Correcting the Villainess of the Academy

After Lee Hyun left.

Yeon Minha was left alone, burying her body in the bed.

“Ha…”

Yeon Minha sighed, her face flushed. She was still savoring the lingering thrill of an intense kiss.

Her hazy eyes, the top button of her shirt undone in an unladylike manner, and her skirt in disarray.

Each of these was a nightmare for someone like her, who pursued neatness, but at this moment, she didn’t want to care about such trifles at all.

She turned her head to look at the side while lying down.

“Should I get a bigger bed… It feels too small for both of us…”

She mumbled, as if recalling something.

“Or maybe… it actually would be nice to be closer together…”

Then she couldn’t help but wear a faint smile, as if feeling bashful.

“Hehe…”

An uncontrollable joy flowed through her entire being.

There was no longer anything to hinder her.

Not only had they confirmed each other’s feelings, but she had also happily gained permission from the head couple of the Heukryeon family, who were practically his parents.

The thorn in her side, Baek Seoyeon, was no longer present. The presence she had occupied in Lee Hyun’s life would soon be completely replaced by herself.

She had already decided that.

“Foolish girl…”

Before long, a smug smirk appeared on Yeon Minha’s lips. Mockery was the prerogative of the victor.

Of course, the process hadn’t been smooth sailing.

That night.

Knowing it was something she shouldn’t be doing, she couldn’t hold back and attached a spirit to the man once again.

And when she learned that Baek Seoyeon was the one enjoying social gatherings with him, she fell into a dreadful pit of despair.

The happy smile that Baek Seoyeon wore only twisted her insides. Yeon Minha felt an overwhelming impulse to run over and snap that girl’s neck right away.

However, at the end of it all, she barely managed to collect herself.

What sustained her was the one promise she had shared with Lee Hyun. Her overflowing anger was barely calmed by breaking the bones of the attackers.

It was a war for the two of them. A brutal war where only the victor could claim everything.

And in the end, the one who claimed that sweet fruit was not Baek Seoyeon, but herself.

“…I will never betray him.”

Yeon Minha whispered as if making a vow.

Though she could guess the circumstances to some extent, having heard their words only strengthened her conviction about the past.

She had no intention of repeating the mistakes Baek Seoyeon had made.

Yeon Minha didn’t want to create any more wounds for that poor man.

It was also her rightful duty to heal the scars left by some foolish girl.

‘What did that family do…? If you find out…!’

In the midst of this, Baek Seoyeon’s sudden outcry made her frown.

“…What did she mean by that?”

A slight unease seeped in, but Yeon Minha shook her head and brushed it off.

It was merely the last desperate gasp of an ugly girl. Putting too much meaning into it would only waste her mental energy.

She already knew the whole story behind the Jeokhwa incident. And Lee Hyun, instead of casting her aside, had boldly declared he would embrace her.

Moreover, he even calmly accepted her despite knowing her bad temperament.

Which meant there was no longer any space for Baek Seoyeon to interfere.

“I really should change… but those idiots aren’t helping me…”

Who wouldn’t want to be a decent and innocent noble lady? The bad thing was not herself, but the dimwitted and lowly fools who poked at her temperament.

“Ugh, whatever… I’ll fix it someday… Huh?!”

Just as Yeon Minha let out her sigh, she was about to drift off into languid thoughts again.

She jolted as if she had suddenly plunged her hand into cold water.

She slightly twisted her legs, burying her flushed face in the blanket as she murmured.

“I’ll have to change again…”

*

“Please focus on the next page, page 178. On the left is our Wizard, and on the right is a dissection of a Demon’s internal organs. The result of humanity exposed to high-density particles causing two types of mutations. You will immediately notice that a significant part of the two dissections is consistent.”

In the still chaotic classroom, a middle-aged professor continued his lecture.

“Just by observing this, you can see how absurd the words of the religious fanatics are. They say that demons are cursed children of the gods, beasts crawling up from hell…”

He was doing his best to fulfill his role as an educator.

It was said that his strong will significantly contributed to the resumption of the halted curriculum.

There was even a vehement debate among the education committee members, filled with raised voices.

Moreover, the situation was made worse as the incident began to escalate politically, making a quick resolution seem unlikely…

“They haven’t yet identified how they use elements and transmutation. However, what is certain is that the source of the Dark Magic used by Warlocks is indeed them…”

“Isn’t it a bit hot in here?”

“It doesn’t seem just a little hot…”

During the lecture, two female students sitting at the front were fanning themselves and whispering.

It didn’t seem like they were just pretending to be hot with beads of sweat visibly forming.

And the discomfort wasn’t felt by just the two of them. Quite a few students were pretending to cool off in a similar manner.

“When we went out, it was fine… Did some hot spring erupt nearby…?”

“I guess the weather is going crazy too…”

I also felt that same way. Perhaps that’s why the girl’s words sounded somewhat reasonable.

“The topic for this report is ‘A Historical Reflection on the Belief in the Demon’s Parent General.’ The submission deadline is next Wednesday. That concludes today’s lecture…”

Complaints quietly arose among the students due to the tight deadline.

After the lecture ended, I sensed someone approaching as everyone was tidying up their seats.

Soon, a familiar male student’s voice greeted me.

“Class leader.”

“Mu-young?”

I turned around happily, greeting Mu-young, whom I hadn’t seen since the Shadow Banquet. I was curious about how he had been doing.

“How have you been?”

“Eh, just so-so. It’s been quite chaotic lately…”

Mu-young replied in his characteristic cynical tone. A hint of distress flashed across his face, making me a bit curious.

Didn’t Kwon Yuri, the senior who took Mu-young out, specifically recommend him? I wondered if something unfortunate had happened to him…

Though he’s a bit hard to approach, I didn’t think Kwon Yuri would lie about something like that.

“Is something bothering you? You look a bit off.”

To my worried question, he responded with something completely unexpected.

“…Actually, I think I’ve found true love.”

Mu-young murmured blankly. I was so surprised that I couldn’t properly respond.

“…?”

“I finally realized how futile my anger and resentment were… The world is actually beautiful, even with just a blade of grass…”

As he rambled on, Mu-young had a wry smile on his face, as if he had learned something profound.

“But it’s painful. To be caught between reason and love, feeling like this pitiful existence… It’s as if I’ve lost my own identity, like being lost in a storm…”

“…”

Is he… alright?

Although it seemed like he had some concerns, it didn’t seem like he had gone through anything truly troubling.

It was just an unexpected reaction, leaving me somewhat bewildered. In any case, it was a fortunate matter.

With a serious expression, Mu-young rambled on about his life philosophy for quite a while.

“…Anyway, becoming an adult comes with this kind of pain. Make sure you remember that, class leader. Well then…”

After chatting for about ten minutes, Mu-young finally stood up with a satisfied expression.

“…”

What was that about? Did he really come just to brag about a new girlfriend…?

Mu-young waved his hand cheerfully and walked past me.

Just as I was pondering that, a whisper caught my attention.

“The professor is looking for you. Until noon tomorrow. Not the usual office, but the gym storage.”

Suddenly, the whispering that scattered made me freeze in my tracks.

*

“Miss. The restoration of the main residence of the Jeokhwa family has reached about 90%. Please confirm the progress personally and provide any corrections or final directions.”

After receiving the servant’s summons, Yeon Minha was heading towards the main gate with an outing permit.

“Hm~hm~”

A pleasant tune bubbled from her lips. It was a natural result, as many good things had been happening lately.

At that moment, she spotted the familiar back of a man.

“Hm…”

Wondering if he had some business, Yeon Minha grinned mischievously as she observed Lee Hyun heading towards the main gate.

She quietly approached him while keeping her presence hidden.

Once she got close enough, she was just about to jump out and cover his eyes with her hands.

“Ah!”

Yeon Minha found herself pinned against the wall, her wrist held firmly.

“…Do you also joke around like this, senior?”

“Can’t you just let it happen once in a while?”

Yeon Minha struggled, her arms raised in a seemingly celebratory manner, and shot back at him.

The man lightly released her grip.

“I’m sorry. It’s a habit, I can’t help it…”

“Geez…”

Muttering in annoyance, Yeon Minha glared at him as if recalling something.

“By the way… ‘also’?”

“…”

Realizing his slip of the tongue, the man immediately shut his mouth, but the words had already escaped.

“…Who are you talking about?”

“…Kwon Yuri, Senior.”

At Lee Hyun’s words, Yeon Minha clenched her teeth.

It was a given that a butterfly circling around a flower was natural, but there were boundaries to everything.

He was already clearly hers.

‘…Of course, that girl, Kwon Yuri, must have approached him since he’s so passive.’

Didn’t she say she wanted to seem like a decent woman? At the very least, she wanted to give that impression in front of him.

‘I’ll deal with her later…’

Finally managing to suppress her anger, Yeon Minha swiftly changed the subject.

“Senior?”

“…No, but where were you headed?”

“I had some errands to run. It won’t take long. What about you?”

“I was just about to head to the main residence. They asked me to check on the repairs.”

“I’m sorry. I’d like to accompany you, but it’s military business…”

“Not a problem. It’s not like we’re going to war.”

Yeon Minha waved off his words as he spoke apologetically.

“Are you coming back today?”

“No matter how late it is, I’ll be back before dinner. We can eat together, too.”

“…Then that’s fine.”

Yeon Minha nodded cheerfully.

Suddenly, as if she recalled something, she looked around hastily.

Then, she approached him and brought her lips close to his neck.

“…Senior?”

“Just stay still. Chu… Chup…”

After sucking on that spot for a while, she finally pulled away.

That area where her lips had touched turned a bright red, as if bitten by something. Soon, it would surely become a mark of sorts.

“What’s this?”

“A mark that I belong to you.”

“Seriously…”

Yeon Minha’s words elicited a bemused smile from the man.

“I didn’t realize you could be this childish.”

Yeon Minha herself hadn’t realized either. She didn’t expect that love could make a person so childish.

“…Stop saying pointless things.”

Yeon Minha shot him a glare, feeling embarrassed.

“Go on. I’ve held you too long.”

“I’ll be back.”

Yeon Minha sent Lee Hyun off with a hug.

She turned around to continue her duties only after he had walked away.

And just as she was about to turn the corner of the hallway, she sensed someone’s presence behind her and softly murmured.

“…Why don’t you come out? I can see you hiding. The spirits are more sensitive than humans.”

After a moment of silence, a clicking sound of heels echoed as a female student revealed herself.

“…Ha.”

Upon seeing who it was, Yeon Minha couldn’t help but let out a helpless laugh.

With her dull, lifeless eyes and messy hair.

Considering the position from which she appeared, it was clear that Baek Seoyeon had been following the man the entire time.

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