Correcting the Villainess of the Academy - Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Exposure (6)
“How did someone end up like that? He was such a bright friend in the past. Is the Spiritmage’s Curse truly dragging Jeokhwa into the flames…?”
Sa Daeryong muttered with a complicated expression.
Unlike the Paechun family, who couldn’t wait to tear each other apart, Jeokhwa and Heukryeon had maintained a friendly relationship for generations.
This remained true up until a few decades ago, but the decline in Jeokhwa’s head, Yeon Jeongmun’s, health had soured their relationship for a long time.
That year was the same year Yeon Minha was born, and also the year her biological mother died.
“…Then, what’s the current situation…?”
Hearing my question, Sa Daeryong furrowed his brow further.
As if someone had warned me, the Supreme Council publicly announced a resolution to sanction Jeokhwa this morning.
All the evil deeds committed by Yeon Jeongmun, the head of the Jeokhwa family, were detailed as well.
All of Jeokhwa’s businesses and foundation funds were frozen, and an emergency arrest order was issued for all its members.
Even those who narrowly survived the catastrophe were detained and undergoing intense investigations.
Naturally, Yeon Minha could not be an exception.
As the rightful heir of Jeokhwa, she was under heavy suspicion of being involved in Yeon Jeongmun’s schemes.
This morning, they demanded our custody, having belatedly tracked our escape.
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f r om k i ng m t l. o rg
But at this point, Sa Daeryong scoffed dismissively.
“There’s no need to worry. I’ve already chased away all those scoundrels. Unless they want to start a war, they won’t dare to step foot on Heukryeon’s private property.”
“Sir, she has no connection to any of that. She even stood against her father, who tried to kill me. She almost ended up a victim herself…”
“I know, I know. Didn’t I say you needn’t worry? We believe in what you’re saying.”
As I hurriedly voiced my defense, Ye Jieun calmly waved a reassuring hand to soothe me.
The man beside her nodded in agreement.
“You and that child are safe now. So focus solely on your recovery. Although we’ve somewhat neutralized the dark mages’ poison, it’ll take quite some time until you’re fully mobile.”
“Dear, let’s go now. We should let him rest. We can continue the conversation once he’s further recovered…”
I wanted to ask more questions, but they insisted I rest and left the room.
They only mentioned that I could freely use anything in the mansion and should not hesitate to ring the bell for assistance if needed.
Such unexpected hospitality left me feeling quite bewildered.
While their generosity was reassuring, some aspects were hard to understand.
It was clear they had received some prior word from the commander.
Their statement about waiting for me.
They didn’t show any concern over my masked appearance, even arranging a new mask as if they’d prepared in advance.
T hi s w as c o p i e d f ro m k i n gmtl .o rg
From my limited perspective, the commander’s parents seemed like people of significant integrity and dignity.
Considering their background as part of the prestigious Five Families made it even more surprising.
At the Cradle, at least, I had the title of Heukryeon’s recommended student, but to them, wasn’t I just an orphan of humble origins?
It’s an act difficult to carry out without genuine sincerity.
But had the commander ever spoken about his family or parents? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t recall hearing anything related.
The commander and his sisters would chatter about all sorts of things, but that topic was never mentioned. In hindsight, it seems they deliberately avoided it.
And when I asked about their relationship with the commander earlier, there was something peculiar about their reaction.
What is it…
As I turned my head to scan the room, small items and decorations I hadn’t noticed earlier caught my eye.
T hi s w a s c op i e d f r o m ki n g mt l .or g
Among them, one fairly large framed picture hanging in a corner stood out.
Drawn as if by some invisible force, I walked over to it.
The photograph, slightly faded, seemed to be years old, but the people in it were recognizable.
The reason this frame captivated me was clear: the people in the photo were familiar and dear to me.
Surprisingly, it featured the commander and his sisters.
The trim on their sleeves and collars differed slightly from now, but they were undeniably wearing the Cradle’s uniform.
Was the photo taken during their school years? Since they all graduated from the Cradle.
Their youthful appearances seemed strikingly different.
While there was no significant change from now, there was a liveliness and youthfulness that were no longer present.
I found myself lost in the photograph.
Sitting in the center with his characteristic stern look was the commander.
His expression was much like it is now, which somehow endeared him to me.
Surrounding him were his sisters.
Though they wore the same uniform, each sister’s unique personality was distinctly visible.
To the commander’s right. Wearing a long skirt and jacket by the code, complete with a tie, exuding a model-student vibe was Sehwa sister.
T h i s w a s co p i e d from k in g m tl . or g
In the middle. Wearing a skirt shortened to the point where her thighs were exposed, casually unbuttoning two or three buttons of her shirt was Yoon Chaewon sister.
To the left. Clutching the commander’s arm with a worried expression, the coquettish looking girl was Jin sister. Why did she have her jacket draped over her head?
They’ve been inseparable since the Cradle, nearly twenty years. Truly an unusual bond.
At the bottom of the photo, something was written in small, neat letters.
I began to read them slowly from the bottom up.
Cradle’s 57th Student Council Members
-Treasurer: Yoon Chaewon
-Disciplinary Committee Head: Ryu Sehwa
-Secretary: Yejin
“…”
Were they all from the student council?
The Cradle welcomed anyone with talent, but I knew the student council was an exception, requiring not just skill but also a strong background.
Th i s w as c opi e d f r o m ki n g m t l. org
I expected as much, but they really were exceptional people.
What shocked me the most was the name written at the very top.
-Student Council President: Sa Jaehyuk
“What on earth…”
Did I misread something? I blinked several times and re-read the inscription. But I hadn’t misread.
The name next to “Student Council President” was undoubtedly the commander’s.
Of all people, he was the student council president…?
T h i s w a s c o pi e d f r o m k in gm t l . or g
There’s no denying that the commander is a good person, but the words “student council president” and him just don’t seem to fit.
Even if the commander spent the night tormenting me with ticklish feet, this fact would remain undeniable.
The shock was so considerable that I only belatedly noticed another person in the photo with him.
Standing behind the seated commander was another girl.
She was standing, her arms wrapped around his neck, her head resting on his crown.
At a glance, her impression seemed kind and pure. Among those in the photo, she appeared closest to the commander.
Her smile was the clearest and most refreshing I’d ever seen.
I looked down again to confirm her name.
-Vice President: Seol Yujeong
A name I’d never heard before in my life.
Yet, her face seemed familiar.
I was certain I had seen her.
As the familiar sensation washed over me, I pondered past memories.
And finally, I recalled.
“…”
I couldn’t find words.
This woman.
She was the one from my dream.
***
I had a light dinner with the items brought by the servant on a cart.
Though it was late at night, my thoughts continued to swirl.
The face of the woman in the photo kept lingering in my mind.
Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i ngm t l . o r g
It was too strange to shake off.
In the photo, she posed with an intimate familiarity, yet the commander and his sisters never mentioned the name Seol Yujeong.
Naturally, I hadn’t heard of her either. Nor had I seen her.
But during the aftermath of exerting my power in the south, when I was unconscious.
When I was transported and sleeping in the Cradle’s infirmary.
In the midst of a dream I had back then, I distinctly encountered her.
Seol Yujeong in the photo was smiling brightly, matching her appearance. But in the dream, she wore an incongruous evil expression, which made the memory even clearer.
But… is it even possible for someone I’ve never met or heard of to appear in my dream?
Recalling her suddenly brought the details of the strange dream flooding back. To keep from forgetting, I jotted them down on paper.
A calendar from three years ago. Ancient structures with the sea visible to the east.
Women chatting like close friends. A flower shop owner. A fortress guard. A nightclub singer. A nun. And so on.
Polaris. Spica. Adversary. Grand work.
“…”
Even as I wrote it down, I wondered what it all meant.
It felt like trying to decipher incomprehensible symbols.
Yet the vividness was almost ominously unsettling.
Especially thinking a real person appeared in that dream.
How am I supposed to understand this? I can’t just randomly tell someone. Should I dismiss it as a nonsensical dream? Or should I try to find the commander and talk to him?
“…”
-Knock, knock.
Lost in unanswered questions, I couldn’t find a way out.
T h i s w a s c opied fr o m k i ng mtl .org
A sudden knock on the door pulled me back to reality.
“You may come in.”
I thought it might be a servant checking on me, but an unexpected figure emerged from the darkness.
T hi s w as c o p ied f r o m k i ng m tl. o r g
“…Senior.”
T h i s wa s c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g
Yeon Minha was clad in a thin, white gown, see-through enough to reveal her skin. The bandages wrapped around her exposed neck and limbs hinted at her struggles.
I was told it would take more time for her to wake up. Had she recovered faster than expected?
“…”
Yeon Minha silently gazed at me.
Her weary face was lit by the faint glow of a night light.
The eyes that once sparkled like jewels were now filled with emptiness.
Seeing her in that state in the dead of night was a troublesome sight.
I was at a loss for words or comfort to offer.
But as I stood to greet her.
-Swoosh.
Yeon Minha slowly stepped into the room and suddenly collapsed into my arms.
“…Senior?”
“…”
She remained silent. Her face buried in my chest, hiding her expression.
Her shoulders shook slightly. A faint dampness, like raindrops, was felt against my chest.
As she trembled, the gown draped over her shoulders started slipping to the floor. I caught it and pulled it back up to her neck.
Yet Yeon Minha paid no attention, keeping her face buried.
Eventually, the gown fell, revealing her slender shoulders and pale skin.
“Senior. Just a moment…”
I finally opened my mouth, caught off guard.
With a voice thick with tears, Yeon Minha softly murmured.
A whisper so faint and delicate, it could have slipped by without a keen ear.
“…Please. Could you grant me just one request…?”
“…What is it?”
After a brief silence.
Her forlorn words took me by complete surprise.
“Hold me…”
End of Chapter
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Bakunawa
Nah uh, MC better not do what i think it is