Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Dream’s Boundary (13)

“Ugh…! Blegh…”

A male student in the seat compartment couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited into a bag.

It was a reaction to riding an off-road vehicle suitable for rough terrain for the first time, rather than the high-end urban cars he was used to.

The first-year students sitting around him were also displaying similar symptoms.

They had been crawling along a severely bumpy path for several hours. Once they left the vicinity of the big city, the paved roads disappeared.

It was fortunate if there was at least a dirt road. Sometimes, they had to bypass by going over high hills or along the upper paths of valleys.

“Hey… how much longer until we arrive?”

“At least three more days.”

A second-year female student sitting opposite responded flatly. Unlike the first-year students who were struggling to adapt, the experienced second-year students sat bored.

“What… did you say?”

The first-year male student looked despondent at her words.

“Consider yourself lucky. Last year, it took twice as long. The agricultural district was built, and some of the roads have been rebuilt.”
T h is w a s c opi e d f r o m k i ng m t l . or g

“But… ugh…!”

The male student grumbled in a weak voice after retching again.

“What is this? The speed is slow, and the ride is terrible. It would be better to ride horses like our ancestors.”
T h i s w a s copi ed f r om k i n gm t l .o r g

“Are you going to provide the pasture and hay needed to raise horses? We don’t even have enough food for people…”

The second-year student snapped at the male student.

“Be grateful there’s magic. Without it, we’d be walking all the way to the south.”

She glanced sideways at the driver’s seat. The female student’s companion, who was driving, hadn’t taken her hand off the gear stick. Luminous particles flowed continuously from her hand into the Stellite, which powered the vehicle.
T h is w as c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m t l . o rg

“Even so, this is slower than the speed I can run with physical enhancement… I’d rather just get off and…”

“Do you have about 1 million R’s worth of Rubin? Planning to run all the way to the south? You think you can defeat all the beasts and bandits you meet along the way without suffering particle exhaustion?”

“…”

The male student fell silent. Instead, a female first-year student sitting next to him murmured in a timid voice.

“Will it really be alright? What if we run into dark mages…”

“Don’t worry. They’re nothing special. During the first mission, I alone took down three of them…”

“Pfft…”

“Three, huh…”

The boast of someone with a slight crush on the girl was quickly met with snickers from those in front.

“What, what’s so funny?”

“Hey, rookie. Even if four of you teamed up, you’d have a hard time taking down a single dark mage. Magic can’t match the destructive power of dark magic for the same amount of Rubin. Get real.”

The second-year students, having barely stifled their laughter, spoke to the embarrassed male student.

“But I did…”

“The ones you fought weren’t real dark mages. The real ones would be in organizations like the PLF or Night Brigade. You’ll see the difference when you meet them.”

“But… the Night Brigade was supposedly… Baek Seoyeon…”
Th i s w a s c o p ie d f r o m k in g m tl.o r g

“She’s on a different level from us. There’s a reason she’s considered one of the strongest ever.”

A second-year girl shook her head at the first-year girl’s cautious question. It was a well-known story.

Last year, the Night Brigade had been nearly wiped out by a first-year student from Cradle. The leaders, powerful dark mages listed as red-wanted criminals, were all killed during the mission.

The first-year student was Baek Seoyeon of Paechun, who had made headlines since her admission. She had stumbled upon the Night Brigade during an external mission and didn’t let the opportunity pass.

The Night Brigade, notorious among many criminal organizations, had fallen. Rumors suggested they had noble families backing them in exchange for doing their dirty work.

Baek Seoyeon was praised for her actions.

The well-known rumor that Paechun was one of the Night Brigade’s biggest clients was quietly buried amid the accolades.

This event also marked the rise of Baek Seoyeon, setting her apart from her rival, Yeon Minha.

Their contrasting personalities became a focus, and Baek Seoyeon was recognized as the new heir of Paechun, replacing her eldest brother, who had mysteriously disappeared.

“…Never mention this in front of Minha. She hates this topic the most. You’ve heard about that senior who lost an ear in a duel last year, right? She mentioned this in front of Minha without thinking.”

A second-year girl glanced out the window. Yeon Minha was in the off-road vehicle in that direction.

Despite their personal feelings, those on this mission had a higher regard for Baek Seoyeon.

T h i s was c o p i e d f r o m k i n gmt l .org
However, their ties to Jeokhwa meant they had no inclination to change sides.

“Suhee, I’m nearing particle exhaustion. Switch with me in 10 minutes.”

“Got it!”

The driver said, shaking her hand off the gear stick.

“Blegh…!”

“Again… you should take a lesson from her.”

She chided the male student who started retching again. She then glanced at someone in another vehicle following behind. Despite the distance, the figure in a black particle suit and white mask stood out clearly.

***

The green waves swayed with the breeze, stretching endlessly beyond the horizon. The first impression was of a surprisingly peaceful scene.

“Wow…”

Someone beside me let out an unconscious exclamation. Even the students weary from the rough journey found some comfort in the scenery.

Looking ahead, I saw Yeon Minha maintaining her stiff posture. Despite the long journey, her hair remained shiny, and her flawless skin was impressive.

“What’s wrong?”
T h i s w a s c o p i e d fr o m k i n gmt l . or g

“…Nothing.”

Perhaps sensing something, Yeon Minha flinched slightly and stuttered. The holes in her mask were covered with polarizing film, hiding her eyes.

As a spirit mage, she had something ordinary people didn’t. Unlike someone like Muyoung, who had specific senses developed, Yeon Minha seemed to have heightened senses overall, which might explain her struggles with mental contamination.

As I shook my head, Yeon Minha turned her gaze elsewhere.
T h i s was c o p i e d f ro m k in g m t l. o r g

Soon, the southern gateway city came into view. A group was lined up to greet us at the gate.

Two wore particle arrangers on their wrists, while the rest were armed with firearms. A typical configuration with the wizard in command due to the shortage of personnel. Judging by the patch logo on their shoulders, they seemed to be corporate guards.

As the vehicles stopped in response to hand signals and we disembarked, a young, bespectacled man approached Yeon Minha and bowed. He had a friendly impression.

“It’s an honor to meet the lady of Jeokhwa. I’m Chun Hwaseong, the manager of the first agricultural district in the south. I’m here to assist the dispatch from Cradle with the mission.”

Despite his polite demeanor, Yeon Minha frowned.

“Our contact was Director Jin Yuncheol. Where is he? We weren’t informed of a change in personnel.”

“Director Jin had an accident during an inspection and was urgently transferred. We sent a crow, but it must have missed you after you departed. The documents regarding the appointment change are at headquarters, so you can check them later…”

“Tsk, never mind. What’s the situation in the south?”

“Excuse me? Ah, yes. It’s quite good. To be honest, we’ve maintained excellent security lately.”

The man continued, sounding flustered.
T h i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g mtl .o r g

“A few years ago, we drove them into the uninhabited zone with a large-scale sweep, and there have been no significant activities since. We’ve prepared the shipments bound for the capital without issue. In about 2-3 days, the procedures will be completed, and you can proceed as scheduled.”

He almost bowed, practically groveling.

“However, we occasionally catch spies hiding in the city…”

“That’s enough. Such scum are everywhere. I’ve heard enough.”

“Excuse me? Ah, yes…”

Yeon Minha cut him off, seemingly unfazed by the mention of spies.

I agreed that a few spies wouldn’t pose a significant threat to the mission.

Such incidents were common outside the capital anyway.
T h i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m t l . o r g

We joined up with the corporate guards and passed through the gateway city, traveling for several more hours through winding hills and plains.

Eventually, the vast city in the basin came into view. While not as grand as the capital, the heavy metal walls surrounding it were impressive.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l .or g

Notably, an additional defensive line was installed. The walls filled the gaps in the terrain, allowing the basin to be guarded against the uninhabited zones to the south and east.

While we were lost in the scenery, Chun Hwaseong’s voice reached us.

“Welcome to Jinryeong, the first city of the south.”

End of Chapter