Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Chemical Bond (2)

Yeon Minha’s softness and faint warmth were transmitted directly through my arm. The usual prickly discomfort was nowhere to be felt.

What is this? Did my arm get cut off? Or is it paralyzed? But the sensation in my five fingers was still vividly clear.

A throbbing headache brought flashes of past events, which quickly scattered again. I clearly remembered decapitating the chief communist and handling the rest of his subordinates, but after that, my memories went blank.
T h i s w a s c o p i ed fr o m k i n g m t l . or g

“Ugh…”

As I flexed my hand in amazement, Yeon Minha, who had been sleeping, let out a small groan and slowly lifted her upper body.

Her empty hand naturally reached for the white towel beside her. With a hollow look, she soaked it in water and wrung it out lightly.

Yeon Minha’s hand, holding the towel, moved towards me. Did she not realize I was awake? Was her usual sharpness dulled by sleep?

“Senior. What are you doing…?”

“Oh…?”

Yeon Minha’s eyes blinked a few times before widening in surprise.
Th is w as c o p i e d fr o m ki n g m tl . o r g

“…”

She placed the towel back as if nothing had happened.

“Hmm. If you’re awake, you should say so.”

“…”

Her quick shift in demeanor left me momentarily speechless. I looked down at where my hand had been resting.

Yeon Minha’s left hand was tightly clasping mine, like the jaws of a crocodile, refusing to let go.

No wonder I couldn’t move it. With her grip that firm, there was no way I could free myself.

T hi s w as c op i e d f r o m k i n g m t l .o r g
“Senior. Could you please let go of my hand? It’s a bit uncomfortable.”

Th i s w a s co p i e d f r o m ki n gmt l . or g
Yeon Minha’s gaze followed mine. After a brief silence, she spoke in her characteristic prim tone.

“You’re saying I’m holding your hand? Why don’t you just admit you want to hold it? I can’t refuse anyway…”

“You’re the one holding my hand, Senior. I’ve been unconscious until just now. How could I have moved my hand?”

“Me? What nonsense are you talking about? You must still be disoriented from the recovery. You need more care.”

Yeon Minha continued to speak calmly. Instead of replying, I tried to free my hand, but her grip was too strong.

“Senior. Please let go.”

“…”

As curious as I was that I didn’t feel any discomfort, I wanted my physical freedom back.

Yeon Minha glanced at me with a dissatisfied look but slowly unclasped her fingers.

Freed at last, I was able to check my body. Bandages and gauze covered my skin like clothes, appearing clean without any bloodstains.

I had no idea how long I had been lying there, but the cleanliness was impeccable. I recalled Yeon Minha soaking the towel to bring it to my body.

Could it be that she had been taking care of me all this time? It seemed unbelievable, but considering the circumstances, it appeared almost certain.

Maybe the ordeal had fostered some camaraderie between us. Both she and I felt no discomfort.

“Have you been taking care of me, Senior?”

“Well, who else would take care of you? I just dropped by occasionally when I had time. Just now too. Don’t get any weird ideas…”

“Is that so? Thank you anyway.”

“Oh, uh, yes…”

I could only nod slightly from the bed.

Yeon Minha seemed briefly flustered, as if she hadn’t expected gratitude. She soon regained her composure, though she seemed subtly pleased.

Yet, Yeon Minha didn’t look completely well either.

Beyond the fatigue on her face, bandages and gauze were visible under the edges of her white uniform.

Come to think of it, she had been injured quite badly that day too.

“Are you alright, Senior?”

“…Are you worried about me?”

“Of course, I am. Given what we went through.”

Despite her cold tone, her face brightened up again. It seemed I still had a long way to go in understanding her. Was I really someone who couldn’t even ask such a question? I wondered what she usually thought of me.

Still, compared to a few days ago when she had labeled me a perverted lecher, this was considerable progress.

“…Hmm. You don’t need to worry about me. If I wasn’t alright, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Is that so…”

“You should worry more about yourself. Is there anywhere uncomfortable? Any parts that can’t move? Pain?”

To be honest, there were no parts of me that felt fine. I hadn’t been hit by dark magic, but my body was covered in physical injuries and the resulting pain.

My head throbbed, and I felt nauseous, likely side effects from overdosing on accelerants and stimulants.

I had no strength in my limbs, unable to even free my hand from Yeon Minha’s grip. It felt like it would take a considerable amount of time to recover my health. I would need to avoid using my full Predictive Path for a while.

-Our Hyun is a good boy, so you’ll listen, right? If you do it again, next time, your sisters will tie you up with chains…

I suddenly recalled Yoon Chaewon’s warning from the last time I exceeded the time limit. The ominous aura she had radiated still sent shivers down my spine.

I really had pushed myself this time. But honestly, the matter of lifespan didn’t feel very pressing.

There was no way to know how much it had shortened, and it wasn’t like I was unable to move or dying immediately.

If anything, resolving that mess for a few years of my life seemed like a bargain.

But I didn’t need to tell Yeon Minha that. This would also be a secret from my sisters. They were truly terrifying when they got genuinely angry, even the commander would tread carefully around them.

“I’m not too bad. A few days of rest and recuperation, and I’ll be fine.”

“How can you give exactly the answer I expected. Men always have to put on a brave face…”

But Yeon Minha quickly rebuffed my words as if she had been waiting for it.

“No early discharge for you. Just keep that in mind…”

“…?”

Her cryptic words made me tilt my head in confusion.

“…Alright. Is this place the Cradle?”

She nodded.

“Yes. We rented an entire wing of the Cradle’s hospital.”

“Could you tell me what happened while I was out? My memory is a bit hazy from the middle.”

T h i s was c o p ie d f r o m k ing m t l . o rg
“Hazy…? How much do you remember…?”

Yeon Minha suddenly flinched and asked.

“Up to the point where I was fighting the subordinates after decapitating the chief. I don’t remember anything from the middle of the fight.”

“…”

Her expression grew even more troubled. She sighed deeply as if resigning herself and began to explain.

According to Yeon Minha, I had killed all the gathered enemies in the canyon and then lost consciousness.

Th i s w a s co p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . or g
A few hours later, the Central Army from the gateway city arrived, secured Jinryeong, and transported us to the capital.

I had been unconscious for days due to the aftermath of the fight, while she had been busy with treatment and giving testimony.

Jinryeong had suffered significant damage but avoided complete collapse. The nearby agricultural areas were largely untainted, preventing a devastating food crisis. This was thanks to killing the dark mages before they could fortify the area and spread dark magic contamination.

Moreover, none of the students who took on the task had died. All scattered students were rescued, and although many, like me, had suffered severe injuries, their lives were not in danger.

I had sustained the worst injuries and was the last to regain consciousness.

The company that had given Yeon Minha the task was under intense investigation, but it seemed likely they were victims too.

I remembered the bespectacled man in the city babbling about some revelation.

I told Yeon Minha about it, and she said she had heard similar things from the leader of the enemies and had testified about it to the investigation team.
T hi s w a s co p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l .o r g

However, since I had killed all the enemies without taking prisoners, uncovering the truth would take considerable time.

“You… that strange power…”

One of my primary concerns came from Yeon Minha’s lips first.

“Is it the same as that power? The one that makes me feel comfortable…”

“…Yes, it is. But…”

“I knew it… Don’t worry. I haven’t told anyone. You must have your reasons, right?”

“I do have some reasons. Thank you.”
T his w a s copi ed f r o m k in gm t l . or g

“Why are you thanking me for that? It was in the contract anyway…”

Her words made me sigh in relief, but her face still showed curiosity. Maybe I would need to explain things to her in the future.

But Yeon Minha seemed to have more to say. She fidgeted with her fingers for a while before speaking up with difficulty.

“Why did you do such a reckless thing?”

Her question felt like a sharp jab to my heart.

“Didn’t I explain? For the benefit of my sponsor and myself…”

“Do you think that makes sense…? Risking your life for that? Is that really all?”

Of course, that wasn’t all. I probably knew the real reason. Maybe I had projected my subconscious deficiencies onto her.

But I couldn’t say that outright.

“Yes. It wasn’t that reckless. I succeeded, didn’t I?”

“Do you really think…!”

Yeon Minha started to flare up but then sighed heavily and calmed down.

“…Alright. Just rest more. I need to go back to the investigation team…”

As she got up, she turned back.

“…You seem to have a lot of female friends?”

“Pardon?”

“Two or three girls came to visit. You’re not… doing improper things everywhere, are you?”

“Improper things?”

“…Never mind. Anyway, I sent them all away. You need to rest without any unnecessary stress. So just relax and rest.”

With that, Yeon Minha left the hospital room.

The visitors were probably Yena and her friends. Two or three people weren’t a lot. Unlike Yeon Minha, the visitor logs showed names like Muyoung and Seunghun. It was comforting to know I had friends who came to visit me.

Yeon Minha’s measures might have been excessive, but I could pass on my regards once I was out of the hospital.

Yena had worried a lot before leaving. Who would have thought her worries would come true?
T h is w as c o pi ed f r om ki ng m t l . o rg

Thinking this, I petted Ddangkong’s soft back and drifted back to sleep.

T h i s wa s cop i e d f r om ki n g m t l.or g
***

“…You. Take off that mask.”

End of Chapter