Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Physical Bond (7)

“Ugh… cough…!”

As soon as I finished speaking, the principal began to cough violently, as if something had gone down the wrong way.

It was a rare sight to see the usually elegant and refined Hae Wolhwa in such a state.

“Are you alright?”

“Cough… yes, I’m fine… but what did you just say…?”
T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g

“I said I plan to move into Yeon Minha’s dormitory, and I need your help with the related adjustments.”

“So I didn’t mishear after all…”

Th is w a s co p i e d f r om k in g mt l . o rg
Explaining it again, Hae Wolhwa glanced at me sideways and muttered softly.

“I heard you two were dueling, and I was worried something might have gone wrong, but to suddenly declare cohabitation…”

There was a faint sense of betrayal in her eyes.

“I’m surprised. I asked for your help, but I didn’t expect you to become so close… I never said you should become that friendly…”

“Excuse me?”

“Even that rascal never dared to cohabit… I never thought I’d see such a thing… and with Minha, no less…”

From her words, I realized why I had sensed betrayal in the principal’s eyes. Feeling quite displeased, I immediately denied it.

T h is w as c op i ed fr o m ki n g m t l.o r g
“It’s not like that.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Yes.”

“Did she agree to this?”

“Yes.”

“…?”

The principal looked at me with suspicion. I couldn’t explain it in detail. I couldn’t reveal the existence of the power that drove me to Yeon Minha’s dorm. Nonetheless, Yeon Minha had agreed.

I managed to convey that there wouldn’t be any trouble for her, and that this situation was an extension of the previous request.

“So you deliberately lost the duel?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“How could someone who hunted a Tentacle Snake alone lose in such a situation… it’s not a bad plan. It maintains her undefeated record and shows her overwhelmingly defeating a first-year rookie…”

Hae Wolhwa let out a deep sigh.

“I understand your intention. What do you need me to do?”

“Nothing much, just adjust the patrol routes of the dorm manager and the guards.”

“The patrol routes?”

“Yes. So they don’t come near Yeon Minha’s dorm. They might see me coming in and out. It’s something you can easily arrange, right?”

T h is wa s c o p ied f r om k i n g mt l . o r g
“I understand. When should I start?”

“Today.”

“Quick as ever…”

Hae Wolhwa still looked skeptical but nodded.

“Just to confirm, you remember that I forbade romantic relationships, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re such an inscrutable child…”

The principal gave me a look of exasperation.

“Be very careful. If your actions are discovered, both you and she will be in real trouble. If a scandal breaks out, even I may have limits in helping you. Please remember that.”

“I will.”

“Goodness, your answers come so smoothly.”

Hae Wolhwa slumped on the sofa and let out another sigh. She seemed to remember something and looked at me again.

“If you ever feel lonely living in a foreign place…”

“I’m really fine in that regard. Nothing like that will happen.”

“…”

Maybe it was because I answered so promptly, but Hae Wolhwa looked slightly disappointed.

***

T h is w a s co p i e d f ro m k i n g m t l . or g
Yeon Minha returned to the Cradle late in the evening. She walked gracefully along the quiet beech tree path towards her dorm.
T h i s w a s c op ied fr o m k i n g m t l . or g

But now, Yeon Minha was struggling to keep her mind together. Despite taking a lot of painkillers, the pain in her internal organs and bones still tormented her.

She had secretly visited a private hospital for treatment. Heading straight to the infirmary after the duel would have raised questions.

She could still see the horrified look on her doctor’s face. Underneath her suit, her skin was covered in dark bruises. The pain was so intense that she had nearly bitten through her teeth.

However, the doctor assured her that her life was not in danger. Even after repeated questioning, the result was the same.

Two of her ribs were broken, but for a mage, such injuries would heal naturally with rest and time.

– Grit

Yeon Minha gritted her teeth.

The intense pain she felt for the first time in her life had made it impossible to stay rational.

But thinking back, that guy had been playing her from the start.

When she saw the creepy white mask from a distance on the day of the entrance ceremony, she felt a moment of discomfort.

She thought he was just another “eccentric” who appeared every year.

Hearing that he had clashed with Baek Seoyeon gave her some schadenfreude. After all, she was one of the few in the Cradle who knew Baek Seoyeon’s true nature.

Learning that he was a recommended student from the Heukryeon Sashi family, the first in eighteen years, surprised her. She even obtained his academic records to check his background.

But he was from the outskirts, not from a prestigious family or the capital. She couldn’t understand how such a country bumpkin had become a recommended student of the Heukryeon Sashi family and was now causing a stir.

The mystery was solved when she learned he was chosen by Sa Jaehyuk, known as the “fallen president” of the student council.

Sa Jaehyuk.

His name was synonymous with delinquent, scoundrel, and womanizer.

A “fallen student council president.”

Once, he seemed to have reformed, but he eventually returned to his old ways and had been wandering the outskirts for over a decade.

The battlefield was the perfect place for him to indulge his cruel and sadistic nature.

He had female subordinates who had abandoned their families and social status to follow him.

Being chosen by someone like that, it was clear the guy wasn’t normal.

She hadn’t paid much attention, but he might have been one of Sa Jaehyuk’s subordinates.

But even now, she couldn’t understand his purpose.

At first, she thought he was just an arrogant fool who had managed to take first place by luck and was trying to challenge her out of pride.

When she taunted him, he revealed his true colors.
T h is w a s c op i e d f r om k in g m tl . o rg

She thought it was just pride, but he had hidden his overwhelming skill, a razor-sharp claw, from everyone.

His insulting words to provoke her were part of his scheme to get the duel accepted.

But what she couldn’t understand was what happened next.

If he held a grudge and planned revenge, he could have shown her miserable state to the students right then.

But after confirming their win and loss, he dislocated his arm, feigning incapacity.

Considering his skill, he must have deliberately taken her flaming attacks for dramatic effect.

His actions only solidified her strength, showing her defeating a first-year rookie.

What did he gain from doing that?
T h i s w a s c o pied f r o m k i ng m t l . or g

“Is he really just insane…”

Her muttering voice was filled with fear.

The belated shame of allowing a strange man to touch her was an added burden.

He had forced her mouth open and handled her precious hair.

Maybe the duel was just an excuse to satisfy his twisted and vile desires.

“Sick pervert.”

A faint headache made her press her slender fingers to her forehead.

Come to think of it, she had made some kind of deal with him. What was it again? She tried to remember…

– Halt

Yeon Minha stopped in her tracks as a cold wind blew from below.

– Thud

T hi s w a s c o p i e d f ro m kin g m t l .o r g
Hearing something hit her foot, she looked down.

Walking along the path between the beech trees, she found herself at the edge of a forbidden cliff behind the Cradle.

A stone kicked by her foot fell into the abyss below.

Her body was scratched and covered in leaves, as if she had come through the bushes.

– Hehe…
– Too bad~

A dark shadow passed by her, leaving behind mocking laughter and jeers.
This w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m tl .o r g

The vivid, chilling malice was now more than just an auditory hallucination.

“…”

Yeon Minha looked up at the sky.

Where the moon should be, a large bloodshot eye stared at her unblinkingly.

“…Hic.”

She barely held onto her sanity in the endless darkness.

The dream was increasingly consuming her.

***

Yeon Minha finally returned to the beech dormitory late at night. Her body and mind were long exhausted. All she wanted was to sink into a soft bed.

She didn’t even hope for a deep sleep. She just wanted to rest a little. Fortunately, there were no morning classes tomorrow, so she had some time.

As she entered the foyer and was about to turn on the lights,

a stranger’s voice suddenly came from the dark corner of the living room.

“You’re late, senior.”

“…!”

Yeon Minha immediately assumed a defensive posture and turned quickly. No one else was supposed to be here.

But when the intruder revealed himself, her face showed shock.

The student with the white, smooth mask stood before her, just as she was about to cast a spell.

“Hic…”

Her earlier readiness crumbled. The anger and hatred she had been feeling disappeared.

Now, she was dominated by the fear of the earlier encounter.

“D-don’t come near me…”

“Why are you so late?”

“You told me to go to the hospital… but why are you here…”

“Didn’t I tell you to leave the room vacant?”

Yeon Minha then remembered the duel conditions she had discussed with Yu Jinhyun. In her rage, she didn’t remember clearly.

She said she would cut off his limbs if she won, and if he won… he would come to her room.

“W-what are you talking about… I thought it was just a provocation…”

“…How many times do I have to tell you…”

-Crack

His voice was filled with irritation. His fist was clenched so tightly that the veins were popping out.

Yeon Minha swallowed hard. The man in front of her was clearly insane. She felt certain that Sa Jaehyuk had dumped him at the Cradle because he couldn’t handle him.

“I-I’ll overlook this rudeness… just leave…! Otherwise… I’ll call the dorm manager…”

“Why would I leave? I’m exercising my rightful victory. And go ahead, call anyone you want. I’ll just show everyone the agreement from our duel, along with your declaration of defeat.”

The weight of his words hit her like a stone in her chest.

“That… that makes no sense… you’d be ruined too… we’d both be socially destroyed…”

“Do you think I care about that? And don’t worry, I’ve made sure not to get caught. Just show me to the room. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting here?”

Yeon Minha swallowed her tears. She had no choice but to comply.

“…This way…”

She led him with unsteady steps. Climbing the stairs to the second floor, they reached a corridor lined with bedrooms, empty rooms, and closets.

Her heart pounded wildly. She had no way to stop him if he forced his way into her bedroom.

“I’ll use this room from now on.”

But he only confirmed the location of the bedroom and pointed to an empty room. The relief she felt was almost tearful.

“Why are you doing this to me…”

Just as he was about to enter the room, her pent-up frustration gave her the courage to ask him.

“What’s your goal… why are you doing this to me…! Is it revenge for your friends…”

“I don’t care who you bully. I’m not a clean person either.”

“Then why…”

“I’m trying to help you, Senior.”

He didn’t trust her enough to reveal his true intentions, but Yeon Minha couldn’t understand. She only saw a madman in front of her.

“If you lay a finger on me… if you step into my bedroom…”

“You’re saying exactly what I wanted to. Don’t even think about entering ‘my room.’ This is a warning.”

The adjacent room was now his. The masked student left those words and closed the door behind him. Silence once again filled the noisy corridor.

“Crazy psychopath.”

Yeon Minha muttered as she stood there alone. She stood there for a long time.

Then, she opened her bedroom door and walked in, utterly defeated.

End of Chapter