Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 428

Chapter 428 97.6 - Breaking Down

As I walked away from Irina, the night air felt cooler against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of her touch.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the academy grounds. Each step I took felt like a start of a different road.

I couldn't help but replay the moments in my mind—the anger, the anguish, and then the unexpected tenderness.

Irina's words had cut through my defenses, forcing me to confront the emotions I had buried for so long. Her determination, her fiery spirit, had reached a part of me I had thought was long dead.

'You are a coward. A coward who is afraid of making any connections just because he is afraid to lose someone once again.'

Her accusation echoed in my mind, each word a painful truth I had been avoiding. She was right. I had been running away, hiding behind my walls of detachment and cold logic.

And somehow, I found myself giving up the defenses.

'Ironic, isn't it? Thinking that she was just a bratty girl and then getting life lessons from someone like her.' I felt like laughing at myself. For the first time, I had allowed someone to break through those walls to see the person I truly was.

I stopped walking, looking up at the moon. The calm, serene light seemed to offer some solace, a reminder that the world was vast and full of possibilities. Garrett's words came back to me, blending with Irina's challenge.

'You don't have to carry the world on your own. There are people who can help you.'

Though it felt like a lot more time needed to pass for me to completely open up everything, taking this step was at least a start, wasn't it?

'I wonder how you would react if you were here?'

I thought, looking at my neck. At that time, when I was talking with Irina, I felt like something here had shone.

'This necklace. It is not simple, is it?'

I had never considered it before since I hadn't had any reason to. But, maybe, the fact that somehow, a part of myself was trapped here and was forced to watch everything.

It may not be a simple necklace, after all. But, well. There was nothing I could do to confirm it since I had already tried doing things like injecting mana into it.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my past lighten just a little. It wouldn't be easy, and there were still many battles to fight, both within and without. But tonight, under the moonlight, I felt a small spark of determination.

'Maybe, maybe. Living may not be that bad.'

With a final glance at the moon, I raised my hand.

'Right, Estelle? You will be watching, won't you?'

And that night.

I slept without having a nightmare for the first time in a while.

**********

Irina lay in her bed, the soft glow of the moon casting faint shadows across her room. She pulled the covers up to her chin, trying to settle into the familiar comfort of her bed. But no matter how she shifted or turned, sleep refused to come.

Her mind was racing, replaying the events of the evening over and over again. The kiss, the way Astron's lips had felt against hers, the intensity of his gaze, and the whispered words that sent shivers down her spine. Her heart fluttered at the memory, and she felt her cheeks heat up once more.

'Ugh, why can't I stop thinking about it?' she thought, burying her face in her pillow in an attempt to hide her blush from herself. She could still feel the warmth of his hand on her waist, the way he had pulled her close, and the look in his eyes that had left her breathless.

'This is so embarrassing,' she groaned inwardly. But despite her embarrassment, an undeniable feeling of joy bubbled up inside her.

'Why did I say all those things? Ugh, so cringy,' she thought, wincing at the memory. 'I can't believe I called him a coward and then kissed him. What was I thinking?'

She rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling as if it could offer her some answers. The words she had spoken played over in her mind, each one making her cringe more than the last.

"And what an irony it is that I fell for such a cowardly bastard." She covered her face with her hands, groaning. "Why did I say that? He must think I'm ridiculous."

Her heart continued to flutter despite her attempts to calm it down. She remembered the way he had responded to her, the way his eyes had softened, and the way he had kissed her back with such intensity.

"Does he really think this is what Estelle would want him to do?" She cringed again, her face burning with embarrassment. "Why did I bring up Estelle like that? I just sounded so dramatic."

Despite her self-criticism, she couldn't deny the happiness that lingered from their kiss. The way he had held her, the feel of his lips against hers—it was something she had dreamed about but never thought would actually happen.

'I probably looked like an idiot,' she thought, but then a small smile crept onto her face. 'But he kissed me back. He actually kissed me back.'

She sighed, rolling over onto her side and clutching her pillow to her chest. Her mind refused to quiet, replaying every moment of their evening together.

"I'm so stupid," she mumbled into her pillow, but the joy in her heart wouldn't be silenced. "But at least he knows how I feel now."

Her thoughts drifted back to the look in his eyes, the rare smile that had graced his lips.

She couldn't help but smile, remembering the slight blush on Astron's cheeks and the way he had teased her. It was a side of him she hadn't seen before, and she found herself wanting more of it.

'What have you done to me, Astron?' she wondered, her thoughts swirling. She reached out a hand, letting it hover in the air as if she could still feel his presence. 'I can't believe this happened. I can't believe we kissed.'

She sighed, rolling over again, her mind unable to settle. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, she felt a sense of contentment.

And then she suddenly got a question to ask.

'What are we now?'

A question that needed to be asked. After all, they had kissed, and the moment was a pretty intimate one too.

When she had revealed her feelings to him, a part of her was already anticipating the rejection from the start. Since this was how he had always acted, she could already see herself getting a cold shoulder and him leaving.