Correcting the Villainess of the Academy – Chapter 223

Chapter 223

“H-How… How can an inferior lifeform like you…how?!”

The witch, who rolled on the dust-filled floor, shouted in disbelief.

Seeing her, who had been so full of herself, reduced to this state was immensely satisfying even in this dire situation.

“How did you use Polaris’s Authority…!”

I’m honestly sick of hearing those words now. The person most curious about that cause is none other than me.

But it seems like figuring out the cause this time is out of the question as well. Judging from her reaction, it looks like she knows nothing either.

“You…! What did you do to Polaris…! How dare you…kuh…!”

I grabbed the witch, now reduced to such a pitiful state, by the neck and lifted her up. Here, where neither magic nor authority could reach, she was nothing more than a fragile girl.

Her shirt had ridden up slightly, exposing her belly, which dangled before me like a perfect punching bag.

And I clenched my fist tightly.

It was time to do what needed to be done.

“What are you… doing…hahk…!”

As I delivered a sudden blow, the witch let out a groan filled with pain.

“Even if it’s someone else’s body, I guess you still feel the sensations yourself?”

“H-How dare an inferior lifeform like you…hahk…!!”

I silenced the witch’s mouth with a few blows. Seeing her twist her body violently in pain was incredibly amusing.

Unlike the times with Yeon Minha or Jin Yeseo, there was no need to restrain my strength, so I felt at ease.

“An inferior male like you… How dare you…kuh…!”

“Is that the only thing you know how to say? I wonder who’s really inferior here.”

I targeted the same spot over and over again, dozens of times. With every impact of my fist, I used the particles as a catalyst to amplify the pain.

At first, I thought the authority would be released and she would vanish from that body right away, but now it seems like this is slightly different from the earlier students.

Do witches have some separate means to connect with each other?

It doesn’t really matter.

All I have to do is beat her senseless until she can’t endure the pain anymore.

Of course, that’s assuming my body holds up.

-Puhk! Puhk!

“Hah…hahk…”

-Puhk! Puhk! Puhk!

-Kuhk…hahk…y-you…hahk…”

The sound of skin tearing and bones breaking could be heard. I wondered briefly if it was okay to do this to Yena, but since it was the witch’s body, it would regenerate anyway. Right now, the priority was to inflict pain on what was inside.

The sense of impact was significant, and surprisingly, the witch didn’t seem very resistant to pain.

Considering the squishy form I’d seen before, maybe that made sense after all.

-Crack…thud…

Before long, a sound as if a string was snapping came from somewhere. I was about to ignore it and continue punching harder.

-Boom!!

A powerful shockwave erupted from Yena’s body, overturning the surroundings. I too was flung back, rolling several meters.

“Hah…hah…”

I barely managed to lift my head to look ahead. From Yena’s body, something faint and hazy, like spring sunlight, was gradually being torn away.

Then, red mist began to gather and soon took the shape of a woman.

“…This is impossible. How could an inferior lifeform like you… wield our authority in that body…”

A voice resonated in my head, not through my ears. I had no doubt that it was filled with intense hatred toward me.

“Hah…hah…damn it…”

The problem now was that I had reached my limit. My vision was dark, and my head was spinning. Every cell in my body screamed in pain.

On top of that, the shockwave just now added significant internal injuries. I really had no strength left to spare.

I spat out something metallic that filled my mouth. Dark red, bubbly blood splattered all over the ground and my lower body.

Was my judgment wrong? Should I have killed Yena and ended it no matter what?

“…Ah, of course.”

And seeing me coughing up blood, the red mist spoke as if realizing something.

“…You. Your body is collapsing, isn’t it?”

“Hah…shut…up…”

When I spat out a profanity, the mist mocked me even more gleefully.

“Heh, is this the price for coveting power beyond your means… Of course it is.”

The red mist didn’t stay long. Soon, like ash scattered in the wind, its form began to crumble.

“…Expect it. I will send a gift in return for today’s humiliation soon.”

The voice echoed in my head once again.

“Polaris’s power… I will… take it back…”

Starting from below, the mist disappeared completely without a trace. And Yena’s body lost its balance and collapsed.

I hurriedly rushed forward to catch her. Seeing the steam on my fingers when I brought them close to her nose, it seemed she had merely fainted.

This really seemed like the end, but seeing how the witch disappeared cursing, perhaps she too had reached her limit.

“…”

Looking at Yena, limp and unconscious, gave me an indescribable feeling.

Maybe it’s a relief that she fainted. I had no clue how to treat Yena moving forward.

What kind of relationship would we have when she wakes up?

Enemies? Or perhaps…

‘Run…Hyun…’

Suddenly, hearing a faint, tearful voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I couldn’t reach an answer easily anyway. I could take my time to think about it later. For now, the immediate crisis was over.

The world was entirely black and white. Explosions and the screams of students still echoed in my ears.

Carrying Yena in my arms, I staggered toward the stairs. However, sensing something ominous, I quickly ducked.

-Boom!!

A massive shockwave, far greater than before, enveloped us. Cracks ran through the wall panels, and all the debris shot into the sky.

The air began to heat up, like standing on molten lava.

This was clearly a terrible omen. It was now apparent that I had no time to spare. The witch left one final outburst in her wake.

“Cough…”

Without even a moment for brief contemplation, I dragged my blood-soaked, exhausted body down the stairs.

***

Even after evacuating the students, the professors were busy trying to resolve the situation.

Professor Kwon Chanyul, who had been running about, spoke to an elderly professor operating a device connected to the core.

“How is it on your end?!”

“It’s no use! Even if we sever the circuit, it’s already reached the critical point…Kuhk!”

“Aah…!!”

“Be careful!!”

In an instant, an immense shockwave erupted from the core, sweeping through the surroundings. Professor Kwon barely managed to deploy a defensive wall to block it and stared blankly ahead.

“Damn it…”

The translucent core was flickering rapidly with an ominous yellow light. From its depths, a loud boom echoed as if molten lava was boiling.

It was a sign that the runaway was imminent.

The professors, who confirmed this, murmured in despair.

“Damn… If only we had discovered it a bit earlier…”

“What about the particle collector? Just in case…”

“It’s impossible with that…”

“Does this really mean it’s the end…?”

There was nothing more they could do now. As Professor Kwon Chanyul, who had been blankly staring at the radiating core, turned his attention, a voice came from behind him.

“See, I told you. Professor No Jongha is really suspicious.”

Professor Shin Jae-yu, who had returned at some point, spoke nonchalantly, unfitting for the situation. Professor Kwon responded with a bitter smile and shook his head.

“Who could have known…”

“You should have listened earlier. You caught that person, right?”

“Yeah, we did. But…”

Professor Kwon Chanyul turned his gaze back toward the core.

“What’s the use? We’re all going to die anyway.”

“Ugh, I barely escaped death just now…”

Watching the grumbling female professor, Professor Kwon Chanyul seemed to gather his resolve and composed himself.

“…Fine. At this point, we can only buy as much time as possible.”

“Do you have any method?”

“Do you think I do? We just pour particles into it until we collapse. Even if we delay the explosion by 0.1 seconds, it might give the students a chance to escape further from here…”

“Good grief, I thought you had some brilliant idea…”

At his words, the female professor let out a chuckle in disbelief. Around them, the other professors chimed in agreement.

“I’ll stay until the end too. Even if we can buy just a moment more…”

“Me too…!”

“Count me in…”

“Me too…”

“…Me as well.”

The last to nod was Professor Shin Jae-yu, who smiled calmly. Seeing her, Professor Kwon Chanyul chuckled.

“Idiots.”

“Who started this conversation in the first place?”

Professor Shin Jae-yu stuck out her tongue at him.

In truth, they all knew. Even if all the professors here combined their strength, it was far from enough to contain the immense energy held within the core.

Yet they stood resolutely with determined expressions. No fear or sorrow could be felt from them.

“Ugh, if I had known it would end like this, I should have tried confessing. Dying without ever having been in love at this age…”

Approaching the core that emitted booms and steam, Professor Shin Jae-yu grumbled.

“Confession? To whom? To that Jae-hyuk guy?”

“Are you crazy? Why would I ever to him?”

As she spoke in disgust, Professor Kwon Chanyul looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Didn’t you like that guy?”

“What nonsense… I wouldn’t take a guy like that even if he were free.”

“Then who…?”

Professor Shin Jae-yu hesitated for a moment, then slightly lowered her head. Without a word, she raised her finger and pointed at him.

Professor Kwon Chanyul blankly asked back.

“…Me?”

“Who else would I be playing professor, something I would never do otherwise, for? I followed you here, didn’t I?”

“What…? But…”

“Even when I ask you to go out for drinks, you refuse. When I contact you on holidays, you’re always busy. Ugh… How did I end up with such a clueless man…”

She glared at him and grumbled endlessly.

After a brief silence, Professor Kwon Chanyul gave a bitter smile.

“…Are you upset?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry. I should have realized sooner. I never even dreamed you were thinking that way…”

“Hmph. Whatever. It’s too late now…”

“What should I do to make it up to you? If we somehow miraculously survive, should I take you on a date?”

“Ha, my first date will be in the afterlife, it seems…”

She grumbled, but didn’t seem to dislike it. Still smiling bitterly, Professor Kwon Chanyul turned his gaze back to the radiating core.

“…I’m really sorry. At least, let’s face the end together…”

Just as he muttered in a slightly regretful tone, it happened.

Suddenly, from behind them, an unexpected voice rang out.

“It seems a bit too early for all of you to die.”

“You…!”

The professors all simultaneously turned their heads and shouted when they saw someone.

With a dragging noise, the figure emerged—it was the infamous masked male student. Each time he breathed, a hissing sound came from somewhere. The path he had taken was littered with blood droplets.

It was impossible to guess what he had been through, given his wretched condition.

“My boy…!”

A shocked Professor Shin Jae-yu approached him. The male student, as if waiting, loosened the blade from his waistline and handed it to her.

“Good heavens… That state of yours…!”

“I’ll return the blade to you.”

“What…?”

He wordlessly handed over the blade to the stunned female professor and walked forward. His gaze was fixed solely on the core.

Professor Kwon Chanyul tried to stop him as he raised his hand.

“No! Stay back! If you touch the core now…!”

“…”

But he didn’t care and approached the core, placing his hand on it. The sound of burning flesh and the smell of grilled meat spread everywhere, but he didn’t even flinch.

Soon, he raised his violently trembling other hand and stretched it toward the empty void. The professors, overwhelmed by the sight, could only watch him blankly. They couldn’t even guess what the boy intended.

And then, a miracle unfolded in the next moment.

-Fwoosh…!

Soon, a cool breeze blew from somewhere. It quickly turned into a giant counterwind, fiercely swirling around. The particles, compressed into a single point, gathered on his outstretched palm of hand.

They soon began to flow through his body and into the core.

“Ugh… Cough…!”

The boy groaned as if the strain was too much for him.

A professor, who had been blankly watching the scene, suddenly shouted out as if he had discovered something.

“What… is this…?!”

His gaze was fixed on the core. The core, which had been endlessly swelling, was now calming down.

The ear-piercing loud boom seemed to fade, and before long, it was no longer audible. The ominous yellow light that had been radiating disappeared, gradually returning to its usual translucent and clear hue.

Before long, the heat dissipated, and the surroundings were as calm as if nothing had happened.

“This… can’t… be…”

“It’s a miracle… This is…!”

The professors all muttered in voices filled with reverence. Professor Shin Jaeyu, who had been staring blankly at the scene, turned her head toward the core.

“…Could this really be your doing…?”

The male student still stood motionless. Rather, his unwavering posture only stirred an inexplicable sense of unease.

Before long, his figure seemed to sway, and in an instant, he collapsed helplessly to the ground.

Seeing this, Professor Shin Jaeyu ran up, horrified.

“No! Stay with me!!”

“Medical staff, call the medical staff!! Hurry!!!”

Through his blurred vision, Lee Hyun could only take ragged breaths.

“Hah… Hah…”

Despite the severe pain and exhaustion weighing down his entire body, he instead wore a smile of accomplishment.

“Hah… I… did it… I… protected it again…”

And before he could finish his words, his vision grew dark and faded away completely.