Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 41

Chapter 41
T h is w a s c o p i e d f r o m k in g m t l . o r g

Physical Bond (4)

Every Wednesday, official duels organized by the Duel Committee of the Cradle take place.

On this day, the infirmary is always packed. Students frequently suffer severe injuries in these duels, often requiring external medical attention.

The students at the Cradle are young wizards in their prime, wielding immense power they often struggle to control, leading to frequent clashes and trouble.

Given the constant conflicts, it’s better to manage them openly rather than letting them fester unseen. It also provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable combat experience.

The administration of the Cradle enforces strict punishment for unauthorized duels but encourages official duels processed through the Duel Committee.

Duels are also one of the most popular pastimes among the students. The Duel Committee is one of the busiest organizations at the Cradle, with a constant stream of applicants year-round.

The audience seats in the dueling grounds are always filled. Students participate in duels for various reasons.

Grudges, minor disputes, tests of strength, or simply to prove themselves.

“Yena!”

“…”

A girl who had just entered the audience seats, Sera, saw someone and waved. Her gaze settled on a girl with reddish-brown hair and a few freckles.
T hi s wa s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g mt l . o rg

“Ye-na?”

“…”

Despite Sera’s noticeable presence, the girl continued to stare straight ahead. Sera sighed quietly and sat down next to her, bringing her lips close to the girl’s ear and blowing softly.

“Hoo~”

“Eek…!! Wh-what are you doing…!”

The girl finally reacted, her hair standing on end like a startled cat. Sera found her exaggerated reaction deeply satisfying.

“Do you know how many times I called you?”

“Did you…? I’m sorry…”
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g mt l.o r g

Yena apologized with an awkward smile. Sera checked what had captivated Yena’s attention. She saw the masked male student preparing for a duel at the far end of the arena.

“Seriously… Ignoring your friend just to watch a guy? Looks like innocent Yena is no more…”

“Wh-what are you talking about…! Stop saying weird things…”

“Hmm…? Your reaction is suspicious…”

“I said it’s not like that…! Be quiet…!”

Yena’s face turned bright red as she pouted. It made Sera a tad suspicious.

There were rumors that the masked student forcibly dragged Yena around, but judging by her reaction, it didn’t seem credible. Yena, having calmed down, pouted and spoke.

“Sera, I hate you. Where’s Yeoreum…?”

“Her bones are still healing, so she can’t come to crowded places. She asked me to cheer for her instead.”

Sera and Yeoreum had been attacked by monsters in the last exam and had barely escaped elimination.

Fortunately, it was an emergency situation rather than a normal exam, and their achievements were acknowledged, placing them in the upper-middle ranks.

However, the image of the masked student who ran into the monster-infested area and secured first place was still vivid in their minds.

“Really?”

T h i s wa s c o p i e d fr o m k i n gmt l .o rg
Yena’s face brightened at the mention of cheering. Sera chuckled inwardly.

“Yes. We should repay him somehow. He helped us during the exam… And according to you, he doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“Of course! I told you…! Hyun is not a strange person…!”

Sera still had some doubts. She wondered if he might be a scoundrel trying to deceive an innocent country girl. But there was no need to voice these thoughts to Yena.

Sera returned her attention to the dueling grounds.

At the opposite end of the arena from Yu Jinhyun, a cold-looking female student stood, awaiting the duel.

Mentor-mentee duels were rare. A freshman fighting a second-year student who had undergone a year of rigorous training was usually not feasible.

Today’s duel attracted a lot of attention.

Despite the somewhat dubious circumstances, it was a duel between the top-ranked recommendation student from the first exam and his chosen mentor, Yeon Minha.
T h is w a s c o pi ed f r o m k i n g mtl . o r g

The duel conditions were confidential, but it was unlikely that the mentor had proposed it out of goodwill. If that were the case, a private spar would have sufficed.

More likely, there was some issue between them. Many had noted Yeon Minha’s displeased expression during the mentor selection ceremony.

“Cheering is fine, but… Do you think he stands a chance…?”

Yena’s expression darkened, causing Sera to pause midsentence.

“…I believe in him.”

Yena mumbled, her face set in determination. Sera desperately thought of ways to comfort her after the duel. Most of the audience expected Yeon Minha to win overwhelmingly.
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r om k i ngm t l . or g

The warning bell rang, signaling that the duel would start in 15 minutes.

Yu Jinhyun and Yeon Minha faced each other in the center of the arena. Yeon Minha’s eyes burned with hostility towards the one who had caused her unnecessary trouble.

Yu Jinhyun spoke without concern.

“May I speak before the duel begins?”

“Why? Planning to back out? Too bad…”

“Why would I back out when I’m going to win?”

Yu Jinhyun cut her off coldly.

“I want to add one more condition to the duel.”

“What…”

Yeon Minha’s face twisted in confusion. Yu Jinhyun paused before whispering softly enough for only her to hear.

“If I win, I want to move into your dorm. What do you think?”

***

“What…?”

Though she could have exploded in anger, Yeon Minha’s reaction was surprisingly calm and composed.

“It seems you don’t quite understand. I mean it literally.”

It appeared she was struggling to grasp the shocking and absurd suggestion. So, he calmly reiterated it.

Th i s w as c o pi ed fr o m ki n gm t l . o r g
“Someone of your status must have a private dorm. Surely there’s a room I could use? I don’t like the facilities in the freshman dorm. I’d like to experience the second-year dorm.”

“You crazy bastard… Do you even understand what you’re saying?”

Yeon Minha’s face, momentarily blank, now brimmed with fury. Beneath her calm exterior lurked a volcano about to erupt.

“Even as a recommended student from Heukryeon Sashi, if I report this conversation to the Education Committee, you’re done.”

“Do you think I’d admit to the conversation verbatim? And if anything happens to me, the successor will come running. Can you handle that?”

“Ah, I see. Despite stepping back from the front lines, a prestigious family remains prestigious. I wondered how someone like you became a recommended student, but it turns out you have the backing of that thug. Birds of a feather…”

I silently apologized to the commander. I didn’t intend to drag him through the mud.

But it seemed his reputation was already in the gutter. His name was associated with every negative adjective.

How did the commander end up with such a reputation?

Th i s w a s cop ie d fr o m k i ngmtl . o r g
She didn’t seem to know I served in the military with the commander. Her intelligence didn’t seem lacking, so it might just be a lack of interest.

“…Hah. As provocations go, it’s pretty good. You do have a knack for getting under someone’s skin.”

Yeon Minha sighed, her breath filled with anger. The volcano was about to erupt. She didn’t realize it wasn’t a provocation but a destined future.

“You want to move into my dorm? You must know that students of the opposite gender aren’t allowed in each other’s dorms…”

“I’ll handle that. Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”

-Glass-teeth grinding

The sound of grinding teeth was clearly audible.

“…Fine. Do as you please. Use my room, the next room, or the bathroom. But if you add a condition, it’s only fair I add one too.”

“What do you want?”

“If I win, I’ll cut off both your arms and ankles. I’ll leave your legs intact. No need to thank me. I’ll feed the severed parts to the dogs. You didn’t think you’d insult an heir of the Yeon family and get away with it, did you?”

The deadly hostility radiated outward. Tiny flames flickered in the air around her, reflecting her murderous intent.

“Your actions are grounds for war between families. Even if Sa Jaehyuk comes and causes a ruckus, I don’t care. No matter what, I’ll cut off your limbs. How dare you… You’ll regret this…”

“Alright. I accept. Can we start now? I’m getting tired of waiting.”

-Snap

I was certain Yeon Minha’s teeth had cracked. After adding a line to the pre-written duel agreement and signing it, I handed it to her.

She glanced at the contents, glared at me as if to kill, and signed it so forcefully it nearly tore the paper.

I handed the sealed envelope to the judge beside the arena.

Although the duel conditions were confidential, if either of us were dissatisfied with the result, the envelope would be opened, revealing the terms.

However, that envelope would never be opened. Of course, it wouldn’t be necessary, as I had no intention of losing and would accept my fate if I did.

***

I couldn’t help but laugh at how well the plan was unfolding.

I remembered the day I first arrived in the capital. The principal’s sudden request was bewildering, but I had no choice but to accept.

I had to honor my deal with the commander and didn’t want to cause trouble for him or my sisters, no matter who I faced.

But it was never going to be easy. The damned mask, my unsociable nature, and my clash with the Cradle’s popular figures had trashed my reputation.

Although I topped the first exam, there hadn’t been enough time to influence my social standing. Moreover, I didn’t understand much about families or corporations.

Adding to that, the person I had to help embodied everything I despised.

Imagining myself mingling with her and exchanging favors was pure fantasy.

It was unthinkable to cover for Yeon Minha or reform her through conventional means.

Physiologically, fundamentally, and fatefully impossible.

But whining about it wasn’t an option, so I found a way.

The mentoring system was just an excuse. An excuse to approach Yeon Minha and provoke a duel.

I deliberately used insulting words to provoke her, ensuring she couldn’t refuse the duel.

The initial duel condition was simply to cancel the mentorship if I lost.

She must have thought that was preferable. She couldn’t be sure I’d leave voluntarily no matter how harshly she treated me, and spreading rumors would be troublesome.

But duels were different. We submitted the sealed agreement to the judge, making it impossible to back out later.

She had no chance of losing. She was the most talented direct descendant of the Yeon family and had won countless duels at the Cradle.

She probably accepted because she never considered losing.

So the duel was set, and I added one more blatantly provocative condition.

Though it could fail if she didn’t accept, I was confident her personality wouldn’t let such an insult slide.

She’d see it as a legitimate way to punish my rudeness, and that’s exactly what happened.
T hi s w a s co p i e d fr om ki ngmt l . o r g

The conditions were harsh, but I just needed to avoid losing.

So I focused on what I do best.

Not reforming, but subduing.

Breaking her pride and self-esteem through a crushing defeat.

Repeating it if necessary.

Turning her into someone I could reason with.

Staying close to her to find a way to mitigate the influence of the spirit, likely the root of her twisted personality.

It was a lousy plan, even in hindsight.

***

Thi s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g mtl . or g
I stood at the end of the arena, waiting. Yeon Minha was also in position, ready for the duel to start.

-Clang~

The bell rang, signaling the start of the duel.

Immediately, a long rectangular frame formed in the air around the arena and audience stands.

Flames followed the frame, soon enveloping the arena and blocking the outside view completely.

“…”

I stared silently at the fiery barrier. Yeon Minha smirked coldly.

“You know nothing that happens in here escapes. Watch yourself. Your hands and feet might get cut off before the duel even ends.”

I couldn’t be more grateful.

End of Chapter