Although future performance could alter one’s rank, it was clear that feeling low wasn’t pleasant.

The ranking system didn’t seem particularly educationally sound. It didn’t seem likely to ignite a passion for learning.

It felt more like a system designed to allow corporations and influential families to easily scout students.

“217th…!”

“185th…!”

The monocled professor continued announcing the rankings.

“97th… Guk Jaeryong!”

A familiar name rang out. Quite a low rank for a student from a prestigious family.

Neither Muyoung nor Yena’s names had been called yet. From afar, Guk Jaeryong hung his head and trembled, his pride evidently wounded.

The ranking announcements proceeded towards the end. Now, the names of the highest-ranking students, who had the right to directly choose their mentors, were being called.

Cheers erupted for each name called.

“27th… Shin Muyoung!”

“23rd… Ha Yena!”

Having reached quite close, it seemed Yena and Muyoung had managed to make it into the top 10%.

Turning my head, I saw Yena shyly receiving congratulations from friends jumping around excitedly in the distance.

This w as cop ie d f r om k i ngmt l . o rg
Our eyes met briefly, but she soon puffed her cheeks and turned away sharply.

I felt the need to talk to Yena after the ceremony.

“Now, 10th place…!”

As the professor’s voice grew hoarse, only single-digit ranks remained.

“4th place… Ryu Seunghun!”

A particularly loud cheer came from the front as soon as his name was called. A boy with a pleasant smile and a girl fussing next to him stood out.

“3rd place… Choi Woojin!”

He seemed displeased despite achieving a high rank.

“2nd place… Jin Yeseo!”

I soon understood the reason for his displeasure. The blonde, green-eyed girl glanced at him with a condescending smile.

His reddening neck and trembling fists were visible even from where I stood.

Now, only one name, the first-place with all its glory, remained to be announced. The students looked around for the yet-to-be-called individual.

T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r om k i n g mt l .o r g
After a long pause, the professor finally spoke.

“1st place… Yu Jinhyun!”

***

“Yu Jinhyun?”

“Isn’t he the weird masked guy? Didn’t he have a big fight with Baek Seoyeon?”
T h i s w as c o pi e d f r om k i ng m t l . or g

“No way…!”

Hwayangkwan Hall erupted in noise. Unlike the other top-ranked students, many couldn’t accept the newly announced top student’s ranking.

Particularly, Guk Jaeryong, with his shallow look, seemed almost ready to burst.

T hi s w as c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l . or g
Seeing the commotion, Professor Song Daewon calmed the students through the amplifier.

“Quiet! I mentioned that the rankings were determined based on absolute and fair criteria. We do not accept objections regarding others’ rankings. And to inform you, Yu Jinhyun is the only student who reached the identification device and successfully stamped their tag. I believe that explains enough.”

His words quickly quieted the hall.

“…So he wasn’t a recommendation student for nothing…”

“Indeed… He must be genuinely skilled…”

“Now that it’s settled, Yu Jinhyun, come up to the podium.”

Following the professor’s call, someone from the back row began to walk forward.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow. They were confident and relaxed, as if he belonged there.

The gazes on him were varied. Envy, admiration, respect, a hint of goodwill, competitive spirit, and hostility were all directed at him through the mask.

Reaching the podium, Lee Hyun turned to face the crowd. Hundreds of eyes felt incredibly burdensome. Without the mask, he might have gagged.

The surroundings were so quiet that even whispers were audible.

The mentor selection ceremony began with the top-ranked student choosing their mentor.

Following that, the top 10% of students each selected a senior to be their mentor. The rest would find suitable partners at the subsequent banquet through mutual agreement.

Everyone awaited Lee Hyun’s words.

“Alright, our top student, Yu Jinhyun, which senior do you choose as your mentor?”

“…”

T hi s w a s c o p i e d f rom k i n g mtl. or g
It took a while for his response to come.

Half of the hall was occupied by second-year students, attending under the pretext of encouraging the freshmen.

But their eyes were sharp, like predators eyeing their prey, assessing the freshmen’s skills and backgrounds to pick suitable mentees.

Lee Hyun didn’t look in their direction.

Just thinking about them made his heart tighten. Seeing that familiar smiling face again, he couldn’t bear to imagine the pain.

“I choose…”
T h i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k in gm t l . o r g

His answer had been decided from the start.

“I choose Senior Yeon Minha.”

End of Chapter