Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 711

Chapter 711 160.2 - Resting is important

The soft hum of the train blended with the faint creaks of the wooden panels, creating a rhythm that should have been soothing. But for Irina, it was anything but. She shifted again in her seat, adjusting the thin blanket she had brought along. The night had deepened, and the cabin was bathed in the faint glow of moonlight streaming through the rattling window.

She closed her eyes tightly, willing herself to fall asleep. But every bump in the tracks sent a jolt through the seat, every faint groan of the train's old structure seemed amplified in the silence. With an exasperated sigh, she sat up, her hazel eyes flicking to Astron.

He sat across from her, his arms crossed and head leaning slightly against the backrest. His sharp features were softened in the dim light, his usually sharp gray eyes hidden behind closed lids. His chest rose and fell in an even rhythm, his expression calm and untroubled.

He's sleeping... Irina thought incredulously, her lips twitching into a pout. Of course, he's sleeping. Why wouldn't he be? He was right-again.

The realization stung, though not as much as she expected. He told me I'd struggle. That adapting to discomfort wasn't as easy as I made it out to be. She sighed softly, leaning her chin on her hand as she studied his peaceful face.

How does he do it? she wondered, her gaze lingering on him. Is it just practice? Or is it something else?

Astron's ability to adapt, to take things as they came without complaint, was

something she envied in moments like these. It wasn't that she couldn't be practical- she was a Hunter, after all-but she'd always valued a balance between efficiency and enjoyment. Yet here she was, unable to sleep because of a rattling window and a hard

seat.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched him. He's probably going to bring this up tomorrow, she thought, her cheeks flushing slightly at the idea. "I told you so," or something equally smug in that calm, unreadable tone of his.

Irina felt a pang of bubbling resentment prick at her chest, fueled partly by her own frustration and partly by the sight of Astron's peaceful sleep. How is it so easy for him? she thought, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at the blanket crumpled in her lap.

Her jaw tightened, and before she could second-guess herself, she stood up with a huff, the sound barely louder than the train's hum. The faint sway of the car as it moved over uneven tracks did little to deter her. The cabin consisted of a block of four seats arranged in pairs facing each other, and while she had originally taken the seat

opposite Astron, she now moved to sit directly beside him.

If he's so comfortable, she thought, her irritation mingling with a touch of childish defiance, then I might as well make it a little harder for him.

The curtain separating their block from the rest of the train's interior swayed slightly as she brushed it aside. Not that it mattered-they had the entire section to themselves. Irina had rented all five blocks around them precisely so they could enjoy their journey in peace. Yet right now, that solitude only served to highlight her restless discomfort.

Sliding into the seat next to Astron, she glanced at him again. His head rested slightly against the seat's backrest, his sharp features illuminated softly by the moonlight. Even now, there was a quiet strength to him, as though nothing could truly disturb his calm.

"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, her voice too low to wake him.

She leaned back, crossing her arms as she stared out of the window at the darkened landscape. But her gaze kept drifting back to him, her frustration waning slightly as she took in the peaceful rhythm of his breathing.

It's not fair, she thought, her lips curving into a faint pout. How does he manage to make even this look effortless?

Irina narrowed her eyes, her frustration bubbling into a mischievous defiance. He's so calm, so serene... it's infuriating, she thought. Her gaze fell to his face, softened in sleep, and an idea crept into her mind. Before she could think better of it, her hand moved almost on its own, her index finger pressing gently against his cheek.

The faint warmth of his skin caught her attention first, followed by its texture- smooth and soft, as she had expected. Of course, it's soft, she mused. With a face like his and being an Awakened, it makes sense.

But there was something else. While his skin was soft, it wasn't squishy. His face lacked the slight layer of fat that would give it that plush quality. Instead, it was firm, the kind of firmness that spoke of someone who trained their body rigorously, every muscle and fiber in balance.

Her lips curled into a small, triumphant smirk as she pressed her finger a little harder into his cheek, testing its elasticity. The slight resistance amused her, and she found herself pressing again, just a bit more firmly, as if measuring the give and recoil.

"Heh....Now what?"

She leaned closer, her finger now tracing small circles against his skin. There was a strange satisfaction in the act, a way to release her pent-up annoyance while indulging in the rare opportunity to bother him without consequence.

Astron's face twitched slightly, but he didn't stir. Irina froze, her heart skipping a beat as she waited to see if he would wake. When he didn't, she let out a small sigh of relief,

her smirk returning as she resumed her exploration.

She poked, prodded, and even tried lightly pinching the corner of his jaw, noting how the firm structure remained steadfast under her touch. Not a single ounce of squishiness, she thought, shaking her head. Just hard angles and that infuriating perfection.

Her finger lingered a moment longer before she leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as she regarded his still-sleeping face. "You're lucky you're asleep," she muttered softly, a faint pout tugging at her lips. "Otherwise, I'd have a lot more to say about how annoying you are."

Just then..... Irina froze, her heart lurching in her chest as a sudden, inexplicable chill washed over her. She blinked, her gaze snapping back to Astron's face-only to find his eyes open, glowing with their unmistakable purple intensity.

"Ah?!" she exclaimed, her voice barely more than a strangled whisper. Her finger was still pressed against his cheek, but now, those piercing eyes locked onto hers, clear

and unflinching.

It took her a moment to process the shift, but when she did, her stomach dropped. His disguise-it was gone. I is usual gray eyes had been replaced by the vibrant amethyst hue she had grown accustomed to seeing only when his true face was revealed. Even his features seemed sharper now, more distinct in the dim moonlight.

How...? she thought, her mind racing. Wasn't he asleep? When did this-

"You weren't exactly subtle," Astron's voice cut through her thoughts, calm and measured as always. His lips twitched faintly, almost as if he were amused, but the sharpness in his tone was unmistakable. "Did you really think I wouldn't wake up if someone got that close to me?"

Irina's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her brain scrambled for a response, but his steady gaze held her captive.

"You weren't even trying to be stealthy," he continued, his voice carrying a faint edge