Correcting the Villainess of the Academy

Tsk, they built it on such a high place.

Sa Jaehyeok frowned deeply as he looked up at the mountainous terrain. They were surrounded by steep cliffs, with a narrow path barely wide enough for a single person winding its way through the deep ravine.

At the end of it, an artificial barrier, clearly touched by civilization, soared high into the sky.

Huff… so tiring…

Behind him, a short-haired woman, Chae Won, struggled to catch her breath as she leaned on her knees.

Weakling. Well, I guess it’s around that age. We’re all old now…

…Hey. Do you want to die? There’s only a one-year difference between us, you know?

Oh, come on…

Chae Won glared menacingly at Ye Jin, who had spoken deadpan. Sehwa merely sighed lightly, as if it were an everyday occurrence, and observed their surroundings.

They had just arrived at the easternmost wilderness of Dongbu Sakju, which was supposed to be the edge of human territory. Since the path was interrupted midway, it took longer than expected to reach their destination on foot.

Originally, this place was supposed to be a rear base, not the easternmost point. However, due to the outbreak of the Five Disasters, all plans for eastern development had been scrapped, and the already established pioneer villages could only hide deep in the mountains, barely clinging to life.

Sa Jaehyeok squinted as he checked the identification code painted on the barrier. Although rust covered it and paint was peeling off, the words “C-23A” were still clearly legible.

Not long ago, a red-lettered letter from someone at a branch of the eastern police department had arrived.

This information was soon conveyed to the Masada branch of the Intelligence Bureau and had eventually made its way to Sa Jaehyeok by Mok Jinwoo, the branch chief.

…

After taking a moment to sigh, Sa Jaehyeok slowly stepped towards the barrier.

C-23A Pioneering Village. The very place where rumors of witnessing resurrected corpses had been reported.

As his last attempt to shake off his lingering attachment, he planned to confirm the bizarre rumors of ghouls that had emerged in the spring.

*

Huh, I wondered who it was, and it turns out to be soldiers. Sorry about that.

Thud!

The heavy sound of the main gate closing echoed around them.

The resident guiding them into the village burst out laughing. He was short with a bushy beard that reached his chin, and the exposed parts of his face were covered in grime.

Your face looks so scary that I thought you were a raider. But honestly, any raider with a sound mind wouldn’t crawl into this corner of the village.

As if to recount the recent challenging entry into the village, the resident was still clutching a thick, metal club in his hand.

…Tsk.

Pfft.

Sa Jaehyeok clicked his tongue, clearly displeased, making Chae Won next to him let out a light scoff. Behind them, Ye Jin was scanning their surroundings with watchful eyes.

The scene in the pioneer village was dreary and lifeless. Even the occasional residents they encountered had filthy faces, like the man guiding them.

On the other hand, they could also feel the sharp gazes from the residents, characteristic of isolated communities that rejected outsiders.

But why are soldiers like you visiting this remote place? Are you planning to subdue the Five Disasters? You look too few in number for that. Four people have no chance.

We’re just here to investigate something. But how do the villagers manage to survive?

They mine at the Stellaite mine down in the valley, barely making ends meet. The quality isn’t great, so they can’t sell it for a high price, and sometimes they trade with merchants who come by for daily necessities.

Sa Jaehyeok glanced around after hearing that. Indeed, the villagers’ faces were covered in dirt. Surrounding them were boxes filled with sorted or processed minerals.

However, contrary to the explanation given, those boxes were completely empty.

…

A slight sense of unease began to creep in through Sa Jaehyeok’s senses.

…By the way, Elder, do you remember how many years have passed since the last outbreak of the Five Disasters?

Upon Sa Jaehyeok’s question, the resident in front tilted his head back and forth.

Let me see… I think it’s been about five years. I remember it clearly. He burned our village down and ate all my friends; I know it well.

…Is that so? I’m sorry to hear that.

What is there to be sorry about? Now that I think about it, dying earlier would have been better. Living shut up in this valley doesn’t feel like living at all. But why are you asking that?

It’s nothing. Just suddenly had a vague memory.

Tsk tsk, you shouldn’t be thinking such things at a young age.

…

He chose not to reply. Instead of shaking off his lingering feelings, doubts began to rise within him right from the start.

Sa Jaehyeok took a deep breath to calm his mood. Nothing was certain yet.

However, the expressions of his companions also hardened as they listened to the old man’s words. They all knew that the outbreak of the Five Disasters had occurred more than a decade ago.

There, over there is the house of the village chief. I don’t know what your business is, but I hope it gets resolved well, no matter what.

…Thank you for the kind guidance.

At Sa Jaehyeok’s greeting, the resident smiled warmly, patted his shoulder, and turned back. The touch of the hard, rattling feel on his shoulder vanished in an instant, a disquieting sensation that shattered the momentary peace he had regained.

They stepped into a shabby mansion at the center of the village. Hearing something stir inside, an old man soon appeared from within, eyeing them closely.

Who are you?

We’re national soldiers. Are you Haseokgu, who sent a report through the police department?

Ah, so you’ve come at last. Yes, that’s me. Come in.

The nodding elder gestured for them to enter the house. The companions behind Sa Jaehyeok exchanged reluctant glances but eventually followed his lead.

It’s a humble place, so I don’t have anything to offer. It’s rather embarrassing.

The old man said as he brought some simple snacks and small tea cups to the narrow table where they sat.

Don’t worry about that. More importantly, I understand you reported that corpses are moving and alive. Is that true?

At Sa Jaehyeok’s words, the old man’s expression turned serious in an instant. He then walked to the window, scanned the surroundings, and quickly drew the curtains to block outside light.

After a few similar actions, the room turned dark, except for the faint glow from the nearby lamp.

The old man returned to the table with a tense expression and whispered.

Yes, that’s true. You soldiers need to believe me. Though I may be just a simple villager, I’ve never told a lie in my life. So…

I believe you. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have come all the way here. Just calm down and explain it step by step.

At Sa Jaehyeok’s words, the elder sighed heavily before resolutely opening his mouth again.

Do you remember the man who guided you and was going back earlier?

Although the man was short and covered in grime, a good-natured smile flashed in Sa Jaehyeok’s mind.

Of course I remember.

He’s a living corpse.

With the old man’s whispered assertion, Sa Jaehyeok couldn’t help but clench his fists tightly, his skin growing pale.

But that’s not all. There are definitely those who were buried in the graveyard that have come back to roam our village. Now, I can’t even count how many of them are among us.

…Elder, can you take responsibility for what you just said?

It’s been a few years, but I distinctly remember having to gather and bury the ones whose insides were all mangled and sticking out.

At Sa Jaehyeok’s question, the old man nodded confidently with a calm demeanor.

…If that’s true, why didn’t you cremate them instead of burying them? Do you not know that burial is a serious crime that is prohibited by law?

That’s…

The old man finally faltered at Sa Jaehyeok’s pressure. Sehwa stepped in gently, speaking softly to soothe him.

If the law is strictly enforced, all of the villagers could be taken away. But from what it seems, there appears to be a valid reason. If you speak honestly, we might overlook the circumstances.

…I understand. There was a healer who would visit and care for the injured around here, but he hadn’t shown up for a while, and we thought he might have had an accident and passed away.

After Sehwa’s words, the old man finally opened up.

But about three years ago, that healer miraculously returned to us. Naturally, we, the residents, welcomed him. But… that’s when strange things started happening.

Strange things?

Yes.

Can you explain it specifically?

The old man’s mouth, which had hesitated before, slowly started to open again after some time.

For example… whenever that person would sit down and get back up, flowers would instantly bloom and wither right there.

What…?

Sa Jaehyeok’s expression hardened in an instant at the old man’s words.

Wait a moment… is that healer a woman?

Yes, she was a very young woman. But why do you ask?

The grinding of Sa Jaehyeok’s tightly clenched teeth echoed through the air. He could only shake his head at the old man’s question.

…It’s nothing. Please continue.

Hmm. That’s not all. She healed the paralyzed, restored the sight of the blind… she displayed all kinds of miraculous feats.

…

It’s been quite a while since she last visited our village and left. But before she left, she said something to the residents.

…What did she say?

The moment the old man’s next words came out, the expressions of everyone seated froze entirely.

“Do not turn the dead into ashes, but return them to the soil. If you do so, he will return to you as the first resident of the new paradise.”

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