Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 475

Chapter 475 106.2 - A small talk

"I need to take this call."

Without waiting for his response, Irina turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding with a mix of relief and anticipation.

She could feel Jeremy's eyes on her as she left, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that he had finally contacted her.

She moved quickly through the crowded hall, finding a quiet corner where she could answer the call in peace. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the screen and brought the smartwatch to her ear.

"Finally," she murmured, her voice tinged with both annoyance and relief. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to hear from you?"

Irina brought the smartwatch's voice to her ear, activating the formation, her pulse quickening with a mixture of frustration and relief.

–I figured you'd be waiting," Astron's voice came through the line, calm and composed as ever.

"Do you even know how annoying it is to be left hanging like that?" she shot back, her annoyance clear in her tone. "You could've at least sent a message."

–I was busy. Besides, I knew you'd manage," Astron replied, a hint of teasing in his voice.

Irina rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "Manage? I was practically going crazy over here."

–And yet, here you are, still intact," he said, the amusement in his voice more evident now.

She huffed in exasperation, though the sound of his voice was enough to ease the tension she had been feeling. "You're impossible, you know that?"

–So I've been told," Astron replied, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more serious. –But enough about that. How are things on your end? You sound like you're at a party."

Irina glanced around the banquet hall, the elegant surroundings a stark contrast to her current mood. "I am. Just the usual—boring, tedious, and full of people I'd rather avoid."

–Sounds delightful," he remarked dryly. –Though I imagine you're handling it as gracefully as ever."

"Hardly," she muttered. "I'd rather be anywhere else. But you finally called, so I suppose that's something."

–Glad I could make your evening a little more bearable," Astron said, his voice carrying a warmth that made her heart flutter.

Irina leaned against the wall, her frustration melting away with each word. "You did. So, what's kept you so busy that you couldn't spare a moment to reply?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, and she could almost picture him weighing his words before he spoke.

–Training. I've been… occupied."

"Training for what?"

–Just usual." "What do you mean just usual?"

–Don't you already know it?"

"I want to hear it from your own mouth."

–...."

Irina could almost see Astron shaking his head on the other end of the line, that familiar gesture of his when he found her persistence both amusing and exasperating. He remained silent for a moment longer, clearly not giving in easily.

'This is what you deserve for ignoring me,' Irina thought, refusing to back down. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Finally, Astron spoke in a calm and measured tone, as always. –"You already know Reina. I've been training with them in a camp, honing my skills."

"Reina?" Irina echoed, her mind instantly conjuring up the image of the woman who had come to watch Astron during the duels. She remembered Reina's confident, teasing demeanor, her playful nature, and the way she had interacted with Astron. There was something about her—something that made Irina feel… uneasy.

A subtle, unfamiliar sensation bloomed in her chest. It was like a mix of irritation and something else she couldn't quite place. She frowned slightly, trying to push the feeling away, but it lingered, gnawing at her thoughts.

"She's the one who was at your duel, right? The woman who was all smiles and teasing," Irina said, trying to keep her tone neutral but failing to hide the slight edge in her voice.

–"Yeah, that's her," Astron replied, seemingly oblivious to the shift in Irina's mood.

Irina bit her lip, feeling a surge of annoyance. 'Why does it bother me so much?' she thought, a frown creasing her brow. The way Reina had acted so familiar with Astron, the way she had teased him—why was it making her feel this way?

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was as if something was being tugged inside her, something she wasn't used to feeling. The more she thought about Reina, the more this odd sensation grew until it finally dawned on her: she was jealous.

'No way…' Irina thought, her cheeks flushing at the realization. 'Am I really jealous of her?'

She hated how petty it made her feel, but there was no denying it. The thought of Astron spending time with Reina and of her being close to him stirred a possessiveness in her that she hadn't expected.

–"You still there?" Astron's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present.

Irina took a deep breath, forcing herself to sound composed. "Yeah, I'm here. Just… thinking."

–"About what?"

Irina hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to voice her feelings. She opted for something else instead, trying to deflect. "About how you're spending all this time with Reina. Must be nice, huh?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then Astron spoke, his tone slightly teasing. –"Are you getting jealous, Irina?"