Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Dream’s Boundary (15)

“My, my purity… has its own worth… right?”

Tears welled up in her trembling eyes as she desperately tried to persuade me. It was almost laughable how earnest she was.

What on earth does she think of me?

Though, given her impression of me, it’s no wonder she holds such a view.

“So… why don’t we sit down and… talk…”

“Senior.”

“Huh, huh… huh…?”

“I’m here to help you sleep.”

I couldn’t listen to her any longer and cut her off. Finally, Yeon Minha stopped crying and looked at me with blank eyes.

After a brief silence, she seemed to grasp the situation and stammered,

“…It can’t… be done from a distance…?”

Th i s w a s co p i e d fr o m ki ng m t l . o r g
“No. It can’t.”

“But… in the dormitory…”

“A single wall is fine. But isn’t there too much distance between your room and mine? I can’t hang onto the window all night, nor can I loiter in the hallway.”

“Th-then… h-hic…”

Despite the tears welling up, Yeon Minha’s face turned red like a tomato.
T h i s was c op ied fr o m ki n g mtl . o r g

She pulled the blanket over her head, leaving only a resentful glare directed at me.

“Th-this is… sexual harassment…”
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r om k i ng mt l. or g

“Did I harass you? You’re the one who’s harassing me. And what would you do if I did?”

“Hmph… hic…”

Annoyed by her blatant accusation, I nearly snapped back but softened when I saw her flinch like a frightened animal.

I gave up arguing and sat down on the chair by the table, letting out a big sigh.

“Haa… I won’t do anything. We’ve made a contract, remember? And if you were so worried, why did you leave the window open?”

“It was… an order… and if I didn’t… who knows what you might…”

Thi s w as co p i e d f r om k i ng mt l . o rg
“Senior. What do you think I am?”

“T-the thing is…”

“Be honest. That’s an order.”

T h i s w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
Yeon Minha, trembling, hung her head low. After some prodding, she turned her head slightly and whispered,

“A p-pervert… a lecher… hic…”

“…”

Her crude perception was frustrating. I admit I’ve treated her harshly, but I’ve never crossed any lines.

Thi s wa s c o p i ed f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
…Come to think of it, perhaps her image of the commander is being projected onto me.

“I have no interest in your body, Senior. I don’t even want to touch you. So, stop worrying.”

“How can you say ‘no interest’… my body is so beautiful…!”

She flared up momentarily but cut herself off, realizing the inappropriateness of her words, and hung her head.

Self-esteem is something she seems to lack entirely.

“Are we clear now? So, please go to sleep. You looked tired from the journey south.”

“How can I sleep… with you watching… no matter what… sharing a room…”

“It’s not the first time.”

“Not… the first time…? Wait… then…”

As if realizing something, Yeon Minha widened her eyes and looked at me.

“That time… you weren’t there in the morning…?”

“I stayed beside you all night.”

Mentioning the day after our first mission, Yeon Minha seemed to deflate like a kettle letting out steam.

I considered telling her I know all her tossing and small snores but refrained to spare her dignity.

“Alright? So, just lie down and sleep.”

“Ugh…”

At my somewhat forceful tone, Yeon Minha finally unwrapped herself from the blanket and lay down obediently.

But she still didn’t close her eyes, glancing my way every few minutes.

“Aren’t you going to sleep…?”

Taking a deep breath as if making a big decision, she stammered,

“Instead of sitting there… you could lie down… on the floor…”

“I can go two days without sleep.”

Yeon Minha kept negotiating, clearly uneasy about sleeping while I was awake.

However, if I fall asleep, my power would extend beyond control, not confined to this room.

On the way here, I resolved it by camping a bit away from Yeon Minha, but now that’s impossible.

“I can… stay up for a night too…”

“You seem to be dozing off already.”

“Ha… hic…”

Embarrassed by my observation, Yeon Minha pulled the blanket over her face.

I didn’t mean to make her feel ashamed. Maybe she had grown fond of sleep, something she hadn’t experienced sweetly for over ten years.

She always went to bed early and rarely woke up before me.

“…Why are you doing this… you’re not helping me… nor the opposite…”

After some time, peeking from under the blanket, she asked me.

My effort to ensure she gets a good sleep seemed wasted. She clearly had no intention of sleeping alone.

I briefly considered my options but decided that explaining a bit might help improve our relationship.

“I told you. It’s for my and my patron’s interests.”

“Your patron… Heukryeon?”

“Yes. I’m just choosing the best method given the circumstances.”

“…I see. Heukryeon and Paechun don’t get along. So that’s why you’re… wait.”

To spare her pride, I didn’t mention the principal’s request.

But as if understanding, Yeon Minha suddenly looked aggrieved and exclaimed,

“If that’s the case… you should have said so from the start…!”

“Honestly, do you think you would’ve complied if I had? Isn’t that right?”

“Hmph, hic…”

Yeon Minha hung her head in frustration. Just when I thought it was over, she hesitated and asked another question.

“…You seem quite close with Sa Jaehyuk…? You work ‘passionately’…”

Her curiosity was relentless tonight. She seemed to emphasize certain words.

Should I see this as a good sign?

Th i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i n gmt l . or g
“I owe my life to him and his sisters.”
T h is w a s c o p i e d f r o m k ing m t l .o rg

“What happened…?”

“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. They’re good people. Not like the rumors at all.”

“I see… By the way, I remember you lived in some remote… no, frontier area… was your hometown like this?”

Despite lacking malice, her genuine curiosity felt like a weight pulling me under.
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

The mere thought brought back memories I had buried deep, bubbling to the surface.

That place held everything I ever wanted.

But now, those memories are like sand slipping through my fingers, never to return.

“It was much worse. In fact, it doesn’t even compare.”

“I get it… living in those places must’ve been tough…”

Still, her thoughts reflected privilege. To her, it might have seemed natural.

But…

“It was the happiest time of my life.”

My voice filled with regret caught Yeon Minha by surprise, making her look at me with wide eyes.

Silence fell over the room again, thick and heavy.

This wasn’t the atmosphere I wanted.

“Enough about that. May I ask you something?”

“What…?”

I decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.

T h i s wa s c opi e d f r o m k i n g m t l. o r g
“If this mission succeeds, will it improve your standing?”

“…Quite a bit. Transport missions add significant points, and the agricultural district is a long-term project selected by the highest council, so it has symbolic value…”

“Will this help you catch up to Baek Seoyeon?”

“That… is impossible.”

Yeon Minha’s face fell into a pout.

“She received a Silver Star Medal for last year’s sweep… she must’ve gained enormous points. Unless I get a Gold Star Medal, catching up is nearly impossible…”

“I see.”

“…Yes. Escorting cargo is important but not on that level. And because of my mental contamination, I can’t leave the Cradle… this is my first external mission…”

Considering how adept she seemed, I wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t said so.

Clearly, her mental contamination is a significant handicap.

“It will go well.”

“Huh…?”

“You should sleep now. If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll move closer to the window. I’ll leave by dawn, so don’t worry.”

“O-okay…”

Gradually, Yeon Minha’s eyes closed completely. Soon, the sound of deep, slow breathing filled the dark room.

What I told her was also my hope.

The unusually peaceful atmosphere felt like a stumbling block in my mind.

I hoped that this uneasy peace would last until we left the south.

End of Chapter