Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 844 195.3 - Report

Chapter 844 195.3 - Report

The library remained quiet, save for the occasional sound of pages turning, soft murmurs from other students studying in the distance, and the steady tapping of fingers against tablet screens. The sunlight had shifted since they first sat down, now casting longer shadows over the wooden table. Their drinks, once fresh, were nearly empty, long forgotten in favor of their discussion.
The group had been working for over an hour, dissecting their experience in the dungeon and putting their thoughts into structured sections. They had covered everything—the advantages of Kalthor's Method, its limitations, the way it forced them to work as a unit instead of relying on their individual strengths. Every flaw they had experienced, every moment of frustration, now made sense in hindsight.
Jasmine stretched her arms over her head, letting out a sigh. "Alright, I think we've covered everything. We got weaknesses, strengths, why the method was enforced, and how it affected us. Did we miss anything?"
Sylvie scrolled through the document on her tablet, her green eyes scanning through their work one last time. "No, I think that's everything." She hesitated before adding, "We actually covered more than I expected."
Layla let out a groan, dropping her head onto the table. "That's because we had too much to say. Turns out fighting while being forced into a rigid formation gives you a lot to write about."
Irina smirked, crossing her arms. "Ironic, isn't it? We complained about it at the time, but now we're writing a whole report about why it actually worked."
Jasmine chuckled. "Kain's gonna love this. 'See? You suffered, but it was all for a reason.'" She mimicked the professor's tone in an exaggeratedly serious way, making Layla snicker.
Throughout the conversation, Astron had remained mostly silent, only speaking when necessary to provide structure or clarify points when the discussion went off track. Now, as the others exchanged final thoughts, he gave a small nod. "We're done."
Irina arched an eyebrow. "That's it? Just 'we're done'?"
Astron met her gaze, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Do you need me to say more?"
"Hmm….I guess no."
Now that Irina saw what she was doing, she realized that she did not in fact want him to talk more. Even she was tired from all those talks.
Sylvie smiled slightly, tapping a final note on her screen. "Alright. We'll review it once more later, just to be sure, but for now… I think we can call it finished."
Layla lifted her head from the table and exhaled dramatically. "Finally. I thought we'd be stuck here all day."
Jasmine leaned back in her chair, satisfied. "Well, it wasn't so bad. We actually worked together without completely getting on each other's nerves."
Irina smirked. "Give it time."
 As the final notes were typed and the discussion came to its natural end, the group collectively leaned back in their chairs, exhaustion settling over them. The library remained quiet, the steady hum of students working in the distance providing a strangely soothing backdrop. The drinks on their table were long neglected, now lukewarm at best, but no one was in a hurry to get up just yet.
Layla, stretching her arms above her head, let out a loud sigh before dropping them onto the table with a soft thud. "Okay, now that we're finally done with that mess," she began, her voice carrying a hint of relief, "let's talk about something actually interesting."
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Layla smirked. "Mentorships."
That got everyone's attention.
Sylvie glanced up from her tablet, curiosity flickering in her green eyes. Irina, who had been absentmindedly twirling a lock of her fiery hair between her fingers, stilled slightly but said nothing. Astron, as always, remained composed, but there was a flicker of awareness in his sharp purple eyes.
Layla, undeterred, leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "So? Who are you guys planning to apply for?"
Jasmine leaned back, crossing her arms as she thought about it. "Hmm… I was thinking about applying for Selena Vayl, but—" She sighed, shaking her head. "She's getting flooded with high-ranking cadets, and I doubt I'd even make it past the first selection."
Layla whistled. "Yeah, she's popular. I heard even some top ten cadets are trying to get her."
Jasmine nodded. "Exactly. So, I might go for someone else, but I haven't decided yet."
Layla smirked. "Well, I don't have that problem. I'm applying for Jared Falkner—he's the only tank Hunter coming in as a mentor. No competition there." She leaned back, stretching her arms. "I mean, unless I suddenly decide to switch to some other role—which, let's be real, isn't happening."
Sylvie, who had been listening quietly, gave a small nod. "My choice is already locked in. There are only two healers available as mentors, and I'll probably apply for Professor Mirian. She's the one with the best focus on hybrid combat healing."
Irina smirked. "That's convenient for you. Less competition."
Sylvie hesitated before nodding. "It is, but it also means I don't really have a choice in the matter."
Irina hummed in acknowledgment before shrugging. "Well, I don't have that problem either. I'm applying for Amelia Lake."
Jasmine whistled. "Oof, going for one of the hot topics, huh? She's young, but she's been making waves."
Irina grinned. "Of course. If I want to push myself further, I might as well go for someone who knows what it means to reach the top." She leaned back, crossing her arms confidently. "Besides, she's an elementalist like me—it just makes sense."
Layla nodded, swirling what remained of her drink. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're ambitious."
With most of their decisions laid out, their collective gaze naturally shifted toward Astron, who had been silent throughout the discussion.
Jasmine tilted her head. "What about you, Astron? Who are you applying for?"
Astron, unbothered by their sudden focus, calmly set his tablet down and answered in his usual composed manner. "Professor Eleanor."
A beat of silence stretched between them.
Then—
"Wait, what?" Jasmine sat up straight, blinking in surprise. "Eleanor? Professor Eleanor?"
Layla looked equally shocked. "She's not even on the mentor list."
Sylvie's green eyes widened slightly. "How is that even possible?"
Astron reached for his smartwatch, tapping the screen before turning it slightly so they could see.
"Your mentor has been confirmed.
Mentee: Astron.
Mentor: Eleanor White."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Then—
"Wait, what?" Layla exclaimed, leaning forward to get a better look at his screen.
Jasmine's eyes widened slightly. "Eleanor chose you?"
Irina, who had suspected as much since the classroom, simply narrowed her eyes slightly, observing him.
Sylvie frowned. "That… doesn't follow protocol."
Astron nodded. "It doesn't."
Layla shook her head in disbelief. "No application? No selection process? Just straight-up assigned? That's insane."
Jasmine tapped a finger against the table. "That means she specifically requested you."
"Yes."
This would be a no secret anyway. After all, the moment everyone's mentors were revealed, sooner or later, the academy would come to know him and Ethan's mentors.
Therefore, Astron had no intention of keeping this secret.
The silence stretched for a moment longer, the group collectively processing what they had just learned. Of all the things they had expected to hear, this was not one of them.
Jasmine was the first to react. "Okay, I know we already said this, but seriously—this is insane. Eleanor doesn't take mentees, and yet here you are, waltzing in with a direct confirmation from her?" She shook her head. "You better not tell me you're surprised by this."
Astron, as calm as ever, simply shook his head. "I'm not."
Layla leaned in, resting her elbows on the table. "So, this is why she called you that time, huh?" Her green eyes gleamed with curiosity. "You and Ethan."
Astron nodded. "That was the reason."
Irina, who had been quietly watching him the whole time, tilted her head slightly. "Figured it was something like that." She tapped a finger against her coffee cup. "Still… Eleanor personally mentoring anyone is huge. She's not just a professor—she's one of the most ridiculously skilled hunters in the academy's history. Everyone respects her." Her amber eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet, she specifically reached out to you and Ethan."
Sylvie, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "Do you know why she did that?" Her voice was quieter than the others, but it carried a weight of genuine curiosity.
Astron shrugged slightly. "I have some ideas, but nothing concrete." He leaned back in his chair. "She didn't explain in full detail. She only said she wanted to guide us."
Jasmine caught the wording immediately. "Us?" Her green eyes sharpened as she pieced it together. "That time, Ethan was also called with you. Does that mean…?"
"Yes," Astron confirmed simply. "She chose us both."
"I see…" Sylvie murmured, her expression thoughtful. She rested her chin in her hand, eyes flickering with quiet contemplation.
Layla crossed her arms, still processing. "So, basically… she saw something in you two. And instead of letting you apply like the rest of us, she just decided to take you in?"
"Essentially."
Irina exhaled, shaking her head slightly. "Tch. Must be nice."
Jasmine smirked. "Oh, she's jealous."
Irina shot her a look. "I'm not jealous."
"Sounds exactly like something a jealous person would say," Layla teased.
Irina rolled her eyes, though there was no real heat behind it. "Shut up."
Jasmine, reading the situation, leaned back in her chair. "Well, whatever it is, you'll figure it out soon enough."
Layla groaned, rubbing her temples. "I still can't believe you're just assigned a mentor while the rest of us have to fight for ours."
"That is life, I guess."
"Life indeed."
Just like that the talk have ended.