Correcting the Villainess of the Academy

Jin Yeseo, caught in the stinging gaze, slyly lowered her arm that had been grabbed at the last moment.

“Help you? With what?”

“…Your designated request. I’m saying I’ll help you.”

It felt like a slip of the tongue, but there was no way to take it back. Honestly, it was the only option she had left.

After a resigned self-justification, Jin Yeseo boldly made her proposal.

“…Why suddenly you?”

But the Masked Male Student looked utterly bewildered.

“And the principle is that designated requests are individual. It’s clearly stated in the regulations that you can’t add members or have multiple people carry it out like a regular request…”

“…I’m just saying I’ll help.”

“What?”

“Without even putting my name down… I’m just opting to help.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Just so you know, it’s a loophole, but not a violation of the rules. I’ve heard seniors say they helped each other this way multiple times. As long as it’s not blatant, Yoral turns a blind eye as much as possible…”

“…Then you? You’ll have to carry out your own request too, right?”

“I’m not doing a designated request, but a regular one… You should handle your share appropriately.”

Thanks to being hit by Moon Yeowool in the last ranked match, Jin Yeseo had plummeted to a two-digit rank, the unfortunate 11th place.

As a result, she could no longer carry out her first designated request, which was essential for her future career. Even though it had been several days since the ranked match, the incident still circulated among the students.

It was certain her family had learned of it by now, and soon she would likely receive a contact from the head of the family bearing a reprimanding tone.

However, that wasn’t Jin Yeseo’s concern at the moment. She wanted to focus solely on her own improvement. Convincing the Masked Male Student was part of that plan.

“…No.”

But the Masked Male Student immediately spat out a firm rejection.

“How can I trust you to accompany me on my request? Do you know who the least trustworthy person in the world is? Someone who’s willing to help without any compensation.”

He clearly had no trust in Jin Yeseo. It wasn’t an unreasonable reaction.

Now, she had become completely at his mercy, but just a few weeks ago, they had been practically adversaries.

In fact, it was more like Jin Yeseo had persistently clung to him and expressed her hostility.

But now, hearing his response, Jin Yeseo’s lips felt parched.

“I’ll refuse your help. Let’s each take care of our own business. Then…”

“I-I’ll accept compensation…!”

Yet Jin Yeseo spread her arms and positioned herself in front of the entrance to the training room, blocking his way once again.

“You just said you’d help before?”

“…I changed my mind.”

“Suddenly?”

“…”

A rush of sorrow hit her, leaving her breathless. The Twenty-Seven Clans of Greatest Wizards. Among them, the five oldest families with the deepest history.

The proud heir of the Baekgwang family was right there.

She had led an undeniably remarkable life, being recognized as a prodigy since childhood. Even among her peers, she had always stood out. She had coldly brushed off countless male suitors, refusing to even engage in casual conversation, and this remained true even upon arriving in Yoral.

Her relationships with female peers were relatively good. In fact, there were even those who followed her lead.

But Jin Yeseo had no interest in romance. Whenever words like fiancé or partner arose in her friends’ conversations, she would instantly tune them out.

She only planned to find a suitable stallion for breeding when she could no longer withstand the pressures of her family.

Once her duty to carry on the bloodline was fulfilled, she intended to completely turn away.

But how had this lofty self become reduced to begging a strange, brutish man wearing a ridiculous mask?

“Your request. I’ll help speed it up. But in return…”

“In return?”

“…If I have some time left, spar with me more. That’s… my requirement.”

But ultimately, she had no choice but to come clean about it. Shame and embarrassment felt trivial by now.

Jin Yeseo had long since fallen into a sweet addiction.

Training magic that suited her natural talent, the exhilarating thrill of seeing her achievements grow like a snowball. Finally feeling a sense of liberation as if she had rediscovered her true self.

Even the guilt of abandoning her sister and family was overshadowed by an addictive pleasure.

And now, there was only one person who could elicit those feelings in her.

“…”

The Masked Male Student stared blankly at Jin Yeseo. Though he couldn’t see the back of his mask, she was convinced he wore a look of disbelief.

After a long pause, he opened his mouth again.

“…Just because you say you’ll help doesn’t mean it’ll be done any faster. Unless it’s an escort request or something, this is…”

“We won’t know until we try! What kind of request is it, anyway…?”

The Masked Male Student appeared to be lost in thought again.

Considering the frequent occurrences of eavesdropping on others’ request details and sabotaging them, his hesitation was, surprisingly, logical.

After standing there for a while, he suddenly began rummaging through his jacket pocket.

He pulled something out and handed it to Jin Yeseo.

“Then, can I ask you one thing… Do you know what this is?”

His voice carried little expectation despite his question.

Jin Yeseo accepted the object.

It looked like some kind of ornament—a cross-shaped decoration encased in a circular frame. The way the string is threaded suggests the top branch was longer, creating a peculiar shape.

As she examined the item, the Masked Male Student shook his head when there was no response.

“…Fine. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything. Give that back…”

“I know.”

“What?”

“I know what this is.”

But it was the Masked Male Student who seemed flustered by Jin Yeseo’s composed response.

The second request they had participated in weeks prior.

While the Masked Male Student defended Jinryeong against the rebel army in the south, Jin Yeseo had also made quite an impressive score herself.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“…What is it?”

“It’s a symbol of a certain cult.”

She had no way of not knowing.

During the second request, she and Baek Seoyeon had completely obliterated one of their branches.

At that time, Jin Yeseo had sent him jealous glances. After all, if it hadn’t been for him and Yeon Minha, the spotlight would have been solely on Baek Seoyeon and her.

Of course, that was all in the past.

“…Are you sure?”

The Masked Male Student muttered in a pensive tone.

“I’m sure. I faced those guys directly when I went out for the last external request.”

“A cult, huh… What’s its name?”

Jin Yeseo answered his question.

“The Gate of Heaven.”

*

After returning from the training room, it wasn’t too late into the night.

I was sitting at my desk, writing a letter to my sisters as usual.

I would be quite busy for the next few days, so I wouldn’t have time to write a separate letter.

“Graaa… Graaa…”

As I stroked the little Peanut sitting on my lap with an empty hand, it let out purring sounds of contentment.

Knock, knock

Suddenly, a small sound echoed softly from the direction of the hallway.

I set Peanut down on the floor temporarily and turned my body.

“Huh, eep. Are you sleeping?”

Then came Yeon Minha’s voice, with a hint of tension, as if she had chewed her tongue.

“No, I’m not. You can come in.”

Before I could finish my answer, the bedroom door opened, and Yeon Minha appeared from the darkness of the hallway.

She was wearing a simple white dress with frills at the end. The form-fitting style made it somewhat difficult to look directly at her.

Her skin, seemingly freshly washed, had a light blush, and her hair carried a sheen of moisture. The unique scent of particles resembling daffodils quickly filled the small bedroom.

Contrary to the aura I just felt, her expression was calm, almost cold. Did I mishear?

“…I’m not interrupting am I?”

Yeon Minha spoke in her usual serene tone.

“No, not at all. What brings you here at this hour?”

I had just finished writing most of my letter.

I was more curious about why Yeon Minha decided to visit my bedroom at this hour.

Come to think of it, I had a few questions to ask her too. Today, she had been holed up in her own room like a mouse, so I hadn’t found the opportunity to talk.

Also, wasn’t this the first time she had stepped into my room? I had frequently been in and out of her room.

Strictly speaking, I was more like an illegal resident here since this had originally been Yeon Minha’s room…

“Is the request preparation going well?”

Instead of answering my question, Yeon Minha brought up a different topic.

“…It’s going so-so. How about your side?”

Second-years had to deal with even stricter external request schedules than first-years.

“My side is a Medicine Transport Escort Request. It’s not too bad. At least I’m not heading down south like last time, and the scale is manageable.”

“Is that so? That’s good to hear.”

“Yeah. But the schedule is a bit tight… I think I’ll have to leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Is that so? I’ll probably leave tomorrow too.”

I nodded in response.

“I’m glad you came. I was actually hoping to ask you something.”

“…Really? That’s fortunate. I actually have something I want to say as well.”

“What is it?”

“…”

Instead of answering my question, Yeon Minha slowly walked toward me.

“Meow?”

Then she suddenly scooped up Peanut, who was looking up at me dissatisfied.

She walked back toward the door, out into the hallway.

And before stunned Peanut could comprehend the situation, she simply closed the door behind her.

Click

Locking the door handle tightly.

Meow! Meow!

Outside, Peanut finally realized what was happening and began to wail. It was a heartbreaking sound, reminiscent of a daughter who had lost her father. The scratching sounds of its claws only made the melancholy feel heavier…

But Yeon Minha, completely unconcerned, turned back to look at me.

“Why is Peanut…?”

“Sorry, I thought it might be a distraction.”

I couldn’t guess her reasoning at all. Was there something she needed to discuss that a cat couldn’t hear? Did she feel the need to send it away…

Yeon Minha took a deep breath, exhaling it heavily.

Then she slowly parted her small lips and revealed what I never expected.

“Tonight, sleep with me.”

Now that I thought about it, there was a kind of fervor filling her eyes, which I had mistaken for calmness.

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