Correcting the Villainess of the Academy

“…Who is this?”

Yeon Minha, upon seeing Baek Seoyeon, spoke with a voice full of mockery. The surprise from earlier had long since vanished.

“I was taken aback! I thought it was someone else.”

Yeon Minha was soaring with a sense of victory. The person standing before her was not the noble lady Baek Seoyeon of Paecheon, but rather a useless loser.

“Who would have thought that Baek Seoyeon would be acting like a stalker? Your followers would be utterly shocked if they found out.”

“This has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business.”

Still, the hostility between them was evident, and Yeon Minha couldn’t help but give a hollow laugh once more.

Baek Seoyeon, who had once been revered as an idol on campus, both among the students and professors, now stood like this after just one meeting.

Whispers had begun circulating among the students about her change—saying she was struggling under intense pressure from Paecheon and that her relationship with her fiancé was deteriorating, among other things.

And only three people knew the truth behind it all.

“Hmm…”

Separately, seeing her in such a pitiful state also triggered a strange unease within Yeon Minha.

Once, she too was a shell of her former self. The only thing that filled the void during her aimless wandering was the presence of Lee Hyun. Now he was essentially the reason for her existence.

If he had chosen Baek Seoyeon, the one in this miserable state would be her, not that girl.

But that didn’t mean she felt any real sympathy. She wasn’t the kind of person to care about someone else’s downfall.

Especially since if the situation were reversed, Baek Seoyeon would undoubtedly be busy mocking her.

“A girl with a fiancé is…”

Suddenly, Yeon Minha paused, recalling something and fixed her gaze on Baek Seoyeon.

There were only rumors surrounding Baek Seoyeon’s fiancé; nobody even knew his name or had seen a single strand of his hair.

But thanks to Baek Seoyeon’s frequent expressions of specific and deep affection, it was already taken for granted that her fiancé was a real person.

However, after hearing about the man’s past and witnessing their quarrels through the eyes of a spirit, Yeon Minha couldn’t help but form a certain conviction.

‘As I thought…’

The conclusion she’d drawn was simply to keep her mouth tightly shut.

There was no need to stir the pot. Plus, it didn’t need to reach the man.

“…No, it does concern me.”

Resolving herself, Yeon Minha walked up to Baek Seoyeon and, with an arrogant yet seductive voice, exclaimed.

“When a strange woman is clinging to your boyfriend, shouldn’t the girlfriend manage it?”

“You…!”

The sound of a distant howl echoed emptily in the hallway. Yeon Minha felt the hostility prickling her skin but continued her mockery.

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Didn’t you know? You saw it all that day. Him cast in desire for my lips.”

Yeon Minha playfully traced her finger along her own lips, tilting her head.

Her words seemed like a harsh flashback for someone. The girl with black hair lowered her head, her tightly clenched fists trembling.

With drops of blood falling down, Yeon Minha’s eyes sparkled even brighter.

“Oh dear…”

Yeon Minha pressed her forehead with her hand as if she was overwhelmed. Every tiny action was laced with malicious intent.

“Baek Seoyeon, let me make this clear. You are now completely useless to him. You know that well, don’t you? Hmm?”

“…”

“Isn’t it time you stopped clinging like a loser? If you truly love him, it would be more proper to wish for our happiness, right?”

“…Shut up.”

“Ha… You must have seen him accept my affection earlier, right?”

Her shoulders twitched. There was no response, but it hardly mattered.

Yeon Minha continued.

“But what about you? What was it you did? Did you push him away? Or perhaps grimace at his touch? I can’t quite remember in the dim light…”

“Hah… hah…”

The fists tightened even more. The drops of blood fell more frequently and larger.

“That’s the difference in class. One is cherished, while the other hates even the slightest contact…”

As she spoke, Yeon Minha moved closer to Baek Seoyeon.

She intended to make Baek Seoyeon give up entirely on this chance.

“Ah, shall I share something else?”

Yeon Minha clapped her hand as if remembering something.

Then she whispered softly, just for Baek Seoyeon’s ears.

“Did you know? My boyfriend and I… are cohabiting in the dormitory?”

“…!”

“I’m really telling you this only. It’s a secret from the others, okay? If it gets out… my boyfriend could be expelled, you know?”

“Don’t lie…! Hyun would never…!!”

“Never, you say?”

Yeon Minha parroted Baek Seoyeon’s words mockingly. Then she waved her hand dramatically as if making a concession.

“Oh, I get it. You want to see proof? Seriously… what a scandalous thing to do in a public place…”

Contrary to her words, Yeon Minha unbuttoned two or three buttons on her shirt with reckless hands.

As she tossed it aside, her thin shoulders and collarbone emerged.

“Now, take a good look.”

“Ah, ahh…”

Baek Seoyeon trembled but, for some reason, couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Her pure, pale skin resembling white canvas had been dirtied with red scratches and marks of something pressed upon it.

“This morning, he made this for me himself. His body is so solid… just a slight brush, and it becomes like this…”

“Ah, ahh…”

“Although living together feels like the honeymoon phase, it can be quite exhausting sometimes. Today, I was so anxious thinking he might be late.”

“Stop…”

“You see the dark circles under my eyes? I’ve hardly slept lately. He can’t help but want me at all hours.”

Yeon Minha sighed, seemingly in exasperation.

“My lips are chapped… my back is sore… my thighs are all tender from him…”

“Stop, just stop…”

“His stamina is unbelievable. Is it because he’s in his prime? What can I do, as the older one, I just have to take it all.”

“Hah, hah…”

“I wonder if I’ll accidentally get pregnant and be expelled. Whatever, I have to just accept it. When we have our wedding, you’d better come. Got it? Oh, it’s fine, you don’t need to decline. Let’s forget the past and be happy together moving forward…”

“I told you to stop!!!”

Her furious shout echoed loudly in the hallway. Yeon Minha merely smiled without saying a word, watching Baek Seoyeon. Clutching her throat as if she were choking, they both panted heavily.

“Hah, hah, hah…!”

After a long time catching her breath, Baek Seoyeon glared at Yeon Minha with intense hatred.

“…Hyun isn’t someone like… you, filthy and cheap.”

“Ha.”

The intensity of her belief was remarkable. The certainty she delivered without a shred of doubt was downright infuriating.

In reality, Yeon Minha was only a step ahead of Baek Seoyeon, but she felt no pangs of conscience.

After all, it was a future that would come sooner or later. Even if she had subtly guided it, the lustful glint in his eyes for her was growing increasingly vivid.

Moreover, since she was already simulating her own conquest, she half-expected Baek Seoyeon’s downfall.

If it did happen, she could neatly eliminate any future troubles. The attack had only come from her side.

Yeon Minha hadn’t forgotten the humiliation from when the Jeokhwa incident occurred. She was different now.

She was mentally stable, and her abilities as a spirit mage were blooming daily, influenced by a man.

“At this rate, why not just give up? You know? The one who squandered the opportunity was you. On top of that, you even managed to hurt my boyfriend. You no longer have any qualifications. His pain, I’ll heal well, so now you should just…”

Yeon Minha had resolved to assist Baek Seoyeon in her decision and was pushing her further.

“…You know?”

“What?”

“Do you think you’re… clean?”

After a lengthy silence, what came out of Baek Seoyeon’s mouth was unexpected.

Yeon Minha, failing to grasp the meaning, questioned Baek Seoyeon.

“What nonsense are you spouting? If you’re going to talk, at least do it properly!”

“…”

Baek Seoyeon didn’t answer. She took shaky steps toward Yeon Minha.

“…!”

As if it was finally happening, Yeon Minha’s tension mounted.

“…I won’t tell you. It would only be… more painful that way.”

But all that reached her ears was a fragmented whisper. Baek Seoyeon left that remark behind and vanished down the hallway.

“…Crazy girl.”

Yeon Minha stood there dazed for a moment, having lost her vigor. But soon, she turned her back with a chuckle directed at Baek Seoyeon.

*

I passed through the capital’s checkpoint around dusk.

Instead of the usual mask, I covered my face with a hood and a scrap of cloth as I made my way to the meeting place.

Awaiting the long-awaited call from Mok Jinwoo.

He had mentioned that when I arrived, he would tell me everything I was curious about.

Finally, I might learn something about this mysterious power. My heart raced with anticipation.

“This place…”

It was called the shadows of the capital—a seedy area. The narrow street was lined with unsettling red neon signs that flickered incessantly.

I stepped into the alley, making my way past the physical education storage instead of the usual office. If it’s just a talk, was there even a need to change the meeting spot? I was curious about his intentions.

After moving further, I finally reached the designated location.

“…”

In front of the entrance leading underground. A heart-shaped symbol with a pink male gender symbol caught my eye.

Just looking at it made me hesitate to step inside. Below the sign, the establishment’s name was scrawled in crooked letters.

-Secret Classroom

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