Chap 18-Compensation

 

Everyone wants to be rewarded for what they do.

This is a very natural instinct.

Imagine not receiving a reward after completing a quest in a game.

You defeat monsters and find quest items, but you don’t get any experience or items?

Players would naturally be furious.

It’s the same with novels.

What if the protagonist works hard and suffers, but receives no reward?

Who would want to read such a story?

But I…

Unfortunately, I was in a situation where I couldn’t receive proper compensation.

When Bella thanked me.

Honestly, I felt strange.

I was happy, but… those words of gratitude could no longer satisfy me.

I want a bigger reward.

I’ve suffered so much, and I think I have the right to be treated fairly.

That’s why I decided to take what’s mine.

Our lovely Unni has set the stage for me…

I plan to exploit it thoroughly.

Hehet.

…

After the vacation, in the A class lecture hall where high-ranking nobles and talented individuals belong.

“Student Yeon Bennet?”

The academy professor’s voice echoed.

“Could you perhaps explain the part I just explained?”

The students looked at each other and murmured.

This professor rarely asked questions directly to students from noble families.

Let alone high-ranking nobles?

It was unheard of.

Because that professor…

Was famous for inflicting cruel punishments on students who couldn’t answer his questions.

But today was different.

The professor’s cold voice called my name.

I slowly raised my head.

Of course, I had no intention of giving the correct answer.

The students’ gazes turned to me.

I didn’t answer.

“…Can’t you answer?”

“……”

“Lady Yeon Bennet, if you’ve been lucky enough to become a member of the noble class, shouldn’t you conscientiously make at least a minimal effort?”

Laughter erupted among the students.

I remained silent.

A bitter smile appeared on the professor’s face.

“Please come forward.”

I slowly got up from my seat and moved forward.

The students’ gazes followed my body.

They looked at me with expectant eyes, as if they had something interesting to watch.

Lady Yeon Bennet.

A being who can no longer receive the protection of her family.

Since Unni officially declared that Yeon Bennet would be excluded from the family, I was no longer someone that no one could touch.

This professor knew that very well.

“You’ll have to pay the price for not concentrating in class and daydreaming.”

The professor raised a stick.

“Please get on the chair.”

I slowly, like an actress going on stage, climbed onto the chair.

Swaack!

Swaack!

Along with a sharp sound, the whip struck my calf.

A stinging pain spread instantaneously, as if my skin was burning.

The thin skin quickly swelled up red and felt hot.

It felt like the skin was slowly cracking.

The skin burned as if it was on fire.

Of course, it was nothing compared to the pain I usually enjoy.

[SYSTEM]

Unique Ability ‘Masochist’ is activated.

But…

The students murmured.

Some laughed, and some sneered.

“Serves you right. You trash.”

“Since you’ve been abandoned by your family, are you now being punished like commoners?”

“It’s completely over.”

Swaack!

It was miserable.

That’s why even more…

‘Ecstatic…’

My breath became rough involuntarily.

My whole body was tingling with goosebumps.

I desperately bit my lip.

The more I tried to hold back, the clearer the pleasure became.

The professor just kept swinging the stick at my calf.

Swaack!

I felt nauseous.

The welts were struck again.

My lips trembled.

Intense stimulation was transmitted from below.

I desperately bit my lip to suppress my moans.

‘Haa… Heuk…’

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be caught enjoying it and be pointed at as a pervert…

But…

I had to remain a villain, so becoming a masochist was a bit of a problem.

A shameful situation.

A humiliating moment of being publicly punished in front of students of lower status than me.

Mocked in the eyes of the world, humiliated in front of everyone.

Could there be a more fitting reward for me?

I slowly exhaled.

The professor’s stick went up again.

Swaack!

…

After class, I quietly touched my calf with my palm.

Red, swollen marks.

Bright bruises covered the skin.

“Haa…”

As I slowly rubbed the marks, the throbbing sensation felt strangely good at my fingertips.

Of course, I had no intention of treating it.

There was no reason to do the foolish act of erasing the ‘reward’ I had barely obtained myself.

I slightly lifted my skirt and put it on.

So that everyone could see the traces of this punishment.

This was just the beginning.

The commoners hated me for being in the same situation as them but having a different status.

Ordinary nobles hated the fact that I, who was a commoner, had obtained the status of Lady and was in a higher position than them.

High-ranking nobles also despised me for committing evil deeds despite receiving the grace of the nobles.

And now…

Watching me being punished, they would have become certain.

That the ‘castle’ that protected me had completely collapsed.

After the morning class ended and it was lunchtime, students began to glance at me one by one.

Their gazes felt stinging.

Ridicule, contempt, mockery.

They poured in from all directions.

“It seems she’s completely abandoned now, right?”

“Since the Duke’s family has declared that they won’t care about her anymore…”

I pretended not to notice and slowly got up from my seat.

Immediately, a group of students blocked my path.

“Where are you going, Lady Bennet?”

I raised my head.

‘Camilla Medici, that girl’s faction.’

When I glanced back, Camilla was crossing her arms and glancing at me as if she wasn’t interested.

But her eyes sparkled as if she found this situation interesting.

The surrounding students were also watching this way as if they had something interesting to watch.

‘It’s finally starting.’

I chuckled inwardly.

Since Serena declared that she would exclude me from the family, attacking me was now an action without any disadvantages.

Those who usually hated me.

Those who wanted to step on me at least once.

A situation where all those emotions can be expressed without hesitation.

“Move.”

I answered curtly as usual.

Originally, they would have made way and stepped aside at this one word, but they just looked at each other and chuckled.

And then, someone pushed my shoulder.

Thud-

I slammed against the wall.

My shoulder blade momentarily felt numb.

“Oh, I’m sorry. It was a mistake.”

A female student covered her mouth and laughed.

“But Lady, aren’t you too weak? Can you fight Magical Beasts with that?”

“Did she give her body to the Magical Beasts because she’s weak?”

At that, laughter erupted around.

“Slut.”

I quietly glared at them.

Annoyed that I wasn’t collapsing easily yet, a female student strode towards me.

Bang!

She deliberately kicked my book, causing it to fall to the floor.

“You dropped your book, Lady?”

I stared at the book that had fallen to the floor without any emotion.

“You should pick it up, right?”

She sneered and said.

I slowly bent down without saying anything.

Then, at that moment—

Drip-

Water poured over my head.

“Ah! Sorry… I made another mistake!”

The female students giggled.

Clothes soaking wet.

Water droplets dripping from my hair.

And laughter mixed with ridicule.

I closed my eyes slightly and took a deep breath.

Me standing miserably in a miserable gaze.

My body trembled with excitement.

I slowly raised my head.

“Is it fun?”

When I asked, the students laughed even more excitedly.

“She still thinks she’s a noble lady, huh?”

That’s a relief.

They haven’t noticed at all.

‘It’s still not enough.’

Just a little more…

“Stop it!”

A clear voice echoed.

Instantly, the noisy laughter of the students stopped.

I slowly turned my head.

Pink hair sparkled in the sunlight.

Beautiful features, clear eyes that seemed to contain a sacred aura.

Lina.

My favorite character.

She stood in front of me.

The students flinched and looked at her.

“Lady Lina?”

“Why is the Saintess Candidate with that bitch…”

Confused voices were heard among the students.

No one could openly ignore the Saintess Candidate.

Lina quietly looked around.

And with a sigh, she looked at me, soaked in water.

“I don’t think there’s a rule in the academy regulations that says you can bully other students?”

Her voice was calm as usual, but there was a sharp resonance somewhere.

The students couldn’t hide their embarrassment.

“We, we were just…”

Lina’s eyes sank coldly.

The students froze instantly at that one word.

It was a different atmosphere from her usual gentle and kind self.

But—

“Ha! Then what about the people that Lady Bennet bullied?”

A female student stepped forward from among the students.

She tied up her golden hair and glared at Lina with her eyes wide open.

“Have you forgotten that this woman almost put the academy in danger?”

Lina’s eyes wavered.

She couldn’t speak for a moment.

A look of panic was evident.

The reason why I hated ‘Yeon Bennet’ in the game.

My favorite character, Lina…

Did not give up on Yeon, who was her childhood friend, until the end.

That’s why I hated Yeon Bennet, who ignored Lina’s kind heart and pushed her away.

But now.

I have to take on that role.

Trying to rehabilitate Yeon, who was the world’s worst villain, until the end.

A foolish child who tries to protect what she believes is right in any situation.

“Lina.”

She was still pretty, seeing her after a long time.

“Mind your damn business and get lost.”

I slowly shook off Lina’s hand.

Her eyes trembled slightly.

The voice was small, but it was a clear line.

Lina bit her lip tightly.

And took a step back.

“……Yeon.”

She seemed to want to say something more, but I had no intention of listening anymore.

I turned around and walked away.

The students’ murmurs gradually faded away.

Even if it’s other people, at least Lina shouldn’t get close to someone like me.

Because…

I have to pull her down from the Saintess position.

Author’s Note

Thank you for reading!