Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 501

Chapter 501 114.5 - Young Hearts

–"You…..You are jealous, aren't you?"

Jealousy. It was indeed a word that would trigger many people.

Why was that?

Was it because of the fact that admitting that one was jealous would show that they were on the losing side?

Would it hurt their pride?

–"You…..You are jealous, aren't you?"

The moment Irina heard about this, she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment at his accusation. "I'm not jealous!" she shot back, her voice a little too sharp to be convincing.

And that was something that would never go past that guy's eyes. He would always find out about things like that too easily, just like how it was right now.

–"Then what are you doing right now?" Astron asked his tone calm but with that ever-present hint of amusement. –"Because it sure sounds like jealousy to me."

Irina huffed, crossing her arms even though he couldn't see her. "I just want to talk to you a little longer, that's all," she said, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

–"You do realize you'll have an entire week with me soon, right?" Astron pointed out. –"Shouldn't you stop being so greedy?"

Irina bit her lip, her frustration bubbling up again. He was right, of course, but that didn't make it any easier. The idea of waiting felt unbearable, especially when she knew he'd be spending time with Maya in the meantime.

Because she did not forget what she had seen at that time. The way how she had pushed her fangs onto his neck, the expression she made.

Astron may not be like her, but Maya was different. Irina knew what she had seen there and what kind of thoughts Maya had.

That was why it was harder for her to just let him go.

Irina tried to muster her strength, determined not to let him have the last word. "I'm not being greedy," she insisted, her voice firm. "I've been spending my time in the fire, pushing myself to my limits, and this is one of the few times I can actually rest."

There was a brief pause, and then Astron's voice came through, softer this time. –"That's true. You are working hard. I know that."

Irina felt a small smile tug at her lips, thinking she had finally convinced him to stay on the call a little longer. But before she could get too comfortable, he continued.

–"But that's exactly why you need to rest. I enjoy talking to you like this, Irina, but you shouldn't forget your priorities. Just to talk, you shouldn't throw away your chance to recover and prepare for the week ahead. Resting is important, too."

Irina frowned, feeling the sting of his words. "You're the one saying that?" she retorted, her voice tinged with disbelief. "The person who trains relentlessly, pushing himself beyond the brink without ever taking a break? And you're telling me to rest?"

Astron didn't respond immediately, and when he did, his tone was calm and resolute. –"Exactly because I know how it feels; I'm telling you to stop. You shouldn't push yourself the way I do. It's not worth it."

Irina was left speechless for a moment, the weight of his words settling over her. There was a sincerity in his voice, a concern that she hadn't expected.

Despite his teasing and his stubbornness, there was a part of him that genuinely cared for her well-being, and that realization both warmed her heart and made her feel a little guilty.

And that guy….she knew why he was training that hard.

It was most likely to forget about that time.

'Really….Now, how can I retort you?' She sighed, finally relenting. "Fine. But don't think I'm doing this because you're right."

–"Of course not," Astron replied, the amusement returning to his voice. –"You're doing it because you're smart enough to know when to listen to good advice."

Irina couldn't help but smile at that, shaking her head. "Goodnight, Astron."

–"Goodnight, Irina. Rest well."

As the call ended, Irina stared at the stars for a moment longer, the echo of his voice lingering in her mind. She hated to admit it, but he was right. She needed to rest to be ready for the challenges ahead.

But that didn't make the waiting any easier.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, letting the exhaustion take over as she drifted into a much-needed sleep, thoughts of Astron still lingering in the corners of her mind.

*******

Maya's gaze remained fixed on the smartwatch, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. The seconds ticked by, each one dragging longer than the last. The warmth of the bath, once comforting, now felt almost suffocating as she waited for the call to end.

Her mind was racing, filled with thoughts of what she would say, how she would confront him about the cold distance he seemed to maintain.

Then, just as she was about to lose patience, her smartwatch vibrated softly, the screen lighting up with a notification.

Caller: Junior

Her heart skipped a beat, and without a moment's hesitation, she accepted the call. The screen flickered as the connection was made, and then she heard his voice—calm, steady, and frustratingly composed.