From Villainess to Virtue: The Academy’s Redemption Story

The Frog in the Well (2)

Unfortunately, my retribution did not last long.

An old security guard on patrol caught me in the act of beating the girl with gusto.

He immediately subdued me and reported the incident directly to the captain of the guard.

Regrettably, by the time he arrived at the school, everything had already concluded.

"Uh… uh… ugh…"

Upon seeing the girl's condition, the captain of the guard kept uttering strange groans, even nearly collapsing and needing support from a guard.

Even from my perspective, the girl looked quite bad. Her usually neat hair was thoroughly disheveled, and both cheeks were swollen red.

Her arms and legs, not covered by clothes, were full of scratches and bruises.

Though it seemed unfair, tears were brimming in her defiantly raised eyes.

However, rather than feeling pity, I merely regretted not being able to beat her more.

"Hyun… what is this…"

"Mrs. Namgol! Because of your son, we're all doomed now!"

Following the captain of the guard, my mother arrived. Upon seeing her, the captain began screaming at the top of his lungs.

But, at least, my mother maintained a cooler head than the captain of the guard. After looking back and forth between me and the girl, she made a curious expression.

Then, seizing the first aid kit brought by the security guard, she drove everyone except the girl out of the classroom.

"I should have sent that brat to the eastern pioneer corps long ago… Ah…"

The captain of the guard murmured complaints in the hallway, sounding fretful. His character was well known among the children, so at first, I was just relieved I hadn't been beaten.

But as I continued to hear his lamentations, the reality of the situation began to dawn on me.

Though the children had grumbled behind her back, they had never openly shown animosity towards the girl in front of her.

There were earnest warnings from the parents, but the children also somewhat understood that the girl's background was different from ours.

Yet, unable to control my temper, I had beaten her severely.

I had struck someone even the homeroom teacher and the almighty captain of the guard were afraid of.

Naturally, what happened to the captain of the guard was none of my concern, but I began to worry and feel anxious that my mother might somehow get involved.

And it was quite some time before the classroom door opened again.

"Come on, this way."

My mother was the first to appear. As she spoke softly into the classroom, the girl timidly walked out.

Bandages and medicine were applied here and there on her face and body.

Seeing her treated like this after all the trouble of punishing her felt ridiculous.

Even more absurd was that the once venomous girl was now obediently following my mother's words.

The girl's next stuttering words were the final touch.

"…If you apologize now, I'll show you mercy."

What was she talking about?

Any previous worry and nervousness I had were gone. The implication that I was the one at fault made me instinctively clench my fists.

"Yikes…"

Noticing my reaction, the girl's body shrunk back.

But behind the girl, my mother was glaring at me with a stern expression.

No one could win against that look from my mother. Ultimately, I had no choice but to submit to the power of an adult.

"I'm… sorry…"

"…"

I extended my hand first, but the girl backed away, trembling.

Perhaps she was recalling being beaten just a moment ago.

However, she eventually extended her finger and lightly touched the tip of my hand.

A soft and cool sensation was felt, and only then did my mother let out a small sigh.

The stern-looking maid attending to the girl arrived shortly after. Seeing the girl in such a pitiful state made the maid look as if her soul had left her body. She then suddenly prostrated herself, begging for forgiveness.

From what I overheard, she was on her way back from visiting the main house after being summoned and was delayed due to an attack by a horde of monsters.

It seemed that might have been why the girl was left alone in the classroom until late.

"…Father, the head of the household called for me. It couldn't be helped."

But the girl simply shook her head. Still, her voice was considerably gentler than when speaking to others, perhaps because she regarded the maid as her subordinate.

Afterward, the maid suddenly stood up and aimed a chilling blade at my throat.

Shockingly, the girl stopped her, and the maid, though showing a bit of surprise, complied without complaint.

Just as the girl was about to leave the school, she paused as if she had forgotten something and hesitantly opened her mouth.

"…You. What's your name?"

"What? I can't hear you. Say it louder."

Startled by my words, the girl suddenly yelled.

"Yikes… What's your name?"

"…Hyun."

"…Hyun… Hyun…"

The girl muttered my name under her breath. Then, she turned around and truly left the scene this time.

The captain of the guard also returned to his post, and my mother and I headed home.

My mother lamented that dealing with me probably took ten years off her life. When I said sorry, she lightly smacked me on the head.

When I asked my mother why she treated the girl that way, I didn't answer. Seeing this, my mother gave me a somewhat sad smile.

Conversely, I was curious about how my mother managed to make the girl so docile. But my mother also dodged my question, telling me to ask her directly.

Then she gently suggested.

"Get along from now on."

"Why should I? No way."

"Don't be like that. She's a classmate."

"Just because we're classmates doesn't mean we're friends. I heard she's from a really good family. Kang Jinho said she might even be a magician."

"Magicians are just people too. Kids are all just kids."

"I don't think she wants to get along with me either."

"I don't think so. Didn't she ask for your name just now?"

"…Still, I don't like people with bad temperaments…"

My mother was always quick to notice. Sensing my hesitation, she tried to persuade me again.

"Maybe she's a good kid once you get to know her. She just lacks a bit in studies."

"Studies? What studies?"

"I think she really likes friends. But she doesn't know how to talk to them. So she ends up saying whatever comes to mind."

"Hmm…"

"How about it? Don't you feel sorry for her?"

My mother then delivered the final blow.

"I think our kind and smart Hyun could teach her quickly. You're feeling a bit sorry for hitting her, right? Why not teach her as an apology?"

"Ugh…"

My mother knew me too well. And I eventually succumbed to her continued persuasion, thinking, 'Well, it's worth a try.'

***

Despite being severely beaten, I thought she might not come, but the girl arrived at school earlier than me and was sitting in her seat. Yesterday's bruises were still all over her face.

Seeing the girl's state, the students murmured among themselves with shocked expressions. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her.

Wouldn't friends worry about her instead of whispering?

At least I had Jinho and Ina, but no one seemed to be around the girl.

Having made up my mind, I decided to help her for sure and headed not to my usual seat but to the one next to the girl.

"…Hi."

Hearing my voice, the girl who had been looking out the window turned her head sharply. Her uniquely cold face shifted to one of terror upon seeing me.

"Yikes…"

"Hey. When someone greets you, you should respond."

"Ah… uh… euh…"

Upon my urging, the girl made a bizarre noise, stumbling over her words before accidentally biting her tongue.

I thought we had made peace, but seeing those scared puppy eyes, it seemed yesterday's events hadn't quite faded.

The girl regained her composure only after realizing I had no intention of harming her. She cleared her throat a couple of times, attempting to muster her usual haughty tone.

"Er… hm. Yes. Nice to meet you."

Seeing her struggle to even properly greet me made me involuntarily sigh. The road ahead seemed incredibly long.

But I had made a decision, and there was no turning back.

"…Sorry about yesterday. I promise not to hit you again. But don't say that kind of stuff. It's what I hate the most."

My mention of dislike made the girl flinch slightly.

"…Dislike? Then again…"

"I said I won't hit you. I apologized, didn't I?"

"Eek…"

"I'll try to tolerate other things as much as I can. But just don't say that kind of stuff."

"…"

"Let's make a promise. I won't hit you ever, and you won't say those things."

I extended my thumb and pinky towards her. The girl hesitated for a moment but soon wrapped her fingers around mine.

"Okay."

A cool, soft sensation was felt through our skin contact.

Feeling assured of her safety, the girl let out a light sigh of relief.

"But what's your name? I heard mine yesterday."

"…Seoyeon."

"You have a one-letter name like me?"

"…No, that's… both… names…"

Seoyeon seemed reluctant to reveal her full name."That's okay. You don't have to tell me. But how should I call you then? Just Hyun for me is fine."

"Hyun… Hyun…"

Muttering my name, Seoyeon said,

"Then you can call me… Yeon… no, um, I give you permission to call me that."

"Okay. Let's get along well. I'll teach you all sorts of things, so learn well."

"…?"

Hearing my words, Seoyeon looked puzzled but then slightly nodded.

Looking at her, I thought that she wasn't completely devoid of cute aspects.