Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 842 - 195.1 - Report

Chapter 842 - 195.1 - Report

The academy library was quieter than usual, the weekend keeping most students away from the usual hum of study sessions. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting golden streaks across the long wooden tables. The faint scent of aged paper and ink filled the air, blending with the distant, muffled conversations of a few other students scattered throughout the vast space.

Astron was already seated at one of the large study tables near the back, where the lighting was soft but adequate, and distractions were minimal. A sleek tablet rested on the desk before him, his sharp purple eyes scanning through the notes he had compiled for the report. His posture was relaxed yet composed, his expression unreadable as always.

He didn't glance up when the library door creaked open, but he registered the approaching footsteps without difficulty. A moment later, Layla appeared, her dark brown hair slightly tousled from the wind outside. She was dressed casually, her usual armor replaced by a simple fitted sweater and leggings. She spotted Astron almost immediately, her green eyes lighting up with recognition.

"Morning," she greeted, her voice light but carrying a faint undercurrent of weariness.

Astron finally looked up, his sharp gaze meeting hers for a brief moment before he nodded. "Morning."

Layla hesitated for a second before pulling out the chair directly across from him. She settled into her seat, setting down a notebook and a pen before leaning forward slightly. "You're early."

Astron shrugged, shifting his tablet slightly. "Figured I'd get started."

Layla huffed a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. "Of course, you did," she said, amused. "You probably already have half the report written."

"Not quite," Astron replied evenly. "Just structured some notes."

Layla leaned forward slightly, tilting her head as she glanced at Astron's tablet. Instead of the densely packed paragraphs she had expected, there were only a few structured bullet points and fragmented observations. Nothing was fully written out—just key notes, quick thoughts, and reminders about what needed to be addressed in the report.

She hummed in mild surprise. "Huh. So you really haven't written much yet."

Astron didn't look up. "Told you."

Layla leaned back in her seat, stretching her arms behind her head. "That's good. I don't want to be a freeloader."

At that, Astron finally lifted his head, his sharp purple eyes regarding her for a brief moment. "That's a good attitude."

Layla blinked at him, not sure whether to take that as praise or just a neutral observation. His expression, as usual, gave nothing away. She exhaled through her nose, shifting her weight in the chair.

'This guy is really hard to talk to,' she thought, drumming her fingers against the edge of her notebook. It wasn't that he was cold—he just didn't offer much. He didn't open up topics, didn't throw out idle comments, didn't create any kind of conversational flow. Layla was used to casual banter, but with Astron, it felt like every interaction was deliberate, precise, and brief.

And maybe that was fine for some people, but Layla disliked silences more than awkward conversations.

Determined to fill the air with something, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "You always this early to things?"

Astron blinked, as if the question had mildly surprised him. "Yes."

"Always?"

"Always."

"Hmm….What hour do you wake up?"

Astron blinked, his sharp purple eyes meeting Layla's as if she had just asked him something trivial. "At 4 A.M.," he replied simply.

Layla froze. "At four—?!" Her voice came out louder than she had intended, drawing a few sharp glances from the other library-goers. She cleared her throat, lowering her voice with an awkward cough. "Ahem… That early?"

Astron didn't react to her outburst, only tilting his head slightly as if considering whether her surprise was justified. Layla, however, caught the way he was looking at her now—like she was some strange, uncomprehending creature.

"What?" she asked, crossing her arms. "It's not that weird, right? Who even wakes up that early?"

"Those who have goals," Astron replied evenly.

Layla blinked, his words catching her off guard. She narrowed her green eyes at him. "...You make it sound like I'm lazy."

"I did not say that," Astron said, still calm. "I simply answered your question."

Layla huffed, tapping her fingers on the wooden table. "But it did make me feel like that."

Astron met her gaze with the same unshaken patience, his voice steady. "Then, it is your problem. Just because one may feel a certain way doesn't mean I need to adjust myself to them."

Layla stared at him, processing his words, and a strange sensation crept up inside her. It wasn't quite anger—but it wasn't pleasant either. He spoke so matter-of-factly, as if his words had no weight outside of simply being true. But that—that mindset—it rubbed her the wrong way.

"…That is a very selfish thing to say," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Astron raised an eyebrow. "Why? Isn't it my right to speak what I wish to?"

Layla hesitated, searching for the right words. "That is… that is your right, but…"

"But?" Astron prompted, his expression unchanged.

"But isn't it also their right to not hear words that offend them? That disturb them?" Layla asked, leaning forward slightly. "It's not just about your right to say things—it's also about how your words affect others."

Astron didn't respond immediately. Instead, he regarded her with his usual unreadable expression, as if weighing the merit of her words. Then, after a pause, he spoke. "So, should people never speak if what they say might offend someone?"

Layla frowned. "That's not what I'm saying."

"Then what are you saying?" Astron asked, his voice still composed, but there was a subtle curiosity in his tone, as if he genuinely wanted to hear her answer.

Layla exhaled, rubbing her forehead. "I'm saying… people shouldn't just speak without considering the impact of their words. It's not about suppressing what you want to say—it's about understanding that your words do something to people. Don't you care about that?"

Astron's gaze didn't waver. "If people are shaken by words alone, then they should question why those words have such an effect on them."

Layla scoffed, shaking her head. "Oh, come on. That's such a cold way to see things."

Astron blinked, as if unfazed. "Reality is often indifferent."

Layla stared at him, feeling that strange sensation rise in her chest again. Frustration? Annoyance? She wasn't sure, but talking to this guy was like debating a stone wall—unmovable, unaffected. His words weren't cruel, but they lacked something that irritated her to no end.

"Hello."

Just then, a familiar voice broke through the conversation, smooth and confident. Both Astron and Layla turned toward the entrance of the library, where Irina stood, her fiery red hair no longer in its usual waves but perfectly straightened, cascading down her back like a river of flame. The way the strands caught the sunlight from the library windows only accentuated the rich, striking color, making it almost glow.

Her bright amber eyes held an intensity that was hard to ignore, their sharpness undimmed even in the serene atmosphere of the library. But what caught Layla's attention the most was Irina's expression—she was smiling. And not her usual smirk or teasing grin, but a relaxed, pleased sort of smile, as if she had already won a battle no one else even knew about.

Her outfit complemented her beauty effortlessly. She wore a sleek black turtleneck that fit snugly against her frame, highlighting her toned figure, paired with high-waisted beige trousers that added a touch of effortless elegance. Over it, she had draped a stylish, deep crimson jacket that matched the warmth of her hair, making her presence feel even more radiant.

Layla blinked, momentarily thrown off by how put together Irina looked. Usually, she had a more battle-ready aura, but today? Today, she looked like someone who had just stepped out of a high-class academy brochure—refined, confident, and completely in control.

Irina's eyes flicked between the two of them before she gracefully made her way to the table. "You two are looking serious," she mused, setting her bag down as she pulled out a chair. "Did I walk in on something intense?"

Layla, still somewhat baffled by the way Irina carried herself today, waved a hand dismissively.

"It was nothing. We were just talking."

"Talking….Hmm…."

Irina let out a quiet laugh as she sat down across from them. "Ah, so nothing new then." Her gaze drifted toward Astron, her amber eyes gleaming with amusement. "Did you scare Layla off with your logic again?"

Astron remained unfazed, closing his tablet as he met Irina's gaze. "She started the conversation."

Layla could only shake her head.

Irina smirked, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Well, that's what you get for trying to talk to him so early in the morning." She leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "Speaking of which, Astron—what time did you get here?"

Layla, still somewhat stuck on their earlier conversation, answered for him with an exaggerated groan. "Four. A. M."

"….."

"….."

To that both of them could only look at Layla silently.