Correcting the Villainess of the Academy

Haaam… huh?

A female student with a fresh appearance let out a small yawn, lost in drowsiness. Suddenly, she turned her head at the noise coming from outside the window.

“Guys, look over there!”

Kwon Yuri, spotting unfamiliar figures walking along the campus, waved her hand to call her friends.

“Are those third-year seniors?”

A round-eyed female student with glasses approached and turned her gaze toward them.

“Wait… if that’s true…”

Realizing something, her expression turned to one of disappointment. Third-years in the cradle were practically active duty. They spent more time outside than in the academy’s internal activities.

In the cradle, they only occasionally dropped by for regular reports or supplies. Or sometimes to attend major events.

“Looks like it’s already mating season. Time flies…”

Kwon Yuri uttered a word that didn’t quite match her innocent impression, provoking a disapproving tone from Choi Ireh.

“Hey, watch your expressions! What are we, beasts?”

Kwon Yuri ignored Choi Ireh’s scolding.

“Everyone else says it, so what? Ireh’s just mad because she has no mating candidates!”

“You really…! Ugh…”

Choi Ireh glared at Kwon Yuri with annoyance, letting out a groan as if her stomach was churning. The pressure from her family seemed to weigh heavily on her.

“Why? Did you get another earful?”

“…They said if I don’t get a fiancé by this year, don’t even dream of inheritance.”

Choi Ireh grumbled with a voice full of dissatisfaction.

“Ugh, seriously! What am I supposed to do if I don’t like any of the guys?”

“Right? Even I think that’s a bit much… huh?”

Suddenly, Kwon Yuri’s face registered surprise at something she noticed.

“Isn’t that Senior Garam? But he seems to be missing one hand?”

“What?”

Leading the group returning was a tall male student. In the place where his left hand should be was instead a metallic prosthetic arm.

“Where was that senior stationed?”

“The barrier. Did he lose it fighting demons…?”

Kwon Yuri mumbled to herself while turning to another female student who had been silent.

“But seeing that he’s back, it seems he hasn’t lost his magic. That’s a relief, right?”

“…Yeah.”

With jet-black hair flowing down, and sparkling golden eyes, Baek Seoyeon was focused on student council duties, showing no interest in the newcomers.

‘That doesn’t seem right…’

Kwon Yuri mentally eliminated one potential candidate upon spotting him. Baek Seoyeon’s affection for her fiancé was well-known amongst everyone.

If such a person returned with serious injuries, she couldn’t possibly sit there so calmly, Kwon Yuri thought.

However, the senior who just walked in was from a branch family of the principal and had no notable flaws in skills. He was one of the most promising males in the current cradle.

If it wasn’t him, then who could it be?

‘There haven’t been any suitable candidates among the graduates for the last few years… And I doubt she has a thing for much older men…’

So, it must be one possibility left. The existence of a fiancé might be a lie.

However, Kwon Yuri shook her head at the deep affection she had continuously seen from Baek Seoyeon.

“…”

Lost in her thoughts, Kwon Yuri suddenly spoke up.

“By the way, didn’t I go visit someone in the hospital last time?”

“Huh? Who?”

“Our stylish masked junior.”

“What? Why did you go to visit him?”

Choi Ireh, realizing whom she was talking about, shouted in discontent.

“Ugh, it’s noisy… Can’t I go see an injured junior? You’re so heartless, Ireh.”

Kwon Yuri pretended to cover her ears, grumbling. Meanwhile, she glanced over at Baek Seoyeon.

“He looked perfectly fine, though. Almost fully recovered, I think? Speaking of which, I believe he was going to be discharged today…”

Her eyes, still appearing calm, were quite still. Relief, joy. And… jealousy? Anger?

‘It’s really fascinating…’

It was almost certain that the anger and jealousy were directed towards Kwon Yuri herself. Just from a mere hospital visit to provoke such a reaction.

Yet, her mischievous imagination kept stirring in her mind. Forbidden love, or perhaps infidelity? The depth of that affection was something she couldn’t even begin to guess.

“Seoyeon.”

“Huh…? What…?”

However, in the innocent expression of his face that turned towards her, she couldn’t find any negative emotions.

Kwon Yuri admired her control while continuing her words.

“Have you thought about what kind of compensation you’ll ask for?”

She meant the rightful reward for saving the Heukryeon heir. But Baek Seoyeon shook her head, looking troubled.

“No… not yet…”

“You definitely need to secure something. That should be enough to grab at least a few businesses. If needed, I can lend you our legal team…”

Choi Ireh passionately added, and Kwon Yuri slipped in another comment.

“Right. Seoyeon is way too soft. The more important it is, the firmer you need to be.”

“Oh… When did you start making such sensible comments?”

“First, let’s not miss the chance to hold the Heukryeon heir like this again. Don’t you think? I say it’s better to bargain with your body…”

“Hey! If you’re just going to spout nonsense, then leave!!”

Choi Ireh, looking surprised, shouted back, seemingly having expected that.

“Why do you always yell at me? Seoyeon! Demand something with confidence!”

Kwon Yuri shot back with a pout, feeling wronged.

“How about calling him your partner at the social event? Or maybe a personal slave for a week…!”

“Stop it! Your head is full of flowers! You’re no help!”

“It’s not flowers! And stop being so mad! That’s why you keep getting dumped by guys!”

The empty classroom was filled with the sound of heated arguments. Kwon Yuri protested fiercely while glancing at Baek Seoyeon, who had already lowered her head, mumbling something to herself. Her ears slightly flushed.

“Body, body…”

A smile crept onto Kwon Yuri’s lips.

From the moment she met Baek Seoyeon, she knew. Although pretending to be kind, she treated Kwon Yuri below the status of a friend.

‘I guess dumb Ireh doesn’t realize…’

More accurately, it was closer to indifference. Of course, she wasn’t particularly angry or resentful about it. Baek Seoyeon treated everything in the world that way, not just them.

She just wanted to know more about the presence that could so stir Baek Seoyeon.

While nudge-nudge encouraging her hesitant friend from behind.

‘…But Seoyeon is still my friend.’

After all, it wasn’t that difficult a thing to do.

“Hey! I said I wasn’t dumped; I was the one doing the dumping!”

*

Crack!

The sound of a wooden blade breaking under pressure. The sparring session had officially ended.

Huff… hoo…

A blonde female student in tight training clothes collapsed to the ground, letting out a rough moan.

She looked particularly worn out today. Her arms and legs stained a bright red. The hair she had tied up was in disarray. Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes.

“Ha… ha…”

The masked male student appeared relatively fine but was also gasping heavily. The intensity of the sparring had left more than ten broken wooden blades scattered around the floor.

“…Here.”

In any case, it’s always the winner’s right to console the loser. Lee Hyun approached Jin Yeseo and handed over a dry towel and a small bottle as usual.

“Hah… huff… th-thank you…”

Jin Yeseo struggled to catch her breath. She barely nodded and received what he offered.

Then came the warmth of fingertips, and a wave of heat. Yet again, she felt no discomfort. Unlike that night in the ward.

Lee Hyun still found it odd. He couldn’t figure out why this sensation was absent with Jin Yeseo.

The only certainty was that it became easier to be around her than before.

Meanwhile, Jin Yeseo, tilting her head in confusion at Lee Hyun’s unusually shaped bottle, soon widened her eyes in surprise.

“Er, this is…”

She seemed to recognize what was inside the bottle at once, just like Choi Woojin had.

“It’s Blayne’s nectar…!”

Jin Yeseo whipped her head around to Lee Hyun, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Why do you have something so precious all of a sudden…?”

“Just drink it.”

Lee Hyun replied nonchalantly.

“I got it by chance and brought it.”

The tonic that Kwon Yuri had brought. Ever since he learned its identity from Choi Woojin, he couldn’t even swallow it himself.

Sharing it with others, perhaps it could relieve some of that burden. That behavior stemmed from that thought, but Jin Yeseo had no way of knowing that.

“B-but…”

Despite her hesitant words, a look of unexpected joy washed over Jin Yeseo’s face. More than the object itself, she seemed to find deeper meaning in it.

However, she soon realized she was wearing a silly expression and composed herself.

“…Ahem.”

Then she cast him a suspicious glance.

“What’s your ulterior motive? You look like you’re hiding something…”

“Ulterior motive? Just give it back if you don’t want to drink it. Even…”

“I don’t, I don’t want to give it back!”

Jin Yeseo hugged the bottle like a hen protecting her eggs. Then, lest it be taken away, she opened the lid and gulped down the contents.

The effect was immediate. She felt her exhaustion drained away, her senses numbed.

Finally, she glanced at the masked male student, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“…Thank you. This is really good…”

“…Yeah.”

The masked male student merely nodded, keeping his expression stoic. The two remained seated, conversing about various topics.

Before long, they had come to accept their surroundings as normal.

Jin Yeseo thought of the training room as an intimate little nest just for the two of them.

“…So you’re saying the color and scent manifested in City No. 1, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Jin Yeseo raised her finger, manipulating the particle arrayer. Soon, a small flame flickered, shimmering in black from her fingertips.

Immediately, the previous aroma began to spread around her again. Sweet yet intoxicating.

Lee Hyun looked around. The particles in the air scattered sunlight streaming through the windows, creating a gentle green light. It was the same color as Jin Yeseo’s eyes.

“That’s really sweet. Smells good too. What kind of scent is this…?”

“I still don’t know. I think I’ll have to check the guide later.”

“But this…”

Lee Hyun made a confused expression. Among the people he knew, there were several who emitted scents and colors.

They burned their essences throughout the day, marking their own territories. However, Jin Yeseo’s fragrance only emerged when she was casting magic, which struck him as unusual.

“Maybe it’s because I discovered my aptitude too late. I think I’ll be the first to manifest colors and scents at this age. Almost certainly. Others said they showed signs before their bloom.”

Jin Yeseo’s voice was bright with excitement. Small trivial matters seemed insignificant to her.

“What does that matter? I finally reached category 1. This is actually a good thing. I can keep my real abilities hidden until the next ranking competition.”

Colors and scents were clear evidence that she had surpassed the anomalies as a wizard.

“I plan to use cyclical magic in this ranking competition.”

Jin Yeseo sprang up from her seat, her joyful voice ringing out as she met Lee Hyun’s gaze through the mask.

“I’ll win no matter who my opponent is. Then everyone will know. That I’ve reached category 1 with cyclical magic.”

It was truly strange to think that Jin Yeseo had been hiding her training in cyclical magic all this time, but she shook her head at Lee Hyun’s questioning look.

“If that happens, Mother won’t be able to interfere with me anymore. Finally, I can gain true freedom…! Really…”

Jin Yeseo was laying bare her heartfelt emotions in front of Lee Hyun. He silently watched her.

Just a brief training. And only one real fight.

However, from the recent spar, he could tell.
With that little experience, Jin Yeseo had caught up to two years of his experience in an instant.

A born talent, a gift from the heavens. An area he could never reach, just mere shell.

But he didn’t feel any petty jealousy. On the contrary, his lips naturally curved into a gentle smile reflecting her joy.

“…Congratulations.”

Lee Hyun offered her sincere words. A proper tribute to a friend who had saved his life.

“You deserve to be truly free.”

“Uh, um…?”

Jin Yeseo looked noticeably flustered. It seemed she hadn’t expected him to say something like that.

“Th-thank you.”

Fidgeting, she unconsciously averted her gaze, feeling shy.

“It’s thanks to you. Because you helped me train… I could get here.”

Eventually, Jin Yeseo managed to express her gratitude, albeit bashfully.
Even this was a very new experience for her. She had always been on the receiving end of gratitude.

Though she had always grumbled, casting doubtful gazes, she knew.

There had been several opportunities for him to completely destroy her until now.

But he had never once made that choice.

In truth, he was a person far from the evil she had envisioned.

“If it weren’t for you, I would still be chasing after illusions. Wasting time on impossible things.”

“That’s not because of me. It’s because you didn’t give up and kept trying. You don’t need to lower yourself…”

“Stop…!”

Jin Yeseo waved her face as crimson as an apple, shaking her head vigorously.

“Stop it! You’re doing this on purpose, right? To make me embarrassed…!”

“I’m just stating facts…”

“Ugh! I told you to stop!!!”

Jin Yeseo shouted back, then plopped down, quickly changing the subject.

She appeared to be trying hard to shake off her embarrassment.

“So, why did you hit me so hard today?”

“Huh?”

“I thought I was going to die from the pain. Look here.”

Jin Yeseo rubbed her belly button area. The handprints pressed into her skin were now nearing the stage of bruising.

She glared at the masked male student, her expression fierce.

“Why did you hit me so hard? Are you mad at me? Or disappointed? Hurry up and tell me! If you say it now, I’ll forgive you.”

“…”

The masked male student, looking flustered, didn’t say a word. After a moment of silence, he finally opened his mouth.

“Just… to make you feel good…?”

*

Jin Yeseo sat alone for a long while after the boy left.

“…”

She stared intently at the empty bottle in her hand.

It was strange. No matter how many hours she had strained her body, the worries and restlessness from earlier had vanished with just one spar with him.

Congratulations.

You deserve to be truly free.

“…So, he was a guy who could be so kind, huh?”

Recalling his words, a subtle smile appeared on Jin Yeseo’s face.

“…Ugh.”

Then suddenly.

A twinge in her lower abdomen made Jin Yeseo let out a soft moan.

She thought of the absurd excuse and intentionally grumbled more.

“…Seriously, weird taste. Isn’t he a perv…?”

Then she muttered to herself again.

“It does feel nice, though.”

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