Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 674

Chapter 674 - 149.1 - Really

With their exchange winding down, Irina cast a quick glance at Esme, who had been silently observing from a distance. As she'd anticipated, Esme's expression betrayed a hint of disapproval, her usual calm demeanor tinged with something sharper. The display between her and Astron had evidently struck a nerve, though Irina felt little concern. 'We didn't do anything wrong,' she thought with a shrug. Besides, she'd made her intentions toward Astron quite clear from the beginning, even if Esme had reservations.

Esme stepped forward, her gaze shifting between Irina and Astron, before settling on the bracelet. "Is this truly your final choice?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with curiosity. Irina could sense her subtle intrigue—Esme, like herself, was likely wondering what Astron had seen in such a simple piece.

Irina watched Astron, who only nodded in quiet confirmation, his expression unchanging. She noticed the brief flicker of curiosity in Esme's eyes as she studied the bracelet once more. "To choose a modest artifact like this… I suppose there must be something unique to it," she murmured, half to herself. "After all, anyone who can endure the Chamber of Emberheart has already proven to be resilient. And since you are one of those, I wonder what you have seen in it."

Irina felt a pang of pride at Esme's words, realizing how Astron's reputation was growing even within her own household.

Astron glanced at Esme, his expression as calm as ever. "What do you think, Miss Esme? Can you sense anything different about this bracelet?" His tone was polite, but Irina couldn't help but feel there was a subtle edge to his question, almost as if he were testing her perception—or her opinion of him.

Esme's gaze lowered to the bracelet, her face composed as she examined it, though Irina could see her cautious pause. "I can't sense anything out of the ordinary," she replied, her tone respectful but measured. "And I certainly don't possess qualifications above those of the appraisers who have examined it. They would have noted any unique properties." She lifted her gaze, the statement hanging in the air as a quiet challenge. If Astron was mistaken about this artifact, it might imply he had overestimated his insight, possibly lowering his standing within the household's eyes.

Astron, however, didn't seem fazed. He shrugged slightly, his expression unbothered. "That's normal," he replied with an expressionless face. "Most people wouldn't notice. You don't need to worry." The words were mild, yet there was an unmistakable undertone that Irina picked up on—a subtle assertion that Esme was just like most people in matters such as these, lacking the insight he possessed.

Esme's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, her gaze sharpening, though she maintained her composure. She chose not to respond, merely inclining her head in acknowledgment, though Irina could sense the flicker of disapproval beneath her stoic expression.

With a final nod from Esme, who had been observing them carefully from the start, Irina and Astron exited the Emberheart armory. Esme had seen every move they'd made, noting that Astron had only taken the single item the Matriarch had allowed. Satisfied that nothing amiss had transpired, she closed the doors behind them, leaving the two alone in the quiet hallway.

They stepped out into the slightly cool air of the Etheria Haven, the twilight casting a gentle, muted glow over the surroundings. Irina took a deep breath, letting the crispness of the evening air calm the lingering thoughts from their exchange in the armory. A silence stretched between them, comfortable yet tinged with the weight of their earlier conversation.

Irina cast a sidelong glance at Astron, the bracelet now settled on his wrist. She still couldn't shake her curiosity—there had to be more to that artifact than met the eye. He walked with his usual calm, but there was an undeniable air of satisfaction about him, like he'd achieved something only he understood.

"So… was this all part of the plan?" she asked her tone light yet probing.

"What do you think?"

As they walked, Irina's mind whirled with questions she didn't dare voice aloud. She cast another glance at Astron, her gaze narrowing as she took in his composed expression, that faint smirk still lingering on his face as if he were savoring some private victory.

She huffed, unable to resist. "I refuse to believe you'd go through the trouble of requesting access to the Emberheart armory, winning a bet and all, just to pick… that." Her words came out sharper than intended, her tone a mix of irritation and something else—a deeper curiosity she couldn't suppress.

Astron tilted his head, unbothered by her tone. "Is that so? And what did you expect?"

A pang of frustration flared within her. 'This guy,' she thought, clenching her fists subtly, 'why does he always act like he knows something no one else does?' freeωebnovēl.c૦m

She thought of the other timeline—the world she'd glimpsed in fragments, where Astron was someone else entirely. So much of him didn't line up with what she remembered. It wasn't just his actions, but the way he looked at her, as though he held secrets too vast to even begin explaining. And those secrets weren't limited to his knowledge of her family or the academy; no, it was as if he saw through the very core of her, stripping away her pride and defenses with that unreadable gaze.

Irina hesitated, her thoughts tangling. She wanted to ask, needed to, but the courage seemed to slip from her grasp each time. How did he know so much about her, about her family, about the vulnerabilities she'd tried so hard to hide? Why did he behave differently than he should, as if shaped by some force she couldn't comprehend?

Yet, her voice faltered as she looked up at him. 'There's no way I can just ask him outright,' she thought, feeling the familiar weight of pride holding her back. She shook her head, trying to brush off the lingering questions, her voice softening. "Sometimes, it feels like you're… different," she murmured, barely loud enough for him to hear.