Correcting the Villainess of the Academy – Chapter 247

Chapter 247

“…Regulus.”

-It’s unpleasant to hear my name come from the mouth of an inferior lifeform. Did that traitorous woman tell you?

Every time the faint voice resonated, blood water splattered in all directions from the cross-section of the neck. The crow’s body, which had long surpassed its lifespan, trembled more and more.

-Still, it seems the gift was worth it. Seeing how much you like it.

“What did you… do to the Commander.”

-Who knows? What do you think I did?

My whole body shook violently. The blood surged to my head, causing my eyes to ache as if they were about to pop out. All these sensations stemmed from anger, not fear.

These emotions were utterly useless in the current situation. I was well aware that my anger only served as nourishment to fuel its pleasure.

However, restraining myself from twisting that crow’s neck immediately was the maximum patience I could muster at the moment.

-Why don’t you take a guess?

Even in this situation, I found it fortunate that I had retained a minimum level of rationality. The headless crow could only stand on its two feet for a limited amount of time. Within that time, I needed to extract as many clues from it as possible.

Any clue related to the current situation would suffice.

-Haha, pretending not to know even though you do. Didn’t I kindly send you a dream? Don’t you remember?

But at the words of the headless bird, an aching pain that pierced my heart once again engulfed my entire body.

“No way…”

The witch’s seductive whisper signified only one thing. Last night’s incident was truly a reality worse than a nightmare.

-Ah, you finally remembered!

Splurt—With a high-pitched voice, blood water splattered.

-I thought that since you possess Polaris’s power, you might also be able to peek into our memories. But there’s no need to thank me. I just thought it was too precious a sight to see alone. I mean, witnessing the scene of the Archnemesis’s chest being pierced… How thrilling…

Stay calm. The priority now is to consider its intentions. Its attempt to provoke me with every single word is blatantly obvious.

-You’re surprisingly foolish for a human. Failing at the end because you couldn’t forget a fleeting woman. You should’ve seen your expression…!

There’s nothing one can do with a crow’s body, which isn’t even its main body. That’s why it’s trying to shake me up by throwing down the Commander’s arm and wagging its wicked tongue.

-Do you know? Even as your ‘Commander’ was on the verge of having their chest pierced, they were worried about your safety. Whether your academy life is going well, whether you’ve found a girlfriend, or whether you’ve accidentally offended someone you shouldn’t have… Hahaha!

The crow’s wings flapped as if it were laughing.

-Does that even make sense? That ruthless man, worrying about someone? And not even a blood relative, but an outsider…!

During the conversation, my head cooled down a little. Thanks to that, I could organize the situation using only dry rationality, completely excluding emotions. Although even that required a significant mental effort.

For now, it’s clear that something has happened to both the Commander and my older sisters. Not to mention the frozen arm in front of me, and the excessively vivid reason behind last night’s nightmare.

The Commander was the witches’ greatest nemesis. Killing someone like that would surely bring joy.

But there’s no way they came all the way here, borrowing the crow’s body, just to leave behind mere mockery.

“What is it that you want to say?”

-Hmm…

A faint chuckle was heard. A brief silence followed.

-Your precious Commander and older sisters. What will you do if they’re still alive?

And then, after a short while, a very simple statement, accompanied by blood water splashing, shattered the resolve I had firmly maintained.

-Haha, I decided to show them mercy. Instead of taking their fleeting lives, I decided to interpret them and welcome them as ‘one of us.’

The crow flapped its wings again. Judging by the black blood, oozing with a rotten stench, time was genuinely running out.

“Mercy… you say?”

-They were rather troublesome foes, you see. They are worth interpreting. But there’s not much time. To be precise, they’re merely hanging onto their last breath.

The meaning of the interpretation it spoke of was beyond my understanding. However, the reason behind its words was crystal clear.

The witch was calling me to their land.

With the lives of the Commander and my older sisters placed on the scale.

The rancid whisper was nothing but repulsive. The witch knew our weaknesses all too well. And yet, it had no hesitation in exploiting them.

Paradoxically, this was possible because it didn’t possess a heart like ours.

-If you truly cherish them, it’s only natural to come and save them. That would be the duty of a ‘human.’ Oh, and don’t even think about borrowing someone else’s hands. If you don’t come in person, a disappointed me might just crush the Archnemesis’s head…

“…I won’t fall for it.”

-What?

“Your lies… I won’t fall for them.”

Then, forcing my lips to move, I barely managed to utter my words. I used all my strength to feign composure.

“The Commander and my older sisters must already be dead. Even if I go to save them now, it’s already too late. Even if they’re alive, they wouldn’t want my salvation. You don’t know them. Sorry, but your disgusting lies…”

-Hahaha… Heehee…!

But there was one fact I had overlooked.

-No, that’s not it.

The fact that the devil sees through our hearts all too accurately.

-What they think doesn’t matter right now.

The faint voice spoke again. It was full of evident glee.

-What matters now is your heart. The hatred, vengeance, anxiety, and even the faint sliver of hope you hold toward me.

Kekeke. The mocking laughter echoed hollowly in the void.

-You have no choice but to step forward to save them. That is the core premise of our conversation. Even if…

The headless crow could no longer maintain its posture. Its wings trembled like a drunken man, and its legs wobbled.

And soon, the faint voice left its final words like a will.

-…Even if everything I just said was a lie.

-Puhk!

With an explosion sound, feathers and chunks of blood scattered in all directions. The smell of blood lingered on the tip of my tongue. What flowed down my face was the cold sensation of death.

The surroundings were silent as if nothing had happened. However, the witch’s final words were like a curse engraved in my mind, still binding me.

The fact that I couldn’t deny its whisper was more devastating than anything else.

“Damn it…”

***

“…”

In the principal’s office. Hae Wolhwa was gazing at the arm of an old student with a calm, sunken gaze. No emotion could be read in her faintly visible pupils.

After staring for a while, Hae Wolhwa turned her gaze slightly. The masked male student who had brought the arm looked visibly exhausted.

Even beyond the mask, she could sense his unstable inner state.

“Such shallow tricks.”

And then, after a long silence, Hae Wolhwa opened her mouth.

“You said you had a dream?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ve had a similar dream in the past before?”

“That’s correct.”

At her summarizing words, the masked male student nodded lightly.

“But judging by the circumstances… it’s clear that it wasn’t a dream but something that truly happened. I can’t explain it exactly, but it seems like I’m somehow connected to them…”

“You don’t have to try so hard to explain. I believe you.”

Cutting off the trembling male student’s voice, Hae Wolhwa responded dryly.

“You’re someone who holds their authority within your body. If witches can share their thoughts, it’s only natural that you might be able to as well.”

Approaching the sofa, she buried herself into it and nonchalantly pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Soon, colorful smoke wafted into the void along with a sweet scent.

“The captured Witch Spica said so. They desperately wish to retrieve your authority.”

Then, turning her gaze back toward the masked male student, she continued.

“This incident also seems like a ploy for that purpose. It’s an obvious provocation meant to lure you in. You know that much, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

At his compliant nod, Hae Wolhwa could finally let her mind rest a little. Both sides had to acknowledge this fact for the conversation to proceed.

The power harbored within the masked male student was originally meant to annihilate the creatures of this land.

A power so formidable that no mage could dare oppose it, a power almost invincible when exaggerated.

That power had now become a dagger stabbing back at the witches. The retrieval of authority was naturally something the witches would covet.

And, of course, it was impossible to hand it over willingly.

“…It’s good that you understand. For now, go and calm yourself. I’ll take care of things here.”

Hae Wolhwa addressed the masked male student who stood upright before her.

“Still, thank you for understanding my intention. If I were to lose you here as well, we would be…”

But suddenly, sensing a certain premonition, Hae Wolhwa stopped mid-sentence. A strange aura was radiating from the student. Hae Wolhwa quickly realized she had misunderstood something.

“No.”

Guessing his resolve, Hae Wolhwa shook her head immediately. The girl, now standing, glared fiercely at the masked male student.

He, in contrast, was now addressing Hae Wolhwa with a calm attitude.

“They said they would kill the Commander and my older sisters if I didn’t go in person.”

“Nonsense. Didn’t I already tell you? It’s an obvious trick.”

Hae Wolhwa sharply cut off his words on the spot.

“Those children are already dead. Do not cling to them anymore. Don’t you understand? If you give in here, their sacrifice will be in vain…!”

“I must go. As long as there is even a sliver of possibility left.”

“I cannot allow it.”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t come to seek your permission.”

The pupils beneath the mask glowed faintly. It wasn’t difficult to guess his resolute will.

“I came to notify you.”