Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Dream’s Boundary (16)

The late morning sun poured down warmly as I stepped out of the lodging. The surroundings were quiet since everyone else had already left to enjoy their free time.

I had no particular desire to go sightseeing and planned to spend my time at the accommodation until it was time to return.

That is, if it weren’t for someone walking far ahead, constantly glancing back uncomfortably.

Th i s wa s c o p i e d fr o m k i ng mt l . o r g
“Why… why are you following me…?”

Yeon Minha, unable to hold back any longer, questioned me quietly. Her face, which had been filled with slight annoyance, now showed her frustration openly.

“What if something happens to you while you’re wandering alone?”

“I’m Yeon Minha. I’m not that weak, you know? Even if a group of dark mages shows up, I can kill them all…”

“No, you can’t.”

Yeon Minha puffed her cheeks slightly in frustration and glared at me.

“You’re worrying needlessly. No enemy in their right mind would cross that open wilderness. The water channels and sewers are strictly managed by the Ho Seohanong soldiers…”

“Still, it’s not allowed.”

“At least take off that conspicuous anti-particle suit…”

“No.”

When she permitted everyone to enjoy their free time, they all looked at her in surprise.

None had expected her to have such an ulterior motive.

She mentioned yesterday that it was her first time leaving the capital. It might be natural for her to feel that way.
T hi s w a s c o p i e d from ki n g m t l . o rg

She wore a beige, fluttering dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat that covered her face as she strolled down the street.

The heavy, bulky anti-particle suit she wore yesterday had long been discarded.

Naturally, she demanded the same of me.

Despite the stable security and the confidence that firearms wouldn’t work on wizards and even if enemies appeared, they could be easily subdued, this was something I couldn’t compromise on. Although I wanted to accommodate her request, there was always that one-in-a-million chance.

I wished for this peace to continue, but it wouldn’t hurt for one person to be cautious.

“…Fine.”

At my firm refusal, Yeon Minha pouted.

However, her gloom didn’t last long. Having spent so much time together, I could now gauge her mood from small clues.

Today, Yeon Minha moved with unusual lightness. Her curious gaze darted around, and her steps were so lively she seemed ready to fly.

I kept a little distance, letting her enjoy the scenery.
T his w a s c o p i e d f ro m k in gm tl .o rg

She admired flowers at a florist’s, wrinkled her nose in disgust at a stall displaying dissected fish, and got engrossed in a silent film playing at an outdoor theater.

She studied an unknown machine puffing out steam and then immediately got distracted by brightly colored birds flitting by.

Blowing on a warm bun filled with sweet red bean paste, she took a small bite and nodded in satisfaction.

Though she quickly reverted to her dignified self, a small crescent smile lingered on her lips.

Her high status and social authority were hidden under the wide brim of her hat.

The person before me was simply a girl, fascinated and awestruck by everything new.

Before I knew it, I found myself drawn into the familiar yet ordinary scene.

“What… why…”

“…Nothing.”

Yeon Minha, sensing my gaze, flinched and glanced at me. Shaking my head, she resumed humming a light tune, following her whims.

The surrounding scenery gradually darkened. The sun was almost touching the horizon, and the sky started to sparkle with the moon and stars.

Yeon Minha’s face showed clear reluctance to return. She kept glancing at the city walls and occasionally at me.

“…”

Now that I think about it, what did the florist say to her earlier? Something about the sunset being spectacular from the top of the city walls. My memory is quite good, isn’t it?

“…Shall we go?”

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki ng mtl .o rg
“…Hmm-hmm. It would be a shame to miss it.”

Her excuse was transparent, but her face shone brightly.

We walked side by side, climbing the stairs to the top of the city walls.

Soon, the bright red sun cast its final twilight across the horizon.

“Wow…”

An involuntary exclamation escaped Yeon Minha’s lips. It was indeed a sight rarely seen near the mountainous capital.

“People from the capital. The view of the uninhabited zone is quite something, isn’t it?”

Turning at the voice, I saw a pair of soldiers on patrol approaching us.

T his w a s c op i e d fr o m k i ng m t l . o r g
Yeon Minha quickly adopted her aloof, cat-like expression and stepped back a few paces.

The task of responding fell to me.

“It is quite beautiful. But does the term ‘uninhabited zone’ mean no one lives south of the wall?”

“Not at all. The name ‘uninhabited zone’ doesn’t mean it’s devoid of people. It means those there are no longer considered human.”

The soldier’s friendly face belied the ominous words.

“Criminals and mutants often flee to the uninhabited zone. The rebels from the defeated PLF did the same a few years ago.”

“Don’t you pursue them?”

“Haha, the uninhabited zone is as vast as all the southern administrative regions combined. Catching those who flee there is nearly impossible. Moreover, unlike dark mages who can sneak through with tamed beasts, wizards can’t enter without provoking high-level beasts.”

The soldier continued talking animatedly, seemingly pleased to have found a listener.

“Furthermore, beyond the wall is the domain of the ‘Master of the Southwestern Plains,’ a giant beast as tall as these walls. It’s a variant of Dartigas, but word is it’s nearing the end of its lifespan. When it’s gone, we might be able to push further.”

Before long, darkness had completely fallen around us.

“This guy here is a native of the south. I’ve been drinking with him ever since I was demoted here, ha.”

“Ugh. Disgusting.”

They chatted like close friends, arms slung over shoulders.

The soldier made exaggerated gestures as he spoke.

“Sometimes you can see gatherings beyond the wilderness. When on night watch, we see red fireworks bursting above the horizon…”

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

But the sound of small explosions abruptly cut him off.
Th is w a s c o pi e d f r o m k ing m tl . o r g

Th is w a s co pi e d fr o m k i n g m t l . or g
Red, sharp lights shot into the sky, sending signals in regular intervals.

These weren’t like the emergency fireworks we used in training. Even from a distance, the ominous red aura filling the air was palpable.

Contrary to his words, the fireworks erupted from within the city walls, not the wilderness.

“…You mean that? But it looks like it’s coming from inside the city.”

“…Yes. It might be communication from internal spies. But don’t worry. We know there are still some hidden operatives, but Governor Yang is capturing them one by one…”

-Bang! Bang bang bang!

The soldier’s words were once again drowned out by the sound of explosions.

This time, the red lights shot up from beyond the wilderness.

“…Today’s unusual. I need to report this. You should get off the wall quickly…”

At that moment.

Without a moment to breathe, a series of deep vibrations began resonating around us.

The towers surrounding Jinryeong’s walls lit up simultaneously.

These were the towers Manager Chun had explained about, used to supply water to nearby crops with weather magic.

“What’s this? The irrigation schedule is supposed to be tomorrow, not today. Did the technicians mess up…”

The soldier’s face grew more anxious with each unexpected event.

T h i s wa s c o pi e d f rom k i n g m t l . org
Before he could finish speaking, more towers erupted, sending the same ominous red lights into the sky.

Soon, a massive, multi-layered magic formation, drawn in blood-red light, covered the sky, vast enough to obscure its edges.

Once formed, the blood-red magic circle dissipated into the air. Following its traces, particles began to reconstitute into new substances.

But it wasn’t rain or clouds.

Sticky, stinking fog seeped from the gaps where the magic circle had been. It quickly enveloped everything, turning the clear view into a hazy red mist.

The appearance of a red magic formation can only mean one thing.

The manifestation of dark magic.

-Boom! Boom!

T h i s was c op ie d fr o m k ing mt l . o rg
-Tatatata…!

From below the wall, in the heart of the city, red flashes and explosions echoed.

-Boom!

-Help… urgh!

-Someone… someone…!

Visibility was cut off by the fog, leaving only the sound of spells and firearms reverberating in the air. Screams and shouts painted a picture of chaos.

My hackles rose, and my senses sharpened. The atmosphere of the northeastern front I had long forgotten crawled up my spine.

-Ping!

Suddenly, a blue flash followed Yeon Minha’s curves, reflecting a stray bullet from the city.

“This… what is this…”

Yeon Minha muttered in confusion, looking around.

No one could grasp the situation in this fog. It could be a temporary riot, a terrorist attack, or the worst-case scenario we dreaded.

T h i s w a s cop i e d f r o m k i n g mt l. o r g
Regardless, standing exposed in an open space was foolish.

“Let’s go down. It’s dangerous here. We should regroup with the other students and assess the…”

I gathered particles and prepared an escape route.

As I moved to lead Yeon Minha back down the stairs, heavy breathing came from the direction where the soldiers were.

“Ugh, ugh…!!”

The soldiers who had been joking moments ago were now in a dire state.

The soldier who had been demoted to the south had a blade, glowing red, piercing up through his chest.

His shocked expression and labored breath ended as he slumped over, dead.

The one who had killed him pulled the blade from his chest and approached us.

His eyes glowed with the same ominous red as his blade.

“Weren’t you friends?”

“We were. Until a moment ago. He died for the cause and would have been satisfied.”

The dark mage, who had posed as a soldier, wiped the blood from his blade and spoke nonchalantly.

“…This is why I can’t stand you reds.”

His eyebrows twitched at the term PLF members hated, and he readied to charge.

End of Chapter