Correcting the Villainess of the Academy

It has been hundreds of years since the last king left this world. The monarchy was already a collapsed system even before the establishment of the ancient civilization, they say.

The throne is a metaphor, I guess. If Haewolhwa had wanted, she could have certainly held the kind of immense power that rivals Paecheon or Heukryeon.

It sounds like her strength is overwhelming enough to compete alone against others who have built their power on a familial basis.

“Well, just looking at her appearance, it’s obvious. As far as I know, Haewolhwa is the only one who has not only slowed down aging but has even gone backward in time. At least in the current generation.”

Choi Woojin exclaimed in a voice filled with admiration.

I know that wizards become less sensitive to particles as they age.

The slowed aging of some powerful wizards is evidence that they can hold on to their power to some extent.

If she has crossed that limit and actually reversed age… it does seem impressive, for sure.

Choi Woojin looked around quickly and, for some reason, lowered his voice as if it sounded suspicious.

“Did you know? There are dozens of ghost stories surrounding the Cradle. Among them, there’s this one.”

“What is it?”

In our small village, ghost stories and rumors were rampant.

After all, the Cradle is an ancient prestigious academy that has been established for over a hundred years. It’s only natural that there would be dozens of ghost stories.

“If you go to the pond behind the campus at three o’clock on a Friday morning, they say you might see a female student in a school uniform without a name tag skipping stones.”

“…Is that supposed to be a ghost story?”

Surprised, Choi Woojin continued in a calm voice.

“Yeah. Sometimes, she’s spotted in the seldom-traveled alleys of the capital too. They say she enjoys popping the heads of mutants and warlocks while humming a tune.”

“So how is that a ghost story…”

“Listen. And they say that female student’s eyes shine a bright blue. There’s always a fresh, grassy scent left in her wake. Doesn’t that make you at least curious?”

I finally caught on that such a sighting of a female student could be treated like a ghost story.

Bright blue shining eyes and a fresh, grassy scent.

No matter how I think about it, only one person comes to mind.

And if that person is who I think it is… it definitely can’t just be a ghost story.

“Well, who can tell the truth? There’s no one to ask about it directly. It’s wiser to just consider it a refined hobby and pretend you don’t know.”

Seeing me in shock, the big male student smirked.

“This conversation has taken a slight detour. Anyway, many people find this upcoming departure of hers quite puzzling. Those who know Haewolhwa’s disposition think it’s unexpected. She’s someone who has stuck to the capital like a slug, to the point of being nicknamed ‘Lazy Haewolhwa.’ Even during the Witch Incident, she didn’t budge from the capital, so it wouldn’t be a sudden desire for fame at this late stage…”

Now that I thought about it, the head’s father had also mentioned ‘Lazy Haewolhwa’ before.

When I first met the principal, she even said herself that she wasn’t the type to step forward. The only place she fully ruled was that shabby greenhouse in the capital.

Hearing that made me suddenly curious. What could have prompted Haewolhwa to accompany the expedition into the uncharted territories?

“…?”

Suddenly feeling an unpleasant gaze on me, I turned my head to see Choi Woojin crossing his arms, looking at me as though he had business with me.

I finally recalled that he had deliberately come to find me sitting in a corner of the library. It probably wasn’t just to make small talk.

“What is it?”

“Let’s duel again…”

“Pass.”

I shot back before he could finish his sentence.

*

A certain female student wearing a hood was climbing the stairs toward the Cradle’s library.

A few strands of golden hair escaped and sparkled brightly in the afternoon sun.

As soon as she heard the news that the male student comes to the library at this time, she hastily made her way there.

Jin Yeseo had been in deep agony for the past few days.

But the conclusion was always the same. Although it might be a thorny path, there was only one option left for her.

Arriving at the library, Jin Yeseo looked around.

Not finding the person she sought near the main table, she started exploring the edges.

Then, she slightly frowned upon discovering something.

“…What’s that?”

Unintentionally, she hid behind the tall shelves of books in the library.

Then she peeked out cautiously.

Two male students were filling the cramped corner seat. Jin Yeseo immediately recognized them.

The one with a lock of hair behind his head was the person she was looking for.

The excessively muscular one was Choi Woojin.

“….”

Seeing these unexpected intruders, Jin Yeseo slightly bit her dry lip.

While unable to hide her unpleasant expressions, she hid herself further.

Due to Jin Yeseo’s recent string of humiliating failures, Choi Woojin seemed eager to mock her.

If it had been her until recently, she would have retorted and given him a hard time, but unfortunately, there was no longer any surplus of emotion to waste on such trivial matters for her.

She was barely managing to hold on to the thread of her sanity.

And the only being who could help revive that spark was… the masked male student before her.

“…Oh.”

“Eheh… Okay… then tomorrow…”

“No… go away…”

The two were engaged in a lengthy conversation about something.

That oddly friendly sight only twisted Jin Yeseo’s insides further. It seemed like Choi Woojin was getting in her way again.
When Choi Woojin was about to ask for something, the masked male student cut him off decisively.

Choi Woojin, while laughing heartily, couldn’t hide his disappointment.

He soon stood up and left the library. The masked male student turned his body back to the desk facing the wall.

Jin Yeseo hurriedly turned her head to check her surroundings. Since it was such a secluded spot, no one but her was around.

Now was her only chance to approach him without being noticed.

Swallowing once—gulp—Jin Yeseo tiptoed toward him like a cat.

Soon, his voice focused on his assignment began reaching Jin Yeseo’s ears.

“Using the following formula, calculate the loss rate when neutral Bessel particles enter the body… And refer to the visual representation of the internalization process…?”

Just by glancing, Jin Yeseo could tell what problem he was working on.

It was one of the basic formulas that aspiring Cradle students prepared since the preliminary class.

However, he, despite already being a proper student of the Cradle, seemed to struggle as if it were a question of the century.

Jin Yeseo thought this was unexpected, but she didn’t see it as a point to mock. After all, she herself had no emotional surplus to squander elsewhere.

“The recovery time after a wizard with an internal rubin value below 3000R faints has to be calculated using a cubic formula… Phew…”

Jin Yeseo took another step closer to him.

As he was still focused on his problem-solving, she hesitated and wondered if she should speak first.

The male student, without even turning around, spoke.

“Hey. I told you to leave. I’m not dueling you.”

“…”

He mistook her for Choi Woojin.

Just that realization sent a wave of unpleasantness through her… but again, it was a trivial issue right now.

There was no way to turn back now.

Taking a deep breath, Jin Yeseo gathered her courage.

Then, she finally opened her mouth.

“Hey. Can’t you hear? I told you to go away…”

“…I’m not Choi Woojin.”

Jin Yeseo spoke with her dry, cracked lips.

At that, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Then, he slowly turned to face Jin Yeseo.

What came from him was not language but a deep sigh.

“Haah…”

Clearly perceiving her as a nuisance. It was quite humiliating, but, for now, it didn’t matter.

She was in a position where she had to brace for even worse.

“…I see. You and Choi Woojin are in different situations. I have something to say…”

The masked male student spoke in a voice filled with weariness. His exhausted appearance diffused the hostility.

“What? Is it a duel challenge? Not this week. I’m busy with pending assignments.”

“No, no.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t come to challenge you to a duel.”

“…So what is it then?”

“…”

Although it was a question that suggested he didn’t understand, Jin Yeseo remained silent again. Her already parched lips felt even dryer.

Finally, after pondering internally until the last moment, Jin Yeseo closed her eyes tightly and slightly lowered her head.

Then, squeezing out her voice, she managed to utter.

“Help… me.”

“…”

A long silence passed between them.

The masked male student appeared stunned, not having anticipated her actions.

After regaining his senses, he asked her.

“Did I hear that wrong?”

His voice was tinged with disbelief.

Jin Yeseo shook her head slightly.

“…You didn’t mishear. I asked for help…”

The profound embarrassment she felt for the first time made Jin Yeseo’s face flush red.

A prestigious family. As the heir of the Baekgwang family, she had never bowed down to anyone but her mother.

“…About what you said last time. I’ve thought about it.”

“What did you mean?”

“That the most important thing is absolute strength. That only it can grant all your wishes. And that… if you can seize it, the means and methods don’t matter.”

“…”

“And… that I’m wasting time despite having the ability.”

With an effort to suppress her sorrow, she managed to continue with a trembling voice.

“…So?”

“So… I decided to try. To do what I might be good at.”

After a long pause, Jin Yeseo hesitantly opened her mouth again.

“So, so… I wish you would help me with that…”

“Pass.”

“Uh…?”

“I said pass.”

But his blunt rejection made Jin Yeseo look up in shock.

The male student regained his composure and was now observing her dispassionately.

With a low, flat tone, he stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Why would I?”

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